A daughter revisits the ten days that reshaped her family, from surgical hope and ICU turns to the quiet strength of community and faith. Small signs—a snowfall, a vision, a hawk—become anchors that steady grief through holidays and years.

• kidney crisis, surgical plan, and early complications
• ICU vigil, Christmas awakening, and rapid decline
• dialysis strain, December 28 loss, and burial of hopes
• Psalm 91, anxiety imprint, and coping in the body
• empty house, sports memories, and daily absence
• community support, pastoral presence, and generosity
• vision in worship, snow in Savannah, and hawk as sign
• hospice with mom, spiritual thresholds, and farewell
• parenting through grief, teaching in hard places, and gratitude
• remarriage after loss, unanswered prayers, and steady faith
• Christmas hope, Jesus as anchor, and endurance

Before you go, could you please open your podcast app, scroll to Beyond Existing Beyond the Small Call, and tap follow and leave a five-star rating or quick review to help this podcast grow. Also, you can go to the episode's description and send me a text if you would like to share how this episode is, or if you would like me to share a message with any bucket.

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We trace Chucky’s fight with the COVID Delta variant—from a beach trip to the ICU, 22 days on a ventilator, and a hard reset in rehab—through fear, faith, and the everyday work of recovery. Sandra shares the caregiver’s view: tracking O2, pushing for transfer, and holding the line when things got dark; all while dealing with her own COVID illness.

• early symptoms, falling oxygen, urgent ER decisions
• ICU isolation, chaplain calls, hallucinations and funeral dreams
• ambulance transfer, high-flow oxygen, ventilator and sedation
• “cheated death” conversation with lead physician
• rehab pivot with Tracy, parallel bars, and nine-day breakthrough
• first meals, cravings, and returning to work in a truck
• long COVID realities, diabetes management, energy peaks and valleys
• gratitude practices, compassion for workers, faith and testimony

Hey listener, before you go, would you please open your podcast app, scroll to Beyond Existing, Beyond the Small Talk, and tap follow and leave a five star rating or a quick review to help this podcast grow
Also, you can go to the episode's description to send me a text if you would like to share how this episode impacted you, or if you would like me to share a message with my guest

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In the words of Sandy, God gets the glory, we share the story. Listen as Sandy shares her unfiltered journey from a 26-hour ER wait and a lymphoma diagnosis to months of failed chemo, hospice care, a second baptism, and a scan with no evidence of disease. The through line is time—how faith reshapes minutes, choices, and what we hold onto when nothing else stands still.

• background in rural nursing and Louisville, Georgia roots
• what follicular lymphoma is and how it erodes immunity
• early symptoms, misreads, and the sepsis scare
• insurance denial tied to COVID vaccination and treatment access
• failed chemo, brutal side effects, and daily losses
• choosing to stop treatment and finding unexpected peace
• hospice as structure, not surrender, amid unrelenting pain
• family reconciliation and shared remission with her brother
• baptism, overnight relief, and a clean PET scan
• a skeptical oncologist’s perspective changed by outcomes
• the clock vision and “While in the Waiting” message
• practical encouragement for patients to keep faith and reorder priorities

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Glory extends far beyond the halos we see in medieval paintings of saints. After being repeatedly drawn to John 17, where "glory" appears eight times in Jesus's prayer for his disciples and future believers, I discovered deeper meanings that transform our understanding of God's presence.

• Exploration of what "glory" truly means beyond simple visual representations
• Detailed reading of John 17, Jesus's prayer before his betrayal and arrest
• Reflection on Charlie Kirk's bold faith and commitment to biblical truth
• Discussion of the challenge of being confrontational when necessary versus being "nice"
• Three dimensions of glory: God sending His Holy Spirit, believers uniting with Jesus as one, and God's presence revealed
• Understanding that only those who are children of God will ever experience this glory

May we go out and live boldly for Christ and for country, leading as many people as we can to experience God's glory.

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Steve's journey from the depths of addiction to becoming a beacon of hope for others defies all expectations. After a decade-long battle with cocaine addiction that culminated in a near-fatal overdose in 2003, he found himself wrapped in a blanket on his floor for three days before being discovered by family members. Doctors grimly informed his loved ones that any longer would have meant planning a funeral.

During his recovery, fate intervened when he met Tonya at a doctor's office in Taylorsville. Though she compassionately helped him seek medical care for lingering effects from his overdose, their relationship would face devastating challenges. Still in addiction's grip, Steve betrayed Tonya's trust by emptying her bank account, forcing her to relocate to Georgia to heal from the betrayal.

The turning point came unexpectedly two years later when Tonya reached out simply to check if Steve was still alive. That single conversation sparked a profound realization that it was time to break free from drugs. Within six weeks of her return to North Carolina, they married – a decision Steve calls second only to giving his life to Christ thirteen years ago.

Their spiritual journey took an unexpected turn when they felt called to mission work after hearing a missionary speak at their church. This calling eventually manifested in an opportunity much closer to home – the directorship of the Hope Center in Maiden, North Carolina, a faith-based recovery program for men struggling with addiction.

Today, Steve leads a structured, Christ-centered recovery program that boasts a remarkable 61% success rate, far exceeding the national average of 18% for rehabilitation centers. The program focuses not just on sobriety but on restoring lives and rebuilding family relationships through spiritual guidance, vocational training, and accountability. Most remarkably, about 80% of Hope Centers nationwide are now run by program graduates who found purpose through their own recovery journey.

Have you witnessed how faith can transform even the most broken lives? Join us for this powerful conversation about addiction, forgiveness, and how one couple's redemption story is creating ripples of hope throughout their community and beyond.

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What if you found yourself pregnant at 17 amidst a circle where alcohol blurred the lines of support and denial? This week, our guest shares her compelling story of teenage pregnancy, navigating complex family dynamics, and the emotional journey that unfolded with her partner at her side. It’s a heartfelt narrative of resilience, as she challenges societal stereotypes, manages the demands of early parenthood, and pursues higher education, all against a backdrop of personal growth and unwavering family support.

Our conversation takes a candid look at the intricacies of marriage, from the challenges of infidelity and forgiveness to the struggle of living with a partner battling alcohol. Hear how she found escape and identity through her teaching career, even as she faced the heartbreak of miscarriage and the joy of planned pregnancies. We explore how personal choices weave through life events, forging a path lined with love, resilience, and the art of balancing personal passions with family life.

Witness the powerful transformation of our guest as she embarks on a journey of independence during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her courageous decision to leave a toxic relationship marks the beginning of an inspiring quest for self-empowerment at 40, where she learns to manage finances and finds fulfillment in her role as a teacher. With faith guiding her through, she reflects on divine messages in tragedy and the importance of empathy and understanding amidst life's toughest challenges. Join us for an episode that captures the essence of overcoming adversity and discovering joy in everyday moments.

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What happens when you're one of twelve siblings growing up in a rural community without modern conveniences? Christine, our guest, paints a vivid tapestry of her childhood, filled with challenges, heartache, and the warmth of a close-knit community, the Statesville Brickyard community. As she recounts her experiences, from the tragic losses of several siblings to the small joys of getting electricity for the first time, Christine's story becomes a powerful testament to the resilience and faith that have guided her through life's trials.

Christine's journey doesn't shy away from the difficulties of large family dynamics, particularly when compounded by the challenges faced by her deaf siblings. We touch on the haunting premonitions of her mother and the heartbreaking abuse Christine endured, yet marvel at her ability to turn her experiences into empathy and understanding in her teaching career. Her narrative is a reminder of how her faith offers refuge and healing.

From a challenging upbringing to a life filled with love, Christine's story is more than just survival; it's about transformation and overcoming depression through faith. We explore the host's journey from rock bottom to recovery, and how these shared stories are the bedrock of this podcast. This episode promises not just to inspire but to provide a beacon of hope for anyone wrestling with similar struggles, underscoring the transformative power of resilience and faith.

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What if life's unexpected challenges were the stepping stones to a greater destiny? Meet Karen, a multi-business owner and devout Christian, who shares her remarkable journey of faith, resilience, and transformation. Growing up in a devout Christian environment, Karen learned to differentiate between her own thoughts and divine guidance, using scripture as her compass. She opens up about her first marriage, navigating the trials of infidelity and infertility, and the lessons learned from overlooking red flags during courtship. Karen’s journey is a testament to the power of faith and the importance of heeding a higher calling, even when life throws unexpected storms your way.

Karen's path to motherhood took a different route, as she and her husband Bart faced the emotional and physical struggles of infertility. With faith as her anchor, she embraced the Foster to Adopt program, overcoming financial and emotional hurdles to create the family they longed for. Listen to Karen’s poignant recount of fostering and eventually adopting Bryson, a biracial baby who brought immense joy and love into their lives. Her story highlights the significant impact of choosing alternative paths to parenthood and the deep bonds that form through the process of fostering and adoption.

But Karen's journey doesn't stop at family. Her career transformation is equally inspiring, shifting from a physical therapist assistant to finding a calling in massage therapy. This change was fueled by personal experiences, including overcoming a serious car accident. Amidst these transitions, Karen's faith in divine guidance led her to pursue her dream of opening a salon, with community support and perseverance lighting the path. Karen’s story is a compelling reminder of how embracing life’s uncertainties with faith can unlock unexpected opportunities and fulfillment.

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