8: Taking New Ground

In this episode, we’re tackling the reality of the "ruins" many of us face—whether it’s a struggling local economy, a faded Main Street, or a personal dream that’s hit a wall. But what looks like devastation isn’t the end of the story—it’s the starting point for rebuilding. Drawing from Isaiah 61:1-4, I’ll share why I see hope in the devastation—and how it begins with us. I’m guessing if you’re listening, you’re like me—someone with vision, someone who sees what could be. But I also feel that push of doubt, the temptation to let disappointment win—those strongholds that try to keep me small. From negative thoughts to patterns I’ve built brick by brick, I’m learning to tear them down and rebuild with God’s truth.Some key takeaways:*Choosing to see the ruins as a starting point, not the finish line.*Taking our thoughts captive to break free from lies holding us back.*Rebuilding begins in our mind—and how it can transform our world.As you listen, ask yourself: What lie am I tearing down today? What truth am I building up?If you're ready to dive deeper, I’m offering Dare to Dream Sessions for personalized guidance. Plus, you can grab my free resource, 12 Questions to Help You Plan with Purpose in 2025, to keep moving forward toward your God-given destiny.Stay tuned for more episodes every week, and keep chasing those big dreams in your small town!MORE FROM MADE RURALWEBSITEINSTAGRAMFACEBOOKXYOUTUBE

Today, I felt this weight to talk about something specific: Where are you settling — with your dreams, your life, or even your walk with God? Do you believe what you’re living now is His best? I’ve been wrestling with that too—because even in good seasons, there’s this holy discontent whispering, ‘Don’t settle here. I’ve got more for you.’And maybe some of you are smack in the middle of that discontent right now. You’re not loving where you’re at, and you feel like things need to shift. If that’s you, listen up: You might be in a training season, like David was before he took on Goliath. He had to face the lion and the bear first—those hidden battles that prepped him for the big, public win.Maybe some of you are in those private fights right now—fear, opposition, spiritual warfare—because God’s getting you ready to take down giants. It’s not just about the struggle, though; it’s about the promise and purpose on the other side—for you, your family, and the people you’re meant to reach.So, if you’re feeling stuck or restless, what if there’s more God has for you? Not that where you are isn’t good—but is it His best? That’s what I want for you, because that’s what He wants for you. Stepping out of your comfort zone? Yeah, it’s tough. Believing there’s more takes guts. Where are you capping your dreams? Where are you boxing God into something smaller than what He’s got planned? Here’s the kicker: If your dream doesn’t scare you, you’re probably not dreaming big enough.I want to be proud of the life I lived, knowing I refused to settle for less than God’s best. That’s available to you, too. Don't settle for the things that keep you from living life at the fullest. Your breakthrough’s on the other side of a fight. It’s work, but it’s worth it. Take hold of who God says you are and fight hard to keep it.If you're ready to dive deeper, I’m offering Dare to Dream Sessions for personalized guidance. Plus, you can grab my free resource, 12 Questions to Help You Plan with Purpose in 2025, to keep moving forward toward your God-given destiny.Stay tuned for more episodes every week, and keep chasing those big dreams in your small town!MORE FROM MADE RURALWEBSITEINSTAGRAMFACEBOOKXYOUTUBE

As you embark on this journey of exploring your dreams and finding your calling, it’s inevitable that you will hit some roadblocks. So if you feel like there’s something working against you to keep you from fully stepping into your divine destiny, you’re not alone. That’s the enemy, working hard to stop you from stepping into God’s plan and purpose. In this episode, we’re diving into the story of Joshua, sharing how he and the Israelites faced giants and opposition while taking new ground. Joshua’s story encourages us to be strong and courageous, face our giants, and fight for our promised land — trusting that God will bring the victory.If you're ready to dive deeper, I’m offering Dare to Dream Sessions for personalized guidance. Plus, you can grab my free resource, 12 Questions to Help You Plan with Purpose in 2025, to keep moving forward toward your God-given destiny.Stay tuned for more episodes every week, and keep chasing those big dreams in your small town!MORE FROM MADE RURALWEBSITEINSTAGRAMFACEBOOKXYOUTUBE

If you’ve been following along with these first few episodes, I bet there’s a dream stirring—or maybe even exploding—inside you. Now that you’re gaining some clarity, you might be wondering, “What’s next? What do I do with this?” The answer is simple: take the next best step. Obedience is your way forward. What’s God telling you to do? What’s the next small action you can take toward that goal?I love the idea of using what’s in your hands to establish what’s in your heart. So, I ask you: What’s right in front of you that you can start with? Maybe it’s your natural gifts and talents—those things that come easily to you. Or maybe it’s resources like tools, an empty garage, a garden, or even your knowledge and connections. How can you be intentional with what you already have?God’s working behind the scenes, unlocking dreams and revealing His plans for you. So what’s your next best step? Years from now, I promise you’ll regret the things you didn’t do more than the ones you tried. It’s scary, it takes courage, but it’s worth it. Proverbs 16:9 says, “In a man’s heart he plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.” It’ll take a brave yes—stepping out, taking risks—but God is with you.If you're ready to dive deeper, I’m offering Dare to Dream Sessions for personalized guidance. Plus, you can grab my free resource, 12 Questions to Help You Plan with Purpose in 2025, to keep moving forward toward your God-given destiny.Stay tuned for more episodes every week, and keep chasing those big dreams in your small town!MORE FROM MADE RURALWEBSITEINSTAGRAMFACEBOOKXYOUTUBE

We’re in a season where God is clarifying our assignments, and I’m convinced you were chosen for a specific assignment for this very moment in time. In this episode, I want to help you uncover what your unique purpose might be. Your purpose ties back to the Kingdom, and it’s about serving others in the way God’s wired you—whether that’s running a boutique, farming, or raising kids who love Jesus. Whatever it is, when you live it out, you impact the world around you in a beautiful way that reflects Him and brings light to the darkness.I know some of you are still figuring out what that looks like, and I’ve been there—so today we’re looking at some keys to help give you clarity. Here’s the thing: God wants to use your passions, burdens, and unique giftings to impact the world. When you lean into that, what you do becomes more than just a job—it’s your ministry.And as you walk this out, you might just help others find their destiny too—and imagine the ripple effect that could have!I hope this episode ignites a fire in you to break free, look forward with hope, and live worthy of your calling.If you're ready to dive deeper, I’m offering Dare to Dream Sessions for personalized guidance. Plus, you can grab my free resource, 12 Questions to Help You Plan with Purpose in 2025, to keep moving forward toward your God-given destiny.Stay tuned for more episodes every week, and keep chasing those big dreams in your small town!MORE FROM MADE RURALWEBSITEINSTAGRAMFACEBOOKXYOUTUBE

In Episode 5 of the Made Rural podcast, we’re diving into faith—that trust in God that ties right into knowing who we are in Him. Sometimes, though, we can get stuck in unbelief, doubting God can really come through for us personally, even if we think He might for others. That doubt is a lie the enemy uses to keep us from believing big.Faith is supposed to be our lifeline as believers. The Bible says we need it to please God, and faith is actually confidence in who He is.Jesus talked about a mustard seed of faith, where even a tiny bit of faith can move mountains. A mustard seed is so small you can’t see it, but it grows into an aggressive plant that takes over the garden.So what kind of seed is growing your garden? Is it a seed of faith, or is it a weed of unbelief?With this mustard seed of faith, maybe Jesus wasn’t saying we need more faith, maybe He’s saying we need this bold, invasive kind of faith that shuts down doubts, fears, and lies. Think of it like faith that’s a total savage—nothing can mess with it!If you're ready to dive deeper, I’m offering Dare to Dream Sessions for personalized guidance. Plus, you can grab my free resource, 12 Questions to Help You Plan with Purpose in 2025, to keep moving forward toward your God-given destiny.Stay tuned for more episodes every week, and keep chasing those big dreams in your small town!MORE FROM MADE RURALWEBSITEINSTAGRAMFACEBOOKXYOUTUBE

In Episode 4 of the Made Rural podcast, we’re diving deep into the concept of identity and how it shapes our lives as believers.We start out with a thought-provoking question: If you were to look in the mirror and describe yourself, what would you say? Many of us default to self-criticism, focusing on our perceived flaws rather than the strengths and value God has placed within us. It’s left us in an identity crisis — fueled by the enemy’s efforts to distort our understanding of who we are and whose we are.This episode is a wake-up call to stop clinging to old, false ideas about yourself that steal your peace and purpose. Clinging to an outdated or false identity robs us of impact, clarity, and the freedom to live as God intended. I’m challenging you to reconsider how you see yourself and to align your self-perception with the truth of who God says you are.Through this episode I invite you to see yourself as God does: purposefully created, inherently valuable, and equipped to impact the world. You are right where you need to be, ready to be used by Him, for such a time as this.If you're ready to dive deeper, I’m offering Dare to Dream Sessions for personalized guidance. Plus, you can grab my free resource, 12 Questions to Help You Plan with Purpose in 2025, to keep moving forward toward your God-given destiny.Stay tuned for more episodes every week, and keep chasing those big dreams in your small town!MORE FROM MADE RURALWEBSITEINSTAGRAMFACEBOOKXYOUTUBE

Today we’re diving into the important topic of surrendering to the process. As we pursue the big dreams God has for us, it's essential to understand that His timing and methods might look different from what we expect. Last week, we talked about not limiting God in our dreams, but now we have to let go of control and trust in His plan.Surrendering to the process starts with trusting God’s timing. In our fast-paced world, we often want things to happen immediately. But God works on a different timeline. As Isaiah 55:8-9 reminds us, His ways and thoughts are higher than ours. If we try to rush things, we’ll end up carrying all the weight on our own, but when we allow God to work in His time, He’ll sustain us through the journey. Remember, God is a God of order, and He delights in every detail of our lives (Psalm 37:23).Another key is surrendering through prayer. Consistently pray about your dreams and your purpose, asking God to reveal His plan and timing. Be patient as you wait on His answers, knowing that your prayers are powerful (James 5:16). As you pray, build up your expectancy, declare Scripture, and remind yourself of who God says you are — royal, powerful, and equipped to walk in your purpose.I also want to remind you of your identity as a child of God — you are royalty! When we understand who we are in Christ, our faith grows stronger, and we begin to walk in the authority He has given us.And if you're ready to dive deeper, I’m offering Dare to Dream Sessions for personalized guidance. Plus, you can grab my free resource, 12 Questions to Help You Plan with Purpose in 2025, to keep moving forward toward your God-given destiny.Stay tuned for more episodes every week, and keep chasing those big dreams in your small town!MORE FROM MADE RURALWEBSITEINSTAGRAMFACEBOOKXYOUTUBE

In this episode of the Made Rural podcast, I’m challenging you to stop limiting God and start dreaming bigger. I share my own journey of how God’s unexpected calling led me to launch my Rural Revival podcast—a venture I never saw coming, but one that has completely transformed my life in ways I couldn’t have imagined.I want to encourage you to think beyond what you think is possible and embrace the big dreams God has for you, no matter how small or impossible they may seem. God’s plan for your life isn’t about being average; it’s about stepping into something significant—and that’s something you can start today.We’ll talk through some of the common obstacles that might be holding you back, like fear, lack of clarity, time constraints, or even age. But most importantly, I remind you of the power of knowing your identity in Christ. When you understand who you are and who God made you to be, your dreams will become clearer, and those limiting beliefs will lose their grip on your life.This episode is all about taking action and trusting that it’s never too late to pursue your biggest dreams. Whether you’re just beginning to think about your purpose or you’re already on your journey but need a little encouragement, I hope this episode will inspire you to take that next step in faith.And if you're ready to dive deeper, I’m offering Dare to Dream Sessions for personalized guidance. Plus, you can grab my free resource, 12 Questions to Help You Plan with Purpose in 2025, to keep moving forward toward your God-given destiny.Ready to stop limiting God? Tune in, get inspired, and start dreaming bigger for your life today!Stay tuned for more episodes every week, and keep chasing those big dreams in your small town!MORE FROM MADE RURALWEBSITEINSTAGRAMFACEBOOKXYOUTUBE

In this first episode of Made Rural, I’m encouraging you to reignite your dreams and step into your God-given purpose. Recent years have brought interesting challenges, but this is a new era! it’s time to move beyond survival mode and begin dreaming again!You may know that feeling of being stuck and longing for more in life—especially when it comes to pursuing dreams and fulfilling your true purpose.This episode encourages you to reflect on the "what if" questions—what if your dreams could come true, even in a small town or rural area? living in a small town doesn't disqualify anyone from fulfilling their purpose and achieving big things. This episode will challenge you to explore and unlock the dreams God has placed in your heart, and to start taking steps towards those dreams, no matter where you are in life.MORE FROM MADE RURALWEBSITEINSTAGRAMFACEBOOKXYOUTUBE