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Thriving Beyond Belief with Cheryl Scruggs


Sep 26, 2017

Today on the podcast is Lauren Chandler....

Lauren is a wife and mother of three.  Her husband Matt serves as the lead teaching pastor at The Village Church in Dallas, TX.

Lauren is passionate about writing, music, and leading worship.

As I began my interview with Lauren, she painted a visual picture of a rooted tree. She talks about how incredibly important it is to be rooted in who she is in Christ - living her life out of that sure relationship and knowing she is loved by Him!

She describes how roots are strong, even enough to break up concrete, and if we are rooted deeply we will not easily be taken out by scorching heat, wind, or unexpected storms.

Lauren and I talk about how she defines the word thrive and how she has felt vulnerable at times in her life.  She shares how sometimes “her life feels a little lop-sided in some areas” and describes the “staples and immovable rocks” she has in place in her life that are solid and real.

As we move through the conversation, Lauren shares a real struggle she faced for years, but was afraid to share because she is a pastor’s wife.   She wrestled with being truly vulnerable, but she wanted to overcome the voice in her head that kept telling her “I know I’ll be good enough if or when I’m perfect.” She had finally had enough of herself and went to Celebrate Recovery. It was there that she began her journey to true freedom in Christ.

Finally, we talk about parenting, being a wife, and learning to be gracious.  She describes how in Proverbs 27:17  “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another”.  In her marriage, she felt at times like a “damp rag” and it wasn’t until she began to face her fears, and admit she isn’t perfect, that she could become iron for her husband Matt.

Lauren has just released a new book & Bible Study called Steadfast Love” which is a meditation on Psalm 100:7.  The book describes four groups of people in distress; some in a desert, some caught in chains, some who have made foolish decisions, and some caught in storms which suddenly overtakes them. In this study, she weaves in how God’s people overcame these life challenges and saved them all.

Here’s my interview with Lauren Chandler…...