Episode 162 :: Dorena Williamson :: Stories of Encouraging and Honoring Children and Kingdom Community Building for God’s Glory

I am so thrilled to welcome back to the podcast, the one and only Dorena Williamson! Dorena is a woman of deep faith, with a passion for building the kingdom of God and living a legacy of faith as a minister, a mama, a pastor’s wife, and a woman of impactful and instructive words. She is the author of 8 children’s books that all provide beautiful insight into the heart of God and scripture’s call to live in diversity and humility as we learn and grow together in the world. Whether that diversity is found in differing racial or ethnic communities and cultures, to others living with visible or invisible disabilities, or on the margins socioeconomically. She encourages children and the big people who love them, in every story that she writes to celebrate how God made them, and to delight in His world that He made and all those made in His image. Her most recent book is called I Know Who I Am. It is a book of scriptural affirmations for kids. It is designed to serve as a companion to come alongside families and those that love kids with words that contain truth about them, about the Lord, and to see all of God’s image bearers represented in the pages from around the world! It gives beautiful verbiage for children to repeat over themselves and to speak over other children of all ages they encounter as they walk through the hills and valleys and changes of life. My kids absolutely loved it, and it would be a perfect addition to a morning or evening routine for kiddos that are starting back to school! In this conversation, Dorena also shares her heart so beautifully about where God has her in her lament as a leader in her church, a Mama raising Black kids, and the world around her. She invites us to consider how all Believers can lean in to the reality of what is before communities and their daily fears and concerns and how to bear one another’s burdens together at the feet of Jesus. She offers an invitation to lean in to humility and honor towards others as we experience beauty, hope, tragedy, and all that is found on Earth this side of Heaven together. None of us are perfect, we will make mistakes, but God honors our learning, our choices to lean in and have Him show us His heart for us and for others. He has so much to show us. Always remember, you matter, and your story matters. Just as an FYI, we recorded this episode right in the midst of our communities’ grief over the Covenant shooting in the Spring. We mention it briefly in the beginning of the episode, but we spend a little more time (around 5-7 minutes) discussing its impact on our community around 40 minutes in. If that is a tender place for you, I just want to be sensitive to that and give you that heads up. We fairly quickly transition to Dorena sharing about how to be the body of Christ in the midst of seasons of communal lament. It’s a powerful word, not solely about that tragedy, but about how to lock arms and shields of faith with others as humans made in God’s image walking this weary land together until we all go home. Connecting with Dorena: Books  Facebook Instagram  Website  Sponsor for this Episode: Hopefuel Use the code 'SIMPLY15' for 15% off Instagram Website Please consider joining our Patreon community. We need your support! If you have enjoyed what you heard on the podcast today or from other episodes, we would appreciate your support to keep the Simply Stories Podcast going. You can sign up for as little as $3 a month and each tier offers gifts that I hope will bless you in return. If you feel you cannot financially commit at this time, would you please consider leaving us a star rating and/or review on Apple Podcasts? My family and I are so grateful for each of you and how you are part of our story.  Scripture References: Psalm 136, Psalm 27:13-14,James 1:17 - God is good (plus many more verses) Psalm 100:5 – His truth endures to all generations  John 2:1-11- Water into wine  Matthew 6:10- On Earth as it is in Heaven  Ephesians 3:14-15, Revelation 7:9- The family of God in Heaven Isaiah 6:1-3-The Earth is full of God’s glory  Matthew 7:24-29-I build my life on Jesus who is the solid rock, vs. shifting sand Jeremiah 29:11- You have plans for me for hope and my future  Hebrews 13:5–6; Deuteronomy 31:6–8-You will not leave me  Isaiah 40:31- Wait on the Lord, He will renew your strength Psalm 8:5-8- Crowned with glory and God’s strength Psalm 5:1-12, Romans 8:26- Oh Lord, with deep groanings  Exodus 1:8-14, Exodus 2:23-25- Exodus and the cries of those enslaved, and God heard them and saw their grief and He was concerned Ephesians 1:4, 1 Corinthians 2:7, 1 Peter 1:19-20 - His plans from the foundations of the earth (futher insight here) Exodus 6-14- The Exodus story and the plagues  Exodus 14:9-31- God parted the seas for His people Psalm 3:3- Lift my head  Jude 1:24-25- God keeps us Romans 8:28- God works together for the good of those that love Him Galatians 6:2- Bear one another’s burdens Matthew 28:18–20; Revelation 5:9–10; Revelation 7:9–10; Revelation 14:6–7 Every nation tribe and tongue in Heaven Genesis 1:26-28- Let us make man and woman in our image   References:  Dorena’s previous episodes on the podcast (part one, part two, Advent) The Covenant School shooting in Nashville  Bridge Builder  Taylor Swift concerts ;) Loving Day and the Lovings’ Story and the Loving Act (Loving v. Virginia 1967) Dr. Chris Williamson’s episode on the podcast  Strong Tower Bible Church Trayvon Martin  Colorfull  Thoughtfull  Buddy Walk - The Extra Mile - DS Association  Dr. Jemar Tisby (and our episode together!)  Latasha Morrison Target diverse Christmas line (Listen, I know the struggle with Target is real for a lot of believers right now. However. This is honoring Black people and culture in a huge way and I’m super grateful for those strides forward.) I Know Who I Am  Nashville tornadoes “Wait on the Lord”- Maverick City  “Same God”- Elevation Worship Fuller Story Initiative  Ralph Yarl shooting Xenophobia  Cheerleaders shot for going to the wrong car American Girl book The Care and Keeping of You  Crowned with Glory Michelle Reyes Dr. Christina Edmondson The Story of Juneteenth Juneteenth as a Federal Holiday Notes for White Allies and how they can honor Juneteenth without centering themselves, and also here. Danielle Coke also does a fantastic job sharing about practical ways to celebrate and elevate. Connecting with Emily and Simply Stories Podcast: Instagram (Em life // Podcast Life) Facebook Twitter Blog