.png)
Catching Up With Christians
Catching Up With Christians
Catching Up with Christians: EP 7 - Chloe Sagum, Worship Leader at Central Church and Mom
Balancing faith, family, and the demands of leading a congregation is no small feat, but Chloe Sagum does it with grace and authenticity. This episode of Catching Up With Christians features Chloe, a worship leader and mother from Las Vegas, who opens up about her journey at Central Church and the unique challenges of raising her son, Duke, who has autism. Chloe’s story is a powerful reminder of the importance of relying on God’s strength, especially when life throws unexpected challenges your way. Through her candid reflections, Chloe underscores how faith and trust in God can help manage the complexities of parenting.
Chloe dives deep into her personal struggles with societal expectations and the pressure of maintaining a certain image while being true to herself. We discuss how seeking God's approval rather than societal validation can transform every aspect of life, from parenting to worship leading. She also talks about the significance of vulnerability, especially on social media, and how sharing both her triumphs and failures has helped others feel less alone. Chloe’s openness about her journey to be genuine in every facet of life offers listeners a powerful example of authenticity and courage.
From her early passion for singing to her role at Central Church, Chloe’s journey in worship leadership is both inspiring and instructive. She shares the joys and challenges of leading worship in a large congregation and the importance of maintaining the right heart posture. We explore how saying 'yes' to God's call, even when it pushes us out of our comfort zones, can have a transformative impact. Chloe also touches on her hobbies, heritage, and the significance of kindness in our daily lives, wrapping up with heartfelt reflections on faith and family. This episode promises to inspire, encourage, and remind you of the beauty of trusting God in every season of life.
What's going on everybody? It's Coach Dan McCarty, back with the Catching Up With Christians podcast. Very special guest today, chloe Sagan. How are you doing today?
Speaker 2:I'm good, dan, how are you?
Speaker 1:Oh, incredible. So thankful with your busy schedule that you took time out of your day-to-day to be able to create this episode and pour it into the listeners. But you know, just kind of getting into. You have so many titles right being a mom, a wife so many other things, but you kind of let the listeners know who you are and what you do.
Speaker 2:Yes, absolutely. My name is Chloe. This is my first time on a podcast, so give me some grace as I jump around here. Let's see, I'm from Las Vegas and I am 27. It's going to be my birthday next month, I'll be 28.
Speaker 2:And Dan actually reached out to me to jump on this podcast after him and I met at a young adults evening at the church that we both attend, called Central, and it was my first time checking out young adults and I was asked to speak about worship because one of my titles is worship leader. So I've been blessed with the gifts and talents to glorify God with my voice and songs. So that's a huge part of who I am, and getting to share that part of my life and my faith with young adults around me in my community, some that I knew and some that I haven't known, and some that I know now and have learned to learn more about. That was awesome and that kind of started a friendship between myself and Coach McCarty. Here and now we see each other at church and hang out at the coffee shop a little bit, and he told me about his podcast and I was like, absolutely. But one funny thing is that at our church, one of our pastors, pastor Nick. He also has a podcast and now that I'm thinking about this, I'm supposed to have been on his podcast for several months now and we have not found a good time to do it. So I hope that's a testament to Dan's chutzpah and his ability to just loop people in real quick. He was like, hey, this is what I'm doing, this is what I want to do, let's do it. And I was like, ok, so here I am. So, pastor Nick, if you're watching this, I'm sorry it's going to happen very soon, but yeah, so I am a worship leader at our church and another aspect of my life that got me and Dan talking was about my story as a mother.
Speaker 2:So I'm a mom of two. My son is six, his name is Duke, and my daughter is Lucy she's three, and motherhood is absolutely exhausting in every way. It's absolutely terrifying and it is the most authentic way that I see God's love and God's hand in my life, above everything else, because everything that I do and everything that I am has always been my choice. But being the mother to my kid that God has created entirely to be my children is the one role that I have no control over, actually, and it's kind of that lack of control that challenges my faith and helps me lean on God's strength and his patience. Otherwise I wouldn't be able to do it.
Speaker 2:And you know, one thing about motherhood is that you think it'll come so naturally to you, you think it'll be instinctive, and in a lot of ways it is. It's beautiful how we're created that way as parents, but every single day you wake up and it's a and it's a brand new set of challenges, it's a brand new set of blessings, and you never know what you're going to expect. So you are constantly learning and for me, as someone who likes to be as confident as I am in any role I've been given, that's a huge challenge for me, knowing that every day it could be completely different than the last. Challenges like that every day that always, always bring me back to relying on God's strength and his understanding and his purpose for my life.
Speaker 1:Wow, that's so great, but I wanted to touch up a little bit on the motherhood aspect because I think it's relatable to in some sense. So you're talking about how, probably instinctively, you want to have control because you are the mom, right, you want to, you know, protect the kids from different things, but at the end of the day, you still ultimately have limited control, right, and that dependency on God through that. So maybe, if you wouldn't mind, just shared to maybe some aspects where in motherhood, where you really are having to rely on dependency of God versus on your own understanding of what you're going to try to do.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's good. God knows what we need, far more than we do.
Speaker 2:And an aspect that God has shown me, that is, through my son's set of special needs. So Duke, when he was four, was diagnosed with autism and he's too young to be diagnosed with ADD and ARFID and different sets of challenges that usually come with being on the spectrum. But as his parents, we have our suspicions of what else might be added on to his diagnosis in the future, of what else might be added onto his diagnosis in the future. Every aspect of who my son is is the complete opposite of how I operate, how I communicate, how I like to represent myself publicly. I'm a very image conscious person, which I've learned about myself recently, and I used to be embarrassed to say that out loud, but it really is. Probably the biggest challenge that I have for myself is how much I care about what other people think. So if you are familiar with autism and how broad of a spectrum it is, you would know that it can be. It can be all sorts of challenges that come with that, the way that they, the way that they are able to control or not control their behavior, their emotions and things like that, and when Duke was younger, it was the behavioral stuff that was really challenging for me.
Speaker 2:I was always that young adult who saw other parents with children that were giving them a challenge in public and I was so judgmental towards them. Dan, I would say, man, put a leash on that kid. Or, oh boy, they must be terrible parents if their kid is sitting with an iPad at the table, if their kid is throwing a tantrum in public and they're not doing anything about it. And I would have all these judgmental thoughts. And then I got my own. And to be in public with him when he is having a behavioral meltdown and I know in that moment that the best thing I can do is let him regulate that emotion. When I know to outsiders, it looks like I have no idea what I'm doing and I'll never be able to fully explain myself to strangers.
Speaker 2:Autism is a hidden disability, so no one from the outside knows that he has it. I'm challenged constantly with the. Do I explain him to others, or do I allow him to advocate for himself and allow others to accept him for who he is without having to constantly put the title of autism on him? His delay in communication was a big one for me. Not being able to communicate with your child is a huge struggle. And then I remember one day a friend of mine who is a pastor at Central and she has a child with autism as well. I was talking to her in the back hall and she said that if it's hard for you not being able to communicate with them, imagine how much harder it is for them to not being able to communicate with you, and that started a huge shift of perspective for me of every set of challenges that I face with him.
Speaker 2:He's facing the same ones and I'm able to lean into pastors and friends who have walked down this path. I'm able to have conversations with family members about what's going on and poor Duke can't. All Duke can do is be himself and make sure he is safe, make sure he is healthy and make sure he is as happy as he can possibly be. Every day is a challenge.
Speaker 2:It is so much easier said than done, but I am thankful for every moment that God gives me that refreshes that perspective, and I'm sure that I'm sure you know, dan, having your own set of disabilities that you've grown up with that people tend to be drawn to you in different ways. Whether it's curiosity, whether it's a light that you have from within or whether it is just a magnetic pole that you have to others. People will always be drawn to you, and that's the case with my son as well. People will constantly just say I love him. I remember thinking how can you love him? You don't even know him Like you don't. You don't even deserve to love him. I love him because I have taken the time to learn him.
Speaker 2:You know what I mean. Yeah, but I, but anyone that is programmed, let's just say differently right? I believe that God has given them a light that will draw others to them. So I have. I've now learned to appreciate that and appreciate when people come up to him and just want to talk to him for some reason. And I'm still facing the challenge of, like God, show me how to use that opportunity, you know, because he still can't talk for himself. He's six, but he talks and communicates at a lesser level than even my three-year-old daughter does, you know. So, even as I share and as I talk, like I'm still learning how to appreciate what I would typically and in the past, be frustrated with.
Speaker 1:You know there's so much there that is so amazing. First off, I want to say that you're doing an incredible job. You're awesome, a great mom, and I see the videos on social media. I see him when he's able to come to church and all the events. You're doing great and you know continue to feel good about that that God is using you and I truly believe that God places the ones, even our parents, whether it's good, or even if you didn't have a great relationship with your parents, there is a reason that you know these people are in your lives, right, and there's no better parents for Duke than you and Christian, and so I think it's just so beautiful to see. And, and you know, one of the things that drew me to you, you said to me, was that one of my passages and I think the listeners know this a little bit is really seeing a parent or parents or caregivers, guardians of an individual with a disability, and truly giving them the best opportunity they can, and you know, and not setting limits on the child. You know, and even if your child's different or has a disability, they still have abilities and they still are a blessing, they still can have fun, they have joy and and what draws me to you guys is is, yeah, duke might, you know, have autism, but there's so many other great qualities that you guys are able to get out of him, that he's able to do with, with the family, and I see all the videos about barney and stuff and like the biggest smile you're wearing the shirt too is I seriously look forward to those tiktok sometimes because the smile he has and I'm like, wow, that's so cool, you know, and and um, so there's so much to unpack there, but I think it's so beautiful. But I just wanted to say to you and your husband as well, like you guys are doing a great job and you're right, no one will understand the day to day, but just remember that God does. God knows us, our struggles, our heart, and that's enough. You know, and you know to the listeners.
Speaker 1:You know I'll be honest. I struggle with the image aspect too in my own life, for you know, other reasons, like I would want to, you know, break through barriers, push through barriers, right, that people may have put on my life because of my disability, right, and it would motivate me and do these other things. But what God's kind of humbled me with is like look, man, like you got to be where your feet are. Love the people around you. It doesn't matter. The people that are supposed to be in your life are going to be in your life, right? It doesn't matter what you're doing, who you're with, what's going on. I have it all worked out and that's enough, and it just removes that stress off my own life, you know, and I'm still working through that, right but I love your vulnerability on that aspect. That was really beautiful to be vulnerable about that.
Speaker 2:Oh, you absolutely have to, and I think something that maybe our listeners need to hear is that, whether it's parenthood or worship, leading or sports, or whatever it is that God has called you to. If you are someone that does struggle with image and struggles with caring about how others perceive you, how you are portrayed to others, what they're even thinking about you, how they might be judging you, whatever it is God has called you to do, as soon as you stop doing it for the approval of others and start doing it for the approval of God, everything shifts. Your perspective shifts. Everything shifts. Your perspective shifts. The way that God blesses you in return is so much more impactful and obvious. It's amazing the difference of our heart when we do something for man compared to when we do it for the glory of God.
Speaker 1:That part.
Speaker 2:And that is so evident on our worship team. On parenting, when I take Duke out and I'm thinking, man, I hope people look at me and they think, wow, she's an awesome parent, which is an awful thing to say. But I've thought it and it would be a lie if other parents said that they haven't thought that. You know what I mean. I mean, why do we post things on Instagram? You know what I mean. I mean, why do we post things on Instagram? Why do we do share highlights? Because it highlights what we want others to see, right. So if we're only sharing the good, how are people ever going? And when people show their mess ups and their mistakes, I don't feel so alone anymore, you know.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I hope that whoever is listening to this even you and me, dan that we can be encouraged to just ask for help and to share the parts of our stories that might be a little messier, because at the end of the day it's it's about who we can help and it's about just being exactly who God created us to be, and if I do nothing else but set that example for my kids, then I've done something right.
Speaker 1:There you go. That's a clip right there. That was awesome, and I love the aspect you're talking about posting on social media and one of the things the highs and the lows and one of the things I've been posting a lot recently, just kind of sharing some things that God has put on my heart. And then one of the things, too, is I'm very honest, you know, I don't I'm, it's what the Lord puts on my heart. It's the way you know that I've been able to be influenced by God over the years through some of the trials and tribulations I've experienced.
Speaker 1:And what I've also realized is I'm also very vulnerable and raw on there as well because, like you said, it allows people to know I don't claim to be perfect, you don't claim to be perfect.
Speaker 1:The only one that ever walked this earth to be perfect is Jesus right.
Speaker 1:And so I think when people understand that, like you, hit the nail on the head, they're realizing that they're not alone.
Speaker 1:But also, for your own sake, it also can help you track your progress and where God is taking you from, and I think that's one of the things that you know on a personal spiritual growth level as well tracking you know for yourself and seeing what God's doing in your life Right, and sometimes in our walks, I feel like sometimes I know in my life where I feel like I might be treading water in the same place, like sometimes I know in my life where I feel like I might be treading water in the same place, or when I find myself tracking where I've been and where God's brought me to and through, I start to realize that God's always around, he's always moving, he's always doing these different things in our lives, and so I really think intent's important and heart posture's important when we're doing things in life and who we're trying to serve in that aspect.
Speaker 1:But I love I want to touch upon you're talking about your gifts, right, you're talking about gifts that you know you have, and I know music is a big part of your life and it's been really cool.
Speaker 1:You know I've been going to Central for about eight years now and I've kind of got to see you evolve, oh, wow wow have you really, yeah and so, uh, I remember back when Christian was the worship leader and, and, uh, your husband and so um, dude, and I miss him. By the way, if you ever listen to this, miss you dog. Hey, drew, you're great, all y'all are great, but but man and um. I actually listened to the totally adhd moment. I did. I did listen to it when he did ben so good on, uh, his little instagram. I was fire man and um.
Speaker 1:But anyways, my point is is that I've gotten to see you evolve in that aspect now, not just locally I locally I mean, for me it would have been the vocal aspect because you know I wasn't around you as much in person but would you talk about, maybe, kind of the spiritual growth throughout, you know, being a worship leader when you first started to kind of where you are now, your perspective on it and, yeah, as a worship leader, excuse me, I'm probably going to jump around.
Speaker 2:So much here.
Speaker 2:You're good because there's so many different aspects to my journey as a worship leader.
Speaker 2:Um, I I first joined the essential worship team in 2015, 2016, and when I look back on that now, it's like crazy, because I was just a child, you know, like in some ways I'm still such a child, but I was really like fresh out of my parents house.
Speaker 2:I'm from Chicago, I moved out to Vegas when I was 18 and I quickly got called to the worship team and it was a very fast pull and I was quickly given some wonderful and probably undeserving definitely undeserving responsibility in that role and leadership in that role, and I think it taught me really early on just how much people look to you for guidance when you're put in a place of leadership. They don't need to know anything about you. All they need to know is your position and instantly, people especially if they're needing something like prayer or if they're going through something they will look up to you. No one even knew I was 19 or 20. No one knew the struggles I was facing. No one knows the struggles I face now. Yet for some reason, they looked at me for prayer, for leadership, for guidance and for a posture of worship. And I'm not going to lie, lie.
Speaker 2:I'm sure other worship leaders will relate to this that that pressure and that responsibility can be um a bit heavy so much so to the point where, if you're not listening, it will spike your ego and your pride like you wouldn't even believe. Wouldn't even believe. And there have been times and different spurts of time where I've stepped off the platform for different reasons, whether it's stepping into different roles in ministry or just being a bit burned out and needing some time in life. But I think there's something about being on that platform that just draws people to look to you and towards you for guidance, you know. So if you're not careful with that responsibility, um, I think, I think the devil will use it as a tool to either give you, um, just a false sense of arrogance and uh, entitlement, just a false sense of arrogance and entitlement.
Speaker 2:Not that I've not that I've like seen that really firsthand, but I know how capable Satan is of drawing those things out of me specifically and and probably other people that that are on the platform as well. I'm extremely thankful for the friendships that I have formed, the relationships I've formed with the people that I get to share the worship stage with. We don't even we don't even like I would even call a lot of them friends like we're. We're such family. You know I was even swimming at my sister's house with other worship leaders today family. You know, I was even swimming at my sister's house with other worship leaders today and, and something that I've always appreciated about them is is how much that they believe in me.
Speaker 2:I joke all the time. I like the people that really know me know that I just make the most, the most bizarre out-of-pocket jokes. But I'll, I'll fish for compliments with my friends. Sometimes, like when we come off of stage, I'll be like, oh wow, I like no one. No one told me, no one, uh, told me how good I did on that song.
Speaker 2:Just like dumb stuff like that, when really the reality is, when I get a compliment, I start sweating and I don't know what to do with it. But it's kind of just how I have to, how I have to hide behind that is, I do the opposite and I like to portray the opposite, when the ones that really know me know how I handle compliments. Um, but like, the friendships and the and the people that God has put there are just absolutely incredible and I'm smiling like laughing out Cause I just think of some of the stuff that we've been through. But, um, a beautiful thing about relationships I think that are made in ministry is is the ones that go through maybe this is outside of ministry too the, the relationships that form, the ones that go through hardship and then can make it through that. Those are special.
Speaker 2:Those are the ones that will make it past just that first stage of friendship, you know. So surrounding yourself with people like that is a huge way to remain faith focused. People assume that when you work in ministry or when you work at a church, faith is just something that you just wake up with Nope.
Speaker 2:People think that, like the more involved you are in in ministry, the easier you have it with. Just like up with. People think that like the more involved you are in ministry, the easier you have it with. Exactly, it's like everything that's coming at you is trying to drag you down and trying to tell you that you're not enough, trying to tell you you can't do it, you're not the right person for you, for this position, when in reality it's like okay, who am I listening to? Who am I hearing these things from? You know, am I listening to the people that know me deep down to the core and have seen what God has pulled me out of, or am I listening to the people that are just trying to see me fail? You know, and I think it's hard to have that discernment and it's really hard to to sort through the voices, but God's will always be the most clear, and sometimes I swear I'm like plugging my ears to it, cause it's not what I want to hear.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, you know absolutely.
Speaker 2:I don't even. I don't even know where I'm at with my story of being a worship leader. So let's see, I started when I was around 19. I turned 28 next month, so that's nine years now that I've been worship leading, and if you told me that, like even 12 years ago, I'd be like no, like, that's not what I'm going to do at all. I was working in retail at Nordstrom and I loved it and I was really, really good at all.
Speaker 1:I was working in retail at Nordstrom and I loved it and I was really really good at it. Did you make music then, or was it only until you started being a worship leader now you know, that you made music and was singing.
Speaker 2:Unfortunately, I've been making music since I was about 13 or 14. And if you look me up on YouTube, you can find some really embarrassing proof of that, but I encourage you to because it's actually hilarious. Okay, so a quick background on me is that I was in the entertainment industry when I was just a kid.
Speaker 2:So, I was homeschooled and totally immersed in acting and singing, a little bit of dancing, but I never should have been in that Cause. That's just not where I'm gifted, um, but I've always known how to speak to crowds. I've always known how to be on camera. Um, it's just something I've been good at since I was a child and I'm thankful that now I'm able to use that to glorify god and to lead others to him. That's awesome, um, but but that's just something I was, I was just taught and formed into as a kid, and I have my, my parents to thank for that, because they, um, they put me in acting per my request when I was rather young.
Speaker 2:Okay, I couldn't model because I never made it past five foot four. That's fine, I didn't need to do that. Times have changed anyway. Now anyone can model, yeah, which is awesome. And then singing. Singing was something that I've always loved. So the first time I was in a play was when I was five, wow, and then I've kind've just always been in plays since then. But you know what's funny about that is, um, some of the vocalists that I've gotten to share the stage with and have gotten to just meet being on this, this journey out here as a worship leader are. They are so talented, dan, like I can't even tell you how naturally gift either naturally gifted, or how hard they've worked to be that gifted they are.
Speaker 2:Um so something I am truly humbled by is being given the opportunity to sing alongside them, or sometimes being given the opportunity to sing a solo part with them supporting Like a collab. Yes.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I've heard a couple, they're fire.
Speaker 2:I am like, oh my goodness, like I don't even know how to put it to words, but it's that sense of someone believing in you right someone. Yeah, maybe that's what it is. Maybe it's just someone believing in me, believing that I can do it, or that that I have what it takes to to be alongside some of these people you know um, but they're just absolutely incredible. You know the worship leader, erin c-san.
Speaker 1:You know who she is I'm not too familiar, to be honest she's um.
Speaker 2:She sings a couple songs with central live uh called. One of them is like open my eyes, paradise yep, he's the singer on that one and then on the. You awaken me. She's the girl that comes in on the bridge and then she often, she often leads at henderson. So she'll be she'll be the henderson worship leader in two weeks, something like that. Her and I met when we were 16 and 12, and we were in a girl band together. I wonder if she'd be mad at me saying this. No, she wouldn't.
Speaker 2:We were in a girl band together and that's kind of how I'm at Central now, because we were 16 and 12 then when we first met and we were casted together into the same girl group and then we remained friends for a couple years. Next thing, you know, I'm out in Vegas visiting her and she takes me to her church Central.
Speaker 1:There you go.
Speaker 2:And I never left. I became an intern when I was uh 18 and it was supposed to be a three-month internship. My car got stolen so I physically couldn't leave like I could not. I could not leave and I've been wow I know so you, you literally never know uh's going to be the reason that brings you to the next several years of your life.
Speaker 1:But I'm very thankful for it.
Speaker 1:That is amazing. And I think one thing I wanted to point out. This is just you mentioned this earlier, talking about this worship and and how the enemy can use something that was meant you know good in your heart, posture and how you have to constantly have to check yourself when you go on stage and those types of things. Right, and I want to let the listeners know, the ones that aren't from vegas central's a bigger church. Okay, like when, when she, like you know and I'm not saying this to shame anybody other churches but to understand the listeners got guys and gals that are listening to this is there could be four to 10,000 people that come on a weekend, you know, through the three services. So you know when the crowd, you know it's a bigger crowd. So just really remembering you know you're worshiping God and that the people aren't necessarily you know how amazing your voice is and all the voices, but kind of just remembering to fix your eyes on God right through that.
Speaker 1:And I just want to kind of just remind the listeners, the ones that aren't familiar with the church, that you know it probably would be a little easier if there was, you know, 20 to 40 people in the congregation or 200 people in the congregation, not 2,000, 3,000, because every night or every time I go to a service I feel like it's a concert Totally, and so and I tell people you know I serve every weekend and I tell everybody on my service you know I'm like, look, I go in for worship, I watch two services completely, but I'm going to all three and I'm getting that worship. It is a free concert, y'all are great and I get to worship the Lord and I just bring that out just so people can understand that you know the significance, right, and and the impact that one you all are having on the kingdom and the people inside the church, but also how that can be even more challenging because it is that concert environment. You know, and and and. Yeah.
Speaker 2:One thing that, um, that we're told, as as members of the team and, uh, members of central live, is that, whether it's a hundred people that come into the room for a night of worship or a church service, or if every seat is full, which I think is like 4,000 something, you're right, it's a big room If one person encounters Jesus, we've done what we're supposed to do. If one person hears the gospel and gives their life to Christ, then we have done what we are called to do, you know yeah, that's so powerful.
Speaker 1:And it reminded me of a story of um, bonnie maynard. Um, you know it was a beautiful lady and um, she really kind of took me under the wing in the 24-hour church uh, you know a serving team and and, um, when we were at, uh, her, her service, you know our funeral service there Pastor Judd told a beautiful story. I'm not sure if you were there, but he told this story about how one time Pastor Judd was doing like the practice when you guys do practices before the Christmas at Central or the event and he did like basically his whole sermon but at the end he didn't invite people to know he didn't do the salvation prayer. And at the end she like pulled him aside, was like Pastor Judd, what are you doing, dog? Like you know, like you know, why didn't you do that? And she's like, well, all the volunteers, everybody that was in the crowd at the time were a bunch of volunteers and people at Central Live and all these other things. And she's like, but you don't truly know if they know Jesus, they could be serving any weekend, every weekend, be a part on different teams, but you never know if they've done the salvation prayer.
Speaker 1:And basically Pastor Judge said, from that moment on, whether it was a live sermon practice. He always ends with that salvation prayer because he just said, like you said, if it's just one person that you get to introduce the gospel to, or the spirit can rest upon them when you're doing worship or whatever the case may be, I thought that was such a significant story because what happens behind closed doors, right? What are you doing when you're not at the church? What are you doing when you're in your house? Right? Are you truly glorifying God and all that you're doing in really spreading the gospel?
Speaker 1:You know, and one of my favorite verses is Romans 116,. You know, and it's talking about being unashamed of the gospel, right, and I think that's such an important aspect in our lives and I think it's relatable in worship, to living to anything. Remember who you're doing it for the audience of one, and understand you don't know where people are out in the walk, you don't know where they're at in life, and so being bold in your faith could change a life, you know, in any eternity, not even just a life, Right? So I love that aspect.
Speaker 2:I love Bonnie and I was at her celebration of life. I got to do the worship portion with.
Speaker 1:Drew and the team. That's right, it was awesome. Yeah, Love Can right the song.
Speaker 2:I think we had Love Can and everyone had to wear bright florals and everyone had leis. It was very Aloha themed.
Speaker 1:Yes, I was in a way back. I couldn't see who was singing.
Speaker 2:but I remember the song. Of course you do.
Speaker 1:I know the song. It was a great song.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's awesome. You know, I want to jump back a little bit.
Speaker 1:Yeah, of course.
Speaker 2:Something that I recently started sharing, which I think of this because we met at the Young Adults evening, right, the Young Adults service. For me, that night was so powerful because when AJ passed the pastor at a young adult, when he asked me to do a Q and A at the end, I was a little nervous because what if no one had any questions? You know, I let some of those insecurities creep in a little bit and when I tell you, I was sitting there answering questions, whether they were about me or about faith or about life in your 20s for an hour, I looked at the clock. I'm like I've been sitting up here talking for an hour, yeah, and people actually want to want to hear what I have to say, and I've answered the first couple and I didn't embarrass myself enough to where people stopped wanting to hear what I said. Like that's absolutely incredible.
Speaker 2:I remember there was one girl that raised her hand and she told me it was her first time visiting the church at all and she wasn't even sure if she was going to come back or if she was going to go to a service. She literally told me that it was because of how just like vulnerable and honest I was on stage that she would come back and start attending church. I love that. Did I cry? I don't know.
Speaker 2:I bet I cried, I wanted to cry and I'm like, wow, I had absolutely no idea what to expect, walking into that and for her to share that because she could have counted to herself, but for her to share it with me, that that what I had to say would somehow be a part of her story.
Speaker 2:I don't know what. Like you said, we never know where someone's at in their walk. We never, we never know where someone's at in their life. Um, but if I, remotely, if God spoke through me to her remotely in that evening, in that night, in that hour, then I'm just so thankful that I said yes. So it's so much easier to say no than to say yes when you're given an opportunity that might be challenging or might be out of your comfort zone. And speaking to small groups of people is completely out of my comfort zone. For me, it's like like give me an auditorium, I'm fine, yeah, um, the more people there are, the less I can really focus in on who they are.
Speaker 2:You know what I mean, absolutely yeah you just be like, oh, it is one blob of people. But when it's an intimate room and I can, I can, I'm close enough. I have pretty bad eyesight, so I'm close enough to really see these faces. I even recognize people. I'm like, oh, I know you, I know you, I know you. I get absolutely mortified, I have stage fright, but in small groups that's not saying it would make sense.
Speaker 2:It's a little backwards To be asked to speak in a smaller group of people and then to answer questions, which means I won't be able to write down my answers in advance. I won't be able to practice what I'm going to say. I have to just say what comes to mind. It's terrifying for me because I don't always know what's going to come out of my mouth. I have, um. I have no filter often and it gets me in trouble.
Speaker 1:And um, what if I?
Speaker 2:And what if I say the wrong thing?
Speaker 1:Yep, I feel those. I feel those too, yep.
Speaker 2:So I'm so glad that I said yes to that, and it has encouraged me to say yes to other things that might be hard for me and out of my comfort zone, because sometimes saying yes is all God needs from you and then he can do the rest.
Speaker 1:That's a beautiful way to put it, because I've found in my life like some of the things that you don't necessarily want to do or feel a little out of your comfort are exactly what God wants you to do, right? And I hear sometimes in life where people are like, man, I want to be used by God, I want to be used, I'm like okay, but when he gives you the opportunity, are you going to be obedient? You know, I always tell people I did a workshop about a week and a half ago and one of the big things we talked about was you have to one be available. But once you're available, you have to be obedient, right? It's like if you want it to be truly a vessel and and that story alone kind of shares that for you. And I want to go on two little parts here that hit me there. When you said that One thing is one of my favorite parts about serving and I'm sure you can resonate with this is that, even if you can't necessarily feel God in your day-to-day life in that season, hypothetically, in that season when you get to serve people and you get to see them come to know Jesus for the first time.
Speaker 1:Or for me, I'm on the prayer team and I get to pray over someone and I see that burden just be lifted and they cast it onto God and it's like they walk out and like this childlike faith feeling again and like God's going to move. It's like it reminds me that God is moving and God is, you know, even we can't see it or feel it, he's always moving Right and he's, and I think that's such an amazing part about serving and I'm sure you feel that way, like you mentioned earlier, when you're worshiping, right, being a worship leader, you really just get to feel his presence like almost guaranteed, like guaranteed. You're going to see it, you're going to feed it off other people. His presence is in the room in those situations and I think that is one of my all-time favorite parts about serving is just being able to see what God does firsthand and just reminds you what you'll do in your life. And then the second aspect you also spoke into me very in that that same night of when you're answering those questions. You know, as, as the listeners know, you know I've been launching my business platform, coach Dan McCarty do public speaking, workshops and content creation, this podcast, but in addition to that, also mentoring, and it was one of those aspects in my life where I heard it a lot.
Speaker 1:I'm not very good at accepting compliments, that's just not my thing. I'm just like, thanks, you know, I'm very bad at it, you know, like I just, you know, it's like I'm so afraid to have an ego or a pride that like I just kind of let it go one and you're out the other, and so that's kind of a weird thing for me. And so there have been people in my life since I was a kid that said, damn, like you could speak, you could really help people and journey in life, and I was like, thanks, okay, you know I'm going to get a kid and play those people, but who I respected spiritually, you know, not necessarily people of the world, right, and I don't mean that cynically, but also people who are really deep in their faith and, as my faith was getting more and more important, to me.
Speaker 1:I was like OK, maybe this could be something I could do to glorify God Right and to impact his kingdom and the people journeying that Right and and to impact his kingdom and the people journeying that. And I had two people in the last about six months before I talked to you, and I was at this point in my job where I was kind of struggling and I was kind of at this teeter point because someone told me dude, you should really think about this. And then you came and did, your did your little sermon message there and had the Q&A and we talked afterwards and you're like hey, I love your perspective. Have you ever thought about like making content or like you know, journeying with other people? And I'm like wow, Okay.
Speaker 1:Like maybe, god, I went home. I was like all right, god, like I got punched in the gut enough, I get it. Yep, like I, I got punched in the gut enough, I get it. I get that and I really appreciate that. I want to just kind of shout you out for that on this, because that was a really significant moment for me in this journey and I really appreciate it.
Speaker 2:I love that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but I love how God uses people Right no-transcript to be like totally and then move on. But knowing your story, knowing you're a mom of a child with a disability, your journey and faith and your roles, I'm like. I know she's not like blowing smoke, like this is not to make me feel good in a way. And so I went home and prayed that night and literally the end of that week I was like God, I'm moving on from this job, I'm going full force and doing what God's put on my heart and you know, and he made it clear, but appreciate that.
Speaker 2:I love that, Dan. I love that, Dan. Well, in that same conversation, God encouraged me through something that you said as well, and it was the story of how kind of how your parents supported and encouraged your dreams right and as they continue to now. I've seen on your social media how you shout them out and they seem incredible, but I remember you telling me that your dream was to always be baseball, Like baseball is your passion, Baseball is something that you love and you study and you're good at and you're called to, and a lot of people would view that as like impossible. A lot of parents would.
Speaker 2:You don't want your kids to fail right, so why would you put them in situations where they may not flourish so for your parents to know you well enough and believe in you enough to say something along the lines correct me if I'm wrong of okay, maybe he can't do it the same way that everyone else can do it, but how can we refocus and kind of create a path for him to take that suits his gifts and talents?
Speaker 2:The best that for me, was so important to hear, because obviously your set of challenges and my son's set of challenges are going to be completely different, like almost in every way, because his is completely cognitive and mental, emotional. Yours is physical and those are totally different. But as his mom, I'll be able to see what his hopes and dreams are and he'll be able to share that with me, probably in ways that he won't be able to share with a lot of other people, and for me to learn how to cultivate those hopes and dreams into ways that he can achieve them, maybe not in, you know, in the normal, typical way that other people might see or as the world might see but, to be able to guide him in a in a path that that only I would be able to, with the help of God, because I know him that well you know what I?
Speaker 2:mean. Your parents know you that well. They were able to do that with you because of how well they know you, and thank God that they've paid attention to you. Thank God that they have really honed in on what your skills are and what you're capable of. Goodness, for me to sit back and dream and think about what Duke's going to be capable of someday could bring me to tears like that. One because I believe in him so much and two because I've only seen six years of what God has in store for me. I've only seen a sliver of what God's going to be able to do in his life.
Speaker 2:I pick him up from summer school yesterday. Duke can hardly talk Like Duke is not a communicative person. And for him to leave the admin office with everyone cracking up at something that he said and for everyone to say bye, duke, see you tomorrow, bud. And they all know something about him. They're all telling me things that they know about him. I'm like praise Jesus, because a huge part of me, when he was three and going into school, wanted to keep him from public situations so badly. One because I was scared of how people were going to perceive me as his mother, and two because my biggest fear in life is him not being accepted for who he is. It's my number one fear. But how can I give him the chance to be accepted by others if I don't put him out into the world? Wow, I you're supposed to do.
Speaker 2:Amen, but it takes some really hard steps to get there. You have to just weigh out Are the hardships and the challenges going to be worth the reward, If the reward is aligned with God's will for your life? Absolutely, you just have to get through the hardship first and, like I said and I've said a couple of times every day is a new set of challenges and difficulties. But at the end of the day, when I'm looking down at my son and he's sleeping and I'm just so absolutely proud of the joy that just shines through him and flows through him Like that's his gift. His gift is bringing joy to others.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And that's absolutely incredible.
Speaker 1:Oh, that's amazing. I think there's so much there. That is awesome. I'm excited to watch the journey with Duke and I love to see what he's going to achieve. And we got to also remember in our lives the God we serve, right, the God that an all-knowing God, an all-capable God, an all-loving God right, and I think that's such a significant part to remember when we go through day-to-day obstacles or whatever the case may be, and that reminds me every day to do the best with the gifts that I've been given, because I don't put limitations on what God can do. Right, and that's such a significant part.
Speaker 1:And another thing I wanted to piggyback on, kind of what my parents have been really embarked on me, which I hopefully the listeners um could resonate with here, is this is such an important aspect too, and I believe I mentioned this with you that night as well, but was talking about okay, it's one thing to say that, like you're going to support your child and find another avenue, that they can be a part of something, but you, as the parent or whoever the person that's journeying with that, have to believe it's equally as valuable as the other way, because if you don't, you're diminishing what the individual is doing. And one thing that I see all the time and I'll just be be honest when I journey with some people sometimes with people that have children with disabilities is be oh, we're let's. I'll give you an example of the listener example. I was at an amusement park one time, came with my mom and another family and they had a child with my disability and the whole time we were there they're like all right, buddy, we're gonna go on the little rides. And then they're like all right, buddy, we're going to go on the little rides. And then they're like these are such an amazing ride.
Speaker 1:And then would whisper to my mom and be like isn't it so sad that he can't go on the regular rides just like all the other kids? And to me it didn't bother me because I was a lot more confident in who I am and my parents raised me to not view it like that. But the important aspect for the listeners and to anybody listening is you have to be convicted and have the conviction that it's equally as valuable. Even if it's different, it's not less. And so if your child or whoever you're journeying with is connected to something, but it may look different than somebody else, it's equally as valuable and I think that's such an important part of that, because you can say that, but your child or whoever you're journeying with can sense that.
Speaker 1:They can sense the true way you feel. So, even if you tell them it's the opposite, but the way you truly feel, they sense that. And the one thing I appreciate from my parents so much is they told me that, but they truly believed it much is they told me that but they truly believed it. They believed that. Yeah, I can never play baseball physically, but coaching was equally as valuable as the player and I think that's such an important part of that as well. Example. But this has been incredible.
Speaker 1:I don't want to take up all your time today, but the last part I'd love for you to share with the listeners would be up all your time today, but the last part I'd love for you to share with the listeners would be this is a faith-based podcast. You know you've been serving God now for a long time, right With the worship team and everything like that. And what are some things that you do? You have so many titles. You do some. You know music with some other artists. You do music with the church. You're a mom. You know you're a wife, you're all these things, but how do you keep Jesus at the center of your life and all aspects of your life?
Speaker 2:Oh, what a great question. I think the honest answer is that I often fail at doing that. We all do and totally.
Speaker 1:And I think you're the first person. I'm so glad you answered that I've done. I think this will be episode seven or eight, depending on when this gets uploaded. You're the first one that, in my opinion, honestly answered it.
Speaker 2:I mean it was a friend and I think that is awesome.
Speaker 2:I just don't want anyone to listen to our conversation today and think that they are a bad Christian because they're not able to always keep Jesus in the center of their life. If we were, if we were able to keep Jesus in the center of our life all the time, we wouldn't need him, we wouldn't need God's constant presence in our life, because we have it all figured out, because when we do have Jesus in the center, we're our healthiest. When we have Jesus in the center, we have it all figured out, because when we do have jesus in the center, we're our healthiest. When we have jesus in the center, we're our strongest, um, when we have jesus in in the center, we are. Our desires are most aligned with god's desires for us, right, um?
Speaker 2:So all I can say honestly is that because okay, you might not know this about me, and I'm I'm just now starting to really talk about it more publicly than just with my close friends is that I struggle with a lot of depressive thoughts, and it's often the people that have the most joyful spirits and the most outgoing personalities that struggle with those things, which is why I'm trying to be a lot more open about it.
Speaker 2:There are days when it's really hard for me to get out of bed I don't even know why and there are days when it's really hard for me to do what I'm supposed to do as a mom or as any of my other roles. But if I, at the end of the day, can lay myself down at the foot of Jesus, ask him one for forgiveness and ask him to to just give me a little kick in the butt that I need, cause we all need it sometimes, and to remember that at some point in my life I was praying for the things that I have now, yeah, your past season is a current blessing Past season the current blessing Exactly, and sometimes God just does the rest.
Speaker 2:I think surrounding yourself with people that aren't always just going to tell you what you want to hear, but sometimes definitely tell you what you need to hear, is a really big one. Praying for the hard things is a really big one. There's been times when someone has told me, hey, you should pray for this, and I have straight up said I do not want to. They're like, sometimes the prayers you don't want to pray, the most important ones, those are just. Those are just some ways that I that I do my best to keep Jesus in the center of all those things.
Speaker 2:It's so hard, it's so hard, it's so hard. This world we live in is like so hard because we're we're being thrown things at us constantly Challenges, distractions, just all sorts of things. But it's amazing how, when you are chasing after what God wants for your life and when you are doing the things that he wants you to do and he's called you to do, then His voice can be the loudest and His voice can start drowning out all those other distractions. So I think if you're struggling with your walk with Christ, or if you're struggling with hearing God's voice in your life and keeping Jesus in the center of your life. Pay attention to who you're listening to, because God's voice will never leave you. It will always be the loudest. It just depends on how much you're willing to listen and how much you're willing to hear.
Speaker 2:So, pay attention to what he's telling you and what he's sharing with you in this season of life, because, even if it's the hardest season that you've ever faced and you feel the furthest from God that you've ever been, he's never been far from you. In fact, he's right there and he's so close to you. It's like we said before sometimes, if you're asking God for these opportunities but you can't say yes, then how is he supposed to give them to you? You know. So if you are, if you're struggling in your faith and and you want to be close to Jesus, but you're not, you're not doing things that pull you closer to Jesus, you can't have both, you know.
Speaker 1:I wish I.
Speaker 2:I wish I had a way to say it in more of a nutshell way that will suit the gram better, Cause I know that's what it's about. But that's just my honest answer. I know I love it.
Speaker 1:It's not about the gram, it's about you know, whatever, whatever's on your heart. No, this is awesome, um, and just you know to. To give some people a little perspective how long have you been a follower of Jesus, like when? How old were you when you gave your life?
Speaker 2:oh, that's a great question. Um, I'm one of those people who I don't have one of those definitive moments that I gave my love to Christ. I was blessed in my upbringing to where my parents raised me in the church and raised me following Jesus. At some point it became my own and I would say it was my, if not when I turned 20, in that area I got baptized when I was 19 at Central and that was the first time that I remember making my own decision of faith.
Speaker 2:I've always had faith. I've always believed in Jesus and identified as a Christian. You know. But, sometimes it takes.
Speaker 1:that's why baptism school is because it does take a public declaration and an internal decision to choose to dedicate your life to Jesus 1,000%, and the reason I like to ask that question is, you know, following Jesus is a journey right and some of the things that you may practice now, it may have taken you the past eight years right to grow in that right and I know for me, I for me. I was like 14 when I think I did a salvation prayer and I got baptized, actually in March of this year, by AJ.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I saw that.
Speaker 1:And so shout out AJ. But the point of bringing that up is to the listeners. It's like, like Chloe said so well was like don't take some of these things as discouragement, take it as encouragement. That you know for me you know I don't have it all figured out, but I've been journeying with Jesus now seven, almost eight years and you know Chloe's you know eight years, even longer grew up in a family, you know that, raised her in the church.
Speaker 1:But the point is is these things don't happen overnight, right? These habits that we implement in our lives to help us get closer to God, this isn't an overnight thing and throughout our lives we will get convicted on different things. God will say, hey, look like, yeah, you did great on this, you helped transform this part of your life, or I helped you transform this part of your life. Now let's work on X or this Y and then Z, right? Whatever the case may be, and that's my encouragement to the listeners there, based off Chloe just said, which was awesome. So the last three questions would be what's one thing maybe it doesn't have to be anything crazy, but what's one thing some people don't know about you and what your three favorite? What are your three favorite hobbies, and then what are some maybe projects or something that you've been working on that people could look forward to in the future that's fun.
Speaker 2:I feel like I've given a couple snippets of things that people don't really know about with, like, my past, um, being in acting and stuff like that. I'm such a random person that I'm sure I have a million things that people don't know about me. I really really Okay no wait, that's kind of a weird one. Christian, what's something people may not know about me? See, he's laughing Like that's a funny question for me. Hold on.
Speaker 2:Give me one second no, you're good, I just have a little shirtless child right here. Let's see Something people may not know about me. Yeah, see, he's bringing up my acting and stuff like that. Okay, that's a good one. One thing, that one thing people may not know about me is that I was on um an episode of disney with zendaya really uh and bella thorne, but no one knows who that is anymore. Zendaya is the star now yeah um when I was 16 I was on an episode of her show shake, shake it Up, yep.
Speaker 2:So that's a really funny one.
Speaker 1:That's wild.
Speaker 2:What was the next question?
Speaker 1:What's like three hobbies? Like what are your three?
Speaker 2:Oh yeah yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:What are your three favorite?
Speaker 2:Oh, that's fun, because hobbies can also be things that people don't know about me. Yeah, some of my main hobbies are running and fitness. Okay, it's a huge one that I Sorry. Dan, you're the best, you're literally the best Running and fitness.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:It's actually a huge thing that helps me mentally as well if I find myself in a rut. Anything you can do to get that dopamine in check and those endorphins going, huge help.
Speaker 1:Yes, baby.
Speaker 2:I am talking to my friend, dan, coach Dan, she just woke up from her nap. Another thing, okay, another hobby and thing that people don't know about me is my affinity for bowling. When I was a teenager, I was on a bowling team and I won a tournament. Hobby and something and thing that people don't know about me is my affinity for bowling. When I was, when I was a teenager, I was on a bowling team and I won um a tournament in the midwest, a pepsi tournament okay like I got some bowling trophies really up in my uh in my attic.
Speaker 2:For sure you'll bowl now and I mean just like that's just for fun, where are going. We are going to the gym after this. Okay, and Target. I'm almost done, guys. I'm almost done with my podcast. Yeah, you're going to be done, you're good, okay, oh, that's a good one, I'm here. Yes, baby, I'm the one too. Okay, can you give me five minutes and then I'll be all done? No, can you get her a snack while she waits for me? Five minutes, and then you can take my phone.
Speaker 1:Yeah, go ahead, take it, have fun. Love you. Sorry about that. No, you're great, this is awesome, awesome, um, and then yeah, bowling, bowling, and then another one.
Speaker 2:Oh, my favorite thing in the world is to travel. I have, like I have, the biggest travel bug of anyone you will ever meet. As we are standing right now, before it even gets to the month of August, I have five trips planned, so like I will just up and go at any given time and it's I absolutely love it. I always have like my suitcase there like ready, and I get that from my mom. She is so spontaneous. Oh, and then, sorry, one last thing, because it's something I didn't share, is that I'm half Vietnamese, and that's something that I absolutely love about myself. My mom is from Vietnam. She came here when she to the states when she was 10 and, um, that's a huge part of my culture that I'm really proud of is my Vietnamese heritage. So my kids are a quarter Filipino, a quarter Vietnamese and then 50% Caucasian.
Speaker 1:Wow, that's so cool. Love that. And then, last thing, is there anything you want to share with before I pray us out with, like the? Maybe a project, a song or something that maybe people you know want to tune into? Shout out your platforms Instagram, spotify.
Speaker 2:You know what? Not really, dan. Okay, I'm not really working on anything right now, which is okay.
Speaker 2:That's okay, and it's kind of what I need to do right now. You're good, but the thing about being an artist and being a creative person is that that can change, just like that. So, yes, I am on spotify and all those things. It's all under my name, chloe sagum. Um, listen, no fire. Yeah, oh, it's so much fun, it's so much fun, but a big part of my, my music journey is just being here to actually support my brother-in-law's music journey. Have I told you about him at all? He's like, uh, he's an artist, a music artist.
Speaker 2:Um, his name is connor price yeah, and his brother-in-law yeah, he's married to my sister, wow so a big part of my life. Yeah, I didn't know the relationship okay yes, so he lives down the street from me and a lot of what me and my siblings do is all just to kind of support his music, which is so fruitful, and he has an incredible platform.
Speaker 2:He only does clean music because of his son and my kids, and that's something that I really respect and admire about him.
Speaker 2:So a lot of what we do music wise is to to support him, which is really cool. But there was also one thing I wanted to say before, um, before you pray us out, dan, and that is that, um, something I wanted to encourage because a part of my story and a part of my testimony that I think I would have shared had I not jumped around so much mentally earlier. A big part of my journey is, you know, when you accomplish things from a young age or when you have walked in faith for pretty much your whole life and you don't really have a quote-unquote testimony, that can be kind of challenging, um, because it's kind of it just kind of looks and feels like you have your life all together and you don't really have your own story of what people consider a story. Um, that is the, the light at the end of the tunnel, the, the big shift of when you got down on your knees and you cried out to God and he rescued you from the dark place.
Speaker 2:And if that's you and you're listening to this and you aren't sure if you have a testimony or you've kind of had one of those lives that you've just always done, the next thing that you're supposed to do, I want to encourage you that, whatever it is that God could be testing you with now or testing you with in the future, there's a line in one of our Central Life songs that's God turned this test into a testimony because you never, ever know what it is that you could be going through now or you're going to walk into that God's going to use for his glory, and that could even just be something like starting over in an aspect of your life.
Speaker 2:This day and age, we look at accomplishments as winning a Grammy, doing something crazy, buying a car, becoming a homeowner. Sometimes it's those small victories, sometimes as small or as big as just starting over, that God can use either in your life or in someone else's life. So if you have ever faced anyone at all, that was just something that just popped up onto my heart, my little heart right now.
Speaker 1:No, that is awesome. I'm so glad you mentioned that and I'll just throw this bit in there, because I say this all the time to people, because people are drawn to me and be like man, you must have it so hard. I never compare my testimony, my walk, my journey, to anybody else, because whether you have, you know, battle with depression, anxiety, you know, maybe other mental illness like mental illness, you know, and not mental health necessarily, but even mental illness, right, right, and I think just we got to do a better job and worry about our walks with Jesus and not beat ourselves down by comparing and realize this is a journey with God and that you're so significant, just like the other individual, and your life is worth fighting for and it is. You have a calling, you are worthy, you are chosen, you are loved, right, and I think that's so important.
Speaker 1:And the second that we get to compare, that's when we start to then doubt, that's when the enemy will steal our joy and the enemy will say, like you said, you don't have a testimony, you don't have these things. So, to all the listeners, when you hear me talk, this is just based on hardships that I've experienced, but I'm not by any means saying that I've been through it all or that I've experienced everything, because I promise we all have our own testimony, our own battle, and it doesn't mine's just. You can see it, and you talked about your son earlier, right, and his, his disability, right, but that you can't see, but you can see mine. So people automatically go, wow, okay, you must have it hard, but you have no clue because you can't see other people's stories. And so we, as followers of Jesus, need to do a great job of loving people where they're at and not judging them in their stories. And you know, don't compare, compare and do the best with what God's?
Speaker 1:giving, and I'm so glad you touched up on that, because that's something I'm really passionate about. But, dude, me too.
Speaker 2:Absolutely the whole, you people don't? People only know what's right in front of them.
Speaker 1:They have no idea what's going on behind closed doors, and that's actually a huge way that I that, like my son, has taught me how to kind of reframe how I view people Cause everyone's a child of God, even the people that give us a really hard time.
Speaker 2:Oh, they are. They are a child of God. And when someone flips you off or cuts you off in traffic, when someone just gives you the absolute worst customer service you've ever believed and a Chloe in a past life, life man would go off on them and give them give them a piece of my mind.
Speaker 2:But you know what. You just never know what burden they are bearing and you never know. So just like, okay, there's this really cool um pastor named julie richard and I looked at her for a lot of parenting little tidbits and she says that something she's always taught her children, but it's something that you can as a follower of Christ. Practice every day is before you react. You know, wait, wait, wait before you can respond or react. Hold on, give me a second, you think first and then you respond. The human, the human instinct is just to respond and react. But if you take a second, you stop and you think before you respond. Yeah, it's amazing how much smarter and more helpful that response can be one thousand percent, one thousand percent.
Speaker 2:Just think about when you're out and about and a stranger gives you a compliment or has a kind word or something to say to you. God bless those strangers, because it makes a huge difference in my life and it inspires me to do the same to others. I'm just trying to be a better person, dan, that's all I can really do Amen, aren't we all?
Speaker 1:Are we good At the end of the?
Speaker 2:can really do. At the end of the day, that is truly all I can offer is just to try my best to be a good person.
Speaker 1:That's awesome. Well, I just want to thank you again for hopping on here sharing some amazing your story. You know what you do on a day-to-day basis and you're just an amazing person and I can't wait to see what what duke and your daughter and the family's got in store in the future and and you got a following from us now in this group of people to excited to uh see what's in store for you all. But, um, like I said, thanks again. I know you're busy and uh, we'll just pray us out here and um, give god the glory, let's do it.
Speaker 2:Sounds good.
Speaker 1:Dear Heavenly Father. God, we just want to thank you for this opportunity today. God, we just thank you for being able to you know, talk about our stories, our journeys, and pray that we just was able to resonate with maybe just one listener today. God, one thing that we said if they could maybe change your heart and mind to ultimately feel better about themselves and who you have created them to be, god, we just thank you for the things that we've had to experience so we could learn the wisdom that you have given us so then, ultimately, we can help others journey through their circumstances.
Speaker 1:God, god, I pray for all the unspoken prayers and Chloe and her family and even all the listeners' lives. God, god, we know you know our hearts. We know that, even the things we don't say, you know what we need in this moment and I just pray for all our listeners and Chloe's family and just lift whatever burden may be going upon them and just, lord, that you just remind me that they're loved and you're with them and we just thank you and praise you for all the things you have done, everything you will do and everything you are doing. In Jesus' name, I pray, amen.
Speaker 2:Amen. Thanks, Coach McCarty.