Anchored by the Sword, 936 W Maple St, Hartville, OH (2026)

09/09/2026

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.” — Isaiah 43:2

Notice God doesn’t say if you pass through the waters.
He says when.
And He doesn’t promise that the water won’t be deep.
He promises that He will be there.

That’s one of the verses Lauren Burns shares that has kept her anchored through an unbelievable story of kidnapping, rescue, father wounds, forgiveness, and healing.
Whatever your “water” looks like today…
He sees you.
He hasn’t forgotten you.

And you are not walking through it alone.

Hear Lauren’s full story on this week’s the Anchored by the Sword podcast at this link or wherever you listen to podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0lysTF6SQDhSfC2DM1XZ44?si=LHFVA0ZBSJSH0MJFSnLIx

09/08/2026

,Y’all…this one is a WOW episode.

Today on the Anchored by the Sword podcast, I’m talking with Lauren author of *Stolen: A True Story of Kidnapped, Rescued, and Redeemed*.

At just seven years old, Lauren thought she was spending an extra night with her dad. Instead, he took her from Texas to Jordan without her mother’s knowledge.

For three months, Lauren wondered when—or if—she would ever see her mom again.

What she couldn’t see was that her mother was fighting for her back home.

Calling.
Searching.
Fasting.
Praying.

And while everything looked impossible, God was already moving behind the scenes.

People were being positioned.
Connections were being made.
A rescue was already being put into motion.

But friend…Lauren’s physical rescue was only the beginning.

In this episode, we also talk about the wounds no one could see afterward—the betrayal, fear, father wounds, unforgiveness, and the question she eventually had to wrestle with:

**“God, I know You’re real…but are You good?”**

This conversation is about rescue, yes.

But it’s also about healing.
Surrender.
Forgiveness.
Prayer.
Obedience.
And trusting God when you cannot see what He is doing.

🎙️ This episode is available now using this link or wherever you listen to podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0lysTF6SQDhSfC2DM1XZ44?si=LHFVA0ZBSJSH0MJFSnLIxA

And trust me…you’re going to want to hear this one.

09/03/2026

What if someone else’s miracle is connected to your yes?

This week on the Anchored by the Sword podcast, I’m talking with Zahara McCoy, founder of Children of Grace, and her story is one you do not want to miss.

After losing both of her parents as a child in Uganda, Zahara’s future felt uncertain.

Then one person chose to sponsor her.

One yes.
One act of love.
One life changed.

And now Zahara is turning around and doing the same for children who are walking through circumstances she understands firsthand.

One thing she said really stayed with me:

She wasn’t just rescued FROM something.

She was rescued FOR something.

Whew. 💛

Sometimes we look at the needs around us and think, “What can I really do?”

Maybe you can’t help everyone.

But you can help one.

And your yes may be the very thing God uses to remind someone else that they are seen, loved, and not forgotten.

🎙️ Listen to this week’s episode of the Anchored by the Sword podcast wherever you listen to podcasts or by clicking this link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5MVRI3J3T34R6suNURabsu?si=nAV7rOOBT9iwAkq2QDwGHg

“Take heart; I have overcome the world.” — John 16:33

08/26/2026

Have you ever thought, “I know I need to pray more…” but life is busy, your mind is going a million directions, and prayer starts feeling like one more thing you’re not doing well?

🙋‍♀️ Me too.

This week on the Anchored by the Sword Podcast, I’m talking with author emilywickham.author about her book Closer to God: A 10-Week Study on Prayer and the beautiful reminder that:

Prayer is relationship—not obligation.

God isn’t asking us to perform for Him or hit a certain number of minutes. He wants our hearts. We can come to Him at home, in the car, in the middle of a busy day, or even when we don’t have the words.

Emily and I talk about trusting God instead of trying to figure everything out ourselves, the power of praying for others, and why prayer should never be considered “all we can do.”

Prayer is powerful. And God invites us to come close. ❤️

And that ties so beautifully into what we’ll be talking about at this year’s Anchored in His Promises Women’s Workshop.

When we truly believe God is faithful to His promises, prayer changes. We stop praying from a place of panic and begin praying from a place of trust—knowing the One we are talking to is faithful, present, and able to hold everything we bring Him.

Saturday, November 14, 2026
9:00 AM–3:30 PM
The ONE Center for Leadership

Our theme comes from Hebrews 10:23:

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”

🎙️ Listen to this episode using this link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5LUxEzgDssS9eTgpimnZAA?si=tvlHa9NvTwi7hafs3emk0g or wherever you listen to the Anchored by the Sword Podcast.

And if you’re ready for a day of worship, encouragement, connection, and being reminded of the faithfulness of God, I would LOVE to see you at Anchored in His Promises this November! Head to https://www.anchoredbythesword.org/event-list for more information and to register.

08/19/2026

We’re BACK! 🎙️❤️

After a much-needed week of rest, reflection, and allowing God to work on some things behind the scenes, the Anchored by the Sword Podcast is officially back—and honestly, I think God knew exactly what conversation I needed to come back with.

Today, I’m joined by Melissa Miller, author of the newly released book, But I Prayed for This: What to Do When Living in God’s Yes Is Harder Than You Expected.

Have you ever prayed and prayed for something, watched God finally answer that prayer, and then found yourself thinking…

**“Wait… I prayed for this. So why is this so hard?”**

Because SAME.

Sometimes we assume that if God says yes, everything will suddenly be easy. But what happens when the answered prayer comes with change, exhaustion, uncertainty, grief, adjustment, and a whole lot of dependence on God?

That’s exactly what Melissa and I unpack in this episode.

We talk about:

Why an answered prayer doesn't always feel the way we expected
The guilt and shame that come with thinking, “I should be happier”
What it means to hold grief in one hand and gratitude in the other
Melissa’s four seasons of blessings: blooming, building, balancing, and bittersweet
Finding safe people who will listen without trying to fix everything
Why self-care and self-compassion can actually be biblical
How to stay anchored when everything around you is changing
And the beautiful reminder that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8)

If you've ever found yourself struggling in a season you prayed for, this conversation is for YOU.

Click this link to tune in or go to wherever you listen to podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2tOyKjQumgk13SMxT3FOZM?si=gkYAspPKS3yrQwrk91HMOQ

We're back, friends.
Let's get anchored.

08/04/2026

Some stories leave you speechless.

This week's guest, Katie Mathews, , was just 16 years old when a tragic car accident left her a quadriplegic. Doctors told her what she would never be able to do.

But God had a different story to write.

Today, Katie is an author, speaker, life coach, and co-founder of Limitless Journey, helping others discover freedom by renewing their minds in partnership with God.

We talked about gratitude, healing, taking every thought captive, overcoming a victim mindset, and why your circumstances never determine your worth.

If you've been battling fear, anxiety, discouragement, or the lies that tell you you're not enough, this episode is for you.

Listen now wherever you get your podcasts or by clicking this link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2qfHl6HZLkogWVmh4y5DI4?si=e7BQMfoXTo6dwdZI7cKSKw

07/28/2026

Some stories simply leave you speechless...

This week's episode of the Anchored by the Sword Podcast is one of those conversations.

JT Tapias shares an unbelievable testimony—from growing up in a Colombian mafia family... to homelessness on the streets of New York... to playing professional soccer in Europe... to building a successful business while secretly battling addiction, depression, and suicidal thoughts.

And then...
Jesus stepped in.

His story is a beautiful reminder that no one is too far gone for God's grace.

We also dive into something we don't often talk about in the Church—our health. What does Scripture actually say about caring for our bodies? How do trauma, identity, and our relationship with food intersect with our faith?

This conversation challenged me, encouraged me, and reminded me once again that God desires transformation in every area of our lives.

Listen wherever you enjoy podcasts or by clicking this link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5azWQuIzS9xtTuIZ3U28Ks?si=ttpATV99SrexMLX-n7mxEQ

I'd love to hear what speaks to your heart after you listen!

07/24/2026

On this week's episode of the Anchored by the Sword Podcast, I’m joined by , who shares her journey after being diagnosed with two types of breast cancer and how God taught her to anchor herself—not in fear, statistics, or a medical label—but in the truth of His Word.

We talk about:
*Finding peace in the middle of uncertainty.�
*Why our identity must always be rooted in Christ.�
*The power of speaking God's promises over our lives.�
*Holding fast to hope, even when life feels overwhelming.

One statement from Gail that really stuck with me is this:
"A diagnosis may describe what your body is experiencing, but it does not define who you are."

Whether you're facing a health battle, walking alongside someone you love, or simply need a reminder that God's promises are greater than your circumstances, I pray this conversation encourages you that no matter what you're facing today, your identity is found in Jesus—not your circumstances.

Listen now wherever you get your podcasts or by clicking this link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4gbT8a7s1NiB0LbdnCHZxH?si=Fyz8qt7KScmSD6mHcgjhUQ

I'd love to hear what spoke to your heart most after listening.

07/22/2026

Can Christians use AI…and if so, how?

This week’s conversation is one that every believer needs to hear.

I’m so excited to welcome mistyphillip back to the podcast! 💙

The last time Misty joined me was all the way back in Episode 29, and so much has changed since then—including the rapid rise of Artificial Intelligence.

Together, we’re diving into questions that so many of us are asking:

✨ Is AI good or bad?
✨ Should Christians be using it?
✨ How do we protect our children?
✨ What about privacy, deepfakes, and digital footprints?
✨ How do we stay rooted in God’s truth while living in an AI-driven world?

One thing we both agree on…

Technology should never replace our relationship with God.

AI can be an incredible productivity tool, but it should never replace prayer, biblical wisdom, discernment, or authentic community.

As believers, we’re called to be informed—not fearful. Discernment has never been more important than it is today.

This conversation challenged me, encouraged me, and reminded me that our greatest source of wisdom will always be the Holy Spirit—not artificial intelligence.

🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts or by clicking this link: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UZScXao2zUHZ1m8cH8GiA

I’d love to hear your thoughts after you listen!

Do you use AI? Has this new technology made you excited…or cautious? Let’s have an honest conversation in the comments. 💙⚓️

Anchored by the Sword

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