May 28, 2023 • 56 mins
Your host Shyra DeJuan! Has a light hearted, serious and funny interview session with special guest Mrs. Christyan Pender. Christyan has trusted Mind Elevation Health and Wealth as the podcast platform to share her passion as a Recording Artist and Author of Abide Prayer Journal. We will learn about how she uses her creativity to step into her purpose, teaching others to journal, pray and share the gospel with her beautiful voice.
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Abide Prayer Journal By: Christyan Pender
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
some people will say I don'twrite, or I don't have the words
(00:03):
or journaling doesn't work forme.
That's why I do disagree with,is that journaling actually.
Can work for everybody.
I think journaling is a great.
Way to express yourself, even ifit's, you just write one word
down or you draw, or you expressyourself in a way, outwardly on
paper.
I would say, number one is.
(00:25):
The only person that can hold meback is me If you've ever seen
guardians of the galaxy.
the raccoon he says ain't no onelike me sent me.
And so.
I feel like I have what theworld needs, that everyone like.
And he sent me Oh, oh, smileschampions.
(00:50):
Welcome to mind.
Elevation health and wealth.
I am your host Shira DeWinechampions.
This session, we have a specialguest Mrs.
Christian Pender.
I am so excited about thissession because sunflower
Christian has trusted mindelevation health and wealth as
the podcast platform to shareher passion as a recording
(01:12):
artist and author of abideprayer journal, we will learn
about.
How she has used her creativityto step into her purpose
teaching others to journal prayand share the gospel with her
beautiful voice session 19interview with artists and
author christian penderChristian is a wife and mother
(01:34):
of two young boys.
She has a love for encouragingbelievers to know Jesus and
build their relationship withGod, the father in a deep and
intentional way.
She enjoys the outdoors, singingand spending quality time with
friends and family.
Christian has a heart for prayerand discipleship.
She has passionate aboutteaching people, how to pray and
give everything to the Lord inprayer and pursuit of growing
(01:57):
the relationship with the Lord.
She holds a bachelor's degree inkinesiology, but God has called
her to work in discipleshipministry.
By building and cultivatingrelationships.
With women as they grow theirfaith in Christ.
Christian has all of color andexcitement.
And believes her life's purposeis to serve that, serve people
(02:19):
and spread the love of Jesus.
Follow her on Instagram atsunflower Christian that's S U N
F L O w E R C H R I S T Y a N.
Christian.
How are you?
I'm great.
How are you?
It is awesome to have you onmind elevation health and wealth
(02:39):
today.
Because we are here to promoteyour new books.
Yes.
You have just recently,published journals, prayer
journals.
So, why did you decide to createthe right of journals?
Yes.
So first off, thank you forhaving me.
I'm so excited.
I'm glad to hear.
(03:01):
yeah, so I decided to create theprayer journals because one,
prayer has been a really bigpart of my life.
And so I was praying and then Istarted to just journal my
prayers.
I was journaling, um, justthings that were happening in my
life.
And then I also sometimes would.
(03:22):
Feel like I needed to pray andrelease how I was feeling, but I
really didn't know where tostart or have the words.
And so I would just write itdown.
And so I knew that that wassomething beneficial for myself
and even.
Um, Omar and my husband would doit as well.
And so I just thought I wantedto create that and share that
with other people to see if itwould help, because for some
(03:44):
people they have the words towrite down, but don't really
know how to say it or how tospeak it.
So it's just been somethingbeneficial for me.
So I wanted to share.
All right.
So journaling.
was that also part of yourspiritual growth?
Yes, it was.
I have a journal, throughout myjust spiritual journey, just to
be able to see how my life waschanging and progressing and
(04:07):
just the things that I felt likeGod was speaking to me or doing
in my life.
Like I was able to write down myprayers and then see them be
answered.
And so that was really cool.
So prayer journaling just becamea really big part of my life.
There's a lot of differentjournal books out there.
People probably already have ajournal and books somewhere at
home.
Uh, what makes your pregnantjournal different?
(04:30):
Yeah.
So my journal is not just lying,so I made it so that it would be
structured to help the personjournaling, make it easier for
them to put their thoughts andtheir feelings on paper.
So, I actually have a littlechart above before you even
start journaling, you write thedate and then there's little
happy faces, smiley faces,crying, faces, and where you can
(04:52):
circle.
And it says, what's your moodtoday?
so that kind of helps you figureout because sometimes you can
sit down and want a journal.
You like.
I kind of feel indifferent or Ican't really put a word.
To how I feel.
And so I just have the pictureswhere you can circle and start
there.
So.
Like a mood tracker, like amoonshot.
So you're able to start withthat boot tracker and then next
(05:12):
the category is, for you tobriefly list the things that you
need to pray about.
So for me, what I found washelpful was I had all these
things on my mind.
And I'm like, I don't even knowwhere to start, you know?
And so being able to brieflymake lists of bullet points
helped me lay out.
Okay.
work was hectic.
I, had to cook or I had to dothis, or I have to do these
(05:34):
things this weekend.
So I'd be able to just listthose.
And then that will help me towrite it out.
In more detail on my actualjournal pages.
So what makes this journaldifferent from other regular
journals?
Is it creates this framework foryou to successfully journal.
and being able to expressyourself in a way that you feel
like you're able to just releaseit all, put it on paper, but it
(05:55):
gives you a framework.
I have to think about it.
that makes it a little differentbecause it sounds like it's not
as like a journal with all theselines where you're just writing
a paragraph of light.
It seems like there's likeduplex kind of section
categories, or like you say, youcan bully, right?
So.
And that is what makes itdifferent.
(06:16):
Yeah.
And there still are thosetraditional lies.
So you still get like four pagesas well of just why.
Um, so the, the way that it'sstructured is you open up the
page.
And there's going to be the moodtracker.
Then you get to briefly listwhat you want to write about or
journal about.
Then after that Eva asked you tolist what you're grateful for.
(06:37):
So it just brings in thatgratitude as well, because if it
is a down day, sometimes easierto focus on just those hard
parts.
So that gratitude as in like,okay, today was bad, but you
know, I got a chance to walkoutside and they make me feel
good.
So, so it just helps you kind ofbring in either your gratitude.
Once you flip over the page,there's a scripture at the top
(06:57):
of each.
First page first journal page sothat, you get to just learn more
about praying, learn more about,just like what Jesus said about
rain.
So there's those encouragingscriptures at the top of each
journal page at the beginning.
And then you have four pages tojust write it out.
Okay.
What if there is a scripture.
(07:19):
Which one.
Would you talk about today inlife that may have been a
motivation or an encouragementfor you and creating your prayer
journal?
Yes.
although I'm created for prayerjournals and that all are.
structurally the same as thethings that I just listed.
but they're just differentcolors and such.
but all of them are calledabide, prayer journals.
(07:41):
And the reason I named themabide was because there's a
scripture, that is John 15 four.
And so each of those journalshave that on the cover and on
the first page, I actuallytalked to you about what abiding
means.
So the definition of abide is,is a verb.
So it means to remain or to stayor to live or to dwell.
(08:02):
I chose that because there's ascripture, John 15, 3, 4, that
talks about that.
And so that's just the meaningof, uh, by itself.
And so it's talking about justremaining and living in Jesus.
And journaling.
Prayer journal.
It can keep you in that.
Yes.
So you chose that word I think,yes.
(08:24):
Yeah, I like that.
The other question I have foryou is.
I like to ask this questionbecause a lot of times.
mindset is just a One way.
I can't do that.
I don't know how to do that.
Or I tried that and it didn'twork right.
And when we are thinking aboutmine, elevation.
Thinking about ways that we canlearn and grow.
(08:46):
And shift our mindset.
To being able to do right.
So what is a commonly heldbelief about journaling?
That you passionately disagreewith?
Um, I would say some people willsay I don't write, or I don't
have the words or journalingdoesn't work for me.
(09:06):
And so I think that's why I dodisagree with, is that
journaling actually.
Can work for everybody.
I think journaling is a great.
Way to express yourself, even ifit's, you just write one word
down or you draw, or you expressyourself in a way, outwardly on
paper.
I passionately believe thatgenerally is going to be
(09:29):
effective for everybody.
So that's a way to expressyourself.
And private.
It is.
And it's a good space for,reflection.
So that space for, to lookintrinsically, and just being
able to just write down, like,that's why I say gratitude,
(09:50):
right?
Sometimes we can, if life isgoing bad is easy to focus on
just the bed.
But, just having that mindset ofokay, let me just even write
down what I'm grateful for.
When you write it down, it helpsyou to remember these things
that are happening.
You're able to read it.
And as also kind of putting inthat belief and then just also
(10:11):
writing stuff down, and you'reable to look back on that
mindset or look back on thosethings you are grateful for, or
look back on how your life haschanged over the past a year,
you know?
so yeah.
Oh, even if you're not a writer.
Well, because I think somepeople's mind is, oh, if you're
going to be journaling, you'rewriting a novel.
Even if you're not a grinder andthis prayer journal, you don't
(10:35):
have to be around or you don'thave to write paragraphs.
You want to just jot down threethings of gratitude, right?
Absolutely.
What bring you back to,Remembering what you're grateful
for in that day, in thosemoments.
Even on the bad day.
Absolutely.
And I.
It's so interesting because Ijust remembered this maybe not
too long ago, but even when Iwas like in middle school and
(10:57):
high school, even younger thanthat, I would just write down
stuff or I would just open up anotebook and just draw what I
was feeling, you know, like whenI was in elementary school, even
high school.
So I think, and even now I willwrite down, like I'm frustrated.
I try like a stick figure, youknow?
Or something like that.
I think journaling, it can comein so many different forms.
It doesn't have to be this likeone size fits all type of thing.
(11:21):
It really just comes down tolike, how do you need to express
what you're feeling now?
And put it on paper at thattime.
I just open up your journal andcircle.
Saturdays today.
Yeah, because it may take you aday or so to process.
Why you were sad, you go open upthe journal.
I'd be like, man, the other dayI was sad and now I know what it
(11:44):
was like I was triggered or, orwhatever, you can always come
back in and figure out what wasgoing on, or you can use another
day or another way to journal.
It's just completely up to you.
And I'm thinking, because I willbe purchased my book.
I have not purchased in yet, butI am going to be practicing it.
And I got to decide which coverI want.
As you said it comes indifferent colors.
(12:06):
What are the colors?
So there's four differentcolors.
I also have paperback versionsand hardback versions of each
color.
So there's one color.
and all four of them havedifferent designs as well.
So one color is black and red.
One color is blue and white.
One color is like a pink.
Purple blue.
(12:26):
It's pretty.
And then the other one is ablack, gold and gray.
Okay.
I like that.
Okay.
I like the pink and purple.
But I thought for sure, sinceshe loves sunflowers, And I
didn't do.
Not everybody loves.
(12:48):
And I actually have a couple ofother journals that I want to do
then know for sure.
I'll have a sunflower report.
But I think with the, you saidblack and gold.
Kind of masculine.
Uh, even if, uh, young malelisteners that listen.
Yeah.
Um, there is a masculine colorbook.
For years.
And now the work around with thejournal.
But as I'm listening to you talkabout it.
(13:12):
Because I'm a writer.
Um, I like writing poems.
Um, so I am glad there is alsostill a section for lines
because sometimes I can't justexpress my thoughts in any other
way, but in poetry, Or like, soif you're a song writer or if
you're.
Or if you have a creative mindand thought.
(13:33):
It sounds like.
The prayer journal would be goodfor that as well.
Oh, absolutely.
I agree.
And I mean, even for me, like, Ilove to sing, but I also love to
draw.
So a lot of my journaling is wejust drawing, you know, or, um,
just writing down even songsthat I love.
Maybe there's some lyrics as.
I stuck out to me and I'm like,I really feel this right now.
You know, that might be a partof my journaling as well.
(13:56):
I like that.
We want to learn more about you.
Um, I know you, I love you.
And that's why you're here.
And that's why I'm so gratefulthat you chose all platform to
share your journal.
Because a lot of my listenersare on a journey of healing.
(14:17):
And, journaling and writing andexpressing yourself as a part of
that healing journey.
I want to promote that.
So my audience to my listeners,and then I want them to have
good products.
And use for that.
And, to know more about thecreator of the prayer journal.
What is the best compliment thatyou've ever received?
(14:41):
Oh, Um, I think because I loveencouraging people.
I had a random stranger comingto me.
The DMV.
and I think I had justcomplimented the lady that was
in front of me.
It was a black lady area was socute.
And I was like, I love yourhair, you know?
And she's like, thank you.
And this random lady comes up tome.
(15:01):
She tapped me on the shoulderand she was just like, um, you
know, the type of person thatbrings joy to other people.
I know it was so sweet.
Got that beautiful smile.
It was just, it was justsomething and it was from like a
complete stranger.
Witnessed to me just be nice.
(15:22):
And I have genuinely loved oldgirl's hairs.
So.
Just witnessing me being nice tosomebody and I think, and it was
actually a rough day I washaving to, so I think her.
Saying that really just showedme that like the person that I
aspire to be.
Is actually impacted lives, youknow?
And so that, that was really bigfor me.
Oh, okay.
(15:42):
I want that kind of goes into,What makes you feel like your
best self.
Ooh.
Creating.
Okay.
And, Yeah, I think creating andencouraging people, it goes back
to that as well.
I think for such a long time,I'm not away from my creativity.
Like as a kid, I was alwayssinging and dancing and.
(16:08):
Angelo.
Everything's thinking anddancing and poetry.
And even in the third grade, Istarted writing books, just like
all these exports, all thesethings.
Yeah.
I was just really creative and Rgot away from that creativity.
And then in college I startedsinging and acting and modeling
(16:29):
and get it kind of inphotography.
You know, back into that.
I think.
That even now in my adulthoodand having children and having a
family, my husband now gettingback to that creativity with me,
creating the journals and.
You know, singing.
Yeah.
And doing.
These things.
and I'm gardening.
I started burning, you know, Ithink that is what really makes
(16:51):
me just feel myself, anempowered and.
Always been creative through myhair and you.
all those things.
So I just really want to pourinto that because that's what
makes me feel like my best self.
Oh, creative being creative.
Yes.
That's beautiful.
And I'm glad that you're able totap into your grades.
And then you're not doingsomething that you.
(17:12):
wouldn't.
want to see yourself doing.
Are being your best self.
For your best though.
Which is also allowing you to beyour best self for your friends
and your family.
Absolutely.
We are at our best.
And just sharing that energy.
You're sharing that love.
And, you can go from one dad.
(17:33):
Entry.
Exactly.
And I'm learning boundaries.
This was been really cool too.
I think that's what helps mefeel my best self.
Two is just boundaries and, andprotecting my mental health.
And because I love encouragingpeople in our pour out so much,
I've been in a place ofunderstanding that a part of my
healing as well is taken awaythat people pleaser mindset.
(17:56):
That can still be a part of meencouraging people and pouring
into people, but I still have topour it into myself.
So I think implementing that thecreativity, but also taking care
of myself.
I feel like I can conquer theworld like that when.
I feel like my uncle.
So, and I'm just speaking aboutsetting boundaries.
(18:17):
Uh, mind elevation.
Out the wealth episode about.
healthy boundaries and I am soglad that you brought that up,
during this, because.
I would like for you to give mean example of where you've set a
healthy boundary, whereas, youknow, your younger self probably
would have been afraid to say itbecause you would have been
(18:38):
afraid.
You want to hurt somebody isfeeling.
Or you would've been afraid thatsomebody is going to get mad at
you to set the boundary, butthere is a freedom in it.
Oh man.
Can you kind of give us atestimony of a time that you
recently.
I set a boundary and it helpsyou that gave you that mental
and emotional freedom.
Oh recently.
(18:59):
Okay.
No.
I have a very recent one.
So just, um, for me, my biggestboundary that I've said that
took a long time for me to gethere.
But it has changed.
My life is realizing there's somuch powers and now.
I used to be so afraid.
Like when people ask me to dosomething or they needed me or
(19:21):
whatever, I used to be so afraidof being like, no I can't or I'm
tired.
And I right now, Can I do itanother day, you know?
But now.
My phone is on, do not disturb.
And I'm just like, now I'm notavailable, but I am available on
Saturday.
Or, you know, I'm booked thisweek, just setting those
boundaries for myself, you know?
And it doesn't mean that I haveto necessarily have something
(19:43):
else booked in the evening, butmaybe that booking is I need to
be in a bed, you know?
that has been a big boundary ofsaying no.
So I think one.
Particular time.
That happened recently.
Oh, my grandfather go listen tothis.
I'm not going to say her name.
It was a night when.
As a safe space.
I know, I know, I know, but itwas a night where I think I had
(20:03):
already a plan to come home andmy mom had my oldest son and
then my baby was sleep and I'mlike, tonight, I'm going to come
home and start on my garden.
I'm gonna play some music.
That was just my time.
Right.
The house was quiet and I washome by myself.
And so as I'm driving home, AsI'm trying to home, my mom calls
(20:27):
me.
And so I'm just like, oh, wellI'm about to be home.
Like I'll, I'll call her back ina little bit.
So then I get home.
and then my other friend, shecalls me, I knew she was going
through a lot.
And so I didn't answer the phoneinitially because I already know
my mind.
I have my mind set on doingthis.
And I need to take care ofmyself, you know?
(20:48):
And so she calls me once.
I'm like, okay, I'll just haveto call her back.
Well, she calls me a secondtime.
I'm like, oh man.
Something must be wrong.
I answer the phone.
and she's like, Hey.
are you busy?
And I'm like, oh, the bank isasleep.
I'm about to put the baby down.
She's like, okay, cool.
And I thought that she was gonnabe like, okay, nevermind.
Like, whatever, by then, she'slike, What are you doing
tonight?
(21:08):
And I was like, oh, I'm gonnastart my Barden.
And she's like, oh, okay.
As I thought like, okay, thesecond time, that's the same
thing.
She's going to get it.
And she's like, well, can I comeover?
And I'm like, oh my gosh.
Already has the plan.
And my, for me, I was like,well, she's going through a lie.
I should probably allow her tocome over.
what she's going through is, wayworse.
(21:29):
So my personal time, that was mythought.
Right.
So I'm like, yeah, you can comeover.
Just give it about an hour.
Well, I get upstairs.
Get situated.
My mom comes over.
She drops off my son and I actmy mom laugh.
I'm just saying like, No, Ireally need this time to myself.
This is something that Iplanned.
(21:49):
I know she's having.
Time, but she'll probablyunderstand I'll be there for her
tomorrow.
So I'm just like going throughthis.
And so I finally, I called herand I'm like, Hey.
I hope you haven't headed thisway.
But I really need to raise.
I think I'm just going to taketonight, like, can I give you a
call tomorrow?
And, um, and you know, and herresponse was that's totally
fine.
(22:09):
I didn't even really want totalk anyways.
I just kind of wanted to bearound somebody say that.
You all myself, but I'll talk toyou tomorrow.
And I'm like, okay, cool.
I just felt so much.
I believe.
And just so much peace becauseone.
I got to have that time that Iplan to.
There was so much freedom andchoosing myself in that moment.
And then three, she wasn't evenpressed about it.
(22:30):
she was just like, okay, cool.
I totally understand.
I'll talk to you tomorrow.
You know, and so I think it kindof combated some of those, like,
I would be afraid that somebodywould be upset that I didn't do
it.
And then, also just the thoughtof that I have to put somebody
else before me because they needme.
Oh, no, she does it, you know,so it was just really cool.
(22:52):
Um, just having that space, butthat was very recent.
Yeah.
And I think that was always my.
problem with being afraid to sayno.
I was wonder if they reallymean.
Out there for them at the time.
Yeah, but that's where prayercomes in.
Yeah.
Sure.
This is one of my RESA.
Favorite prayer.
(23:13):
And I shared this, um, you know,the day was.
Now protect them in my absence.
That's good.
You know, And let it go.
Because at those moments whereyou can't be there and you, just
mentally or emotionally, can'tbe there.
Oh, God protect them in myabsence.
I can't be there, but he is.
And just know that he's in.
In protection mode, Absalom,because I would struggle with
(23:35):
that too.
Ah, they need me.
Ah, she's gone throughsomething.
If I say no, what if thishappens?
And we negatively sent all ofthis.
Through our own brains.
And really it's like, oh, well,I haven't really.
She was like, I just wanted tojust.
You know, or yeah.
I like that.
Yeah, it doesn't feel good.
I'm so free.
(23:55):
And I just had a great timelistening to music, playing a
mark Barden.
Um, now I'm seeing it sprout,you know, I know.
So that just was really cool.
And I remember even when I wasin college, one of my really
good friends and she was my.
mentor at the time, it reallydiscipled me.
(24:15):
Cause I was just new to thewhole world.
Faith journey, everything.
And I remember I would alwayscome to her when I needed
prayers.
But it was at a point where.
I was using her as kind of likemy hotlines, a guide.
And I realized that I have myown, you know, and you talked
about.
Now you help people learn toprice.
(24:36):
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
And so this was when I startedto realize, I have power in my
prayer too.
I don't have to go to somebodyelse to get it.
I can have Jesus on speed dialto.
I don't want to ask you thattoo.
And I remember when she saidthis to me and it just changed
my mindset so much in regard toprayer.
And in regard to the fact that Ihave my own individual
(24:57):
relationship with God.
And she had said, I love you.
And I don't mind praying foryou.
But you can't piggyback off ofmy faith.
And I wow.
Now me being now a more maturebeliever.
I understand why she said that,and at that time it was like a
(25:18):
hit of Dang.
That's deep.
Okay.
What do I do now?
But that really forced me toseek God for myself, and like
figure out like, what is, youknow, how do I praying?
What is this primary about?
And that's how I booked myrelationship individually with
that is, so now I see how guyskind of use it, me to help other
people do that.
Yeah.
And I, I think.
(25:39):
Personal prayer.
Yeah.
It's so Powerful.
There's times where I've put offprior.
And for a specific thing.
And then when I have no otheroption, but to pray about it.
And I'm just in tears.
And I'm just like move and I'mjust like move God.
Right.
(25:59):
I don't do what you do.
And.
Then those moments where we feellike.
We can't prey.
We do have that intercessoryprayer.
Absolutely.
Yes.
But I love that your friends atthat boundary, because I think
that also.
Set you on what you're doingnow.
Which is teaching people how toprank or teaching people how to
(26:22):
write in a prayer journal orcreating a prayer journal or
someone that.
You may not know what to say inpraying, but you can definitely
write it.
Absolutely.
Yeah.
And even to, one of the reasonsI don't have, I said this
earlier, but then I created theprayer journal is one, obviously
like to write down and expressyourself, but also to, because
(26:42):
prayer is just a huge part of mylife, you know?
And praying journaly is like abranch of that is another way to
pray.
But, prayer in general has justbeen a huge part of my life.
And, even like how you said inthose moments where you don't
even have the words to pray orwrite or whatever, I'm always
reminded of.
there's a scripture that saysthat the holy spirit intercedes
(27:04):
for us when we don't have warsthat are too deep for.
Groaning.
And so even when I don't havethe words, all I have is tears
and groaning and weeping.
it talks about how the holyspirit is the one that's
Interpreting that, to thatthat's translating that to
guide, and he intercedes on ourbehalf.
I just think that there's,there's just so many different
forms of prayer that, um, thatGod loves and he just wants us
(27:27):
to talk to him and.
and I just really want people toknow that power of prayer and
just how we can get ourrelationship with communicating
with God.
Yeah.
I believe that I believe that.
And there are many differentbelief systems.
And there may be a listener thathas never prayed or doesn't
believe in prayer.
But when you think about prayerfrom a different phase, It's the
(27:50):
same as manifesting.
Right.
Manifesting, whatever it is thatyou want into the universe or
to.
Who or whatever you praying to,When you have face.
And you are speaking or you aredesiring or you are manifesting
it's the same as pushing it.
(28:11):
Into fruition.
Yes.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Now, what do you wish youryounger self?
New.
Ooh.
Then adulting is hard.
I know that there's just somany.
(28:31):
When you're little, even now, asmy five-year old, what do you
want to be when you grow up?
And he thinks about the careersthat he's seen on TV or that
he's taught about, but when youbecome an adult, you see that
there's all these things thatyou can do and be, and become
and, pursue, I think one thing Iwould tell my younger self is
that the question, one thing Iwas talking about.
(28:52):
Do you wish your younger selfknew or.
Yeah.
Yeah, I think one that I wish myyounger self knew was speak to
that in a child.
Yeah, just that.
My imagination's not in vain.
You know, that is a part of me.
And those are things that cancome to fruition.
(29:14):
Oh man.
You really can't you reallycan't.
And even like in this day andage of like social media,
internet, There's just so muchstuff like so many things you
(29:35):
can do and, literally whereveryou aspire to be, you can become
that.
And, I think it's.
Easy to, bow with the bar ruleson, stay within these
boundaries.
But no, Linda.
Over to the next lane.
You can do whatever you want.
Yep.
So as a mentor, I had weldedquote years ago.
(29:56):
And I wrote.
You can be whatever you want tobe.
And if you tell me you want tobe a unicorn.
I'm going to help you find theperfect horn.
Yes.
Right.
It was like, You can really bewhatever you want to.
You want to be.
The little mermaid I'm going tohelp you find a fish tail.
(30:18):
Yeah.
Like, yeah.
We won't make it.
Yeah.
Yeah, that is with faith.
Yeah.
And even now, I love that you.
You had mentioned the littlemermaid in general.
Like when I was growing up, thelittle mermaid was this white
label.
Yeah.
(30:39):
So it's just even that, if I waslittle and I dreamed to be the
black little mermaid, literallynow in this day and age in 2023,
you could do, it'd be whateveryou want and you can write the
movie.
And it's about.
You can.
(31:00):
To whatever.
Now you are an odd.
No, this is so crazy that, andit just even, Like I said, just
being creative and singing andfalling back into that.
And now.
Artists.
(31:23):
apple music, apple music,Spotify.
And what's the name of yourfavorite song that they can
search up on my favorite.
Oh, but I like both of them.
Both of them.
And they find them on applemusic.
I'm going to put the links.
(31:43):
I think the couple of links thatapple music.
Podcast.
You probably hit.
So the links will be in mypodcast notes to, not only,
Christians.
But also to her.
Apple music.
As far.
Filings and your book can befound on Amazon.
(32:06):
It's on Amazon?
Yes.
Okay.
Yep.
So I'll put the Amazon links inthe podcast notes.
The.
apple music.
Or her, Um, and she's going toshare with her favorite song is.
Yes.
So I really like.
The song So we have two songs.
I would just like, I'll justshare the two songs that are out
(32:27):
right now.
Two songs.
Ones that are out.
So we have one is calleddistance.
and then we have another songcalled the way.
A lot of people I distancedcause it's more like upbeat, are
really wide in the way becauseit's more of like the R and B
vibe, but it's still isChristian music, but it's not
necessarily like gospel orcontemporary is more of if hob
(32:47):
and RTB.
The music.
Yeah.
And her voice is beautiful.
I downloaded them already on myapple music.
And my favorite.
(33:27):
Let's go.
anything else that you want toshare with the listeners about
your book or about your music,or just about you in general?
That we may not have been ableto talk about, but I know she
has a beautiful family and theyall look like me.
(33:48):
Um, but also being Christiansand being able to watch her grow
into just a wonderful all aroundbeautiful human.
has been a blessing.
And so I was excited.
She's surprised as with the bookI did.
I'm at work one day.
And y'all know I'm busy at workin my classroom when I get the,
um, and I actually, the reason Ihave not.
(34:10):
Or just yet, but I'm glad that Iwanted to do this interview
first.
Before I purchased it to makesure that I want to purchase it
and now I do want to purchaseit.
I want to purchase it anyway,just.
The support, but.
Anyways.
She's surprised that in ourfamily group chat oh, by the
way.
Published.
(34:30):
And.
Here's the link.
And, I'm at work, so I can'tactually do it.
I clicked the Hollings and Ididn't get a chance to it.
But the first thing I thought Iwas like, oh my gosh, I'm just a
promote.
the podcast, my elevation healthand wealth.
Uh, cast is a passion project.
And I just did it because Ilove.
(34:51):
sharing and I love sharing,things like the power prayer
elevating your mind, gettingyourself out of depression or
whatever, mental or emotionalinstability that you may be in,
so that you can prosper so thatyou can be wealthy so that you
can be healthy.
And promoting.
healthy music, healthy songs,promoting a prayer journal.
(35:13):
promoting a meditationpractitioner, that's what this
platform is for.
And that's what I'm allowing mygifts to be used for.
So, And it's what you neededbefore.
Support, printed vinyl.
Download.
distance on apple music orSpotify.
Download the song the way onapple music or Spotify.
(35:34):
And the name of the artist.
Then the descender is, yeah, soit was going to be under, I sang
it with also a rapper and hisname is Jay with ease.
So is J a Y.
W I T E Z.
And, and then my name Christian.
And that's C H R I S T Y.
(35:59):
Christian.
What a, why not?
Okay.
so I know I said earlier aboutmy creativity, how I was graded
as younger, and that kind oflost it for a little bit and now
I'm back to it.
Um, so I just want to encouragethe listeners.
If they feel like time haspassed and they haven't done
what they want it to do, or I'mtoo old to do this now, or other
(36:22):
people are doing it.
It's too late for me to start.
Those are all lies.
So.
Now for me to, have a husbandand have two children and I'll
be 32 this year.
I'm 31.
Um, for me, my mindset was like,by my thirties, I had to have it
all together and that's just nottrue.
I think now I'm realizing thatfor myself and I'm living in
that.
So starting the journals andstarting singing again and
(36:45):
recording songs and.
All of these things, it's nottoo late.
So I just wanted to encourageeveryone.
I know the day of social media,everybody's like, you know, how
to grind and hustle and, you gotain't no sleep.
You know stuff.
No rest.
But I need to be rested away.
(37:09):
And you only wear once.
And I was like, So it's just,don't get caught up in all of
that stuff, because we don'tknow what that life is like
behind the scenes, you know?
(37:30):
I just want to encourageeverybody to just go after what
it is that your heart's desireis.
And.
don't be discouraged by thethings that you see, or, if you
think too much time as fast orwhatever, whatever that, that
thing may be.
because now, um, I feel like I'mtruly walking in my purpose.
now, you know, So I'm justreally excited.
So I just want everybody to.
(37:51):
Yeah.
It feels good.
It is never too late.
Yes, even you now starting tospark.
I started.
43.
But I'm starting my teachingcareer.
So I was 35.
I remember.
Yeah.
I did a shift I just said, look,this is what I want to do.
This is what I'm passionateabout.
And I went forward.
(38:12):
I stepped out on faith and Iwent forward and I.
Made some financial sacrifice.
Emotional sacrifices.
moving away from familysacrifices.
But walking in my purpose.
was, my mission.
Yeah.
I love that.
Oh, this is the question I wantto ask everybody that I
(38:34):
interviewed.
Because.
All of our listeners arechampions.
Yes.
So.
What are three major mindsetbeliefs that make you a
champion?
These are good questions.
Okay.
I would say, number one is.
(38:55):
The only person that can hold meback is me.
because we can easily be in ourmind.
And, just the things I waspreviously talking about, that
is, is me to hold myself back.
So I just believe that I have agift that I can bring to the
world and nobody has, or nobodycan do this the way that I do
it.
There's things inside of me thatthe world needs that nobody else
(39:17):
can put out, the way I would doit, and If you've ever seen
guardians of the galaxy.
It's something, but there's theraccoon and he just beat.
Talking outside his name.
He just says whatever he wants.
And so, um, he says ain't no onelike me sent me.
And so.
(39:38):
I feel like I have what theworld needs, that everyone like.
And he sent me.
I like that.
And you're sharing.
Exactly.
Yes.
And then I would say the secondmindset belief.
Is, discouragement is the thiefof joy.
(40:01):
I think there was a season of mylife where I was just extremely
discouraged.
And when I was in thatdiscouragement, I was sad and
anxious and depressed, and Ididn't feel like creating.
I didn't feel like, I was ablessing to the world and it
stole my joy and it stole mypurpose, and so now I really try
to, one of the ways I try toevaluate where I'm at is I start
(40:23):
with, do you feel discouraged?
Because I think thatdiscouragement is literally seen
in a sprout to a whole bunch ofother things, so I really try to
check myself with that.
If I am feeling discouraged ordown, I immediately try to flip
it to something that fills mewith joy.
And that encourages me.
Yeah.
So I think that's what helps.
Me keep, um, keep moving.
So I just try my best to stay,encourage it, to keep my, my
(40:46):
mindful of positive things.
So even share writing my socialmedia to positive things.
Okay.
Yes.
Um, because even I've foundmyself on social media, I was
wiped and I would see people,you know, traveling or see
people doing things that Iaspire to do that I haven't
gotten to do that yet.
(41:07):
And it can easily plant a seedof discouragement and even doubt
and all these things.
And so I had to startunfollowing pages that made me
feel those negative ways.
I know you've talked about this.
Yeah.
Consumption.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I had to start unfollowingpeople.
and pages that made me feel thatway.
It goes, I get influence orwhatever.
(41:29):
if I got a negative feeling fromscrolling and looking at their
page, I needed some follow thembecause it is not even
necessarily.
I can maybe see that at anotherseason of my life or whatever.
I may not have those feelings,but in this season of my life is
that makes me feel negative ordown.
I wouldn't follow them.
And so then when I did what Iwould do now, is I would follow
(41:50):
pages like good news and likeall those things you don't want,
baby pages or Bobbi pages.
Or whatever that when I seethem, it brings joy, or I laugh
or smile, or I cried like happytears.
and I noticed even changing thatreally helps a lot.
and then the third one for me isa scripture.
it's seek first, the kingdom ofGod and his righteousness and
(42:11):
all these things will be addedto you.
And is Matthew 6 33.
for me, I really try to focus onthat because, um, my
relationship with God is veryimportant to me.
and I just believe that basedoff this scripture, and I
believe that as I pursued theLord and trust him with my wife
and my goals that he wouldprovide to me, the things I need
(42:32):
and he opened up doors that I'dnever be able to open up on my
own.
And so that's why prayer is soimportant.
And when it talks about seekersthinking, demote that, I believe
that is by submitting myrequests to the Lord and so
verses well, but submitting myrequests to the Lord and telling
him the things that I need and Idesire and what I aspire to be
in the goals and the things thatI want out of life, because he
(42:55):
truly cares and he provides, andhe opens up those doors for me.
it puts me in positions or hasdivine appointments with other
people.
There's things that I believethat God can do that I can't do
on my own.
And so that's definitely mynumber three.
So those aren't three mindset.
My lease of a real truechampion.
(43:18):
And her prayer.
And now you.
Can purchase short prayerjourneys.
Right.
Those angles.
And your prayer journal.
And you can listen to thispodcast again and write down
those three major mindsetbeliefs.
That make.
You a champion.
So once again, She can be found.
(43:41):
Go ahead and tell us where youare on Instagram.
Yes.
I'm on Instagram.
And my handle is sunflowerChristian.
So sunflower as in F L O w E Rand then my first name,
Christian, C H R I S T Y a N.
And then she's also on applemusic.
And Spotify is Or her musicdownloads and that's, one of the
(44:06):
songs is distance.
One of the songs is the way, andit can be down under j a Y.
W I T E Z.
So J.
Woody's.
And.
I'm creating a YouTube channel.
And yeah.
Use of channel will be up soon.
Yes.
And that will be still sunflowerChristian.
(44:27):
Are Christians.
And my elevation health andwealth is on YouTube now.
Uh, last week, I only have onesubscriber now I've got 100 or
so.
So she lists.
Please keep going to my YouTube.
And then now you can also go tosunflower Christians.
YouTube and you will be able tofind every single link in my
(44:50):
podcast notes.
So don't forget.
'cause not what you're doingright now.
If you're listening on yourphone.
And you can go to the podcastnotes and if you're on YouTube
already, you can go to YouTubenotes and just click on the
links.
And the notes and go directly tothe Amazon, page to purchase
the.
Are your journal.
Or go directly to the link andlisten to and download, the
(45:13):
songs.
and you can also search for herYouTube channel Christians,
YouTube.
Channel.
So all my handles are going tobe some.
I forgot.
I have.
Yeah.
Two times is also sunflowerChristian.
All of my handles are the same,so it was quick, easy.
(45:33):
Yeah.
Right.
So if you're on now, I'vemanaged my social media
consumption.
So I only watched it time ifsomeone sends me a two-time
video because.
Time goes by.
Yeah, that happened to me onetime in my life.
And I already knew.
This is not for.
(45:54):
So if someone sends me a Tik TOKvideo, I'll look or share as
well with me, I'll look at it.
But then I don't, I don'tscroll.
but Instagram.
Some are Christian YouTube.
Some are Christian.
Tick tock.
So far questions except for hersongs.
Are going to be, but pretty soonshe'll have an out mom.
And she's going to we havereally enjoyed this.
(46:22):
This was my first in-person.
Um, interviews.
So the energy.
So last, I think.
I guess we could feed off ofeach other.
Energy.
And it feels good.
I just feel like 10 times, like.
Higher.
I know.
I agree from being able to sharethis.
(46:43):
I always felt that way and shecooked for me.
So.
I got the phone.
I'm going to interview you, butI have to come to your house and
you have to know.
Yes.
And food.
So follow her.
You can also be able to see howher garden is going to just
start out her garden.
(47:04):
So if you're following herjourney, and you want to
continue your journey of healingand your journey of prayer.
You can send her messages onInstagram.
You can follow her to talk andwatch her garden grow.
And just would you be open to.
Thousand percent.
(47:25):
I just am all abouttransparency, especially in the
area where it can help otherpeople heal.
You know, so no, I'm definitelydown for that.
And that's really what my socialmedia is about.
And I'm just trying to, I wantto grow that, but grow it in a
way that I want it.
I want it to be a positivecommunity, so I'm not really
about the numbers and justpeople follow me just to follow
(47:47):
me.
Like I wanted to be a positivespace.
or I can encourage people andthey can encourage everyone
else, if you are interested in,gardening.
Pain's encouragement, parenting.
The parents' marriage is all ofthat.
Um, Yeah.
Yeah.
(48:10):
it has been amazing.
It's spending this time withyou.
It's been amazing.
Watching you girl.
And.
I went from doing your hair and.
Oh, so you do my hair when I waspregnant.
Yeah.
That is just, I mean, just beena beautiful life.
(48:30):
It hasn't been farmed.
Yeah.
But it has been a beautiful, wehave been on a beautiful journey
of why I play.
And look back in.
Where we were,.
Yes.
Where we are now and it hastaken.
Things like this.
Um, oh, I can't believe I almostforgot.
(48:52):
So.
I was, I know many of mylisteners, you may or may not
have tried therapy.
And I am alive.
That went through.
I think three differenttherapists.
I reached out to Christian and Isaid, I want a therapist that I
feel comfortable with.
(49:13):
Because a pass or one, onetherapist called me enough ahead
and I was, I was done.
Yeah.
She was like, And I'm like, I'mnot.
No child I'm wrong, but I didn'tcorrect her.
Let it go.
Um, but.
Because even though.
And this is one thing I alwaystry to find the positive,
(49:35):
anything.
She wasn't a break that.
Probably, but she did help methrough something.
Yeah.
Um, and I, and she did, shereally did help me through
something.
So I'm not saying, oh, she was ahorrible therapist or whatever.
We didn't connect in a way thatI wanted to connect with my
therapist and it is okay to shoparound just like y'all spent all
this time shopping around fordate.
(49:55):
I'm the perfect man.
Finding apart, big therapist ismore important issue.
Um, so Christian referred me toher right there.
That's my girl.
And when I tell you, Dr.
Bracken's is amazing.
And she's so good.
This was the first therapistthat I actually wanted to
introduce my son to, to dofamily therapy.
(50:16):
I didn't feel comfortable enoughwith my other therapist to bring
him in because I know if Ididn't feel extremely
comfortable.
He definitely download my son.
I want y'all to hear how ourconversation went about therapy.
That'll be another episode.
she introduced me to an amazingtherapist and.
(50:37):
I have been meeting with herweekly.
And my son is actually going togo on I'm next and we're going
to do a family session comingup.
Christian has helped me withthat.
Uh, family that, Is realtogether heels together.
And I say that every podcastepisode, when we're real
together, we heal together and Ihave to be open to what your
(50:57):
struggles are.
You have to be open to the humanprocess.
You have to be open to share.
Yeah, she said I'm willing toshare, some of my.
Journal entries because thattransparency can help heal
someone.
Um, So looking forward to allthat and, thank you all for
listening.
(51:18):
I just wanted to say too, thatit has been really cool seeing
your journey, being able tostart this.
And like you say, you became ateacher when you were 35,
because even when I was younger,Now, it puts everything into
perspective, me being in mythirties and being able to see
what you and my mom were doingin y'all's thirties, and at that
time, I mean, your late, Iguess, twenties was when you
(51:42):
were mentoring us.
Right.
Early early twenties.
Okay.
Yeah.
So to even think about that, it,what I was doing in my twenties
child was not mentoring.
So I just seem to think about.
That was magnets or.
Jesus.
But it just thinking about whatyou were doing, even with us,
(52:02):
and then, and walking throughlife yourself, trying to figure
stuff out.
And then, you get into yourattorneys.
I'm still trying to figure itout.
And then you fell in love withteaching.
And that was just, that's alwaysbeen your gift.
And then you'd go up to that.
And then now you're doing it ina different way.
So is there a really cool to.
Yeah.
My creativity.
I'm able to put my creativity inaction.
(52:23):
I always use it with poetry oropen minds or whatever.
and now I can.
Put myself out there into theworld.
Right.
Um, I think podcasting.
I thought that it would kind ofbe local in my head when I first
started it.
But then when I got a messagefrom someone in Turkey, I was
like, oh wow, this is really whyI love.
(52:45):
Yeah.
So some in Nigeria, for somereason, Is another country that
I keep seeing pops up on my,stats.
And I was like, wow, like, ohman, after.
Yeah.
So, yeah, I just want to say I'mproud of you.
Yeah.
Thank you.
(53:08):
Okay.
Thank you so much.
And listening.
Don't forget to go to thosepodcasts.
click on those links.
Support support support.
You can also click on my supportleague to support this podcast,
which helps a mental healthawareness.
And this is may.
we're ending out may, but may ismental health awareness month.
(53:28):
so make sure that you arereaching out to your family.
Friends, loved ones, send a textmessage.
When you think about somebody,just say, Hey, how are you
doing?
Are you on my mind?
I was thinking about you.
Don't let the day go by.
If someone cross your mindwithout texting or reaching out
and so forth the way.
Yeah, well, Christian, Irecorded this session.
I had not purchased the abideprayer journal, but since the
(53:50):
recording, I purchased twojournals, one for me and one for
my 24 year old son, Andre.
He, and I have journal togetherfor years writing back and forth
to each other.
So when he woke up this morning,he expressed his gratitude for
me, purchasing him Christian'sblack and gold and gray.
Abide prayer journal.
He loves it.
Today is Sunday, May 28th, 2023.
(54:13):
And I wrote my first journalentry.
Christian is correct.
This is better than any otherjournal I've ever owned.
I opened it.
And the first thing I did wascircled my mood when I circled
it.
It made an actual smiley face.
So in my creative mind, I alsoadded my current LOC.
Hairstyles.
I put my little locks on there.
(54:35):
On my mood smiley face.
The next section, I wrote abulleted list of the things I
want to pray about.
So there's a section for that.
The next section I wrote, thethings that I'm grateful for.
There's a section for writingwhat you're grateful for this
made it so much easier for me toexpress my manifestation and
journal on the following pages.
(54:55):
But just when I thought I wasfinished, there was a final
section like this little secretsection.
To write out.
My specific prayer request.
I'm always praying for others.
So this section allowed me towrite out those specific prayer
requests for everyone that I'vebeen praying for.
And for those that I may havehad on my heart and forgot to
(55:17):
pray for.
And then God compelled me towrite a prayer request for those
that I don't even want to prayfor.
But i pray for them anywayguided by the scriptures she
placed on the top of the pagethe format of Christian's
creativity in the abide prayerjournal truly is for everyone
(55:38):
please click on the link in thenotes to purchase your copy and
to buy one as a gift for someoneelse father's day is coming up
real men love to journal when weare real together we heal
together Yes.
So, thank you guys.
See you.
Thank you.
So care Sunday.
Sunday.
Thank you.
(55:59):
Bye.
Mic check 1, 2, 1, 2.
Here's a mic check blooper.
Starting now Uh, oh, Okay.
I got the microphone on thetable, so we just tested that.
And I guess I wasn't obese.
So.
Yeah.
Yeah.
(56:20):
That's how I was going to be.
This is how her voice is goingto be one.
We talking.
We laugh.
some people will say I don'twrite, or I don't have the words
(00:03):
or journaling doesn't work forme.
That's why I do disagree with,is that journaling actually.
Can work for everybody.
I think journaling is a great.
Way to express yourself, even ifit's, you just write one word
down or you draw, or you expressyourself in a way, outwardly on
paper.
I would say, number one is.
(00:25):
The only person that can hold meback is me If you've ever seen
guardians of the galaxy.
the raccoon he says ain't no onelike me sent me.
And so.
I feel like I have what theworld needs, that everyone like.
And he sent me Oh, oh, smileschampions.
(00:50):
Welcome to mind.
Elevation health and wealth.
I am your host Shira DeWinechampions.
This session, we have a specialguest Mrs.
Christian Pender.
I am so excited about thissession because sunflower
Christian has trusted mindelevation health and wealth as
the podcast platform to shareher passion as a recording
(01:12):
artist and author of abideprayer journal, we will learn
about.
How she has used her creativityto step into her purpose
teaching others to journal prayand share the gospel with her
beautiful voice session 19interview with artists and
author christian penderChristian is a wife and mother
(01:34):
of two young boys.
She has a love for encouragingbelievers to know Jesus and
build their relationship withGod, the father in a deep and
intentional way.
She enjoys the outdoors, singingand spending quality time with
friends and family.
Christian has a heart for prayerand discipleship.
She has passionate aboutteaching people, how to pray and
give everything to the Lord inprayer and pursuit of growing
(01:57):
the relationship with the Lord.
She holds a bachelor's degree inkinesiology, but God has called
her to work in discipleshipministry.
By building and cultivatingrelationships.
With women as they grow theirfaith in Christ.
Christian has all of color andexcitement.
And believes her life's purposeis to serve that, serve people
(02:19):
and spread the love of Jesus.
Follow her on Instagram atsunflower Christian that's S U N
F L O w E R C H R I S T Y a N.
Christian.
How are you?
I'm great.
How are you?
It is awesome to have you onmind elevation health and wealth
(02:39):
today.
Because we are here to promoteyour new books.
Yes.
You have just recently,published journals, prayer
journals.
So, why did you decide to createthe right of journals?
Yes.
So first off, thank you forhaving me.
I'm so excited.
I'm glad to hear.
(03:01):
yeah, so I decided to create theprayer journals because one,
prayer has been a really bigpart of my life.
And so I was praying and then Istarted to just journal my
prayers.
I was journaling, um, justthings that were happening in my
life.
And then I also sometimes would.
(03:22):
Feel like I needed to pray andrelease how I was feeling, but I
really didn't know where tostart or have the words.
And so I would just write itdown.
And so I knew that that wassomething beneficial for myself
and even.
Um, Omar and my husband would doit as well.
And so I just thought I wantedto create that and share that
with other people to see if itwould help, because for some
(03:44):
people they have the words towrite down, but don't really
know how to say it or how tospeak it.
So it's just been somethingbeneficial for me.
So I wanted to share.
All right.
So journaling.
was that also part of yourspiritual growth?
Yes, it was.
I have a journal, throughout myjust spiritual journey, just to
be able to see how my life waschanging and progressing and
(04:07):
just the things that I felt likeGod was speaking to me or doing
in my life.
Like I was able to write down myprayers and then see them be
answered.
And so that was really cool.
So prayer journaling just becamea really big part of my life.
There's a lot of differentjournal books out there.
People probably already have ajournal and books somewhere at
home.
Uh, what makes your pregnantjournal different?
(04:30):
Yeah.
So my journal is not just lying,so I made it so that it would be
structured to help the personjournaling, make it easier for
them to put their thoughts andtheir feelings on paper.
So, I actually have a littlechart above before you even
start journaling, you write thedate and then there's little
happy faces, smiley faces,crying, faces, and where you can
(04:52):
circle.
And it says, what's your moodtoday?
so that kind of helps you figureout because sometimes you can
sit down and want a journal.
You like.
I kind of feel indifferent or Ican't really put a word.
To how I feel.
And so I just have the pictureswhere you can circle and start
there.
So.
Like a mood tracker, like amoonshot.
So you're able to start withthat boot tracker and then next
(05:12):
the category is, for you tobriefly list the things that you
need to pray about.
So for me, what I found washelpful was I had all these
things on my mind.
And I'm like, I don't even knowwhere to start, you know?
And so being able to brieflymake lists of bullet points
helped me lay out.
Okay.
work was hectic.
I, had to cook or I had to dothis, or I have to do these
(05:34):
things this weekend.
So I'd be able to just listthose.
And then that will help me towrite it out.
In more detail on my actualjournal pages.
So what makes this journaldifferent from other regular
journals?
Is it creates this framework foryou to successfully journal.
and being able to expressyourself in a way that you feel
like you're able to just releaseit all, put it on paper, but it
(05:55):
gives you a framework.
I have to think about it.
that makes it a little differentbecause it sounds like it's not
as like a journal with all theselines where you're just writing
a paragraph of light.
It seems like there's likeduplex kind of section
categories, or like you say, youcan bully, right?
So.
And that is what makes itdifferent.
(06:16):
Yeah.
And there still are thosetraditional lies.
So you still get like four pagesas well of just why.
Um, so the, the way that it'sstructured is you open up the
page.
And there's going to be the moodtracker.
Then you get to briefly listwhat you want to write about or
journal about.
Then after that Eva asked you tolist what you're grateful for.
(06:37):
So it just brings in thatgratitude as well, because if it
is a down day, sometimes easierto focus on just those hard
parts.
So that gratitude as in like,okay, today was bad, but you
know, I got a chance to walkoutside and they make me feel
good.
So, so it just helps you kind ofbring in either your gratitude.
Once you flip over the page,there's a scripture at the top
(06:57):
of each.
First page first journal page sothat, you get to just learn more
about praying, learn more about,just like what Jesus said about
rain.
So there's those encouragingscriptures at the top of each
journal page at the beginning.
And then you have four pages tojust write it out.
Okay.
What if there is a scripture.
(07:19):
Which one.
Would you talk about today inlife that may have been a
motivation or an encouragementfor you and creating your prayer
journal?
Yes.
although I'm created for prayerjournals and that all are.
structurally the same as thethings that I just listed.
but they're just differentcolors and such.
but all of them are calledabide, prayer journals.
(07:41):
And the reason I named themabide was because there's a
scripture, that is John 15 four.
And so each of those journalshave that on the cover and on
the first page, I actuallytalked to you about what abiding
means.
So the definition of abide is,is a verb.
So it means to remain or to stayor to live or to dwell.
(08:02):
I chose that because there's ascripture, John 15, 3, 4, that
talks about that.
And so that's just the meaningof, uh, by itself.
And so it's talking about justremaining and living in Jesus.
And journaling.
Prayer journal.
It can keep you in that.
Yes.
So you chose that word I think,yes.
(08:24):
Yeah, I like that.
The other question I have foryou is.
I like to ask this questionbecause a lot of times.
mindset is just a One way.
I can't do that.
I don't know how to do that.
Or I tried that and it didn'twork right.
And when we are thinking aboutmine, elevation.
Thinking about ways that we canlearn and grow.
(08:46):
And shift our mindset.
To being able to do right.
So what is a commonly heldbelief about journaling?
That you passionately disagreewith?
Um, I would say some people willsay I don't write, or I don't
have the words or journalingdoesn't work for me.
(09:06):
And so I think that's why I dodisagree with, is that
journaling actually.
Can work for everybody.
I think journaling is a great.
Way to express yourself, even ifit's, you just write one word
down or you draw, or you expressyourself in a way, outwardly on
paper.
I passionately believe thatgenerally is going to be
(09:29):
effective for everybody.
So that's a way to expressyourself.
And private.
It is.
And it's a good space for,reflection.
So that space for, to lookintrinsically, and just being
able to just write down, like,that's why I say gratitude,
(09:50):
right?
Sometimes we can, if life isgoing bad is easy to focus on
just the bed.
But, just having that mindset ofokay, let me just even write
down what I'm grateful for.
When you write it down, it helpsyou to remember these things
that are happening.
You're able to read it.
And as also kind of putting inthat belief and then just also
(10:11):
writing stuff down, and you'reable to look back on that
mindset or look back on thosethings you are grateful for, or
look back on how your life haschanged over the past a year,
you know?
so yeah.
Oh, even if you're not a writer.
Well, because I think somepeople's mind is, oh, if you're
going to be journaling, you'rewriting a novel.
Even if you're not a grinder andthis prayer journal, you don't
(10:35):
have to be around or you don'thave to write paragraphs.
You want to just jot down threethings of gratitude, right?
Absolutely.
What bring you back to,Remembering what you're grateful
for in that day, in thosemoments.
Even on the bad day.
Absolutely.
And I.
It's so interesting because Ijust remembered this maybe not
too long ago, but even when Iwas like in middle school and
(10:57):
high school, even younger thanthat, I would just write down
stuff or I would just open up anotebook and just draw what I
was feeling, you know, like whenI was in elementary school, even
high school.
So I think, and even now I willwrite down, like I'm frustrated.
I try like a stick figure, youknow?
Or something like that.
I think journaling, it can comein so many different forms.
It doesn't have to be this likeone size fits all type of thing.
(11:21):
It really just comes down tolike, how do you need to express
what you're feeling now?
And put it on paper at thattime.
I just open up your journal andcircle.
Saturdays today.
Yeah, because it may take you aday or so to process.
Why you were sad, you go open upthe journal.
I'd be like, man, the other dayI was sad and now I know what it
(11:44):
was like I was triggered or, orwhatever, you can always come
back in and figure out what wasgoing on, or you can use another
day or another way to journal.
It's just completely up to you.
And I'm thinking, because I willbe purchased my book.
I have not purchased in yet, butI am going to be practicing it.
And I got to decide which coverI want.
As you said it comes indifferent colors.
(12:06):
What are the colors?
So there's four differentcolors.
I also have paperback versionsand hardback versions of each
color.
So there's one color.
and all four of them havedifferent designs as well.
So one color is black and red.
One color is blue and white.
One color is like a pink.
Purple blue.
(12:26):
It's pretty.
And then the other one is ablack, gold and gray.
Okay.
I like that.
Okay.
I like the pink and purple.
But I thought for sure, sinceshe loves sunflowers, And I
didn't do.
Not everybody loves.
(12:48):
And I actually have a couple ofother journals that I want to do
then know for sure.
I'll have a sunflower report.
But I think with the, you saidblack and gold.
Kind of masculine.
Uh, even if, uh, young malelisteners that listen.
Yeah.
Um, there is a masculine colorbook.
For years.
And now the work around with thejournal.
But as I'm listening to you talkabout it.
(13:12):
Because I'm a writer.
Um, I like writing poems.
Um, so I am glad there is alsostill a section for lines
because sometimes I can't justexpress my thoughts in any other
way, but in poetry, Or like, soif you're a song writer or if
you're.
Or if you have a creative mindand thought.
(13:33):
It sounds like.
The prayer journal would be goodfor that as well.
Oh, absolutely.
I agree.
And I mean, even for me, like, Ilove to sing, but I also love to
draw.
So a lot of my journaling is wejust drawing, you know, or, um,
just writing down even songsthat I love.
Maybe there's some lyrics as.
I stuck out to me and I'm like,I really feel this right now.
You know, that might be a partof my journaling as well.
(13:56):
I like that.
We want to learn more about you.
Um, I know you, I love you.
And that's why you're here.
And that's why I'm so gratefulthat you chose all platform to
share your journal.
Because a lot of my listenersare on a journey of healing.
(14:17):
And, journaling and writing andexpressing yourself as a part of
that healing journey.
I want to promote that.
So my audience to my listeners,and then I want them to have
good products.
And use for that.
And, to know more about thecreator of the prayer journal.
What is the best compliment thatyou've ever received?
(14:41):
Oh, Um, I think because I loveencouraging people.
I had a random stranger comingto me.
The DMV.
and I think I had justcomplimented the lady that was
in front of me.
It was a black lady area was socute.
And I was like, I love yourhair, you know?
And she's like, thank you.
And this random lady comes up tome.
(15:01):
She tapped me on the shoulderand she was just like, um, you
know, the type of person thatbrings joy to other people.
I know it was so sweet.
Got that beautiful smile.
It was just, it was justsomething and it was from like a
complete stranger.
Witnessed to me just be nice.
(15:22):
And I have genuinely loved oldgirl's hairs.
So.
Just witnessing me being nice tosomebody and I think, and it was
actually a rough day I washaving to, so I think her.
Saying that really just showedme that like the person that I
aspire to be.
Is actually impacted lives, youknow?
And so that, that was really bigfor me.
Oh, okay.
(15:42):
I want that kind of goes into,What makes you feel like your
best self.
Ooh.
Creating.
Okay.
And, Yeah, I think creating andencouraging people, it goes back
to that as well.
I think for such a long time,I'm not away from my creativity.
Like as a kid, I was alwayssinging and dancing and.
(16:08):
Angelo.
Everything's thinking anddancing and poetry.
And even in the third grade, Istarted writing books, just like
all these exports, all thesethings.
Yeah.
I was just really creative and Rgot away from that creativity.
And then in college I startedsinging and acting and modeling
(16:29):
and get it kind of inphotography.
You know, back into that.
I think.
That even now in my adulthoodand having children and having a
family, my husband now gettingback to that creativity with me,
creating the journals and.
You know, singing.
Yeah.
And doing.
These things.
and I'm gardening.
I started burning, you know, Ithink that is what really makes
(16:51):
me just feel myself, anempowered and.
Always been creative through myhair and you.
all those things.
So I just really want to pourinto that because that's what
makes me feel like my best self.
Oh, creative being creative.
Yes.
That's beautiful.
And I'm glad that you're able totap into your grades.
And then you're not doingsomething that you.
(17:12):
wouldn't.
want to see yourself doing.
Are being your best self.
For your best though.
Which is also allowing you to beyour best self for your friends
and your family.
Absolutely.
We are at our best.
And just sharing that energy.
You're sharing that love.
And, you can go from one dad.
(17:33):
Entry.
Exactly.
And I'm learning boundaries.
This was been really cool too.
I think that's what helps mefeel my best self.
Two is just boundaries and, andprotecting my mental health.
And because I love encouragingpeople in our pour out so much,
I've been in a place ofunderstanding that a part of my
healing as well is taken awaythat people pleaser mindset.
(17:56):
That can still be a part of meencouraging people and pouring
into people, but I still have topour it into myself.
So I think implementing that thecreativity, but also taking care
of myself.
I feel like I can conquer theworld like that when.
I feel like my uncle.
So, and I'm just speaking aboutsetting boundaries.
(18:17):
Uh, mind elevation.
Out the wealth episode about.
healthy boundaries and I am soglad that you brought that up,
during this, because.
I would like for you to give mean example of where you've set a
healthy boundary, whereas, youknow, your younger self probably
would have been afraid to say itbecause you would have been
(18:38):
afraid.
You want to hurt somebody isfeeling.
Or you would've been afraid thatsomebody is going to get mad at
you to set the boundary, butthere is a freedom in it.
Oh man.
Can you kind of give us atestimony of a time that you
recently.
I set a boundary and it helpsyou that gave you that mental
and emotional freedom.
Oh recently.
(18:59):
Okay.
No.
I have a very recent one.
So just, um, for me, my biggestboundary that I've said that
took a long time for me to gethere.
But it has changed.
My life is realizing there's somuch powers and now.
I used to be so afraid.
Like when people ask me to dosomething or they needed me or
(19:21):
whatever, I used to be so afraidof being like, no I can't or I'm
tired.
And I right now, Can I do itanother day, you know?
But now.
My phone is on, do not disturb.
And I'm just like, now I'm notavailable, but I am available on
Saturday.
Or, you know, I'm booked thisweek, just setting those
boundaries for myself, you know?
And it doesn't mean that I haveto necessarily have something
(19:43):
else booked in the evening, butmaybe that booking is I need to
be in a bed, you know?
that has been a big boundary ofsaying no.
So I think one.
Particular time.
That happened recently.
Oh, my grandfather go listen tothis.
I'm not going to say her name.
It was a night when.
As a safe space.
I know, I know, I know, but itwas a night where I think I had
(20:03):
already a plan to come home andmy mom had my oldest son and
then my baby was sleep and I'mlike, tonight, I'm going to come
home and start on my garden.
I'm gonna play some music.
That was just my time.
Right.
The house was quiet and I washome by myself.
And so as I'm driving home, AsI'm trying to home, my mom calls
(20:27):
me.
And so I'm just like, oh, wellI'm about to be home.
Like I'll, I'll call her back ina little bit.
So then I get home.
and then my other friend, shecalls me, I knew she was going
through a lot.
And so I didn't answer the phoneinitially because I already know
my mind.
I have my mind set on doingthis.
And I need to take care ofmyself, you know?
(20:48):
And so she calls me once.
I'm like, okay, I'll just haveto call her back.
Well, she calls me a secondtime.
I'm like, oh man.
Something must be wrong.
I answer the phone.
and she's like, Hey.
are you busy?
And I'm like, oh, the bank isasleep.
I'm about to put the baby down.
She's like, okay, cool.
And I thought that she was gonnabe like, okay, nevermind.
Like, whatever, by then, she'slike, What are you doing
tonight?
(21:08):
And I was like, oh, I'm gonnastart my Barden.
And she's like, oh, okay.
As I thought like, okay, thesecond time, that's the same
thing.
She's going to get it.
And she's like, well, can I comeover?
And I'm like, oh my gosh.
Already has the plan.
And my, for me, I was like,well, she's going through a lie.
I should probably allow her tocome over.
what she's going through is, wayworse.
(21:29):
So my personal time, that was mythought.
Right.
So I'm like, yeah, you can comeover.
Just give it about an hour.
Well, I get upstairs.
Get situated.
My mom comes over.
She drops off my son and I actmy mom laugh.
I'm just saying like, No, Ireally need this time to myself.
This is something that Iplanned.
(21:49):
I know she's having.
Time, but she'll probablyunderstand I'll be there for her
tomorrow.
So I'm just like going throughthis.
And so I finally, I called herand I'm like, Hey.
I hope you haven't headed thisway.
But I really need to raise.
I think I'm just going to taketonight, like, can I give you a
call tomorrow?
And, um, and you know, and herresponse was that's totally
fine.
(22:09):
I didn't even really want totalk anyways.
I just kind of wanted to bearound somebody say that.
You all myself, but I'll talk toyou tomorrow.
And I'm like, okay, cool.
I just felt so much.
I believe.
And just so much peace becauseone.
I got to have that time that Iplan to.
There was so much freedom andchoosing myself in that moment.
And then three, she wasn't evenpressed about it.
(22:30):
she was just like, okay, cool.
I totally understand.
I'll talk to you tomorrow.
You know, and so I think it kindof combated some of those, like,
I would be afraid that somebodywould be upset that I didn't do
it.
And then, also just the thoughtof that I have to put somebody
else before me because they needme.
Oh, no, she does it, you know,so it was just really cool.
(22:52):
Um, just having that space, butthat was very recent.
Yeah.
And I think that was always my.
problem with being afraid to sayno.
I was wonder if they reallymean.
Out there for them at the time.
Yeah, but that's where prayercomes in.
Yeah.
Sure.
This is one of my RESA.
Favorite prayer.
(23:13):
And I shared this, um, you know,the day was.
Now protect them in my absence.
That's good.
You know, And let it go.
Because at those moments whereyou can't be there and you, just
mentally or emotionally, can'tbe there.
Oh, God protect them in myabsence.
I can't be there, but he is.
And just know that he's in.
In protection mode, Absalom,because I would struggle with
(23:35):
that too.
Ah, they need me.
Ah, she's gone throughsomething.
If I say no, what if thishappens?
And we negatively sent all ofthis.
Through our own brains.
And really it's like, oh, well,I haven't really.
She was like, I just wanted tojust.
You know, or yeah.
I like that.
Yeah, it doesn't feel good.
I'm so free.
(23:55):
And I just had a great timelistening to music, playing a
mark Barden.
Um, now I'm seeing it sprout,you know, I know.
So that just was really cool.
And I remember even when I wasin college, one of my really
good friends and she was my.
mentor at the time, it reallydiscipled me.
(24:15):
Cause I was just new to thewhole world.
Faith journey, everything.
And I remember I would alwayscome to her when I needed
prayers.
But it was at a point where.
I was using her as kind of likemy hotlines, a guide.
And I realized that I have myown, you know, and you talked
about.
Now you help people learn toprice.
(24:36):
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
And so this was when I startedto realize, I have power in my
prayer too.
I don't have to go to somebodyelse to get it.
I can have Jesus on speed dialto.
I don't want to ask you thattoo.
And I remember when she saidthis to me and it just changed
my mindset so much in regard toprayer.
And in regard to the fact that Ihave my own individual
(24:57):
relationship with God.
And she had said, I love you.
And I don't mind praying foryou.
But you can't piggyback off ofmy faith.
And I wow.
Now me being now a more maturebeliever.
I understand why she said that,and at that time it was like a
(25:18):
hit of Dang.
That's deep.
Okay.
What do I do now?
But that really forced me toseek God for myself, and like
figure out like, what is, youknow, how do I praying?
What is this primary about?
And that's how I booked myrelationship individually with
that is, so now I see how guyskind of use it, me to help other
people do that.
Yeah.
And I, I think.
(25:39):
Personal prayer.
Yeah.
It's so Powerful.
There's times where I've put offprior.
And for a specific thing.
And then when I have no otheroption, but to pray about it.
And I'm just in tears.
And I'm just like move and I'mjust like move God.
Right.
(25:59):
I don't do what you do.
And.
Then those moments where we feellike.
We can't prey.
We do have that intercessoryprayer.
Absolutely.
Yes.
But I love that your friends atthat boundary, because I think
that also.
Set you on what you're doingnow.
Which is teaching people how toprank or teaching people how to
(26:22):
write in a prayer journal orcreating a prayer journal or
someone that.
You may not know what to say inpraying, but you can definitely
write it.
Absolutely.
Yeah.
And even to, one of the reasonsI don't have, I said this
earlier, but then I created theprayer journal is one, obviously
like to write down and expressyourself, but also to, because
(26:42):
prayer is just a huge part of mylife, you know?
And praying journaly is like abranch of that is another way to
pray.
But, prayer in general has justbeen a huge part of my life.
And, even like how you said inthose moments where you don't
even have the words to pray orwrite or whatever, I'm always
reminded of.
there's a scripture that saysthat the holy spirit intercedes
(27:04):
for us when we don't have warsthat are too deep for.
Groaning.
And so even when I don't havethe words, all I have is tears
and groaning and weeping.
it talks about how the holyspirit is the one that's
Interpreting that, to thatthat's translating that to
guide, and he intercedes on ourbehalf.
I just think that there's,there's just so many different
forms of prayer that, um, thatGod loves and he just wants us
(27:27):
to talk to him and.
and I just really want people toknow that power of prayer and
just how we can get ourrelationship with communicating
with God.
Yeah.
I believe that I believe that.
And there are many differentbelief systems.
And there may be a listener thathas never prayed or doesn't
believe in prayer.
But when you think about prayerfrom a different phase, It's the
(27:50):
same as manifesting.
Right.
Manifesting, whatever it is thatyou want into the universe or
to.
Who or whatever you praying to,When you have face.
And you are speaking or you aredesiring or you are manifesting
it's the same as pushing it.
(28:11):
Into fruition.
Yes.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Now, what do you wish youryounger self?
New.
Ooh.
Then adulting is hard.
I know that there's just somany.
(28:31):
When you're little, even now, asmy five-year old, what do you
want to be when you grow up?
And he thinks about the careersthat he's seen on TV or that
he's taught about, but when youbecome an adult, you see that
there's all these things thatyou can do and be, and become
and, pursue, I think one thing Iwould tell my younger self is
that the question, one thing Iwas talking about.
(28:52):
Do you wish your younger selfknew or.
Yeah.
Yeah, I think one that I wish myyounger self knew was speak to
that in a child.
Yeah, just that.
My imagination's not in vain.
You know, that is a part of me.
And those are things that cancome to fruition.
(29:14):
Oh man.
You really can't you reallycan't.
And even like in this day andage of like social media,
internet, There's just so muchstuff like so many things you
(29:35):
can do and, literally whereveryou aspire to be, you can become
that.
And, I think it's.
Easy to, bow with the bar ruleson, stay within these
boundaries.
But no, Linda.
Over to the next lane.
You can do whatever you want.
Yep.
So as a mentor, I had weldedquote years ago.
(29:56):
And I wrote.
You can be whatever you want tobe.
And if you tell me you want tobe a unicorn.
I'm going to help you find theperfect horn.
Yes.
Right.
It was like, You can really bewhatever you want to.
You want to be.
The little mermaid I'm going tohelp you find a fish tail.
(30:18):
Yeah.
Like, yeah.
We won't make it.
Yeah.
Yeah, that is with faith.
Yeah.
And even now, I love that you.
You had mentioned the littlemermaid in general.
Like when I was growing up, thelittle mermaid was this white
label.
Yeah.
(30:39):
So it's just even that, if I waslittle and I dreamed to be the
black little mermaid, literallynow in this day and age in 2023,
you could do, it'd be whateveryou want and you can write the
movie.
And it's about.
You can.
(31:00):
To whatever.
Now you are an odd.
No, this is so crazy that, andit just even, Like I said, just
being creative and singing andfalling back into that.
And now.
Artists.
(31:23):
apple music, apple music,Spotify.
And what's the name of yourfavorite song that they can
search up on my favorite.
Oh, but I like both of them.
Both of them.
And they find them on applemusic.
I'm going to put the links.
(31:43):
I think the couple of links thatapple music.
Podcast.
You probably hit.
So the links will be in mypodcast notes to, not only,
Christians.
But also to her.
Apple music.
As far.
Filings and your book can befound on Amazon.
(32:06):
It's on Amazon?
Yes.
Okay.
Yep.
So I'll put the Amazon links inthe podcast notes.
The.
apple music.
Or her, Um, and she's going toshare with her favorite song is.
Yes.
So I really like.
The song So we have two songs.
I would just like, I'll justshare the two songs that are out
(32:27):
right now.
Two songs.
Ones that are out.
So we have one is calleddistance.
and then we have another songcalled the way.
A lot of people I distancedcause it's more like upbeat, are
really wide in the way becauseit's more of like the R and B
vibe, but it's still isChristian music, but it's not
necessarily like gospel orcontemporary is more of if hob
(32:47):
and RTB.
The music.
Yeah.
And her voice is beautiful.
I downloaded them already on myapple music.
And my favorite.
(33:27):
Let's go.
anything else that you want toshare with the listeners about
your book or about your music,or just about you in general?
That we may not have been ableto talk about, but I know she
has a beautiful family and theyall look like me.
(33:48):
Um, but also being Christiansand being able to watch her grow
into just a wonderful all aroundbeautiful human.
has been a blessing.
And so I was excited.
She's surprised as with the bookI did.
I'm at work one day.
And y'all know I'm busy at workin my classroom when I get the,
um, and I actually, the reason Ihave not.
(34:10):
Or just yet, but I'm glad that Iwanted to do this interview
first.
Before I purchased it to makesure that I want to purchase it
and now I do want to purchaseit.
I want to purchase it anyway,just.
The support, but.
Anyways.
She's surprised that in ourfamily group chat oh, by the
way.
Published.
(34:30):
And.
Here's the link.
And, I'm at work, so I can'tactually do it.
I clicked the Hollings and Ididn't get a chance to it.
But the first thing I thought Iwas like, oh my gosh, I'm just a
promote.
the podcast, my elevation healthand wealth.
Uh, cast is a passion project.
And I just did it because Ilove.
(34:51):
sharing and I love sharing,things like the power prayer
elevating your mind, gettingyourself out of depression or
whatever, mental or emotionalinstability that you may be in,
so that you can prosper so thatyou can be wealthy so that you
can be healthy.
And promoting.
healthy music, healthy songs,promoting a prayer journal.
(35:13):
promoting a meditationpractitioner, that's what this
platform is for.
And that's what I'm allowing mygifts to be used for.
So, And it's what you neededbefore.
Support, printed vinyl.
Download.
distance on apple music orSpotify.
Download the song the way onapple music or Spotify.
(35:34):
And the name of the artist.
Then the descender is, yeah, soit was going to be under, I sang
it with also a rapper and hisname is Jay with ease.
So is J a Y.
W I T E Z.
And, and then my name Christian.
And that's C H R I S T Y.
(35:59):
Christian.
What a, why not?
Okay.
so I know I said earlier aboutmy creativity, how I was graded
as younger, and that kind oflost it for a little bit and now
I'm back to it.
Um, so I just want to encouragethe listeners.
If they feel like time haspassed and they haven't done
what they want it to do, or I'mtoo old to do this now, or other
(36:22):
people are doing it.
It's too late for me to start.
Those are all lies.
So.
Now for me to, have a husbandand have two children and I'll
be 32 this year.
I'm 31.
Um, for me, my mindset was like,by my thirties, I had to have it
all together and that's just nottrue.
I think now I'm realizing thatfor myself and I'm living in
that.
So starting the journals andstarting singing again and
(36:45):
recording songs and.
All of these things, it's nottoo late.
So I just wanted to encourageeveryone.
I know the day of social media,everybody's like, you know, how
to grind and hustle and, you gotain't no sleep.
You know stuff.
No rest.
But I need to be rested away.
(37:09):
And you only wear once.
And I was like, So it's just,don't get caught up in all of
that stuff, because we don'tknow what that life is like
behind the scenes, you know?
(37:30):
I just want to encourageeverybody to just go after what
it is that your heart's desireis.
And.
don't be discouraged by thethings that you see, or, if you
think too much time as fast orwhatever, whatever that, that
thing may be.
because now, um, I feel like I'mtruly walking in my purpose.
now, you know, So I'm justreally excited.
So I just want everybody to.
(37:51):
Yeah.
It feels good.
It is never too late.
Yes, even you now starting tospark.
I started.
43.
But I'm starting my teachingcareer.
So I was 35.
I remember.
Yeah.
I did a shift I just said, look,this is what I want to do.
This is what I'm passionateabout.
And I went forward.
(38:12):
I stepped out on faith and Iwent forward and I.
Made some financial sacrifice.
Emotional sacrifices.
moving away from familysacrifices.
But walking in my purpose.
was, my mission.
Yeah.
I love that.
Oh, this is the question I wantto ask everybody that I
(38:34):
interviewed.
Because.
All of our listeners arechampions.
Yes.
So.
What are three major mindsetbeliefs that make you a
champion?
These are good questions.
Okay.
I would say, number one is.
(38:55):
The only person that can hold meback is me.
because we can easily be in ourmind.
And, just the things I waspreviously talking about, that
is, is me to hold myself back.
So I just believe that I have agift that I can bring to the
world and nobody has, or nobodycan do this the way that I do
it.
There's things inside of me thatthe world needs that nobody else
(39:17):
can put out, the way I would doit, and If you've ever seen
guardians of the galaxy.
It's something, but there's theraccoon and he just beat.
Talking outside his name.
He just says whatever he wants.
And so, um, he says ain't no onelike me sent me.
And so.
(39:38):
I feel like I have what theworld needs, that everyone like.
And he sent me.
I like that.
And you're sharing.
Exactly.
Yes.
And then I would say the secondmindset belief.
Is, discouragement is the thiefof joy.
(40:01):
I think there was a season of mylife where I was just extremely
discouraged.
And when I was in thatdiscouragement, I was sad and
anxious and depressed, and Ididn't feel like creating.
I didn't feel like, I was ablessing to the world and it
stole my joy and it stole mypurpose, and so now I really try
to, one of the ways I try toevaluate where I'm at is I start
(40:23):
with, do you feel discouraged?
Because I think thatdiscouragement is literally seen
in a sprout to a whole bunch ofother things, so I really try to
check myself with that.
If I am feeling discouraged ordown, I immediately try to flip
it to something that fills mewith joy.
And that encourages me.
Yeah.
So I think that's what helps.
Me keep, um, keep moving.
So I just try my best to stay,encourage it, to keep my, my
(40:46):
mindful of positive things.
So even share writing my socialmedia to positive things.
Okay.
Yes.
Um, because even I've foundmyself on social media, I was
wiped and I would see people,you know, traveling or see
people doing things that Iaspire to do that I haven't
gotten to do that yet.
(41:07):
And it can easily plant a seedof discouragement and even doubt
and all these things.
And so I had to startunfollowing pages that made me
feel those negative ways.
I know you've talked about this.
Yeah.
Consumption.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I had to start unfollowingpeople.
and pages that made me feel thatway.
It goes, I get influence orwhatever.
(41:29):
if I got a negative feeling fromscrolling and looking at their
page, I needed some follow thembecause it is not even
necessarily.
I can maybe see that at anotherseason of my life or whatever.
I may not have those feelings,but in this season of my life is
that makes me feel negative ordown.
I wouldn't follow them.
And so then when I did what Iwould do now, is I would follow
(41:50):
pages like good news and likeall those things you don't want,
baby pages or Bobbi pages.
Or whatever that when I seethem, it brings joy, or I laugh
or smile, or I cried like happytears.
and I noticed even changing thatreally helps a lot.
and then the third one for me isa scripture.
it's seek first, the kingdom ofGod and his righteousness and
(42:11):
all these things will be addedto you.
And is Matthew 6 33.
for me, I really try to focus onthat because, um, my
relationship with God is veryimportant to me.
and I just believe that basedoff this scripture, and I
believe that as I pursued theLord and trust him with my wife
and my goals that he wouldprovide to me, the things I need
(42:32):
and he opened up doors that I'dnever be able to open up on my
own.
And so that's why prayer is soimportant.
And when it talks about seekersthinking, demote that, I believe
that is by submitting myrequests to the Lord and so
verses well, but submitting myrequests to the Lord and telling
him the things that I need and Idesire and what I aspire to be
in the goals and the things thatI want out of life, because he
(42:55):
truly cares and he provides, andhe opens up those doors for me.
it puts me in positions or hasdivine appointments with other
people.
There's things that I believethat God can do that I can't do
on my own.
And so that's definitely mynumber three.
So those aren't three mindset.
My lease of a real truechampion.
(43:18):
And her prayer.
And now you.
Can purchase short prayerjourneys.
Right.
Those angles.
And your prayer journal.
And you can listen to thispodcast again and write down
those three major mindsetbeliefs.
That make.
You a champion.
So once again, She can be found.
(43:41):
Go ahead and tell us where youare on Instagram.
Yes.
I'm on Instagram.
And my handle is sunflowerChristian.
So sunflower as in F L O w E Rand then my first name,
Christian, C H R I S T Y a N.
And then she's also on applemusic.
And Spotify is Or her musicdownloads and that's, one of the
(44:06):
songs is distance.
One of the songs is the way, andit can be down under j a Y.
W I T E Z.
So J.
Woody's.
And.
I'm creating a YouTube channel.
And yeah.
Use of channel will be up soon.
Yes.
And that will be still sunflowerChristian.
(44:27):
Are Christians.
And my elevation health andwealth is on YouTube now.
Uh, last week, I only have onesubscriber now I've got 100 or
so.
So she lists.
Please keep going to my YouTube.
And then now you can also go tosunflower Christians.
YouTube and you will be able tofind every single link in my
(44:50):
podcast notes.
So don't forget.
'cause not what you're doingright now.
If you're listening on yourphone.
And you can go to the podcastnotes and if you're on YouTube
already, you can go to YouTubenotes and just click on the
links.
And the notes and go directly tothe Amazon, page to purchase
the.
Are your journal.
Or go directly to the link andlisten to and download, the
(45:13):
songs.
and you can also search for herYouTube channel Christians,
YouTube.
Channel.
So all my handles are going tobe some.
I forgot.
I have.
Yeah.
Two times is also sunflowerChristian.
All of my handles are the same,so it was quick, easy.
(45:33):
Yeah.
Right.
So if you're on now, I'vemanaged my social media
consumption.
So I only watched it time ifsomeone sends me a two-time
video because.
Time goes by.
Yeah, that happened to me onetime in my life.
And I already knew.
This is not for.
(45:54):
So if someone sends me a Tik TOKvideo, I'll look or share as
well with me, I'll look at it.
But then I don't, I don'tscroll.
but Instagram.
Some are Christian YouTube.
Some are Christian.
Tick tock.
So far questions except for hersongs.
Are going to be, but pretty soonshe'll have an out mom.
And she's going to we havereally enjoyed this.
(46:22):
This was my first in-person.
Um, interviews.
So the energy.
So last, I think.
I guess we could feed off ofeach other.
Energy.
And it feels good.
I just feel like 10 times, like.
Higher.
I know.
I agree from being able to sharethis.
(46:43):
I always felt that way and shecooked for me.
So.
I got the phone.
I'm going to interview you, butI have to come to your house and
you have to know.
Yes.
And food.
So follow her.
You can also be able to see howher garden is going to just
start out her garden.
(47:04):
So if you're following herjourney, and you want to
continue your journey of healingand your journey of prayer.
You can send her messages onInstagram.
You can follow her to talk andwatch her garden grow.
And just would you be open to.
Thousand percent.
(47:25):
I just am all abouttransparency, especially in the
area where it can help otherpeople heal.
You know, so no, I'm definitelydown for that.
And that's really what my socialmedia is about.
And I'm just trying to, I wantto grow that, but grow it in a
way that I want it.
I want it to be a positivecommunity, so I'm not really
about the numbers and justpeople follow me just to follow
(47:47):
me.
Like I wanted to be a positivespace.
or I can encourage people andthey can encourage everyone
else, if you are interested in,gardening.
Pain's encouragement, parenting.
The parents' marriage is all ofthat.
Um, Yeah.
Yeah.
(48:10):
it has been amazing.
It's spending this time withyou.
It's been amazing.
Watching you girl.
And.
I went from doing your hair and.
Oh, so you do my hair when I waspregnant.
Yeah.
That is just, I mean, just beena beautiful life.
(48:30):
It hasn't been farmed.
Yeah.
But it has been a beautiful, wehave been on a beautiful journey
of why I play.
And look back in.
Where we were,.
Yes.
Where we are now and it hastaken.
Things like this.
Um, oh, I can't believe I almostforgot.
(48:52):
So.
I was, I know many of mylisteners, you may or may not
have tried therapy.
And I am alive.
That went through.
I think three differenttherapists.
I reached out to Christian and Isaid, I want a therapist that I
feel comfortable with.
(49:13):
Because a pass or one, onetherapist called me enough ahead
and I was, I was done.
Yeah.
She was like, And I'm like, I'mnot.
No child I'm wrong, but I didn'tcorrect her.
Let it go.
Um, but.
Because even though.
And this is one thing I alwaystry to find the positive,
(49:35):
anything.
She wasn't a break that.
Probably, but she did help methrough something.
Yeah.
Um, and I, and she did, shereally did help me through
something.
So I'm not saying, oh, she was ahorrible therapist or whatever.
We didn't connect in a way thatI wanted to connect with my
therapist and it is okay to shoparound just like y'all spent all
this time shopping around fordate.
(49:55):
I'm the perfect man.
Finding apart, big therapist ismore important issue.
Um, so Christian referred me toher right there.
That's my girl.
And when I tell you, Dr.
Bracken's is amazing.
And she's so good.
This was the first therapistthat I actually wanted to
introduce my son to, to dofamily therapy.
(50:16):
I didn't feel comfortable enoughwith my other therapist to bring
him in because I know if Ididn't feel extremely
comfortable.
He definitely download my son.
I want y'all to hear how ourconversation went about therapy.
That'll be another episode.
she introduced me to an amazingtherapist and.
(50:37):
I have been meeting with herweekly.
And my son is actually going togo on I'm next and we're going
to do a family session comingup.
Christian has helped me withthat.
Uh, family that, Is realtogether heels together.
And I say that every podcastepisode, when we're real
together, we heal together and Ihave to be open to what your
(50:57):
struggles are.
You have to be open to the humanprocess.
You have to be open to share.
Yeah, she said I'm willing toshare, some of my.
Journal entries because thattransparency can help heal
someone.
Um, So looking forward to allthat and, thank you all for
listening.
(51:18):
I just wanted to say too, thatit has been really cool seeing
your journey, being able tostart this.
And like you say, you became ateacher when you were 35,
because even when I was younger,Now, it puts everything into
perspective, me being in mythirties and being able to see
what you and my mom were doingin y'all's thirties, and at that
time, I mean, your late, Iguess, twenties was when you
(51:42):
were mentoring us.
Right.
Early early twenties.
Okay.
Yeah.
So to even think about that, it,what I was doing in my twenties
child was not mentoring.
So I just seem to think about.
That was magnets or.
Jesus.
But it just thinking about whatyou were doing, even with us,
(52:02):
and then, and walking throughlife yourself, trying to figure
stuff out.
And then, you get into yourattorneys.
I'm still trying to figure itout.
And then you fell in love withteaching.
And that was just, that's alwaysbeen your gift.
And then you'd go up to that.
And then now you're doing it ina different way.
So is there a really cool to.
Yeah.
My creativity.
I'm able to put my creativity inaction.
(52:23):
I always use it with poetry oropen minds or whatever.
and now I can.
Put myself out there into theworld.
Right.
Um, I think podcasting.
I thought that it would kind ofbe local in my head when I first
started it.
But then when I got a messagefrom someone in Turkey, I was
like, oh wow, this is really whyI love.
(52:45):
Yeah.
So some in Nigeria, for somereason, Is another country that
I keep seeing pops up on my,stats.
And I was like, wow, like, ohman, after.
Yeah.
So, yeah, I just want to say I'mproud of you.
Yeah.
Thank you.
(53:08):
Okay.
Thank you so much.
And listening.
Don't forget to go to thosepodcasts.
click on those links.
Support support support.
You can also click on my supportleague to support this podcast,
which helps a mental healthawareness.
And this is may.
we're ending out may, but may ismental health awareness month.
(53:28):
so make sure that you arereaching out to your family.
Friends, loved ones, send a textmessage.
When you think about somebody,just say, Hey, how are you
doing?
Are you on my mind?
I was thinking about you.
Don't let the day go by.
If someone cross your mindwithout texting or reaching out
and so forth the way.
Yeah, well, Christian, Irecorded this session.
I had not purchased the abideprayer journal, but since the
(53:50):
recording, I purchased twojournals, one for me and one for
my 24 year old son, Andre.
He, and I have journal togetherfor years writing back and forth
to each other.
So when he woke up this morning,he expressed his gratitude for
me, purchasing him Christian'sblack and gold and gray.
Abide prayer journal.
He loves it.
Today is Sunday, May 28th, 2023.
(54:13):
And I wrote my first journalentry.
Christian is correct.
This is better than any otherjournal I've ever owned.
I opened it.
And the first thing I did wascircled my mood when I circled
it.
It made an actual smiley face.
So in my creative mind, I alsoadded my current LOC.
Hairstyles.
I put my little locks on there.
(54:35):
On my mood smiley face.
The next section, I wrote abulleted list of the things I
want to pray about.
So there's a section for that.
The next section I wrote, thethings that I'm grateful for.
There's a section for writingwhat you're grateful for this
made it so much easier for me toexpress my manifestation and
journal on the following pages.
(54:55):
But just when I thought I wasfinished, there was a final
section like this little secretsection.
To write out.
My specific prayer request.
I'm always praying for others.
So this section allowed me towrite out those specific prayer
requests for everyone that I'vebeen praying for.
And for those that I may havehad on my heart and forgot to
(55:17):
pray for.
And then God compelled me towrite a prayer request for those
that I don't even want to prayfor.
But i pray for them anywayguided by the scriptures she
placed on the top of the pagethe format of Christian's
creativity in the abide prayerjournal truly is for everyone
(55:38):
please click on the link in thenotes to purchase your copy and
to buy one as a gift for someoneelse father's day is coming up
real men love to journal when weare real together we heal
together Yes.
So, thank you guys.
See you.
Thank you.
So care Sunday.
Sunday.
Thank you.
(55:59):
Bye.
Mic check 1, 2, 1, 2.
Here's a mic check blooper.
Starting now Uh, oh, Okay.
I got the microphone on thetable, so we just tested that.
And I guess I wasn't obese.
So.
Yeah.
Yeah.
(56:20):
That's how I was going to be.
This is how her voice is goingto be one.
We talking.
We laugh.
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