No matter where you have been or what you are walking through, there is hope!

Welcome to A HOLY MESS, a safe place for everyday Christians, who knows there‘s more for them! If you have been feeling stuck, lost, exhausted, tired or just drowning in a life that seems unfulfilling, broken or like there’s something missing, THIS is the podcast for you. IN this show I am bringing you absolute raw, unfiltered and authentic truth.

Together, we’re going to figure out how you can break free and walk with purpose, find freedom and redemption through Jesus! Yes! Even as Christians who at times feel unworthy, and struggle with shame about our past, anxiety about our future, or like we are not enough… there is so much more! There is hope, joy, peace, fun, purpose, and a reason that YOU are on this planet - Let’s partner with God so YOU can Be WHO HE CREATED YOU TO BE!

Hi, I’m Dani, a recovering alcoholic, mom, wife, mentor…. And… dust (we are only here for a moment, let’s live like it)! I believe we CAN have fun and laugh while trudging through our messes, this stuff doesn’t need to be dry and boring!

We are going to be digging in to finding freedom in our mess, tactical tools, tricks, and amazing guests! Interviews from experts, pastors and other survivors who have felt the sting of great loss but also held onto the hope that there’s more–and how they zoned into what God had in store for them, and then took action, so you can too!

Grab your bible and iced tea, it’s time to get MESSY!

Show notes!

(00:03):

Hello, my friends, welcome to the very first episode of a holy mess podcast. Well, actually this isn't a full episode. This is more of a trailer episode or a teaser episode or an appetizer episode. HAHA! Of course I brought up food in the first 20 seconds of a podcast. So this episode, it's just a short explanation of why I'm doing this podcast and the heart and the goals behind it and what you can expect here. So my name's Dani Sumner and I'm your host. So let's be real. Life can be so hard and messy, even in the best of times for most of us side note, if that's not you and your life is easy peasy, 24/ 7, we love you. And we bless you too. HAHA! But deep down, we wonder if you're actually paying attention because the rest of us, we're struggling at times.

(00:49):

I always joke, but I truly mean it. We all got kicked out of the garden of Eden, not just Adam and Eve. No one. And I mean, no one gets to live there. You guys, we all know life can be so difficult and painful at times. Life can be such a mess or components of our life can be such a mess. Whether we made that mess for ourselves, or we are living with the consequences of someone else's choices. And now we're struggling with resentment and bitterness, depression, anxiety loss, or maybe one addiction or another this podcast. We will talk about the real and acknowledge how difficult some aspects of life can be. But most importantly, and more importantly, we will also share the strategies and the tools and the tactics and the true hope only found in the presence of Jesus. And that's not some cheesy Christian platitude.

(01:39):

I know you can live an amazing, purposeful joy filled life. Even with the most difficult things you walk through. Because I see my friends do it every single day. Our goal is not to just preach at you and tell you what you should do or what you could do to feel better. But we are going to press into the house, like how do you actually find peace? How do you actually find joy? And how do you find your purpose on this planet? There will be no. And I mean, no, Yahuda Kota woulda shame in here. I promise to not Yahuda all over you. <laugh>, I've been dying to say that line. The world does not need anymore places or ministries, spewing, Christies, or saying like, God, doesn't give you more than you can handle. That's not a verse. And it's never helpful to hear. And I know plenty of people that can't handle their lives on their own, frankly.

(02:29):

I'm one of them, my life, it takes a village Jesus and a community of supporting people, guiding and loving me gala Galatians six, two says, carry one. Another's burdens. And so fulfill the law of Christ. You guys, sometimes just knowing that we are so in our struggle is hope enough to live another day. Well, and I want this podcast to be that for you. I want you to know that you are seen and valued and important, no matter what you are carrying in your life, no matter what you are working or walking through, you are welcome here. The world needs you. The world needs your story and who he's created you to be a few allergies. You should know about me. Dairy milk in America is not my friend. <laugh> also inauthentic people I can read through people's BS. Point two seconds. And so can you, so I promise to keep it real.

(03:23):

Another allergy politics. I'm what you call apolitical. <laugh> no, I'm totally not, but this will not be a podcast talking or getting into politics. I have a few mantras I live by and one of those is no PIP, no P I P no politics public. It also means no peeing in public. Now that I'm a sober, classy lady, I'm just not gonna do it. Okay. And my last and final allergy is conflict, unless you are my husband or my kids, or sometimes my mom or my brother. I run from conflict with every fiber of my being, but I certainly will spin out about it. Days in my head. <laugh> you can ask my therapist. I'm still clearly a work in progress. Just like you. The heart of this podcast is to walk in the trenches with you. We are going to laugh and probably cry at times and find so much hope and joy and freedom.

(04:15):

As we walk through life and deal with our stuff every week, I'm gonna show up. And from time to time, I'm going to show up with different friends and experts in trauma, addiction, grief, loss, oppression, anxiety, the list goes on and on these friends and these role models are people who I respect and love so much. They bring such hope and help to me. And I know they will encourage you as well with their stories and their life and their guidance. If you have stuff that you are wrestling through in your heart, whether it's loss in grief or shame about your past or anxiety about your future, or like you were just not enough. This podcast is for you first. Thesalonians two eight says we loved you so much. We were delighted to share not only the gospel with you, but our very lives as well.

(05:03):

That's my hope that by sharing my life with you and my history with addiction and failure and struggles with depression and crippling anxiety at times, I'm pretty much an open book about my life and my struggles. I'm 11 years sober this year by the grace of God. My hope is that as we dig deep and shed aim of our struggles, we can all breathe a little easier knowing we are not alone and have fun along the way you guys, this stuff doesn't need to be dry and boring. I promise you are deeply loved. You are created with a purpose and you have such value. My hope is that in every episode you encounter the love and the grace of God, a little more and leave encouraged. There's a few themes for this podcast, but one scripture that has been our driving force since we began preparing for this is

(05:52):

Psalm 84:5 “Blessed are those who strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.” You guys, it's a choice every day to take this pilgrimage and journey with Jesus and with ourselves. But I don't know a better way. And trust me, I have tried so many other ways. My hope is to journey with you and encourage you on your way home. I am so thankful you are here and I am so pumped journey with you. So take a deep breath and let this moment be for the grace of God to encounter you, grab a tea or a coffee, and let's dig in.