MS 105 Ann Voskamp: The Broken Way {Part 2}

Welcome to episode 105 of Mud Stories!

Mud Stories is a podcast dedicated to bringing you inspiration in your muddiest moments, hope to make it through your mud, and encouragement for you to know, you are not alone.

Today I’m continuing with part two of our conversation with Ann Voskamp, farmer’s wife, mom to seven kids, and the author of the New York Times Best Selling book One Thousand Gifts, as well as her recently released best seller, The Broken Way. Ann lives in Ontario, Canada with her family of nine and loves to find quiet and calm amidst the chaos of her life.

If you missed it, you can listen to part one of our conversation here, and in this part-two episode, Ann humbly shares about how her writing journey began, what her writing process looks like, and helpful thoughts on how to stay daily connected to God. She even answers my rapid fire questions about her favorite foods, her writing cabin, and how one does write while walking on a treadmill!

Ann and I first met at the Relevant Conference in the fall of 2011 and have crossed paths personally on many different occasions since. I’m honored to call her friend and to provide a space for her to share more of her vulnerable, transparent, and beautiful, broken heart.

AND we’re giving a book away!! To ENTER to win a copy of Ann’s Book:

Text the words: ‘THEBROKENWAY’

To the number: ‘33444’

Also, I want to share with you something new and exciting.. In lieu of advertising, I’m so thrilled to share about a new venture I’ve begun with Young Living essential oils. And what a huge, unexpected blessing it has been to me, both physically and emotionally.

The thing is, I hate network marketing and all the stigma of salesy-ness and bombardment it brings. YOU know what I mean. So no worries, this is not me becoming that. And truthfully, at first I was a little disappointed to discover Young Living is a network marketing company. But friends, the oils. THE OILS. They are simply amazing…God’s gifts and they’ve changed me. I can’t NOT share it with you.

And so, I’ve written some of my story with more information about how I discovered Young Living, and if you might consider laying aside your dislike of network-y companies and give it a chance, I just know it could bless you so! And of course you can always email me at: [email protected] if you want to personally chat about it together.

Here’s a little picture of what is included in a premium starter kit…11 oils AND a diffuser! You can always click here if you already know you want to get started.

In this episode with Ann we talk about:

Where her writing journey began
How best to handle criticism, especially when it hurts
How ‘given’ is one of the most powerful words
How writing often means waiting
The importance of community and not doing everything on our own

Ann shares about:

Some of the differences between writing One Thousand Gifts and The Broken Way
The calm atmosphere and respite of her writing cabin
Her heart’s cry and longing to never do anything to hurt the Church
Her favorite go-to comfort foods
And helpful insights for spending time with and staying connected to Him

Ann encourages us that:

All IS grace
The thorn in our side can be a gift which keeps us low and humble and dependent on Christ
We can be deeply hurt by the church, but also profoundly healed by the church
The heart of a critic can be changed by us showing up and being faithful, day in and day out

May this conversation remind us to release the broken pieces of our lives to our God, because He loves us so and leaves no thing unredeemed.

SCRIPTURE:

The Lord is near to those who are of a broken heart, and saves such who are crushed with sorrow for sin and are humbly and thoroughly penitent.

Psalm 34:18 (AMP)

CONNECT with Ann:

Website: AnnVoskamp.com

SOCIAL MEDIA

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