Saved And Strong Podcast

Dawn Ward, Author of From Guilt to Grace: Hope and Healing for Christian Mom of Addicted Children

From Guilt to Grace: Hope for Christian Moms of Addicted
In this powerful and compassionate episode of Saved and Strong, host Carrie Watts sits down with Dawn Ward, speaker, writer, Bible teacher, and founder of The Faith to Flourish—a ministry devoted to helping women live transformed lives through biblical truth, mentoring, and faith-filled encouragement.
Dawn shares her heart and personal insights from her new book, From Guilt to Grace: Hope and Healing for Christian Moms of Addicted Children, offering hope to mothers carrying the heavy burden of loving a child caught in addiction. Together, Carrie and Dawn discuss how addiction impacts the entire family, the spiritual and emotional toll it takes on parents, and the quiet guilt many Christian moms wrestle with behind closed doors.
This conversation dives deep into:
How faith sustains us in seasons of heartbreak
Why community and support are essential—not optional
Practical wisdom for parents navigating addiction with grace
The importance of self-care, empathy, and surrendering outcomes to God
Dawn gently reminds listeners that they are not alone, that shame has no place in God’s story, and that healing begins when we step out of isolation and into grace-filled community.
Based in Las Vegas, Nevada, Dawn is married to Steve and is the mom of three adult children. When she’s not serving in women’s ministry or writing, she enjoys scenic mountain hikes, time with her dogs, and reading a good book.
💛 This episode is for every mom who loves deeply, prays fiercely, and needs the reminder that God’s grace is sufficient—even here.
🌿 Website:👉 https://www.thefaithtoflourish.com
📘 Facebook:👉 https://www.facebook.com/thefaithtoflourish
📸 Instagram:👉 https://www.instagram.com/thefaithtoflourishblog
▶️ YouTube:👉 https://www.youtube.com/thefaithtoflourishwithdawnward
💼 LinkedIn:👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawn-ward-93975b266
 
More about host, Carrie Watts: link.me/carriewattswrites 
Do you enjoy writing and wish you had writing friends to learn from? 
http://www.hopewriters.com/a/2148183199/sY22Dv2U
Want to publish your book too? http://www.hopewriters.com/a/2148100459/sY22Dv2U
Join us at the Hope*Story Conference: http://www.hopewriters.com/a/2147984805/sY22Dv2U
#SavedAndStrongPodcast #FaithToFlourish #FromGuiltToGrace#ChristianMoms #AddictionRecovery #FaithOverFear#HopeAndHealing #ChristianParenting #WomenOfFaith#GraceWins #TraumaInformedFaith #YouAreNotAlone

Sarah S. Brown, Author of Even the Ashes Bloom

Join us on this week’s Saved and Strong as we welcome Sarah S. Brown, Christian author, speaker, and encourager of women to find beauty in their broken places. Sarah’s debut book, Even the Ashes Bloom, invites readers into a faith-filled journey from brokenness to spiritual renewal, offering honest stories, biblical insight, and gentle reminders that God meets us in the mess and the ashes of life.
In this heartfelt conversation, Sarah shares her own story of loss, healing, and the transformative power of God’s presence. Whether you’re carrying grief, disappointment, or just walking through a tough season, this episode is an invitation to discover that nothing is wasted in God’s hands.
Sarah lives in Tennessee with her husband and two sons, and she believes strong coffee and shared stories can change the world — especially when they remind us of the God who makes even the ashes bloom.
☕ Connect with Sarah:📸 Instagram: @authorsarahsbrown 📘 Facebook: authorsarahsbrown 💼 LinkedIn: authorsarahsbrown
Tune in and be encouraged — because healing isn’t just possible, it’s happening as we choose faith over fear.
#SavedandStrong #ChristianPodcast #sarahsbrown #ChristianAuthor #DebutAuthor #FaithBasedBooks #ChristianBookLovers #ChristianNonfiction #EvenTheAshesBloom #StoriesThatHeal #faithpodcast #christianwomenpodcast #testimonypodcast #faithjourney #healingjourney #ashestobeauty #frombronkenesstohealing #redemptionstory #Godrestores #fireflowers #ashestobeauty 

Author of The Dove Series, April Timms

In this powerful episode of the Saved and Strong Podcast, host Carrie Watts sits down with author and licensed professional counselor April Timms for a hope-filled conversation about writer life, her new book in The Dove Series, and freedom from trauma and addiction.
April Timms is a dedicated professional and community member of Lake City, Arkansas. She and her husband of 22 years, Anthony Timms, share a deep calling to ministry and service. Anthony serves as a General Baptist youth pastor, and together they have spent over two decades pouring into youth and families through ministry. Their passion for helping others extends beyond the church, as they co-own A Time for Peace Inc., a small group counseling practice. As a Licensed Professional Counselor, April specializes in treating trauma and addiction disorders, offering compassionate, faith-informed care to those seeking healing and restoration.
In this episode, Carrie and April discuss:
How faith and counseling work together in the healing journey
Why sharing our stories brings freedom to both the author and the reader
This conversation is for anyone who feels unsure of the next step forward, and for those who want to walk alongside others on the road to healing. You are not alone. Healing is possible. And strength is found in Christ.
Please share this podcast with a reader, mom, counselor, or writer  who needs encouragement.
Connect with April Timms
🌐 Website: www.doveauthor.com📘 Facebook: Soiled Dove – Dove Series📸 Instagram: @dovebookseries✉️ Author Email: dove.series.author@gmail.com
Connect with Carrie Watts
🎙 Host of the Saved and Strong Podcast🌐 Website: www.carriewatts.com
If you feel called to write your story—or finally begin the book God placed on your heart—check out this trusted resource from Hope*Writers:
📘 Write Your Book Guide👉 http://www.hopewriters.com/a/2148223330/sY22Dv2U
✍️ Need a community of writers to learn and write alongside?👉 http://www.hopewriters.com/a/2148183199/sY22Dv2U
📚 Ready to get your book published?👉 http://www.hopewriters.com/a/2148100459/sY22Dv2U
Your story matters. Your healing matters. And God isn’t finished with you yet.
#AprilTimms #SavedandStrong #TheDoveSeries #SoiledDove #FreedDove #humantrafficking #prostitution #freedom #healing #addiction #depression #novel #fiction #counselor #traumainformed #book #dream #God #speaks #HisStory #awareness

Courtney Courtney, a Faith Based Beauty Educator, Helping Busy Women Simplify Makeup with Truth

In this encouraging episode of the Saved and Strong podcast, host Carrie Watts sits down with beauty educator and faith-filled entrepreneur Courtney Johnson Courtney to talk about the powerful intersection of beauty, faith, confidence, and calling.
Courtney shares her personal journey from feeling overwhelmed and unsure with makeup to becoming a trusted guide who helps women simplify beauty and rediscover confidence—inside and out. Together, Carrie and Courtney explore how makeup can enhance God-given features rather than mask them, how faith shapes business decisions, and why community is essential for both personal and spiritual growth. The conversation also dives into real-life rhythms of motherhood, homeschooling, and entrepreneurship, offering practical wisdom for balancing family life with purpose-driven work. At the heart of it all is a shared belief that faith, when lived out daily, transforms not just how we look—but how we live.
✨ If you’re a woman seeking confidence, clarity, and Christ-centered encouragement, this episode will leave you feeling strengthened and inspired.
00:00 – Introduction to Beauty and Faith
02:28 – The Journey to Makeup Confidence
06:44 – Faith in Business and Calling
11:53 – Family Faith Practices
17:41 – Community and Bible Study
19:42 – Encouragement Through Scripture
24:52 – Balancing Work and Family Life
Connect with Courtney, shop, and take the color science quiz:
🌐 Website: https://msha.ke/courtney_courtney#links
📘 Facebook: Courtney Johnson Courtney
📸 Instagram: @courtney_courtney2
link.me/carriewattswrites.com for more about the Saved and Strong Podcast host, Carrie Watts 
on instagram: @carriewattswrites
#savedandstrong #restorecollective #courtneycourtney #makeup #beauty #faith #confidence #women #empowerment #homeschooling #community #business #self-esteem #Christian #podcast #faithbasedbusiness #balancedlife #psalm139 #fearfullyandwonderfullymade

Linda Erley, Author of Rainbow Over the Bayou: Jim Crow Through the Eyes of a White Girl

Linda Erley shares the moving redemptive facts behind the fiction in this emotional but spirit-filled episode of Saved and Strong. 
Linda admits, "This book chose me." as she shares the story behind the story of becoming a debut author of Rainbow Over the Bayou: Jim Crow Through the Eyes of a White Girl, a historical fiction rooted in her Louisiana upbringing and inspired by the influence of a beloved Black housekeeper who helped raise her through the 1950s, 60s, and 70s in Southern Louisiana.
A Christian author and speaker now living in Colorado, Linda writes with a heart for Jesus, justice, and reconciliation, encouraging conversations that build bridges across barriers. 
Follow Linda on Instagram @linda.lowe.erley
on Facebook Linda Lowe Erley
And join her book launch team on her website: www.lindaerley.com or email her direct: llerley@me.com
Join us at the Hope*Story Conference January, 29 - 31, 2026 Use Code: CARRIE9444 for 10% off http://www.hopewriters.com/a/21479848...
Interested in Hope*Writers? http://www.hopewriters.com/a/21481831...
More about your Saved and Strong host, Carrie Watts link.me/carriewattswrites
#author #fiction #booklaunch #debut #novel #jimcrow #racialreconciliation #hope #healing #forgiveness #faith #rainbowoverthebayou #savedandstrong #podcast #lindaloweerley
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Linda Early and Her Book04:34 The Inspiration Behind 'Rainbow Over the Bayou'08:15 Linda's Faith Journey and Its Impact10:43 The Writing Process: Challenges and Joys14:23 The Role of Community in Writing and Faith15:47 Daily Faith Practices and Their Importance18:30 Researching Jim Crow: A Journey of Healing21:15 The Healing Power of Writing26:53 Conversations on Forgiveness and Redemption31:30 Encouragement for Aspiring Authors34:34 Life as a Pilgrimage: Lessons from the Camino

Karen Bedells, Certified Family Nurse Practitioner shares her faith, family, and caring for others

In this episode of the Saved and Strong Podcast, Carrie Watts interviews Karen Bedells, who shares her inspiring faith journey, the challenges she faced, and her calling to nursing and wellness. Karen discusses her upcoming Healthy Living Extravaganza event, her writing aspirations, and the importance of community and quiet time with God. She emphasizes the significance of generational faith and offers encouragement to listeners, reminding them of the blessings found in obedience and the importance of surrounding oneself with a supportive community.
The Healthy Living Extravaganga is Wednesday January 21, 2026 2:30-6:30 at Flowood Family Healthcare !!!  We will begin  spot lighting each of our vendors to help you learn more about the services that they offer our community for healthier living.l! We can’t wait for this exciting time!! Make  plans now to attend. Please share to reach our community! Our heart is to share ways. We can all promote wellness in our own lives and families. These vendors will give you ideas on ways to help meet those goals in the new year for a healthier lifestyle! They will also have items for sale at their booths!
Follow Karen on FB: Karen Bedells Join us at the Hope*Story Conference January, 29 - 31, 2026 Use Code: CARRIE9444 for 10% off http://www.hopewriters.com/a/21479848...
Interested in Hope*Writers? http://www.hopewriters.com/a/21481831...
#savedandstrong #christianpodcast #faith #testimony #wellness #nursing #community #writing #healthyliving #motherhood #spiritualgrowth #generationalfaith

Mac Meckley, Artist and Author of her debut novel, Adored, to be released 2026

In this powerful episode of the Saved and Strong Podcast, host Carrie Watts sits down with artist, wife, and mom Mac Meckley to talk about her debut novel, Adored, to be released in 2026. Her story is full of faith, marriage, motherhood, and the beauty of a creative life surrendered to God. She shares how creativity became a lifeline, an act of worship, and a pathway to healing and identity. Adored is your reminder that He’s still speaking. This is a story of art, motherhood, and memory—but more than that, it’s a witness to the way the Lord pursues, adores, and calls His daughters home.
💛 Whether you are a wife, mom, writer, artist, or woman seeking spiritual renewal — this episode reminds you that God is shaping you in the middle of your everyday life.
🔥 ABOUT Mac Meckley
Connect with her work and writing:
Website: www.macmeckley.com
Instagram: @mackenziemeckley
Substack: @mackenziemeckley
🙏 CONNECT WITH CARRIE WATTS
Website: carriewatts.com
Instagram: @carriewattswrites
Podcast website: www.podpage.com/savedandstrong
Join us at the Hope*Story Conference January, 29 - 31, 2026 Use Code: CARRIE9444 for 10% off http://www.hopewriters.com/a/21479848...
Interested in Hope*Writers? http://www.hopewriters.com/a/21481831...
#podcast #savedandstrong #macmeckley #christianpodcast #debut #novel #adored #fiction #artist #wife #mom #faith #creative #paint #write #author #god #daughter #relationships #factbehindthefiction

#45 Erin Ulerich - Author, Speaker, and Founder of The Space to Create Writing Retreat

In Episode 45 of the Saved and Strong Podcast, Carrie talks with Erin Ulerich, a writer and speaker from French Camp, Mississippi, who helps believers connect with Christ in their everyday lives and make room for the words God is calling them to write. ✍️ 2026 Space to Create Writing RetreatJoin Erin in the cozy little town of French Camp, MS for the Space to Create Writing Retreat, February 26 – March 1, 2026—a quiet, Christ-centered getaway to focus on your writing, connect with other writers, and hear from God in the stillness.
Erin shares from her devotional writing, including Christmas in Everyday Life / In Unexpected Ways, and other hope-filled projects that point readers back to Emmanuel—God with us in every moment.
🎙 You’ll also hear about “Mug to Mug with Erin,” her weekly YouTube/coffee-chat style show where she encourages viewers to walk with bold hope and notice God’s presence in the middle of ordinary life.
Email: erinulerich@gmail.com
Retreat & blog: spacetocreatewritinglife.wordpress.com
on instagram: @spacetocreatewritinglife
on instagram: @erinulerich
on Facebook: Erin Ewing Ulerich
on YouTube: Mug to Mug with Erin
Connect with the host, Carrie Watts at www.carriewatts.com or email Carrie@carriewatts.com
Join us at the Hope*Story Conference January, 29 - 31, 2026 Use Code: CARRIE9444 for 10% off http://www.hopewriters.com/a/21479848...
Interested in Hope*Writers? http://www.hopewriters.com/a/2148183199/sY22Dv2U
#savedandstrong #podcast #45 #erinulerich #author #spacetocreatewritingretreat #christianwriter #devotional #fiction #mugtomugwitherin #faith #retreatforwriters #youarenotalone #emmanuel #christmaseveryday #faithjourney #testimony #coffeeandjesus #christianencouragement

#44: Hope H. Dover, Author of Seeking Hope, Finding Joy: Living Abundantly After Pregnancy Loss

In this powerful episode of Saved and Strong, Carrie Watts sits down with author Hope H. Dover to talk about grief, healing, and how God brings beauty from the deepest pain. Hope shares her tender yet transformative story of pregnancy loss, faith, and learning to live joyfully again. Her grief community and support held her up and encouraged her through prayer as she started writing a blog, and now a book. 
Her book, Seeking Hope, Finding Joy, is a compassionate guide for women navigating loss, trauma, or seasons of heartbreak — and today she offers wisdom that will meet listeners right where they are.
If you or someone you know has struggled with grief, trauma, or the tension of sorrow and joy coexisting, this conversation is full of truth, comfort, and hope.
⭐ In This Episode You’ll Learn:
Hope’s journey of losing two children during pregnancy and how she found her footing again.
Why grief and gratitude can coexist — and how acknowledging both is biblical and healing.
How God met Hope in the deepest valleys and restored her joy.
Encouragement for women who feel “stuck” between what they’ve lost and what God is building next.
Practical insights on faith, healing, and living abundantly after trauma.
📚 About Hope H. Dover
Hope H. Dover is a Christian author passionate about helping women navigate grief, loss, and the journey toward restored joy. Her writing offers a gentle invitation to trust God’s faithfulness even when life breaks your heart.
Connect with Hope:
🌐 Website: www.hopehdover.com📘 Facebook: Hope H Dover📸 Instagram: @hopehdover
🎧 Listen to This Episode If You’re Searching For:
Pregnancy loss support
Christian encouragement for grief
Seeking Hope, Finding Joy — available on amazon, her website and major retailers
#SavedAndStrong #HopeHDover #SeekingHopeFindingJoy #ChristianPodcast #FaithAndHealing #PregnancyLossSupport #WomenOfFaith #HealingJourney #FaithAfterLoss #HopeAfterLoss #ChristianAuthors

#43: Kelsey Decker of Morning Glory Global, Ministry to Women Who are Exploited for Sex

In this powerful episode of Saved and Strong, Carrie sits down with Kelsey Decker, founder of Morning Glory Global, a survivor-led nonprofit that “disrupts the darkness” of sexual exploitation and sex trafficking by restoring dignity and hope to women in the sex industry through faith-based outreach and support.
Kelsey shares her raw, redemptive story of surviving sexual exploitation in her 20s and 30s, and how Jesus radically set her free from abuse, addiction, and the occult in 2021. From there, God invited to bring the hope, love, and practical support she once desperately needed herself.
You’ll hear how Morning Glory Global reaches women through strip club outreach, brothels, truck stops, and digital LifeLine support, prayer, and tangible resources that communicate one simple truth: you are seen, you are valuable, and you are worth fighting for. Follow Kelsey, donate, and support her new book releasing soon, The Strip Club Chronicles.
If you’ve ever wondered how to love women who are still “in the life,” how to support survivor-led ministries, or how God can redeem even the darkest chapters of your story, this conversation will challenge, equip, and deeply encourage you.
Connect with Kelsey & Morning Glory Global Website: www.morninggloryglobal.com
Instagram: @MorningGloryGlobal
Facebook: Morning Glory Global
#SavedAndStrongPodcast #MorningGloryGlobal #stripclubs, #brothels, #truckstops #SexTraffickingAwareness #EndSexTrafficking #StopHumanTrafficking #SurvivorLed #SurvivorStrong #FaithBasedHealing #JesusHeals #ChristianPodcast #StripClubMinistry #AntiTraffickingMovement #RestoringDignity #HopeAfterTrauma #HealingJourney #TraumaRecovery #ChristianWomen #FaithOverFear #WomenOfFaith #TestimonyTuesday #GodRedeems #PurposeFromPain #Overcomer #BreakTheSilence #ShameBreaker #donate #HopeForSurvivors #FaithBasedNonprofit #ChristianEncouragement #testimony