Around the Table with Brenda Harkins

Episode 25 - Overcoming Defeat

The difference between those who give up and those who overcome often comes down to the community we have. Or don’t. We take pride in “doing it myself”, and yet what if our best achievements come by doing it with a team? The right team, of course. Not just any team. A supporting cast, if you will. After all, every great story has a great supporting cast. Doing things in community provides perspective,...

Episode24 - DON’T GIVE UP! With guest Jonah Brian Cruz Melchor

In the last episode we talked about brokenness, but in today’s episode we take a personal look into the life of a man who knew nothing but brokenness throughout his childhood and even in to much of his adulthood. Jonah Brian Cruz Melchor shares some of his healing journey, past and present, and how he is learning something we all need to learn: to heal, we must lear...

Episode 23 - Brokenness and Tables

Brokenness is a big topic. There is personal brokenness and relational brokenness all the way up to world brokenness. But it starts in the heart. Of each person. Why is our world so broken? Because people are so broken. And people are broken mainly because of receiving what God never intended them to have, or not receiving what He did intend them to have. What do Tables have to do with brokennes...

Episode 22 - Connecting Through Conflict

Connecting through conflict is an insightful approach to growing relationships. We are at our most vulnerable when we are emotionally hot because our passions and convictions are showing whether we want them to or not. This allows us the opportunity to see into another’s heart beyond the anger, hurt, or frustration of the moment. It allows us the opportunity to see the pain in there. To seet...

Episode 21 - The “How-To” of Treasuring Time

Prioritizing time according to our core values sounds wonderful, but how do we actually do that? We often have trouble getting out of the routine that allows the world’s demands to set our schedule. We don’t even understand how to get out of that routine because it has felt so normal for so long. Moving into a new mindset and committing to allow our core values and goals to set our sched...

Episode 20 - The Gift of Time

Time is a scarce resource. That’s how many people view it, anyway. I am learning to view it more as a precious gift. One to be valued and treasured. In this episode, I want to share with you how to have less frustrating days, more meaningful moments, and greater intentionality with the hours we are given. You can have a different relationship with time. One that is prioritized. One that is protected. O...

Episode 18 - Authenticity and Attachments

In keeping with the theme of restoring, healing, and/or strengthening our relationships, especially in this world of uncertainty and extreme differences, this episode challenges you to take a look at the two things mental health professionals tend to agree on as the most important factors for our growth as a person:

1)Authenticity

2)Attachments

We all need connection with others. We are wir...

Episode17 - Love or Fear

Every thought we have can be traced back to a root of either love or fear. Research from neuroscience continues to prove this fact.Fear keeps us disconnected, shaken, and bent on avoiding pain. Love keeps us connected, peaceful and desiring truth despite the pain. Wherever you are sending tumult — whether from your family, your personal relationships, your work situation, the election or a transition you ar...

Episode 14 – A Fresh Perspective on Different

With whom do you think of differences as being refreshing? That neighbor with a political sign different than yours? That coworker who does things in the hardest way possible? The one who is always finding fault? Or always positive? The family feuds? The one with the cup half full? Or empty? Differences are perspectives. For those who don’t hold your views, are you the one different? Or...

Episode 13 - Yes, You Are a Leader!

Leadership is for all of us. It is how we lead ourselves. It has to do with how we look at those around us who need assistance accomplishing what they are called to do just as much as it has to do with positions or titles. We all have opportunities to lead in a way that encourages and makes a way for others when they can’t do it alone. In this episode I want to share with you three specific examp...

Episode 12 - Unoffendable and Responsive 

In this world we live in, it can be hard to stay calm, loving, and peaceful. Especially when situations that anger, grieve, and sicken us are all around. I have been given the message of “loud is not a language” and yet, this past week has been one of the hardest ones I have had to live that out. To not be loud in attitude or reactions. But those who follow Jesus have been given a mandate. ...

We have truly walked into the beginning of what scripture talks about when it says everything that can be shaken will be shaken. Those structures we have held dear are toppling, and it is time to re-examine who built those structures. And why. And what we need to do now. In this episode we will look at:

- Our own hearts Man-made structures we have exalted

- What the toppling of those structures might mean

- What is our responsibil...

To own our mistakes, to take responsibility for them, is hard sometimes. Especially when we struggle with admitting we are wrong. A natural human reaction is to deflect error and blame other people or adverse circumstances. That is a victim mindset. A place where we give others power over the choices we made. We can shift our mindset to one of power by taking responsibility for our actions, the consequences to those actions, and th...

Episode 8 - ELECTION TENSION DOESN’T HAVE TO BE RELATIONAL TENSION

For too many years, election season has been a source of contention for families and other important relationships. The issues about which we are passionate have become the measuring stick for our relationships, and I am not sure when this all started but I have certainly had it in my face since 2016.

What is it about issues that we allow them to rise higher in prio...

EPISODE 7 - COURAGE FOR YOUR MOMENT OF CHOICE

Change is hard work. Familiarity has a sense of safety to it, and we don’t like to feel unsafe or ill-equipped to deal with unsafe feelings. I have been pondering what it takes to get to the point where we choose the hard work of making change happen. Why do we do what we do without giving it a second thought...until a moment when everything changes. What brings us to that pivotal momen...