A Daughter’s Journey in Faith Podcast

In this episode of A Daughter’s Journey in Faith, I read my dad’s sermon “What’s My Line?” based on Jesus’ question to His disciples: “Who do you say that I am?”
Peter knows the answer. Jesus is the Christ. But moments later, Peter tries to tell Jesus how things should be—and receives a lesson about the difference between the things of God and the things of men.
My dad reminds us that following Christ does not mean escaping suffering. It means learning to recognize the voices that pull us away from God, surrendering our need to control the path ahead, and following Jesus rather than trying to lead Him.
In my reflection, I think about some of the whispers I have listened to in my own life—self-doubt, comparison, resentment and the belief that things should have happened differently.
What whispers do you find yourself believing?
Suffering may be part of this life, but it does not have to define us. Perhaps, with God, it can refine us instead.

In A Hard Secret to Keep, my father wrestles with one of the more difficult encounters in the Gospel of Mark—the story of a Gentile woman who refuses to stop asking Jesus to help her daughter.
What emerges from that difficult passage is a message about the extraordinary reach of Christ’s compassion. As Dad says, “No one is left out of God’s kingdom. We are all welcome.”
His words lead me back into my own journey of faith and to something life and my work have taught me over time: we rarely know the whole story behind another person’s behavior. Understanding someone’s circumstances doesn’t mean excusing their choices. But sometimes it allows us to replace contempt with compassion.
In this episode, I reflect on the people we find difficult to understand, the difference a few words of kindness can make, and my father’s reminder that Jesus came not simply to heal bodies, but to heal our souls.
Who in your life might need a little more compassion this week?

What happens when the traditions and outward signs of our faith become more important than faith itself?
In Our Law, His Law, my dad reflects on Jesus' confrontation with the Pharisees over something seemingly simple: washing hands before a meal. But beneath their disagreement was a much deeper question about what it truly means to be faithful.
My dad reminds us that faith is not found in rituals, appearances, buildings, traditions, or even the good works other people can see. Genuine faith begins in the heart—and when our hearts are centered on Christ, acts of love and service naturally follow.
In my reflections, I think about family traditions that needed to change, what hypocrisy can look like in everyday life, and the difference between doing good so others will notice and serving others because faith and love are already within us.
This week's episode asks us to look beyond the outward signs and consider a more personal question:
Where is my heart?

The Armor of God isn't just about protection—it's about how we choose to live.
In this episode of A Daughter's Journey in Faith, we explore Paul's powerful words in Ephesians 6 and my father's sermon, The Whole Armor of God. But instead of focusing only on the familiar pieces of armor, he reminds us what our real battle actually is.
Our greatest struggle isn't against people who disagree with us. It's against the forces that tempt us toward hatred, pride, fear, and division.
As I reflect on his words, I think about what I witness every day in the courtroom and how desperately our world still needs truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and prayer.
Perhaps putting on the full armor of God begins with choosing to see one another as children of God.

What do we reach for when life hurts?
In this episode of A Daughter’s Journey in Faith, I read my father Rev. Dr. Kim Wilson’s sermon, “Filled with the Spirit, Filled with the Son,” originally preached August 19, 2012.
Reflecting on Paul’s words in Ephesians 5, Dad explores the difference between the things that offer temporary relief and the lasting joy that comes from being filled with the Holy Spirit.
His words also make me think about some of the “preaching” I heard from him growing up, the people I encounter through my work, and my own attempts to find lasting joy in a world that can sometimes feel overwhelming.
I haven’t figured it all out. But I’m learning that faith is found in the choices we make again and again—to pray, to pause, to choose kindness over anger, love over hate, and God over the countless things that promise to make us feel better for just a little while.
This week, I invite you to consider:
What are you choosing—and where are you looking for lasting joy?

Every day presents a new test—but thankfully, we don't take it alone.
How we respond when we're tired. How we speak when we're frustrated. How we treat people who are difficult to love. Those ordinary moments reveal more about our faith than we often realize.
In this week's episode of A Daughter's Journey in Faith, I read my father's sermon, "No Room at THIS Inn," based on Ephesians 4:25–5:2 and John 6. Using the image of a classroom and a daily quiz, he reminds us that the Christian life isn't measured by what we know, but by how faithfully we live what we've already been taught. Paul calls us to work so we can bless others, to let go of anger before it takes root, to speak words that build people up, and to choose kindness, compassion, and forgiveness every day. The good news is that we're never taking that daily quiz alone—the Holy Spirit is right beside us, guiding us along the way.
In my reflection, I share why this message arrived at exactly the right time. As an attorney, I've been feeling the weight of difficult work, conflict, and the emotional burdens that come with helping others. This sermon reminded me that my work is still a gift from God to serve people. I also reflect on anger, forgiveness, marriage, and the quiet power of kindness. I'm still learning these lessons, but I'm grateful God continues to teach us day by day.
Wherever you find yourself today, I hope this episode encourages you to take one faithful step forward.

What does it really mean to grow up in faith?
In this episode of A Daughter's Journey in Faith, I read and reflect on my father's sermon, "Growing Up in Every Way." Drawing from Ephesians 4 and Jesus' teaching about childlike faith, he challenges us to rethink what spiritual maturity looks like.
Christian maturity isn't about having all the answers. It's about becoming more humble, more patient, more loving, and more like Christ each day. Through stories from Vacation Bible School and examples from everyday life, this sermon reminds us that we are never finished growing.
In my reflections, I share memories of my father's humility, lessons I've learned about patience and joy, and why loving the "unlovable" may be one of the most important callings of the Christian life.
Join me as we explore what it means to grow in faith while holding on to the joy and wonder of a child.

For weeks, I put off listening to this recording.
More than 30 years ago, my dad, Rev. Dr. Kim Wilson, took the stage to deliver an Hours of Power speech filled with humor, energy, stories, and the message he would spend his life living: get in the arena, don’t be afraid to fail, and make a difference.
I knew listening to his voice again would be emotional. I didn’t know what I would discover.
I heard my dad tell an audience that he loved my mom and me. I heard him talk about me as a 16-year-old girl—and realized, all these years later, that he really was proud of me. I heard the faith beneath words that, at the time, weren’t being delivered from a pulpit.
And I heard the same message that would eventually become so much a part of his ministry and his life: one person can make a difference.
In this special bonus episode of A Daughter’s Journey in Faith, I share my immediate reflections after finally listening to my dad’s Hours of Power speech.
There are tears. There is laughter. There are memories I had forgotten. And there is a daughter hearing her father in a new way more than 30 years later.
His words reminded me why I started this journey—and why I am more committed than ever to carrying them forward.
Because you may not be able to make a difference to everyone.
But you can make a difference to that one.

More than thirty years ago, before he ever stepped into a pulpit, my father was invited to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to record an "Hour of Power" motivational speech for the United States Jaycees—an honor given to only a handful of speakers. His words challenged listeners to pursue excellence, discover their purpose, and recognize that true success is measured not by what we achieve, but by the difference we make in the lives of others.
This episode is different from any other. Rather than hearing my father's words through my voice, you'll hear him deliver this message himself, exactly as he did in 1994. It is the first time I have listened to this recording since his passing, and I am grateful to share this remarkable piece of his legacy with you.
Whether you're familiar with my father's sermons or joining this journey for the first time, I hope his voice—and his message—encourages you to live with purpose, lead with integrity, and make a difference to "that one."
 

Before my father became a pastor, he discovered another calling—encouraging people to lead, serve, and make a difference through the Jaycees. In this special bonus episode, I share the story of how that journey shaped the man behind the sermons and led to a remarkable opportunity: being chosen to record a nationally distributed "Hour of Power" speech in 1994. I also share why that recording sat untouched in my home for more than a year after his death—and why I'm finally ready to hear his voice again. Next week, you'll hear my reaction to that speech exactly as he delivered it over thirty years ago.