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Rising Above with Becky Davidson is a place of encouragement, honesty, and hope for families navigating the unique joys and challenges of life with disability. Each episode offers heartfelt conversations, practical wisdom, and faith-filled insights to help you know you’re not alone on the journey. Becky shares stories from her own life as well as uplifting perspectives from guests who understand the road, equipping you with tools and inspiration to face each day with courage. Whether you’re seeking community, strength, or a fresh reminder of God’s faithfulness, this podcast invites you to rise above the struggles and discover joy in the midst of it all.
Episodes
Tuesday Dec 29, 2020
Tuesday Dec 29, 2020
We are excited about all God has done in 2020 even in the midst of a global pandemic, and we look forward to what is to come in 2021! Hear more about where we have been and where we're headed in the future in this podcast with the Rising Above Ministries staff.
Tuesday Dec 01, 2020
Tuesday Dec 01, 2020
Dawn & Lori join us again for part two of "Transitioning to Adulthood." This episode covers topics like wills, insurance, estate planning, and making arrangements to care for your child (or adult) long after you're gone. As uncomfortable as this topic can be, be encouraged and empowered that special-needs parents can do hard things for the sake of caring for those they love! Bring your pen and paper, because there are some very practical take-aways for where to begin this process.
If you missed part one, be sure to catch it here!
Tuesday Nov 24, 2020
Tuesday Nov 24, 2020
This Thanksgiving may look different for your family this year. It's easy to be sad or to wish things were different, but in this episode, Becky shares some stories of how she and her family learned to appreciate their blessings each Thanksgiving and look at the flip side.
In addition to listening to this episode, we'd love to invite you to Thanksgiving with Becky on Jon Alex this Thursday. Gather on Zoom with families from all over the country to count our blessings! Sign up to join them here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdcEyhxJhnyzFf_QqH00-INZ4WyP1GJqKGxqqV29EEKAhU6EQ/viewform?fbclid=IwAR3uRlWCq-5qkotOwVynEAQbjE-s7c90HAA9ozzUqmnPHhgLDt_5UgzWCT4
Tuesday Nov 17, 2020
Tuesday Nov 17, 2020
Today we have the opportunity to have a conversation with our long-time friend, Cassandra Kemp.
About Cassaundra
Cassaundra is a lover of Jesus, President and Co-Founder of PraiStones, wife to an amazing man of God for more than fifteen years, mother of three incredible children, a nurse, and Project Manager and Consultant at her current full-time job. As you can see, Cassandra is a busy lady who is also mom of children with special needs, both through birth and adoption. Cassaundra is passionate about encouraging others to look back on God's past faithfulness and hearing their stories. She gets excited as they recall His goodness, which inspires them to TRUST HIM with their present and future!
Favorite Quotes
The Lord spoke to my heart and he said, “Take no thought for tomorrow.”
-Cassaundra Kemp
Related Links
Tuesday Nov 10, 2020
Tuesday Nov 10, 2020
We are so thankful to have these two special-needs dads on the podcast with us today. TJ Overstreet and Steve Chatman will be joining us for the Extraordinary Legacy conference on November 20, and this episode is a way to get to know them before the event, as well as encourage dads to sign up for this free opportunity! Being a special-needs dad is a unique challenge, and this night is set aside to encourage and challenge you to walk in the calling God has placed on your life! Enjoy hearing from other dads who "get it."
To sign up for this one-night virtual event, please visit risingaboveministries.org/extraordinary-legacy.
Favorite Quotes
“An inheritance is what you leave for our children, but a legacy is what you leave in them.” -Steve Chatman quoting an unknown author
“Parenting’s not about me. It is denying yourself.” -Steve Chatman
“I have to choose joy.” -TJ Overstreet
Tuesday Nov 03, 2020
Tuesday Nov 03, 2020
About the Episode
The Peoples are no strangers to Rising Above, but this is the first time we have had the chance to talk to their son, David, a special-needs sibling to his brother James. David has such an incredible perspective on his role as a special-needs sibling and he gives great advice on how to appreciate a sibling with special needs for who God created him or her to be. If you have a special-needs sibling in your family, be encouraged by this episode and the way God has knit your family together for His purpose.
Favorite Quotes
"We talk about how our kids with disabilities are wonderfully created and God works through them and we say that message so often and sometimes we forget to say, 'Oh, we are ALL created with a purpose, we all have this calling that God puts on our lives, and we fulfill that in big and small ways, but He knit us as a family together for a purpose.'” -Sandra Peoples
”Appreciate your brother or sister for who they are.” - David Peoples
Related Links
Tuesday Oct 27, 2020
Tuesday Oct 27, 2020
Our friends, Dawn and Lori, join us once again to have a conversation about the transition to adulthood. There is so much to consider, and they give some great advice and starting points to help you think through decisions that are best for your child and family during this pivotal life stage!
Tuesday Oct 20, 2020
Tuesday Oct 20, 2020
About Chris
Chris has been on staff for several years as the Director of Community and Outreach and her husband, Rob, also works for us part time as the Men’s Ministry Assistant. Rob and Chris Pierce have been married for 30 years and have 4 children, 2 daughters-in-law, and a new baby granddaughter! Together, they adopted two daughters from foster care, and that is when Chris became a special needs mom as one of their two adopted daughters is deaf.
Favorite Quote
“God doesn’t call us to adopt for our pleasure, He calls us to adopt to be sure that these girls had Him in their life.” - Chris
Related Links
Tuesday Oct 13, 2020
Tuesday Oct 13, 2020
About Betty
Betty Maamari is a proud Christian woman from Lebanon. She has 3 wonderful kids and her eldest is Kurt who is on the autism spectrum. Betty has been a grateful disciple of Jesus for 10 years and her husband came to faith 4 years ago, because of the miracles they saw at home with their beloved son, Kurt. Betty is an advocate for exceptional families in the Middle East and is currently leading the Parent 2 Parent Support Group in Lebanon with the SKILD Center. She is an active person who likes to spread the Good News through social media and fun activities to show the world that Church is anything but boring.
Tuesday Oct 06, 2020
Tuesday Oct 06, 2020
About Gregg
First elected to Congress in 2009, Gregg served five terms representing Mississippi’s 3rd Congressional District. During his time in Congress, he served as a member of the influential House Committee on Energy and Commerce which has jurisdiction over a broad swath of the economy including healthcare, energy, transportation, and telecommunications. On the Energy and Commerce Committee, Gregg served as Chairman of the Oversight and Investigations subcommittee and Vice Chairman of the Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection subcommittee. In addition, Gregg was selected by Speaker Paul Ryan to serve as the Chairman of the Committee on House Administration for the 115th Congress where he was instrumental in reforming the ways that Congress handles sexual harassment allegations. He was also the Chairman of the Joint Committee on the Library of Congress and served two terms on the Committee on Ethics.Prior to being elected to Congress, Gregg practiced law for twenty-seven years, including serving as the prosecuting attorney for the cities of Brandon and Richland, Mississippi. He served on the Mississippi Oil and Gas Board, remained active in his community as a member of both the Pearl and Rankin County Chambers of Commerce, and served as the board attorney for the Mississippi Baptist Children’s Village.Gregg is currently a member of the law firm of Watkins & Eager in Jackson, Mississippi, where he focuses on government relations on the local, state and federal levels. He currently resides in Pearl, Mississippi with his wife of forty years, Sidney. They have a son, Livingston, a daughter and son in law, Maggie and Brett Bailey, and a grandson, Lee.
Favorite Quotes
“If you want to know how to worship God…this young man knows how to worship.” - Gregg Harper
“I think you can always judge somebody’s character by how they treat someone with special needs.” -Gregg Harper
“Let your child do those things that they want to try to do.” -Gregg Harper
“Stop worrying about what they can’t do and focus on the strengths and the things that they can do.” -Gregg Harper
Related Links
"Common Man, Extraordinary Call"