Main Character Monday #2

Welcome to Main Character Monday. It’s a little different than my regular blog posts, a little more lighthearted. But stick with it, and you just might find some characters you’d like to read more about. And even though it isn’t my usual devotional style, you may still come away with an encouraging word from the Word. I hope you enjoy Main Character Monday!

Today’s Guest is Mary Wade Kimball from Rescued Hearts by Hope Toler Dougherty. Thank you for joining me.

A life verse is a scripture that has spoken to you deeply, impacted the way you live your life, or become like a theme verse for your life. What would you say is your life verse?

Jeremiah 29:11 “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” Unfortunately, I had to learn this verse the hard way. I was always a people pleaser, especially my parents. They’re wonderful people, believers, too, but they had a different plan for me than God did. I felt a lot of guilt striking out on a plan different from theirs after college, but Brett and his grandmother helped me see more clearly.

What person from scripture do you most relate to?

Lydia from Acts 14 is one of those minor characters who can teach big lessons. She’s a business woman, “a dealer in purple cloth,” who worships God, who listens, believes, and responds. After she and her household were baptized, she invited Paul to stay in her home. She’s a business woman who loves the Lord and offers hospitality to His workers. I love her!

The New Testament says that all the law and prophets can be summed up in two commands: love God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind and to love your neighbor as yourself. Which of these two commands do you feel you have the most trouble following?

Wow. That’s a hard question.  I think it’s loving Him with all my mind. I always have a full plate with trying to keep my business afloat, keeping my customers happy, coming up with new designs, doing my volunteer work. I hate saying, “no,” to people who ask for help. Sometimes my focus is on fifty other things instead of Him. Some days are a struggle to begin with Him instead of jumping onto my to-do list.

Solomon asked God for wisdom. If God gave you the same opportunity, what would you ask Him for?

I’m always praying for wisdom and discernment, discernment to distinguish His voice from my desires and attitudes.

If you could give one message to those reading this interview, what would you tell them?

Besides reading about me in Rescued Hearts, you mean? Sorry. Seriously, God’s plans are the best. His will is the best place to be—even if being there feels really hard. Pray for discernment for His will and then for courage to live it out.

Just for Fun:

Dark or Milk Chocolate? Dark, dark, dark!

Autumn or Spring?  Autumn so that I can snuggle up by the fire!

Coffee or Hot Cocoa? Strong, sweet coffee!

If you could describe Hope Toler Dougherty in three words, what would those words be?

Family-oriented, Calm, Non-housekeeper

Get to know Mary Wade even better. Read Rescued Hearts, available on Amazon.