Posts by Shelly Brown

Have you ever felt like you were trying so hard to move forward, but something from your past kept tripping you up?
In this episode of At This Table, host Shelly Brown welcomes Susie Lewis, author of The Great Trade: Exchanging Fear, Shame, and Guilt for Freedom, for an honest, hope-filled conversation about hidden pain, healing, and the freedom Jesus offers.
Susie shares how fear, shame, guilt, and childhood dysfunction affected her marriage, motherhood, ministry, and identity. From the outside, she looked like a faithful Christian woman serving in the church and raising her family. But behind closed doors, she was battling anger, remorse, and the painful cycle of promising, “Tomorrow I’ll do better.”
Together, Shelly and Susie talk about the God who sees, the courage it takes to bring hidden pain into the light, and how Jesus invites us to trade ashes for beauty, mourning for joy, and bondage for freedom.

What if a child’s simple curiosity about a tomato, a caterpillar, or even a case of the hiccups could become a doorway to noticing God’s love?
In this episode, host Shelly Brown sits down with Sharon Fox, author of Scooch the Curious Caterpillar, a sweet and whimsical children’s book about a curious caterpillar, his best friend Todd, and the unexpected mystery of hiccups in a tomato patch.
In this sweet story, Scooch and his best friend Todd discover that even something as silly as hiccups can lead to wonder, laughter, and a deeper awareness of God’s love.
Sharon shares the real-life moment that inspired the story, why curiosity matters in a child’s faith, and how Scripture is woven throughout the book in a simple, memorable way.

What happens when a curious little sheep wanders a little too far from the Shepherd who loves him?
In this episode, host Shelly Brown sits down with Paula Pasqua, author of The Adventures of Sheldon the Sheep: Sheldon & The Shepherd, a sweet and faith-filled children’s book about a curious little sheep with one black ear who loves to wander.
Paula shares the heart behind Sheldon’s story, including how a childhood writing disappointment stayed with her for more than fifty years, how God brought this book to life during COVID, and why she chose a sheep to help children understand deeper biblical truths in a simple, memorable way.
Through Sheldon’s adventure, children are gently introduced to themes of listening, obedience, consequences, rescue, and the loving care of the Shepherd. Paula also shares powerful real-life sheep stories, the biblical meaning behind the Shepherd’s staff, and why she believes children can understand the gospel when it is shared with clarity and love.
This conversation is especially meaningful for parents, grandparents, Sunday school teachers, children’s ministry leaders, and anyone who wants to help the children in their life know Jesus as the Shepherd who calls, rescues, carries, and loves His sheep.

What if the very thing you’re hiding is the thing God wants to heal—and use to help someone else find freedom?
Some conversations deserve another listen. Not because they’re new, but because their message is timeless.
In this special encore presentation of At This Table, Shelly Brown sits down with Redemption Press author Sherry Hoppen for a deeply honest conversation about addiction, surrender, recovery, and redemption.
For more than a decade, Sherry lived a double life. On the outside, she was serving in ministry, raising a family, and doing all the things people expected of a faithful Christian woman. On the inside, she was fighting a secret alcohol addiction that she desperately wanted to overcome.

What if one decision made in a tender, uncertain moment kept echoing … quietly shaping futures for years to come?
This month, we’re celebrating the one-year “book birthday” of Gideon’s Book by Maureen Miller, and we couldn’t think of a better way to honor this milestone than by re-airing this conversation.
Over the past year, Gideon’s Book has reached far beyond what anyone could measure, finding its way into the hands and hearts of readers who needed hope, perspective, and the reminder that God is still writing redemption into real lives. It’s the kind of story that stays with you because it carries truth, tenderness, and grace through real-life complexity.
In this episode, Maureen joins host, Shelly Brown at the table to share the heartbeat behind the book, what readers keep resonating with, and why stories like this matter more than we sometimes realize.

What if prayer is less about finding the right words … and more about staying connected to the heart of God?

In light of the national focus on prayer during the month of May, we’re re-airing this meaningful conversation with longtime pastor and author Jon Drury, whose book You Rang? Biblical Principles of Prayer explores the beauty, mystery, and power of prayer through a deeply biblical and personal lens.

In this episode of At This Table, Jon joins host Shelly Brown for an honest and encouraging conversation about what it really means to call on God—and to know that He hears us.