Apr 4, 2022
Kimberly Hobbs
Thank you Welcome to empowering lives with purpose. And I'm your
host, Kimberly Hobbs. I am the founder of Women world leaders. We
are so happy that you have decided to tune in today and listen to
this podcast with our special guest today. Danielle Gibbons
welcome, Danielle.
Danielle Gibbons
Yes, thank you for having me. Thank you. Thank you.
Kimberly Hobbs
We're so glad to have you sweetie. So our our purpose in being here
and empowering lives with purpose is to do just what it says to
empower you the listener to help strengthen you inspire you
encourage you through some of the stories of some of the guests
that we have on and Danielle has a very interesting story and it's
going to be powerful at the end. And the title that we chose for it
is misplaced to placed in the hands of God. Ladies, we feel that
each and every one of us are a masterpiece because God's Word says
that we are Ephesians 210 says For we are God's masterpiece created
a new and Christ Jesus to do the very good things that he planned
for us long ago. He has a plan for each and every one of our lives.
We believe that wholeheartedly. And through hearing Danielle's
story today, we're going to hear a little bit even though she felt
misplaced. She was placed in the hands of God because he had a plan
for her life. So I want to tell you a little bit about Danielle
before we get started. Danielle is the owner of cherished and found
which is an online mentoring practice that helps women overcome the
negative beliefs that they tell themselves in order to take action
on a god prompting in their life. With her background and customer
service and film, and Assistant work. She's able to provide Christ
like care for her following on social media and having her own past
struggles of life chaos, and her hope found in Christ. It has
shaped her passion for helping women that have been in broken
situations to know that their identity is rooted in Christ alone
and not their past or present circumstances. I love that Danielle.
Danielle is an American and married to her wonderful husband Luke
who is an Aussie and for five wonderful years. They currently both
reside on the Gold Coast of Australia. And she is active in her
local church. She enjoys bike rides to the beach and to catch
sunrise. I love sunrises and I love God's creation so we share that
commonality they're so misplaced to placed in the hands of God.
What does that look like? Well, Danielle had a rough childhood and
at the age of three, her parents were divorced. They are two
completely different parents, a mom who struggled while her father
drove fast cars and had access to money and both had influence on
her life by Danielle felt felt misplaced because of such
differences in their lives. Danielle, can you share a little bit
about your story which led up to where you actually denounced
Christ and became an atheist.
Danielle Gibbons
Sure, thank you for letting me share. So when I was when I was
three years old, my parents got divorced on the youngest of four
and we moved to Michigan and into a trailer park. And growing up we
were the Christian kids to the trailer park kids and the Christian
church we were the trailer park kids in the church kids and I never
felt I never felt connected to either so I had different personas
different personalities for each the church kid and the trailer
park kid and we had a movie theater nearby our home and back then I
don't know if it's still the same now but back then you can go and
collect bottles for 10 cents in Michigan and collect those and
return them to get money so anytime life got hard and life did get
hard i for any eviction notice that we got any power shut off
because my mom couldn't keep up with a bill she was doing three or
four jobs trying to take care of for kids. And we it seemed like
we're always struggling always asking for the handout. Always that
charity case. And I remember anytime things got rough Another
eviction notice. Family disruptions, we would go my brother and I,
my older brother than I would go around, collect bottles, go get
money and go to the movies. Because that was our escape. We, I
wanted so much to be in Fantasyland. Anytime things got tough, I
needed an escape, I needed to be in someone else's story, because I
didn't like mine. So I just remember, in my teens in my early
teens, 13, is when I started experimenting with drugs and alcohol.
And that really separated me more and more more from my church,
friends from church and making me feel more of an outcast, because
I practiced in a lot of sin. And I remember, I remember age 16,
just, you know, from 13, to 16, my, my drinking got worse, the
partying got worse, my older sister, she was in college. So I go to
college parties with her as being a freshman in high school, I was
going to college parties at age 14. And so I started to really hang
around people that didn't believe in Christ. And I started to
wonder if he's real, why do bad things happen? Why are we living
the way we're living? Because I see my mother and her faith and her
walk with Jesus. And yet she is tore down every single turn. She
can't catch a break it just and as a child, I didn't know any
different. That's that's the witness I saw. That's, I didn't see
anything different. So I remember we're driving down the road,
going 70 miles an hour, on the highway, my sister's driving and a
friend of mine in the back who was an atheist and questioning my
god, at the time. And her point seems so valid, why why do these?
Why do bad things happen? If if we really were living for Christ?
Wouldn't our situation be different? So at that moment, I said, you
know, I don't believe in God. He doesn't exist, because if he did,
he would bring me out of the situation. And I remember so well,
because at that moment, one of our tires blew. And we had to pull
over and from age 16 to 22. Did everything so Oh, oh,
Kimberly Hobbs
that is I actually had chills when you said that. You know, it is
such a scary time. But we know, so many young people face that, you
know, they put there's questions constantly as they look around
this world of Is God real? Is he really there? I mean, that movie
they put out God's Not Dead. Oh, my goodness, you know, because so
many struggle with this. So you denounce Christ. I mean, as
shocking as that is, you know, you you said I'm going to become an
atheist and you, you started walking down that road and things got
worse. And, ladies, maybe you can relate to this. Maybe you were
there at one point in your life. But the Bible tells us about
whoever denies Me before men, I also will deny before my Father who
is in heaven. This is a serious situation here. But God was getting
your attention even through that. Danielle you are his from the
time you were born. Ladies, we are all we belong to God from the
time we are born. And but we have choices to make, right? So you
started to smoke, you started to drink. You tried to escape from
movies, and you were living that masquerade life. You told me like
in our private conversations, you you were all about the
Masquerade. And then one day, you go to church in LA, and you start
searching for God again. Can you talk about now like what that
looked like? Because you were misplaced? You still weren't back but
you started searching for God. And so let's talk about being
misplaced and searching for God.
Danielle Gibbons
Sure, so at this part of my story, I have to fast or rewind a bit.
I had placed my hope and becoming big in Hollywood. I wanted to
become a famous movie star. So I had the opportunity to move out to
LA and do the starving artists life. I'd sold everything real big
hippie, but my roommate. He was gonna do hair. I was gonna do
makeup. He was highly against drugs. So I had to quit my drugs for
a season. And in that season, coming off of drugs, moving and
having nothing and starting over. That's a lot So I did whatever
anyone growing up in church would do to go back to church. And so
I, my roommate would take me to reality LA and I think it was
Pastor Tim chaddock At the time, and he was preaching on a class,
Ecclesiastes 217. And it says this. So I hated life. Because the
work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is
meaningless a chasing after the wind. And I just remember sitting
there and worship started and I just sat there is, is my hope in
becoming a makeup artists and making it big in Hollywood,
Hollywood, is that chasing after the wind? Is this really
meaningless? So really start to wonder, is this what I meant to be
doing? And yeah, what a it's not very much hope in that passage. Is
it chasing after the wind? But what it led me to was starting to
question and starting to research starting to ask my mother who had
been praying for me this whole time. Wow. And she was so excited
anytime I called and said, I need prayer or because my mother's
prayers worked. I didn't know how to pray myself. Yeah, I asked my
mother to pray for me. And she would point me to Scripture, even
though we're hard pressed on all the sides, you know, just all of
the scripture that really spoke to me because it was I was in this
I had finally gotten my dream. And it wasn't what I thought it was,
because the hope was misplaced.
Kimberly Hobbs
Wow. Wow. Ladies, those of you that are moms with maybe teen kids,
or even young adults are those that have children wandering that
are wayward? Did you hear Danielle's voice? I mean, she almost got
choked up because she remembers the prayers of a mother's heart.
And she knew that her mom was just so excited when she would call
her back saying, you know, please pray for me, mom. So there's hope
for your kids. If you're praying, God is not gonna let go of them.
And even though Danielle again was denouncing the Lord, he was
trying to get her attention. And your hope became restore Danielle,
Romans 829, ladies and 30 says, For we, for those whom he for new,
He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son so
that the firstborn among many brothers and sisters, and these whom
He predestined, he also called he also justified and these whom He
justified, he also glorified. God had you Danielle, from the
beginning. ladies who are listening that are wandering God has you
from the beginning before you even born and ladies, listen to this
verse. As I described, God has you Jeremiah one five says, I knew
you before I formed you in your mother's womb, before you were
born, I set you apart, I appointed you as a prophet to the nation's
Danielle, here you are speaking sharing your testimony God
appointed you. And hope is the most practical power in the world,
and to be placed in the hands of Jesus through seeking Him gave you
hope, Danielle? So you went from that misplace child back and forth
from two different types of parents wondering where do I go? What
am I running after? am I chasing the wind? God gave you hope. And
knowing he forgives ladies, when we know the God of the universe
will forgive you for everything. It gives us hope. And hope is
found in true forgiveness. And you can overcome anything
discouragement and depression and erodibility. And all the things
that Danielle was facing, she was able to overcome with with that
hope. So, Danielle, when you were alone and misplaced, and you were
full of grief, let's go back to that moment. Okay, you felt
oppression? And can you describe leaving the desert that you were
wandering in for so long to the faith in Jesus that you now have as
your Savior? Can you talk about that?
Danielle Gibbons
Sure. So I immediately as soon as I went to LA it seemed like I
immediately left LA and I moved back to Florida. And my hope was
crushed because that is what I truly put my hope in was the the
thought of of being making it big the big artist and in house
Would, silly as it is, but that was the hope. So because I was
shattered, I had moved in to a friend's house who she was helping
her mother at the time. So I was completely alone. I was in a
different part of the area, so I wasn't around any family. And it
seemed like, I had taken five steps forward when I moved out to LA,
and 20 steps backwards when I moved back to Florida. So I started
picking up drugs again. And I'm going over the cycle and I, I'm
feeling a lot of shame and grief, why can't I break this cycle? It
seemed like everyone had their lives figured out. And here I am age
22. And I'm ready, I'm ready to, I'm ready to give up. The thought
of going through another day seemed too hard. I was still paying
rent in LA and trying to rebuild a life in Florida and I needed
money. So I don't you probably don't know this. But a lot of times,
it's courtesy to smoke out with your drug dealer as they deal to
you. So the drug dealers over at my place, and we get high and I
start just unloading all of my problems to him, like any good girl
would. And I'm telling him how I just need money. And so he had a
solution. He said, You know what, Daniel, I have a lot of girls
working for me, you can be one of my girls, you can start dealing
for me. And I said, That's a great idea. I need extra cash, I'm
still paying rent in LA, I'm trying to, because I had sold
everything. I went did the hippie thing. And I sold everything and
I moved out there. And it was shattered. And so the drug dealer
left,
Unknown Speaker
and I just broke. I was broke. I remember going to the kitchen
floor,
Danielle Gibbons
in fetal position and just crying, the big, biggest ugliest cry,
you can imagine I just start crying. I said God, I said God, or
Jesus, I think as a Jesus, I obviously don't know what I'm doing
with my life. Word obviously, I remember I obviously don't know
what I'm doing with my life. So I surrender it. I give it all to
you, whatever you want me to do, I will do it. And after I said
those words, and I've heard this because I grew up in church, I've
heard the testimony before I've heard it just clicked. Never, ever
had it just click than it did in that moment. As soon as I said
those words, it was like a head to toe piece of feeling a
sensation. And that's when I truly felt like I was filled with the
Holy Spirit. Because I stopped crying in that moment I got up I
dusted myself off. And that's it was like a new purpose. A new
mission was placed on mine heart, A New Hope. I no longer needed
hope in what the world had to offer. I had the hope and Christ that
no matter what I'm doing what he wants me to do.
Kimberly Hobbs
Amen. Amen. And, and that is when you bowed your knee to the Lord
Jesus Christ, and accepted him as your personal Lord and Savior.
And wow, what a story and again, he knew you before you were born,
and he was not letting go of you. And that moment, I mean, that
gave me chills when it got so close to almost selling yourself to
that drug dealer and just, you know, accepting that, but God said
no. And at that moment, something happened that you cried out to
Him praise God. And ladies out there listening, you may be reliving
something in your life right now because you're identifying with
Danielle and you know that again, is that purpose that we want to
share and empower you don't give up. You know, God is getting your
attention whether it be even listening to this podcast right now.
He's getting your attention. Danielle, you are now healed and
restored and renewed in Jesus Christ. And that is like the best
news ever. And ladies out there, he wants you healed in his name.
He wants you renewed in the name of Jesus. God is not going to let
go of you ladies. And he tells us when we need help to come back to
him. He is the only way. And Danielle you knew that from a praying
mother's heart. And one that was taking you to church and Proverbs.
What is it 22 Six that says Train up a child and the way he should
go and when he is old, he will not depart from it. So those of you
that have those children that are floundering guys It says train
them up. Young women out there train your child up right now
because he's gonna face she's gonna face things in this world. We
don't know what, but God will bring them back just like he brought
Danielle back. And he says come back to the place of safety, all
you who still have hope. I promise this very day I pay two
blessings for each of your troubles that Zechariah 912. He lifts
you out of the pit of despair that Psalm 42 He lifted you out of
that pit that you were in Danielle, Psalm 40 Verse two ladies as a
good one. He set your feet on solid ground and studies at you as
you walk along. And that's what Danielle is going through. Now he
studies her she's surrendered her life to Jesus and He is studying
her feet as she walks along. Does God say it's always going to be
easy? No, we all face struggles. As we go through life, even those
of us that know Jesus, because there's things in our path
constantly that the devil is trying to trip us up with. But God is
the source of your hope. Danielle, God is the source of your hope
to your listener and will fill you with joy and peace as you
complete. He will fill you with joy and peace completely as you
trust in Him. That's Romans 1513. So Danielle, all these ladies
that are listening right now they need hope they need that hope
restored. So can you please leave these women with a word of
encouragement when they're feeling misplaced? How they can be
placed back in the hands of Jesus.
Danielle Gibbons
Feeling very grateful right now. My encouragement to you is to
continue to pray. Just continue to pray. He hears you. You are not
too far from him. He hears you in your room crying at night, he
hears you in the empty parking lot. The empty church parking lot.
He hears you. He hears you every moment. Jeremiah 2920 13 says,
then you will call on me and come and pray to Me and I will listen
to you. You will see. Find me when you seek me with all your heart.
John 1027 through 28 says, My sheep, My sheep hear my voice and I
know them and they follow Me. Verse 28 says, I give unto them
eternal life and they shall never perish, neither shall any man
pluck them out of My hand. He was for 16 Let us then with
confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive
mercy and find grace to help in time in time of need. He hears you.
i If you're wondering right now, if you're praying empty prayers,
if you're wondering right now will Will I ever see the fruit of my
toil? What is this? Why am I feeling like this is meaningless. It's
not meaning he hears you. And what you're going through right now,
if it's a season of wandering, if it's dry, like the desert, he
hears you, he's preparing you he's sending you out, you are called
and he's sending you out. But you need that time of preparation. So
I just want to encourage you continue to see Kim and continue to
pray.
Kimberly Hobbs
Amen. Oh, beautifully said Danielle and those scriptures that you
chose to share. God says, When you seek me, with all your heart,
you will find me. God is there. And he wants you to seek him out.
And those scriptures again, I pray that if those touched your heart
where you were listening, that you will replay this podcast again,
listen to those scriptures and write them down. Put them up around
your house so that you don't lose sight of what God's speaking to
you right now. Because he won't let you go. If you're feeling
misplaced. He will place you back in his arms of love. And he will
hold you there. He's not going to let you go ladies. So oh my
goodness, Danielle, that's powerful. And your story again, Praise
God. Praise God that he took you where you were. And he brought you
to where you are now and look at this lovely young woman that loves
the Lord with all of her heart is sold out to serving Him. We are
just so grateful that you would come and share your testimony with
the world Danielle and I am just so thrilled that this young woman
down in faith to write and share her story with the world and she
is going to be writing in the book this year by women world leaders
which is called surrendered, yielded with purpose and We are so
grateful we are so grateful for testimonies like this. And ladies,
God may you may be listening and you may be have gone through
something like Danielle or something completely different. And you
are sitting there just chomping at the bit to share your God's
story. We want to hear from you. We need these stories to encourage
others that are listening. Do you realize that women are listening
to these podcasts around the world we are in over 60 countries we
are listened to by over 55 platforms around the world. These
podcasts are far reaching, and God may be tugging at your heart
right now saying share my story with the world because, ladies, it
isn't your story. It's a story God has given you. And He wants you
to share it. So please pray about that. And reach out to us at
women world leaders.com. Or info at women world leaders.com. And
leave us your name and address and email address. And we'll get
back to you for sure. We want to hear your story. We want you to be
a part of what God is doing here. And again, I want to just say
thank you to Danielle for sharing what God put on your heart today.
And is there any final word you'd like to say to the ladies before
we close out?
Danielle Gibbons
Just approach. Write down everything that he's done for you thus
far, and go back to the heroes of faith. And know you can be
comforted that fellow Christians around the world are feeling or
maybe feeling the same way you feel in this moment. And then we can
look to the heroes of faith. So just continue, continue to have the
faith and write down what he's done for you and just be gracious
and have that heart of gratitude. Because that's how I feel almost
every day. I'm just so grateful.
Kimberly Hobbs
Amen, amen. And I want to just confirm that that is something that
I do every day to even when I get tired and I start to grumble
about things. I turn it into praise and gratitude. And God turns my
day around, I thank him and think of all the things that you're
thankful for. It will turn your day around your heart around. And
just remember those words, have a grateful heart, praise him in the
storm. Praise Him in the storm of your life. Ladies, one more thing
I'd love to share with you is that those that may be watching or
listening for the first time to this podcast. Women world leaders
put out event a magazine every quarter called the voice of truth
outside of the United States, it goes digitally but inside of the
USA, you can get your printed copy. And it is beautiful. It's over
100 pages of encouragement to you written from other women around
the world. There is scripture in here there are stories in here
there is enough to read that will take you a quarter to read each.
Each article that's in here, it's beautiful, but it is for free. If
you want to go to our website, you can read it digitally at women
world leaders.com voice of truth is the magazine. And then if you
want to sign up if you're inside the United States, and you would
like to receive this in your mailbox, we will send you the free
copies by you leaving us your address, your email address, and your
name. We do not share it with anybody. This is strictly for you and
for us to send this to you. So ladies, we want to help you in
whatever ways we can women, world leaders to come alongside you and
encourage you and just walk with you. So there are many ways that
you can get involved within this ministry please just reach out to
us and we are grateful to have this time together and we're gonna
close it out and I just again want to thank our guests Danielle
Gibbons, and Danielle Do you want to share your Facebook group that
people could find you?
Danielle Gibbons
Sure sure. So you can find me at cherished and found on Instagram
and Facebook. I mainly use my platform by Instagram and that ch e r
i s h e d a n d f o u n d cherished and found because you are so
cherished and you were found by him.
Kimberly Hobbs
He man there you go. Thank you so much Danielle and we are so
grateful that you are now part of women world leaders that you are
joining the journey with us and look for her ladies. She is going
to be in the next edition the second quarter of voice of truth. And
we're excited about that and then look for the upcoming books
around yielded yielded with purpose. God bless you all. Thank you
for joining us. And just remember that women world leaders,
podcasts are copyrighted. All the content is copyrighted by women,
world leaders and cannot be used without expressed written consent.
Have a nice day. God bless you and we will see you next Monday.