Text Brian & Shawna (Fan Mail)

Sharon Collins never intended to become an artist or author. Yet her remarkable journey from sketching on cocktail napkins to publishing devotional books with accompanying paintings reveals how God works through our most unexpected talents to address our deepest struggles.

The New Horizons podcast welcomes Sharon to discuss how unwanted thoughts—those persistent worries, anxieties, and mental distractions that rob us of peace and joy—can be transformed through creative expression and spiritual practice. Her story begins in 2017 when two friends made suggestions she initially resisted: "You should take art lessons" and "You should write devotionals." Those reluctant beginnings evolved into a divine calling that has touched many lives through her "Becoming His Masterpiece" series.

Sharon shares profound wisdom about gaining perspective on our thought lives. Just as she sometimes places her paintings on the mantle to view them from a distance, we too must step back from our problems to see them clearly. "Sometimes you're so into whatever's your problem that you can't seem to solve the problem. You need to regain perspective," she explains. This practice of mental distancing allows God's truth to reshape our thinking.

Sharon's artistic process offers a beautiful metaphor for personal growth. Using acrylics and collage techniques, she creates works with multiple layers—some messier than others. "Our lives have layers of hard times, good times, all sorts of things that happen to us," she explains. "Those layers give us authenticity." Rather than presenting ourselves as perfect Christians, acknowledging our struggles makes us relatable and real.

For those feeling called but unqualified for new endeavors, Sharon offers reassurance: "God typically doesn't call the equipped, He equips the called." Her own journey proves this truth. The woman who once laughed at the suggestion of writing devotionals now has multiple published books. If you're wrestling with unwanted thoughts or feeling drawn to an unexpected path, this conversation reminds us we're all works in progress—masterpieces still being painted one layer at a time.

You can learn more about Sharon, read recent devotionals, view artwork, and find links to booksellers if you are interested in buying books at https://becominghismasterpiece.com/

Support the show

Ways to Join Us LIVE 👇
Live shows are on Thursdays at 8pm EST (unless it's a holiday or fifth Thursday of the month)

• Join us LIVE on your mobile phone
• Buy your own VR headset & earn some reward points from Meta!
• Apply to be a guest
• Join us on Instagram

Affiliate links are used when possible to help support this podcast.

• Get Your Own Podcast on BuzzSprout

Text Brian & Shawna (Fan Mail)

BobbyGQ steps into The Studio to share a profound journey of healing from childhood trauma. With remarkable courage, he reveals how suppressed memories of sexual abuse affected his entire life without his conscious awareness, creating a pattern of reactivity, anxiety, and instability that left him feeling like "damaged goods."

The transformation Bobby has experienced through Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy shines as a beacon of hope. He articulates the science behind trauma in accessible terms, explaining how our brains protect us by burying overwhelming experiences in our subconscious, while our bodies continue to react to triggers we don't consciously recognize. Through EMDR, these memories move from the "lower brain," where they cause immediate emotional reactions, to the "upper brain," where they can be processed rationally without emotional distress.

What makes this conversation particularly important is Bobby's focus on male survivors of sexual abuse. With statistics showing one in six men experience sexual abuse, yet far fewer men report or seek help, Bobby's vulnerability creates space for others to recognize their own trauma and seek healing. His journey from disability and depression to hope for the future demonstrates that healing is possible, even after decades of suffering.

The practical tools Bobby shares, like the "butterfly technique" for managing anxiety, offer immediate help to listeners experiencing similar struggles. His vision to become a trauma-informed coach who might someday bring EMDR techniques into The Metaverse shows how healing can transform pain into purpose.

Whether you're a trauma survivor yourself or know someone who is, this episode offers vital understanding about how trauma affects the mind and body—and more importantly, how effective treatment can create pathways to freedom. Reach out to Bobby through the Meta Horizon app if you're struggling. As he says, "There's hope, there's help, and you don't have to be alone."

Support the show

Ways to Join Us LIVE 👇
Live shows are on Thursdays at 8pm EST (unless it's a holiday or fifth Thursday of the month)

• Join us LIVE on your mobile phone
• Buy your own VR headset & earn some reward points from Meta!
• Apply to be a guest
• Join us on Instagram

Affiliate links are used when possible to help support this podcast.

• Get Your Own Podcast on BuzzSprout

Text Brian & Shawna (Fan Mail)

What experiences have you had that you later realized were deeper wounds? What happens when the pain that shapes your life remains invisible to you? John Jarman's story offers a powerful glimpse into the journey of recognizing and healing from "unknown pain"—trauma so deeply embedded that it directs our lives without our awareness.

Growing up with an alcoholic, abusive father led John to a pivotal moment at age 12: pulling a knife and threatening to kill his father if he didn't stop beating his mother. For decades afterward, John believed he had "escaped" the abuse, not realizing how profoundly it shaped his decisions, relationships, and spiritual journey.

The breakthrough came when John recognized patterns of self-destruction in his life and sought counseling. Working with a Christian counselor for years, he began peeling back layers of armor he'd constructed to protect himself, eventually discovering that vulnerability - not strength - would be his path to freedom. Through prayer, spiritual mentorship, and confronting what his mentor called "strongholds," John experienced a complete transformation that he describes as now seeing "the world through God's eyes."

John's book "Broken and Redeemed" chronicles this journey, written in just four weeks after a spiritual awakening despite his dyslexia and past academic struggles.

Whether you're carrying pain you can name or suffering from wounds you haven't yet identified, John's story offers hope that healing is possible, but only by becoming vulnerable enough to let others truly see you. What invisible pain might be shaping your choices? How might complete surrender transform your perspective?

Support the show

Ways to Join Us LIVE 👇
Live shows are on Thursdays at 8pm EST (unless it's a holiday or fifth Thursday of the month)

• Join us LIVE on your mobile phone
• Buy your own VR headset & earn some reward points from Meta!
• Apply to be a guest
• Join us on Instagram

Affiliate links are used when possible to help support this podcast.

• Get Your Own Podcast on BuzzSprout