Jesus More Than Elderberries with Noelle Talley

We need Jesus more than elderberries. Here’s your reminder! 🙂

Today we welcome Noelle Talley, owner of Noelle’s Naturals. Noelle became a friend when I had the privilege of being her birth photographer ten years ago, and since then she’s had some wild adventures in business and in life. Today we talk about how God’s people showed her family welcome during a huge transition and how she’s living the “inviting life” through her successful natural products business.

A few key takeaways from our conversation:

On how a new church made the Talley family feel at home after a huge move:

“We were invited into people’s homes.”
“We were given a place to serve.”
“Our giftings were seen and valued.”
“A lot of people stand against the wall, just waiting to be asked.”
“There’s an all-hands-on-deck” mentality; you’re just expected to be a part of the community.”
“They asked, ‘how can I help you,’ and also, ‘what do you have to bring to the table?’”
“There’s an expectation that you’ll serve.”

From Angela:

“In the church, we often feel like we have to create entertainment, but it is really the opposite. We need to create a place for people to serve.” – Angela Sackett

On practicing hospitality, even during unexpected seasons of life:

“Even if you’re in a hotel room, you can creatively welcome someone in and share the love of Christ with them.”
“Who am I to say, ‘I’m not willing to take what God has given us and share it with others?’”

On living out her faith in caring for her customers (we need Jesus more than elderberries!):

“If I believe that Jesus is the only way and I don’t tell you that, I am being so unloving to you.”
“We need Jesus more than we need elderberries.”

And on trusting God when the world around seems to be chaotic:

“The Lord wins. Things might get a little messy for a while, but this story is unfolding, and what a time to be alive.” – Noelle

From Angela:

When Noelle shares about remembering the bigger story God is writing even during times of great difficulty, I’m reminded of a passage in scripture Teresa, a pastor’s wife friend shared and that I still hold on to:

“Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places.” – Habakkuk 3:17-19

One piece of advice from Noelle in this season of her own life:

“If I could go back, I’d do a lot less looking for/living for the ‘next thing,’ and a lot more just being present and being thankful for where the Lord has me, being thankful for that.”

From my conversation with Noelle, I’m reminded that as God’s people, we are called to recognize the darkness around us, and then live as ones who have within us the Light of the world. Whether it is through our tiny or grand home, our business, our friendship-building or mothering, whether we’re single or married, seemingly successful or rebuilding, God has purpose His glory and our good in every season, and He’s calling us to share that with a watching world.

Related episodes:

How Do You Identify? (episode 33)

Be Kingdom Minded (episode 9)

Ask Good Questions – Invite Genuine Community (episode 20)

Refine Your Focus: Pursue Community in Truth and Love (episode 21)

When We Feel Afraid, But God is Bigger with Kim Russo (episode 7)