Rooted & Rising: Growth from the Greenhouse
Welcome to the Greenhouse! Join Denise each week as she has conversations with women who have experienced God’s power in their lives. We'll cover everything from relationships and parenting to running a business and building up our communities. We hope these stories inspire and enable you to make an impact in your world.
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Rooted & Rising: Growth from the Greenhouse
About Broken Bracelets and New Beginnings
What happens when God orchestrates unexpected friendships that change the course of our lives? Denise Jackson and Margie Castillo dive deep into this question as they reflect on their divinely-appointed meeting at a creativity retreat that sparked an immediate, powerful connection between them and a third friend, Alex.
The conversation takes us on a journey through Margie's spiritual milestones, beginning with a touching childhood memory of finding a broken pearl bracelet with a cross—a small detail that became a significant spiritual marker in her life. This beautiful anecdote reveals how God often speaks to us through the seemingly insignificant moments that align perfectly with how He's created us to see the world.
With refreshing honesty, both women share their experiences navigating the complexities of marriage and parenting. They don't shy away from acknowledging the challenges: the clash of different upbringings, the struggle to maintain connection while raising children, and the pitfall of trying to handle relationship difficulties in their own strength rather than trusting God. Their vulnerability creates space for listeners to recognize similar patterns in their own relationships and find hope in surrendering these struggles to God. Margie also recounts how divine guidance led her through a significant career transition from the Texas Comptroller's Office to a better position at the Texas Education Agency—a testimony to God's faithfulness in every area of our lives.
Whether you're in the midst of relationship challenges, career transitions, or simply seeking deeper connections with God and others, this conversation offers wisdom, encouragement, and the powerful reminder that you're not walking alone. God is weaving people into your story at just the right moments, and as Denise and Margie conclude: He is faithful and will not let you down. Ready to discover the divine connections waiting in your life? Listen now and join the conversation.
So, margie, thanks for joining me for a conversation today about the Lord. I'm Denise Jackson, margie Castillo. I'm going to just start with how God brought us together. Yes, which was? A neat story it is you and me and Alex. That was like such a fun time.
Denise Jackson:So we went to a retreat with Sarah Thurman Sarah's a coach, a creativity coach with Sarah Thurman, sarah's a coach, a creativity coach and it was a big step for me to take to go to a creativity coach first of all, and then another step to go to this retreat, just because I kind of think. I felt like maybe I'm wasting my time, which is ridiculous, because God made me a creative, but I did other stuff. I was in the business world, you know, and I didn't paint and I didn't do any of the stuff I wrote. But uh, and that's actually how Sarah convinced me to go was because she told me that it's not just about painting, it's about creativity and it's for your writing. So I did that for almost a year and then decided to go to that retreat and at that retreat, the first couple hours I ran into you and Alex and um, it was like such, I mean, for me it was like wow, the three of us were inseparable. After we were right.
Margie Castillo:Yes, it was like we knew each other forever. Yeah, we just hit it off right away. It was wonderful it was. It was like we knew each other forever. Yeah, we just hit it off right away.
Denise Jackson:It was wonderful it was, it was really really good and it seemed like we were just in each other's lives for the perfect things too. Like you know, alex was going through some stuff and we were there to kind of help her know that she has younger kids and that she's going to be okay. And then she was so encouraging, and you were so encouraging to me in trying this art, so that's the first time I wanted to go and you did great.
Denise Jackson:Beautiful, beautiful work and then just feeling free in worship, which we both, all of us. I think Alex got more free in worship, but you and I, we're worshipers and we had that chance to worship the Lord together. It was a really special time, wasn't it? It really was, and I think I just want to say to you girls, that God really does that for us. He gives us these friendships that we're not expecting, that build us up in our inner man, where we're like-minded, where we can agree on things and we can help each other through. He doesn't really want us to have to walk right alone.
Margie Castillo:he just, you know, he wants us to and sometimes he'll give us a piece of a story or resolving, and then, when someone else comes in, you know, then it's kind of like a puzzle where it fills in that empty space and that those answers you know that's it.
Denise Jackson:It's like he brings in the wisdom and the prophet, prophetic and that right, and we got some of that on that trip too. That was really really good and he's planted a lot in my heart and, I know, in your heart, and we talked about it. So Margie and I ended up driving down together because Sarah asked us to do that and that's how we got to know each other. We spent like two and a half hours just talking about everything.
Margie Castillo:It was so fun it was a lot of fun so we got to know each other intimately.
Denise Jackson:We have a relationship and, you know, relationship with our father is really important. Relationship with people, father is really important. Relationship with people is important because that's how he feeds into our hearts and spirits.
Margie Castillo:Yes.
Denise Jackson:And then what's the three? Three cords are not easily broken.
Margie Castillo:Right Correct. Yes, that's just another confirmation.
Denise Jackson:Yes, so that's what we're talking about today. We're going to talk about where God has been in your life and you were telling me God took you even as a young child. He started showing you things and I love because you're an artist. You are an artist.
Margie Castillo:He started showing you things that were was textual and had substance, and for you to notice, like you were telling me, that you found this broken bracelet and describe that bracelet it was uh, it had a thin, a thin uh thread and it was white and it had little pearl beads and a little cross and it was broken but it was still together where the beads were not falling off and I was walking on the track at school and my sixth grade year and I saw it and I picked it up and I held on to that for a long time.
Denise Jackson:It was just a reminder, it was a reminder that he's with me. No matter what you're going through, no matter what I'm going through, even on the track field.
Margie Castillo:Yeah, it's just everyday stuff.
Denise Jackson:And you I think it's like you noticed the little details of that because he had created you to notice those things early. I would see the big picture oh, there's broken bracelet. I may or may not have picked it up, but you saw the detail in it and you saw the beauty in the detail and you kept it because it was a reminder of his love.
Margie Castillo:And it's so funny because I kept it for so long. It meant a lot to me because I felt like it was from him directly. That's so good so good You're married, Greg. I am, he's your husband.
Denise Jackson:Greg is my husband, a wonderful man, yes.
Margie Castillo:Was it always perfect and wonderful when you were? No, it wasn't. It's very interesting because when you have babies and you're learning, we're learning as we go with the children. Every once they learn something, you're you're having to learn something new because of a different stage.
Denise Jackson:Yes, and that's true all the way. It's a learn as you go, yeah, and you've never done it before, and sometimes you have parents that can kind of guide you. But a lot of times we don't want our parents to tell us because we see all the things we think they did wrong. I, I mean, it's a common thing, uh, so we're trying to do it different, but it leaves us kind of hanging out there with not a lot of support, and so, yeah, so that's true, and so how did that affect your marriage?
Margie Castillo:Well, we were both raised different, you know, he didn't. He can come and go as he pleased and I had very strict parents. My dad was very strict, so that kind of conflict.
Denise Jackson:Yeah, but Agreeing just on discipline and things on discipline especially when they get older yeah, you know how do you handle high school junior high, high school boyfriends and you know so, and then just the separation of you're spending all your time with your children and if you're working which you were, I was um you come home and you've got the just regular chores of the house and then on top of you're supposed to have a relationship, you're supposed to sustain a relationship, and I think that's really hard for the husbands and the wives and you start getting in places where you just let down and you just say I can't deal with that part of it Because it's very emotional.
Margie Castillo:It is Every time. It's very emotional because you love them Exactly, and it's also emotional. It is and it's all time. It's very emotional because you love them exactly, and it's also getting to know each other and not even knowing that, oh, I have to figure out who this person is, because that's 18 years later. We all change yeah you know mature and have different hobbies yes, possible and um when I realized that it's like we don't know each other as much.
Denise Jackson:You have to really start dating you know, get back into that, and you both have to have that commitment to do that. And faith. I mean, you know, when we're walking in faith, I think that we then have the default to lean against God. But it takes a while to even learn to walk in faith for most of us me, I felt like that. And so when you're not, you're trusting your own instincts Exactly, but you're liars.
Margie Castillo:Right, right, they tell you.
Denise Jackson:Like I remember saying things to Lee that really I never meant. But I would hold on to stuff so long and then when I could finally vent, it would just come out so mean I wish I could take it all back, but it was coming from my own power. I wasn't trusting God with Lee. I wasn't trusting God with me. I was thinking I can do it and he should be doing it, and he's not.
Margie Castillo:So he's the problem, which really I think we all do some of that. I mean, you know, maybe it was both of us.
Denise Jackson:But you know, I really know I didn't realize then how much I was. A problem Same here Because I wasn't trusting.
Margie Castillo:Exactly Same here and.
Denise Jackson:I could only hear what I was thinking. That's right. Yeah, and who's saying that to us?
Denise Jackson:Satan you're a liar and we're not listening to you anymore, but we're and we're hoping to expose to you girls that when you hear that crap in your head, seriously it is a lie. It is a lie and it's not the truth. You have got to get back to your father, you've got to get back in his presence and when you do, and listen to his word and speak his word, lives, lives change, and the first one that changes is your own. And, oh my gosh, it just lifts this heaviness. It really does.
Margie Castillo:And just give yourself some time, patience with yourself and your spouse, because I am finding a friend or a family member, that another woman that can help direct you with Bible, with scripture.
Denise Jackson:Well, and just support you without telling you. Like my friend gail oh my gosh every time I was mad at lee inventing she would point out all the good things about my husband. I was such a gift to have her walk through that with me because she wouldn't let me go to a place that was demeaning or ugly for very long. Right, so you know again friendships, friendships, yes, yes. So I just want to talk a little bit before we finish this about a time when you really were having to trust God through some changes, and you were talking about that. You were working at the comptroller's office in Texas.
Margie Castillo:Right.
Denise Jackson:And that had been going pretty good.
Margie Castillo:But then, like there was a a change in the leadership and so tell us what happened um, I felt like God was telling me that it was time. It was a good time for me to move, because there were going to be a lot of changes that would affect a lot of people and and it it was not going the way I would want it to go, as far as the environment I was working in at that time.
Denise Jackson:So I started applying and I applied at a job at Texas Education Agency and just before that you're saying you know you were there and you were feeling like that environment wasn't good, and I just want to say that it's important that you're in the place where God wants you to be productive.
Margie Castillo:You're on a mission.
Denise Jackson:And if you can't do the things that he's called you to do, then it's time to move. Not in an ugly way. You aim well, exactly, but you say do, then it's time to move. Not in an ugly way you range well, exactly but, you say, lord, is it time to move?
Margie Castillo:and then, well, I actually felt like it was him telling me. Yes, that's what I'm yes, and I did ask and and I was there for about five years already and I I was, I felt, because I was, you know, communicating with him is should I? Should I leave, should I go? Is it time? And I did get that confirmation. I said, well, I'm just going to apply for a few jobs and one of them happened to be across the street, at the Texas Education Agency, and I ended up getting that position for higher wages it was higher wages, it was a promotion yes, and you ended up thriving.
Margie Castillo:I did, I did.
Denise Jackson:So he does, and you know, I could say the same thing, you could say more, because jobs Right.
Denise Jackson:He's very faithful in guiding us in our work. Sometimes you have to be patient, sometimes you have to stand. You don't leave things badly, you leave well, you leave honorably, you trust him. But I mean I mean he is gonna guide you and I'm just gonna remind y'all he's not a respecter of persons. If you do it for margie, if you do it for denise, he will do it for you if you will lean in and trust him.
Denise Jackson:And that job is so important.
Denise Jackson:You know, one of the reasons we talk on easehouse about having your own company is because your priorities are bigger than your job.
Denise Jackson:But in your job he's going to use you to touch so many people, to be there at the right time in the right place when they need more than just your work knowledge. They're going to need somebody to pray for them, somebody to hold their hand as they walk through something hard, somebody to be a listening ear or just get them out of the office when they're just doing badly or remind them that they're not alone. So God does use that and I want you to know, if you're in that situation and you're looking for a job today, god will faithfully deliver you out of every adversity and set you on solid ground and give you the land. And, yes, you got the land. Yeah, you really had an impact there. And you know, I think that with my jobs, every one of them, there are a lot you know, and that experience all has come together to give us the next level of experience that God's leading us into Exactly.
Denise Jackson:So, like we're talking to these women out here of all ages, from college age, maybe even teenagers up through 90, 100 year old women, teenagers up through 90, 100 year old women Do you have something?
Margie Castillo:you'd like to share with them. Before we finish up this conversation today, I would say to give yourself grace and just constantly read the word around women that have the wisdom from going through the experiences that we go through with life, and to spend time with God as much as you can. Seek him first, the kingdom of God and everything else will be added exactly, exactly, um.
Denise Jackson:So I'm so grateful that you joined us today for this conversation. You're going to see Margie again. She has lots of good stories to share and, again, why we share those stories is so that you don't lose hope. God does it for us, he does it for you. He's faithful and he will not let you down. We love you too. I'm so glad you joined us today, thanks.
