About Lydia Floren

Weekly Encouragement*:

Lydia’s life goal is to soak in God’s love, love God and those around her, and encourage others to do the same.

 

Lydia Floren loves people, and loves to laugh. She is passionate about encouraging folks to embrace the joy-giving love God offers every person. It thrills her to help people learn more about their identity and value, and then grow to the point of connecting and sharing what they’ve learned with those around them. She is an ENFP, and her primary love language is words of affirmation. Despite (or maybe because of) living with a houseful of males for the last 26 years she is fond of “girl stuff”: talking, sewing, reading, jewelry making, antiquing, collecting old silver and linens, and talking, to name a few. She deeply values friendship, both new and old. A Southerner born and bred, Lydia’s idea of heaven is the beach and a book, preferably with a good friend the next chair over.

 

The daughter of a Baptist minister, Lydia’s nomadic upbringing stretched from New York City to the south Florida beach town of Bradenton, where she graduated from Manatee High School. She earned her Bachelors in History from Furman University, and her Doctor of Medicine degree from Medical College of Georgia, and is a practicing board certified Family Medicine physician. She and her wonderful husband Andrew, also a physician, met and married in Orlando Florida and now live and work in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Their 3 grown sons, Michael (Kiley), Daniel, and Samuel – are currently scattered from Texas to California. Lydia and Andrew are part of the community of believers at Jacob’s Well in Eau Claire, WI. She believes in the tenets of the Nicene Creed and Apostle’s Creed.

 

Writing

Lydia has loved to write ever since she was young, and while she has shared her stories and thoughts with her immediate circle for years, she has just recently begun to share these with a wider audience. In her writing she connects everyday experiences with biblical truths to challenge herself and others to dig deeper and reach higher in their lives. She is working toward publishing a study on Guidance, and is currently writing a series on the topics of identity, value, belonging and calling.

 

Authors who have influenced Lydia: Henri Nouwen, Brother Lawrence, Oswald Chambers, Ann Ortlund, Brennan Manning, Dr. Paul Brand, Phillip Yancey, Richard Foster, Dallas Willard, David Seamans, Francis of Assisi, St. Augustine, Charles Spurgeon, Chuck Swindoll, and C. S. Lewis.

 

 

A personal note from Lydia:

I have been a lifelong believer, raised in the performance-based culture of middle-class America. Even in the Christian community I often perceived my value to be linked to my performance or what others thought of me. In my struggle with feeling “not good enough” I have searched high and low – in my career, in books, in activities, organizations, roles and relationships – to find the sense of satisfaction and completeness often missing from my Christian faith. As I have begun to absorb and live in the fact that I am a beloved child of God – precious and valuable to him, not because of what I do but simply because I am His creation – my life has been transformed. This I know: if you learn to be loved—to soak in God’s love for you personally – and then share it with others, you will shine in such a way that you can’t help but draw people to Christ.

 

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your father in heaven.”  (Matthew 5:16 NKJV)

Kudos

"She invited me and my husband to a small group bible study at her home and it changed my life. She provided a warm, open, caring environment that brings a smile to my face even when I think of it today."

KELLY L.   |  FLORENCE, SC

 "She believes in God's transformative power and desperately wants everyone she encounters to not only know, but also lean into this transforming, joy-filled, challenging, community-oriented process of allowing our Father to love us completely. God designed Lydia to lead - her wisdom and empathy are heard and felt by so many in Eau Claire."

CARRIE K.  |  EAU CLAIRE, WI

"Lydia has a passion for Christ that is reflected in everything she does. Her energy in leading people to the Lord is contagious, and it's an insight to her own personal relationship with Jesus."

JANICE H. |   EAU CLAIRE, WI

"Lydia has a great passion for people knowing God's great love for us. She organized several mini-retreats for our small group. I always went away refreshed, uplifted, and feeling very loved. She is passionate and reflective and was a blessing to our small group."

JANE J. |  EAU CLAIRE, WI

 

Lydia has a great passion for people knowing God's great love for us. She organized several mini-retreats for our small group. I always went away refreshed, uplifted, and feeling very loved. She is passionate and reflective and was a blessing to our small group.

JANE J. |  EAU CLAIRE, WI

 

"With Lydia, you get wit that isn't forced and wisdom that isn't fake. She manages to blend Southern warmth with Northern punch and Midwestern no-nonsense. She's one of those likable people you can learn from, enjoying every minute of it."

NORM H.  |  SAVOY, IL

 

 

Lydia is able to lovingly encourage and advise others by drawing from personal experience and deep meditation of God's word.

JENN S.  |  RALEIGH, NC

 

*Our weekly email contains "Reflections" as well as a quote "Sunray" that you can print out and post. We guarantee that your name/email address will not be shared with any other person or organization.

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