In this episode, I sit down with Canadian author, lay pastor, and bible study leader Doralyn Moore for a conversation that truly filled my heart. Doralyn has walked with Jesus for over seventy years, and the wisdom she carries is the kind that only comes from a lifetime of trusting God through both joy and grief. We talk about what it looks like to hold onto God's promises when circumstances seem to scream otherwise, how personal testimony is one of the most powerful tools we have for sharing our faith, and why forgiveness, rooted in Matthew 18:22, is as much about our own freedom as it is about the other person.

Doralyn also shares the heart behind her four Christian fiction novels, stories that tackle real and difficult life situations and point every broken character back toward redemption. Whether you are brand new to faith or have been walking with Jesus for decades, this conversation is a beautiful reminder that God's promises never fail and He is working even in the waiting. I hope you'll pull up a chair and join us.

Guest Links:

• Doralyn Moore (Facebook)
• Doralyn Moore (X)
• Doralyn Moore (Instagram)
• Doralyn Moore (LinkedIn)
• Doralyn Moore (YouTube)
• Caused to Triumph
• Abundance of Grace (Amazon)
• Home Doesn't Disappoint (Amazon)
• Seventy Times Seven (Friesenpress)
• Seventy Times Seven (Barns & Noble)
• Seventy Times Seven (Amazon)
• Doralyn Moore Website

References to Bible Verses:

Colossians 1:13–14; John 8:32; Acts 1:8; Psalm 23:4; Matthew 18:22

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Jason: So welcome Doralyn. I'm so happy to have you on my podcast.

Doralyn: I am so happy to be here, Jason.

Jason: That's wonderful.

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Jason: I love to give the listeners an opportunity to get to know my guests, and I like to start with the favorite Bible verse, you sent me Colossians one, verses 13 and 14. he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of his beloved son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. So how does this speak to you?

Doralyn: Um. It speaks to me. I, I light, I think light and darkness when we, before we know Jesus. We don't have the light of his life inside of us. And when we invite him into our lives, he brings light because he said he's the light of the world. And um, the first words that God spoke when he created the universe was let there be light.

And the fact that when we come to know Jesus, he transfers us from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light is a total transformation. I, I just guess I like the picture that it puts in my mind,

Jason: I love that. That's a wonderful answer. I love that.

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Jason: Um, so you live in kind of a small community east of Toronto.

Doralyn: right.

Jason: how does that community shaped your storytelling? Or has it?

Doralyn: Uh, um, I, I, I'm not sure that the, the, the community where I live now has, but my work, uh, previous work has shaped my writing because I worked with a lot of a diverse population of different types of people from all walks of life. And, um, not specific people, but bits and pieces of different people, uh, find their way into my stories.

Jason: I love that. What a wonderful way to honor, you know, um, what's going on, you know, in, in the work that you've done. Uh, for sure. Um, so you spent 30 years in social services before retiring to full-time writing.

Doralyn: That's right.

Jason: that's a lot of time to spend in that work. What did that teach you about people and about God?

Doralyn: Um, it, it just magnifies the fact that everyone needs the Lord, uh, no matter what walk of life they come from, where, where we've come from, uh, whether we come from wealth or poverty or something in between, whether we're educated or not educated. Um, we need Jesus because I believe that there's a. God shaped hole in each of our lives that can only be filled with Jesus.

Jason: That's, that's an interesting, uh, uh, visual, A God shaped hole. It's, and, you know, having come to Christ later in life, I spent many of my years chasing things to fill that hole, and it was just never good enough. Um, I imagine you've, you've run into that a lot.

Doralyn: Yes, yes. People try, I mean, people try everything. Uh, um, I think that the enemy deceives Satan deceives us saying, oh, this is what you need, you know, and he entraps us. Uh, things that start out innocently often end up in trouble. And he tries to entrap us. And, um, what we really need is the freedom that only Christ can give us.

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Jason: You know, it's interesting you mentioned that because people who are not, uh, in the faith, are not living for Christ. They talk about wanting to live freely, but they're not. They're in bondage, right.

Doralyn: Ex. Exactly. And it says too, you know the scr you, the scripture says, you shall Jesus said, you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free. And it's only his truth that. It can satisfy. I know today truth is very relative. Your truth isn't my truth and you know, so that makes truth. It's not an absolute anymore, but Jesus is the truth.

Jason: and he has an absolute truth. Absolutely.

Doralyn: Yes, yes.

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Doralyn: Um, that's a good question. Sometimes it's really difficult and I ha I have to ask, I say, Lord, what do you want to go into my next blog? Sometimes I get ideas from other people, like I read things that they write and then the Lord will give a seed and I can build off that. Um, sometimes it's just something that's on my heart.

I think often things that are on my heart is about the words that we say and how important they are. Um, by where wor by just by your words, are you justified and by your words, you are condemned. And so what comes out of our mouth is important in that we can decree our future. Uh, we are the only species, so to speak, that has the ability of language.

I know animals communicate, but they can't say words like we do, and God has given that us that ability. And, um, when we have his spirit living in us, then we can communicate his words. To other people. So things that we say to me or uh, say are really important.

Jason: Absolutely. Yeah. No, I, I know for this podcast, I've had inspiration come from some of the strangest moments. Um, I had a while back, uh, we were, I was taking my daughter to school and she'd asked me outta the blue, she goes, dad, what would you say to an atheist?

Doralyn: Mm.

Jason: I'm like, that is a really good question.

I'm gonna have to think about that. And I, I built a whole episode outta that.

Doralyn: Wow.

Jason: But it's just, you know, from the mouth of the babes, if you will. But, uh, but that's, that's wonderful. I love that.

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Jason: Um, before we jump in, what is really important for the listeners to know about you?

Doralyn: Um, the important thing to know, I think for listeners to know is that, um, I have lived three quarters of a century. I can't believe I'm. And throughout my life I came to know Jesus as, as like a 5-year-old girl. And I dedicated my life to him at thir around 13. And he has never failed me. He is faithful. He is true.

And he keeps his promises. That doesn't mean that life has always been easy, um, but he's taken me through the tough parts.

Jason: Yeah, that's,

Doralyn: Yeah.

Jason: wonderful. Absolutely. And you mentioned, you know, we can move kind of into, uh, talking about faith a little bit. You mentioned when you were 13 you dedicated your life to serve Jesus and you were baptized. And, uh, I mean, what was it that made it feel like that was the time to go all in?

Doralyn: I don't know. The Holy Spirit just, um, came, spoke to me and he spoke to me strongly, um, that this is something that I wanted to do. I wanted to give my life to him, to, to serve him and, and to, to love him. I, it had to have been the Holy Spirit.

Jason: Oh, that's wonderful. Yeah, it's weird how I, I call it nudging Sometimes he nudges us towards things and we finally get there and we're like, how did I get here? know?

Doralyn: I mean, I could ask you that question. What brought you to the Lord?

Jason: You know, it's, that's a really good question. I love that you're asking me questions.

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Jason: Um, so in the pandemic. Um, things were scary. Things were scary. There were unknown millions, you know, every day, everywhere you turn was an announcement about how many people had died. And I, you know, my daughter was younger at that time, and I, I wanted to be strong for her, but I was feeling, you know, you see the, the supermarkets. Stores, the shelves were empty in some areas. I didn't even wanna go to my mailbox because maybe I touch something that gets me infected. Uh, it was just really scary and I knew, just had this feeling, this calling that I needed something bigger than me. And the only thing that I could think of was a, a. Going to find a God-centered community. And I wasn't even what you'd call a believer then, but I sought one out. And that even that happened at the most bizarre way. You know, it just, I, I sent emails and reached out and nobody really got back to me. Or when they did it with some weird form letter. and then 8:00 PM on a day, um, the lead pastor at the church that I'm at now hit me up on Facebook Messenger because his email wouldn't let him send an email to me.

So he, he sought me out. He, he

Doralyn: Wow.

Jason: left the 99 to find the one, and,

Doralyn: Praise the Lord. Wonderful.

Jason: It is. I love it. So that, that's, I mean, that's kind of my story in a nutshell, but. Anyways, let's, let's get back to you. 'cause you're the focus today, you and God.

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Jason: Um, the theme, the theme of your books seem, you know, and I haven't read, read them, but they seem to kind of tie together, uh, the theme of trusting in the goodness and faithfulness of God. And, you know, when, you know, and this is kind of ties into what we were just talking about. When you come across somebody who's never seen him that way, how, how do you first introduce them to the God that you know?

Doralyn: Um. I think the best way is to, by personal testimony, you, they can't argue with a personal testimony. Like when I

Jason: true.

Doralyn: tell them of, um, you know, when my husband early died, um, and we prayed and we, and we spoke life into 'em and the Lord brought him back. They can't. Come again. They can't deny that, you know, if I put out an argument, they can come back with a counter argument, but they can't go against something that's actually happened in my life.

And I think that's a good way to just to talk to people about the goodness and faithfulness of God.

Jason: I love that it's, I mean, it kind of ties into Acts one verse eight when Jesus tells him, you will be my witnesses. You, you know that that's, and you're right. You know, if you say, this is what God has done to me. This is what Jesus has done for me, they can't argue that

Doralyn: No, they, I mean, they don't have to listen, but they can't argue it because that.

Jason: that's true. That's wonderful.

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Jason: I, I mean, I think we all know that God's goodness is, is easy to celebrate when everything's going our way, when you walk through loss, you know how, how do you coach someone to hold onto the truth of the goodness of God when circumstances seem to scream otherwise?

Jason: Sorry to hear that.

Doralyn: Yeah, it, uh, we'd been married 51 years, so, and we'd, I, we started dating when I was 16, so that's a long time to know somebody. Yes. And so, but the Lord, you know. I'm not saying it wasn't painful and sometimes it still is very painful, but God is with me. I know he, because he's, see his word says that he'll be a husband to the widows and a father to the orphan, and he has been, he has looked after me.

Things, you know, you have to take over everything that your husband used to do. He's led me step by step and I couldn't do it without him.

Jason: That's wonderful. And you've, I mean, you've led bible studies for many years. Um, is there, is there a particular question hear from most groups when it comes to God's promises or, or anything we've talked about? Well.

Doralyn: I think it's mostly, like you say Jason, from the time, like when we are in difficult situations and we receive a promise from God's word, uh, about whatever situation and. I think that God's word, whatever situation, yet, we can always find a promise to stand on from the time the situation start to the time we get the answer is the time that we're most tempted to waiver on the word of God and on that promise he's given us.

And what did Satan say to Adam and Eve? He said, has God said? And that's when he. When we're in that stage, when we're waiting for the promise to be fulfilled, he comes to us and tells us God doesn't love us. He tells us God isn't faithful. He might have answered you before, but he's not gonna this time.

And that's when we have to say, get lost Satan,

Jason: Yeah.

Doralyn: I am choose to stand on the word of God. That's what I've learned over all these years.

Jason: That's the armor of God right there.

Doralyn: Exactly. Exactly.

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Jason: So we, we'll, uh, one quick question, then we'll move. I want to talk about your books. Um, what would you say to somebody right now who's been waiting a long time to come through on something? You know, they, they're in that period of waiting and they're, they're starting to wonder, have I been forgotten?

Doralyn: It says we, we will, um, be victorious if we don't faint. And so my word to them would be, do not faint. Do not give up. Keep standing and I know it's not easy and you especially, and you have to, I think it's, you know how, um, the Christian life is, is the fight of faith. It's described in the scriptures, is the fight of faith.

And that's where the fight comes in, where we have to come against those voices that tell us, keep whispering, they whisper that God isn't faithful. That's when we have to come against those voices. And proclaim. I choose to to stand on his word and his promises. Sometimes, Jason, I've even drawn an imaginary line.

On my floor and I've stood on that line. And on the left side is God isn't faithful and on the right side is he is faithful. And I have taken, and I have stepped to my right and I've stepped down hard and I say out loud. Choose to believe that God is faithful. So it's almost like a physical thing I'm doing in making my decision.

I'm gonna trust God

Jason: I love that. I am gonna try that. know, you know, so my, my sister passed away, uh, in June of last year.

Doralyn: and.

Jason: a five year battle with cancer. Um, and, and that was, I, I described that as my first real test of faith because I found myself not. Praying or, or doing the things that I thought I would be doing when I was sitting by her side in her last moments. Uh, I was just sitting there in sadness and then you start to question and, and fight with God and, and yell at him and be angry and be betrayed and all these emotions come out. And what I took away from that is if you are taking all of those emotions and you're directing them at God, he can handle that and you're still moving towards him.

Doralyn: Soon.

Jason: And I think that's important.

Doralyn: Yeah, he can. And anyways, he knows what we're thinking anyways, so we can't fool him.

Jason: Yeah, he does.

Doralyn: Yeah.

Jason: Oh my goodness. I love this.

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Doralyn: Well, I came up with Yes. Um, and Peter asked Jesus, uh, how many times should, should we forgive? And Peter said, seven times. And Jesus said, no, seven times seven. So that's where it comes from the scripture for the anyone who's, who isn't familiar with that and, um. I had a problem, uh, con, um, forgiving my father.

My father did not abuse me physically or sexually, but my father had severe dyslexia. He was a very. Brilliant man, but he, it was, I remember him asking my mom once, how do you spell the, I mean, he, his brain, he had trouble with his, his brain and that came up sometimes he got frustrated and he would get angry, and I internalized that anger.

And so that meant we always, we didn't have a good relationship. I was afraid sometimes when he got angry and. I feel sad that I didn't, we didn't get it worked out before he died, but afterward, the Lord really convicted me about forgiving him and I, I've come to the place where I have forgiven him and I know that I'll see him one day in heaven and we'll be reunited again.

But that's the backstory. And the story is of a, in the book is of a woman, a young woman who lives in Mexico and she is, uh, physically and sexually abused by a stepfather. And she runs away, uh, she actually comes illegally into Canada, into Toronto. And of course we have to have a love story and.

Jason: Of course.

Doralyn: Of course.

And we have a young man who has accidentally, uh, it was manslaughter. He accidentally killed someone. So he's dealing with that and it's of course, it's how they meet each other and how they come to know the Lord. And, um, it's kind of a bumpy ride that they have. But the Lord is, um, faithful and of course all things have to work out at the end.

Jason: Course. Yeah, no, and I love the backstory, the 70 times seven, because when, when that was presented, when he said what, seven times, that was generous back then. And if you look at, you know, ancient Jewish, culture three times was about the max. So for him to go seven, he's doubling what he already knew was fair. Jesus is like, no, not even close.

Doralyn: I know, I know. And I think Forgi, I just have been learning so much about forgiveness and how if we don't forgive, it can cause bitterness and it actually can make us physically sick. And it's, it, it doesn't really hurt the person who's wronged us. It's us that are getting hurt. Holding onto the bitterness and the anger.

Jason: And I use the analogy, I've heard it all the time, but it's like drinking poison, hoping the other person dies.

Doralyn: Exactly. Yep.

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Jason: So, but, so after your debut, you launch the Victory series with Hope Doesn't Disappoint, and then Abundance of Grace and, and I believe cause to Triumph,

Doralyn: That's right.

Jason: you know, in a, at a high level. What is that series about? In, in, in that trilogy?

Doralyn: It's about, uh, a family. Um, it, it initially starts with a, a mother and a husband who have two young daughters and the mother gets, um, caught. She has a good job, she has a nice husband, she has two grandkids, and she gets caught up in a gambling addiction. And eventually she ends up losing everything and she ends up living in her, out of her car and, uh, one night in a dark street.

She, uh, try, she contemplates, she, well, she doesn't contemplate. She tries to commit suicide and it's her journey back and how she comes to know Christ. And then the next book follows it's it's years, uh, a number of years later, and her daughter who was younger is now just completed university. And Cassie is the protagonist, the mother, and she finds out that her daughter's had an abortion.

And it brings back to her the fact that at 16 she had a, uh, an unplanned pregnancy and she put a do a child up for adoption and the Lord tells her to go back and find that. Um, daughter, and it's about finding her and, and that the daughter isn't that happy to find, to see her and, and how the Lord brings them together.

And then the third story is about, um, the, the daughter again and how she, um. It's really hostile toward God. And she and her boyfriend, DEC, on a trip to Las Vegas, decide to get married. And, uh, it's about how he gets, uh, he's A-A-C-P-A and he, uh, finds out that, uh, one of his clients is money laundering. The client is connected with the mob and, um, he has to testify in court against this guy.

And, and, uh, I really got into the, a hit is put on his life

Jason: Oh

Doralyn: and yeah. And they, uh, they end up running and I won't tell you anymore about what happened.

Jason: no spoilers.

Doralyn: Yeah.

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Jason: So your, your novels cover some really difficult life situations, abuse, brokenness, abortion addiction, mafia hits. How do you handle that content so that it still clearly points to hope and redemption?

Doralyn: Um, because

Jason: I.

Doralyn: I think every, anything, nothing is too big for, for the Lord, excuse me, and his redemption.

Jason: Yeah, absolutely. I think that's wonderful. It sounds like you have a lot of fun writing these books too.

Doralyn: Oh, I do. I do. And sometimes it can be frustrating thinking about ideas.

Jason: Oh, I'm sure. Yep. So I think you, you mentioned somewhere that your, your prayer for every reader is that they'll consider seriously life-changing news of salvation through Christ. Has anyone ever actually reached out to you and said, Hey, one of your books really played a big role in my coming to faith.

Doralyn: No, that hasn't happened. I really wish that, I mean, that's, that's the prayer of my heart. But, um, so far I haven't received, people said they've been touched and they've identified. Very much with some of the characters, but they haven't said they, they've come to know the Lord. But I'll tell you, I, I'll tell you Jason, I sold the book in, uh, what a well-known coffee shop here in Canada.

It's called Tim Hortons. And um, just to a lady, she saw I had the book with me and she bought it. She's a lady I don't think would ever come to church. But when she reads that book, she's gonna read about how to be saved. And so I'm, and I'm really praying that it will draw to the Lord.

Jason: Like that. Yeah. And you never know. I mean, your book could be one of many steps along the way, of somebody coming to the Lord.

Doralyn: Exactly.

Jason: just

Doralyn: Exactly.

Jason: come to you personally doesn't mean it's not happening, that's for sure.

Doralyn: Yeah, that's true.

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Jason: So let's talk about your newest novel coming out this summer. Uh, what, what hints, uh, what, what can you give us about what God has put in your heart for this one?

Doralyn: Well, it's about a lady who's 72 years old. And she's a widow. She recently lost her husband and she gets a, uh, over the internet, she gets a friend request from a, uh, a man, and she knows she probably shouldn't accept it, but she does, and she develops a relationship with this man over the internet. He tells her how much she loves her and that she's wonderful, and, um, you get the gist of where this is going and she gives her, well, it's, it gets her into a lot of trouble and a lot of hurt.

Jason: Oh boy.

Doralyn: And um, and really there's a man in her church that's right under her nose. That would be somebody that would be suitable for her, but she doesn't have any eyes for him. But God works it out between the two of them

Jason: That's wonderful. That'll be fun. That's fun.

Doralyn: adds it's,

Jason: have any,

Doralyn: sorry. Do I have any, uh, ideas for us?

Jason: yeah. Plans for anything beyond this fifth book? Is there like a theme that God's calling you to write or any ideas?

Doralyn: Um, I think all my books just have the, the same theme that, uh, it's about God drawing people to himself and the different ways that he, he uses to draw people to himself. I think that's the, the basic theme in, in my books

Jason: I love

Doralyn: and, and that God is, um, he's a, he's, he's a creative God. He, he can come up, you know, he has many different ways, like just with you.

He has many different ways to draw us to himself.

Jason: Yeah, absolutely. And it'll, hap All you have to do is open the door just to crack and he'll take it from there, I promise.

Doralyn: I agree. I so agree. Yeah.

Jason: That's wonderful.

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Jason: So, th this has been such a treat. I appreciate your time. I am excited. I'm actually excited about your books. I wanna go look them up and, uh, maybe put 'em in my library here soon. I'm sure the listeners appreciate it too. And, and you have a wonderful understanding of scripture and I love how everything ties back to scripture.

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Jason: Do you have any, any final thoughts? Any last words for the, for the listeners?

Doralyn: Oh, just love the Lord with all your heart and soul and mind. And. Strength be in his word every day. I can't tell you how important the word of God is, and as it says that the word is is, uh, active. It, it's living. And as you read the word of God, it will change you and it will make you more like Jesus. And so just be in God's Word, and that way you'll grow in him.

That's my prayer for, for your listeners. First of all, they'll come to know Jesus and then they'll be in his word.

Jason: I love it. This has been such a rich and meaningful conversation. You just seem, you have just such a, a joyful presence about you. It's, it's so much fun talking to you.

Doralyn: Thank you.

Jason: Somebody listens to this, it's gonna stay with the listeners long after they press pause.

The way you talk about God's goodness, not as theological concept, but it's something you've, you've staked your life on. It's exactly the kind of testimony I hope to carry on this podcast. So I appreciate all, all your, your wisdom.

Doralyn: Well, that's great. And you, you're really easy to talk to. You do a good, you know, I really enjoy, I wasn't, I thought this will be fun because Ja, you're easy. You're easy to talk to.

Jason: good.

Doralyn: Yeah.

Jason: So, if you are listening to this, today's episode stirred something in your heart, I wanna encourage you to do two things first. Go pick up on a Doralyn's novels or all of them, whatever. you start with 70 times seven or jump into the Victory SE series, uh, I feel like you're gonna find yourself in the company of characters whose stories point you in the right direction back to Jesus. I have put all the links in the show notes, so be sure to grab those, you know, more information about Doralynd, where to find the books, all of that goodness will be in there. Now, if you've ever never truly settled on the question of God's faithfulness in your life, if you're in that season where you're wondering whether he's even still there. I hope today has planted a seed that will, that will God, will water and, and make it grow and, and get you to where you need to be because he's waiting for you on the other side. And during that period of, of quietness, he's still working, even though it doesn't seem like anything's happening. So, so keep the faith. Don't give up on God. Doralyn, thank you so much for your time, your wisdom, your joy. May God bless you.

Doralyn: Same to you.

Jason: Then for the listeners, until next time, keep loving your neighbors. Dive into God's word daily. May the Lord bless you and keep you and fill you with his peace. Take care. God bless, and I'll see you in the next one.