Have you been grieving and hurting because no one knows how badly you feel? It takes time and space to grieve well, but too often our grief is rushed whether by our own shame about grief or others pushing us to stop grieving. Drawing from her own experience with grief, Natasha Smith talks with Barb about what it means to grieve and to give ourselves permission to sit with our grief so that we can heal in healthy ways. Natasha’s new book, Can You Just Sit With Me, equips readers with the necessary tools to connect with God and to find an understanding companion to walk with them through the grieving process.
RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE
Can You Just Sit With Me? Healthy Grieving for the Losses of Life
Connect with Natasha on Twitter!
Connect with Natasha on Facebook!
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Learning how to deeply connect with our children can feel challenging at times. How do we answer their tough questions about life, the world around them, or about God? How can we lead them spiritually as they navigate the ups and downs that life inevitably brings?
In today's conversation, Barb speaks with Kayla Craig about her devotional, Every Season Sacred, a resource created to help families grow and connect through all seasons of life. Whether your family is walking through a dark time or it feels as if things are in full bloom, this gentle conversation will encourage you to find sacred in every season.
Producer's Note: Unfortunately we ran into some mic issues at a couple of points throughout this interview. Sometimes technology is not our friend! However, thankfully the issues did not last long. We pray this episode blesses you!
RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE
Connect with Kayla on Facebook!
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This current generation of young men longs to see genuine, risk-taking Christianity in action. They desperately need heroes who are genuine, passionate, and noble. Our young men are aching for someone to show them—by example—all it takes to live for Christ. There’s a war raging—and moms are the ones who hold the key to victory. In my conversation with best-selling author and speaker, Rhonda Stoppe, today we are talking about 5 principles godly moms need to keep in mind as they are praying about raising godly sons. No matter how old your son is, you can keep praying for him to become a godly man!
RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE
Check out Rhonda's YouTube Channel!
Connect with Rhonda on Twitter!
Connect with Rhonda on Facebook!
ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST
Are there questions that you would like to ask God but you’re too angry or confused to talk to Him? In my conversation with my friend and author Amberly Neese, we step right into uncomfortable questions that Christians ask like: “Can I trust God? What must I do to be healed? Why should I pray?” In her new Bible study, Untangling Faith, Amberly looks at six big questions that Christians ask and invites us to lean in and learn from Jesus. The Bible records over 300 questions that Jesus asks. In my conversation, Amberly guides us toward understanding God’s heart and helping us learn how to ask God the hard questions that can actually help us trust Him more.
RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE
Untangling Faith: Reclaiming Hope in the Questions Jesus Asked
Connect with Amberly on Facebook!
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As much as we love that God can heal us from our hurts in the past, what do we do when past hurts start hurting again? Does this mean that we aren’t healed or that God didn’t do His job?
Today, Barb has a powerful conversation with licensed professional counselor and best-selling author Michelle Nietert. Michelle and Barb have been friends for years and she shares helpful and encouraging insights for those who don’t understand how or why past wounds can open up again. Michelle recently lost her father and personally, she’s rewalking the journey from her childhood trauma again as well. Join us for a heartfelt, vulnerable but helpful conversation on today’s episode.
RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE
Make Up Your Mind: Unlock Your Thoughts, Transform Your Life
God, I Feel Sad: Bringing Big Emotions to a Bigger God
Managing Your Emojis: 100 Devotions for Navigating Your Feelings
ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST
Have you ever read about one of the feasts in the Bible and thought to yourself, "What is that all about?"
Well, in today's episode, Barb speaks with author and recovering expat Alicia Akins about how the feasts of the Bible relate to us today and how we can live with faith in the truth that we are called to live an abundant life.
RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE
Invitations to Abundance: How the Feasts of the Bible Nourish Us Today
Connect with Alicia on Twitter!
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Becoming a homesteader may sound totally out of reach, but chances are you may already enjoy some of those activities in your day-to-day life. Do you enjoy whipping up a home cooked meal, taking care of your house plants, or creating a cozy home for your family? Well in this episode, our special guest proves that there is a little bit of homesteader in all of us.
In today's conversation, Barb speaks with author and friend Kathi Lipp about her move from Silicon Valley to the mountains of California and her journey to becoming an accidental homesteader. Even if you don't aspire to grow your own vegetables or knit your own clothes, Kathi shows us how we can embrace a simpler and more fulfilling life and create a home that we love.
RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE
The Accidental Homesteader: What I've Learned about Chickens, Compost, and Creating Home
ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST
Kathi Lipp is the Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author of 20 books, including An Abundant Place: Daily Retreats for the Woman Who Can’t Get Away, Overwhelmed, and Clutter Free. Along with being a part of the InCourage at Dayspring writing team, she is the host of Clutter Free Academy the Podcast! with Kathi Lipp, Facebook group Clutter Free Academy, and Clutter Free for Life.
As a writing and marketing coach, she is also the host of the Writing at the Red House Podcast and runs both The Writing at the Red House Retreats and The Red House Writers Collective – a writing program that helps authors develop their writing, their platform, and their business.
She is often featured in Nation Media, including Woman’s World Magazine as one of their “Ask the Experts”, Focus on the Family, MOPSInternational, Crosswalk.com, Girlfriends in God and Proverbs 31 Ministries
Kathi lives on her Red House mini-homestead with her husband Roger, a dog, and eight chickens and holds cozy writer retreats for content creators.
For the past decade, Christ follower and social media influencer Sade Solomon has been praying and waiting on God for her Mr. Fabulous and Forever. At the same time, she’s wrestled with topics around sex, singleness and abstinence. In 2013, Sade began openly sharing her life changing commitment to abstinence on social media. In today’s conversation, Barb and Sade talk about the beauty of God’s blessing in trusting Him, but also the ups and downs of waiting to see how God’s promises will come to pass. Sade’s message will uplift and encourage single Christian women who’ve been on their knees praying for years, “God, where’s my man?”
RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE
Ready, Set, Wait by Sade Solomon
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Guarding our hearts against temptation is not just something we should strive for before the day we finally get to say "I do". Temptations to sin and compromise can continue into marriage, and as women we need to be aware and on guard. In today's conversation, Barb speaks with author Sarah Wells about two tough seasons in her marriage when she was tempted to stray away from keeping her vows, and how we can all resist our own temptations to sin whether physically, emotionally, or mentally.
Whether you are in a season of wrestling right now or not, this honest and vulnerable conversation can equip you to protect your heart and your marriage.
RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE
American Honey: A Field Guide to Resisting Temptation
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When we are walking through seasons of loneliness, weariness, or feeling abandoned by those we love, it can feel like no matter how hard we try to manage the pain, things just aren't getting better. In today's episode, Barb speaks with author Ashley Morgan Jackson about her season of struggling with mental health and how God showed her that He was always present even when she felt invisible to everyone around her.
If you are feeling alone or unseen, this episode is for you.
RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE
Tired of Trying: How to Hold On to God When You're Frustrated, Fed Up, and Feeling Forgotten
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Across the country we’re still wrestling with how to talk about race well. Where do we even begin the conversation on a topic that is so big and heavy? If you are a parent or grandparent, how do you respond to your children’s questions and how often should you talk about race in your home? Today, Barb is talking with Dr. Michelle Ami Reyes, co-author of the book The Race Wise Family, a 2023 recipient of the Christianity Today Book Award. During today’s conversation, you will learn a roadmap for how to talk about race in your home as well as many practical tips and fantastic resources to help you answer the hard questions for yourself as well as your kids and grandkids.
RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE
The Race-Wise Family: Ten Postures to Becoming Households of Healing and Hope
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When our earthly fathers hurt, harm or abandon us, it can leave a deep wound that feels like it will never fully heal.
In today's episode, Barb chats with author Kia Stephens about her experience with an absent father in her life, and the beautiful hope and healing that all women can experience, even if their relationship with their father is never fully restored. We don't have to stay wounded forever, and that is GOOD news!
Join us for this hopeful conversation and share it with a friend who needs it. Let's all get better together.
RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE
Overcoming Father Wounds: Exchanging Your Pain for God's Perfect Love
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Are you feeling spiritually malnourished? Like no matter how hard you try to make it through life, you still feel empty, tired, overwhelmed or exhausted?
In today's episode, Barb speaks with author Amy Seiffert about how we can experience life, fullness and satisfaction in Christ. In a world that is preoccupied with staying busy and checking a neverending to-do list, Amy challenges us to practice rest, remember the steadfast love and care of our God, and experience true peace and nourishment in Him.
Take a deep breath, grab your favorite cup of tea or coffee, and join us for this encouraging and uplifting conversation.
RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE
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Would you say that your thoughts are more positive or negative? Too often we underestimate the damage that negative thinking and toxic beliefs have on our faith. Barb’s guest author, speaker and music artist Denise Pass discusses how to overcome negative mindsets and position ourselves fully in God’s truth and how we can live that out. As one who has faced some of life’s greatest disappointments and heartaches, Denise offers powerful Scriptural insights and hope for you today.
RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE
Make Up Your Mind: Unlock Your Thoughts, Transform Your Life
ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST
Biblical mindset coach, author, speaker, worship leader, songwriter, and podcaster, Denise Pass holds an MA in Biblical Exposition and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Biblical Exposition at Liberty University. Denise is the author of Make Up Your Mind, Shame Off You, 31 Days of Hope Reinvented and creator of The Bible Tribe® podcast. Denise serves on the writing teams for P31 First 5 app and COMPEL blog, and writes for her ministry, Seeing Deep Ministries, encouraging women to overcome the battles of the mind with the word of God, heal shame and find hope in God’s word. Denise has also written songs that received radio play, including “You Are Worthy,” “Seeing Deep EP”, and songs from her album, Praying For You. Denise homeschooled her 5 children and she and her husband serve together at their church in Spotsylvania, VA, where Denise is the Director of Family Ministries and Worship Arts.
Do you believe in Jesus, love God, but you don’t trust what you see happening in church? In the wake of scandals, abuse claims and questionable leadership, perhaps you’ve grown weary and found yourself wondering whether the church is redeemable and whether you should even stay.
Today, Barb talks with author Kate Boyd about her new book An Untidy Faith and has an honest conversation that we believe will give voice to those of you who are desperately trying to hold on to your faith but you’re not sure what exactly your faith means anymore. Through her own journey of disentangling from toxic religion as well as her life-giving travels around the world to meet other believers, Kate talks about the questions that you’ve been afraid to ask and she casts a vision for how you may find freedom and joy in following Jesus again.
RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE
An Untidy Faith: Journeying Back to the Joy of Following Jesus
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Have you ever felt like your faith is failing? Like your suffering and pain is just too much to handle?
Join us for today's conversation as Barb speaks with author and speaker, Michele Cushatt, about how we can develop a faith that will not fail. From divorce, to struggles with motherhood, to walking through three bouts of cancer, Michele is no stranger to suffering. Yet through it all, her faith has endured.
If you feel like you are at the end of your rope, you are not alone. There is hope, friend, even when it's hard to see it. May this conversation serve as a warm hug and a reminder that you are seen, known, and dearly loved.
RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE
A Faith That Will Not Fail: 10 Practices to Build Up Your Faith When Your World Is Falling Apart
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Who struggles with their body? Most of us do. Our guest, Jennifer Taylor Wagner, today shares her journey as a chronic dieter. After a lifetime of struggle she lost 150 pounds and kept it off. Instead of giving us meal plans, dieting tips, and rigid exercises, Jennifer teaches us how to make peace with food, to eat foods we love, and to nourish our bodies with foods we love. A recovering chronic dieter herself, Jennifer understands how hard it is to shift our mindset around food. As we embrace freedom in the foods we eat, we can walk toward our healthiest selves yet.
RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE
Your Good Body: Embracing a Body-Positive Mindset in a Perfection-Focused World
Check out Jennifer's YouVersion Devotional
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Relationships are messy because we live in a messy, sinful world. Is it truly possible to love the people in our lives who hurt us, disagree with us, or just rub us the wrong way?
Join us for today's conversation as Barb speaks with Becky Keife, general editor of Come Sit With Me: How to Delight in Differences, Love through Disagreements, and Live with Discomfort. After experiencing the divorce of her parents and the resulting tension she had to navigate for the majority of her life, Becky knows what it's like to be hurt by relationships. However she also has experienced God's redemption. Listen in as she speaks about learning how to listen well, stay curious, choose tenderness, and open our hearts to hope.
RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE
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Navigating conversations about race doesn't always have to feel like a minefield.
Join us for today's episode as we chat with Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith and Lori Stanley Roeleveld, two unlikely co-authors who God brought together to write a book called Colorful Connections: 12 Questions About Race That Open Healthy Conversations. Together we will discover how to talk about race in a way that values the experiences of others, emphasizes listening over just getting a point across, and is filled with grace.
RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE
Purchase your copy of Colorful Connections!
Connect with Dr. Saundra on IG!
ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUESTS
Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith is a board-certified internal medicine physician, work-life integration researcher, speaker, and host of the I Choose My Best Life Podcast where she shares biblical ways to help you live fully, love boldly, and rest intentionally. Her previous books include Sacred Rest, Set Free to Live Free and Come Empty. Learn more at ichoosemybestlife.com.
Lori Stanley Roeleveld is a Christian coach, author, and speaker with degrees in psychology and biblical studies. Lori's previous books include Jesus and the Beanstalk and Running from a Crazy Man (and Other Adventures Traveling with Jesus). She also writes a popular blog at www.loriroeleveld.com.
Come laugh with us today on The Better Together Podcast! I’m talking with my longtime friend and Aspire Women’s Event sister, comedian Sally Baucke. Today, we are talking about tiaras, tweezers, and how to find healing in our hearts when life hurts. Sally grew up in a home where she didn’t always feel seen and loved but she now stands on stages across the country to make audiences laugh and so they know how much God loves them. If you need a dose of laughter and love, you don’t want to miss my chat with Sally!
RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE
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If your pastor called and asked if you would take in a Middle Eastern family who escaped from their homeland, what would you do? Chicago pastor, Joshua Sherif, escaped from his home in Egypt as a new believer to come to America. In this episode, Joshua and I talk about what it was like for him to leave his homeland, Islam, and encounter resistance in America. During our conversation, Josh tells us the 3 ways that believers need to stop hardening their hearts towards strangers and practical ways for us to love and disciple the immigrants and refugees that God puts in our path.
RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE
The Stranger at Our Shore: How Immigrants and Refugees Strengthen the Church
ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST
Joshua Sherif was born in Egypt to a Muslim family and immigrated to the United States, where he later came to faith in Jesus. Before transitioning to a new role, he planted and pastored in Albany Park, Chicago, IL, one of the most diverse neighborhoods in the country for a decade. Joshua has enjoyed his years equipping and coaching other missionaries and pastors around the world. In his new role, Joshua now works bi-vocationally to equip churches to reach their cities. His story was featured in Love Costs Everything, a documentary produced by CIY and Voice of the Martyrs, concerning Christian persecution.
Calling all book lovers! If you are a fan of Christian fiction, then chances are, you’ve heard of best-selling author Tessa Afshar. Guess what?! I recently talked with Tessa and in this new episode, we’re discussing her new novel, The Hidden Prince, as well as Tessa’s fascinating background. She was born in the Middle East, survived boarding school in England and then moved to the United States and came to Christ in her 20s. During today’s conversation, you’ll find out about how Tessa writes novels to help you embrace God’s love and truth in powerful ways.
RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE
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Tessa Afshar’s book have been translated into 11 languages, and loved by fans around the world. Her novels have been on Publishers Weekly and CBA best-selling lists. Her book, The Way Home, God’s Invitation to New Beginnings, is the winner of the Christian Book Award in the Bible Study category. Afshar’s biblical and historical novels have won a number of awards including the Christy and INSPY, and been named as one of top five Christian fiction titles of the year by Library Journal. Tessa holds a Master of Divinity from Yale, where she was co-chair of the Evangelical Fellowship at the Divinity School for one year. She served in women and prayer ministry for twenty years before becoming a full-time writer and speaker. She is a devoted wife, a mediocre gardener, and an avid lover a chocolate.
Sometimes it’s hard to determine whether we are hearing God’s voice or whether it’s our own thinking. It’s possible to learn how to hear God’s voice in your life!
In this new episode, Barb talks with the founder of Equipping Godly Women, Brittany Ann about the 6 tips to help you hear God’s voice loud and clear in your life. Brittany Ann leads a large online community committed to helping Christian women live all in for Jesus. She’s a wife, mom, and Bible teacher who loves to challenge and encourage women to grow in their faith.
RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE
Follow God's Will: Biblical Guidelines for Everyday Life
ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST
Brittany Ann is an ECPA bestselling author, speaker, and founder of EquippingGodlyWomen.com, a popular Christian-living website dedicated to helping busy Christian moms find practical ways to go "all in" in faith and family. Brittany is the author of books including “Fall in Love with God’s Word: Practical Strategies for Busy Women” and “Follow God’s Will: Biblical Strategies for Everyday Life.” Her work has been featured on CBN, The Christian Post, Crosswalk, and more.
It’s not over yet! If you are still breathing, then God has big dreams for you! Join me on this new episode where I’m talking with speaker, author, leader and someone that I’ve admired from afar for many years, Jo Saxton. She has powerful words and wisdom to share with you about owning your voice, living out your purpose and how to stop apologizing for your desire for more.
Jo is the founder of the Ezer Collective and dedicated to investing in women leaders around the world. She was born in Nigeria, raised in London and now lives in Minneapolis with her family. Jo's message will encourage and inspire you to go further than you ever could have imagined!
NOTE: There is a slight echo in the beginning of this episode due to tech issues, but it does not last more than 2 minutes or so!
RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE
Jo's Upcoming Ezer Collective Events!
ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST
Jo Saxton is a speaker, podcaster, author, guest TV host and leadership coach. She is the founder of the Ezer Collective and dedicated to investing in women leaders around the world, equipping them to own their voice and embrace their purpose and catalyze their calling. Born to Nigerian parents and raised in London, England, Jo now lives in Minneapolis with her husband, and two daughters. She loves the everyday stuff like good music, good food, and good friends. And Target. She really, really loves Target.