We all have past mistakes and hurts that we cannot change, but we can choose to not allow our pasts to dictate our futures. Join today's conversation as Barb chats with her producer Tabitha about how we can let go of our pasts (while not ignoring the fact that they happened) and press forward in faith, peace, joy and obedience.
RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE
ABOUT YOUR HOST
Barb Roose is a speaker and author who is passionate about teaching women to live beautifully strong and courageous so that they experience God’s great adventure of faith and purpose for their lives.
Barb is the author of multiple Bible studies including her newest study Surrendered: Letting Go and Living Like Jesus, Joshua: Winning the Worry Battle and several books like Surrendered: 40 Days to Help You Let Go and Live Like Jesus.
Barb lives in NW Ohio and is proud mother of three adult daughters. Whenever possible, Barb prefers to eat dessert first. Visit Barb’s online home at barbroose.com.
Is there something God is calling you to do but you just keep putting it off? Today's special guest, Shari Braendel, knows exactly how you feel. After sensing God calling her to use her passion for fashion to help those in the church, Shari put it off for 7 years before finally taking the leap, and now she is here to encourage us to take a step of faith too! It's time to stop waiting and debating and to start taking action!
RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE
ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST
Shari Braendel is president of Fashion Meets Faith and author of Help Me, Jesus! I have Nothing To Wear (Zondervan). As president of FMF, Shari has helped thousands of women reveal who they are in Christ and shine outwardly with confidence through her conferences, online instructional videos, podcasts, consultant training, and more.
As a Christian speaker, she has presented over 500 events in 18 states, including Hearts at Home, She Laughs, and She Speaks and has shared the stage with Nicole C. Mullin, Lysa TerKeurst, and Karen Kingsbury. She has appeared on Focus on the Family, The Total Christian Television Network (TCT), K-Love, Crown Financial Network, Moody Global Ministries, and more.
Shari saw firsthand that women didn’t recognize the beauty that God gave them and lacked the knowledge of how to dress themselves with confidence. She knows women often judge themselves based on the world’s standards and are forever coming up short.
As a fabulously fun fashionista, Shari takes women on a trip through the fashion DO’s, explaining why it’s important to dress the body they have, not the one so prominently displayed on the cover of the latest fashion magazine. With electric and exciting stage presence, Shari delivers a message that women no longer need to conform to the pattern of the world, but can be confident and self-assured no matter their size or shape.
In a world full of suffering, heartache, and bad news, many of us are feeling depleted, overwhelmed, and undone. If you are feeling worn out, there's good news: hope is alive. In today's episode, special guest and friend Susan Seay shares how we can walk victoriously despite our circumstances. Whatever you are going through today, we pray this episode helps you feel seen. You are not alone.
RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE
ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST
When life feels uncertain and we can't trace the hand of God in the middle of our trying circumstances, it can be easy to wonder if He's really there walking alongside us. In today's conversation we have the privilege of hearing from special guests, Amy Carroll and Lynn Cowell, about their new Bible study, Esther: Seeing Our Invisible God in an Uncertain World. In this conversation, you will be encouraged with the reminder that God is always active, working out His bigger and better plan, even when we can't always see it in the moment.
RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE
Esther: Seeing Our Invisible God in an Uncertain World
ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUESTS
Sometimes we can get so caught up in the everyday routines and busy schedules that we fail to take the time to slow down and truly connect with our families. In today's episode, Barb speaks with special guest and friend, Amberly Neese, about how we can start creating meaningful moments with our families by pressing in, building up, and prioritizing connection over perfection. This is an episode you won't want to miss!
RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE
The Belonging Project: Finding Your Tribe and Learning to Thrive
ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST
No More Perfect Marriages by Mark and Jill Savage
Courses:
No More Perfect Marriages: Home Edition
ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST
Join Barb on this new episode of The Better Together Podcast as Dianne shares from her new book Two Hundred Tuesdays, and the life-changing conversations that she had with Jim. If you are longing for a life of significance and sweet satisfaction in Christ, you won’t want to miss this conversation!
RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE
Two Hundred Tuesdays by Dianne Derby
Connect with Dianne on Facebook!
ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST
An award-winning journalist, Dianne Derby is a longtime television anchor who is currently coanchor for the KOAA News5 weekday team in Colorado Springs. She met Jim Downing at a luncheon for World War II veterans and learned from him every Tuesday for the next five years. Dianne is originally from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and holds degrees from Florida State University, the University of Miami, and the University of Florida. She and her husband live in Colorado Springs with their young daughter and three rescue dogs.
Where is God in the middle of our suffering? How can we come to grips with the goodness of God when so much in life just doesn't seem to make sense?
Join Barb on this new episode of The Better Together Podcast as she speaks with special guest Alexandra V. Hoover. From poverty to abuse to abandonment, Alexandra knows what it looks like to walk through suffering that she just couldn't come to grips with as a young Latina. It was not until she took the time to look back and trace the hand of God in her life that she was able to begin receiving the healing that she desperately needed. And now she wants to help you do the same. This is a powerful conversation that will speak to your heart and remind you of the goodness of God in your past and in your present.
RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE
Eyes Up: How to Trust God’s Heart by Tracing His Hand
Instagram: @alexandravhoover
ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST
Alexandra V. Hoover is a wife, mother of three, daughter, sought-out speaker, and writer. She’s passionate about communicating the gospel’s beauty and hope, whether through writing or speaking, online or in person. Her words spur people on to hope, healing, and their mission. She has the privilege of serving on staff at Transformation Church and spends her days loving on her family, dancing with her kids, and living on mission right where God has her.
Join Barb and travel expert, Wendy Anderson Schulz, for a fun and practical conversation about getaways, girlfriends, Jesus, and Italy!
RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE
https://wendyandersonschulz.com/
Instagram: @wendyandersonschulz
ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST
Wendy Anderson Schulz is the founder of Adventures Together, which leads modern pilgrimages for Christian women to France or Italy. She is also a writer and speaker who is passionate about encouraging women in their faith walk. Wendy is married to her college sweetheart Pete, and has two daughters.
God doesn’t hate divorced people! However, if you’ve gone through divorce, you may have been left with the impression that He does. On today’s Better Together podcast, Barb talks with with best-selling author Tracie Miles about her new divorce recovery resource, Living Unbroken Divorce Recovery Workbook. Six and half years ago, Tracie went through a divorce after experiencing the devastation of infidelity, addiction and finally abandonment. As a Christian woman, she knows what it’s like to experience the shame, hopelessness and fear. However, in today’s conversation, Tracie shares her story of how God healed her, how she learned how to trust Him again and as a result, Tracie learned how to love life again and experience God in new life-giving ways.
If you or someone that you know has going through a divorce and need to know that hope and healing is possible, this is the episode for you!
RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE
Living Unbroken: A Divorce Recovery Workbook
Instagram: @traciemiles
ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST
Tracie Miles is the Director of COMPEL Training at Proverbs 31 Ministries as well as an Author of five best-selling books including Living Unbroken, Love Life Again, Unsinkable Faith, Stress Less Living and Your Life Still Counts. She is the founder of the Living Unbroken Divorce Recovery Program. Tracie is also a contributing author to the popular Zondervan NIV Women's Devotional Bible and a monthly contributing writer for the Proverbs 31 Ministries Encouragement for Today daily devotions which reach over 1.5 million people per day around the globe. Tracie has 3 grown children and lives in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Connecting with God doesn't have to be rigid or just about following a bunch of rules. Today's conversation is about relaxing our minds and minds and positioning ourselves to see where God is at work and receive what He speaks to us.
Join Barb and her longtime friend and editor, Sally Sharpe, as they discuss how we can be open and honest about our spiritual needs and the amazing truth that we are loved, seen, heard, and known by God.
RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE
ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST
Sally Sharpe is a certified spiritual director who companions others on the spiritual journey, providing a safe where they can share their stories, explore their relationship with God, and attend to their souls. With a long career in Christian publishing, she has acquired and edited Christian living books and devotionals as well as developed and managed a line of in-depth Bible studies called Abingdon Women. In addition to offering spiritual direction, Sally enjoys leading workshops and retreats on topics such as journaling, prayer, and other spiritual practices. She and her husband, Neil, have two adult daughters and live Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, just outside Nashville.
It can be easy to just read the Bible as one big storybook without realizing it is filled with diversity and genres that can help us understand it in a much deeper way. Join Barb and author Kristie Anyabwile for an insightful conversation as she shares about her book, Literarily: How Understanding Bible Genres Transforms Bible Study, and shows us how we can all understand God's Word better!
RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE
Literarily: How Understanding Bible Genres Transforms Bible Study
Connect with Kristie on Instagram!
ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST
Kristie is the author of Literarily: How Understanding Bible Genres Transforms Bible Study (Spring 2022), and editor of His Testimonies, My Heritage: Women of Color on the Word of God. She is a Bible teacher at Anacostia River Church, and an instructor for several ministries that equip women to study and teach the Bible, such as The Charles Simeon Trust and Bible Equipping. Kristie is also a founding member of The Pelican Project, a women’s theology organization. Her work can be found at The Front Porch, The Gospel Coalition, Desiring God, Christianity Today, and Revive Our Hearts. She is a pastor’s wife and has been married 30 years. She and Thabiti have 3 children and live in Washington, DC.
Few groups in America feel the sting of negative stereotypes more than young, African Americans. Whether it’s assuming that every young, black woman aspires to be in a rap video, or that every young black male is a gang banger or a drug dealer, those stereotypes undermine the truth that we are surrounded by countless numbers of young, gifted and black souls.
Join Barb and award-winning author and therapist, Sheila Wise Rowe, for an eye-opening, powerful yet tender conversation about the celebration as well as the lament that young, African Americans grapple with each day. If your heart’s desire has been to see people through the eyes and heart of God, this is a conversation that you don’t want to miss.
RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE
Young, Gifted, and Black by Nina Simone (song)
ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST
Sheila Wise Rowe is a truth-teller who writes passionately about matters of faith and emotional healing. She advocates for the dignity, rights, and healing of abuse survivors, those carrying racial trauma, and racial conciliation. Sheila holds a Masters degree in Counseling and has lived in the USA, Paris, France and Johannesburg, South Africa. For over twenty-five years she has been a counselor, educator, writer, spiritual director, and speaker.
Sheila is a member of the Community Ethics Committee of Harvard Medical School, a policy-review resource for it's teaching hospitals. She is a member of the Redbud Writers Guild and writes essays for several publications including; The Redbud Post, Mudroomblog.com and READY Publication.
Sheila co-authored with her husband Dr. Nicholas Rowe, The Well of Life: Heal Your Pain, Satisfy Your Thirst, Live Your Purpose. Sheila's essay; Awakened to Adventure is found in the anthology by Leslie Leyland Fields entitled; The Wonder Years: 40 Women Over 40 on Aging, Faith, Beauty, and Strength. Her 2020 book, Healing Racial Trauma: The Road to Resilience (IVP) was awarded the 2021 best book in Christian Living/ Discipleship by Christianity Today.
When Sheila is not writing or counseling she creates art, and crafts or searches for treasures in local antique and thrift shops.
From the top of our head to the tips of our toes, every woman wants to know that she is beautiful. Author, Dorena Williamson, dreams of teaching brown-skinned little girls that they are beautiful in a world that doesn’t always tell them that.
In this episode of the Better Together Podcast, you’re invited into a precious and tender conversation about the battle for beauty as a black woman, and how we can teach young girls, especially black girls, God’s beautiful truth about them. We’re also going to spill the tea on the secrets of black hair!
RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE
ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST
Dorena Williamson loves the power of a good story and writes children’s books that adults need too. She is the author of ColorFull, ThoughtFull, and GraceFull, and forthcoming books include A Celebration Place (IVPKids) and Crowned with Glory (WaterBrook Multnomah). She and her husband Dr. Chris Williamson planted multiethnic Strong Tower Bible Church in 1995 and they have four teenage and adult children.
Everything on social media screams that we are not good enough. We are not young enough, skinny enough, popular enough, or wealthy enough. But it’s all lies! You are God’s beloved daughter and made in His magnificent image.
On this episode of The Better Together Podcast, Barb’s guest, Aubrey Sampson, talks about her new book Known: How Believing Who God Says You Are Changes Everything and how we can let go of the false labels that leave us feeling ashamed. Aubrey shows us how to let go of self-doubt and embrace God’s best!
RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE
http://www.aubreysampson.com/
ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST
Aubrey Sampson serves on the teaching and preaching team at
Renewal Church in West Chicago, which she co-planted with her
husband, Kevin. Aubrey writes regularly for Christine Caine’s Propel Women and has contributed to Proverbs 31, Ann Voskamp’s A Holy Experience, Christianity Today, and more. She also speaks at churches and events around the country. Aubrey has her master’s degree in Evangelism and Leadership from Wheaton College and is the co-host of The Common Good daily talk show and the Nothing is Wasted podcast. Deeply passionate about helping hurting Christians find healing so that they can fully embrace their God-given identities and purposes, she has authored three books, Overcomer, The Louder Song, and her latest, Known. You can connect with Aubrey on Instagram @aubsamp.
Perhaps you or someone that you know can relate to sitting in church on Sunday wracked with guilt and shame over what happened a few hours earlier on Saturday night. What’s the next step if you realize that you want to experience God’s forgiveness and grace because the path that you’re on is breaking your heart and ruining your life?
Join Barb and her guest, Erin Kui for a conversation about finding freedom from temptation, sexual sin and the meaningless pursuit of the next party. Erin will tell us about the two praying women in her life, the small group at her church that cared, not condemned her and how God led her to new life in Christ.
This is the perfect episode for anyone who feels like they are too far gone to deserve God’s favor. It’s not true!
RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE
One Transforming Love by Erin Kiu
ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST
Erin Kiu is passionate about helping women have a transforming relationship with Jesus while attracting their future husbands along the way. After experiencing her own transformation with God, Erin published her first book, One Transforming Love, as a Christian Fiction novel to inspire other young women to discover the love of Jesus while pursuing godly relationships.
Erin is a blogger at Fun & Holy, a blog and community for women that provides biblical solutions to real-world issues that young women face. When she’s not writing, you can find Erin on the beach or biking along the coast with her husband in San Diego.
Are there pressing questions on your mind about your sexuality as a single Christian woman but you don't know where to have that open and honest conversation? On this episode of the Better Together Podcast, Barb talks with author and podcast host, Kat Harris, who has a passion for coming alongside women and helping them understand God's good design for sex while also saying goodbye to sexual shame.
In this conversation we talk about ALL.THE.THINGS. and don't shy away from questions like, "What is sex?", "Is it okay to masturbate?", and, "Is anyone else still waiting for marriage?"
Prepare for a power-packed, vulnerable and grace-filled conversation.
RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE
The Refined Collective Podcast
Instagram: @therefinedwoman
ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST
Kat Harris is the host of The Refined Collective Podcast, and Co-Founder of the online publication The Refined Woman. Her first book Sexless in the City will hit bookstores April 2021. She has also been a full-time photographer for the last decade with her work featured in: Vanity Fair, GQ, Forbes, People, Who What Wear, US Weekly, Glamour UK, and more.
She coaches and equips women all over the world in dating, relationships, singleness, sexuality, faith and how to build a renewed and healthy biblical sexual ethic rooted in freedom, truth and grace as opposed to the oh-so-common shame and fear narratives so many experienced growing up in evangelical culture.
Kat loves God, personal development, a good Beyoncé dance party, + is a Ranch dressing connoisseur. She believes in the power of story, that done is better than perfect, quality triumphs quantity, and that the journey truly is the destination. Ultimately, her vision is for women to know their beauty, identity, worth and value and to experience untapped freedom and joy in their lives
regardless of their relationship status.
On this episode of the Better Together Podcast, Barb talks with a woman who spent a lot of her life feeling guilty and now teaches other women how to walk in God’s victory and grace.
Amy Martinez is a former radio show host, speaker, and author who is devoted to helping women with heart-shattered lives to become whole again in Christ. Barb and Amy discuss the overwhelming guilt that we can feel after making mistakes and how we can trust God’s Holy Spirit to transform our mess if we are movable and teachable. If you’ve felt haunted by the mistakes of your past, this episode is for you.
RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE
ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST
Amy Elaine is an inspirational speaker, former radio show host, and gifted teacher. Her ministry is devoted to helping women with heart-shattered lives become whole again in Christ. She loves to tell the story of how Jesus made her a broken girl made whole through the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. Married to the love of her life, David, Amy Elaine is a mom of two boys now young men, Sidney (25) and Gabriel(22). She also has a daughter-in-love Riley and recently became "Yia Yia" to Raelynn Rose Elaine. Recently she left her beloved Colorado mountains to play on the plains of Historic Guthrie, Oklahoma. Most days you'll find her at a local coffee shop writing or ministering across the table to a friend. Her heart's desire is to see women walk in wholeness and develop an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. Living the victorious life is one of the major themes of her ministry. She's available to speak at your next women's event. You can connect with her at: AmyElaine.com
There are times in life when it all falls apart and we wonder if we’ll ever be right again. Barb’s guest today declares that we can believe that God is the God of second chances! Barb’s guest, best-selling author Kathleen Y’Barbo, was sure that her career was over after divorce in 2003. Instead, Kathleen realized that God was there when she was certain that He wasn’t, and He was working out a plan for her that she never could have imagined. Seventeen years later, Kathleen is the traditionally published author of more than 100 books that have sold two million copies in the US and abroad.
In this episode, Barb and Kathleen talk about second chances, learning how to wait on God, and her newest book, The Yes Dare. This is a conversation you won't want to miss!
RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE
ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST
Publishers Weekly Bestselling author Kathleen Y’Barbo is a multiple Carol Award and RITA nominee and bestselling author of more than one hundred books with over two million copies of her books in print in the US and abroad. A tenth-generation Texan and certified paralegal, she is a member of the Texas Bar Association Paralegal Division, Texas A&M Association of Former Students and the Texas A&M Women Former Students (Aggie Women), Texas Historical Society, Sisters in Crime, and American Christian Fiction Writers.
Kathleen and her hero in combat boots husband have their own surprise love story that unfolded on social media a few years back. They make their home just north of Houston, Texas and are the parents and in-laws of a blended family of Texans, Okies, and a family of three adorable Londoners.
Are you a people pleaser? Today’s conversation is so good and so needed! Join Barb and her friend best-selling author Karen Ehman for a much needed, soul-freeing conversation about her new book, “When Making Others Happy Is Making You Miserable”. Karen will tell you how to break the pattern of people pleasing and confidently live your life in a way that pleases God while still loving others. Oh, and you’ve got to hear Karen’s 7 “stop it” statements for people pleasers!
RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE
When Making Others Happy Is Making You Miserable
ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST
Karen Ehman is a Proverbs 31 Ministries speaker, a New York Times bestselling author, and a writer for Encouragement for Today, an online devotional that reaches over 4 million people daily. She has written seventeen books including Keep It
Shut, Pressing Pause, and Keep Showing Up. Karen’s passion is to help women to live their priorities as they reflect the gospel to a watching world. Married to her college sweetheart, Todd, Karen is the mother of three, and mom-in-law of two. She enjoys antique hunting, cheering for the Detroit Tigers, and feeding the many people who gather around her mid-century dining table for a taste of Mama Karen's cooking.
Why do Christian women report sexual satisfaction rates 47 points lower than their husbands? What if Christian women experience lower sexual satisfaction because of how we teach about sex in sermons and popular marriage books?
These provocative questions are answered by Sheila Gregoire, author of the new research based book, The Great Sex Rescue: The Lies You’ve Been Taught and How To Recover What God Intended. Sheila and Barb dive into an honest, controversial, yet absolutely necessary conversation about marriage and everything that Christian women are taught about sex. Sheila teaches us that great sex is the fulfillment of a longing for intimacy rather than just one-sided pleasure. In our conversation, she is going to equip us to see sex as God intended: personal, pleasurable, pure, prioritized, pressure-free, and passionate.
RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE
ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST
Sheila Wray Gregoire is the face behind ToLoveHonorandVacuum.com, the largest single-blogger marriage blog. A sought-after speaker, she's also an award-winning author of nine books, including The Good Girl's Guide to Great Sex. Sheila has a Masters in Public Administration and Master of Arts in Sociology both from Queen's University. Sheila built the successful blog, To Love, Honor, and Vacuum, with traffic of one million page views a month. Her email list is 45,000 strong and her social media reach is over 100,000. Her podcast, Bare Marriage, has more than 5,000 downloads each week. She is an award-winning author with seven royalty published books. A sought after speaker, Sheila has spoken at churches and conferences around the globe. She is a frequent contributor at Family Life Canada events. Her latest book, "The Great Sex Rescue" was featured in the New York Times Book Review, Publishers Weekly, and the Washington Post. She has bylines at Religion News Service, Relevant Magazine, and other news sources. Sheila and her husband Keith, a pediatrician, live in Belleville Ontario. They have two grown daughters and one very adorable grandson who lives down the road. She enjoys hiking, birdwatching, RV camping trips, and board games. And she knits - even in line at the grocery store.
Marriage is a good thing! God is still raising up the next generation of husbands and wives who are passionate about godly marriage.
If you are a parent of young adults, you don’t want to miss this episode as Barb talks with Malachi and Courtney Green about hope for marriage and the lessons that they are teaching about God-honoring marriage to the next generation. Malachi and Courtney are passionate about growing together as a couple as well as growing God’s kingdom. In this episode, they are sharing with Barb and Tabitha important lessons that you can share with the young adults in your life.
RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE
Malachi and Courtney's YouTube Channel
ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUESTS
Malachi and Courtney Green are the Pastors of Heart of God Ministry although online many know them as The Greens. Their mission is to normalize Christ and never dilute his power. Their ministry focus is to train, and disciple Christians in all aspects of life. They also share a strong passion for Christ centered singleness and relationships.
NOTE: New episodes of the Better Together Podcast are released every first and third MONDAY of the month!
It takes a lot of courage to go on an overseas mission trip. Barb has served on 10 trips to Central America over the past 15 years. Without a doubt, saying yes to an overseas mission trip can change your life and revolutionize your faith. However, it’s important to show up with humility vs. expecting that another culture will look like our country.
Join Barb for an important conversation with speaker and missionologist, Mekdes Haddis. She is the author of the upcoming book, Just Missions, to help missionaries and ministry leaders engage in healthy conversation and discuss the harmful effects of western missions. Mekdes answers the 5 crucial questions that you need to ask before your next overseas mission trip. Ultimately, she equips us to show up and to show love in a way that honors God and respects others.
RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE
Mekdes' Website: mekdeshaddis.com
ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST
Mekdes was born and raised in Ethiopia and moved to the United States in 2003 to pursue her studies. She has her Masters' in Organizational Leadership and a forthcoming book with IVPress and currently lives in Charlotte, NC with her husband, daughter, and son.
After 10+years of developing Discipleship and Outreach strategies in evangelical churches and non-profits, she grew impatient with the lack of mutuality and respect for leadership of those from global south. To break the cycle of harmful physical and spiritual impact of missions locally and globally and to elevate the voices of the unheard, Mekdes left her full time ministry role to start JUST MISSIONS.
JUST MISSIONS is a space that elevates diaspora voices and equips western allies to become mutual partners for the work of the gospel. It aims to forge the path of leaving a relational legacy surrounded by a cloud of witnesses. She is now the Executive Coach and actively developing strategies to train individuals and organizations with a fresh look at missions for global impact.
Her writing has been featured in Christianity Today! and Faithfully Magazine, as well as used by organizations like the American Bible Society and YWAM.
Do you ever feel like, you know you should love God’s Word, but you struggle with opening up your Bible and believing what it says?
In this episode, Barb speaks with author Tricia Lott Williford as she shares her story of loss, heartache, and learning to trust God and His words, even in the painful parts of her life. Whatever hurt or heartache you are walking through right now, you are not alone. Let's draw near to God together!
RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE
Tricia's Website: tricialottwilliford.com
"This Book Is For You" by Tricia Lott Williford
ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST
Tricia writes, blogs, co-hosts the "Let's Talk Soon" podcast with her brother Rob, and speaks about faith in the face of loss / and hope when the miracle isn't yours. With raw transparency, honest grief, laughable joy, and a captivating voice, she shares the hard pieces of her story—and the redemption God offers in the midst of it. Tricia is the author of Just. You. Wait.; You Can Do This; And Life Comes Back; and Let's Pretend We're Normal. She also lives in Colorado with her family.
"My God is the author of resurrection." -Laney Houser
From the outside, everyone assumed that Laney Houser was a superwoman and had it all. She was a pastor's wife, had two Masters' degrees and owned a successful counseling practice.
However, behind the successful and shiny veneer of ministry and career success, Laney didn't want people to know that she was crumbling from the inside out. For years, she didn't want to admit it to herself. Finally, the toll of living in an abusive marriage, excessive overworking and a chronic health condition pushed Laney over the edge into a complete mental health breakdown.
In this episode of the Better Together podcast, I talk with Laney about her decision to let go of everything in her life and check in for in-patient treatment to recover from her breakdown. It's a story that Laney is proud of because she explains that letting go of the life that was killing her opened the door for God to resurrect a new life filled with new purpose, passion and most of all, healing.
Now, she is living with pure joy each day and describes herself as "miracle-ly married" for the past 31 years as she and her husband both sought God's forgiveness, treatment and individual accountability to deal with the abuse situation in their home.
In this week's episode, Laney and I discuss:
Now, Laney is a coach and enjoys teaching people how to live in joy and freedom. She says, "If you don't like the life that you're living, you can change it."
Laney is also the host of the Unstoppable Women's Conference, an online event in December. Laney and I recorded an interview and we had a great time discussing what it means to be an unstoppable woman who lives with purpose in each. You can find out more information by clicking here.
RESOURCES FOR THIS EPISODE:
Connect with Laney Website | Facebook | Instagram
Register for Unstoppable Women's Conference
Good Housekeeping article on Dirty Dozen and Clean 15
About today's guest:
Laney Houser is a joy-filled health and happiness coach who loves coaching successful Christian women to live with purpose and passion. Her curiosity and love for learning has helped her complete two Master’s Degrees; one in Counseling and one in Theology, and certification in life coaching and health coaching. She is an emotional eating and eating disorder specialist and is currently working on her first book. She’s got three fantastic grown kids, two of whom are married, and an awesome husband of 31 years. When she’s not reading a good book she’s hanging out with her amazing family hiking, biking, kayaking, skiing and just enjoying the great outdoors where she lives in beautiful Bend, Oregon.
About your Better Together Podcast Host:
Barb roose a popular speaker and author who is passionate about equipping women to win at life with Christ-empowered strength and dignity. Barb loves speaking at women’s conference and leadership events such as the Aspire Women’s Events, She Speaks Conference and the UMC Leadership Institute.
Barb is the author of multiple books and Bible studies, including her newest releases: I'm Waiting, God: Finding Blessing in God's Delay and Joshua: Winning the Worry Battle. Barb’s writing has been featured in magazines or blogs such as Simple Truth Magazine, iBelieve.com, Crosswalk.com, More to Life Magazine, Just Between Us Magazine, Cherished, InCourage and Women of Faith.
An avid traveler, reader, and lover of all things chocolate-peanut butter, Barb is the proud mom of three adult daughters and lives in NW Ohio. Visit Barb’s online home at barbroose.com.