"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.
“Being strong isn’t about perfection and it’s not about having it all together. It’s about having the tools to shift and turn it around when we’re feeling overwhelmed, distracted and looking for a pathway out.”
-Susan Seay
How do you define a "strong woman"?
This is one of those phrases that represents what we want to be, but often we never quite feel strong, especially when our lives are filled with struggle. Strong isn't having it all together and strong isn't perfection. In my experience, I've learned that strength is often something that I can't always see in myself, but I can make decisions that will make me strong - whether I feel it or not.
On today's Better Together podcast, my friend Susan Seay shares the three decisions that can start making today that will infuse your life with strength. Best of all, today's conversation is deep and 'fo real! As a wife and homeschool mother of 7, Susan talks about tough family challenges that their family has navigated such as parenting, marriage struggles and work-life balance issues.
She's the author of Intentional Parenting: Parenting on Purpose When Life Gets Busy and speaks nationally at conferences and events. Susan hosts a highly engaging podcast called the "Mentor 4 Moms" podcast.
Imagine what it would feel like each day for you to wake up with the:
Strength to face any challenge;
Strength to overcome failure;
Strength to go for your dreams;
Strength to trust God no matter what happens!
If you want to have this kind of strength, buckle up and press play for today's conversation. You deserve to invest these 30 minutes in yourself, your life and your future.
What are the three decisions that strong women must make?
RESOURCES FROM TODAY'S PODCAST
Connect with Susan on Facebook | Instagram
Susan's Mentor 4 Mom Podcast
Better Together Episode - "Intentional Motherhood" Podcast
Better Together Episode - "You aren't a bad mom" Podcast
About today's guest:
Susan Seay has a highly engaging podcast- "Mentor 4 Moms" and she's also the Author of The Intentional Parent: Parenting On Purpose When Life Gets Busy.
As a wife and mom to 7, she understands the challenges of trying to raise kids in a noisy and distracted world. Her mission is to help families create a culture in their homes that is both on purpose and full of purpose. It’s what Susan refers to as - Intentional Parenting. Her commitment to being a Mentor 4 Moms on Intentional Parenting has given her the opportunity to share with women both locally and Internationally reaching women all over the globe. Every time Susan speaks her goal is to provide encouragement combined with helpful practical tools.
You can find out more about her work and stay connected by visiting SusanSeay.com
About your Better Together Podcast Host...
Barb Roose is 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 Blessings 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 lives in NW Ohio and she's the proud mother of three adult daughters. Visit Barb’s online home at barbroose.com.
**TRIGGER ALERT** Today’s podcast episode contains highly sensitive content that may cause distress or anxiety depending on your background or current situation.
The recent suicide death of billionaire financier and alleged sexual predator, Jeffrey Epstein has escalated the public’s debate about justice for sexual abuse victims. Behind the headlines are countless, nameless faces of humans who’ve suffered humanity's most intimate violation at the hands of another, yet suffer once again because their courage to voice their pain or story is often questioned, even dismissed.
“Are you sure that happened?”
“What were you wearing?”
“Are you making this up to get attention?”
“Why didn’t you say anything before?”
Rocked by high-profile sexual misconduct allegations, the evangelical church’s shortcomings in responding to and protecting the victims of sexual abuse within their walls were largely thrust into the limelight in 2018.
Mary DeMuth, an advocate, survivor of sexual abuse, and a popular evangelical author, helps church leaders identify and enact biblically infused responses in order to truly welcome and care for those who’ve survived abuse—and are leaving the church in droves—in We Too: How the Church Can Respond Redemptively to the Sexual Abuse Crisis (Harvest House Publishers, Aug. 13, 2019).
On today’s episode of the Better Together podcast, Mary shares her story of being sexually abused as a child, how others responded, and most of all, Mary shares how discovering the gospel saved her life. Now a passionate advocate for sexual abuse victims, Mary talks about her experience at this year’s landmark Southern Baptist Convention, including a harrowing tale of what it took for her to get there. I watched the drama play out in real time on Facebook. Friends, it was like everything evil was trying to keep her from getting there!
As hard as it is to listen to Mary’s story and as painful as it is to acknowledge how often Christians and church leaders have failed to listen to, acknowledge, and assist sex abuse victims, Mary’s message today is grounded by hope that we can do better!
“My hope in writing this book is to slowly change the dynamic of trust by encouraging the church to become a consistent place full of kindness and safety for those who have been exploited,” writes DeMuth. “My holy longing is that we can create such a haven for the sexually broken that they’ll be able to be loved, feel joy, and revel in relationship.”
RESOURCES FOR THOSE WHO’VE FACE SEXUAL ABUSE – YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
About Today's Better Together Guest:
Mary DeMuth is an author, speaker, and podcaster who is passionate about helping you live a re-storied life. A survivor of neglect and sexual abuse, Mary was gloriously rescued by Jesus when she was 15. She has spent her life healing from trauma so she can help others not feel so alone. She is the wife of Patrick and mom of three adult children. For more information, visit www.wetoo.org.
About your Better Together Podcast Host...
Barb Roose is 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 (Sept 2019) and Joshua: Winning the Worry Battle.
An avid traveler, reader, and lover of all things chocolate-peanut butter, Barb is the proud mother of three adult daughters. Visit Barb’s online home at barbroose.com.
Are you feeling scared, frustrated, or insecure about the world that you live in?
How in the world do we stay hopeful and positive with so much negativity around us?
On today's episode of the Better Together podcast, I'm talking with one of my longtime friends, Melissa Spoelstra. She's a powerful Bible teacher as well as well-known speaker and author about her brand new Bible study, Romans: The Good News that Changes Everything.
Melissa and I sat down to talk just a few days after I returned home from El Paso, TX where I'd traveled to welcome home my oldest daughter, Kate, after her 9-month deployment to the Middle East. If you're connected to me on social media, you saw that on my last morning in El Paso, we were at the mall close to the Wal-Mart where the tragic mass shooting happened. In fact, the store we were shopping in went on lockdown and for several minutes we were deeply concerned that the shooter was in our area.
As I reflect on the tragedy of El Paso, the shooting in Dayton less than 12 hours later, and all of the other rapid-fire madness happening in our world, I've had to intentionally focus on God's good news. Perhaps today's podcast episode is what YOU need to focus on God's good news instead of being overwhelmed while watching our national news.
In today's podcast Melissa shows up as our Bible teacher and good friend to share with us about:
CONNECT WITH MELISSA - Website | Facebook | Instagram
About Melissa Spoelstra:
First and foremost I am a Christ-follower. I am madly in love with Jesus and addicted to the study of His Word. I am passionate about knowing Christ and inspiring other women to seek Him by opening our ears to listen to His Spirit, reading His Word curiously, asking questions, exercising good hermeneutics, and clinging tightly to God through the storms of life. Talking about this stuff is much easier than actually living it out in everyday life.
As wife to my awesome church planter husband Sean, and mother to four great kids, Zach(22), Abby(19), Sara(19), and Rachel(16), I am working out my faith on a daily basis. Between sports practices, doctor's appointments, church stuff, and the minutia of everyday life, I need God's Word to draw me back to the things of first importance.
Other stuff about me. I have a degree in Bible Theology from Moody Bible Institute. I'm a regular contributor to Girlfriends in God online devotional and Proverbs 31 Ministries First Five App. I've written 6 women's Bible studies (Jeremiah, Joseph, First Corinthians, Numbers, Elijah, and Romans) as well as Total Family Makeover (2016), Total Christmas Makeover (2017), 30 Days of Prayer for Spiritual Stamina (2018), and Dare to Hope(2019). I'm following God through every door He opens and pray that all glory in these endeavors is His alone.
About your Better Together Podcast Host...
Barb Roose is 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 (Sept 2019) 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 mother of three adult daughters. Visit Barb’s online home at barbroose.com.
Is the empty nest on the horizon?
Are you trying to figure out how to let go or figure out who you are now that the kids are grown?
If so, you're in the right place!
Welcome to a new season of the Better Together Podcast where we find the hope, the help, as well as practical next steps so that we can all get better together!
To kick of off our new season, I'm talking with my friend, Jill Savage about the empty nest season of life. This year, my last child moved out of the house and after nearly 27 years of raising children, I loved this conversation with my wise and fun friend!
Jill is the author of the new book, Empty Nest, Full Life: Discovering God's Best for Your Next (August 2019). In today's episode, Jill shares the follow with us:
CONNECT WITH JILL!
You can find Jill online at www.jillsavage.org and www.NoMorePerfect.com.
About today's guest...
Jill Savage is an author, speaker, and coach who is passionate about encouraging and empowering others. A graduate of Butler University in Indianapolis, IN, and founder of Hearts at Home, a ministry that has served moms for 24 years. Jill now travels the world as an author and speaker. Called one of today’s most exciting Christian female speakers, Jill’s honest, engaging communication is strengthened by her ability to make her audience laugh while they learn.
Founder of the online Inspire Speaker Course, Jill is the author of seven books and the co-author of five including the bestselling No More Perfect Moms, No More Perfect Kids, No More Perfect Marriages, and her newest release Empty Nest, Full Life. She and her husband Mark have five children, four grandchildren, and a whole herd of barn cats.
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 release: I'm Waiting God: Finding Blessing in God's Delay Bible Study, Joshua: Winning the Worry Battle Bible study and Winning the Worry Battle book. 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.
Barb lives in NW Ohio. She's the proud mother of three adult daughters. Her perfect day includes a long walk, reading a book, and enjoying a big bowl of chocolate peanut butter ice cream. Visit Barb’s online home at barbroose.com.
What makes your home beautiful is YOU!
-Tracy Steel
Do you love design shows like “Fixer Upper” or anything else on HGTV? Most of us would love for Joanna Gaines or the Property Brothers to stop by and give our homes a fresh look! However, I’m talking with my friend and fabulous interior designer, Tracy Steel about how you can freshen up your heart and your home this summer.
Make sure to check out the photos of Tracy’s beautiful home on the blog page. Not only is she a military wife, mother of two, and a talented designer, but Tracy just graduated from Phoenix Seminary with a Master’s Degree in Biblical and Theological Studies in May 2019. She loves teaching God’s Word and equipping people to fully embrace the space they’re living in.
In today’s Better Together podcast, Tracy shares five ways to freshen your heart and home by combining wisdom from God’s Word with practical design advice:
Tracy’s new book, A Redesigned Life: Uncovering God’s Purpose When Life Doesn’t Go As Planned releases this August 2019. Listen to the podcast to learn more about some of the free and fun giveaways Tracy will offer – like a FREE design consult!
CONNECT WITH TRACY STEEL Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
About Today's Guest Tracy Steel...
Tracy Steel graduated from Kansas State University with a BS in Interior Design in 1998. Eager to change her clients’ lives by improving the interior space they occupied, she thought she had the blueprints for her future completed. In the midst of designing corporate spaces and sorting through fabric samples, Tracy fell in love with Jesus Christ and He changed everything. Since 2001 Tracy has been involved in youth and women’s ministry and served as the Director of Female Students from Scottsdale Bible Church from 2005–2007. In May 2019, Tracy graduated from Phoenix Seminary with a Master’s Degree in Biblical and Theological studies, and is the author of Images of His Beauty and A Redesigned Life. But Tracy is most proud of her military man and of her two spirited kiddos that call her mama. To learn more about Tracy, please visit tracymsteel.com
About your Better Together Host...
Barb Roose is 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: Winning the Worry Battle: Life Lessons from the Book of Joshua and Bible study called 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 lives in NW Ohio and she is the proud mother of three adult daughters. Visit Barb’s online home at barbroose.com.
"MOM! What are we going to today?"
It's summertime, mamas! Either your kids are out of school for the summer or you're counting down the days, summertime is a HUGE change for a family schedule.
If you want to have a great summer with your kids without losing your mind, join me for my conversation today with speaker, author and mom of five, Katie M. Reid.
On today's Better Together podcast, Katie shares five fabulous tips for you can set your family up for success this summer.
Katie is a national speaker, singer/songwriter, and author of Made Like Martha: Good News for the Woman Who Gets Things Done. She holds a Masters Degree in Secondary Education and has been published on sites like: Focus on the Family, TODAY's Parenting Team Blog, Crosswalk, Proverbs 31, and HuffPost. Katie is a fan of musicals and cut-to-the-chase conversations over tea.
During today's conversation, Katie shares the following five ideas:
1. Choose a landing spot in the house for summertime gear
2. Create a family summer activity list
3. Give everyone a morning chore
4. Stick with summer meals
5. Participate in a family reading challenge
To help moms kick the summer off right, Katie has recently launched a new video series titled, "Stress Less, Smile More" that you can find out more about by clicking here.
CONNECT WITH KATIE Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest
About your Better Together Podcast host...
Barb Roose is 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: Winning the Worry Battle: Life Lessons from the Book of Joshua and Bible study called 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 and her family live in NW Ohio. Visit Barb’s online home at barbroose.com.
“Single women, we must refute ALL the lies that we’ve started to believe.”
I had a sensational conversation with speaker, author and single parent coach, Kaywanda Lamb. We met last fall while speaking at a conference in Louisiana. Within seconds of meeting Kaywanda, I knew that I’d made a new friend. She’s beautiful, brilliant, authentic and deeply wise.
A high school Spanish teacher by day, Kaywanda has raised two handsome sons on her own. She began coaching single parents while her boys were young and to support her family, Kaywanda returned to school to advance her education and obtain a Masters in Spanish.
During our conversation today, Kaywanda is going to speak right to heart of single women who are searching, wondering and maybe afraid that they’ll never find a wonderful man who’ll love and cherish them. In fact, Kaywanda shares five lies that women often believe. Here they are:
Lie #1. “I don’t think that anyone will ever want me.”
Lie #2. “I feel like married women have it better than single women.”
Lie #3. “I’ll never get married because I’m too old.”
Lie #4. “A guy isn’t going to want me because I’ve been single too long.”
Lie #5. “Because I have kids, no one will want to marry me.”
If you are or have believed any of these lies, you MUST listen to this episode because Kaywanda walks you through these lies with God’s truth and practical advice to help you walk in freedom!
In this episode, there is so much encouragement to single women who are feeling down and rejected because they are alone. Here’s some of the encouragement that Kaywanda shares:
CONNECT WITH KAYWANDA Website | Facebook | Instagram
Kaywanda Lamb is an author, speaker, blogger, soon to be podcaster, and The Winning Single Mom. Her journey to being a sought out speaker, encourager to single moms everywhere, and a transformational business coach began when her boys were just 2 years old and 2 months. Kaywanda had a choice to make: to stay in a relationship that didn’t honor her or to raise her boys as a single mom. She decided to #doitanyway and has spent the last 16 years showing other women they, too, can parent, thrive, and win. She returned to college 4 times in that span, holds a Masters in Spanish Literature, runs 3 businesses, and is a certified principal. Her motto is “do it anyway!” because you can dream about it or you can be about it. Check out her website for upcoming events and coaching information.
Are you a mom who is constantly giving? Giving your time, energy, and emotions to your kids, spouse, your job and your community?
This episode the Better Together podcast is for all the moms out there who feel like they are along in the jungle of managing kids, homes, unrealistic expectations and the pressure to be all things to all people. Motherhood is no joke - and it ain't for wimps!
I remember going almost 13 years without a FULL NIGHT'S SLEEP. I was a zombie y'all. There were the times when I was so distracted that I forgot to send in a form...or forgot to pick up a kid after school. I beat myself up endlessly over the times when I lost my temper or I chose to run errands instead of sit down and read a book with my kids.
After all of the ups and downs of motherhood, do you want to know the best lesson that I've learned? It's actually something that I repeat to myself many days of the week - and I hope that you might do the same. Here it is: "Barb, be kind to yourself. You're doing the best that you can."
You are doing the best that you can. But, during the Better Together podcast, this is a place where you can learn how to get better in the places that you know that you need to get better.
Today's conversation is with Kristen Funston, author of the new book, More for Mom: Living the Whole and Holy Life - Isn't that a great title! In this really real convo, Kristen and I discuss why moms often feel like they are left out of Jesus' abundant life promise in John 10:10. We also talk about how to keep from losing it big over everyday things like when the kids leave their shoes in the middle of the floor (even though you've told them for the 100th time to pick.them.up!)
Sweet mom, you haven't done anything for yourself today, listen to today's conversation. It's my gift to you!
P.S. In the podcast intro, I also share a fun tip of what I used to do when I got tired of hearing my kids constantly "MOM!" You can use this tip, too. And you're welcome - ha!
PODCAST RESOURCES:
Kristin Funston Website | Facebook | Instagram
More for Mom: Living Your Whole and Holy Life
About Kristin:
With a passion for writing, Kristin Funston encourages women in a way that is relatable and practical, with a healthy dose of humor. In addition to be a writer, Funston is a member and employee of Hope Presbyterian Church and works as the Marriage and Family Coordinator and a leader in the women’s ministry.
Convinced “balance” is a myth, Funston is also passionate about helping and encouraging women to embrace their current season and experience God in the everyday. She shares her humor and writing on motherhood on her blog and has been featured on multiple other blogs including The Better Mom, City Moms Blog, TODAY Parenting, and Scary Mommy.
Funston has a master’s degree in Communication Studies from New Mexico State University. A mom to three girls and not-so-domestic wife to an entrepreneurial athlete, Funston and her family live outside of Memphis, TN. "More for Mom" is her first book. Learn more at KristinFunston.com. She is also active on Facebook (KristinDFunston) and Instagram (@kfunston).
About your Better Together podcast host...
Barb Roose is 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: Winning the Worry Battle: Life Lessons from the Book of Joshua and Bible study called Joshua: Winning the Worry Battle.
An avid traveler, reader, and lover of all things chocolate-peanut butter, Barb and her family live in NW Ohio. Visit Barb’s online home at barbroose.com.
What do we do when God says no to what we've been praying for?
If you've clicked over to this podcast, let me tell you right now: You're supposed to be here right now. I don't even know about your life. But, I know that you need to click play on this episode and hear what my friend, Janet McHenry, has to say. She's the best-selling author of the book, Prayer walk, and the author of the newest book, The Complete Prayers of Jesus.
Today, Janet speaks powerful, divine wisdom into the hard question: What do we do when God says no?
He didn't heal your loved one;
He didn't stop your parent from abandoning you;
He allowed the divorce to happen;
He hasn't rescued your child from drugs;
He's allowed your financial or legal trouble to cost you everything.
You aren't alone if you're confused or angry because God hasn't answered your prayer the way that you'd hoped. There are verses in the Bible about God giving us the desires of our heart and God invites us to ask Him for anything. Yet, how do we reconcile God's command for us to pray and ask Him for anything, but He doesn't give us everything that we want. It's confusing, right?
As she walks us through Jesus' prayers, including the prayer where God says no to Jesus, Janet explains God's ultimate purpose for us in prayer. Her teaching is so, so, good! If you are hurting or angry at God, BUT you want to have a relationship with Him, then listen. If you're angry with God and not quite ready for her message today, that's okay. You can email me at barb@barbroose.com and share your story with me. I'd love to pray for you.
In today's episode, Janet and I discuss:
About Janet McHenry Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest
Facebook Live Program: The Prayer Experiment at 12 PM PST
Israel Trip for Christian Writers/Speakers
The Complete Prayers of Jesus by Janet McHenry
Janet McHenry is an award-winning speaker and the author of 24 books, including the bestselling Prayer Walk and her newest, The Complete Guide to the Prayers of Jesus. Director of the prayer ministries at The Bridge Church in Reno, she prayer walks with her community in the Sierra Valley in northern California, where she and her rancher, husband Craig raised four children.
About your Better Together podcast host...
Barb Roose is 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 the releases Joshua: Winning the Worry Battle Bible Study and Winning the Worry Battle book. An avid traveler, reader, and lover of all things chocolate-peanut butter, Barb lives with her family in NW Ohio. Visit Barb’s online home at barbroose.com.
Do you struggle with being a Christian who loves Jesus BUT still suffers with depression? If so, STOP RIGHT NOW and listen to today's Better Together podcast!
“I asked God to take it away a lot. And He didn’t.
So I had to rethink what He might mean by leaving it there.”
-Melissa Maimone, author of The Radiant Midnight
Melissa Maimone is a Christian speaker and writer who teaches women that an authentic life in Christ can be messy and magnificent at the exact same time. With her unique blend of theology, humor and insight, Melissa provides down-to-earth lessons, practical applications, and life-changing perspectives to real women who are living real lives in the midst of real problems.
Using scripture, art, storytelling and lessons from her own battle with depression, Melissa demonstrates that the light of JOY can be found even in dark places.
Friends, I LOVED my conversation with Melissa because we're talk about depression, mental health and how to live WELL in hard times. So, so good! And I’ve read and proudly endorsed her new book, The Radiant Midnight: Depression, Grace and the Gifts of a Dark Place. It’s a must-now read if you’ve struggled with depression or just being in a hard place in life. Melissa shows us how God brings beauty and grace into the darkness of Midnight; sometimes we just need someone who has been there too helpus discover it.
Here are some highlights from our conversation today:
CONNECT WITH MELISSA Website | Facebook | Instagram
The Radiant Midnight by Melissa Maimone
Melissa Maimone is a Christian speaker and writer who teaches women that an authentic life in Christ can be messy and magnificent at the exact same time. With her unique blend of theology, humor, and insight, Melissa provides down-to-earth lessons, practical applications, and life-changing perspectives to real women who are living real lives in the midst of real problems.
About your Better Together host...
Barb Roose is 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.
She is the author of multiple books and Bible studies, including her newest releases: Winning the Worry Battle: Life Lessons from the Book of Joshua and Bible study called Joshua: Winning the Worry Battle.
An avid traveler, reader, and lover of all things chocolate-peanut butter, Barb lives in NW Ohio. Visit Barb’s online home at barbroose.com.
Are you tired? Does taking a day off to rest seem impossible?
Listen to one of Barb’s teaching messages on the topic of REST. The big idea of her message is this: We are blessed when we rest.
In this upbeat and equipping message, Barb talks about why and how Jesus championed rest for us.
Some of the highlights from this message:
Sabbath (Rest Day) Prayer: God, I will rest in you today. I will be blessed as I rest today. I trust that you are my provider and I give you what I have and trust you for what I don’t.
About your Better Together podcast host...
Barb Roose is 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: Winning the Worry Battle: Life Lessons from the Book of Joshua and Bible study called 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 and her family live in NW Ohio. Visit Barb’s online home at barbroose.com.
When I use the phrase "racial justice" how do you feel?
Perhaps you're feeling uncomfortable or you're frustrated because you love people like Jesus does so a conversation about race feels unnecessary. As an African-American woman who also loves Jesus, I promise you, this conversation is necessary. And I want to give you permission to feel uncomfortable and even disagree with what you hear - as long as you're willing to stay engaged and don't give up on listening!
In today's Better Together podcast, I'm talking with author Cara Meredith about her new book, The Color of Life: A Journey Toward Love and Racial Justice. She's a Caucasian-American woman who married an African-American man named James Henry Meredith, who happens to be the son of Civil Rights activist and icon, James Howard Meredith. Not sure who he is? Cara talks about her father-in-law at the beginning of our conversation and here's an article where you can see photos.
Here's what Cara and I talk about in this episode:
Connect with Cara Meredith: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
About Cara...
Cara Meredith is a spiritual writer, speaker, and sought-after conversationalist. The Color of Life, a spiritual memoir about her journey as a white woman into issues of justice, race, and privilege, released last month from Zondervan. She holds a Masters of Theology from Fuller Seminary, writes for numerous print and online publications, and lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family.
Are you a caregiver who would love it if someone would stop and ask how YOU are doing?
In our culture today, many women find themselves caring for older parents or chronically ill loved ones. Even as medicine has advanced so much, the support for the endless job of caregiving hasn't kept pace. How do you stay uplifted and encouraged when carrying the responsibility of caring for a loved one?
On today's Better Together Podcast, I'm talking with Sarah Forgrave, author and speaker who loves encouraging others toward a deeper walk of faith. As one who experienced several years of surgeries and slow recovery, Sarah understands the fears and frustrations of not getting better. But, as the caregiver after her sister's heart transplant ten years ago, Sarah also learned many lessons about the the difficulties of caregiving.
Her prayer devotional for those dealing with medical illnesses, Prayers for Hope and Healing, released with Harvest House Publishers in 2017. Sarah's newest book, Prayers of Hope for Caregivers, releases April 2nd.
Today, Sarah ministers to those of you who wish that someone could explain how it feels to carry the weight of another's care. We talk about when not to take things personally and how to clarify expectations. I love that Sarah speaks openly and honestly about suffering and how it drew her closer to God. So much good stuff today!
In addition to blogging about prayer, faith, and friendship on her website, Sarah is a monthly contributor to TheChristianMommy.com and has contributed to Guideposts’ A Cup of Christmas Cheer and many other websites and anthologies. Outside of writing and speaking, she is the busy mom of two preteen children and the wife of an energetic entrepreneur and toy inventor. When she has a moment to herself, she loves to shop the aisles at Trader Joe’s or curl up with a good book and a cup of tea.
CONNECT WITH SARAH: Website | Facebook | Instagram
Prayers of Hope for Caregivers by Sarah Forgrave (Release April 2019)
About your Better Together podcast host...
Barb Roose is 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. Her 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 and her family live in NW Ohio with their dog, Quimby and a very grumpy 10-year rabbit. Visit Barb’s online home at barbroose.com.
"Prepare your bucket list and live your life well.”
These are the words a doctor spoke to Heather Dixon in 2015. She's speaker, author and bible teacher who understands the challenges of living with a story that is not easy.
Diagnosed with an incurable and terminal genetic disorder that she inherited from her mother, Heather is passionate about encouraging and equipping women to trust in God, face their greatest fears, and live with hope, especially in the midst of difficult circumstances.
When she is not blogging at The Rescued Letters or speaking at women’s conferences and events, Heather loves to make the most of everyday moments such as cooking for her husband and son, brainstorming all the possible ways to organize Legos and superheroes, checking out way too many library books, or unashamedly indulging in her love for all things Disney.
Heather is the author of Ready: Finding the Courage to Face the Unknown and a regular contributor to Journey magazine. Her second Bible study, Determined: Living Like Jesus in Every Moment, a six-week study of Luke, will be available in April 2019.
In today's podcast episode, Heather and I discuss:
CONNECT WITH HEATHER: Website | Facebook | Determined: Living Like Jesus in Every Moment Bible Study
About your Better Together Host...
Barb Roose is 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: Winning the Worry Battle: Life Lessons from the Book of Joshua and Bible study called 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 and her family live in NW Ohio. Visit Barb’s online home at barbroose.com.
"Hope is knowing that one day I will hold my babies in heaven." -Kaila Mugford
Today's episode is one of the most powerful and emotional conversations that I've ever had on the Better Together podcast.
I'm talking with my brave and courageous friend, Kaila Mugford about her journey as a mother with two children living with her on earth and two precious little boys in heaven. If you or a friend has suffered a miscarriage or infant loss, Kaila's speaks with bare honesty and vulnerability about her complicated feelings about God, faith, others' advice and how to stand by friends who suffer a miscarriage or infant loss. After you listen to today's episode, please share it with a grieving friend and let her know that you love her.
Kaila blogs about her family’s grief and loss of two children at kailamugford.blogspot.com. Writing is healing for her, and she hopes that her words can bring comfort to others grieving too.
LINKS FROM TODAY'S SHOW:
Kaila's blog
Did you grow up in a home where things were kept silent? Did your parents ask you to keep secrets or warn you not to talk about certain family problems outside of the house?
In today's Better Together podcast, we're talking about how to stop suffocating in silence and learn how to have hard conversations. Even as Jesus taught that the Truth of the gospel would set us free from eternal condemnation, we also know that speaking God's Truth also frees us from the strongholds of secret sin, generational curses and other dysfunctional behaviors.
My guest is Lori Roeleveld, author of the new book, The Art of Hard Converations: Biblical Tools for the Tough Talks that Matter (2019). Today, Lori explains why we struggle to have hard conversations and how to learn how to have them.
I know first hand how secrets are strongholds that can drain the hope of even the strongest families. If you've been sitting in silence and afraid of speaking up for any reason, Lori's words just might be divine timing for you.
Here's what we'll cover:
Connect with Lori!
Website | Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter
The Art of Hard Conversations Book
About today's guest...
Lori Stanley Roeleveld is an author, speaker, and disturber of hobbits who enjoys making comfortable Christians late for dinner. Biblical, funny, and real, she inspires courage and Christ-centered confidence. She’s authored three non-fiction books including Running from a Crazy Man, Jesus and the Beanstalk, and the upcoming, The Art of Hard Conversations, as well as a novella, Red Pen Redemption. Though she has degrees in Psychology and Biblical Studies, she learned the most from studying her Bible in life’s trenches. Blogger. Wife. Mother of adults. Part-time giant-slayer. Not available for children’s parties. Though she once tried to escape, she adventures with Jesus in a small town in Rhode Island where her husband is renovating his dream house. To join the adventure, knock on her door at www.loriroeleveld.com.
Did you grow up with a father who was absent from your life? Have you felt the emptiness and ache that accompanies the absence of his love and involvement?
On this week’s episode of Better Together, I’m talking with Kia Stephens about her story, her healing and her mission to help women deal with their father wounds. Kia is the found of the Father Swap Blog as well as Entrusted Women, an online community to encourage, equip and uplift writers, bloggers, speakers and authors who happen to be women of color.
She a wife and homeschooling mom of two who is passionate about helping women know God as Father. For this reason, she created The Father Swap Blog to help women exchange their father wounds for the love of God the Father.
During today’s podcast, Kia will talk about not only the definition of a "father wound", but she's explain how this kind of loss can wreck woman’s emotions and relationships with men if unaddressed.
When a father isn't a part of a woman's life, that loss can have a painful and negative impact on her relationship with God. If you've struggled with God because of your relationship with your father, Kia will speak to that struggle. She will share how her relationship with God helps her to walk in freedom and healing as well as practical tips, like how to write a forgiveness letter.
One of my favorite parts of the episode is when Kia preaches scriptural truth to us, especially if you’ve felt unloved, rejected, unwanted or alone, let her bless you with God’s truth.
Do you know a woman that you know struggles with the pain that comes with not having a loving or attentive father in your life? Please make sure to share this podcast on your social media.
LINKS TO RESOURCES
About your Better Together podcast host...
Barb Roose is 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: Winning the Worry Battle: Life Lessons from the Book of Joshua and Bible study called 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 and her family live in NW Ohio. Visit Barb’s online home at barbroose.com.
Are you a woman that likes to get things done?
If you’re love to-do lists, then you’re going to love my conversation with Katie M. Reid, author of Made Like Martha: Good News for the Woman Who Gets Things Done. Katie is a self-described modern-day Martha who struggled with the well-known story of two women with two different approaches to life in Luke 10.
Have you ever read the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10? It’s a story of two women named Martha and Mary. In one particular situation, Martha worked to get her home prepared to offer hospitality while her sister, Mary sat at Jesus’ feet. When Martha asked Jesus to instruct Mary to help, Jesus answered with the following words: “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all of these details. There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it and it will not be taken from her.” (Luke 10:41-42 NLT)
Too many of us have read this story and walked away with the conclusion that Jesus was criticizing Martha for trying to get things done. However, Katie challenges us to consider that Jesus didn’t condemn Martha’s method. Rather, Jesus invited her to change her mindset. Instead of being worried and distracted, Martha was encouraged to experience Jesus’ inner peace instead of trying to live up to unrealistic expectations.
So, if you’re made like Martha and you’re tired of trying to do it all, live up to unrealistic expectations or you’re beating yourself up for not being perfect, today’s conversation is just for you.
Join today’s conversation and listen as Katie and I discuss:
Bonus! Talk back to us and share your answers to the following:
LINKS FROM TODAY'S EPISODE
Katie M. Reid Website | Facebook | Twitter
Made Like Martha: Good News for Women Who Like to Get Things Done
About your Better Together podcast host...
Barb Roose is 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: Winning the Worry Battle: Life Lessons from the Book of Joshua and Bible study called 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 and her family live in NW Ohio with their dog, Quimby and a very grumpy 10-year rabbit. Visit Barb’s online home at barbroose.com.
“Never give up!”
That’s the philosophy of Vicki Fitch, an award winning leader, international business consultant and direct sales expert. If you’ve ever dreamed of making extra money to support your family through direct sales or multi-level marketing companies that offer great incentives with flexible schedules for your family, then you’ll definitely want to listen to Vicki’s story on today’s Better Together podcast.
Vicki started her first business when she was 12 years old. She purchased her first home at 19 years old and began her first company a year later. As a “serial entrepreneur,” Vicki builds and sells business as a way of life. She’s been in the direct sales business for 20 years, consistently performing at the top 1% of her company and winning the kinds vacations, trips and bonuses that we dream about for our families.
But, Vicki’s “never give up” philosophy comes from the difficult experiences in her early stages of her life. In today’s conversation, Vicki and I discuss her struggle to feel loved and valued by her parents as well as her volatile first marriage to a drug addict. As Vicki shares her life and her success, you’ll be encouraged by her authenticity and vulnerability when talking about the highs and lows of her life. Vicki and I are tall girls who share a love of high heels and we share a lot of fun moments during today’s conversation.
If you are a leader who dreams of achieving big goals, you’re going to absolutely love my conversation with Vicki. In this episode, you’ll learn more about:
About Vicki Fitch...
Vicki lives in Southern California with her husband, Terry and their two boys. She is blessed to have two amazing stepchildren and five grandchildren that fill Vicki’s heart with great joy. Her business is her ministry and she believes that God has blessed her greatly and she gives back every chance that she can.
LINKS FROM TODAY'S SHOW:
Vicki Fitch Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn
Join Vicki's campaign to support her journey!
About your host, Barb Roose
Barb Roose is 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: Winning the Worry Battle: Life Lessons from the Book of Joshua and Bible study called 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 and her family live in NW Ohio with their dog, Quimby and a very grumpy 10-year rabbit. Visit Barb’s online home at barbroose.com.
How do we teach our kids about God when we don't know all of the answers?
How do we get our kids to participate in family devotions when they don't want to sit still?!!!
Take a deep breath, Mom and Dad. God knows that you're doing the best that you can. When it comes to teaching our kids about Jesus, you don't need to know the answers and there are some fabulous resources to help you out!
On today's Better Together podcast, I had the most delightful conversation with author, Sarah M. Wells. She's the author of the new resource The Family Bible Devotional: Stories from the Bible to Help Kids and Parents Engage and Love Scripture.
Mom or Dad, if you're reading this today and you're worried about messing up your kids' spiritual growth, relax. It's okay to not have all of the answers. You've got permission to say, "I don't know the answer to that, but let's keep reading and see what we can learn."
Sarah wrote the Family Bible Devotional as a faith-building experience to give parents confidence in helping their kids fall in love with Jesus. It includes with 52-devotionals BUT there are NO dates because real life rarely sticks to a schedule! Sarah totally understands the up-and-down rhythm parents face. She deals with that in her own family. "We'll be solid in reading the Bible and doing lessons for a few days and then, a few weeks will go by because life got busy." Sarah says that they just keep at it.
So friends, listen to Sarah's encoruagement today if you've been feeling discouraged about teaching your kids about God OR if you're not even sure where to begin.
In this episode, we'll talk about:
LINKS FROM TODAY'S PODCAST:
Sarah Wells website | Facebook | Twitter
About Sarah M. Wells
Sarah Marie Wells is the author of The Family Bible Devotional: Stories from the Bible to Help Kids and Parents Engage and Love Scripture (Discovery House Publishers, Fall 2018), a novella-length essay, The Valley of Achor, available on Kindle, a collection of poems, Pruning Burning Bushes (Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2012), and a chapbook of poems, Acquiesce, winner of the 2008 Starting Gate Award (Finishing Line Press,2009). Poems and essays by Wells have appeared recently in Ascent, Brevity, Full Grown People, Hippocampus Review, The Pinch, River Teeth, Rock & Sling, Under the Gum Tree, and elsewhere.
Sarah serves as the Director of Content Marketing at Spire Advertising and as Associate Editor for River Teeth: A Journal of Nonfiction Narrative. She resides in Ashland, Ohio with her husband, Brandon, and their three young children, Lydia, Elvis, and Henry.
About your Better Together podcast host...
BarbRoose is 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: Winning the Worry Battle: Life Lessons from the Book of Joshua and Bible study called 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 and her family live in NW Ohio with their dog, Quimby and a very grumpy 10-year rabbit. Visit Barb’s online home at barbroose.com.
When we are intentional moms, it assists us in becoming less-stressed moms.
When we bring our babies home from the hospital, our dream is to raise them in a happy and healthy home. But, from the time that we get pregnant or we announce plans to adopt, others begin giving us their opinions about what we should or shouldn't do. If we're not careful, other people's input will confuse us and add a lot of stress to our already busy lives.
Today, I'm continuing my fun and freeing conversation with my friend, Susan Seay. If you listened to part one of our interview, the podcast ended with Susan saying that she hit the wall after the birth of her seventh child.
"I became so burdened with my efforts to be a “good mom” and trying to do all the things a “good mom” should do. My list of “should’s” was so long I was ready to give up. In fact, I did give up. I announced it one night at dinner with a simple. I announced to my husband: “I’m done!” - Susan Seay, speaker and author
During this episode, Susan shares about the crucial conversations that she had with her husband, Ron about their individual expectations of what it meant to be a good mom and a good dad. In Susan's effort to be a great mom and Ron's drive to be a great dad, the couple discovered that their unspoken expections actually drove a wedge in their relationship with each other.
As you listen to Susan talk about how they worked through this challenge to their marriage and family, you'll love her sense of humor and insight. Ultimately, Ron and Susan discovered the key to reshaping their family and unifying them for the future.
What you'll hear in this episode:
LINKS FROM TODAY'S SHOW
Susan Seay Website | Facebook | Choosing Your Values Podcast
About Susan…
Through the “Mentor 4 Moms” Podcast and the relatable style found in her book The Intentional Parent: Parenting On Purpose When Life Gets Busy, you get a sense of Susan’s heart to provide encouragement to moms combined with helpful practical tools. As a wife and mom to 7, she truly understands the challenges of trying to be an Intentional Parent. Susan has been a mentor to women locally in Austin, Tx and Internationally for over a decade.
About your Better Together podcast host...
Barb Roose is 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: Winning the Worry Battle: Life Lessons from the Book of Joshua and Bible study called 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 and her family live in NW Ohio with their dog, Quimby and a very grumpy 10-year rabbit. Visit Barb’s online home at barbroose.com.
I became so burdened with my efforts to be a “good mom” and trying to do all the things a “good mom” should do. My list of “should’s” was so long I was ready to give up. In fact, I did give up. I announced it one night at dinner with a simple- “I’m done!” -Susan Seay, mother of seven (yes, seven!)
Mom, do you ever “should” all over yourself?
Sometimes those “should” feel so heavy and make us feel like we’re buried under unreasonable expectations.
If you’ve ever struggled with the “should,” you’ll love my conversation with my dear friend, Susan Seay. She’s a speaker and author living in Austin, TX. Susan and her husband, Ron are the parents to seven, yes seven kids. Not only that but Susan is a homeschool mom, who also supports and consults with other homeschooling on a national level.
Susan and I have been friends online for almost a year, but we met IRL (in real life) in July at the She Speaks Conference, hosted by Proverbs 31 Ministries. Susan actually flew from her home in Texas to help me out with my workshops –that’s a great friend! On top of that, I got to see Susan in action as she provided gentle and loving encouragement to every woman who crossed her path. If you meet Susan, she’s going to make your life better, whether you talk to her for one minute or an hour.
As a speaker and author, Susan’s wheelhouse is that she is a mentor for moms. And as the mother of seven, she’s got some great expertise in that area.
During our Better Together conversation today, Susan talks about a trap that is so easy for moms to fall into - the quest to be the mom that tries to do everything.
Susan and I will discuss:
About Susan Seay…
Through the “Mentor 4 Moms” Podcast and the relatable style found in her book The Intentional Parent: Parenting On Purpose When Life Gets Busy, you get a sense of Susan’s heart to provide encouragement to moms combined with helpful practical tools. As a wife and mom to 7, she truly understands the challenges of trying to be an Intentional Parent. Susan has been a mentor to women locally in Austin, Tx and Internationally for over a decade.
LINKS
Susan Seay Website | Podcast | Intentional Parenting Book
About your Better Together podcast host...
Barb Roose is 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: Winning the Worry Battle: Life Lessons from the Book of Joshua and Bible study called 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 and her family live in NW Ohio with their dog, Quimby and a very grumpy 10-year rabbit. Visit Barb’s online home at barbroose.com.
I want your love - to be unrestrained - tearing down walls - breaking these chains. -"Unrestrained", Changed Album
If you've ever listened to a contempary Christian radio station anywhere in the world, then you've heard of the Grammy-nominated, Dove Award winning band, Sanctus Real. (Feel free to do the loud crowd cheering here...)
In today's Better Together podcast, I'm talking with Mark Graalman, Sanctus Real's drummer and original band member. A life-long native of Toledo, OH, Mark is also on staff on Vineyard Church. He's married to his beautiful wife, Susan, and they are the parents of three boys.
Mark and I had a great time talking about the early days of Christian music as well as what it was like to start a Christian rock bank back when organs reigned supreme and drums weren't totally accepted in traditional churches. He talks about having no idea as a teen guy that he would end up playing in stadiums around the world to groups up to 120,000.
Talk about cool.
Then, Mark talks about coming from a line of "strong and silent" men in his family. However, Mark discusses how his quiet persona covered for a difficult battle with anxiety that he's battle for much of his life. While women struggle with anxiety more often then men, that doesn't mean that there are millions of men around the country dealing with "worst-first thinking" as author Lenore Skenazy calls it.
In today's episode, Mark and I discuss:
Mark Graalman Facebook | Twitter
Sanctus Real Website | Changed LP
About your Better Together podcast host...
Barb Roose is 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: Winning the Worry Battle: Life Lessons from the Book of Joshua and Bible study called 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 and her family live in NW Ohio with their dog, Quimby and a very grumpy 10-year rabbit. Visit Barb’s online home at barbroose.com.
"God, I can't do this."
In 2006, speaker and author Gail Cooper spoke these desparate words on her knees in a field on the way to where rescuers were looking for her 21-year old son. He'd been canoeing with a friend right before college graduation when his canoe went under - and Gail got the call in the middle of the night.
One of the goals of my Better Together podcast is to talk about real life issues that live deep in the souls of women. One of those issues is grief. These days, grief is a daily part of my life in losing my father and father-in-law in the past year. But there are other forms of grief - a lost dream, losign a job, divorce or marriage crisis. Friend, it's okay to give yourself permission to grieve if you've lost something important that you loved.
Grief is a part of life, but when we're afraid to feel grief or even talk about it, grief becomes a prison. How do we learn how to embrace grief as a process that God can bless with purpose?
Gail shows us what that looks like in her life during today's episode. We'll talk about that life-changing night and what happened during the five-days that it took researches to find her son's body. Gail tells us about her grief journey, her anger at God and a prophetic moment at a Beth Moore event that left me with chill bumps! Twelve years after her son's death, Gail is living purposefully, even in grief.
Here are a few things that Gail said that blessed my heart:
"I gave to God what I could not handle on my own."
"I felt like God was telling me, 'Gail, you're driving into something bigger than you can handle on your own.'"
"I wake up celebrating life!"
When I finished talking with Gail, I was so encouraged by her passionate faith - and I think that you will be, too.
If you or someone that you know is struggle with grief at any stages, please share this podcast with them. You can share it opening, send the link via email or send it to Facebook messenger.
Gail Cooper website | facebook (She Shed Moments)
ABOUT YOUR HOST
Barb Roose is 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: Winning the Worry Battle: Life Lessons from the Book of Joshua and Bible study called 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 and her family live in NW Ohio with their dog, Quimby and a very grumpy 10-year rabbit. Visit Barb’s online home at barbroose.com.