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.
Can we find freedom from past hurts or trauma? The answer is YES!
If you know me, you know that I am a HUGE advocate of mental health! Not only have I invested in years of personal counseling, but I attend a recovery group on a regular basis for my own serenity. A decade ago, I struggled with major depression and spending a year in counseling and medication delivered me back to wellness.
The lesson that I've learned is that good mental health is a daily investment and when we don't invest in ourselves, we rob ourselves of the peace and joy that God promises. Don't rob yourselves, friends. You matter!
My guest on this episode of the Better Together podcast is clinically-trained marriage and family therapist, Stacy Lynn Harp, the host of Bible News Radio.
Stacy Lynn grew us as the middle child between two brothers and to a mother who often said, "Stacy, I wish that you were never born." When Stacy Lynn was seven years old, her mother had an affair with Stacy's paternal uncle. Eventually, Stacy's mother left her father, packed up the kids and moved to California with the uncle. For many years, the uncle sexually and physically abused Stacy on a daily basis."He was sadistic," recalls Stacy in another interview.
During our conversation, Stacy Lynn gives a recap of her story and explains the tragic reason behind why her uncle never went to jail, even though Stacy Lynn reported him to the police.
If you're an adult, but you've still got a lot of baggage left over from your childhood, Stacy Lynn shares her journey from sexual abuse survivor to finding freedom from her struggles.
Our conversation today includes:
LINKS TO TODAY'S PODCAST
Stacy Lynn Harp website | Bible News Radio
STACY LYNN HARB BIO
Stacy has appeared on the Fox News television show Dayside, as well as numerous radio programs nationally and internationally, discussing issues pertaining to the family, sexuality, social media, Christian persecution and Internet related issues.
Stacy earned a Masters of Science in Clinical Psychology from Vanguard University of Southern California, and is a gifted therapist and coach. Stacy has spoken at various academic and professional conferences concerning Internet safety issues and the topic of homosexuality. She has been described as someone who has a firm grasp on the issues and communicates passionately but with humor.
ABOUT 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.
Barb is 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 many times a week do you say, "I'm so tired"?
Here are some signs that you're might be exhausted. If you say "yes" to one or more of these, keep reading!
Believe it or not, but these are the warning signs of rest deprivation. Too often, we think about rest as just getting a good night's sleep or watching hours of tv.
Rest is much more than that! But, if we don't figure out how to really rest, then we're going to end up living really messed up lives.
Let me introduce you to someone who can give you the help and hope that you need today!
My Better Together guest is Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith, an author, speaker, and board-certified internal medicine physician. She has an active medical practice in Alabama (near the Birmingham area).
Dr. Dalton-Smith is a national and international media resource on the mind, body, spirit connection and a top 100 medical expert in Good Housekeeping Doctors’ Secrets. She has been featured in many media outlets including Women’s Day, Redbook, First For Women, MSNBC, and Prevention. She is the author of Set Free to Live Free and Come Empty (winner 2016 Golden Scroll Nonfiction Book of the Year and 2016 Illumination Award Gold medalist).
Her newest release is Sacred Rest: Recover Your Life, Renew Your Energy, Restore Your Sanity, including ground-breaking insight on the seven types of rest needed to optimize your productivity, increase your overall happiness and live your best life.
Today, Dr. Dalton Smith answers these pressing questions about rest:
LINKS FROM TODAY'S EPISODE
Saundra Dalton-Smith: website | facebook page
Rest Test Quiz: http://ichoosemybestlife.com/quiz/rest-quiz-test/
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: Joshua: Winning the Worry Battle Bible study and book, Winning the Worry Battle: Life Lessons from the Book of Joshua. 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.
"Don't burn bridges. Be graceful in all of your converations, especially when people say or do hurtful things."
-Lisa Toney, speaker, author & leader
On this week's Better Together podcast, we're talking about one of my favorite ways for us to get better together. On today's episode, we're talking leadership! Not only that, but our leadership inspiration is Lisa Toney, an executive and teaching pastor from Purpose Church in California. She's a seasoned leader who loves investing in both men and women, equipping them to lead at the highest levels of God's call on their lives.
Lisa is the author of Thrive: Live Like You Matter and her new book, The Scripture Challenge releases this fall.
Not only that, but Lisa is a new voice in the next generation of Women of Faith. Any Women of Faith fans out there? Me! For over 20 years, WOF events around the country mobilized hundreds of thousands of women and now, a generation of voices, including Lisa's are on deck to make a global impact. Lisa tells us all about WOF's vision to reach the world and how YOU can be a part of it.
In my humble opinion, today's conversation is like a min-leadership retreat that packs a big punch! Who should listen to today's podcast:
Friends, if any of those fit, then I believe that today's podcast is exactly where you should be right now!
Let me share a few bits of Lisa's inspiring wisdom:
"This competeition thing that we have between women doesn't get us very far. When I get together with other women and we exchange ideas, all of our lives get so much better!"
"When I think about work life balance, I just laugh. Is it ever balanced? I don't know. I love living every day to the full."
"I want people to see Jesus in me because that's evidence that I'm living the call that God has placed on my life."
SHARE YOUR COMMENT: Have you taken Myers-Briggs (MBTI), Strengths Finders, Enneagram or other personality tests? Tell us about your results below.
LINKS FROM TODAY'S CONVERSATION:
Lisa Toney website | Facebook | book
Women of Faith Facebook Page (To find Scripture Challenge and Aloud)
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.
“If we hide the fact that Dad drinks too much, then no one will know.”
Did you grow up in a home where things like drinking or drugs weren't talked about? Too often, when someone that we love is struggling, silence seems easier than saying something or possibly the wrong.
Today, I'm talking with author Kimberly Dewberry about her new book, Three Weeks to Forgiveness, which tells her story of God’s redemption in the dark places of addiction. In our conversation today, Kimberly talks about what it was like growing up with an addicted parent and perhaps, her reflections and stories might hit close to home.
Here is a recap of some of the questions that I asked Kimberly today. I'd encourage you to listen to and share today's interview if you grew up with an alcoholic family or you know someone currently living in that difficult situation.
What are your earliest memories of your dad’s addiction on your life?
“I remember going through hiding places where my dad would hide his partial or empty bottles. My mom wanted me to help her get rid of my Dad’s alcohol and get it out of the hose. But I didn’t understand what we were doing. At that point, I started to blame myself. Somehow, I thought that I was the one who made my dad start drinking again. I thought that I was being punished for something. At the time, I didn’t understand the feelings that I was having until I began going through recovery later in life.”
If you could go back and talk to yourself at 15 years old, what would you tell her?
"If I could go back and talk to my 15-year old self I would say, 'You did not cause this. This isn’t something that we cause or something that we could control. Honey, your mom doesn’t know what to do. She’s desperate. She reached out to you because she didn’t know what else to do.'"
As a teen, how did you react to your dad’s alcoholism?
“I was rebellious. I made horrible choices as a teenager and during much of my adult life. I was constantly searching for something and at the time I didn’t know what I was searching for. Now, I know that I was searching for confirmation that I was loved.”
How did your dad's alcoholism make you feel about yourself?
“I equated my dad’s isolation and silence with lack of love. That carried over to other relationships. So in other relationships, I felt that if they weren’t talking to me, then they didn’t love me.”
What role did God play in your life? Why did you turn away from God?
“Our family didn’t go to church when I was a kid. I got saved in my 20’s but one of the most important things that I didn’t have was a good mentor to help me or guide me. I was trying to do it on my own, but I didn’t know what to do. So, when I turned away from God, it was really out of selfishness.
I wasn’t angry or bitter at God. But I had done so many bad things that I didn’t feel like God could love me anymore. I felt like God was so disappointed with me. I thought that I was too far gone, so that’s why I turned away from God.”
What negative behaviors/patterns did you struggle with during your adult years?
“I’ve been married three times. I constantly sought my value in relationships, especially with men.” I also struggled with co-dependent tendencies. I thought that I’d be happy as long as everyone else is happy. So, I tried to control people, situations, finances, outcomes and kids. I felt so out of control on the inside that I tried to control everyone else on the outside.”
How did your dad come to live with your family before he died?
“After years away from the family and living on the streets, my dad was diagnosed with cancer. He was released from the hospital and since he had nowhere to do, he came to live with me. It had been five years since I’d seen my dad.
It was through those three weeks of dad living in our home, that was the major event though God broke down the walls of anger, bitterness and how to show grace and forgiveness to my dad. I had a brick wall around my heart and God broke that wall down during those three weeks.”
What does it mean for you to find recovery as an adult child of an alcoholic?
“Who I am isn’t defined by my past. Who I am is defined by Christ. And I could not have realized that if it hadn’t been for God bringing Dad back into our lives for such a short period of time. After Dad died, I was grieving a lot. I got help from a Christian counselor and that’s when I heard terms like “adult child of an alcoholic” and “recovery.” I was realized confused because I thought that it was my Dad with the problem. But, I realized that I needed help, so I started with Al-Anon and then moved over to Celebrate Recovery.
In recovery, I realized that I had a problem, too. I have issues that I need to work on. I cannot control what other people do, I cannot control what other people say and I cannot control how other people act. Through recovery I was able to see that God is in control and He is the one that plans our steps. It’s our decisions and our free will that allow us to either go God’s way or our own way. I have learned that by going God’s way that I can have peace, serenity and love."
Who needs to attend a recovery program?
Sometimes, we don’t know that we need recovery until we start going. If you are feeling out of control and yet you try to control everyone, then consider talking to a licensed therapist/counselor, Al-Anon or Celebrate Recovery.
Connect with Kimberly - Three Weeks to Forgiveness Book | Facebook | IG | Twitter
About Kimberly Dewberry
Kimberly Dewberry struggled for 25 years to cope with the pain, hurt, guilt, regret, unworthiness, and shame brought on by her father's addictions. Because of the loving grace of Jesus Christ, she has broken free from the shackles of rebellion and anger, and made it her life’s mission to share her journey through courageous prose.
Kimberly and her husband Patrick are the parents of 6 grown children between them and live in the Dallas area with their two super cute Boston terriers, Delilah and Daphne. Kimberly enjoys writing, reading, Bible art journaling, participating in Bible studies, and dating her husband.
If you’ve struggled with praying, figuring out what to say, felt guilty about not praying enough or wondered about does prayer even make a difference, today’s episode is for you!
This week’s Better Together guest is best selling author, Janet McHenry. Janet is a national speaker and author of 23 books, including six on prayer—most notably the best-selling PrayerWalk and her new book, The Complete Guide to the Prayers of Jesus, which is being released this week.
Janet's prayer walking practices have been featured in magazines such as Health and Family Circle, and she has been interviewed widely on national and local radio programs about prayer and prayer-walking. A recently retired English teacher and academic advisor, Janet and her husband Craig have raised four children in the Sierra Valley, where she loves walking with her Personal Trainer, Jesus.
On this week's episode, Janet and I talk about:
Janet will be such an encouragement to you if prayer has been tricky. She gives some great advice as well as shares stories from how others have leaned into prayer for everyday life.
Janet’s book, The Complete Guide to the Prayers of Jesus: What Jesus Prayed and How It Can Change Your Life Today, is now available at Christian bookstores and all online booksellers. So many speakers and authors that I admire have amazing things to say about this book.
BEST OF ALL! Janet also sent me a copy to give away to one of you! Just leave a comment on the blog about this episode and I’ll pick a winner on Wednesday, June 13. Easy-peasy.
LINKS FROM TODAY'S SHOW:
Janet McHenry's website | Facebook | Prayer Walking
The Complete Guide to the Prayers of Jesus: What Jesus Prayed and How It Can Change Your Life Today
About the Better Together podcast…
Barb Roose is host of the Better Together podcast. She is a speaker and author with a passion to help women win at life with strength and dignity. Barb has been speaking at women’s conferences, events and retreats since 2005. She is the author of multiple books and Bible studies, including the new book Winning the Worry Battle and Bible study Joshua: Winning the Worry Battle.
Barb and her husband, Matt are the parents of three daughters, Kate, Sami and Abbie. They love their dog, Quimby and a now 10-year old rabbit that threatens to live forever. She loves Jesus, new adventures, her FitBit, chocolate peanut butter ice cream and fabulous high heels.
What are you're missing out on if you aren't connected with any millennials?
It's become really easy for us to criticize the Millennial generation, those individuals born between 1981 and 1996 (according to Pew Research). How many times have you heard or maybe your referred to Millennials "entitled" or "they have a poor work ethic"?
My Better Together guest today is the exact opposite of the common (and untrue) stereotypes attributed to today's Millennials. Lauren Gaskill is a speaker, author, podcaster and entrepreneur - and she's 25 years old. That's right! Seriously, what were you doing at 25?
Best part is that Lauren has been my friend for a long time - I'm so excited that you get to meet her. Lauren emailed me years ago because she wanted to connect with women in ministry who were farther down the road in experience and faith. But, friends, I've learned so much from this brilliant young woman.
Her first book, Into the Deep, comes out in November 2018 (Abingdon Press). A long-time competitive swimmer, Lauren uses water as a word picture and writes about intentionally stepping out in faith and asking Jesus to show up big in our lives. While many of us get accustomed to playing it safe, this young woman just might light a fire under your complacency as you listen to her today.
Lauren knows what it's like to face real struggle, both in circumstances and faith. She was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome years ago. It's a connective tissue disorder that often leaves her in tremendous pain and suffering from anxiety.
“A year ago, I was in a pretty bad spot. I remember looking at my husband and saying, “I think that I might need to be in a pysch ward. It was a scary place. I am so glad that my faith got me through it. The Jesus inside of me is stronger than the darkness that tries to overtake me.”
Girl, preach.
During today's conversation, you get the chance to hear from one of the best and brightest leaders that we have, especially in the Church today.
CONVERSATION STARTERS WITH MILLENNIALS
If you feel like God wants you to invest more of your life and time into the young people at your church or in your community, here are few "conversation starters":
LINKS FROM TODAY'S PODCAST
Lauren Gaskill Website | Facebook
Ticket information - She Found Joy Tour (Fall 2018)
About the Better Together podcast...
Barb Roose is host of the Better Together podcast. She is a speaker and author with a passion to help women win at life with strength and dignity. Barb has been speaking at women's conferences, events and retreats since 2005. She is the author of multiple books and Bible studies, including the new book Winning the Worry Battle and Bible study Joshua: Winning the Worry Battle.
Barb and her husband, Matt are the parents of three daughters, Kate, Sami and Abbie. They love their dog, Quimby and a 9-year old rabbit that threatens to live forever. She loves Jesus, new adventures, her FitBit, chocolate peanut butter ice cream and fabulous high heels.
Are you or someone that you know a planning a wedding? Are you a soon-to-be-bride, mother-of-the-bride or mother-of-the-groom?
If so, this episode of the Better Together podcast is a must-listen for some of the do’s and don’ts when it comes to wedding fashion and family dynamics.
My guest this week is my fabulous friend and American’s leading Christian fashion consultant, Shari Braendel. She’s a popular guest on my Better Together podcast and on this episode, Shari shows up with some important rules and must-do’s when it comes to weddings.
Not only does she provide helpful information, but as Shari will be the mother-of-the-groom at her son’s wedding in just a couple of weeks, she lets us into what God has been teaching her about letting go of her son – it’s a touching, emotional conversation that any mom with a wedding coming up needs to hear. (You might want to grab a tissue!)
In today’s conversation, Shari answers questions like:
For the rest of us, Shari talks us through the different types of weddings and how we can dress appropriately for each type.
There’s so much practical advice and heart-talk that you might want to grab a tissue or two before you listen.
If you’ve got wedding fashion questions or questions of the heart, Shari would love to answer them. Leave them on the blog page of this podcast!
GET CONNECTED TO SHARI - Website | Facebook
Shari's 27 Hangers Online Course
Shari's book Help Me Jesus, I Have Nothing to Wear
Breakaway 2018 Conference on June 15-16 in Concord, NC
About Barb...
Barb Roose is the host of the Better Together podcast. She's a popular conference speaker and author of multiple books and Bible studies including her new book, Winning the Worry Battle and six-week Bible study called, Joshua: Winning the Worry Battle. Barb and her family live in NW Ohio. She loves travel, chocolate peanut ice cream and fabulous high heel shoes. Connect with Barb at Barbroose.com for new episodes of the Better Together podcast on the first and third Wednesdays of each month.
“Focus on the person you are fighting for, not the person you are fighting with.” -John Guerin
Do you have a secret that you’re keeping from your husband? Some of us might sneak in a few pairs of shoes inside brown grocery bag or perhaps there is a secret Amazon account attached to an off-the-radar credit card, secrets are never good for a relationship.
But what about a bigger secret?
Are you hiding secret feelings from your husband about the guy at the office who gives great shoulder rubs?
Do you feel a growing affection for your neighbor who always has time to fix something when your hubby is busy?
On this episode of the Better Together podcast, I’m talking with speaker and author Shannon Geurin. Shannon and her husband, John live in Colorado and they are parents of two daughters.
Twelve years ago, Shannon began an emotional affair with a man that led to a physical affair. As Shannon says, "And that affair led me to do the unthinkable. I was going to leave my family - husband and my little girls."
This is a raw conversation, friends. Shannon speaks with humility about the mistakes that she made, the lies that she believed, the forgiveness that she received and the long five-year road that she walked with her husband after her affair.
Even if you think that it isn’t possible for you to even find yourself in Shannon’s situation, there are plenty of other ways in life when we can get off-track in life. Listen as Shannon shares not only the warnings signs, but take heart and have hope as Shannon also shares how you can find your way back if you’ve made big mistakes and you’re wondering if you can ever overcome them. In Jesus’ name, you can!
THREE STEPS TOWARD FORGIVENESS & RESTORATION:
LINKS FROM TODAY'S SHOW:
Connect with Shannon: Email | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest
Finding Joy Ladies Night Out Tickets - click here
Joshua: Winning the Worry Battle Bible Study by Barb Roose
Barb Roose is the host of the Better Together Podcast.
I love the word “gutsy.” In fact, a gutsy woman is always inspiring to me! She’s the kind of gal who knows that the odds are stacked against her, but she makes a big move anyways. There have been so many gutsy women in my life – I could take up this entire blog listing them. In a world where women are fighting against so much, we need brave, courageous women who are willing to risk it all for something better.
Sometimes, the greatest gutsiest risk we’ll ever take is the one that involves confronting our painful past and choosing to walk the road of healing.
Today, my Better Together podcast guest is Jennifer Renee Watson. I caught up with Jennifer as she was hiding out in a hotel room writing her upcoming book called Freedom: The Gutsy Pursuit of Breakthrough and Life Beyond It" (February 2019). Jennifer is a speaker, writer, pastor’s wife, student ministries leader and mother of two. Her life journey has been one of brokenness and healing. Now, Jennifer’s passion is to equip others to take their healing journey as well.
As the child of an alcoholic and divorce, Jennifer spent her younger years trying to cope with the ache and pain of the loss of her dad to addiction and the break-up of her family. “My dad had such a great heart and loved people but over the years, his addiction became bigger and louder than who he was as a man.”
Jennifer came to faith in Christ when she was 11 years old. Her new life and hope in Christ helped Jennifer to see that she needed to deal with the brokenness in her life. “When I was in my teen years, I worked hard to deal with my junk. I wrote stories, angry poetry, danced – I needed an outlet to work through things.” Not only that, but young Jennifer made one of her first gutsy moves in life and said “yes” when she felt God putting a life of ministry on her heart.
During today’s conversation, Jennifer talks through what her “healing journey” looked like. Most of all, Jennifer tells us about the powerful way that she knew that healing had taken place when she got the word that her dad died three years ago.
There are times when we hear women talk about the shock-n-awe brokenness of their lives, but Jennifer longs for us to not let our brokenness define us. Rather, she invites us to learn how to offer the fractured parts of our lives to God and let those broken places be a platform to glorify Him.
On today’s Better Together Podcast, we talk about:
LINKS FROM TODAY'S EPISODE
Jennifer Renee Watson website | Facebook
Finding Joy Ladies Night Out Tickets - click here
About your host...
Barb Roose is the host of the Better Together podcast. She's passionate about teaching women how to win at life with strength and dignity. Barb's new book, Winning the Worry Battle and her new six-week Bible study on the book of Joshua: Winning the Worry Battle release in April 2018. Both products are available at your favorite online retailers and stores across the country.