Stay ConnectedMany women feel overwhelmed with the chaos of life, struggle with the fact that life, relationships and marriage are hard, and lack what they need to truly thrive.
The Thriving Beyond Belief podcast, with host, Cheryl Scruggs, and online community provide women with encouragement & support, to better manage their stress, create healthy relationships, and build a life that thrives beyond belief.
Copyright: © 2018 Thriving Beyond Belief / Hope Matters Marriage Ministries, Inc., a 501c3
In this episode, we explore what it means to truly thrive within a community, from fostering meaningful connections to building support systems that uplift personal growth. We dive into how belonging impacts mental well-being, the power of shared purpose, and practical tips for creating environments where both individuals and the collective can flourish. Whether you're part of a professional network, creative group, or neighborhood circle, this conversation will leave you inspired to deepen your connections and embrace the beauty of community living.
Courtney Joseph Fallick is a passionate follower of Jesus and proud mother of two college students—her 20-year-old son and 18-year-old daughter. She also shares her life with a beloved 9-year-old dog named Snowball. Living in Ohio, she and her family are devoted fans of Ohio State.
For seven years, Courtney homeschooled her children before they transitioned to a Christian school, and now both are pursuing higher education. She holds a degree in Evangelism and Discipleship from the Moody Bible Institute, though she humbly describes it as a reflection of her deep love for studying God’s Word and serving others.
Raised in a strong Christian household as the youngest of three sisters, Courtney married her high school sweetheart after four years of dating, sharing 19 years together. In 2015, the end of her first marriage brought unexpected challenges, but Courtney’s journey took a surprising turn in 2023 when she remarried a widower from her church. Now, she is joyfully blending families, embracing the new adventure with her husband, his two daughters, and a son-in-law. While life brings challenges, Courtney remains deeply grateful for God’s faithfulness through life’s storms.
In her day-to-day, Courtney finds joy in coffee, good books, fresh flowers, lighting candles, and walks with her dog. While not a fan of exercise, she still commits to working out 4–5 times a week. She describes herself as an optimistic idealist who sees the glass half full, though she wishes for better cooking skills and more organized closets. Her favorite place to recharge is by the ocean.
Galatians 6:9, “Do not grow weary in doing good, for in due season you will reap a harvest if you do not give up,” serves as Courtney’s life verse, grounding her faith and purpose. With a heart full of gratitude, she approaches each opportunity to share encouragement with humility and prayer, always reminding others of God’s unfailing love: "Keep walking with the King!"
LINKS:Paul Weigel is a father, a six-time Ironman triathlete, a college professor, and a self-described professional dabbler. A lover of the outdoors and hiking, he spent much of his life in the Pacific Northwest, finishing countless races and climbing many mountains including Mt. Rainier, Mt. St. Helens, and Mt. Adams. Now living in Arizona, he is exploring different ventures while checking things off his bucket list with regularity. But his real passion, and his real inspiration, is creating unforgettable memories with his daughter.
LINKS:Debra Fileta is a licensed professional counselor, speaker, and author who specializes in topics of faith, mental health, and relationships. She is known for her insightful writing on emotional and spiritual well-being, blending her clinical expertise with a compassionate, faith-based perspective. Debra's works often explore themes such as dating, marriage, self-care, and personal growth, with a focus on helping readers navigate life's challenges while deepening their faith. She is the author of several popular books, including True Love Dates, Choosing Marriage, and Are You Really OK?, offering practical advice for building healthy, Christ-centered relationships. Debra also hosts a podcast, "Love + Relationships," where she continues to share her wisdom on living a balanced and fulfilling life.
LINKS:You can thrive and live an abundant life in every area and in every season. You can practice the lost arts of being a vibrant human being. And you can be energized and enjoy more of what matters most spiritually, emotionally, physically, mentally, and relationally.
Related Links:I explore the essential yet often overlooked practice of resting, a cornerstone of thriving in all facets of life. Through personal reflection and experiences, I emphasize the multi-dimensional aspects of rest—spiritual, emotional, and physical—that together, support a vibrant and fulfilling existence.
You can thrive and live an abundant life in every area and in every season. You can practice the lost arts of being a vibrant human being. And you can be energized and enjoy more of what matters most spiritually, emotionally, physically, mentally, and relationally.
The closer a courageous, rooted, and thriving woman gets to realizing her life’s purpose, the more she understands that abundant living is nothing like what she once thought it was. It’s not perfect circumstances; it’s perfect peace within those circumstances. Thriving Beyond Belief gives women practical tools to improve every relationship they have by doing the hard work of knowing “the real you” and learning to be vulnerable. Deep satisfaction comes from women knowing who they are, overcoming their fears, facing the difficult stuff of life, and making lasting change. And it all starts with the journey of knowing and understanding who God made them to be.
No matter where you’ve come from, what you’ve experienced in the past, or the mistakes you’ve made—you can learn to thrive the rest of your life. This book shows you how.
Related Links:You can thrive and live an abundant life in every area and in every season. You can practice the lost arts of being a vibrant human being. And you can be energized and enjoy more of what matters most spiritually, emotionally, physically, mentally, and relationally.
The closer a courageous, rooted, and thriving woman gets to realizing her life’s purpose, the more she understands that abundant living is nothing like what she once thought it was. It’s not perfect circumstances; it’s perfect peace within those circumstances. Thriving Beyond Belief gives women practical tools to improve every relationship they have by doing the hard work of knowing “the real you” and learning to be vulnerable. Deep satisfaction comes from women knowing who they are, overcoming their fears, facing the difficult stuff of life, and making lasting change. And it all starts with the journey of knowing and understanding who God made them to be.
No matter where you’ve come from, what you’ve experienced in the past, or the mistakes you’ve made—you can learn to thrive the rest of your life. This book shows you how.
Related Links:No matter where you’ve come from, what you’ve experienced in the past, or the mistakes you’ve made—you can learn to thrive the rest of your life. This book shows you how.
Related Links:I explore the essential yet often overlooked practice of resting, a cornerstone of thriving in all facets of life. Through personal reflection and experiences, I emphasize the multi-dimensional aspects of rest—spiritual, emotional, and physical—that together, support a vibrant and fulfilling existence.
You can thrive and live an abundant life in every area and in every season. You can practice the lost arts of being a vibrant human being. And you can be energized and enjoy more of what matters most spiritually, emotionally, physically, mentally, and relationally.
The closer a courageous, rooted, and thriving woman gets to realizing her life’s purpose, the more she understands that abundant living is nothing like what she once thought it was. It’s not perfect circumstances; it’s perfect peace within those circumstances. Thriving Beyond Belief gives women practical tools to improve every relationship they have by doing the hard work of knowing “the real you” and learning to be vulnerable. Deep satisfaction comes from women knowing who they are, overcoming their fears, facing the difficult stuff of life, and making lasting change. And it all starts with the journey of knowing and understanding who God made them to be.
No matter where you’ve come from, what you’ve experienced in the past, or the mistakes you’ve made—you can learn to thrive the rest of your life. This book shows you how.
Related Links:Jessica and her husband Greg are herald as adoption advocates across New York State. After adopting a sibling group of two from foster care in 2015, they discovered the massive need for foster and adoptive parents.
They founded All 4 One Adoption Awareness, an organization focused on highlighting the 110,000 children in foster care who are freed to be adopted and need a forever family. For three years straight, Jessica has promoted and organized a 110 mile run across St. Lawrence County which is held on National Adoption Day to raise awareness for this need.
Jessica was a contestant on Season 8 of NBC’s American Ninja Warrior where she shared her story and passion for adoption. She was featured in Runner’s World Magazine in 2018 for attempting to run 110 miles through a snowstorm on National Adoption Day. Jessica has the privilege of presenting a TEDx Talk in November 2020 entitled, “How to Win at the Race Called Life”.
When Jessica is not running marathons or after her children, she also loves reading, Tim Hortons, and kayaking with her family.
Related Links:You can thrive and live an abundant life in every area and in every season. You can practice the lost arts of being a vibrant human being. And you can be energized and enjoy more of what matters most spiritually, emotionally, physically, mentally, and relationally.
The closer a courageous, rooted, and thriving woman gets to realizing her life’s purpose, the more she understands that abundant living is nothing like what she once thought it was. It’s not perfect circumstances; it’s perfect peace within those circumstances. Thriving Beyond Belief gives women practical tools to improve every relationship they have by doing the hard work of knowing “the real you” and learning to be vulnerable. Deep satisfaction comes from women knowing who they are, overcoming their fears, facing the difficult stuff of life, and making lasting change. And it all starts with the journey of knowing and understanding who God made them to be.
No matter where you’ve come from, what you’ve experienced in the past, or the mistakes you’ve made—you can learn to thrive the rest of your life. This book shows you how.
Related Links:Melissa L. Johnson is a celebrated author renowned for her evocative storytelling and deep exploration of human emotions. Her latest work, "Soul-Deep Beauty," delves into the intricate ways beauty manifests both within and beyond the physical realm, captivating readers with its profound insights. With a background in psychology, Melissa skillfully weaves themes of self-discovery and personal growth into her narratives, making her a beloved figure among readers seeking both entertainment and enlightenment. Her writing not only entertains but also challenges readers to reflect on their own perceptions of beauty and identity. Melissa's unique voice and thoughtful prose continue to earn her a place in the hearts of those who cherish literature that resonates on a soul-deep level.
Related Links:Jane Lee Rankin is a farmer and founder of Apple Hill Farm, an award-winning first-generation farm in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina. She is an advocate for farmers through her leadership and involvement in the North Carolina Agritourism Networking Association, Watauga County Farm Bureau, the Watauga County Economic Development Commission, the Watauga County Agricultural Extension, and local chamber of commerce. She frequently speaks about farm tourism and the benefits of diversifying your farm portfolio at conferences locally and nationally.
Apple Hill Farm is an agritourism destination for thousands every year who tour, shop, and learn about raising a farm family of animals. With a wide selection of fair trade and American-sourced yarns, socks, and apparel items made from alpaca wool, the Apple Hill Farm Store participates in six yearly craft or fiber shows across North Carolina. The farm and store are open year-round for shopping and tours. Since 2010 more than ninety thousand visitors have come to tour the farm and hear Lee’s story. In 2021, Lee won runner-up for North Carolina Small Farmer of the Year.
Lee is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, and her first book, Cookin’ Up a Storm: The Recipes of Annie Johnson, is a culinary memoir and tribute to her dear friend and mentor.
Stephanie May Wilson: An experienced guide for women navigating life transitions, Stephanie empowers her audience through books, courses, and podcasts, helping them build lives that resonate with authenticity and joy. Fluent in Spanish with a touch of French, she fosters deep connections and enjoys sharing meals with friends. Based in Nashville, originally from Denver, Stephanie delights in the familiar comfort of pizza and treasures time spent in Spain and at home. Her work emphasizes personal development, encouraging women to pursue their genuine desires.
Stephanie May Wilson's Links:Robert J. Morgan recently transitioned to serve full time as leader of Robert J. Morgan Ministries, a 501(c)3 nonprofit whose goal is to energize God’s people with a greater understanding and appreciation of the Bible and Christian heritage. Preceding this transition, Rob was involved in pastoral ministry for over 40 years in Nashville Tennessee. He is a best-selling, gold-Illuminations, and gold-medallion winning writer with more than 35 books in print and approximately 5 million copies in circulation in multiple languages. Rob has appeared on numerous television and radio shows. He speaks widely at churches, conferences, schools, and corporate events.
Rob was also a homemaker and a caregiver for his late wife of 43 years, Katrina, who battled multiple sclerosis and passed away in November of 2019. He and Katrina have three daughters and sixteen grandchildren.
Robert Morgan's Links:I started blogging in college on LiveJournal. (Remember that? It was a whole lot of Dashboard Confessional lyrics and was incredibly emo.) In 2007, I moved to WordPress and wanted to bring joy to people through my satirical writing. I wanted to be the next version of “The Onion,” if you can believe it. Then, over the years, the content began to change. I started sharing more about my life and suddenly I realized that there were people reading this blog that weren’t just my dad and my sister. So, while the content certainly changed over the last 13+ years, the mission certainly has not. True joy from within looks different than I thought it once did. When you step into this little space, I genuinely want you to feel like you’re hanging out with a dear friend. So, what are you going to find here? Here I’ll talk about everything from ethical fashion and clean beauty, to my passion for ending human trafficking, child sponsorship with Compassion International, clean beauty (and my favorite mascaras!), real food and some easy recipes, my life as a wife and mom, and so much more. I pray you’re encouraged.
My Story: Finding my voice.
My twenties were categorized as driven and successful. My resume boasted of working for influential organizations. I was a popular communicator traveling across the globe to speak to students. And I became an author at the young age of 27.
But then, I turned 30, had kids, faced some rejection and was felt like I had peaked in life. Where the twenties were driven with confidence, my thirties felt like a lonely space. Having accomplished so much in life to that point, I wondered if this was it. I felt like there was a formula to life, a certainty to things. But my thirties proved that life was more uncertain than I had believed.
In those years, I longed to communicate with women again. I longed to connect with others through conversation. In October of 2015, the podcast, Surviving Sarah, was born. It was to be a place where I could use my voice again to help other women know they aren’t alone. It was a place where I could help women survive right where they are—in their life, their relationships, their work and their faith.
After years of living and learning, I wrote a new book about how motherhood has raised me. “A Mother’s Guide to Raising Herself: What Parenting Taught Me About Life, Faith and Myself” is a guide that captures that journey of realizing that as I was parenting my girls, I was actually parenting myself.
In 2024, I released my next book: “Is Everyone Happier Than Me? An Honest Guide to the Questions That Keep You up at Night.” This book is an honest look at the questions we ask in midlife. It’s a book that helps us navigate those questions and hopefully discover how to find a sense of happiness, peace and connection right where we are.
Now, my forties are categorized as a different confidence—a confidence in the journey of discovering who I am and stepping confidently into that person. It’s a journey defined by curiosity and surrendering to the uncertainty of it all. And as Anne Lamont says, “The opposite of faith is not doubt, it’s certainty.” By embracing the uncertainty with curiosity, my faith has been reconstructed.
An all new, solo episode of Thriving Beyond Belief, with Cheryl Scruggs!
Laura L. Smith is an author who intertwines her personal experiences, biblical truths, and creative practices to address mental health struggles through a faith-based lens. Her latest work emphasizes the importance of self-care as a biblical principle, advocating for a holistic approach that includes therapy, medicine, movement, healthy boundaries, and more. Her book aims to show the depth of Jesus' love in the midst of fear, anxiety, and depression, providing practical tools for mental health care. For more about Laura and her work, you can visit her website.
Related Links:Wonder. Mystery. Awe.
The older I get, the more I value these things. Perhaps because somewhere along the way, life had not gone as planned. There were losses and griefs and new labels like “Divorced” to check off on the forms at the doctor’s office. There were no easy answers for the hard stuff, so I chose to give myself grace as I figured it all out.
I never thought I would be writing a book at the same time that I qualified for Social Security.
I never thought that anyone would pay a dime for anything I had to say.
I never thought a woman with a senior discount would be taken seriously at any place other than the Michael’s checkout register.
Yet, here I am. What are your “never thoughts?”
Love, Carole
Related Links:The first episode of 2024!
In "A Child Called 'It'," author Dave Pelzer recounts a profoundly shocking personal history of childhood mistreatment, marking it as one of the most extreme cases of child abuse recorded in California. The memoir garnered significant attention, staying on the New York Times best-seller list for an extended period and earning a nomination for the Pulitzer Prize.
The narrative begins with Pelzer's early school years, highlighting the onset of abuse by his mentally unstable and alcoholic mother. From first through fifth grade, he endured severe physical, emotional, and psychological abuse. His mother's cruelty escalated to the point of denying his identity, referring to him as "it" rather than his name. The constant abuse nearly led to his death, until intervention by authorities. Despite the harrowing experiences, Pelzer's resolve to survive and his faith were undiminished, driving him to not only overcome these challenges but to share his story with the world.
Born on December 29, 1960, in San Francisco, Pelzer is recognized for his autobiographical and self-help writings. His 1995 memoir reached significant commercial success, staying on The New York Times Best Seller list for numerous years and selling over 1.6 million copies within five years. The publication of this book brought Pelzer widespread fame, though it has also been the subject of debate and skepticism, with some family members and journalists questioning the authenticity of certain events depicted.
Related Links:Meet Chuck and Ashley Elliott, a dynamic duo in the realm of relationship guidance, active since 2009. Their journey began with Community Marriage Builders, where they honed their skills in conducting both intimate and large-scale workshops. With certifications in eight diverse Psycho-educational programs, the Elliotts specialize in fostering relational triumphs.
Their portfolio includes the creation and instruction of various marriage enrichment programs, and they are passionate advocates for discussing all facets of relationships.
Chuck brings a unique perspective as a pastor at Bethel Church in Evansville, Indiana, enriching lives with spiritual insights. Meanwhile, Ashley's expertise as a counselor at Auxilium Psychological Services is complemented by her academic prowess. She notably led the Psychology and Addictions Counseling Program at Oakland City University for over a decade. There, she developed an impressive array of Psychology courses, engaged in groundbreaking research, and even formulated a unique Communication Theory. This theory, a joint effort with Chuck, has been showcased across numerous universities and business platforms nationwide.
Outside their professional lives, Chuck, Ashley, and their three sons cherish the outdoors with activities like hiking and mountain biking. And let's not forget those rare but memorable family dance parties that add rhythm to their lives!
Related Links:Are you thriving beyond your wildest dreams? Want to do this together? Listen in to this episode and challenge yourself to THRIVE!
In this episode we deal straight up with FEAR!
LINKS:
Are you thriving beyond your wildest dreams? Want to do this together? Listen in to this episode and challenge yourself to THRIVE!
Kia Stephens is a wife (of 19 years) and a mom of two who is literally in the trenches of motherhood. Most days are spent driving her teen and tween around like an overworked and underpaid taxi driver.
A few years ago, however, she acted on her desire to become a writer and created The Father Swap Blog to help women exchange their father wounds for the love of God the father. Five years later she is a contributor for iBelieve and Proverbs 31 Ministries and the host of the Hope For Women With Father Wounds Podcast. Her writing has been featured on Ann Voskamp’s Blog, Christianity Today, Crosswalk, Beloved Women, and Incourage.
GUEST LINKS:Words matter. Our words matter. And Well Said* explains why they do, how to make the most of them and why doing this can change our lives. Most importantly, Sarah’s practical tips intertwined with personal life stories are grounded in Biblical truth and convey God’s love for each person. Choosing to use our words to speak life allows the Lord to work in ways we never imagined or could dream for ourselves. It’s not easy and it’s not instant but it will be life-challenging and life-changing.
GUEST LINKS:"My husband and I own a charming historic home, Hillside Farm, just outside Philadelphia. It’s a lovely property with giant trees and rolling hills, an enormous barn, a chicken coup, and a constant stream of friends and family. groups, her passion is in small-group settings."
Really? Write about my life at Hillside? I chuckled and put the idea in my back pocket, never expecting to take it out again. But, like a persistent seed, the idea refused to stay buried. Instead, it took root and sprouted straight up. And before I knew it, one page after another, a book was born. It took all of us working together. My daughters did the calligraphy and illustrations, and Bob cheered me on.
Like Hillside, the book is a representation of Bob and me. We have flipped many homes, but Hillside is the apex of our rehab adventures.
For one year, we documented our life at the farm through words and photographs. In spring, we planted bulbs and threw garden parties. We gathered eggs and baked quiches. We celebrated new life and growth and all the color that comes with it. In summer, the fun and games went on from morning till night. Family and friends flowed in and out, and the BBQ never stopped. In autumn, we picked bushels of apples, baked crisps and pies, shut our garden down, and remembered why we are thankful for one another. In winter, as the snow covered the fields, we stayed warm inside with soups and stews and favorite books read by the fire. The monotony of the cold was broken by holiday parties and the promise of a new year. From our favorite traditions and time-earned wisdom, to family recipes, gardening ideas, and hosting tips, for one year, we captured what “home” means to us. It is our hope that you will feel at home in its pages and be encouraged to make your house a home for others as well.
Welcome to Hillside Farm.
GUEST LINKS:
Dr. Daniel Emina is a child/adolescent and adult psychiatrist and Associate Medical Director of Amen Clinics—a chain of nationally recognized outpatient healthcare clinics that has pioneered innovative techniques in mental health diagnosis and treatment. He’s experienced in treatment for anxiety, suicidal ideation, mood disorders, addiction, ADD/ADHD, impulsive/disruptive behavior disorders, autism spectrum, psychotic disorders, OCD, PTSD, and TBI. Dr. Emina is a board member of the University of San Francisco’s Center for Child and Family Development and a member of the One Hit Away Advisory Council. He’s also a board member and treasurer for the Extended Arms Initiative in Los Angeles, a nonprofit organization focused on homeless outreach and overseas medical missions. Dr. Emina is married to Emily and has one daughter.
Rick Lawrence is an award-winning author, journalist, cultural researcher, editor, and national speaker. He’s been executive editor of GROUP Magazine for 32 years. He creates and leads interactive learning experiences for church and cultural leaders, parents, and teenagers. Lawrence has authored hundreds of magazine articles and is the author, co-author, or editor of 39 books and curricula. He’s the general editor and chief contributor of the bestselling Jesus-Centered Bible. He hosts the popular podcast Paying Ridiculous Attention to Jesus, now in its fifth year. He and his wife, Beverly Rose, have two daughters.
Guest Links:Mike Donehey has seen his fair share of the unexpected. Following a potentially fatal car crash as a teen, Mike learned to play the guitar while still in bed recovering from his injuries. Learning the guitar quickly gave birth to songwriting, and that songwriting quickly led to the formation of a band.
That band, Tenth Avenue North, became one of the most loved and successful artists in Christian music. Beginning with their acclaimed national debut, Over and Underneath, Tenth Avenue North’s audience multiplied with each new album and hit song, like radio favorites “Love Is Here,” “By Your Side,” “You Are More,” “Losing,” “Worn,” “I Have This Hope,” and multi-week no. 1 smash “Control (Somehow You Want Me).”
At the beginning of 2020, despite widespread notoriety and a devout following, Tenth Avenue North’s members began to sense they each had their own unexpected and unique roads to follow. Mike has seized this opportunity, reveling in the excitement to expand as a storyteller, communicator and thought instigator wherever his voice is heard.
Mike’s acclaimed book, Finding God’s Life for My Will, was an immediate best-seller upon its release. It is soon to be followed by his next book, Grace In The Gray, releasing in January 2023.
Mike’s podcast, Chasing the Beauty, looks for the joy of God in the places we didn’t think it could be on the AccessMore network.
Perhaps most exciting has been Mike’s writing and producing new music. His acclaimed solo album Flourish is just the beginning of the flow of new music coming our way.
The unexpected has a way of disrupting our lives in ways we might not have ever chosen. For Mike, learning to embrace the unexpected has been the very thing that has brought forth encouraging and soul-healing art time and time again. Looking forward, Mike is trusting to be led in any way that will allow him to continue to serve and inspire.
MIKE'S LINKS:Army veteran Fernando Arroyo considers himself privileged to serve veterans struggling with different issues ranging from PTSD, drug addiction, and homelessness. His job is to provide veterans with pastoral counseling and to walk alongside them as they regain sobriety and control of their mental health.
In his powerful new memoir, The Shadow of Death: From My Battles in Fallujah to the Battle for My Soul, Arroyo details his career in the military, as well as his crisis of faith: “I went from feeling invincible to feeling completely broken. There was only one person to blame for all of this, and it was God. God took the woman I loved away from me, God kept me from getting out of the Army, and God was making me feel miserable. I was angry with God—and meanwhile I had to train for war.”
FERNANDO'S LINKS:
SHOW LINKS:Dr. Kim Allen is an accomplished professional in Information Technology, Education, and Spiritual Leadership. With specialties in planning, professional development, adult education, and small group leadership, she develops and presents curricula, mentors women who need technical skills to return to the workplace and assists other spiritual leaders in facilitating life-changing materials. Dr. Allen has provided curriculum resources worldwide.
Kim is a graduate of the Executive Leadership for Information Technology Excellence (ELITE) program sponsored by the Governor’s Center for Information Technology Professionals in the state of Texas. She also participated in developing the State of Texas Strategic Plan for Network Resources. Dr. Allen participated in the review of the State of Texas high school Computer Science curriculum for textbook adoption.
Through experiences she never believed possible, God used her unique understanding of business principles and attention to detail to advance her career and relationships simultaneously. Her dreams now continue to include adult education and leading small groups. As a Christian businesswoman, God opened many doors and used others to speak truth into her life while mentoring her to bravely face challenges in her educational endeavors, overcome adversity, and help others work toward spiritual transformation. While Dr. Allen has facilitated and presented in large groups, her passion is in small-group settings.
Kim and her husband enjoy traveling, fishing, and the beauty of nature found in outdoor activities. However, she considers her most significant accomplishment is seeing transformation in the lives of others.
GUEST LINKS:
Today's episode is about mentally thriving! What does that mean?
You can live an abundant life in every area and in every season. You can practice the lost arts of being a vibrant human being. You can be energized and enjoy more of what matters most spiritually, emotionally, physically, mentally, and relationally.
The closer a courageous, rooted, and thriving woman gets to realizing her life’s purpose, the more she understands that abundant living is nothing like what she once thought it was. It’s not perfect circumstances; it’s perfect peace within those circumstances. This book gives women practical tools to improve every relationship they have by doing the hard work of knowing “the real you” and learning to be vulnerable. Deep satisfaction comes from women knowing who they are, overcoming their fears, facing the difficult stuff of life, and making lasting change. And it all starts with the journey of knowing and understanding who God made them.
No matter where you’ve come from, what you’ve experienced in the past, or the mistakes you’ve made—you can learn to thrive the rest of your life.
LINKS:Debra Fileta is a passionate woman of faith, dedicated to Jesus. As a licensed professional counselor, speaker, and author, she specializes in dating, marriage, and relationship issues. Debra has written several books, including True Love Dates, Choosing Marriage, Love in Every Season!, Are You Really Ok?, Married Sex, and RESET. She hosts the Love + Relationships Podcast, offering relationship advice to callers. Her influential blog, TrueLoveDates.com, promotes healthy relationships and reaches millions annually. Debra is also the founder of the Debra Fileta Counselors Network, offering online counseling sessions.
LINKS:Kathy DeGraw is a prophetic deliverance minister releasing the love and power of God. She loves to ignite and activate people, release prophetic destinies and deliver people from the bondage of the enemy. In her meetings, the glory of God appears and people are supernaturally healed and delivered as the Word of God goes forth and is preached!
She is the founder of Kathy DeGraw Ministries and K Advancement LLC. She enjoys traveling internationally, releasing the love and fire of the Holy Spirit, teaching believers how to walk in the fullness of God and release their prophetic potential. She uses her prophetic anointing to deliver people from the powers of darkness and goes deep in the ministry of deliverance eradicating strongholds, exposing the root causes and legal rights of the enemy, and evicting evil principalities.
Kathy hosts a weekly podcast show on the Charisma Podcast Network called Prophetic Spiritual Warfare that has reached hundreds of thousands of people. Kathy is a prophetic voice and writer on The Elijah List, Charisma Magazine, Prophecy Investigators, and Spirit Fuel. She has a clear and unique gift of discernment and operates in a strong prophetic, healing and deliverance anointing. She has published several books including her most recent book, Prophetic Spiritual Warfare! Kathy has also written, Unshackled, Discerning and Destroying the Works of Satan, SPEAK OUT, and more!
Kathy is married to her best friend, Pastor Ron DeGraw, and is a mom to three adult children, Dillon, Amber (son-in-law, Josh) and Lauren (and son-in-law, Alex). She is also fond of her Golden Retriever puppy, Shiloh. They reside in Michigan.
Empowering women to embrace their Mid-Life years, obstacles give us reasons to embrace joy, and the little things we do to love ourselves matter.
"I’m ridiculously passionate about working with women. I have the privilege of coaching them to levels of success in their personal and professional lives that transcends their wildest dreams. Before I decided to dive into this joy thing full time, I was a top ten sales director for one of the world’s biggest direct sales brands (my last team hit a million in sales for the year — yay us!). Now my opportunities to empower women take many different forms.
I’m an author, a speaker, an entrepreneur and a mentor. I work in person and online, with individuals, small groups, and auditorium-sized crowds. I’m proud to use the experiences of my personal journey to help others find happiness and success even in the darkest of days. I wholeheartedly believe that the obstacles in our lives should not beat us down, but give us reasons to more fully embrace joy wherever we can find it.
Best of all, I’m arm candy to Craig (it might be kind of like a big bag of cotton candy but close enough); I’m a mom to two awesomely cool females (who are 17 years apart!) and a grandmother to four. We are living happily ever after in Cantonment, Florida, with four dogs, three cats, three horses and a partridge in a pear tree.
We all need more joy. I have found joy in places you’d think it was unfindable — despite the pain of losing a child, divorce, rape, stage 3 cancer and more. I want to share my stories with you because I have discovered how joy is a choice that makes life worth living."
LINKS:Rhonda Stoppe is an author and speaker dedicated to helping women live life with no regrets. With over 30 years experience as a mom, mentor, and pastor’s wife, Rhonda’s wisdom and experience will help you:
David Pruitt is a first-generation college graduate from UNC-Greensboro and previously served on the advisory board for their Bryan School of Business. A licensed CPA and a member of the AICPA and NCACPA, David started his business career in an entry-level accounting position before advancing to first CFO, then CEO, of Performance Bike, for a time the largest cycling retailer in the United States. As a senior leader in the U.S. bicycle industry, he served on the board of “People for Bikes,” a national organization with 1.3 million members that work to make riding a bicycle in America safer, easier to access, and more fun. He is an avid reader, a happily married husband for over thirty years, and a proud father of two successful children. He currently resides in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
David retired from corporate America in 2016 and began writing Relative Distance. His early life as an abused child taught him how to overcome obstacles and his successful career as a senior executive taught him how to lead and communicate effectively as a writer and speaker. He has a passion and ability to not only tell his story but to help adults, young and old, who were abused as children to live the lives they want, not the ones forced on them.
That’s what his book Relative Distance is all about: survival, overcoming obstacles, and finding the strength within yourself to get where you want to be.
DAVID'S LINKS:Ali Miller, RD, LD, CDE is a Registered Dietitian with a naturopathic background and a contagious passion for using nutrients and food as the foundation of treatment protocols and programs. She is the author of international best seller The Anti-Anxiety Diet, as well as The Anti-Anxiety Diet Cookbook, and Naturally Nourished: Food-As-Medicine for Optimal Health.
Her Food-As-Medicine philosophy is supported by up-to-date scientific research for a functional, integrative approach to healing the body. Ali is a certified diabetes educator (CDE) and renowned expert in the ketogenic diet with over a decade of clinical results using a unique whole foods approach tailored to support thyroid, adrenal and hormonal balance.
With a mission deeply rooted in the sustainability of our food systems, Ali teaches clients to navigate beyond corporate manipulation and diet trends with an “outside the box” approach to healthy eating. She promotes clean eating and works to unveil the hidden truth of toxins in our food system while sharing the significant health benefits of consuming local, organic, and wild, pasture-raised foods. Ali applies scientifically supported plant and bio-compounds to enhance a patient’s treatment outcomes while reducing medications and their undesired side effects.
I am passionate about using functional medicine approaches to empower you to understand the root causes of imbalance within your body. When we address the reason for undesired symptoms and use diet, lifestyle, and targeted nutritional supplementation we are able to work upstream on a path of resolution while promoting a synergy of positive outcomes!
ALI'S LINKS:Mike Donehey has seen his fair share of the unexpected. Following a potentially fatal car crash as a teen, Mike learned to play the guitar while still in bed recovering from his injuries. Learning the guitar quickly gave birth to songwriting, and that songwriting quickly led to the formation of a band.
That band, Tenth Avenue North, became one of the most loved and successful artists in Christian music. Beginning with their acclaimed national debut, Over and Underneath, Tenth Avenue North’s audience multiplied with each new album and hit song, like radio favorites “Love Is Here,” “By Your Side,” “You Are More,” “Losing,” “Worn,” “I Have This Hope,” and multi-week no. 1 smash “Control (Somehow You Want Me).”
At the beginning of 2020, despite widespread notoriety and a devout following, Tenth Avenue North’s members began to sense they each had their own unexpected and unique roads to follow. Mike has seized this opportunity, reveling in the excitement to expand as a storyteller, communicator and thought instigator wherever his voice is heard.
Mike’s acclaimed book, Finding God’s Life for My Will, was an immediate best-seller upon its release. It is soon to be followed by his next book, Grace In The Gray, releasing in January 2023.
Mike’s podcast, Chasing the Beauty, looks for the joy of God in the places we didn’t think it could be on the AccessMore network.
Perhaps most exciting has been Mike’s writing and producing new music. His acclaimed solo album Flourish is just the beginning of the flow of new music coming our way.
The unexpected has a way of disrupting our lives in ways we might not have ever chosen. For Mike, learning to embrace the unexpected has been the very thing that has brought forth encouraging and soul-healing art time and time again. Looking forward, Mike is trusting to be led in any way that will allow him to continue to serve and inspire.
MIKE'S LINKS:Hannah Schermerhorn is the author of A Single Life to Live: Stop Waiting for Your Life to Begin and Thrive Where God Has You Today. She lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with her cat, Fritz. She is an electrical engineer who has worked in legal, business, and global marketing. Hannah enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with her nieces and nephews.
HANNAH'S LINKS:ABOUT LAUREN and laurenscruggskennedy.com
i started the space LAURENSCRUGGSKENNEDY.COM in 2017 with the hope to cultivate a space where i could share my expertise on healthy living and my passion for vulnerability, style, clean beauty, and nutritious recipes. since then life has expanded in so many ways – i’ve learned so much, been connected with so many knowledgeable people, inspirational companies, and earth-conscious brands, and my passions have only taken DEEPER ROOTS.
i have been lucky enough to pursue what I call a “LIFESTYLE ROOTED IN BALANCE” as this journey continues, my hope is to further share with you EASY and UNDERSTANDABLE ways to pursue a LIFESTYLE of clean, healthy, and achievable living.
LAUREN'S LINKS:Army veteran Fernando Arroyo considers himself privileged to serve veterans struggling with different issues ranging from PTSD, drug addiction, and homelessness. His job is to provide veterans with pastoral counseling and to walk alongside them as they regain sobriety and control of their mental health.
In his powerful new memoir, The Shadow of Death: From My Battles in Fallujah to the Battle for My Soul, Arroyo details his career in the military, as well as his crisis of faith: “I went from feeling invincible to feeling completely broken. There was only one person to blame for all of this, and it was God. God took the woman I loved away from me, God kept me from getting out of the Army, and God was making me feel miserable. I was angry with God—and meanwhile I had to train for war.”
FERNANDO'S LINKS:
SHOW LINKS:You can live an abundant life in every area and in every season. You can practice the lost arts of being a vibrant human being. You can be energized and enjoy more of what matters most spiritually, emotionally, physically, mentally, and relationally.
The closer a courageous, rooted, and thriving woman gets to realizing her life’s purpose, the more she understands that abundant living is nothing like what she once thought it was. It’s not perfect circumstances; it’s perfect peace within those circumstances. This book gives women practical tools to improve every relationship they have by doing the hard work of knowing “the real you” and learning to be vulnerable. Deep satisfaction comes from women knowing who they are, overcoming their fears, facing the difficult stuff of life, and making lasting change. And it all starts with the journey of knowing and understanding who God made them.
No matter where you’ve come from, what you’ve experienced in the past, or the mistakes you’ve made—you can learn to thrive the rest of your life. This book shows you how.
Related Links:You can live an abundant life in every area and in every season. You can practice the lost arts of being a vibrant human being. You can be energized and enjoy more of what matters most spiritually, emotionally, physically, mentally, and relationally.
The closer a courageous, rooted, and thriving woman gets to realizing her life’s purpose, the more she understands that abundant living is nothing like what she once thought it was. It’s not perfect circumstances; it’s perfect peace within those circumstances. This book gives women practical tools to improve every relationship they have by doing the hard work of knowing “the real you” and learning to be vulnerable. Deep satisfaction comes from women knowing who they are, overcoming their fears, facing the difficult stuff of life, and making lasting change. And it all starts with the journey of knowing and understanding who God made them.
No matter where you’ve come from, what you’ve experienced in the past, or the mistakes you’ve made—you can learn to thrive the rest of your life. This book shows you how.
Today on Thriving Beyond Belief, I'm excited to welcome my friend, Anne Neilson.
Have you ever had a moment when you were certain angels were protecting you, comforting you, holding you close? Or perhaps in a time of need, you've longed for a reminder that God's angels are nearer than we know. Experience amazing stories of the angels among us in Entertaining Angels, alongside art that will remind you clearly of the words of Scripture:
"Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares" (Hebrews 13:2)
Related Links:Today on Thriving Beyond Belief, I'm excited to welcome Mikala Albertson! Mikala is a wife, a mother, doctor, writer and devout Christian. Her writing has been published in Her View From Home, NBC’s Today Parents, For Every Mom, and Inspire More. Mikala’s first book, Ordinary on Purpose is available now.
Links from this episode:As a marriage and family therapist, one of Nicole Zasowski’s greatest joys is helping her clients grow in emotional freedom. What she couldn’t see for many years is that she was living her own life outside of that freedom, clinging to behaviors like shame, performance, and control in order to feel valued and safe.
It was only when she was confronted with her own devastating pain and loss that Nicole realized her current way of life was failing her. She then discovered that sometimes God’s rescue looks like prying our fingers off what we think we want so that we can receive what we truly need. And often, on the far side of pain we don’t prefer, we find transformation we would not trade.
In From Lost to Found, Nicole shares her story as she helps us
God is writing a story of redemption in your life too. Find out for yourself that sometimes the greatest joy is found when we are drained of all misplaced hope and shallow identities. In the midst of pain or transition, discover a surprising path to healing as you lose your grip on comfort and control—and fall right into God’s transformative grace.
Highlights:Lisa Appelo writes stories of hope and encouragement when walking through the hard places.
She's a former attorney who pushed pause on career to home educate and raise her seven children. Happily married to her high school sweetheart for 25 years and in the throes of a busy household, life as she knew it collapsed around her. Her world shattered into a thousand irretrievable pieces when she awoke in the dark hours one summer morning to her husband's final breaths.
As a single mom and unexpected widow, Lisa writes about God's faithfulness in the hard. She peels back the vulnerabilities of heartbreak and fear and an unknown future, anchored always by the practical and spiritual faithfulness of an amazing God.
Related Links:About Amber:
Born and raised in California, I love the combination of city life and outdoor living that is ideal for a Boy-Mom who is raising men.
Raised in a home that taught the Bible, table manners, and a love for the beach, I find myself passing those ideals on to the next generation. (Though with four sons, table manners are always a work in progress!)
More than anything, I want to live up to my God-given potential. And I want that for my friends, family, readers, and clients too! That’s why I write about gentle parenting, thriving marital relationships, and how to live a healthy lifestyle — all with practical and biblical truth!
Personally, my most cherished moments are when I’m reading and praying in my hammock, sipping sparkling water, while talking on the phone with a close friend, or spending long slow days at the beach with my family to rest and rejuvenate.
Social Media:Excerpt from Thriving Beyond Belief: Courageous, Rooted, Thriving Women
Quote from Chapter 1:
"LIFE, MARRIAGE, SINGLENESS, WORK, PARENTING,
and relationships can be hard and the struggle is real. But I know women who are learning to thrive in the midst of it all. This book you’re holding is an outlier. It frames thriving in a new way. And it paints a different picture of abundant living and prosperity than what you often hear.
My vision is for women to live an abundant life from the inside out in every area and practice the lost arts of being a vibrant human being. I envision woman who are energized and enjoying more of what matters most spiritually, emotionally, physically, mentally, and relationally. I want to show women in practical ways how to “be known” to themselves and to others as they really are and learn to be vulnerable. I’ve seen it happen time after time in my work with women over the years. Real, lasting satisfaction comes from women knowing who they are—and accepting what they discover about themselves. And it starts with knowing who God made them."
- Cheryl Scruggs, Author of the new book Thriving Beyond Belief
ResourcesSocial Media Links
Billie Jauss is an author, speaker, and podcaster. She encourages women to live with purpose while navigating life’s obstacles. She provides biblical guidance helping women find peace and purpose. Billie and Dave, a Major League Baseball coach, spend the baseball season on the road and the off-season in southwest Florida.
Guest Links:Dr. Daniel Emina is a child/adolescent and adult psychiatrist and Associate Medical Director of Amen Clinics—a chain of nationally recognized outpatient healthcare clinics that has pioneered innovative techniques in mental health diagnosis and treatment. He’s experienced in treatment for anxiety, suicidal ideation, mood disorders, addiction, ADD/ADHD, impulsive/disruptive behavior disorders, autism spectrum, psychotic disorders, OCD, PTSD, and TBI. Dr. Emina is a board member of the University of San Francisco’s Center for Child and Family Development and a member of the One Hit Away Advisory Council. He’s also a board member and treasurer for the Extended Arms Initiative in Los Angeles, a nonprofit organization focused on homeless outreach and overseas medical missions. Dr. Emina is married to Emily and has one daughter.
Rick Lawrence is an award-winning author, journalist, cultural researcher, editor, and national speaker. He’s been executive editor of GROUP Magazine for 32 years. He creates and leads interactive learning experiences for church and cultural leaders, parents, and teenagers. Lawrence has authored hundreds of magazine articles and is the author, co-author, or editor of 39 books and curricula. He’s the general editor and chief contributor of the bestselling Jesus-Centered Bible. He hosts the popular podcast Paying Ridiculous Attention to Jesus, now in its fifth year. He and his wife, Beverly Rose, have two daughters.
Guest Links:Laura L. Smith is a popular speaker and best-selling author, Smith speaks around the country sharing the love of Christ with women at conferences and events. She shares her own brokenness to write 'Restore My Soul: The Power and Promise of 30 Psalms', offering much-needed comfort and hope for others who are feeling broken and scared in a strife-torn world. She has selected 30 of the Bible’s best-known psalms, including
Through her transparent, thoughtful reflections and a careful study of Scripture, Laura shares how experiencing these psalms allows her to open up to God about everything and turn her troubles into a time of worship.
With an interactive Restore segment at the end of each chapter and a Spotify playlist at the back of the book to go along with each psalm, she invites readers to let the Psalms have a similar effect in their lives. For Smith, Restore My Soul comes from a very personal and broken place. “I’ve been searching my whole life for beauty,” she says. “Not in the world—the world is filled with beauty. But beauty in me? Well, that was another story.”
Growing up, Laura’s father repeatedly told her how ugly and awkward she was. How clumsy and gangly she was. How her voice was too high and too loud. He left her family numerous times over the years. Laura reflects now: “As a little girl I couldn’t understand that my dad was the one struggling. I felt when he left, he was leaving me—that I wasn’t good enough . . . and that I would never be good enough.” Through high school and college and beyond, Laura jumped on the performance treadmill in desperation to find approval, love, acceptance. She also gave her heart away over and over again to various guys, hoping they would love her. “Each time there was a breakup,” she says, “it just reminded me how unlovable I was. I felt even more ugly, more clumsy, and more desperate.” At an extremely low point after college, God bent down and picked her up, reminding Laura that she was beautiful because He’d made her. He showed her that not only was she lovable—but fully loved. Always had been. Always would be. Despite what she’d done. Despite what she’d believed. “He restored my soul,” she says. “And it was in this soul restoration, this discovering of my true beauty, that I realized my voice had been muffled for too long. And now I use my voice to share what I learned: That each of is marvelously made by the Creator of the universe to inspire awe.
No matter what the world tells you, no matter what you tell yourself, no one can rob you of the incredible true identity God has instilled in you. No one can cancel His great love for you.” The Psalms help her remember these truths. “No matter what the psalmists experienced or felt,” she says, “God was with them. He was faithful. He hemmed them in, picked them up, reminded them that they were fearfully and wonderfully made, stood over them like a watchman, led them to green pastures, and yes, restored their souls. He does the same for you and me.” Restore My Soul: The Power and Promise of 30 Psalms is available July 5, 2022 everywhere books are sold.
Guest Links:“It’s hard to be lonely, isn’t it? To miss someone who should be here?”
Jodi Stuber wasn't looking for another horse for her struggling therapy ranch—let alone one like Solomon. After losing his herd, he was solitary and sad, spending his days standing near the plastic deer in his yard for company. No stranger herself to loss and heartache, Jodi knew she had to give Solomon a home.
The road to recovery wouldn’t be easy. As Solomon struggled to fit in with his new herd and Jodi continued to navigate her own grief, the two developed a deep bond. But just as Jodi and Solomon were both beginning to heal, an unthinkable tragedy struck the therapy ranch. And Solomon was about to teach Jodi the greatest lesson of all.
Written by Jennifer Marshall Bleakley, author of Joey: How a Blind Rescue Horse Helped Others Learn to See, Project Solomon is a powerful story of resilience, sacrifice, and love that reminds us all how much we matter—to each other and to God.
Guest Links:Dr. Amanda Porter is an introvert and writer who is passionate about faith, hope, mental wellness, and recovery. As a nurse practitioner who specializes in Integrative Mental Health, Amanda diagnoses, treats, and prescribes medication to patients of all ages, of every diagnosis, and across all levels of care. She is board-certified in internal medicine, psychiatry/mental health, and addictions and practices at the nationally renowned Lindner Center of HOPE, a freestanding mental health center associated with the local academic medial center, the University of Cincinnati.
Amanda earned her PhD in Mind-Body Medicine from Saybrook University, where her dissertation studies examined the biological basis of depression. She lives in a suburb of Cincinnati, Ohio, with her husband, Joseph, who is a filmmaker and director at Whitewater Crossing Christian Church. Together, Amanda and Joseph have two kids, a boxer mix named Marley, and a COVID cat named Izzy.
Follow Amanda on Instagram @AmandaPorterNP or on her website, AmandaPorterNP.com.
Guest Links:Author and Speaker Daniel Ritchie Helps Christians Cultivate Patience in ‘Endure’
Born Without Arms, Ritchie Combines His Personal Experience with Biblical Truth to Encourage Readers to Run the Race
In a culture permeated by the “microwave mentality” and accustomed to getting what we want instantaneously, author and speaker Daniel Ritchie reminds Jesus followers of the importance of patience.
Born without arms, Ritchie has spent his entire life living in a world meant for hands without having the benefit of them. Everything he learned to do in his formative years was an uphill battle of trial and error. While there were several victories, he notes he was marked by consistent failure.
Ritchie’s life radically changed at the age of 15 when he accepted Christ. While he admits failure was still a very present part of his life, so was his strong God.
“The circumstances that triggered my inner wounds were still the same, but I now had a way of navigating it all with hope,” said Ritchie. “There was no instantaneous fix to the issues of my life, but there was an instant Advocate and Lord with me through it all. My initial assumptions about the speed at which God was going to change my brokenness were totally wrong, but that did not mean He was distant from me. It only meant that He was at work in my life by His means and His timeline. And that is a good thing.”
Using his own personal experiences interwoven with case studies of three biblical men whose patience was tried by God – Paul, Abraham and Joseph – Ritchie helps readers of “Endure” understand how patience is necessary for the Christian life.
Guest Links:ABOUT LAUREN and laurenscruggskennedy.com
i started the space LAURENSCRUGGSKENNEDY.COM in 2017 with the hope to cultivate a space where i could share my expertise on healthy living and my passion for vulnerability, style, clean beauty, and nutritious recipes. since then life has expanded in so many ways – i’ve learned so much, been connected with so many knowledgeable people, inspirational companies, and earth-conscious brands, and my passions have only taken DEEPER ROOTS.
i have been lucky enough to pursue what I call a “LIFESTYLE ROOTED IN BALANCE” as this journey continues, my hope is to further share with you EASY and UNDERSTANDABLE ways to pursue a LIFESTYLE of clean, healthy, and achievable living.
LAUREN'S LINKS:How can you celebrate and thank the mom in your life for all she does? The one who has loved you as a mom or is the mom of your children deserves to know how valuable she is.
In their new gift book/devotional, I Love You, Mom! Cherished Word Gifts from My Heart to Yours (Tyndale House, March 22), mother-daughter duo, Blythe Daniel and Dr. Helen McIntosh, join together to celebrate all things, mom. Perfect for Mother’s Day, birthdays, or “just because,” this beautifully designed gift book/devotional helps moms to know how much they are loved and appreciated.
This sweet collection of sentiments from mother-daughter duo Helen McIntosh and Blythe Daniel is a deeply sincere tribute to moms everywhere. Whether they are still on the parenting journey or enjoying the grandmothering phase of life, moms of all ages will be blessed and encouraged by these inspirational thoughts and special affirmations of love. Beautifully designed with cheerful full-color artwork in a unique layered hardcover package, this special all-occasion gift is a thoughtful, meaningful way to celebrate Mom and let her know how much you love, cherish, and appreciate all that she is and does!
Using Scripture and personal narrative, Courageously Expecting empathizes with and empowers women to face a pregnancy after loss with faith and courage, despite inevitable feelings of grief and fear that accompany life after losing a baby.
Pregnancy is widely regarded as the most joyful time in a woman’s life, but for the mother who has experienced pregnancy loss, a subsequent pregnancy can feel like she’s holding her breath and hoping for what she can’t control. In Courageously Expecting, Jenny Albers meets women in this difficult season as someone who has also experienced the worst and cautiously hoped for the best. Through the telling of her own story, Scripture, and heartfelt prayer, she encourages readers to cling to faith in the face of fear and guides them to:
Regardless of where readers are on their pregnancy after loss journey, Courageously Expecting is a companion to help them through the days when fear overshadows hope.
What If It’s Wonderful?
Author and marriage and family therapist Nicole Zasowski knows that it’s difficult to trust joy and find the courage to celebrate when you have endured seasons of disappointment and despair. When God has been your faithful anchor in the storm, does joy then leave you unmoored? Nicole reminds us that we can stay tethered to the hope of Christ in seasons of celebration, because even joyful days hold the learning, growth, and intimate encounters with Jesus that our hearts crave.
What If It’s Wonderful? offers a new perspective. With a compelling psychological and spiritual case for the importance of embracing joy and celebration, even when it feels scary.
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"Imperfect follower of Jesus and really imperfect mother to two amazing human beings! Grateful to be able to do what I love!" - KLG
New York Times bestselling author Kathie Lee Gifford reveals heartwarming, entertaining conversations between people and personalities who both agree and disagree about who Jesus is, his role throughout history, and his presence in our lives today.
For decades Kathie Lee has had deep conversations about her faith with anyone who is interested in talking about it. What she discovered early on is most people are very willing to talk about Jesus: atheists, agnostics, Scientologists, Jews, broken-hearted Catholics, confused Baptists, Pentecostals, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Hindus alike.
While some of the people Kathie Lee has spoken with do not share her belief that Jesus is the Messiah—as prophesied for centuries by prophets in the Hebrew scriptures—they nonetheless have a universal fascination with Him. This singular man who lived more than two thousand years ago, and never traveled more than one hundred miles from where He was born, managed to change the entire world. Even the way we delineate history (BC/AD) comes from His short thirty-three years of life.
In The Jesus I Know, Kathie Lee shares cherished conversations that she’s had with others who find Jesus to be an ancient historical figure who somehow continues to be an undeniably magnetic, relevant presence in the modern world. Those conversations include
Using Kathie Lee’s favorite Scripture passages as scaffolding, these thought-provoking exchanges will bring His teachings to life before your very eyes.
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All of us are products of our upbringing and experiences, and whether we realize it or not, have come to believe things that aren’t actually true. Those false beliefs hold us back. They are like recordings that constantly play in our minds, condemning us, accusing us, shaming us, and blaming us. Is it possible to silence these thoughts in our heads that have tied us up in knots for so long? Can we ever find peace?
Yes! The Bible promises we can be transformed by renewing our minds.
In Unraveling the Lie-Knots, Sheryl Giesbrecht Turner offers encouragement and hope for those who are ready to search out the truth in the Bible. She equips you with practical ways to uncover and dispel lies, even those you may have believed since childhood. She shows how, with the Holy Spirit’s help, you really can untangle knots of deception, discover the lies behind fears, dispel depression, and defeat the effects of trauma.
Discover how to identify and unravel the lie-knots so that you can move forward and become a fruitful disciple of Jesus.
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My interview this week is a solo episode with myself, host, Cheryl Scruggs. Join me as I talk about thriving along with physical abundance.
ResourcesSocial Media Links
My interview this week is with Jamie Ivey. Jamie hosts a podcast called The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey, she lives in Austin, TX, is a wife to Aaron, and together they have four kids under the age of 13.
On the podcast this week I want to focus on an incredible book Jamie just finished writing entitled If You Only Knew: My Unlikely, Unavoidable Story of Becoming Free. Her book is scheduled to be released January 2018.
In this book, she is honest, vulnerable, and raw with personal stories about her walk from failure to freedom. Jamie travels and speaks to so many women and has learned that our stories, when seen through the eyes of the gospel, are not the obstacles to our freedom, they are the key to unlocking our freedom!
We talk about the enormous fear she faced being afraid people would know the real “Jamie:” could she step into a marriage, be a pastor’s wife, lead youth, but inside be completely unsure if God even loved her?
As her story unfolds, she shares how God kept pursuing her and only through the grace of God, she began to change and learn to truly have an intimate relationship with Him.
Jamie challenges women to ask themselves; are you fearful others will only see you for things you’ve done, not what Jesus has done in you?
Here’s my interview with Jamie Ivey.
Stacey Morgan is always ready with a funny or thoughtful story from her own life; whether it be holding down the home front during her husband’s Special Forces military deployments, carpooling, working for the Smithsonian, skydiving, teaching her teens to drive, taking roller-skating lessons, or watching as her husband blasts into outer space. A women’s ministry leader for over fifteen years, Stacey is an executive leadership coach for MOPS International. She and her husband, Army colonel and NASA astronaut Drew Morgan, have four children. A true story about making the most of your one incredible life! Stacey Morgan kissed her husband goodbye before he donned his space suit on July 20, 2019, and headed to his waiting Soyuz rocket. With an overwhelming mix of pride, excitement, and terror, she and her children held hands as they watched the rocket ignite and lift off for a nine-month mission aboard the International Space Station.
This is the story of the astronaut’s wife—a journey full of unexpected twists and turns. While the love of her life orbited the Earth, Stacey embarked on a knock-your-socks-off adventure right here at home. This season was different from any Stacey had experienced before. The risks were greater, the loneliness was deeper, and the stress was more intense. Filled with both unique challenges and surreal opportunities, this deeply meaningful season taught her rich lessons about
THE Francine Rivers!
New York Times bestselling author Francine Rivers has published numerous novels—all bestsellers—and she has continued to win both industry acclaim and reader loyalty around the globe. Her novels have been awarded or nominated for many honors, and in 1997, after winning her third RITA Award for inspirational fiction, Francine was inducted into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame. In 2015, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). Francine’s novels have been translated into over 30 different languages, and she enjoys bestseller status in many foreign countries. She and her husband enjoy spending time with their children and grandchildren.
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Sandi Brown, the founder and president of the largest Christian radio ministry in St. Louis, JOY FM, bravely reached out to a local therapist in 2019 as she loved God but did not like herself. Brown vulnerably opened-up to Dr. Michelle Caulk and for the first time spoke out loud about her past trauma, abuse, and struggle with self-love. The new book Healing Out Loud: How to Embrace God’s Love When You Don’t Like Yourselfby Brown and Dr. Caulk - assistant professor and director of clinical experiences at Huntington University – is a unique look at a one-year counseling journey from both sides of the couch: the client and the therapist.
For as long as she could remember, Brown had strong negative feelings towards herself. “I loved God, my family, and my job,” Brown said. “I was also intellectually aware of the love they had for me. But for some unknown reason, I still felt unloved and unlovable – and like a complete failure. I didn’t like myself and believed, in my own inner cave, that no one else did either.”
Healing Out Loud captures the insecurities that many women face and creates an accessible path for readers to overcome their vulnerabilities while using biblical principles. Each chapter includes a journal entry from Brown processing her healing journey, Brown’s reflections on that part of her story, and guided questions and reflections from Dr. Caulk centered around issues such as shame, grief, and fractured relationships.
A “Healing Map” created by Dr. Caulk is used as an outline throughout Healing Out Loud to guide the reader’s journey from processing inner pain to liking oneself, loving God, and restoring relationships
Sandi Brown is the founder and President of Gateway Creative Broadcasting in St. Louis. She leads two radio stations, 99.1 JOY FM and BOOST Radio, with a combined weekly reach of over 500,000. Sandi’s latest book is Healing Out Loud, and she’s also the author of the devotionals A Little More Peace and Choose Joy. Sandi currently serves as chairperson for Christian Music Broadcasters. Previously, she worked as a writer and producer for Focus on the Family.
Dr. Michelle Caulk, LPC is a graduate of Argosy University with an M.A. in Mental Health Counseling. Michelle also obtained her doctorate of philosophy in Counselor Education and Supervision, and is currently an Assistant Professor and Director of Clinical Experiences at Huntington University in Indiana. Michelle currently lives in Chesterfield, Missouri, with her husband Jason. Healing Out Loud is her first book.
Psychiatrist and Ministry Leader Combine Their Clinical and Jesus-Centered Practices to Help End Suicide Epidemic
Associate Medical Director of Amen Clinics and Bestselling Christian Author Collaborate to Offer Strategies to Improve Brain Health in New Book, The Suicide Solution.
“There has never been a more important time in history for The Suicide Solution. It is written with practical solutions that provide a new way forward for this epidemic problem. I highly recommend it.”
—Daniel Amen, M.D., founder of Amen Clinics and New York Times bestselling author
Washington, D.C. —Suicide is the second leading cause of death for those 10–34 years of age. With COVID-19, we’ve seen a scary increase in suicides, and if this horrific trajectory perpetuates, suicide will soon become the #1 killer of teens. Dr. Daniel Emina, a psychiatrist and associate medical. Dr. Emina’s therapeutic practices reflect the findings from his clinic’s database of brain scans—the largest in the world—including more than three hundred people who have attempted suicide. Combining these findings and years of practice—along with Lawrence’s background as a sought-after Christian editor, author, and speaker—The Suicide Solution offers a unique approach to mental health through scientifically informed and theologically informed strategies.
“This book is for those struggling to find their way out of a cave of anxiety, depression, and ‘suicidality’—and it’s for anyone who cares for someone who’s found themselves lost in that cave,” write Dr. Emina and Lawrence. “Drawing from the transformational ‘whole person’ strategies of Jesus and informed by the clinical realities of anxiety, depression, and suicide, our hope is to help others embrace a narrative of life instead of death.”
Throughout The Suicide Solution, the authors use computer hardware and software as metaphors for the body’s biology and psychology to show how suicide is generally the culmination of a malfunction or failure of these two systems. Dr. Emina and Lawrence also include a vast array of simple, daily habits that enhance brain health—from walking barefoot outside to naming our negative self-stories.
Related Links:Rick Social Media:
Website: ricklawrence.com
Facebook: @rickskip
Dr. Emina Social Media:
Website: https://www.amenclinics.com/team/daniel-emina-m-d/
Instagram: @DocEminaMD
Emotional Abundance (Vulnerability) “My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love. This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality. It’s also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves. And friends, once that’s taken care of and we’re no longer accusing or condemning ourselves, we’re bold and free before God (and others)!”
1 John 3:18-21
John 10:10 says this: (Amplified version)
10 The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].
What does it mean to have life more abundantly?
The term "abundant life" comes from the Bible verse John 10:10,
"I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."
"More abundantly" means to have a superabundance of a thing. "Abundant life" refers to life in its abounding fullness of joy and strength for spirit, soul and body.
Where in the Bible does it say live life to the fullest?
In the first 10 verses of John 10, Jesus addresses this important topic. He is discussing his role as the Good Shepherd and in verse 10 states his purpose on earth: “I came so that they could have life — indeed, so that they could have life to the fullest.”
When I am talking about being vulnerable, what I’m not saying is you need to be vulnerable with the whole world or everyone!
Being able to be vulnerable needs the element of trust.
Definition of trust:
“…..firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone.”
What does it mean to be fully known and fully loved?
Author Timothy Keller: “To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God. It is what we need more than anything.”
What does it mean for God to know us?
Essentially, we are describing the fact that God knows everything! He has never discovered anything new because He has always known everything. ... Our God is omniscient. You won't find the word omniscience in the Bible, but what you do find is that God tells us in various ways that He knows EVERYTHING about us. He knows everything about you!”
Is that scary to you? Comforting? Peaceful? Anxiety creating?
From 0-10, how vulnerable do you think you are with your (what you consider) your closest inner circle, spouse if you have one, kids if this applies?
Do they truly know you?
Can u be vulnerable with Jesus and trust Him with your emotions?
This is where it starts……..trusting God, then trusting others.
How does this verse resonate with you? “Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart And do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way].”
Proverbs 3:5-6
How do you know if you are emotionally mature?
What are the key characteristics?
Are you willing to be known? Why or why not?
Related Links:Do you ever wonder why you’re here, contemplate the purpose of your life or find it hard to push back the darkness?
Allie knows how hard it is to be a girl or woman in our world today. She was the good girl and scholar athlete hiding behind a smile as she worked overtime to keep it all together. But at the age of eighteen, she came undone. Two weeks after she graduated high school, due to a mental health challenge and many complexities, she found herself in the psychiatric hospital wanting to end my life.
She was as broken as a girl could be. Jesus found her there and though her journey has been full of detours and breakdowns, she lives loved by the God who has mended the broken pieces of her life together and given her more purpose and joy than she ever could have imagined.
As an author and the Founder and Director of Wonderfully Made, a Christian ministry for young women, she spends her days writing, speaking and helping girls and women live into their true value and identity.
She's a California girl and lover of bluegrass who is always covered in dog hair. She loves to surf and adventure up and down the golden coast with her husband Paul and their Golden Retriever Gidget.
Related Links:I love (in no particular order), date nights, being a momma, Taco Tuesday, going to the movies with the fam (popcorn with extra butter and peanut M&Ms – always), good reports at our Staff Meeting, dancing at weddings until they kick me off the dance floor, a good historical fiction novel that makes me think and cry, worship, baking, long deep chats that bring change and revelation, reconciliation, the Word of God, prayer, hosting parties (when I’m not feeling introverted), Central Park in Fall, walking my dog in our neighborhood, vacation with my crew, building the church in any way I can, writing, creating, 80’s music, working out, coffee, kombucha, green juice and trying new food.
Here’s a little bit about Andi:
"I was born and raised in Spokane, Washington, and in 2002, met, fell in love with, and married my husband Paul (aka Paul Hot Andrew) in Sydney, Australia where I lived for nearly 10 years. My first three children were born on Aussie soil – pretty much back to back – three kids under the age of three (I’m sweating again just thinking about it). In May of 2010, our family sold almost everything we owned, bar a few keepsakes and clothes of course, packed up our lives and moved to New York City to establish Liberty Church, now a growing church with multiple communities in the city and beyond. We weren’t done having kids just yet, until the one and only American born Samuel Malachi came in to our lives in 2012 (Sam for President). We currently reside in Brooklyn, New York with our four children, Ezekiel (Zeke) Benjamin, Jesse Freedom, Finley Grace, and Samuel Malachi."
Related Links:Becky Keife is a beloved speaker and is the Community Manager for DaySpring’s (in)courage, a widely followed online community where authentic women link arms to build community, celebrate diversity, and live courageously for Jesus.
Becky’s debut book, No Better Mom for the Job: Parenting with Confidence (Even When You Don’t Feel Cut Out for It) reflects her passion for empowering moms to find their confidence in God and encouraging women in the thick of it.
She is also the author of the new releases, The Simple Difference: How Every Small Kindness Makes a Big Impact and it's companion Bible Study, Couragoues Kindness: Live the Simple Difference Right Where You Are. (October 2021)
Becky has been featured on The Hallmark Channel's Home & Family show, The Crystal Paine Show podcast, HomeLife Magazine, and many more media outlets.
Keife has a Bachelor’s in Creative Writing and Master’s in English. With a decade of experience as a professional editor, she enjoys championing writers and equipping them to use their voice for God’s glory.
Becky is a huge fan of Voxer, Instagram, Sunday naps, and imperfect people leaning on Jesus. She and her husband live near Los Angeles, where they enjoy hiking shady trails with their three spirited sons.
Related Links:Dr. Matt Chalmers is a health and wellness expert, author and speaker who specializes in the areas of long-term wellness, nutrition, women’s health, weight loss, athlete wellness and holistic healing.
With a client list that includes professional athletes, business executives, politicians and celebrities, Dr. Chalmers takes a holistic-based approach with patients to identify and treat the source of their issues. Medical doctors regularly refer patients to Dr. Chalmers when traditional medications and treatments are not working with their patients.
Dr. Chalmers works with patients to identify, treat and manage a wide variety of issues, including weight loss/gain, digestive problems, chronic fatigue, pain, injuries, celiac disease,
chiropractic problems, fibromyalgia, carpal tunnel syndrome and plantar fasciitis. He also provides patients with hormone therapy guidance and treatment.
Dr. Chalmers is the author of the bestselling book “Pillars of Wellness,” which helps readers cut through the information overload about wellness, exercise and diet to figure out the actions they can take that will have the greatest impact. The book details how to fuel the body physically, mentally and spiritually.
Dr. Chalmers received his degree of Doctor of Chiropractic from Parker Chiropractic College in Dallas. He has a Bachelor of Science in Health and Wellness, is a Certified Clinical Chiropractic Neurologist, a Certified Chiropractic Sports Practitioner and has additional certifications in spinal decompression and quantum reflex analysis. He currently lives in Dallas with his wife. More information is available at www.ChalmersWellness.com.
Related Links:The holidays can be tough when it comes to family dynamics and lots of other things we are dealing with in life! But today, I want to encourage and challenge as we move in to this wonderful time of year!
Let's go there and talk about where you are; emotionally, spiritually, physically, and mentally during the holidays.
Related Links:Julie is a wife, mother, author, teacher, and blogger. Before she married, she taught speech, drama, and English for three years in the Richardson Independent School District. After she married, she stayed home with her two children and spent time volunteering locally and at the South Texas border. Now that her kids are grown, she works intermittently for her husband, writes, and speaks about family issues. Julie and her husband have been married for 28 years and live in Dallas, Texas.
After a heartbreaking 7-year estrangement from parents in full-time ministry, Julie realized she was not alone in her feelings of shame and her struggles to interact with family in a healthy way. Now that she has reconciled with her parents, she wishes to help others find hope when experiencing a family rift or break.
You can find her book Estranged: Finding Hope When Your Family Falls Apart on Amazon or your favorite digital book store. Her blog is called Mom Remade at momremade.com, Check out her social media on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram @julieaplagens.
Related Links:Kyle DiRoberts (PhD) is department chair and associate professor of Biblical and Theological Studies at Arizona Christian University in Glendale, Arizona, adjunct professor at Phoenix Seminary, and director of the minister in residence and internship programs at Scottsdale Bible Church. He is married to Lolly and the father of Kaden, Oliver, and Carson. With any free time, he hangs out with his wife and kids, his favorite people, going to Michael Bublé concerts, cooking, traveling, eating good food, and getting to coach his kids in golf and baseball.
Related Links:Sarah's Story: Finding my voice.
My twenties were categorized as driven and successful. My resume boasted of working for influential organizations. I was a popular communicator traveling across the globe to speak to students. And I became an author at the young age of 27.
But then, I turned 30, had kids, faced some rejection and was felt like I had peaked in life. Where the twenties were driven with confidence, my thirties felt like a lonely space. Having accomplished so much in life to that point, I wondered if this was it. I felt like there was a formula to life, a certainty to things. But my thirties proved that life was more uncertain than I had believed.
In those years, I longed to communicate with women again. I longed to connect with others through conversation. In October of 2015, the podcast, Surviving Sarah, was born. It was to be a place where I could use my voice again to help other women know they aren’t alone. It was a place where I could help women survive right where they are—in their life, their relationships, their work and their faith.
After years of living and learning, I wrote a new book about how motherhood has raised me. A Mother’s Guide to Raising Herself: What Parenting Taught Me About Life, Faith and Myself is a guide that captures that journey of realizing that as I was parenting my girls, I was actually parenting myself.
Now, my forties are categorized as a different confidence—a confidence in the journey of discovering who I am and stepping confidently into that person. It’s a journey defined by curiosity and surrendering to the uncertainty of it all. And as Anne Lamont says, “The opposite of faith is not doubt, it’s certainty.” By embracing the uncertainty with curiosity, my faith has been reconstructed.
Related Links:Born prematurely, Johnny has cerebral palsy and is mostly confined to a wheelchair. He has participated for several years in numerous myTeamTriumph (mTT) 5Ks, Marathons and Triathlons being pushed by able-bodied athletes. Inspired by mTT, Johnny and his Dad began doing 5Ks, marathons and triathlons on their own. This ultimately led to Johnny setting a goal most would have thought to be impossible. He wanted to walk a mile in a race. Up to that point, his longest “walk” aided by a walker was 20 steps. Through hard work and a habilitative-educational program called the Conductive Learning Center in Grand Rapids, MI, he competed in his first race using his walker. This 5K was covered by local media, WOOD TV8, and soon gained national attention when it was featured on ESPN’s E:60 show which chronicled his transition from wheelchair-bound participant to actually competing as he finished the “Final Mile”.
Related Links:Do Less So God Can Do More
Popular speaker, Billie Jauss, shares how to make room for God in her latest book. Every believer experiences dry seasons in their lifetimes when you're doing all the right things but feel painfully disconnected from God. Bible study? Check. Volunteer ministry? Check. Daily quiet time? Check. But nothing seems to be working.
While most of Billie Jauss’s adult life has been filled with the adventure and excitement of being married to a professional baseball coach, it took a quiet Sunday morning to propel her on the spiritual journey of a lifetime.
Now, her passion is for everyone to experience God’s immeasurably more—just as she has Don't let your busy life get in the way of your connection with God.
Author Links:
Erica is an award-winning author and the founder of Every Life Ministries, bringing you the truths of Scripture to transform your life. By digging deeply into God’s Word, Every Life Ministries encourages you to discover your unique purpose, accept God’s promises, and live by His power. Erica is the author of three Bible studies released by Moody Publishers: An Unexplainable Life, The Unexplainable Church, and Unexplainable Jesus: Rediscovering the God You Thought You Knew.
Erica serves on the women’s ministry leadership team for her church and regularly teaches in various venues. She's also taught women in the Arizona State Prison system, and overseas. She loves to bring God's Word to anyone who’ll listen, whether it’s a large women’s conference, a church women’s retreat, her own kitchen table, or across your computer screen with her teaching series or YouTube Channel. Erica is also a regular guest teacher on Bridges, an online show on the Christian Television network viewable on most cable networks, Roku, Amazon Fire, and Android TV.
A graduate and post-graduate of Azusa Pacific University, Erica lives in Phoenix with her best friend and husband, Jonathan, and their four children, only two of which are human. The others are furry and adorable.
I am so excited to have Nancy Houston with me today on Thriving Beyond Belief! We talk about a topic that is necessary in our culture today and one that is good for our hearts. We discuss intimacy within marriage!
Nancy shares her story with us and how she has gotten to where she is today. Nancy’s book Love and Sex was released in February, which is the Christian guide to healthy intimacy. She wrote the book for those 18 and older to try and help others find their pathway to healthy intimacy. She is also a certified sex therapist who devotes her time to helping couples restore their relationships, seek healing and help, and to fully enjoy marriage the way God intended it to be.
Nancy had some beautiful things to say regarding her past and dealing with abuse. She reminds us that in Scripture, God shares that He is not ashamed of us or what has happened to us, but He wants to meet us and reconstruct from the ruins of our past. She also shares that we must recognize the need for healing. She discusses coming from a place to self-hatred to seeking outside help that helped reinforce that her past was not her fault and that your past is not your fault. We see that through His Word, the Lord wants to meet us in the midst of our hurt and be our great Healer.
Nancy’s definition of thriving is facing our negative realities and walk through them to experience the LIFE on the other side. We have to leave our Egypt to reach our promised land. It doesn’t mean it is an easy journey, but it is a worthy one. Our God wants us to thrive in this way in all areas of our life- including our sex life with our spouse!
Nancy reminds us that God specifically designed us with a purpose. He is not ashamed of sexuality because He designed us to be sexual beings that gain attachment and closeness within the bond of marriage through intimacy. He desires that your intimate life is enjoyable and strengthens the marriage! We as a Christian culture need to remember to connect our spirituality with our sexuality. Often we don’t believe they are connected. But, in fact, they are stronger when they are connected.
We discuss at length those that are currently dealing with a disconnect in their marriage. Nancy discusses the scientific reasoning behind our need for attachment within marriage, what leads to breaks in the attachment, and how we can work through better communication to repair the disconnect. She encourages couples to learn to tell your spouse what you need instead of keeping score against them. Rather than blame your spouse, ask for what you feel you are lacking. She also encourages those that have tried everything and their spouse is unwilling to change to keep seeking help. Continue to pray over your marriage and tap into resources to find that intimacy again.
We end with talking about how sex in marriage was not created to be an obligation to either party, but to be a beautiful and pleasurable experience. Nancy talks through Scripture that beautifully portrays what intimacy in marriage looks like for both people, male and female.
Join me today as we gain wisdom in being healthy in every way in our marriages.
Join me this week on Thriving Beyond Belief with my guest Rachel Macy Stafford.
In LIVE LOVE NOW Stafford shows readers how to become a truth-teller, encourager and guide to help young adults through the top stressors they face today—academic pressure, parental expectations, technoference, lack of purpose, isolation and the absence of effective coping skills.
Stafford bravely and beautifully weaves in her own parenting struggles and breakthroughs throughout the book. She exposes a season of personal depletion and overwhelm that culminated when she raised a casserole dish over her head and smashed it on the kitchen counter – a scene that every adult can relate to. Stafford was relieved that her apology to her teenage daughter, who had been a witness, was met with suggestions of loving, self-care tactics – ones that Rachel had modeled countless times to her family members during their difficult times.
Stafford says, “In the face of failure, shame, and embarrassment, in times of loss and rejection, in moments of pain and trauma, our kids will recall the moments they saw us struggle. But it won’t be the struggle that they will remember most, it will be the resilience, the effort, the refusal to give up and the willpower to keep trying.”
Join me this week on Thriving Beyond Belief for a solo episode! Let's talk 2020, half of 2021, struggles, joys, and thriving!!
Related Links:This week on Thriving Beyond Belief, we have a special episode with Jeff and myself with Aaron and Jamie Ivey, co-authors of Complement: The Surprising Beauty of Choosing Together Over Separate in Marriage.
Related Links:In 2009, Lara Casey—PowerSheets® creator, best-selling author, and mom to three—wrote a blog post ("How to Make Things Happen") in an attempt to answer the many emails she received asking, "how do you do it all?"
The blog post received a flurry of responses, resonating with hundreds of people. It sparked a movement that turned into the Making Things Happen Conference a decade ago, where she continues to lead attendees through our proven process to uncover what truly matters to them and do something about it. Those same principles are in every page of the PowerSheets® Intentional Goal Planner, our cornerstone product that has sparked powerful and positive change in thousands of women's lives across the world.
Recognize her from somewhere else? For 10 years we published the acclaimed print magazine Southern Weddings, encouraging brides to plan meaningful celebrations and even more beautiful marriages. We were honored to partner with the best vendors in the business, including Southern Living Magazine, and to publish a beloved wedding planner you can still buy today. Though SW retired in 2018 so our team could focus on helping women cultivate what matters in every season of life, SW's legacy lives on!
This week on the Thriving Beyond Belief podcast, Paul David Tripp!
Dr. Paul David Tripp is a pastor, event speaker, and a best-selling and award-winning author. With more than 30 books and video series on Christian living, Paul’s driving passion is to connect the transforming power of Jesus Christ to everyday life.
Experience The Marriage Of Your Dreams
Paul Tripp will encourage you with what the Bible has to say about marriage:
No matter how long you have been married, you must continually realign your expectations so you aren’t discouraged and disappointed by the reality of your relationship.
Learn how to treat your husband or wife with integrity and faithfulness so they fully entrust themselves to your care.
Why do couples fail to experience the marriage of their dreams? They point the finger of blame and hold grudges. Instead, discover how to fight for your relationship by practicing confession and forgiveness each day.
There are many definitions of love out there, but you only need to follow one example: the cross of Christ.
Today on the Thriving Beyond Belief podcast, Tod Jacobs and Peter Lynn from Not a Partnership!
About the Authors: Tod JacobsTod Jacobs is Director of the David Robinson Institute for Jewish Heritage in Jerusalem, which he co-founded in 2005. Prior to his current role teaching and counseling his students and alumni, he enjoyed a distinguished career on Wall Street as one of the leading authorities on the telecommunications industry globally. As a managing director at JP Morgan and before that a partner at Sanford C. Bernstein and Company, Tod acted as a frequent commentator on network television and in leading newspapers and magazines, and testified several times before the U.S. Congress as an expert on telecom and media issues. His credits in print and broadcast journalism, where he worked prior to Wall Street, include nominations for both the Pulitzer Prize for investigative journalism and the Emmy Award. Tod lives in Jerusalem with his family.
Dr. Peter LynnPeter Lynn has served as Dean of Students at the David Robinson Institute for Jewish Heritage since its inception. An MA in Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) from the University of Pennsylvania and a PsyD in Human and Organizational Psychology, Peter lectures at Touro College in Jerusalem. He is also the Founder and Director of Greatness Within Seminars, where he helps empower individuals and organizations through the application of Positive Psychology. An accomplished athlete and Ironman finisher, Peter was captain of the U.S. World Duathlon Team. Peter lives in Jerusalem with his family.
Darryl Strawberry is described as a baseball legend by many who have been dazzled by the dynamics of his game. His many accomplishments in the major leagues include four World Series titles, eight All-Star Game appearances, and a nomination to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2004. He has earned the legendary nicknames and phrases of one of the most feared homerun hitters in the game of baseball: Straw’s Sweet Swing, Strawberry’s Field Forever, and The Legendary Straw Man!
Though Darryl was extremely successful in his career, his personal life was plagued with addictions, abuse, divorces, cancer, jail time, and other issues. Darryl finally found true redemption and restoration in Jesus Christ.
If there’s anyone who knows about redemption through God’s grace, it’s legendary baseball player, Strawberry’s life is now filled with a blessed purpose and passion: he and his wife run an active ministry and a recovery center, and he is also an in-demand speaker across the globe. But those who know Strawberry’s troubled past are aware of his very public struggles with addiction, abuse, and other destructive issues.
In his latest book Turn Your Season Around: How God Transforms Your Life, Strawberry refers to his storied sports career, as well as his redemption and restoration through faith, to emphasize that once you pursue the purposes God created you for, the results are lifechanging…and the impact is eternal.
This deeply inspirational, Scripture-filled book leans into sports themes, for as this baseball icon points out, “Sports often serve as metaphors for life. You know, like when life throws a curve ball you weren’t expecting that drops perfectly across the center of your world for strike three. We’ve all been there…Whether or not you’ve ever worn a uniform for athletic competition, one thing is sure—if you’re reading this book, then you’re all in for this game called life.”
Today, Darryl’s purpose and passion is serving the Lord Jesus Christ by traveling the country, speaking a message of hope and restoration through the power of the gospel.
Welcome back everyone! Today on the Thriving Beyond Belief podcast is our guest, Kat Harris!
In Sexless in the City: A Sometimes Sassy, Sometimes Painful, Always Honest Look at Dating, Desire, and SexThe popular podcast host and founder of The Refined Woman shares how she researched, wrestled, and discovered a God who wasn’t afraid or ashamed of sex and desire. Realizing countless women were dying to ask the same questions she was—and to get answers from a female who had actually walked the walk—Kat compiled her findings to empower women of faith to navigate today’s dating culture with vision, clarity, and freedom.
In a culture where relationships often begin by swiping right, does biblical wisdom about sex and dating still hold water? Having grown up in the height of the purity movement, approaching 30 and fresh to the dating scene in New York City, Kat Harris wasn’t so sure. Caught between the rules of her raising and popular culture’s do what feels good, she set out on a multi-year journey to find answers to her biggest questions about sexuality and faith.
Welcome back everyone! Today on the Thriving Beyond Belief podcast is our guest, Jarrett Stephens!
A message of hope for an anxious day: God never changes. He is still here and ready to transform our lives. What we must ask is if we are ready to respond to him.
In these turbulent times, many wonder where God is…and why he doesn’t seem to be intervening. Sure, he performed miracles in the Bible, but what about now? What about us? In The Always God: He Hasn’t Changed and You Are Not Forgotten (Jun 1, 2021, Multnomah), Pastor Jarrett Stephens reveals how God is always present, always working, and always faithful.
In The Always God, Jarrett, pastor of Champion Forest Baptist Church in Houston, Texas,gives hope to those who think God has given up on us. It invites us to quiet ourselves and listen to the God who does not change or forget us. Not ever. And that changes everything.
Jarrett asks readers: Do you wonder if God has forgotten you?
He responds, “I wrote this book for you because I’ve been where you are. As a pastor, I walk with people who are where you are: in the midst of a trial, needing to be reminded that our God is always God and needing to be invited to journey with him to a place of greater assurance and intimacy. Regardless of how things may seem, he is always the same and can always be trusted.”
Jarrett shares moments of his wild and sometimes painful journey, including:
Bringing sound biblical teaching along with comforting guidance, he can help your audience answer such questions as: Is God listening and does he see me? Can I have an unwavering confidence that God is always here and always working? Can I get to a place where, no matter what happens, doubt won’t overtake me?
Jarrett’s prayer is that every reader will discover in a very personal and powerful way just how faithful the always God really is.
Jarrett Stephens is the senior pastor of Champion Forest Baptist Church, in Houston, Texas, one of the largest and most diverse churches in America, and he is the author of The Mountains Are Calling.Previously, he served as a teaching pastor at Prestonwood Baptist Church alongside Dr. Jack Graham. He has a bachelor of arts in biblical studies and psychology from Ouachita Baptist University, a master of divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a doctorate of ministry from Liberty Theological Seminary. Jarrett has been featured on The 700 Club, I Am Second and dozens of radio and podcast shows.
“In these pages, you’ll find empathy, wisdom, encouragement, and a thoroughly biblical perspective for times when God seems distant or disinterested. Jarrett Stephens doesn’t flinch as he courageously confronts some of the most nettlesome issues that vex so many followers of Jesus. Whatever you do, don’t miss this journey toward wholeness. Let Jarrett lead you to a place of genuine hope and faith!”
—Lee Strobel, bestselling author of The Case for Christ and The Case for Miracles
Welcome back everyone! Today on the Thriving Beyond Belief podcast is our guest, Todd & Brooke Tilghman!
So often we hear “Just keep your eye on the prize!” and “focus on the ‘big picture!’" Todd and Brooke Tilghman offer this counter-cultural advice: look for the small things, not the big things––relish each and every small step/moment.
When Todd Tilghman, pastor of two decades and father of eight from Meridian, Mississippi, auditioned for NBC’s The Voice, he counted it as a win simply to sing in front of an audience other than family and church members. Despite no music or vocal training, he not only made it through the blind audition––with all four celebrity judges vying to coach him––he also won the show's entire eighteenth season.
In their forthcoming book, Every Little Win: How Celebrating Small Victories can Lead to Big Joy (Thoman Nelson, June 22, 2021), Todd and his wife, Brooke, share how decades of unrelenting challenges have taught them a joyful mindset of embracing not only winning NBC’s The Voice, but also “every little win” along the way. This is the first book ever written by a winner of The Voice.
Fans were drawn to Todd's tremendous joy on stage, giving them much-needed inspiration during the hard challenges of a global pandemic. In Every Little Win, Todd and Brooke discuss how their focus on joy and celebrating every little win has helped them to overcome numerous challenges over their twenty-plus-year marriage. Todd and Brooke share the lessons they've learned and the strategies that have moved them from fear to faith to ever-present joy.
They share in the book, “We win as we discover that in God’s economy, brokenness leads to beauty, and scarcity to abundance.”
Together, Todd and Brooke explain how to find special moments in the middle of ordinary days––from their childhoods to winning NBC’s The Voice and “every little win” in between. Through it all, Todd and Brooke count their blessings. This book isn’t sugar coated. It’s real. It’s honest. It’s intimate. And it’s hopeful.
Related Links:Welcome back everyone! Today on the Thriving Beyond Belief podcast is our guest, Abby Turner!
Before the pandemic led to social gatherings being literally outlawed, the deck was already stacked against the everyday hostess who wanted to practice the discipline of hospitality in her home. A five-course meal? A beautifully curated tablescape? A hand-engraved invitation? A less-than-sparkling-clean home? Real or imagined, lofty prerequisites for entertaining have scared many away from inviting others into their homes and enjoying the unique, divine connection that happens only when people sit down around the table and enjoy a meal together.
Abby Turner, the food blogger and writer behind A Table Top Affair, has made it her mission to help women toss aside the pressures of a Pinterest-perfect dinner party in exchange for meaningful and simple gatherings that feature easy and delicious dishes, allowing hostesses to shift their focus from the food and party preparations to communing with the people who are present.
In her first cookbook, The Living Table: Recipes and Devotions for Everyday Get-Togethers (DaySpring, April 13, 2021), Turner equips women with the tools to live life as God intended around the table: simple, delicious recipes for life’s big and small occasions, a practical guide to no-fuss hosting, and devotions and encouragement for the hearts that will gather and be nourished around the table.
“The table is important,” writes Turner. “God, in His infinite wisdom, designed the table to be a safe place where the human soul receives healing from past events, forgiveness from past actions, and a deep-seated love that only comes from the presence of God.”
As a young professional, Abby found herself working long hours and living alone, with little time for community or friendships. Following her mother’s advice, she invited friends into her home and hosted her first dinner party at the age of 24. After four years of learning her way around the kitchen while cooking for her friends, she launched her blog, Pinterest and Instagram pages to encourage people who were stuck in a rut, didn’t know how to meet others, and were starving for community. Drawn to the table, Abby hopes that her recipes will inspire others to build their tribe and experience the presence of God, one meal at a time.
About the Author:
Abby Turner is a young professional who is single and loving life as a food blogger, speaker, and writer. Born into a large family, she grew up in Central Arkansas, where she learned the importance of community and Biblical hospitality at a young age. After completing undergraduate degrees at Ouachita Baptist University and obtaining her Master's from Baylor, Abby lived in 6 states in 5 years, learning that community is essential to a healthy relationship with Christ. Over the last few years, Abby has spoken at college/universities, churches, companies and has been featured on regional TV shows and podcasts. Abby's passion is to encourage women to stop wasting time waiting for the perfect family, house, or table and to start opening their homes, cooking for friends and building community. You can learn more about Abby and enjoy even more recipes by visiting her website at atabletopaffair.com.
Related Links:Welcome back everyone! Today on the Thriving Beyond Belief podcast is our guest, Gary Thomas!
Gary’s publisher is updating three of his marriage and dating bestsellers – A Lifelong Love: Discovering How Intimacy with God Breathes Passion Into Your Marriage, Sacred Search: What if It’s Not about Who You Marry, but Why? and 9 Essential Conversations Before You Say I Do – all releasing April 1.
Topics include:
Welcome back everyone! Today on the Thriving Beyond Belief podcast is our guest, Amy Downs!
Amy was a self-described lazy, college dropout. On April 19, 1995, she was working as a credit card loan officer at the Federal Employees Credit Union located in the Alfred P Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City when she found herself buried alive, upside down, in the basement of a nine-story building. With 168 people killed and more than half of her colleagues dying from the deadliest act of domestic violence in American history, Downs was one of the last people to be pulled out of the rubble alive.
Downs was pulled from the rubble six hours after the bombing took place. She is not a miracle because she survived the bombing. Rather, the transformation that took place in her life after the bombing is her miracle story. Twenty-five years later, Downs is anything but lazy – in fact, she’s the CEO of the exact same credit union that crumbled to the ground in 1995. She shares her story in her new book, Hope Is a Verb: My Journey of Impossible Transformation.
Downs became a mom, went back to college, obtained her MBA, lost 200 pounds, and became an Ironman at the age of 50. It was not an overnight transformation - it was the result of hard work, determination, and a near-death scenario that prompted massive change. In the book, she draws parallels between the mental and physical strategies she had to employ to compete in the Ironman Triathlon and the same hard work that she spent working on herself in the 20 years following the bombing, which preceded the competition.
Related Links:Welcome back everyone! Today on the Thriving Beyond Belief podcast is our guest, Hannah Brencher!
Hannah Brencher is a writer, TED Speaker, and mental health advocate with a heart for building leaders. She is the author of two best-selling books- “If You Find This Letter” and her latest book, “Come Matter Here.” Her forthcoming book "Fighting Forward" will be available in bookstores everywhere on January 5, 2020.
Related Links:Today on Thriving Beyond Belief, we have Debra Fileta!
According to Fileta, people tend to assume they’re okay—until they’re not. Becoming healthy is an ongoing process that requires stopping, digging deep and asking the hard questions.
In her new book, Fileta challenges readers to get real with who they are and how they’re doing spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically so they can recognize where they need growth and healing. Readers will learn to...
Fileta knows firsthand that being a Christian doesn’t automatically make a person healthy. After 10+ years of marriage, 15 years of counseling clients, and four and a half books (she’s currently cowriting one with Gary Thomas), she not only possesses the knowledge and experience to coach readers on their journey to becoming more than okay––she has the heart for it. In Are You Really Okay? Fileta reveals some of her own traumas for the first time in print, including a miscarriage that nearly killed her and her deep struggles with both anxiety and depression––writing to her readers as if she were talking to a close friend and yet counseling them with the professional tools they need.
Today on Thriving Beyond Belief, we have Crystal Paine!
Crystal Paine had it all together—a happy marriage, three healthy children, national bestselling books, a wildly successful business, and a mortgage-free home—until suddenly, she didn’t. Her world turned upside down the day she learned her child was not only being expelled for bullying others, but was also depressed and suicidal. Sitting in an emergency room with her husband and child, her world crumbling around her, Crystal hit her all-time parenting low—but she also heard the voice of God say “I love you.”
“God allowed me to hit rock bottom so that He could help me relearn how to parent,”
writes Paine.
“I realized that most of my parenting had been about me. I was parenting for my own approval and reputation, instead of for my relationship with my kids and for their well-being. I cared more about what others thought than I did about my kids’ hearts. I worried more about producing kids who made good decisions than about kids who knew they were wholeheartedly loved.”
Throughout the book, Paine shares her own parenting stories—the good, the bad, and the ugly—what she’s learned, and how she’s shifted into a love-centered model of raising her children. And because you can’t give what you don’t have, she first had to let God reparent her, relearning to parent from the inside out.
Today on Thriving Beyond Belief, we have Kelsey Chapman!
Let's talk mentoring and mentorship!
Meet Kelsey ChapmanKelsey Chapman is an author, podcaster and personal cheerleader to women building their dream life and business.
When she first launched her own brand in 2015, she felt all the overwhelming feelings, too. It was scary to take such a huge leap and commit to showing up for a dream she didn’t know would pan out.
People are CRAVING investment! Don’t we all just want someone to step in, help us walk the next few steps in front of us, and offer their wisdom so we can shortcut the distance?
Today on Thriving Beyond Belief, we have Tara-Leigh Cobble!
Despite an early introduction to Christianity, Tara wasted years coasting on the second-hand information she learned from others. In 2008, through the gentle encouragement of a friend, she read all the way through the Bible for the first time. It awakened a recognition of her need to have others walking closely alongside her in my pursuit of God -- people to hold her accountable for scripture memory and Bible reading and all the things that were bringing her so much newfound joy!
Out of that need, Tara started D-Group (Discipleship Group) a handful of college students in 2009 and it has grown into 250+ groups around the world. What she's learned has motivated her to encourage others to pursue relational knowledge of God, because she has found that He is where the joy is! She loves to speak to audiences about God and His Word, and she has written a few books with an aim to point others toward Him through her story as well as their own. She also writes and host a daily podcast called The Bible Recap, which aims to keep people connected to reading the Bible when they're tempted to quit for lack of understanding, as well as a daily radio show called The God Shot.
Tara lives in a concrete box in the skies of Dallas, TX, where she has no spouse, pets, or children -- or anything else that might die if she forget to feed it.
Today on Thriving Beyond Belief, we have Richard Lui!
Seven years ago, Richard Lui walked into his supervisor’s office at NBC’s 30 Rock headquarters, prepared to give up his dream news anchor job. Having just learned of his father’s Alzheimer’s, the journalist wanted to be with him during his important last years, even if it meant setting aside his career. Lui reduced his work hours and joined 53 million Americans in becoming a family caregiver. Enough About Me is inspired by that decision to live to take care of someone else.
Book: Enough About Me The Unexpected Power of SelflessnessWhat if your path to a more successful, healthy, and satisfying life is actually not about you?
Richard Lui shares how one of the big ideas of our time is more in reach than we thought. How small choices toward selflessness are not a compromise. Choice by choice, step by step, we can do something bigger than ourselves.
Today on Thriving Beyond Belief, we have Noelle Mering! She an author and the Arts and Culture editor for Theology of Home. She studied philosophy and theatre at Westmont College in California and did graduate work in philosophy at the Franciscan University of Steubenville. Noelle and her husband live in Southern California with their six children.
Related Links:The sting of rejection is one of those bitter parts of life that we can’t fully escape. Whether it happened in grade school or last week, rejection can leave deep scars that affect our relationships, our self-worth, and our identities for years to come. But instead of letting it weigh us down as we drown in despair, what if we used it to catapult us into profound healing, growth, and a deeper sense of love of self?
Popular dating coach and host of The Heart of Dating podcast Kait Warman has reckoned with rejection to find a life of freedom, wholeness, and purpose, and wants deep down for others to do the same. In her new book, Thank You for Rejecting Me: Transform Pain into Purpose and Learn to Fight for Yourself, Warman vulnerably shares how she grew through her deepest, darkest rejections and offers readers the tools to heal from the past, take back their power, and walk in strength, victory, and love into their future.
"My biggest life rejections have made me into the woman I am today," writes Warman. “They’ve led me to discover deeper parts of my soul, given me great endurance and profound strength, and helped me come face-toface with hidden wounds and grimy shame to experience healing and love. They’ve also taught me how to stand strong in my identity."
Warman’s incredible candor and openness coupled with a voice will encourage readers to acknowledge the pain of their past rejections, commit to finding the courage to move forward toward healing and wholeness, and to see and fight for their true, lovely, worthy selves.
Related Links:Jessica Procini is an Emotional Eating Healer and the founder of Escape From Emotional Eating®. She is on a mission to help others use food as fuel rather than a way to cope, soothe or escape their busy, stressful life. She consciously created and specifically designed Escape From Emotional Eating from over a decade of research and her own emotional eating journey because Overeaters Anonymous didn’t resonate and therapy wasn’t enough when it came to getting help to fully end her fight with food.
Now being 100% free from her compulsions with food, she helps others do the same through all her levels of support, such as her retreats, called The ESCAPE, her year-long transformational programs and through her various public, talks, events and workshops.
Jessica has been awarded the “Top Health Coach Award” by the Institute of Psychology of Eating three years in a row and has been featured on various media outlets such as CBS, Philadelphia Magazine and MindBodyGreen just to name a few. To learn more visit: www.EscapeFromEmotionalEating.com
Related Links:The weight of our past, present, and uncertain future stops us and keeps us dead in our tracks. The all-too-familiar feeling of unworthiness becomes prominent, causing us to live from a place of fear and despair. But what if it chose to talk about it, rather than push it down?
Eryn Eddy has been there and wants readers to know the truth that changes everything: they are valuable. In her new book, So Worth Loving: How Discovering Your True Value Changes Everything, the speaker, creative director and founder of the So Worth Loving movement shares her stories and revelations, honest insights and the struggles she encountered in her pursuit to discover her worth.
“I’ve made some poor decisions in life; I’ve also made some bold decisions about moving forward and doing the best I can with what I know,” writes Eddy. “After my choices left me battling a diminished sense of self-esteem and wondering if I had a purpose on this earth, I didn’t have many places left to turn. So I took a chance and invited God in.”
This honest, openhearted book gives readers permission to feel deeply and openly, encouraging questions and inspiring the dedication to pursue authentic, candid answers. Eddy holds readers’ hands as they embark on a journey to discover and embrace what God believes about them: that they are so worth loving.
Related Links:Allison Fallon is a bestselling author and founder of Find Your Voice—a community that offers workshops, coaching, editing and support for anyone who wants to write a book. She's written and published 13 books and counting, coached hundreds of writers from total beginners to New York Times Bestselling authors, hosted workshops all over the country and world, and helped hundreds of thousands of people use writing as a tool for their own personal growth.
Related Links:Today on Thriving Beyond Belief is Daryl Strawberry, an American former professional baseball right fielder and author who played 17 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). Throughout his career, Strawberry was one of the most feared sluggers in the sport, known for his prodigious home runs and his intimidating presence in the batter's box with his 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) frame and his long, looping swing that elicited comparisons to Ted Williams'.
During his career, he helped lead the New York Mets to a World Series championship in 1986 and the New York Yankees to three World Series championships in 1996, 1998 and 1999. He was also suspended three times by MLB for substance abuse, leading to many narratives about his massive potential going unfulfilled. A popular player during his career, Strawberry was voted to the All-Star Game eight straight times from 1984 to 1991. Strawberry was formerly an analyst for SportsNet New York. His memoir, Straw: Finding My Way, written with author John Strausbaugh, was published in April 2009.
Related Links:Millennials might endure negative labels from older generations--lazy, broken, entitled, lost--but the most damaging labels are the ones we use on ourselves. Words are powerful. Even when they aren't true, they can begin to shape our perceptions of ourselves and the decisions we make. Yet the only labels that really matter to this, the largest and most diverse generation yet, are the ones with which God originally designated us. What does he call our generation? Sons and daughters.
We are called to change the world and make a huge impact for the kingdom, but we can't do that if we allow ourselves to believe the limiting labels we hear every day. Instead, Arden Bevere calls you to:
Your life is not an accident, a disappointment, or an inconvenience to God. It's time to redefine, embrace, and walk in your true identity as his beloved child who will do great things in his name. Let Arden Bevere, a positive voice in this generation, show you the way.
If you’re anything like Kerri Pomarolli, you’ve read Proverbs 31 and thought, “Who is this woman? And what kind of magic unicorn, Energizer Bunny juice does she have on IV?”
And you thought social media standards were hard to live up to!
As a sought-after comedian living in LA, Kerri knows about impossible standards. “I don’t plow, and I don’t rise early. When it says she gathers her food from afar, does that mean takeout…?”
In Confessions of a Proverbs 32 Woman, Kerri fearlessly shares the messiness of her own life with wit and honesty. Join her as she delves into the struggles of the modern woman tired of trying and failing to live up to Pinterest-looking, air-brushed, and insta-filtered “real life” role models telling her she’s not quite good enough. And learn the two things you can hold onto for longer than your smartphone: genuine self-awareness and humble God-awareness.
Maggie Combs is the author of the upcoming book Motherhood Without All the Rules: Trading Stressful Standards for Gospel Truths (Moody Publishers, Fall 2020). When motherhood overwhelmed her, God drew her closer to him through writing her first book, Unsupermommy. She loves playing games with her husband and three boys, herding goats on their family farm, and reading young adult literature and cozy mysteries in her free time. It is her joy to disciple women in her local church and through her writing. You may have read or heard Maggie before on The Gospel Coalition, Risen Motherhood, Revive Our Hearts, The Journeywomen Podcast, and more.
Related Links:Taylor Kiser, author of Eat The Cookie, understands the pendulum swings we experience with our weight and self-perception. She knows what it's like to let fear of falling short turn into a belief that you're not worthy, and this belief turned into destructive habits that controlled her life for far too long. Now a certified nutrition and fitness coach, Taylor enjoys eating a cookie now and then, even as she enjoys discovering recipes and habits that give her renewed physical energy and health. In Eat the Cookie, you'll learn the secrets of balance that can help us all live health-conscious without being calorie-obsessed.
Related Links:Nancy Hicks is a teacher and speaker who inspires women to find their God-given power and ignite a life of passion. As a mother, wife and leader, Nancy Hicks understands the many roles a woman plays and the feeling that there must be more in her and for her. Nancy knows what it’s like to spend blurry days scrubbing floors and doing laundry, and she also knows what it’s like to use her voice as a singer and a former on-air spokesperson for QVC, reaching millions with her platform. In each season, Nancy has learned the power of intimacy with Christ and finding true aliveness from within — and unleashing the power and passion each of us is created for and called to. With the perfect mix of glamour and grit, Nancy inspires women to take their place in God’s Kingdom and raises them up to become who they are meant to be.
Related Links:Karen Ehman is a Proverbs 31 Ministries speaker and New York Times best-selling author. She writes for Encouragement for Today online devotions that bring God's peace, perspective, and purpose to over four million women daily. Karen is the author of 11 books, including Listen, Love, Repeat, Keep It Shut, Hoodwinked, and Pressing Pause. She is also the Speaker Track Director of Proverbs 31 She Speaks Conference and a teaching staff member of their writers' training site, COMPEL.
Related Links:Jenny has served in ministry and worked in the entertainment, publishing and creative industries for over fifteen years. Her unique personal story and creative adventures have provided her with a platform to encourage others to find freedom and take action. Her dedication to helping individuals be rooted in faith frees people to move beyond their failures in pursuit of purpose. Jenny’s been quoted in popular media outlets like Bustle, Martha Stewart, Inc. Magazine, and other numerous print, television and digital platforms. She’s even been featured on the Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey podcast, taught authors at Lysa Terkeurst’s COMPEL training, co-hosts the Shut the Should Up podcast alongside Candace Payne, and has spoken at the Blissdom Conference and other major Online and in-person leadership and faith-based events. From practical teaching to preaching at conferences, breakout sessions, keynotes and more, she loves to equip and empower others to live on purpose.
Related Links:Today on the Thriving Beyond Belief podcast, Lisa Bevere!
Lisa Bevere has spent three decades empowering women of all ages to find their identity and purpose. She is a New York Times bestselling author and internationally known speaker. Her previous books, which include Fight Like a Girl, Lioness Arising, Girls with Swords, Without Rival, and Adamant, are in the hands of millions worldwide. Lisa and her husband John are the founders of Messenger International.
Do you have a godmother?If you are anything like I was, my guess is you don’t.
As a young Christian, I remember feeling lost trying to navigate my way through marriage, motherhood, and more.
I’d hear things like, “You need a mentor!” but I didn’t have the faintest clue where to find one.
It felt like trying to find a unicorn! Where were these mythological creatures willing to give their precious time, energy, and wisdom to help me through life? The women I knew were all in the same boat as me—overwhelmed and trying to survive!
Like so many others, I felt I was on my own.
As I travel and meet with countless women, this frustration seems to be the norm. Perhaps you know the feeling.
It’s time to change that.
I wrote my newest book Godmothers because I see you and I feel your pain.
I've been there.
I don’t have all the answers, but I know that when we come together as women, we can close the gaps in each other's lives.
So pour yourself of cup of tea (or a double shot of espresso), curl up in your favorite chair, and let’s have some real talk. As you turn the pages of Godmothers, may you laugh at my mistakes, learn from my successes, and discover God's heart for your season.
And who knows? With a little luck, you may even pick up a few street smarts for the road ahead!
Love, Lisa
Related Links:Today on the Thriving Beyond Belief podcast, Tod Jacobs and Peter Lynn from Not a Partnership!
About the Authors: Tod JacobsTod Jacobs is Director of the David Robinson Institute for Jewish Heritage in Jerusalem, which he co-founded in 2005. Prior to his current role teaching and counseling his students and alumni, he enjoyed a distinguished career on Wall Street as one of the leading authorities on the telecommunications industry globally. As a managing director at JP Morgan and before that a partner at Sanford C. Bernstein and Company, Tod acted as a frequent commentator on network television and in leading newspapers and magazines, and testified several times before the U.S. Congress as an expert on telecom and media issues. His credits in print and broadcast journalism, where he worked prior to Wall Street, include nominations for both the Pulitzer Prize for investigative journalism and the Emmy Award. Tod lives in Jerusalem with his family.
Dr. Peter LynnPeter Lynn has served as Dean of Students at the David Robinson Institute for Jewish Heritage since its inception. An MA in Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) from the University of Pennsylvania and a PsyD in Human and Organizational Psychology, Peter lectures at Touro College in Jerusalem. He is also the Founder and Director of Greatness Within Seminars, where he helps empower individuals and organizations through the application of Positive Psychology. An accomplished athlete and Ironman finisher, Peter was captain of the U.S. World Duathlon Team. Peter lives in Jerusalem with his family.
Related Links:Hello, I'm Marilyn Vancil!
It is a sacred honor to witness "Holy Aha Moments" for those I accompany as a spiritual director, coach, and facilitator of workshops and retreats. Being in the presence of how God draws people to new experiences of freedom and ever-deepening awareness of Divine Love and Grace in their everyday stories is a privilege and a joy!
I've been passionate about the Enneagram personality model and its value in Christian spiritual transformation for over thirty years. My workshops and retreats focus on how this self-awareness tool helps people identify barriers to living out their unique expression and experience as one created in God's image.
I earned my certification as an Enneagram Professional in the Narrative Tradition through Enneagram Worldwide, and have also taken courses on the Enneagram at Loyola University and the Deep Coaching Institute.
I completed my spiritual director training through SoulStream and my coaching instruction through Coach Training Alliance.
I enjoy life in Seattle with my husband, Jeff. Our four children, their spouses, and our eleven precious grandchildren bring us unlimited delight!
Related Links:In 2009, Lara Casey—PowerSheets® creator, best-selling author, and mom to three—wrote a blog post ("How to Make Things Happen") in an attempt to answer the many emails she received asking, "how do you do it all?"
The blog post received a flurry of responses, resonating with hundreds of people. It sparked a movement that turned into the Making Things Happen Conference a decade ago, where she continues to lead attendees through our proven process to uncover what truly matters to them and do something about it. Those same principles are in every page of the PowerSheets® Intentional Goal Planner, our cornerstone product that has sparked powerful and positive change in thousands of women's lives across the world.
Recognize her from somewhere else? For 10 years we published the acclaimed print magazine Southern Weddings, encouraging brides to plan meaningful celebrations and even more beautiful marriages. We were honored to partner with the best vendors in the business, including Southern Living Magazine, and to publish a beloved wedding planner you can still buy today. Though SW retired in 2018 so our team could focus on helping women cultivate what matters in every season of life, SW's legacy lives on!
Welcome Kelly Balarie to the Thriving Beyond Belief podcast!
Now more than ever, we need rest –a deep, trust-centered knowing of God’s goodness and peace.
Yet, these days, we are experiencing the opposite: Three out of five people admit to doing more than they can manage. Many are more fearful than ever because of Covid-19. Great amounts of people are under the weight of massive financial burdens. Not only this, but family life, virtual schooling, safety discussions and workplaces are overtaking over sacred home spaces.
Here, we are doing and worrying, more than being with and loving God. The pressure -- is real.
Whereas, we once figured rest was at home, now we realize that quietly tucking ourselves away from projects, people, and the pressures of today, isn’t the whole answer… We are still left feeling worried, exhausted, tired, and weary. Distance, days at home and constant solitude don’t fill the hole or the desires of our heart.
What is rest? Real rest is soul rest. Soul rest not found from exterior things, but through heartfelt focus, soul-full simplicity and wise communication – all with the goal of fostering love. In this, we can grab hold of what matters most. We become present to God. We find peace. We lay hold of God’s goodness. This is rest.
Bestselling author Kelly Balarie believes a more soul-full way of life is available for us all. In her latest book Rest Now: 7 Ways to Say No, Set Boundaries, and Seize Joy, Kelly offers practical “hows” to help rest become a living reality.
In our interview, you’ll learn to:
Rest Now shows us that we no longer have to strive for rest, but we can love from it, like Jesus did. This not only brings rest, but joy – even in the most tumultuous season.
Balarie says,
"Rest and joy are fully available to us even in this season thanks to Jesus."
Shari Rigby, a former model who represented numerous companies such as Mercedes Benz, Humira, American West Airlines, Suzuki, Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Cox Cable, got her start in acting as a lead in the Dove award winning music video, “Slow Fade,” by Casting Crowns. She also appeared in The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful. Her feature films include Not Today which received seven awards including an IFFF Spirit Award and Best Justice Film, October Baby named one of the “Top 15 Impressive Box Office Performances of 2012” by CNN, and leading roles in the upcoming films Boonville Redemption (starring Diane Ladd, Ed Asner), Wildflower (starring Cody Longo and Nathalia Ramos), The Journalist (starring Sharman Joshi and Stephen Baldwin), Extraordinary (starring Karen Abercrombie, Leland Klassen and Lindsley Register), and Overcomer (starring Alex Kendrick, Priscilla Shirer and Aryn Wright Thompson).
Shari co-wrote her biography, Beautifully Flawed, with Claire Yorita Lee, which was published in Feb. 2015, and the screenplay has been completed. Recently, Shari has completed a new 7 day devotional titled, Pursue The Passion, for the re-release of The Passion Of The Christ.
Shari's directing debut was for her book trailer for Beautifully Flawed, which she co-wrote and produced. This short film launched Shari into writing and directing several pieces such as, Birdie's Song, a short film nominated for 8 awards at the 168 Film Festival. Lassies for the Salvation Army, The Church That Never Sleeps for the Dream Center, and Pursue The Passion short video for FOX/ICON just to name a few. Shari is currently the Executive Producer, Writer and Director for the Dream Center television show currently airing on Daystar and has recently been made the Director of Broadcast Media for the Dream Center. Shari continues writing on her book series, 3M’s – Mother, Mother-in-Law and Me and Ladies Don’t Smoke, all part of theBeautifully Flawed brand. Shari's passion is about tell stories that move, inspire and move people into action.
Shari is the founder of “The Women In My World,” a women's group focusing on identity, purpose, ministry, serving others and living life in Hollywood. Shari speaks on these topics and has spoken to over 70,000 people and counting. Shari’s passion is serving others by creating and sharing powerful stories of individuals overcoming the odds.
Related Links:As an international speaker at churches, conferences and university chapels, Megan Fate Marshman is a leading voice to this generation. She has devoted her life to loving God and overflowing His awesome love to others.
Megan is currently a teaching pastor at Willow Creek Community Church and the Director of Women’s Ministries at Hume Lake Christian Camps. She also shepherds women at her home church, Arbor Road. She also enjoys adventuring all over the globe with her family speaking and sharing the love of Jesus.
She authored the books “Meant for Good” and "SelfLess," and co-wrote the book, "7 Family Ministry Essentials," with Dr. Michelle Anthony. Megan also served as the Director of Student Resources for David C Cook Publishers, where she led a team in creating TruIdentity, a spiritually forming, Christ centered, and family empowered youth ministry curriculum.
Megan lives in Lakewood, California, with her husband Randy, and their two boys.
Today on the Thriving Beyond Belief podcast, Tod Jacobs and Peter Lynn from Not a Partnership!
Beyond being a typical collaboration between two authors or scholars, this book represents the culmination of more than fifteen years of work that Tod and Peter have done together in the area of marriage. The students of the institute they lead have provided a living laboratory for how to prepare for marriage, face and ultimately overcome its classic and idiosyncratic challenges.
The pair’s primary objective with their students as they head towards marriage is to help them focus both on developing a mature and idealistic vision of marriage as the primary vehicle to create wholeness, meaning, purpose and happiness in their lives, and on working to perfect the character issues that lie at the core of a successful spouse — giving, empathy, focus, staying power and a strong desire to help build the other.
Their work combines practical and mystical Jewish wisdom with modern theory and techniques, and with experience accrued through years of real world implementation and practice. Their unique but differing backgrounds and accomplishments broaden the impact of their work and partnership still further.
About the Authors: Tod JacobsTod Jacobs is Director of the David Robinson Institute for Jewish Heritage in Jerusalem, which he co-founded in 2005. Prior to his current role teaching and counseling his students and alumni, he enjoyed a distinguished career on Wall Street as one of the leading authorities on the telecommunications industry globally. As a managing director at JP Morgan and before that a partner at Sanford C. Bernstein and Company, Tod acted as a frequent commentator on network television and in leading newspapers and magazines, and testified several times before the U.S. Congress as an expert on telecom and media issues. His credits in print and broadcast journalism, where he worked prior to Wall Street, include nominations for both the Pulitzer Prize for investigative journalism and the Emmy Award. Tod lives in Jerusalem with his family.
Dr. Peter LynnPeter Lynn has served as Dean of Students at the David Robinson Institute for Jewish Heritage since its inception. An MA in Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) from the University of Pennsylvania and a PsyD in Human and Organizational Psychology, Peter lectures at Touro College in Jerusalem. He is also the Founder and Director of Greatness Within Seminars, where he helps empower individuals and organizations through the application of Positive Psychology. An accomplished athlete and Ironman finisher, Peter was captain of the U.S. World Duathlon Team. Peter lives in Jerusalem with his family.
Visit: Not A Partnership
Today on the Thriving Beyond Belief podcast, Kayla Stocklein!
Widow of Megachurch Pastor Leaves Breadcrumbs of Hope for Those Lost in the Wilderness of Mental Illness in New Book Kayla Stoecklein Shares the Journey that Led to Her Husband’s Suicide, Encourages Others to Be a Safe Space for Those Struggling in ‘Fear Gone Wild.'
“It’s crucial we approach this message as both a love story full of life and a tragedy full of loss at the same time. When we leave room for both/and in another person’s story, we start to leave space in our own life for both sorrow and celebration to coexist.” – Foreword by NYT Bestselling author Lysa TerKeurst
NASHVILLE, Tenn., July 23, 2020— On August 25, 2018, Kayla Stoecklein lost her husband Andrew—megachurch pastor of Inland Hills Church in Chino, California—to suicide. In the wake of her overwhelming tragedy, she embarked on a brave journey to better understand Andrew’s harrowing battle with mental illness and, ultimately, to overcome the stigma of suicide.
She intimately retells all that led to that tragic day, her journey to better understand, and the light she has found in the darkness, all in hopes of better equipping those who find themselves walking a similar path.
“From the very first letter I wrote to him just a few days after he went home to heaven, I knew there would be deep purpose in my pain,” writes Stoecklein. “God was planting a burning message inside of my heart as he intricately used our story as a lifeline of hope for others.” In just 10 short months, what started as occasional panic attacks quickly morphed into frequent, severe attacks, and then into a deep, full-fledged battle with depression. Kayla watched as her strong, lively husband went from a passionate pastor and doting father to an empty, bleak shadow of himself. The battle Andrew faced was a deadly combination of mental illness and spiritual warfare, and on Aug. 25, 2018, he ended the battle by taking his life.
Because Andrew had planned to be open about his depression, Kayla became an open book about his suicide and has found a renewed purpose in providing hope to others lost in the all-too-familiar wilderness of grief and mental illness. Since Andrew’s death, she has written in real time about her grief on God’s God This, a blog Andrew started as his father was dying, and on her Instagram account.
About the Author:
Kayla Stoecklein is an advocate for those confronting mental illness. When she isn’t busy raising her three young boys, you can find her on the beach, sipping an iced coffee and searching for little glimpses of heaven on earth.
Today on the Thriving Beyond Belief podcast, Laura Smith!
In the new book, How Sweet the Sound: The Power and Promise of 30 Beloved Hymns from Our Daily Bread Publishing, author Laura Smith takes a fresh look at 30 classic hymns, sharing warm devotional stories and making meaningful connections between these songs of the past and our twenty-first century lives.
Do you miss listening to the sweet harmonies of hymns being sung in church? Do you recall precious life memories when a specific hymn encouraged your heart? Hymns will forever be God’s music packed with truth, redemption, and joy, no matter how the times or culture change. There is a reason they still speak to us, generation after generation. How Sweet the Sound marries the past with the present by showing how hymns unite, restore, and re-center God’s children.
Each chapter includes the lyrics to a favorite hymn, an interesting modern-day story of how that hymn continues to impact lives, and questions for contemplation. These stories will appeal to those who grew up in church singing from a hymnal, as well as a new generation seeking truth put to music. You’ll enjoy hearing the stories of how hymns have affected other people’s lives as you remember how the hymns you treasure have affected yours.
About the Author: Laura L. Smith is a music lover. She grew up singing old hymns in her traditional church, then rushing home to count down the rest of the Top 40 on Billboard’s music charts with Casey Kasem. A best-selling author, Smith speaks around the country sharing the love of Christ with women at conferences and events. She lives in the college town of Oxford, Ohio, with her husband and four kids.
My interview this week is with Jamie Ivey. Jamie hosts a podcast called The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey, she lives in Austin, TX, is a wife to Aaron, and together they have four kids under the age of 13.
On the podcast this week I want to focus on an incredible book Jamie just finished writing entitled If You Only Knew: My Unlikely, Unavoidable Story of Becoming Free. Her book is scheduled to be released January 2018.
In this book, she is honest, vulnerable, and raw with personal stories about her walk from failure to freedom. Jamie travels and speaks to so many women and has learned that our stories, when seen through the eyes of the gospel, are not the obstacles to our freedom, they are the key to unlocking our freedom!
We talk about the enormous fear she faced being afraid people would know the real “Jamie:” could she step into a marriage, be a pastor’s wife, lead youth, but inside be completely unsure if God even loved her?
As her story unfolds, she shares how God kept pursuing her and only through the grace of God, she began to change and learn to truly have an intimate relationship with Him.
Jamie challenges women to ask themselves; are you fearful others will only see you for things you’ve done, not what Jesus has done in you?
Here’s my interview with Jamie Ivey.
This week on the Thriving Beyond Belief podcast, Paul David Tripp!
Dr. Paul David Tripp is a pastor, event speaker, and a best-selling and award-winning author. With more than 30 books and video series on Christian living, Paul’s driving passion is to connect the transforming power of Jesus Christ to everyday life.
Experience The Marriage Of Your Dreams
Paul Tripp will encourage you with what the Bible has to say about marriage:
No matter how long you have been married, you must continually realign your expectations so you aren’t discouraged and disappointed by the reality of your relationship.
Learn how to treat your husband or wife with integrity and faithfulness so they fully entrust themselves to your care.
Why do couples fail to experience the marriage of their dreams? They point the finger of blame and hold grudges. Instead, discover how to fight for your relationship by practicing confession and forgiveness each day.
There are many definitions of love out there, but you only need to follow one example: the cross of Christ.
This week on the Thriving Beyond Belief podcast, Daniel & Brittany Price Brooker!
After the tragic untimely deaths of their respective spouses, Brittany Price and Daniel Brooker each found themselves as a young widow/widower – dealing with their own individual journey’s of grief, and pain, and heartache, and loss… a loss that ultimately brought them together in remarriage.
Please welcome John Mark Comer to the Thriving Beyond Belief podcast this week talking about our world of HURRY and how we can eliminate it!!
Our worst moments tend to happen when we are in a hurry—late for an appointment, behind on our to-do list, cramming too much in our day. It occurs when we’re trying constantly to do more, creating a bone-deep tiredness not just in our minds or bodies but deep in our souls. In short, hurry doesn’t just make us weary. It is the great enemy of our spiritual life.
Author and pastor John Mark Comer proposes that the solution to being fully present to God, others, and our own hearts is found simply by following the unhurried way of Jesus. He explains, “Jesus invites all of us to take up the ‘easy’ yoke. He has—on offer to all—an easy way to shoulder the weight of life with his triumvirate of love, joy, and peace.”
Comer’s journey to discovering the life-changing remedy of slowing down began while he was pastoring a successful megachurch with six services each Sunday, a marathon lifestyle which left him feeling burnt out and detached from those around him. In a moment of desperation, he asked his mentor, John Ortberg, for advice. The response he received was the same as what philosopher and Christian spiritual formation teacher Dallas Willard had given to Ortberg years before: “You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life. There is nothing else.”
As Comer put this simple truth into practice in his own life, he experienced radical renewal in his mental, spiritual, and emotional well-being. The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry describes his transformation and offers hope amidst the toxicity in our fast-paced, modern world.
In a casual, conversational tone, he presents a poignant message: “This is an invitation—for all the tired, the burned out, the stressed, all those stuck in traffic and behind on their to-do list….If you want to experience the life of Jesus, you have to adopt the lifestyle of Jesus.”
John Mark Comer lives, works, and writes in the urban core of Portland, Oregon. He is the pastor for teaching and vision at Bridgetown Church. Prior to that, he was lead pastor of a suburban megachurch. He has a master’s degree from Western Seminary and is the author of Loveology, Garden City, and God Has a Name. John Mark lives in Portland with his wife, Tammy, and their three children.
Today on the Thriving Beyond Belief podcast, Alli Worthington!
Alli is like many of us – a woman following her calling in ministry, work, and family – who found herself at a spiritual crossroads. God called her into something new, but she wasn’t sure she was strong enough to say yes. Standing Strong delivers a wealth of practical tips and Godly wisdom that will leave you encouraged to follow the dream God has planted in your heart.
You are enough” is a well-intentioned, encouraging message preached to overwhelmed, burnt-out women. Bestselling author Alli Worthington used to be one of them, but when faced with adversity, found herself searching for more. Being enough was no longer enough.
In her new book Standing Strong: A Woman’s Guide to Overcoming Adversity and Living with Confidence (Zondervan, September 2020), Alli encourages women to draw strength from their God-given identities, to overcome the obstacles that keep them from reaching their full potential and living out their dreams, and to walk confidently in the direction of their calling. With God, they are more than enough.
“God has made you strong, with the ability to survive anything that comes your way,” writes Alli. “Even when you feel weak and overwhelmed, you’re stronger thank you think. There is a strength within you that passes human understanding.”
Alli found herself at a spiritual crossroads—the Lord was calling her to step away from her comfort zone and into something new, but she wasn’t sure she was strong enough to say yes. What if everything fell apart? Why should she have to leave something she loved?
Alli is available for interviews and can speak to:
“Your calling won’t look like anyone else’s, ever. God chose you. He made you exactly who you are. He set your life in motion. He put you here on this Earth right here, right now because He wants you to partner with Him, and He has something special that only you can do in His kingdom.”
Alli Worthington is known for her straight-talking encouragement and practical tools that help women reach their dreams in business and life. She’s a business coach and co-founder of Called Creatives, where she coaches writers and speakers.
Author of The Year of Living Happy, Fierce Faith, and Breaking Busy, Alli is a well-known speaker and host of the popular podcast, The Alli Worthington Show. Her no-nonsense, guilt-free take on business, family, and balance have led to appearances on TODAY and Good Morning America. Alli lives with her husband, Mark, and their five sons outside of Nashville with the only golden retriever who refuses to retrieve.
Today on the Thriving Beyond Belief podcast, Dawn Barton!
Dawn Barton has endured more pain and heartache in her lifetime than Hallmark can fit into a single movie: the loss of a child, divorce, cancer, rape, near-death of her mother from a brain aneurism, the death of her only sibling, and her husband’s substance abuse.
But because she experienced such incredible pain, she also knows incredible joy… so much so, this sassy southerner refers to herself as a "Joyologist.”
In her new book, Laughing Through the Ugly Cry:… and Finding Unstoppable Joy, Dawn shares her powerful journey to find hope, joy, and laughter in the midst of even the most unfathomable circumstances. And though her trials were heavy, her words are light—laced with the humor and perspective that keep you laughing, no matter what.
“Even in the face of all the things you can’t control – the announcements, the diagnosis, the calls you hoped you’d never get – there’s something you do get to control,” writes Dawn. “Choose to look for joy in the small spaces between fear and confusion, and make that the moral of your story.”
Dawn knows the adversity she’s experienced has enabled her to experience joy in a more profound and vibrant way. Laughing Through the Ugly Cry is a beautiful book that will encourage anyone facing difficulty to do so with humor and faith, and to mindfully seek joy no matter how bleak circumstances may appear.
“Finding joy in your life does not mean you walk around in a perpetual state of skipping and laughing. It doesn’t mean you are grinning and waving to every single passerby, although that would be fun. It means when you are sitting in the pain, you can take a deep breath and smile because you have one more breath to live.”
Today on the Thriving Beyond Belief podcast is musical artist, Banning Liebscher!
Banning Liebscher is on staff at Bethel Church in Redding, California. He and his wife, SeaJay, are the directors of Jesus Culture, a ministry dedicated to mobilizing, equipping, activating, and sending a new breed of revivalists worldwide.
Related Links:Today on the Thriving Belief Podcast, on mother/daughter relationships, Dr. Helen McIntosh and Blythe Daniel.
Are You Struggling with a Difficult Mother-Daughter Relationship? Dr. Helen McIntosh and Daughter, Blythe Daniel, Provide Tools to Help You Restore What Needs Mended!
Relationships between mothers and daughters can be messy and hurtful. Dr. Helen McIntosh understands the uncertainty of a strained relationship and the scars that can develop. Raised by a mother who battled anxiety, anger, and alcoholism, Helen struggled to understand her mom’s verbal abuse, thinking something was wrong with her.
Years later, after becoming a Doctor of Counseling Psychology, Helen recognized she did the best she could with what she knew about her mother. She had a deep desire to help other women hurt by their mother-daughter relationship and to raise her daughter Blythe differently by maintaining a good relationship with her.
Today on the Thriving Belief Podcast, we have Jen Fulwiler!
About Jennifer: When SiriusXM radio host Jennifer Fulwiler decided she wanted to seriously pursue stand-up comedy, she repeatedly heard there wasn’t a place for a minivan driving, female comic with six kids. But Fulwiler wasn’t going to let anyone stand in her way. After countless open mic-nights, she self-produced a comedy tour, using her personal credit card to secure venues. Tickets sales were explosive with many shows selling out in hours. And she’s doing it again this year!
About the book: In her newest book, Your Blue Flame: Drop the Guilt and Do What Makes You Come Alive, Fulwiler is sharing what she’s learned about following your passions. She inspires readers to discover their blue flame and build a life they love. Fulwiler didn’t move her family cross-country or quit her job to follow her blue flame. Instead she encourages readers to do more of what makes them come alive in their actual lives.
Jeannie Gaffigan (Executive Producer The Jim Gaffigan Show and New York Times Bestselling author of When Life Gives You Pears) wrote the foreword and says, “In a book that is part The Artists Way and part ‘Change Your Life, I Changed Mine!’ Jennifer Fulwiler has a plan for you to find your true passion and to not let anything stand in your way.”
Related Links:Today on the Thriving Belief Podcast, we have Sharon Jaynes!
Sharon is an international inspirational speaker and Bible teacher for women’s conferences and events. She is also the author of several books, including Becoming the Woman of His Dreams and The 14-Day Romance Challenge. Sharon and her husband, Steve, call North Carolina home.
Words have the power to spur others on to achieve greatness and also the power to have a lasting negative impact. International speaker Sharon Jaynes encourages women to recognize the incredible power of their words and to learn how to use them to encourage future generations through her teachings in The Power of a Woman’s Words (April 2020, Harvest House Publishers).
In The Power of a Woman’s Words, Jaynes illustrates how words can bring life or cause damage through stories of the women of the Bible. There are examples of women who gossiped, whined and lied and those who prophesied, encouraged and instilled truth. Some used their words to both build up and tear down. Jaynes asserts that God calls His people to learn to harness the power of their tongue to lead others to Him.
“He entrusted words to mere mortals,”
writes Jaynes.
“Our words also have creative potential. They can light up a child’s face disheartened by discouragement, lessen the burdens of a husband weighed down with worries, lift the spirits of a friend who feels dejected by life, cheer on brothers and sisters in Christ to grow in grace, and bring the message of the hope and healing of Jesus Christ to a wounded world.”
The Power of a Woman’s Words offers lessons for women to learn how to foster their attitudes, motives and goals for greater influence and how to harness the power of their words to use as a source for good. Jaynes offers personal experiences as practical advice to women who desire to use the gift of their words to encourage and build up.
Jaynes created a guide for learning how to use the gift of words to shape the lives of others. In The Power of a Woman’s Words Workbook and Study Guide (April 2020, Harvest House Publishers), readers will find a lesson for each corresponding chapter of the novel.
“Words are one of the most powerful forces in the universe, and amazingly, God has entrusted them to you and me. Words become the mirror in which others see themselves.”
Related Links:Today on the Thriving Belief Podcast, we have Rachel Van Kluyve!
Rachel is a Nashvillian stay at home mom turned momtrepreneur. Most days you can find her in a messy bun and yoga pants wrangling two boys while running a real estate business, homeschooling, DIYing, and keeping up with her passions. She's mostly known for her thrifty finds and the ability to make the dollar count. Amazon is her go-to and she tends to say she has eloquent taste on a Target budget. She's most passionate in life about her faith, her three men, writing, and serving silently behind the scenes. Rachel is an introvert gone socialmediavert and when she's not busy you can find her... well never not busy.
Today on the podcast: Sara Hagerty
About SaraSara Hagerty is a lover of God, a wife to Nate, and a mother of seven-four adopted from Africa and then more through miracle pregnancies. She's also a bestselling author and speaker. As a lifelong admirer of words, Sara has experienced their power to revive. Raw words written in tearful honesty and shared with her readers. Words whispered in hidden places as conversation with God and worship to Him. Today Sara's words offer God's hope to readers facing unexpected life circumstances. You can follow her on Instagram @sarahagertywrites.
"Life is a total of minutes spent.Attaching a bandaid to a child’s wound.Turning off the outdoor lights before bed.Lugging the overloaded grocery bag to the kitchen counter.Sending a text message.Sifting through a stack of mail that’s full of advertisements.Powering off the computer.Applying mascara.At fifteen, when I gave “my whole life” to Jesus, I didn’t consider that living the radical life for God would one day call forth minute-by-minute faithfulness of me. I gathered my fifteen years like a stack of files and foisted them on the one who’d been watchful, in exchange for a notepad we would fill with our adventures together.At fifteen, surrendering my whole life and my whole heart meant the big picture, not the minutiae. After all, I could remember only four or maybe five of those fifteen years.I imagined that Christianity was lived in broad strokes—as a highlight reel.Minutes were what happened in between."
Today on the podcast Jessica Hottle!!
#1 lie women believe:
So, what’s the truth—God's truth to this lie? First, to discover it’s a lie, we have to know what God’s Word says about our feelings of inadequacy and fear.
For example, John 14:27 says,
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
God’s Word is where you and I can unravel all of our emotions and feelings and begin to make sense of them.
Reading through the Book of Psalms will remind you that being real with God and expressing your emotions, while continually going to Him and searching Him out, only increases your faith and dependence on Him.
Does your past disqualify you from the future you have with Christ? Absolutely not.
Do your works or your mistakes qualify you or disqualify you from living out the call that God has placed on your life? No, they don’t.
We can strengthen our skills and our gifts, but they are not what qualify us or disqualify us.
When we have made it about us, we have missed that it’s about Him.
You do not qualify yourself; He qualifies you. And, guess what? You are called and equipped for this moment, this day, and the rest of your life.
Lie #1: I’m Not Qualified
The enemy tends to whisper this lie in our ears, and it goes straight to our hearts. "I’m not qualified." Those words tend to form into other words, such as "Why am I doing this? I don’t feel like I can do this." Or, you may find yourself not doing something God has called you to because those words have kept you hiding in fear.
On the Thriving Beyond Belief podcast this week: Beth Jones
Reinvent: start fresh and love life!
Reach your God-given potential and live a joyful life by finding your purpose in Christ with this inspiring guide from Beth Jones, host of Hillsong Channel’s The Basics With Beth.
The world around us is in a constant state of reinvention, from technology, to careers, to family. It’s easy to struggle in the midst of change, and each season brings new challenges. But we need reinvention: the kind that leads us to new fulfillment and our calling in Christ. To REINVENT ourselves in Christ means a transformation in our hearts, souls, bodies, and minds. And we can achieve this by biblically exploring and answering the questions: What do you want? What do you have? What will you do? and Why will you do it?
Let the baggage of the past become history today. Let God renew your hope, and you will experience the joy of living like never before. No matter what has happened, and no matter where you are on this journey, REINVENT will help you start fresh and love life!
On the podcast this week: Laura Smith!
From Laura:
"I’ve been searching my whole life for beauty. Not in the world—there’s plenty of that—in the crimson of a cardinal’s feather, in the sound of waves crashing along a shore, in the melody of a Beatles’ ballad, or in a Chagall stained glass window. The world is filled with beauty, but me, well that was another story. It took me years to discover my true beauty, to fully grasp I am made in the image of my Creator, and therefore, I am beautiful. The incredible thing is…so are you. You were marvelously made by God to inspire awe. No matter what the world tries to tell you, no matter what you try to tell yourself. No one can rob you of the incredible true identity God instilled in you. I tell stories (through books, blogs, and speaking) in hopes of helping you discover what took me so long to see: your beautiful, true reflection in Christ."
Related Links:This week on the Thriving Beyond Belief podcast, Paul David Tripp!
Dr. Paul David Tripp is a pastor, event speaker, and a best-selling and award-winning author. With more than 30 books and video series on Christian living, Paul’s driving passion is to connect the transforming power of Jesus Christ to everyday life.
This week on the Thriving Beyond Belief podcast: Caitlin Crosby
Related Links:This week on the Thriving Beyond Belief podcast: Paula Faris.
Related Links:This week on the Thriving Beyond Belief podcast: Alison Cook, PhD
Alison Cook, MA, PhD is a counselor, speaker, and writer who helps people become comfortable in their own skin and fully live out their God-given potential. She is the co-author of Boundaries for Your Soul (Thomas Nelson, 2018). Alison is uniquely gifted at helping people learn how to:
For over 20 years, Alison has helped create transformative results for women, ministry leaders, couples, and families. Alison's Christian adaptation of the fast growing, evidence-based Internal Family System (IFS) model of therapy provides a step-by-step approach to managing emotions in partnership with God. Prior to her work in counseling, Alison was a congressional aid on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. and taught at Phillips Exeter Academy, Denver Seminary, and the Wyoming State Girls’ School for adjudicated teens. Some of Alison’s most valuable life lessons were discovered while stage acting as a hobby.
Originally from Wyoming, Alison obtained a degree in history from Dartmouth College. She then earned her M.A. in counseling from Denver Seminary and a Ph.D. in religion and psychology from the University of Denver. Alison’s doctoral dissertation centered on the relationship between religion and prejudice. She is certified in Internal Family Systems Therapy.
Alison maintains a counseling practice in the greater Boston area that specializes in the integration of faith and psychology. She and her husband, Joe, have two teenage children and enjoy spending time with extended family in New England and Wyoming where they ski, hike, and fly-fish as often as they can.
The Thriving Beyond Belief podcast this week featuring: Amy Olrick!
Amy Olrick is an author and a techie who has spent her professional life working with organizations to build social movements grounded in the ethic of love. Her work and writing has been featured in The Guardian and USA Today, and she is an advocate for the global life-saving work of Help Refugees.
Related Links:The Thriving Beyond Belief podcast this week featuring: Courtney DeFeo!
The “tween” years are a critical transition period in the life of a young girl. Girls this age are changing in profound ways. Loaded with fun activities and engaging content, Treasured will initiate meaningful conversation between moms and daughters during these critical preteen years.
ABOUT THE TREASURED STUDYWhether you lead a group of moms and daughters or complete this study one-on-one with your daughter, we equip you digitally with everything you need:
This 6-session faith-based study is designed to connect moms and daughters with engaging content around topics critical to the preteen years: Identity, Body, Emotions, Friendships, Technology, and Faith. It contains a flash drive of digital files that includes everything you need for a small group study with moms and daughters: teaching videos (DVD option included), discussion questions, leader guides, participant guides, and connection ideas and more. This can also be used as a one-on-one study with a mom and her daughter.
To be used on its own, or in conjunction with the Treasured Study, the Treasured Journal is designed to help girls think about the questions they are already asking, and creates opportunities to interact with their moms. There are 6 weeks of topics (the same topics as the study) with 5 days of things for her to think about, doodle, and do. There are things for moms to do, too. Go through it together, and you’ll discover a deeper connection with each other, and in the process, she’ll discover just how Treasured she is. When used alongside the study, it allows moms and daughters to take what they’ve learned in the study one step further.
The Thriving Beyond Belief podcast this week featuring: Julia Jeffress Sadler!
Julia Jeffress Sadler is a reality star from TLC’s Rattled, pastor's daughter, minister, professional counselor, triplet mama, and wife to her junior-high sweetheart, Ryan who has seen God do immeasurably more than anything she could hope or imagine! After suffering three miscarriages in one year, God blessed her and her husband, Ryan, with triplets! Their story of faith, prayer, and evangelism in the midst of heartache has encouraged thousands around the world!
Julia is a licensed professional counselor and the girls ministry director at the 13,000-member First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas. She is a regular conference speaker, radio show guest, host of The Julia Sadler Show, and author of Pray Big Things published by Baker publishing in September 2019!
Her clinical training, biblical foundation, pastor’s daughter upbringing, and sense of humor provide a fresh perspective on cultural topics. Julia and her junior-high sweetheart, Ryan, live and minister in Dallas, Texas.
Related Links:The Thriving Beyond Belief podcast this week featuring: Betty Maxwell!
Betty Maxwell - Miss America 2016 and the author of Miss Unlikely: From Farm Girl to Miss America. Betty can interview on the following:
During her time as Miss America, Betty served as the National Goodwill Ambassador for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and a partner with the USO. Her official website is www.bettymaxwell.net. Here are a couple links of her performing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwuyuJcMpuU (“Soldier On” for the military and their families)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpeUgN8hjhE (talent competition on Miss America)
The Thriving Beyond Belief podcast this week featuring:@tcofoley
Tara’s Clean BeginningsI started my clean beauty journey over 10 years ago after realizing that my “healthy” lifestyle had a huge blind spot: I was exercising and eating clean, but I had no idea what I was putting on my body. That’s when I discovered all the toxins hiding inside my beauty products. I started a blog to share information and received an inspiring response from so many women with the same concerns. We deserved answers—and products that worked without putting our health (or the planet) at risk.
Soon I left my corporate job and immersed myself in the world of clean beauty. I hunted down the best products, continued researching and writing about everything from ingredients to regulation, began building relationships with brands and activists, and even moved to France to work on an organic lavender farm. But clean beauty still felt like a secret, and I wanted to help share it. That’s when I started dreaming up the idea of a store where I could educate and introduce people to the safest, most effective, and luxurious non-toxic products.
Follain opened in 2013 as the first of our kind: the first retailer to sell clean beauty exclusively. Years later, I’m no less amazed by the power of clean ingredients, and I love that I get to share them with you!
The Thriving Beyond Belief podcast this week featuring: Jason Thacker. Jason is an expert on current trends in AI. He is one of the authors of the Evangelical Statement of Principles on Artificial Intelligence and is the creative director and associate research fellow at the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission.
In The Age of AI, Thacker thoughtfully explores the social, moral, and ethical challenges of our interactions with AI, which most of us now interact with constantly, often without even realizing it.
Thacker explains how AI affects our:
Kreis Beall is the co-founder of Blackberry Farm, an award-winning Relais & Chateaux resort in East Tennessee and one of the nation's premier destinations. Entrepreneurial and artistic, Kreis expresses her passion for life in a wide range of pursuits, from running an inn to designing beautiful spaces--many of which have been featured in leading home magazines for decades. Born in Tennessee, Kreis is the mother of two sons and a grandmother of seven, and a long-term survivor of traumatic brain injury. When she isn't writing or speaking about her book, Kreis is working on design projects, traveling with friends, spending time with her grandchildren, or dancing in the kitchen as she cooks.
Related Links:This week on the Thriving Beyond Belief podcast, Esther Fleece Allen!
Esther Fleece’s success and influence as a millennial leader have come not only courtesy of professional acumen, but personal experience. It is through the tragedies and triumphs of her own life – some of which she has shared as a highly sought-after international speaker – that she has established authority and authenticity with people from all walks of life.
She shares those experiences in greater depth than ever before in her first book, No More Faking Fine (Zondervan), in the hope that readers will apply the events and learnings of her life to their own disappointments and injuries, resulting in new hope, healing and health.
In addition to writing and speaking, Fleece is founder and CEO of L&L Consulting, Inc., where she helps new and established Christian ministries develop innovative strategies for non-profit sustainability, new business development, next generation outreach, marketing and communications and relationship brokering. She is recognized as a trailblazer among millennials, working for over a decade to connect influential individuals and organizations across generations to their mutual benefit. Fleece is a committee member for the Alliance for The Peace of Jerusalem, an organization dedicated to facilitating a better public understanding of the complexities of the Middle East.
CNN has called Fleece one of “Five Women to Watch in Religion,” USA Today has named her one of the “New Faces of Evangelicalism” and Christianity Today and Outreach magazine have also singled her out for her high-profile work. Her insights into the experiences and aspirations of millennials have appeared in The Washington Post, CNN as well as in Barna Research President David Kinnaman’s book You Lost Me: Why Young Christians are Leaving Church and Rethinking Faith.
Fleece is a graduate of the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics Business Program, where she met her husband Joel. She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications from Oakland University and is currently in Seminary studying Women’s Leadership.
This week on the Thriving Beyond Belief podcast, Lauren Mones!
A note from our founder.Hi, welcome! I wholeheartedly believe in the healing power of plants. As a young girl I would take refuge in Nature. The natural world was the safest place for me to be me. I felt a deep connection to the life force of the forest, lake, mountains and ocean. Little did I know as a young girl how this powerful connection would heal my body.
I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease in 2014At the time, I was what some people considered “Uber healthy”. I was racing triathlons. A normal workout day consisted of running, swimming and biking for up to 6 hours per day. I ate a mostly clean diet. I had a great career as a nationally certified Occupational Therapist. My personal relationships with family and friends were solid. But I began to show signs of terrible gut health. I was sick. Very sick.
Chronic disease with no cure and a life time of medication?You can imagine my shock after my first colonoscopy. When the post drug drowsiness wore-off, the physician whispered in my ear "this is a life-long disease with no cure. You will need to be heavily medicated for the rest of your life." I was then told to go home, take my medication and eat anything I wanted, that food had nothing to do with the activity of the disease. My physician encouraged me that I would be able to “live an average life with Crohns”.
faith in the healing power of food and a new way of lifeWell, that didn’t sound exactly right to me. I didn’t know anything about Crohn’s at the time, but what I did know, is that food, in particular plants, have always had a healing effect on me. And I’ve never been one to live an average life. That fueled my fire! I changed everything. I eliminated inflammatory foods and added more foods that were closest to nature. I managed stress levels better with personal growth practices. I became particular about my circle of people with whom I interacted everyday. I ended toxic relationships.
A simple jar of sauerkraut changed everythingOne of the biggest shifts came to me when I bought and consumed my first jar of sauerkraut. I felt a huge surge of energy. I was intrigued. I began diving head first into the art of fermentation and gut health.
I began making sauerkraut, kefir, kimchi, kombucha. I started studying the microbiome in depth. Not only was my body healing with these foods but I developed an absolute awe for the microbial world. A world that is teeming with life. A world of balance, symbiosis and chaos. A world that I couldn’t touch, see, hear, or smell but was doing wonders for my body/mind/ Spirit.
Living, medicinal foods transformed me from the inside outI threw away all of my medications and committed to a path of the Warrior. And then the most amazing thing began to happen. I started to really trust in my body’s own healing capacity. I continuously practiced slowing down to learn and listen to what I needed. I trusted. I trusted. And I trusted. Even in the face of fear, I chose to trust. Fermenting Fairy was born from this place of trusting my own inner compass and a deep desire to share these living, fermented, medicinal foods with you. Nothing makes me happier than knowing you are feeling your best and that Fermenting Fairy is part of your journey to the healthiest and most vibrant you!
Why Choose Fermenting Fairy?This week on the Thriving Beyond Belief podcast, Debra Fileta!
Whether you’re single, dating, engaged or married – the quality of your relationships impacts the quality of your life. Healthy relationships are vital to healthy living. Licensed professional counselor and relationship expert, Debra Fileta, has observed countless relationships at various stages and has guided clients through each one.
In her upcoming book, Love in Every Season: Understanding the Four Stages of Every Healthy Relationship (January 14, 2020), Fileta shares that each relationship goes through four life-changing seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter.
Just as nature cycles through seasons, relationships rotate through stages that can either make or break your love life. Each season plays an important role in taking a relationship to the next level, and depending on how you navigate each season, your relationship will either flourish and grow or slowly die.
Spring: The season of rapid growth where friendship blossoms and attraction blooms.
Summer: The season when things get hot physically, emotionally and spiritually, but if you're not careful, you can end up getting burned in the heat of summer.
Fall: The seasons where your true colors begin to vulnerably shine through, as you learn the art of building trust through healthy conflict and communication.
Winter: The season when things begin to cool down, and your relationship is either strengthened with the passing of time and the comfort of familiarity, or it begins to freeze over.
Fileta believes that so many people fail to recognize these important seasons, and in turn, fail to learn and grow through them. In the book, she shares about everything from the importance of developing emotional intimacy, to assessing your conflict style, to the many aspects of attraction, to navigating a lack of excitement in a relationship and everything in between. She offers hope that no matter what season you’re currently in, it can be used to enrich your life and deepen your relationships. Because seasons are meant to be passed through again, and again, and again.
Love in Every Season teaches that healthy relationships are something you make, not something you find, and that even in seasons of pain and difficulty, there is unseen work being accomplished.
No matter what age or stage you’re in as you navigate through friendship, family, dating or marriage, each relationship offers opportunities to open your heart and stretch your love. Readers will learn that recognizing patterns of each season and understanding how to navigate each one with intention is important to the health of any relationship.
About the Author
Debra Fileta is a Licensed Professional Counselor, national speaker, relationship expert, and author of Choosing Marriage and True Love Dates. She's also the host of the hotline style Love + Relationships Podcast. Her popular relationship advice blog, TrueLoveDates.com, reaches millions of people with the message of healthy relationships. Connect with her on Facebook or Instagram @TrueLoveDates, or book a session with her today at TrueLoveDates.com.
This week on the Thriving Beyond Belief podcast, Gary Thomas!
Can't wait for you to hear this interview! Get you paper and pen handy!
Your life's calling is too important to let toxic people take it away. In When to Walk Away, Gary Thomas - bestselling author of Sacred Marriage - draws from biblical and modern stories to equip you with practical insights to dealing with difficult people in your life and live true to your God-given purpose.
As Christians, we often feel the guilt and responsibility of meeting the needs of unhealthy people in our lives. Whether a sibling, parent, spouse, coworker, or friend, toxic people always seek to frustrate our life's calling. While you're seeking first God's kingdom, they're seeking first to distract your focus and delay your work.
Instead of attempting the impossible task of mollifying toxic people, it's time we dedicate our energy to the only worthwhile effort: completing the work God has given us. It's only when we learn to say no to bad patterns can we say yes to the good God has planned for us.
Gary Thomas is a writer in residence at Second Baptist Church in Houston, Texas, and an adjunct faculty member teaching on spiritual formation at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon and Houston Theological Seminary in Houston, Texas. He is the author of 19 books, including Sacred Marriage, Sacred Pathways, Cherish, Sacred Parenting, and the Gold Medallion Award-winning Authentic Faith. He has a master’s degree from Regent College, where he studied under Dr. J.I. Packer, and was awarded an honorary doctorate in divinity from Western Seminary. Gary has spoken in 49 states and 10 different countries. He has appeared numerous times on various national radio and television programs, including CBN, Focus on the Family and Family Life Today.
This week on the Thriving Beyond Belief podcast, Daniel & Brittany Price Brooker!
This week on the Thriving Beyond Belief podcast, Paul David Tripp!
Dr. Paul David Tripp is a pastor, event speaker, and a best-selling and award-winning author. With more than 30 books and video series on Christian living, Paul’s driving passion is to connect the transforming power of Jesus Christ to everyday life.
Paul was born in Toledo, Ohio, and his parents had recently come to faith in Christ and were very excited about parenting as believers. Even though the Tripp's were committed to having daily family worship and attending church whenever the doors were open, Paul's family was not without significant struggle. God used these experiences to build in Paul a desire to see the Gospel applied to the realities of life in a fallen world.
Paul attended Columbia Bible College (now Columbia International University) and majored in Bible and Christian Education. He went on to receive his M.Div from the Reformed Episcopal Seminary and his D.Min in Biblical Counseling from Westminster Theological Seminary.
Throughout his life, Paul has planted a church, founded a Christian school, wrote worship songs and toured with a Christian band. He was a faculty member at the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation (CCEF) for many years, a lecturer in Biblical Counseling at Westminster Theological Seminary, a Visiting Professor at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and a pastor at Tenth Presbyterian Church.
Paul launched his own ministry in 2006. He lives in Philadelphia and is hopelessly in love with his wife, Luella. They have four grown children.
This week on the Thriving Beyond Belief podcast, Melanie Shankle!
Melanie Shankle, New York Times bestselling author and founder of the Big Mama blog, pens up with humor and great stories about friendship, love and what it takes to be true to yourself, you'll be encouraged to find your way again in a world that can make you feel a little bit crazy.
In On the Bright Side, Melanie reminds us of the unchanging principles we can count on in a changing world. These are lessons that Melanie has learned along the way about how to find all the joy that life has to offer - and why encouragement is never something to keep to ourselves. Exploring topics such as dealing with comparisons, when life doesn't turn out like we expected, and how to find your people, Melanie invites us to lead with love in all areas of our lives.
This delightful memoir, with a foreword by Jen Hatmaker, highlights the joys of life told in Melanie's down to earth, relatable and totally enjoyable style. On the Bright Side is a how-to guide to knowing - and living - what matters most.
Melanie Shankle writes regularly at The Big Mama blog and is the New York Times bestselling author of four previous books. Melanie is a graduate of Texas A&M and loves writing, shopping at Target, checking to see what’s on sale at Anthropologie and trying to find the lighter side in every situation. Most of all, she loves being the mother of Caroline, the wife of Perry and the official herder of two wild dogs named Piper and Mabel. The five of them live in San Antonio, Texas.
This week on the Thriving Beyond Belief podcast, Kelly Minter!
FROM KELLY:
"My parents raised me along with my three younger siblings in Northern Virginia, which is an important distinction because it means D.C. metro, traffic, and politics more than the Blue Ridge Mountains. In the Minter home, although our family didn’t always get it right, we mostly got it real. As a child, I struggled with acute anxiety and waves of depression before I or the people around me had much language or help for such things. The Word of God became my balm. This is one of the reasons I love the Bible so.
In my twenties, I moved to the Nashville after signing a record deal. Soon after unloading all my belongings, I got used to the perks of the south—a then slower pace and novelties like cheese grits. If I’d written the rest of the story, the next few paragraphs would include the heights of happiness and fulfillment as a result of success and notoriety. But that’s not what happened.
I poured myself into three records—but instead of fame and fortune, pretty much everything I’d put my hope in unraveled before me. I eventually ended up with an opportunity to write a book, which is now out of print—so that went well, too. I was looking to people, career paths, and success to fill me, but whatever splashed into my bucket only leaked out. I had a bunch of those ‘cracked cisterns’ in my heart that are mentioned in Jeremiah—the kind that obviously don’t hold water. Maybe you can relate?
Around that time LifeWay asked if I’d be interested in writing a Bible study. I was equal parts thrilled and overwhelmed by the opportunity. (This was around the same time when I’d run into people I hadn’t seen in a while and they’d say encouraging things like, “Oh do you still live here?”) Since the Lord was deconstructing just about every false god I had in my life at the time, I wrote about what I knew and what I needed to learn—the idols I was trusting for worth and meaning. I thought it a good idea to invite real people to my house to pilot the material I was writing—people who would tell me the truth. We cooked and ate together, dug through Bible passages with intensity, prayed with one another, and laughed for hours. (That was before everyone started having kids). Shortly thereafter, No Other Gods was published.
What followed, quite unexpectedly for me, were invitations to speak at churches across the country, a few more books, teaching local Bible studies, and the opportunity to lead worship at my home church and abroad. So did a trip down the Amazon in a riverboat. As in…the real one in the jungle, my friends. I’d been invited on a riverboat adventure to serve the forgotten people of the jungle. My comfortable, western lifestyle and mindset was challenged at every turn. Since then, I’ve traveled to the jungle numerous times with an organization called Justice & Mercy International, and I’ve since written a book about it. I sit on the board of JMI, and I’m a passionate supporter and participant of their annual jungle pastors’ conference. The invitation to be on mission with God, both here and abroad, is one of the greatest joys of my life.
Today I’m grateful for the opportunities to study and teach the Word of God—the very words that have changed my life. I’m also thankful to be singing and writing music, bringing it all together at an event called Cultivate. Other joys include teaching the Bible to the younger generation and serving them coffee in weighty diner mugs (the younger generation must understand the weight of the diner mug—pun absolutely intended). I adore community, which naturally means I’m zealous for all things food, cooking, and gardening. I’ve adopted the southern love of college football. I am an ecstatic aunt of six nieces and nephews who say things like, “You’re the best Kelly ever,” even when I don’t feel like it. In all things, I delight in the person of Jesus in whom is found the only redemption this world has ever known. My joy is to know Him, talk about Him, and teach the Word that is all about Him.
As you wander over these webpages and maybe even go through a book or Bible study, I hope you taste the sweet joy of Jesus and feel a warm welcome from Nashville.
- Kelly
Lauren Scruggs Kennedy was born in Redondo Beach and raised in Dallas, so she calls herself a California girl whose roots are deep in the heart of Texas.
Lauren loves Jesus, her hubby, Jason Kennedy, her family, friends and clean living!
And that's what this episode is about! we are going to talk about Lauren's The Clean Sweep program!
Lauren is beyond thrilled to offer this three-month program to you! It is an organized, thorough guidebook to help lead you on a journey toward clean living by diving deeply into food, products, and healthy practices.
She has gathered everything she knows about wellness from her years of extensive research and personal experience and put it into a 90-day informational program of understandable and practical ways to improve your health.
She is a big believer in the importance of proper food choices, products, and practices, but she wants to stress that implementing everything perfectly is unrealistic. It took her quite some time to transition into this lifestyle, and it takes patience, grace and endurance along the way!
This process included swapping out toxic products one by one for clean options that still get the job done, figuring out which foods gave her a healthy gut, glowing skin, mental clarity, and significant energy, and discovering which practices provide physical healing as well as tools against anxiety, stress, and fear.
Oh! And it is important to remember how personal this journey is; what is great for one may not be great for another. She would love for you to enter into this daily resource filled with encouragement, grocery lists, recipes, the ins and outs of celery juice, exclusive interviews with health professionals, a private FB page for you and those around you who are journeying with you (including a monthly FB Live where I will answer your questions), and a shop of all of the products, supplements, and books she recommends to make this process as easy as possible, and so much more!
A willingness to be vulnerable and share a personal story takes courage. Speaker, blogger, and pastor, Ashley Abercrombie knows this first hand. In her new book, Rise of the Truth Teller: Own Your Story, Tell it Like it Is, and Live with Holy Gumption, she writes about her private journey surviving rape, abortion, dysfunctional relationships, and overcoming addictions all while maintaining her gritty, no-nonsense style.
It was in the story telling that allowed Abercrombie to find her strength and her voice. And now she wants to offer readers permission to break the silence on their own pain and shame in order to find healing, encouragement, and ultimately, the gumption to carry on.
She urges Christians to release others to do the same and in turn embrace the truth of the social injustices facing our country today, including rural poverty, race, the criminal justice system, and gender roles. Throughout the book, Abercrombie ruthlessly encourages women to rise up, embrace the truth of who they are, and not hide behind masks anymore.
“Through this book, I hope to inspire others to own their story, tell it like it is, and live with holy gumption,” she writes. “I am convinced that we are living in an unprecedented time, when we need the truth tellers to rise. We need space to be our whole selves, and then courage to create safe space for others to do the same.”
Ashley Abercrombie wore a mask more than half her life, and considers herself too old and too annoyed to ever put that thing on again. She has fought to overcome addiction, rape, abortion, perfectionism, and dysfunctional relationships to become an honest, whole, and free woman (most days) and has been in multicultural urban ministry and justice work or more than 15 years. During that time, she has taught Bible studies, classes, small groups, and workshops on reconciliation and justice, as well as Sunday services. Ashley is a content creator, and more than 200,000 people have completed her YouVersion Bible App devotional. She's currently doing that work while serving at Liberty Church in downtown Manhattan. A blogger, writer, and speaker, Ashley lives with her husband, Cody, and their two sons in Harlem.
As a marriage and family therapist, one of Nicole Zasowski’s greatest joys is helping her clients grow in emotional freedom. What she couldn’t see for many years is that she was living her own life outside of that freedom, clinging to behaviors like shame, performance, and control in order to feel valued and safe.
It was only when she was confronted with her own devastating pain and loss that Nicole realized her current way of life was failing her. She then discovered that sometimes God’s rescue looks like prying our fingers off what we think we want so that we can receive what we truly need. And often, on the far side of pain we don’t prefer, we find transformation we would not trade.
In From Lost to Found, Nicole shares her story as she helps us
God is writing a story of redemption in your life too. Find out for yourself that sometimes the greatest joy is found when we are drained of all misplaced hope and shallow identities. In the midst of pain or transition, discover a surprising path to healing as you lose your grip on comfort and control—and fall right into God’s transformative grace.
Highlights:The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry
Please welcome John Mark Comer to the Thriving Beyond Belief podcast this week talking about our world of HURRY and how we can eliminate it!!
Author and Former Megachurch Pastor John Mark Comer Advocates a New Practice for Your Spiritual Life: Slowing DownOur worst moments tend to happen when we are in a hurry—late for an appointment, behind on our to-do list, cramming too much in our day. It occurs when we’re trying constantly to do more, creating a bone-deep tiredness not just in our minds or bodies but deep in our souls. In short, hurry doesn’t just make us weary. It is the great enemy of our spiritual life.
Author and pastor John Mark Comer proposes that the solution to being fully present to God, others, and our own hearts is found simply by following the unhurried way of Jesus. He explains, “Jesus invites all of us to take up the ‘easy’ yoke. He has—on offer to all—an easy way to shoulder the weight of life with his triumvirate of love, joy, and peace.”
Comer’s journey to discovering the life-changing remedy of slowing down began while he was pastoring a successful megachurch with six services each Sunday, a marathon lifestyle which left him feeling burnt out and detached from those around him. In a moment of desperation, he asked his mentor, John Ortberg, for advice. The response he received was the same as what philosopher and Christian spiritual formation teacher Dallas Willard had given to Ortberg years before: “You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life. There is nothing else.”
As Comer put this simple truth into practice in his own life, he experienced radical renewal in his mental, spiritual, and emotional well-being. The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry describes his transformation and offers hope amidst the toxicity in our fast-paced, modern world.
In a casual, conversational tone, he presents a poignant message: “This is an invitation—for all the tired, the burned out, the stressed, all those stuck in traffic and behind on their to-do list….If you want to experience the life of Jesus, you have to adopt the lifestyle of Jesus.”
John Mark Comer lives, works, and writes in the urban core of Portland, Oregon. He is the pastor for teaching and vision at Bridgetown Church. Prior to that, he was lead pastor of a suburban megachurch. He has a master’s degree from Western Seminary and is the author of Loveology, Garden City, and God Has a Name. John Mark lives in Portland with his wife, Tammy, and their three children.
Please welcome Niki Hardy to the Thriving Beyond Belief podcast this week!!
Niki Hardy is a speaker and writer whose work has appeared in Christian Today and Living by Design Ministries and on Premier Radio. After leaving corporate life in London, she trained as a teacher at Kings College, London, before studying theology at Wycliffe, Oxford. She and her husband moved their family to the United States to plant CityChurch Charlotte, NC, where they now live with their three kids and two crazy Goldendoodles. A rectal (yes, rectal) cancer survivor, pastor’s wife, tea drinker, and teller of bad jokes, she’d love to connect with you at www.nikihardy.com if she can’t hug you in person.
Niki Hardy watched her mother pass away from cancer, and then her sister a few years later. When she herself was diagnosed just six weeks later it left her reeling, questioning, and merely surviving a life that bore no resemblance to the abundant life Jesus promises in the Bible, so she set out to find it.
In her new book, Breathe Again: How to Live Well When Life Falls Apart, Hardy unpacks seven practices to thrive, not just survive, no matter what life throws at us. Full of grit, humor and unvarnished stories from her own grief and rectal cancer journey, Hardy’s story and her Thriver Manifesto will help readers claim truths such as: I believe life doesn’t have to be pain-free to be full. I’ve got this because God’s got me, and together we can do more than I could ever do alone. I step into vulnerable spaces with God and others, aware that my strength can be my biggest weakness. I practice gratitude in all things, confident that peace and well-being will follow.
I have learned to breathe again. “We’ve bought into the myth that a painful season can’t be full,” writes Hardy, “that a time of abundance isn’t challenging—and this, dear reader, gets my goat. I just don’t think it’s true, and this is exactly what this book is about: smashing this myth and inhaling all God has for us.”
The first weekend in October at the Influence Her Conference 2019 near Sacramento, CA, I had the honor to speak alongside my friend Shannon Stewart Ratliff, Cheryl Broderson and Grace Broderson at Metro Calvary Church in Roseville, CA! We loved our time there and the amazing women we were able to speak into and meet!
This week on the Thriving Beyond Belief, I am playing the talk that Shannon did called "Finding Yourself In A Selfie World."
Her name is Shannon and she is head over heels in love with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Without Him she is nothing, but with Him, she is royalty-a King's daughter, and she has a future and a hope. I do like cool, pretty pictures, but her desire when you visit her site is that you smell the love of Christ.
She's a small-town girl, from Franklin, Ohio. Most of her childhood days were filled with her mom taking them to church, playing sports, traveling on vacation, and her trying to become a supermodel. Ha!
Her talk is so inspiring, encouraging, and life-giving! DO NOT MISS IT!
Related Links:Mentoring is something we often talk about on the podcast because we know how critical it is as we grow in Christ, but it can also feel overwhelming. Today we’re excited to talk with >Shelley Giglio and Daniele Flickinger about FLOURISH.
FLOURISH is a yearlong mentoring journey based on Scripture and created in partnership with Passion City Church. After 6 years of development and leading more than 3,500 women through this mentoring journey, Passion is excited to release this unique resource to churches worldwide. This study will help you establish strong relationships between both mentors and mentees as they dig into understanding God’s truth and love through His Word together.
About Shelley: Shelley Giglio is the Chief Strategist of Passion Conferences and sixstepsrecords and the Visionary Leader of The Grove and Flourish Mentoring Journey at Passion City Church, which she and her husband, Louie Giglio founded and lead in Atlanta, GA.
About Daniele: Daniele Flickinger leads the Flourish Mentoring Team at Passion City Church and has also been a key visionary and contributor to the Flourish Mentoring Journey since its inception in 2015.
Links:
God has a real purpose for your life. All the time, that purpose is greater than ourselves. – @shelleygiglio #MARKEDpodcast
Features:
Benefits:
Find valuable tools, videos and resources to help your churches, small groups, or individuals start their own mentoring journey at flourishmentor.com!
Highlights:Super excited to welcome Alex Seeley back again on the Thriving Beyond Belief podcast this week!
Alex Seeley was born and raised in Australia and spent seventeen years pastoring there. It is also where she met and married her husband, Henry. After relocating to Nashville in 2012, they founded The Belonging Co., a church where they minister together to thousands of people each week. She is a passionate teacher of the Word with the unique ability to reveal how the Word of God is applicable to our everyday lives.
In our constant search for a life filled with abundance, we often follow our human instinct, and then wonder why we come up short. God always has a better idea. And it most often requires us to move in the opposite direction.
We talk at length about Alex's new book: The Opposite Life!
So what does it mean to embrace “The Opposite Life?”
“It means acting in a way that is contrary to what is expected in our world. The Holy Spirit living in us allows us to react positively, which is contrary to the negativity coming our way.”
Why is this book relevant now?
There is a desperate longing for goodness in the face of overwhelming anger, pain, and confusion in our society. We all want the blessed life but sometimes go about it in the wrong way. We are reactive, and not proactive. We can eliminate problems before they even become problems by opposite life principles.
Also, as Alex explains, we have become a body known for what we are against instead of what we stand for. The church has it all wrong… we should be talking the Gospel less and living it more. Rather than living an opposite life and changing the world, we’ve been filling up our time with knowledge from the Bible without going the next step of applying it to our everyday lives.
Summary:
Super excited to welcome Ashley LeMieux to Thriving Beyond Belief this week!
3 Steps to Turn Your Life Right Side Up by Mike LeMieuxOn April 22, 2013, my wife Ashley and I (pictured above) became parents over night to a 4 and 6 year old.
Up to that point we’d never thought about having kids.
We were asked to raise them and felt like it was the right thing to do —so we did.
We picked them up and brought them home to our house — I was now a dad.
A few years into everything, we wanted to make things more permanent and stable for the kids so we filed to adopt them.
It was unexpectedly and heavily contested.
We fought for them in a very heated legal battle for a year and a half.
We spent a large sum of money on attorney’s fees, attended a dozen court hearings, were deposed, and were drained of every ounce of mental and spiritual energy we had.
After 4 years of being a dad, my time was over.
Our kids went back to live with their biological family.
My wife and I and our families were devastated.
I stopped caring about life.
Nothing mattered to me anymore — work, what I ate, etc. I didn’t care.
For months, I cried every day because I missed them so much.
But several months ago something changed in me.
I realized what was happening to me and wanted to MAKE A CHANGE in my life.
I knew I needed to let myself grieve, but I was sick and tired of not being happy anymore.
I decided to live intentionally, every day.
I decided to work on things that filled me up.
I decided to surround myself with people who are happy.
I DECIDED to take my life back.
FIRSTSet Intentions For The Day, Every Day
Fill out a planner, write on a white board, create a Google calendar… whatever you need to do in order to stay on track with what you want to do.
When you write down what you want to do each day, you’re more likely to do it.
If you don’t write anything down, you’re not going to do anything you want. You’ll do what everyone else wants you to do.
You’ll be tossed to and fro like a bobber in the water
You’ll be aimless and tired all the time, “working”, but not getting anything done.
Start your day by writing out, physically or digitally, your intentions for the day and stick to them until your day is done!
SECONDLet Yourself Feel Different Emotions
After we’d lost our kids, I had so many emotions, as you can imagine.
Most of them were anger, grief and sadness. Sometimes I felt despair and loneliness.
When I felt these types of emotions, I wanted to shove them out as fast as possible. They made me feel very uncomfortable.
I realized the more I tried to bury those emotions, the more they resurfaced and the worse I got.
I decided to let myself feel the emotions and just let things happen as they would.
When I did this, miraculous things started happening;
By letting myself just be, I was myself again.
Not my old self, but my new self. It felt good.
THIRDTake things one minute at a time
The pictures you see above are the last things we did inside of the home we lived in when we lost the kids.
The house was empty, new people would be moving in a couple days later and we would be moving to the other side of the country to Nashville, Tennessee.
I had felt so overwhelmed by the emotions I’d been having, I didn’t know how to take things even one day at a time.
I started focusing on each minute at a time.
I started recognizing things I still had in my life that brought me joy;
I’d think about how helpful it would be to be able to sell what we owned and move to Nashville to “start fresh”.
I’d think about these things, one at a time, until I started to feel happy.
When I paid attention to what I had in my life that made me happy, I was happy.
If I did the opposite and focused ONLY on the difficult things, I was miserable.
My mind frame changed and my life started becoming mine again.
I was making choices about how I wanted to live and I was empowering myself.
Day after day of practicing these three habits has allowed me to go from devastated to determined.
When we stop thinking “We are the product of the things that happen to us” and switch our frame of mind to “I get to decide how I live my life and react to what happens to me”, our lives are fixed and we truly thrive
I am so grateful and honored to welcome Anne Graham Lotz to the Thriving Beyond Belief podcast today!
Called “the best preacher in the family” by her late father, Billy Graham, Anne Graham Lotz speaks around the globe with the wisdom and authority of years spent studying God's Word.
The New York Times named Lotz one of the five most influential evangelists of her generation. Her Just Give Me Jesus revivals have been held in more than 30 cities in 12 different countries, to hundreds of thousands of attendees. She has been featured in such media outlets as “60 Minutes,” Washington Post, Fox News, and many more.
Lotz is a best-selling and award-winning author of 16 books, including her most recent release, Jesus in Me. She is the President of AnGeL Ministries in Raleigh, North Carolina, and has served as Chairman of the National Day of Prayer Task Force.
In Jesus in Me, readers will discover that Lotz has created a simple yet rich resource that will transform their relationship with this vital member of the Trinity. She explores such facets of life with the Holy Spirit as:
In addition, Lotz offers comprehensive appendixes offering deeper insight into learning to hear the Holy Spirit while reading the Bible and how to be filled—and stay filled—with the Holy Spirit.
Sarah Mae is an 80’s/early 90’s child who grew up living with her dad in Pennsylvania but visiting her mom in the summers (Alaska! Georgia! Arkansas!). She rode a bike with no helmet, roller-skated with friends till dark, played the games Girl Talk Date Line and Mall Madness, loved She-Ra, and watched Saved By the Bell, Full House, Growing Pains, and all the rest.
Her highest hopes were to be just like her mom or Madonna.
When she was 14 years old she decided she wanted to move in with her mom, who was the coolest. They'd go to the pool together during the day, and in the evenings she would read to or teach her French (she lived in France for a couple of years when she was girl). She was fun and laid back and Sarah Mae felt like she could talk to her about anything and everything. It never fazed her that by the time she was 12 she was on her fourth husband, or that she relaxed with a beer after work, or that she threw a plate of chicken at her husband. She was just… passionate…untethered…unedited…
So Sarah Mae went to small-town Georgia to live with her mom and her 20 year old boyfriend. And it was awesome. At first.
The best way to tell you how things got worse is tell you a story of a dog, her mom’s dog. He was sweet and playful and sensitive, until one day he got out of the house to chase a female dog in heat. My mom told her to go after him, so she ran out the door and through the neighborhood chasing the dog as he chased the scent of the other dog. She finally caught up to him, and grabbed his collar and yanked him. He turned around and, for the first time ever, bit her. It made her furious. She let him go and went home and told her mom she couldn’t get him. Adrenaline was pumping and angry tears were in her eyes. It was then that her mom looked down at her hand, and followed her gaze and saw blood dripping down her fingers. Sarah Mae hadn’t even felt the bite or noticed the tears in her skin or that her hand was red. But as soon as she saw it, she felt the pain.
This is what it was like with her mom. Things were good. She was good. But she chased her drink, beer, vodka, whatever it took to numb her pain, to give her an escape. Sarah watched the chase and noticed how she changed. Her words were cutting and her laughter was tinged with mockery. Sarah chased her, wanting her love and her willingness to stop drinking, and so she told her she thought she was an alcoholic. She pleaded for her to hear what she was saying, for her to come back to being the mom she thought she knew. But like trying to force a dog home when he was on a scent, it was useless. And like the dog who bit her so she'd let go, her mom sliced through her, ripping the tender skin of her heart, and she did it with her laughter and her sharp words. So Sarah Mae finally let go.
Sarah's anger kept her from the pain, until it couldn’t anymore. She'd swerve between hatred and longing for her mom's love and approval, and the only time she got it was when she needed that love and approval too.
Highlights:So excited for Jeff and I to be interviewing one of our favorite couples, Jordan and Amber Massey this week on the podcast!
Amber is.. a 30-something year old wife to her firefighter hero and best friend in the whole wide world + a mama to their five littles.!
Amber says, "I am his number one after The Lord and I have remained there throughout these last 10 years of marriage + 3 years before that. I’m his favorite girl, and he makes me feel that way on a daily basis.We had so much fun on this interview, but we also talk very seriously about marriage and parenting, and how Jesus needs to be the center of our lives to abundantly live out our roles and life as He planned!
We laughed, we cried, and the kids were crawling in their laps as we chatted!
One of the most real, vulnerable interviews we have done on marriage!
DON'T MISS IT!
Related Links:So excited to have my new and special friend Stephanie May Wilson on the podcast this week!
Stephanie May Wilson — an author, blogger, speaker, and best friend is here to help you have awesome relationships — awesome relationships with God, with your friends, with your significant other, with your work, and an awesome relationship with yourself.
There’s so much to figure out, and so many opportunities for us to get it wrong.
And as you try to figure out who you are, and where you’re going in life, have you ever wished you had a friend a few steps ahead of you who could guide you along the way?
What Stephanie has to say:
"That’s exactly what I needed — a girlfriend who had figured some things out to invite me over, hand me a glass of wine, and answer all of my questions. I needed to know I wasn’t alone, and I needed someone to help me find my way."
She's been a leader in women’s ministry for 8 years, and have walked thousands of women through the things we talk about in this interview. But most importantly — She's been a best friend her whole life, and have walked with women in her life closely as we learn to have healthy, life-giving, life-changing relationships: Relationships with God, our girlfriends, our significant others, our work, and awesome relationships with ourselves.
Masterminded by a California team passionate about healthy lifestyles and whose organic products are backed by powerful science. It all started when Karen Behnke, a serial wellness entrepreneur, who built one of the first corporate wellness companies in the country, developed a keen interest in personal care products upon becoming pregnant with her first child at the age of 40.
Experiencing hormonal changes and the beginning of lines in her skin, Karen set out to find healthy skincare solutions that delivered visible results. She was astounded to learn that, although the skin absorbs over 60% of what is placed on it, there were very few available healthy personal care products that worked well. She wanted to create meaningful change in the beauty industry.
Years after her second child was born, Karen subsequently bought the name “Juice Beauty” in 2004 and launched the company from scratch in 2005. Karen set out to do the impossible: to create organic and natural formulations that perform as well as conventional beauty products yet never compromise on the luxurious experience. Over 5 years, Karen’s team worked with PhD chemists, physicians, and microbiologists to perfect Juice Beauty’s chemistry. Juice Beauty’s revolutionary formulations started with a basic premise: Karen believed that by formulating with an antioxidant and vitamin-rich organic botanical juice base, rather than petroleum derivatives or added water, and combining it with powerful skincare ingredients, it could yield equal or better results than conventional or natural products. Multiple clinical testing proved her right. The company really started growing when the GREEN APPLE® Peel – now patented – escalated to fame through celebrity favorite mentions and media awards.
Today, Juice Beauty offers award winning (InStyle, ELLE, Allure, Glamour, EWG) skincare and makeup products that meet rigorous USA organic regulations supported by solid eco-values that include purchasing many ingredients locally from West Coast certified organic farmers and manufacturing strictly in the USA, often with solar & wind power, utilizing sustainable containers and printing with soy ink. Juice Beauty is committed to providing continual support to its non profit friends, Breast Cancer Prevention Partners and EWG / Environmental Working Group.
Welcome back to the Thriving Beyond Belief podcast today!
I am super excited today because this week's episode is a bit different than normal! Because thriving is so near and dear to my heart, I have decided to do a solo episode talking about thriving!
We all need encouragement in this area as life can get overwhelming, throw us some curve balls, challenge us to the core, draw us into a wilderness time and oftentimes we feel tired and worn out!
Yet Jesus has a great plan for us (Jer 29:11), and never stops interceding for us and growing and shaping us into who He wants us to be.He can do immeasurably more than you could ever ask or imagine (Eph 3:20), and nothing is impossible with Him(Matt 19:26).
God has taken me through some wilderness experiences and long ago, I was "successful" by the world's standards, but had no idea how to thrive by God's standards.
And that's what this podcast is about today! It's about what I've learned, still learning and hopefully help you learn about how to Thrive in life!
Grab and paper and pen.....a cup of Joe, and relax-- as I walk you through a teaching on how to Biblically thrive!
Related Links:Welcome Lisa-Jo Baker to the Thriving Beyond Belief podcast today!
Do you ever wonder how you woke up one day with all the responsibilities of a grown-up who secretly enjoys buying groceries in bulk, can no longer recognize the tween celebrities on the magazines at checkout, but is still surprised when a Starbucks barista calls you “ma’am”—because your inside self is frozen in time to about twenty years ago?
So does Lisa-Jo Baker.
In these intimate reflections on midlife, Lisa-Jo invites us to get a good look at our middles and gives us permission to embrace them—beyond what the media, the mirror, or the magazines say. Through gutsy, beautiful storytelling, she admits out loud what most of us are thinking about marriage, parenting, the bathroom scale, and how badly we all want to buy those matching Magnolia Market mugs.
Her delicious stories come from not being afraid of who she is, because Lisa-Jo knows that the middle might be the best part of the love story of life, kids, faith, doubt, marriage, failure, wonder, and the muffin top—and that these are all good things. She’s not asking you to seize the day, just to make sure you actually see it for all its wildly ordinary glory.
Welcome to the middle!
Today I am super excited to welcome Anne Neilson as my hand-picked guest!
PAINTING WITH A PURPOSEA lifelong artist, Anne Neilson began painting with oils in 2003 and quickly became nationally renown for her ethereal Angel Series. A favorite among individuals and private art collectors, Neilson’s paintings are inspiring reflections of her faith and recognized for their flair and use of color.
In 2012, Neilson self-published Angels In Our Midst and has sold over 30,000 copies. This coffee table book follows her journey through the Angel Series, sharing inspirational and personal stories behind her paintings and the organizations she supports. Following its success and the demand for more access to her acclaimed Angels, Neilson released a follow up book, Strokes of Compassion, and launched Anne Neilson Home – a growing collection of luxury home products including candles, note cards, scripture cards, prints, and journals. Most recently, Neilson released Angels: The Collector’s Edition, her largest coffee table book to date, showcasing the most-loved content from Angels In Our Midst as well as brand new stories of faith from Steven Curtis Chapman, Amy Grant and more.
A wife, a mother of four, and an artist, Neilson paints with both passion and purpose, giving back to those less fortunate through sales of her products and original paintings.
As you know, I've been doing some replays these last couple weeks, and I couldn't help but rerun my episode with Louie Giglio for this week. And so I'm super excited for you guys to either tune into this for the first time or maybe re-listen to everything he talked about in his recent episode. We spent some time discussing Louie's new book, Not Forsaken, and we speak on the freedom that comes with finding our identity and being sons or daughters of the perfect father. The relationship of father and child is one that is vastly important in life, so I can't wait for you to tune into this week's replay!
atherhood. It’s an ever-growing issue of importance in our culture today. And who better to speak about that with than Louie Giglio? He is my guest on today’s episode of Thriving Beyond Belief!
Louie is a well known pastor of Passion City Church in Atlanta and is the founder of Passion, a conference that is specifically geared toward 18-25 year olds who are setting up life for themselves for the first time. This conference is to help those in this season put Christ at the center of their lives and turn their focus on what is eternal rather than what is temporary. Louie is also a husband to his beautiful wife, Shelley, a speaker and an author. We spend our time today talking specifically about the subject of Louie’s new book, Not Forsaken- fatherhood.
We speak on the freedom that comes with finding our identity in being sons and daughters of the Perfect Father. This is a complicated subject, as we often project characteristics of our earthly fathers onto our Heavenly Father. That could be that He is absent, angry, distant, apathetic, and the list goes on. Louie talks about us beginning to see that those characteristics don’t exist in Heaven. He was Father first, which means He is perfect in fatherhood. The fall led to a broken view of what fatherhood needs to be. We discuss the fact that the relationship of father and child is one that is vastly important to our life. It is one of the relationships on earth that effects us in such drastic ways. Our souls long for this relationship to feel whole.
Louie shares with us some amazing Scripture and wisdom on how to restore the relationship with our eternal Father, even when our earthly relationship may have never been a positive one. Louie shares so vulnerably about his own father, the struggles in their own relationship, and how it led to remind him that nothing here is how it should be. Our souls are longing for the day when all will be restored. We even speak some on mental health and how important it is to address any issues going on, the power of counseling, and the significance of authenticity.
What a blessing this episode is to me and I hope it is the same for you. May there be peace that comes to you after this episode!
Hi everyone and welcome to the Thriving Beyond Belief podcast today! And as you know, if you're a regular listener, I've taken a couple of weeks off and one of the main reasons is because we were welcoming our new baby granddaughter into the world. This week, we're replaying an episode from Courtney Pray Duke. If you have not listened to her episode yet from about a year ago, you'll definitely want to tune into this episode — she has some great stuff to say!
Courtney has such an incredible story of God working through incredible tragedy to show His faithfulness. With three young children at home, Courtney received a call that forever changed the trajectory of her life. Finding out that her husband was in an accident, she rushed to the hospital, only to find out on the way that he didn't make it.
From this story of incredible loss and hurt, Courtney talks about how God was revealed to her through this loss and helped her treasure each day. From pain He brings so much purpose. She remarks that in the economy of God, nothing is wasted.
She discusses walking through widowhood and who she now can share in the loss with. She talks about the journey of healing and how time brings hope. This loss gave Courtney a new lens on life and she talks about the fact that we have an eternity to live for. It's remarkable how God uses unbelievable circumstances to show us how to full trust Him.
Courtney talks about what has helped her walk through this journey. Some helpful tools are being able to speak out loud about the circumstances. She also emphasizes her need for Scripture day to day.
We really focus on the change from surviving to thriving. Courtney can talk about knowing what it is like to thrive because she has walked through that journey of being in the place where she didn't know how to put one foot in front of the other, wondering if she would make it to the next day. When she leaned into the Lord through Scripture and church community, she has slowly been able to see the bright days begin to appear again.
From the darkest of days with loss to now being remarried and having a new baby, Courtney's story is one of constant redemption and God's grace and love. She talks about the phase of being content with the Lord and His plans and then felt she was finally able to open her heart to love another in this life. We discuss the trust of the Lord in the valley so that we see His plans and goodness fulfilled on the mountain top.
We end discussing how the call on God's life and the roles we play in our lives aren't mutually exclusive.
We should begin embracing our complexities and many facets the Lord created us as so that we can confidently go forward in the Lord's purpose for our life.
I believe this episode will touch so many lives. It will bring hope to those hurting and encouragement that God is there with us in every single season. I hope this episode comforts you today.
I'm currently away helping my daughter and her family adjust to the newest addition, so here is a special replay of one of my personal favorite episodes featuring my husband, Jeff and our very good friends, Matt and Lauren Chandler! Matt Chandler is the lead pastor of The Village Church in North Texas. He and Lauren have three children and have had the blessing of being married for almost 20 years! Matt and Lauren have been able to write many books over the years, but we discuss in particular Matt’s book A Mingling of Souls, as it relates to love, marriage, sex, and dating.
Matt and Lauren talk to us about some amazing truths they have learned along the way while in marriage, growing their family, and even through incredible hardship. They give such wisdom and insight on the deeper issues that we all deal with and what to truly seek in order to work on marriage, family, and with the world.
They also give great advice to both men and women on things that each sex needs to diligently work at either because it does not come naturally or because culture has told us that men have particular roles and women have particular roles. The mandate of the Gospel, however, extends to everyone. So we discuss how to live in the freedom of the Gospel to be exactly who the Lord created and intended us to be.
We hope you enjoy this refreshing time of talking with dear friends and learning what we can from both our stories and other’s!
There are fewer things that bring me more joy than seeing people share their story with authenticity and vulnerability. That is why this week's episode of Thriving Beyond Belief has brought me so much joy- and I hope it does the same for you. I am so excited for you to hear Eryn Eddy's story. It is one of overcoming, being true to what God has called you to be, and finding passions in unexpected places.
Eryn shares with us her story of how she has come to where she is. Eryn talks with us about being raised in a Christian home, finding herself working for a ministry, deciding not to go to college, and marrying young. She walks us through this relationship she had with her husband and what ultimately led to their divorce. Eryn is so vulnerable in her story-telling, sharing with us such wise words on truly coming to terms with the fact that nothing can fill the void in our lives other than Jesus. She talks about what voids she was trying to fill through her marriage and how her husband was trying to do the same in different capacities. Trying to fill the void of the Lord in your life with a person, a hobby, a career, children will only leave those voids being manifested in unhealthy ways in your relationships with others and with Jesus.
Eryn shares some life-giving wisdom on her journey and how the Lord taught her to only be satisfied with Him. What came from this broken relationship actually led her to the ministry she runs today- So Worth Loving. It is an apparel brand that prints life-giving and encouraging messages on apparel. She emphasizes that nothing will fulfill like Jesus and no one will champion who you were created to be like Jesus.
Eryn closes with some amazing and practical steps to healing. She shares some amazing ways you can begin to climb out of the pit that you are in and how to lean into the Lord in real ways during that time of heartache, loss, or emptiness.
I want to close with So Worth Loving's manifesto, in that I hope it beings encouragement to your story and that the Lord wastes nothing. He uses each of our stories to glorify Him and help others in healing.
No matter my history, past mistakes, relationship status, or career choice, I am worthy of love. I am not defined by my past. I am prepared because of it. While my own voice and others may tell me different, I will lean into the safe people that affirm this way of thinking. When I encourage others to love themselves I am encouraging them to treat themselves with kindness, patience, respect, and all that embodies love. We live our life knowing we have worth. So Worth Loving. It's a lifestyle."
Related Links:Mary's life is a testament of the Lord using broken things and creating something absolutely beautiful out of them. From a young age, Mary grew up in an environment of brokenness, chaos, instability, and darkness. From a place of distrust and abuse, Mary was exposed to the Gospel. She met Jesus and never turned back.
From this place of healing, the Lord gave her the gift of writing. Mary was able to write and work out her past in a way that would bless others through her gift. An author of 41 books, Mary shares what she is learning through both nonfiction and fiction.
We focus today on one of her books entitled The Seven Deadly Friendships. I love this topic because I feel like there are not many books on healthy relationships with friends, how to set boundaries, and how to handle a toxic friendship in a Godly way.
We take time to discuss each of these bad "friends", all cleverly named in her book. She walks us through what each kind of toxic trait may look like in a friend, and finding the place of whether or not you need to step away from that relationship. Mary vulnerably discusses her past and talks about the fact that there are certain people she is naturally drawn to that are toxic, simply based on what she knew growing up.
Mary and I focus on recognizing those key negative traits that we are drawn to and how to avoid those moving forward. We even talk about the fact that each of us may be exhibiting one of these seven traits with others and how to recognize, repent, and change our actions with others from negative to positive.
This episode today is so important, life-giving, and practical for us not only for how we can be better friends and surround ourselves with healthy relationships, but also that the Lord doesn't want us to stay in our circumstances.
No matter what your past is, what you have been through, he wants to lead you into a place of healing and a place of redemption. We are not meant to sit in our struggle forever. We are meant to strive to be all that the Lord created us to be.
What an absolute blessing it is to have Sarah Nuse with me today on Thriving Beyond Belief!
Sarah is such a light and is someone who naturally thrives. She is a wife, mother, and owner of Tippy Toes, a dance program that is built into schools during the school day. As a mother herself, she knows that afternoons running around and taking children to various activities can be exhausting, so the dance program is built for young children to participate in during normal school hours, complete with recitals and all! This amazing program has been adopted all over the country, and will hopefully soon be offered internationally!
Tippi Toes was actually birthed out of a time of desperation in Sarah’s life, a time when there was not much direction. She was encouraged to dream big and implement those dreams by her parents. We take some time to discuss the importance of the roles of parents in their children’s lives. In a culture where parents want to bless their children with more than they had, there tends to be a generation of people who don’t know what it is like to struggle, fail, and figure out what to do next. The story of how Sarah’s business came to be is so refreshing to hear.
We talk a lot about balance. The balance of being a good parent but also putting marriage before parenting. We discuss the balance of what to say “yes” to in your life. We talk about the balance of communication with your partner and taking time for marriage. We discuss the balance of figuring out how the Lord created us and what He wants to do with that creation. Sarah shares some amazing wisdom on all of these topics, reminding us at the base of it all that we were not created to live in fear. We were created to thrive. So anytime we begin to feel the fear creep up, we must turn to the Lord to be reminded that we were made for so much more than living in a “stuck” place of fear. We were created to live and live well. Let us cast away the thought that we “aren’t enough” in whatever capacity the enemy is telling us- whether that be our marriage, how we parent, our position at work, a dream that we want to come to fruition, etc. Let us instead lay those things before the Lord and find strength in who HE is that spurs us to do our best.
This episode is so sweet to me, and I wish we could have kept talking. I cannot wait for you to hear this today and be encouraged to live your best!
Fatherhood. It’s an ever-growing issue of importance in our culture today. And who better to speak about that with than Louie Giglio? He is my guest on today’s episode of Thriving Beyond Belief!
Louie is a well known pastor of Passion City Church in Atlanta and is the founder of Passion, a conference that is specifically geared toward 18-25 year olds who are setting up life for themselves for the first time. This conference is to help those in this season put Christ at the center of their lives and turn their focus on what is eternal rather than what is temporary. Louie is also a husband to his beautiful wife, Shelley, a speaker and an author.
We spend our time today talking specifically about the subject of Louie’s new book, Not Forsaken- fatherhood. We speak on the freedom that comes with finding our identity in being sons and daughters of the Perfect Father. This is a complicated subject, as we often project characteristics of our earthly fathers onto our Heavenly Father. That could be that He is absent, angry, distant, apathetic, and the list goes on. Louie talks about us beginning to see that those characteristics don’t exist in Heaven. He was Father first, which means He is perfect in fatherhood. The fall led to a broken view of what fatherhood needs to be.
We discuss the fact that the relationship of father and child is one that is vastly important to our life. It is one of the relationships on earth that effects us in such drastic ways. Our souls long for this relationship to feel whole.
Louie shares with us some amazing Scripture and wisdom on how to restore the relationship with our eternal Father, even when our earthly relationship may have never been a positive one. Louie shares so vulnerably about his own father, the struggles in their own relationship, and how it led to remind him that nothing here is how it should be. Our souls are longing for the day when all will be restored.
We even speak some on mental health and how important it is to address any issues going on, the power of counseling, and the significance of authenticity.
What a blessing this episode is to me and I hope it is the same for you. May there be peace that comes to you after this episode!
Full of grit and grace, Justine Froelker uses her fiery passion, the occasional curse word, and witty humor to share her vulnerability and truth to light up the world. Justine is an advocate for speaking unspoken shame and choosing to thrive when life doesn't turn out how you hoped, dreamed, or planned. Her spirit helps others to feel seen and empowered to change their own lives, no matter what hand they’ve been dealt and to ultimately do the work of happy.
Justine is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Certified Daring Way™, Dare to Lead™ & BOLD-A Courage Building Program for Adolescents Facilitator (based on the research of Dr. Brené Brown) with 19 years of experience in mental health. She is the author of her best-selling books, Ever Upward and The Mother of Second Chances. Justine’s newest book, The Complicated Gray, released Fall 2018.
Justine's work can be found at The Huffington Post, the YouVersion Bible app, Reflective Prayer, Great Day St. Louis, Justine's YouTube channel, and podcast, Authentic Enoughness!
During the Summer and Fall of 2017 she was blessed with her Rising Ever Upward tour where she offered workshops and intensives in eight cities across the country. In 2017 she spoke at both TEDxUMDearborn and TEDxLaSierraUniversity.
Justine currently lives in Saint Louis with her husband, Chad, and their three dogs. She enjoys her childfull life by spending time with friends and family, practicing creative self-care, laughing (many times at herself) and building butterfly gardens on her acre of land, which has made her an accidental butterfly farmer.
You know it's going to be a fun episode when we have my husband, Jeff, on the episode with me! We had the pleasure of interviewing Mike and Jennifer Foster on this week's Thriving Beyond Belief.
We absolutely love what the Fosters are about. They are about simple, organic means of continuing to date your spouse in marriage. Married with 2 children, the Fosters journey has not always been easy, but they talk about how they have navigated the marriage journey together and how their relationship is stronger than ever!
We cover everything from good communication, seasons of the unknown, their story, how to date intentionally, and more. This episode is such an uplifting and practical look at how we can further believe in and fight for our marriage and our spouse.
One of my favorite topics we discuss in this episode is how fear can radically impact our marriage relationship. Mike and Jennifer talk about how fear erodes the qualities in marriage we long for: trust, communication, peace, etc. Marriage is worth fighting for and we need to be vulnerable enough to push past the fear to get to a truthful conversation. Those truthful conversations lead to healing and our spouse's true intentions are made clear. Not having those meaningful conversations leads to disconnection. Let fear be the push towards conversation instead of being the reason to deter conversation!
Jeff and I's first marriage is a classic example of what happens when couples do not communicate well and do not have Jesus at the center of the relationship. But through coming to personal relationships with the Lord and learning what a healthy marriage truly is, we learned, as Jeff so wisely said, that we are to learn that each other's voices and our own voices are important in the marriage. We are equal in voice in the marriage. We are equal in what we bring to the marriage.
Mike and Jennifer share their own story and realizing that they had fallen into a state of not really "seeing" one another. They had fallen into busy schedules and routines and just surviving. Can anyone else relate to this? But one day, through open and honest conversation, they realized they wanted their marriage to Thrive! This led to a stronger marriage than ever and even led to their current ministry to other couples.
Touch, communication and balance with schedules, and intentional date nights are keys Mike says that help with a healthy marriage. There are so many wonderful nuggets of wisdom in this episode that I can't wait for you to listen along!
I got to spend an hour with one of my favorite people for this week's episode of Thriving Beyond Belief: Jordan Lee Dooley! Wife, speaker, soon-to-be author (and fellow Enneagram 3), Jordan is sunshine personified. We take some time to talk about some themes in her upcoming book, Own Your Everyday.
It is refreshing to discuss contentment in a world that is shouting for us to find our purpose. We break down what true purpose is, that small, intentional steps make up the large leaps in our lives, and that although we are called to steward our lives well, it is okay to not be "hustling" 24/7 if it means we leave out the Lord in the process. Jordan so pointedly reminds us that knowing the Lord IS our calling. He is our purpose. We so often run around and try to seek out the "one thing" that we are called to, instead of seeing that the one thing we are called to is to be faithful. Let us not be deterred by the enemy to chase the hustle rather than walk with the Lord.
Jordan talks about the fact that doing what we are called to do is not limited to what we do professionally; we are called to love others well, we are called to be good stewards of the bodies we have been given, etc. When we finally understand that life is not lived to reach a particular pinnacle, but rather it is a beautiful journey, we experience true freedom! The journey is filled with the mundane path, which is the everyday that we are given the opportunity to be faithful with. The journey also includes places of wilderness, which is where we tend to learn the most. And the journey is filled with moments in the garden, which is where the Lord wants us to intentionally rest and spend time with him. These paths and places make up our life. Let us make the most of them.
There are so many wonderful pieces of advice and encouragement from Jordan in this episode that you will find yourself taking notes to take with you into your day. Here's to owning our everyday!
Please give a warm welcome to a rare guest I have on Thriving Beyond Belief- a man! This week's episode, I get to speak with Dr. Will Cole about all things health.
Dr. Will Cole is a doctor of functional medicine, author, husband, and father. He gives us a short overview of his upbringing and how it led him to committing his life to the well being and health of others.
As some of you know, overall health is a passion of mine (totally something I would also do if there was time!) and so this episode means a lot to me. The conversation with Dr. Cole is so eye-opening, because he discusses the shift we need to make in our minds about what being healthy truly is. We talk about what functional medicine is, what a good approach would be for all of us to take when it comes to our health, and how connected the parts of our body are to one another. Teaser: our brains and guts are very closely linked!
Dr. Cole describes thriving in his profession as "being able to hear patients say they feel they have their freedom back". They have the freedom to play with their children or grandchildren, they no longer feel in a haze simply going through life, etc. Being able to help our bodies function the way the Lord intended them to is just as important to our lives as anything else. I even describe my own health journey and we talk about how seriously we should take the fact that the body is a temple for the Holy Spirit to thrive. It is not about punishing our bodies to another diet or putting ourselves down for the occasional indulgence. It is about a lifestyle of stewarding our bodies like we would steward our finances or our time.
I love these conversations because it reminds us that the Lord has made all things. For some reason, we give most things to the Lord, but how we treat our bodies is something we often exclude from what the Lord can control. Let that be something that we lay down before the Lord. He has promised that He would give us life, and life abundantly. This includes how we feel in our bodies!
I can't wait for you to give this episode a listen. Let me know how it impacts you!
Dr. Will Cole, IFMCP, D.C., leading functional-medicine expert, consults people around the world via webcam and locally in Pittsburgh. He specializes in clinically investigating underlying factors of chronic disease and customizing health programs for thyroid issues, autoimmune conditions, hormonal dysfunctions, digestive disorders, and brain problems.
Dr. Cole was named one of the top 50 functional-medicine and integrative doctors in the nation and is a health expert and course instructor for the world’s largest wellness brands such as mindbodygreen and goop.
Dr. Will Cole, senior clinic director, is uniquely skilled and experienced at finding the root physiological, biochemical and hormonal causes underlying many diseases. Dr. Cole has broken free from the limiting approach of “standard care,” which most often calls upon drugs and hormones as a first defense against these diseases without a real inspection as to the root underlying causes and contributing factors to each individual’s presenting complaints.
Dr. Cole uses breakthrough diagnostic testing and analysis that’s rarely done in conventional settings to uncover the hidden causes of why people feel the way they feel. He also takes great pride in delivering personalized health care treatment to patients as well as providing an environment that supports and inspires patients to reverse their poor health.
Super excited to have Jenny Randle on the Thriving Beyond Belief podcast today!
As a speaker, author and creative ninja, Jenny Randle believes deeply in the power of story.
At the age of 18, she encountered the greatest love story ever told, the Gospel. The prayer that followed for her was simple: “God, use me to make an impact for you.”
Since that prayer, Jenny has worked as a video editor on billion dollar franchises in the heart of Hollywood. In 2009, She was recognized with one of the highest honors in the entertainment industry — an Emmy Award. As a creative ninja, over a decade ago she found herself living in this performance mentality zone, riddled with anxiousness and comparison. God broke the chains of inadequacy, taught her about her identity in Jesus and brought her such freedom. In this space of freedom, God has equipped Jenny to challenge others to CREATE AND DREAM COURAGEOUSLY again.
Also to every wounded creative or procrastinating dreamer... Discover the freedom to create again. The world needs you to shine.
Creativity is a gift from God to each of us—including you.
Is a message weighing on your heart or stirring in your soul today, but you're wondering how to communicate it?
This hands-on journey in Courageous Creative will give you the tools and encouragement you need to discover your God-given identity, cultivate your creativity, and express your thoughts. You'll find fun, think-outside-the-box creative challenges that will spark your imagination and inspire you in fresh, new ways.
You'll also learn the foundations of your creativity, find ways to overcome the obstacles that keep you from fully expressing yourself, and discover secrets to unleashing the courageous creative in you.
Experience creative and spiritual freedom in this one-of-a-kind interactive devotional.
Gwen Smith's tagline on her website says her purpose is "helping women know and trust God more". After today's episode of Thriving Beyond Belief, you will have no doubt that is what God has intended for her to do! Gwen is a delight, an 8w7 on the enneagram (if you know what that is) :), and has such an amazing story to tell.
Not only is Gwen a follower of Jesus, wife, and mother, she is also an author, speaker, podcaster, and coach. Gwen's story is one where she is able to personally speak about the goodness, grace, and faithfulness of God. She speaks of young love, heartbreak, and amazingly beautiful redemption.
I don't want to give away her whole story here, but it's one that has her cling to the story of the prodigal son from Scripture. She shares what she describes as her "mess-timony", and the fact that our sin is never going to be bigger than God's grace in our life. We cannot outdo the power of the cross! Once Gwen returned to the Lord, she spent so much time trying to "earn" her way back into the good graces of the Lord. She volunteered for every role she could in the church, trying to work her way back into the arms of the Lord, until she realized she was already there. Christ then revealed to her that in the midst of trying to earn her salvation, she stopped dreaming about what the Lord was going to do in her life. She felt "disqualified" from the race. How many of us can relate to feeling this way from time to time?
But in His goodness, God showed her the grace that was given to her, the fact that we can never earn our salvation, and that with thriving ALWAYS comes honesty about our story. I love how she reminds us that His arms are never too short to save and His ears are never too dull to hear.
We talk about Gwen's definition of thriving. One thing that stuck out to me about what she had to share was that she always referred to herself as someone who was "dizzy". She loved to spin in circles as a girl, and that same mindset carried into adulthood. But she claims that this leads to chaos and it keeps our eyes from ever looking forward. Gwen believes thriving is being able to look straight ahead to eternity and to keep from spinning in mindless directions.
We even cope together as we discuss the season of empty nesting, bond over being fellow podcasters, and discuss how the Lord truly uses all of our mess to create something beautiful and new. I cannot wait for you to take a listen today!
I'm super excited to have Jessica Smartt with me today on the Thriving Beyond Belief podcast!
Jessica Smartt is a former English teacher turned homeschooling mama of three. A week after her first baby was born, she began her motherhood blog, Smartter Each Day. Jessica and her husband live in beautiful North Carolina, where she loves hikes with kids(mostly), steaming coffee in the afternoon, family bike rides, and anything that's ever been done to a potato.
I love Jessica's heart behind this book and what came about for her to write it. She reminds us that celebrations are not man-created, but something the Lord created. We see biblically that there are festivals and events to remember what the Lord had done. We should do the same thing in our lives today, celebrating those moments that the Lord is faithful in our lives. Celebrations are a blessing from the Lord and something to embrace in our everyday lives!
Comparison and competitiveness are some other topics we discuss in the sense of motherhood. Our culture, with the influence of social media, has led to comparison in the circles of women and mothers. Jessica discusses how to make things special in your own home without the burden of trying to keep up with others. She beautifully reminds us of the point: that we are to do everything in our lives with our focus on the Lord. The point of these celebrations is not to make your calendars busier or more hectic, but for them to be a genuine time of enjoying your family and celebrating what the Lord has done in a special way.
Jessica will be the first one to tell you that her and her family's life is anything but calm! In fact, all of what the Lord has laid on her heart about taking time to celebrate came from a season of busyness that left her family not seeing the Lord in the everyday moments. She felt the Lord telling her then and there to slow down and be able to see Him in the small moments of their lives. Jessica and her family still live in this fast-paced world like everyone else, and still have busy schedules. But they have taken on some traditions that are special to their family and have chosen to keep those sacred.
What’s the solution to gaining the balanced, meaningful life you desire with your family? Create traditions that bring joy and significance. Popular "Smartter Each Day" blogger and mom of three, Jessica Smartt explains in her book, Memory-Making Mom: Building Traditions That Breathe Life Into Your Home
She also offers practical encouragement to modern parents to keep on adventuring—even when they are fighting distractions, are on a budget, and exhausted.
I loved today's episode because of the intentionality in which Jessica lives her life! I hope it inspires you to do the same in your own family!
Today I am thrilled to have Melanie Dale on the podcast with me today!
Melanie's life has been anything but what she expected- leading her to a ministry opportunity she never would have imagined for herself. Thus, her first book and website are entitled "Unexpected". Melanie pictured her life going as most of us do- getting married, having children, etc. But after a battle with infertility, Melanie realized the Lord had more in store for her life than she knew.
We discuss major issues today that are all separate but all connected at the same time- marriage, intimacy, infertility, and parenting to name a few. Melanie discusses how her new saying is sur-thriving. She believes that life is never going to get to a place where everything is perfect, so we need to learn to thrive while we survive!
We really tackle the difficult issue of not being able to bear children, and what avenues come from that in people's lives. One of Melanie's books was written intentionally in the midst of a storm in her life, so that she could claim the goodness of the Lord in the middle of the unknown. So often, we see people who discuss their issues after they have seen redemption in their lives. But we sometimes need to know what to do and what to pray in the middle of an issue where we do not know the outcome. Melanie's sincerity, vibrancy, and authenticity are truly refreshing in a world that tries so much to cover up failures and hardships.
Melanie gives some great advice on intentionality in marriage, how to build authentic friendships with other women in a similar life stage, how to balance the many hats most of us are wearing, and how to do it all with originality and a little humor!
I am so thankful to have spent today's episode of Thriving Beyond Belief with Melanie, and I hope you are able to face the unexpected with ferocity, vulnerability, and to be able to laugh as you go.
Toni Collier is a communicator, host and consultant at North Point Ministries (founded by Andy Stanley), on-camera personality at The reThink Group, Fellowship of Christian Athletes public school speaker and co-founder of The Resource Group: A faith based consulting firm.
With a degree in business logistics and entrepreneurship she has used her talents to grow churches, ministries & businesses in the areas of; student ministry, creative marketing, leadership, innovation and strategic planning.
Toni is known for her vibrant personality, charisma and all around welcoming spirit. You will frequently hear her shout the sentence; "Broken crayons still color!" as she has a passion to help women and teens believe in the idea that no matter their difficult story or walls of weakness, God still has an incredible plan to go along with the purpose He's placed in their life.
Toni is "Texas proud" of her Houston, TX roots, but currently resides in Atlanta, GA and loves spending time with her incredible husband and family!
Today's podcast may be about rest, but the last thing it will do is put you to sleep!
Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith brings such an insightful perspective on what rest truly is. Rest can lead to thriving, restoration, and a greater view of the Lord in your life! A wife, mother, physician, author, and speaker, Saundra knows a thing or two about how to balance your life in a way that is healthy.
I personally learned so much from this week's episode. It may be one that I revisit over and over, because the themes we discuss today are so opposite of what success looks like in today's culture. Today, our world is driven by busyness, the "hustle", fitting too much on our plates, and overbooked calendars. So Dr. Dalton-Smith helps us understand the importance of physical, emotional, and social rest. She reiterates the importance of actual sleep in our lives, and even debunks what true rest is (hint: it's not actually binging 4 hours of Netflix!).
The balance in these types of rest lead to authenticity in our lives, the power of presence with others, and restoration. She emphasizes that any rest should lead to restoration- that is the point if it. So we should be asking ourselves: what in our lives restores us? What is bringing healing and positivity to our lives?
We then discuss spiritual, sensory, and creative rest. These are ones that I feel are deprived from each us the most. Saundra beautifully describes what spiritual rest is for her and how the time she rests in the Lord leads to a more profound understanding of her relationship with Him. That's what we all should be experiencing when we rest in who God is!
You do not want to miss this episode. There is so much to learn and understand more about yourself, your Creator, and what you were created to do. To understand more about rest and what area of rest you are most deprived of, please take Dr. Dalton-Smith's quiz at restquiz.com and let me know what you learned most from this week!
I welcome Debra Fileta to this week's episode of Thriving Beyond Belief!
Debra is a wife, mother of three, and a licensed professional counselor, specifically dealing with relationship-focused issues. She also has written two books, Choosing Marriage, and True Love Dates!
Debra has such insight on working on relationships in a healthy and balanced way. There are so many issues that we discuss in relationships, specifically within the Christian culture. Just because you are a believer in Jesus doesn't mean you will naturally be good at certain relationships. Just like anything in life, we need to put in time and effort and practice to make any relationship work.
For Debra's definition of thriving in relationships, she says that "relationships don't exist for us to just get through them. We are meant to thrive in all of our relationships and let them be testimonies in our lives." She speaks with such wisdom about what the goal of relationships are. The end goal is not happiness, and Debra dives into this to explain what our focus in relationships should be. We talk about the fact that healthy relationships are made up of healthy individuals and discuss the steps to take for yourself that will in turn help improve your relationships.
Debra brings up an amazing point: we see that Jesus had to go through the lowest of the low to get to the point of resurrection. We need to know that we may have to go through the dark season of exposing all of our issues in a relationship to get to where Jesus can resurrect it. Counseling is such a tool in this area. There is such an importance in counseling and learning to fight the stigma that counseling is for issues that have already arisen. But our culture needs to let counseling be something that helps us maintain health in our lives, whether in relationships or not.
Let's not believe that passivity and selflessness are the same thing. Let conflict be a place to learn and discuss and be vulnerable. Discussing hard things isn't just saying what you think. It is about digging deeper and wondering what the root of the conflict is. That is what leads to true healing.
All of Debra's links
I can't wait for you to tune in and listen today!
Kaitlin Wernet joins me today on Thriving Beyond Belief and has such an amazing word for us today.
Kaitlin is a storyteller surrendered to hope. Forever passionate about holding the tension of darkness and light, she is grateful for the good news that acknowledges and redeems both. Kaitlin is the co-author of The Book of Comforts, and she spends her days writing everything from marketing strategies to creative essays. Living in Nashville, Tennessee, by way of Asheville, North Carolina, she's always planning her next big travel adventure but vows to only plant roots in cities that rhyme.
Kaitlin moved to Nashville to work For she reads truth; she is now a writer and working in marketing and online marketing. She has written a book called "The Book of Comforts" that comes out this month.
This book came out of a time that was most devastating for Kaitlin. In a time where she felt she lost herself, her job at She Reads Truth led her to read the bible everyday, which was no accident for her. It really helped her stay anchored in her faith. She learned that the Christian community doesn't really open up a lot about pain and Kaitlin discusses finding those people in the faith that could help her walk through the hard season. The need for this book became apparent to her when searching for a book that would help her in her time of sorrow. This book is a beautiful metaphor of her experiences and sees grief as a ground where redemption will bloom.
She also discovered truly seeing God for who He is in a time that made her question all that she had believed growing up.
She has refreshing insight on encouraging those walking through hard seasons to bring pain to the forefront. The enemy wants us to feel isolated in our pain and not think anyone has gone through what we are walking through. He wants us to believe that even Christ cannot empathize with us. Pain and loss can also feel like weakness. Fear makes us think we can never show any weakness or low days, especially as believers. It makes us think that we aren't trusting God enough if we are sad. But the truth is that hardship is promised to us, and He has a purpose in EVERY season.
Kaitlin speaks on the balance of having grief in her life. She talks about always carrying the tension of light and dark. But seeing her worst fear come true, she saw that God is still good and is daily learning to release control of her life.
We think we can shield and things from happening if we worry about them. Fear is a liar. It makes us think we can't come back from a painful experience. But we actually get to the other side of grief and see that God is with us in every step. He's there on the other side too. The more we seek God, the less we need to know all of the answers.
We end with Kaitlin speaking on some helpful advice for those who are walking with someone going through grief and some practical steps to make sure those people never feel alone. I hope this episode brings healing, community, and a deeper hope in who God is in each of your lives.
Welcome with me today Valerie Burton on this week's episode of Thriving Beyond Belief!
Valerie is a wife, mother, and writer. She became a writer out of a prayer for true purpose. Her mission is inspiring women through writing and speaking and now being a life coach.
We get to discuss Valerie's new book "It's About Time", which is coming out April 30th. Her book encompasses subjects such as not wearing "busy" as a badge of honor on our lives but taking time to say no, and to only do the imperative. Valerie gives her testimony and how she has learned so much about the Lord through time. She speaks on how time issues were at the core of hardships in her life. Even now, we talk about creating margin and leaving space between obligations.
"God created us to be here for a purpose." We are given unique, divine assignments based on the purpose He has given us individually. We can't hear what that purpose is and implement it well if we are filling every minute of our time with noise. We speak on the fact that being present takes more effort, but it is far more fulfilling. We feel more relaxed and filled up, and that is where we will be able to meet God.
Some factors that have really ramped up in our culture today are pace, competition, and comparison. Instead of wanting to keep up with the other moms or coworkers, we need to ask ourselves what would be the more meaningful choice. Would you want to look back on time with your children and see yourself always on your phone? Or would you want to fill your time with things that aren't directed towards the purpose God has placed on your life? We need to learn to let time go slowly sometimes. We need to get in a place where we are "okay with being a little bored".
Valerie lays out some core vulnerabilities that keep us from making the wise decision in the heat of the moment. She speaks on approval addiction, perfectionism, and unrealistic optimism. But she also talks about grace for yourself and your loved ones. She gives personal testament about making peace with lost time. It begins with forgiveness and acceptance, which leads to gratitude towards future time. We may have not taken full advantage of today, but that doesn't mean we can't tomorrow.
This is such a timely episode and I hope you enjoy!
Social Media Links:
Today I have a lovely friend of mine on Thriving Beyond Belief: Ellie Holcomb! Living in sweet Nashville, Tennessee, Ellie is a musician, wife of a musician, mother, author, and devoted follower of Jesus.
Ellie brings such a fresh perspective of thriving, and how she learned to thrive by experiencing years of practicing the opposite. After seeking to be what others thought she should be and coming up lost, Ellie finally gave up that mentality to truly just be who the Lord created her to be. She talks about becoming "unburied" from the expectations of the world. As a woman in her mid-thirties, she speaks to fighting those whispers from the world more than ever, and feeling more free than ever from the lies.
We discuss what is truly the Gospel versus what we have set it up to be in our minds. She discusses her journey to discovering the beauty of counseling in her life and the healing it brought to her life. We are truly kindred spirits with similarities in our stories and seasons, and it was wonderful to dive in to how the Lord has used our journeys.
We speak on some fun things, like how Ellie became a musician and how she has been able to use music to connect people and their stories. We also talked about the children's book, Who Sang The First Song, Ellie published last year, and how the idea of the book came to be. It was so fun to discuss the beauty of having intentional conversations with our children, seeing where our children are truly gifted by the Lord, and guidance we can have with our little ones. We are made stewards over our children, and we discuss what the full potential of that can be. So many of us parents get caught in the mundane tasks of everyday and forget to see the eternal purpose in what we are doing in parenting.
Celebrating others to foster community, learning to dream at any age, self care, and our roles as women are some topics we get to discuss together. Ellie and I also tackle what some of the difficult aspects of who we are can be. We learn to turn to Scripture and cling to His promises to then lay down what isn't ours to carry.
Tune in to hear more about Ellie's heart, what brings her joy, and her reason for doing yoga. :) I hope you are inspired and encouraged by this sweet time with Ellie Holcomb!
I am thrilled to have Judy Pogue on this week's episode of Thriving Beyond Belief! From thriving at any age to princesses to world missions, we discuss a gamut of amazing topics today.
Judy Pogue is a wife, mother, international missionary, and now an author. She has such a deep love for the Lord and amazing wisdom to share. She presses deep into who God has created her to be and feels blessed to be in the season she is in.
I love the way Judy describes thriving: she says it is "running with arms open to the future". I think this perfectly encompasses Psalm 31 when the psalmist describes a Godly woman as someone "who laughs at the fear of the future". Thriving is running wildly toward the future because you know it is in the Lord's hands. And the Lord wants us to thrive at every stage of our lives. He is not surprised by the season we are in, whether that is motherhood, singleness, a job that seems so difficult, the loss of a parent, etc. Because He is not surprised by our season, He has fully equipped us and is walking with us through those seasons. Judy speaks on a young woman who feels called to being missional, but is in the middle of raising young children. Judy reminded and encouraged this woman that she IS being missional! She is right where the Lord wants her and is being missional in her home with her children. She referred to Scripture that states we go in and out of seasons, and this woman's time of being missional outside of her home will come. But we are to see where we are at as our mission.
We speak for a while on the importance of mentorship and how different generations help others walk along life. This is what community is. Those that are older have such an opportunity to meet with the younger to let them know they are not alone in what they are walking through. And the younger generation has an opportunity to see what a Godly woman looks like as she walks through certain stages of life.
I am so thrilled that we were able to discuss Judy's book, Awaken Sleeping Beauty. I could not love this book more and what it entails. Judy expands on her inspiration for this book, who she hopes to reach with its message, and all of the different angles this story takes.
Judy has such wisdom on discussing what all the Lord has taught her through marriage and motherhood. She discusses real issues that happen in marriage and learning to find value in the titles "wife" and "mother" in a world telling us those titles are not enough. We discuss believing in who your spouse is. Lay the groundwork of prayer in the difficult years that will yield fruit in the good years.
This is an episode you won't want to miss. So grab a comfy chair or put in your earbuds on a walk and enjoy this week of Thriving Beyond Belief!
Today I have two very special people with me on Thriving Beyond Belief- Gerard and Jeannie Long! The Longs have an incredible story of walking through the highest of mountain tops and the lowest of valleys. They speak so authentically about knowing the Lord in the good times and learning to lean into faithfulness during the hardest times.
We discuss suffering and what comes from the redemption of the most difficult situations. We learn to be heavenly-minded when walking through things that seem unbearable. Gerard speaks about how God's plan for each of us is to redeem us, restore us, and have us triumph. We also speak about coming back from the darkness into the light in terms of our faith after incredible hardship.
One of the main themes of this episode is the power of God in a Christ-centered marriage. We see Gerard being a covering for Jeannie and truly leaning on the Lord so Jeannie could lean on Gerard. We talk about the supernatural strength of the Lord to help glorify the marriage to get through and THRIVE in every season.
The Longs could not emphasize more the power the prayer, the incredible presence of God in unusual places, and glimmers of hope that lead to rays of light in your life. We talk about how in the deepest sorrow, God embraced them and they felt that God was truly enough.
From hardship leads to true community. There is blessing in that we are never alone, and that what we walk through will one day comfort and encourage others. Also, the path He has set before us is what He has equipped us to handle. We may not ever understand the "why", but that is when we look at the Lord and trust that He does understand the "why".
This episode will have you clinging more to the Lord. It will challenge and embolden your faith. You will be blessed by these few moments today.
Welcome to this week’s episode of Thriving Beyond Belief! With me today is Alex Seeley, author of the book Taylor Made, wife and mother, minister, and native Australian who calls Nashville her home!
Being in full time ministry since she was 22 was a calling Alex had on her life ever since she called Jesus her Savior at age 11.
Thriving is God’s promise to us if we know Him personally. Alex talks about the difference between being saved and being freed. Salvation is our justification, but our walk with the Lord is our sanctification. Alex shares such wisdom on the expectation we have of our Christian life without working out our faith. There is such negativity, gossip, hatred, judgement, comparison, and anxiety in our minds, yet we do nothing to transform our minds. It is one thing to know in your mind that Jesus loves you, but it is a whole other thing to let that fact resonate who you are.
Alex shares her amazing story, which begins with her life being considered an “accident”, continues through broken parents raising broken children, and led to thoughts of rejection and a sense that she would never measure up. These thoughts and the need for some control in her life led Alex to developing an eating disorder. Even though she knew the Lord at the time of her disorder, she didn’t believe the Lord could handle this aspect of her life and heart, which is something so many believers deal with now. We believe that the deep, dark hard places of our lives are something God cannot handle, which is precisely what the enemy wants us to think. But Alex talks about the journey from that and the wrestles she had with the Lord about speaking the truth out loud and receiving help.
Alex speaks on becoming free of so many burdens, such as insecurity. There is a difference between having insecurity about something and being bound by insecurity. She speaks so beautifully about the struggle and some steps to take to overcome the self-doubt you have about yourself. Once you focus on your Creator and what He did so that you could be His, the fears and doubts and insecurities will dissipate. We change our focus from ourselves to the Lord.
There are so many pressures on women today, so many expectations we put on ourselves of what we have to be all the time. We discuss the shift from that mindset to simply being obedient. We should cancel the noise from other people telling us we are and focus on the voice of God telling us who we are.
I am thrilled to have Lysa Terkeurst with me on this episode of Thriving Beyond Belief!
And why am I thrilled.......let me count the ways: 1. We have a similar stories and the same Redemptive God 2. We both have had serious marriage struggles, but God still Reconciled 3. Both marriages have hurts, pains, resentments and anger, but God still Restored 4. Trust has to be rebuilt with time and consistency, and God never leaves us or forsakes us 5. Vulnerability happened for both of us, & God desires intimacy with all of us! He wants our heart! Lysa just published a new book “It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way” and it has resonated so deeply with me and I hope you each receive an opportunity to read it. One of Lysa’s goals with this book is to make sure others don’t feel alone in their journey, which so closely correlates with the ministry Jeff and I have given our life to. The amazing thing is how Lysa has seen how the circumstances in her life have led to deep and painful times before the Lord, which leads further to deeper understanding of the Word of God and to be an even more reliable teacher of the Word. We talk about the deep, difficult questions of who God is and how He could allow life-altering painful situations happen to His children. Lysa dives into her own journey of emotional healing through the church and Christian counseling and how that led so much to the content in her book. We also discuss the redemption and restoration of the hard times, mainly with the Lord and then with others in our lives. From Lysa sharing her story, the Gospel is being shared and there has been so much healing for so many just by knowing that they are not alone, even in the valley. And what joins each of us in the valley is the truth of God’s Word and His character. Lysa shares with vulnerability what she now has to work through because of what has happened in life, and beautifully clarifies the healthy difference between vulnerability in sharing and the importance of privacy. We even talk about no longer taking things for granted, but taking every situation to the Lord. We take our situation out of the center of our lives and replace that with the Lord. He is the only one that can bring peace and remove fear. “God loves us too much to answer our prayer in any other time than the right time and in any other way than the right way.” This is one episode you will not want to miss. I hope you join me!I have Christa Black Gifford with me on this episode of Thriving Beyond Belief, and I could not be more thrilled!
Christa is an author, wife, and mother who shows true vulnerability in all areas of her life.
On this episode, we talk through trauma, performance, loss, reconciliation, hope, and who God is in the midst of all of those things.
Going through trauma at an early age, Christa discusses constant coping from that as she grew up. She tried to find identity in what she could control, and how that manifested itself in her life.
We talk about pain and how our natural inclination is to avoid pain at all costs. We have confused God's peace with being comfortable. We discuss wounds and the roots of our pasts that affect our actions. But we talk about how God's goodness is not that we have an easy life, but rather it is that our lives are reconciled to Him.
Christa talks about walking through some difficult life issues and how she has shifted her thinking from "this is happening to me" to "this is happening for me". It is that shift to see every story can be used and redeemed by the Lord. We discuss what trauma even does to us physically and when you come face-to-face with the trials in your life, it leads to healing.
It was amazing to hear Christa speak of the hope of Jesus in her life. How He has revealed Himself to her in several ways. She discusses those methods of seeing Christ and restoring herself back to His purpose.
I hope you take a listen to this woman's amazing journey, and how God is redeeming all of us.
Welcome to this week's episode of Thriving Beyond Belief! Today, I have Donna Pisani on and I can't wait for you to hear all that she has to share!
Donna lives with her family in the heart of Washington D.C. and has written a book, The Power of Not Yet. She has an incredible story and shares it with us today of how the Lord radically met her in the middle of her life and fulfilled the love she was so desperately looking for.
Donna shares that she truly knows what thriving is because she knows what not thriving feels like. She talks about the difference between going to church and having a true and intimate relationship with Jesus. She is so encouraging when discussing that her passion is for young women to truly get who Christ can be in this life. There is so much to discover about who the Lord is and what He is doing, but we so often miss out on knowing His love and grace because we are so task oriented, fixated on behavior modification. That was never what the Lord intended our relationship with Him to be!
We talk about the power of vulnerability and how that it is directly linked with thriving. Donna discusses that perfection, for her, is somewhat having control over a situation. But as long as we as humans are involved in a situation, it will never be perfect! Perfection is a story of the Lord's redemption in our lives. God does not long for perfection, but for sanctification.
Speaking on Donna's book, The Power of Not Yet, is so fascinating about the fact that our lives with the Lord are ever changing. We are hit with circumstances in our lives that we couldn't prepare for, but how we process and move forward means more than the end result sometimes. She writes on how the Lord is telling us "not yet" in different capacities, and what we can learn in the process of our waiting.
With her book, we also talk about identifying fear rather than running from it, how to begin digging into Scripture, and the power of the process.
"Whatever you are walking through is developing you for leadership and influence." This podcast went by so fast and there is so much wisdom within it. I hope you take some time to listen today!
I am so excited to have Kathie Lee Gifford back with me on Thriving Beyond Belief! This episode, we focus on Kathie's new book, The Gift that I can Give, that was written for children. With the holidays around the corner, this would be a perfect gift for Christmas. With the "me" culture surrounding us, this book is a breath of fresh air that focuses on seeing and doing for others, just as Christ leads us.
Kathie's new book focuses on the story of David and Goliath, and particularly David's stone. She shares something special about what that stone represented in David's life and how we each have a "stone" in our lives.
We spend some time talking about changing our perspective from being entitled to being so thankful. There is far richer joy from living a Christ-centered life than having ourselves at the center. We change the conversation from feeling pressure to be perfect to finding freedom in Jesus to be vulnerable and authentic.
Fear is something that is all around us today and we talk about how to not be fearful of the world, but run to our Savior and be in awe of His power to take anything and make is beautiful. There is nothing to fear when our God can redeem anything.
We finish this amazing time together really focusing on what we can do for our children that will develop them into Jesus-loving individuals.
Kathie has some fun projects just around the corner, and I can't wait for you to hear about them, along with the rest of the episode. Enjoy!
Are y'all ready for this episode?? We have THE Bob Goff on today's episode of Thriving Beyond Belief! I am so so excited to have you hear this episode- it is one for the books!
Bob Goff is an incredible speaker and author. He is a husband and father, and one of his many passions is building schools all around the world.
We discuss the different books that Bob has written and his particular focus on love in these books, for both adults and younger people. He gives such great insight on how we need to engage the very people that are the hardest for us to love through knowing what true love is: sacrifice and commitment.
We model love for the unloved by how Jesus first loved us. He also focuses on what true love instead of what the world tells us it is. We need to simplify and bring the main focus back on the Lord. Bob talks about loud voices versus true voices and discerning what we are going to listen to in our lives.
Bob has such wisdom on what is truly meaningful in our life. We need to prioritize what is most important and learning that it is ok to fail while trying rather than fail by watching. There is so much growth in the failure of trying.
We talk deeply about marriage and how to make your marriage such an important aspect of your life. You need to show up to make an impact. Sometimes we confuse oneness with sameness because although we are one, our spouse can be so different than us.
"God isn't dazzled when we go across the ocean. He's amazed when we walk across the street." I am reminded to engage with those that are around us and be intentional with others, and the love of Jesus will radiate from you.
This is one of the jolliest podcasts so far on Thriving Beyond Belief, so grab a cup of coffee and listen in today!
Becky Herrick joins me on this episode of Thriving Beyond Belief and I could not be more excited!
A wife, a mother of triplets, and a full-time recruiter are just a few roles Becky plays in her life. She balances all of these things as well as ministering, speaking, and writing when she can.
Becky's story is one of choosing joy in the midst of tragedies that have happened in her story. She describes miracles that happened along the way as well, seeing the hand of God throughout the times of sorrow.
We talk about walking through tragedy, how to cope and lean on the Lord in those times, and how to do normal life in the midst of the struggle.
Becky talks about her and her husband's fertility journey that led to triplets as well as walking through all that comes with the loss of a child.
She discusses in-depth walking in guilt and learning that guilt is not from the Lord. It was a long road of handing the burdens of her loss over to the Lord and investing in counseling and community for healing.
Through the suffering, you see God's grace through it, showing you what life is truly about. Becky talks about the freedom that always comes with facing the struggle and tackling it rather than running from it.
In the moments of the desperation for the Lord, the beauty of the Lord truly shines in only a way that can be seen after loss or abuse or trials, etc. It is the choice of choosing to go through the process and knowing the situation in itself isn't good, but what can come from it can be good.
Becky encourages us all to be better, not bitter. She is so honest with her story and I hope you all have tissues handy when you listen. It will be an episode you'll forever be impacted by.
On today's episode of Thriving Beyond Belief, we welcome Brittany Price Booker!
Brittany's story is one you will not want to miss. At 25 and with three little ones at home, she received a call that changed the trajectory of her life. She was told that her perfectly healthy husband unexpectedly died at work. With all she had dreamed and hoped in life, the Lord took her story and showed her that He is in full control and can take anything we walk through and use it for His greater story and plan. He assured her that she would know Him in ways she never would have without this part of her story.
During this episode, we speak on loss. Brittany explains that loss is not just related to death. Loss can (and will) show up in our lives in many ways, but what we can gain through our growth and faithfulness in the Lord and know of His love is what gets us through the loss. She talks about how God called her to be a widow and single mom.
She speaks on identity and how trials can refocus you on who Christ says you are. She reminds us that even in the midst of unbelievable pain, we have purpose. The Lord has purpose for us and He has light for us in the midst of the darkness. We have to remember that if the Lord allows us to go through trials, He has equipped us to do so and He will make the pain worth it. There is beauty that will bloom from the pain.
You are not in the season you are in by accident. So know that God wants you to thrive in this moment. In this season. In the now.
We even talk about focus and the balance of focusing on self and focusing on others. When we only look at ourselves, bitterness and resentment can shift our perspective. But the reality is that everyone has struggles, and we are to be Jesus to others. If we look out, we gain a perspective of gratitude because we remember that even in the midst of loss, we also see all that the Lord has given us.
Brittany even discusses the new challenges that come with remarriage. Success in any marriage, especially remarriage, requires humility, communication, and wise counsel in your life. This episode is full of such amazing truths, that I need you to grab that coffee or hot tea and listen right now! You will not want to miss this one.
I am extremely excited for this Thriving Beyond Belief episode because it is the taping of our Thriving Beyond Belief live podcast event from Oct 18th! It was such an amazing night and we are so thankful for everyone who was able to come out. For those who couldn't make it, we wanted to bring the entire event to you in your living room, kitchen, car or wherever you listen to podcasts!
We had such a fun time the other night, and that was exactly what the night was for: to have fun and give some tidbits of wisdom about how to THRIVE in your life.
On this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking to the room about what THRIVING truly is. I break down my story and all that the Lord has taught me. We talk salvation, marriage, redemption, love, and healing. With five points spelling out Thrive, I use the word to speak on what is needed for a life that is chasing after Jesus and making him known in every area of your life.
Then I interviewed my two sweet daughters, Brittany Scruggs Morgan and Lauren Scruggs Kennedy, and then one of my dear friends, Brenda Bogart interviewed my daughters and me! We talked about so many things that I can't count them all!
We experience so many different distractions and forces in our lives today, that we have to be disciplined and conscious of making the Lord a priority in our lives. We must take captive our lives and not let them get swept up in the current of this world. We must strive to daily make choices that lead us closer to the Lord.
I am so excited and humbled to be able to share this wonderful night with you, and I pray this episode brings you joy, insight, and a new perspective of Jesus. I can't wait for you to hear! Enjoy!
I am so thrilled to have Melissa Ice with me on Thriving Beyond Belief!
Melissa and her husband Jamey, along with their two baby girls, are taking Ft. Worth by storm! Melissa runs her own nonprofit called The Net that serves refugees, the homeless, and trafficking survivors in the Ft. Worth area. The Net even launched their own business recently. Her husband has a renovation company that she helps with, and they both run a restaurant called Brewed. So to say she has a lot going on is an understatement!
Melissa talks about this life simply being her chasing joy and doing what God has created her to do, which is loving God and loving our neighbors.
We discuss thriving and the importance of taking the pressure off of ourselves to have it all together, and instead truly value growth in our lives. We need to tap into community and fight for those spaces of learning.
Recognizing and combating fear, letting go of comparison, and embracing vulnerability are some of the things we discuss in this episode.
Melissa also discusses an article she wrote about all that she is learning about marriage. She talks about that she and her husband are each other's biggest fans. She discusses that marriage is imperfect, but that there is value in vulnerability and honesty in marriage. Those things lead to growth and greater intimacy with your spouse. She even encourages that the important thing is when we need to jump start things in our marriage again, that there is freedom to do that. Rather than focusing on the drifting that happens in marriage, focus on getting back to being intentional with your spouse.
One of the most refreshing topics we cover is protecting our time. "No one is going to value your time more than you." We can't rely on others to know what is healthy for us, and we learn our capacities and boundaries for ourselves. We want to be good stewards of what the Lord has given us, but that doesn't mean God is calling us to run ragged. He does not glorify busy. He values being intentional. We talk about the importance of adopting the sacredness of the sabbath as much as we adopt taking care of others in our lives. We need to trust the Lord with our margins.
We end with breaking some myths we establish about life as women, what motherhood is "supposed" to look like, and comparison.
This is one of those episodes that will make you feel at peace and give you comfort that you are not alone in the fight. Melissa encourages and is an advocate for women, so this is an episode you won't want to miss.
I am so thrilled to have Megan Michelson with me on Thriving Beyond Belief today!
Megan is involved in a ministry with Mary Flow Ridley called The Birds and the Bees. It began as a message geared towards parents having intentional conversations with their children about sexuality. It turned into a ministry that helps parents strategically talk with their children several times throughout childhood and adolescence about sex without a fearful approach.
I love that Megan discusses that having these conversations as loving authorities in our children's lives is so important. The world is constantly shouting about these topics at children from a younger age, and rather than cowering away from it, parents should be the Godly truth resonating back.
We discuss finding the balance between seeing sex as something that is dirty and not discussed until marriage to the way the world works, which is that sexual intimacy is a consumerist activity. Mary goes into biblical truth that intimacy is a beautiful thing that God intentionally made, but is set with boundaries. We can find freedom in the boundaries, seeing that God is wanting the best for each of us, and that is why there are rules set in place for us.
Mary gives some practical tips to finding your voice about these conversations you want to have with your children, including some guidelines for ages for these talks. She also goes over how to handle hurdles that may come from being intentional about these discussions and some boundaries you can set with them.
Why Megan loves being a part of this ministry is because she feels passionately about equipping and empowering parents to help their children have a healthy understanding of sex. This is a continual part of our lives, and thus it needs to be an important topic in our homes. The Birds and the Bees ministry is set up to be something that helps these conversations not be so uncomfortable. These talks can no longer be taboo because the world is feeding children so many lies about sex. She also talks about the fact that these discussions will also help spouses communicate. Megan finally talks about that if sex is a hard topic because of your past or because your marriage is at a particular hard place, seek help. Reach out and see if there is someone who can professionally talk with you in a biblical way that will help mend this area of your life.
I absolutely loved having Megan on today, and hope you take away valuable insight from this episode. You won't want to miss it!
I am so excited to have Courtney Pray Duke with me today on this episode of Thriving Beyond Belief!
Courtney has such an incredible story of God working through incredible tragedy to show His faithfulness. With three young children at home, Courtney received a call that forever changed the trajectory of her life. Finding out that her husband was in an accident, she rushed to the hospital, only to find out on the way that he didn't make it.
From this story of incredible loss and hurt, Courtney talks about how God was revealed to her through this loss and helped her treasure each day. From pain He brings so much purpose. She remarks that in the economy of God, nothing is wasted.
She discusses walking through widowhood and who she now can share in the loss with. She talks about the journey of healing and how time brings hope. This loss gave Courtney a new lens on life and she talks about the fact that we have an eternity to live for. It's remarkable how God uses unbelievable circumstances to show us how to full trust Him.
Courtney talks about what has helped her walk through this journey. Some helpful tools are being able to speak out loud about the circumstances. She also emphasizes her need for Scripture day to day.
We really focus on the change from surviving to thriving. Courtney can talk about knowing what it is like to thrive because she has walked through that journey of being in the place where she didn't know how to put one foot in front of the other, wondering if she would make it to the next day. When she leaned into the Lord through Scripture and church community, she has slowly been able to see the bright days begin to appear again.
From the darkest of days with loss to now being remarried and having a new baby, Courtney's story is one of constant redemption and God's grace and love. She talks about the phase of being content with the Lord and His plans and then felt she was finally able to open her heart to love another in this life. We discuss the trust of the Lord in the valley so that we see His plans and goodness fulfilled on the mountain top.
We end discussing how the call on God's life and the roles we play in our lives aren't mutually exclusive. We should begin embracing our complexities and many facets the Lord created us as so that we can confidently go forward in the Lord's purpose for our life.
I believe this episode will touch so many lives. It will bring hope to those hurting and encouragement that God is there with us in every single season. I hope this episode comforts you today.
I have Lisa Bevere with me today on Thriving Beyond Belief today, and I am so excited for this episode!
Lisa has been a long-time advocate for women, helping them to find freedom in their identity and purpose in the Lord. She is an author and just put out a new book, Adamant. We dive in to what Lisa discusses in her book today.
First, we talk about what thriving is to Lisa. Lisa explains that too many people in Christianity think that they just need to survive. Rather, Christianity is about serving the Lord in every area in our lives. And with that, we are living how God intended us to live, which leads to a thriving life.
When discussing Lisa's newest book, Adamant, we focus on the topic of culture. The culture that is coming at us saying that everyone's opinions are their truths. But she reminds us that God's Word is THE truth, and that our stories are seen by God and are important, but to never replace that with truth. She defines how to live in Christ.
The world is so desperate to heal and find satisfaction through sinful means, which means the world is desperate for a Savior. Lisa discusses the danger of normalizing our behavior rather than imagining that God can discipline us in love to make us who He intended us to be. "Our truth should be like a rock, not a river."
Any issues we have, whether it's our marriage, our family, our work life, our friendships, stem from not having Jesus at the center. We even discuss the social media and how we are to take caution when being immersed with so many opinions around us that have no legitimate grounding. So we spend some time truly discussing our responsibility of being in the Word ourselves, daily, in order to decipher what truth really is.
Finally, Lisa and I talk about her marriage and family. We talk about how Lisa and her husband have learned over the years how to dream together. We talk about how to be good apologizers and repenters, and how your marriage is a daily model for your children. Our lives are walking testimonies to others, and so let us be advocates for our spouses.
May our lives be a testament to others that life with the Lord is one that is empowered, satisfying, and full of love. I hope you find some time today to listen to this amazing episode. You won't want to miss it!
Today the lovely Jessica Chow joins me on Thriving Beyond Belief!
Jessica's story is one that will resonate with so many women, and will have you praising the Lord by the end of this episode.
As a writer, Youtuber, and speaker, Jessica's story is one that is filled with the world selling her lies of satisfaction. After growing up only seeing broken relationships, they led to diminishing self-worth and distrust in relationships. Jessica then experienced loss which spurred her even more to pursue what the world would describe as "having it all". Years of worldly living left Jessica feeling unsatisfied and searching. She ended up finding the love of the Lord through the love of her other people who love the Lord.
Jessica speaks on the fact that once she began to share her story with a Godly community, she was never met with hostility after being vulnerable. After coming to know the Lord and being redeemed through His grace, she could almost physically feel the peace of the Lord breaking chains in her life. She was revealed God's character. We discuss that the world promises that certain things will bring freedom in life but that aren't true.
We discuss redemption and forgiveness in such real ways. Your sin is in your life to better understand Christ as our Savior. Your ability to sin is not greater that the Lord's ability to save!
We discuss relationships and lessons learned through dating, breakups, and purity. Jessica emphasizes many lessons learned through ungodly and Godly dating. Dating should be an addition to what the Lord is doing in your heart and life already. It shouldn't deter you. She truly learned about purity and saw the disconnect between what the world has to offer and what Jesus had to offer.
This episode will change you. It will make you remember who Jesus truly is and remind you why you follow Him. Take a listen today!
I am so excited to introduce Jennie Allen to the Thriving Beyond Belief podcast today!
From writing bible studies and books to the IF Gathering to talking about thriving, you can tell how passionate Jennie's heart is about women truly knowing and growing daily with the Lord.
Jennie talks about truly knowing thriving by not knowing thriving. She talks about how she can further appreciate God's goodness when going through seasons of feeling like she's are not thriving. Thriving is not selfish, but actually helps others around us and is a promise for us from the Lord, that we would have life abundant.
We talk about in depth all that the IF Gathering entails. There is amazing community made and it's an organization that focuses on women doing something with their faith.
One of the biggest breaths of fresh air was our discussion of letting go of striving for the sake of the world and looking to the Lord and resting in who GOD is and what HE can do. Our stories are not about what we achieve, but seeing how God moved in our lives and how we were obedient throughout life. In a culture of achievement, success, and never being satisfied, we need to learn to stop, rest, and let God show up and show out in our lives.
Jennie's role has become cheering women on and helping women would learn to live out of a sense of trust rather than fear.
We discuss the struggles of social media, the lessons to be learned from marriage, the importance of counseling, and the beauty of vulnerability.
We were created to be known and even God Himself is in community, being the Trinity. We are made to be with others, which inevitably leads to being open and honest with others. Speaking out what is in our hearts leads to healing and cementing truth in us. Keeping things shut in and not shared leads to loneliness, bitterness, and a skewed sense of who God is. Being authentic with others helps you realize that you don't have to be strong on your own. Others will lean in and advocate for you, if you only learn to be brave and share.
After listening to this episode, let our love for the Lord, vulnerability with others, and the pursuit of Him being known drive our lives. I hope this episode today encourages you and fires you up!
I am thrilled to have Julie Solomon on Thriving Beyond Belief today!
Julie currently lives in LA with her husband and son. She blogs and has a podcast that focuses on helping others gratitude, grow their business as influencers in the blog/podcast market.
The theme of the blog today is simply finding balance in the multi-faceted roles women have today. From finding our personal purpose in life to marriage to motherhood, Julie emphasizes the importance of meeting all of these pressures in our lives with gratitude. Gratitude in who the Lord is in our lives gives us the ability to thrive. God daily gives us everything we need, so we need to be wonderful stewards of His gifts and utilize them to our highest potential.
Julie speaks on how living with the mindset of abundance lets us live without fear. We learn to lean into the abundance of the Lord in every aspect of our lives, so that we are to find balance in being working mothers and wives. One way does this is by learning to create before consuming, which leads to seeking gratitude first instead of seeing what's lacking in life. We take some time to discuss having the perspective of abundance rather than scarcity.
In this episode, we speak specifically on intentional practices in your life that lead to balance. This includes ways to truly connect with your children, how to carve out intentional time with your spouse, how to deal with anxiety, the importance of community, and how to carve out time in your schedule for yourself.
We end with Julie talking through how to set good goals in your life and business. She speaks on truly knowing your "why", which helps steer every other decision you need to make, in regards to your purpose.
I hope today's episode encourages, uplifts, and challenges you today!
Please join me as we have the amazing Christine Caine on Thriving Beyond Belief today!
Christine Caine is an author, world-renown speaker, and social justice activist that focuses on ending sex trafficking.
We discuss in this episode today a topic that Christine has just written a book about: the unexpected. Her book came out in May and we talk about what happens to us when the unexpected happens, and how we can even look forward to the unexpected, so that we can see and believe God to be who He says He is!
Christine shares with us some incredibly hard circumstances that have happened in her life, from abuse, to earth-shattering news as an adult, to a health scare. But she shares that through these events, she was able to focus on who God is in circumstances rather than focusing on the circumstances themselves. Through this, she emphasizes the beauty of the body of Christ and how important the the local church was in her healing process.
Through the unexpected in our lives, we can learn to walk through that brokenness and experience the deeper level of healing God brings when we lean into Him in a hardship.
A main theme of our episode today is that we have to make what Jesus did for us be bigger than the circumstances that have happened to us. The lens with which you use to look at hardship will determine if it will grip you forever or if you will use it to be a part of the larger story.
One of my favorite moments of this episode is when Christine shares with wisdom that there are so many dimensions to who God is if we fully trust Him. We have such low expectations of who God is. She encourages us to EXPECT God to still be who He was in Scripture and that He is going to use us to do mighty things here in this life.
We discuss practical steps to hearing God daily and being ready for the adventure He has to take us on each day, how God is gracious in His timing of the things we can't anticipate, and the vulnerability that none of us this side of heaven are so healed that we don't need Jesus everyday. Subscribe to her daily devo here.
Finally, Christine reminds us to work through the fear of the unknown. "If we have anything to fear, it's not death. We must fear not living the life to the purpose that Christ gave us. Jesus did not come here and die and rise again for us to be safe. He sacrificed Himself so that we would be dangerous to the kingdom of darkness."
Please join me today for an episode that relates to everyone. You won't want to miss it.
I am so excited to have Ed Tandy McGlasson on Thriving Beyond Belief today!
We talk about Ed's namesake and about what he placed his identity in as a male in western culture. After a football injury, Ed questioned his identity. When Ed experienced a spiritual healing after a spiritual conversation, his journey with the Lord began. He was overwhelmed with the Gospel and how it radically changes lives. What occurred then was a journey with the Lord that leads to his ministry today. Ed wrote the book that we focus mainly on today, "The Difference A Father Makes", and has spent his life talking with others about what the lack of a Godly father can do in your life, but how the Lord coming into your life can give you a holy identity and an eternal purpose. He also leads Blessing of the Father Ministries.
He broke the cycle of the lack of fatherly wisdom after he accepted the Lord by blessing his daughter's lives through pointing them back to Jesus.
Ed describes that the words spoken over young men by their fathers shape how those young men see themselves. Those young men grow up and have children and try to find their identity in fatherhood, which drives their sons to performance because of that pressure put on them. This then leads into a unhealthy cycle of hurt boys becoming hurt men.
We talk about how at the root of each of us is the question if we are seen and loved, and how parents can show that love and how the Lord also sees and loves each of us unconditionally.
Ed speaks to those that have never had a Godly example in their lives, are divorced, or have a hard relationship with their father and gives wisdom and hope through scripture for who these people are in Christ. "The Lord chooses us so that He can adopt us as sons and daughters."
We also speak on the importance of fathers in the lives of their daughters. Ed encourages us women to not let our identity lie in who our father or husband is. We were created to thrive! But too often we seek our identity in other things when we don't have an example of a Godly father. We must fully put who we are in our Heavenly Father. When we see Jesus as "enough", we will then teach our children that Jesus is enough for them as well.
This is an episode for everyone, and a topic I know is important in our society today. Please listen and be refreshed and encouraged.
Today on Thriving Beyond Belief, we welcome Angela Paxton! What a joy it was to have Angela with me today on the podcast. From her being adopted to her many years in education to raising four children to now her run at Texas State Senate as her husband serves as the Attorney General, we discuss how the Lord has weaved together Angela's story over the years to reveal His purpose for her life today.
We discuss what true ministry is and how to use your personal story to relate to others in order to share Jesus with them. Remember that whatever platform the Lord gives you, be present and obedient with His call for you. Angela talks about the fact that the Lord created her to be someone who truly resides in the moment and how she uses that gift for the Lord. She truly has a gift to make people feel seen and heard, and it is evident in the platform the Lord gives her and her husband.
We speak on the beauty of differences in others, especially in marriage. Angela encourages us that rather than getting frustrated with your spouse over your differences, we should anchor into those and celebrate how we balance each other out. She speaks on the healthy habits that her and her husband practice in their marriage, especially for them when most of their days are spent apart. We discuss the necessity to nourish the marriage by making time for one another.
We really take some time to discuss how the circumstances of our lives lead us to what we dedicate our lives to. As Angela runs for Texas Senate, she realizes that although she never set out in life to be in the political arena, the Lord had been preparing her, with all she had experienced, for this moment her entire life.
We speak on fear and how the Lord wants us to lean on Him in those times of fear rather than let it shut us down. Fear is an absence of trust. He wants you to trust in Him in the darkest moments and not lean on your own understanding. We are not called to win the battles in our lives but we are called to simply be obedient and see the Lord be victorious.
I hope this episode blesses you today. Enjoy!
Thank you for joining us today on Thriving Beyond Belief! I am so happy to have Jessica Honegger with me today on the podcast. The central word of this podcast resonates with Jessica, as the company she founded, Noonday Collection, centers around helping others thrive. In her new book, Imperfect Courage, she shares so much about her journey!
From helping women get jobs, celebrating the family unit, and being a creative outlet, Noonday Collection helps others use their gifts for the Lord and helping others be all they were created to be. Jessica shares with us what thriving means to her, and it is evident in how she lives her life.
Jessica shares her life with her husband and three children in Texas. She shares how the adoption of her third child helped launch all that she does today.
While speaking on her own story, Jessica discusses how the purpose of her life came after years of what seemed like random avenues. We discuss the fact that the path to success is not a linear path, and to never compare your beginning to someone else's middle. The Lord weaves together our story and brings all things together, if we are willing to trust Him on the "faith walk". If we lean into Him when the path does not seem clear, He is faithful to the promise He gave each of us.
Choosing anxiety, cynicism, and disappointment is the easy path in life. But to choose love, purpose, and vulnerability takes hustle and hard work. Those things require effort. To choose peace is an active decision and requires time spent with the Lord.
There are so many sweet nuggets of truth in this episode about what true courage is (which is the topic of her new book, Imperfect Courage), what true surrender is, how to trust the Lord when He tells us who He is, and how to embrace the waiting periods He has us in. Remember that in the seasons of waiting, He invites you to wait WITH Him. It's not a stagnant state, but rather an active time with the Lord.
She encourages women that we can be excellent in all of our roles. Excellence is not mutually exclusive and it is a plot of the enemy to think we can't be a good wife, mom, CEO, etc. God has created us all with unique passions, and He will be faithful to let us succeed in all of our roles.
I can't wait for you to listen in on this episode today. So grab a cup of coffee, put in your earbuds, and enjoy!
What an exciting day it is today on Thriving Beyond Belief! We have Heather Macfayden on the podcast today, and you will absolutely want to make time to hear this today!
Heather has her own podcast, the God-Centered Mom. Having four sons of her own, Heather speaks with us today about thriving in motherhood, in marriage, and in our many roles as women.
Parenting is a role we all struggle to perfect, but Heather speaks some amazing truth over the real goal of parenting. We often see the actions of our children as a reflection of who we are as parents. We put this pressure on ourselves that what we teach our children today will carry on through their lives. Heather reminds us that we must remember that we are important, but we are not essential to the larger picture of what the Lord is doing. We cannot project our child's successes and/or failures directly on us. We steward well the roles the Lord has given us, but we must remember that we are each running our own race with the Lord, and as parents all we can do is be amazing encouragers of our children to run their race with the Lord well. Heather shares that the Lord has given us each a purpose and to celebrate the fact that each person's role, including our spouse and children's, is unique!
We discuss how our role as parents is a greater reflection of how Christ is with us. We talk about our responses as parents to our children, and using those moments as opportunities rather than see them as problems or inconveniences. We can daily have our own time with the Lord, even in the midst of a busy household and Heather shares some resources that have helped her carve out that time each day. Rather than waste our time comparing ourselves to others via social media, different blogs, etc., we need to steward our time well and be intentional with Christ.
Not only do we get to discuss parenthood, but we talk about some unique challenges Heather and her husband face in marriage while being parents to four children. She reminds us that a healthy partnership with our spouse better equips us to parent well. We are individuals, and we need to continue to steward our gifts outside the home to better serve those inside our home.
Please take some time and listen today- it will be a blessing to you!
On this episode of Thriving Beyond Belief, I have Allison Evans and Marilee Nelson from Branch Basics with me! Branch Basics is a company that sells nontoxic cleaning products. They use this as a vehicle to start discussions of others thriving in their homes with clean living.
Marilee and Allison are an aunt and niece duo who have such interesting and extensive health pasts that brought them together to turn their passions into their careers. They talk to us about the importance of what we put in our bodies, on our bodies, and around our bodies.
Marilee talks about her health journey and how after several medical issues, she was referred to a food-as-medicine physician, which immediately changed her life. She speaks on the radical changes both her and her family experienced from the change to clean eating, clean air, and no chemicals in their everyday environment.
Allison speaks about her health journey, which so many of us can relate to. She tells us passionately that because of her own issues that she experienced that everyone can benefit from clean living, no matter if you struggle with physical issues or not. After a summer on Marilee's farm mimicking her lifestyle, Allison's life was changed forever. She watched all of her chronic symptoms fade away after eating and living in a healthy and organic way.
They speak to us about the common myths that come with healthy living: the ladies urge us to focus on simple, uncomplicated basics. Instead of seeing clean living as a hindrance, instead see it as an opportunity to thrive. At the heart of what these women decided was to listen to the Lord and follow His guidance on how to best steward the body He had given them.
We speak vulnerably about the lifestyle shifts that come with the new way of living, and the ladies speak about how this lifestyle reflects our life with Christ. There are special boundaries with clean living, and though they come with some sacrifice, boundaries (both physical and spiritual) are good for us! We must learn that just because we are allowed something, it does not mean it is wise to indulge in certain things. This lifestyle, for Marilee and Allison, has spurred their relationships with the Lord through this avenue of clean living.
Please take a listen to this podcast today, and then check out Branch Basics to get your starter kit to get to clean living today!
Welcome to today's episode of Thriving Beyond Belief! With me today is Katherine Wolf, who is the cofounder, along with her husband, of the ministry Hope Heals. Katherine and her husband wrote the book "Hope Heals" and the two of them travel around the country speaking about their own journey.
10 years ago, Katherine's life was completely interrupted when she experienced AVM rupture in her brain from a rare birth defect. Miraculously surviving the trauma, she now is confined to a wheelchair and endures many physical limitations. Katherine speaks with us today about how the Lord has allowed so much healing to take place in her life. She talks about her journey and the miracles she has seen from the Lord despite her severe sufferings.
We take a lot of time on this episode to talk honestly and biblically about going through tremendous trial and suffering and how it brings it such immense growth and hope in the Lord. Katherine even defines thriving as flourishing through constraints. We in this world will experience trial and suffering, but the times we live in feed us the lie that we deserve a lie without constraints or suffering. If we look at our lives through the lens of the Lord, we see that we endure constraints because Christ has proven to be the constraint overcomer! He is the overcomer in each of our stories! We are to take hold of the sufferings and to use those to bring glory to God on earth.
As we talk, we discuss vulnerability and the lack of conversation about suffering in our culture. But Scripture reminds us that the most beautiful things have come out of the hardest moments in our lives.
In this episode, Katherine discusses her own experiences of walking through immense trauma, and how that has affected her marriage. She reminds us beautifully that the battles we face are not against our spouse. The battle is against the outside circumstances that that have come at the marriage. Katherine stresses that there must also be an intense hold on Jesus. The Lord is never surprised by the trials that hit a marriage, and therefore He knows that that marriage can not only survive, but thrive through difficult times.
Katherine discusses fears she faces now because of her disabilities and how she often looks back on her life to see how the Lord has been faithful every step of the way to spur her ahead. She encourages each of us to dwell on and process our own stories so that they can be used for His glory as well as bring healing to our own lives.
The world will tell you that darkness is the end of your story. But Katherine reminds us that Scripture says the opposite- the Lord bestows a treasure specifically for those who suffer. The light is sweeter because we have walked through darkness. He will uphold us!
Please take some time to listen to this incredible story- you won't want to miss it!
Lisa Clark joins me today on Thriving Beyond Belief! Lisa and I go way back, and I am so excited for her to join me today!
Lisa and her husband, Brad, reside in Dallas and have been married for 32 years. They have 2 beautiful daughters (with a grandson and one on the way!). Lisa first began her ministry with teaching on the book “Age of Opportunity” at her church. This propelled her into developing a platform for parent ministry. She recently put out a book called “Raising Sinners”, that is a culmination of her talks that Biblically align with passing the baton of faith to the next generation.
We discuss how Lisa defines thriving. Knowing what her purpose and mission in life led to the channel in which Lisa is able to glorify the Lord.
In this episode, we talk about the strengths and struggles of marriage, and how in marriage, we can be better together than we are apart. We must not forget that God is still at work in marriages that exceed 30 years just like He is in marriages that have just begun. One beautiful part of marriage is that marriage is the one place we can be vulnerable. We, as husbands and wives, should embrace that in each other and feel the safety the Lord gives us in our marriage.
From talking about the balance of the order of the home to how to let children become beautifully independent to confidence in who God created each person to be, Lisa shares such wisdom in what the Lord has taught her through His Word and time walking intimately with Him. Lisa shares some of her own struggles she has had- as a woman, as mom, and as a wife- and how to greet each day with appreciation and trust in the Lord.
There are so many nuggets of wisdom in this podcast. We emphasize that the world is going to try and convince us that being a daughter of the King isn’t enough. But we must cling to the truth of the hope of the Lord and not believe the lies of the enemy. Remember that He has equipped us for the relationships and situations we are in. Walk confidently in parenting, in marriage, and in sharing the Gospel!
I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did and that it brings peace to your day!
I am thrilled to have Siouxsan Robinson on Thriving Beyond Belief with me today! After meeting at a retreat last year, her story has continued to stay on my mind. She has such a powerful story to share. Siouxsan is a Native American that grew up on the Rosebud reservation in South Dakota. She has been married to her husband, Charles Robinson, for 14 years. In their time together, along with growing their family by 7, they have created a ministry called The Red Road that seeks to build relationships on Native American reservations.
They provide “Baskets of Hope” for those on the reservation, carefully praying over each basket and who it will serve. Along with household goods in the baskets, the Robinsons provide a bible and a devotional as well. As they build these relationships, they share Christ and the hope He gives and the love He has for each of them. The beautiful part of this story is that Siouxsan now gives to others graciously after experiencing an extremely broken past. Siouxsan was exposed to every kind of abuse that came from a broken family system. During this time, she was prone to seeing dark spirits.
After a conversation with a cousin, Siouxsan was exposed to the Gospel. She realized the strength of the Lord was stronger than the fear of the enemy (can I get an amen on that?!) One of my favorite moments in this podcast is when Siouxsan describes her salvation experience. Before knowing Jesus, there was a real and true battle in her spirit. She could feel the pull of the enemy to keep her in fear. But then she met the Lord and her description of her salvation will bring you to tears. In her relationship with the Lord, she no longer felt alone. Jesus was not only there for her, but was for her. She saw the beauty of His pursuit of her and how He just wanted to spend time with her. All of her life, people had taken from Siouxsan. But the Lord gave to her. She learned and talks about forgiving others because of His forgiveness of her past. She is able to be compassionate because of His compassion towards her. She even shares with us what thriving is to her because of her own walk with the Lord.
Be prepared for an amazing episode full of truth. We discuss issues that are so important to remember about ourselves, about others, and about the Lord. I can’t wait for you to listen with us today!
Social Media LinksInstagram: @siouxsantheredroad
Website: http://www.theredroad.org/
Facebook: @siouxsanrobinson
Jeff and I co-interview our wonderful guests Bill and Brenda Bogart! Bill primarily works with the marriage ministry at Park Cities Presbyterian Church here in Dallas and Brenda is an artist. Both Bill and Brenda were married previously and have a big and beautiful blended family today.
One of the biggest issues that arises in marriage is communication. With Bill and Brenda meeting with married couples, they try to emphasize that good communication is really about a mutual understanding and mutual respect for one another in a marriage. This sweet couple shares different tools on this episode that can help with better communication and listening.
Some topics we discuss include validating feelings in your spouse, weekly dates with your spouse, and what healthy disagreements are. This episode really explores the freedom of truly working things out in your marriage in a healthy way. Bill and Brenda go into what it looks like to be intentional everyday with your husband or wife. When we work through loving our spouse well and what all that entails, it will naturally lead to greater intimacy in all areas of the marriage.
When we realize that our spouse is not the enemy, but rather our teammate that we are wanting to cross the finish line of life with, the whole outlook of what your marriage is changes.
Bill and Brenda speak wisely on the subject of forgiveness, the balance of discussion between internal and external processors, and how to make your spouse feel known. The world often tells us what a husband should be and what a wife should be. We are often overcoming those lies of the world to lean into what Christ calls us to be as husbands and wives.
When listening to this podcast, you can’t help but see the beautiful intention the Lord had for marriage and what He intends it to be- it is a representation of our walks with the Lord. We walk along with Jesus through life and learn how to better communicate with Him as we go, learning to grow in grace, humility, and how to truly listen. This is such a parallel of the lessons we learn through marriage. As we grow in vulnerability, we grow in intimacy.
This is absolutely a podcast you will not want to miss! What you will take away from this is the true pursuit of your spouse.
Kristi Hayes joins me today on Thriving Beyond Belief! It was wonderful speaking with her and discovering our kinship with our hearts for women. We share a passion to help women thrive as their whole selves- physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Kristi does her life with her husband, Grant, and her two children now in Denver. She and her husband have a ministry called “Be Strong Story” that they began 2 years ago. What began as a simple note to their son that encouraged him to be strong and protect the weak blossomed into a ministry that helps families live in the same mentality.
A big discussion for us today is how we, as women, reevaluate life after children. For those that work hard in every way, we talk about the balance of thriving in our own story as well as balancing that with raising children well and being fully present with our families.
Kristi and I discuss the balance of her marriage, different communication styles, the importance of prayer with each other, and keeping the Lord at the forefront of the marriage. Date nights, marriage accountability partners, and adventuring together are some of the few things that have helped keep Kristi’s marriage thriving.
It was refreshing to discuss the glorification of the busy with Kristi, where so often we “do” a lot of things, but “sprinkle God’s name” in everything, without it truly being for the Lord. Kristi was asked to “stop” by the Lord and be truly content to just be with Him. We too often find our worth in the work we say we are doing for the Lord instead of our worth and value being truly in Christ Himself.
From the topic of true accountability to being vulnerable to fears that we share, this episode truly hits home with so many issues that we as women face today. We often struggle between the balance of who we think we are, what others perceive about us, and what the Lord tells us about ourselves that is the ultimate truth. He speaks to us through His Word that tells us who we truly are in Him. A challenge that this episode presents is if we are truly spending time with the Lord because we see it as a box to check off for the day or if we truly have a desire to spend time knowing the Lord more.
Please tune in to receive some true encouragement and wisdom from my talk with Kristi. It will bless your day!
Thank you for joining us at Thriving Beyond Belief today! I am so excited to introduce Kathy Izard to the podcast. It was such a blessing being able to speak with her.
Kathy is a fellow Texan that now lives in North Carolina. She is happily married with four daughters. Kathy recently wrote a book titled “The Hundred Story Home”, that will be released this month! This book is about her own story and hearing the voice of the Lord, and how you can listen to His voice in your own life!
Thriving, to Kathy, is defined as living joyfully and purposefully. We see this in her own story.
Regarding Kathy’s story, we discuss how mothers can so often put the voice of the Lord for their own life on the back burner to the lives of their children. Kathy was at a place in her life where she began seeking out that voice to begin change in her own walk with the Lord. In truly hearing that voice, Kathy’s life suddenly had true, eternal purpose and direction.
We talk all about how age is not an issue for the Lord. He is using everyone for His glory for their entire lives. She encourages us to never discount dreams the Lord gives us and to truly believe God to fill your life with His purpose.
After reading a book about a couple that embraced homelessness, Kathy was haunted by the obedience of the family in the book to truly help the homeless in their community. She met Denver Moore, author of "Same Kind of Difference As Me", and after some crazy circumstances, Kathy left her full time job to take on working for homeless community in her city, called Moore Place. What she believed to be a mere career change turned into a passion lit within her to build a shelter and run a ministry that truly helped the homeless in Charlotte.
Kathy says that God’s path isn’t without its trials and unknown moments. She faced fears and disappointments along the path the Lord was leading her down. But along the way of helping the homeless, Kathy found her own way home, she found her faith again through this process, and learned to trust in the Lord’s timing.
When discussing marriage, Kathy emphasizes the need for compromise and laughter to make marriage joyful. We emphasize the need to focus on eternity in order to prioritize what we do here today. And now with older children, Kathy talks about the balance between giving children roots and wings.
I hope you join us today for this podcast to be encouraged, challenged, and inspired by what the Lord is calling you to!
Please welcome Katie Smith today on Thriving Beyond Belief!
Katie has a new blog, KJSonline, where she speaks candidly about her journey. She also loves being a restaurant server because of the amazing interaction she has with others. (And fun fact, she is one of eight children!)
Katie and I have a special bond in that the Lord has used us to speak into other’s lives about divorce and the desire for a redeemed marriage.
We talk about Katie’s journey through marriage, depression, divorce, her years of rebellion, spiritual restoration, and so much more. We discuss the lies that creep in when we think marriage is the root issue of our discontentment. Katie also talks about the Lord whispering to her that intimacy with Him would lead to restoration in all areas of her life.
All of the world’s definitions of happiness happened for Katie, and yet she felt completely empty without the Lord being present in her life. Through slowly reading the Bible again, the one step of obedience after a season of running, Katie was overwhelmed with the peace she received from spending time with the Lord.
Katie talks about her Damascus road experience of realizing what the Lord wanted for her and her story. God was showing Katie that He still answers prayers today. He is the same God that He was in the Bible, and we can trust who He is.We talk about trusting the Lord with His timing. It became more about the relationship with the Lord than the marriage.
Through Katie’s journey, she is encouraging others with their own story. She is using what happened for good and to help others. Please take some time to listen today- it will leave you hopeful and thankful!
The wonderful Erin McCormack joins me today on Thriving Beyond Belief!
Raised here in Dallas, Erin met and married her husband of 5 years. She now tutors full time after teaching for a few years and has a lifestyle blog! Erin started her blog as a creative outlet and it has become a place where she can talk openly and vulnerably about her story.
Erin walks us through how she learned to lean into the Lord through terrible heartache, fertility issues, and hard life circumstances. She discusses how the Lord is so good to us by turning our most tragic moments into beautiful parts of our story.
Erin describes thriving as more than about a specific situation or circumstance, but it is rather about the ability to let the Lord teach you in every season. Thriving is learning in every aspect of life.
We talk specifically about the importance of the marriage partnership, intimacy, and ultimate belief in your spouse.
Speaking with Erin was such a sweet time of authenticity. It is one of those talks that everyone can relate to in some aspect, and brings relief to your soul. I hope you enjoy as you listen today!
Shannon Ratliff joins me today on Thriving Beyond Belief! Shannon was a contestant on America’s Next Top Model. Stewart was the runner up on the 1st Cycle of America's Next Top Model and appeared on the All-Star edition of the show, placing sixth as a finalist. She was also first runner-up in the Miss Ohio USA pageant in 2005, and a semi-finalist in that pageant in 2006.She went from super model to role model after giving up a career in modeling when the cost was too high. Shannon has been married for 10 years and currently living in North Carolina.
It is so great chatting with Shannon as we talk about some similarities in our pasts, the Lord being the Great Restorer, and what it means to thrive.
To thrive, according to Shannon, is living out the purpose and calling the Lord has given you in life. Even though life can be difficult, you can still live out the purpose He has for you in the hard seasons. Thriving is being a vessel for Him!
Shannon discusses her modeling career and her decision to bravely say “no” to a compromising shoot situation. She reminds us that the Lord is going to give you a dream that’s honorable to Him. He will give you an honorable path to the dreams He has stored in your heart.
We talk about Shannon’s new love for writing, and how the Lord can use her story to help others. She encourages everyone to share their story, because it leads to healing and can help those who are not able to talk about their story yet.
And we discuss different aspects of marriage like communication, quality time, and the importance of taking away how to put the Lord first even in marriage.
I hope you enjoy listening to Shannon Ratliff today on Thriving Beyond Belief!
On the podcast today, I am chatting with an incredible lady, Tara-Leigh Cobble, who I first met at a retreat about a year ago. Tara-Leigh has a quick wit, engaging presence on stage as a musician, and a passion to help others learn to love the Lord and God’s word more each day. Check this link out: mydgroup.org/thrivingbeyondbelief too! Tara-Leigh knew she wanted to study who God was and take the focus off of herself, so she began a ministry called D Group. In 9 years, the ministry has reached an international level and thousands of people have engaged in this “Crossfit of Bible Studies.”
Tara-Leigh was a musician and speaker for many years, but found the best way to optimize how she served the Lord, was in writing, speaking, and teaching God’s word. She encourages women to read John:15, which talks about abiding in Christ. Yes, life is crushing, but there is a sweetness as we feel Christ’s nearness and learn to lean on and abide in Him.
Tara-Leigh talks about single life and the various challenges and joys that come with this season of life. For her personally, Tara-Leigh tries not to let her feet hit the ground in the morning without hitting play on her YouVersion Bible App. Incredibly, she points out that it is possible to read the bible through in a year by listening for only 12 minutes a day! She also encourages women to ask God for help when they need it, and to not be afraid of engaging in a personal relationship with Him. The past few years have presented several challenges for Tara-Leigh. She lost her sister to cancer, had two open heart surgeries, but in these challenges found the grace to know God will always show-up, provide, and take care of every detail.
I truly enjoyed my time talking with this incredibly strong woman.
Relax and join me in my interview with Tara-Leigh Cobble.
The sweet Jessica Youngblood joins me on Thriving Beyond Belief today! Jessica is a wife of 15 years, mother of 4, and author of “Worth the pain: My Journey from Meth to Ministry”. I had such a wonderful time talking with her and we hope her story resonates with you!
Jessica tells us all about her journey and the many attempts she made to satisfy what only Jesus can satisfy. From teenage pregnancy to dealing with addiction, Jessica talks through her journey to find Christ. She talks about her amazing moment of realizing she needed Jesus, but how we as believers are then to work out our faith. Our God is too good a God to leave us where we are and we are to let Him renew our minds and transform our lives!
Jessica describes thriving as living in freedom from your past and truly enjoying the present to its fullest; to share the light you have experienced from Jesus with those that are still in darkness.
We discuss different aspects of marriage, the joys of parenting, and how crucial balance and boundaries are to all relationships in your life.
So pull up a chair, put in your earbuds on the treadmill, or turn up the dial in your car and join us on Thriving Beyond Belief today!
Today’s podcast is so special to me because Jeff and I had the pleasure of interviewing our pastor and his wife on the podcast today: Matt and Lauren Chandler!
Matt Chandler is the pastor of The Village Church in North Texas. He and Lauren have three children and have had the blessing of being married for almost 20 years! Matt and Lauren have been able to write many books over the years, but we discuss in particular Matt’s book A Mingling of Souls, as it relates to love, marriage, sex, and dating.
Matt and Lauren talk to us about some amazing truths they have learned along the way while in marriage, growing their family, and even through incredible hardship. They give such wisdom and insight on the deeper issues that we all deal with and what to truly seek in order to work on marriage, family, and with the world.
They also give great advice to both men and women on things that each sex needs to diligently work at either because it does not come naturally or because culture has told us that men have particular roles and women have particular roles. The mandate of the Gospel, however, extends to everyone. So we discuss how to live in the freedom of the Gospel to be exactly who the Lord created and intended us to be.
We hope you enjoy this refreshing time of talking with dear friends and learning what we can from both our stories and other’s!
I am so excited to have Nancy Houston with me today on Thriving Beyond Belief! We talk about a topic that is necessary in our culture today and one that is good for our hearts. We discuss intimacy within marriage!
Nancy shares her story with us and how she has gotten to where she is today. Nancy’s book Love and Sex was released in February, which is the Christian guide to healthy intimacy. She wrote the book for those 18 and older to try and help others find their pathway to healthy intimacy. She is also a certified sex therapist who devotes her time to helping couples restore their relationships, seek healing and help, and to fully enjoy marriage the way God intended it to be.
Nancy had some beautiful things to say regarding her past and dealing with abuse. She reminds us that in Scripture, God shares that He is not ashamed of us or what has happened to us, but He wants to meet us and reconstruct from the ruins of our past. She also shares that we must recognize the need for healing. She discusses coming from a place to self-hatred to seeking outside help that helped reinforce that her past was not her fault and that your past is not your fault. We see that through His Word, the Lord wants to meet us in the midst of our hurt and be our great Healer.
Nancy’s definition of thriving is facing our negative realities and walk through them to experience the LIFE on the other side. We have to leave our Egypt to reach our promised land. It doesn’t mean it is an easy journey, but it is a worthy one. Our God wants us to thrive in this way in all areas of our life- including our sex life with our spouse!
Nancy reminds us that God specifically designed us with a purpose. He is not ashamed of sexuality because He designed us to be sexual beings that gain attachment and closeness within the bond of marriage through intimacy. He desires that your intimate life is enjoyable and strengthens the marriage! We as a Christian culture need to remember to connect our spirituality with our sexuality. Often we don’t believe they are connected. But, in fact, they are stronger when they are connected.
We discuss at length those that are currently dealing with a disconnect in their marriage. Nancy discusses the scientific reasoning behind our need for attachment within marriage, what leads to breaks in the attachment, and how we can work through better communication to repair the disconnect. She encourages couples to learn to tell your spouse what you need instead of keeping score against them. Rather than blame your spouse, ask for what you feel you are lacking. She also encourages those that have tried everything and their spouse is unwilling to change to keep seeking help. Continue to pray over your marriage and tap into resources to find that intimacy again.
We end with talking about how sex in marriage was not created to be an obligation to either party, but to be a beautiful and pleasurable experience. Nancy talks through Scripture that beautifully portrays what intimacy in marriage looks like for both people, male and female.
Join me today as we gain wisdom in being healthy in every way in our marriages.
Please welcome Paige Greene to the Thriving Beyond Belief podcast today! I had the pleasure of meeting Paige through our pastor, Matt Chandler, a couple of years ago after she wrote an incredible article titled “I Regret my Divorce”. Paige gets vulnerable and real with us about divorce on the podcast today. She discusses what can come from unbiblical divorce in a refreshing way that we in the Christian community truly need to hear.
Paige currently works for Lifeway, as she helps with their events and is able to minister to women all over the country. She is also pursuing her Master’s degree in counseling.
Paige defines thriving as walking with the Lord every day and laying down all that distracts in that time. (She is an extrovert and a communicator, so the phone has to stay away in that time- I can so relate to that!) She believes it is abiding in the Lord in the present. For so long, she focused on what her future would look like instead of being thankful for today (how many of us can relate to that?), and now sees that joy comes from gratitude to the Lord for the day we have been given.
Paige feels a burden to share her story, especially with young marriages, in this culture today. She discusses how divorce did not solve the problems she thought it would, and even prays that one day she will be able to be reconciled with her ex-husband. She gives Biblical wisdom to the weight divorce truly brings.
Remember that the enemy is out to steal, kill, and destroy. He wants our culture to believe that the minute you are unhappy in your marriage, divorce is the only solution that can bring freedom. Paige shares that once the papers have been signed, the promise of “freedom” doesn’t hold up to what you thought it would be. She emphasizes so wonderfully that divorce is far more serious to God than our culture makes it seem.
Paige shares her heart in the most beautiful way about how to truly seek the Lord if you are thinking divorce is your only option. She discusses her own story and how when she came to the conclusion that divorce was the only avenue to bring freedom and happiness for her, that she was completely self-focused. She shares that we must “feed our spirit, not our flesh”. She encourages us to understand that God is a God of kept covenants. The thought of divorce doesn’t please Him because He knows the consequences of it; He knows what broken covenants lead to.
We discuss going to the Lord and asking Him how He feels about the possibility of divorce. If you seek His will and His word, you will not miss His answer to you. Remember that if you don’t feel a certain way, you must stand up in obedience. If you don’t feel that marriage should ever be difficult or sacrificial, you must let your obedience take over. Don’t let your feelings dictate how you treat your spouse or your marriage. Some days may be truly hard, but God will bless your commitment.
Paige ends with some amazing encouragement. For those that have gotten divorced, she reminds us that God hates divorce, but loves you. The two are not mutually exclusive. He will always take care of His children, and Paige saw it first hand when walking through her own divorce. BECAUSE He loves you, He hates divorce. She advises to read through Psalm 51 and wait for the Lord.
I am so thankful to know Paige, and I hope this talk today is eye-opening, encouraging, and makes you see the Lord in a new way.
Grab a cup of coffee and come join us today on Thriving Beyond Belief!
I am so excited to have Mike Foster with us on the podcast today! I believe that it is important for this mainly woman-centric podcast to have some male perspective on life, marriage, and how to thrive. So let’s welcome his wonderful perspective today!
Mike is an author, speaker, and therapist. He has his own podcast, “Fun Therapy”, which dives into people’s stories, but with a smile. Each episode is somewhat of a therapy session with different individuals. Mike, along with his wife, Jennifer, published “Five Dates” this year. “Five Dates” is a workbook for couples to help work through connection in marriage. Mike also has a book, "People of the Second Chance", which is a powerful book on his own life journey.
We begin the podcast diving into what Mike does and how what he does now was shaped by his story and the things that happened in his past. Because of his own personal struggles in inadequacy, shame, fear, and perfectionism, Mike now wants to walk with others through those feelings and help them work towards freedom. He talks about wanting to help people see God’s goodness in the midst of their storm.
Mike defines thriving as dwelling in being exactly who God has created us to be. Often we walk around trying to be a “version” of ourselves, which inevitably leads to failure and exhaustion. Instead, the Lord wants us to align our lives with the gifts, strengths, and visions He has created us to have. Mike also believes we cannot truly be thriving without being in true, vulnerable community with others. We are created to be in community.
Mike shares some wonderful perspective on the roles men play in life and marriage, and how the world can twist what God’s calling on men’s lives truly is supposed to be. He speaks on the prejudices our culture puts on men, the distorted picture of masculinity today in our western society, and says what “being a man” is versus what God’s word says men are. The core needs of men and women are the same, but the avenue to get to those core needs is different.
We even discuss on the podcast a healthy view of sex within the bonds of marriage and what true intimacy is. He discusses that this is an area of marriage that needs to be stewarded and that it is an issue that affects every area of marriage.
We end with how wives can help husbands in their roles as men in the relationship. We discuss how wives can be encouragers, affirmers, and a safe place for their husbands to come and tap into their feelings. Mike wisely shares that couples need to first work on togetherness before they can ever think about discussing the larger issues within their relationship.
You will not want to miss this podcast. Grab a cup of coffee and come join us today on Thriving Beyond Belief!
It is such a treat to have Kait Warman on Thriving Beyond Belief with me today!
Kait is a such a joy and exudes such positivity and light in all that she does. We discuss her story and how even having the “dream job” of being a senior buyer in New York for a high end company (her life truly was a scene from “Devil Wears Prada”!) did not bring what only Jesus can bring to our lives- true and ultimate fulfillment.
Kait now lives in beautiful Santa Monica, where she is a professional blogger, is starting a social media company that focuses on creative content, has a truth talk series on YouTube, and is about to begin a podcast solely focused on Christian Dating called The Heart of Dating and can be found on iTunes and stitcher at also www.heartofdating.com and @heartofdating on instagram! .
The greatest thing about our time talking together is how openly we talk about all of the true and vulnerable issues that are difficult for women to discuss today. We talk about everything from what our identity should truly lie in, comparison to others, self-care, heartbreak, and even body positivity.
We take some time to expand on what it means to “thrive”. Kate believes that we are thriving when we are functioning wholly and fully in all areas- mind, body, and spirit. To be whole in those areas is to bring Jesus into the details of our lives! We learn to take care of ourselves in a way that is glorifying to the Lord and helpful to others. In order to love others as Christ loves us, we must be spending time with Him ourselves. It is important to remember that we must set aside time to do so.
Kait shares some of her past and trials that she has walked through, only to know Jesus in a sweeter way because of those times. She discusses shame in a very vulnerable way, and shares how we as women can combat the lies the enemy wants us to believe. Kait also talks about this season of singleness and how to be thankful for seasons that are truly in God’s will for us to experience.
Kait, venturing in to the social media world, gives some amazing insight on the pros and cons of social media. We should be using social media as a tool to connect, gain creative insight, and spur one another on. But all too easily it can become a dark place of comparison, body shaming, and a place where vulnerability is not welcome. But Kait shares that “we cannot compare others’ nuggets to the treasure the Lord has stored up for us”. We talk further about taking care of what has been entrusted to us, how we are to feel healthy more than “skinny”, and that we must set boundaries on places that can easily lead to us thinking we are not beautiful, when Christ tells us in His Word how much we are valued. We must never replace truth with the lies the world tells us.
Take a listen today to this amazingly real and genuine talk. I hope it blesses you!
Today on the podcast my guest is Jordan Lee Dooley. Jordan is married to Matt Dooley, they currently live in Indiana, and have a Goldendoodle pup named Hoosier.
Jordan Lee organically founded a ministry SoulScripts, during her college days at Indiana University. Jordan would doodle scripture on paper and canvas as a way to memorize verses, but didn’t realize that God would take this simple gesture and create a full-time ministry. As the ministry has grown, today Jordan travels across the country speaking to women on college campuses encouraging them to grow in their faith and step into their purpose. I love a comment Jordan made during our interview, “When we follow Jesus, we get to walk in His glory, but we are also called to walk in the gory stuff.”
In this interview we talk about thriving and what thriving means to her. Jordan feels right now she is thriving in community, but finds herself not thriving in remembering to see herself the way God sees her; it’s something she continually works on.
Over the past few years as Jordan has spoken to so many women in her generation she has learned that vulnerability is the key to overcoming brokenness, and you will thrive when you move beyond your brokenness. She is passionate about helping women realize not to let your identity be shaped by mistakes, pain, or circumstances.
A hot topic in our culture today is social media and we talked about the ways social media can be a blessing and a tool or can be a burden. Social media is a lifestyle choice, a balance and an art, and it takes effort to keep this in check. On this topic, Jordan asks women to pray about whether social media is your default, and if you use this as an escape in your marriage or in your relationships. Take the time to become aware of how this is affecting you and others around; it can be life changing.
Jordan passionately mentors women about how to be real, find self-awareness, share raw emotions, and develop a heart to be in a relationship with Jesus. She wants you to know Jesus is there for you and that He made the way for us to be redeemed and healed by giving His life for us.
Finally, we talk about how to do life on a daily basis when life is so busy. First, Jordan blocks out time throughout the day to be with the Holy Spirit, she makes people a priority, and finally Jordan is intentional about stewarding the body God gave her. Focusing on these three things helps bring a sense of balance to her life.
In February 2019, Jordan has a new book coming out and although the title has not been revealed, the book will focus on identifying your brokenness, but not identifying with it so that you can live out your God given purpose. I can’t wait to get a copy when it comes out!
Grab your coffee and enjoy my interview with Jordan Lee Dooley.
Today my guest on the podcast is Nicole Zasowski. Nicole is married to Jimmy, they have a two year old son and currently live in Connecticut. Nicole is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of Connecticut where she has a private practice. She earned her BA in Psychology from Pepperdine University and her Masters of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy from Fuller Theology Seminary School of Psychology. In addition to her practice, Nicole serves as a Restoration Therapist and Trainer several times a year at The Hideaway Experience an intensive marriage retreat at WinShape Retreat Center in Rome, Georgia. She cherishes her time with these couples and feels that she has “a front row seat to God’s miracles and in ninety-six hours gets to see the transformation in so many couples lives.”
In our interview Nicole shares with me the challenges she faced as she and her husband made a major move across the country, how she has began removing idols from her life, their struggle with infertility, and how she has learned that when God calls us to do something He will equip us and give us what we need.
As a Marriage and Family Therapist, Nicole talks about two common themes many women face today, loneliness and performance. She understands that many women do not recognize they are in “performance mode” or that they are in pain (loneliness).
Are you in “performance mode” and what do you do when you are in pain? Nicole has outlined four common coping behaviors many women experience and encourages you to reach out to someone if you have these feelings.
In conclusion, Nicole and I talk about the keys to a healthy marriage and relationships. I love what she says, “Nothing changes if nothing changes and we each must own our own stuff for this to ever happen.”
I hope you gain wisdom from this interview, and find peace in knowing that you can become vulnerable and you don’t need to cover the cracks and scars in your life. Let God’s light into those cracks which then become beacons of light.
Grab your coffee and enjoy my interview with Nicole Zasowski.
I have the immense pleasure of having Roma Downey join me today on Thriving Beyond Belief!
From humble beginnings in Ireland and losing her mother at a young age to being a coat check girl in New York to being America’s favorite voice of hope in Touched by an Angel, Roma’s story rivals that of the films that she now produces through her production company, Light Workers.
Roma’s definition of thriving is the picture of a life of overflow and abundance. We discuss that this doesn’t necessarily mean that life is always easy or that everything goes our way, but that from the struggle, you can see the blessing. We have fullness of life, and thrive from all of the experiences we have in life.
It was a blessing to speak with her about her new book that just came out on March 6th. Box of Butterflies is about discovering the unexpected blessings all around us. Roma even shares that butterflies have been a beautiful symbol from the Lord all her life that He is faithful, no matter the circumstance.
We also talk on being empty nesters and the journey we take with our children as they grow up. We discuss the amazing opportunity her and her husband have of being able to work together (and how I can relate to that!), and all the adventures that entails. Roma shares her unforgettable time on the set of “Touched by an Angel”, where she gained a mentorship and mother figure that impacted her life forever. She also speaks on what kind of stories her production company, Light Workers, wants to put out for the world. Roma and her husband have a burden to share stories of hope and goodness to a world and industry so filled with the opposite.
My favorite time we had speaking, though, was about our faith. Roma discusses feeling the closest with the Lord in her early morning time with Him in nature. Nature seems to bring her communion with the Lord and perspective on matters in her life. We all must see the importance of communicating our gratitude with the Lord, because when we aren’t in a state of gratefulness, we forget all the Lord has done for us!
Grab some coffee, find a comfy chair, and take a listen as I speak with Roma Downey.
I am super excited to have my friend, Kathie Lee Gifford, back on the podcast! She was first on Thriving Beyond Belief last September as we talked about Jesus, her faith, her new book coming out, her hubby Frank and much more!
Kathie Lee is a talented and gifted woman who loves Jesus more than life. She co-hosts with Hoda on NBC”s 10 am hour on The Today Show which bring viewers a fresh, lively show that always gets people talking!
I am so excited to have a conversation about her new book, The Rock, the Road, and the Rabbi: My Journey into the Heart of Scriptural Faith and the Land Where It All Began which just released yesterday, March 6th! We go into depth about this incredible book so you don’t want to miss what she has to say and how going deeper into the study of the Scriptures will help you thrive!
Kathie Lee Gifford has enjoyed a diverse and successful four-decade career as a television host, actress, singer, playwright, songwriter, and author. Though best known for her 15 years on Regis and Kathie Lee (11 Emmy nominations), and currently acting as the three-time Emmy-winning co-host of the fourth hour of the Today Show with Hoda Kotb, Gifford has always pursued projects which inspire and challenge her.
Gifford devotes much of her time to the Association to Benefit Children, which spawned the Cody Foundation. The resources from the Association continue to support Cody House and Cassidy's Place. Cody House provides a transitional home for infants and children who have severe disabilities and serious medical problems. Named for Gifford’s daughter, Cassidy’s Place is the home of the Association to Benefit Children’s (ABC) national children advocacy.
Here is my interview with my sweet friend, Kathie Lee Gifford
My guest on the podcast today is Jourdan Johnson. She is married to Jeff, they have two beautiful kids and recently relocated to Atlanta, GA where she and Jeff serve on the worship team at Passion City Church. In addition, she also serves on The GROVE Team a monthly gathering for worship, teaching & prayer for the women of Atlanta. Jourdan and I been friends for over ten years and I know you will be amazed by the twists and turns in her love story.
Jourdan defines the word thrive as “being fully tapped into exactly who God created you to be, and to explore every part of who that person is.”
Jeff and Jourdan have spent most of their adult lives leading worship. But their story began when Jourdan, who was from Florida, began serving as an intern at a church in Texas. She met Jeff and they began dating long distance. Sadly, after eight months Jeff broke off the relationship, Jourdan was heartbroken. The crazy part about their story is that they dated on and off for the next ten years; traveling and leading worship together. In the span of the next ten years, Jeff broke off the relationship two more times, leaving Jourdan crushed, without a job, a ministry, and was now in her late twenties.
Through this difficult season, Jourdan wrestled with a lot of fears but found God’s strength in realizing who she was and chose not to be defined by this relationship. Jourdan decided she was going to live life to the fullest. One of the questions she continually asked herself during this time was, “ Am I too much, and can a man really lead me?” Asking that question, Jourdan began to grow her relationship with Jesus and found a peace in Him and realized that He is enough. Period.
God had Jeff and Jourdan on a journey and only through His perfect timing, and at the right time, would their relationship become what it is today. God wanted them to stretch their faith walk with Him first, before making a lifelong commitment to each other. Today, Jourdan talks to lots of girls about relationships and wants you to know, “If you are going through something in a relationship, God will do whatever He wants to do in His timing. If you are supposed to be with a person, the Lord will make it abundantly clear and you don’t have to take matters into your own hands. You never want to be anywhere outside of God’s full best for you.”
I hope you enjoy this beautiful love story.
Here's my interview with Jourdan Johnson.
Happy Valentines today! I am so thrilled to interview my wonderful husband Jeff Scruggs, on the podcast today. I hope you enjoy this very special conversation and remember to do something special for the loved one in your life.
Jeff & Cheryl Scruggs are the founders of Hope Matters Marriage Ministries, a 501c3 non-profit Christian non-denominational organization. Their ministry includes sharing God’s heart for marriage and relationships through Biblical marriage counseling, writing, and speaking. They passionately seek to help make marriages whole in God’s power. We train, teach, and disciple believers from the Word of God, to help them understand their true identity in Jesus Christ so that they can live out an abundant marriage. Jeff & Cheryl are intimately familiar with a marriage focused on the principles of the world, the sting, heartbreak, pain from a divorce, and the deep-rooted hope and joy of a fully restored marriage centered on Jesus Christ. It is this unique perspective and experience that they obediently share in a private couple to couple, individual appointments, and with audiences nationwide.
Their writings include the well-known book “I Do Again,” their 30-year story of marriage, betrayal, infidelity, divorce, emotional damage, forgiveness, restoration, trust, and re-marriage. They are co-authors of “Still LoLo” with their daughters Lauren and Brittany. This remarkable and life-changing story has been featured on The Today Show, I Am Second, Focus On The Family, The Village Church Interview with Matt Chandler, Good Morning America, and many more.
Here's my interview with Jeff Scruggs.
I am beyond excited about today’s podcast. My guest, Curt Steinhorst, loves Jesus, is married, has two young boys, and has been our friend for almost 20 years.
Curt Steinhorst is the bestselling author of Can I Have Your Attention? Inspiring Better Work Habits, Focusing Your Team, and Getting Stuff Done in the Constantly Connected Workplace. He is on a mission to rescue us from our distracted selves. After years studying the impact of tech on human behavior, Curt founded Focuswise, a consultancy that equips organizations to overcome the distinct challenges of the constantly-connected workplace.
Diagnosed with ADD as a child, Curt knows intimately the challenges companies face to keep the attention of today’s distracted workforce and customer. He has coached executives, TV personalities, and well-known professional athletes on how to effectively communicate and create focus when they speak to audiences, lead their employees and engage their customers.
Curt’s unique insight and entertaining speaking style have captured the attention of audiences worldwide. He speaks more than seventy-five times a year to organizations that include everyone from global leadership associations and nonprofits to Fortune 100 companies.
During our interview, Curt gave me his definition of thriving from both a corporate and personal perspective. Both definitions point to becoming aware of living in the moment, rather than being frustrated about where we may be going. Honestly, my conversation with Curt was so eye-opening as we talked about the impact social media has in shaping our relationships, marriages, and communities. The digital world allows us an instant connection, but can also leave us feeling very lonely.
I know you will enjoy this fascinating interview with Curt Steinhorst.
My guest today on the podcast is Lysa Terkeurst. Lysa is one of the founders of Proverbs 31 Ministries and for the past twenty years has touched thousands of women with this ministry.
In our interview, we talk about how women walk in victory over things from their past, but still struggle with feelings that linger deep within their heart. Lysa encourages women to be on guard because Satan loves to pick up the old scripts that say, ‘you're not worthy, not good enough, not capable.’ It’s at these times we need to stand firm in our faith, affirm our identity is in Christ, and be confident that God is good at being God. These words are so powerful!
I asked Lysa how she guides women to walk in assurance every day? She paints a beautiful picture using Psalm 51 to give us a fresh perspective. Not everyone can identify with being in a season of success or celebration, but everyone can identify, in some way, with being broken. In Psalm 51, David cries out to God about the brokenness in his life, asks God to cleanse him, and to create a new heart in him. For each of us, doing these steps allows God to begin to change and create a new heart in us.
Lysa defined thriving this way,“Thriving is not how I feel each morning, but rather what choices I make for the day. Some days I don’t feel very good about life, but I can choose how I think about the day.”
As a mom of five children, Lysa is a wealth of knowledge about being a mom, wife, successful woman, and finding your way through parenting.
Proverbs 31 Ministries encourages women to choose a word for the year. Lysa’s word this year is beautiful. She describes an inspiring story about a set of antique doors that now hang in her bathroom, and why these doors inspired her to feel beautiful and put something beautiful in her line of sight every day.
I am so thankful to have this opportunity to talk to Lysa.
Here’s my interview with Lysa Terkeurst.
Dana and I have been friends for many years and I am so excited to have her on the podcast today.
She has spent over half of her life as a wife to her husband Chris, a dermatologist, and a mother to her two children, Chase and Candice!
She is a former teacher, but now loves to cook and entertain in her spare time when she’s not pouring into her three grandsons, age 5 to a newborn!
Her son-in-law is the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback, Tony Romo, and her son Chase is best known for his role on Gossip Girl.
We had a great conversation about being humble, vulnerable, and what it means to thrive as a woman, wife, and mom!
We talk about being a “good wife” and how to grow and balance your life. She feels “you can’t ever pull these things off by yourself and each day must be completely covered by God’s grace."
Keeping your house in order and spending a little extra to have some help with this can make a huge difference in being a parent and wife; it creates a balance for everyone.
We talk about vulnerability and insecurity; “life is hard and getting older isn’t for sissies. As we become more vulnerable, we realize this isn’t a personality issue, it’s a trust issue."
Dana and I had such a meaningful conversation and I am so excited to share that with you.
Here’s my interview with Dana Crawford.
As we continue into the new year, I am so excited about the inspiring story my guest shared with me today. My guest today, Katie Bryant, is married, has three kids, and lives in Rochester, New York. She is a Fitness and Lifestyle Coach, but honestly, listening to her story and how she got to where she is today is so riveting, it brought me to tears.
Katie shares that she had a vision of what her marriage would look like, but didn’t realize God had a very different plan. After her third child was born, she began to fight depression, anxiety and struggled to understand her purpose. To most people, her life looked perfect, but inside Katie was spiraling down and lived in such a low place, she decided she was going to end her life.
Miraculously, her beautiful children would be part of God’s healing journey. Katie ended up in the hospital, heavily medicated, and began a six-year journey to discover a new life God had planned. The road was difficult and not very clear after coming home from the hospital. Katie shared how she started overeating, drinking alcohol, and gained 50 pounds. She tried every gimmick and diet, but two words kept coming in front of her, CLEAN EATING. She began reaching out to this community and over the next months found support from others who wanted to cheer each other on.
Katie admits her walk has been a difficult road, but today as a Fitness and Lifestyle Coach one of the questions she asks women is, “Why do we work so hard to cover our shame and vulnerability?” Katie’s definition of thrive is “living my best life, not what society thinks, and helping others do the same.” She used to end her day with the thought, “I’m still not good enough,” but today, she ends her day knowing she has tried in every area to the best of her ability.
Katie made a decision to change her mindset and today her mantra is “I NEVER QUIT.” She focuses on her journey, and to be the best person she can be. I hope Katie’s story will be a blessing to you today.
Here’s my interview with Katie Bryant.
I am so excited to talk with Angela Lanter on TBB today. Angela was born in Akron, Ohio, is married to Matt Lanter, an actor, and a BIG congratulation on the arrival of their baby girl just a few weeks ago!
Angela and I talked about her love of fashion from a very young age, and shortly after moving to Los Angeles, CA she and Matt started a wildly popular fashion blog Hello Gorgeous. Creating this blog has truly fulfilled one of her lifelong dreams, being able to pour into other women. Hello Gorgeous is a place she can be “real” with the stuff nobody is talking about or topics women feel too embarrassed to share.
Admittedly, being an actors wife has its challenges, one of the biggest was moving from Los Angeles, CA to Vancouver, British Columbia where Matt worked on filming Timeless. The tough part for Angela was the long hours of being alone in a city where she didn’t know anyone and finding projects to fill her time. Angela learned to take advantage of the long days by diving into Proverbs 31, spending her time meditating, and reciting these verses. The encouragement from Proverbs 31 inspired her to create a refuge in their home for her husband, giving him a place to breathe and retreat after working ridiculously long days. Realistically, this was a tough time, but learning to surrender to self, and creating a comfortable safe place for your spouse, was worth all the lessons learned during this season. God really does know what He is doing.
In the interview we chat about relationships, building a community, reading books about marriage, dads, dating, hurt feelings, and learning to respect one another. I enjoyed our conversation so much.
Here’s my interview with Angela Lanter.
As we close out the year and begin a new year, I am so excited to have as my guest Corie Clark, the founder of Corie Clark - Your Life. On Purpose. Corie has been married to her husband Ryan for 21 years, they have three kids (one starts college this year) and is a homeschool mom.
Corie gave me a beautiful definition of what it means to her, to thrive. She believes someone is living out and walking in their purpose, not just a job or what they do, but who God has called them to be and to ultimately point people to Jesus.
As Corie and her family navigated some pretty difficult years together, she realized that she was addicted to chaos. Through many tears, fears and a lot of unknown, they began to simplify and create margin in their lives. As a result, The Simplicity Project was born, a book to help you win your battle with chaos and clutter so you can live a life of peace and purpose. Would you be ready to take the 6-week Declutter Challenge, to take your LIFE back, sweat a little, and maybe even cry a few times? Corie promises, if you make a step forward and take this challenge, you will feel so good at the end, it all starts with a small step.
The more we talked, Corrie shared how she used to be afraid and worried as she was raising her kids that she would end up not knowing who she was when the kids left home? But, God answered her worries with a simple “you need to create margin, and give Me some room.” She began to realize that as she carved out space in several areas of her life, God could work miracles in these margins. We talked about simplifying your health, your home, your finances, and your time, and asks each person to apply 15 minutes to these areas and watch your life begin to feel free.
I truly enjoyed my time with Corie, hope each of you has a great start to the New Year and will make a step toward decluttering your life.
Here’s my interview with Corie Clark.
My guest on the TBB Podcast today is my very good friend Chrissie Dunham.
Chrissie was born in Oklahoma but has made her home in Plano, Texas with Charlie, her husband, and high school sweetheart. They have two grown daughters, Katie and Abbie, who are both married and have given Chrissie and Charlie five grandchildren.
She is the Global Director of Women's Ministry at Prestonwood Baptist Church, cherishes time with her family, is a terrific communicator, does speaking engagements, and has led countless women’s bible studies. Chrissie is passionate about her walk with the Lord and lives by her favorite slogan, "The Party Don't Stop!” She hopes every believer knows that eternal life begins when you meet Jesus and there is a party in heaven in your honor, forever!
To define thrive Chrissie refers to 2Peter:1-2 “His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him.” Bottomline, God wants us to prosper and succeed. But, the reality of life creates a struggle in our relationships, marriages, and parenting. In Chrissie’s daily walk she has found that women struggle in four common areas; Am I loved, will I be respected, what is my significance, and do I feel secure in who I am? To answer any of these questions Chrissie believes that every woman should start by asking herself the question, “How is my walk with the Lord today?”
Daily, Chrissie listens to women and understands that life is challenging but wants those struggling to know you must run your own race and fix your eyes on Jesus, regardless of the circumstances you face in life. Through the years, Chrissie’s parents have given her practical advice and one of the things her mom told her about relationships is that you need to surround yourself with people who believe like you, pray, and be in God’s word daily. Chrissie strives to live this advice out in her daily walk.
In our interview, we talk about fear, marriage, and Christmas traditions! As expected, I got exactly what I love so much about Chrissie, if you ask a question, she answers from her heart. We had a great conversation and I can’t wait for you to listen in!
Here’s my interview with Chrissie Dunham.
I am so honored to have Shelley Giglio on the podcast today.
Shelley Giglio is the chief strategist, director of label operations and artist management for Sixstepsrecords, an Atlanta-based record label. She and her husband Louie, pastor of Passion City Church, lead the Passion movement committed to spreading the fame of Jesus Christ to college students around the globe. In addition, the Giglio's planted Passion City Church in 2009 and reside in Atlanta, Georgia along with their beloved Goldendoodle London.
Shelley has traveled the world and has witnessed God at work everywhere, but always comes back to where she is rooted, her everyday life, and serves there. Thriving to Shelley is being rooted in a place, in a person named Jesus, and in His Word. As we stay planted, our branches will grow and expand which will allow us to provide shade, a refuge, for others who come across our path.
Shelley very eloquently paints a picture of how reading God’s word, the Bible, provides “the roadmap” for each of us. She tells us, “God has carved a path for you, and if you align your life with His plan, you will flourish.” We talk about marriage, trust, dark times, renewing your mind with God’s truth, and that you shouldn’t ever waste time comparing yourself to others, it will steal your joy.
If you are in the Atlanta area I encourage you to attend The GROVE! The GROVE is a monthly gathering of the women of Atlanta and is hosted by Shelley Giglio and The GROVE Team. No matter your age, your status, your style, or whether you think you have it all together or not, you are welcome at The GROVE. You are invited to come, rest, worship, learn, and be, as we celebrate the power and greatness of Jesus. Check out The GROVE!
Today on the TBB podcast my guest is Amber Massey. I have known Amber for about seven years and met she and her husband before they had any of their darling kids! Amber has a strong walk with the Lord, is married to Jordan, and together they have 4 kids (all under the age of 4 years old). I am so inspired by her story.
Amber started a blog called PB&J Babes soon after she got married. Over the years her blog has grown and inspired so many. She shares personal stories about marriage, infertility, miscarriage, and thru her blog has become transparent and vulnerable to her readers about real life!
In our interview, Amber shares with me how she has learned to open up, be vulnerable, and stop being fearful that she isn’t perfect. We talk about thriving and that when she feels overwhelmed with her everyday life, she is encouraged and uplifted by the comments readers leave on her blog. Some advice Amber gives her readers is that finding an outlet to talk to others is one of the best ways to stay encouraged, and also to become an encourager to those around you.
On The Massey Spot, you have to check out the amazing gift guides for Christmas she just posted on the blog! Her guides include women, one for your guy, and several for kids; I've included the links here The Ultimate Christmas Gift Guide. Pop on over there to check them out!
Actually there are so many Christmas gifts guides out there. I've included a few from some of our previous guests: Lauren Scruggs Kennedy and Jamie Ivey. Go to laurenscruggskennedy.com to see hers and http://jamieivey.com/2017-holiday-gift-guide for hers!
Don’t forget to listen to last week’s episode with Mona Corwin for some guidance and wisdom for moms, and we also talk about marriage! Don’t miss it!
Here’s my interview with Amber Massey.
Today I am so excited to talk to my good friend Mona Corwin. She is married to her highschool sweetheart Warren, they have five children and 2 grandbabies.
Mona has an amazing ministry called Balanced MomLife where she invests in mentoring young moms and passionately teaches them that if you embrace the framework God uniquely created for you, you will thrive and be unrivaled! Most moms struggle with the “overwhelmed and never enough syndrome,” wishing there were some clear cut answers. America's Mom Mentor Mona Corwin coaches moms with real life solutions. Because motherhood and marriage can be hard, she has developed a three part framework that works to help moms; Own their roles, Find their balance, and Live their dreams.
Mona and I talk about what it means to have a soft strength in your marriage. As we are called as women to be wives, parents, and moms, we must first nourish our soul so that we can richly fulfill these unique roles.
I hope you will be as blessed by this interview as I was.
Today on the TBB podcast my guest is Amy Simmons Crafton. Amy and I have become friends over the last several years and one of the things I love about her is that she “does life with intentionality.” I feel so blessed to have a chance to sit down and talk with this amazing woman.
Amy literally travels the world placing God’s Word directly in people’s hands. I invite you to visit AmazingGrace.Life which is all about bringing you a step closer to God, no matter where you are in your religious journey. The hope at AmazingGrace.Life is to inspire you through stories of people whose lives have been touched by God, but most of all, offer you the next step in getting closer to Him.
In our interview, we talk about some incredible life experiences Amy has faced, delve into issues like vulnerability, personal insecurities, and how to nurture a healthy marriage.
Here’s my interview with Amy Simmons Crafton.
My interview this week is with Jamie Ivey. Jamie hosts a podcast called The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey, she lives in Austin, TX, is a wife to Aaron, and together they have four kids under the age of 13.
On the podcast this week I want to focus on an incredible book Jamie just finished writing entitled If You Only Knew: My Unlikely, Unavoidable Story of Becoming Free. Her book is scheduled to be released January 2018.
In this book, she is honest, vulnerable, and raw with personal stories about her walk from failure to freedom. Jamie travels and speaks to so many women and has learned that our stories, when seen through the eyes of the gospel, are not the obstacles to our freedom, they are the key to unlocking our freedom!
We talk about the enormous fear she faced being afraid people would know the real “Jamie:” could she step into a marriage, be a pastor’s wife, lead youth, but inside be completely unsure if God even loved her?
As her story unfolds, she shares how God kept pursuing her and only through the grace of God, she began to change and learn to truly have an intimate relationship with Him.
Jamie challenges women to ask themselves; are you fearful others will only see you for things you’ve done, not what Jesus has done in you?
Here’s my interview with Jamie Ivey.
Today on the TBB podcast is my very dear friend Linda Paulk.
Linda is married to Bob, a captain in the Naval Reserves, and are blessed with two children.
Linda defines the word thrive this way, “you know you are following God’s will for your life when you know you are in touch with who He created you to be, and you are using the gifts that He gave you, all for His glory.”
For years, Linda felt her identity was defined by corporate success. But twelve years ago, she left a position as CEO of a large corporation and began to walk a new journey, a spiritual revival, where God began to help her define who He made her to be. As God began revealing His plan for her life, she realized He had a much bigger plan than she had realized.
God used multiple people to show Linda she was putting Him in a box. She began a slow journey of letting go of fear, knowing fear is not of God. After much prayer, Linda moved forward into full time ministry as the CEO of Sky Ranch.
Linda and I talked about marriage and what she felt has been the most challenging time during their marriage. She felt that, by far, becoming empty nesters has been the toughest. She and Bob found a great resource, His Needs, Her Needs: Building an Affair-Proof Marriage: Willard F. Harley a study guide and book which has been life changing.
In our interview, Linda shared with me some valuable advice, “Become aware of who you are and don’t be afraid to know who you are and who you are not.”
I would encourage you to check out Sky Ranch, an incredible christian family camp. They are in the business of making Jesus famous and leading youth and families to know and follow Christ.
Here’s my interview with Linda Paulk.
Today on the TBB podcast today my guest is Lauren Green McAfee.
I met Lauren at a retreat called The Refuge! It was a relaxing time to connect and listen to the stories of women leaders from across the country.
Lauren is committed to Jesus, is married to her high school sweetheart Michael, and is originally from Oklahoma City, OK. She acquired a masters degree from Liberty University in pastoral counseling and is currently serving as the Director of Community Engagement for the soon to open Museum of the Bible in Washington DC. In addition, she is a Corporate Ambassador for Hobby Lobby and in her spare time, is working toward a PHD in ethics and policy.
In our interview, Lauren shares how she would define the word thrive. In her experience, "Seasons change in our lives and we need to maximize our potential as we move through these times. Thriving in one season might look completely different as each season changes.”
We talk about ways to grow our faith, become accountable, develop discipline, and learn to create healthy boundaries in relationships.
Lauren is truly such an inspiration and has an interesting perspective on vulnerability. She chooses to “lean in” to others and has found courage and confidence in sharing her heart. We talk about significant events that have shaped who she is today and how they have helped her continue to live out her faith.
Here’s my interview with Lauren Green McAfee.
Today on the TBB podcast my guest is Ashlee Proffitt.
Ashlee is married to a church planter and pastor, they have four beautiful children (one is in Jesus arms in heaven) and live in Florida.
In our interview, Ashlee shares with me a very unique word for how she would define thrive. Freedom! Ashlee believes she is thriving when she feels at peace, has a sense of joy, and is not paralyzed by life’s circumstances.
We talk about an ongoing love/hate relationship she has had with social media for the past ten years. She has had a successful career working as a graphic designer & created brands for amazing companies, but admits that the social media world has been a tumultuous ride.
This past January, Ashlee transitioned from her full time career to serving a community she started called The Morning. This is a community of hope for women to find joy after miscarriage, stillbirth or infant loss.
In our interview, we talk about stereotypes of depression, fear, dealing with grief and finding the freedom to open up to God, and to understand that even if you are mad at Him, He is big enough for you to beat on His chest!
Here’s my interview with Ashlee Proffitt.
In our interview, we talk about the times you know you are thriving and also the real struggle when you are not thriving. Marian talks about finding God’s peace and favor when you are doing what you are uniquely called to do. But, she understands the emptiness you can feel when you look at someone else’s life, or question whether you should be doing what they are doing. Marian shares that it has been, at times, difficult to thrive having a baby at 43 years old and has struggled to find “normal” again.
Brenda is a native Texan, married to her wonderful husband Bill, have a blended family of six children, and she is a grandmother.
Brenda holds a degree in Interior Design from TCU and has studied painting and drawing at SMU. She was successful as an Interior Designer in Dallas, TX but knew she wanted to follow her true passion and picked up her paint brush again, and is now painting full time in her home studio. Brenda is inspired by the human face and loves to listen to the stories of people she paints. You can see her work featured on her website Brenda Bogart Art or stop by the Blue Print Store, in Dallas, Texas, to see her latest work.
In our interview, I asked Brenda how she would define the word thrive. She was very candid in her answer and described how in difficult times she learned to struggle well, but believes you need to show up for everything…..the run, the nap, the difficult circumstance and in all of these situations learn to be kind to yourself.” Looking back on her life, the best advice she would give someone is "be who God created you to be, not who you think everyone else wants you to be."
Brenda is very vulnerable in sharing her fight with depression and how it is difficult, even today, to get a few good days out of a week. She boldly describes that loneliness is a choice and you need to choose to get outside of your own world.
Brenda has an upcoming art show at the Blue Print Store on October 19, 2017 (5:00-7:00pm) and will feature a series on women. I can’t wait to stop by the show!
Here’s my interview with Brenda Bogart!
Today on the podcast is Chelsea Smith. She is married to Judah, they have three kids, and together she and Judah are the Lead Pastors of The City Church in Seattle, Washington. The City Church is down to earth, authentic and humorous!
In my interview, Chelsea and I talk about growing personally and spiritually. As we grow in these areas, it should be slow and steady, which is exactly what God intended.
I absolutely love the fun ministry Chelsea started earlier this year, Marriage Mondays. The idea dropped in her heart to start posting #MarriageMonday which came out of a wave of hearing stories about so many struggling marriages. Her thoughts are quirky, fun, and serious, as she talks about marriage and admits “marriage is hard,” but says having a foundation in Jesus helps make it work.
On a serious note, we talked about fear and how this powerful emotion wants to get inside your heart and become a recording that we play over and over. Chelsea humbly shares a season in her life where she became so fearful that it created a desire to escape life’s pressures and potentially could have led to unhealthy and destructive patterns in her life and marriage.
Switching gears, I asked Chelsea her thoughts about Social Media. Very candidly, she shares that it is a fight to use this powerful tool correctly, and if we are not careful we can begin comparing ourselves to others instead of focusing on doing our life well.
We talk about vulnerability and Chelsea shares how she and her husband Judah, choose to be vulnerable to others and to fight to show they aren’t perfect. They choose to “stay real”. Chelsea is open about their marriage, sex, and how to help the other person when “their love tank is empty”. Her advice about marriage is to be romantic with your spouse, be willing to gain understanding in different seasons of life, and read Proverbs for wisdom!
Here’s my interview with Chelsea Smith.
Today on the podcast is Lauren Chandler....
Lauren is a wife and mother of three. Her husband Matt serves as the lead teaching pastor at The Village Church in Dallas, TX.
Lauren is passionate about writing, music, and leading worship.
As I began my interview with Lauren, she painted a visual picture of a rooted tree. She talks about how incredibly important it is to be rooted in who she is in Christ - living her life out of that sure relationship and knowing she is loved by Him!
She describes how roots are strong, even enough to break up concrete, and if we are rooted deeply we will not easily be taken out by scorching heat, wind, or unexpected storms.
Lauren and I talk about how she defines the word thrive and how she has felt vulnerable at times in her life. She shares how sometimes “her life feels a little lop-sided in some areas” and describes the “staples and immovable rocks” she has in place in her life that are solid and real.
As we move through the conversation, Lauren shares a real struggle she faced for years, but was afraid to share because she is a pastor’s wife. She wrestled with being truly vulnerable, but she wanted to overcome the voice in her head that kept telling her “I know I’ll be good enough if or when I’m perfect.” She had finally had enough of herself and went to Celebrate Recovery. It was there that she began her journey to true freedom in Christ.
Finally, we talk about parenting, being a wife, and learning to be gracious. She describes how in Proverbs 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another”. In her marriage, she felt at times like a “damp rag” and it wasn’t until she began to face her fears, and admit she isn’t perfect, that she could become iron for her husband Matt.
Lauren has just released a new book & Bible Study called “Steadfast Love” which is a meditation on Psalm 100:7. The book describes four groups of people in distress; some in a desert, some caught in chains, some who have made foolish decisions, and some caught in storms which suddenly overtakes them. In this study, she weaves in how God’s people overcame these life challenges and saved them all.
Here’s my interview with Lauren Chandler…...
Today on the TBB podcast, I am super excited to share my interview with Kat Harris.
Kat grew up here in Dallas and was one of six children. Her childhood “looked normal” to everyone else, but the reality was her family was broken. Her dad was an alcoholic, became homeless, and her parents divorced. Kat spent most of her teenage years and even into college searching for approval.
She didn’t realize how chaotic and stressful her world had become and how all these unhealthy storylines she had lived would affect her. Her health suffered, she was mentally exhausted, developed an eating disorder and continued to date the wrong guys.
But, only by God’s grace, her dad became sober when she was a senior in college. Relationships began to be restored, and Kat realized how “struggle and pain” want to be kept hidden, but when you bring truth to light, fear loses its power!
As we talked more about her story, Kat shared how she would define the word “thrive” and how she overcame a “survival mentality” that she had lived her whole life!
Today, Kat has created balance and rhythm in her daily life and has a “life board-of-directors” who have all access and keep her accountable. She has learned that “real change happens when we show up”, start small and commit to the journey you are in.
Kat and I could have talked for hours, but we conclude the interview talking about The Refined Woman, an online magazine she and her friend Emily Scott started where they share real stories that empower women to embrace their beauty, identity and value the art of storytelling!
Here’s my interview with Kat Harris.
Today on the TBB podcast I am super excited to have a very special guest and friend.
Kathie Lee Gifford and I first met in 2009, when she and Hoda had Jeff and I on their show, to talk about our book, I Do Again. Since then, we have had many opportunities to see each other in NYC, talk about our kids, and share the latest is in our lives!
She has had a successful four-decade career as a television host, actress, singer, playwright, and author, and is best known for her 15 years on “Regis and Kathie Lee”. As most of you know, she is the co-host of the fourth hour of the Today Show with Hoda Kotb.
One of the things I love the most about Kathie Lee is that she is unashamed about her walk with Jesus Christ, and shares her walk whenever possible. On today’s podcast, Kathie Lee gives us her insight about how she has learned to thrive, regardless of the circumstances she’s been given in life.
She puts God first in her life, and lives by “it’s God’s faithfulness to me, not my faithfulness to God” that matters.
In our conversation, we talk about lots of things like what you can do to prioritize your day, stay positive, laugh and enjoy every moment you have. And I just I love when she talks about her daily 9am call with her mom!
Kathie Lee also has a new book coming out in March 2018 called The Rock, the Road and the Rabbi. Preorders start September 21, 2017 and I can’t wait to get it!
Today on the TBB podcast is one of my sweet twin daughters, Lauren Scruggs Kennedy!
Lauren and I first met in 1988, when she and her twin sister, Brittany were born to her dad and I at Southbay Hospital in Redondo Beach, CA!
Lauren was born in Redondo Beach, CA but raised in Dallas, so she calls herself a California girl whose roots are deep in the heart of Texas.
In December 2011, Lauren’s life was forever changed. She was hit by an airplane plane propeller; which resulted in a brain injury and the loss of her left eye and left hand. Lauren began to realize that brokenness can be beautiful, even amidst unexpected suffering and pain.
Lauren became the bride of Jason Kennedy, co-host of E!News in 2014, which also made her a new resident to beautiful California. She is a lifestyle blogger, the co-author with her family of the book “Still LoLo” and sole author of her book, “Your Beautiful Heart”!
She is the Founder of LaurenScruggsKennedy.com, a lifestyle blog rooted in balance- igniting honest talk and celebrating stories. LSK is a haven of positivity including posts on healthy living, clean beauty, delicious recipes, relationship talk, style updates, shopping ideas, and so much more.
She and her team recently launched the Lauren Scruggs Kennedy Foundation this past Dec 2016, which exists to bring hope, restore dignity, and ignite faith in girls and women with limb loss by providing beautiful cosmetic coverings for prostheses.
She also just launched, along with her twin, Brittany and Brittany’s husband Shaun, and her best friend, a loose powder dry shampoo for all hair types called Stranded.
Lauren became an aunt, affectionately called “Aunt Lolo” to her niece Kate last Oct!
Here is my interview with Lauren Scruggs Kennedy!
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