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
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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