Sarah Molitor

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:  WEBSITE: Sarah Molitor BOOK: Well SAID 

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: <ul> <li>WEBSITE: <a href="https://modernfarmhousefamily.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Sarah Molitor</a></li> <li>BOOK: <a href="https://a.co/d/bGcAwbR" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Well SAID</a></li> </ul>

Sarah Molitor: Well Said

Ruth McKeaney

"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:  WEBSITE: RUTH MCKEANEY BOOK: Hungry For Home 

"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: <ul> <li>WEBSITE: <a href="https://www.hungry4home.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">RUTH MCKEANEY</a></li> <li>BOOK: <a href="https://www.hungry4home.com/shop/p/hungry-for-home-a-year-together-at-hillside-farm" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Hungry For Home</a></li> </ul>

Ruth McKeaney: Hungry for Home

Daniel Emina

Rick Lawrence

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:  AMAZON: The Suicide Solution: Finding Your Way Out of the Darkness WEBSITE: Ricklawrence.com FACEBOOK: /RickSkip WEBSITE: https://www.amenclinics.com/team/daniel-emina-m-d/ INSTAGRAM: @DocEminaMD 

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: <ul> <li>AMAZON: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1684511593?tag=chasejay-20" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Suicide Solution: Finding Your Way Out of the Darkness</a></li> <li>WEBSITE: <a href="http://ricklawrence.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ricklawrence.com</a></li> <li>FACEBOOK: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RickSkip/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">/RickSkip</a></li> <li>WEBSITE: <a href="https://www.amenclinics.com/team/daniel-emina-m-d/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.amenclinics.com/team/daniel-emina-m-d/</a></li> <li>INSTAGRAM: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/DocEminaMD/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@DocEminaMD</a></li> </ul>

REPLAY: Dr. Daniel Emina & Rick Lawrence

Mike Donehey

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:  WEBSITE: MikeDonehey.com INSTAGRAM: @mikedonehey AMAZON: Grace in the Gray: A More Loving Way to Disagree 

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: <ul> <li>WEBSITE: <a href="https://www.mikedonehey.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">MikeDonehey.com</a></li> <li>INSTAGRAM: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mikedonehey/?hl=en" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@mikedonehey</a></li> <li>AMAZON: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0593194187?tag=chasejay-20" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Grace in the Gray: A More Loving Way to Disagree</a></li> </ul>

REPLAY: Mike Donehey

Fernando Arroyo

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:  Book: The Shadow of Death: From My Battles in Fallujah to the Battle for My Soul   SHOW LINKS:  WEBSITE: Jeff &amp; Cheryl Scruggs INSTAGRAM: @cherylscruggs AMAZON: Book: Thriving Beyond Belief 

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: <ul> <li>Book: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Death-Battles-Fallujah-Battle/dp/1737176327/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3AK4RN6JSZLQQ&amp;keywords=the+shadow+of+death+fernando&amp;qid=1675294464&amp;sprefix=teh+shadow+of+death%2Caps%2C109&amp;sr=8-1" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Shadow of Death: From My Battles in Fallujah to the Battle for My Soul</a> </li> </ul> SHOW LINKS: <ul> <li>WEBSITE: <a href="https://jeffandcherylscruggs.com/product/tbb-book/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Jeff &amp; Cheryl Scruggs</a></li> <li>INSTAGRAM: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/cherylscruggs/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@cherylscruggs</a></li> <li>AMAZON: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BKN2D731?tag=chasejay-20" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Book: Thriving Beyond Belief</a></li> </ul>

REPLAY: Fernando Arroyo

Kim Allen

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:  WEBSITE: KimAllenAuthor.com AMAZON: Crushing Insecurity: Pushing Boundaries and Pursuing Dreams 

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: <ul> <li>WEBSITE: <a href="https://www.kimallenauthor.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">KimAllenAuthor.com</a></li> <li>AMAZON: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1637971109?tag=chasejay-20" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Crushing Insecurity: Pushing Boundaries and Pursuing Dreams</a></li> </ul>

Dr. Kim Allen

Cheryl Scruggs

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:  WEBSITE: Jeffandcherylscruggs.com INSTAGRAM: @CherylScruggs BOOK: THRIVING BEYOND BELIEF: BUY 

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: <ul> <li>WEBSITE: <a href="https://jeffandcherylscruggs.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Jeffandcherylscruggs.com</a></li> <li>INSTAGRAM: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/cherylscruggs/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@CherylScruggs</a></li> <li>BOOK: THRIVING BEYOND BELIEF: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BKN2D731?tag=chasejay-20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">BUY</a></li> </ul>

Thriving Mentally by Cheryl Scruggs

Debra Fileta

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:  WEBSITE: DebraFileta.com INSTAGRAM: @DebraFileta 

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, <a href="http://TrueLoveDates.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">TrueLoveDates.com</a>, promotes healthy relationships and reaches millions annually. Debra is also the founder of the Debra Fileta Counselors Network, offering online counseling sessions. LINKS: <ul> <li>WEBSITE: <a href="https://debrafileta.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">DebraFileta.com</a></li> <li>INSTAGRAM: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/DebraFileta/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@DebraFileta</a></li> </ul>

Kathy DeGraw

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.

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.

Dawn Barton

 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:  WEBSITE: Dawn Barton 

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: <ul> <li>WEBSITE: <a href="https://dawnbarton.com/about" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Dawn Barton</a></li> </ul>

Many 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 &amp; support, to better manage their stress, create healthy relationships, and build a life that thrives beyond belief.

So thankful for Cheryl’s yes to offer us all a space where we can hear Godly voices pouring  such wisdom into us all. Thank you Cheryl. You are very appreciated! Lisa in Atlanta

Thankful for this podcast

I really appreciate your Godly encouragement to keep going at this life. I enjoy listening.

Real life encouragement

Many 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 &amp; support, to better manage their stress, create healthy relationships, and build a life that thrives beyond belief.

Thriving Beyond Belief with Cheryl Scruggs

Lauren Chandler

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 &amp; 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 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 &amp; 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…...

004: Lauren Chandler

Nancy Houston

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.

I am so excited to have <a href="http://nancyhouston.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nancy Houston</a> with me today on <a href="http://www.thrivingbeyondbelief.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Thriving Beyond Belief</a>! 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 <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Love-Sex-Christian-Healthy-Intimacy/dp/1621576752/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1524524855&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=love+and+sex+nancy+houston" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> book Love and Sex</a> 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.

033: Nancy Houston

Lysa TerKeurst

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.

My guest today on the podcast is Lysa Terkeurst. Lysa is one of the founders of <a href="https://www.proverbs31.org" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Proverbs 31 Ministries</a> 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.

021: Lysa Terkeurst

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.

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.

066: Christa Black Gifford

Eryn Eddy

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:  INSTAGRAM: @soworthloving and @eryneddy TWITTER: @soworthloving FACEBOOK: So Worth Loving WEBSITE: soworthloving.com 

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: <ul> <li>INSTAGRAM: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/soworthloving/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@soworthloving</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/eryneddy/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@eryneddy</a></li> <li>TWITTER: <a href="https://twitter.com/soworthloving" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@soworthloving</a></li> <li>FACEBOOK: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/soworthloving/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">So Worth Loving</a></li> <li>WEBSITE: <a href="http://www.soworthloving.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">soworthloving.com</a></li> </ul>

089: Eryn Eddy

Ellie Holcombe

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!

Today I have a lovely friend of mine on Thriving Beyond Belief: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ellieholcomb/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Ellie Holcomb</a>! Living in sweet Nashville, Tennessee, Ellie is a musician, wife of a musician, mother, author, and devoted follower of Jesus. <a href="https://www.ellieholcomb.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Ellie</a> 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 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ellieholcombmusic" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Ellie</a> 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, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sang-First-Song-Ellie-Holcomb/dp/1462794459/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1549906756&amp;sr=8-5&amp;keywords=ellie+holcomb" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Who Sang The First Song</a>, 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 <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ellieholcomb/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Ellie Holcomb</a>!

071: Ellie Holcombe

Chelsea Smith

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 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 <a href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/marriagemonday/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">#MarriageMonday</a> 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.

005: Chelsea Smith

Melanie Shankle

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&amp;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, 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&amp;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.

109: Melanie Shankle

Lauren Scruggs Kennedy

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!

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 <a href="https://laurenscruggskennedy.com/product/the-clean-sweep-program-instant-download/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Clean Sweep</a> 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!

107: Lauren Scruggs Kennedy

Louie Giglio

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!

Fatherhood. It’s an ever-growing issue of importance in our culture today. And who better to speak about that with than <a href="https://linktr.ee/louiegiglio" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Louie Giglio</a>? He is my guest on today’s episode of Thriving Beyond Belief! <a href="https://www.louiegiglio.com/about/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Louie</a> is a well known pastor of <a href="https://passioncitychurch.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Passion City Church</a> in Atlanta and is the founder of Passion, a <a href="https://passionconferences.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">conference</a> 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, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/shelleygiglio/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Shelley</a>, a speaker and an author. We spend our time today talking specifically about the subject of Louie’s new book, <a href="https://notforsakenbook.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Not Forsaken- fatherhood</a>. 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. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/officialLouieGiglio/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Louie</a> 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!

086: Louie Giglio

Paul David Tripp

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 <a href="http://thrivingbeyondbelief.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Thriving Beyond Belief podcast</a>, <a href="https://www.paultripp.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Paul David Tripp</a>! 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.

110: Paul David Tripp

025: Jason and Lauren Scruggs Kennedy

Kat Harris

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 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.

003: Kat Harris

Allison Evans

Marilee Nelson

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!

On this episode of <a href="http://www.thrivingbeyondbelief.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Thriving Beyond Belief</a>, I have Allison Evans and Marilee Nelson from <a href="https://www.instagram.com/branchbasics/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Branch Basics</a> 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 <a href="https://www.instagram.com/branchbasics/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Branch Basics</a> to get your starter kit to get to clean living today!

046: Branch Basics with Allison Evans & Marilee Nelson

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.

On the podcast today, I am chatting with an incredible lady, <a href="http://www.taraleighcobble.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tara-Leigh Cobble</a>, 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: <a href="http://mydgroup.org/thrivingbeyondbelief" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">mydgroup.org/thrivingbeyondbelief</a> too! Tara-Leigh knew she wanted to study who God was and take the focus off of herself, so she began a ministry called <a href="http://www.mydgroup.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">D Group</a>.  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 <a href="https://www.youversion.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">YouVersion Bible App</a>.  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.

036: Tara-Leigh Cobble

Jordan Lee Dooley

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 on the podcast my guest is <a href="https://linktr.ee/soulscripts" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jordan Lee Dooley</a>.  Jordan is married to Matt Dooley, they currently live in Indiana, and have a Goldendoodle pup named Hoosier. Jordan Lee organically founded a ministry <a href="https://linktr.ee/soulscripts" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SoulScripts</a>, 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.

029: Jordan Lee Dooley

Saundra Dalton-Smith

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!

Today's podcast may be about <a href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/sacredrest/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">rest</a>, but the last thing it will do is put you to sleep! <a href="https://www.instagram.com/drdaltonsmith/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith</a> brings such an insightful perspective on what rest truly is. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/restrevolution/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Rest</a> 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 <a href="https://www.instagram.com/drdaltonsmith/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Dr. Dalton-Smith</a> 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 <a href="http://ichoosemybestlife.com/quiz/rest-quiz-test/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Dr. Dalton-Smith's quiz</a> at <a href="http://restquiz.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">restquiz.com</a> and let me know what you learned most from this week!

076: Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith

Bob Goff

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!

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!

062: Bob Goff

Gwen Smith

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!

Gwen Smith's tagline on her <a href="http://www.gwensmith.net/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">website</a> 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 <a href="https://www.instagram.com/gwensmithmusic/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Gwen</a> 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!

080: Gwen Smith

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!

I welcome <a href="https://www.instagram.com/truelovedates/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Debra Fileta</a> to this week's episode of <a href="http://www.thrivingbeyondbelief.com" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Thriving Beyond Belief!</a> Debra is a wife, mother of three, and a licensed professional counselor, specifically dealing with relationship-focused issues. She also has written two books, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Choosing-Marriage-Why-Has-Start/dp/0736973389/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?crid=24O7HV9JU6RG2&amp;keywords=choosing+marriage+debra+fileta&amp;qid=1553039596&amp;s=gateway&amp;sprefix=choosing+marriage%2Caps%2C274&amp;sr=8-1-fkmrnull" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Choosing Marriage</a>, and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/True-Love-Dates-Indispensable-Finding/dp/0310352053/ref=pd_bxgy_img_2/141-0695021-0250920?_encoding=UTF8&amp;pd_rd_i=0310352053&amp;pd_rd_r=2cb641ea-4aa2-11e9-b90f-73e5d3990fa4&amp;pd_rd_w=Kyel4&amp;pd_rd_wg=9oo3A&amp;pf_rd_p=a2006322-0bc0-4db9-a08e-d168c18ce6f0&amp;pf_rd_r=ZF6WJFH53EGY4N5T2J5N&amp;psc=1&amp;refRID=ZF6WJFH53EGY4N5T2J5N" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">True Love Dates</a>! <a href="https://www.facebook.com/debra.fileta" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Debra</a> 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 <a href="https://linktr.ee/truelovedates" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">links</a> I can't wait for you to tune in and listen today!

075: Debra Fileta

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