On this episode of Better Together Facebook Live, I'm talking  with award-winning author, Cynthia Ruchti about hope, hoarding and her new novel, Afraid of the Light.

Cynthia and I discuss the prevalence of hoarding, the impact of the anxiety disorder of those who are suffering and their families. I loved how Cynthia remided us how important it was to listen to those in our lives who are struggling rather than trying to force them or fix them.

Brief synopsis of Afraid of the Light - click here to purchase

Clinical psychologist Camille Brooks isn’t put off by the lifestyle of her hoarder clients and the distress of their families. She lost her mother to the crippling anxiety disorder–so she’ll go a long way to help others avoid the same pain.

Despite Camille’s expertise, her growing audience for her Let In the Light podcast, and the recognition she’s gaining for her creative coaching methods, she’s not prepared for the pushback. A client who looks uncannily like her mom catches her off guard and raises long-dormant issues. And the revelation that Camille has her own hoarding problem sends her spinning.

With the help of a cadre of unexpected friends, an enigma of a man who refuses to be discouraged, and the God who created and loves her, can she face her fears, pull back the curtains, and let the light into her own life?

About Our Guest Cynthia Ruchti... 

Cynthia Ruchti tells stories hemmed in Hope through her novels and novellas, nonfiction books, devotionals, and speaking for women’s events or retreats, drawing from 33 years writing and producing an on-air radio broadcast.

Her books have been recognized by RT Reviewers’ Choice, Selah Awards, CR’s BEST Awards, Carol Award honors, Christy Award honors, Family Fiction Readers’ Choice Award, ForeWord Reviews Book of the Year honors and others.

Cynthia is the professional relations liaison for American Christian Fiction Writers. She’s been privileged to write and publish more than 30 books, with more contracted. Cynthia and her plot-tweaking husband live in the heart of Wisconsin, not far from their three children and six grandchildren. Since 2017, she’s also served as a literary agent with Books & Such Literary Management.

Better Together host Barb Roose is a popular speaker and author with a passion to help women live beautifully strong and courageous in Jesus' name. She's the author of multiple books and Bible studies, including Surrendered: Letting Go and Living Like Jesus and Joshua: Winning the Worry Battle. Visit Barb's online home at barbroose.com.

.On this episode of Better Together Facebook Live, Kia Stephens, founder of The Father Swap Blog stopped by to talk with us about "father wounds" or the emotional pain and loss that comes from a daughter's broken relationship with her father. 

Not only does Kia share her own difficult journey with her father,  this episode became unexpectedly emotional for me as well. According to Kia, "father wounds" inflict a daughter's soul when her father is absent due to abandonment, divorce, incarceration, addiction or even if he is present, but emotionally detached or unavailable. 

This loss is felt deeply, no matter a daughter's age. So, acknowledging and addressing this painful ache is vital for a woman's emotional, spiritually and relational well-being. Kia spent years walking her healing journey, which centered around the idea that God is and always will be her unconditionally-loving Father

Watch as Kia shares the three essential principles that women of all ages need to understand if they want God to heal the emotional and spiritual damage. 

Here's a quick recap of the three principles that equip a woman to begin her healing journey:

• Principle #1:  Being Rejected Says More About the Rejector than the Rejectee
• Principle #2:  Expectations Precede Disappointment
• Principle#3:  My Dad is Not God

 While emotional, this episode is filled with hope and practical next steps. We didn't talk about this in the episode, but Kia also has a "Forgiveness Letter" tool that she used and now shares with other women to equip them to engage in the forgiveness process, whether or not their father is involved in their life or not. (Kia also explains what forgiveness is AND isn't, which is so important!)  

Links from today's episode:

• The Father Swap Blog - click here
• Writing Your "Forgiveness Letter" - click here

“There is a place in the female soul reserved for Daddy, or a daddy figure, that will yearn for affirmation.  Not every girl or woman is the same, of course, but almost every girl desires a close bond with this most significant man in her life.  She will adore him if he loves and protects her and if she finds safety and warmth in his arms.  She will feel that way throughout life unless he disappoints her or until one of them dies.  She will tend to see all men through the lens of that relationship.  If he rejects and ignores her or worse, if he abuses and abandons her, the yearning within her becomes more intense, though it is often tainted with resentment and anger.”

-Dr. James Dobson

About Our Guest Kia Stephens...

Kia Stephens is a wife and homeschooling mom of two who is passionate about encouraging the hearts of women.   For this reason she created The Father Swap Blog to help women exchange their father wounds for the love of God the Father.

Kia is also the founder of Entrusted Women, which she created to equip Christian women communicators of color. Kia's writing has been featured on iBelieve.com, Beloved Women, Proverbs 31 Ministries, Crosswalk and Incourage. In addition to these ministries, Kia faithfully serves in Bible Study Fellowship and her local church. When she is not writing or serving women, she enjoys spending quality time with her family and friends. You can learn more about Kia at www.kiastephens.com.

Better Together host Barb Roose is a popular speaker and author with a passion to help women live beautifully strong and courageous in Jesus' name. She's the author of multiple books and Bible studies, including Surrendered: Letting Go and Living Like Jesus and Joshua: Winning the Worry Battle. Visit Barb's online home at barbroose.com.

On this episode of Better Together Facebook Live, host Barb Roose talks, guest Gail Cooper joins Barb and passionately teaches through 2 Chronicles 20. This chapter is all about four things that we can do when overwhelming circumstances show up in our lives.

 O our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.”

-2 Chronicles 20:12 

As Gail teaches through the scriptures, she also shares her long cancer journey, how God showed up when she lost her 21 year old son in 2006 as well as her husband's cancer diagnosis while she was still in treatment. This powerful episode is packed with hope that you need!

1. Seek God

2. Listen to wise voice and for God's leading

3. Worship God and give thanks in advance

4. Wait on God to lead in your situation

5.  Watch and see God at work!

About Our Guest Gail Cooper...Gail Cooper is a woman who hangs on to Jesus. She's a conference speaker, co-founder of Take Two Ministries, women's ministry leader and more. An interior designer, Gail is the "Diva of She Shed Moments" as well as a mentor and blogger.

Better Together host Barb Roose is a popular speaker and author with a passion to help women live beautifully strong and courageous in Jesus' name. She's the author of multiple books and Bible studies, including Surrendered: Letting Go and Living Like Jesus and Joshua: Winning the Worry Battle. Visit Barb's online home at barbroose.com.

It was sweet, summer day.
Just my girls and me.
Blue cloud-free skies, cool breeze.
A perfect spot under a tree.

It’s been a long, few weeks,
So there under those leaves I prayed:
“God, let today be a perfect “get away” day.

I want to get away from knowing that so many don’t respect the color of my beautiful brown skin -
and not feel some kind of way toward those who look at the racism crisis as just an argument they’re trying to win.

To get away from those who care about favorite facts more than their brown-skinned friends,
To run far from the majority who keep talking - won’t listen -because they insist that they’ll be right in the end.

Most of all, I want to get away from social media comments of friends who refuse to see,
the systemic, subtle racism toward those who look like me.

I wish that I could just forget,
like running off to a beach.
I‘d love to disconnect, disengage - somehow get out of reach.

I wish that I could say,
“I’m turning this off. I’m done.
I don’t want to deal with racism today."

But people of color don’t have the privilege of choosing to live that way.

I can’t turn it off.
My skin color keeps an awareness of prejudice in my everyday foreground.
I can’t tune it out or turn it down,
But I pray this American nightmare eventually turns around.

Until then, we had almost a perfect get-away day.
Just my lovely girls and me.
Blue skies, a cool breeze.
Trying to live and love in spite of that not-yet answered prayer prayed under a tree.

-Barb Roose | 6.14.20

During this episode, Deb inspired our engaged audiencew with her incredible wisdom around what it looks like to become a confident woman who parents.

About Our Guest Deborah Porter...

Deborah is the ultimate list maker, system creator and investigator of anything that will make things run smoother at home and in life. From new mom to empty nester, she has employed strategies along the way while being married to her college sweetheart for 30 years and raising 3 kids.

Deborah believes that motherhood may be the only job you put your absolute all into, knowing that the goal is to work yourself out of that  job and provide your children with all they need to successfully launch into their future. Coaching and mentoring moms is what Deborah is doing through Moms Mentoring Circle, a company she started in 2019.  Increasing  confidence to show up everyday as yourself, gaining clarity on what needs to be done now and walking in the courage to ask for what you need without guilt or apology are the cornerstones of Moms Mentoring Circle. 

Better Together host Barb Roose is a popular speaker and author with a passion to help women live beautifully strong and courageous in Jesus' name. She's the author of multiple books and Bible studies, including Surrendered: Letting Go and Living Like Jesus and Joshua: Winning the Worry Battle. Visit Barb's online home at barbroose.com.