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.

Wives, what is it that your husbands really want to tell you deep down inside, but they can't - or won't? 

On this episode of Better Together Facebook Live, host Barb Roose, I'm talking with marriage coach, pastor and author, Mark Savage about the five secrets that husbands wish that their wives knew.

1. Respect him

Mark encourages you to consider the way that you think about your husband. If your respect for him is dependent upon whether or not he is making you happen, then respect becomes a moving target. Mark reframes what respect is and isn't.

Mark reminds wives that your husband wants to be your hero. He wants to make you happy and knowing that you respect him is deeply important to him.

2. Accept him

Your husband wants to know that you accept him for what he is and not pressure him to become someone that he's not.

Mark suggests a question that you can ask: "Have I put pressure on you to become someone that you're not?"

3. Make time for him

Life happens. Mark reminds wives that a husband may not speak up about feeling less of a priority than your kids or job, but he wants to feel important to you.

Mark gave some great suggestions on how you can intentionally make time for him.

4.  Influence him

Your husband wants you to ask him questions like: "I've been thinking about some things and I'd love to get your input."

5. Have fun with him

Mark reminds you that your husband wants to have fun with you. Sharing experiences, laughing and doing things that he enjoys (even if you don't) means a lot to your husband and makes him feel closer to you.

About Our Guest Mark Savage...Mark Savage is a author, speaker, pastor, and marriage coach. Serving in church ministry for twenty years, Mark and his wife Jill now devote their time to coaching marriages. Mark is honest, authentic, and willing to talk about the real stuff of life and relationships. He and his wife Jill are empty nest parents of five and live in Central Illinois.

Links from today's episode:

Marriage Date Night - Home Edition

https://www.bodyandsoul.org/Seminar.jillsavage.org/homeedition

No More Perfect Marriages Resources

www.nomoreperfectmarriages.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.

Race, Grace and the Gospel - Part 1

A few weeks ago, I wrote a blog post about the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year old black man who was out running when he was allegedly chased down and shot to death by two Caucasian men.

For a few days, the topic of race took over the newscycle. Talk shows talked. Advocates rallied. People ran.

But did anyhing meaningful arise out of the entire emotional display? Has American moved any closer to talking about why our problems with race in America persist?

In my two-part series on race, grace and the gospel during we're tackling the tough issues of race.

Part 1: I'm talking about about race, grace and why God created different colors and cultures if He knew that we'd struggle so hard in this area. We'll discuss why "colorblind" actually causes conflict and why "seeing" color is vital for us to connect with each other.

Part 2: This is a personal episode where I share how racism impacted my life. Additionally, we talk about lessons that we learn from the early church on unity as believers. There's practical next steps that I pray encourages you. 

If you would like more resources, check out my (g)race project page by clicking here.

Race, Grace and the Gospel - Part 2