Are you feeling scared, frustrated, or insecure about the world that you live in?

How in the world do we stay hopeful and positive with so much negativity around us?

On today's episode of the Better Together podcast, I'm talking with one of my longtime friends, Melissa Spoelstra. She's a powerful Bible teacher as well as well-known speaker and author about her brand new Bible study, Romans: The Good News that Changes Everything.

Melissa and I sat down to talk just a few days after I returned home from El Paso, TX where I'd traveled to welcome home my oldest daughter, Kate, after her 9-month deployment to the Middle East. If you're connected to me on social media, you saw that on my last morning in El Paso, we were at the mall close to the Wal-Mart where the tragic mass shooting happened. In fact, the store we were shopping in went on lockdown and for several minutes we were deeply concerned that the shooter was in our area. 

As I reflect on the tragedy of El Paso, the shooting in Dayton less than 12 hours later, and all of the other rapid-fire madness happening in our world, I've had to intentionally focus on God's good news. Perhaps today's podcast episode is what YOU need to focus on God's good news instead of being overwhelmed while watching our national news.

In today's podcast Melissa shows up as our Bible teacher and good friend to share with us about:

• How do we hold onto God's hope when we see so much bad news?
• How do we know when we're headed in the right direction in life?
• For our personal struggles with hardship, heartache or sin, what does God say to us that reminds us of just how much we matter to Him?

CONNECT WITH MELISSA - Website |  Facebook | Instagram

About Melissa Spoelstra: 

First and foremost I am a Christ-follower. I am madly in love with Jesus and addicted to the study of His Word. I am passionate about knowing Christ and inspiring other women to seek Him by opening our ears to listen to His Spirit, reading His Word curiously, asking questions, exercising good hermeneutics, and clinging tightly to God through the storms of life. Talking about this stuff is much easier than actually living it out in everyday life.

As wife to my awesome church planter husband Sean, and mother to four great kids, Zach(22), Abby(19), Sara(19), and Rachel(16), I am working out my faith on a daily basis. Between sports practices, doctor's appointments, church stuff, and the minutia of everyday life, I need God's Word to draw me back to the things of first importance.

Other stuff about me. I have a degree in Bible Theology from Moody Bible Institute. I'm a regular contributor to Girlfriends in God online devotional and Proverbs 31 Ministries First Five App. I've written 6 women's Bible studies (Jeremiah, Joseph, First Corinthians, Numbers, Elijah, and Romans) as well as Total Family Makeover (2016), Total Christmas Makeover (2017), 30 Days of Prayer for Spiritual Stamina (2018), and Dare to Hope(2019). I'm following God through every door He opens and pray that all glory in these endeavors is His alone.

About your Better Together Podcast Host...

Barb Roose is a popular speaker and author who is passionate about equipping women to win at life with Christ-empowered strength and dignity. Barb loves speaking at women's conference and leadership events such as the Aspire Women's Events, She Speaks Conference, and the UMC Leadership Institute.

Barb is the author of multiple books and Bible studies, including her newest releases: I'm Waiting, God: Finding Blessing in God's Delay (Sept 2019) and Joshua: Winning the Worry Battle. Barb's writing has been featured in magazines or blogs such as Simple Truth Magazine, iBelieve.com, Crosswalk.com, More to Life Magazine, Just Between Us Magazine, Cherished, InCourage, and Women of Faith.

An avid traveler, reader, and lover of all things chocolate-peanut butter, Barb is the proud mother of three adult daughters. Visit Barb's online home at barbroose.com.

Check out this episode!

Is the empty nest on the horizon?

Are you trying to figure out how to let go or figure out who you are now that the kids are grown?

If so, you're in the right place!

Welcome to a new season of the Better Together Podcast where we find the hope, the help, as well as practical next steps so that we can all get better together!

To kick of off our new season, I'm talking with my friend, Jill Savage about the empty nest season of life. This year, my last child moved out of the house and after nearly 27 years of raising children, I loved this conversation with my wise and fun friend!

Jill is the author of the new book, Empty Nest, Full Life: Discovering God's Best for Your Next (August 2019). In today's episode, Jill shares the follow with us:

• Wisdom:  Jill tells us what empty nest moms need to let go of and what to hold on to.
• Encouragement: Are you struggling with tough situations and feeling discouraged? Jill talks about how she navigates parenting adult children dealing with mental illness, homosexuality, and children far from God.
• Finally, Jill shares relationship-saving practical ideas to keep your relationship with your kids even when they're making decisions you don't agree with.
• GET AWAY! Listen for details on Jill's Empty Nest Mom Retreat on October 25-27, 2019 at the Chaira Retreat Center. You totally want to check more details out at www.emptynestbook.com.

CONNECT WITH JILL!

You can find Jill online at www.jillsavage.org and www.NoMorePerfect.com.

About today's guest...

Jill Savage is an author, speaker, and coach who is passionate about encouraging and empowering others. A graduate of Butler University in Indianapolis, IN, and founder of Hearts at Home, a ministry that has served moms for 24 years. Jill now travels the world as an author and speaker. Called one of today's most exciting Christian female speakers, Jill's honest, engaging communication is strengthened by her ability to make her audience laugh while they learn.

Founder of the online Inspire Speaker Course, Jill is the author of seven books and the co-author of five including the bestselling No More Perfect Moms, No More Perfect Kids, No More Perfect Marriages, and her newest release Empty Nest, Full Life. She and her husband Mark have five children, four grandchildren, and a whole herd of barn cats.

About your Better Together podcast host...

Barb Roose a popular speaker and author who is passionate about equipping women to win at life with Christ-empowered strength and dignity. Barb loves speaking at women's conference and leadership events such as the Aspire Women's Events, She Speaks Conference, and the UMC Leadership Institute.

Barb is the author of multiple books and Bible studies, including her newest release: I'm Waiting God: Finding Blessing in God's Delay Bible Study, Joshua: Winning the Worry Battle Bible study and Winning the Worry Battle book.  Barb's writing has been featured in magazines or blogs such as Simple Truth Magazine, iBelieve.com, Crosswalk.com, More to Life Magazine, Just Between Us Magazine, Cherished, InCourage, and Women of Faith.

Barb lives in NW Ohio. She's the proud mother of three adult daughters. Her perfect day includes a long walk, reading a book, and enjoying a big bowl of chocolate peanut butter ice cream.  Visit Barb's online home at barbroose.com.

Check out this episode!

I finally got all my feelings back under control that I could share this story...

Yesterday - for the first time ever, I taught at Cedar Creek Church Fusion Camp. My girls attended or led at camp every year for the last 15 years and they didn’t want mom hanging out during the best week of their year. That’s cool. 

This year was my time! So yesterday, I spoke to 400+ kids and gave a message that I couldn’t have given before this year: How to live in peace when our families are fighting or falls apart. 

Those kids heard more of my heart than any other talk I’ve ever given. I only shared a bit of my story, but as a mom, I hate that over 50% of the kids in that room knew the realities of a fallen apart family. Fusion Camp gave those kids a precious week to escape from fighting parents, custody issues, addicted family, parents getting divorced, parent abandonment, and so much more. I was so grateful to be there and talk about life from someone who sat in the bleachers with them. As adults, we forget what we’re putting our kids through because we’re barely able to deal with our own stuff. 

Yesterday, I realized that everything I’ve been through was worth it for a chance to share hope and some solid practical tools to equip kids against feeling hopeless or discouraged like “Minding your own hoola-hoop” and “QTIP - Quit Taking It Personally”

Afterward, Communications Director Eric Williams, drove me over to the lunch area. This is where the photo comes in - here's a group of sweet girls from Whitehouse Campus we’re doing their group discussion time. Those beautiful girls asked if I would take a picture. So we did. 

Then, they asked if they could give me a hug. Each one of those precious girls gave me a hug. Some twice!

Since my girls are grown up and now gone, it’s been awhile since this mama has had a girl hug. 

So God sent me a whole bunch of them!

Eric captured this picture, right before  a whole lot of tears began to fall. After each of them gave me a hug, someone yelled “Group hug!” (While we were doing the group hug, someone else yelled “Smells like hot dogs up in here.”)

For whatever I might have done yesterday, I drove away feeling like I’d been given 10,000x more in return. 

It might have taken 15 years to be a part of it, but it was totally worth the wait. 

What makes your home beautiful is YOU!

-Tracy Steel

Do you love design shows like "Fixer Upper" or anything else on HGTV? Most of us would love for Joanna Gaines or the Property Brothers to stop by and give our homes a fresh look! However, I'm talking with my friend and fabulous interior designer, Tracy Steel about how you can freshen up your heart and your home this summer.

Make sure to check out the photos of Tracy's beautiful home on the blog page. Not only is she a military wife, mother of two, and a talented designer, but Tracy just graduated from Phoenix Seminary with a Master's Degree in Biblical and Theological Studies in May 2019. She loves teaching God's Word and equipping people to fully embrace the space they're living in.

In today's Better Together podcast, Tracy shares five ways to freshen your heart and home by combining wisdom from God's Word with practical design advice:

1. Look up (ceilings/Colossians 3:1-4)
2. Clean up (declutter/Colossians 3:5-8)
3. Brighten/Change up: (re-polish/repaint/refurbish walls/doors, change out accessories/Colossians 3:12-14)
4. Hang up: (picture wall/ Colossians 3:15)
5. Open up (doors/windows/Colossians 3:16)

Tracy's new book, A Redesigned Life: Uncovering God's Purpose When Life Doesn't Go As Planned releases this August 2019. Listen to the podcast to learn more about some of the free and fun giveaways Tracy will offer – like a FREE design consult!

CONNECT WITH TRACY STEEL  Website |  Facebook  |  Instagram  | Twitter

About Today's Guest Tracy Steel...

Tracy Steel graduated from Kansas State University with a BS in Interior Design in 1998. Eager to change her clients' lives by improving the interior space they occupied, she thought she had the blueprints for her future completed. In the midst of designing corporate spaces and sorting through fabric samples, Tracy fell in love with Jesus Christ and He changed everything. Since 2001 Tracy has been involved in youth and women's ministry and served as the Director of Female Students from Scottsdale Bible Church from 2005–2007. In May 2019, Tracy graduated from Phoenix Seminary with a Master's Degree in Biblical and Theological studies, and is the author of Images of His Beauty and A Redesigned Life. But Tracy is most proud of her military man and of her two spirited kiddos that call her mama. To learn more about Tracy, please visit tracymsteel.com

About your Better Together Host...

Barb Roose is a popular speaker and author who is passionate about equipping women to win at life with Christ-empowered strength and dignity. Barb loves speaking at women's conference and leadership events such as the Aspire Women's Events, She Speaks Conference and the UMC Leadership Institute.

Barb is the author of multiple books and Bible studies, including her newest releases: Winning the Worry Battle: Life Lessons from the Book of Joshua and Bible study called Joshua: Winning the Worry Battle. Barb's writing has been featured in magazines or blogs such as Simple Truth Magazine, iBelieve.com, Crosswalk.com, More to Life Magazine, Just Between Us Magazine, Cherished, InCourage and Women of Faith.

An avid traveler, reader, and lover of all things chocolate-peanut butter, Barb lives in NW Ohio and she is the proud mother of three adult daughters. Visit Barb's online home at barbroose.com.

Check out this episode!