Join host, Barb Roose, and award-winning author, Robin W. Pearson, as they talk about Robin‘s newest book. As an African-American author of color, Robin wrestled with whether or not people would want to read a story about diverse characters.

Big Ideas from Today's Show

1. We come from many colors and cultures, but have the same God.

In a world that loves to try and divide us, Robin eloquently reminds us that even if our lives look different, we are one because we serve the same God.

2. There is incredible value in hearing and reading about the experiences of others.

Robin's book, full of diverse characters and interesting plot lines, gives us the opportunity to learn and understand an experience that differs from our own. When we choose to learn from the experiences of others, even in our reading choices, it enriches our lives. 

3. We need to learn how to accept God's forgiveness towards us.

Many times when we make mistakes, even if we know that we are forgiven in our heads, we still live with shame and regret. Robin encourages us to accept the forgiveness we have been given and step into freedom.

4. We have permission to show up authentically. 

There is no need to hide the way God has made you. In this episode, Robin gave us permission to show up as our authentic selves without fear!

About Our Guest Robin W. Pearson

Robin W. Pearson's A LONG TIME COMIN' earned a 2020 Christy Award for First Novel. Both her debut and her second novel, 'TIL I WANT NO MORE (February 2021), earned a Publishers Weekly starred review. They show how man's timeless love affair with God affects day-to-day relationships.

Robin's writing sprouts from her Southern roots, and she has corrected grammar up and down the East coast, starting with Houghton Mifflin Company.

Her family's faith, life lessons, and life's longings inspire her as a wife, homeschooling mother of seven, and author, what she blogs about. They're the source of all the characters living and breathing in the stories waiting to be told about her belief in Jesus Christ and the experiences at her own kitchen sink.

Links from today's episode:

Robin's Website

robinpearson.com

'Til I Want No More

 Buy your copy here!

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.

March 2, 1992. On that day long ago, I was an unmarried, 19-year old college sophomore sitting in a plastic chair in a small room staring at two lines on a pregnancy test.

I don’t remember if I cried or not. But without a doubt, I remember feeling like I was drowning in the non-stop waves of shame, guilt and failure crashing against my heart.

The rest of the day was a daze. I went to campus and stood next to the current undergraduate student government president as his running mate as the election results were read. It should have been a day for celebration. Yet, all I wanted to do was run to my dorm room and crawl under my blankets.

I was standing in the crowd, but my mind was far, far away. I thought about telling my parents. I imagined the disappointed looks on the faces of everyone at my church. Cycling every few seconds was one thought that I couldn’t stop thinking and it made me sadder than every other thought combined:

I let God down. He must be so disappointed in me.

I envisioned that God was sitting in heaven shaking His head whenever He looked down on me. I could see His disappointed dad eyebrows scrunched up and His frown pointed in my direction.

In the days that followed my trip to the local crisis pregnancy center, I woke up, went to class and then came home and cried in my dorm room.

I tried to pray. But I couldn’t. God doesn’t want to hear from me.

While I was too afraid and ashamed to talk to God, there was a voice, a whisper that spent a lot of time talking to me. The Whisper never seemed to run out of convincing words to say:

“You’ve messed up so badly that you can never fix this.”

“God will never bless you again after what you’ve done.”

“Watch out, something bad is probably going to happen to you.”

The Whisper otherwise known as the voice of lies from the pit of hell, filled the space in my heart and mind with fear.

The Whisper walked with me to class each day telling me that my future didn't matter because I'd already messed it up beyone repair.

The Whisper sat on my pillow at night chattering away, keeping me awake so that my mind would work through endless "what-if" worries and worst-case scenarios - each one overwhelming me with hopelessness because I had no way to help myself - and I was too afraid to go to God.

I wanted to believe that The Whisper was lying, but I'd messed my life up so badly that I was afraid that Its words were true.

Like Adam and Eve hid from God after they sinned (Genesis 3), I made plans to run away.

The week after I found out that I was pregnant, I contacted a childhood friend who lived thousands of miles away across the country. I planned to leave so that I didn’t have to face my parents, church family or God.

I didn't know back then that The Whisper tempted me to leave so that I could be farther away from the relationships that could love and support me. Just as a limping wounded animal on the African plain, I was vulnerable. If something didn't happen, The Whisper would tempt me to leave the God and people that cared about me. In my wounded, fearful stated, I would be devoured.

"Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour." -1 Peter 5:8 (NLT)

Over the next few weeks, I will tell you about how God used the events of March 2 to re-shape my spiritual life and future. This isn't a story about quick fixes or simple solutions, rather I finally experienced the freedom that comes from grace.

If you’re struggling with a mistake in your past or The Whisper is tormenting you over a struggle in your Christian life, I’m glad that you’re here. Today, I want you to know that you aren’t alone.

I wasn’t planning to share today’s story. However, when I looked at the calendar and realized that it was 29th anniversary of what seemed like the end of my life as I knew it, instead, it was the first step in the journey that would lead to toward God's greatest gift for me...His grace.

I don't know what's making you afraid of God today, but can I ask you to do one thing? Tell a trusted Christian friend about the whispers that are making you afraid of God. If you don't feel like you can talk to anyone, you are welcome to email me at barb@barbroose.com and I will pray for you.

Let's pray together right now:

Dear God, You are the God who loves us, in spite of our mistakes and failures. Today, I pray that my friend would recognize when Satan’s whispers try to make her afraid of You or tempt her to question Your love. Remind us that Your love for us is based on Your perfect promises, not our performance. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

SHARE IN THE COMMENTS BELOW: Have you ever felt like you've messed up your life so badly that God couldn't love you anymore? Lately, are there any lies that The Whisper tries to speak to you? How do you handle them?

INTRODUCING BARB'S NEXT BIBLE STUDY!

Let go of feeling like you are not a “good enough” Christian and find freedom in Christ by studying Paul’s letter to the Galatians in my new study, Breakthrough: Finding Freedom in Christ.

Have you ever felt that being a good Christian means you’ve got to follow a bunch of rules and measure up?

If so, you aren’t alone! In this six-week Bible study of Galatians, Barb Roose shows us that even the believers in the early church struggled to let go of rule-keeping and performance in order to embrace God’s free gift of grace.

If you’ve ever struggled with feeling like God is disappointed with you or felt trapped by rules or religion, this study will provide a path to discover your freedom in Christ.

Even in the middle of hard and uncertain times, it is possible to live without fear!

Join host, Barb Roose, and special guest Katy McCown on an all new episode of Better Together! Katy is a powerful Bible teacher, writer for Proverbs 31, mother of 6, and the wife of a former NFL quarterback. She has faced seasons of scary uncertainty and has learned how to trust God’s promises and live without fear.

3 Ways to Live with No Fear This Year:

1. Fix your eyes on God's Word and His ways. 

When we fix our eyes on our circumstances or the world around us, it can be easy for fear to take hold of our thoughts and lives. Instead, Katy encourages us to fix our eyes on Jesus and keep our minds set on His Word and ways. Take some time to reflect: Where are your eyes fixed in this season?

2. Understand the difference between knowing God relationally and informationally. 

It is possible to know a lot about someone without truly knowing them. When it comes to our relationship with God, it is not enough to simply know the facts. In order to live without fear, we need a genuine relationship with God where we are making space in our lives to spend with Him and get to know Him personally.

3. We need to rely on our Savior rather than ourselves. 

Katy shares that the word "relied" in 2 Chronicles means to have a complete reliance to the point where if the thing you are relying on fails, there will be complete destruction. When relying on God, we don't need a backup plan, but to be completely dependent on Him for help, hope and healing.

About Our Guest Katy McCown

Katy McCown is president of She Laughs Ministries, a writer for Proverbs 31 Ministries, and a national speaker. Through all life’s uncertainties and surprises, Katy has learned some things about "living sure" even when the future is not. She and her husband Luke, a former NFL quarterback, are raising six children.

Links from today's episode:

Katy's Website

katymccown.com

She Smiles Without Fear Bible Study

 Buy your copy here!

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.

Trust in marriage is vital for a healthy relationship. But how does a couple rebuild trust once it is broken? There is hope!

Married for over 35 years, authors Jill and Mark Savage have experienced God’s incredible healing and restoration of trust after an affair almost destroyed their marriage.

3 Truths About Rebuilding Trust:

1. Rebuilding trust is possible no matter how badly it has been broken.

Jill encourages us to stay hopeful even when our circumstances seem hopeless. When two people are willing to do what it takes, it is possible to rebuild trust!

2. The trust-breaker is the trust-maker.

When trust has been broken, it can be easy for the one whose trust has been broken to try and police the other in an attempt to pull information out of them. Instead, Jill shares that the one who broke trust should be going above and beyond to provide clarity, transparency, and push accountability.

3. Apology and forgiveness don't rebuild trust, but they do start the process. 

Forgiveness does not automatically mean that you trust the other person, but simply that you are opening the door for the other person to begin rebuilding trust.

About Our Guest Jill Savage

Jill Savage is an author and speaker who is passionate about encouraging families. She is the author or co-author of fourteen books including Professionalizing Motherhood, My Hearts At Home, Real Moms…Real Jesus, Living With Less So Your Family Has More, No More Perfect Moms, No More Perfect Marriages (with her husband Mark), and her most recent release Empty Nest Full Life.

Featured on Focus on the Family, Crosswalk.com, Family Life Today and Today’s Christian Woman magazine, Jill is the founder of Hearts at Home, an organization that encouraged moms from 1994-2017. Jill and her husband, Mark, have five children, three who are married, and eight grandchildren. They make their home in Normal, Illinois.

Links from today's episode:

Jill's Website

jillsavage.org

No More Perfect Marriages book

 Buy your copy here!

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.

Is adulthood a curse? Both young adults and slightly older ones are still trying to figure this out! Is the life that we’re living today all there really is?

Join host, Barb Roose, and special guest Kristin Weber as she talks about how all adults, especially millennials, can learn to see God and His faithfulness even though things feel heavy right now.

Four Struggles that Millennials Face (and can overcome!):

1. Comfort Addiction

For those who were born into safe and comfortable homes, the desire for safety and predictability can become addicting. While comfort is not a bad thing, the addiction to it can cause us to become entitled, self-centered, or keep us in a bubble. It is when we are forced to overcome challenges or choose to step outside of our comfort zones that we can gain an appreciation for moments of comfort in our lives.

2. Instant Gratification

In a world of instant everything, it can be easy to believe that all of our desires should be fulfilled immediately. However, sometimes it is necessary for us to wait patiently for the things in life that matter most.

3. Distractions

The introduction of the smartphone and other modern technolgy has opened the door for endless distraction. In order to counter this, it is important to establish boundaries for yourself and your family.

4. Endless Options

Fear of missing out can cause us to avoid committment because we fear choosing the wrong option. Because we have so many options availale from who we date to which house we buy, sometimes we can feel paralyzed. We will never know all of the answers or possiblle outcomes, but we can choose wisely and entrust those choices to the God who knows all things.

Next Steps:

1. Join a local church

Being in community with other Christ followers can help millennials to take their eyes off of themselves and see that there is so much more to life than their own little world. The local church also provides a place where people from different generations can come together and provide support and encouragement.

2. Do something small to start if you're stuck

Map out one small step that you can take if you feel stuck in order to begin the process of changing your circumstances.

About Our Guest Kristin Weber

Kristin Weber is a comedian, author and speaker. Her clean, sharp, and occasionally alternative approach to comedy has brought her all across the United States and Canada, where she has performed at conferences, churches, in popular clubs, on cruise ships and more.

Kristin has written two books for teen girls, The Smart Girl’s Guide to God, Guys, and the Galaxy and The Smart Girl’s Guide to Mean Girls, Manicures, and God’s Amazing Plan for Me, published by Barbour Books in 2014 and 2016. She has written for Sisterhood Magazine (formerly Brio Mag from Focus on the Family), as well as contributed to popular blogs like The Gospel Coalition and Stuff Christians Like. Kristin is also the author of Amazon bestseller and brand new release, Adulting for Jesus. 

Links from today's episode:

Kristin's Website

kristinweberonline.com

Adulting for Jesus book

Grab your copy here.

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.

You can make it through anything you go through! The first step is shifting your focus from “me” to “He”. God is all you need!

Join host, Barb Roose, and special guest Micah Maddox as she tells us the 3 essential elements that allow God to heal any hurting heart.

3 Key Elements to Experience the Healing of Your Heart

1. Experiencing (Psalm 27:1,4)

Through reading the Word, praying, and taking the time to seek, dwell, and inquire, we can experience the presence and comfort that only God can bring.

2. Listening (Psalm 27:10)

Micah reminds us that even when we don't have family or friends to lean on in our times of heartache, the Lord will care for us. We just need to open ourselves up to Him and resist the urge to stay distant from the only one who can bring true, lasting healing.

3. Surrender (Psalm 27:14)

The key to surrender is letting go of control and giving our circumstance, hurt and heartache over to God. Sometimes surrender just looks like waiting and being still.

About Our Guest Micah Maddox

Micah Maddox is a women’s event speaker, Bible teacher, and author of Anchored In: Experience a Power-Full Life in a Problem-Filled World. She is passionate about helping women find purpose, peace, and calm in our chaotic world. Micah is on the Proverbs31 Ministries First5 Writing Team. As a pastor’s wife and mother of four, she contributes her time to her family and local church serving as a women’s ministry leader. Micah loves to give a voice to hurting hearts and writes and speaks to the one who needs encouragement.

Links from today's episode:

Micah's Website

micahmaddox.com

Anchored In

Grab your copy here.

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.