Does prayer make a difference? We know that we are supposed to pray, but sometimes we can feel discouraged or wonder if we’re doing it right.

On this episode of Better Together Facebook Live, host Barb Roose talks with Mary DeMuth, who will share about how you can pray in confidence every day, even when you don’t feel like it.

Big Ideas From Today's Show

1. Prayer is like a muscle.

Just like we go to the gym and exercise to make our muscles strong, Mary reminds us that prayer is the same way. The more we work out our prayer "muscles", the stronger they will become and the more connected we will feel to Jesus.

2. Prayer is relational.

Mary defines prayer as discussing your stress, worries and bothers with your Father who loves you. God hears and cares about our prayers. Next time you pray, try writing your prayers out and seeing how God answers!

3. God can "restory" our lives.

You do not have to be bound to your past anymore. God is able to redeem your hurt, pain and shame. Mary reminds us that God is willing to "restory" us so that we can be used to do the same for others. 

About Our Guest Mary DeMuth...Mary DeMuth is an author and speaker who loves to help readers and audiences live uncaged, freedom-infused lives. She has written numerous books including Not Marked: Finding Hope and Healing after Sexual Abuse and Worth Living: How God's Wild Love for You Makes You Worthy. She is also the host of the popular Pray Every Day Podcast. 

Links from today's episode:

Mary's Website

Home

Pray Every Day Podcast 

Pray Every Day Podcast

Mary's Etsy Store

https://www.etsy.com/market/mary_demuth

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.

If we’re friends here online, you know that my name is Barb and you may know a few other details about me.

Tonight, I was a black woman stranded in a parking lot who was ignored when she needed help.

It wasn’t a good experience.

My good ‘ole Pilot didn’t start when I came out of Michael’s Craft Store this evening. (Ironically, I was on the phone with a dealership a few hours before saying, “I’m not quite ready to buy a new car. Give me a few more weeks.” 🙃)

Anywhoo, I tried a few times to start my car. Nothing. I didn’t want to call AAA until I had to. Then, I remembered that I had jumper cables.

I popped my hood. I gave thanks that I parked under a parking lot lamp so that I could see and that others could see me.

There was a car parked directly across from me and I figured that I would wait to see if someone could help. I hated the thought of asking a stranger, but I couldn’t exactly jump the car without someone’s help.

With my hood popped, I waited. Mask on, of course.

A woman came out. I said “Hi” from behind my mask. She looked at me and got in her car and drove off.

Okay, that happens. Whatever.

I decided to call my friend Aimee Fortney, who lived around the corner and she dispatched her hubby, Andy and their daughter Emma to my rescue.

While I waited, I wondered if anyone would at least stop to ask if I was okay, even if they couldn’t help.

Another woman came out a few minutes afterward. She was parked a few spaces over. I’m 5’10” and hard to miss. She got in and drove off.

Same thing happened again just a few minutes later. Another woman saw me standing there obviously stranded. She got in her car and drove off.

Ouch.

As I stood in front of my Honda Pilot in that parking lot, three more cars drove right past me.

Finally, a white SUV parked next to me and an older African-American man got out and asked if I was okay. I told him that a friend was coming.

When Andy arrived, another gentleman stopped to ask if I was okay as well as another woman of color.

Andy and Emma worked to get my car started but my old girl is 305,000 miles old so we needed to call AAA.

They left and Aimee drove over to wait with me so that she could give me a ride home. I told her the story and lamely guessed that maybe the women didn’t stop because afterall, we were in a parking lot in the city. It was dark and I did have a mask on.

All weak excuses to try to explain to myself why all of those women wouldn’t at least stop to ask if a woman with her car hood up was okay.

All I can say to you is this was my lived experience tonight. While those Caucasian women do not represent all the majority, tonight they did not represent the majority well.

Which is why Aimee and Andy’s kindness meant so much.

Living in a world where I have to deal with prejudice is a burden that feels too heavy at times. It’s part of the weight woven into the color of my skin.

Perhaps you’ve never had to ask yourself the question, “Are they afraid of me or ignoring me because they are afraid of my skin color?”

I have. I asked myself that question tonight. It doesn’t matter that I am an author, a speaker, literary agent, college-educated, tax paying citizen.

EVERY SINGLE African American person that you know has asked themselves that question at various and at many, many times in life.

It is a horrible feeling to wonder if someone is afraid of you just because of the color of your skin. It’s a horrible feeling to need help and watch people walk by and ignore you - and then deal with that whisper that asks, “Is it because you’re black?”

If you are offended by my story and believe that I’m calling all Caucasians prejudiced or racist, please scoll through my photos and notice that I am the mother of three half-Caucasian kids. Also, note Andy and Emma in the photo.

Why write this? This isn’t a rant.

I am sharing my lived experience.

I am sharing for those who want to know about those who look and live differently.

I am sharing for those who assume that my career or influence may insulate me from prejudice or racism, that is not true.

Most of all, I’m sharing for my brothers and sisters of color whose stories haven’t been shared or believed.

I know that many of you would be more than happy to help if I called you - so thank you! I hope that you’d do the same for a stranger, man or woman that looked like me. Please.

A giant, loving thank you to Andy and Aimee, who’ve been friends of mine for over a decade. Thank you for being there for me tonight. You’re the real MVP.

And a special thanks to the nice AAA guy for getting my car started. Bless you, dude.

The (G)race Project is a specially curated collection of what I've written about race, grace and the gospel, as well as interiews, videos and book recommendations.

Has your life been shaken up recently? When you feel like things are out of control and life gets messy, remember: there is grace.

On this episode of Better Together Facebook Live, host Barb Roose talks with best-selling author and comedian, Kerri Pomarolli, about how she has leaned on God during this COVID season after all of her gigs were cancelled and personal relationships shaken up.

3 Expectations You Have Permission To Let Go Of During This Pandemic Season: 

1. "Perfect" Parenting

For all of the parents who are navigating online or hybrid learning during this season, I feel for you. It can be difficult to deal with so many changes being thrown at us all at the same time. Kerri gives us permission to let go of our desire to parent perfectly and to take hold of love, grace, and maybe a donut or two.

2. The Small Battles 

If we allow ourselves to, we can get so caught up in the small things and easily become overwhelmed. Kerri gives us permission to let go of the small battles so that we can focus our time and energy on the things in life that carry the most weight (providing for our families, our spiritual walk, finances, etc.).

3. Our Fear

Kerri has watched the Lord come through for her over and over again during this season. If you are in need of provision, Kerri gives us permission to say, "Lord, fix it," and trust Him to provide.

About Our Guest Kerri Pomarolli...Kerri Pomarolli is a stand up comedian, author, actress and supermodel wannabe. She has been on The Tonight Show 29 times, General Hospital, Young and the Restless, Comedy Central and many more. She has been on Nick at Nite, Netflix, and enjoys touring the country with her clean comedy and Christian events. She's worked with everyone from Jay Leno to Carol Channing and is passionate about writing. She's written several books including "Moms Night Out And Other Things I Miss" that came out with the hit motion picture. She is so excited to be a writer for the Hallmark Channel as well. She is also a screenwriter and works in television writing and lives with her two comedy inspirations; Lucy and Ruby in California.

Links from today's episode:

Check out Kerri's website:

https://www.kerripom.com/

Confessions of a Proverbs 32 Woman:

https://www.kerripom.com/product-page/confessions-of-a-proverbs-32-woman

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.

God intentionally created different colors and different cultures, but we still can’t figure out how to live as one.

On this episode of Better Together Facebook Live, host Barb Roose talks with author, educator and co-founder of Brownicity, Dr. Lucretia Berry, about how to restore God’s dream of us being united as one in Christ.

Brownicity is a community dedicated to transforming our world and eliminating racism.

Big Ideas From Today's Show

1. Race is a construct. 

Dr. Berry reminds us that God made humanity but man created racial categories and hierarchies. Understanding this simple truth inspires us to realize that we can create a better way to understand and navigate our differences.

2. Policies impact our American framework. 

Lucretia's course, "What LIES Between Us", is an incredibly helpful tool available to provide us with a better understanding of the policies in place that have impacted our country. The goal of understanding our policies is not to simply bring up the disturbing parts of our history, but to empower people to create something better!

3. Since our country is made up of complex people, it has a complex identity. 

Differences are normal! They are part of being human. Differences are not something to fear or shy away from, but something that can be embraced and celebrated.

About Our Guest Dr. Lucretia Berry...Dr. Lucretia Carter Berry is the founder of Brownicity - Many Hues, One Humanity (brownicity.com), an agency dedicated to advocacy, education and support for racial healing and antiracism that hosts thousands of learners committed to an antiracism learning journey. She is a wife to Nathan and a mother of three little girls. A former college professor, she is learning to courageously create the world for which she is designed. Lucretia designed a ‘beginners’ course and authored the accompanying study guide called, What LIES Between Us: Fostering First Steps Toward Racial Healing. She is the
Anti-race/ism Curriculum Specialist for Community School of Davidson (NC), a contributor for (In)courage.me, a TEDx and Q Ideas speaker (Charlotte), and a Senior Consultant for Point Made Learning’s The American Dream Game.

Lucretia and her family get to be a part of the amazing community that is Mosaic Church, Charlotte. She finds joy in prayer, dark-chocolate covered almonds, and dancing!

Links from today's episode:

Brownicity:

www.brownicity.com

What LIES Between Us Course and Study Guide: 

https://join.brownicity.com/courses/what-lies-between-us-self-paced

b.Kids Let's Learn About:

https://join.brownicity.com/courses/b-kids

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.

Do you have a dream that you’re afraid to share with others? We should never stop dreaming even when we face disappointments.

On this episode of Better Together Facebook Live, host Barb Roose talks with Jill Kemerer who will inspire you to embrace your unique journey.

Big Ideas From Today's Show

1. Allow your rejection to lead you to dependence on God.

After receving numerous rejections and having 11 books turned down, Jill realized that the rejection wasn't the main point. God wanted to bring her closer to Himself. If you are facing rejection right now, lean on God for His strength.

2. Keep holding on.

Jill encourages us to keep moving forward, even in the face of discouragement. When things get tough, push on friends! It will not be in vain.

3. Give yourself permission to invest in your dream.

Ladies, don't be afraid to invest your time and money in your dream. Hire a coach, go to a conference, invest in a class, search for resources online. Although investing can be expensive, the payoff is worth it!

About Our Guest Jill Kemerer... Jill Kemerer is a Publishers Weekly bestselling, multi-published author of Christian romance novels with Harlequin Love Inspired. She loves coffee, reading, fluffy animals, and taking long nature walks. Jill resides in Ohio with her husband and two almost-grown children. Please visit her website, jillkemerer.com, and sign up for her newsletter.

Links from today's episode:

Check out Jill's website:

jillkemerer.com

The Cowboy's Christmas Blessings

https://www.harlequin.com/shop/books/9781335488435_the-cowboys-christmas-blessings.html

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.