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 

Do you struggle with depression and wonder why God doesn't or hasn't taken it away?

On this episode of Better Together with Barb Roose, my friend and author, Melissa Maimone joins me for a discussion about depression as well as strategies for living with hope IN depression.

Melissa shares her story of life-long depression and anxiety. As the author of Radiant Midnight: Depression, Grace and the the Gifts of a Dark Place, she eloquently talks how God's loving presence is with us, even when our dark feelings try to convince us that He is not.

She also share three strategies for holding on and getting through the dark seasons: Grace, Grit and Grounding.

About Our Guest Melissa Maimone...

Melissa has been a featured speaker at various Christian camps, women's events and retreats throughout the United States. Melissa's writing has appeared on Lysa Terkhurst's Proverbs 31 blog, in Lifeway's HomeLife Magazine, and various other media outlets. She's been a guest on Kathi Lipps's Clutterfree Academy Webcast, TBN, and KKLA Christian Radio. She also makes regular appearances on popular podcasts discussing a wide range of topics for women.

She is on the speaker roster for Compassion International, a world-wide organization dedicated to releasing children from poverty in Jesus' name. She is passionate about their work and is honored to be part of a nationally recognized leader in changing the lives of children, their families, and their communities.

​Melissa served as the Director of Women’s Ministry (along with wearing a few other hats!) at a large church in Santa Clarita, CA for over a decade. She uses her wide range of church experience and her B.A. in Organizational Management to mentor other women in leadership.

​She and her husband Danny live outside of Raleigh, North Carolina. They are parents to Cole and Elizabeth, who lives at home. Their daughter Elizabeth has developmental delays. The experience of raising a child with special needs has been both challenging and rewarding--but they wouldn't change a thing!

She loves Jesus, her family, and her friends. Her hobbies include reading, walking, watching weird documentaries, and searching out the perfect street taco.

Links from today's episode:

Melissa Maimone's website

The Radiant Midnight Book

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.

How does God show up in our lives when our circumstances are out of control?

On this episode of Better Together FB Live with Barb, guest Beth Vogt joins me to discuss some of the powerful names of God that remind us about who God when our lives get flipped upside down.

Rather than relying on ourselves, Beth encourages us to remember God's character and inspires us to trust Him! I love, love how Beth talked us through six of the many names of God- so powerful!

#1 Emmanuel - "God with us"

#2 - The God of Hope - Romans 15:13

#3: The God who gives songs in the night - Job 35:10

#4: God is our Comforter - John 14:16

#5: God is the Strength of my heart - Psalm 73:26

#6: The God of Love and Peace - 2 Corinthians 13:11

Award-winning author and editor, Beth also tells us about her new book, The Best We've Been, the third book in her popular Thatcher Sister series. This book depicts complex family relationships between three sisters, Peyton, Jillian and Johanna. In this final book, the sisters grapple with old wounds and tragedies.

As Beth drew upon the early years of her faith journey to write the sisters' story, she reminds us that "the best" doesn't always mean that we get what we're prayed for, but that what we have can be good.

About Guest Beth Vogt

Beth is nonfiction author and editor who said she'd never write fiction. She's the wife of an Air Force family physician (now in solo practice) who said she'd never marry a doctor -or anyone in the military. She's a mom of four who said she'd never have kids. Now Beth believes that God's best often waits behind doors marked Never.

She's a multiple award-winning author, former editor and writing mentor. Beth lives in Colorado with her husband, Rob, who has adjusted to discussing the lives of imaginary people. 

Link to The Best We've Been