Building Strong Homes: Blueprints to Strengthen Your Faith and Family podcast

If you listened to my podcast episode this past June, Fear is a Liar, you heard me talk about a couple in our church whose testimony made me decide to keep going with this podcast. When I was ready to shut it all down their story made me want to keep going so that others will have a place to share their own amazing God stories so together, we can help others to keep building strong.

You wouldn't think a breast cancer diagnosis would lead a couple into a marriage that was more joyful than they could have ever imagined, but that's what happened with Glen and Kelly Daigle. They had both been married before they met and were ready for a fresh start, having each gone through difficulties with drugs and alcohol. Glen had recently finished a self-admitted time in rehab for alcohol addiction and Kelly was looking for a man who'd been married, didn't have children and loved the Lord. Since Glen met all three requirements they dated and eventually married. But everything wasn't all rainbows and hearts. Glen spiraled into such a deep depression Kelly says many days she prayed she wouldn't come home to find that her husband had committed suicide. After Glen found help from counseling their lives were okay, but still not great. Neither of them had a strong relationship with God, they just did the bare minimum. Until Kelly's breast cancer diagnosis. Something changed in both of them as they realized the only thing they had to hold on to was Jesus, and they weren't letting Him go.

There are so many ways that God showed up in each of their journeys that there's no denying the Hound of Heaven was pursuing them from the very beginning. If you feel like you've messed up so badly that there's no promise of hope in your life anymore, this episode is for you.

For show notes go to Carolroper.org/Podcast

Watch on YouTube No One is Too Far Gone for God to Use with Glen and Kelly Daigle

Have you ever had a life changing moment? A tragedy, unexpected diagnosis or sudden loss that left you feeling alone, confused or in despair, wondering what to do next? When Wendy Rickard's husband fell into a utility area, dropping twenty feet on his head, she began to question God. He survived, but his brain injury meant her family lost the father and husband they depended on for everything. Their family of four imploded.

Wendy wondered what God's purpose was in this heartache, if He would take care of their future and if their lives would ever be the same again. God’s answers were not immediate, and quite frankly, rather slow. But He did answer her questions in His own way and in His own timing.

Today Wendy can tell the story of both her husband and their family's healing and she's sharing that story in this episode. If you've been through a life-altering experience, Wendy wants you to know that no matter what you are facing, God can bring hope and healing to you as well.

For show notes go to CarolRoper.org/podcast

If you'd like to watch the podcast on YouTube go to this link: https://youtu.be/CNwVxvCAfxg

Y’all, I’ve had Sophie Hudson on my bucket list of guests since before I started the podcast! She’s the co-host, along with Melanie Shankle, of the Big Boo Cast podcast as well as the voice of the Boo Mama blog (she shares in this episode how that name came to be!) and author of several of my favorite books. She’s a southern girl from Alabama who loves her family and her football but mostly she loves Jesus. Her books include A Little Salty to Cut the Sweet, Home is Where My People Are and Giddy Up Eunice. And she recently released her newest book, A Fine Sight to See: Leading Because You Were Made for It, where she shares how it empowers women to embrace their God-given roles as leaders and serve with boldness, both inside and outside the church. She was such a delight to talk to and has such a heart for women! I know you’re going to enjoy listening to our conversation and love Sophie as much as I do!

Go to CarolRoper.org/Podcast for shownotes

You wouldn't expect a bout with breast cancer and a heart transplant would lead to a better marriage, but that's exactly what happened for Anthony and Mary Mabry. In 2018, before Mary's breast cancer diagnosis, their marriage was difficult. But Anthony was there for Mary through six rounds of chemo, losing her hair, a double mastectomy and 20 rounds of radiation. Finally, she was cancer free, and they were ready to move on with their lives. But their marriage still wasn't great. Then the tables were turned in 2020 when Anthony discovered he'd been having silent heart attacks for over six months, and he was put on the transplant list. Something neither of them had seen coming even though a heart attack had taken one of Anthony's brothers a few years earlier. After 48 days in a hospital two hours away from home, Anthony was finally sent home with an electric device to keep his heart working. However, the device was only supposed to work for a year. But God showed up over and over again in their story as He provided one miracle after another as they navigated the difficult journey, waiting 2-1/2 years before finally receiving a heart and kidney transplant.

Now, they say their health struggles helped to build their faith and made their marriage so much stronger than it was before both of their health crisis and they give God all of the glory. Listen to how God provided for and healed not only their bodies, but also their marriage.

CarolRoper.org/podcast

Hey listeners, I just wanted to take a few minutes to address some things I’ve been hearing about and thought I’d share a few thoughts that I hope are encouraging to you through this little bonus episode.

Right now, our country is one of the most divisive states we’ve been in since before the civil war. Our world has been turned upside-down where good is bad and bad is good and no one seems to know what truth really is anymore. And this is having an alarming effect on our children and young adults, especially those who haven’t been educated with critical thinking skills and that is having a disastrous effect on our culture. And to be honest, it can seem hopeless, especially for our children and grandchildren, and our nation’s children overall.

But, I’ve also heard that, as far as the election is concerned, many Christians are just sitting this one out. They are also throwing up their hands and saying Jesus is coming back soon so we’ll just hunker down and wait for Him to make things right again. Wow! Talk about a hopeless stance coming from a people who have the most hope of all! We think that we have no position of power or influence so what we do doesn’t matter. Well, I want to remind you that we are not helpless, and we certainly aren’t hopeless. Y’all, we are called!

In this episode I will share what we, as Christians, need to do in order to make a difference in our nation for God's glory.

Find all the links at CarolRoper.org/podcast

Please be aware that this content is not suitable for young children.

George Carneal grew up in the ’70s, raised by a Southern Baptist minister in the ultra-conservative Bible Belt where his world revolved around the church, country fried chicken and trying to fit in with other boys. As disco music pulsated through the speakers in his bedroom, he plotted his escape from the misery and boredom of Southern suburbia before landing in Los Angeles; a city of glitz and hedonism. Much like Alice as she traveled through the looking glass, this is George's journey through a queer culture fantasyland filled with drag queens, drugs and dangerous situations before discovering healing, joy and peace in Christ.

In this episode, George, author of the book From Queer to Christ, shares his painful journey through a secular world at odds with homosexuality, in addition to a religious world that is hostile to homosexuals. He is hopeful that sharing his story through the eyes and mind of a confused child dealing with a same-sex attraction will give some insight into the pain and difficulty of navigating those two worlds. After 25 years of living as a gay man God brought him out of that lifestyle and into His glorious truth. His story will help parents of children of all ages understand how best to influence them for God, as well as teens and adults who are struggling with the LGBTQ agenda in their own lives.

George says that he wrote the book for three reasons:

1. To give Christians insight into what it's like for someone dealing with same-sex attraction and their struggle with faith
2.  
3. To give hope to parents who have children in the LGBTQ lifestyle
4.  
5. To give LGBTQ individuals who are struggling with this lifestyle to understand that there's a different narrative and that they are being lied to and expose those lies and find peace and give them hope

George has been out of that lifestyle for almost 17 years now and has a passion to help others learn the truth. Through his testimony he wants others to know that deliverance from bondage is possible and there is hope in Christ.

Go to CarolRoper.org/Podcast for shownotes

GeorgeCarneal.com for George's website

George's book From Queer to Christ

What a pleasure it was to interview Mart Green, son of Hobby Lobby founder David Green, to talk about his family’s philosophy of faith and generosity. Mart is such a down-to-earth guy who happily shares the secret to Hobby Lobby’s success. I loved hearing the fun and practical ways Mart and his family celebrate each other and minister to those around them. Money isn’t the only way to bless people and Mart makes that clear in the examples he gives. He also shares about the new book he has coming out, co-authored with David Bowden, Learning to be Loved: The Everyday Believer's Guide to a Rich Relationship with God, a transformative guide that will help families strengthen their relationships with God together.

Mart also shares several vulnerable stories in this book, including how he had unintentionally hurt his family and through that experience learned the importance of emotional trust. And he talks about the freedom his wife gained after learning to forgive her parents. Both of these stories took time for them to heal before they felt comfortable enough to share, but they know God can use their stories to help others draw closer to Him.

CarolRoper.org/Podcast for shownotes

Hey friends! I’m back from my summer hiatus and have some awesome guests lined up for you this fall, starting this week with Stephen Kendrick of the Kendrick Brothers. Alex and Stephen Kendrick have brought us some great movies like Facing the Giants, Fireproof, Courageous and War Room and their newest movie, The Forge, will release in theaters nationwide on August 23 and he’s here to tell us about it.

I had the privilege of watching a pre-screening of the movie and I must tell you that there are several scenes in this film that brought me to tears. The story involves a single mom, played by the amazing Priscilla Shirer, who is trying to instill character and responsibility into her 19-year-old son without the help of his father. An older gentleman comes along and decides to disciple this young man and by building that relationship shows the power of godly influence in his life. There are several themes in this movie that show the impact of the gospel when we are courageous enough to step out in faith and walk in obedience to God. And the part I love the most is the power of a praying mama! Priscila does an incredible job of tapping into the emotion we feel as moms when our kids aren’t making the best choices and how God can answer our prayers beyond what we could even imagine.

For show notes go to CarolRoper.org/podcast

TheForgeMovie.com

One of the reasons I felt called to start this podcast was because of stories like Donovan and Lavonna Garrett's. If you don't believe God can make a difference in your marriage and family then you need to listen to the testimony of how Donovan's alcohol abuse almost destroyed him, his marriage and his entire family. As I look at the photos of their beautiful family today, I'm in tears, knowing that if Donovan hadn't surrendered his life to Christ, their story would have had a much different outcome. No, they aren't perfect, as none of us are, but they have so much joy radiating from them because of what God has done. If you or someone you love is struggling with alcohol, I promise this episode will encourage and give you hope.

Go to carolroper.org/podcast for shownotes

Overcoming Alcoholism to Restore a Marriage Parts 1 & 2 with Donovan and Lavonna Garrett - Carol Roper