Depth Podcast

Are you easily distracted? Maybe it is by your to do list or you have a goal you are trying to reach. Or maybe your mind is preoccupied and while you are listening to a loved one, sometimes your mind goes off on a tangent. Can anyone relate to that? I know I struggle with this. Honestly, I think many of us do.

I am so excited to have Julie Lefebure on the podcast this week!  She will share her struggle with distraction and how God has taught her to live in the moment!  She will also talk about how she believed the lie that in order for her to be worthy, she had to have worldly things. I love her vulnerability and honesty in this episode and how God changed her heart as she served the homeless and hurting in her community. There is so much goodness and truth shared by Julie; I promise you do not want to miss her encouraging words. You can listen on your favorite podcast platform.

Also, the Depth podcast is celebrating its 2 year birthday in just one month! Just like last year, I would love to get your feedback on the podcast, so I have attached a link to a survey for you. Since I love to give away books, I will be picking one person who completes the survey and sending them a favorite book!  Thank you in advance for your input. Click here to complete the survey.

Book Recommendations:

• *The Five Love Languages by Dr. Gary Chapman
• *Wounded by God's People by Anne Graham Lotz
• *It's Not Supposed To Be This Way by Lysa TerKeurst

Julie Lefebure is a Christian encourager who writes, speaks, and coaches to help women find real encouragement for their real lives. At julielefebure.com, you can receive access to her free Resources which are designed to encourage your heart and lift your spirit, especially her Embracing Who You Are printable. She is also the founder of Bring Your Own Bible and Beverage, a quarterly evening of encouragement for women. Julie resides in rural Iowa and is married to Bill. They are avid tandem bicyclists and have a goal to bike in each of the 50 states! They have two fun adult children, a wonderful son-in-law, and a precious 7-month old grandson. She loves walking outdoors, sunrises and sunsets, blooming flowers, live music, meeting new friends, and chai lattes. 

You can engage with Julie on Instagram @julielefebure, on Facebook @JulieLefebureWriter, and on Twitter @JulieLefebure.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

Would you call yourself a courageous person? Do you easily step out of your comfort zone? Would you say you are living in the purpose or calling God designed for you?

I am so excited to have Melissa Dyer on the podcast this week and highlight her book, *Learning to Roar. I love that her book encourages us to Cultivate Courage; I love these two words paired up together. Melissa is going to share with us her story and how she needed to identify the weeds in her life that were choking her growth. I love that she talks about self-awareness on this episode, one of my favorite parts. She is also going to help us identify our Courage Persona. I promise you do not want to miss what Melissa has to share!

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Melissa’s book: *Learning to Roar.  All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/learning-to-roar-book-giveaway/

Book Recommendations:

• *A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller
• *A Habit Called Faith by Jen Pollock Michel
• *Undignified by Caroline Dyer
• Courageous Days by Melissa C. Dyer

Melissa C. Dyer is a wife, mother, business owner, and Champion of women. She's worked as a corporate executive, in Christian ministry, and as a homeschool mom. Her writing and teachings have inspired, challenged, and educated readers and listeners for more than 20 years. She's the Author of two books, *Learning to Roar and Courageous Days. She's the host of the popular podcast The Cost Is Courage and she resides in sunny south Florida with her husband and fur baby Jill. She's now the mother of young adult children and an empty nester, you can connect with her ministry at www.MelissaCDyer.com

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

Do you ever think about the legacy you want to leave behind? What do you want to be known for? What is important to you in this life? These are great questions to think about and ponder.

I am so excited to have Nina Hundley on the podcast this week as she tells us about her legacy journal, *Dear Tomorrow: Journaling Your Story Today. She will also share her story and what birthed this idea for a simplified legacy journal and the ten questions. I love that these questions can be answered in any season of life: single or married, with kids or without.  Just think, what words of wisdom would like to pass along. I promise you do not want to miss this conversation with Nina.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Nina’s journal: *Dear Tomorrow. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link. https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/dear-tomorrow-giveaway/

Book Recommendations

• Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper
• Hinds Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard
• Mark of the Lion Series by Francine Rivers

Nina Hundley believes in the power of written words. She has been published in the medical community, various blogs, and The Joyful Life Community. She is a freelance developmental and copy editor for fiction, nonfiction, and memoirs. She writes with a heart focused on leaving a legacy and how to make choices in who we want to become. Nina publishes a monthly newsletter with book reviews and hope-filled content. She writes short stories of hope on her blog,and welcomes visitors to sign up at www.ninahundley.com.  She would also love to connect with you on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

How was your 4th of July? One of my favorite things about this Holiday is that we come together and celebrate how we are proud to be an American! It is one of my favorite songs.

I am so excited to have Susan Park on the podcast this week as she shares with us about being an American from an Asian perspective. This episode is called “Proud to be an Asian American.” Susan shares about growing up and living in two cultures at the same time and some of the challenges as well as what she has learned. This conversation was so eye-opening for me, and I hope it does the same for you.

Book Recommendation:

• *Ordering Your Private World by Gordon MacDonald 

Susan Park is a Christian Korean American writer who loves encouraging women to co-create with God in their creative work. She finds joy in connecting with other creative women and praying for them. She loves encouraging them through Scripture and with words of hope.

She is a fiction writer and is currently working on her first novel. It is about a second-generation Korean American college woman set in the 1990s. 

Susan lives in the Chicago area and is married to her wonderful husband of seventeen years. She has three lovable boys.

Susan would love to connect with you through her website at www.susanepark.com, or on social media @susaneparkwrites. I especially encourage you to check out her four posts about growing up as a Korean American.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing the book recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

Do you have a day to reflect and rest each week? A day to look back over your week and see where were your highs and lows? What were your blessings or bummers?  Do you practice a Sabbath?

I am so excited to have Rachel Fahrenbach on the podcast this week to talk about her book, *Rest & Reflect, a 12-week guided Sabbath journal.  I know you are going to learn so much from her and I cannot wait for you to hear the 5 R’s and how her family practically observes a 24-hour Sabbath each week. I am also so excited for you to hear the questions she uses in her weekly lookback. They have been so helpful to me and I know they will be a great resource for you.  I promise you do not want to miss the wisdom she shares.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Rachel’s book: *Rest & Reflect. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/rest-reflect-giveaway/

Book Recommendations from Rachel:

• *Pudd'nhead Wilson by Mark Twain
• *A Brief History of Sunday by Justo Gonzales

To join my Depth Podcast Community Group, click on https://www.facebook.com/groups/depthpodcast

RACHEL FAHRENBACH is the author of *Rest & Reflect, a guided journal that helps you implement a weekly rhythm of rest and reflection in your week through the practice of Sabbath. Her desire is to see moms reclaim a deep joy and stabilizing peace in their weeks by actively choosing to rest. To support them in this choice, Rachel offers encouragement and resources for implementing a Sabbath practice at rachelfahrenbach.com. Rachel and her husband live in the Chicagoland area with their three kiddos.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

How do you define success? Do you define it by how much money you make? Do you define it by how many followers you have on IG or Facebook? Maybe it is the impact you have on your family and friends.

What if we changed the way we looked at success? Instead of how much we can get, we defined it by how much we can give.  I love this idea from Kevin White’s book, *Audacious Generosity. I am so excited to talk with him this week on the podcast about his book as well as giving. I know you are going to love hearing Kevin’s stories about his ministry in India as well as his local ministry. I cannot wait for you to hear the truths he shares and I hope it ignites in all of us an excitement to want to give. 

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Kevin’s book: *Audacious Generosity  All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/audacious-generosity-book-giveaway/

Book Recommendations from Kevin:

• *Purpose Driven Life by Pastor Rick Warren
• *Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby
• *Freedom in Christ by Neil Anderson

As an author, speaker, and leader, Kevin White, is convinced that audacious generosity transforms the world. Kevin’s on a mission to empower a culture of generosity throughout the world with his book, *Audacious Generosity, and his Generosity of God story telling campaign. 

A seasoned pastor and entrepreneur, Kevin founded With Love From Jesus Ministries in 1999 to distribute essential resources to high-need populations. The organization continues to carry out its original mission by distributing millions of dollars in resources each year to those who need it most. In 2003, Kevin founded Global Hope India, and he continues to lead the mission-minded organization focused on Indian Nationals as its executive director. Kevin has traveled to India over 50 times taking one thousand people on short-term mission trips to India.

Outside of building successful nonprofits with world-changing impact, Kevin has started churches and businesses. He speaks internationally and hosts three podcast shows in the USA.

An ordained minister, Kevin received his undergraduate degree in 1989 from Southern Wesleyan University. Kevin and his wife, Shelly, have been married 33 years. They have three adult children and one grandchild. Kevin and Shelly live in Cary, North Carolina.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

Do you have a strong support group? Do you have a group of friends to encourage you along your parenting and faith journey? Are you a part of a small group at church?

This week, I invited all the dads from my small group Bible Study to share their wisdom and parenting tips in honor of Father’s Day. Our small group at church is a mixture of both married couples and single moms, so I am excited for you to hear from all the dads this week on the Depth Podcast. They share both the rewards and challenges of being a dad, advice they would give to another father as well as things they would have done differently. I promise you do not want to miss all the amazing parenting advice.

I recommend you listen to this episode with your spouse and if you are a single mom like me, I promise there is a lot of parenting insight and truth to glean from these 5 dads: Jason, Tim, Scott, Eric, and Allen!  I love their honesty and vulnerability. With Father’s Day just around the corner, I hope their words will encourage all parents to be a student of their kids and be more intentional.  You can listen to this episode on your favorite Podcast platform.

Last year, I recorded a Father’s Day episode with my dad, John Brownlee. If you missed my conservation with my dad, I recommend listening to this episode: Depth Podcast Episode 37

Book Recommendations:

• *Understanding Your Young Teen by Mark Oestriecher  (Marko shared his wisdom on the Depth Podcast back in January 2020. If you have teenagers, I highly recommend buying his book and listening to this episode: Depth Podcast Episode 14
• *Win The Day by Mark Batterson
•  *The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson
• *The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman
• *Five Love Languages of Children by Gary Chapman
• *Boundaries by Henry Cloud and John Townsend
• *Act Like Men by James MacDonald

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

Have you ever walked through hard circumstances that redefined how you viewed everything? Maybe it redefined your purpose or how you view brokenness?

I am so excited to talk with Katherine Wolf this week on the podcast about her book,*Suffer Strong: How to Survive Anything by Redefining Everything. Katherine vulnerably shares about how her life took an unexpected turn in 2008 when a massive stroke nearly ended her life. Thankfully she survived and now, she encourages others to redefine how they view suffering. You don’t want to miss what she shares about redefining celebration, loss, and healing. Honestly, my favorite part is when we talk about kintsugi, a beautiful Japanese art that helped me redefine brokenness.  

I promise her words will encourage you! 

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Katherine’s book: *Suffer Strong.  All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link.https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/suffer-strong-book-giveaway/

Book Recommendations:

• *The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom
• *Joni (memoir) by Joni Erickson Tada
• *Breaking Free (updated edition) by Beth Moore

Katherine is a communicator and advocate. She married her husband Jay in 2004 and moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. Their son, James was born in 2007, and six months later Katherine’s life nearly ended with a catastrophic stroke. Miraculously, she survived and continues her recovery to this day, including having a miracle baby, John in 2015. Katherine and Jay have shared their journey of steadfast hope through their books, *Hope Heals and *Suffer Strong, and at speaking events both live and online before millions. Together, they founded Hope Heals camp, a community for families with disabilities like them. Katherine, Jay and their two sons live in the Atlanta area. To connect, visit hopeheals.com or @hopeheals 

To join my Depth Podcast Community Group, click on https://www.facebook.com/groups/depthpodcast

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

Would you call yourself an encourager? Do you come alongside and empower other women?

I am so excited this week to have Amy and Blair Debrucque, a mother and daughter who together wrote a four-week encouragement journal called *Embolden. The word, embolden means to give someone the courage or confidence to do something or behave in a certain way. I love the truths they share in this book to help empower other women. I know you are going to love hearing from both of them!  To listen, click on the link in my bio.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Amy & Blair’s book: *Embolden. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/embolden-giveaway/

Book Recommendations:

• *From Lost to Found by Nicole Zasowski
• *From Basement to Sanctuary by Holly Christine Hayes
• Rich Christians In an Age of Hunger by Ronald J. Sider

Amy is a wife and mother of 4. She is the founder of the Life On Purpose Movement and the host of Life On Purpose Podcast. After a cancer diagnosis at age 40, she began encouraging other women to share their stories in order to find hope and healing. Her first book, Embolden, that she co-wrote with her oldest daughter Blair releases on April 23rd.

Blair is a senior at Roberts Wesleyan University and will begin a master's program in speech pathology next year. She is an avid reader of mystery novels and also enjoys skiing, hiking, and horseback riding. Blair is excited to share Embolden with women her age, so they have a resource that will help encourage and bring them closer to God.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

Have you ever had to wrestle with God? Maybe you are walking through a difficult circumstance and you are asking God the tough questions: Why God? Why is this happening to me?

I am so excited for you to hear Bethany Kimsey’s special mom story. She had to wrestle with God in her late teens when she got a doctor’s diagnosis that she was not going to be able to have kids. I love what Bethany shares on the podcast about what God taught her in the middle of that wrestling. Honestly, it is one of my favorite parts of this episode. Now, I don’t want to give anything away but I just love that nothing is impossible with God, even if the doctors tell you otherwise. I promise you do not want to miss this miraculous story! 

Bethany also offers amazing wisdom for moms. One of my favorite quotes she recently shared on Instagram is “We cannot parent perfectly. But we can parent surrendered to the One who does parent perfectly.” As a recovering perfectionist, this truth was so freeing. I know you are going to love the wisdom that Bethany shares! 

Bethany Kimsey is a Hope Writer just like me!  I am excited to share that Hope Writers is opening their doors for membership this week.  If God has placed a message on your heart and you have a desire to write, I highly recommend joining the Hope Writers community.  They have incredible teachings and wonderful support!  Click on this Hope Writers Link if you are interested.

Book Recommendations:

• *Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortland
• *Parenting is Heart Work by Scott Turansky

As a mother to 8 children, Bethany Kimsey has seen God radically change her messy motherhood from weary, anxious, and frantic to peaceful, joyful, and triumphant. She helps weary mothers win the battle against worry and fatigue as they understand their identity in Christ and rest in the hope of the Gospel in community with other moms. As a writer, speaker, and encourager of mothers, she wants to see a generation of Grace-Filled Warriors stand together and walk triumphantly behind the One who sets them free from performance, doubt, and fear. 

Bethany has learned the freedom of applying gospel truths to the daily details with children. Over on her podcast, "When God Breaks Through," we learn together how to take spiritual truths into the micro and macro moments of motherhood. How do we make this fuzzy intersection of real life mothering and the gospel clearly defined for vision and confidence? Connection happens when we meet together in the real spaces-- the kitchen tables of life-- sharing stories of hope, truth, and grace. 

She would love to connect to encourage you! She has a free download "How do we have gospel conversations with our children at different ages and stages?" you can grab at this link: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/607a40fa6b2fd805959a2464

You can also find her writings and teachings over at her website bethanykimsey.com or on her podcast “When God Breaks Through.” You can also connect on Instagram or Facebook as well.

Podcast Link: https://whengodbreaksthrough.libsyn.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bethanykimsey/

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!