GirlfriendIT

I am not a statistic. And you know why I’m not a statistic? Because God doesn’t do them. –Tricia Goyer

Tricia Goyer joins our show. She is a writer, blogger, family advocate and host of Living Inspired Radio. She has published 50 books to date with her recent book, Teen Mom: You’re Stronger than You Think.

She understands the feelings of feeling like a statistic. Born to a single mom, Tricia found herself pregnant at 17, and she remembers what it felt like to carry the weight of the world on her shoulders. You are gonna love her story and walk away inspired.

Waiting is hard, we can be left feeling overlooked, even discarded by God. What do we do during those times? Stay the course, keep trusting in God that He sees the bigger picture and is in control, and don't rely and respond to our feelings of restlessness and doubt. It is a hard process but necessary if we truly want to embrace a significant life with Christ.

Our guest this week on Girlfriendit Radio is Tez Brooks, who is an international speaker, author of numerous articles and most recently, he authored the book, The Single Dad Detour: Directions for Fathering After Divorce. He understands the significance of the waiting game, and being a single divorced father. The Single Dad Detour was born out of the difficult and painful lessons Tez learned along the way.

Our special guest, Terri Blackstock is a New York Times best-selling author who has sold six million copies worldwide. She is the winner of three Carol Awards, a Christian Retailers Choice Award and a Romantic Times Book Reviews Career Achievement Award, among others.

In 1994, Terri Blackstock was writing secular romance novels under two pseudonyms when a spiritual awakening prompted her to switch gears. Her newly awakened faith wove its way into the tapestry of her popular suspense novels, offering hope instead of despair.

Some things we talk about:

Many people feel as though they’ve done things in their lives “out of order.” Do you think God holds those things against us?

After suffering the consequences of bad decisions, it’s tempting to try and piece together your life by yourself — to get your life on-track by being “good.” Why does this never completely work?

Listen Now!

Have you ever made a decision that just doesn't make sense to others?

How do you find Margin when you are Living on Mission? We are called to pour out, but we need to find the balance to pour into our own kids, husband and ourselves. At the same time there are always NEEDS all around. How do we live with margin?

We often wait for BIG promptings from God to start living on mission. What are small ways to start living intentionally with the people in the places God has placed us in right now?

Great conversation and insights with Suzi Lantz from the ministry of Bloom/Stadia.

Hint: When starting something new as in a ministry . . . take time to observe, ask good questions, and give yourself space before you plunge in and get too deep too fast!

Do you live with hope in your life and hope for the world?

Two significant voices of hope:

Beth Kempshall who has served as the Executive Director of the Arizona High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) since January 2011. The Arizona HIDTA coordinates and supports the efforts of more than 636 sworn law enforcement officials from 70 agencies to target the most significant drug trafficking and money laundering organizations impacting Arizona.

Law enforcement continues to do all it can from a criminal law standpoint, conducting investigations, making arrests and seizures. But what else, from your point of view, needs to be done to help decrease drug use, addiction, and crime that results from the opiate prescription/heroin use epidemic we are facing?

She shares great tips for parents in identifying suspected drug use and how to become more intentionally aware of trends and what's happening around us.

Also, joining our show is Halo Matzelle. Halo led a charmed life until receiving a shocking diagnosis in 2011 of a rare brain tumor sitting over the main artery in her brain. She details her painful diagnosis, risky surgery and miraculous recovery in her memoir, Halo Found Hope.

Halo’s passion is helping those who face various challenges and afflictions discover where true hope is found.

How do you get your joy back?

Join us this week as we dig into joy with Laurie Wallin, author of Get Your Joy Back.

Laurie is a speaker and also wrote the book, Why Your Weirdness Is Wonderful: Embrace Your Quirks & Live Your Strengths. A certified life coach, she has helped people for over ten years to get unstuck and live powerfully by discovering and developing their strengths, identifying and releasing resentment, and pursuing their God-inspired hopes and dreams.

It is easy to let words that need to be said go unspoken. Do you have something that needs to be said? You will be inspired in your communication with our two special guests:

Wendy Wolff: Author and advocate Wendy Wolff educates others through her own profound story of loss in The Letter Writing Project. The Letter Writing Project isn’t just a book; it’s an emotionally liberating experience that could change your life.

Lynne Gentry: Lynne Gentry has written for numerous publications and is a professional acting coach, theater director and playwright with several full-length musicals and a Chicago children’s theater curriculum to her credit. She has recently authored The Carthage Chronicles series.

Hearing Your Voice

Amidst the noise and confusion of life, we each need to find our place in this world and listen and hear our own voice. In each season and stage, whether it is as a young adult, a young mother raising children, or entering mid-life, each stage ushers in unique challenges and various voices. Many times we allow the voices from the past to silence us, and voices around us in the present to over-ride the still small voice of God. Some voices need to be silenced; with others we need to lean in more for wisdom and insight. The challenge is to distinguish between the two!

Ask Yourself:

•What voice dominates my air waves? Is this good?

•Who’s voice matters most?

•How do I hear the still small voice of God?

•What will it take to silence the static to hear God’s voice?

•Am I ready and how will I use my voice?

•And finally, do you truly believe your voice matters??? (Many of us struggle with this one, if we are honest?)

Joining our show this week are two special women whose journey through life has led them to discover (and continue in the discovery) their unique role and voice.

Sharon Ramsey: Married to globally recognized Financial Expert and Radio/TV Host, Dave Ramsey, Sharon is a dynamic woman and leader whose voice impacts generations. She is also the coauthor of the best seller, Financial Peace.

Dr. Natalie Eastman: Natalie is the author of Women, Leadership, and the Bible: How Do I Know What to Believe? A Practical Guide to Biblical Interpretation.