Have you ever thought about becoming a foster parent? Are you curious to know what it’s like to take in kids that need a place to live? Foster parenting is a unique calling, but the experience can lead us closer to understanding God’s love and grace. Join Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy in this episode of God Hears Her as they learn from longtime foster parent, Manda Carpenter, what it’s like to be the foster mom of 16 kids.

About Our Guest:

Manda Carpenter is a writer, a speaker, and an advocate committed to helping women grow in their relationships with God, self, and others. She is a neighbor, question-asker, and cheerleader of the underdog. Manda and her husband, Eric, are foster parents and hosts of A Longer Table podcast. They live with their son, Shia, in Los Angeles, California.

Notes and Quotes: 

• “The catastrophe in our life ends up being our calling.” —Manda Carpenter
• “The goal of foster care is reunification.” —Manda Carpenter
• “To be a great foster parent, you don’t need to adopt all of your children.” —Manda Carpenter
• “My relationship with my foster kids doesn’t look much different than my relationship with my biological son.” —Manda Carpenter
• “With fostering, you have all the responsibility but no power.” —Manda Carpenter
• “Fostering is a position that forces me to rely on God.” —Manda Carpenter
• “Grace is loving them when they’re daring you not to.” —Manda Carpenter
• “Nothing matters more than the condition of your soul.” —Manda Carpenter

Links: 

• Manda’s personal website: https://www.mandacarpenter.com/ 
• A Longer Table podcast: https://www.mandacarpenter.com/podcast 
• Soul Care to Save Your Life book: https://www.mandacarpenter.com/booksbymandacarpenter 
• Domestic violence phone number: 800-799-7233
• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisa morgan author
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy

Disclaimer: This episode contains sensitive content that is not appropriate for young listeners, as hosts Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy talk with guest Debra Fileta about sex in marriage. We often don’t learn enough about sex before we get married, or we think purity will equal perfection in our sex lives after we get married. On this episode of “God Hears Her,” Debra shares why purity is important before and after marriage, why our sex lives may not look the way we want them to, and how to improve our married sex lives.

About Our Guest:

Debra Fileta is a licensed professional counselor, national speaker, relationship expert, and author of five books: “Choosing Marriage”, “True Love Dates”, “Love In Every Season”, “Are You Really OK?”, and “Married Sex.” She’s also the host of the hotline style “Love + Relationships” Podcast. Her popular relationship advice blog, TrueLoveDates.com, reaches millions of people with the message of healthy relationships.

Notes and Quotes: 

• “Sex is a symptom of our need for connection and intimacy.” — Debra Fileta
• “If we want healthy relationships, we need to start with being healthy standing alone.” — Debra Fileta
• “When sex doesn’t measure up to our expectations, we get confused.” — Debra Fileta
• “Sometimes you have to go backward before you can move forward because it helps with healing.” — Debra Fileta
• “What happens above the sheets, fuels underneath the sheets.” — Debra Fileta

Verses: 

• Ephesians 4:22–24
• Hebrews 13:4

Links: 

• Debra’s blog: https://truelovedates.com/ 
• Get your copy of Debra’s book “Married Sex” on Amazon  
• God Hears Her website
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts ! 
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisa morgan author
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy  

Listener Advisory:

Conversation about sex in marriage

Have you ever experienced times where you just didn’t feel like praying? Maybe you go through phases where reading your Bible is boring or you just don’t have the energy to read another devotional. God Hears Her hosts Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy have had those moments too. Join them in this conversation to talk about what spiritual apathy is and how we can overcome it on this episode of God Hears Her.

Notes and Quotes: 

• Sometimes I don’t feel like praying, and don’t feel a desire or experience a drivenness into His spirit. There are times when the spiritual “blahs” take over.—Elisa
• When do the spiritual blahs hit us? The more I become secure in my circumstances.—Eryn
• I’m doing what I do,  then if I do a—“oh, God’s here”—my spiritual eyes open to something and suddenly that very moment which was a little apathetic becomes a “Pow! Wow!”—Elisa
• “Can I just see You today? Give me the eyes and ears to see You today.” I want to do that more, where I’m just recognizing the little things I see. I want to call it out when I see it versus let it go by me.—Eryn
• Even if he doesn’t do the things I hope for, the journey and intimacy of me expressing and being vulnerable and trusting prepares me either way for the response of what I’m hoping for.—Eryn
• When we open Scripture, we can open our spiritual ears and remind ourselves God is talking to me. What can I get out of this today?—Elisa

Verses: 

• Romans 8:38 
• Revelation 3:16 

Links: 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Reclaim Today Article: https://reclaimtoday.org/how-to-see-god/
• God Hears Her 100th episode
• God Hears Her tote: https://www.godhearsher.org/shop
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisa morgan author
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy

In life we all get hit with unexpected news that brings change in one way or another. Sometimes the news is a diagnosis we weren’t expecting or an answer we’ve been waiting for. With life-changing news comes the surrendering of expectations and moments of grief. On this episode of God Hears Her, join Eryn Eddy and Elisa Morgan as they unpack what life looked like for Ronda Barney after she received an unexpected diagnosis.

About Our Guest:

Ronda Barney had just given birth to her first child when she was diagnosed with a potentially fatal illness. After the recommended treatment, she was completely healed until her immune system faced unknown challenges and her health decreased. 

Ronda wants to share with you the insights and truths that she has learned in the trenches. This desire has led her to start the online community A Dose of Hope, write her book, Dear Susan, create The Beautiful Life Blueprint, and start the podcast Awaken to Hope. Her heart’s desire is to walk with you through your suffering, offer a safe place to process the pain, and help you find nuggets of hope that will give you the courage and strength to live fully alive.

Notes and Quotes: 

• “God was so gracious, I felt like the right people showed up at the right time in the right spaces.” – Ronda Barney
• “I think we all have a storyline for how we want our life to play out. . . but I couldn’t make it better for myself.” – Ronda Barney
• “There are treasures that washed ashore that weren’t there before, and I had to find them.” – Ronda Barney
• “There are little joys to be found. . . It’s not all or nothing.” – Ronda Barney
• “My mission is to provide a space for women to connect in their pain.” – Ronda Barney
• “God sees our pain.” – Ronda Barney 
• “I was able to get from that moment to where I am now by letting go of the unknown future, and live for right now. Can you get through this moment? What is this moment about? God is holding every single moment.” – Ronda Barney

Links:

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisa morgan author
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy 
• Ronda Barney’s book: Dear Susan
• Ronda Barney’s Awaken to Hope podcast: https://rondabarney.com/podcast/
• Ronda Barney’s website: https://rondabarney.com/

Most of us spend a lot of time on social media. We mindlessly scroll through our feeds and spend time curating content for our friends and family. But how often do we share our faith on social media? What does it mean to be someone worth following? Dr. Jen Bennett is an expert on how to impact culture for Christ on social media. Join Dr. Bennett as she talks with hosts Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy about what it means to be worth following on this episode of God Hears Her.

About Our Guest:

Dr. Jen Bennett is a strategic communication professor at Indiana Wesleyan University, Jen equips college students to discover their voice, develop their expertise, and lead with influence to impact culture for Christ. She has coached various entrepreneurs, small business owners, ministries, organizations, and college students in social media, personal branding, marketing, and public relations. Jen was named as one of 61 Women in Digital You Should Be Following. In 2019 she was chosen as one of 55 social media influencers (out of 700 applicants) to attend #NASASocial for the Falcon Heavy Rocket Launch. She is also the author of the book #BeWorthFollowing: How to be Different and Influence People in a Crowded Social World. In April of 2021, Jen launched the She Impacts Culture podcast, a podcast for trailblazing, faith-based women who want to lead with influence and impact culture for Christ.

Notes and Quotes: 

• What keeps us back from sharing things on social media is fear… that then keeps us from sharing the message that God wants us to share.—Dr. Jen Bennett
• God has given you a voice for a reason. God has given you your specific experiences and stories not to keep it to yourself but to encourage the lives of others. There is somebody out there who needs to hear what you have to say.—Dr. Jen Bennett
• Influence—the world is all about being a celebrity. But yet if you look through the pages of the Bible, God used the most unlikely people to influence this world. There is a big difference between worldly influence and kingdom influence. God is just looking for a willing heart. If your heart is open, He’s going to use you.—Dr. Jen Bennett
• Don’t measure your success by what you see. Many times in online communications and social media, you are impacting the lives of people that you don’t see. God works in the unseen moments.—Dr. Jen Bennett

Verses: 

• John 4
• Book of Job

Links: 

• Here’s Dr. Jen’s book #Be Worth Following
• Dr. Jen’s Instagram: Dr. Jen Bennett
• Check out our 100th episode of God Hears her!
• Go here to get the God Hears Her tote: https://www.godhearsher.org/shop
• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisa morgan author
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy

We all have our own scars. Maybe they are in obvious places where people ask the story behind them. Or maybe they’re internal without anyone knowing about them. No matter what they look like or mean to you…you are more than your scars. On this episode of God Hears Her, plane crash survivor and America’s Got Talent finalist, Kechi Okwuchi, shares the story behind her scars with hosts Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy.

About Our Guest:

Kechi Okwuchi is a Nigerian American recording artist and motivational speaker. One of two survivors in a plane crash in 2005, Kechi is now a burn survivor advocate and a national patient ambassador for Shriners Children’s Hospital in Galveston, Texas. In 2017, she became a finalist on America’s Got Talent and has continued to put out her own original music since the show. She hopes to use her story and musical talents to ignite hope.

Notes and Quotes: 

• Pain is a strong indicator of life. —Kechi Okwuchi
• The more I watched my mom’s relationship with God, I noticed her unshakable confident faith, and I was curious.—Kechi Okwuchi
• I was one of two survivors out of 109 passengers on the plane.—Kechi Okwuchi
• I couldn’t understand how God could be good but also let all those children die.—Kechi Okwuchi
• I used to believe if you believed in God, you were protected from bad things. But my mom helped me realize being a Christian does not stop bad things from happening to you, but it gives you a place to go when bad things happen to you.—Kechi Okwuchi
• South Africa saved my life, but America gave my life back.—Kechi Okwuchi
• I had a platform to tell people there is life after trauma.—Kechi Okwuchi

Links: 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisa morgan author
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy
• Check out Kechi’s book More than My Scars

Dating is hard! But what if instead of coming to a date with high expectations, we just used it as an opportunity to get to know someone new? Join hosts Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy as Eryn shares her dating life secrets and the way she shifted her mindset on dating. This episode of God Hears Her features dating do’s and don’ts as well as some fun stories from both hosts. 

Notes and Quotes: 

• When I was newly divorced, I threw myself into the dating pool because I desired to be loved. It was all about me.—Eryn Eddy
• I objectified others, and I objectified myself. —Eryn Eddy
• Can Jesus really complete me? Dating Jesus was really becoming content with who I was by myself, that I don’t need another person to complete me. Learning how He saw me rather than how another person saw me. Learning to go to Him as the source rather than another person. —Eryn Eddy
• I was scared to face why I was pursuing relationships. I needed to become really honest with my intentions with why I wanted to go on dates. —Eryn Eddy
• What an honor it is to sit on the other side of the table and get to know another person that finds something interesting in me. Just getting to know somebody with no expectations.—Eryn Eddy
• When we act out of urgency and desperation, we get desperate results. —Eryn Eddy
• If I’m only dreaming of being in a relationship, I’m not dreaming big enough for what God has for me.—Eryn Eddy

Links: 

• Check out our 100th episode of God Hears Her!
• Go here to get the God Hears Her tote: https://www.godhearsher.org/shop
• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisa morgan author
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy

Most of us want leaders who are dependable, trustworthy, and honest. What do you value in a leader? How do you view leadership? In this episode of God Hears Her, guest Natasha Sistrunk Robinson confronts the topic of leadership and how one’s journey can be influenced by good or bad leadership. Join Natasha as she talks through leadership and the value of truth with hosts Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy.

About Our Guest:

Natasha Sistrunk Robinson is the president of T3 Leadership Solutions, Inc, the author of A Sojourner’s Truth as well as other books, and the  host of A Sojourner’s Truth: Conversations for a Changing Culture podcast. Natasha is also a doctorate student at North Park Theological Seminary, a graduate of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and the U.S. Naval Academy. Natasha has served her country as a Marine Corps officer and federal government employee at the Department of Homeland Security.

Notes and Quotes: 

• Truth telling requires discipline.—Natasha Sistrunk Robinson
• I am so thankful that when people told me lies about myself, I didn’t believe them.—Natasha Sistrunk Robinson
• In our world, lives are at stake. . . so I show up with an urgency because we have a mission!—Natasha Sistrunk Robinson
• I think we use people for their skills and we don’t have a care for their humanity, their family or their health.—Natasha Sistrunk Robinson
• We need to be humble to the global church. —Natasha Sistrunk Robinson
• I’m trying to be attentive to where people are at, because while I can’t change lives, God can!—Natasha Sistrunk Robinson

Verses: 

• Matthew 6:33
• Matthew 28:19–20 
• Jeremiah 6:14
• Psalm 7:11

Links: 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisa morgan author
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy 
• Natasha’s website: http://www.natashasrobinson.com/ 
• A Sojourner’s Truth: https://www.ivpress.com/a-sojourner-s-truth
• T3 Leadership Solutions: https://www.t3leadershipsolutions.com/

Relationships take a lot of work to maintain and grow in. Differences come up whether we like it or not and points of conflict can make us feel like running as far away as possible. Finding points of connection can feel like finding a needle in a haystack, but the relationship grows best when we love bravely. Married couple, Rob and Joanna Teigen, have worked through many ups and downs throughout their marriage. Join them and hosts Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy as they reflect on marriage and the work it takes to build healthy relationships while loving each other bravely.

About Our Guests:

Rob and Joanna have celebrated over twenty-five years of marriage and are loving life with two sons, three daughters, and a beautiful daughter-in-law. They share an addiction to coffee, bookstores, and Christmas music. They debate whether two dogs are enough and who should win “The Voice” every season. Rob and Joanna are a neat-freak married to a mess, an explorer to a homebody, and an introvert to a ‘people person.’ But they do agree that their vows are for always, children are a gift, and prayer is powerful. Over the years, the Teigens have lived in five states as they made their way to West Michigan. Serving as foster parents, marriage mentors, small-group leaders, and authors, they are passionate to help couples and moms and dads experience the power of God in their families. They look forward to meeting you here, supporting your pursuit of God and the hearts of your loved ones. They can’t wait to grow together with you.

Notes and Quotes: 

• In marriage you have your individual struggles and your individual passions, but you have to figure out how to bring those together.—Rob Teigen
• When people ask, ‘how have you stayed married?’ Sometimes the response is just, “I stayed.”—Elisa Morgan
• The marriage covenant may keep you together, but you can’t let yourself stay there. God wants so much more for marriage.—Rob Teigen
• There are different seasons in marriage, but you can’t let your feelings convince you they’re true. —Eryn Eddy
• Even after thirty years of marriage, it requires continuous work.—Rob Teigen
• Marriage and parenting is like being in charge of someone’s soul.—Rob Teigen

Verses: 

• 1 John 5:14 
• 1 Corinthians 13:7

Links: 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisa morgan author
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy
• Rob and Joanna Teigen’s website and bookstore: https://growinghometogether.com/

When tragedy strikes it might be tempting to run from God or start to doubt His goodness. Some of us may be caught up in wondering where He is when bad things happen. How have you reacted to tragedies in your own life? In this episode of God Hears Her, hosts Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy invite you to a conversation with guest Julia Pinkster as she reflects on multiple tragedies in her life and how God has been with her and her family through all of  them.

About Our Guest:

Julia Pinkster grew up in Kalamazoo, MI where she went to Loy Norrix High School. She attended Grand Valley State University for two and a half years but is now transferred to Kalamazoo Valley Community College to pursue a degree in Paramedicine. She has a service dog named Willow who is two years old and a yellow lab. Growing up, she had two younger brothers. One of them had severe cerebral palsy. She grew up as a caregiver for her brother and this has led her to have a passion for helping others. On top of hoping to become a paramedic, she hopes to become involved in raising and training dogs for police K-9 units. Her faith is so incredibly important to her and has been her biggest rock when she has gone through the darkest of times.

Notes and Quotes: 

• The best way to help heal from traumatic situations is to help others in similar situations.—Julia Pinkster
• It’s important to be selfless. If you focus on yourself too much, you will get down on yourself and constantly ask “why me?”—Julia Pinkster
• It doesn’t matter the amount of time you have on earth, it’s about the number of people you impact.—Julia Pinkster
• If you are struggling with any dark thoughts, be vulnerable, tell someone, and think about the people around you who love you and would miss you if you were gone.—Julia Pinkster
• Humans are not meant to do life on our own.—Julia Pinkster

Verses: 

• Psalm 90:12
• Psalm 23:4

Links: 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisa morgan author
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy 
• Suicide prevention website

Trigger Warning

Discussions on suicide and traumatic, descriptive scenarios of death.