Heroes For Her

“Why curse the darkness when you can light a candle?” My guest for today’s episode is the founder and Executive Director of the American Heritage Girls, Patti Garibay. American Heritage Girls (AHG) is the national character development program for girls ages 5-18 whose mission is to “build women of integrity through service to God, family, community and country”. What an honor and joy it is for me to know this incredibly kind and compassionate leader whose heart beats so strongly for the next generation of girls.   During her time as a stay at home mom, Patti served as a Girl Scout volunteer for over twelve years as both a recruiter and troop leader. She was inspired by a few changes made to the Girl Scouts, as well as her father’s encouraging attitude, and she founded the faith-based, inter-denominational alternative to the Girl Scouts, the American Heritage Girls, in 1995.   Check out today's episode, "A Light In The Dark", and hear how Patti stepped out in faith and answered God’s call to give girls the opportunity and motivation to become all God created them to be.

Born and raised in Hawaii, my guest today is Tiffany Thurston. Tiffany has been leading worship for the past 18 years. Right out of high school she began serving on the worship team at her local church before joining the staff as both Vocal + Creative Director. In 2007, she moved into full-time touring ministry as the worship leader for the Revolve Tour, Women of Faith’s national teen girl conference.     That same year she began singing as the sole background singer to Christian recording artist, Natalie Grant.    In 2012, she moved back to Hawaii after getting married and started her own conference for teen girls and college ladies in 2013 called the BLOOM Conference, whose mission is to encourage, inspire, equip, and empower the next generation of world changers to “BLOOM where they are planted and become all that God created them to be.”     Check out today's episode, "In Full Bloom", and hear this soon-to-be mama’s heart for building up and resourcing tomorrow’s leaders in truth, love, and purpose.

Lovely and talented, my guest for today's episode is Tasha Layton. I can still remember watching Tasha’s audition for American Idol, well before I ever met her. There was something special about her. Her smile, her bubbly demeanor, the way she bounced around as she talked to the judges, the soul and fervor behind her powerful voice. It was the joy. Tasha is a pastor, worship leader, and professional singer who moved to Nashville from Los Angeles after 10 years of working simultaneously within the church and music industry. She has been a voice for various productions such as Disney, Nickelodeon, and Cirque de Soleil, and toured as a backing vocalist for Katy Perry for over 4 years. When she’s not teaching voice and theology at Trivecca University, she’s coaching others or recording her new album with her husband, fellow musician Keith Smith. Check out today's episode, "The Presence of Joy” and listen as Tasha shares how she found and grew her love of music, ministry, and more, and that “sometimes we just have to remind ourselves to live in the presence of joy.” 

I, for one, am a frequent over-user of the word "amazing". In my world, everything is amazing: whether it's Rooney staying in her bed all night without coming to wake me up or the grilled fish tacos we had last night for dinner. According to me, there's a lot of amazing stuff going on. A lot of the time, however, my mood, my attitude, and my ability to be my best self could not be described using that word. Motherhood can be daunting, draining, and debilitating. If we're not careful, it can feel a whole lot less than amazing.    My guest for today's episode is Stacey Thacker. Stacey is a wife to Mike and the mother of four vibrant girls. She is a writer, speaker, and the founder of Mothers of Daughters, one of my favorite blogs. Her new book is called Fresh Out of Amazing, and in it she breaks down how to deal when you're feeling busy and burdened: overwhelmed, frazzled, and everything in between.      Check out today's episode, "An Amazing Invitation", and be encouraged as Stacey shares what inspired her to write this new book and how we've all been invited into a life that is nothing short of...my favorite word: amazing (There it is again!).

If I’m being honest, a lot of the time raising a girl can seem like a blessing and a curse. That’s why I am thankful for people like Sissy Goff.     Sissy has over twenty years of experience counseling kids and families. She has worked as the Director of Child and Adolescent Counseling at Daystar Counseling Ministries in Nashville, Tennessee since 1993. She spends most of her days talking with girls and their families, with the help of her counseling assistant/pet therapist, Lucy the Havanese.  She’s written seven books, 1 DVD curriculum, and is working currently on her newest book releasing in 2017.   Check out today's episode, "Bringing Up Belles", and listen as Sissy breaks down answers to questions like “How do you establish and maintain a rapport of trust and open communication with your daughter?” and  “What do you do when she inevitably starts to pull away?” This is one episode that you will not want to miss!

Episode 26 – Priceless

Guest: Joel Smallbone

The song goes like this:

Mirror mirror, mirror on the wall

Tellin' those lies, pointing out your flaws

That isn't who you are

That isn't who you are

Those of you who have listened for a while, you know that I don't usually host guys on this podcast. But for our two most recent episodes, my guests have been of the male persuasion. We (Jess and I) celebrated Bible Belles' 1st birthday and our 25th episode with my fantastic and wonderful other half Brent. This week, my guest is the other half of another amazing duo: two-time Grammy winning band for KING & COUNTRY and star of the movie "Priceless" which releases in theatres TODAY: Joel Smallbone.

It might be hard to hear, but let me tell you dear

If you could see what I can see, I know you would believe

That isn't who you are

There's more to who you are

So when it's late, you're wide awake

Too much to take

Don't you dare forget that in the pain

You can be brave, hear me say

First, let's just tackle the song. for KING & COUNTRY’s “Priceless” single is one of the best songs out right now that speaks to the true value of a woman. I literally cannot sing the lyrics to Rooney without crying. Seriously. It is so moving and relates so beautifully the truth that our worth is without measure. As women, we're all just grown up girls who have struggled with this. A lot of us are still struggling to know and live into our own value, and those of us with daughters want something drastically different for them.

I see you dressed in white

Every wrong made right

I see a rose in bloom

At the sight of you (oh so priceless)

Irreplaceable, unmistakable, incomparable

Darling, it's beautiful

I see it all in you (oh so priceless)

Inspired by true events, PRICELESS is a powerful drama/thriller about James Stevens who at one time was a good man with a great life -- but then things drastically changed. After the tragic death of his wife and losing custody of his little girl, James found himself at the darkest crossroad of his life. Angry, desperate, and unable to hold down a steady job, he agreed to drive a box truck on a one-time trip cross country for cash -- no questions asked. Then he discovered what he was delivering, and he was faced with a life-changing choice. No spoilers! Go see the movie.

No matter what you've heard, this is what your worth

More than all the money or the diamonds and pearls

Oh this is who you are

Yeah this is who you are

I said it to Joel during the interview, and I'll say it again here. It is awesome to hear a guy talk about women the way Joel does. As he put it so beautifully, “Part of the DNA of for KING & COUNTRY is this idea of respect and honor in relationships and women being priceless. "What we’ve found in our beliefs as men is that people are made equal. The film continues the idea that no one is a commodity and everyone deserves to be loved and loved well."

Sisters, we can start again

Give honor till the end

Love, we can start again

Brothers, we can start again

Give honor till the end

Yeah, we can start again

PRICELESS opens in theatres this weekend. Go see this movie and be encouraged by someone willing to take a stand against forces in this world that stand between women and the life that God designed for them.

Links for Today’s Show

PRICELESS Official Movie

for KING & COUNTRY website

“Priceless” song (Audio)

Happy birthday to us . . . Bible Belles is turning ONE! Brent, Rooney, and I have been celebrating all week in Hawaii! We started this company one year ago, and today marks the 25th episode of our Heroes For Her podcast! For this special occasion, we're doing things a little bit differently. Today's guests are the other humans that make up Team Bible Belles: Brent Weidemann (our first male guest!) and our content manager Jess Delgado. Note: Jess' first appearance on the podcast was in Episode 1 - if you haven't listened to that one yet, be sure you do!  In this episode, you’ll hear stories from the past year and how we went from an idea on the way home from church to being months away from releasing our third book! We've had lots of challenges and awesome milestones along the way, and I loved getting a chance to sit down with my people and talk through this incredible year and all that God has done.  Don’t miss this week’s episode, "Happy Birthday, Bible Belles!", and feel free to run around cheering and throwing confetti in the air. That's what we're doing!

My guest for episode 24 is Katelyn Beaty. Katelyn is the managing editor of Christianity Today magazine, where she co-founded the blog Her.meneutics with Sarah Pulliam Bailey. Her first book, A Woman's Place: A Christian Vision for Your Calling in the Office, the Home, and the World (Howard), was published in July 2016.   The youngest and first female editor of Christianity Today, Katelyn talks in this episode about the topic of women and work and making space for ambition inside multiple locations. No matter if you're back in the workforce while raising you're kids or you've given up life in the office for a stay-at-home-mom gig, it's sad that a certain level of shame exists in both places. "A Woman's Place" dispels all notions of the "less than" mentality and calls for true celebration and support of a woman's desire to work, both in society and in the church.   Listen to this week's episode, “A Woman's Work," and be inspired by a caring and driven young woman who's using her gifts and talents in ways that will truly impact the next generation of future women leaders who live and work. 

My guest for episode 23 is Lisa Bevere. She rocks. Lisa is an international speaker, best-selling author, and co-founder of Messenger International. She is a powerful advocate for women everywhere to "break free of comparison and competition, embrace God's purpose, and realize a life without rival." Chills! I could not love this woman more.   In this episode, you’ll hear Lisa's heart for the struggles that we face as women: comparison, confusion, and everything in between. She also digs deeper into how God does not love us equally: He loves us uniquely. There are so many truths revealed in this episode that I've already used, both in conversations with Rooney and with myself (Yes, I talk to myself. Judge away).  You’ll also hear what inspired her new book, "Without Rival," which just released on August 16! This is the book every woman needs to read. Find it here on Amazon! 

My guest for episode 21 is Kara Kae James. "A complete mess covered in grace", KK is a wife to Brook and mama to three girls and one newly adopted and adorable baby boy. She is the co-founder and Executive Director of Thrive Moms, an online ministry that provides daily encouragement and resources for moms everywhere.  Thrive Moms has been a life-changing resource for me as I've spent the last two years learning about what it means to be a mom. Like so many moms out there, I spent the early months in survival mode. I thought that if I could just get through each day, then that was enough. But being a mom is so much more than just trying to make it through the day or complaining about how hard it is.  Listen to today's episode, "Called to Thrive, Not Survive", and be encouraged that being a mom is not about surviving. It's about stepping boldly into what we've all been called to do. It's about celebrating and owning this glorious adventure.