I am so thrilled to introduce you to Kari Kampakis today! Kari is a best selling author and speaker focusing on very practical and godly tips for primarily teens (but other stages as well) and wisdom for parenting through all stages of childhood. I discovered her books about 4 years ago at a time when I was newly parenting teens and felt very lost in how to navigate that season well. A friend gave me Kari's book Love Her Well and it was truly eye opening and life changing for me, especially during that season. Soon after, we added Kari's books to Clover + Bee and had her come in for a special event for moms. Kari's wisdom is truly a gift from the Lord. She has the ability to share it in such a practical, common sense way that is easy to digest and immediately implement. Her tips are so helpful to learn how to love your child well and relate to him or her in whatever season you find yourself in. Kari describes herself as a deep thinker, saying if you met in person, she would want to skip the small talk and dive straight into the coffee talk. That is the treat you are in for today! She has been featured on the Today Show, Focus on the Family, multiple podcasts, Yahoo News and so much more. Kari and I dive into her story for a bit but then really settle into that good coffee talk tackling issues like anxiety, adult friendships, social media, boundaries and more. If you are a parent in any season of life, wondering if you are alone or if you are getting this thing right or how to navigate the stage you are in, grab a pen and paper and pull up a seat - this episode is just for you! To learn more about Kari, her books and her upcoming speaking events, visit https://www.karikampakis.com/

At the core, this podcast is rooted in storytelling. Typically, we would walk through the story of a guest and encounter the Lord and His redemptive work through the lens of that particular story. But on this episode, we change that up a bit. Today, I want to invite you to intentionally step into your own story armed with the knowledge you obtain as you listen to this episode. Let me explain what I mean… Our guest today is Laura Williams. Laura is the co-owner of Be Found Counseling in Brentwood, TN just south of Nashville and the host of the Encountering You Podcast which tackles touch issues in mental health and how they relate to your faith journey. Laura specializes in trauma therapy and an incredibly powerful concept called re-parenting. You might be thinking - I really don't have trauma in my life - I've not had anything major happen to me. Right off the bat, Laura dives into what trauma really is and I assure you, what she says will resonate with you. A friend of mine says, "God Fathers best by taking us back through our story. You can not write a new story until you deal with the one you've been given". So, the hope today is that we are able to encourage each of you step into your own story from a high level perspective and start or maybe continue the process of story work. Our prayer is that as you listen today you would feel seen in ways you haven't before or maybe receive clarification on a space within your emotions or thoughts that has been confusing or possibly even alerted to places in your life that need to be attended to currently. The tools and information Laura shares on this episode are truly life-changing. Definitely grab a pen and paper for this one and enjoy understanding more about how God has perfectly created you and discover the pathway back to the true essence of who He created you to be. For more information on Laura, visit https://www.befoundcounseling.com/

Do you find yourself feeling "stuck" in the hard seasons of life? Maybe you feel exhausted, overwhelmed, confused, alone or simply not sure how to survive one more day in the space you find yourself today. If I am describing you, know that you are not alone and in God's grace and kindness, He has a special word, especially for you today. My guest today is Lauren Fortenberry. Lauren is a writer and speaker with a passion to fearlessly and faithfully encourage women through the love of Jesus Christ. Her desire is to point every Sister's heart to God's promises and healing. This desire and passion was born out of a very hard season in her own life. Today, she shares her journey through that season and the beautiful way the Lord met her there and began to teach her daily more about Who He is and what He promises - and it all started with a single prayer. She is the Author of One Prayer Away, an inspirational and encouraging devotional book written in poetic form that daily points you to the freedom that can be found in Christ. Lauren states: "When you cannot see the road ahead. When you wonder if the hurt is beyond healing. When you are at the edge of what your heart can handle. Whether you are struggling or seeking, flying or failing - God is with you! You can trust Him to hold you through it all." As you hear Lauren share her story today, it is our prayer that the Lord would use her words to bring peace, encouragement and healing to your soul and most importantly remind you that you never walk a single second of this life alone. He is with you. He is for you. He is holding you and He is not wasting a moment of the season you are in. For more information about Lauren or One Prayer Away, visit https://laurenfortenberry.com/

If you find yourself struggling with anxiety, burnout and insecurity, especially as it relates to the comparison game that is so prevalent on social media today, this episode is one you do not want to miss! My guest today is Whitney Lowe. Whitney is a Christian influencer who wants to see young women excited about God's work: in the Bible, in history, in the world, and in them. She writes and creates an Instagram called @ScribbleDevos, which was a project born from the realization that young women simply do not interact with the Bible enough to be changed by its truth. Whitney is passionate about disrupting the toxic scroll of social media with hope, peace, and light straight from Scripture. She lives in Denver, Colorado, with her husband, who is a pastor, and their two young children She just released a new book called Set Your Eyes Higher: A 40-Day Reset to Slow Your Anxiety and Fix Your Focus on God. The book was inspired by the realization that constantly staring at her phone and computer were causing her increased anxiety and insecurity – and that the only way to combat this addiction to screens was to set her gaze UP and OUT. Today, we dive into a number of common toxic struggles including social media information overload, insecurity and anxiety, burnout, rest vs counterfeit rest, the joys and struggles of motherhood, and so much more! Whitney has a gift of simplifying these issues that can seem to drown us and overwhelm us into understandable truths with practical applications to break free from the struggle and step into a Godly rhythm in these areas of our lives. This conversation was so life giving and encouraging to me - I know it will be for you as well. For more information about Whitney, visit https://www.scribbledevos.com/

My guest today is someone that I've followed on social media and watched her inspiring story unfold for several years. Last year, I had the privilege to meet her at a conference and hear a bit more of that story but also see her authenticity and vulnerability first hand. Tara Austin is the founder and CEO of Ruthie Grace, a women's clothing boutique empire. She has a storefront in Montgomery, TX and a massive online presence servicing customers all over the globe. In addition to Ruthie Grace, she is also the co-owner of Forged, a men's boutique with her husband Josh and she has recently been spending much of her time investing in other retail store owners, teaching strategies to grow and scale their businesses, as she has done with Ruthie Grace. In addition to all of those things, she is the mother to three precious boys! Needless to say, she is very busy. Today, Tara shares the history of Ruthie Grace, which she started with very little experience but a lot of confidence in how the Lord created her and gifted her. She also dives into how the Lord walked with her through a season of extreme burnout and ultimately uprooted some deep lies she was believing about herself and how He transformed her as a person, calling her to then share that journey with others. I know, that like me, you will find inspiration in Tara's story as she stepped out on faith and trust into a calling the Lord had on her life. And you will find encouragement in her vulnerability as she shares some of the deep valleys she walked along the way and how the Lord was faithful to His promises to redeem and refine her as he carried her through the storm.

We hear the word "intentional" a lot these days and we are encouraged to live with intentionality. But we live in a world full of distractions and responsibilities that seem to choke out the ability to really choose how we live versus letting our lives dictate for us. I know that is a constant struggle for me and I find myself longing for simplicity. If that is you as well, today's episode is one you don't want to miss! Lara Casey Isaacson is a mom to three (one through the gift of adoption), a grateful wife, and a believer in the impossible. She created the PowerSheets grace-filled goal setting planner and the Write the Word journals, and she founded Southern Weddings magazine a decade ago. Lara is also the author of Make It Happen: Surrender Your Fear. Take the Leap. Live On Purpose. Today, Lara shares her fascinating story of creating multiple businesses and how that practically looked in her life, while also touching on the difficult seasons she walked through in the midst of the successes she was finding in those businesses. It was during those harder seasons that the Lord gave her a desire to truly live intentionally or "cultivate what matters" which would become a thriving business that is still growing and helping countless people get "unstuck" in life and step fully into their purpose and Godly goals for living. Currently, Lara has moved into a new season of life, stepping away from Cultivate and is living in NC, where she loves getting her hands dirty in the garden. I know that no matter where you are in your life journey, you will find this episode to be both encouraging and helpful as Lara offers some very practical tips to beginning or even continuing the process of cultivating what matters in your world and living intentionally in the place the Lord has you today. For more information on Lara, visit: https://laracasey.com/

My guest today is a special friend who is sharing her story for the first time publicly. If life has ever thrown you very unexpected and painful curve ball that changed the trajectory of your future in ways you could have never imagined, this episode is for you. Harleigh Portante is a beautiful friend who is also one of our models at Clover + Bee. She is a former Miss Teen Alabama and Miss Alabama USA. Growing up, Harleigh's life seemed like a fairytale but she would soon find out that it was anything but that. She takes us back to the day everything changed and her life would never look the same again. But she also shares how she can look back and see the Lord literally right next to her every step of the way. If you are in a season of deep grief or unexpected, life changing hardship, you will find understanding and compassion in Harleigh's authentic words today and you will find encouragement to keep going as she shares how the Lord never left her side.

Today's episode is a special one both for me personally and for the month we are in. As most of you know, October is breast cancer awareness month and as we wrap up October, I'm so grateful for the opportunity to introduce you to my sweet friend Lexie Appleby who is a breast cancer survivor and advocate. Breast cancer has touched my life as my mom was diagnosed with it in October of my junior year of high school and passed away after a brief battle in June of the following year. So this episode is special for me in so many ways. Lexie's story is one that is full of chasing dreams and finding herself on top of the world only to have it all come crashing down with the news of her breast cancer diagnosis. In that moment, by God's grace, she made the crucial choice to see this diagnosis not as a burden but as an unexpected opportunity from the Lord to use her story in ways only He could. She takes us on her incredible journey today through the pageant world as an NFL cheerleader and now as an influencer and speaker through her Born To Sparkle Brand. If you find yourself wrestling with unexpected news or suddenly in an unplanned season, you will be encouraged as you hear Lexie share her story of God's faithfulness through her journey and the reminder that He does not break His promises to lead us to His calling and purpose for our lives. So pull up a seat, grab a cup of coffee and enjoy hearing from my sweet friend, Lexie Appleby. For more information on Lexie and Born to Sparkle, visit https://www.instagram.com/lexie_appleby/?hl=en

I am so very grateful you are joining us today. Like Season One and Two, this season is full of broken and beautiful stories that will encourage, challenge and inspire you. As you listen, you will be encouraged by God's unfailing faithfulness. He does what He says He will do. He is a promise keeper who NEVER forsakes - even when we doubt Him. You will be reminded that you are NEVER alone in your story. No matter where you are today, God is there, walking with you and working in you. In the unexpected, He is in control. In the delay, He is faithfully working. In the hurt, He is healing. In the pain and grief, He is comfort. In the joys and successes, He is glorified. When the seasons change, He does not. This is why we tell our stories! Because each time we share our story, whether in a public setting or quiet moment, we are reminded that God does not leave us or forsake us and He has been working for our good through it all. Our stories point to the only source of hope, peace and joy in this life - fixing our eyes on Jesus. So as you enjoy hearing the stories this season, once again, it is my prayer that as you listen, you will be ushered to the presence of God and that He would meet you in your own story through the messages of those you hear this season on Honey For Your Heart. So it's become a tradition to kick off each new season of Honey For Your Heart with a guest from a previous season: kind of like a "where are they now episode". So, continuing that tradition, I am SO excited to welcome Mattie Jackson Smith back to Honey For Your Heart to launch our first episode of Season Three. Mattie joined us on season one and shared about her journey through very unexpectedly losing her husband Ben to a tragic accident after only 11 months of marriage. She walked us through her powerful book Lemons on Friday, which is one of my favorite books still to this day. In this book, Mattie so eloquently expresses the real time emotions and struggles of grief while also pointing to powerful, foundational truths that are critical to navigating grief from a Biblical perspective. If you haven't read the book or listened to Mattie's episode in season one, I highly recommend doing both! When we left Mattie last, she was preparing to get married to Connor in a few months. Today, we pick up where we left off with Mattie and hear all about her life updates and how grief looks now in a new mountaintop season. She also has just released a new devotional book called: Through The Valley of Grief: Daily Rhythms to Navigate Grief. If you are walking through any kind of grief or even just a hard season, this devotional book provides incredible tools to daily go before the Lord with your struggle, with eyes fixed on Him, even on the darkest of days. You will enjoy hearing Mattie talk about how the Lord gave her four practices that truly helped her navigate her grief authentically and spiritually. Follow Mattie here: https://www.instagram.com/mattiejackson/?hl=en

Today is the finale in our Men of May series and we are ending with another fantastic episode! I have really enjoyed this mini series and I pray you have too! I hope you have found it encouraging, uplifting and a nice way to change things up a bit on Honey For Your Heart! If you are a regular listener, you most likely heard Melody Hemphill's beautiful story of brokenness and redemption a few months ago on the show. If you haven't heard it, I highly recommend you listen to her powerful testimony. Today, I am joined by her husband Randy Hemphill who shares the other side of their story. Randy is the founder of Life Ministries. He is an author, speaker, counselor and he and Melody are some of our dearest friends! Each week, I pray that the Lord would speak directly to the ears that are listening in ways that only He can. This week, He had a word specifically for me through Randy's story and to be honest, it caught me a little by surprise! You will hear more about that as you listen but it was a sweet reminder that the Lord does truly meet us right where we are as we listen to others share their stories. He is faithful to allow us to find ourselves in the narrative while reminding us in those moments that He is a God who sees and knows the deepest parts of our souls and meets us there with unchanging love, mercy and compassion. I know that as you listen today, you will find that to, once again, be true. Psalm 42:1 says, As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God." As Randy eloquently states in this episode, we pray that these words are refreshing streams of water for your thirsty soul. For more information about Life Ministries and Randy, visit http://www.lifeministriesnow.com/