It's inevitable - while we are alive on the earth we will experience things that hurt us. The mistreatment of others can cause deep pain in our hearts that, if left alone, can lead to devastating effects in our lives.

When God tells us to forgive people it feels unfair. But the real kicker? It feels even more unfair when there isn't an apology from the offender. So hard! In this episode, I want to offer you a few tips that have proven helpful for me in this area. 

You can find Susan on Facebook and Instagram by her name and more about her ministry, She Rises, at www.sherisesmn.org

The world can feel competitive! I have felt it and I'm sure you have, too. But that isn't how you and I are supposed to live - as if we're competing with one another.

If we look at what Jesus modeled for us, we see He taught the importance of working together. For many reasons, but the main one being together we can go farther and do more! I was excited to sit down with my friend, Marnie Swedberg, last week, and talk about this topic of competition. 

Marnie has such great insight on why collaboration rather than viewing one another as competition, is a much better way to live. Grab your cup of coffee, a pen, and journal, and let's connect!

You can learn more about Marnie and her ministry at www.marnie.com She has great resources for you, check it out!

You can learn more about Susan and her ministry at www.sherisesmn.org and find her on Facebook and Instagram under her name. 

We all have seasons of doubt, that isn't a question. Often what we focus on is the avoidance of doubt - how to not put our energy into it. But what happens is when it does show up in our lives, we don't know how to respond to it and it can cause us to spiral in our thoughts and how we view our lives.

In this episode, I want to equip you with a few tips I have found to be tried and true in my life when facing doubt. I felt sensitive toward those in a season of waiting which has brought doubt in their lives. Be encouraged today that delay doesn't mean denial! And as one of my favorite mentors from afar said, "Don't dig up in doubt what you planted in faith." -Elisabeth Elliot

You can find more about Susan and her ministry, She Rises, at www.sherisesmn.org  You can also find her on Facebook and Instagram by her name.

Over the years I have had several women reach out with questions about how to write a book, take steps toward some form of ministry, start a business, and most recently, how to launch a podcast. In the past three weeks, I have had the honor of speaking with women asking those same questions. 

In a world that can feel competitive, I believe God wants us to be women who help other women shine. Here's the thing. Not every woman is willing to do that. I have encountered that and I bet you have too. 

In my many years of ministry and just everyday life, I have learned it is okay to stop waiting for someone to invite me to their table and instead, build my own which allows me to welcome others. I want to be in other women's lives what I wished I had had in mine - mentorship, camaraderie, and support. 

You can learn more about Susan and her ministry, She Rises, at www.sherisesmn.org You can also find her on Facebook and Instagram!

Well friends, here I go! This episode may step on a few toes! I have felt like my lawn sprinkler oscillating back and forth on my front lawn over whether I should record this message or not! As you can see, I decided to!

I'm a dreamer. I'm also a doer. Those two things can become somewhat blurred if I don't keep God at the center of my dream chasing. In this week's episode, I want to help offer some wisdom in chasing those dreams that are lying in your heart God's way.

I'm so honored you're tuning in and I cannot wait to connect with you today!

To learn more about Susan and her ministry, please visit www.sherisesmn.org You can also find Susan on Facebook and Instagram.

We all know it and most likely have said it - it is important to have the right people around you. If you're a parent, you have probably taught your kids about making the right friends. Sometimes we as adults need a friendly reminder of what we teach our kids!

Even Scripture supports having the right people around us. Proverbs tells us to walk with the wise and we will become wise; and that as iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. In this episode, I want to encourage you to do a relationship assessment. Are those closest to you wise? Do they offer you wise advice? Are they themselves living a life that is defined as wise? 

Are those closest to you people that sharpen you? Do they spur you on? Do they challenge you? Are they themselves living a life that inspires you to reach higher in your faith?

I want to help you have the right people around you and make changes if necessary because who you surround yourself does matter. I'm excited to connect with you in this week's episode!

You can learn more about Susan and her ministry, She Rises, at www.sherisesmn.org You can also find her on Facebook and Instagram! 

Have you ever wondered what it means or what it "looks" like to live your life out loud? Are you feeling a little stuck in life? Many of us want to pursue our best lives, but there are very real things that stand in the way. Things such as fear and doubt. 

If you're feeling stuck in life and are looking for a nudge to help spur you on, this episode is for you! I invited my friend, Tricia, to help us push through anything making us feel stuck and begin living our lives out loud.

Tricia shared a couple of resources as suggestions to offer further help:

Crash the Chatterbox (book) by Steven Furtick

The Way of the Warrior (book) by Graham Cooke

You can follow Tricia at https://www.facebook.com/tricia.schiltz

You can find more about Susan and her ministry, She Rises, at www.sherisesmn.org and connect with her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/susan.vandenheuvel.90 and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/susan_vandenheuvel/ 

I believe as Christ-followers we are the Body of Christ and with that, when one hurts, we all hurt. My heart has been grieved, along with many others, at the racism that still exists in our country. In light of recent events that resulted in the loss of the lives of black men, I felt compelled to reach out to my dear friend, Rosemary. She's Rosie to me!

We've logged a lot of miles together over the years. We have served alongside one another many times, prayed together, stood in the trenches with one another, rejoiced with and for one another. We have shared losses and heartache with one another. Rosie is a very special sister/friend to myself and many others. Rosie is also a black woman who has experienced racism herself.

I invited her to have a candid conversation with me not only about the topic of racism but how we all can be part of a solution. 

And now together, we invite you to join in the conversation and from there, to see how you can be part of the solution in your sphere of influence.

You can learn more about Susan's ministry, She Rises at www.sherisesmn.org 

Are you settling for less than God's best for your life? Are you settling because it feels safe? Are you settling out of what others may think of you stepping out to fulfill God's plan for your life? Do you find yourself shrinking back or withdrawing when around certain people?

Take heart, you have a friend in me!

There comes a time when each of us have to draw some hard lines; lines we are no longer willing to compromise. God did not create you to live timid and afraid, He created you a woman of faith and courage! I know this message will spur you on to step out and pursue all He has for you! I can't wait to connect with you! 

Learn more about Susan's ministry, She Rises at www.sherisesmn.org Connect with her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/susan.vandenheuvel.90 and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/susan_vandenheuvel/

What a title, right?! Before you think I'm going to talk about how to maintain your garden this season or encourage you to discover your green thumb, let me reassure you that isn't the topic of this week's episode! 

I wanted to invite you into a conversation about doing something all of us have to do at some point - the ebb and flow in relationships and the things we give our energy to. Often people are in our lives, and we in theirs, for a reason and season. 

Sometimes it isn't a relationship that is changing, but something we have given our time, energy, and resources to and the season has come to an end. Trusting God in these times is essential in following the Lord where He leads.

Push that play button and let's connect!

You can learn more about Susan and her ministry, She Rises at www.sherisesmn.org and connect with her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/susan.vandenheuvel.90 and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/susan_vandenheuvel/