Simply Stories Podcast

Blake Guichet, better known as the Girl Named Blake, is the host of the Confessions of a Crappy Christian Podcast, and the author of her book with a similar title, Confessions of a Crappy Christian Real-Life Talk About All the Things Christians Aren't Sure We're Supposed to Say and Why They Matter to God. Blake shares a little bit of her story of growing up at war with herself because she felt like she didn't fit anywhere, and the journey of making her faith her own as she grew up. She began asking big questions like who is God really? Who does he say that I am? What have I culturally believed is true and what do I actually believe is true because God's Word says its true?

In the middle of that season, she tried all the things that seemed like the next right step for a woman with a voice who loved Jesus, but hustle culture took a devastating toll on her mind, body, and heart. Then, the Lord had to meet her in that place and to trust Him and His timing to be the One who would lead her to what it meant to work and minister for His glory, and to live from her heart for Him from all the platforms He's given her.

We talk about what it means to to have self confidence and also posses humility, and how to honor God in the way He designed us. Trying to peel away the stigmas that surround big topics everyone faces, and normalize Christians talking about mental health, shame, being female and maybe not the "typical" and "expected" Christian female, Blake's reckoning with the Proverbs 31 woman, not the one from the tote bags, but the one that was written in the original language of scripture, all of it is on the docket, and you won't want to miss it!

I hope that in this conversation you can find some piece of yourself in it. No matter how God made you, no matter whether you feel like you fit in or not, you matter to the Lord, and your story matters.

Connecting with Blake:

The Girl Named Blake Website : Home for all her services, the podcast, etc.

Facebook

Instagram

Podcast Instagram

Episode Sponsor: Tony Crabtree of Crabtree Homes with Exit Realty

Facebook

Instagram

Tik Tok

Website

YouTube

JOIN OUR PATREON COMMUNITY!!!! I would be honored to have your support to keep the Simply Stories Podcast going. You can sign up for as little as $3 a month and each tier offers gifts that I hope will bless you in return.

Resources:

Confessions of a Crappy Christian Podcast

Confessions of a Crappy Christian

Ann Swindell

Adrenal Failure

Ennegram 8

Hard work is Biblical

Kāḇôḏ (Honor) (from Psalm 62:7)-

'iššâ (woman or wife) or ḥayil (valor)

Doris Day

Katharine Hepburn

Ash Abercrombie first episode with her and the second one

Mary Magdelene

"Vulnerability hangover"- Brene Brown-ism

Scripture References:

John 1:16-The fullness of grace

Ecclesiastes 3-There is a time to tear down and to build

Gensis 32:22-32- Wrestling with the Lord

1 Corinthians 12- Spiritual Gifts

Psalm 62

Genesis 31- Laban is angry at Jacob

Genesis 41:41-46-Joseph being elevated

Exodus 13:20-22, 33:1-23- Shekinah Glory (God's presence in the Exodus and Wilderness)

Galatians 2:20-I died and it is Christ who lives in me

Philippians 4:8-9- (whaatever is true, whatever is lovely)

Ephesians 6:10-18, John 10:10, 1 Peter 5:8- Spiritual attack

Colossians 3:3- You are hidden in Christ

Proverbs 31:10-31- The Proverbs 31 Woman

Judges 4-5- Deborah

Judges 4:17-21- Jael - the tent peg killer ;)

Acts 18, 1 Corinthians 16:19, 2 Timothy 4:19- Priscilla and Aquila

1 Corinthians 12:12-27- The body of Christ needs all its parts for it to work

Luke 1:26-38, Luke 2, John 19:25-27- Mary Mother of Jesus

Genesis 2-3- Eve

Ruth the Moabite

Gensis 12:11-13-Sarah- we're gonna do what now?? (Just one example)

Genesis 6:22-Genesis 9- Noah's wife

Gensis 19- Lot's wife

Genesis 1:29-31- Eve was the crown of creation

Proverbs 7:4-23- If wisdom is a woman

Ephesians 5:22-33- The church is the Bride of Christ

Psalm 145:9, 103:8- God is good

1 Peter 4:10-God has gifts for me

Exodus 34:29-35- Moses' face shining from encountering God's glory

Esther 4:14- For such a time as this

Judges 6:36-40- Gideon putting out the fleece

Judges 6- ALL the signs Gideon asks for

Psalm 23

Matthew 11:28-30-Come all you who are weary and heavy laden

Mark 6:30-34 - has sent the disciples out two by two, and then afterward, he pulled them away to rest

Exodus 31:15-Dishonoring the Sabbath has a severe punishment

1 Kings 19- Elijah- snack and a nap

Ecclesiastes 3:1-11- There's a time to fight and a time to rest

Exodus 14:14- Let the Lord fight for you, be still

John 4:5-42- The woman at the well

Psalm 27:13- "What would have become of me had I not believed I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living?"

Connecting with Emily and Simply Stories Podcast: Instagram (Em life // Podcast Life) Facebook Twitter Blog

*Intro and Outro music is from audionautix.com

I am so delighted to share with you my conversation with author, Christian communicator and teacher Wendy Speake. In this episode, she shares with me her journey of God calling her into a life of using her words for His glory and honing her craft as a storyteller, God meeting her as she mothers her 4 boys, rubbing elbows with others in the trenches, and it is such an encouraging word.

Wendy is passionate about God's word and encouraging others to learn how to engage it and identify what keeps them tripped up and triggered in their relationship with Him, His word, and with other people. She pushes us to ask ourselves HARD question such as: How do we respond when we fail? How do we grow to be more like Christ so we get triggered and tripped up less? How do take our triggers to the lamplight of God's word and how do we do right when "they"- whoever they is in our life- do wrong? A lot of these questions she offers in the context of parenting, but isn't that a call for all relationships? We cannot control anyone's actions or reactions towards us, but we can step into the process of God sanctifying our own story, and see where He is calling us to grow, and what our triggers are so that we can heal and grow and become more like the parents, spouses, friends, and neighbors God made us to be.

We'll talk about fasting and how Wendy has found in her own journey that fasting from various things in her Instead of moving from high to high, sugar, social media, shopping, whatever it is that is tripping us up and that we chose to reach for so we can cope with what's happening in our life, the process of fasting can point to the Most High God and offer opportunity to feast on His word.

Friends, I hope you walk away from this conversation encouraged and open to the invitation to engage God's word so that you can find nourishment and healing. No matter where you are in your relationship with Him, or His word or His church, He is always present and near to us.

No matter where you are in your story friend, the Lord is with you. Closer than you even realize. Ask Him to make Himself known to you, because you matter to Him, and your story matters.

Connecting with Wendy:

Facebook

Instagram

Website

Episode Sponsor: Tony Crabtree of Crabtree Homes with Exit Realty

Facebook

Instagram

Tik Tok

Website

YouTube

JOIN OUR PATREON COMMUNITY!!!! I would be honored to have your support to keep the Simply Stories Podcast going. You can sign up for as little as $3 a month and each tier offers gifts that I hope will bless you in return.

References:

MOPS

Amber Lia

Amber and Wendy's work together

Triggers: Exchanging Parents' Angry Reactions for Gentle Biblical Responses

Parenting Scripts

The 40 Day Sugar Fast

The 40 Day Social Media Fast

"Gilmore Girls" – "Oy with the poodles already!"

The 40-Day Feast: Taste and See the Goodness of God's Word

Jesus Storybook Bible

The Serenity Prayer

David Thomas and Sissy Goff of Daystar Counseling - "Raising Boys and Girls Podcast"

David Thomas' episode with me! (Epiosde 134)

DT's Instagram live with me

Tyndale Bible

William Tyndale's story

The 40 Day Fast Journal

Scripture References:

John 3:16- God loves you

Psalm 119:105-God's word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path

Proverbs 22:6-Training a child up in the way they should go

Becoming more like Christ (a whole list of verses!)

Book of Proverbs (Video for insights and overview)

Book of Matthew (Video for insights and overview)

Genesis 2:16-17, Joshua 24:15,John 8:36, 1 Corinthians 6:12, Galatians 5:16-17, Revelation 3:20- God values us enough to give us free will

Mark 12:31-Love our neighbors

Psalm 139:14-We are uniquely and wonderfully made

John 1:1-5-Jesus is the light that the darkness cannot overcome

Deuteronomy 11

Romans 12:21- Do not overcome evil with evil, but overcome evil with good

Psalm 34:8-Taste and see that the Lord is good

James 1:22- Don't just be readers of the word, but be doers of the word

Matthew 21:12-13,Mark 11:15-18- Turn over the tables

Psalm 147:3-God binds up the brokenhearted

Matthew 11:28-Come to me when you're weary and heavy laden

Psalm 61:2, Psalm 94:18-19- Go to God when you are overwhelmed

Psalm 107:20-"His word was sent to heal us"

The book of John (Video for insights)

The book of Psalms (Video for insights!)

Psalm 1

Joshua 23:14, Proverbs 30:5- You can take God at His Word

Luke 8:43-48- The woman with the issue of blood

Exodus 4:10-31- Bringing Moses and Aaron together in the desert

Connecting with Emily and Simply Stories Podcast:Instagram (Em life // Podcast Life)FacebookTwitterBlog

*Intro and Outro music is from audionautix.com

Rachelle Starr is the founder of Scarlet Hope, which is a ministry designed to share the hope of Jesus with women in the adult entertainment industry. She is also the author of Outrageous Obedience: Answering God's Call to Shine in the Darkest Places. The month of January is sex trafficking awareness month. Rachelle knows firsthand from her work with Scarlet Hope, spending the last 15 years loving on and building relationships with women who work in strip clubs, and the world of porn and prostitution, and shares with us some of what she's seen, how a woman finds herself entrapped in such a situation, and what its like to see their lives totally changed by Christ and having some of their physical needs addressed for them to experience rescue holistically as well. Rachelle's book is a galvanizing experience full of questions for each of us who are called to love like Jesus, and her passion for Christ, and for the hurting is contagious.

Buckle up, you guys, this is one story you won't want to miss hearing, and perhaps the Lord even has something just for you and your story in it. If you are interested in connecting with Rachelle or looking into the ministry of Scarlet Hope, be sure and follow them and see if there is a local chapter near you!

There is hope for our stories, and He's not finished with any of us.

Connecting with Rachelle Starr AND Scarlet Hope

Buy a copy of Outrageous Obedience

Facebook

Instagram

Rachelle's Website

Scarlet Hope

Episode Sponsor: Tony Crabtree of Crabtree Homes with Exit Realty

Facebook

Instagram

Tik Tok

Website

YouTube

JOIN OUR PATREON COMMUNITY!!!! I would be honored to have your support to keep the Simply Stories Podcast going. You can sign up for as little as $3 a month and each tier offers gifts that I hope will bless you in return.

*References:

Crazy Love by Francis Chan

Scarlet Hope Bakery

Scarlet Hope career development program

Passion Conference

End It Movement

Christine Caine and A21

Sex Trafficking story from Atlanta // AG

A similar situation in Florida

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers

"Filthy Rich" documentary on Netflix about Jeffrey Epstein

Paul Tripp

"Pretty Woman"

Signs to look for in airports and public spaces

Dr. Jessica Peck

*Scripture References:

-The book of Esther (quick overview!)

-The book of Ruth (quick overview again ;))

Genesis 1:27-You were created in God's image

1 Peter 2:9, Colossians 1:6, Jeremiah 29:11 -He's created you for a purpose and for Himself

Romans 2:3-4-God's kindness leads people to repentance and relationship with Him

Matthew 25:36-40-When have you seen me naked?

John 10:10-The enemy comes to steal kill and destroy and Jesus came to give us life

Lamentations 3:22-23-Mercies are new every morning

John 8:1-11-Who of us can cast the first stone

Matthew 9:36-Jesus saw them like sheep without a shepherd

James 1:22-25-we don't want to just be full of knowledge

John 14:15-being obedient to God's call

Isaiah 6:8-Here I am send me

John 14:26, Acts 1:8, 1 Corinthians 2 -Listening to the Holy Spirit

Luke 16:10-(she) who is faithful in little is faithful in much

Ecclesiastes 3:1-There is a season for everything

1 Corinthians 15:58-The Lord wastes nothing

1 Corinthians 2:1-5-2 Corinthians 12:9- The Lord makes Himself known in His weakness

John 10:11-18-The Lord is a good shepherd

1 Peter 2:9-We have been called into His marvelous light

*Questions to ponder:

-what have You saved me for and who have You saved me for?

-can we ask God to have your heart softened for those inside the walls of a place you want to look away from

Connecting with Emily and Simply Stories Podcast:Instagram (Em life // Podcast Life)FacebookTwitterBlog

*Intro and Outro music is from audionautix.com

Welcome back to the Simply Stories Podcast! I'm thrilled to be back with new episodes and heading into season 4 with author and educator Danielle Hitchen of Catechesis Books. Danielle is passionate about sharing her love of church history and the tools we have at our fingertips by way of the church calendar in order to offer encouragement and connection with God and with one another in every season of life. She is the author of a series of baby believer primer books, and creates all kinds of content that help teach the tenets of the faith and helps us disciple our time, ourselves, and our families in our faith and with hope.

Today Danielle shares with us what exactly catechesis is, where some of these practices come from, why liturgy can be such a gift, and how these patterns and practices of the early church can minister to us today. Now Danielle nor I want to add something to your already long to do list. These tools she has created and shared, and this conversation are simply opportunities to connect with the Lord and remind us of who He has always been. There is grace for all the seasons, Jesus Himself experienced all of the seasons, and we're going to explore how to provide intentional opportunities to engage God uniquely where we are and maybe learn some things we didn't know before which perhaps could breathe life into the ancient, but familiar.

What a sweet way to start the new year, yeah? I know we're surrounded by resolutions and gym membership flyers, but personally, I've just been trying to get out of bed, and remember what day it is. I love the grace and gentle invitation the church calendar offers us, as a way to connect with the ever-present always faithful God, and I love Danielle's mission to help us find our place in whatever season we are in.

Friends, I've missed you. The Lord was so kind to me in my sabbatical, and I am full of anticipation about what God has been doing and curious to see what He does next. I'm so honored that you are here in it with me. Remember, friend. You matter, and your story matters.

Connecting with Danielle:

Baby Believer Primers (her board books for kids!)

Facebook

Instagram

Newsletter Sign Up

Podcast

Website

Episode Sponsor: Tony Crabtree of Crabtree Homes with Exit Realty

Facebook

Instagram

Tik Tok

Website

YouTube

References:

-C.S. Lewis

-Joan of Arc

-The Protestant Reformation

-Martin Luther

-We've talked about this a little bit on the podcast before! Check out episodes with Dr. Bryan Litfin (Part 2 also)

-The Apostle's Creed

-The Nicene Creed

-The feast of Pentecost

-The "church" was growing, book of Acts

-What William Tyndale did to allow access to scripture for others

-Invention of the printing press

-The role of religious icons

-Kayla Craig's episode, and the role of liturgy

-Liturgy for Parents

-A Long Obedience in the Same Direction- Eugene Peterson

-The Jesse Tree

-Jesus Storybook Bible

-The story of Ruth

-Candlemas- February 2nd

-Feast of the Annunciation- March 25th "Lady Day"

-"Lady Day" waffle day!

-To Light Their Way- Kayla Craig

-Every Moment Holy

-Feast of Saint Lucia

-American Girl story with Kirsten celebrating Saint Lucia's Day // Kirsten's Surprise

-Saint Nicholas Day

Scripture References:

Psalm 24:1/Psalm 135:6-7-The Lord is sovereign over all

Acts 1:9-12-Jesus ascended

Acts 2- the Holy Spirit came

Matthew 2:12--The Magi coming to Jesus

Matthew 3:13-17-The voice of God declares Jesus as His Son at His baptism

Matthew 17-The transfiguration of Christ

Luke 2:52-Jesus grew in wisdom and stature with God and with men

Matthew 4:1-11-Jesus' 40 days in the wilderness

Matthew 26-28-Jesus's death and resurrection

Ephesians 2:8-By God's grace we are saved

Exodus 32-Another golden calf

Luke 1-2-Luke and the Christmas story

Luke 2:22-38-The story of Jesus in the temple meeting Simeon and Anna

Luke 1:26-38-Gabriel coming to Mary

Luke 1:46-55-The Magnificat

JOIN OUR PATREON COMMUNITY!!!! I would be honored to have your support to keep the Simply Stories Podcast going. You can sign up for as little as $3 a month and each tier offers gifts that I hope will bless you in return.

Connecting with Emily and Simply Stories Podcast:Instagram (Em life // Podcast Life)FacebookTwitterBlog

*Intro and Outro music is from audionautix.com

Today we are wrapping up our all things fiction series with my conversation with new author Sara Brunsvold. In this conversation Sara shares about her turbulent faith journey of when she was younger and the role older women who were further along in their faith played in helping speak to her heart and help her to know who the Lord truly is.

As she began to find her footing in various seasons, a story began to form in her heart and from her experiences. The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kipp, Sara's debut novel, is an exquisite look into a journey of surrender, facing the brutal and holy realities of life and death on this side of heaven, learning to trust God, and engaging life with a full hold on hope.

Sara and I both have lost close family members in the last few years, and we talk about the tension of grieving with hope, how we respond and wrestle as women of faith when we see or experience suffering, and the dignity that is found in walking someone home. BUT we don't want people to be afraid of this book (or parts of this conversation!) because death is in the title and part of the story. In this story death is not the victor, nor is it the protagonist. It is a story wrapped in hope about what death can and cannot in the lives of those that we love, and how we choose to live this side of Heaven.

This is also a conversation about examining questions such as What does it mean to mentor? What does it mean to be discipled? What and whom do we allow to disciple us? Looking at how we all have influence and how we live and encounter others matters and more. There's a scripture that says "Teach us to number our days so that we may gain a heart of wisdom." I think that's what Sara and Mrs. Kip are calling us to in Jesus' name. There is a much much bigger story happening all arond us all the time. Yours adds to it in a way that is entirely unique to you and who you are, but its potential for impact can stretch beyond anything you could imagine. We need you and your story. I hope you feel encouraged to seek the Lord in it.

Connecting with Sara:

Book: The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kipp

Facebook

Instagram

Mrs. Kip's Rules to Live By (for newsletter subscribers)

Website

References:

-Kansas City, MO

-A great resource about mentorship is my episode 73 with Kelsey Chapman who wrote the book What They Taught Me: Recognizing Mentors Who Will Take You From Dream to Done

-What happened in Laos during the Vietnam conflict

-Laotian refugee community in Kansas City

-Fort Leveanworth

-When America withdrew troops from Saigon and it fell

-The Vietnam humanitarian crisis

Scripture References:

2 John 4,3 John 3-4-Walk in truth

-Titus 2

John 3:30,Galatians 2:20-21, Galatians 5:24-25, Philippians 1:21-dying to self

Romans 5:3-5, Romans 6:16-walking in obedience even when it hurts

Proverbs 3:5-6, Philippians 4:6-7 -trusting God even when it makes no sense

Proverbs 27:1, Matthew 6:33-34, James 4:13-15-we're not guaranteed the next breath

Romans 8:31-39-Jesus' victory is greater than the suffering and loss we face

1 Peter 1:3-5-We have hope in Jesus

Isaiah 61:1-3-beauty from the ashes

John 11:38-44-Jesus weeping as he saw the grief of the people He loved

Luke 24:50-53, John 19:28-30, Acts 1:6-11- Jesus went home when His work was finished (on the cross, and His ascension)

Matthew 5:16, Romans 12:13, Galatians 6:2, Hebrews 13:16-speaking life and hope into the lives of others

2 Corinthians 9:6, Galatians 6:8, -sowing seeds of eternity into the lives of those around us

-Titus 2 NLT

Psalm 139:14-You are uniquely and wonderfully made

1 Timothy 4:12-Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young

Psalm 51:10-create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit

Ezekiel 36:26-take our heart of stone and give us a heart of flesh

Psalm 90:12-teach us to number our days

JOIN OUR PATREON COMMUNITY!!!! I would be honored to have your support to keep the Simply Stories Podcast going! You can sign up for as little as $3 a month and each tier offers gifts that I hope will bless you in return.

Connecting with Emily and Simply Stories Podcast:Instagram (Em life // Podcast Life)FacebookTwitterBlog

*Intro and Outro music is from audionautix.com

Today I have the honor of sharing my conversation with the one and the only Tracie Peterson. Tracie has been a staple in Christian historical fiction for 30 years. She is often called the queen of historical fiction romance, authoring 130 books over her career, all of them overflowing with incredible historical details that transport the reader into various parts of and times of the U.S., and her stories are always saturated with her passion for Christ and encouraging people with her faith by having characters walk through very real issues and finding a very faithful God in their journey.

Tracie shares with me how the Lord has met her over her career doing whatever she needs to do right where she is in the name of Jesus. How she has felt and continues to feel God's faithfulness and care for her as she's surrendered her life and stories to the Lord is so powerful as she has weathered the changes in her own life, in the publishing world, and getting to talk with her is like getting to sit down for coffee with a woman who has lived a deep life of faith and left and continues to leave a life that sews kingdom seeds in all she does, and I hope it encourages you wherever you are in your story.

Friend, I hope that no matter where you are today, you are reminded that the Lord is not finished with your life. Scripture promises us that God will carry out what He stared in us until it is complete. Keep going. Take heart. You matter and your story matters.

Connecting with Tracie:

Books

Facebook

Newsletter Sign up

Website

References:

Kimberley Woodhouse

Pantser vs. Plotter

Ted Dekker

My episode with Rachelle Dekker

"Love on the Santa Fe" series

San Marcay (sp?)- Ghost Town -Santa Fe Railroad Headquarters

Janette Oke

Catherine Marshall

Grace Livingston Hill

Pilgrim's Progress

CS Lewis

Brock and Bodie Thoene

Michael Phillips

Judith Pella

WWII Zion Covenant Books

Francine Rivers

Robin Lee Hatcher

Karen Kingsbury- The Baxters

American Christian Fiction Writers

Martha Stewart's jail time

The entrance of Amazon- July 1995

Border's bookstores (the last one closed in 2011)

Family Christian Bookstores

Lifeway Christian Bookstores (but still available online)

Jaime Jo Wright

Heidi Chiavaroli

Mental health crisis for Alaskans (this was a tragic side bar in this department)

Mental health crisis for women, battling alcohol addiction in Montana

The Santa Fe Railroad

Novella for the Harvey Girls for Bethany House

The post I mentioned about the road into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday

Southern Railway

The Alaskan series

The Heirs of Montana series

The Libby app

Little Free Libraries

Along the Rio Grande

Ever Constant - The Treasures of Nome

The Alaskan, Yukon, & Pacific Exposition in 1909

Scripture References:

Colossians 3:17,23- Whatever you do whether in word or deed do it all in the name of the Lord

Mathew 13, 2 Corinthians 9:6, Galatians 6:7- Seed Sowing

Ecclesiastes 1:9- There is nothing new under the sun

James 4:14- We are but a vapor

Proverbs 3:5-6- Lean not on your own understanding

Psalm 27:13, Isaiah 40:31, Waiting on the Lord

Matthew 11:28-30- Rest in the Lord

Philippians 1:6- God will carry out what He stared in you until it is complete

JOIN OUR PATREON COMMUNITY!!!! I would be honored to have your support to keep the Simply Stories Podcast going! You can sign up for as little as $3 a month and each tier offers gifts that I hope will bless you in return.

Connecting with Emily and Simply Stories Podcast:Instagram (Em life // Podcast Life)FacebookTwitterBlog

*Intro and Outro music is from audionautix.com

Today I get to share with you my conversation with the absolutely lovely Betsy St. Amant. Betsy is a Christian fiction author who shares her story of growing up into the storyteller she loved being as a child, and the Lord meeting her in her heartbreak over her divorce, becoming a very young single Mom, the challenge and the redemption of writing novels saturated with romance while going through a divorce. She shares about dying to one dream while birthing another and the beauty of God meeting us in our grief as we feel layered emotions as seasons change. In our conversation today, she also offers a word to women walking out divorce, the loss of a relationship, and hope for their future, and to the re-married woman, step-mothers, and other beautiful but often confusing seasons as she now is navigating that season herself. The Lord has the grace for us to feel many things at the same time, and that is good news for us!

Her latest novel Tacos for Two is a fun little twist on "You've Got Mail" meets food trucks, identity, culture, generational familial expectations, and characters that you want to cheer for, shake, and absolutely love. I especially love that there is a beautifully written character with Down Syndrome that just filled my heart with warmth and appreciation for my friends and family living the Lucky Few life. Like her real life story, these characters are processing their life experiences in layers of joy, grief, loneliness, confusion, new community, change, and more. It is such a fantastic read, and so is this conversation.

Friend, I hope no matter where you are, you know that the God who made you is a God who sees you and cares about you where you are in your story. Whether you are walking through a divorce, navigating a new season you longed for but isn't what you expected, or any other season of uncertainty, I want you to remember that you matter, and your story matters.

Connecting with Betsy:

Facebook

Instagram

Subscribe to her Newsletter

Twitter

Website

References:

-Shreveport-Bossier, LA-Robin Jones Gunn novel

-Gayle Roper

-American Christian Fiction Writers

-Love Inspired (Betsy's books)

-Zondervan

-Love Arrives in Pieces

-"You've Got Mail"

-Her most recent book Tacos for Two

-Down Syndrome

-Holy Angels - "Loving, living and learning for the differently able"

-"Gilmore Girls"

-The Undoing of Saint Silvanus- Beth Moore

-H.R Hutzel / her books / our episode

-Rachelle Dekker / her books / our episode

-Ted Dekker / his books

-Books by both the Dekkers

-Nine by Rachelle Dekker

-Frank Perreti

-Frank Petterti and Ted's book

-Betsy's novella collection : The Rom-Com 80's Club

"Love Inspired" upcoming book from Betsy: Second Chance Christmas- You can pre-order it now, but it will release at the end of September!

Scripture References:

John 16:23-24, Acts 4:12, Romans 10:13, Hebrews 1:3, 1 John 5:13- The power in the name of Jesus

Psalm 34:18-The Lord is close to the brokenhearted

Proverbs 16:9- People make their plans but the Lord determines our steps

Romans 8:16-18, 28 The Lord uses our sin and suffering for His glory and our good

2 Corinthians 1:3-4-Comfort others from the comfort we've been given

Psalm 13, Psalm 44, Psalm 144- David going through a ton of emotions in one Psalm

JOIN OUR PATREON COMMUNITY!!!! I would be honored to have your support to keep the Simply Stories Podcast going! You can sign up for as little as $3 a month and each tier offers gifts that I hope will bless you in return.

Connecting with Emily and Simply Stories Podcast:Instagram (Em life // Podcast Life)FacebookTwitterBlog

*Intro and Outro music is from audionautix.com

Autumn Lytle is a debut author who has written a truly fantastic novel that is interwoven with her personal story of battling an eating disorder. It is called All That Fills Us, and it is the incredible journey of a woman with anorexia and how the Lord used a cross-country journey to save her life.

Autumn shares her story with me about when things began to shift in her mind and exercise, obsessing over food, and constant comparison to others by her body size to a full-blown eating disorder. Her story is full of incredible snippets of insight and healing from how her Mother helped her journal through her painful thoughts, how running changed her life, and the gift that has come from creating this beautiful novel. We work through cross-cultural ideas about body image, comparison, how we talk about ourselves, and just so much more.

I love that Autumn wrote a story that not only would have spoken to her younger, hurting self, but provides incredible insight into the mind and healing journey of someone battling disordered eating. There are so many pictures of how to (and not to) minister to someone in this struggle, and on her website, you can actually find resources for diving further into this book and/or connecting those struggling with an eating disorder with some help. Truthfully, there were so many things in this book that just touched me in a visceral way. As a woman who struggles to believe what God says about my body, and is better at shaming myself than I'd care to admit, I could hear the Lord speaking tenderly to me as I watched this protagonist wrestle.

Wherever you are friend, know that you matter, and your story matters. The Lord will finish what He has started in you.

Connecting with Autumn:

Book : All That Fills Us

Book Trailer

Facebook

Instagram

Website

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References:

Baker Books

Erin Bartels

Autumn's thoughts (blog) from her recovery journey

Find a therapist (great resource to find one across the U.S.)

Scripture References:

2 Corinthians 12:7-10- Thorn in my flesh

Psalm 33:11, Jeremiah 29:11, Jeremiah 32:19, Ephesians 1:11- God made me on purpose

Genesis 1:29-31,Psalm 45:11,Psalm 139, - God made me beautiful

Genesis 3, Romans 1:18-32- Sin is horrific and it gives us all a tragic backstory

1 Peter 5:1-11, Luke 22:31, Romans 8:31-39- The evil one is against us and tries to separate us from God's love

Psalm 34:18- The Lord is close to the brokenhearted

Luke 15- Leaves the 99 and the Lord goes after it

John 14:26- The Holy Spirit is the the Helper

Eccelsiastes 3:1-11- There is a time to tear down and a time to build

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*Intro and Outro music is from audionautix.com

This one is for all my fellow Mamas that are trying to make their way through summer, walking out the exhausting seasons with their kids of any age, or just is so angry at the various things surrounding them in this broken world their anger or grief is overflowing into their parenting or marriages or other familial relationships. Today I get to share with you my conversation with Natalie Hixson who specializes in helping discouraged and burnt-out moms overcome destructive anger, so they can enjoy being a wife and mom.

Natalie shares with me her story of working through being early married, learning how to fight and communicate in general, and her extreme anger that surfaced during her motherhood. She vulnerably shares her story of recognizing her problem with anger, her rage that would exist alongside her young children's tantrums, battling her shame, and her journey to pursue healing and help. That journey began with recognition of the problems, the actual lifelong journey of addressing her reactions to anger, yelling, and how to listen to herself, others, and the Lord. Natalie shares with us some of her processes about how to release the guilt, go back and repent and surrender to the Lord, and watch Him work in the relationships with our children, our spouses, and anyone else that we are struggling to not be angered by. The wisdom that Natalie shares today is truly powerful, and is saturated with hope, and I cannot wait for you to hear it.

I hope that no matter where you are today, you can believe Natalie when she says that it is never too late for redemption. That is the heart of God. He is always ready to show us a different way. If what we discuss in this conversation today resonates with you, or even this post peaks your interest, and check our link in bio for her Natalie's Trigger Tracker, and find out more about her coaching and other resources there too. 'm so grateful to Natalie for sharing her story so vulnerably so her testimony can point others, like me, to hope and to the heart of God. The same is true for you friend. This isn't how the story ends, and you matter. Your story matters.

Connecting with Natalie:

Coaching

Pinterest

Trigger Tracker

Website

Episode Sponsor: Tony Crabtree of Crabtree Homes with Exit Realty

Home buyer guide: http://bit.ly/buyersguidecrabtreehomes

Seller guide: http://bit.ly/sellerguidecrabtreehomes

Facebook

Instagram

Website

YouTube

JOIN OUR PATREON COMMUNITY!!!! I would be honored to have your support to keep the Simply Stories Podcast going! You can sign up for as little as $3 a month and each tier offers gifts that I hope will bless you in return.

References:

Family Life Marriage Conferences

Grounding Techniques

Sphenoid Bone (looks like a butterfly to massage your brain)

Pituitary Gland (sends the hormones to calm)

"The Joy of the Lord is my Strength" Rend Collective and Maverick City (two of my favorite versions of this song)

Trauma and the body (Great resource for this: The Body Keeps the Score)

Our guide to Lament

Scripture References:

2 Timothy 2:20-21, Romans 11:29 Becoming a tool from the Lord

John 10:27-28- My people will hear know my voice

John 8:44- Satan is the father of lies

2 Timothy 1:7-God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, sound mind, and self-control.

Galatians 5:22-23- Fruits of the Spirit

Epheisans 6:10-18- The armor of God

Matthew 21:12-13,Mark 11:15-18, John 2:13-17- We know that Jesus experienced righteous anger

1 Corinthians 3:16, Romans 7:15-24- When you put your faith in Jesus Christ, you receive the Holy Spirit, but you still experience sin (More in depth on receiving the Holy Spirit)

Ephesians 6:12- We are in a battle not of flesh and blood

Matthew 7:12- Treat others the way you want to be treated

John 15:5-- Without Him you can do nothing

Luke 10:27- Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength

Nehemiah 8:10- The Joy of the Lord is your strength

Romans 5:3-5, Ephesians 3:20-21, 2 Corinthians 4:1-12- These challenges help us to grow (perseverence)

1 Corinthians 15:57, Romans 8:37- Jesus is victorious

Matthew 27:50-52- The curtain was ripped in two

Ephesians 2:18- We have access to our Father through Jesus and the Spirit

Ephesians 2:14-15- He took down the dividing lines between people and the spirit

Matthew 11:28-30, We have a standing invitation to come to the Father (Come to me all of you who are weary burdened)

Book of Lamentations (Bible Project video)

Jeremiah 20:10-11 -but the Lord is with me as a mighty awesome one

Ephesians 4:17-20, (a great list of verses on the difference) Grieving the Holy Spirit vs conviction

Thorn in my flesh

Luke 1:41-44, Luke 1:67-68, John 4:23-24- The Holy Spirit will bring us to praise

Psalm 139:23-24-Search me and know me

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*Intro and Outro music is from audionautix.com

Today I get to share my beautiful conversation with Anjuli Paschal. Anjuli is an author who exquisitely and intentionally shares in her books and online about her journey of coming undone and being put back together by God's love. She serves alongside her pastor husband, she's a mother of five children whose ages range from 4-15, and today we talk about things like wrestling with reentry emotionally into society, being a woman and a mother with really big feelings and aftershocks of what we've been all through, trauma as a whole, and also helping our children navigate those things as well.

One of my favorite things she shares in her newest book Awake: Paying Attention to What Matters Most in a World That's Pulling You Apart is unpacking the differences between being transparent and being vulnerable. Anjuli shares that "Vulnerability is being seen from the inside out, exposing who we truly are." We talk about how hard that can be, and what kind of risk it can feel like to truly be ourselves for better or worse with others, but Anjuli argues that "It's a greater risk to not be vulnerable." We unpack that a little bit and it's just a really refreshing and powerful conversation on transformation, how trustworthy God truly is and His call for us to be awake to who He is, and who He made us to be. God is always providing us opportunities to be honest, come as we are and connect more intimately with Him and more deeply with those we live life with. What a scary concept, but with the potential for such rich fruit.

I hope this conversation helps you to feel less alone knowing that none of us have this figured out, and we are always being transformed and becoming more awake to the abundant life Christ gives us. Listen, friend, wherever you are today, remember that you matter, and your story matters. Thanks for hanging out with me and I'll see you next time.

Connecting with Anjuli:

Courses

Facebook

Instagram

Website

JOIN OUR PATREON COMMUNITY!!!! I would be honored to have your support to keep the Simply Stories Podcast going! You can sign up for as little as $3 a month and each tier offers gifts that I hope will bless you in return.

References:

Anjuli's first book Stay: Discovering Grace, Freedom, and Wholeness Where You Never Imagined Looking

Her latest book Awake: Paying Attention to What Matters Most in a World That's Pulling You Apart

Her instagram post of resetting in the car

"Encanto"

My conversation with PSP hosts Sarah and Beth

Their book Now What: How to Move Forward When We're Divided About Practically Everything

Looking for Lovely by Annie F. Downs

Scripture References:

Luke 23:26-43- The greatest vulnerability was Jesus on the cross

John 3:16, John 15:13, 1 John 3:1- ​​God loves us (just to name a few!)

Isaiah 41;13, 1 Peeter 5:7-God cares for us

Psalm 130, Psalm 139:23-24- When we come to Him and say "I don't know what I'm doing"

2 Chronicles 7:14, Joel 2:12-14- He says "I know, I've been here the whole time"

Ephesians 5:14- Wake up!

Ezekiel 37:1-14- Valley of dry bones

Joshua 1:9, Isaiah 41:10, Matthew 28:20- God is with us

Romans 12:2, John 15- God is always transforming and refining us

Matthew 25:14-30- Parable of the Talents

Genesis 16:13, Psalm 17:8 God will never lose sight of me

Proverbs 3:5-6, Matthew 8:5-13- Jesus is trustworthy

Matthew 14:22-23, Hebrews 12:2-4- Keep your eyes on Jesus

John 12:32- Jesus will draw you to Himself

Psalm 118:22-23, Ephesians 2:19-22, Hebrews 12:1-3- Jesus is the foundation, the cornerstone and He will not be shaken (and neither will I in Him)

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*Intro and Outro music is from audionautix.com