Join Single Christian Women Speak as we talk with Ashley Buchanan-Sorensen, Author of 90 Reflections from God, From Iowa, From Me

In this episode, Ashley states, "I was a hot mess" prior to accepting Christ. Many of us can relate to her self-description and her childhood: growing up in a broken home, bouncing between both parents, and moving frequently.

Throughout the conversation, Ashley opens her heart and shares that, as a young girl, she grappled with feeling loved by people and by God, so deeply that she began to question if God existed. Not knowing how to handle her struggles led to her being arrested at the age of 16. It was in jail that she accepted Christ as her Savior, and she began experiencing change and understanding.

Other topics Ashley discusses are:

• Transformation
• Being grounded
• Hopelessness
• Peace
• Battling Obedience

This episode is for the single who:

• can relate to being "a hot mess."
• thinks she is the only one who questions God's love for her.
• finds herself hiding from God.
• struggles waiting on God to bring a man into her life.
• doesn't know where God is leading her.
• thinks she doesn't know enough about Jesus to share Him with others.

It is from Ashley’s life experiences that she wrote in 90 Reflections from God, From Iowa, From Me.

Music Shtakalberry via Pixabay.

Join us for this episode as Serena Menken, author of SerenaMenken.substack.com, openly shares her personal experience of walking her teenage daughter through a mental breakdown.

Her story begins when she saw signs of anxiety and depression in her teenager.

Serena graciously allows us to journey with her as those signs deepened, as well as an eating disorder, and suicidal thoughts developed. (Suicide Hotline is 988)

She details her family's experience as they received assessments and navigated recommended treatment plans in care facilities and at home. Serena openly shares her experience to encourage others who may face a similar situation.

From a parent's point of view, Serena shares topics on:

·      Self-blame

·      Shame

·      Self-confession

·      Feelings of abandonment

·      Working with a therapist

·      Treatment center experience and home treatment

Where does Serena gain strength through her family's journey? She answers this question with examples of how she has depended on her relationship with Christ throughout her parenting journey, describing it as, “I’ve been blessed with a really strong connection because I chose it.” She elaborates, “It’s something I’ve clung to.”

Throughout the conversation, you will hear Serena’s words filled with grace and discover why she titled her Substack, Evidence of Grace, where she pours her heart out in writing, for others to gain from.  

This episode is for the parent who feels alone and struggles with despair while parenting a child with anxiety, depression, or an eating disorder. As well as parents who hesitate to share their struggles with others, to ask for help, and who tend to neglect their own self-care while tending to others.  

Additional Resources are listed below. There is no affiliation with the resources listed below or mentioned in the episode. As always, you are encouraged to do your research and find resources that best suit you.

How to Nourish Your Child Through an Eating Disorder

When Your Teen Has an Eating Disorder

What Your ADHD Kid Wishes You Knew

FEAST

Brave Girl Eating

Music by ShtakalBerry via ⁠Pixabay

Two people with different backgrounds; one praying for aspouse to share their life with and the other content with the slower paced life they have always lived. Which one are you?

In part 2 of The Single Christian Women Speak episode, When Two Testimonies Meet: Steve and Brenda’s Journey to Freedom and Joy, the couple picks up where they left off in Part 1, where they shared their personal journey leading up to the moment they met. Steve shares he knew exactly what hewas looking for and had surrendered his desires to the Lord, when he met the woman, he had been praying for. Brenda, a woman filled with contentment, who was trusting in the Lord each day was caught off guard by the whirlwind thatbegan swirling the moment she received a special text message.

Relationship

This episode covers many different aspects of relationships.Steve and Brenda answer the question, “What did you see in each other that solidified the relationship?”

The term “dating” is familiar to describe the introductiontime in a relationship when two people get to know one another. But Steve describes how their relationship began in the “get to know time”, as he shares how the two of them began sharing with each other who they are and who theyhave been.

Stop!

Who sets the boundaries in your relationships? Listen toSteve describe how Brenda was a Godly woman and made it easy for him to not be tempted. “She showed me boundaries.” He elaborates on how Brenda did him afavor as he explains, “Brenda didn’t make it easy for me to be tempted.” Then he gets honest about himself, “If she would have shown me any indication that there was, maybe, boundaries not there, I would taken advantage of itprobably.”

Commitment to freedom and joy

Steve compares the wedding experience to “standing around in heaven.” And Brenda shares the support she had from her grown children and its effects as well as her list of standards, she had for a husband. You know that list every single woman has. Brenda had one too.

Expectations

We don't have to have a relationship with someone beforeknowing their expectations. We can make major expectations clear from the start. Steve and Brenda share a major sacrifice Brenda made because the expectation was discussed before the commitment to marriage. So, there was no surprise, no bitterness, and no resentment.

Intimacy

It is often thought that the relationship with a spouse isthe most important relationship in a married person’s life. Hear their answer when asked, “Is the most important relationship you have... with each other?”

Who is this episode for

This episode is for the single woman who is tempted to runahead of the Lord in search of finding freedom and joy in having a spouse, and who grapples with discouragement, thinking life isn’t going to change.

Join us, for a fun story, be encouraged and sign up for our monthly newsletter filled with inspiring articles and current podcast episodes designed to empower single Christian women! Flourish with encouragement tailored just for you—sign up today to receive a copy of the Introduction to TheBelieving Single.

We are glad you are here! Find more information at tracielobstein.com 

Music by ShtakalBerry via Pixabay.

The opinions expressed by guests may not reflect those of the Single Christian Women Speak Podcast.

What happens when two people with completely different life experiences, who have both grown in their faith over the years, meet?

In Part 1 of When Two Testimonies Meet: Steve and Brenda’s Journey to Freedom and Joy, Steve and Brenda share their individual stories. They come from very different backgrounds: one has grown to seek a Godly spouse to share their life with, while the other finds contentment in how God has guided them through life’s obstacles.

Steve's testimony begins with the death of his father at the age of seven. After experiencing such a loss, he felt a sense of abandonment when his mother dedicated herself to doing what’s best for his future and enrolled him in a boys' school. He reflects on his adult journey of college, military service, and forming commitments to marriage and family, all while lacking a true sense of having a place to call home.  

Brenda’s story is quite different; she grew up as a preacher’s kid, experiencing stability by living in the same community all her life and naturally being devoted to her husband and children.

Brenda found contentment in her role as a wife and mother. As a widow, she shares how she remained content throughout the grieving of losing her husband, never being overpowered by a pursuit of another relationship. Although she was open to a relationship, she never felt overwhelmed by not having one.

At the age of 28, Steve shares how he recognized discouragement within himself and shares his thoughts, “Getting up every day for the rest of my life and going to work, getting off work and coming home, and then having to be a husband and father to three children. It wasn’t a bad life, but I didn’t see a purpose.”

Have you ever wondered how a weekend father deals with separation from his children? Or, if a bad ending to a marriage affects the ex-husband? Listen to Steve’s heart as he shares his pain, tears, and prayers, along with the lessons he has learned.

While Brenda was grounded in her faith throughout her journey, Steve explains how he discovered the difference between having head knowledge vs having Jesus in his heart. Do you recognize the difference? If so, you may recognize the three things he experienced freedom from after his prayer of surrender: guilt, shame, and burden.

Brenda never ran after marriage, and Steve was used to running ahead of God when it came to relationships. However, when he began to pray for a Godly woman to come into his life, God brought him Brenda.

In this episode, you will hear about Brenda’s strong and steady lifestyle filled with contentment, and you will delve into the heart of a weekend dad. Steve also shares his heart when he discovered what a marriage is, both with and without God. He explains that he used to try to bring God into the midst of a marriage, rather than beginning the marriage with God. Do you ever question when to bring God into a relationship?

This episode serves as the backdrop to Part 2. Together, these episodes are shared for listeners who seek freedom and joy in adventure and relationships. And who yearn to be content in singleness while refusing to engage in a relationship that is not God centered.  

Join us for Part 2 when Steve and Brenda share how they met, details of their dating phase, what Steve learned from Brenda’s boundaries, and when she discovered Steve’s name.

Music by ShtakalBerry via Pixabay

The opinions expressed by guests may not reflect those of the Single Christian Women Speak Podcast. 

Two-time award-winning author Cally Logan joins the Single Christian Women Speak podcast and shares insights into The Wallflower That Bloomed, plus more.

Cally Logan has appeared on Today's Nashville and has made multiple appearances on the 700 Club Interactive. She is the Senior Writer for Crosswalk.com and The Rooted Truth. Her writings have appeared in many publications, including Christine Caines' Propel Women.

Cally connects with women who experience the bondage of being labeled shy, awkward, or struggle with introverted tendencies that keep them in bondage. She encourages listeners and readers to bloom into the person that God created them to be. And shares what vulnerability looks like from moments in her own life by exploring how a difference is made in a young woman's life when she invites the Lord to have an input in her wardrobe, she creates personal space in her home, and considers the people that make her table of advisors.  

Cally’s online presence is filled with grace, and she shares her outlook on social media, how it can be used, and how she “yields her social media to the Lord.”  

Listen to what Cally has to say about “Pick me” girls, how shy Wallflowers can get connected in church, and the advice she gives to women who become friends with everyone who expresses niceness to them.

You’ll hear Cally introduce her two other books, including Hang in There, Girl, where she describes being a “big sister in a book.” She wrote this for the young woman who has questions but doesn’t know who to ask. And Dear Future Husband is based on letters Cally writes to her future husband. The reader will be able to connect to the deep desire many women have for a husband. She leaves the listener with intense hope as she explains that our deep desire is already met by God, in His Son Jesus Christ.

This episode is for the woman who struggles with self-esteem and yearns to develop into who God has created her to be. Wallflowers will receive encouragement in Cally’s words, stories, and ideas as she encourages women to “Leave a mark, not a stain on this earth."

Find out more about Cally, her books, writings, and appearances at CallyLogan.com. 

Music by ShtakalBerry via Pixabay

Sherri J. Cullison, Author of S.O.S. A Mother’s Story of Survival, Rescue, and Hope in the Darkness of Teen Suicide joins the Single Christian Women Speak podcast to share a message of hope in grieving.

Sherri brings wisdom through experience in this episode. Her insight is useful for both those grieving and those who want to support, encourage, and love someone who is in the midst of grieving.  When Sherri wrote S.O.S. A Mother’s Story of Survival, Rescue, and Hope in the Darkness of Teen Suicide, she focused on writing from the point of being real, relentless, and raw. Her story is powerful, and she holds nothing back.

Through experience, Sherri shares,

·       Suggestions of what to say and do when you aren’t confident, words or actions will make a difference to someone grieving.

·       Sometimes, “the first step we take is not to take a step” when life feels overwhelming. Then she explains through experience that she has learned that “God wants us to run to Him.”

She elaborates on the pressures single parents face and brings encouragement to the listener on how to strengthen their faith. She explains, “No matter what you are going through, no matter how much you have on your plate, you need to remember how much God loves you.”

The listener who struggles knowing where to turn when they are losing hope will receive encouragement from Sherri’s message as she shares her personal thoughts while grieving, “In my grief, I actually allowed my mind to think that I would never smile again. But I smile a lot. There is still joy in the life of a grieving mom.”

Embrace hope through Sherri’s story as she opens her heart and shares personal experiences while grieving as a mother.

Find out more about Sherri J Cullison here. 

Additional Resources are listed below that Sherri mentioned in the episode. I am not affiliated with the resources listed below or mentioned in the episode. As always, you are encouraged to do your research and find resources that suit you best.

988Lifeline.org

Heart 4 Hope Outreach

Grieving Moms Finding Hope

Sherrijcullison.com

S.O.S. A Mother’s Story of Survival, Rescue, and Hope in the Darkness of Teen Suicide - Amazon, Redemption-Press.com

Facebook

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For many single Christian women, making a way for prayer is high on their to-do list, but it often gets glanced over and transferred to the next day’s list, only to be ignored again.  

In this episode of the Single Christian Women Speak podcast, Jan explains how and why single Christian women can elevate their prayer life. She explains what prayer is, the distractions we face, and how to overcome each obstacle. Juggling tasks, calendars, and meeting demands often causes prayer to slip to the bottom of our priorities. Jan explains how she once dismissed prayer on the fact that “God is in control of all things. He has the power and authority to do anything He wants. Nothing is off His radar; He sees everything.” However, she shares how this same understanding took a spin and enticed her to make prayer the most important aspect of her walk with the Lord.

Do you Feel Disconnected from God?

It can be difficult to comprehend how God hears our prayers. Listen to Jan explain how God does hear our prayers, and they are a “sweet aroma” to Him.  

Do you experience a loss for words after a few minutes of praying? Jan gives us ideas on how to approach prayer in a way that plows through the path of hindrances. She emphasizes the importance of praying for practical and spiritual needs, for ourselves, and others in areas of eternal significance.

Prayer—a Privilege and a Weapon.

Jan gets personal as she shares her experience; the listener will hear how prayer is a passionate expression of the heart, a spiritual weapon, an intimate experience, and a privilege given to us by Jesus’ death on the cross.  She explains, “Jesus also died on the cross because God wants to dwell with them through prayer.”

The Peace of Prayer  

Single women have trials and heartaches. Often, these pains are swept under the rug, set aside, and left to fester. At the same time, prayer is overlooked as unimportant. But prayer is where we can “weep over our trials and our heartaches. Cast our anxieties on Him. Lay down our burdens.”  Jan shares how she has experienced the exchange of pain for peace, which happens through prayer.

Be encouraged and discover ways to develop a prayer life, experience intimacy with God, and dwell in relationship with Him.  

For more information about The Believing Single check out TracieLobstein.com

The opinions expressed by guests may not reflect those of the Single Christian Women Speak Podcast. 

Music by ShtakalBerry via Pixabay

Experiencing Good Grief in Singleness with Pam Luschei

 Can single women grieve what they have never had, such as a healthy relationship?

Gain inspiration as you listen to the answer to this question on Experiencing Good Grief in Singleness with guest Pam Luschei, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Pam, a single herself, explains how we can grieve non-death losses, such as the loss of dreams and things that have not occurred.

Finding Joy in Singleness

Before Pam gets into the topic of grieving, she shares, “I am so grateful,” describing her current life stage being Single & 70. She tells the listeners she is “Finding the joy in what I still have, while I'm grieving what I no longer have.”

Good Grief in Singleness

Good grief is a common expression, but can it be experienced? Pam explains grief and what good grief looks like: “When we love something and hope for something, and we are attached to it. And that can be a person, a dream, or a relationship.” She continues by explaining, good grief is when we can say, “Here I am with this loss of (naming it), then allowing yourself to begin to feel the pain, the sadness, all the feelings that do come with grief.”

It Hurts When Others Don't Recognize Our Grief

Many of us have grieved alone and in silence because our loss doesn’t seem significant to others. Pam explains a few losses our culture often dismisses that are still losses to be grieved, such as divorce, diagnosis, and loss of abilities and freedoms.

Physical Effects of Grief

Do you ever feel physical effects from grief? It’s verypossible to do so, because grief can often affect our brain, sleep, appetite, and our immune system. And Pam encourages us to build awareness by learning howour bodies respond to grief.

Grieving in Singleness - A Need for Fellowship

This episode is filled with hope for single women whostruggle being seen in the church, find their place, and having the courage to contribute their talents due to shyness or a reserved personality.

The listener will find comfort knowing this struggle iscommon and will be encouraged when Pam shares suggestions of how to connect, join in, and be helpful to others while simultaneously finding her place.

Take Advantage of Professional Counseling 

If you wonder if or when to seek professional counseling for grieving, Pam shares a few things you can consider: “When there is a period of time when you feel numb or you feel stuck.” Listen as she elaborates.

Grieving with Hope

She shares a hope-filled message about grief being a process and breaks it down, reminding us that we aren’t going to stay there permanently. Grief is a process. And we are not alone—God’s promises are real and something to cling to.

Find Out More:

Find more about Pam at https://www.gratefulyetgrieving.org and check out her free eBook, Grateful, Yet Grieving. Pam has other valuable resources available, including free devotionals, a newsletter, and her book, Walking The Way, A 21-Day Devotional for Pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago, is available. .  

Additional Resources referenced during the episode:

The Grieving Brain, book by Mary Frances O'Connor https://maryfrancesoconnor.org/books/the-grieving-brain

Find Pam on Facebook and Instagram.

Music by ShtakalBerry via Pixabay

The opinions expressed by guests may not reflect those of the Single Christian Women Speak Podcast. 

In this thought-provoking episode of The Single Christian Women Speak Podcast, Pastor Wayne Basye dives deep into the often-misunderstood topic of hell. He invites listeners to reflect on the origins of their beliefs about hell and emphasizes the importance of turning to scripture for the truth.
Pastor Wayne eloquently describes humanity as “the workmanship of God” and explores our beginnings, including the intricate relationship between body, soul, and spirit. He addresses the critical question of what happens after we die, referencing Ecclesiastes 12:7 to shed light on the fate of our physical bodies and spirits.
As he discusses the profound choices we make in life, Pastor Wayne explains the stark contrasts between hell and heaven, questioning why a loving God would create a place of eternal punishment. His compelling insights provide clarity amid common misconceptions surrounding this challenging topic.
Ultimately, Pastor Wayne emphasizes the hope found in scripture and the significance of having one’s name written in the Book of Life. He reassures listeners that regardless of their past, hope is available through accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Join us for an episode filled with truth, hope, and a call to make a life-changing decision.

This is another gripping episode of the Single Christian Women Speak podcast, in which Pastor Wayne Basye unveils his personal testimony.

Pastor Wayne is known today for being a pastor who closes each sermon with a song. Those songs are often ones he wrote while in prison when he was paying the penalty for his poor choices. But today, that life doesn’t define him. The power of the cross does.

Listen as his testimony unfolds. As a young man who always considered his family a priority, he joined the military, earned his college education, and became a successful contractor. Then, he made a choice that led to his being dominated by a substance. Within three years, he lost everything. Isolated and with six cents in his pocket, he made a decision that led to another that affected other people.

Has a child ever called your bluff? A child asked Wayne, “Are you going to hurt my mother?” It was then that the trajectory of his actions changed. Have you ever wanted your situation to come to an end? Wayne did. And he declared, “Thank God, it’s over”, when the SWAT Team took control.

Get ready to sit on the edge of your seat as he shares his personal story and where it has taken him today, including who he met along the way, how his life transformed inside prison, and how he became a prison chaplain upon his release.

Now, he pastors a church, closing each message with a song that shares the hope he found in Jesus.

Our stories aren’t always as dramatic as Pastor Wayne’s, but God’s power is the same; in the story, He has waiting for each one of us.

As Pastor Wayne says, “No matter where you are coming from, you are coming from sinner into grace. And it is an amazing story in each and every person’s life. You don’t have to go through what I went through. Nobody needs my testimony. I don’t wish it upon anybody. Only the power of God has turned that testimony into the life you see Sandi and I living now.”

You will be inspired when you hear Pastor Wayne explain how his testimony was instant: “It was a very emotional and instantaneous belief.” If you think you are too far gone to embrace the hope of Jesus, you’ll be relieved as he defines testimony as: “My testimony isn’t about all the stupid stuff I did. But the testimony is what Christ does in your life to change all that.”

A story about us is simply a story about ourselves. But our testimony unfolds when we allow Jesus to be a part of the story.

Stay tuned to hear Pastor Wayne Basye speak on Hell in the next episode and read more in Spirituality Flourishes in Kingman Prison, as he took hope back to prison.