God Hears Her Podcast

Easter is the time to reflect on the resurrection story and the powerful redemption of the cross. What are some verses in the Bible that make you think of Easter? Join Elisa Morgan, Eryn Adkins, and new host Vivian Mabuni as they each share different parts of Scripture that motivate them to reflect on other aspects of the Easter story. Get out your Bible and a journal for this God Hears Her conversation.

Notes and Quotes: 

• “Even if everything in your life is silent about God … what are the stones that cry out to remind you of His existence and faithfulness?” —Elisa Morgan 

• “Don’t determine who God is based on your circumstances; you need to evaluate your circumstances based on who God is.” —Vivian Mabuni 

• “If Jesus didn’t rise from the dead, then He was just a really good teacher.” —Vivian Mabuni

• “When we can’t hear from Him, or we don’t know what He’s doing, can we trust who He is?” —Elisa Morgan 

• “When I look around my circumstances and there’s a temptation to add a pleasure to my pain quickly, I know it’s not worth it. Jesus is who He says He is.” —Eryn Adkins 

• “I can walk with Him in what I feel on a daily basis knowing He knows what that feels like.” —Eryn Adkins 

Verses: 

• Luke 19:37–40

• 1 Corinthians 15

Links: 

• Encounters with Jesus: https://ourdailybreadpublishing.org/encounters-with-jesus.html 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/

• God Hears Her email sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/sign-upsfmc 

• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast

• Elisa’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elisamorganauthor/

• Eryn’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eryneddy/

• Vivian’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vivmabuni/

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Guest Bio: Katie Lewis is the founder of Dear Mushka, a Scripture-based everyday wear jewelry, apparel, and accessories company. She's passionate about the Bible being a very present help and equipping women for everyday life with it by “wearing truth and sharing truth.” When she isn't working or discipling four little boys and her newborn baby girl, she’s an aspiring gardener and is always grateful for a few minutes to read. 

Show Summary: Have you ever felt like God called you to something you weren’t capable of? Do you feel like He changed your direction and plans? Katie Lewis is a woman of moxie who’s continued to lean into God’s presence in the unexpectedness of her life. Her mission is to equip women with Scripture because she’s experienced firsthand how life-changing the wisdom of the Bible is. Join Elisa Morgan and Eryn Adkins as they get to know Katie during this conversation on God Hears Her.

Notes and Quotes: 

• “I feel like He’s said, ‘Keep going, I have not released you from this.’ ” —Katie Lewis

• “We do hard things, that’s a part of life.” —Katie Lewis

• “He has promised that His power is what will carry me through to live a godly life.” —Katie Lewis

• “I felt like He was inviting me to ‘test’ Him… in a tender and gentle way.” —Katie Lewis

Verses: 

• Isaiah 43:1 

• Ephesians 3:20 

• 2 Peter 1:3

• James 1:5

• Psalm 143:8

Links: 

• Katie’s Website: https://www.dearmushka.com/

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/

• God Hears Her email sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/sign-upsfmc 

• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast

• Elisa’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elisamorganauthor/

• Eryn’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eryneddy/

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Guest Bio: Lina AbuJamra is a pediatric ER doctor who now practices telemedicine and in her “spare” time enjoys attending her nephews’ football games, traveling, and lingering over a fine meal. A podcaster, conference speaker, and a popular Bible teacher, she founded Living with Power Ministries to provide medical care and humanitarian help to Syrian refugees and others in disaster areas. She also hosts a radio show and is the author of several books, most recently Fractured Faith and her new Bible Study Through the Desert: A Study on God’s Faithfulness. 

Show Summary: What are your needs right now? Do you feel like you need a friend, a spouse, a new job, or a new role? In the midst of your felt needs, how do you depend on Jesus? Join hosts Elisa Morgan and Eryn Adkins as they talk with Unshakeable Moxie guest, Lina AbuJamra, about her needs and how she’s grown to depend on Jesus in the midst of them. We’re so excited to learn from Lina during this God Hears Her conversation. 

Notes and Quotes: 

• “It’s not that I love pain, it’s that we learn in painful places.” —Lina AbuJamra

• “All heartbreak shapes us and it comes to every human in different forms.” —Lina AbuJamra

• “It’s so simple and it's so profound… God never leaves.” —Lina AbuJamra

• “In my moments of failure is when I see Him on the cross even more clearly.” —Lina AbuJamra

Verses: 

• Psalm 139:7–10

Links: 

• Lina’s New Bible Study: Through the Desert: A Study on God’s Faithfulness

• Lina’s Website: LivingWithPower.org

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/

• God Hears Her email sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/sign-upsfmc 

• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast

• Elisa’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elisamorganauthor/

• Eryn’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eryneddy/

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Guest Bio: MŌRIAH is a Mexican-American recording artist, actress, and producer from Los Angeles, CA. Her film credits include the lead role in Because of Gracia (2017), singer Loyce Whiteman in the Dennis Quaid Ronald Reagan biopic (2023), and Bathsheba in the series The Chosen (2023). She co-produced a feature film alongside Candace Cameron Bure called Unsung Hero and acted in a Sony Affirm Christmas musical titled Journey to Bethlehem, starring Antonio Banderas (2023).

Show Summary: We’ve been talking about moxie a bit here to prepare for the upcoming docuseries Unshakable Moxie. How do you understand moxie? Do you feel like you fit the definition of being a woman with moxie? Today we’re talking to singer and actress, Moriah Smallbone, about how her definition of moxie changed as she hosted the docuseries. Moriah shares realizations about herself that she came to while the series was filming. Join God Hears Her hosts Elisa Morgan and Eryn Adkins as they get to know Moriah. 

Notes and Quotes: 

• “It’s funny how you have to do the work to let go of something that held you in such safe keeping.” —Moriah Smallbone

• “Moxie is in the tender moments. It’s in empathizing with each other; it’s in sitting with one another in grief and pain. It’s in sitting in the questions and instead of arguing, being okay with not knowing.” —Moriah Smallbone

• “Softness and tenderness is not weakness.” —Eryn Adkins 

Links: 

• Moriah Smallbone’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moriahsmallbone/?hl=en 

• Moriah’s website: https://www.moriahofficial.com/ 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/ 

• God Hears Her email sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/sign-upsfmc 

• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast

• Elisa’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elisamorganauthor/

• Eryn’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eryneddy/

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Guest Bio: Toni Collier is the founder of an international women’s organization called Broken Crayons Still Color and helps women process through brokenness and get to healing and hope. Toni is a speaker, host of the Still Coloring podcast, and author of two books: Brave Enough to be Broken and her latest release, a children's book, Broken Crayons Still Color. Toni is teaching people all over the globe that you can be broken and still worthy, or feel unqualified and still be called to do great things. 

Show Summary: Moxie means “spirit” and “courage,” but to have those things we also need to have grit. Do you consider yourself to be a woman of moxie? Today, Toni Collier is back on God Hears Her to talk with hosts Elisa Morgan and Eryn Adkins about how we can develop moxie by healing and paying attention to the people around us. Let’s dive into learning about “Unshakeable Moxie.”

Notes and Quotes: 

• “God is still in the business of creating beauty out of broken things.” —Toni Collier

• “If God doesn’t move this mountain, then He will give you the strength to climb it.” —Toni Collier

• “God is truly in all the details.” —Toni Collier

• “The ultimate form of moxie is surrender and releasing control.” —Toni Collier

• “Comparison will block you from God trying to show you hope.” —Toni Collier

• “Hope is the belief that things will get better.” —Toni Collier

Links: 

• Brave Enough to Be Broken Toni’s book: Amazon

• Broken Crayons Still Color Toni’s children’s book: Amazon

• Toni Collier’s website: https://www.tonijcollier.com/ 

• Toni’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonijcollier/ 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/

• God Hears Her email sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/sign-upsfmc 

• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast

• God Hears Her Episode 18 with Toni Collier: https://www.godhearsher.org/podcast/episode-18-how-god-redeems-brokenness

• Elisa’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elisamorganauthor/

• Eryn’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eryneddy/

Trigger Warning: 

• Sexual abuse mentioned

• Alcohol and drug abuse mentioned

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Guest Bio: Julie Richardson has experienced God’s faithfulness through many life challenges including divorce, infertility, and the loss of loved ones. She has led women’s ministries in a variety of churches and parachurch ministries over the last 25 years, and one of her greatest joys is to mentor women, helping them discover the vibrant life that Christ offers. Julie has been a part of Our Daily Bread Ministries for 20 years working in a variety of capacities and most recently as a visual media producer and director. Her latest project, Unshakable Moxie: Growing a Resilient Faith is a 6-part docuseries featuring two young women on a quest to discover how courageous women of faith have the moxie to stay strong in Christ amid adversity and suffering. She’s passionate about prayer and leads the growing prayer ministry at Our Daily Bread Ministries.

Show Summary: Do you have a dream that’s been put on hold? Have you been in a long season of waiting? During 2021, we had a guest on God Hears Her who was in the midst of a waiting season for a project she felt really passionate about. Julie Richardson has seen that dream come to life after our last conversation with her. Join Julie as she talks with hosts, Elisa Morgan and Eryn Adkins about the project Unshakeable Moxie and her journey as a producer and director for the film. 

Notes and Quotes: 

• “Moxie is courage and determination… To have moxie is to have a woman who is so close to Jesus that she stays close to Him no matter what happens.” —Julie Richardson

• “I think anytime we’re in the waiting, it can be so hard.” —Julie Richardson

• “Sometimes I think God brings us back to a place of pain for deeper healing.” —Julie Richardson

• “Moxie is stepping into our weakness and depending on Christ.” —Julie Richardson

• “I hope people will come to see how much Jesus loves us.” —Julie Richardson

Verses: 

• Joshua 3

• Matthew 26:6–13

Links: 

• Unshakable Moxie website: https://read.odb.org/unshakable-moxie/ 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/

• God Hears Her email sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/sign-upsfmc 

• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast

• God Hears Her Episode 60 with Julie Richardson: https://www.godhearsher.org/podcast/becoming-a-woman-with-moxie

• Elisa’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elisamorganauthor/

• Eryn’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eryneddy/

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Guest Bio: Ericka Porter is a proud native of the Denver Metro Area. From early in life, she has eagerly worked to develop and inspire future generations. After graduating from Southeastern University, where she studied Youth Ministries, she has come alongside urban and under-served students in various roles for the last twenty years. Ericka currently serves as a youth leader with some of her favorite high school girls at Colorado Community Church. 

In 2022, Ericka took a significant leap to use her professional experience and passion to start Rise Up Training & Consulting, a company focused on supporting youth-serving organizations through effective collaboration, professional development, and program design. She deeply holds the belief that “there is no such thing as other people’s children,” inviting everyone into the collective responsibility for the young people in our communities. 

Show Summary: While you were growing up, did you have someone mentoring you? Most of us can probably name one person who contributed to our lives in a positive way. Ericka Porter has a passion for mentoring and equipping children and teens with the skills they need to face the world through investing in their lives. Join along as hosts Elisa Morgan and Eryn Adkins talk with Ericka Porter about the importance of raising up the next generation during this conversation of God Hears Her. 

Notes and Quotes: 

• “Young people are impressionable, and young people are seeking something that’s real.” —Ericka Porter

• “It didn’t click for me until I understood that God actually authors my purpose and my purpose is so much bigger than the things that I see in my day-to-day.” —Ericka Porter

• “The world gets bigger and more meaningful and more purposed as you find the Lord because He opens your eyes to who He is and who He’s called you to be.” —Ericka Porter

• “The young people benefit from the varied experiences. . . . There is always a place for you, there is always value for what you can bring into a young person’s life.” —Ericka Porter

• “If you can sow into what you hope will be a better world that is closer to the Lord, you really have to sow those seeds now.” —Ericka Porter

Links: 

• Ericka’s Organization: https://www.riseuptc.com/

• Ericka’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erickamporter

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/

• God Hears Her email sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/sign-upsfmc 

• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast

• Elisa’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elisamorganauthor/

• Eryn’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eryneddy/

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Guest Bio: Amanda Bible Williams is co-founder of She Reads Truth, a brand that creates beautiful, accessible Bible reading plans and resources that help women read God’s Word every day. She is also co-founder of He Reads Truth and Kids Read Truth, editor of the She Reads Truth Bible, and co-host of the She Reads Truth Podcast. Amanda, her husband David, and their four children live in a loud, lively farmhouse just south of Nashville, Tennessee. 

Show Summary: When did reading Scripture become important to you? Can you think of a time in your life when it really started to grab at your heart? Amanda Williams can tell you of many times throughout her life when the Word of God came to life for her. She wants to equip women to read the Word and feel the same love for the Bible. Join Elisa Morgan and Eryn Adkins as they learn more about reading Scripture with Amanda Williams during this conversation on God Hears Her. 

Notes and Quotes: 

• “It feels like there are obstacles to [reading the Bible].” —Amanda Bible Williams 

• “Our goal is to inspire and equip women to be in the Word themselves.” —Amanda Bible Williams

• “How much more we’re able to see Him in our lives when we see Him in the Word.” —Amanda Bible Williams

• “His Word is always living and active and it doesn’t fail me.” —Amanda Bible Williams

Links: 

• She Reads Truth website: https://shereadstruth.com/ 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/

• God Hears Her email sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/sign-upsfmc 

• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast

• Elisa’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elisamorganauthor/

• Eryn’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eryneddy/

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Guest Bio: 

Bethany Toney is a wife, mother, and cookie enthusiast. She is married to Dude Perfect star, Tyler Toney, and together they have three children. 

Show Summary: 

When was the last time you felt jealous towards someone? Was it a friend, a family member, a coworker? The seed of jealousy can grow very fast when we let it fester in our hearts. Today’s guest, Bethany Toney, shares her struggle with jealousy that negatively impacted and almost broke her marriage. While fighting her loneliness and bitterness, she found herself becoming more and more distant with her husband until she couldn’t take it anymore. Join Elisa Morgan and Eryn Adkins during this conversation on God Hears Her as they listen to Bethany’s story and learn what it took to heal their marriage.

Notes and Quotes: 

• “I didn’t have an identity, and I wanted an identity.” —Bethany Toney

• “It’s very easy to point the finger at the person whose sin is bigger. But I had to learn that I had to put in just as much work as he did.” —Bethany Toney

• “God is working through us constantly.” —Eryn Adkins 

• “God never left me. He was walking through everything with me. He was saying “I’m going to hold your hand through this.” —Bethany Toney

Links: 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/

• God Hears Her email sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/sign-upsfmc 

• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast

• Elisa’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elisamorganauthor/

• Eryn’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eryneddy/

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Guest Bio: 

As an experienced communicator, Michele Cushatt speaks internationally to a wide variety of audiences and has published four books, “Relentless,” “I Am,” “Undone,”  and “A Faith That Will Not Fail.” A three-time head and neck cancer survivor and parent of "children from hard places," Michele is a (reluctant) expert on trauma, pain, and the deep human need for authentic connection and enduring faith. She and her husband, Troy, share a blended family of six children, including biological children, stepchildren, and foster-adopt children. They live on eight acres outside of Denver, Colorado.

Show Summary: 

Do you have any New Year’s resolutions this year? We’re in 2024 and a lot of us love to start the new year strong with new workout routines, diets, or personal goals. What kind of spiritual practices do you want to lean into this year? Michele Cushatt is a cancer survivor who has learned deeply about God’s mercy and hope through her pain. Join Elisa Morgan and Eryn Adkins as they learn spiritual practices to strengthen the foundation of your faith during this conversation on God Hears Her.

Notes and Quotes: 

• “What does faith look like not in theory but in reality?” —Michele Cushatt

• “God was faithful even though I didn’t understand what was happening.” —Michele Cushatt

• “Spiritual practices are not about doing more, it’s about being present to what’s already been done for you.” —Michele Cushatt

• “Human beings are always trying to earn grace.” —Michele Cushatt

• “At some point in time, everything in my life can be lost… except God Himself.” —Michele Cushatt

• “Contentment is never external.” —Michele Cushatt

• “The things that we think disqualify us end up to be the very things that God uses to touch mankind.” —Michele Cushatt

• “There are still days I cry about what I’ve lost, and I don’t feel guilty about it. Because I believe God mourns my suffering even more than I do.” —Michele Cushatt

Verses: 

• Romans 5:3–5

• John 19:30

• Romans 8:38–39

• 1 Thessalonians 4:13–14

• John 14:18

• Revelation 21:5

• Philippians 1:23

Links: 

• Michele’s books: https://michelecushatt.com/books/ 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/

• God Hears Her email sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/sign-upsfmc 

• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast

• Elisa’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elisamorganauthor/

• Eryn’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eryneddy/

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Guest Bio: Retired pastoral associate and former adjunct faculty at Seattle University, Kathleen MacInnis Kichline continues to offer retreats and online presentations and has recently authored her latest book, “Why These Women?: Four Stories You Need to Read Before You Read the Story of Jesus.”  

Show Summary: When we think of Christmas we don’t often focus on the genealogy of Jesus. As we celebrate the incredible birth story of our Savior, what if we also took a look at the people of faith who came before? During this conversation on God Hears Her, join Elisa Morgan and Eryn Adkins as they talk with Kathlenn Macinnic Kichline about four incredible women of faith in the genealogy of Jesus. Kathleen takes you through a journey that will leave you even more excited about the birth of Jesus. Get out your Bibles and some hot cocoa for this conversation on God Hears Her. 

Notes and Quotes: 

• “How do you prepare your heart for Christmas?” —Elisa Morgan 

• “Matthew’s account is the shadow account of the Christmas story.” —Kathleen MacInnis Kichline

• “The genealogy of Jesus shows that God was preparing for this.” —Kathleen MacInnis Kichline

Verses: 

• Ruth 1:16

• Story of Ruth 

• Genealogy of Jesus

• Story of Tamar 

• The story of Hagar 

• The story of Bathsheba 

• Mary and Joseph

Links: 

• Why These Women?: Four Stories You Need to Read Before You Read the Story of Jesus: https://www.amazon.com/Why-These-Women-Stories-Before/dp/B09R2WRK8W 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/ 

• God Hears Her email sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/sign-upsfmc 

• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast

• Elisa’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elisamorganauthor/

• Eryn’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eryneddy/

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Guest Bio: Amy Nordhues is a survivor of both childhood sexual abuse and sexual abuse as an adult at the hands of a mental health professional. She is a passionate believer in Jesus and expert on the healing God provides. She has a BA in psychology with minors in sociology and criminology. In 2021, Amy published her story of abuse as an adult in the award-winning memoir Prayed Upon: Breaking Free from Therapist Abuse. Now a full-time advocate for victims of therapist/clergy abuse, she has a well-loved blog, speaks at conferences, and has more than 35 radio and podcast interviews on the subject. A married mother of three, she enjoys spending time with family, writing, reading, photography, and all things comedy.

Show Summary: We want to warn you that this episode includes the topics of suicide, sexual assault, and abuse. As an adult, we often think we’re incapable of falling into abusive situations or sexual grooming. However, roughly 50,000 people are working toward healing after finding themselves a victim to abusers within the church, doctor offices, therapy offices, jobs, and other places or situations where we often think we’re safe.  Amy Nordhues is a survivor and an advocate for other survivors who have been through clergy and therapist abuse. Join Amy as she tells her story to hosts Elisa Morgan and Eryn Adkins during this conversation on God Hears Her.

Notes and Quotes: 

• “I refer to these traumas like an earthquake; there’s the initial quake and there are these smaller, mini quakes that happen for years.” –Amy Nordhues

• “An ethical therapist will never burden the clients. They will be a blank slate for you when you walk in, and then you leave [your appointment] knowing that they can take care of themselves.” –Amy Nordhues

• “Suddenly I found myself thinking, ‘God doesn’t make abusers’, and, ‘God doesn’t make evil’ . . . so what if God restored my abuser to the person that He made, would I be okay with that person going to heaven?” –Amy Nordhues

• “Forgiveness is not that you like your abuser now or that you’re okay with what happened, but I feel like it’s telling God that this burden is too heavy for me and I need you to take it.” –Amy Nordhues

• I had spent most of my life in darkness, bitterness, and anger. . . . I wasn’t going back there. And I like to tell victims, “Don’t let your abusers take that [hope] away from you; don’t let them take away your faith. Don’t let them put you back into that cage of anger and bitterness.” –Amy Nordhues

Verses: 

• Exodus 14:14 NIV

• Deuteronomy 32:35 NIV

• Psalm 37:6 NIV

Links: 

• Amy’s website: www.amynordhues.com

• Amy’s book: https://www.amazon.com/Prayed-Upon-Breaking-Therapist-Abuse

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/

• God Hears Her email sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/sign-upsfmc 

• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast

• Amy’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amynordhuesauthor/

• Elisa’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elisamorganauthor/

• Eryn’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eryneddy/

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Guest Bio: Rachel Marie Kang is a New York native, born and raised just outside of New York City. She is the founder of The Fallow House and author of Let There Be Art. Rachel’s writing has been featured in Christianity Today, Proverbs 31 Ministries, Ekstasis, She Reads Truth, and (in)courage. She lives and writes in North Carolina with her husband and two children.

Show Summary: When thinking about creativity, we often consider writers, painters, artists, poets, and many more to be the real “creative” people. What if we told you that there was so much more to the ways we express ourselves through different mediums of art? What if our ultimate Creator blessed us with all different forms of creating? Author and poet, Rachel Marie Kang, is excited to share a new outlook on the way we think about art. Join hosts Elisa Morgan and Eryn Adkins as they explore this new way of thinking on God Hears Her.

Notes and Quotes: 

• “There’s something really beautiful about creating in the private.” –Eryn Adkins 

• “It’s scary to be alone with your thoughts.” –Eryn Adkins 

• “That’s how you grow, you start small.” –Rachel Marie Kang 

• “He is creating light as boundary, so that light has a purpose.” –Rachel Marie Kang

• “I am pushing back the darkness in my own life.” –Rachel Marie Kang

• “He is always creating. He is always moving. He is always working. He is pushing back the darkness always.” –Rachel Marie Kang

• “You have something to offer.” –Rachel Marie Kang

Verses: 

• John 1:3

• Genesis 1:2-3

• Genesis 4:1

• Lamentations 3

Links: 

• Rachel’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelmariekang/

• Let There Be Art by Rachel Marie Kang: Amazon

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/ 

• God Hears Her email sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/sign-upsfmc 

• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast

• Elisa’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elisamorganauthor/

• Eryn’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eryneddy/

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Guest Bio: Jess Ronne is an author, speaker, podcast host at Coffee with Caregivers, associate producer of the Unseen documentary, and caregiver advocate.  She is the founder and executive director of The Lucas Project, a non-profit dedicated to providing recognition, resources, and respite support for special needs families. She and her husband Ryan live in Michigan with their eight children, including their son Lucas who has profound disabilities. Her story of beauty from ashes has been shared on The Today Show, Daily Mail, and Huffington Post and is detailed in her memoir Sunlight Burning at Midnight. 

Show Summary: Jesus tells us that we will have struggles in our lives. What do we do while we’re facing those struggles? Jess Ronne is an example of someone who faces trouble with grit and determination. She did not give up in the face of many challenges and because of it she now has a non-profit that helps caregivers like her. During this conversation on God Hears Her, join Jess as she shares her story with hosts Elisa Morgan and Eryn Adkins.

Notes and Quotes: 

• “God and I have gone through a lot of wrestling together with anger.” –Jess Ronne

• “I’m a doer, and when I see a problem I say, ‘How are we going to fix this?’” –Jess Ronne

• “It’s an honor to do this work, but we all need breaks.” –Jess Ronne

• “I don’t want to be his forever caregiver, I want to be his mom.” –Jess Ronne

• “The child is only as healthy as the caregiver.” –Jess Ronne 

• “I don’t think grief ever really ends, it just looks different.” –Jess Ronne 

• “We weren’t necessarily made for this world, we were made for something better.” –Jess Ronne

Verses: 

• Job 33:12

Links: 

• The Lucas Project: https://thelucasproject.org/about/

• Jess’s Website: www.jessplusthemess.com

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/

• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup

• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast

• Elisa’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elisamorganauthor/

• Eryn’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eryneddy/

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Guest Bio: Chriscynethia Floyd is vice president and publisher of Our Daily Bread Publishing. Her more than twenty-year career spans both secular and Christian publishing, where she has served as a vice president in sales, marketing, and editorial for organizations such as Simon and Schuster Publishing, HarperCollins Christian Publishers, and David C. Cook.  She leads and collaborates with a talented group of editors and publishing professionals. Together they work to fulfill the mission of Our Daily Bread Ministries—to make the Bible's life-changing wisdom understandable and accessible to all. Chriscynethia is a classically trained singer and has traveled the world performing for such dignitaries as Desmond Tutu and President George Bush. When not with her ODBP team, Chriscynethia loves attending arts performances and being outdoors. 

Show Summary: The book of Ecclesiastes tells us that there is a time for mourning and a time for joy. What do we do when we’re in mourning? How do we handle the feelings of despair? Today’s guest, Chriscynethia Floyd, will share with hosts, Elisa Morgan and Eryn Adkins, how she overcame her pits of despair with the help of her loving friends and the guidance of God. You don’t want to miss her story during this conversation on God Hears Her.

Notes and Quotes: 

• “..And I’ve just been blessed. I mean, it [my singing] truly is a gift God gave me, and it’s the gift, I think, that brought me out of all of that despair.” - Chriscynethia Floyd

• “It’s true…the voice gave me a voice, being able to speak up for myself, being able to speak up for others.” - Chriscynethia Floyd

•  “...I do believe that the way that I was surrounded by my colleagues and my friends… is just one of the reasons that God moved me in this direction.” - Chriscynethia Floyd 

• “What I love about doing what I do is, one, being able to help people grow closer to God and to engage with the Bible. But also for those folks who have longed to write, or give voice to what they know God has placed on their hearts.” - Chriscynethia Floyd 

• “Our mission…is to feed the soul with the Word of God…that’s our mission for publishing at Our Daily Bread Publishing. And we want to make room for people to receive and read, and to reflect and respond to the Word… the ideas that it draws people closer.” - Chriscynethia Floyd

Verses: 

• Ecclesiastes 3:4

Links: 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/

• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/sign-upsfmc

• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast

• Our Daily Bread Publishing: https://ourdailybreadpublishing.org/

• Elisa’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elisamorganauthor/

• Eryn’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eryneddy/

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Guest Bio: Lynn H. Cohick (PhD, University of Pennsylvania) is distinguished professor of New Testament and director of the Houston Theological Seminary at Houston Christian University. Prior to coming to HCU, she served as provost/dean of academic affairs at Northern Seminary, and provost of Denver Seminary. She was Professor of New Testament at Wheaton College and taught at Nairobi Evangelical Graduate School of Theology in Nairobi, Kenya. She serves as president of the Institute for Biblical Research. Her books include The Letter to the Ephesians in NICNT (2020); Christian Women in the Patristic World: Their Influence, Authority, and Legacy in the Second through the Fifth Centuries (co-authored with Amy Brown Hughes (2017); Philippians in the Story of God Commentary (2013); Ephesians in New Covenant Commentary (2010); and Women in the World of the Earliest Christians (2009). 

Show Summary: Do you ever feel like God doesn’t have a purpose for you? Maybe while reading your Bible, you notice the stand-out men doing all of the amazing things in the New Testament, or the fact that women don’t seem to be major participants in the events. However, Dr. Lynn Cohick noticed the remarkable way Jesus treated women and how God has a purpose for each and every one of us. She set out to teach more people about the truth of women in the New Testament. Join hosts, Elisa Morgan and Eryn Adkins, as they learn more from Dr. Lynn on this episode of God Hears Her. 

Notes and Quotes: 

• “. . .And that story [Mary of Bethany anointing Jesus], for me, has just resonated down through the decades. Really, of someone who was in the same moment as Jesus. She’s the one who recognizes His passion to come. And, she, in the face of ridicule by her friends, does what needs to be done in the name of love.” —Dr. Lynn Cohick

• “. . .With these women, it just broke my heart that they wanted nothing to do with Jesus because they wanted nothing to do with the Church. . .I wished they would know Jesus as I know Jesus, and I just lamented that reality. . .” —Dr. Lynn Cohick

• I am excited to see. . .and I dream of seeing it more and more. . .of women confidently stepping into what God has called them to do. . .and it’s not like they all need to teach, or they all need to evangelize. . .whatever good work that God has for them” —Dr. Lynn Cohick

• “In the global church, I think it’s going to be increasingly important that Christians work together for the sake of the world, as the world continues to fracture. . .” —Dr. Lynn Cohick

• “. . .with purpose, purpose might apply for some people as an end goal. But I think for believers we don’t always know what that end goal is in a concrete sense. Paul tells the Romans, and us, that we are predestined to be conformed to the image of the Son. . .that’s our ultimate goal.”  —Dr. Lynn Cohick

Verses: 

• Mark 14:1-9 

• John 4:1-26

• Acts 16:11-15; 16:39-40

• 1 Corinthians 4:3-5

• Romans 8:29

• 2 Corinthians 3:18

Links: 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/

• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/sign-upsfmc

• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast

• Discover the Word series “Women in the Work of Jesus”: https://discovertheword.org/series/roles-of-women-in-the-work-of-jesus/

• Elisa’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elisamorganauthor/

• Eryn’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eryneddy/

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Guest Bio: Vickie and Victor are high school sweethearts, have been married for  39 years, have 4 married beautiful daughters, and have 9 adorable grandchildren. They have been ministry and business partners the entire 39 years—they are serial entrepreneurs with the desire to remind people, especially at-risk children, that “they are loved and not alone”. 

Show Summary: Do you like the smell of lavender? Have you ever used lavender to calm you down in a state of unrest, stress, or anxiety? Today’s guests, Victor and Vickie Bennett, own a lavender farm in Michigan where their mission is to bring comfort to children in foster care, bring awareness to a faceless crisis, and to mobilize communities around those on the front lines of the rescue. Join hosts, Elisa Morgan and Eryn Adkins, during this conversation on God Hears Her as they talk with the Bennett’s about managing a business as a married couple and the mission of their lavender farm.

Notes and Quotes:

• “There was a love for children right at the very beginning of our relationship.” —Vickie Bennett

• “I didn’t realize that growing up being in charge of. . . little calves, that God was training me and this ministry to be looking out for kids, especially kids in trauma.” —Victor Bennett

• “We’ve learned what each other’s strengths are, and we celebrate them.” —Victor Bennett

• “Foster care is kind of a faceless crisis. . . , so because of that, it’s hard for people to rally around this crisis because everything is on the low-down. But there are over 440,000 kids in foster care in our country alone, right in our own communities. . . .” —Victor Bennett

Links:

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/

• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup

• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast

• Lavender Life Company: https://lavender-life.com/?gad=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwiIOmBhDjARIsAP6YhSVFcvSmHm5-rQsfZBYr01jAyv3g1zD0Vz-4u3f0VROww7C7ikP1bToaAsUFEALw_wcB

• Elisa’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elisamorganauthor/

• Eryn’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eryneddy/

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Guest Bio: Amy Boucher Pye is an author, speaker, retreat leader, and spiritual director. She’s the author of six books, including Transforming Love: How Friendship with Jesus Changes Us and 7 Ways to Pray. She writes for Our Daily Bread and other devotional publications and has an MA in Christian spirituality from the University of London. She lives with her family in north London. 

Show Summary: Have you ever heard the phrase, you become like the people you spend the most time with? Friendships are really important, but if we’re not careful, we may become close with people who influence us in a negative way. Do you have close friends that uplift and encourage you? Do you feel like you have a friendship with Jesus? Author Amy Boucher Pye wants to help us learn how to have a close friendship with God to experience the transforming power of His love. Join Elisa Morgan and Eryn Adkins as they learn how to have a close friendship with Jesus.

Notes and Quotes: 

• “God works through… our desires, and He transforms us through the Holy Spirit.” —Amy Boucher Pye

• “God is so gentle, He corrects us even when we get it wrong.” —Amy Boucher Pye

• “[Jesus] wants to slake your thirst, and He will.” —Amy Boucher Pye

• “Jesus is with us now, here, too and He takes us on this journey of change and transformation.” —Amy Boucher Pye

• “We go and grab for the things that are physical to remedy something that is an eternal experience.” —Eryn Adkins

• “You may have turned away from God, but He is right there.” —Elisa Morgan

• “Love can be very uncomfortable.” —Eryn Adkins

• “God has put these desires in us and He wants us to be fully who we are so that we can love the world, so that He can love the world through us.” —Amy Boucher Pye

Verses: 

• Psalm 23

• Luke 10:38—42

• John 11

• Matthew 19:16—22

Links: 

• Transforming Love by Amy Boucher Pye: https://amyboucherpye.com/books/transforming-love-how-friendship-with-jesus-changes-us/

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/

• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup

• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast

• Elisa’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elisamorganauthor/

• Eryn’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eryneddy/

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Guest Bio: Lily Meschi is a director of Partners Relations at Iran Alive Ministries, a ministry with the mission to transform Iran into a Christian nation one soul at a time. Lily’s convinced that her experiences have shaped her to be a strong woman of God while standing for what is true, right, and just. Her passion is to help others, especially women, to realize their identity in Christ and become an agent of transformation. 

Show Summary: Have you been paying attention to the news in Iran? Women are being devalued and oppressed in rising numbers with full governmental support. Lives are at stake and in need of Jesus. Elisa Morgan and Eryn Adkins are excited to sit with Lily Meschi, an Iranian American who works with Iran Alive Ministries to bring the knowledge of Jesus and the Gospel to Iranians with 24 hour broadcasting. Lily has an inspiring story about how God brought her out of her difficulties and pursued her heart. Sit with Lily and learn more during this conversation on God Hears Her. 

Notes and Quotes: 

• “I felt trapped…” —Lily Meschi

• “I didn’t want to be a burden on anyone else, really telling them my true feelings of what… I [was] feeling right here and right now.” —Lily Meschi

• “For the first time after forever I felt like oh my gosh I’m actually accepted and loved without any strings attached.” —Lily Meschi

• “I was filled with supernatural faith right then and there which I would call it a Holy Spirit encounter right then and there.” —Lily Meschi

• “I held no knowledge of Jesus, of His deity, of Trinity, of—nothing. I knew nothing about Jesus other than He was one of the greatest prophets… But when she read that to me, John 1:1 and John 1:14, there was a sense of knowing imparted to me that tears started rolling down my cheeks.” —Lily Meschi

• “I was a new person. I knew that I was blessed, I was chosen, I was accepted, and I was loved by the Creator of this universe.” —Lily Meschi

• “I don’t know why this was part of my story… I trust that [God] had something planned out that He will unfold for me in future years. ” —Lily Meschi

Verses: 

• John 1:1

• John 1:14

• Jeremiah 29:11

• James 1:2—4

Links: 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/

• God Hears Her email sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/sign-upsfmc 

• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast

• Iran Alive Ministries: https://iranalive.org/

• Elisa’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elisamorganauthor/

• Eryn’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eryneddy/

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Guest Bio: The author of more than fifty books, Sandra Byrd’s work has received many awards, nominations, and accolades, including a starred review, PW Pick from Publisher’s Weekly and multiple starred reviews and Best Book selections from Library Journal. Sandra is an experienced devotionalist. Her newest devotional, Dwell, will publish in Spring 2023. A dedicated foodie, Sandra cooks through the topic and location of every book she writes. In addition, she collects vintage glass and serveware in her free time, loves long walks with her husband, and Sunday Suppers with her growing family. 

Show Summary: What do you think of when you think of home? A place of comfort, or a bad environment? A nice warm bed, or couch hopping? The idea of home brings up all types of images, thoughts, and memories. Today’s guest, Sandra Byrd, wants to share with us how God is our home. We can dwell in Him as our comfort and safety no matter where we are physically. Join hosts, Elisa Morgan and Eryn Adkins, as they talk with Sandra about the longings for home on this episode of God Hears Her.

Notes and Quotes: 

• “We don’t live in mountain top experiences, we live in moments of vacuuming and driving to work.” –Sandra Byrd

• “When God gives me an idea and it continues to flourish, that’s how I know it’s meant to be shared with someone else.” –Sandra Byrd

• “If I say I’m at home with someone, that means I feel very comfortable around them.” –Sandra Byrd

• “Self-control is really not signing up for too much. . . it’s when we feel like we’re the savior of the world and we need to take care of everyone else in the world that we go on autopilot, and time with God gets neglected.” –Sandra Byrd

Verses: 

• Deuteronomy 11:19 

• Psalm 46:1 

• Mark 6:46

Links: 

• Dwell: https://ourdailybreadpublishing.org/dwell.html 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/

• God Hears Her email sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/sign-upsfmc 

• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast

• Elisa’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elisamorganauthor/

• Eryn’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eryneddy/

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Guest Bio: Sarah Cowan Johnson is a ministry trainer, consultant, and coach who works with church planters, pastors, and ministry leaders across the United States. She leads seminars for parents on family discipleship to help their children walk in the way of Jesus. She served with the Evangelical Covenant Church as the executive pastor for Sanctuary Church in Providence, Rhode Island, and she previously was a staff trainer and an area director for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. Johnson is the cohost of The People of the Way podcast. She and her husband have two sons and live in Providence.

Show Summary: Do you have kids in your life? Maybe you’re a parent, a teacher, part of a kids ministry, or a babysitter in the midst of teaching or parenting kids. No matter what your role is, you may be overlooking the discipleship aspect of leading children. We are seeing high numbers of children who grow up and abandon their faith. Ministry trainer and leader Sarah Cowan Johnson is determined to grow awareness by equipping people with the tools they need to teach their children well. Join hosts Elisa Morgan and Eryn Adkins as they learn more about how to disciple children from Sarah Cowan Johnson during this conversation on God Hears Her.

Notes and Quotes: 

• “. . .50% of our kids in our churches that are actively involved are walking away from their faith after they graduate.” —Sarah Johnson

• “There is one thing that makes a difference. . . it’s parents who talk about and practice their faith at home. Statistics show that 82% of kids whose parents do that go on to follow Jesus as adults.” —Sarah Johnson

• “Kids go through stages of spiritual development just like they go through stages of emotional development, social development, all the things.” —Sarah Johnson

• “For the 12 and up crowd, the primary way that they engage their faith is by questioning and it looks like rejection even sometimes.” —Sarah Johnson

• “We are often tempted to be a priest for our kids, standing between God and our kids.” —Sarah Johnson

• “We should get out of the way and turn them over to God as soon as possible because that way, when the kid, as a natural part of growing up, rejects their parents’ values, they won’t reject God because God is theirs.” —Sarah Johnson

• “The goal is we want to connect them as early as we can to God directly, one to one and not make it a triangle, so that when they do push away from us they still are connected to God.” —Sarah Johnson

• “We need to teach our children how to hear God’s voice.” —Sarah Johnson

• “God knows our kids more than we do. He loves our kids more than we do. He wants a relationship with them more than we want them to know Jesus and He’s at work.” —Sarah Johnson

• “You’re yoked to Jesus, and He is the one actually doing the work.” —Sarah Johnson

Verses: 

• Deuteronomy 6

• Ezekiel 11:9

Links: 

• Sticky Faith: Everyday Ideas to Build Lasting Faith in Your Kids by Dr. Kara E. Powell and Dr. Chap Clark: https://a.co/d/8XicfL5

• The People of the Way podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/people-of-the-way-podcast/id1511317543 

• Teach Your Children Well by Sara Cowan Johnson: https://teachyourchildrenwell.co/

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/

• God Hears Her email sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/sign-upsfmc 

• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast

• Elisa’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elisamorganauthor/

• Eryn’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eryneddy/

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Guest Bio: 

Ask Cheryl about her greatest adventure and she’ll tell you, “That I know and love Jesus and get to make Him known.” She is a Bible teacher, author, speaker, and founder of Stepmom Sanity, a Christ-centered circle of support, providing help and hope for stepmoms who are “there” from stepmoms who’ve been there. She has authored 4 books including her most recent, Waiting to Be Wanted: A Stepmom’s Guide to Loving Before Being Loved. Cheryl uses her skills, education, and training as a Master Coach to equip blended families, support women in spiritual formation, and mentor formerly sex-trafficked women in basic life skills. Cheryl and her husband, Jonathan, make their home in Michigan and are frequently invaded by their 4 adult children looking for food and hugs! 

Show Summary: 

Have you ever felt like you’ve been waiting to be wanted? Waiting tests our patience and sometimes prevents us from taking action. In the case of being a stepmom, we may feel like we’re waiting for our stepchildren to want us. In the wait we don’t know how to pursue a relationship with these new kids in our lives.

Cheryl Shumake, the founder of Stepmom Sanity, wants you to know that you are not alone in your waiting season. In this conversation with Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy-Adkins, Cheryl will share how she waited to be wanted by growing a relationship with her stepchildren. Learn more during this conversation on God Hears Her. 

Notes and Quotes: 

• “A rose smells best when the roses have been crushed.” —Cheryl Shumake

• “God said to me, ‘No one will ever love you like Me.’”—Cheryl Shumake

• “We need to wait to be loved.” —Cheryl Shumake

• “We are active in our waiting.” —Cheryl Shumake 

• “Biblical love is actionable.” —Cheryl Shumake

• “In your season of waiting, lean into your relationship with Jesus. . . there are things that can be carved out of you.” —Eryn Eddy Adkins

• “Nothing is purposeless in your life.” —Cheryl Shumake

Verses: 

• Galatians 6:9

Links: 

• Stepmom Sanity community: https://www.stepmomsanity.com/ 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/

• God Hears Her email sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/sign-upsfmc

• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast

• Elisa’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elisamorganauthor/

• Eryn’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eryneddy/

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Guest Bio: Sharon Hodde Miller, PhD, is teaching pastor at Bright City Church in Durham, North Carolina, which she cofounded with her husband, Ike. Miller is the author of Free of Me and Nice, she has blogged at SheWorships.com for over ten years, has been a regular contributor to Propel, Her.meneutics, and She Reads Truth, and has written for Relevant, Christianity Today, (in)courage, and many other publications and blogs. She lives with Ike and their three children in Durham, North Carolina.

Show Summary: Have you ever tried to control a situation or outcome? Have you caught yourself trying to control a person? In this episode of God Hears Her, author Sharon Hodde Miller shares how we can take situations into our own hands and how that negatively impacts our mental health and relationships. Join the conversation with hosts Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy as they discuss the cost of control with Sharon Hodde Miller.

Notes and Quotes: 

• “The one thing that was clear and troubling to me is that by and large, it did not appear that Christians were drawing on the millennia of spiritual resources that have been passed down to us by Christians passed.” —Sharon Miller (10:37)

• “We were taking all of our fears, all of our anxieties to the internet. That to me signaled a huge gap in discipleship.” —Sharon Miller (11:30)

• “We reach for control to rescue us, to alleviate our anxiety, to give us a sense of security.” —Sharon Miller (11:55)

• “We are in this age of technology where we are promised increasing mastery over our world.” —Sharon Miller (12:08)

• “Whenever I reach for control to empower me or to fix this situation, I am not just reenacting Genesis 3 but also its consequences.” —Sharon Miller (17:27)

• “God doesn’t give us control but He does give us agency.” —Sharon Miller (24:07)

• “We were created for Genesis 1. We were created for peace and security and wholeness.” —Sharon Miller (28:59)

Verses: 

• Genesis 3

• Genesis 1

Links: 

• The Cost of Control by Sharon Hodde Miller: https://sheworships.com/the-cost-of-control/

• Proverbs 31 Ministries website: https://proverbs31.org/

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/

• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast

• Elisa’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elisamorganauthor/

• Eryn’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eryneddy/

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Guest Bio: 

Dr. Alison Cook is a psychologist, podcast host, and the author of two books, including her new books, The Best of You (Thomas Nelson 2022) and Boundaries for Your Soul (Thomas Nelson, 2018). For twenty years, Alison has helped women, ministry leaders, couples, and families learn how to heal from painful emotions, develop confidence from the inside out, forge healthy relationships, and fully live out their God-given potential.

Show Summary: 

The terms narcissism, gaslighting, and blame shifting get thrown around a lot nowadays, but what do they actually mean? How do we notice those toxic behaviors and protect ourselves from falling into relationships where those behaviors are deemed normal? On this episode of God Hears Her, Join hosts Elisa Morgan and Eryn Adkins as they answer these questions with expert psychologist Dr. Alison Cook. 

Notes and Quotes: 

• “Self-knowledge goes hand-in-hand with God-knowledge.” —Dr. Alison Cook

• “[A] narcissist is someone with a pervasive pattern of not being able to empathize with another human.” —Dr. Alison Cook

• “Blame shifting is a strategy to put the blame anywhere outside of us.” —Dr. Alison Cook

• “Gaslighting is a form of manipulation. It’s a lie that also includes blame shifting that makes the other person feel shame.” —Dr. Alison Cook

• “Self-hood is a strong sense of self. Selfishness is only doing what you want and never thinking of someone else. Selflessness, which is what we’re taught as women, is to never think about your needs.” —Dr. Alison Cook

• “A healthy relationship starts with a healthy individual.” —Elisa Morgan

• “We could argue that the best gift we could give someone is the best version of ourselves.” —Dr. Alison Cook

Verses: 

• Genesis 3:12

• Matthew 10:16

• Mark 12:31

• Genesis 1:27

Links: 

• The Best of You by Dr. Alison Cook: Amazon

• Boundaries for Your Soul by Dr. Alison Cook: Amazon 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/

• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup

• Dr. Alison Cook’s website: https://www.dralisoncook.com/

• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast

• Elisa’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elisamorganauthor/

• Eryn’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eryneddy/

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Guest Bio: 

Ryan Clevenger is a podcast producer at Our Daily Bread Ministries. He and his wife, Jennie, have been married for fourteen years, and have four daughters. Their first daughter, Eleanor, was born two months early and had to be in the NICU for thirty-three days. Their oldest three daughters are biological siblings who were adopted from Guyana, South America. Ryan did his PhD in historical theology with an emphasis on the Trinitarian theology of the early church. His wife, Jennie, is an RN with sixteen years of experience working in postpartum and pediatrics. Ryan and Jennie regularly take mission trips to Guyana, South America. While there, Ryan often teaches classes in Bible and theology to the national pastors in the seminary. Their whole family is actively involved in their church, Christ Church Anglican, in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Show Summary: 

Father’s Day may bring up good memories or disappointment. Are you someone that celebrates with your dad, or do you feel the loneliness from a lack of a good father in your life? Thankfully we are invited to have a relationship with our heavenly Father who stands with us in every emotion we face. Our guest today, Ryan Clevenger, tries to model the love God has for us by showing up for his daughters to help them navigate every feeling. On this episode of God Hears Her, join Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy Adkins as they talk with Ryan about his journey into becoming a father, and listen to how he shows up for his daughters. 

Notes and Quotes: 

• “Sometimes prayer is the only thing you can do.” —Ryan Clevenger

• “My job as a father is to try and show my children what it means to look like Jesus and to point them to Christ.” —Ryan Clevenger

• “I have to remember that I can’t fix all of my daughters’ problems.” —Ryan Clevenger

• “You have to learn who they [daughters] are. You have to spend time with them to be able to relate to them.” —Ryan Clevenger

• “Sometimes you just have to feel it, don’t fix it.” —Eryn Eddy Adkins

• “The thing about humans is that we have to explore. Some people have to learn by failure.” —Ryan Clevenger

• “Fathers, when you’re present, be fully present. Enjoy  as the gifts they are.” —Ryan Clevenger

Links: 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/

• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup

• Ryan’s Discover the Word series: https://discovertheword.org/series/testing/

• GHH Episode 92 with Jennie Clevenger: https://www.godhearsher.org/podcast/called-to-care

• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast

• Elisa’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elisamorganauthor/

• Eryn’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eryneddy/

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Guest Bio: Chanel Dokun is a certified Life Planner and Relationship Expert trained in Marriage and Family Therapy. She specializes in helping women step into their life’s true calling through her Women of Consequence life planning organization. Prior to running her own business and co-founding a seven-figure therapy practice, Healthy Minds NYC, she worked in publishing at Hearst Magazines. She now splits her time between New York City and Atlanta with her psychiatrist husband and son. Chanel’s writing and contributions have appeared in publications such as the New York Times, Real Simple, Woman’s Day, Essence, Moneyish, Christianity Today, and Relevant Magazine.

Show Summary: Have you ever felt uncertain of your purpose? Have your eyes glazed over when it comes to talking about the future or thinking of your dreams? Sometimes we can get caught up in the mundane things that cause us to forget about the goals and plans we wanted for ourselves. Today’s guest, Chanel Dokun, is devoted to helping women find and pursue their passions. Join this conversation with hosts, Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy Adkins, to learn more about pursuing your purpose on this episode of God Hears Her. 

Notes and Quotes: 

• “She [my mom] said to me, ‘that’s so great you know who you want to be, because I never knew. Nobody ever asked me.”—Chanel Dokun 

• “I think we all have flickers of what our purpose is as children.”—Chanel Dokun 

• “Part of how we get unstuck, or come back to life, is by standing up in the truth of who we are. Reclaiming our identity, owning what our purpose is, and getting back into our own skin.”—Chanel Dokun

• “Because of social media, we’re constantly being presented with an idea of what flourishing is that is not unique to us. We lose sight of ourselves because we’re being presented with somebody else’s great life. . . but your great life is not my great life.”—Chanel Dokun 

• “All the things God has in store for you, He does not have in store for me. And that’s what gets us off track. We start to believe that our lives need to conform to something else, and we start to twist, shape-shift, and conform ourselves to be something we were never meant to be.”—Chanel Dokun

• “It’s this idea that my worth is associated with these particular things—by what my job is or the people who are in my life or the stuff that I have. We start to lean into these lies, and we start to believe that is what our life is about. And then we forget—I was made for something else.”—Chanel Dokun 

• “There is no one like you for a reason.”—Chanel Dokun

Links: 

• Chanel Dokun’s website: https://chaneldokun.com/ 

• Chanel Dokun’s book, Life Starts Now: https://chaneldokun.com/lifestartsnow 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/ 

• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup

• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast

• Elisa’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elisamorganauthor/

• Eryn’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eryneddy/

• Chanel’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chanel.dokun/

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Guest Bio: Amy O’Dell is the Founder and CEO of Jacob’s Ladder, a non-profit school and research center in Roswell, Georgia, and AHAVA, a digital platform for human restoration and growth. 

As a leading healthcare innovator and global pioneer in special needs education, neurobiology, and development, Amy gives people with neurobiological delays or disorders a clear path to hope, healing, and transformation amidst the obstacles they face. Her groundbreaking methodology, the Interpersonal Whole-Body Model Care (IWBMC) model, harnesses the extraordinary ability of the brain to heal and develop new capacities at any age. 

Amy’s greatest passion is to help provide restoration and uncover a potential most would overlook. You’re invited to join Amy on her mission to create a world where everyone is Free to Flourish. Amy is also the author of the forthcoming book, Free to Flourish.

Show Summary: Have you ever heard of the Interpersonal Whole-Brain Model of Care? It sounds like a lot, but at its core it means combining science and love to help the neurological development of children. Amy O’Dell founded Jacob’s Ladder and developed the model of care after realizing her son’s development was delayed. Join hosts Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy Adkins on God Hears Her as they learn Amy’s story and get insight that can help us all.

Notes and Quotes: 

• “I love people deeply, but I am a dyed-in-the wool introvert, so I restore my soul with quiet and simple things. And so, even as a kid I think it’s sometimes hard for someone who’s made like that and designed like that to find their safe place in the world.” —Amy O’Dell

• “Interpersonal Whole-Brain Model of Care. . . It’s the balance of science and love.” —Amy O’Dell

• “There’s so much in our world coming at us at all times. So much information, so much dialogue, so many platforms, so much!” —Amy O’Dell

• “When you talk about love and compassion for another, and just being present with them, there’s this whole cascade of neurochemicals that are released in the brain.” —Amy O’Dell 

• “You could have the best methodology in the world, . . .but if the person on the other side of that care delivery feels unsafe, feels like the brain is in a state of fight, flight, or freeze, not one thing that you are inputting or imparting in them will ever make a difference.” —Amy O’Dell 

• “The process of going through trials and sufferings. . .if we understand them the way God intended them, they forge us as steel so we are so solid no matter what life throws at us.” —Amy O’Dell

Verses: 

• 1 Peter 5:10

• Psalm 46:5 

Links: 

• Jacob’s Ladder: https://www.jacobsladdercenter.com/

• Free to Flourish: https://freetoflourish.com/

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/

• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup

• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast

• Elisa’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elisamorganauthor/

• Eryn’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eryneddy/

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Guest Bio: 

John Humphrey is the vice president and project leader for the nonprofit I Am Second. This organization exists to tell other’s radical testimonies, through book and film, to inspire people to put Jesus first in their lives. John also serves as producer of the majority of I Am Second films, including the feature documentary Loud Krazy Love, currently distributed via Showtime Networks. He holds master’s degrees in business administration from the University of Texas at Dallas and sports administration from Ohio University, and he has a bachelor’s degree in communications from Wake Forest University. He and his wife Kathleen have two married daughters, Jessica and Laura.

Show Summary: 

What does it mean to be second? We live in a culture of always wanting to be number one, the champion, the first, and the best. But does that align with what the Bible says about how we are supposed to live as Christians? If we put ourselves first, how do we serve others, lay down our sinful ways, or ultimately allow God to be first? On this episode of God Hears Her, hosts Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy-Adkins talk with John Humphrey, the vice president of I Am Second, about what it means to be second to God, and discover that everyone has a testimony worth sharing.

Notes and Quotes: 

• “I Am Second Ministry means to put the needs of Jesus and others ahead of yourself.”— John Humphrey

• “We want people to see an authentic story of a person who has had a personal encounter with Jesus.”— John Humphrey

• “So many people think they don’t have a story. . .”— John Humphrey

• “I’ve been serving rather than living for myself.”— John Humphrey

• “There’s moments throughout your life that you know God and the Holy Spirit are alongside you. Sometimes it’s a moment of triumph, sometimes it’s a teaching moment. . . or that’s when it really became real to you about what Jesus did for you.”— John Humphrey

• “Know that your relationship with Jesus is the starting point and what matters. And if you lean into that. . . and let Him show you the next steps in life, not the final steps and where you ultimately want to get to, but the next steps in life.”— John Humphrey

Links: 

• I Am Second website: https://www.iamsecond.com/

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/ 

• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup

• Subscribe on iTunes! https://apple.co/3frJl9j 

• Elisa’s Instagram: elisa morgan author

• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy

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Guest Bio: Brittany Maher is compelled by love to empower women to simplify their identity based on one thing alone: Jesus. She is the founder of Her True Worth, a large and growing online community designed to liberate an entire generation of faith-filled women with the freedom found in discovering their true worth in Christ. She and her husband, Ryan, invest most of their time in equipping and empowering God’s people for digital evangelism across the globe. Brittany is planted in Michigan with her husband, Ryan, and their daughter, Ariana. 

Cassandra Speer is a popular Christian blogger who desires to see women discover the depth of God’s love in a superficial world through the power of His Word. She is vice president of Her True Worth, a ministry created to encourage wounded and wandering women to find their identity and validation in Christ alone. Cassandra and her husband are planted in Oklahoma City, where they live with their three children. 

Show Summary: Our worth comes from the sacrifice that Jesus made for us because of the love God has for us. But what does it mean to accept that we are worthy? What does life look like when we see ourselves as worthy because of who God made us to be? Cassandra Speer, the vice president of the ministry Her True Worth, shares with hosts Eryn Eddy Adkins and Elisa Morgan about what it means to accept our worthiness and live in the truth of the Lord on this episode of God Hears Her.

Notes and Quotes: 

• “We wanted to point women to the worth and value in their identity in Christ. . . . And we wanted to talk to the pinpoints of all the reasons and experiences as to why we feel as though we have to work for our worth.” —Cassandra Speer

• “She felt only as valuable as her ‘yes.’ She felt only as worthy as her availability, or what she can produce with her hands.”—Cassandra Speer

• “The underlying problem is our identity. Who we are and where that comes from. And there are so many counter identities the enemy uses.” —Cassandra Speer

• “Our best and worst moments are actually not the defining moments of our worth.” —Cassandra Speer

• “Day after day we are at war for our worth. . . .It is a daily [thing], taking up your cross and remembering.” —Cassandra Speer

• “If you are wavering with your worth, you are human. . . .But, as long as we know that our identity is in Him, we are secure. It cannot be revoked.” —Cassandra Speer

• “It’s not who I am, it’s whose I am.” – Cassandra Speer

Verses: 

• Matthew 3:16–17

• Ephesians 2:10 

• Genesis 1:27 

• 1 John 1:9

• Isaiah 43:1 

• 2 Corinthians 5:17

Links: 

• Her True Worth Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hertrueworth/?hl=en

• Her True Worth Book: https://www.thomasnelson.com/p/her-true-worth/

• Her True Worth website: https://hertrueworth.com/home/ 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/ 

• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup

• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast

• Elisa’s Instagram: elisa morgan author

• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy

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Guest Bio: After years of working in bakeries, coffee shops, and food trucks, Mary Jo Clark returned to her love of audio production and sharing stories. She is now a podcast producer and engineer for Our Daily Bread Ministries. Outside of her passion for creating excellent podcasts to encourage women, she is a talented baker. Her cookies and cupcakes are described by many as “legendary.” She’s married to her husband Russ, and they are proud parents of a beautiful one-year-old boy named Milo.

Show Summary: Motherhood is a hard journey full of joys and sorrows. If you’re a mother, what does your motherhood journey look like? If you’re not a mom, do you wish to be one? On this episode of God Hears Her, no matter if you have kids or not, we want to invite you to join a vulnerable conversation with Elisa Morgan (mother-through-adoption and grandmother), Eryn Eddy Adkins (new bonus mom), and Mary Jo Clark (mother to a one-year-old boy). Join these three women as they discuss the different types of mothers and mentors and rest in the truth that no matter what your experience looks like, you are not alone. Happy Mother’s Day! 

Notes and Quotes: 

• “There are so many ways to become a mother: adopting, fostering, becoming a stepmom or what I like to say “bonus mom,” and we want to make space for each experience.”—Eryn Eddy Adkins

• “I felt sad. I was mourning the loss of my old life. And then feeling immense guilt and shame because I loved this new baby so much, and I didn’t want to feel sad.”—Mary Jo Clark

• “If I had to put my finger on something that expresses the struggle or surprise of motherhood, it’s the lack of control.”—Elisa Morgan

• “The Lord is bringing me back to learning how to trust and depend on Him with the choices I make.”—Eryn Eddy Adkins

• “Sacrifice is an enormous part of motherhood.”—Elisa Morgan

• “It’s such an honor to be an influence on these girls’ lives. God trusts me to steward my influence on their lives and empower them in their voices and their own individuality.”—Eryn Eddy Adkins

• “Talk to people about the joys and the sorrows because it’s a rollercoaster of a job (motherhood), but it’s so beautiful.”—Mary Jo Clark

• “Your identity is not found in their emotional response.”—Eryn Eddy Adkins

• “I’m not responsible for my children’s choices. I’m responsible for my responses to their choices.”—Elisa Morgan

• “God doesn’t expect us to be perfect. And we’re not going to be. God can use our “Swiss cheese holes” to reveal our kids’ needs for Himself.”—Elisa Morgan

Links: 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/

• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup

• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast

• Elisa’s Instagram: elisa morgan author

• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy

• Mary Jo’s Instagram: sugarcoated.bymj

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Guest Bio: 

Anna Haggard is an associate content editor for Our Daily Bread Publishing. A follower of Jesus, she loves to write and edit books sharing about God’s generous and deep love for all people. Anna co authored the Called and Courageous Girls Series (calledandcourageousgirls.com); Mission Drift, a 2015 Christianity Today Book Award winner; and The Spiritual Danger of Doing Good.

Show Summary: 

When it comes to the women in the Bible, we tend to talk about Ruth, Esther, and Mary. But what about the other women who are in the Bible? There are many forgotten or briefly mentioned women who deserve recognition for their roles in God’s Word. Join Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy Adkins as they talk with editor Anna Haggard about the women in the Bible you don’t usually hear about, and get a sneak peek into the new Our Daily Bread Devotional Known by God on this episode of God Hears Her. 

Notes and Quotes: 

• “Being weak is a place where His power resides.” —Anna Haggard

• “God uses dysfunction for redemption.” —Elisa Morgan

• “You are seen, God is with you, God is on your side, God is for you one-hundred percent, God hears your pain and knows it and is experiencing it with you.” —Anna Haggard

• “Are you happy with the current activity you are doing?” —Anna Haggard

• “I hope the readers will encounter the God who encountered these women in the Bible.” —Anna Haggard

Verses: 

• 2 Corinthians 12:9

• 1 Samuel 25

• Luke 7:36-50

• Genesis 16

• Exodus 1:15-21

• Genesis 38

• Luke 10:38-42

Links: 

• Known by God, 40 Devotions and Insights on Women of the Bible: A God Hears Her Devotional 

• Called and Courageous website: http://calledandcourageousgirls.com/ 

• The Spiritual Danger of Doing Good website: https://www.amazon.com/Spiritual-Danger-Doing-Good/dp/0764212206 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/

• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup

• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast

• Elisa’s Instagram: elisa morgan author

• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy

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God Hears Her is a podcast, inspired by the bestselling devotional.

Hosts, Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy-Adkins are joined by a variety of guests to share personal stories of hope and encouragement. True freedom comes from sharing our journeys and knowing we’re not alone. This podcast is for women who are in the trenches of the beautiful and messy moments of relationships, work, ministry, and more. We invite you to listen in and subscribe today!

Links: 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisa morgan author
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy

Guest Bio: Natasha Sistrunk Robinson is the president of T3 Leadership Solutions, Inc, the author of A Sojourner’s Truth as well as other books, and the host of A Sojourner’s Truth: Conversations for a Changing Culture podcast. Natasha is also a doctorate student at North Park Theological Seminary, a graduate of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and the U.S. Naval Academy. Natasha has served her country as a Marine Corps officer and federal government employee at the Department of Homeland Security.

Show Summary: How would you define freedom? The Exodus journey in the Bible was a time where God physically freed people from slavery. Natasha Sistrunk Robinson wants to teach us how the Exodus journey shows that God wants us to live in freedom too. On this episode of God Hears Her, join Natasha and hosts Eryn Eddy and Elisa Morgan as they discuss the thoughts holding them captive and how we can live in true freedom. 

This is the last episode of Season 7! Be sure to join us again on April 24th for the Season 8 Teaser. See ya then!

Notes and Quotes: 

• “He makes me enough, and He can handle me if I think I’m too much.” —Elisa Morgan

• “There is always a price to pay for freedom.” —Natasha Sistrunk Robinson

• “Freedom is a theological, spiritual possibility because of Jesus.” —Elisa Morgan

• “You can be living in bondage but thinking you are living in freedom.” —Eryn Eddy

• “Freedom means dreaming again as a child does.” —Natasha Sistrunk Robinson 

• “He [God] is already thinking about what His people need.” —Natasha Sistrunk Robinson

Verses: 

• Genesis 1:27

• Colossians 2:9–10  

• Genesis 3 

• Matthew 7:11

• Matthew 11:28 

• Galatians 5:1 

• Matthew 14:13–21

• Matthew 4:4 

• 2 Corinthians 10:5

Links: 

• Journey to Freedom: http://www.natashasrobinson.com/journey-to-freedom 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/

• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup

• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast

• Elisa’s Instagram: elisa morgan author

• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy

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Guest Bio: Julie Thomas is a wife, mother of two, life coach and author. After the birth of her second son, Julie battled a severe case of postpartum depression. For years, emotions of anxiety, confusion, and shame consumed her life, leading to isolation and suicidal thoughts. In her darkest hour, she felt God’s undeniable call to share her story with others. With the release of her novel, HOPE Inside Out, and her willingness to be open and transparent, Julie was able to find healing for herself and help others do the same.

Show Summary: We’ve all been scared at one point or another. Fear can have a tight grip on us, especially in the midst of big life changes. Julie Thomas was diagnosed with postpartum depression as the cause for her deep-rooted fear and discouragement, but the path to healing was long. Join Julie on this episode of God Hears Her as she talks with hosts Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy about how her life drastically changed after the birth of her second son.

Notes and Quotes:

“I would spring out of the bed and just run.” —Julie Thomas

“Our God is so confident in who He is and how He loves and pursues us that even our anger does not deter Him from us. In fact it builds intimacy with us.” —Eryn Eddy

“I would close every drape in the house and pin it down so no light could come in.” —Julie Thomas

“I opened the Word and desperately looked for people who suffered like me.” —Julie Thomas

“I regularly sought prayer.” —Julie Thomas

“I think many of us feel so helpless when someone we love is suffering.” —Elisa Morgan

Links: 

• Julie Thomas website: https://julsthomas.com/
• Hope Inside Out book: Amazon
• Suicide Hotline phone number: 9-8-8
• Resources for Battling Depression:
• https://988lifeline.org/
• https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/depression/resources.htm
• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisa morgan author
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy

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Guest Bio: Shalini Bennet has a BA from Duke University and a certificate from the Soul Care Institute. She was part of the original group led by Sharon Garlough Brown that led her to write “Sensible Shoes”, a book about the spiritual journey of four women. She edits for her sister, Vaneetha Risner, who has written “The Scars That Have Shaped Me” and “Walking Through Fire”. She and her husband have three young adult children ranging from 21 to 26. 

Show Summary: Have you ever heard of “spiritual formation”? It may sound complicated or confusing, but what if we told you it was as simple as practicing closeness with God? On today’s episode of God Hears Her, Shalini Bennett shares some wisdom with hosts, Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy, on how to practice spiritual formation while sharing her own personal testimony. 

Notes and Quotes: 

• “We need to be born again to be rightly attached to our Father.” —Shalini Bennett
• “The gospel is worth everything, but it is not dependent on my getting it right.” —Shalini Bennett
• “The love you receive from the Lord does not depend on your performance.” —Eryn Eddy
• “When I focus on my performance, I am focusing on myself, not on the Lord.” —Shalini Bennett
• “We have somehow believed the lie that He [God] does not want me as I am—nobody wants me as I am!” —Shalini Bennett
• “You don’t know as much about you as He [God] knows about you, and He chose you before the foundation of the world.” —Shalini Bennett
• “I find we live in a world where what we’re hearing is “run harder, run faster, run better, run, run, run, run, run”. . . even if life is a wreck, stick a happy face on it and Jesus will be happy with you.” —Shalini Bennett

Verses: 

• John 3:3 
• Psalm 81:10 
• Romans 12:2
• Zephania 3:17

Links: 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisa morgan author
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy

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Guest Bio: Sheila Wise Rowe is a graduate of Tufts University and Cambridge College with a master’s degree in counseling psychology. For over twenty-five years she has counseled abuse and trauma survivors in the United States. Sheila ministered to homeless and abused women and children in Johannesburg, South Africa, where she also taught counseling and trauma-related courses for a decade. She is the cofounder of The Cyrene Movement, an online community for people of color seeking healing for racial trauma. She is the author of Healing Racial Trauma, The Well of Life: Heal Your Pain, Satisfy Your Thirst, Live Your Purpose along with The Wonder Years. She lives in the Boston area, where she is a writer, counselor, speaker, and spiritual director.

Show Summary: At some point in our lives, we have all experienced trauma. Maybe from a traumatic moment or a series of events that altered our lives. Do you feel different after your trauma experience? Have you been working to overcome things from your past or present that hurt you? Tensions have been high, and have caused an increasing amount of anxiety and pain, but God doesn’t leave us alone to deal with the aftermath. On this episode of God Hears Her, counselor Sheila Wise Rowe talks with Elisa Morgan about how we can overcome different types of trauma and work to heal racial trauma as a community of believers. 

Notes and Quotes: 

• “The reality is that most of us have experienced some sort of trauma.” —Sheila Wise Rowe
• “Multiple little T traumas can have a bigger impact than having one big T trauma.” —Sheila Wise Rowe
• “In order to be a counselor, you need to have been counseled.” —Elisa Morgan
• “Trauma is held in our bodies, and the only way to expel that is by moving (exercising, walking).” —Sheila Wise Rowe
• “I want brothers and sisters in Christ who are more than just allies, they are literally brothers and sisters and are participating in God’s shalom and justice.” —Sheila Wise Rowe

Links: 

• Healing Racial Trauma book by Sheila Wise Rowe: Amazon
• Sheila’s Website: https://sheilawiserowe.com/home
• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisa morgan author
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy 

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Getting older can make us feel discouraged as we watch our bodies change and feel irrelevant compared to younger people. But what if God has a plan for aging? What if we looked at it as a blessing instead of a curse? On this episode of God Hears Her, hosts Eryn Eddy and Elisa Morgan talk about how God has a purpose for us throughout our aging. 

Notes and Quotes: 

• “The real legacy of life is not really in what we achieve. . . it is our inner character.” —Elisa Morgan
• “Our bodies are constantly cuing us because they are constantly changing.” —Elisa Morgan
• “You can accept it [aging] and have negative self talk about it, or accept it and still be a good steward to your body.” —Eryn Eddy 
• “Smile lines are a sign of how hard you pray.” —Eryn Eddy
• “I’m gonna put my foot in the door and keep it there to hold the door for the next woman to walk through it.” —Elisa Morgan
• “Every single human is the apple of God’s eye.” —Elisa Morgan
• “Your body is a container for what you have experienced.” —Eryn Eddy

Verses: 

• 1 Corinthians 6:9–11 

Links: 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisa morgan author
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy

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How do you feel when you hear ‘special needs’? Does your mind fill with memories from someone you love with special needs? Do you get uncomfortable? Do you wish you knew more? On this episode of God Hears Her, Elrena Evans will talk with hosts Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy about what she faced when her son was diagnosed with special needs and how her world completely changed.

About Our Guest:

Elrena Evans is an executive editor of Paper&String, a digital care package celebrating faith, creativity, and beauty in its many forms. She is the author of a short story collection This Crowded Night, and Special Grace.

Notes and Quotes: 

• “Special education is taking something and presenting it in a different way.” –Elrena Evans 
• “When I said, ‘I don’t have any more hope,’ she said, ‘then I will hold it for you.'” –Elrena Evans
• “My dream is that one day the church will be the place where we can call with news of a diagnosis and say, ‘I don’t know what to do.'” –Elrena Evans
• “Written prayers give me words for when I have none.” –Elrena Evans 
• “Anything we are unfamiliar with, we get scared to ask questions. But that can make someone feel lonely.” –Eryn Eddy

Links: 

• Special Grace Elrena Evan’s book: https://www.ivpress.com/elrena-evans 
• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisa morgan author
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy

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Do you know who you are? Are there lies that you believe about yourself? God designed us with a unique identity that is fueled by His love and knowledge of who He made us to be. On today's episode of God Hears Her, Jamie Winship talks with hosts Eryn Eddy and Elisa Morgan about how we can clarify our true identity and overcome the lies cast on us.

About Our Guest:

After a distinguished career in law enforcement in the metro Washington DC area, Jamie Winship earned an MA in English and developed a unique process called the Identity Method. This process of identity transformation is the key to resolving inner conflict and acquiring new levels of learning and creativity in any field. His unconventional efforts to bring about societal and racial reconciliation led him to Indonesia, Jordan, Iraq, Palestine, Israel, and now Seattle. Jamie has worked with leaders in professional sports, business, education, law enforcement, government, non-profit, and other sectors. Jamie and his wife, Donna, are co-founders of Identity Exchange and its corporate arm, Identity Method, providing training and consulting in the transformative power of living fearlessly in your true identity.

Notes and Quotes: 

• “Ask God to remind us of the times He called to us and we didn’t know it was Him.” — Jamie Winship
• “True identity is the truest thing about you.” — Jamie Winship
• “Humans develop an inner voice based off the things they hear.” — Jamie Winship
• “The voice of God always takes faith to believe.” — Jamie Winship
• “The only way into the kingdom of God is through receiving.” — Jamie Winship

Verses: 

• Matthew 13:9–16
• 1 Samuel 3
• Genesis 3
• Genesis 16
• Psalm 139:13–16
• John 13:1–17
• John 4
• Matthew 5:3

Links: 

• Jamie Winship book and website: https://www.identityexchange.com/ 
• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisa morgan author
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy

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At times we can feel overwhelmed by the events of our daily lives, even if they are good things. A state of overwhelm can cause a racing heartbeat, clenched fists, a lack of peace, and overthinking. Gem Fadling wants to help people overcome the hurry in their lives that causes rapid thoughts and an overall state of unhealthiness. Join Gem on this episode of God Hears Her, as she talks with hosts Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy about her own practices that lead to a healthier thought life.

About Our Guest:

Gem Fadling, CLC, is a founding partner of Unhurried Living, Inc., a non-profit that trains people to rest deeper, live fuller, and lead better. She is a certified life coach and a trained spiritual director who coaches women at the intersection of spiritual leadership and soul care. Gem is the host of the I Can Do That! Podcast as well as the co-author of What Does Your Soul Love? Eight Questions That Reveal God's Work in You, and author of Hold That Thought: Sorting Through the Voices in Our Heads.

Notes and Quotes: 

• “Busy is one thing. . . but hurried is the soul. Is it possible to be busy but unhurried?” —Gem Fadling
• “There is peace in unhurried living.” —Elisa Morgan
• “I wondered if worry and hurry was my thorn in my flesh?” —Gem Fadling
• “I think a lot of times in life we think we have to produce the fruit. . . but He will make the fruit happen!” —Gem Fadling
• “Our brains are busy, our hearts are fluttering. . . but God’s grace will meet us where we’re at.” —Gem Fadling
• “You are not your thoughts, you are more than your thoughts.” —Gem Fadling
• “Notice, discern, and respond.” —Gem Fadling 

Verses: 

• John 15:5
• Romans 12:2
• 2 Peter 1:3
• Philippians 1:6

Links: 

• Unhurried Living Inc website: https://www.unhurriedliving.com/ 
• Unhurried Living blog: https://www.unhurriedliving.com/blog 
• ‘Hold That Thought’ book by Gem Fadling: https://www.amazon.com/Hold-That-Thought-Sorting-Through/dp/083083169X 
• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisa morgan author
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy

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Have you ever felt heartbroken by the terrible things that happen in the world? Do you ever feel hopeless, scared, or angry at injustice? On today’s episode of God Hears Her, guest Jenn Petersen explains what the International Justice Mission is and how God feels about injustice. Join hosts, Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy, as they talk with Jenn Petersen about how we can fight injustice wherever we are.

About Our Guest:

Jenn Petersen serves as Director of Mobilization, NYC, for the International Justice Mission. She is also co-founder and co-lead pastor of Resurrection Life NYC, a multi-ethnic congregation on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Jenn is passionate about justice, worship, songwriting, discipleship, and equipping and unleashing people to live every day as followers of Jesus. Jenn holds a Master of Divinity from Wesley Seminary and a Bachelor of Music from the University of Northern Iowa. She resides in Harlem with her husband, two children, and their dog, Charlie Parker.

Notes and Quotes: 

• God will use what you already have in your hands. —Jenn Petersen
• Following Jesus is a wild adventure. You never know where He will lead you. But His will is always the best. —Jenn Petersen
• When He opens your eyes to Scripture, you can’t unsee it. —Jenn Petersen
• What does it look like to love the Lord with all your strength? —Jenn Petersen
• There is no right or wrong way to pray [about such big prayers about injustice]. —Jenn Petersen 
• God takes the messiest parts and He can make the most beautiful, unexpected, redeemed ministry of our lives. —Jenn Petersen 

Verses: 

• Deuteronomy 32:4
• Isaiah 58:10
• Mark 12:30

Links: 

• International Justice Mission: https://www.ijm.org/ 
• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisa morgan author
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy

Sometimes in life we find ourselves down or hurt when our expectations aren’t met or things don’t go the way we thought they would. On the other hand, things can go well and we may still be faced with negative emotions. Navigating the blues looks different for everyone, but guest Katara Patton shares some practical advice and tips from her own experiences with hosts Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy to help us navigate our mental health on this episode of God Hears Her.

About Our Guest:

Katara Washington Patton is a Senior Editor at Our Daily Bread Publishing, and the author of eight books, including 5-Minute Devotional Book for Women and Navigating the Blues: Where to Turn When Worry, Anxiety, or Depression Steal Your Hope. Patton is a native of Thibodaux, Louisiana. She and her husband, Derrick, reside on the South Side of Chicago. They have one daughter, Kayla. She is a member of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. As much as possible, she tries to enjoy a Zumba class and a competitive game of Scrabble to keep her life balanced.

Notes and Quotes: 

• “I expected life to be high. . . I had a family who loved me. . . Life is not always high.” —Katara Patton
• “The only energy I had was to go to work and go to bed. One day I made a deal with myself that if I go to bed today, then I have to call a therapist tomorrow.” —Katara Patton
• “When you describe the numbness, a lot of people resonate with that.” —Katara Patton
• “We can find it hard to get out of bed even when life is good!” —Elisa Morgan
• “You have to take it one moment at a time. You don’t have to scale the whole mountain at once, just take it one step at a time.” —Katara Patton
• “Most of the time your friends and people do want to help, they just don’t know how.” —Katara Patton
• “Look at Elijah’s story! He showed a lot of signs of depression and God gave him very practical advice. Take a rest, have some food!” —Katara Patton
• “You need to allow yourself to feel your emotions and let others help you.” —Katara Patton

Verses: 

• 1 Kings 19 Elijah’s story
• Luke 5:17–39 
• John 11:35 “Jesus wept.”

Links: 

• Navigating the Blues by Katara Patton: https://www.amazon.com/Navigating-Blues-Anxiety-Depression-Steals/dp/1640702075
• https://www.mentalhealth.gov/
• Call or text 988 for mental health aid in the case of an emergency
• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisa morgan author
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy

Christmas is a beloved time of year. But it can be easy to get caught up in the season and forget about why we celebrate Christmas. On this episode of God Hears Her, hosts Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy share the story of two real people in the Christmas story who were changed by Jesus being born. Join this conversation to learn more about how Christmas changes everything for us!

Notes and Quotes: 

• When Christmas becomes more than what’s handed down by traditions, it does change everything. —Elisa Morgan
• When I started understanding the crucifixion, then I started understanding the birth of Jesus. Before that, Christmas was these holiday fun things you would do and sadness processing a grief every year.  —Eryn Eddy
• The whole story of the Bible is about God’s love for humankind, our struggles to believe it, our choosing to do things on our own rather than believe it and God creating a deliverance for us in spite of ourselves. —Elisa Morgan
• Jesus reveals us. His presence in our lives reveals who we are, what we depend on, what we believe, our need for Him. He causes us to be revealed. —Elisa Morgan
• Whether you’re waiting for a relationship, or to become a parent, or a turn in your career—these things we are waiting for. To be like Simeon, changed by Christmas, in the way that we move from a trusting waiter to a fulfilled follower. —Elisa Morgan
• When I think of (Anna’s) loneliness, I’ve fought through feeling lonely and neglected with prayer and fasting and worship. It’s what got me through the other side of depression and anxiety. Worship and prayer. —Eryn Eddy

Verses: 

• Luke 2:22-35 
• Luke 2:36-38 

Links: 

• God Hears Her Episode 100 
• God Hears Her tote: https://godhearsher.org/shop
• Elisa’s book Christmas Changes Everything
• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisa morgan author
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy 

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The Christmas season can bring joy and excitement, but there are also high expectations and maybe some feelings of anxiety or being overwhelmed. Do you tend to get caught up in the Christmas hype? Do you find yourself trying to make sure everything is perfect for your family and friends? On today’s episode of God Hears Her, guest Ruth Chou Simons shares how we can remember Jesus as the real reason for the season. Join hosts Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy as they talk with Ruth about the true meaning of Christmas.

About Our Guest:

Ruth Chou Simons is a Wall Street Journal bestselling and award-winning author of several books, including her newest book “When Strivings Cease”. She is an artist, entrepreneur, and speaker, using each of these platforms to spiritually sow the Word of God into people’s hearts. Through her online shoppe at GraceLaced.com and her social media community, Simons shares her journey of God’s grace intersecting daily life with word and art. Ruth and her husband, Troy, are grateful parents to six boys—their greatest adventure.

Notes and Quotes: 

• “When we start surrendering . . . that’s when God says, ‘Okay, now you’re ready to see my plan.’” — Ruth Chou Simons
• “God creates art out of burnout and rebellion.” — Eryn Eddy 
• “We put so much emphasis on the atmosphere. . . we make an idol of the feeling of Christmas.” — Ruth Chou Simons
• “The redemptive story impacts our lives in the mundane.” — Ruth Chou Simons
• “What we rehearse at Christmas time will change our lives the rest of the year.” — Ruth Chou Simons
• “Jesus didn’t come in the perfect setting.” — Ruth Chou Simons 

Verses: 

• Matthew 28:11
• Matthew 5:3
• Sermon on the Mount
• Matthew 5

Links: 

• Ruth’s website: https://ruthchousimons.com/ 
• Ruth’s book, Emmanuel: https://ruthchousimons.com/Emmanuel/ 
• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisa morgan author
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy

Have you ever thought about becoming a foster parent? Are you curious to know what it’s like to take in kids that need a place to live? Foster parenting is a unique calling, but the experience can lead us closer to understanding God’s love and grace. Join Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy in this episode of God Hears Her as they learn from longtime foster parent, Manda Carpenter, what it’s like to be the foster mom of 16 kids.

About Our Guest:

Manda Carpenter is a writer, a speaker, and an advocate committed to helping women grow in their relationships with God, self, and others. She is a neighbor, question-asker, and cheerleader of the underdog. Manda and her husband, Eric, are foster parents and hosts of A Longer Table podcast. They live with their son, Shia, in Los Angeles, California.

Notes and Quotes: 

• “The catastrophe in our life ends up being our calling.” —Manda Carpenter
• “The goal of foster care is reunification.” —Manda Carpenter
• “To be a great foster parent, you don’t need to adopt all of your children.” —Manda Carpenter
• “My relationship with my foster kids doesn’t look much different than my relationship with my biological son.” —Manda Carpenter
• “With fostering, you have all the responsibility but no power.” —Manda Carpenter
• “Fostering is a position that forces me to rely on God.” —Manda Carpenter
• “Grace is loving them when they’re daring you not to.” —Manda Carpenter
• “Nothing matters more than the condition of your soul.” —Manda Carpenter

Links: 

• Manda’s personal website: https://www.mandacarpenter.com/ 
• A Longer Table podcast: https://www.mandacarpenter.com/podcast 
• Soul Care to Save Your Life book: https://www.mandacarpenter.com/booksbymandacarpenter 
• Domestic violence phone number: 800-799-7233
• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisa morgan author
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy

Disclaimer: This episode contains sensitive content that is not appropriate for young listeners, as hosts Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy talk with guest Debra Fileta about sex in marriage. We often don’t learn enough about sex before we get married, or we think purity will equal perfection in our sex lives after we get married. On this episode of “God Hears Her,” Debra shares why purity is important before and after marriage, why our sex lives may not look the way we want them to, and how to improve our married sex lives.

About Our Guest:

Debra Fileta is a licensed professional counselor, national speaker, relationship expert, and author of five books: “Choosing Marriage”, “True Love Dates”, “Love In Every Season”, “Are You Really OK?”, and “Married Sex.” She’s also the host of the hotline style “Love + Relationships” Podcast. Her popular relationship advice blog, TrueLoveDates.com, reaches millions of people with the message of healthy relationships.

Notes and Quotes: 

• “Sex is a symptom of our need for connection and intimacy.” — Debra Fileta
• “If we want healthy relationships, we need to start with being healthy standing alone.” — Debra Fileta
• “When sex doesn’t measure up to our expectations, we get confused.” — Debra Fileta
• “Sometimes you have to go backward before you can move forward because it helps with healing.” — Debra Fileta
• “What happens above the sheets, fuels underneath the sheets.” — Debra Fileta

Verses: 

• Ephesians 4:22–24
• Hebrews 13:4

Links: 

• Debra’s blog: https://truelovedates.com/ 
• Get your copy of Debra’s book “Married Sex” on Amazon  
• God Hears Her website
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts ! 
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisa morgan author
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy  

Listener Advisory:

Conversation about sex in marriage

Have you ever experienced times where you just didn’t feel like praying? Maybe you go through phases where reading your Bible is boring or you just don’t have the energy to read another devotional. God Hears Her hosts Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy have had those moments too. Join them in this conversation to talk about what spiritual apathy is and how we can overcome it on this episode of God Hears Her.

Notes and Quotes: 

• Sometimes I don’t feel like praying, and don’t feel a desire or experience a drivenness into His spirit. There are times when the spiritual “blahs” take over.—Elisa
• When do the spiritual blahs hit us? The more I become secure in my circumstances.—Eryn
• I’m doing what I do,  then if I do a—“oh, God’s here”—my spiritual eyes open to something and suddenly that very moment which was a little apathetic becomes a “Pow! Wow!”—Elisa
• “Can I just see You today? Give me the eyes and ears to see You today.” I want to do that more, where I’m just recognizing the little things I see. I want to call it out when I see it versus let it go by me.—Eryn
• Even if he doesn’t do the things I hope for, the journey and intimacy of me expressing and being vulnerable and trusting prepares me either way for the response of what I’m hoping for.—Eryn
• When we open Scripture, we can open our spiritual ears and remind ourselves God is talking to me. What can I get out of this today?—Elisa

Verses: 

• Romans 8:38 
• Revelation 3:16 

Links: 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Reclaim Today Article: https://reclaimtoday.org/how-to-see-god/
• God Hears Her 100th episode
• God Hears Her tote: https://www.godhearsher.org/shop
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisa morgan author
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy

In life we all get hit with unexpected news that brings change in one way or another. Sometimes the news is a diagnosis we weren’t expecting or an answer we’ve been waiting for. With life-changing news comes the surrendering of expectations and moments of grief. On this episode of God Hears Her, join Eryn Eddy and Elisa Morgan as they unpack what life looked like for Ronda Barney after she received an unexpected diagnosis.

About Our Guest:

Ronda Barney had just given birth to her first child when she was diagnosed with a potentially fatal illness. After the recommended treatment, she was completely healed until her immune system faced unknown challenges and her health decreased. 

Ronda wants to share with you the insights and truths that she has learned in the trenches. This desire has led her to start the online community A Dose of Hope, write her book, Dear Susan, create The Beautiful Life Blueprint, and start the podcast Awaken to Hope. Her heart’s desire is to walk with you through your suffering, offer a safe place to process the pain, and help you find nuggets of hope that will give you the courage and strength to live fully alive.

Notes and Quotes: 

• “God was so gracious, I felt like the right people showed up at the right time in the right spaces.” – Ronda Barney
• “I think we all have a storyline for how we want our life to play out. . . but I couldn’t make it better for myself.” – Ronda Barney
• “There are treasures that washed ashore that weren’t there before, and I had to find them.” – Ronda Barney
• “There are little joys to be found. . . It’s not all or nothing.” – Ronda Barney
• “My mission is to provide a space for women to connect in their pain.” – Ronda Barney
• “God sees our pain.” – Ronda Barney 
• “I was able to get from that moment to where I am now by letting go of the unknown future, and live for right now. Can you get through this moment? What is this moment about? God is holding every single moment.” – Ronda Barney

Links:

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisa morgan author
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy 
• Ronda Barney’s book: Dear Susan
• Ronda Barney’s Awaken to Hope podcast: https://rondabarney.com/podcast/
• Ronda Barney’s website: https://rondabarney.com/

Most of us spend a lot of time on social media. We mindlessly scroll through our feeds and spend time curating content for our friends and family. But how often do we share our faith on social media? What does it mean to be someone worth following? Dr. Jen Bennett is an expert on how to impact culture for Christ on social media. Join Dr. Bennett as she talks with hosts Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy about what it means to be worth following on this episode of God Hears Her.

About Our Guest:

Dr. Jen Bennett is a strategic communication professor at Indiana Wesleyan University, Jen equips college students to discover their voice, develop their expertise, and lead with influence to impact culture for Christ. She has coached various entrepreneurs, small business owners, ministries, organizations, and college students in social media, personal branding, marketing, and public relations. Jen was named as one of 61 Women in Digital You Should Be Following. In 2019 she was chosen as one of 55 social media influencers (out of 700 applicants) to attend #NASASocial for the Falcon Heavy Rocket Launch. She is also the author of the book #BeWorthFollowing: How to be Different and Influence People in a Crowded Social World. In April of 2021, Jen launched the She Impacts Culture podcast, a podcast for trailblazing, faith-based women who want to lead with influence and impact culture for Christ.

Notes and Quotes: 

• What keeps us back from sharing things on social media is fear… that then keeps us from sharing the message that God wants us to share.—Dr. Jen Bennett
• God has given you a voice for a reason. God has given you your specific experiences and stories not to keep it to yourself but to encourage the lives of others. There is somebody out there who needs to hear what you have to say.—Dr. Jen Bennett
• Influence—the world is all about being a celebrity. But yet if you look through the pages of the Bible, God used the most unlikely people to influence this world. There is a big difference between worldly influence and kingdom influence. God is just looking for a willing heart. If your heart is open, He’s going to use you.—Dr. Jen Bennett
• Don’t measure your success by what you see. Many times in online communications and social media, you are impacting the lives of people that you don’t see. God works in the unseen moments.—Dr. Jen Bennett

Verses: 

• John 4
• Book of Job

Links: 

• Here’s Dr. Jen’s book #Be Worth Following
• Dr. Jen’s Instagram: Dr. Jen Bennett
• Check out our 100th episode of God Hears her!
• Go here to get the God Hears Her tote: https://www.godhearsher.org/shop
• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisa morgan author
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy

We all have our own scars. Maybe they are in obvious places where people ask the story behind them. Or maybe they’re internal without anyone knowing about them. No matter what they look like or mean to you…you are more than your scars. On this episode of God Hears Her, plane crash survivor and America’s Got Talent finalist, Kechi Okwuchi, shares the story behind her scars with hosts Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy.

About Our Guest:

Kechi Okwuchi is a Nigerian American recording artist and motivational speaker. One of two survivors in a plane crash in 2005, Kechi is now a burn survivor advocate and a national patient ambassador for Shriners Children’s Hospital in Galveston, Texas. In 2017, she became a finalist on America’s Got Talent and has continued to put out her own original music since the show. She hopes to use her story and musical talents to ignite hope.

Notes and Quotes: 

• Pain is a strong indicator of life. —Kechi Okwuchi
• The more I watched my mom’s relationship with God, I noticed her unshakable confident faith, and I was curious.—Kechi Okwuchi
• I was one of two survivors out of 109 passengers on the plane.—Kechi Okwuchi
• I couldn’t understand how God could be good but also let all those children die.—Kechi Okwuchi
• I used to believe if you believed in God, you were protected from bad things. But my mom helped me realize being a Christian does not stop bad things from happening to you, but it gives you a place to go when bad things happen to you.—Kechi Okwuchi
• South Africa saved my life, but America gave my life back.—Kechi Okwuchi
• I had a platform to tell people there is life after trauma.—Kechi Okwuchi

Links: 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisa morgan author
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy
• Check out Kechi’s book More than My Scars

Dating is hard! But what if instead of coming to a date with high expectations, we just used it as an opportunity to get to know someone new? Join hosts Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy as Eryn shares her dating life secrets and the way she shifted her mindset on dating. This episode of God Hears Her features dating do’s and don’ts as well as some fun stories from both hosts. 

Notes and Quotes: 

• When I was newly divorced, I threw myself into the dating pool because I desired to be loved. It was all about me.—Eryn Eddy
• I objectified others, and I objectified myself. —Eryn Eddy
• Can Jesus really complete me? Dating Jesus was really becoming content with who I was by myself, that I don’t need another person to complete me. Learning how He saw me rather than how another person saw me. Learning to go to Him as the source rather than another person. —Eryn Eddy
• I was scared to face why I was pursuing relationships. I needed to become really honest with my intentions with why I wanted to go on dates. —Eryn Eddy
• What an honor it is to sit on the other side of the table and get to know another person that finds something interesting in me. Just getting to know somebody with no expectations.—Eryn Eddy
• When we act out of urgency and desperation, we get desperate results. —Eryn Eddy
• If I’m only dreaming of being in a relationship, I’m not dreaming big enough for what God has for me.—Eryn Eddy

Links: 

• Check out our 100th episode of God Hears Her!
• Go here to get the God Hears Her tote: https://www.godhearsher.org/shop
• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisa morgan author
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy

Most of us want leaders who are dependable, trustworthy, and honest. What do you value in a leader? How do you view leadership? In this episode of God Hears Her, guest Natasha Sistrunk Robinson confronts the topic of leadership and how one’s journey can be influenced by good or bad leadership. Join Natasha as she talks through leadership and the value of truth with hosts Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy.

About Our Guest:

Natasha Sistrunk Robinson is the president of T3 Leadership Solutions, Inc, the author of A Sojourner’s Truth as well as other books, and the  host of A Sojourner’s Truth: Conversations for a Changing Culture podcast. Natasha is also a doctorate student at North Park Theological Seminary, a graduate of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and the U.S. Naval Academy. Natasha has served her country as a Marine Corps officer and federal government employee at the Department of Homeland Security.

Notes and Quotes: 

• Truth telling requires discipline.—Natasha Sistrunk Robinson
• I am so thankful that when people told me lies about myself, I didn’t believe them.—Natasha Sistrunk Robinson
• In our world, lives are at stake. . . so I show up with an urgency because we have a mission!—Natasha Sistrunk Robinson
• I think we use people for their skills and we don’t have a care for their humanity, their family or their health.—Natasha Sistrunk Robinson
• We need to be humble to the global church. —Natasha Sistrunk Robinson
• I’m trying to be attentive to where people are at, because while I can’t change lives, God can!—Natasha Sistrunk Robinson

Verses: 

• Matthew 6:33
• Matthew 28:19–20 
• Jeremiah 6:14
• Psalm 7:11

Links: 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisa morgan author
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy 
• Natasha’s website: http://www.natashasrobinson.com/ 
• A Sojourner’s Truth: https://www.ivpress.com/a-sojourner-s-truth
• T3 Leadership Solutions: https://www.t3leadershipsolutions.com/

Relationships take a lot of work to maintain and grow in. Differences come up whether we like it or not and points of conflict can make us feel like running as far away as possible. Finding points of connection can feel like finding a needle in a haystack, but the relationship grows best when we love bravely. Married couple, Rob and Joanna Teigen, have worked through many ups and downs throughout their marriage. Join them and hosts Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy as they reflect on marriage and the work it takes to build healthy relationships while loving each other bravely.

About Our Guests:

Rob and Joanna have celebrated over twenty-five years of marriage and are loving life with two sons, three daughters, and a beautiful daughter-in-law. They share an addiction to coffee, bookstores, and Christmas music. They debate whether two dogs are enough and who should win “The Voice” every season. Rob and Joanna are a neat-freak married to a mess, an explorer to a homebody, and an introvert to a ‘people person.’ But they do agree that their vows are for always, children are a gift, and prayer is powerful. Over the years, the Teigens have lived in five states as they made their way to West Michigan. Serving as foster parents, marriage mentors, small-group leaders, and authors, they are passionate to help couples and moms and dads experience the power of God in their families. They look forward to meeting you here, supporting your pursuit of God and the hearts of your loved ones. They can’t wait to grow together with you.

Notes and Quotes: 

• In marriage you have your individual struggles and your individual passions, but you have to figure out how to bring those together.—Rob Teigen
• When people ask, ‘how have you stayed married?’ Sometimes the response is just, “I stayed.”—Elisa Morgan
• The marriage covenant may keep you together, but you can’t let yourself stay there. God wants so much more for marriage.—Rob Teigen
• There are different seasons in marriage, but you can’t let your feelings convince you they’re true. —Eryn Eddy
• Even after thirty years of marriage, it requires continuous work.—Rob Teigen
• Marriage and parenting is like being in charge of someone’s soul.—Rob Teigen

Verses: 

• 1 John 5:14 
• 1 Corinthians 13:7

Links: 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisa morgan author
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy
• Rob and Joanna Teigen’s website and bookstore: https://growinghometogether.com/

When tragedy strikes it might be tempting to run from God or start to doubt His goodness. Some of us may be caught up in wondering where He is when bad things happen. How have you reacted to tragedies in your own life? In this episode of God Hears Her, hosts Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy invite you to a conversation with guest Julia Pinkster as she reflects on multiple tragedies in her life and how God has been with her and her family through all of  them.

About Our Guest:

Julia Pinkster grew up in Kalamazoo, MI where she went to Loy Norrix High School. She attended Grand Valley State University for two and a half years but is now transferred to Kalamazoo Valley Community College to pursue a degree in Paramedicine. She has a service dog named Willow who is two years old and a yellow lab. Growing up, she had two younger brothers. One of them had severe cerebral palsy. She grew up as a caregiver for her brother and this has led her to have a passion for helping others. On top of hoping to become a paramedic, she hopes to become involved in raising and training dogs for police K-9 units. Her faith is so incredibly important to her and has been her biggest rock when she has gone through the darkest of times.

Notes and Quotes: 

• The best way to help heal from traumatic situations is to help others in similar situations.—Julia Pinkster
• It’s important to be selfless. If you focus on yourself too much, you will get down on yourself and constantly ask “why me?”—Julia Pinkster
• It doesn’t matter the amount of time you have on earth, it’s about the number of people you impact.—Julia Pinkster
• If you are struggling with any dark thoughts, be vulnerable, tell someone, and think about the people around you who love you and would miss you if you were gone.—Julia Pinkster
• Humans are not meant to do life on our own.—Julia Pinkster

Verses: 

• Psalm 90:12
• Psalm 23:4

Links: 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisa morgan author
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy 
• Suicide prevention website

Trigger Warning

Discussions on suicide and traumatic, descriptive scenarios of death.

God Hears Her has officially reached its 100th episode! Join hosts Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy as they reflect back on the show with producers Daniel Ryan Day, Mary Jo Clark, and Jade Gustafson. You’ll hear lots of laughter as they share how the team came together, the behind the scenes of producing the podcast, and their reflections on favorite past episodes. Join God Hears Her for its special 100th episode!

Notes and Quotes: 

• In the very first recording, within three minutes, Eryn and Elisa had pulled each others’ chairs across the divider so they could sit right next to each other.—Daniel Ryan Day
• I had to fight against the idea that I didn’t have purpose unless I was a wife and mother. But that’s something I appreciated about God Hears Her.—hosts from different generations and guests from all sorts of backgrounds.—Mary Jo Clark
• Sometimes we have to be the community we want to find. – Daniel Ryan Dan
• Sometimes the best way to create community is to ask people for help.—Elisa Morgan
• More like creative followership than leading—the Lord has brought the team here to lead. It’s more asking God to help me to be open-minded and trusting that God is behind the scenes. It’s mutual respect for each other—coleading.—Daniel Ryan Day
• I didn’t like podcasts before becoming a producer for a podcast.—Jade Gustafson
• The day before Our Daily Bread Ministries contacted me about this podcast, I had a pastor tell me that I should not have a microphone due to me going through divorce. It devastated me. What I learned is that God always has the final say.—Eryn Eddy  
• We’ve been on the other side of life change with about seventy people. Every story impacted me.—Eryn Eddy
• What do you do in relationships that are difficult for you? Stay with the difficulty. Stay with the discomfort. Stay with the love.— Elisa Morgan
• As producers, we do research about all these people and we prepare questions, and then we get into the conversion, and it’s always so unexpected. Like with Ellie Holcomb—so authentic and real about her story and her pain. None of that was planned.—Jade Gustafson
• That underlines why it’s called God Hears Her. He just takes it. People probably don’t realize that it’s not planned. It’s just a conversation that unfolds. I hope that convinces you that God hears you.—Elisa Morgan
• We think we want control. But then we find out God’s ways really are better than our ways. Even when life doesn’t seem to be looking like it’s better.—Daniel Ryan Day
• It’s gorgeous how each one of us had been told something that the enemy wanted us to believe and then God Hears Her is the birthplace of God saying, “No, I hear you, I see you. You are loved. I have a different plan, and I’m going to transform you with the guests that I bring on the show.”—Eryn Eddy

Links: 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisa morgan author
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy 
• Episode 4: Taste and See (with Margaret Feinberg)
• Episode 57: Living with Depression (with Sarah J. Robinson) 
• Episode 33: Adventurous Obedience (with Kari Jobe) 
• Episode 47: Jesus, Justice, and Women (with Tiffany Bluhm)
• Episode 8: When We Feel Invisible (with Robert Gelinas)
• Episode 78: Loving Your Neighbor through Conflict (with Alexandra Kuykendall)
• Episode 91: Understanding Your Brain and Pain (with Dr. Jerome D. Lubbe)
• Episode 32: Mental Health and Faith (with Dr. Christina Edmondson) 
• Episode 75: Space for Everyone (with Vivian Mabuni)
• Episode 15: Navigating Difficult Relationships (with Patricia Raybon) 
• Episode 37: Truth and Grit (with Ellie Holcomb)
• Episode 24: When We Feel We Aren’t Enough (with Laura Smith)

Does prayer feel hard to you? Do you struggle with knowing how to talk to God about your cares and concerns? Do you ever hide your prayer requests from God as if they’re not good enough? Does prayer feel like a chore rather than a conversation? Well, on this episode of God Hears Her, guest Lori Hatcher shares how prayer is just talking to a dear friend who wants to hear from you! Lori also shares with Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy about her own personal faith and how it has influenced her to change the way she prays through different seasons of waiting in her life.

About Our Guest:

Lori Hatcher is an author, blogger, pastor’s wife, and women’s ministry speaker. She’s written five devotionals, including Refresh Your Prayers: Uncommon Devotions to Restore Power and Praise, and Refresh Your Faith: Uncommon Devotions from Every Book of the Bible. Her articles and devotions have appeared in numerous print and online publications including Our Daily Bread, Guideposts, Revive Our Hearts, and Crosswalk.com. A contest-winning Toastmasters International speaker (ACG, ALB), Lori uses high-impact stories to impart transformational truth. Lori and her husband, a pastor, live delightfully close to their four grandchildren in Lexington, South Carolina.

Notes and Quotes: 

• Prayer was not meant to be a monologue. It was meant to be a two-way conversation.—Lori Hatcher
• When we take everything into our hands, we leave Him out of the picture.—Elisa Morgan
• I sat under sound Bible teaching for two years before the Word of God penetrated my heart.—Lori Hatcher
• For prodigal mamas who wonder if all those years of raising their kids in faith was a waste, now they’re not living for God. Was that a waste? God’s Word never returns void.—Lori Hatcher
• Sometimes our greatest step is to allow God to find us. If we just let ourselves be found and loved it’s, maybe, the hardest thing we’ll ever do.—Elisa Morgan
• Listening to God is far more important than giving Him your ideas.—Lori Hatcher
• Instead of getting things from God, you get God.—Lori Hatcher
• The transformation happened when I learned to listen. The main way God speaks to us today is through His Word.—Lori Hatcher 
• The main purpose of prayer is to build our relationship with God.—Lori Hatcher
• Every time we read God’s Word, He’s speaking to us.—Lori Hatcher 

Links: 

• Lori’s latest book: Refresh Your Faith
• Lori’s website: Lori Hatcher 
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Enjoy this episode? Rate and review it on iTunes to help us reach more women with the message that God hears them, He sees them, and He loves them because we are His! 
• Follow God Hears Her Podcast on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisa morgan author
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy
• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/

A lot of us make a plan for our lives or have expectations for the way we think that our life will turn out. How do we react when things don’t go according to our plan? How do we trust God with the unexpected? Join Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy on God Hears Her as they talk to Brianna DeWitt about the ways her life has not gone the way she planned.

About Our Guest:

Brianna DeWitt lives, bakes, and works in Grand Rapids, Michigan. You can find her spending time with her friends or young nieces and nephews, reading a book, or making a new dessert involving peanut butter and chocolate.

Notes and Quotes: 

• It’s difficult to desire something that God made, and said it’s a good thing, and to not have it. —Brianna DeWitt
• Comparison is hard when other people have the things we want in our lives. —Brianna DeWitt
• You can let yourself be sad, you just can’t stay in that sadness. —Brianna DeWitt
• Do you truly believe that the life God has planned for you is better than anything you could try to do on your own? —Brianna DeWitt
• The Lord can’t drive a ship with an anchor. —Erin Eddy
• Sometimes it takes a long time to be able to see what God is doing. —Brianna DeWitt 
• It’s hard to come up with answers to the questions that I, and others, have about my own life. —Brianna DeWitt
• Be open to the ways life is going to look different from the way you thought it would. —Brianna DeWitt

Verses: 

• (The story of Joseph) Genesis 37–50
• “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” —Genesis 50:20

Links: 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisa morgan author
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy 
• Brianna’s Twitter: @bwitt722

Have you ever thought about whether you are a Mary or a Martha from the Bible? Does your calling reflect parts of your personality? Do you like things clean and organized, like Martha? Or are you a Mary, focused on giving people time and attention? On this episode of God Hears Her, hosts Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy talk with guest Denisse Copeland about what it means to be set apart as a daughter of the King, no matter if you’re a Mary or a Martha.

About Our Guest:

Denisse Copeland was born and raised by a single mother in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. Her upbringing offered little stability, and Denisse soon found herself on a seemingly endless quest to find love and acceptance. It wasn’t until Jesus shook her world that she truly found what she was looking for. Now a mother of three living in Oklahoma City, Denisse works alongside her husband, Rashawn Copeland, as an online minister and evangelist. Their ministry reaches more than 6 million people every year.

Notes and Quotes: 

• God gave me a gift that was difficult for me to accept as a child. —Denisse Copeland
• I was confessing but I didn’t know it, and I felt tangible peace for the first time. —Denisse Copeland
• I never felt peace growing up. I didn’t know what peace was or felt like. —Denisse Copeland
• I said, “Yes, Lord!” It felt like somebody loved me. I accepted that proposal. —Denisse Copeland
• Martha’s gift wasn’t wrong. She was just doing it from an anxious heart. —Denisse Copeland
• The heart posture is what’s driving you to do what you’re doing. If you’re abiding in Him, there is rest. —Denisse Copeland
• I am set apart. I am a daughter. I don’t have to prove anything. —Denisse Copeland
• Sometimes what frustrates us most is what leads us to our giftedness. —Denisse Copeland
• Jesus gives us permission to rest. —Denisse Copeland

Verses: 

• Psalm 1 
• Luke 10:38-42

Links: 

• Get your copy of Denisse’s book: Set Apart on Amazon
• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisa morgan author
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy 
• Denisse’s Instagram: setapartdaughters

Have you ever lost someone? Maybe you’ve grown distant from a friend you enjoyed a great connection with. Or someone you loved dearly is no longer in your life. Karen Booker Schelhaas faces life without her husband every day, but in this episode of God Hears Her, she shares how God has shown up in the midst of her intangible grief. Hosts Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy talk with Karen about life after becoming a widow, and how we can grow through grief. 

About Our Guest:

Karen Booker Schelhaas lives near Denver, CO, and is a full-time mother to her five children, two of whom were adopted from Ethiopia in 2008. Widowed in 2019 from the love of her life, but anchored in her faith, Karen has passion for serving the grieving at her church and in her community, traveling, writing, empowering younger women, cooking for others, and being active in the great Colorado outdoors. She is also a Wheaton College graduate and published author.

Notes and Quotes: 

• The life I had really shattered. There weren’t pieces I could glue together. — Karen Booker Schelhaas
• I started screaming, and God whispered, “I can take it, keep it coming.” — Karen Booker Schelhaas
• Lament can become a form of worship because it speaks to a relationship. I don’t have to clean it up for God. — Karen Booker Schelhaas
• We cannot live outside of community, and that’s especially true of the grief process. — Karen Booker Schelhaas
• Defiant hope. I don’t get to choose where I’ve been planted, but I can choose whether or not to let God help me bloom. — Karen Booker Schelhaas
• I’ve been very honest about my grief which has given my children permission to be honest with their grief. — Karen Booker Schelhaas
• Grief is holy ground. There aren’t rules to grief. No timeline. — Karen Booker Schelhaas
• Even in the greatest pain and heartache, God shows up, and if we keep our eyes open, we can see Him at work. — Karen Booker Schelhaas
• Be patient. Give lots of grace. Realize people are doing the best they can with what they’ve been handed. — Karen Booker Schelhaas

Links: 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisa morgan author
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy

How do we follow God’s will for our lives? Some of us have dreams and goals that end up changing over time, or are completely changed by a God who then provides in unknown ways. Finding peace in these moments is hard! Teresa Swanstrom Anderson had a plan for her life when God stepped in and completely altered it! On this episode of God Hears Her, Teresa shares with hosts, Elisa Morgan and Eyn Eddy, how she embraced the unknown and the unexpected good plans of God.

About Our Guest:

An unlikely mom of six children (two biological and four from Ethiopia), Teresa is a community builder, party and beauty lover, author, speaker, and huge “Bible nerd.” Obsessed with helping overwhelmed women learn to slow down with Scripture, Teresa teaches how to say yes to God, lead wherever you are, and create a life you love. She currently has four books published, including three best-selling Bible studies (three more are set to release in the next several years).

Notes and Quotes: 

• Just because you’re passionate about something, doesn’t mean that’s your calling. –Teresa 
• There has to be a time of preparation in our lives. How scary would it be to walk into our calling unprepared? –Teresa
• Sometimes we have to do the hard work in order to accomplish what God is calling us to. –Teresa 
• Sometimes what God has in mind for us doesn’t make sense [to us]. –Elisa 
• The enemy wants us to think that we missed God and His plan. –Eryn 
• If you make time with God, He will make time for you to do everything else. –Teresa

Links: 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Give to support God Hears Her: https://donations.ourdailybread.org/int62.html 
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisa morgan author
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy 
• Teresa’s Instagram: teresa.swanstrom.anderson 
• Teresa’s website: https://heyitsteresa.com

Listen as God Hears Her Podcast hosts Eryn Eddy and Elisa Morgan answer your questions! We’re beginning Season 6 with a special episode moderated by God Hears Her producer Jade Gustafson. From life lessons to friendship advice, join the well-rounded conversation with different perspectives from a range of ages. 

Notes and Quotes: 

• Talking with other women who are rooted in faith, and holding tight to a routine helps me get through the seasons of life. – Eryn 
• Peace is a person, and His name is Jesus. – Elisa 
• We have overexpectations for someone or a group of people to be our best friend who goes through life with us forever. – Elisa
• A body is a container that carries God’s Holy Spirit, no matter what your body looks like. – Elisa
• Grieve the expectations you had and didn’t receive, but then be grateful for the things you do have. – Eryn
• God speaks to each one of His children in a different way. – Eryn
• Our identity will always be in Christ, but how that works and looks changes as we get older and go through different seasons. – Elisa 

Verses: 

• “Come to me all who are weary and I will give you rest.” —Matthew 11:28
• “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” —John 16:33

Links: 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• Give to support God Hears Her: https://donations.ourdailybread.org/int62.html
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisamorganauthor
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy

In today’s culture, fathers get a bad wrap. Either they don’t show up for their kids at all, or if they do, they are heavily criticized. On this episode of God Hears Her, hosts Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy talk to Dr. Meg Meeker about the significant role a father plays in our lives. Discover the qualities of a godly father, how to encourage the men in your life to be a strong father, and how to heal from a broken relationship with your own father.

About Our Guest:

Dr. Meg Meeker is a pediatric doctor and the founder of Parenting Great Kids. She is also the author of multiple books, including bestseller Strong Fathers Strong Daughters. She currently lives and works in Traverse City, Michigan with her husband, Walter.

Notes and Quotes: 

• “Assume your husband feels a little intimidated by your daughter.” —Dr. Meg Meeker 
• “Fathers bring something to the home that mothers don’t.” —Dr. Meg Meeker 
• “A mother’s love feels nonnegotiable, but a father’s love feels negotiable.” —Dr. Meg Meeker 
• “Single mothers try to play the role of mom and dad, but they should focus on just being the best mom.” —Dr. Meg Meeker  
• “God can fill any hole we have in our heart.” —Dr. Meg Meeker 
• “Never talk poorly about your husband to your children.” —Dr. Meg Meeker 
• “Dads, your child wants you. A dad doesn’t need a child, but a child needs a dad.” —Dr. Meg Meeker 
• “The truth is we’re all grieving (men and women), because all of our fathers messed up in some way, and that’s why we need Jesus.” —Dr. Meg Meeker
• “We all need perfect love, protection, and peace.” —Dr. Meg Meeker 

Verses: 

• Colossians 2:9–10

Links: 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisa morgan author
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy 
• Free Resource: https://odb.org/US/2018/06/09/the-perfect-father
• Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters by Dr. Meg Meeker

When you were a kid, how did you feel about your hometown? Did you stay in the same area? Or move around to different places? Growing up involved a lot of transitions and questions of identity for missionary kid Jennie Clevenger. Join Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy in a conversation with Jennie Clevenger as she shares about her past and how it has shaped her life now on this episode of God Hears Her.

About Our Guest:

Jennie Clevenger grew up in Guyana, South America as a missionary kid and is still involved in ministry there to this day. She currently works as a RN at a COVID-19 testing and vaccination center. Jennie’s hope is that her efforts there with her wonderful coworkers will encourage and support the community in any way possible. She is passionate about listening to —and sometimes even butting into—any discussion involving women in the church! She feels a sense of urgency to learn more, read more, and discuss more about the importance of lifting women up in their homes, communities, and the life of the church. She has been married to her husband, Ryan, for thirteen years and they have four beautiful girls. The three oldest are adopted from Guyana.

Notes and Quotes: 

• When our souls get seared that carries with us. —Elisa Morgan
• Adoption is not about saving the world, it’s about being a parent to a child who doesn’t have a parent to love them. —Jennie Clevenger
• I am called to care for people. —Jennie Clevenger
• You are in this world, not of it. —Jennie Clevenger
• God gives us the gift of community. —Jennie Clevenger
• It is strength to acknowledge you are struggling. —Jennie Clevenger

Verses: 

• John 12:25
• Genesis 1:27

Links: 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisa morgan author
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy

Imagine if you dealt with a debilitating migraine every day of your life and doctors didn’t have the right answers to help you heal. What would you do? How would you cope? Dr. Jerome Lubbe experienced this firsthand before becoming a functional neurologist and working to improve people’s well-being. The brain is a complex system, and sometimes the answers to our suffering aren’t easy to come by. On this episode of God Hears Her, hosts Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy talk to Dr. Jerome Lubbe about the brain and the pain a lot of us face.

About Our Guest:

Dr. Jerome is a functional neurologist who knows that healing is possible, even when it feels impossible, because of the brain’s ability to reorganize itself and create new connections. He specializes in complex and unresolved neurological cases because he knows what it’s like to have an undiagnosed issue as he suffered from migraines without any answers for years! His practice also explores how functional neurology, neuroplasticity, and tools like the Enneagram can improve our well-being. Dr. Jerome created and released the first-ever neuroscience based model of the Enneagram in his book, The Brain-Based Enneagram.

Notes and Quotes: 

• Is your pain more like Job’s, Paul’s, or Jesus’? —Dr. Jerome Lubbe
• Sometimes you have to ask yourself if your pain is something you have to die to. —Dr. Jerome Lubbe
• My body was made by a Creator who knows more than me. —Dr. Jerome Lubbe
• Sometimes we think silence is God’s absence. —Dr. Jerome Lubbe
• There is nothing more significant on earth than a deep breath. —Dr. Jerome Lubbe

Verses: 

• Ecclesiastes 3:1–8
• Luke 22:42
• John 17:21

Links: 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisa morgan author
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy 
• Dr. Jerome Lubbe’s website: https://www.drjerome.com/
• Dr. Jerome Lubbe’s book: https://www.amazon.com/Brain-Based-Enneagram-You-are-number/dp/173329452X/ref=asc_df_173329452X/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=508251227705&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15529146134085583451&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9017520&hvtargid=pla-912777142742&psc=1

When you were growing up, did you have a childhood pet you adored? As an adult, have you faced the loss of pets throughout your life? No matter how old you get, losing a pet is always hard. Join Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy as they talk about their experiences with pets they have loved and have lost on this episode of God Hears Her. 

Notes and Quotes: 

• When your pet can’t do two of the three of their favorite things, you need to take notice of that. —Elisa
• Do our pets connect us with our Creator? —Elisa
• Pets witness our growth and change. —Eryn
• When we prioritize avoiding pain, we pay a deep price. —Elisa’s friend Dorothy Littell Greco (taken from Dorothy’s blog)
• It’s vulnerable to get attached to something you know will pass before you. —Eryn
• God hears even your smallest prayers. —Eryn
• Take the hole you feel in your heart as an opportunity to fast from it, and depend on God to fulfill it. —Elisa

Links: 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisamorganauthor
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy 
• Dorothy’s Blog Post: https://dorothylittellgreco.substack.com/p/on-losing-a-pet?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&s=r

Parenting is hard, especially in our culture today where kids can learn everything from their smartphones and grow up to believe they don’t need their parents. As a parent, you love your kids deeply. But how do you keep showing your love through the ups and downs of parenting?

On this episode of God Hears Her, Dr. Meg Meeker joins hosts Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy to share practical insights and tips about parenting while sharing her own experiences as a pediatrician and parent.

About Our Guest:

Meg Meeker, MD, is a pediatric physician and the founder of Parenting Great Kids, an online community filled with resources for parents and kids. She’s also the author of multiple books that have sold over 700,000 copies! She has spoken on television, podcasts, radio, and  many other speaking engagements. Her goal is to promote physical, emotional, and mental health to all kids. She currently lives and works in Traverse City, Michigan, with her husband, Walter.

Notes and Quotes: 

• “God equips you with everything you need when He puts you in a new, unknown situation.” —Dr. Meg Meeker
• “Kids want to feel more than just loved, they want to know that you want their company.” —Dr. Meg Meeker 
• “As women we so desperately want to do God’s will, but it’s a lot easier than we think.” —Dr. Meg Meeker
• “Let your children know you are with them in the tough stuff.” —Dr. Meg Meeker 
• “Kids are anxious and depressed because they are born into a world of screens and isolation.” —Dr. Meg Meeker 
• “Single parents need to remember to take the high road.” —Dr. Meg Meeker
• “A step parent’s job is not to discipline, it’s to win the child’s trust.” —Dr. Meg Meeker 
• “Listen more and say less.” —Dr. Meg Meeker
• “Anxiety and depression are treatable.” —Dr. Meg Meeker 

Verses: 

• Luke 10:27
• Hebrews 13:20–21

Links: 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Dr. Meg Meeker’s Website: https://www.meekerparenting.com/meet-meg
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisa morgan author
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy

Sensitivity Warning: Includes discussions about child anxiety, sexuality, and severe depression.

What comes to mind when you think about “Spiritual Disciplines”? Do you think about taking a Sabbath? Or participating in a fast? On this episode of God Hears Her, hosts Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy talk with Dr. Alicia Britt Chole about how living devoted to God through practicing spiritual disciplines can change your life.

About Our Guest:

Dr. Alicia is a speaker, leadership mentor, and award-winning writer who uses realism and hope to focus on less-than-trendy topics like spiritual pain, decrease as a discipline, the leader’s soul, and the potential of anonymous years. She’s been married to her husband for 32 years, and together they have three amazing children all through the miracle of adoption!

Notes and Quotes: 

• “Pain became a companion rather than a season.” —Dr. Alicia Britt Chole
• “The gifts God gives us are from the beginning.” —Dr. Alicia Britt Chole 
• “There is more going on than our eyes can see.” —Dr. Alicia Britt Chole
• “Fasting is a relational commitment.” —Dr. Alicia Britt Chole 
• “Fasting is a voluntary abstinence for the love of God.” —Dr. Alicia Britt Chole 
• “The more we lean [on Jesus] the more we love, and the more we learn.” —Dr. Alicia Britt Chole 
• “Change is found in the small.” —Dr. Alicia Britt Chole 

Verses: 

• 1 Thessalonians 5:17
• Isaiah 58:3–7
• John 13:23

Links: 

• God Hears Her website: www.godhearsher.org
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Dr. Alicia Britt Chole website: https://aliciachole.com/about/ 
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisa morgan author
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy
• Dr. Alicia Britt Chole Instagram: aliciabrittchole

How do you have hard conversations with the people you love? Do you ever feel lost in your friendships because you’re not communicating well or you can’t overcome an issue? On this episode of God Hears Her, hosts Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy talk with Kristen “KB” Newton about how to have the hard conversations that truly deepen friendships.

About Our Guest:

Kristen ‘KB’ Newton is the creator and founder of HEART convos, an organization that helps people build authentic relationships through having hard conversations. In addition to authoring #Friendtips Volume 1, a book with insights on how to create valuable connections, KB is a disc jockey for the Indiana Pacers, the Indiana Fever, and the Big Ten Women’s Tournament. She is married to Mike Newton, and they have a four-year-old daughter.

Notes and Quotes: 

• “Heart conversations are necessary in all meaningful relationships. HEART stands for Honest, Elephant-sized, Authentic, Real, and Transparent conversations.” —KB
• “Disruptions are opportunities.” —KB
• “I was hiding in plain sight.” —KB
• “You were made for deep meaningful connection.” —KB
• “Connection is God’s design.” —KB 
• “Every relationship is not created equal.” —KB
• “Intimacy is when you allow someone to see into you.” —KB

Verses: 

• Genesis 2:18
• Matthew 7:12 

Links: 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• KB Heart Convos: https://www.heartconvos.com/new-membership-main1599244558089 
• KB Newton: #Friendtips Volume 1 : https://www.amazon.com/FRIENDTIPS-VOL-PRACTICAL-ADVICE-FRIENDS/dp/B09M53BD7P 
• KB Newton Instagram: heart_convos
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisa morgan author
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy

When Jesus was on Earth, He made the ultimate sacrifice for humankind. Before He made that sacrifice, He was constantly in prayer with God about what the Lord was willing for His life. How can we pray like Jesus did?

On this episode of God Hears Her, Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy share their Scripture-based knowledge and practical ideas about how we can pray like Jesus.

Notes and Quotes: 

• “Do we experience intimacy with God through prayer?” —Elisa
• Why am I afraid to pray?
• “Have you ever tried to pray like Jesus?” —Elisa
• “Sometimes I’m scared to pray. Sometimes I don’t know if I want to know what God wants.” —Elisa
• “Sometimes I’m scared to pray because I’m scared to find out if God is really who He says He is.” —Eryn
• “Jesus prayed two prayers in the same sentence.” —Elisa
• “The prayer of Gethsemane is recorded three times in the gospels.” —Elisa
• “Sometimes we feel bratty about being honest with God about what we want.” —Elisa
• “We need to pray like Jesus, with honesty and abandonment.” —Elisa

Verses: 

• Luke 22:39-46

Links: 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Elisa’s NEW book When We Pray Like Jesus 
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisamorganauthor
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy

Are you the type who procrastinates things that need to get done? Do you find yourself living in stress because of the clutter around you? On this episode of God Hears Her, hosts Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy talk with author Kathi Lipp about her home on the mountains, how to clear up your clutter, and how to take care of your future self.

About Our Guest:

Kathi Lipp is the author of 20 books and coauthor of An Abundant Place: Daily Retreats for the Woman Who Can’t Get Away. Kathi lives on her mini-homestead with her husband Roger, a dog, cat, and five chickens. She is the host of the Clutter Free Academy podcast, and a national speaker often featured on Woman’s World.

Notes and Quotes: 

• “Thank you, God, how can I help?” —Kathi
• “Depending on God can lead to a clutter-free life.” —Eryn
• “There is more safety in the middle of God’s plan than any other place in life.” —Kathi
• “We don’t get to be a part of each other’s lives, we need to be a part of each other's lives.” —Kathi
• “When we’re talking about anything that’s supplemental to where God should be, it all comes down to fear, guilt and shame.” —Kathi
• “Find more delight in the ordinary.” —Kathi
• “Faith without works is nothing.” —Kathi
• “The thing you despise most about yourself, God will use for His glory and your good.” —Kathi

Verses: 

• “What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone?” —James 2:14 (NLT)

Links: 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisamorganauthor
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy
• Kathi Lipp’s podcast: Clutter Free Academy Podcast | Kathi Lipp
• Kathi Lipp’s books: BOOKS | Kathi Lipp

Have you ever thought about how much time you spend on technology? How often do you pick up your phone throughout the day? Do you find yourself using it as a constant escape? On this “best of” God Hears Her episode, Elisa and Eryn revisit a conversation with Amy Crouch where they talk about being wise with how much time we spend on technology. Listen for some great practical advice from Amy.

About Our Guest:

Amy Crouch is the author of My Tech-Wise Life and attends Cornell University studying linguistics, English, and anything else she can fit into her schedule. Her book is a follow-up to her father’s book, The Tech-Wise Family by Andy Crouch, and she describes what it’s like to grow up in a family that takes a disciplined approach to technology as well as offers helpful hints for others. Amy loves to cook, climb mountains, and chat about books.

Notes and Quotes:

• “We took a sabbath once a week from work, but also screens.”
• “My parents were always really intentional in saying to me, ‘This is why we have made these shared commitments.’”
• “Real life has to be difficult. If it is not difficult, it’s not real life.”
• “Another question to ask ourselves is ‘What am I escaping, and why?’”
• “Ask yourself, is social media making it harder for you to be content?”
• “Every time I survive distraction, I am reminded that it doesn’t have power over me.”
• “Technology is really good at shaping our habits.”
• Baby steps: Don’t beat yourself up, start and end your days without screens, leave your phone out of the bedroom, find something to take the place of technology.

Links/Books/Resources Mentioned in Show: 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• Subscribe on iTunes!  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Order God Sees Her: 365 Devotions for Women by Women on Amazon.  https://amzn.to/32lYSgh
• Order My Tech-Wise Life on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3xVCyaZ 
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisamorganauthor
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy

Disclaimer: This conversation is about intrusive thoughts, depression, and suicidal desires, and could be triggering for some listeners. No one in this conversation is a trained counselor, therapist, or medical professional. The show is not intended to offer medical advice. If you or someone you know struggles with anything discussed in this episode, please seek professional medical council and assistance.

In this Episode:

How many of us deal with depression, anxiety, or intrusive thoughts but don’t ever talk about it? In places where we should feel safe, we often fear judgment or feel anxiety while trying to diagnose where our thoughts may be coming from. Not to mention the stigma that comes when we begin discussing mental health with others. On this “best of” God Hears Her episode, Eryn and Elisa revisit a conversation with Sarah J. Robinson where they talk about mental health and Sarah’s journey of understanding her own depression.

About Our Guest:

Sarah J. Robinson once believed her lifelong battle with depression made her a bad Christian. And yet, through her years of shame, self-harm, and suicide attempts, Sarah learned that God is present in our deepest darkness. Sarah is now an author and speaker who helps others discover that mental illness doesn’t disqualify them from living rich, beautiful lives in Christ. Drawing from a decade of ministry experience and the mental health field, Sarah helps readers fight for wholeness and cultivate joy. She lives in Nashville with her husband.

Notes and Quotes:

• “I didn’t know my thoughts were not what everyone else was thinking.”
• “The common misconception is that depression is sadness.”
• There is a difference between intrusive thoughts and suicidal thoughts/tendencies.
• “We sort of overlooked passages in Scripture where God walked through suffering with people.”
• “There is that honeymoon phase of faith where everything is new and awesome, but I quickly learned that I couldn’t just ‘choose joy.’”
• “Nothing helped because I had an illness that needed to be treated, not a lack of prayer or a lack of faith.”
• “I remember journaling and thinking, You deserve more than this, God. You are perfect and deserve more than this mess.”
• “People mean well, but they are ill-informed or ill-equipped.” 
• “People who really wanted to love me well are the people that said the most hurtful things.”
• “God choosing to take the long road with me has revealed His kindness and His character in a way I would not trade for anything.”
• Discovering joy versus choosing joy.
• “You are worth everything it takes to get better.” 

Links/Books/Resources Mentioned in Show: 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• Subscribe on iTunes!  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Order God Sees Her: 365 Devotions for Women by Women on Amazon.  https://amzn.to/32lYSgh
• Order God Loves Her: 365 Devotions for Women by Women: https://ourdailybreadpublishing.org/god-loves-her.html
• Order Sarah’s book I Love Jesus, But I Want to Die: Finding Hope in the Darkness of Depression - https://amzn.to/3CpzqrC 
• Sarah’s Instagram: sarahjrbnsn
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisamorganauthor
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy

Remember, if you or someone you love is hurting due to suicidal thoughts or tendencies, you can dial the suicide hotline at 800-273-8255 or chat with someone on suicidepreventionlifeline.org. You can also visit suicidepreventionlifeline.org for more information.

Have you ever found yourself in a place where you felt convicted to stand up for someone being oppressed? Or maybe you’ve felt a strong desire to be an advocate for them but you couldn’t seem to find your voice? On this “best of” God Hears Her episode, we revisit a conversation we had with Tiffany Bluhm as she explores the path of finding our voice when we find ourselves in a place of injustice. She’ll also share her own journey of how she found her place in Jesus, justice, and women.

About Our Guest: 

Tiffany Bluhm is the author of She Dreams and Never Alone and their companion Bible studies, as well as her latest book, Prey Tell. She is cohost of the Why Tho podcast and leads an engaged audience of followers online. Tiffany is committed to encouraging people of faith to live with conviction, substance, and grace. As a minority, immigrant woman with an interracial family, Bluhm is passionate about inviting all to the table of faith, equality, justice, and dignity.

Notes and Quotes:

• “I always felt welcome in the kingdom. I always felt like I had found my place.”
• “As my faith grew and as my grip on justice tightened, there was this intersection and I found my place. It’s Jesus and it’s justice and it’s women.”
• “In my work, I critique how we have messaged Jesus, how we have weaponized Scripture against women. Because the honest truth is the imbalance of power we see in our world is one of the leading factors to derail a woman’s faith, career, financial standing, and her reputation.” 
• “It came to understanding that loyalty to conviction had to override my loyalty to an institution.”
• “If you see something that is inherently wrong, and you stay silent, you become complicit in that action.”
• “Think of the opportunity, especially among women, to lock arms and to serve and listen and to lament with one another. And to bring change.”
• “Change in gender inequality has only come when women have locked arms together.”
• “How did we, from the first century to this modern day, twist Jesus’ words and weaponize Scripture to make women feel small? And how can we right that cultural wrong through a biblical lens?”
• “This idea of ‘don’t touch the Lord’s anointed’ has been taken out of context to mean that ‘those who are anointed or appointed are immune from dissent.’”
• “If Jesus held up one woman’s testimony, so must we.”
• “Fear is a flashing red light of a lack of love.”

Links/Books/Resources Mentioned in Show: 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Order God Sees Her: 365 Devotions for Women by Women on Amazon. https://amzn.to/32lYSgh
• Order God Loves Her: 365 Devotions for Women by Women: godlovesher.org
• Order Tiffany’s book Prey Tell: https://www.amazon.com/Prey-Tell-Silence-Women-Everyone/dp/1587434784/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=prey+tell&qid=1620925274&sr=8-1
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisamorganauthor
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy
• Tiffany’s Instagram: tiffanybluhm

Where are you from? Have you ever thought about that question? Do you ever think about where you started and how it led to where you are now? On this episode of God Hears Her, hosts Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy talk to Rasool Berry about where he is from and how that shapes where he is now.

About Our Guest:

Rasool Berry serves as teaching pastor at The Bridge Church in Brooklyn, New York. He also is the Director of Partnerships & Content Development with Our Daily Bread Ministries. He hosts the Where Ya From? podcast, which uses stories to connect us to people applying their faith for social change. He also was the host of In Pursuit of Jesus, a travel documentary series in which he journeys across five continents exploring what he can learn about Jesus through others. Rasool is passionate about traveling, music, cooking and eating, and inspiring people to live in light of eternity. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife, Tamica, and their daughter Ire’Ana.

Notes and Quotes: 

• “In the time that I need my sense of morality the most, that’s when I’m less likely to be moral because of my own sin nature.”
• “The main barrier to me ever experiencing the grace and mercy of God was my own pride.”
• “It’s only when I recognize that I don’t have all the answers is when I begin to ask the questions and listen to other people.”
• “Always look out for those who are marginalized around you because those are the ones that you can learn the most from because they’re often not heard. And you maybe haven’t been exposed to really listening to their perspectives.”
• “Throughout the Scriptures you see God intentionally investing Himself in the margins.”
• “God’s the only one rightfully in the center. He invites people in the center with Him.”
• “God will take and ordain and sanctify and bless whatever is in your hand in order for you to do the next thing to bring those in the margins into the center.”

Verses: 

• Matthew 11:15: “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
• Genesis 16–21: The Story of Hagar
• Exodus
• Philippians 2
• Matthew 22:34–40
• Genesis 1:26–27
• Romans 5

Links: 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• God Loves Her devotional: https://ourdailybreadpublishing.org/god-loves-her.html
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisamorganauthor
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy
• Rasool’s Instagram: rasoolb
• Discover the Word podcast: https://discovertheword.org/
• In Pursuit of Jesus video series: https://inpursuitofjesus.net/
• Where Ya From? podcast: https://whereyafrom.org/

A part of being in relationships is coming into conflict with the people we love. What do we do when we have those disagreements? How do we handle conflict? Do we run away from it or fight through it? On this episode of God Hears Her, Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy talk about how they handle disagreements with the people they love. They also share their thoughts on unhealthy conflict, and how we can resolve it. 

Notes and Quotes: 

• “When you have a disagreement with somebody, it does feel like that can take up the whole relationship instead of looking at the other pieces of the relationship.”
• “The way disagreement first hits us is that we feel rejected. We feel wrong. We feel less than, out of control, not safe. But you can learn to receive disagreement in such a way that you can grow from it, and you can feel loved by it.”
• “Create a safe space for the disagreement where you can let your emotions ‘thaw.’”
• “Have mutual respect for the other person [while being in a disagreement] and believe the best of them.”
• “Reflect on your posture. Is it a defensive posture? Or is it an open-handed posture?”
• “When we are stuck in defensiveness we are building barriers.”
• Paul’s recommendations for disagreements from Philippians:
  • Stand firm in your belief.
  • Begin the conversation with love.
  • Stay on mission: What are you trying to accomplish here?
  • Get help from an outsider when you can’t agree.
  • Put your faith in practice.
• “How does the Lord see my viewpoint? What is there for me to learn? What does He want to teach me?”

Verses: 

• Paul’s letters to the church in the Bible
• Peter’s letters to the church in the Bible
• Philippians 3 and 4

Links: 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Free Resource: Developing the Art of Gracious Disagreement
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisamorganauthor
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy

The word “orphan” may feel like a title that doesn’t fit for most of us, but have you ever felt alone? Left out? Like you don’t belong? On this episode of God Hears Her, Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy are joined by Lorilee Craker to talk about the orphan inside us all. Lorilee shares her own story of being adopted and how she learned that the orphan in us all truly belongs in the kingdom of God.

About Our Guest:

Lorilee Craker is the author of 15 books, including Anne of Green Gables, My Daughter, and Me. Lorilee was also an entertainment writer for The Grand Rapids Press for 17 years. She now writes for travel websites, blogs, and speaks at many events including writers conferences. She is the cofounder of the Breathe Christian Writers Conference and a writers day camp for children.

Notes and Quotes: 

• “I’m very pro-adoption, but I’m clear that adoption is not all rainbows and sunshine. There’s a lot of pain. There are a lot of things to be reckoned with.”
• “My spirit really responded to Anne [of Green Gables] and how she was always looking for belonging. She was always looking for her people.”
• “The truth is we can all feel orphaned.”
• “One of the dictionary definitions that I found for orphans was ‘bereft, left behind, and left.’ . . . In Christ we are orphans no more. And we’ve all felt bereft, left behind, and left.”
• “Once you’re adopted, that doesn’t mean the orphan feelings go away.”
• “God is not an adoptive Father, He’s an adopting Father. It’s ongoing. It’s part of His character to adopt children.”
• “Any rejection, any abandonment is an opportunity to grow closer to the heart of the Father.”
• “God wants to be there with us. He doesn’t want us to dress up like we’re going to church before talking to Him. He wants us when we’re lying on the floor with our face in the carpet so sad, so bereft, so left behind. That’s when He wants to come to us. And dry our tears. And move through the pain with us.” 

Links: 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Free resource: We Are His: Belonging to the Family of God
• Lorilee’s book: Anne of Green Gables, My Daughter, and Me
• Lorilee’s website: www.lorileecraker.com/
• Lorilee’s Instagram: thebooksellersdaughter
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisamorganauthor
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy

In our culture today, it’s normal to disagree with people and “cancel” them by refusing to talk to them or even trying to understand their viewpoints on various issues. But did you know that “cancel culture” contradicts what the Bible says? On this episode of God Hears Her, Elisa and Eryn interview Alexandra Kuykendall about what it means to actually love your neighbor the way Jesus did, even when you disagree.

About Our Guest:

Alexandra Kuykendall encourages the church to engage God’s world in the tension and intersection of heartache and hope. Her most recent book, Seeking Out Goodness: Finding the True and Beautiful All around You offers a roadmap for how to look for and find echoes of God’s goodness. Alex is the cofounder of The Open Door Sisterhood, a community of women working to be world changers for good right where they are. She cohosts a podcast and retreat under the same name. A trusted voice for Christian women, Alex has been a guest on Good Morning America, Focus on the Family’s Daily Broadcast, and Moody Radio. She lives in downtown Denver, Colorado, with her husband Derek and their four daughters.

Notes and Quotes: 

• “The gospel is still true. And God is still good. And we are not the first people to say ‘Where are we?’ and ‘What is happening in the world?’ This has been true throughout history. Before Jesus came, people were wondering that. After Jesus came, people have been wondering about that.”
• “We’re in a unique time, which allows us to have creativity in how we live out our faith but also in how we encourage each other.”
• “Jesus didn’t say, ‘Love your neighbors that agree with you, love your neighbors that make you feel comfortable, love your neighbors who give you strokes for what you’re doing with your life or that are happy that you go to church.’ He just said, ‘Love your neighbors like you would like to be loved.’”
• “Who are the people within our circles that we could love better?”
• “If there is awkward silence, it sometimes just gives someone the permission to keep talking.”
• “If I don’t bail, I am telling them, ‘You are more important to me than my own comfort.’ That to me, speaks of the gospel in a way that nothing else can. Because that’s essentially what Jesus said, ‘You are more important to me than my own comfort.’”
• Alex’s definition of cancel culture: “We decide that somebody is not worthy of listening to or valuing at all because of one small part of who they are or what they believe.”
• “We believe that being ‘in a conversation’ means we must endorse the conversation. And we don’t. That’s not a conversation, that’s a dictatorship.”
• “That is part of seeking out His [God’s] goodness. To say, ‘I’m going to stand in awe and wonder that you are the God of all things. You are the God of everything and you know and I don’t know.’”

Verses: 

• “Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matthew 22:37–39 (NIV) 
• “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

Links: 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Visit Alexandra Kuykendall’s website: https://alexandrakuykendall.com/
• Check out Alexandra’s book Seeking Out Goodness: https://amzn.to/3razt5O 
• Providence Network: a resource for people in Denver, Colorado. https://providencenetwork.org/ 
• Alexandra’s Instagram: alexandrakuykendall
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisamorganauthor
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy

In a season or a lifetime of caring for someone else, it can be hard to care for yourself or know exactly what you need to do to take care of others. In this episode of God Hears Her, hosts Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy share their own experiences with caregiving, and how they learned to care for themselves while also caring for others.

Notes and Quotes: 

• “So much of caregiving is about helping restore. And a lot of the way we keep giving it is through the reality that we hold hope.”
• “Caregiving is about sustaining life as much as you can.”
• “Let grief be your partner in it because there are real things to grieve.”
• Self-care Ideas and Tips:
  • Building Community: Developing a team for caretaking
  • Treating Yourself: Doing things you love
  • Developing boundaries
  • Viewing tasks as accomplishments
  • Relationships: Communicating your own needs too
• “When we find ourselves in the caregiving role, I think it’s also important to draw from the reality that we don’t do it alone and we don’t do it in and of ourselves.”
• “We are really to be a kind of conduit in our caregiving between God and those we love. But the only way we can do it is when we ourselves receive His care. When we let God be our caregiver.”

Verses: 

• “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3–4 (NIV)

Links: 

• Read the article Who’s Caring for the Caregiver? - https://ourdailybread.org/whos-caring-for-the-caregiver/
• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisamorganauthor
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy

Church is meant to be a safe place for all people to gather and heal within the community. However, the world is filled with sin that hurts us, even in places that are meant to be safe. Dr. Amanda Benckhuysen joins Elisa Morgan on this episode of God Hears Her to talk about abuse within the church and ways that people can be helped.

This episode may be triggering for some listeners. If you or someone you know is being abused please visit https://www.thehotline.org/ or call 1-800-799-7233.

About Our Guest:

Dr. Amanda Benckhuysen is the author of The Gospel According to Eve and Immigrants, the Bible, and You. She is also a scholar, speaker, teacher, wife, mother, and follower of Jesus. She currently serves as the director of Safe Church Ministry for the Christian Reformed Church in North America after having taught the Old Testament while mentoring seminary students for more than 15 years.

Notes and Quotes: 

• “There are things in the Christian tradition, practice, and cultures that have been such huge stumbling blocks to the gospel, and they shouldn’t be because they’re not actually of God. Abuse is one of them.”
• “A lot of them were coming to seminary in some ways to find healing, but also to channel their brokenness in a way that would redeem it, to allow God to redeem their brokenness so that God could use it to bring healing to others.”
• “Women who were clearly so gifted, so made in God’s image. People of dignity and value and worth.”
• “When trust and loyalty run high, but accountability runs low, it’s like the perfect situation for abuse.”
• “The Department of Justice says one in three women experience sexual abuse at some point in their life. And one in six men. This is a human issue. It affects both women and men.”
• If a child is being abused, most states legally require it to be reported to Child Protective Services. In the case of ministry leaders, it depends on the denomination. Even with confidentiality, some ministry leaders are required to report after letting minors know up front.”
• “If someone reports abuse and it’s responded to with the same sense of rejection or the same sense of being made to feel dismissed, small, or less than [the same response as the abuse], then it’s a trigger. And all the emotions associated with that initial abuse come to the surface again.”
• “Part of what God longs for in Christian community is that it would be a safe place for people to find healing.”
• “If you’ve slipped into abusing, there is hope for you too.”

Links: 

• Safe Church Ministry: https://www.crcna.org/SafeChurch
• Dr. Amanda Benckhuysen’s books: https://www.amazon.com/Amanda-W.-Benckhuysen/e/B085M3DP8T?ref_=dbs_p_pbk_r00_abau_000000
• Domestic Violence Hotline: https://www.thehotline.org/ or call 1-800-799-7233
• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisamorganauthor
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy

When we look at our friend groups, do we see people that look and act just like us or is there a diverse group of people around us? Are we challenged by the conversations we have with them? Or are we always within our own comfort zones? On this episode of God Hears Her, Eryn and Elisa talk to Vivian Mabuni, who encourages us to learn from other cultures and situations that we may not have experience with. Vivian believes in diverse communities where we can have open conversations with people who aren’t just like us, even if it’s uncomfortable.

About Our Guest:

Vivian Mabuni is a national speaker, author, Bible teacher, and the founder and host of Someday Is Here, a podcast for Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI). Her writing has appeared in Christianity Today, She Reads Truth, and Our Daily Bread. She is also the author of Open Hands, Willing Heart and Warrior in Pink. Vivian has been on staff with Cru for more than 30 years. She loves drinking coffee with her husband of 30 years, Darrin, and marveling at their three adult kids.

Notes and Quotes: 

• “In a corporate setting or a church leadership setting, it’s easy to overlook an Asian and think, ‘Oh they’re not assertive’ or ‘they don’t really have an opinion’ or ‘they’re not expressive or aggressive’ or the kinds of things that we think of as a leader. But in other cultures we’re absolutely acting with integrity to who we are and the greater body of Christ, or our company actually is enhanced with the contribution of people that come from different backgrounds.”
• “We can all gift each other with so many different perspectives of how God has made and wired us.”
• “The issues of the world hit differently because we have real relationships with real people.”
• “The recognition of not feeling seen or heard or known is an indicator maybe to do something.”
• “Unity is not uniformity. It really is being able to be different . . . but together.”

Links: 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Rate and review the podcast: go.odb.org/ghh-applemusic
• Check out Vivian’s podcast Someday Is Here: https://www.vivianmabuni.com/someday-is-here
• Vivian’s website: https://www.vivianmabuni.com/about
• Vivian’s Instagram: vivmabuni
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisamorganauthor
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy

Verses: 

• Hannah and Elizabeth infertility stories in the Bible

What is something you’re waiting for? A career? A significant other? A good friend? In every season of life, we feel like we’re waiting for something. On this episode of God Hears Her, Eryn Eddy and Elisa Morgan talk to Dr. Heather Thompson Day about what we can do while we’re waiting. They also learn more about Heather and her experiences with waiting.

About Our Guest:

Dr. Heather Thompson Day is an associate professor of communication at Andrews University, and an interdenominational speaker and contributor for Religion News Service, Newsweek, and the Barna Group. She runs an online community called I’m That Wife and is the author of seven books, including It’s Not Your Turn. She currently lives in Michigan with her husband and their three children.

Notes and Quotes: 

• “I think we’ve lost the beauty of resting in our purpose.”
• “We are the answer to other people’s prayers.”
• “I think we miss out because we’re waiting for some big sign and sometimes, I think almost all the time, it’s these little stirrings from the Holy Spirit saying, ‘Go talk to them. Go sit down. Go see how you can be helpful.’”
• “I think I thought faith was something I built, but it’s really something God gives us, because our faith is actually us acknowledging the answers to the prayers and the experiences that He gives us. So I say all the time, ‘God, build my faith.’”
• “When you feel like you have nothing, that’s actually the perfect place to start.”
• “God says that the way to the kingdom of heaven is to realize that this relationship was never about what you will give Him. It has always been about what He will give you.”
• “Any Christian worth his [or her] salt will read their Bible cover to cover every single year.” —J. I. Packer
• “God answers a bitter woman’s prayer. You can show up however you feel.”

Links: 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• God Hears Her Newsletter Sign-Up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Rate and review the podcast: go.odb.org/ghh-applemusic
• Heather Thompson Day: heatherthompsonday.com/
• It’s Not Your Turn by Heather Thompson Day
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisamorganauthor
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy

Verses: 

• Matthew 5–7: Sermon on the Mount by Jesus 
• Matthew 28:18: “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.’”
• 1 Samuel 2: Hannah’s Prayer
• Ruth 1:20: Naomi changing her name to Mara

Sometimes women are treated as second-class citizens within the church. If they aren’t encouraged to study Scripture, teach about it, or go to seminary, they often feel overlooked in comparison to the men. On this episode of God Hears Her, Dr. Amanda Benckhysen shares about her journey from feeling like an overlooked woman to becoming a woman who learned she was seen and valued by a God who loves us all.

About Our Guest:

Dr. Amanda Benckhuysen is the author of The Gospel According to Eve and Immigrants, the Bible, and You. She is also a scholar, speaker, teacher, wife, mother, and follower of Jesus. She currently serves as the director of Safe Church Ministry for the Christian Reformed Church in North America after having taught the Old Testament while mentoring seminary students for more than 15 years.

Notes and Quotes:

• “All of who I was and what I had to bring to the table was pleasing and acceptable to God.”
• “I thought going to seminary would help me represent the gospel well, it will help me represent Jesus well.”
• “I wanted to share with those that didn’t know Jesus that Jesus loves them.”
• “It expanded my understanding of texts to read what others thought.”
• “It set her on a trajectory of recovering women’s voices in history in terms of how they interpreted Scripture.”
• “Women did not have access to education. So by and large, we don’t tend to think of women when we think of interpretation of Scripture.”
• Women interpreters mentioned: Anna Maria Venturemen and Christine de Pizan
• “They [women] are reading the texts differently because they are reading it through their lived experiences.”
• “There is a complete devaluation of their [women] personhood.”

Links/Books/Resources Mentioned in Show: 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Order God Sees Her: 365 Devotions for Women by Women on Amazon. 
• Dr. Amanda Benckhuysen’s book: The Gospel According to Eve
• Dr. Amanda Benckhuysen’s book: Immigrants, the Bible and You
• Elisa’s Instagram: @elisamorganauthor
• Eryn’s Instagram: @eryneddy

Do you feel a disconnect between your faith and your everyday life? Does it sometimes feel like there is no purpose in the mundane things we do over and over again like folding clothes or washing dishes? On this episode of God Hears Her, Daniel Ryan Day shares how to connect our faith with our everyday real life, including the mundane activities we may sometimes feel are purposeless. 

About Our Guest:

Daniel Ryan Day is the author of What’s Next: Your Dream Job, God’s Call, and a Life That Sets You Free. He’s also a content producer and writer for Reclaim Today, a cohost for Our Daily Bread Ministries’ Discover the Word podcast, and a producer for the Where Ya From? and God Hears Her podcasts. Daniel holds a master’s degree from Fuller Theological Seminary, and is an ordained minister in the Anglican Church in North America. He is married to his high school sweetheart and has three kiddos.

Notes and Quotes: 

• “My story can be boiled down to growing up in a very tight Christian bubble but then having experiences that made me realize that a tight Christian bubble was not relating to the world in a way that made sense for the world that we live in.”
• “This faith in Jesus, if it’s real, has gotta impact how we interact with orphans, it’s got to make a difference in these bigger issues.”
• “How does this faith impact real life?”
• “So many things I learned in that experience [of giving up things], so hence the ten days without speech to represent those who don’t have a voice, or who have a voice but that it’s not listened to. Ten days without legs for those affected by disabilities that live in our world and who are often overlooked. Ten days without furniture for those who live in homeless settings and don’t have a home or don’t have furniture.”
• “I was still struggling with those questions of how does faith work in real life? Where do they meet? And specifically, as it relates to my calling and my job in the world.”
• “The use of the word ‘calling’ in the Scriptures, most often refers to callings like seeking justice, love mercy, walking humbly with God. So humility or giving thanks in all circumstances.”
• “The decade of the 20s and 30s are the real transformational decades for us really being shaped from how we grew up, what we thought we were going to be, who we thought we were going to be, into discovering the reality of us.”
• [On the topic of a Rwandan Pastor who walked the hills of his village to meet with people] “He’s just visiting with people. So meeting needs, his sermons, all of that comes from real relationships with people.”
• “It’s with people that real ministry happens.”
• “In the biblical story we get a picture of being colaborers with God. We’re not His servants, we’re not His slaves, we’re in relationship with Him. Invited into everything that we do being a part of this relationship with Him. And so, I think first and foremost above anything else, that is our purpose, that’s our identity, that’s our calling.”
• “God is at work. And God is going to accomplish His work, regardless of what role we play in it. So for us, where it actually begins is in quiet solitude time.”
• “Even in those mundane moments we can realize that God has us where He wants us to be.”
• Prayer for Today: “Creator God, who took what was formless and void and gave it shape and meaning, the One who filled emptiness with beauty and gave all creatures their purpose [including us]. Reclaim today in these small, seemingly insignificant moments. Help me discover meaning in the mundane. Ordain the very ordinariness of these tasks or my current lack of them for your glory, the good of the world, and my good. Amen.”

Links: 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• God Hears Her Newsletter Sign-Up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Subscribe on iTunes!  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Reclaim Today’s Instagram: reclaim.today
• Daniel Ryan Day’s book: What’s Next: Your Dream Job, God’s Call, and a Life That Sets You Free
• Watch Godspeed: https://www.livegodspeed.org/
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisamorganauthor
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy

Verses: 

• The Lord’s callings to everyday people and people like Moses, Paul/Saul
• Genesis 1
• Acts 17:28: “For in Him we live and move and have our being.”

At Christmastime, we bring out the nativity sets to decorate our homes and we talk about Jesus as a baby . . . but do we really grasp the idea of what that looked like in that time and culture? Not to mention the fact that God humbled Himself to become human. On this episode of God Hears Her, Elisa and Eryn talk about the story of Jesus, focusing on the reality of His conception, birth, and being a baby. They also focus on what it meant for His mother Mary and how this birth changed everything then, just like it does today. Join us.

Notes and Quotes:

• “The God of the universe scrunched Himself into the womb of a woman and began to grow.”
• “He’s my protector. He’s my guide, my guardian . . . and so for me to imagine Him in a fragile state is just kind of a weird concept in my mind.”
• The purpose of women during the New Testament period was to have babies.
• “30–35% of newborns didn’t survive their first month [in New Testament times].” 
• “Why are we so uncomfortable imagining God to be weak, or being fragile as a child?”
• “We are so black and white that we only see God as a baby, or as the resurrected Christ.”
• “Anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Luke 18:17 NIV
• “We have the tendency to be so self-aware, but not Christ-aware.”
• “His expression of vulnerability begins in the womb and at birth and as baby Jesus. And then we watch His public ministry when truly He is God and He could speak a word and blow fire over all of the naysayers. But He instead humbles Himself to death on a cross.”

Scripture: 

John 1:14

Matthew 1:23

Luke 1:39-45

Philippians 2:5

Links/Books/Resources Mentioned in Show: 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• Subscribe on iTunes!  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Order God Sees Her: 365 Devotions for Women by Women on Amazon.
• Get your copy of God Hears Her: A Joyful Christmas: https://www.godhearsher.org/joyfulchristmas
• Listen to the series When God Was a Child on Discover the Word: https://discovertheword.org/series/when-god-was-a-child/
• Elisa’s Instagram: @elisamorganauthor
• Eryn’s Instagram: @eryneddy

We often talk about the topic of joy with an emphasis that we “choose joy” or “find joy.” But what does that actually mean? Are those phrases true? Or do phrases like “choose joy” put pressure on people to somehow become happy in the midst of rather unjoyful circumstances? On this episode of God Hears Her, Elisa and Eryn talk with Mary Jo Clark about what life looks like when “choosing joy” feels impossible.

About Our Guest:

After years of working in bakeries, coffee shops, and food trucks, Mary Jo Clark returned to her love of audio production and sharing stories. She is now a podcast producer and engineer for Our Daily Bread Ministries. Outside of her passion for creating podcasts to encourage women, she is a talented baker. Her cookies and cupcakes are described by many as “legendary.” She and her husband, Russ, are expecting their first child.

Notes and Quotes:

• “As someone that struggles with depression and anxiety, I am not someone who is an innately happy person.”
• “What if I struggle with depression . . . am I supposed to suppress those feelings down and pretend I am happy?”
• “It wasn’t a pity party. You were grieving very real things.”
• “I couldn’t find a way out of it until I was broken enough to find the point of being done. It’s time to be okay.”
• “Our job or status are not our identity.”
• “I can’t feel it [joy] because it’s down in my heart and I’ve buried it because I’m not content and I’m not focusing on the gifts I know God has given me, but I know it’s there.”
• “I was discovering this feeling of joy while I was crying.”
• “Through every single one of those trials, God grew me and He developed the joy that was growing already.”

Links/Books/Resources Mentioned in Show: 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Order God Sees Her: 365 Devotions for Women by Women on Amazon. 
• Get your copy of God Hears Her: A Joyful Christmas: https://www.godhearsher.org/joyfulchristmas
• Mary Jo’s Instagram: @sugarcoated.bymj
• Elisa’s Instagram: @elisamorganauthor
• Eryn’s Instagram: @eryneddy

How often do you feel stressed? Frustrated? Overwhelmed? Do you feel those ways more often than you feel at peace? This world is filled with events and people that can make us feel far from peaceful. On this episode of God Hears Her, Eryn and Elisa talk to Kay Wills Wyma about feeling the real, full peace that God grants us when we lean into Him.

About Our Guest:

Kay Wills Wyma is a blogger, speaker, video podcaster, and mother of five. Kay writes on cultural and societal issues that impact family and friends. She is an author of four books, including The Peace Project: A 30-Day Experiment Practicing Thankfulness, Kindness, and Mercy where she leads readers through 30-days of finding and feeling peace. She’s also a former White House aide, International Capital Markets banker, and entrepreneur.

Notes and Quotes:

• “To just slow down for a second and really enjoy the people that walk beside you is such a gift.”
• “Friendships are giving relationships also.”
• “I grew up in the South, so there became this strange relationship with Jesus because I had to ‘do and be’ to be okay.”
• “It’s easier in the hard times than the good times. In the hard times you’ve got nothing.”
• Soul30: Practice finding moments of peace every day for 30 days.
• “Why does being thankful feel good? Because it is literally firing parts of your brain that deliver dopamine and endorphins.”
• “You have neural pathways in your brain that are highly traveled pathways, and they tend to go along the lines of fear, anxiety, worry. What if you can change the routes?”
• “You can actually change the pathways in your brain so that peace is where you are going instead of anxiety.”
• “He says: ‘I keep in perfect peace those whose minds are fixed on me.’”

Links/Books/Resources Mentioned in Show: 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Order God Sees Her: 365 Devotions for Women by Women on Amazon. 
• Check out Kay Wills Wyma’s blog: http://www.themoatblog.com/
• Purchase The Peace Project: A 30-Day Experiment Practicing Thankfulness, Kindness, and Mercy https://amzn.to/3mvkK4p 
• Elisa’s Instagram: @elisamorganauthor
• Eryn’s Instagram: @eryneddy

How do you experience hope? Maybe you’re hopeful for something? Or you have a strong hope in who God says He is? Or maybe you feel hopeless and are starting to wonder what hope even is! On this episode of God Hears Her, Eryn and Elisa talk to Joyce Dinkins, a woman that comes from a generation of people hoping for better circumstances. Joyce exemplifies this godly attribute of hope and talks about it with a wisdom that comes from God’s Spirit.

About Our Guest:

Joyce Dinkins is the executive editor for the Our Daily Bread Voices Collection. She has an incredible passion for inclusion and equity. Her career emphasis is amplifying the voices of diverse authors, African American and others, in the literary world. She has invested several decades as an editor serving at several Christian publishers across the United States.

Notes and Quotes:

• “My dad’s dad was born a slave, and that affected everything.”
• “I had access to freedom in my home; but I never forgot, and I still don’t forget where my parents came from, where my grandparents came from.”
• “People seeing me weren’t necessarily seeing what they were looking at.”
• “Hope to me is the truth.”
• “My parents taught me at an early age to not take abuse from anyone.”
• “They were capable, after all they had been through, to love their enemies.”
• “Love will allow us to overcome.”
• “Literacy is the right to vote, fair housing, the right to pursue education, etcetera.”
• “See us, hear us, express our stories.”
• “Go open that book [the Bible].”
• “Cry out to God.”

Links/Books/Resources Mentioned in Show: 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• Subscribe on iTunes!  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Order God Sees Her: 365 Devotions for Women by Women on Amazon.  
• Visit the Our Daily Bread Voices Collection
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisamorganauthor
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy

Have you ever had a moment in your life where you needed to give something fully to God? The word surrender may feel a little overwhelming, but Dr. Debbye Turner Bell is a great example of what can happen when we fully submit ourselves to God’s best and accomplish something we didn’t feel we were capable of doing. Join Eryn and Elisa on this episode of God Hears Her as they revisit their conversation with Debbye Turner Bell and her journey of pursuing a courageous faith.

About Our Guest:

Dr. Debbye Turner Bell is a veterinarian, broadcast journalist, motivational speaker, workshop facilitator, corporate trainer, and Miss America 1990. For more than two decades, she has addressed audiences in the corporate, academic, and community service arenas. In addition to her speaking and media work, she is also the Founder and CEO of Debbye Turner Bell Consulting, a faculty member of the Institute for Management Studies, and an Affiliate Trainer for the TransPorter Group Inc. Dr. Debbye Turner Bell lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with her husband, Gerald, and daughter Lynlee.

Notes and Quotes: All Quotes by Debbye

• “That [prayer of surrender] is when my goals became subservient to God’s goals, will, and His purpose for my life.”
• “It is a matter of deciding, ‘God, I believe you no matter what the circumstances look like.’”
• “That is what I seek to get to: that if God Himself smite me, it won’t shake my faith in Him.”
• “God proves Himself to us every day. And if we will just take the time to notice His faithfulness in our lives, then it creates in us a reservoir of His work in our life.”
• “Every time that God performed a miracle in the Old Testament, an altar was built. The whole purpose of the altar was to remember what God had done.”
• “What I know about God and what I feel in the moment can be such a disconnect with me.”
• “When we don’t know what God’s Word says about who we are and our identity and our authority, then we live below our privileges.” 
• “Faith is a decision, not a feeling.”
• “Surrender is a choice, not a default.”
• “Surrender takes strength.”
• “Our identity is not what happened to us. Our identity is who we were created to be.”

Links/Books/Resources Mentioned in Show: 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• Subscribe on iTunes!  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Order God Sees Her: 365 Devotions for Women by Women on Amazon:  https://amzn.to/32lYSgh
• Order Courageous Faith: A Lifelong Pursuit of Faith Over Fear: https://amzn.to/3A6RCVz 
• Debbye’s Instagram: debbyeturnerbell
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisamorganauthor
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy

When we look back on our lives, do we see the times that our dreams evolved into something we never thought they would be? What are the dreams that never worked out? What are the dreams that changed when we learned more about what we loved? On this episode of God Hears Her, Elisa and Eryn talk to a young woman named Jade Gustafson about the dreams and fears that she has in her own life. Jade talks about how her dreams are in the process of changing and how surrendering her fears to God has led to some unexpected life changes.

About Our Guest:

Jade Gustafson is currently a senior at Grand Valley State University studying English and writing. She is a blog post writer and small group leader for GVSU’s Delight Ministries. While she is figuring out her future she continues to work at Our Daily Bread Ministries in the podcast department.

Notes and Quotes: 

• “We can have so many standards and goals set, but it does not matter when it comes to the purpose that God has for your life.”
• “If things don’t work out the way that I want them to, it’s not a reason to be anxious or upset because God has a better plan.” 
• “I am not to find my self-worth and my identity in these narratives or dreams or stories that we tell ourselves, but in the truth of who God is and what He wants to do in me and through me.”
• “All of a sudden I wasn’t unique. All of a sudden my dream wasn’t special.”
• “Your life is your life, and the things that you do are what God wants you to do (most of the time).”
• “Even doing something small is a reason to be celebrated.” 
• “That’s when we know He sees us in those little godly moments, and He uses community to do that too. That’s when He uses people that push us to do things we wouldn’t normally do. He uses people to see us, to show us that He sees us.”
• “We need to end something in order to begin something.” 

Links/Books/Resources Mentioned in Show: 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• God Hears Her Joyful Christmas Kit: https://www.godhearsher.org/joyfulchristmas
• Eryn’s social: eryneddy
• Elisa’s social: elisamorganauthor

Verses Mentioned in Show: 

• “Cast all of your anxieties on Him because He cares for you.” —1 Peter 5:7

Have you ever felt disconnected from your partner, spouse, or someone you love? Maybe your schedules are getting busier everyday? Or do your kids distract you from paying attention to the other person? On this episode of God Hears Her, Eryn and Elisa talk with Beth and Todd Guckenberger, a married couple who decided years ago to set aside two hours a night to work on growing their marriage.

About Our Guests:

Beth and Todd met at the age of seventeen in a Young Life Bible study.  They experienced several international short-term mission trips together, and in the mid-nineties they were deeply moved by orphaned children they met in Mexico. In 1997, with a dream, a savings account, and each other, they packed and drove to Monterrey, Mexico, where they lived for fifteen years. Beth and Todd are the parents of eleven children—a family they’ve formed through biological, foster, and adoptive children, and a family who reminds them everyday to stay in the fight until every child is known and loved.

They lead Back2Back Ministries, an international orphan care organization with nine locations around the world. The combined 350 staff work relentlessly to find new and creative solutions to the challenges facing vulnerable children and their families.

Notes and Quotes:

• “Anyone can have a co-missional marriage.”
• “Sometimes you can make your family life be your exclusive mission.”
• “We are going to spend two hours a day only wearing that hat of spouse.”
• “It [the two hours] became the deepest breath of our day.”
• “The calling felt like a magnet, you could feel the resistance.”
• “Expectations are like premeditated resentments.”
• “Set aside time (any amount) where you are going to put away phones, don’t do the dishes, don’t help the kids, and spend time just the two of you.”
• “When you go through hard things together, it creates an intimate connection.”
• “Part of being co-missional is understanding that my agenda is not the most important.”

Links/Books/Resources Mentioned in Show : 

• If you or someone you know suspects any human trafficking activity, please call the National Human Trafficking hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text “HELP” to 233-733. Or you can go to michiganabolitionistproject.org to learn more. 
• Subscribe on iTunes!  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Order God Sees Her: 365 Devotions for Women by Women on Amazon.  https://amzn.to/32lYSgh
• Back2Back Ministries: https://back2back.org/
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisamorganauthor
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy

Modesty is an important and tricky topic within our church today, and as women, we are told so many different things. Most importantly, we should all remember that we are made in the image of God and that He made us beautiful. In this episode of God Hears Her, Eryn and Elisa talk through what we get wrong about modesty, while providing thoughtful insights on celebrating our femininity and positive ways to express ourselves. 

Notes and Quotes: 

• Self-expression vs. being-accepted-expression.
• “I can’t look a certain way because I am responsible for how people respond to how I look.”
• “When we are immodest, shame creeps up.”
• “What is the motivation in your heart for why you wear what you wear?”
• “I don't need to worry about everyone else’s response. How am I responding to those less presentable parts of myself?”
• “How am I seeing myself in God’s image?”
• “Our femininity is something to celebrate.”
• “That is what modesty is: both appreciation and care.”
• “The desire to be seen and accepted is very normal.”
• “We were made to be seen.”

Links/Books/Resources Mentioned in Show: 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• Subscribe on iTunes!  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Order Elisa Morgan's book You Are Not Alone: Six Affirmations from a Loving God  https://amzn.to/3yBiXx6 
• Order God Sees Her: 365 Devotions for Women by Women on Amazon.  https://amzn.to/32lYSgh
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisamorganauthor
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy

(Warning: Sensitive and potentially triggering content) On this episode of God Hears Her, Eryn and Elisa talk about a topic that most people don’t want to believe exists, even if they know it does: human trafficking. While we don’t want to believe that it’s happening around us, we need to recognize that it is and do whatever we can to spread awareness and protect the most vulnerable. Heather McGannon, who is the West Michigan Program Coordinator at the Michigan Abolitionist Project, joins Eryn and Elisa to discuss the truth about human trafficking.

About Our Guest:

Heather McGannon is the West Michigan Program Coordinator at the Michigan Abolitionist Project (MAP), an organization passionate about working to prevent and end human trafficking in Michigan and beyond through education and collaboration. Before her time at MAP, she mentored college students, helping them navigate big questions to prepare them for life. Heather’s never met a stranger, and her smile and laugh make anyone feel at home. She’s been married to Geoff for over a decade and has two boys.

Notes and Quotes:

• “Human trafficking is essentially modern-day slavery: labor or sex trafficking.”
• “1 in 4 women have been abused.” 
• “Just believe them. Most abuse survivors are telling the truth.”
• “It takes relationship for any of these stories. They are blinded. It is all they have ever known.”
• “Trafficking happens through force, fraud, or coercion.”
• “In the United States, we see it as women who are selling themselves. And many times they were being groomed and forced into it.”
• “One of the biggest things we can do as human beings is to become aware.”
• What to look for: an older boyfriend or father figure, brandings (tattoo of a barcode), evidence of someone being controlled, distancing/isolating themselves, notice a lot of absences/kids are gone for the weekends.
• “Ask the question,  ‘Are you okay?’”
• “It thrives in the darkness, so we need to bring it more into the light.”

Links/Books/Resources Mentioned in Show: 

• If you or someone you know suspects any human trafficking activity, please call the National Human Trafficking hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text “HELP” to 233-733. Or you can go to michiganabolitionistproject.org to learn more. 
• Subscribe on iTunes!  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Order God Sees Her: 365 Devotions for Women by Women on Amazon.  https://amzn.to/32lYSgh
• MAP’s Instagram: michiganabolitionistproject
• Heather’s Instagram: heatherjoymcgannon
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisamorganauthor
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy