Today I’m wearing an apron because we are talking about motherhood!

I used to think that to be a single woman on the mission field was the hardest job in the world and then I became a mother. There are no handbooks to warn you but we do have a guide book that tells us where to go for help. Praise God for that.

Have you ever thought or even prayed: I'll be a better mom tomorrow but tomorrow never comes? You're not alone—and neither were the moms in Scripture.

Today I’m delighted to welcome back author, speaker, podcaster—Rhonda Stoppe to talk about her latest book, the just released: Moms of the Bible: Life-Changing Lessons from the Fearless, Flawed and Faithful

Rhonda's new book is her favorite and she's offering one as a giveaway so be sure to leave a comment or email me at sue@welcomeheart.com

Rhonda Stoppe, speaker and bestselling author of seven books with 40 years experience helping women build no regrets lives. We talk about that on my podcast in Ep 46 here.

Find and follow Rhonda at NoRegretsWoman.com.

Some gems from our conversation:

• The Lord had to break me before he could use me.
• Four years of post partum and hormonal imbalance took me to the end of myself. I needed help and I got it.
• People want to hear from people who have regrets so that they can hear how God redeemed their mistakes.
• The first step in forgiving our own flawed parent is to admit they were flawed.
• Hatred keeps us stuck so we begin by handing over our anger and resentment to God and let him deal with it.
• When our kids see us doing good to others, they will understand the Gospel.
• I felt so lonely as a mom and God led me to godly moms who led me to a deeper study of the Word.
• With God's help, you can become the mom that he's calling you to be.
• The Gospel transformed my life; I want my children and grandchildren to see me sharing that message of hope to others.

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Do you ever doubt your purpose in life, especially when facing different or difficult seasons? And what do you do to help you live fully in God’s presence?

Today I‘m delighted to be speaking to, Peg Arnold—a Christian speaker and author and encourager—and self-confessed drama queen—who speaks to the many different seasons women walk through: joy, loss, struggle, and waiting.

Some gems from our conversation and for your encouragement:

• I like to say I'm never retired, just repurposed.
• When facing the unknown, God spoke to me: "What makes you think that I don't have everything prepared for you in the days and years ahead?"
• When disappointed with circumstances, it helps me to have friends who remind me that God may have a different perspective than I am seeing right now.
• We have a choice to stay stuck in our anger and bitterness or choose instead to trust that God knows what he's doing and will bring good from whatever it is.
• When your heart is broken it's a lonely place to be but it doesn't mean that God is not there with you and your broken heart.
• Go to the Psalms and weave your painful story into David's lament. God is not afraid of our pain.
• My legacy is to share with others that God loves them, delights in them, and has a purpose for their lives.

Two of her books are Devotions for the Distracted Heart and Making Your Message Memorable and can be found on Amazon or her website: PegArnold.org.

She's walked through loss and change and through each season found God and his Word to be her constant source of identity and joy. Be sure to access her free prayer guide here:

Make Your Prayers Meaningful

https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/752930/109370258823840924/share

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MOST DAYS, LIFE ISN’T PERFECT

I wrote this book for everyone who has felt the pain of being alone because I have felt its sting even surrounded by wonderful people. We’re created for relationship, with God and with one another—not because life becomes perfect when we have both God and community. That’s not the point. No, it’s because most days, life isn’t perfect. And remembering we are loved and not alone is what gets us through those days. READ MORE HERE

I was surprised by doubt in the middle of my college years. Thankfully, God didn't give up on me and invited me 4 times back to himself. Some of us need 4 times. A favorite professor helped me out. Listen in.

Back story:

Around age ten I fell in love with the Christian education pastor at our church. He was happily married—which was a good thing. I didn’t tell anyone about my crush—which was also a good thing.

But when I went off to college, I thought I might major in being a pastor’s wife. I was surprised to find out they didn’t have that major—nor did any aspiring pastor ask me. At least not anyone I wanted to say yes to.

I was even more surprised to discover sometime in the middle of my second year that I’d lost my faith. More than a surprise, it was a shock. I awoke one morning and thought: Is Christianity actually true? Close to panic, I wondered, Does God even exist? Have I been duped?

In school, no one spoke about doubt, not in daily chapel, never in class. Surrounded by godly professors, my friends and I took Bible courses alongside our majors and enjoyed the scholarship as well as the spiritual stimulation. But not one person asked: “So how much do you believe in God today, Sue?” (I wish they had—I would’ve been honest. I may have cried.)

No one ever preached in chapel: “You May Doubt Your Faith One Day and You Will Be Okay.” (I wish they had. I would’ve taken notes.)

One ordinary morning, doubts slipped in unnoticed and unwanted and rattled my cage of comfort and certainty. The fact remained: I no longer believed. I had lost my faith. I felt like I was living on the edge of crazy.

Do you have a friend who needs to hear they are not alone in their doubts? Share this podcast episode with them today. You can help bring them back from the edge of crazy.

Read more from Never Alone: Stories of Invitation and Connection

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