Depth Podcast: Recent Episodes

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I have some sad news to share with you today on the podcast.

Sadly, my dad passed away on May 22, 2025.

My dad was such a pivotal part of my family. He was an amazing husband to my mom. He was such a loving father and a supportive and involved grandfather. This loss is deep.

It is interesting because your mom and dad are there when you take your first breath. But it is so heartbreaking to be there when they take their last.

I am going to be taking some time off to grieve the loss of my dad.

I remember when I lost Jeannie back in 2016 and my divorce in 2014, something that really helped me was to read--- read God’s Word and read books that pointed me back to God’s Word. I need that again this summer.

I need time to input and allow myself time to sit in the pain and grieve—take time to process the hard emotions. I want to thank you in advance for giving me space to do that this summer. I don’t know how long it will be, but I know it is my best yes. I believe God is going to use that time, so I can pour back into you when I return.

I cannot wait to see what God wants me to learn in the midst of the pain.

So, I thought today would be very honoring to share one of the episodes where my dad was a guest back in 2020. I know you are going to learn so much from his wisdom!

My dad’s episode back in 2020:

With Father’s Day just around the corner, I am excited to have my dad, John Brownlee, as a guest on the Depth podcast this week. I asked him to share some of his words of wisdom and best advice as he is a father to 4 girls and a grandfather to 7 grandchildren.

I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but I love that my dad shares some of our funny memories and crazy dinner activities as well as encourages other dads to make their kids a priority. I am so thankful that my dad was an intentional father to me and my sisters.

I recommend listening to this episode alongside your spouse or if you are a single mom like me, there are still lots parenting nuggets in this episode for you as well! I believe parenting is the most rewarding and challenging job all at the same time, so I hope this episode encourages you along your parenting journey!

I promise you do not want to miss this episode.

My dad was on the podcast again in December 2024- so special to have him on a second time. Check out Depth Podcast Episode 224: Simplify and Live with Intention!

Book Recommendations:

• *The New Strong Willed Child by James Dobson
• *The New Dare to Discipline by James Dobson
• *Bringing up Boys by James Dobson
• *Bringing up Girls by James Dobson

Note: If you are interested in purchasing the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!*

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Do you want to be deeply rooted? Do you want to be like a tree with deep roots that go deep in your faith? Do you want depth? Oh friend---This is something I am so passionate about. It is the title of my podcast and it is the title of my book. So I thought today I would share with you more about being deeply rooted, about having depth, and share the books along the way that I learned so much from.

Depth Podcast Episode links and Book Recommendations to Grow your Roots Deep:

• *Depth: Growing Through Heartbreak to Strength by Jodi Snowdon. What if your greatest heartbreak catapults you to your greatest growth? (see below for more podcast episodes about my book)
• Depth Podcast Episode 215: I share about Jennifer Tucker's book, Breath as Prayer. She has a new book called Present in Prayer where she shares all about growing roots!
• *Thrive by Mark Hall (the cover of this book captivated me and began my journey to discover depth!)
• *Detours by Tony Evans (an amazing book about the life of Joseph and how he grew deep roots in his faith through detours)
• Depth Podcast Episode 114: I talk with Banning Liebscher about his book, *Rooted: The Hidden Places Where God Wants to Develop You. He says that God wants to grow you on the inside before he ever grows you on the outside. This hidden growth is so important.
• Depth Podcast Episode 115: I share practically how to grow deeper roots!
• Depth Podcast Episode 210 with Angie Baughman on the 5 Step Bible Study Method.

More Episodes on my book, *Depth: Growing Through Heartbreak to Strength

• Episode 146 (Behind the Scenes of the book & 3 year anniversary of the podcast- 2022)
• Episode 147 (Reading Chapter 1 of the Depth Book)
• Episode 148 (Going in Depth About Depth)
• Episode 192 (Happy 1st birthday of the book, Depth)

For those walking through grief- I highly recommend Episodes 188-196 where I do one episode for each letter in my STRENGTH Acrostic in my book! See details below:

• Seek God and Invite Him into the Pain -- Depth Podcast Episode 188
• Tearfully Allow Yourself Time to Grieve and Process the Emotions -- Depth Podcast Episode 189
• Replace your Finite View with God's Infinite Perspective -- Depth Podcast Episode 190
• Embrace God's Character Development in the Midst of the Chaos -- Depth Podcast Episode 191
• Never Lose Sight of God's Grace -- Depth Podcast Episode 193
• Give Praise to God Even as Your Heart Breaks -- Depth Podcast Episode 194
• Trust God is Good When Your Mind is Doubting and You Don't Understand -- Depth Podcast Episode 195
• Honestly Share Your Story and Help Another Hurting Heart -- Depth Podcast Episode 196

Other episodes on trees and growing deep roots that I did not share about in the episode:

• Depth Podcast Episode 80 with Jennifer Dukes Lee on her book, ***Growing Slow. We talk about growing through the seasons.
• Depth Podcast Episode 112: I talk with Dr. Matthew Sleeth about his book, *Reforesting Faith. The sub-title is “What Trees Teach Us About the Nature of God and His Love for Us.”
• Depth Podcast Episode 212: I share about Lara Casey’s book, *Cultivate: A Grace-Filled Guide to Growing an Intentional Life

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Have you ever been frustrated with not getting a prayer answered in the timing you hoped? Maybe you wish God would do it quicker? Honestly, I know I have struggled with God’s timing on certain things in my life, so I am excited for this episode with my friend, Jackie and her son, Alex.

It is one of my special mom stories for the month of May. They are both going to share how God reunited them many years after Jackie gave up her son for adoption. What I love about this story is you see God’s fingerprints and God’s timing all throughout the episode. I know you will be encouraged, and I hope that if you are struggling with God’s timing that this story will also give you hope to trust and wait on God’s perfect timing.

Link to Jackie’s Heartbreak to Strength Story

I love to highlight Special Mom Stories in the month of May. For some of us, our mothering journey has had it challenges- either getting pregnant, keeping the pregnancy, or struggles after, so I love to give voice to these difficult times. These episodes are filled with honesty and vulnerability as well as practical advice and tips of how we can come alongside and help another mom walking down the same hard road. Check out the following episodes on the Depth Podcasts:

• Episode 31 (Infertility)
• Episode 32 (Adoption)
• Episode 33 (Foster to Adopt)
• Episode 34 (Step-mom & Special Aunt Role)
• Episode 81 (Infertility- special episode with Holley Gerth)
• Episode 82 (loss of a child, foster to adopt)
• Episode 83 (Mothering a Child with Down-Syndrome)
• Episode 84 (Motherhood Miracle)
• Episode 130 (Infertility & Miscarriage)
• Episode 131 (Infant Loss & Step-mom)
• Episode 132 (Mothering a Child with Autism and Foster to Adopt)
• Episode 133 (International Adoption)
• Episode 134 (Mothering a Child with a Disability).
• Episode 175 (Infertility & Miscarriage)
• Episode 176 (Mothering a Child with a rare genetic disorder)

Hope these episodes will encourage you that you are not alone on your mothering journey!

Jackie Wheeler is a child of God who loves her family deeply. She has been married to her husband, Patrick for 25 years. Jackie is a boy mom with two sons from her marriage and one she was reunited with in 2021, who also gave her the special title of grandma. She has a healthy obsession with purple, chocolate, coffee, fashion and all things Parisian. When she is not spending time with family she is busy with her image consulting business, JackieStyle Image and Branding Agency, where she helps women enhance their style, image, and brand. You can connect with Jackie on Instagram or her website.

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Have you ever walked with silent shame? Maybe there is something you have gone through? Maybe there is something you experienced? Or maybe there has been something done to you, and you thought to yourself, I don’t want anyone to know this. But in your mind, these words just keep playing, If they only knew? If this describes you, I have hope for you today!

I am so excited to have my friend, Teresa Whiting on the podcast as we talk about her bible study, *Graced: How God Redeems and Restores the Broken. In this conversation, we talk about shame and how it refused to loosen the grip on her life. But that is not the end of her story! I am so thankful that with God’s grace she was able to overcome this shame and break free from it. She is going to share it on this episode, and you are going to learn so much from Teresa.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Teresa's Bible Study: *Graced: How God Redeems and Restores the Broken. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodisnowdon.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/1j2jye3/graced-bible-study-giveaway

Important Links:

• Find Hope Here Podcast Ep. 44: Loved being a guest on Teresa’s podcast! I shared about my book, *Depth: Growing Through Heartbreak to Strength.
• Depth Podcast Episode 219: Important episode on lament! We talk about Mark Vroegop's book: *Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy
• Link to Teresa’s Heartbreak to Strength Story: God's Heart is to Rescue, Redeem, and Restore You

Free Resources:

• Sample of Graced: Receive the introduction and chapter one of Graced for FREE.

Book Recommendations:

• *Your Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van der Kolk
• *Shattered Dreams by Larry Crabb
• *When Life and Beliefs Collide by Carolyn Custis James

Teresa Whiting is an author, national speaker, and host of the Find Hope Here podcast, passionate about helping women encounter the redemptive work of Jesus in the midst of their brokenness. With over 30 years of ministry experience and training in trauma-informed life coaching, Teresa speaks from both Scripture and her own story as a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. Her Bible study, Graced: How God Redeems and Restores the Broken, reflects the restoration she’s found through Jesus and the stories of women like Tamar, Rahab, and the Samaritan woman. Teresa and her husband, Greg, live in sunny Florida, where you’ll often find her walking the beach or spending time with her family—untethered from technology. Teresa is not active on social media, but she personally replies to every email. Connect with her at: teresa@teresawhiting.com

If you are interested in Coaching with Teresa, you can click this link: Trauma-Informed Biblical Life Coaching

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Have you ever met someone and just be in awe of their faith? They have walked through many hard circumstances, but they come out on the other side stronger in their faith than ever before.

I am so excited for you to hear from Diane Herman. She is one of the contributors to the *Mothers Like Me book by Angie Green that we talked about last time on the podcast. Her story is so powerful. She has walked through lots of loss and I am going to let her share her story. But what I think is so amazing is how God has redeemed it in such a beautiful way. She is going to tell you about her ministry and her non-profit. I think you are going to learn so much from Diane, especially when God says no to your prayer

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Angie’s new book: *Mothers Like Me. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodisnowdon.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/mpj6vqm/mothers-like-me-book-giveaway-2

Other important Links:

• Link to Depth Podcast Episode 230: I talk with Angie Green and Linda Stirling about the *Mothers Like Me book.
• Link to Depth Podcast Episode 194: Angie’s first episode on my podcast where we discuss her book, *A Mother Like Me She was a part of my STRENGTH acrostic series and we highlight the letter G: Give God Praise Even As Your Heart Breaks.
• Link for Depth Podcast Episode 53: My first interview with Kathe Wunnenberg about her book, Grieving the Child I Never Knew and Hopelifter back in 2000. I love how she encourages other women.
• Link for Depth Podcast Episode 145: Check out my second interview with Kathe Wunnenberg, God's Connections are Powerful and Timing is Perfect. Love the special story of how Kathe became my mentor!
• Link for Depth Podcast Episode 198: My interview with Karen Hacker, another contributor to Angie’s new book. We highlight her powerful story of hope and loss. and how God used Romans 8:28 in her life.

Book Recommendation: *Holding onto Hope by Nancy Guthrie

Diane Herman’s family started the non-profit organization called House of Hope in Northern Colorado in 2009. Her family took the project to Guatemala after a short term mission trip in 2011. The poverty, desperation and despair had a huge impact on their family. They were familiar with loss, suffering and heartbreak. Their middle daughter Hope was 9 when she was diagnosed with osteogenic sarcoma, cancer of the bone. She suffered unbelievably in her battle. Through it, she had a faith that never wavered. She trusted the will of God, and that He was in control. After fighting for 18 months, she went home to live with her Savior.

A year later, House of Hope was born. When we saw the many children who were alone and suffering in Guatemala, it impacted our family in a way only God can orchestrate. He fulfilled His promise trading beauty for ashes. Hope’s legacy lives on as her life serves as the passion behind our ministry. We have been able to serve the people of Guatemala and point them to Christ, the source of our love and strength. To learn more, check out their website: houseofhope.life

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Has someone ever walked with you through a hard time? Maybe they have experienced the exact same thing or something similar. It gives you peace to know you are not alone. It is also encouraging to have a friend that you can share your thoughts and feelings with, and you know will understand.

I am excited about the book we are highlighting this week. My friend, Angie Green gathered a group of women together to do a collaboration book called Mothers Like Me*: Stories of Faith, Hope, and Love in Loss. I am one of the stories in the book and I am excited to highlight a couple more this week and next week on the podcast. Angie is going to share first about her vision for the book. She has been a guest back on my podcast before where she shared her first book, A Mother Like Me*.

Love having her back to share her new book and it is beautiful to hear all the stories--- they are stories of loss, but more importantly, they are stories of hope and faith. It is one of the common threads you are going to see—how God redeemed their pain and brought purpose to their pain. So many ministries started and so many ways to bring hope to another hurting heart! I think you are going to be so encouraged!

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Angie’s new book: *Mothers Like Me. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodisnowdon.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/19w0eym/mothers-like-me-book-giveaway

Other important Links:

• Link to Depth Podcast Episode 194: Angie’s first episode on my podcast where we discuss her book, *A Mother Like Me She was a part of my STRENGTH acrostic series and we highlight the letter G: Give God Praise Even As Your Heart Breaks.
• Link for Depth Podcast Episode 53: My first interview with Kathe Wunnenberg about her book, Grieving the Child I Never Knew and Hopelifter back in 2000. I love how she encourages other women.
• Link for Depth Podcast Episode 145: Check out my second interview with Kathe Wunnenberg, God's Connections are Powerful and Timing is Perfect. Love the special story of how Kathe became my mentor!
• Link for Depth Podcast Episode 198: My interview with Karen Hacker, another contributor to Angie’s new book. We highlight her powerful story of hope and loss. and how God used Romans 8:28 in her life.

Angie Green has been writing for business, education and ministry for decades. She is a published songwriter, vocalist and speaker. In 2023 her first book, "Little Lucy Ladybug Where Are My Spots?" was published as well as a her non-fiction, A Mother Like Me*, which has catapulted her into the world of storytelling. Her newest book, Mothers Like Me*, is an anthology of grace written by several moms who have suffered the loss of a child or children are coming soon. Angie is enjoying retirement with her husband in Colorado and she hopes to continue writing children's songs, stories and other non-fiction and fiction books.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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What truth do you need God to speak to your heart today? Is it that you are His Beloved? Is it that you were created for a purpose? Or is it God is with you—He will never leave you, nor forsake you.

I am so excited to have Holley Gerth back on the podcast and we are going to talk about her new devotional, *365 Truths For Every Woman’s Heart: A Daily Devotional of Encouragement and Prayer. This is what I am using right now in my quiet time and this book is speaking to me in such powerful ways. These truths are just what I need to hear—these reminders of what God is speaking to my heart. I know you are going to learn so much from Holley.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Holley’s book: 365 Truths For Every Woman’s Heart.* All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodisnowdon.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/1k5l791/365-truths-for-every-womans-heart-devotional-giveaway

It is fun to have Holley back on the Podcast for a third time! If you missed my first conversation with Holley about her book, *The Powerful Purpose of Introverts: Why the World Needs You to Be You, please check out Depth Podcast Episode 57. Holley shares about self-awareness and growth, knowing our struggles and strengths.

Her second time on the Depth podcast, she was one of my special mom stories in May. Her infertility journey and God’s answer to her prayers are so powerful- you definitely want to check out Depth Podcast Episode 81.

Book Recommendations:

Holley Gerth loves humans, words, and good coffee. She's a Wall Street Journal bestselling author, master life coach, and cohost of the More than Small Talk podcast. Her background also includes being a counselor and cofounding one of the first online communities for Christian women. Holley is passionate about helping people embrace who they are and become all they're created to be. You can connect with her and find more resources at HolleyGerth.com.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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What does courage look like for you? Is it facing one of your biggest fears? Is it being vulnerable, honest, and open and sharing that one thing you don’t want to tell anyone else? Or is it a big heroic act?

I am so excited to have Riley Kehoe on the podcast this week. She wrote a book called *Three Seconds of Courage: How Small Acts of Bravery Lead to Big Change. She is going to share her story about how her family survived the 2004 tsunami that happened in Thailand. She is also going to share more about how she has overcome her fears. You do not want to miss what she has to say. This episode is packed full of wisdom and truth.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Riley’s new book: *Three Seconds of Courage. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodisnowdon.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/1dygn91/three-seconds-of-courage-book

Book Recommendations:

• *Life of the Beloved by Henry Nouwen
• *Emotionally Healthy Leader by Peter Scazzero
• *Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

Riley Kehoe is a speaker, writer, and influencer. Born in London and raised in New Zealand, Riley earned a master's degree in global leadership from Fuller Theological Seminary as the youngest student accepted into the program. A sought-after speaker, active blogger, and up-and-coming influencer, Riley has been featured on a TEDx Talk, interviewed by William Shatner for The History Channel, and published in several Christian outlets. She and her husband recently purchased a farm in Tennessee.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Is God asking you to be bold in your faith? Maybe He wants you to tell a coworker about Jesus. Maybe He has put someone on your heart that He wants you to pray for. Or perhaps He is asking you to go on a mission’s trip.

I am so excited for my guest this week! I have the pleasure of having my son, Conor Rosser, on the podcast. He recently went on a mission’s trip with his church, and I cannot wait for you to hear how God grew his faith. He kept using the word, Bold—it kept coming up in our conversation and I love that sometimes God asks us to step out in bold faith for Him. I am so proud of my son, and I know you will be encouraged by his words.

Other important Links:

Check out Depth Podcast Episode 26 where I talk with both my sons about family and feelings during the Covid pandemic.

Check out my blog post on the word, Bold—I love this verse in Acts where it talks about their boldness because they had spent time with Jesus. (See two different translations below).

“The council members were astonished as they witnessed the bold courage of Peter and John, especially when they discovered that they were just ordinary men who had never had religious training. Then they began to understand the effect Jesus had on them simply by spending time with him.“ Acts 4:13 The Passion Translation

“When the Council saw the boldness of Peter and John and could see that they were obviously uneducated non-professionals, they were amazed and realized what being with Jesus had done for them!” Acts 4:13 Living Bible

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Do you need a breakthrough? Maybe you have been praying for someone in your life and it is a relational breakthrough. Maybe you have been praying for healing and you need a breakthrough in your health. Maybe it has to do with a job or a God-sized dream on your heart.

Whatever it is, I am so excited because this week on the podcast I talk with Chuck Tate about his new book: Nine Words From Jesus. He is going to share a story in the Bible where Jesus says nine words to this blind man. He ends up performing a miracle and giving this man his sight. These 9 words are powerful! Now, I don't want to give them away-- instead, I want you to hear the wisdom from Chuck on this week's episode.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Chuck’s new book: *Nine Words From Jesus. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodisnowdon.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/1v98d6m/nine-words-from-jesus

Other important Links:

• Link to Depth Podcast Episode 35: Chuck’s first episode on my podcast where we highlight his book, *41 Will Come.
• Link for Depth Podcast Episode 164 where I share about my two favorite prayer books by Mark Batterson.

Book Recommendations:

• *Circle Maker by Mark Batterson
• *The Last Arrow by Erwin McManus

Chuck E. Tate is an award-winning author, the founder and senior pastor of RockChurch, and a host of the acclaimed Revival Town Podcast. A popular media guest and contributor, he hosts a weekly LIVE Bible study on TikTok. Learn more at ChuckETate.com.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Happy New Year! Are you ready to embrace all the God has for you in 2025? Maybe it is reading your Bible more or praying more. Or maybe it is a combination of the two: Praying Scripture!

I am excited to have Jenn Soehnlin on the Podcast. She wrote a book called *On the Same Page with God: Embracing the Power of Praying Scripture, and I cannot wait to highlight it today. She teaches us practical ways we can pray Scriptures of our lives. You do not want to miss this episode especially as you start 2025.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Jen’s new book: *On the Same Page With God. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodisnowdon.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/3qvogw1/on-the-same-page-with-god-giveaway

Other important Links:

• Link to Jenn’s Heartbreak to Strength Story on my blog
• Link for Depth Podcast Episode 158 where Suzie Eller gives us Prayer Starters.
• Link for Depth Podcast Episode 106 where Jodie Berndt encourages us to Pray Scriptures over our Life.
• Link for Depth Podcast Episode 164 where I share about my two favorite prayer books by Mark Batterson.

Book Recommendations:

• *A Prayer Life by Paul Miller
• *Prayer by Richard Foster
• *Prayer by Timothy Keller
• *Praying the Bible by Donald Whitney
• *Calm My Anxious Heart by Linda Dillow
• *Circle Maker by Mark Batterson
• *The Best Yes by Lysa TerKeurst

Jenn Soehnlin is a wife, mother of two boys, and writer of hope-filled words about faith, praying Scripture, and navigating special needs parenting. She is the author of Embracing This Special Life* and On the Same Page with God*. Jenn also finds joy in spending time with her family, reading several books at a time, savoring coffee shop chats with friends, and exploring nature’s wonders. To connect with Jenn and find additional praying Scripture resources visit www.embracing.life

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Are you feeling overwhelmed and busy this Holiday season? Do you wish you could simplify and slow down?

I am so excited to tell you about a book I read called *The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer. It is fun—my dad was reading the exact same book at the exact same time! So, I am so excited to have my dad back on the podcast and together we are going to talk about some of the take aways we got from the book as well as how to live with intention and simplify for this next year since we are coming into the end of 2024. I know you are going to love hearing from my dad- he is so wise!

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of John Mark Comer’s book: . All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodisnowdon.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/3qvlov1/the-ruthless-elimination-of-hurry-book-giveaway

Depth Podcast Episode links:

• Depth Podcast Episode 37 with my dad- we talk about Father's Day.
• Depth Podcast Episode 199 with Julie Lefebure- She shares about replacing Busy with Full!
• Depth Podcast Episode 203- learn more about embracing Your Roles
• Depth Podcast Episode 214- Living Intentionally Book Recommendations
• Depth Podcast Episode 150- What is your Best Yes?
• Depth Podcast Episode 197- Seeing Time as a Gift

For those walking through grief this Holiday Season, I have some encouragement for you:

First, please check out the post I wrote called Grieving Through the Holidays where I share 10 Steps to Help your Hurting Heart. I have them in a downloadable file for you!

Second, here is a link to Chapter 17 in my book where I write about my own personal experience with grief during the Holidays. Praying this will offer you encouragement.

Lastly, I highly recommend listening to Depth Podcast Episodes 188-196 where I do one episode for each letter in my STRENGTH Acrostic in my book! See details below:

• Seek God and Invite Him into the Pain -- Depth Podcast Episode 188
• Tearfully Allow Yourself Time to Grieve and Process the Emotions -- Depth Podcast Episode 189
• Replace your Finite View with God's Infinite Perspective -- Depth Podcast Episode 190
• Embrace God's Character Development in the Midst of the Chaos -- Depth Podcast Episode 191
• Never Lose Sight of God's Grace -- Depth Podcast Episode 193
• Give Praise to God Even as Your Heart Breaks -- Depth Podcast Episode 194
• Trust God is Good When Your Mind is Doubting and You Don't Understand -- Depth Podcast Episode 195
• Honestly Share Your Story and Help Another Hurting Heart -- Depth Podcast Episode 196

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcas

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Do you feel like you are walking in peace in the middle of this turbulent world? I know at Christmas time, we talk about Jesus being our peace on Earth, but I want to ask you, "Do you have peace on Earth this Christmas season?" For many of us, it is stressful and the answer is "No".

So, I am excited about this episode as I talk with my friend, Natalie Atwell about her new book, *I Can Do Anything in the Right Pair of Shoes. The Subtitle is Walking in Peace In a Turbulent World, and she has a lot of great wisdom on how to do that. She is a therapist, so she will share from that perspective as well as shoes of peace in Ephesians 6 where we put on the armor of God. I think you are going to learn a lot from Natalie.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Natalie’s book: *I Can Do Anything in the Right Pair of Shoes. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodisnowdon.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/mnyjev3/i-can-do-anything-in-the-right-pair-of-shows-book-giveaway

I share about a blog post about comparison and wanted to share the link here.

Book Recommendations:

• *The Other Half of Church by Jim Wilder
• *The Unseen Realm by Dr. Michael Heiser
• *SuperNatural- cliff note version of The Unseen Realm by Dr. Michael Heiser
• *What Does God Want by Michael Heiser
• *How to Study the Bible by Kay Arthur

Insightful and personal with an intense desire to find biblical answers to mental health concerns, Dr. Natalie Atwell brings over 20 years of experience in the field of mental health. From her role as a practice owner and clinical director to her educational endeavors in college teaching, Dr. Atwell has been able to encourage individuals, groups and organizations by sharing hope and healing from God’s word.

Currently, she leads a private counseling practice in the Charlotte, NC metro area and enjoys teaching as an adjunct faculty member at Liberty University in the clinical mental health and school counseling programs. As someone who is committed to serving her community, she is on her local county Human Trafficking Task Force, collaborates with several non-profits and is on the board for an anti-sex trafficking agency, Present Age Ministries.

Natalie would love to connect with you on her website or on Instagram. She has created a Mental Warrior course and would love to offer you $50 off the purchase using this link.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Are you walking through grief this Holiday Season? With Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner, I want to ask you, “Have you lost a loved one?” Maybe it is a family member- your mom, your dad, or your sibling. Maybe it is your spouse or your child. Maybe it is a friend or a co-worker. I know loss is hard and I know around the Holidays, it is even harder.

So if you are walking through grief this Holiday season, this episode is for you. I am highlighting a book on the podcast called *Now That She’s Gone. Chelsea Ohlemiller wrote this book about the loss of her mother. It’s honest, raw and vulnerable and has so much truth in it. My favorite section is when she talks about her faith and some of the doubts and questions that came up, and how she wrestled with God through all of it. Friend, if this is you and you are struggling with that too, I cannot wait for you to hear the wisdom on this episode.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Chelsea’s book: *Now That She’s Gone. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodisnowdon.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/1ggk6z1/now-that-shes-gone-book-giveaway

Book Recommendations:

• *The Beauty of What Remains by Steve Leder
• *The Last Love Note by Emma Grey
• *Depth: Growing Through Heartbreak to Strength by Jodi Snowdon
• *When God Doesn't Fix It by Laura Story

Chelsea Ohlemiller is a wife, mother and educator who has Indiana roots and a passionate spirit. Chelsea is a sappy romantic, coffee junkie, book collector, and person who wears her heart on her sleeve. She’s sarcastic, full of jokes, full of tears, and enjoys writing most when life gets messy or complicated. In 2017, Chelsea's mother passed away. Through her grief journey, she decided to take her mother’s advice and share her writing with the world. One day she gained the courage to honor her mother's wishes and write. It turned out to be one of the best decisions she's ever made. You can connect with her on her blog, Happiness, Hope & Harsh Realities.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Have you ever wanted to send a letter to the military saying thank you for all they do for us here in America to provide us with our freedom? I am so excited to share with you on the podcast this week about the non-profit, A Million Thanks. My guest is Shauna Parisi, the founder of this non-profit and her story is amazing. She began this when she was 14 years old, and I think you will be captivated by her story as well as encouraged and maybe even challenged to see what you can do to make a difference in the world. With Veteran’s Day just around the corner, I am so excited to do an episode about showing gratitude to our military. I cannot wait for you to hear Shauna’s powerful story.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Shauna's book: *A Million Thanks. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodisnowdon.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/3lp8p6m/a-million-thanks-book-giveaway

Book Recommendations:

• *You Are the One You've Been Waiting For by Richard Schwartz
• *Habits of the Household by Justin Whitmel Earley

Shauna (Fleming) Parisi is an author, entrepreneur, and motivational speaker with a passion for helping others elevate their wellness and wealth. As a high school student, Shauna founded A Million Thanks, a national non-profit organization that supports military and their families. She has done more than 300 media interviews and helped start a national youth volunteer program under the Bush administration. Throughout her youth, Shauna focused on speaking to youth around the country on "The Power of One". Today, Shauna is a mom focused on the ministry of motherhood, helping other moms start and grow businesses while being present at home. When they aren't traveling the world, Shauna and her husband Matt live in Newport Beach with their two girls.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcas

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How do you view yourself? If you could see life as a metaphor, what would it be?

I am so excited to highlight on the podcast this week, Joy Clarkson’s book, You Are A Tree: Other Metaphors To Nourish Life, Thought, and Prayer.* We are going to dive deeper into Psalms 1:3. “That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither -- whatsoever they do prospers.” I love that the Bible describes us as trees. You know how much I love to talk about deep roots, so I cannot wait for you to hear the truth Joy shares about trees!

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Joy’s book: *You Are A Tree. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodisnowdon.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/1jz4vq3/you-are-a-tree-book-giveaway

For more on growing your roots deeper, check out Jodi’s book, Depth: Growing Through Heartbreak to Strength. What if your greatest heartbreak catapults you to your greatest growth? This is what happened in Jodi's life.

Book Recommendation: *Daniel Deronda by George Eliot

Joy Marie Clarkson (JoyClarkson.com) is the author of *Aggressively Happy and host of the Speaking with Joy podcast. She is a research associate in theology and literature at King’s College London and the books editor for Plough Quarterly. She holds a PhD in theology from the University of St Andrews.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Have you been walking through hard circumstances and you felt like you just needed to voice those feelings and frustrations to God and maybe even wrestle with him about why you are in these circumstances? Oh friend, I don’t know if you realize it, but that is one of the steps of lament.

I am so excited to Mark Vroegop on the podcast this week as we focus on what it means to lament. I think sometimes people are confused about this word, so I cannot wait to talk about his book, *Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament. He truly has so much wisdom on this—you don’t want to miss this episode.

Also, Oct 15th is pregnancy and infant loss Remembrance Day and I know this is part of both Mark’s story as well as mine, so he will be sharing his story that birthed this book and then we will dive deeper into lament. Whether this is part of your story or not, I know there is so much truth in this episode especially his definition of lament and the 4 key elements. If you are walking through grief, you do not want to miss what he has to say.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Mark's book: *Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy. All the details of the book giveaway are on my websithttps://amzn.to/3ZQG0FFe at jodisnowdon.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/1v94kdm/dark-clouds-deep-mercy-book-giveaway

If you prefer watching the interview, here is a link on youtube to our episode: https://youtu.be/8bIA2CoerFg

Book Recommendations:

• *Knowing God by JI Packer
• *Desiring God by John Piper
• *Waiting on God by Andrew Murray
• *Disciplines of a Godly Man by R Kent Hughes
• *Pilgrim Progress by John Bunyan

For those walking through grief- I highly recommend Episodes 188-196 where I do one episode for each letter in my STRENGTH Acrostic in my book! See details below:

• Seek God and Invite Him into the Pain -- Depth Podcast Episode 188
• Tearfully Allow Yourself Time to Grieve and Process the Emotions -- Depth Podcast Episode 189
• Replace your Finite View with God's Infinite Perspective -- Depth Podcast Episode 190
• Embrace God's Character Development in the Midst of the Chaos -- Depth Podcast Episode 191
• Never Lose Sight of God's Grace -- Depth Podcast Episode 193
• Give Praise to God Even as Your Heart Breaks -- Depth Podcast Episode 194
• Trust God is Good When Your Mind is Doubting and You Don't Understand -- Depth Podcast Episode 195
• Honestly Share Your Story and Help Another Hurting Heart -- Depth Podcast Episode 196

Mark Vroegop has been Lead Pastor of College Park Church in Indianapolis since 2008. He previously served as Senior Pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in Holland, Michigan, from 1996-2008. He’s a graduate of Cedarville University (B.A.) and Cornerstone Theological Seminary (M.Div).

Mark and his wife, Sarah, have three married sons, a daughter, and two grandkids.

He’s an award-winning author of multiple books, including *Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament, the 2020 ECPA Christian Book of the Year.

His newest book, *Waiting Isn't a Waste released in June 2024 through Crossway. Mark is a frequent conference speaker, and he serves on the board of The Gospel Coalition.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Do you feel stressed? Would you say you are overwhelmed by all you have on your plate? Do you wish you had more peace?

I am so excited for you to listen to this episode today with Barb Roose about her new book: Stronger than Stress: 10 Spiritual Practices to Win the Battle of Overwhelm. I have been feeling overwhelmed in my life, so when I saw this book, I knew I needed to read it. It was so packed with practical tools and I cannot wait for you to hear the nuggets of truth from Barb.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Barb’s book: *Stronger than Stress. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodisnowdon.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/199olv1/stronger-than-stress-book-giveaway

Book Recommendations:

• *Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster
• *Soul-Keeping by John Ortberg
• *The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer

Barb Roose is a popular speaker and author who is passionate about teaching women to live beautifully strong and courageous so that they experience God’s great adventure of faith and purpose for their lives. Barb speaks in the US and abroad at women’s conferences and events, including national platforms like the Aspire Women’s Events, She Speaks Conference and the UMC Leadership Institute. Barb is a Bible teacher who loves following God more than anything else in life. Rather than teaching audiences to follow God to get what they want, Barb inspires audiences to discover that God is all that they truly need! She is the author of six Bible studies such as Surrendered: Letting Go and Living Like Jesus and Joshua: Winning the Worry Battle. Barb has written five books including *Stronger Than Stress: 10 Spiritual Practices to Win the Battle of Overwhelm. Audiences love Barb’s authenticity, humor, spiritual depth and game-changing practical tools that apply God’s Truth to their everyday life. Barb writes a weekly Happy Monday devotional and she is the host of the Bold, Brave & Beautiful podcast. She lives in NW Ohio and is proud mother of three adult children. Whenever possible, Barb prefers to eat dessert first. You can connect with Barb at her website or on Instagram. She has a Free e-book Gift: Taking Care of You: 101 Self Care Tips for Tough Times.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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How are you at balancing your responsibilities and your relationships? Do you tend to lean towards projects over people? Or people over projects? I feel like we tend to put one over the other, so I am so excited to introduce you to a new book: *The Love Your Life Project by Karen Ehman and Ruth Schwenk. The subtitle is 40 Days to Prioritize Your Passions, Cultivate Productive Habits, and Refuel with Times of Rest.

I am excited to have Karen Ehman back on the podcast as we talk about our priorities and when to say no and when to be interruptible for divine appointments. Karen gives so many practical tools; I am so excited for you to hear this episode.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Karen’s book: *The Love Your Life Project. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodisnowdon.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/1y9ezdm/the-love-your-life-project

It is fun to have Karen back on the Podcast! If you missed my first conversation with Karen back in 2020 about her book, Listen, Love,* Repeat, please check out Episode 28 on the Depth podcast. I love when she shares about the heart drop.

Also, both Karen and Ruth wrote another book together called *Trusting God in All the Things: 90 Devotions for Finding Peace In Your Every Day. I had the pleasure of interviewing Ruth Schwenk in 2021. If you missed this episode, please check out Episode 129 on the Depth Podcast. I love how we dive deeper into what it looks like to trust God, not only in the good times, but also the storms of life.

Book Recommendation:

• *Why Am I Like This by Kobe Campbell

Karen Ehman is a New York Times bestselling author, a Proverbs 31 Ministries speaker and a contributing writer for Encouragement for Today online devotions and a teacher in the First 5 Bible study app which has over 2 million daily users. She has written 19 books and Bible studies including Keep It Shut: What to Say, How to Say It, and When to Say Nothing at All and the 2020 ECPA devotional book of the year Settle My Soul: 100 Quiet Moments to Meet with Jesus. She is a Cum Laude graduate of Spring Arbor University with a major in Social Science.

Karen has been featured on TODAY Parenting, Redbook.com, Foxnews.com, Crosswalk.com, YouVersion.com, and is a monthly columnist for HomeLife Magazine. Her passion is to help women live their priorities as they reflect the gospel to a watching world. She is married to her college sweetheart, Todd, and is the mother of six children—three biological and three in-laws by marriage—although she forgets which ones are which. Karen enjoys collecting vintage Pyrex kitchenware, cheering for the Detroit Tigers, and spending her days feeding the many people who gather around her mid-century dining table to process life and enjoy her county fair blue-ribbon winning cooking.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Has God ever asked you to take a pause? How did you respond? Sometimes these pauses can be really challenging, especially if it is not what we hoped or planned for our lives. So I am so excited to have my husband, David Snowdon, back on the podcast. We will share some of the pauses we experienced this last year. Hope this encourages you!

Also, the end of August is a big time for me-- I am celebrating the 5 year birthday of the Depth Podcast as well as the 2 year birthday of the Depth Book!

Depth Podcast Episode links:

• Depth Podcast Episode 200 with David Snowdon on God's Faithfulness in my Life and Ministry
• Depth Podcast Episode 203 on Embracing Your Roles
• Depth Podcast Episode 210 with Angie Baughman on the 5 Step Bible Study Method.

For those walking through grief- I highly recommend Episodes 188-196 where I do one episode for each letter in my STRENGTH Acrostic in my book! See details below:

• Seek God and Invite Him into the Pain -- Depth Podcast Episode 188
• Tearfully Allow Yourself Time to Grieve and Process the Emotions -- Depth Podcast Episode 189
• Replace your Finite View with God's Infinite Perspective -- Depth Podcast Episode 190
• Embrace God's Character Development in the Midst of the Chaos -- Depth Podcast Episode 191
• Never Lose Sight of God's Grace -- Depth Podcast Episode 193
• Give Praise to God Even as Your Heart Breaks -- Depth Podcast Episode 194
• Trust God is Good When Your Mind is Doubting and You Don't Understand -- Depth Podcast Episode 195
• Honestly Share Your Story and Help Another Hurting Heart -- Depth Podcast Episode 196

Special Anniversary/ Birthday Episodes of the Podcast and Book:

• Episode 1 (Welcome and Introduction to the podcast-- 2019)
• Episode 47 (1 year Podcast Anniversary- Special Behind the Scenes Episode-- 2020)
• Episode 100 and 101 (Celebrating 100 episodes Part 1 & Part 2 with clips from my most favorite moments- 2021)
• Episode 146 (Behind the Scenes of the book & 3 year anniversary of the podcast- 2022)
• Episode 147 (Reading Chapter 1 of the Depth Book)
• Episode 148 (Going in Depth About Depth)
• Episode 192 (Happy 1st birthday of the book, Depth)
• Episode 200 (A special episode about God's Faithfulness in my life-- Meet David- 2023)

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Have you ever read a book and said, “Oh my goodness, I need to share this with everyone I know” because it is that good?

I am so excited to end this summer series of book recommendations with the newest book I started reading just this year. I got it for my birthday in May and it has been life-changing to me. It is called *Breath as Prayer by Jennifer Tucker. The sub title is Calm Your Anxiety, Focus Your Mind and Renew Your Soul. I have been using it every morning in my quiet time, and I am loving it!

Other links:

• Depth Podcast Episode 106 with Jodie Berndt on her book, *Praying the Scriptures for Your Life.
• Depth Podcast Episode 158 with Suzie Eller on her book, *Prayer Starters.
• Depth Podcast Episode 210 with Angie Baughman on the 5 Step Bible Study Method.
• Depth Podcast Episode 176 with Jessica Young where she shares the lyrics to the Blessing Song.
• Depth Podcast Episode 115 with Jodi (me) where I share about growing deeper in your faith and the First 5 App.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Are you a “One Day-er?” One day, I will go after my dream. One day, I will go on a mission’s trip. One day, I will make an impact. What if we could change our thinking from one day to this is the day?

In this episode, I am excited to share with you some books that I have read over the years that will help you live intentionally!

• *Ripple Effects by Pam Tebow
• *This is the Day by Tim Tebow
• *Shaken by Tim Tebow
• *Mission Possible by Tim Tebow

In the episode, I refer to my book, so I wanted to share a link for it too! Depth: Growing Through Heartbreak to Strength*

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Do you like to read fiction books?

It is interesting-- I did a survey maybe the second year of my podcast and asked what people want to hear about. One lady wrote, “I want to hear more fiction book recommendations.” At the time, I responded that I really did not read that genre; I mostly read nonfiction books.

Well that all changed when I was introduced to Francine Rivers and her books. If you have not read one of her books, then I am so glad you tuned in today for this episode because I am sharing with you my favorite books written by Francine Rivers. I have so many favorites to tell you about.

• *Mark of the Lion Series by Francine Rivers
• *Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
• *The Lineage of Grace by Francine Rivers
• *Sons of Encouragement by Francine Rivers
• *The Masterpiece by Francine Rivers

At the end of the episode, I refer to my book so I wanted to share a link for it too! Depth: Growing Through Heartbreak to Strength*

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Do you have a desire to grow? In five years, do you want to look different than you do now? In one year, do you want to look different? I am so excited for my book recommendation this week. It is a book I read back in 2019 called *Cultivate: A Grace-Filled Guide to Growing an Intentional Life by Lara Casey.

If you struggle with waiting well or living with contentment, then you do not way to miss the truth that I share from this book. My hope is that you have depth and grow deep roots in your faith and your relationships. This book, *Cultivate, will definitely help you on that journey!

Other links:

• Depth Podcast Episode 80 with Jennifer Dukes Lee on her book, *Growing Slow. It has a similar message on growing through the seasons.
• Depth Podcast Episode 147 on Reading Chapter 1 from my book, *Depth: Growing Through Heartbreak to Strength. This book has a similar message—what if your greatest heartbreak catapults you to your greatest growth?
• Depth Podcast Episode 63 with Wendy Pope on her book, *Wait and See. Again, a similar message on waiting well.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Are you raising emotionally strong kids? Are you helping them learn how to develop their emotional literacy? This is an important part of parenting and sadly, this is one area I was lacking for many years. It took me walking through my divorce for me to see the importance of emotional literacy.

So I am excited this summer, I am going to be recommending some books to you and to start it off since Father’s Day was just yesterday, I want to do a parenting book. This is such an amazing book; I wish I had it when my kids were younger. It just came out a couple of years ago, and it is called *Raising Emotionally Strong Boys by David Thomas.

The subtitle is Tools Your Son Can Build On For Life. Now let me say, all of these things can be shared with your daughter too, but David points out that so many times we are not teaching our boys this and honestly, it is so important. I would like to highlight some of my favorite parts of the book as well as share some personal stories too! I believe this parenting book is life-changing for your kids!

Depth Podcast Links:

• Link to Depth Podcast Episode 26 with my kids called Family and Feelings
• Link to Depth Podcast Episode 180 with Michelle Nietert on her book, *Managing Your Emojis
• Link to Depth Podcast Episode 143 with my counselor on how to process your emotions in a healthy way.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Are you tired of running at the speed of the world? Would you like to find a slower pace? The pace of rest and the place of peace! Then I think you are going to love this episode.

I am speaking this week with my good friend, Angie Baughman, and we are going to be diving deep into the verse, “Be Still and Know That I am God.” We use her amazing 5 Step Bible Study Method and I know you are going to love learning more on how to study the Bible. Hopefully this will allow you to have a more consistent quiet time and a lot of Depth in your study with God as well. You know how much I love for us to have Depth! This is one of my favorite episodes this year, and I cannot wait for you to hear the wisdom from Angie.

Link for Book Giveaway: I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Angie’s Bible Study: Be Still. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodisnowdon.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/d7fymz/be-still-bible-study

Link for one free month in Steady On University: Thank you Angie for graciously offering all my listeners a free month on your Steady On University! (Be Still study begins 6/13; use code DEPTH to activate free month) Here is the direct link: https://steady-on-university.circle.so/checkout/sou-membership

Link to Step By Step Masterclass: Angie refers to a video in the podcast that will help you identify the correct apps to download. (2 videos; 20 minutes total viewing time https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/pJZJhCW/masterclass

Other important Links:

• Link to Angie’s Heartbreak to Strength Story on my blog
• Link to Angie’s Podcast episode when I was a guest back in April 2023
• Link to Blog Post where I share about her 5 Step Bible Study Method
• Link to Angie’s Podcast episode when she highlighted my life verse: 2 Cor 1:3-4
• Link to Becky Beresford’s Episode on the Depth Podcast

Book Recommendations:

• *Praying God’s Word by Beth Moore
• *Mark of the Lion Series by Francine Rivers

Angie Baughman is a pastor, Bible teacher, author, podcaster, founder of Steady On ministries, and creator of the Step By Step Bible study method.

At sixteen, she was groomed into a romantic relationship with a high school teacher and faced community rejection when she went public with her story. Knowing and living by the promises of God helped free her from layers of shame, and she now creates resources that help people cultivate consistent Bible study habits.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Has God ever answered, "No" to one of your prayer requests? Did you have a hard time accepting when God's answer was "No." I don't know about you, but I think that is a really hard one when we pray fervently, and God does not answer with the way we want him to. I remember that with my friend, we were praying for a miracle for her to be healed, but sadly she wasn't. It was really hard to accept that "No".

I am excited to have Hadassah Treu on the podcast this week because she is going to share her story of a time when she had to accept when God answered, "No." I think it is a very powerful episode. Her book is called *Draw Near: How Painful Experiences Become the Birthplace of Blessings. You do not want to miss the truth Hadassah shares; there is so much goodness!

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Hadassah’s new book: *Draw Near. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodisnowdon.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/lz5vie/draw-near-book-giveaway

I am uploading all my interviews to YouTube now, so you can listen with close captioning. Here is a direct link to Hadassah's episode.

Episode Links:

• Depth Podcast Episode 81 with Holley Gerth sharing her infertility journey.
• Hadassah's Heartbreak to Strength Story: How To Remain Strong When God Doesn't Answer Our Prayers.
• Depth Podcast Episode 127 with Lisa Appelo sharing about her book, *Life Can Be Good Again.
• You Tube Link to Jodi's channel.

Book Recommendations:

• *Boundaries by Townsend and Cloud
• *Uprooting Anger by Robert Jones
• *Life Can Be Good Again by Lisa Appelo

Winner of the Encouraging Blogger Award of 2020, Hadassah Treu is an international Christian author, blogger, poet, speaker, contributor to several faith-based platforms like Koinonia and Devotable, and a dozen award-winning devotionals and poetry anthologies. She is passionate about encouraging people to draw near to God in the dark valleys of life.

Hadassah is a COMPEL Provers 31 Blog writer and Freelancing Community Group leader. Her writing is featured on (In)Courage, The Upper Room, Proverbs 31 Ministries, Her View From Home, Living by Design Ministries, Thoughts About God, Today's Christian Living, and other popular sites. Hadassah is the author of *Draw Near: How Painful Experiences Become the Birthplace of Blessings. Connect with Hadassah on her blog https://onthewaybg.com and Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Do you ever feel overwhelmed with what you have to do in your life and what you feel like God is calling you do to? You think, I just don’t have the time to do it all. I can so relate.

This is why I am excited for you to hear from Jessica Hurlbut. She is back on the podcast, and we are talking about her new book, Unlimited Motherhood. I think sometimes the demands of being a mom can be exhausting and at the same time, you are trying to live out this purpose you feel God has called you for. And sometimes you are like, I just don’t know how to do it all*, and you feel limited. That is why I am so excited for the truth Jessica shares. Oh, I love the last part of the podcast where she talks about John the Baptist-- it is my favorite!

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Jessica’s new book: *Unlimited Motherhood. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodisnowdon.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/dpobzx/unlimited-motherhood-book-givewaway

It is fun to have Jessica back on the Podcast! If you missed my first conversation with Jessica, she was one of my special mom stories in 2022, please check out Episode 137 on the Depth Podcast. I love what she shares about adoption and autism.

We also refer to the book she recommended her first time on the podcast: *Anonymous by Dr. Alicia Britt Chole. I had the joy of interviewing her on the Depth Podcast Episode 154 . It was one of my favorite episodes and I highly recommend you checking it out.

Lastly, we talk about comparison, and I share about a blog post I wrote called: A Challenge to Look Deeper, Not Just at the Surface.

Book Recommendation: *Woven in the Womb by Rachelle Keng

Jessica Hurlbut is a wife, pastor, writer, podcaster, and mom of five--two autistic, two adopted, and one typical teen boy. She and her husband, Greg, are lead pastors of New Testament Church in upstate New York and oversee a network of churches in the north country. Jessica and her husband also host a weekly podcast, the Full Spectrum Parent Podcast, the only faith-based Autism parenting podcast in existence. She also blogs weekly at www.jessicahurlbut.com

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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to know God’s will for your life? Do you wish He would just spell it out clearly to you or say it loudly, so you knew that was the voice of God?

If we are honest, I think a lot of us struggle to hear the voice of God, so I am excited for this podcast episode. I am talking with Jody Gras. She is going to share her story and give us wisdom on how to hear the voice of God—how to discern if God is speaking to us. There are some real practical tools on this episode, and I think you are really going to love it.

We also talk about surrender on this episode, and I shared how I throw rocks at the beach as a physical act of surrender. For more details, check out the blog post I wrote called Rock Therapy.

Book Recommendations:

• *Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby
• *Experiencing God Devotional and Journal by Henry Blackaby
• *Whisper by Mark Batterson (see December 2017 book recommendation)
• Note: Mark Batterson's Circle Maker is companion book for Whisper- check out more about Circle Maker on my Depth Podcast Episode 164.
• The Journey Bible Study by Vantage Point 3

Jody Gras has been on staff at Emmanuel Reformed Church in Paramount, California since 2005, where she is the Director of Adult Discipleship and Leadership Development. Jody attended Sioux Falls Seminary where she received her Master of Arts in Christian Leadership. She has a podcast called "Real Sisters, Real Talk" with her sister, where they talk about what they are learning in their walk with God. Jody loves studying and teaching the word of God. It is her deep desire to help people lean into a more intimate relationship with Him. She has been married since 1990 and she and her husband have two adult children.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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How do you define strength? I am so excited for you to hear how my guest this week talks about strength. Jay Hewitt will share about his new book, *I am Weak, I am Strong. Could it be that in our weakness we can actually be stronger as we depend on God and His strength? This episode has so many nuggets of truth- cannot wait for you to hear about vulnerability and the two questions he asks, two of my favorite parts!

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Jay’s new book: *I am Weak, I am Strong. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodisnowdon.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/49xry1/i-am-weak-i-am-strong-book-giveaway

You can now watch my podcast interviews on YouTube! Here is a direct link to my conversation with Jay!

Book Recommendations:

• *Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby
• *Experiencing God Devotional and Journal by Henry Blackaby

BIO: Jay Hewitt is a pastor, author, and motivational speaker whose life journey is an awe-inspiring testimony of courage and faith. Diagnosed with terminal brain cancer at thirty-seven, he found strength through God, embracing his purpose as a storyteller. In his memoir, I AM WEAK, I AM STRONG, Jay shares his extraordinary quest to become an IRONMAN while battling cancer. Residing in Orange County, California, he cherishes his wife and daughter and continues to inspire others with his resilience, unwavering faith, and empowering messages, reminding us all of the boundless strength within. You can connect with him at his website or on Instagram.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Have you ever had to journey from sorrow to joy? Have you ever walked through some really hard circumstances, and you said, “God this is not what I wanted for my life.” But then as you walked through the journey with God, you found on the other side, purpose to your pain and a joy you never had before.

I am so excited for you to hear from my guest this week, Wendy Wallace. I met her through the Radiant Resilience Summit just last year and she has a phenomenal, inspiring story and I cannot wait for you to hear it. We are going to call it: One Exceptional Journey from Sorrow to Joy. You do not want to miss her powerful testimony as well as her sharing about her bible study: From Sorrow to Joy: Walking With God Through Sadness. I know you are going to learn so much from Wendy!

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Wendy’s Bible study: From Sorrow to Joy: Walking With God Through Sadness. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodisnowdon.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/ookfva/from-sorrow-to-joy-bible-study

Book Recommendation: Depth: Growing Through Heartbreak to Strength by Jodi Rosser

Wendy Wallace is a wife, mom, Memaw, Christian Living and Positivity coach, Inspirational blogger, and author. She is also a quadruple amputee. She loves spending time with her family, talking to her flowers, and eating lots of ice cream.

A flesh-eating bacterial infection resulted in a coma, a 3-month hospital stay, and amputations of both hands and both feet. What you might consider the worst thing that could've happened, actually was for her good and God's glory. By God's wonderful grace, she is living "One Exceptional Life" where, in true form with 2 Corinthians 1:4, God comforted her in all her tribulations so that she can comfort, encourage, and lead other women in theirs.

Her mission is to help women rediscover God’s joy and peace amid the trials of life by living a balanced virtuous life. You can find her at One Exceptional Life, where she writes about overcoming challenges, spiritual growth, joy, peace, gratitude, and positivity. You can also connect with her on Instagram.

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Can you believe it has been two months since I have been on the podcast? It was a wonderful sabbatical as I spent the first two months of my marriage being intentional as my new role as wife as well as helping our family’s transition.

But I have to say that I have missed doing my ministry, so I am so happy to be back and I am excited for this first guest! It is a good friend of mine, Becky Beresford and we are going to talk about her new book, *She Believed He Could So She Did. I cannot wait for you to hear the story behind the title. Also, I know you are going to learn so much from her as we look at some of culture’s lies and combat them with Biblical truth.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Becky’s new book: *She Believed He Could So She Did. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/bh1lwx/she-believed-he-could-so-she-did-book-giveaway

It is fun to have Becky back on the Podcast! If you missed my first conversation with Becky, please check out Episode 30 on the Depth podcast. I love what she shares about our identity in Christ and her Brave women series.

Book Recommendation: *I Will Be Found By You by Francis Frangipane

BECKY BERESFORD lives in North Carolina and is happily outnumbered by her husband and three wonderful boys. She is an author, speaker and coach with a Master's Certificate in Spiritual Formation and Discipleship from Moody Theological Seminary. Becky loves encouraging God’s Daughters to embrace Christ-centered empowerment through the truth found in the gospel. Her work has been featured in large online communities including Crosswalk, (in)courage, iBelieve, HuffPost, DaySpring, and she recently became a writer for Proverbs 31 Ministries’ First 5 writing team. Becky’s book with Moody Publishers, She Believed He Could So She Did releases in March. Connect with Becky at BeckyBeresford.com or follow her on Instagram and Facebook.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Happy New Year! I am so excited you are joining me in 2024.

Have you ever stopped and evaluated the roles you have in your life? The ones that God has given you? Today, I thought it would be fun to talk about the roles we have in life and how we can embrace these roles. I love that my mentor models this so well. She recently said to me, “Sometimes you need to step back in one role, so you can step up in another.” I love this quote, and so today, I want to encourage you to make a list of your roles, pray and ask God what roles He may be asking you to add to your list and what roles He may be encouraging you to let go.

I recently did this and I share on the podcast what I felt God was asking me to do!

You don’t want to miss my big announcement! I also encourage you to do this too- the beginning of a New Year is an excellent time to ponder how you want to spend your 2024 and in what capacity!

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ve you ever said the words, “I didn’t sign up for this” or “God, this isn’t what I planned or expected for my life”? If you have, then I am really excited for you to hear today from Sarah Frazer. Her new book is titled those very words, *I Didn’t Sign Up For This. I love the hope she brings from her book about finding God’s goodness even when your story shifts.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Sarah’s book: *I Didn’t Sign Up For This. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/ieifgw/i-didnt-sign-up-for-this-book-giveaway

Book Recommendations:

• *Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund
• *Surprised by Jesus by Dane Orlund
• *Upon Waking by Jackie Hill Perry

Sarah E. Frazer is a writer, Bible study mentor, wife of Jason, and mother of five. With a background in missionary work and Bible teaching, her passion is to encourage women to start today with a Bible reading and prayer habit. She shares tools and encouragement for Bible study and prayer study on her website and on Instagram at @sarah_e_frazer.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Are you passing a legacy of faith on to your children? I know this is so important, so I am so excited to have Casey Hilty on the podcast this week as we talk about her new book, *Her Children Arise: Passing a Legacy of Faith to the Next Generation. I am so excited because we are going to look at some of the women in the Bible and their examples. We are going to dive deep and even put ourselves in the shoes of these women in the Bible. I just love it. Also, I know you are going to learn so much from Casey.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Casey's book, *Her Children Arise: Passing a Legacy of Faith to the Next Generation as well as her Nativity Garland. All the details of this giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/seqmsq/her-children-arise-and-nativity-garland-giveaway

Link to Depth Podcast Episode 128: Lessons from Biblical Mothers -- Rachael Adams

Book Recommendations:

• *Lineage of Grace by Francine Rivers
• *Hinds Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard
• *Psalms of Ascent by Beth Moore
• *Pearl in the Sand by Tessa Afshar

Casey Hilty is a Christian speaker, artist, worship leader, and author of *Her Children Arise: Passing a Legacy of Faith to the Next Generation. Using both storytelling and visual art, she is passionate about taking mothers on a journey from apathy to awe to fall in love—or back in love—with God and His Word. Casey recently jumped back into the world of teaching after being a stay-at-home mom for 14 years. She and her husband, Bo, have three school-aged kids, a gaggle of pets, and call South Louisiana home. You can find her on Instagram @caseyhilty and Facebook @caseyhilty1 and at www.caseyhilty.com.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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So I have a really special guest today!! I think you are going to be really excited to hear from him because I have some news to share—I am engaged! Yes, I am getting remarried!!! It is very exciting! Just recently I met this amazing man of God and I have been praying for a man who loves Jesus just as much as me for a long time. I am really excited that God answered this prayer in His perfect timing! I have been praying for a while, but He knew when the right time was to bring David into my life. So, I am very excited for you to hear David and I talk about God’s faithfulness in our relationship!

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Are you preoccupied? Do you find yourself physical present but your mind is everywhere else? Maybe emotionally and mentally—you are distracted! I think this is a struggle for many women. I know it is for me.

So, I am excited to have Julie Lefebure on the podcast. She has a new book called *Right Now Matters: Empowering “Right Now” Women in a Culture of Distraction. She has some great practical tools on how to live undistracted. And I cannot wait for you to hear how she talks about replacing busy for full. It is my favorite part of the episode.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Julie’s book: *Right Now Matters: Empowering “Right Now” Women in a Culture of Distraction. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/wqjxyt/right-now-matters-book-giveaway

Recommended Podcast Episodes:

• Link to Julie’s first episode on the Depth Podcast Episode 93
• Link to my guest appearance on the Encouragement for Real Life Podcast: Heartbreak is Not the End of Your Story

Book Recommendations

• *Undistracted by Bob Goff
• *It’s Not Supposed to Be this Way by Lysa TerKeurst
• *The Best Yes by Lysa TerKeurst

Julie Lefebure (pronounced Lef-a-bure) is a Christian encourager who personally coaches, writes, and speaks to help women live encouraged and undistracted so we can live abundant, joy-filled lives and make a difference in this world.

Julie is the author of Right Now Matters: Empowering Right-Now Women in a Culture of Distraction, and hosts the Encouragement for Real Life Podcast. She also writes regularly at julielefebure.com, where you can receive access to her free Resources (julielefebure.com/resources/) which are designed to encourage your heart and lift your spirit. She is also the founder of Real Encouragement LIVE!, a local, quarterly evening of encouragement for women.

She resides in rural Iowa and is married to Bill. They are avid tandem bicyclists and have a goal to bike in each of the 50 states! They have two amazing adult children, a wonderful son-in-law, and two precious grandsons. Julie loves hanging out with her family and watching sunrises and sunsets. You can find Julie on all social media outlets. Her favorite is Instagram @julielefebure.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Are you familiar with the verse Romans 8:28? Sometimes this verse can be misconstrued so let me read it to you: The NIV version says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” I am excited today that we are going to talk more about this verse on the podcast.

Also, I cannot wait for you to meet Karen Hacker. We met through Saddleback Church, and she runs the Empty Arms Ministry — that is the ministry I attended after the loss of my baby. She is going to share a little bit about her story. October 15th is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. For so many of us, this is part of our story, so I like to do an episode each year and highlight God’s faithfulness in the middle of this unexpected storm. I am excited for this episode. You are going to learn so much from Karen about grief, what to say, what not to say, and we are going to dive deeper into that verse Romans 8:28.

Depth Podcast Episode Recommendations:

• Episode 5: Episode with Yvonne Buck where I share about my miscarriage.
• Episode 6: Episode with Dr Shari Bridgman who wrote the Empty Arms Curriculum
• Episode 196: Episode with Clarissa and how I shared my story with her and helped her through her miscarriage.

Book Recommendations:

• *When Bad Things Happen to Good People by Harold S. Kushner
• *Grace Disguised by Jerry Sitzer
• *Don’t Give the Enemy a Seat At Your Table by Lou Giglio

Karen Badal Hacker’s story is one of love, loss, faith, healing and hope. Karen has been married to her husband, Rick, for 38 years and their bond has been both tested and strengthened by profound personal losses. Karen is a native Californian, a wife and mother of four—two babies in heaven and two adult children here on earth.

For 28 years, Karen and Rick Hacker have led "Empty Arms," a grief support group through Saddleback Church in Southern California. This ministry helps couples who have lost babies to miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant death.

Karen is the author of 8:28 Hope in the Darkness, which is set to be published and released by the end of 2023. In her book, Karen seamlessly blends her personal journey with the timeless truths from Romans 8:28, offering readers a lifeline of hope and resilience during the most trying times. You can connect more with Karen on her website.

Karen and Rick are in the process of establishing a non-profit 501C3, 8:28 Hope in the Darkness. An educational and charitable organization dedicated to providing care, counsel, support and encouragement to grieving people who have suffered loss. Karen is passionate about helping the hurting navigate the difficult times of life by using life experiences, practical applications, understanding and acknowledgment of emotions, a firm foundation of faith, and trusting in God's promise of Romans 8:28. "And we know that all that happens to us is working for our good if we love God and are fitting into His plans."

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Do you see time as a gift? Do you see it as the valuable resource that it is? I would have to say that I did not see time as a gift until my divorce. Let me explain- I always thought time was important, but I never saw it as priceless. Like something that needed to be guarded, it was a gift.

So I am excited to read with you a chapter from my book, *Depth: Growing Through Heartbreak to Strength. Chapter 13 is called the Bless in the Mess. I share a little bit about my friend, Jeannie’s story, and how she also saw time as a gift. And I also have an announcement that I want to share with you at the end of the episode, and it is all about time.

Check out my Depth Podcast Episode 150: Last year, I shared My Best Yes and it is similar to this week's episode.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Has someone else’s story ever encouraged you? Maybe the hard thing you walked through is similar to what you have walked through, and their story of God’s faithfulness has ignited hope in you. Hope that God can do the same thing in your story. This is such an important part of the grief journey.

And the last letter of my STRENGTH acrostic from my book, Depth: Growing Through Heartbreak to Strength is the letter H: Honestly share your story and help another hurting heart. I love that God never wastes any of our pain. He doesn’t waste one tear or one hurt and instead He uses it. And this is how I think He uses it as we come alongside and help another hurting heart. I really believe it makes our healing come full circle as well. This is what my life verse is all about: 2 Cor 1:3-4. “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.”*

I am so excited to have Clarissa Paz on the podcast this week. This is so exciting because Clarissa is in my book. I am actually sharing a story where I honestly shared my personal story and helped another hurting heart and that was Clarissa. This is in the “Me Too” Chapter and the last part of the book and we are going to talk about our story. I walked through a miscarriage and a year or two later, she walked through a miscarriage and how I can alongside and helped her. We are going to show you practically how it looks, and we both get a little choked up at times because it is amazing how it brought us together. It connected us in such a beautiful way, and it did bring my healing full circle as well as help her in the middle of her unexpected storm. We are also going to talk about how she has gone on since then and helped others. It is a really heartfelt episode!

Recommended Depth Podcast Episodes:

• Episode 53 with Kathe Wunnenberg- Grieving the Child I Never Knew & Hopelifter
• Episode 5 with Yvonne Buck- Loss of Pregnancy
• Episode 6 with Dr. Shari Bridgman- In Heavenly Arms
• Episode 145 with Kathe Wunnenberg- God's Connections are Powerful, His Timing Perfect

Book Recommendations:

• *Purpose Drive Life by Pastor Rick Warren
• *Grieving the Child I Never Knew by Kathe Wunnenberg
• *Depth by Jodi Rosser

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Do you find it hard to trust God when you don’t fully understand what he is doing in your life? Like it is easy to trust Him when life is going well. But when things are hard and you are walking through grief or heartbreak or when the rug is pulled out from under you, it is always a little harder to trust that God has a plan. Oh friend, that is why I am so excited for the second T in my STRENGTH acrostic from my book, Depth: Growing through Heartbreak to Strength.

The second T stands for Trust God is good when your mind is doubting, and you don’t understand. This one is hard. So I am really excited to have Sonia Abraham on the podcast this week. She is a fellow friend of mine and she also walked through a divorce and today we are going to dive deep on how that looks to trust God when you have doubts and don’t understand why the circumstances of your life did not go as you hoped or planned. We are going to talk about some different Bible characters too. There is lots of truth and wisdom on this episode!

Book Recommendations:

• *Living Unbroken by Tracie Miles
• *It's Not Supposed To Be This Way by Lysa TerKeurst
• *Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy by Mark Vroegop

Sonia Abraham writes about faith and loss on her website. She’s passionate about leading Restored & Renewed, a local ministry at her church in Texas that encourages and supports women walking through separation and divorce. She works as an editor and has three teenaged children. You can also connect with her on Instagram or Facebook.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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When you are walking through a hard season, do you struggle to be grateful? I know I do. I think it is very common to focus on the things we have lost and focus on the hard circumstances. If we are really honest, it is hard to see the little gifts God is providing in the middle of the big storm. But this is exactly what I want to talk with you about today.

We are going to be highlighting the G in my STRENGTH acrostic from my book, Depth: Growing Through Heartbreak to Strength. The G stands for Give Praise to God even as your heart breaks. Oh friend, this is so difficult, but I think this is so important. I am so excited to have Angie Green on the podcast with me. We met back in January, and I have to say this woman is so full of hope and joy. She reminds me of a grandma that loves to pour out truth and wisdom and I cannot wait for you to hear her story.

Book Recommendations:

• *Depth by Jodi Rosser
• *A Grace Disguised by Jerry Sittser by John Mason
• In Light of Eternity and Heaven by Randy Alcorn
• *Grieving the Child I Never Knew by Kathe Wunnenberg

With the advantage of a long and close walk with God, Angie’s life has been undergirded with a strong faith and desire to proclaim the love, faithfulness and goodness of God in the storms of life; the good, bad and ugly times and seasons.

A servant leader, Angie is an experienced vocalist, songwriter, Bible study leader, small group facilitator, speaker and spiritual mentor. She has been mentoring, teaching, writing, blogging and speaking about the existence, presence and loving movements and actions of God for decades.

Angie’s journey through grief after the sudden cardiac death of her youngest son, Kevin, in 2002 ripped out a piece of her heart leaving her feeling broken. Ultimately her journey of grief moved her from the edge of the grave to the edge of Eternity, and she would say she is living her best life with her husband, Bob, in Northern Colorado living with a renewed eternal perspective after surviving the fires of unexpected sorrow.

In March 2006, Angie co-founded “Mothers Like Me Grief Care and Comfort Ministry” with Cynthia Roth-Weightman for grieving moms in Southern California. When Angie and her husband, Bob, relocated to Northern Colorado in 2008, the ministry continued as Angie envisioned “helping more moms in more places.”

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Have you been following this series with my STRENGTH acrostic from my Depth Book? We have already covered S,T,R, & E and then we took a break for the one year birthday of the book. Now we are back to the acrostic and today we are going to cover N- Never Lose Sight of God’s Grace.

It is interesting because when God dropped that STRENGTH acrostic in my mind on that bus ride, there were a couple letters that were harder to identify than others and the N was one of them. I remember meeting my friend for lunch. She also had walked through a divorce, and we were talking about how some heartbreaks have a shame or a stigma attached to them and others don’t. And she said, “I think it is really important that you do something about God’s grace.” And that day at lunch together, we came up with Never Lose Sight of God’s Grace! It is a very important part of the book; we talk about forgiveness and being vulnerable.

So I am really excited to have Faith Griffin Sims on the podcast this week. She is going to share about her heartbreak. Sadly, she lost her son to suicide. This week is suicide prevention week and suicide awareness week. So I want this episode to also help us become more aware. Faith is going to share so much truth and wisdom.

Faith wrote a post for my Heartbreak to Strength Story Blog Series back in 2021. The title of her post was Held By His Strength and I cannot wait for you to read her powerful article.

Other Resources:

-Link to Depth Podcast Episode 149: *Hope Always by Dr. Matthew Sleeth

-Link to Depth Podcast Episode 99: *I Love Jesus, But I Want To Die by Sarah J. Robinson

-Link to Depth Podcast Episode 49: *Fear Gone Wild: A Story of Mental Illness, Suicide, and Hope Through Loss By Kayla Stoecklein

Book Recommendations:

• *Depth by Jodi Rosser
• *The Gospel According to Job by John Mason
• *Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy by Mark Vroegop
• *A Grace Disguised by Jerry Sittser

Faith Griffin Sims is a wife, a mom of six, and “Mia” to 17 grandchildren. She writes about grief, suicide loss, and living life with hope. Faith believes in offering comfort in the way she has been comforted (2 Corinthians 1:4). In that vein; she began a local chapter of Survivors of Suicide (SOS) for others navigating the loss of a loved one by suicide. Faith recently earned a certificate in grief education. She is honored to be a contributing author on several books and websites and is currently writing a book. She would love to connect with you on her website and Instagram.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Did you know that one year ago I released my first book? This is so exciting! *Depth: Growing Through Heartbreak to Strength entered the world August 30, 2022.

This week on the podcast I am doing a special birthday episode for the book. I am sharing everything that has happened in the last year in my ministry from my speaking engagements I got because of my book to my podcast. It is a lot of fun! My friend, Karyce who I went to Rwanda with two different times is going to be interviewing me. I think it is special to go back and see the God stories in the ministry especially around the book. I am super excited for you to hear this behind the scenes episode.

To hear more about behind the scenes about the Depth Podcast and *Depth Book, check out the episodes below:

Depth Podcast Episode 47: Special Behind the Scenes Episode for the one year birthday of the podcast.

Depth Podcast Episode 97: The Depth Podcast is Two Years Old! Cannot wait for you to hear more behind the scene stories about the last two years.

Depth Podcast Episode 146: The Depth Podcast is Three Years Old and my first book, *Depth: Growing Through Heartbreak to Strength releases August 30, 2022.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of my book: ***Depth: Growing Through Heartbreak to Strength. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/scoocw/depth-birthday-book-giveaway

I shared on the podcast episode about a shipping delay that crushed my spirit on book launch day. That morning, I had to surrender it all to God. I remember pouring out my heart in a blog post called Trusting God When You Don't Understand the Plan. I recommend reading it if you are struggling at all in understanding God’s timing. Here is a link to another blog post called Learning Patience When Plans Change when the Amazon link to preorder was delayed too.

Book Recommendations

• *The Masterpiece by Francine Rivers
• *Try Softer by Aundi Kolber
• *Raising Emotionally Strong Boys by David Thomas

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Have you ever seen God use difficult circumstances in your life to grow your character? Maybe he is making you more patient. I know that is a big one for me that I struggle with. Maybe is helping you become more compassionate and empathetic towards others. I think one of the main ways God grows our character is through the storms in our life. So today, that is what I want to talk about on the podcast, the E in my STRENGTH acrostic from my book, *Depth: Growing Through Heartbreak to Strength. Again, its one year birthday is at the end of this month. Now if you missed my episodes on the S, T, and R in STRENGTH, then I definitely recommend going back and listening to those episodes, especially the S and T. I think those are very foundational as we are walking through grief.

Today, I want to focus on the E. It stands for Embrace God’s Character Development in the midst of the Chaos. If I am being completely honest, I don’t always like to Embrace the Character Development. But I do think it is an important way God chisels us and makes us more like Jesus. So today on the podcast I have Jen Roland. She is going to be sharing her story and how God used chronic pain to grow her and her character. I cannot wait for you to hear the truth she has to share.

Jen wrote a post for My Heartbreak to Strength Story Blog Series back in 2021. The title of her post was Finding Victory Over Defeat and I cannot wait for you to read her powerful article.

Click Here to get God's Truth to Combat Your Not Enough Statements- a free resource on my website!

Book Recommendations:

• *Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster
• *The Deeper Journey by Robert Mulholland
• *Boundaries by Townsend and Cloud
• *Boundaries For Your Soul by Allison Cook and Kimberly Miller
• *Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk
• *What Happened to You? by Oprah Winfrey and Bruce D. Perry

Jen Roland is a writer, speaker, board-certified Christian mental health coach, and women's ministry leader with a passion for walking alongside others toward healing and wholeness. She helps others implement positive lifestyle practices for their mind, body, and soul while developing a deeper relationship with God. Since her neuropathy diagnosis, Jen has focused her ministry on serving those with chronic pain and illness. On her website www.jenroland.com, she provides resources to restore hope, reduce pain, overcome fear and anxiety, and strengthen their faith. Jen lives in Woodbine, MD with her husband and three children.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help su

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Have you heard the saying, “Hindsight is 20-20.” It is when we look back at our lives and we see a clearer picture. For some reason during the middle of it, we couldn’t see what was really happening. Well, I think this has a lot do to with perspective and today that is our topic on the podcast.

We are going to be highlighting the letter R in the strength acrostic in my book, Depth: Growing Through Heartbreak to Strength. Again, its one year birthday is coming up at the end of this month. The R stands for Replace Your Finite View With God’s Infinite Perspective. Friend, I think this is one of the hardest things when we are going through grief and heartbreak: Trying to see it in a new light and a new perspective. Now let me say first, if you haven’t listened to the S and T episodes in the acrostic, I recommend listening to those first. I think they are important steps before this letter R.

Depth Podcast Episode 188: Seek God and Invite Him into Your Pain

Depth Podcast Episode 189: Tearfully Allow Yourself Time to Grieve and Process the Emotions

I am excited to have my friend, Alycia Betz as a guest on my podcast this week. She walked through two losses back-to-back, so she is going to share her story. Together we are going to talk about how do we replace our finite view with God’s infinite perspective. I have to tell you that I prayed more over this episode than any other in the acrostic because this one can be challenging. So, hope these words encourage you!

Alycia Betz is a writer, speaker, songwriter, homeschooling mom, and wife for over 20 years. She loves to use words and songs to bring hope, healing, and freedom to other women who are on their own journey through darkness. She’d love to journey together! You can connect with her on her website or check out her youtube channel

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When you are in the middle of a hard season, do you allow yourself time to grieve? Do you know how to name your emotions and process them with someone you trust. Maybe a friend, a counselor or a support group? Honestly, I think this is a struggle for many people. So today on the podcast, I am so excited to highlight the letter T in my acrostic Strength in my book, Depth: Growing Through Heartbreak to Strength which is celebrating its one-year birthday at the end of August.

The letter T stands for Tearfully Allow Yourself Time to Grieve and Process the Emotions. My friend, Heather Jeffery, is my guest this week. Both of us have walked through a divorce and this week on the podcast, we are going to share how we process those hard emotions and what did that practically look like. Now let me just say that you don’t have to have walked through the same heartbreak that we did in order to learn about how to process your emotions in your heartbreak. Again, everyone grieves differently, but we just wanted to give you some real life practical tools to add to your emotional tool box on how to walk through hard emotions.

If you missed last week’s episode, we covered the S in Strength- how to seek God and invite Him into the pain. I think each episode builds on each other, so I highly recommend listening to this first episode as well.

Lastly, I recorded an episode with my counselor last year called How to Process Emotions in a Healthy Way. Debbie shares so many pearls of wisdom; I hope this episode encourages you too!

If you want to hear more about naming your feelings, you can listen to an episode on my Depth Podcast where my sons and I talk about Family and Feelings. Click on Depth Podcast Episode 26.

Heather Jeffery is a Christian writer, mentor, and certified abuse and recovery mental health coach. She is passionate about empowering women with Biblical truth as they link arms to seek clarity specializing in emotional abuse and divorce recovery. Heather believes our stories have purpose and are meant to be shared to encourage others just as we are encouraged by those in the Bible. She lives in Maryland with her two teenage daughters where she also works as a physical therapist and enjoys spending time outdoors anywhere there's water. You can receive truth filled encouragement by subscribing at heatherjeffery.com and follow her writing on Instagram @straightenyourcrown.1.

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Have you ever felt the presence of God? Have you ever felt Him close to you? I know for me, I felt the presence of God the most in the middle of my hard seasons: my divorce, the loss of my friend, and my miscarriage. Maybe you can relate.

This week on the podcast, I am so excited to have Evelyn Sherwood. She is a friend of mine who sadly has walked through many hardships. One of the things we talk about today is just how much she felt the presence of God in the middle of this hard season. She actually says this amazing quote (I am going to give you a little sneak peek because it is so good). She says, “The sweetness of His presence far surpassed the pain of my suffering.” Evelyn has so much wisdom to share with you.

But before we head over to the conversation, I have something exciting to share. My book, Depth: Growing Through Heartbreak to Strength is actually celebrating its one-year birthday at the end of August! So for the next 8 weeks, I am doing a special series based on the acrostic in the book. As I was writing the book, I prayed to God for wisdom on how to write a book with three storylines. He gave me this acrostic for the word, STRENGTH!

So, we are going to be going through the acrostic starting with the S today with Evelyn to Seek God and Invite Him Into the pain. Then we will move through the acrostic over the next 8 weeks on the podcast. I so excited for you to hear the wisdom from Evelyn of how she was able to seek God and invite Him into the middle of her pain. She went through an intense 18 month season where there was one storm after another, so you do not want to miss the truth she shares!

Book Recommendations:

• *Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy by Mark Vreogop
• *Breath as Prayer by Jennifer Tucker

Evelyn Sherwood is a trusted soul-care guide, speaker, and blogger who has served in pastoral ministry for thirty-five years. Sherwood serves an active and growing audience through her blog, evelynsherwood.com, and her bi-weekly subscription devotional Hope for the Journey, encouraging her readers to grab hold of hope in the trials by helping them recall God’s work in their past. Nothing puts a smile on her face more than sharing about the faithfulness of God with a friend over a steaming cup of cappuccino or iced peach tea. On a summer evening, you might spot Evelyn and her husband, Steve, driving through Indiana farmlands in a canary yellow ’47 Ford pickup or enjoying an outdoor movie night in their backyard with their eight grandkids. You can connect with Evelyn on her website, on Instagram, and you can sign up for her weekly devotional.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended

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Did you hear my episode with Karen Ehman that I recorded back in 2020? It is one of my favorite books of hers; it is called Listen, Love, Repeat: Other-Centered Living in a Self-Centered World*. Her book encourages us to be more intentional and live alert. Taking our eyes off ourselves and placing them on others, we can “become a noticer” and scatter love and kindness. I cannot wait for you to hear her share about a heartdrop; honestly, it is my favorite part.

Book Recommendation:

*Soul Keeping by John Ortberg

Karen Ehman is a New York Times bestselling author, a Proverbs 31 Ministries speaker, and a writer for Encouragement For Today, an online devotional that reaches over 4 million users daily. She has written 14 books and Bible studies including Keep It Shut: What to Say, How to Say It; When to Say Nothing at All, Zip It: The Keep It Shut 40 Day Challenge and Keep Showing Up*: How to Stay Crazy in Love You’re your Love Drives You Crazy. Karen has been featured on numerous media outlets including TODAY Parents, FoxNews.com, Redbook.com, Crosswalk.com, and HomeLife Magazine. Her passion is to help women to live their priorities as they reflect the gospel to a watching world. Married to her college sweetheart, Todd, and the mother of three, she enjoys collecting vintage kitchenware, cheering for the Detroit Tigers, and feeding the many people who gather around her kitchen island for a taste of Mama Karen's cooking. Connect with her at karenehman.com.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Have you listened to my episode with Rebekah Lyons back in 2019? It was the very first year of the podcast and we talked about her book, Rhythms of Renewal.* This book is life changing for anyone that struggles with stress, worry, or anxiety. Rebekah shares in detail about her 4 rhythms as well as practical examples for each one. She even shares which rhythm comes most naturally to her as well as which one is most challenging. I promise you do not want to miss her insight and wisdom.

Please comment below and share which rhythm comes most naturally to you as well as which one is most challenging and involves you being intentional.

For more information about Rebekah’s book, go to her website: https://rebekahlyons.com/

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Have you heard my first episode with Nicki Koziarz back in 2020. We talk about her book, Why Her. The subtitle is 6 Truths We Need to Hear When Measuring Up Leaves Us Falling Behind*. This book is all about comparison and I think this is such a real struggle in our lives especially with social media. We are going to address that today, and I am so excited to share some of my favorite truths from her book. Going back and listening to this, reminded me of the importance of helping our kids navigate this comparison struggle. Cannot wait for you to hear the truths from Nicki’s book.

Note: Nicki has been a guest three times on my podcast! The first time is this repeat episode we are listening to today about her book, *Why Her?

Her second time on the podcast we talked about her book, *Flooded, where she vulnerably shares how doubt flooded her soul and began to impact her faith. You can check out our conversation on Episode 74. I cannot wait for you to hear Nicki share about the life of Noah in the Bible and the 5 Best Decisions to Make When Life is Hard and Doubt is Rising (the subtitle of her book).

Finally, she came back for a 3rd time on the podcast to talk about her latest book, *Your New Now: Finding Strength and Wisdom When You Feel Stuck Where You Are. This book is all about transitions. You definitely want to check out Depth Podcast Episode 169.

Book Recommendations:

• *Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller

Nicki Koziarz is an ECPA bestselling author and a speaker with Proverbs 31 Ministries. She speaks nationally at conferences, retreats, and meetings and hosts her own podcast, Lessons from the Farm. An evangelist at heart, Nicki inspires others to become the best version of who God created them to be. Nicki, her husband, and their family run a small farm just outside of Charlotte, North Carolina, which they affectionately call The Fixer Upper Farm. Learn more at nickikoziarz.com.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Did you hear my first episode with Michele Cushatt? It was back in 2020, and we talked about her book, Relentless. The subtitle is The Unshakable Presence of a God Who Never Leaves*. It is such a powerful episode and in it, she shares about her pain and suffering that she has walked through. She started to doubt, question, and wonder if the presence of pain meant the absence of God. Maybe you can relate.

Maybe you are wondering where God is in the middle of your hard time. You have doubts and questions. Some of the questions Michele had: God, when are you going to intervene? God, why haven’t you put a stop to this pain and suffering? Maybe you have those same questions. There is so much truth in this episode and Michele’s books have depth to them. I know you are going to learn so much for her.

Note: Michele came back for a 2nd time on the podcast to talk about her latest book, *A Faith That Will Not Fail. You definitely want to check out Depth Podcast Episode 171.

As an experienced communicator, Michele Cushatt speaks internationally to a wide variety of audiences and has published three previous books, including Undone,* I Am. Her fourth book, A Faith That Will Not Fail, publishes March 2023. A three-time head and neck cancer survivor and parent of "children from hard places, " Michele is a (reluctant) expert of 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. Visit www.michelecushatt.com

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Have you heard my first episode with Jennifer Dukes Lee with her book, *It's All Under Control? We recorded it back in 2019. Honestly, she was my second interview ever on the podcast (Episode 3). It was really fun to talk with her since I was on her book launch team for that very book. This episode has so many practical tools to help you especially if you struggle with control and surrender. My word this year is surrender so it was so fun to go back and listen to this episode in light of that.

One of my favorite quotes in this book as well as on this episode is “We surrender outcomes, but we don’t surrender effort.” I loved that reminder, so I think you are going to learn so much from Jennifer.

Note: Jennifer has been a guest three times on my podcast! The first time is this repeat episode we are listening to today about her book, ***It's All Under Control

Her second time on the podcast we talked about her book, *Growing Slow. You can check out our conversation on the Depth Podcast Episode 80. I cannot wait for you to hear about the four seasons: Spring Planting, Summer Growth, Autumn Harvest and Winter Rest

Finally, she came back for a 3rd time on the podcast to talk about her latest book, *Stuff I’d Only Tell God: A Guided Journal of Courageous Honesty, Obsessive Truth-Telling, and Beautifully Ruthless Self-Discovery. You definitely want to check out Depth Podcast Episode 173.

Book Recommendations:

• *The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel
• *Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller
• *One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp

Jennifer Dukes Lee is a bestselling author, thinker, and question asker from Iowa. Her friends say they are scared to sit alone in a room with her because they end up telling her things they never intended to say. She is both proud of this fact and also a little annoyed at how nosy she can be. She put a bunch of her favorite questions into a journal called Stuff I’d Only Tell God*. It’s like your own little confession booth. She’s also the author of Growing Slow and It's All Under Control. Learn more at jenniferdukeslee.com.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Have you heard my episode with Suzie Eller that I recorded back in 2019? It is about the book, *The Mended Heart. If you have ever heard me speak or share about my broken clay pot, this is the book that inspired it.

I am so excited for you to hear this episode that I recorded the very first year of the podcast. I went back and listened to it today and loved hearing some of the truths in it that have really become foundational truths I share in my speaking and my book, Depth: Growing Through Heartbreak to Strength. Also, it was a joy to see God’s faithfulness with my book and this podcast over the last four years. Friend, this episode is definitely one of my favorites and I cannot wait for you to hear it.

Also, we talked about her podcast, More Than Small Talk and it was such an honor to be a guest on it earlier this year. Here is a link to listen to my conservation with Holley Gerth, Jennifer Watson, and Suzie Eller.

Note: Suzie was my first guest to be on my podcast twice so I would love for you to check out my conversation with Suzie about her book, *JoyKeeper. Please check out Episode 46 on the Depth podcast. I love what she shares about joy!

Finally, she came back for a 3rd time on the podcast to talk about her latest book, *Prayer Starters: Talking with God About Hard Times. You definitely want to check out Depth Podcast Episode 158.

Book Recommendations:

• *Mere Christianity by C.S Lewis
• *Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
• *Undone by Michele Cushatt
• *It's All Under Control by Jennifer Dukes Lee
• *Sacred Rest by Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith

Suzanne Eller (Suzie) is a bestselling author. She is co-host of the More Than Small Talk podcast with KLRC Podcast Network, which debuted in the top 25 Christian podcasts. Suzie has appeared on media such as Focus on the Family, Aspiring Women, The Harvest Show, KLOVE and many others. She served with Proverbs 31 Ministries for 14 years. She believes that healed women scoop up other women and run toward the cross. When she's not writing, you'll find her kayaking, hanging out with her "littles," finding the best foodie food truck, or hiking. Connect with Suzie at www.tsuzanneeller.com

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Father’s Day is just around the corner, how are you feeling? For some of us, we have a great relationship with our dad. For others, we don’t. For some of us, we have a spouse. For others, we don’t. For a single parent, it can be really hard.

Today, I want to have an honest conversation about loss and single parenting. I am excited to have Matthew Ronan on the podcast this week. He is going to vulnerably share about losing his wife and being a single dad for his daughter. But more than that, we dive deeper into grief and loss and how to deal with the hard emotions.

Before his wife passed away, together they wrote a children’s book called The Girl With Five Hearts. The question on the back of the book says, “What do you do with a broken heart.” So, we are going to talk about that today as well. It is an honest conversation full of vulnerability, wisdom, and even some Father’s Day advice for our solo parents. It was great advice for me as a mom too.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Matthew’s new book: The Girl With Five Hearts. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/j8izmo/childrens-book-giveaway

Book Recommendations:

• *The Soul of Shame by Dr. Kurt Thompson
• *I Still Believe by Jeremy Camp
• *Beyond the Darkness by Clarissa Moll
• *Grief Share Workbook

Link to Depth Podcast Episode 160: Beyond the Darkness – Clarissa Moll

Matthew Ronan is an artist and writer who’s worked in film, television, and radio. His credits include projects for Disney/Lucasfilm, Warner Bros., 20th Century Fox, and the Michael Jackson estate. He recently published The Girl With 5 Hearts, a children’s book he illustrated and co-authored with his late wife Chastidy. He lives in San Francisco with his daughter Catica. You can connect with him on his website or on Facebook and Instagram.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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How are you at managing your emotions? Do you have tools in your emotional tool belt on how handle sadness, anger, and worry? I would say for most people, this is a hard struggle.

I am so excited to tell you about this new book that my friends Lynn Cowell and Michelle Nietert wrote. It is called *Managing Your Emojis, and I wish I had this book when I was younger. Today I have the privilege of talking to Michelle about this amazing devotional for kids, and there is so much wisdom in this episode. Michelle is a counselor, so she gives some many practical tools for us parents and for our kids too! You do not want to miss our conversation.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Michelle and Lynn’s book: *Managing Your Emojis. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/0n9mkx/managing-your-emojis-book-giveaway

It is fun to have Michele back on the Podcast! If you missed my first conversation with Michele and Lynn about their book, *Loved & Cherished, please check out Episode 51 on the Depth podcast. Love this devotional they wrote for girls.

Book Recommendations:

• *Search for Significance by Robert McGee
• *Boundaries by Townsend and Cloud
• *Try Softer by Aundi Kolber
• *Strong Like Water by Aundi Kolber
• *On Getting Out of Bed by Alan Noble

Licensed Professional Counselor of 25 years, Michelle Nietert is the coauthor of the Managing Your Emojis*, God I Feel Sad: Bringing Big Emotions to a Bigger God series, best selling book Loved & Cherished, and the award-winning book for adults *Make Up Your Mind.

She leads a team of counselors as the clinical director of Community Counseling Associates in the Dallas, TX area. A popular speaker on topics regarding mental health, faith, and parenting, she is a frequent guest on national television and podcasts, and hosts the Raising Mentally Healthy KidsTM podcast. She and her husband Drew have been married 20 years with two school aged children. Connect with Michelle at YourMentalHealthCoach.com.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Have you cinched your trust to the promises of God? When life’s unexpected storms come blowing through, do you have an unwavering trust in a God that will not fail? For most of us, I think we can say that we know we need to trust God, we can quote Bible verses about trusting God, but actually living it out is much harder to do.

This is why I love the wisdom from today’s guest. I have Kristine Brown on the podcast, and we are going to be talking about her book, *Cinched: Living with Unwavering Trust in an Unfailing God. We are going to dive deep into the life of Rahab today. I am so excited that this episode is like a Bible Shoes Episode! So instead of doing it solo, I am excited to have Kristine and I together talk about Rahab’s life, the promises of God, and how we can better trust Him as we walk out our faith. There is so much goodness in this episode!

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Kristine’s book: *Cinched. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/fs1s5p/cinched-book-giveaway

Book Recommendations:

• *All Things New by John Eldridge
• *It's All Under Control by Jennifer Dukes Lee

Kristine Brown is a ministry wife, mom, stepmom, and Mimi who shares a message of “becoming more than ourselves through God’s Word” at her website, morethanyourself.com. She is the author of *Cinched: Living with Unwavering Trust in an Unfailing God. Any given day you can find Kristine texting her young adult kids, adding another book to the growing stack on her bookshelf, or searching for a new way to cook broccoli. Kristine and her husband live in East Texas.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Has God placed a dream on your heart? Maybe it is to write a book, start a ministry, or help others in need. Perhaps it is a retreat center or starting your own business. I believe God places a dream into each of our hearts.

I am excited today to talk about Pastor Rick Warren’s new book, *Created to Dream. The subtitle is The 6 phases God Uses to Grow Your Faith. I love talking about growing deeper in our faith, and I believe God does that through our dreams. I am so grateful to Zondervan Books for access to these amazing words of wisdom from Pastor Rick. I cannot wait for you to hear as he talks about the 6 phases of faith. So grab a notebook to take notes, because it is so good.

Also, I am so excited we are giving away 2 copies of Pastor Rick Warren’s new book: *Created to Dream. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/5pnjay/2-copies-of-pastor-rick-warrens-new-book-giveaway

In July 2018, I had the opportunity to speak at Saddleback Church with Pastor Rick Warren during all four weekend services. Sitting on his panel, together we discussed how to raise a remarkable child in the Purpose Driven Family Series.

Saddleback Church Service Link

A Time magazine cover article named Rick Warren the most influential spiritual leader in America, and one of the hundred most influential people in the world.

Tens of millions of copies of Pastor Rick’s books have been published in 200 languages. His best notebooks, The Purpose Driven Life and The Purpose Driven Church were named three times in national service of pastors as the two most helpful books in print.

Rick and his wife, Kay, founded Saddleback Church, the Purpose Driven Network, the PEACE Plan, and Hope for Mental Health. He is the cofounder of Celebrate Recovery with John Baker.

Taken from Created to Dream by Rick Warren. Copyright © 2023 by Zondervan Book by permission of Zondervan, www.zondervan.com.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Have you ever been in awe of God’s timing and God’s fingerprints all over the details of a story? I am excited to tell you about one that recently happened. I don’t know if you heard last week’s episode, but I talked with Jessica Young, and she was one of my special mom stories. Her daughter, Adlie, has a rare genetic disorder and on that episode, we talked about how Adlie had a bone marrow transplant. If you missed our conversation, I highly recommend listening to it first and this one second. I promise the truths that Jessica shares are powerful.

This week, I am super excited to be talking with Adlie, Jessica’s daughter. She is going to share the story from her perspective, and I am just in awe of her maturity and wisdom at the young age of ten years old. I promise you do not want to miss one word she shares. She is so inspiring and making such an impact on others. So, we will start by listening to our conversation—one of my favorites. And then I have a special God story to share with you that happened after my interviews with Jessica and Adlie. It is a “God-Incident”.

Link to the Be the Match, Bone Marrow Registry

Link to Red Cross Blood Donations

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Have you ever thought about God is for you? He is not just with you, but He is for you! If you are walking through a difficult season right now, sometimes it doesn’t always feel like God is for you or that God is with you. I so love the encouragement from today’s episode.

It is one of my special mom stories, and I talk with Jessica Young. I knew Jessica when she was Jessica Vanlandingham. I was her babysitter through my teenage years and watched her grow up. She is now a mother herself, and she is going to share about her daughter who has a rare genetic disorder. What I love about today’s episode is the perspective she gives us when life is hard, and you are walking through something that you don’t understand.

Also, at the very end, she reads us these song lyrics that helped her in the middle of her difficult time. She talks about how God Is For You! It is so powerful, and I had goosebumps all over when she shared it. If you are in a hard season right now, you do not want to miss the truth that Jessica shared.

Christian Song Recommendations:

• "The Blessing" by Kari Jobe and Cody Carnes
• "Praise You In This Storm" by Casting Crowns
• "Blessings" by Laura Story
• “Just Be Held” by Casting Crowns
• “Into Dust” by Mack Brock
• “Soar” by Meredith Andrews

Link to the Be the Match, Bone Marrow Registry

Link to Red Cross Blood Donatio

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Did you know that Mother’s Day is a really hard day for many women? For some, they lost their mom, and Mother’s Day is super difficult. For others, they have lost a child and there is a deep hole in their heart each Mother’s day. And for others, they desire to be a mom and that dream has not happened yet. Each month as the pregnancy test is negative, they have to wait for that dream to happen.

And so on the podcast for the month of May, I like to highlight special mom stories. I want to remind women, they are not alone in these hard seasons that they are walking through. For some, it is stories of infertility and miscarriage. Other stories are adoption or a child with special needs or a rare disease. My hope for this series is to encourage other women and help give us tools on how we can come alongside and support these women that are walking these hard roads.

So today, I am so excited to have Erin Greneaux on the podcast. She is going to share her story of infertility and miscarriage from her book, *Inconceivable Redemption. I pray her words will help encourage another hurting heart.

In 2020, Saddleback Church hosted a gathering for grieving women a couple nights before Mother’s Day called the Bella Donne, which means beautiful women in Italian. I have attached the link so you can listen. I pray this encourages you especially if your heart is hurting this Mother’s Day. https://saddleback.com/watch/webcast/belle-donne/belle-donne-2020

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Erin’s book: *Inconceivable Redemption. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/urecyy/infertility-and-miscarriage-book-giveaway

Other Special Mom Stories that could be helpful:

• Kaley Olson shared her two-year struggle with infertility as well as her miscarriage last year. To listen to her special mom story, click the link to Episode 130.
• Holley Gerth shared her infertility story of 10 years as well as how she met her daughter. To listen to her special mom story, click the link to Episode 81.
• Allyn Ann shared her infertility story and her emotional journey to having 2 miraculous IVF babies. To listen to her powerful story, click the link to Episode 31.

Link to Erin’s blog post: What to Expect When You’re Not Expecting

Link to Jodi's blog post: Encouragement for your Hurting Heart on Mother's Day

Book Recommendations:

• *A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis
• *The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom
• *Loved Baby by Sarah Philpott

Erin Greneaux is an award-winning author and mom to three girls who make every day an adventure. She loves working in the garden and finds her best inspiration while digging in the dirt. Erin is passionate about exploring the practical application of faith in everyday life. She uses writing to take Biblical ideas and present them in a way that is clear, creative, and captivating.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Have you ever written a letter to your younger self? Maybe you want to share the truths you wish you knew 10 years younger or 20 years ago. Perhaps they are about your marriage, parenting, friendships, or just life. If you heard my episode last week, I talked with Jennifer Dukes Lee about her new guided journal which is full of a lot of questions to self-reflect on. One of them was about writing a letter to your younger self and we talked about it on her podcast episode.

I wrote a letter in 2018 back to my younger self, twenty years younger. I was planning to read this letter at the end of Jennifer’s episode. It was longer than I remembered, so I decided to make it its own special episode. I cannot wait for you to hear the truths I learned through all the hard seasons of my life and what I wish I knew on my wedding day. After recording, I decided this will be a beautiful gift to give each of my sons when they are ready to get married.

I highly encourage you to write a letter to your younger self too! What truths has God shown you now that you are older and wiser? What do you wish you could go back in time and tell the younger you? What truths would you share with your kids as they approach that same age?

Recommended Depth Podcast Episodes that share more of my story and what I learned over the years:

Episode 1: Introduction Episode -- *Unglued Life Changing Book

Episode 2: Milan and Kay Yerkovich -- *How We Love Our Kids Life Changing Book

Episode 7: Suzie Eller -- *The Mended Heart Broken Clay Pot

Episode 26: Rosser Family -- Family & Feelings

Episode 29: Lysa TerKeurst -- *It's Not Supposed To Be This Way Disappointments

Episode 47: Special Behind the Scenes Episode for the one year birthday of the podcast.

Episode 97: The Depth Podcast is Two Years Old! Cannot wait for you to hear more behind the scene stories the last two years.

Episode 143: How to Process Emotions in a Healthy Way – Debbie Hetschel (My Christian Counselor)

Episode 146: Special Behind the Scenes of the *Depth Book and third year birthday of the podcast.

Episode 147: Reading Chapter 1 of the *Depth: Growing Through Heartbreak to Strength

Blog Post: 4 Truths I Wish I Knew as a Young Mom

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Have you ever done an inventory over your life? Have you ever gone back and reflected over the past? Maybe looked at the present and tried to become more self-aware? And maybe even look forward to the future—what are my goals and dreams?

I am so excited to share with you about Jennifer Dukes Lee’s new book: *Stuff I’d Only Tell God: A Guided Journal of Courageous Honesty, Obsessive Truth-Telling, and Beautifully Ruthless Self-Discovery. What I love about this book is that Jennifer asks some great questions throughout this book. This is not a typical Christian Living Book; instead, it is a book designed for self-reflection, self-discovery, and self-awareness. It was such a fun episode to record with Jennifer. We ask some of the light weight, fun questions and laughed. And then we did go deep, and I think you are really going to love what she has to share.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Jennifer’s new book: *Stuff I’d Only Tell God. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/ttzefv/stuff-id-only-tell-god-book-giveaway

It is fun to have Jennifer back on the Podcast! If you missed my first conversation with Jennifer about her book, *It's All Under Control, please check out Episode 3 on the Depth podcast. I love what she shares about surrendering the outcome, not the effort.

Her second time on the podcast we talked about her book, *Growing Slow. You can check out our conversation on the Depth Podcast Episode 80. I cannot wait for you to hear about the four seasons: Spring Planting, Summer Growth, Autumn Harvest and Winter Rest

Jennifer Dukes Lee is a bestselling author, thinker, and question asker from Iowa. Her friends say they are scared to sit alone in a room with her because they end up telling her things they never intended to say. She is both proud of this fact and also a little annoyed at how nosy she can be. She put a bunch of her favorite questions into a journal called Stuff I’d Only Tell God*. It’s like your own little confession booth. She’s also the author of Growing Slow and It's All Under Control. Learn more at jenniferdukeslee.com.

Click this link to learn more about the Preorder Gifts.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Do you Live Loved? Do you live your life filled up with the fullness of God’s love in you? I don’t know about you, but sometimes I struggle with this, so I am really excited to recommend a book to you. It is called *Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely. It is by Lysa TerKeurst; she is one of my favorite authors.

I actually read this book back in 2016. It released the same month that my friend passed away, and I remember reading it. But I have to tell you that I don’t remember all the takeaways from it because I was in such deep grief. I just recently read it again, it was actually the perfect timing because I walked through a situation last year where I felt some rejection as well as it has just been a lonely season in my life as my kids are getting older and ready to launch. So I need this message in my life; I need to live loved! Cannot wait for you to hear about being set apart and the olive tree! So much wisdom in this book!

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Lysa’s book: *Uninvited. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/jfn0mb/uninvited-book-giveaway

I refer to my book, *Depth: Growing Through Heartbreak to Strength in this episode. Here is a direct link to my book page on my website to listen to my book trailer and find out more.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing these recommended books, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Do you ever struggle with what to do when your world is falling apart? When life seems to flip upside down, do you wish you had a friend that would come alongside you and say this is what helped me in the middle of my suffering and my hard times?

This is what I love about this new book, *A Faith That Will Not Fail by Michele Cushatt. She was on the podcast back in 2020 for her book, Relentless. If you have not heard her story, she has walked through cancer multiple times and what I love is that she wrote this book from a place of “I understand.” The subtitle of the book is 10 Practices to Build up Your Faith When Your World Is Falling Apart. It is very practical, and she gives great ideas you can start that will help you during those tough seasons. In fact, I think these are great practices to start even when you are not in a tough season, so when those hard times come, you are already prepared. I love our conversation today on the podcast, and I think you are going to learn so much from Michele.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Michele’s book: *A Faith That Will Not Fail. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/dkexdy/a-faith-that-will-not-fail-giveaway

It is fun to have Michele back on the Podcast! If you missed my first conversation with Michele about her book, *Relentless, please check out Episode 18 on the Depth podcast. She has such a powerful story and her words will definitely encourage you.

Book Recommendations:

• *Try Softer by Aundi Kolber
• *Strong Like Water by Aundi Kolber

As an experienced communicator, Michele Cushatt speaks internationally to a wide variety of audiences and has published three previous books, including Undone, I Am. Her fourth book, *A Faith That Will Not Fail, publishes March 2023. A three-time head and neck cancer survivor and parent of "children from hard places, " Michele is a (reluctant) expert of 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. Visit www.michelecushatt.com

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live through Holy Week? Imagine what it would be like to walk with Jesus as He went from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. So much happened in his life during those 7 days.

So for the Bible Shoes episode this month, I thought it would be really special to put ourselves in the shoes of one of the disciples as he walked next to Jesus from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. There are a lot of big events that happen that really establish our faith as a Christian. I want to dive deeper into these. What is so exciting for me is that all four of the Gospels highlight these events: Palm Sunday, The Last Supper, the Garden of Gethsemane, the Crucifixion, and the Resurrection. If Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John all thought that these were important to write about, then they are important to study. So, this next week is Holy Week and I hope this episode ignites in you a desire to open your Bible and learn more about this special week in the life of Jesus.

If you want to accept Jesus into your life and begin a relationship with Him, I want to share with the ABC’s.

Admit you are powerless to do life alone and you need a Savior. I know that I cannot do life in my own strength, I need a Savior. I hope you will surrender your life to God too.

Believe that Jesus is the Son of God! Believe He died on the cross for your sins. But He did not stay dead but rose again. He is alive today and desires a relationship with you!

Confess this with your mouth! When we pray, you don’t need to say it out loud, but you can say it in your heart. Romans 10:9 says, “Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

If you made a decision to follow Christ or shared your faith with someone else, I want to hear about it. Please email me directly at jodirosser@gmail.com

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Are you in the middle of a transition? Maybe you are changing jobs? Maybe you are changing states and moving? Or perhaps it has to do with your kids—maybe you have a preschooler who is heading off to kindergarten next year. Or maybe you have high schooler who is graduating and going to college next year?

All of these are examples of transitions and change is hard, so I am so excited to have Nicki Koziarz back on the podcast to talk about her new book, *Your New Now: Finding Strength and Wisdom When You Feel Stuck Where You Are. In Nicki's books, I love that she always traces someone from the Bible and this time, it is all about the life of Moses. I think we are going to learn so much about transitions from him. Also, Nicki has so much wisdom to share. We talk about the 4 different types of transitions, how do we identify which one we are in as well as she gives some practical wisdom if we are right in the middle of a transition. I cannot wait for you to listen.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Nicki’s book: *Your New Now. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/pbzurs/your-new-now-book-giveaway

It is fun to have Nicki back on the Podcast! If you missed my first conversation with Nicki about her book, *Why Her, please check out Episode 22 on the Depth podcast. I love what she shares about comparison.

Her second time on the podcast we talked about her book, *Flooded, where she vulnerably shares how doubt flooded her soul and began to impact her faith. You can check out our conversation on Episode 74. I cannot wait for you to hear Nicki share about the life of Noah in the Bible and the 5 Best Decisions to Make When Life is Hard and Doubt is Rising (the subtitle of her book).

Book Recommendation:

• *You Happier by Dr. Daniel Amen

Nicki Koziarz is an ECPA bestselling author and a speaker with Proverbs 31 Ministries. She speaks nationally at conferences, retreats, and meetings and hosts her own podcast, Lessons from the Farm. An evangelist at heart, Nicki inspires others to become the best version of who God created them to be. Nicki, her husband, and their family run a small farm just outside of Charlotte, North Carolina, which they affectionately call The Fixer Upper Farm. Learn more at nickikoziarz.com.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you very much.

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Have you ever had a divine appointment that changed your life? Maybe it was the person who introduced you to Jesus. Perhaps it was someone who prayed for you during a time when you were really hurting. Maybe it was a counselor, a friend, or maybe a stranger.

I cannot wait to share with you about a divine appointment that happened in my life and actually it is the book recommendation for this month. So I share about this in my book, Depth: Growing Through Heartbreak to Strength in Chapter 14 called A Divine Appointment. I thought I would start off this book recommendation with reading you this chapter. It will give you a full picture on why this book on Spiritual Warfare made such an impact on my life. Thank you Lisa Bevere for your book, Girls with Swords.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Lisa’s book: *Girls with Swords. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/hn2cb2/girls-with-swords-book-giveaway

Thank you again for allowing me to read Chapter 14, A Divine Appointment from my book. Here is a link to *Depth: Growing Through Heartbreak to Strength by Jodi Rosser

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing these recommended books, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Are you a busy mom? Do you feel like you are juggling many things? Do you wish you can make the most of your minutes for the day?

I am so excited to talk with Crystal Paine on the podcast this week and her book, *The Time Saving Mom: How to Juggle a Lot, Enjoy Your Life, and Accomplish What Matters Most. This is a must read for any mom who is trying to manage a busy schedule. I learned so much from Crystal, so many practical tips she shares in the book and on the episode today. I think you are going to learn so much from her about making priorities, time blocking, habit stacking and more.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Crystal’s book: *The Time Saving Mom. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/xpv2f8/time-saving-mom-book-giveaway

Book Recommendation:

• *Atomic Habits by James Clear

Crystal Paine is the founder of MoneySavingMom.com, host of The Crystal Paine Show podcast, and a New York Times bestselling author. Her desire is to help women across the globe live with more joy, purpose, and intention in their everyday lives. She lives with her husband and six kids in the Nashville, Tennessee, area, where she is actively involved in her local church. Her biggest passions are helping women understand how the gospel can radically transform their lives, raising awareness for foster care, going on adventures with her family (locally, domestically, and internationally), finding great deals at the grocery store, having heartfelt conversations, and trying to read too many books at one time! Crystal’s new book, *The-Time Saving Mom, is available for pre-order now!

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank yo

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Have you ever tried to avoid other people because there was something in your life that you did not want them to know? Maybe it was about your family or a life circumstance you were walking through. Perhaps it was just a feeling or an emotion you were experiencing.

I think we can all relate to this which is why I am super excited for my second Bible Shoes to highlight the Samaritan woman at the well. You might be thinking: Wait a minute, I don’t connect at all with that woman’s life circumstances. But today I want to ask you do you connect with her emotionally.

Is there something you are hiding that you don’t want other people to know? Maybe you struggle with anxiety or depression, and you haven’t shared that with anyone. Perhaps there is something happening with one of your kids and you don’t want others to know. Or maybe it is you personally. I know for me, walking through my divorce I was ashamed, and I did not want others to know.

So today, I want to focus on this story, because I think we can relate to this story on an emotional level, and I love how Jesus treats this woman with such love and compassion. In fact, I love what happens after her encounter with Jesus. Cannot wait for us to enter into her shoes.

If you missed my introduction a couple weeks ago, I am going to be picking one person in the Bible and I am going to try to put myself in their shoes. I am going to ask myself, what are they thinking? What are they feeling? How does this relate to us in present day? Check out this blog post to explain it.

First Bible Shoes: Elijah- Episode 161

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Do you ever feel overwhelmed by social media? Maybe you feel trapped by how much time it takes or maybe you struggle with comparison as you look at other people’s posts. I think this is a huge struggle for many people.

Have you ever considered taking a break from social media? This week, I have Sandy Cooper on the podcast, and she is going to share her story as well as give us 5 reasons of why we should take a social media break. I think you are really going to like what she has to share. Also, Lent is just around the corner and I know a lot people give something up as they prepare their hearts for Easter. So maybe you want to give us social media. Cannot wait for you to hear the wisdom Sandy shares.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a coupon code good for one 7 day challenge. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/qz8q19/7-day-social-media-break-challenge

Blog Post Link: Comparison and Social Media

Quiz Link: “Is it time for you to break up with social media?”

Sandy Cooper is the author of three books, a podcaster, a Bible study teacher, and a professionally certified home chef. She has been a wife to Jon for 29 years and is mom to three kids ages 16 to 23. Her oldest son passed away when he was nine months old. She has been helping frazzled moms find peace since 2008 at thescooponbalance.com. She podcasts weekly at The Balanced MomCast from her home office in Florida, where she lives with her family.

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ave you ever read a book where you literally underlined and highlighted more of the book than you didn’t? Well I cannot wait to tell you about a favorite book where I did just that.

It is called *The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson. I read this book back in 2017. A friend gave it to me for my birthday and I am telling you—this was one of those life changing books. It is probably the best book I have ever read on prayer. I cannot wait to dive deeper into it and share some of my favorite parts of the book.

Mark wrote another book called *Draw the Circle and it is a 40 Day Prayer Challenge! I am so excited to be giving away a copy of Mark’s book: All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/n8nytm/draw-the-circle-book-giveaway

Depth Podcast Episodes to check out:

• Episode 69: Mark Batterson was a guest on the podcast back in 2021, and we talk about his quote, “Pray like it depends on God; work like it depends on you.” He also shares a little about his personal prayer life so you definitely want to check it out.
• Episode 120: Ideas for Lent-- I share more about Mark Batterson's *Draw the Circle book.
• Episode 106: Jodie Berndt shares about her book, *Praying the Scriptures for Your Life.
• Episode 158: Suzie Eller talks about her new book, *Prayer Starters.

Book Recommendations:

• *The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson
• *Draw the Circle by Mark Batterson
• *Praying the Scriptures for Your Life by Jodie Berndt
• *Prayer Starters by Suzie Eller

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Have you ever wondered if it is okay to question God? Is it okay to have doubts and ask why God? Where are you God? Is your plan good? Sometimes it does not feel good right now, so can I trust You? All of these are honest questions that we can bring to God. And it is okay to ask these hard questions.

I love that we dive deeper into this on the podcast today when I talk with Lori Ann Wood about her new book, *Divine Detour: The Path You’d Never Choose Can Lead to the Faith You’ve Always Wanted. I have to say that if I am honest, I have asked these hard questions along the detours of my life. Maybe you have too. I am excited for us to talk about this because I think sometimes we assume if we have these questions then maybe our faith is not as strong as we thought it was. I am hear to tell you that is not true. I love the wisdom that Lori Ann brings as she shares about her detour and how God used these questions to grow her faith deeper. I promised you do not want to miss the truths shared in this episode.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Lori Ann’s book: *Divine Detour. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/fxqi3u/divine-detour-book-giveaway

Book Recommendation:

• *Walking through Twilight by Douglas Groothuis

I share a quote from Lori Ann’s Brave Women post. Here is a link to the entire article.

After discovering a serious heart condition almost too late, Lori Ann Wood became an award-winning author who encourages deep faith questions along the detours of life. Lori Ann’s first book, *Divine Detour: The Path You’d Never Choose Can Lead to the Faith You’ve Always Wanted, is available at https://loriannwood.com/books/.

Get her free gift, When You Can’t Talk to God, at https://loriannwood.com/hope/.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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If someone was going to ask you what your best parenting advice was, what would you say? Maybe you would talk about being intentional with the time you have with your kids. Perhaps you would talk about some of the traditions you did in your home. For me, I would talk about empathy and what a gift it is for our kids.

Well you are in for such a treat because this week on the podcast I have Mary DeMuth and she is going to give her parenting advice and wisdom that she wants to pass along to us parents. Her book is called *Love, Pray, Listen which is such great parenting advice.

Some of my favorite things that she shares this week on the podcast is settling our identity and where do we find our worth: is it in our role of parenting or is it because we are a child of God? I just love the wisdom she brings. She also talks about surrender and how important that is in our parenting and the gift of empathy which is one of my favorite things to talk about. She also has some great wisdom for parents of adult kids as well as those in the teenage years getting ready to launch a child. You are going to love all the truth she shares on this episode!

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Mary’s book: *Love, Pray, Listen. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/kdau5t/love-pray-listen-book-giveaway

Book Recommendations:

• *The Calvary Road by Roy Hession
• *The Rest of God by Mark Buchanan
• *My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers
• Biography of Oswald Chambers: *Abandoned to God by David McCasland

Mary DeMuth is an international speaker, a podcaster, and the author of over forty books, fiction and nonfiction, including *The Day I Met Jesus. Through God’s healing, Mary has overcome a difficult past to become an authentic example of what it means to live a brand-new story. She loves to help others “re-story” their lives through the books she writes. Mary lives in Texas with her husband of 30 years and is Mom to three adult children. Learn more at marydemuth.com.

Free Resource from Mary: 52 Prayers for your Adult Children

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Do you ever struggle going to the extremes? Either all good or all bad? Do ever say words like you never, you always or I never, I always? These are extremes- right? I love that we can see an example of this in the Bible.

This week, I am so excited for my very first episode of Bible Shoes. If you missed my introduction a couple weeks ago, I am going to be picking one person in the Bible and I am going to try to put myself in their shoes. I am going to ask myself, what are they thinking? What are they feeling? How does this relate to us in present day?

For the very first episode, I wanted to start with someone that I could relate to right now in my season of life. So I prayed a lot to God over who should I highlight first. So today, I am going to be talking about Elijah! He first appears in the Bible in 1 Kings 17, but we are going to focus in on 1 Kings 18 and 19.

Hope you enjoyed this first episode of the new series, Bible Shoes! I would love to hear from you about who I should highlight next. Head on over to my Depth Podcast Facebook Group and share your feedback with me.

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Have you ever wished you could have a conversation about grief and get really practical? How did you overcome this? How did you deal with hard emotions? How did you walk through your grief?

This week on the podcast, I have this honest conversation with Clarissa Moll about her new book, *Beyond the Darkness: A Gentle Guide for Living With Grief and Thriving after Loss. We talk about the myths of grief and just some practical tools that really helped Clarissa after her husband passed away in a tragic accident. One of my favorite parts is when we talk about emotions and I love this classroom setting illustration that Clarissa gave me. It really resonated with me and I hope it does with you too. You do not want to miss her wisdom.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Clarissa’s book: *Beyond the Darkness. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/ukymgg/beyond-the-darkness-book-giveaway

Book Recommendations:

• *Lament for a Son by Nicolas Wolterstorff
• *Seasons of Sorrow by Tim Challies

Clarissa Moll (MA, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is an author, a podcaster, and the young widow of author Rob Moll. Clarissa’s writing has appeared in Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, RELEVANT, Modern Loss, Grief Digest and more. Her husband’s first book, The Art of Dying, was released in April 2021 with Clarissa’s new afterword. Clarissa’s debut book, Beyond the Darkness: A Gentle Guide for Living With Grief and Thriving after Loss releases with Tyndale in 2022. Clarissa co-hosts Christianity Today’s “Surprised by Grief” podcast and hosts the weekly HopeWriters podcast. She lives a joyful life with her four children and rescue pups and proudly calls both New England and the Pacific Northwest home.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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What if you were the one? What if you were “the Rodney” in your teenager’s life? Let me explain.

Back in 2018, I read a book called *The Grown-Up’s Guide to Teenage Humans by Josh Shipp. Well Josh shares his story about growing up as a foster kid who had been in and out homes for years. His goal when he arrived at a new home was to see how quickly he could get kicked out. He even kept a journal in which he would write the date he arrived, the date he was kicked out and what strategy he used to get the boot. Each time, he tried to beat his record.

All of this changed when he arrived at Rodney’s house at age 14. After 3 years of being disrespectful and mischievous, Rodney still did not kick him out. Josh decided to try one final reckless choice in which he ended up in jail. He thought to himself, this was it; Rodney will finally kick me to the curb. After spending the night in jail, Rodney picked him up and said the following to him, “Josh, you keep causing trouble, keep pushing us away, keep acting out but you gotta get it through your thick head son. We don’t see you as a problem. We see you as an opportunity.” Rodney changed Josh’s life forever and these words were the turning point.

What if you are the Rodney in your son’s or daughter’s life. Maybe you are wondering why I am sharing about this book, but I am so excited to tell you about the book recommendations I am going to be doing in between the podcast interview episodes. I love to talk about books, but with my new schedule, I am not able to interview every week, so in the weeks in between, I am going to be sharing about books that have made an impact on my life.

I also have another exciting announcement that I share at the end of the episode about another new series to the podcast. I will wait and let you listen for that special addition!

If you are parenting a child nine or older, then you do not want to miss the wisdom from Josh’s book!

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Josh’s book: ***The Grown-Up’s Guide to Teenage Humans. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/npe7zi/parenting-book-giveaway

Another Teenage Parenting Book Recommendation:

Depth Podcast Episode 14: Mark Oestreicher's *Understanding Your Young Teen

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Happy New Year! I cannot believe it is 2023.

Let me ask you a question: Do you struggle with what to pray? Maybe even how to pray?

I am so excited about this first episode in 2023. I talk with Suzie Eller about her newest book, *Prayer Starters: Talking with God About Hard Times. This book has been changing my life; it is so phenomenal. I love the wisdom Suzie brings to this episode. We recorded back in December, and it is one of my favorite episodes. She cries, I cry… there are just some tender, vulnerable moments and lots of wisdom from Suzie. You are going to walk away with so much truth to start your year.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Suzie’s book: *Prayer Starters. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/9hmsey/prayer-starters-giveaway

It is fun to have Suzie back on the Podcast! If you missed my first conversation with Suzie about her book, *The Mended Heart, please check out Episode #7 on the Depth podcast. I love what she shares about brokenness.

Her second time on the podcast we talked about her book,*JoyKeeper: 6 Truths That Change Everything You Thought You Know about Joy. You can check out our conversation on the Depth Podcast Episode #46. I cannot wait for you to hear all the wisdom she shares as well as some of our favorite Joy Keeper vs. Joy Stealer statements.

Suzanne (Suzie) Eller is a bestselling author, Bible teacher, speaker, and cohost of the More Than Small Talk podcast with Holley Gerth and Jennifer Watson. She is also the host of Prayer Starters on the KLRC podcast network. Suzie and her husband live in beautiful northwest Arkansas, where her favorite things to do are hiking and kayaking. Learn more at tsuzanneeller.com.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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As you get to the end of 2022, what are you going to do to prepare for 2023? Do you make New Years Resolutions? Do you set goals, or do you pick one word for the year that you will focus on?

Not sure if you will listen to this before or after Christmas, so first of all, let me wish you a Merry Christmas. I hope you and your family have a wonderful celebration. I hope you eat lots of Christmas cookies and enjoy time with loved ones. Most of all, I hope you remember the true meaning of Christmas- Jesus coming to earth, His birth, and Immanuel, God is with us!

For this last episode in 2022, I wanted us to start to look forward to 2023. One of things I do is I pick a word for each year. So I thought it would be really fun for me to share some of my past words, what they meant to me, and how I came up with them. Then, I also want to share with you a resource—a book called *My One Word by Mike Ashcroft and Rachel Olsen. It is a great tool if you want something to read to help you choose your word or a book to help guide you along the way.

Christmas Episodes on the Depth Podcast:

• Holiday Family Traditions with my mom- Depth Podcast Episode 60
• Advent Blocks- Depth Podcast Episode 109

Blog Posts on the Holidays:

• 5 Favorite Books and Traditions to Keep the Focus on Jesus
• Grieving Through the Holidays
• Encouragement for your Hurting Heart on Holidays

One Word Blog Posts

• 2022- Bold
• 2021- Cultivate
• 2020- Timing
• To read all my past words, go to my website and click the blog and the category, One Word Challenge.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Do you ever wonder if your life is making an impact? Do you ever ask yourself: Does this matter what I am doing? Your work? Your ministry? Is it Significant?

If you have asked those hard questions, then I know you are going to benefit from this episode. I talk with Rachael Adams today about her new book, *A Little Goes A Long Way: 52 Days to a Significant Life. I love that the key verse in her book is Zechariah 4:10, “Do not despise the small beginnings.” I think a lot of times we think that in order to have an impact, it has to be something big we have done and accomplished. But I love that Rachael’s book reminds us that a little can go a long way and God loves to take our little and multiply it. I think you are going to learn so much from our conversation.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Rachael’s book: *A Little Goes A Long Way. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/gzmqbl/a-little-goes-a-long-way-devotional

It is fun to have Rachael back on the Podcast! If you missed my first conversation with Rachael about Lessons from Biblical Mothers, please check out Episode 128 on the Depth podcast. I loved the truth I learned about Rahab.

Book Recommendations:

• *The Gospel on the Ground by Kristi Mc Lelland
• *Outlive Your Life by Max Lucado

Writer and podcaster Rachael Adams started her ministry to help women realize their God-given purpose and significance. She and her husband, Bryan, run a family business and farm in Kentucky with their two children, Will and Kate, and two doodle dogs. Connect with her through her website, rachaelkadams.com, social media (@rachaeladamsauthor), or podcast (The Love Offering).

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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What do you do when God seems to have vanished? Maybe you feel alone in your decision making, your parenting, in your life?

This is the question on the back of the book that we are going to highlight today. It is called *Esther: Seeing Our Invisible God in an Uncertain World. I don’t know if you know this, but Esther is one of the two books of the Bible where God’s name is not mentioned once. We are going to dive deeper into this today in our study. But I think it is amazing, because God’s fingerprints are all over the book of Esther, but His name is not mentioned. Maybe that is where you feel like you are in your life. You are like where are you God, I don’t see you or feel you. Are you even working? So I love that we can study the life of Esther, and we can see that God still is present. He is still working!

I am so excited to have Lynn Cowell and Amy Carroll on the podcast to talk about their Bible Study. It is phenomenal, and we are going to dive deeper into their 6-week study with these words: Listen, Feel, Do, Speak. Also, both Lynn and Amy are writers for Proverbs 31 Ministries, and I am so excited to share about this amazing ministry for Giving Tuesday. I cannot wait to tell you more about that at the end of the episode. Again, you are going to learn so much from Amy and Lynn.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Lynn and Amy’s new book: *Esther. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/r8k3tr/esther-bible-study-giveaway

It is fun to have Lynn back on the Podcast! If you missed my first conversation with Lynn and Michelle about their book, *Loved & Cherished, please check out Episode 51 on the Depth podcast. I love this devotional for young girls.

Giving Tuesday Episodes

• Water Wells- A Way To Help (Episode 61)
• Joy Jars- Jessie Rees Foundation (Episode 111)

Proverbs 31 Ministries:

• Home Page for the Proverbs 31 Website
• Giving to Proverbs 31- my conversation with Danya (Episode 39)
• First 5 from Proverbs 31- growing deeper in my faith (Episode 115)

Book Recommendations:

• *Highs Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard
• *Forgiving What You Can’t Forget Bible Study by Lysa TerKeurst
• *Forgiving What You Can’t Forget Book by Lysa TerKeurst

Lynn Cowell is a national conference speaker who passionately empowers women of all ages to understand the importance of Christ confidence. She is the author of several books including Make Your Move: Finding Unshakable Confidence Despite Your Fears and Failures for women, and Brave Beauty: Finding the Fearless You just for girls ages 8 - 12. She also serves on the speaking and writing team for Proverbs 31 Ministries. Learn more about Lynn Cowell and her writing at lynncowell.com.

Amy Carroll delights in gathering a community of women with tender hearts and strong voices. She’s a speaker and writer for Proverbs 31 Ministries, a speaker coach, and the author of Breaking Up with Perfect: Kiss Perfection Goodbye and Embrace the Joy God Has in Store for You* and Exhale: Lose Who You’re Not. Love Who You Are. Live Your One Live Well*. Learn more about Amy Carroll and her writing at amycarroll.org.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Do you ever feel like you are hidden? Like the work you are doing is unseen? Maybe overlooked by others?

I want to encourage you today with a book called *Anonymous: Jesus Hidden Years and Yours by Dr. Alicia Britt Chole. Actually, back in March, I highlighted one of her other books called 40 Days of Decrease during Lent. But she was not able to come on the podcast then, so I am so excited to have her in person this time to highlight this book because I think sometimes the most significant times of our life and our ministry and what God has called you to do happens in those hidden years. The time with God when it is just you and Him doing that deep rooted growth. You know how much I love talking about deep roots, so I think you are going to love what Dr. Alicia shares on the podcast today. She truly has so much wisdom!

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Dr. Alicia’s book: *Anonymous. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/icpdag/anonymous-book-giveaway

Book Recommendations:

• *Practicing His Presence by Brother Lawrence and Frank LauBach
• *Celebration of Discipline by Richard J. Foster
• *Ordering Your Private World by Gordon McDonald
• *Oswald Chambers: Abandoned to God by David McCasland
• *Oswald Chambers An Unbribed Soul by M.A.D.W. Lambert
• *Leagues of Light: Diary of Oswald Chambers by Oswald Chambers
• *Search for Nothing: The Life of John of the Cross by Richard P. Hardy

Check out Depth Podcast Episode 120 where I share about Dr. Alicia's Lent Book: *40 Days of Decrease.

An award-winning writer, Dr. Alicia Britt Chole's messages address both head and heart and are often described as grace-filled surgeries. Alicia is a speaker, author, and leadership mentor who enjoys thunderstorms, jalapenos, and honest questions. To explore Alicia's other books or learn more about her ministry, visit her website.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Do you have a rhythm in your home that helps you practice gratitude? Maybe you have a journal where you write 2-3 things that you are thankful for each day. Or maybe around the dinner table, you talk about what you are grateful for in your day like highs and lows or blessings and bummers.

I think practicing gratitude is so important! So I am excited to have Clayton Greene and Chris Pappalardo back on the podcast to talk about their new product, the Graticube. This is a phenomenal way to practice gratitude in your home. I got one for our family, and we had so much fun one of the nights that Kyle came home from college. It is not exactly a cube; it has 12 sides, and I will let you guys share more about it in this episode. Lastly, we talk about how to be grateful during the hard times of life and I love the wisdom shared in this episode.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a Graticube. All the details of the giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/jyyapl/graticube-giveaway

It is fun to have Chris and Clayton back on the Podcast! If you missed my first conversation with them about their Advent Blocks, please check out Episode 109 on the Depth Podcast. These Advent Blocks help remind your children of the true meaning of Christmas, and they are phenomenal.

The second product we highlighted was the Sabbath Box so definitely check out Episode 135 on the Depth Podcast. This box helps you put distractions away and enjoy time with God and each other.

Book Recommendations:

• *The Voice of the Heart by Chip Dodd
• *Sacred Fire by Ronald Rolheiser

At GoodKind, they are committed to helping people start—and continue—practices that draw them to God and to one another. They want to help people practice their faith by having meaningful moments with their families. They started out by creating Advent Blocks, a 25-day Christmas practice for the whole family. Now, they're providing tools that help you develop the GoodKind of habits and holiday celebrations throughout the entire year.

Learn more at their website, goodkind.shop. Here is a direct link to the Graticube.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Did you know that October 15th is pregnancy and infant loss Remembrance Day? Sadly for many women, this is part of their story. It was for me. I lost a baby in between my two boys. So, in October, I try to have an episode on the podcast that will come along and offer hope to a hurting heart. Maybe someone is walking through a pregnancy or infant loss or for those of you who have a friend or loved one walking through this, this episode will give you lots of wisdom on how to come alongside and support them.

I am really excited to have Jenny Albers on the podcast. She wrote a book called *Courageously Expecting: 30 Days of Encouragement for Pregnancy After Loss. For many women, when they receive the news that they are pregnant, it is very exciting. But for someone who has just recently walked through a loss, that news can bring up a lot of emotions: excitement because there is a hope that you will have another baby, but fear because it might happen all over again that you lose that baby. So I love that we are giving voice to this hard subject today. Jenny has so much wisdom and I cannot wait for you to hear from her.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Jenny’s book: *Courageously Expecting. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/uteqfr/courageously-expecting-book-giveaway

Book Recommendations:

• *Comfort: A Journey Through Grief by Ann Hood
• *I Will Carry You by Angie Smith
• *They Were Still Born: Personal Stories about Stillbirth
• *A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis

October 15th is pregnancy and infant loss remembrance day, so I have some special episodes about miscarriage and infant loss in the month of October every year. Here are a couple of them:

• Episode 5 (my friend and I both share our story)
• Episode 6 (Empty Arms Support Group).
• Episode 53 (Grieving the Child I Never Knew by Kathe Wunnenberg)
• Episode 104 (Infant Loss)
• Episode 130 (Infertility & Miscarriage)

Jenny Albers is a wife, mother, and writer. She is the author of *Courageously Expecting, a book that empathizes with and empowers women who are pregnant after loss. She's a work in progress, and while never all-knowing, she's (by the grace of God) always growing. You can find her @jennyalbersauthor on Facebook and Instagram and at www.jennyalbers.com

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Have you ever had a thought in your head and it took over? It started to change the way you think about yourself. Maybe you started to be extra hard on yourself, both critical and negative. Or maybe it was a thought about someone else and it just changed how you acted.

Our thoughts are definitely powerful, so I am excited to talk with Gem Fadling. I have her back on the podcast and we are talking about her new book, *Hold That Thought: Sorting Through the Voices in Our Head. This is such an important topic because we all have these thoughts that run rampant in our head. We just need to learn how to discern which thoughts are helpful and which ones are unhelpful as well as how to respond to them. This podcast episode has so much practical wisdom, but one of my favorite parts is at the very end when she talks about the table analogy. I think you are going to love it.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Gem’s new book: *Hold That Thought. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/3tn7y6/hold-that-thought-book-giveaway

It is fun to have Gem back on the Podcast! If you missed my first conversation with Gem about her book, *What Does Your Soul Love?, please check out Episode 117 on the Depth podcast. I love what she shares about transformation.

Gem Fadling, CLC, is a founding partner of Unhurried Living, Inc., a non-profit that trains people to overcome hurry 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.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing these books, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Do you have margin in your schedule? Do you have white space on your calendar where you have flexibility and can move appointments around or are you so busy and packed that you are at full capacity with no wiggle room?

Oh friends, I feel like this is a struggle for many women and especially it has been a struggle for me over the years. And I remember reading back in 2015, Lysa Terkeurst’s book, *The Best Yes. So I have some nuggets to truth to share with you her book as well as My Best Yes for this Fall. You don’t want to miss this important announcement.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Lysa’s book: *The Best Yes. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/dbegp3/the-best-yes-giveaway

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Have you ever had to have a tough conversation with a loved one? Maybe it was about their physical health? Perhaps it was about their emotional or mental health.

Sometimes these conversations can be really difficult, so I am so thankful that Dr. Matthew Sleeth is back on the podcast, and he is going to talk about his book, *Hope Always: How to be a force for life in a culture of suicide. September is Suicide Prevention Month and each year on the podcast, I try to highlight one episode where I give ideas or tools or share about this subject that is just not talked a lot about, especially in the church.

So today, I am excited for you to hear from Matthew and just the practical tools he gives us on how to have these tough conversations, how to enter into the conversation as well as how to help them. He is a medical doctor and worked in the emergency room for many years, so he brings a unique perspective. So again, I know this subject is hard to talk about, but I want to give voice to this because lives matter, and I want us to be a help to those that are struggling.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Dr. Sleeth's book: *Hope Always. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/e2zxia/hope-always-giveaway

Other Resources:

• Link to Depth Podcast Episode 99: *I Love Jesus, But I Want To Die
  by Sarah J. Robinson
• Link to Depth Podcast Episode 49: *Fear Gone Wild: A Story of Mental
  Illness, Suicide, and Hope Through Loss By Kayla Stoecklein

It is fun to have Matthew back on the Podcast! If you missed my first conversation about his book, *Reforesting Faith please check out Episode 112 on the Depth podcast. I love what he shares about trees.

Matthew Sleeth, M.D., a former emergency room physician and chief of the hospital medical staff, resigned from his position to teach, preach, and write about faith and health. Dr. Sleeth has spoken at more than one thousand churches, campuses, and events, including serving as a monthly guest preacher at the Washington National Cathedral.

Recognized by Newsweek as one of the nation's most influential Christian leaders, Dr. Sleeth is the executive director of Blessed Earth and author of numerous articles and books, He lives in Lexington, Kentucky, with Nancy, his wife of forty years. Their grown children serve with their families in full-time parish ministry and as medical missionaries in Africa. You can connect with Matthew on his Blessed Earth Web site.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing these books, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Have you ever worked with a coach? Maybe it was for a team sport. Or perhaps it was with a singing or writing coach.

I am so excited to introduce you to my writing coach, Adam Colwell. He is my guest on the podcast this week, and we're going to go in depth about my book, Depth! I am so excited for you to hear a little bit of the process of the book editing and coaching near the end of this 5-year journey with the book. We will share some of the behind the scenes. I cannot wait for you to hear the parts that change from the original draft to the final one as well as redundancies and book clarity. He truly gives so much wisdom.

If you are a writer, you definitely do not want to miss this episode. We also talk a lot about waiting and God’s perfect timing; a message I need in the middle of this shipping delay. I think you are going to learn so much from him.

To learn more about this book, Depth, click this link to Jodi’s website!

Adam Colwell is an encourager and motivator whose passion is to help writers and authors tell their stories in their unique voice and style. He was honored to be chosen by Jodi to coach her as she wrote her book, and he is so excited to see what God is going to do in the lives of her readers. As a ghostwriter and editor, Adam has completed 59 book manuscripts with his clients for publication since 2013, and he is currently working on nine more book manuscripts. To learn more about Adam, go to www.adamcolwellwriteworks.com or connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-colwell/

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Have you ever felt heartbreak? Deep heartbreak? Has life turned out differently than you hoped or expected? Is loss or grief a part of your story? Oh friend, I am so sorry. I know how hard it is to walk through heartbreak. So, God placed on my heart a book to offer hope to a hurting heart and it releases this week.

So, I thought today, that I would read Chapter 1 of the book, Depth: Growing Through Heartbreak to Strength.

I dedicated this book:

To the woman whose life has just been shattered,

to the hurting heart whose whole world changed in an instant,

to the grieving soul who struggles to get out of bed, I understand.

I see you. I am one of you. I wrote this book for you.

Praying this book brings hope to another hurting heart! I am excited to be giving away a copy of my first book! All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/azvsgk/depth-book-giveaway

To hear more behind the scenes about my book, check out Depth Podcast Episode 146.

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Has God ever asked you to do something completely out of your comfort zone? Well, I feel like He has asked me to do that a couple times. The first one was with this podcast, and I cannot believe that I am celebrating the third year of the podcast this week. That was a leap of faith for me when I started this podcast three years ago. It is super exciting!

The second example would be my book, Depth: Growing Through Heartbreak to Strength. I feel like God placed that on my heart five years ago in 2017. So I am so excited for this episode because we are going to trace all the God moments that happened from the book idea to the writing of it, to the editing and re-writing of it, to the waiting and to the publishing and all the prayers too! I am excited to talk with my college roommate, Maile, and she is going to interview me and ask me questions about the book.

I hope you can see and trace God’s hands and fingerprints all over the process these last five years. So I am really excited for this special behind the scenes episode about my book, Depth.

This is your last week to pre-order my book, Depth: Growing Through Heartbreak to Strength and receive the special pre-order gifts too. My friend DJ painted a beautiful picture of a tree with deep roots.

Please click this link to redeem your pre-order gifts.

Here is link to Depth Podcast Episode 39 with my friend, Danya about giving to Proverbs 31 Ministries.

Here is a link to blog post about the beautiful tree with broken glass that hangs by my front door. It is called When Brokenness Leads to Depth.

To hear more about behind the scenes about the Depth Podcast, here is a link to both my first year and second year birthday celebration episodes.

Depth Podcast Episode 47: Special Behind the Scenes Episode for the one year birthday of the podcast.

Depth Podcast Episode 97: The Depth Podcast is Two Years Old! Cannot wait for you to hear more behind the scene stories the last two years.

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Have you ever met someone and immediately connected with them? It almost felt like a divine appointment, like you were supposed to have met them.

I am so excited to have Kathe Wunnenberg back on the podcast. I interviewed her back in 2020 and we are going to share a little bit about how God has connected us. I just love His perfect timing as well as his fingerprints all over how our relationship began. I cannot wait for you to hear the wisdom from my mentor and hear how God’s connections are powerful.

My book, Depth: Growing Through Heartbreak to Strength is releasing at the end of August. So this month, I wanted to share a little bit about the three storylines in the book. My miscarriage back in 2006 was my first heartbreak. Kathe’s book, Grieving the Child I Never Knew, was a big part of my healing and eventually I can trace back the beginning of my book ministry to this book! So, I hope you enjoy this conversation with Kathe! If you are interested in pre-ordering my book, here is a link to Depth* on Amazon.

Also, I share more about my miscarriage and Baby Grace on an episode with my friend Yvonne, the very first year the podcast began. Here is a link to Depth Podcast Episode 5.

Lastly, I want to share a link to my first conversation with Kathe on the Depth Podcast back in 2020. Here is a link to Depth Podcast Episode 53.

Kathe Wunnenberg is the founder and president of Hopelifters Unlimited. She is a speaker, writer, leader, and connector known for her ability to offer creative solutions for real life problems. The author of Hopelifter*, Grieving the Loss of a Loved One, and Grieving the Child I Never Knew, Kathe lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her family.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Have you ever struggled with why God did not answer your prayer the way you thought He should? I know I have. Honestly, one of the times that I really wrestled with God was over my friend, Jeannie. She was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and sadly four months later, she passed away. I had to wrestle a lot with God about that "why". So today on the podcast, it is really exciting to talk with Jeannie’s daughter, Sophia.

Sophia is an amazing young woman, and we have an honest conversation about loss and cancer. It was really special to take a trip down memory lane with Sophia and talk with her about her mom, our friendship, and some of our favorite memories. We also talked about the loss and how hard it was. So, I recommend grabbing some tissues because there are some sad parts to our conversation.

But what I love most about it-- is that it is honest and raw. And you are going to be so impressed with the maturity of this 19-year-old woman and how God met her in the pain and is using this loss to shape her character. I am so proud of her, and I know her mom is too.

My book, Depth: Growing Through Heartbreak to Strength is releasing at the end of August. So this month, I wanted to share a little bit about the three storylines in the book. Losing my friend, Jeannie to cancer is one of my greatest heartbreaks along with my divorce and miscarriage. So I hope this episode with her daughter, Sophia, helps give you a glimpse into my beautiful friendship with Jeannie.

If you are interested in pre-ordering my book, here is a link to Depth on Amazon. Also, the book launch team starts this next week. If you are interested in being a part of that, you can click this link to join the Book Launch Team.

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Do you know how to process your emotions in a healthy way? If someone was walking through something hard, do you know how to offer them empathy? Would you come alongside them and put yourself in their shoes?

These are such important life skills, so I am so excited to have Debbie Hetschel, my personal counselor on the podcast this week. We are going to dive deep into this subject and we are going to talk about how to do your process these hard, overwhelming emotions in a healthy way.

This is my first episode back from my sabbatical and first let me say that it was really nice to have a break. But I really excited for the month of August because this is the month that my book is going to launch. At the very end of the month, August 30th, Depth: Growing Through Heartbreak to Strength will release. Oh friends, I am so excited for this month of August that I will be highlighting some of the different storylines from the book as well as some of the principles in the book. This is a really important one, so I cannot wait for you to hear what my counselor has to share about emotions and empathy. She has so much wisdom- you do not want to miss this episode.

Soul Words List- Free Download

Comfort Circle Guide for the Listener- Free Download

Link to Brené Brown’s Empathy YouTube Video

If you are not already receiving Jodi’s emails each week, here is a link to subscribe to Jodi’s weekly encouraging email.

Book Recommendation:

• *Finding Meaning by David Kessler

Debbie is a Licensed Marriage Family Therapist practicing at Relationship 180 in Mission Viejo, CA. She helps people learn to acknowledge and experience their emotions in life-giving and healing ways with God, themselves and others in the midst of the hard realities of life.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing these recommended books, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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July Podcast Recap Week 4: Which episode have required the most prayer?

I cannot wait for you to hear why I prayed so much the 24 hours before I recorded this conversation. I share this interesting backstory at the beginning of this episode which originally aired back in February 2021.

Do you ever feel like you don’t have enough time? Enough time for your to do list or even enough time to go after your God sized dreams? What if we can unleash the power of 24 hours?

I am so excited to have Mark Batterson on the podcast this week as we talk about his new book, *Win The Day: 7 Daily Habits to Help you Stress Less & Accomplish More. A group of my friends all read this book, so it was fun to all talk with him on a zoom call together. We asked him questions about our favorite parts of the book as well as what his daily prayer life looks like and his life changing books. I cannot wait for you to hear his wisdom.

Book Recommendations:

• *The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer
• *The Knowledge of the Holy by A.W. Tozer
• *Malcolm Gladwell books
• *The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson

Mark Batterson is the lead pastor of National Community Church (NCC) in Washington, DC. One church in seven locations, NCC owns and operates Ebenezers Coffeehouse, the Miracle Theatre, and the DC Dream Center. NCC is currently developing a city block into the Capital Turnaround. This 100,000 square foot space will include an event venue, child development center, mixed-use marketplace, and coworking space. Mark holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Regent University and is the New York Times best-selling author of 20 books including, The Circle Maker, In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day, and *Whisper. He and his wife, Lora, have three children and live on Capitol Hill.

Click this link to join my Depth Podcast Facebook Community.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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July Podcast Recap Week 3: What books have helped me the most in my parenting?

Besides How We Love Our Kids by Milan and Kay Yerkovich which was the episode last week, I would say, Understanding Your Young Teen by Mark Oestreicher. Oh this book changed how I parented! It just gave me a lens into my kids’ lives and help me have empathy and understanding. Now one of my favorite things when I go and speak to MOPS groups and other parents is to remind them that one of the most important gifts they can give their kids is empathy, putting ourselves in their shoes and understanding. I believe this book is what started me on that path. Cannot wait for you to hear the episode I recorded with Marko back in December 2019.

Are you parenting a teenager? Do you have a child between the ages of 11-14 which we call a young teen?

I am excited for you to hear my conversation with veteran youth worker, Marko about parenting teenagers. His book, *Understanding Your Young Teen, is one of my favorite parenting books and truly helped me understand my boys (ages almost 17 and 13). He goes into detail about the 5 major changes our teens will go through: physical, cognitive, emotional, relational, and spiritual and gives great insight.

If you have a young teen (ages 11-14) or an older teen, I promise you do not want to miss this episode. His words of wisdom are gold!

Book Recommendations:

• *A Parent's Guide to Understanding Teenage Guys by Mark Oestreicher
• *A Parent's Guide to Understanding Teenage Girls by Mark Oestreicher
• *A Parent's Guide to Understanding Teenage Brains by Mark Oestreicher
• *A Parent's Guide to Understanding Social Media by Mark Oestreicher
• *A Parent's Guide to Understanding Sex & Dating by Mark Oestreicher
• *Your Teenager Is Not Crazy by Jerusha Clark

Mark Oestreicher (Marko) is a veteran youth worker and former president of Youth Specialties. The author of dozens of books, including Youth Ministry 3.0 and Middle School Ministry. Marko is a sought after speaker, writer, and consultant. Marko leads The Youth Cartel, providing a variety of resources, coaching, and consultation to youth workers, churches, and ministries.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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July Podcast Recap Week 2: Who was the first interview on the Depth Podcast? I am excited to share that I had Milan and Kay Yerkovich and their book, How We Love Our Kids, was one of my life changing books. In fact, this is the second most popular episode on my podcast. If you are a parent, I highly recommend this episode. There is so much truth and wisdom on how we can understand our kids and how we can grow ourselves as parents! We recorded this episode back in August 2019.

Do you find yourself getting triggered with your kids? Are they able to push your buttons?

I talk with Milan and Kay Yerkovich about their book, How We Love Our Kids.* Honestly, this book changed my life. I would not be the mom or woman I am today without this book. You see, this book opened my eyes to something that I had never known about myself. This book started me on a path of self-awareness.

I cannot wait for you to hear Milan and Kay share their 5 love styles of parenting as well as growth steps for each one of them. As a vacillator, I share some of my own personal growth steps that I have been working on over the years. In addition, we talk about the comfort cycle and rupture/ repair in a relationship. Honestly, these are some of my favorite parts.

I promise you that you do not want to miss their insight and wisdom.

Milan and Kay Yerkovich are the parents of four grown children. Milan is a pastoral counselor and co-host of the radio show, New Life Live! with Stephen Arterburn. Milan has a master’s degree in biblical studies and is the founder of Relationships 180, a ministry that helps leaders build healthy relationships. Kay has a master’s degree in counseling and has specialized in successful bonding between couples, parents, and children for more than twenty years. They provide resources in these areas, at https://howwelove.com. When they aren’t traveling to speak, the Yerkovichs enjoy their grandchildren.

Soul Words List- Free Download

Comfort Circle Guide for the Listener- Free Download

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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July Podcast Recap Week 1: What is my most popular podcast episode on the Depth Podcast? My conversation with Lysa TerKeurst that I recorded in April 2020.

Have you ever been disappointed? Has someone you cared about let you down? Has someone not met your expectations?

I am so excited to talk with Lysa TerKeurst about her book, *It's Not Supposed To Be This Way. I don’t know about you, but I have found myself saying those exact words a lot lately due to the Covid-19 virus. With graduations and weddings cancelled, many people are walking through a season of disappointment. Lysa shares some helpful tips on how to handle disappointment as well as some profound truth when you feel shattered. You do not want to miss what she reveals about dust. Honestly, it is my favorite part.

Lysa TerKeurst is the president of Proverbs 31 Ministries and a #1 New York Times best-selling author of *It's Not Supposed To Be This Way*, Uninvited and twenty-one other books. But to those who know her best she’s just a simple girl who holds fast to God’s truth and speaks about hope in the midst of her own struggles. Lysa lives with her family in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Connect with her at www.LysaTerKeurst.com or on social media @LysaTerKeurst.

To join my new Depth Podcast Community Group, click on https://www.facebook.com/groups/depthpodcast

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Has God ever asked you to take a season of rest, so He can prepare you for what is to come? Maybe it was a sabbatical from your work or from your ministry? Or maybe it was just some time off from the busy schedule and the striving or working.

This topic comes up in my conversation this week with Casey Wayne. She wrote a book called *Abundant Fruit: Cultivating Fruit of the Spirit Through Spiritual Growth. I love studying the Fruits of the Spirit and for me personally, patience and self- control are so challenging for me. So we are going to dive deeper on the devotions on those as well as talk about this idea of rest. I think you are going to learn so much from Casey. Also, at the end of the episode, I will be sharing a little bit more about a sabbatical God has placed on my heart.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Casey’s book: *Abundant Fruit. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/4xfa3d/abundant-fruit-giveaway

Book Recommendation:

• *Simplifying Rest by Lisa Rowell
• *Come and See by Tina Reale

Casey Wayne is a wife and mother of two. She enjoys time with her family doing simple things like movie nights and cooking together. As a devotional writer, Casey strives to share her story with relatable honesty, showing how God is faithful throughout the big and small moments of life. She has a heart for encouraging the faith walk of other moms. Praying they gain a deeper connection with our heavenly Father. Her family lives in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia. Connect with Casey at caseywayne.org. You can also find her on Instagram or Facebook @caseylwayne.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Would you say that you have a distracted heart? Maybe you have overcommitted your time or perhaps life’s circumstances are overwhelming. Maybe you need help setting priorities.

I am so excited to have Peg Arnold on the podcast this week. She wrote a book called *Devotions for the Distracted Heart and they are so great! I know you are going to learn so much from her. Each of her devotions starts with the letter D so it is Devotions of Digital Devices, Distractions of Detours, and Distractions of Devastation. There is so much truth in this episode.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Peg’s book: *Devotions for the Distracted Heart. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/zljquo/devotions-for-the-distracted-heart-book-giveaway

If you do not win the free Devotions for the Distracted Heart, you can order a copy through Peg's website and receive a free journal!

Book Recommendations:

• *Lord Change Me by Evelyn Christenson
• *The Best Yes by Lysa TerKeurst
• *My Yes Is On The Table by Jennifer Hand

Peg’s heart’s desire is that each woman would embrace the message that "God sees you, values you, and gives purpose to your story". She has been involved in women’s ministry for over thirty years and brings stories alive through her inspiring, entertaining messages. As a mom, wife, nana, mentor, with a master’s in counseling, she connects on a personal basis by sharing her joys and challenges of many life experiences through her dramas, messages, and witness. Peg grew up in Michigan, raised her family in Maryland and now is exploring Colorado. You can connect with Peg on her website or on Instagram or Facebook. Peg's Devotions for the Distracted Heart are also on YouVersion as well as her Holiday Devotions.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Have you ever thought about studying the Bible the same way you watch and study a movie? You would not start by just looking at one scene and just diving deep into that one scene. You would start by seeing the whole movie first and then go back and find your favorite scenes.

I love this perspective that Keith Ferrin shares on the podcast this week. We are going to be talking about his book, *Like Ice Cream: The Scoop on Helping the Next Generation Fall in Love with God’s Word. He shares some amazing tools on how he studies the Bible and how he dives deeper into God’s Word. I found it fascinating, and I think you are going to learn so much from him.

Father’s Day is just around the corner and Keith answers some questions about being a dad and how to be intentional with raising kids. Again, so much truth in this episode. Here is a link to Episode 37, the Father's Day episode with my dad.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Kevin’s book: *Like Ice Cream. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/wrts7b/like-ice-cream-book-giveaway

Check out:

• Link to My Bible Talk Interview with Keith
• Link to Episode 37: Father's Day episode with my dad.
• Link to Episode 87: Small Group Dads- another Father’s Day episode.

Book Recommendations:

• Immerse Books: Kingdoms, Poets, Chronicles, Beginnings, Prophets, Messiah
• *Soundtracks: The Surprising Solution to Overthinking by John Acuff
• *Simple Money, Rich Life by Bob Lotich
• *Spiritual Parenting by Michelle Anthony

Keith Ferrin is an author, speaker, and storyteller. He founded his ministry in 1996 and travels around the U.S. and internationally, speaking at conferences, churches, retreats, and universities. He utilizes humor, practical workshops, and word-for-word presentations of whole books of the Bible (we’re not kidding!) to help people fall in love with God’s Word and its Author. He also founded Simply Communicate, and coaches individuals and teams in the area of improving team communication and individual public speaking. Oh…and he believes that coffee and ice cream are mankind’s greatest achievements. You can connect with him on his website or on social media @keithferrin (YouTube/IG/FB/Pin/TW).

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Do you have a rhythm of rest in your home? Do you have a day where you slow down, stop, and enjoy all the things God has provided for you? Do you practice the Sabbath?

I am so excited to have Clayton Greene and Chris Pappalardo back on the podcast and they are going to tell us about their new product, The Sabbath Box. It is so great, and I cannot wait for them to share how it works. I know, for me, I definitely need help in this area on slowing down, resting, and really enjoying God’s creation, so I think you are going to learn so much from them.

Also, we end the podcast talking a little about Father’s Day, and they share their words of wisdom on being a dad. I cannot wait for you to hear the truth they share. Here is a link to Episode 37, the Father's Day episode with my dad.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a Sabbath Box. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/93yfyd/sabbath-box-giveaway

It is fun to have Chris and Clayton back on the Podcast! If you missed my first conversation with them about their Advent Blocks, please check out Episode 109 on the Depth Podcast. These Advent Blocks help remind your children of the true meaning of Christmas, and they are phenomenal.

Book Recommendations:

• *Give Them Grace by Elyse M. Fitzpatrick and Jessica Thompson
• *Playing God by Andy Crouch
• *Parenting with Love and Logic by Foster Cline and Jim Fay
• *Habits of the Household by Justin Whitmel Earley
• *Understanding Your Young Teen by Mark Oestreicher (Check out Depth Podcast Episode 14 to hear more about the book)
• *Rest & Reflect by Rachel Fahrenbach (Check out Depth Podcast Episode 89 to hear more about the book)

At GoodKind, they are committed to helping people start—and continue—practices that draw them to God and to one another. They want to help people practice their faith by having meaningful moments with their families. They started out by creating Advent Blocks, a 25-day Christmas practice for the whole family. Now, they're providing tools that help you develop the GoodKind of habits and holiday celebrations throughout the entire year.

Learn more at their website, goodkind.shop. Here is a direct link to the Sabbath Box.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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When you hear someone share their hard circumstances, do you know how to offer empathy? Would you say you know how to put yourself in someone else’s shoes and really enter into the pain with them?

I am so excited to talk about this today on the podcast with Amanda Shanks. She is the mother of Taylor, and her daughter has a rare diagnosis called Pura Syndrome. I love that Amanda and I are having this conversation because I think sometimes when we don’t know what to say, we think it is better to say nothing. So, Amanda is going to talk to us about what is looks like to offer empathy without pity as well as what does it look like to enter into someone else’s hard circumstances and put yourself in their shoes. So, Amanda is going to talk to us about what it looks like to offer empathy without pity as well as what it looks like to enter into someone else’s hard circumstances and put yourself in their shoes. She is going to help us with that language, and I know you are going to learn so much from her!

Book Recommendations:

• *I Will Push You: A Journey of 500 miles, Two Best Friends and One Wheelchair by Patrick Gray and Justin Skeesuck
• *Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I've Loved by Kate Bowler
• *Run to the Light by Laura King Edwards
• Books by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Podcast Recommendations:

• Depth Podcast Episode 52 with Chris Simning
• Depth Podcast Episode 86 with Katherine Wolf

Amanda Shanks is a passionate writer, speaker, teacher, and advocate. She is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Therapist specializing in Reproductive and Maternal Mental Health and currently serves as the President of the PURA Syndrome Foundation. She previously served as the Director of Fundraising for the PURA Syndrome Foundation and was a founding member and leader of the Annual World Rare Disease Day Rally of Charlotte and the Rare and Undiagnosed Network of Charlotte (RUNCharlotte). She also volunteers at Shining Hope Farms, an organization which provides hippotherapy services to children with disabilities. She has represented the PURA Syndrome Foundation and actively participates in various conferences hosted by Global Genes, NORD, and the EveryLife Foundation. In addition to her rare disease advocacy work, she serves as an Elder at Avondale Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, NC, and recently followed a call to Union Presbyterian Seminary where she is pursuing a Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Christian Education. You can connect with Amanda on her website or on Instagram and Facebook @ToughLikeTaylor

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Have you ever noticed that your faith grows the most when you are walking through something hard or unexpected? It wouldn’t be what you wished for, but in those circumstances, your faith increases in ways it never has before.

I cannot wait for you to hear from my friend, Sarah Frazer, as she shares her special mom story. She adopted two children from China, and she is going to talk about how the process of adoption increased her faith in ways it never would have before. I cannot wait for you to hear the truth she shares and how God met her in every small detail of the adoption process. You are going to learn so much!

Book Recommendations:

• *Adopted for Life by Russell Moore
• *The True Vine by Andrew Murray
• *Gentle and Lowly by Dane C. Ortlund

Sarah E. Frazer is a writer and Bible study mentor at sarahefrazer.com. Sarah is the wife of Jason and mother of five. She and her family serve as full-time missionaries in Honduras. Her passion is to encourage women to start today with a Bible reading and prayer habit. Sarah is the author of several self-published Bible study resources for women. She shares tools and encouragement for Bible and prayer study at sarahefrazer.com. Follow her on Instagram and download her Psalm 119 reading plan here.

Link to Sarah’s friend’s adoption page: Kaidi's Light- Surviving Adoption

Link to Sarah’s ministry page: Medical Outreach Page

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Do you need some fresh perspective on the circumstances of your life? Maybe you are walking through a hard season or perhaps you are in the middle of a transition.

I am so excited to introduce you to Jessica Hurlbut, my special mom story this week. She is going to share some incredible insight. Not only has she adopted two children, but she also has two autistic children, and she offers so much wisdom. I took so many notes on fostering to adopt as well as how to come alongside and help someone on this same road. She is going to give us a dose of help, a dose of humor, and a dose of hope. You do not want to miss the truth she shares.

Book Recommendations:

• *The Lucky Few by Heather Avis
• *The Reason I Jump by Naoki Higashida (Translated by KA Yoshida and David Mitchell)
• *Anonymous by Alicia Britt Chole

Jessica is a writer, a podcaster, a special needs mom, and pastor. She has been married for 17 years to Greg Hurlbut, who is the lead pastor at New Testament Church in Massena, NY. She is the mother of five children: two adopted, two autistic, and one typical teen boy. In 2014, Jessica and her husband adopted a sibling group and become adoption advocates for the 125,000 children in foster care who are freed to be adopted. Jesus whispered to her heart, “If you take care of my kids, I’ll take care of yours.” In her free time, Jessica loves to run. She completed two marathons, two ultra-marathons, and a National Adoption run where she ran 70 miles for 19 hours straight in a snowstorm. The Hurlbut’s host the Full Spectrum Parent Podcast, the only faith-based Autism parenting podcast in existence. She also blogs weekly at www.jessicahurlbut.com

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Are you living like an orphan or as the daughter of the King? These words are from my podcast episode this week and they really stuck with me. In fact, I was doing my quiet time and I am studying the names of God and one of the lessons was on the story of Moses and the burning bush. In the notes, it said that Moses was asking two questions, “Who Am I?” and “Who Are You?” to God. I think we ask ourselves these same questions and that is what I want you to think about today: Who are you and Who is God, especially in the hard times of life?

I love what Elise Day Parker shares on the podcast this week. She is my special mom story, and I am so excited to have her talk about her two roles: she is a stepmom, but also she has lost two babies in the middle of a pregnancy. In this episode, she has a quote about loss and what she learned about God that is so profound and deep. I cannot wait for you to hear the truth she shares as well as her honesty and vulnerability.

Book Recommendations:

• *The Dance of Anger by Harriet Lerner
• *What Christians Should Know About the Importance of Forgiveness? By John Arnott
• *Boundaries by Henry Cloud and John Townsend
• *Unglued by Lysa TerKeurst
• *I Will Start Again Monday by Lysa TerKeurst
• *The Hard Good by Lisa Whittle
• *Try Softer by Aundi Kolber
• *Unshakable Peace in an Unsteady World by Elise Daly Parker, Michelle Wilbert, Jodi Kinasewitz, and Jess Carey

I am so excited to announce that Hope Writers is opening their doors again. If you have a message to share, or a book on your heart, I highly recommend joining the Hope Writers Community. Here are some resources to check out:

Click here to check out 10 questions to ask yourself before you write a book or you can click here to take a quiz to see where you are on the six stage writing path.

Elise Daly Parker is a certified life coach, writer, and speaker. She’s the creator of the MomVision podcast - helping moms savor not just survive seasons of motherhood with clarity, confidence, and calm. Elise offers coaching through hands-on practices, including powerful tools like Vision Boards. She helps moms know, love, and accept themselves where they are, and empowers them to take small steps that add up to a happier, healthier, more balanced/less stressed life. When Elise got married and had kids, she found it more challenging than she imagined. Now she shares some of her lessons with transparency to give moms help and hope on their motherhood journey. Download Elise’s 5 Scriptures to Help You Savor Not Just Survive Motherhood.

Elise has been married to Chris for 37 years, has four daughters and two sons-in-love, as well as two grandchildren. She lives in New Jersey, where she can see NYC on the horizon. Elise is also the co-author of a new devotional journal, Unshakable Peace in an Unsteady World. Her website is EliseDalyParker.com. You can find her on Instagram and Facebook @elisedalyparker.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Have you ever looked at your life like a puzzle? As all the pieces are fitting together, does it look like the picture you thought it would be? If you were to look at the box and the picture on the top cover, is it what you expected? Or does it look completely different?

Mother’s Day is just around the corner and for some of us it is a very happy day. But for others, it is a hard day if you struggled with infertility, a miscarriage, a loss of a baby or child, or the loss of your mother. For some of us that is the picture of top of the puzzle that does not look like what we hoped it would. So I want to encourage those women this week.

I am excited to introduce my friend, Kaley Olson. She is going to be sharing her special mom story this week on the podcast. She struggled with infertility for two years and had a miscarriage. I love the encouragement and hope she offers other women as well as the practical ideas she gives us to come alongside and help someone who is hurting this Mother’s Day. Also, this idea about the puzzle came from Kaley’s Proverbs 31 ministries post that she did last month and we are going to dive deeper that. Cannot wait for you to hear the truth Kaley shares.

Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast: Motherhood and Loss are two things that should not go together. Links below to the 3-part series called What Nobody Talks About.

1. Infertility and Feeling Stuck in the Cycle of Waiting
2. What It’s Like to Lose a Baby (Miscarriage and Infant Loss)
3. Postpartum and Loss of Identity in Motherhood

In 2020, Saddleback Church hosted a gathering for grieving women a couple nights before Mother’s Day called the Bella Donne, which means beautiful women in Italian. Click this link to listen. I pray this encourages you especially if your heart is hurting this Mother’s Day.

Other Special Mom Stories that could be helpful:

• Holley Gerth shared her infertility story of 10 years as well as how she met her daughter. To listen her special mom story, click the link to Episode 81.
• Allyn Ann shared her infertility story and her emotional journey to having 2 miraculous IVF babies. To listen to her powerful story, click the link to Episode 31.

Book Recommendations:

• *Armor of God by Priscilla Shirer
• Seeing Jesus in the Old Testament by Lysa TerKeurst and Joel Mudamalle (At the P31 Bookstore)
• *Grieving the Child I Never Knew by Kathe Wunnenberg

Kaley Olson is the Director of Creative Programming at Proverbs 31 Ministries and serves as the producer and co-host of The Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast. Her skill set allows her to come alongside other teams to create systems and structure around strategic initiatives, whether it's the launch of a new product or producing an event like the She Speaks Conference. Kaley is a country gal at heart, living in the suburbs of Charlotte, NC, with her husband, Jared, their son and their weenie dog. Connect with Kaley on Instagram at @kaleyolsn.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Are you overwhelmed? Is there something going on in your life that just seems too big right now? I can totally relate.

So, I am so excited to introduce you to the devotional: *Trusting God in All the Things: 90 Devotions for Finding Peace In Your Every Day. This is written by both Karen Ehman and Ruth Schwenk, and I am so excited to talk with Ruth on the podcast this week. We are going to dive deeper into what does it look like to trust God, not only in the good times, but also the storms of life.

We are also going to talk about being overwhelmed. Those questions that I ask you at the beginning are actually the first two questions in the first devotional. So we are going to look at the life of Jesus and what he did when he was overwhelmed in the Garden of Gethsemane as well as David and how he felt alone in one of the Psalms and how we can lose perspective in the middle of trials. There is so much hope and encouragement on this episode today and I cannot wait for you to hear the truths from Ruth.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Ruth’s book: *Trusting God in All the Things. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/naai8z/trusting-god-in-all-the-things-book-giveaway

Book Recommendations:

• *The Mission of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson
• *Humble Roots by Hannah Anderson
• *Valley of Vision by Arthur Bennett

Click this link to join my Depth Podcast Facebook Community.

Ruth Schwenk is the founder of the popular blog The Better Mom, and along with her pastor/author husband, Patrick, the podcast Rootlike Faith. She is the trusted author of several books, including The Better Mom Devotional and In a Boat in the Middle of a Lake. Ruth is a Michigan football superfan and self-proclaimed foodie. But her greatest joy is her family. She lives with her husband and four children in the beautiful college town of Ann Arbor, Michigan. Learn more at thebettermom.com

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Is there a woman in the Bible you look up to? Maybe her story really resonated with you. Maybe it is not a woman in the Bible, but a woman in your life. Maybe she is a mentor mom or a spiritual mother and she really pours truth into your life.

I cannot wait to talk about lessons from Biblical women today and I am so excited to have Rachael Adams on the podcast. We will be discussing her devotional, Lessons from Biblical Mothers: A Compilation of Wisdom from Women Past to Present. She asked about twenty of us to write about one woman in the Bible and I chose Ruth. Rachael wrote about Bathsheba and all of us picked someone different and she put together this amazing devotional. It is available as a free resource on Rachael’s website, and I highly encourage you to check it out.

It truly is something special and we are going to talk about that today on the podcast. I think it is so special because each of us wrote about something that resonated with us and it just made the Bible Stories come alive. I cannot wait for you to hear the truth in this episode as well as download this incredible free devotional at rachaelkadams.com

Book Recommendations:

• *The Lineage of Grace by Francine Rivers
• *Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
• Bible Studies by Beth Moore, Lysa TerKeurst, and Priscilla Shirer

Link to my Love Offering guest post called How Has God Uniquely Shaped You?

Writer and podcaster Rachael Adams hopes to help women realize their God-given purpose and significance. She and her husband, Bryan, run a family business and farm in Kentucky with their two children, Will and Kate, and two doodle dogs. Her work has been featured on Crosswalk, iBelieve, Today Parenting, and YouVersion. Rachael would love to hear how you’ve seen God take your little a long way. Connect with her by visiting rachaelkadams.com, by searching @rachaeladamsauthor on social media, and by tuning in to The Love Offering podcast every Tuesday on your favorite listening platform. Be sure to tune into the A Little Goes A Long Way episodes that correspond with each devotion!

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Have you wondered if life could be good again after walking through grief? After walking through something really hard like a divorce or the loss of a loved one. After infertility or a miscarriage? There are many losses in life and maybe you have asked yourself that question. I am so excited to have Lisa Appelo back on the podcast. We are talking about her book, *Life Can Be Good Again: Putting Your World Back Together After It All Falls Apart. Lisa is going to vulnerably share with us about the loss of her husband almost ten years ago. And I love that she shares that God took the broken pieces of her life and as she entrusted them to God, He reshaped what was shattered. There is so much hope and encouragement in this episode from Lisa and I cannot wait for you to learn from her.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Lisa’s book: *Life Can Be Good Again.

All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/d0h9we/life-can-be-good-again-book-giveaway

It is fun to have Lisa back on the Podcast! If you missed my first conversation with Lisa about her book, *Countdown to Christmas, please check out Episode 12 on the Depth podcast. I love what she shares about this advent book as well as what she shares about grief.

Link to Hope in Grief website: a space for those grieving to find Gospel Hope.

Book Recommendations: Missionary Biographies

• *The Autobiography of Hudson Taylor by J. Hudson Taylor
• *Peace Child by Don Richardson
• *Brunchko by Bruce Olsen
• *Becoming Elisabeth Elliot by Ellen Vaughn
• *The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom

Get the Preorder Bonuses and the first chapter free: Link to Book Page

Lisa Appelo is a speaker, writer, and Bible teacher who inspires women to cultivate faith in life’s storms. She’s a Florida girl born and raised and followed her passion for writing into law, where she worked as a litigator for many years. As her family grew to include seven children, Lisa retired from law to raise and home educate her children.

Ten years ago, Lisa went to bed happily married to her high school sweetheart and woke up a widow and single mom. As she navigated grief and shepherded her children through their own grief, God reshaped all that seemed shattered. Lisa is passionate about rich Bible study and has taught a weekly ladies Bible class at her home church for many years. She launched a local ministry for widows in Jacksonville, Florida and serves the Facebook group Widow Mama Collective. Lisa writes at LisaAppelo.com and manages a team of writers of HopeinGrief.com. She’s been published at Proverbs 31 Ministries, (in)courage, Risen Motherhood, Jennifer Rothschild and has been a contributing writer for iMOM.com, The Life of a Single Mom, and the Inspire Journal.

Her days are filled top to bottom with stewarding her precious children, writing, ministry, speaking and running enough to justify lots of dark chocolate. Connect with Lisa at LisaAppelo.com and on Instagram @lisaappelo.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Have you ever let fear stop you from moving forward? Maybe it was the fear of failure? Maybe it is the fear of what others will think or say? Maybe it is the fear of if I heard God correctly and I am moving in the right direction?

If this is a struggle for you, then I am so excited to introduce you to Jennifer Hand. Her book, *My Yes Is On The Table: Moving From Fear to Faith is releasing this week. It is packed full of wisdom and honestly, I could have talked with Jenn all day about her book. My favorite quote from her book is “Help Me Move From Fear Stops to Faith Steps.” I promise you do not want to miss the truth she shares in this episode.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Jenn’s book: *My Yes Is On The Table.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Jenn’s book: *My Yes Is On The Table. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/kcy9f0/my-yes-is-on-the-table-book-giveaway

Link to join my Depth Podcast Facebook group

Book Recommendation:

• You Are Made For a God-Sized Dream By Holley Gerth

Jennifer Hand, Executive Director of Coming Alive Ministries, wishes she could sit down and have a strong cup of coffee with each of you and ask you what makes you come alive?

Jenn founded Coming Alive Ministries in 2012 and loves the honor of traveling nationally and internationally, providing the invitation to come alive in Christ through conferences, retreats, written resources and counseling.

Jenn has had the joy of serving in over 30 countries and speaking at around 40 events a year. With her Master's degree in trauma counseling, God has opened a unique door for Jenn to respond after natural disasters around the world, providing trauma counseling and the hope of Christ on the holy ground of suffering.

Jenn would love to keep up with you in her cozy internet corner of the world at www.comingaliveministries.com or on social media @comingalivejenn or Jenn@comingaliveministries on facebook.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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If you had to sum up the Easter message in just one sentence, what would it be? Would you talk about the cross and how Jesus died for our sins, or would you talk about the empty tomb on Easter?

I just finished reading Matthew last week and this verse jumped off the page at me. Matthew 28:6 says, “He Is Not Here. He Has Risen.” There it is-- there is the Easter message. Yes, Jesus died on the cross, but he didn’t stay in the tomb. “He Is Not Here. He Has Risen.”

This is such an important message we want to instill in our kids around Easter. So today on this episode, I want to talk about how we can help our kids understand the true meaning of Easter. I am so excited to have my mom back on the podcast as we talk about some Easter Traditions we did growing up. My mom is super creative, and she came up with these eggs that share the Easter message. She is going to share what item goes in each egg as well as the corresponding Scripture Verse that goes with it. Since Easter will be here before you know it, I wanted to give you plenty of time to gather these supplies and make your own set. Whether your child is a toddler or a teenager, these Easter Message Eggs are a great way to celebrate Holy Week and all God has done for us!

Link to Easter Message Eggs by Pat Brownlee, my mom. It includes the object and the corresponding Scripture verse.

Link to *Resurrection Eggs- these are the ones I bought and used with my kids.

Link to the Journey to Easter Cards on the Proverbs 31 Ministries website.

Check out Episode 60: Family Traditions -- Pat Brownlee where we talk about our Christmas and Holiday Traditions.

Check out Episode 59: Remember Balloons-- Jessie Oliveros where we talk about a great book on memory loss.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this product that I recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Have you ever wondered if God was working in your life? Maybe you are praying for wisdom or clarity, and He just seems silent. And you are wondering, God are you there?

I am excited to have Patti Rokus on the podcast this week. She does rock art, and I was captivated by her Easter book, *He is Risen: Rocks Tell the Story of Easter. It is about a month before Easter, so I was thinking about highlighting a book about Easter and God brought this book to my mind. I bought it a couple years ago and was exciting to share about Easter, but after hearing Patti’s story, I am excited to announce that we go deep on the podcast this week.

One of the things we talked about is when God seems silent, how do we keep trusting Him that He is working in our lives. This has a lot to do with how Patti’s rock ministry was birthed, and I just love the depth, honesty, and vulnerability in this episode. This is one of my favorite episodes and I think you are going to learn so much from Patti.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Patti’s book, *He is Risen: Rocks Tell the Story of Easter. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link.

Book Recommendations:

• *The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis
• *Problem of Pain by C. S. Lewis
• *Narnia Series by C. S. Lewis

You may already know Patti Rokus from her best-selling children’s books on pebble and rock art. Or perhaps you saw her on the 2021 Primary Friend to Friend broadcast with 600,000 kids watching as she taught rock art. But what you might not know is that Patti is a singer-songwriter with online kids’ nature art lessons during the day and story time and music at night to build self-worth and inner-peace. After an international technology career with Microsoft, Nike and others, Patti finally followed her heart into the woods and came out with a bucket of ordinary rocks that told extraordinary stories. Although she didn’t get to have children of her own, she keeps finding herself creating projects that help kids find their own inner strength and wisdom. You can connect with Patti on her website: RocksTellStories.com

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Have you ever felt broken? Maybe you have been hurt by a friend or a loved one. Or maybe someone in your life that you dearly loved passed away. Maybe you felt like your heart had been shattered into a million broken pieces. Oh friend, I can so relate.

Let me ask you one more question: Do you believe God can bring beauty out of that brokenness? Such a great question for us to talk about today on the podcast. I cannot wait for you to hear from Kimberly Kiefer; she owns a business called beautifully broken glass where she takes these broken pieces and turns them into beautiful artwork. I think God does the same for us. As we take our broken pieces and hand them over to Him, He can turn them into something beautiful. In fact, I have a special announcement at the end of the episode where God did just that- I cannot wait to share it with you. I am excited for you to be encouraged by Kimberly’s episode.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a 4 inch beautifully broken glass piece of artwork. All the details for the special giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/mqvpej/beautifully-broken-glass-tree-giveaway

Kimberly Kiefer is the owner of Beautifully Broken since 2013. All creations are all made of broken glass and metal. Based out of Phoenix, AZ. You can connect with Kimberly on Facebook, Instagram, or her website.

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How do we help our kids grow deeper in their faith? How do we help them have a strong prayer life and develop a lifelong habit of prayer?

I am so excited to have Steph Thurling and Sarah Holmstrom on the podcast this week as they share about their new book, *Raising Prayerful Kids. This book is so great! I honestly wish I had this book many years ago when my kids were younger because there are so many helpful and creative ideas to help instill in our kids a desire to pray. I think you are going to learn so much from Steph and Sarah.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Steph and Sarah’s Book: *Raising Prayerful Kids. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/o42fs0/raising-prayerful-kids-book-giveaway

Book Recommendations:

• *Ragmuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning
• *Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire by Jim Cymbala
• *Never Alone: Parenting in the Power of the Holy Spirit by Jeannie Cunnion
• *Draw the Circle: the 40 day Prayer Challenge by Mark Batterson
• *Disciple that Connects With a Child’s Heart by Jim and Lynne Jackson
• *Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes by E. Randolph Richards and Brandon J O’Brien
• *One Minute Bible for Students by Doug Fields

Steph Thurling is co-founder of Raising Prayerful Kids, a ministry that equips parents to pray with their kids in meaningful ways. She has her master’s degree in youth, family, and culture from Fuller Theological Seminary and worked in youth ministry for several years before deciding to stay home with her kids.

Sarah Holmstrom is co-founder of Raising Prayerful Kids, a ministry that equips parents to pray with their kids in meaningful ways. She has her master’s degree in education from Azusa Pacific University and has taught elementary school and worked in kids’ ministry for most of her adult life. She currently works part time as the elementary creative director at her church.

You can connect with both Steph and Sarah on their website.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Have you ever studied the names of God in the Bible? Have you ever looked at Yahweh, Elohim, Jehovah Jireh, or El Shaddai and wondered what they meant?

I am so excited to have Melissa Spoelstra on the podcast this week to talk about her Bible Study, *The Names of God: His Character Revealed. I love that as we study the names of God in the Bible, it reveals God’s character. Listen to what Melissa says, “One of the ways God makes Himself known to us is through His names in Scripture. While our names help identify and distinguish us, God’s names go a step further: they reveal God to us. Studying God’s names helps us grow in our understanding of His character.” It is going to give us a more complete view of God as we learned these names. I was fascinated with the study and learned so much. Melissa is full of wisdom and truth.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Melissa’s Bible Study: *The Names of God. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/nuupwj/names-of-god-bible-study-giveaway

Click this link to join my Depth Podcast Facebook Community.

Book Recommendations:

• *What's So Amazing About Grace? By Philip Yancey
• *Jesus I Never Knew by Philip Yancey
• *Disappointment with God by Philip Yancey
• *Rumors of Another World by Philip Yancey

Melissa Spoelstra is a popular women’s conference speaker, Bible teacher, and author who is madly in love with Jesus and passionate about studying God’s Word and helping women of all ages to seek Christ and know Him more intimately through serious Bible study. Having a degree in Bible theology, she enjoys teaching God’s Word to the body of Christ and traveling to diverse groups and churches across the nation and also to Nairobi, Kenya, for a women’s prayer conference.

Melissa is also the author of the Bible studies:

• *The Names of God: His Character Revealed
• *Isaiah: Striving Less and Trusting God More (Releasing in June)
• *Acts: Awakening to God in Everyday Life
• *Romans: Good News That Changes Everything
• *Elijah: Spiritual Stamina in Every Season
• *Numbers: Learning Contentment in a Culture of More
• *First Corinthians: Living Love When We Disagree
• *Joseph: The Journey to Forgiveness
• *Jeremiah: Daring To Hope in an Unstable World

Melissa’s books:

• *Dare to Hope
• *Total Family Makeover: 8 Practical Steps to Making Disciples at Home
• *Total Christmas Makeover: 31 Devotions to Celebrate with Purpose.

She is a regular contributor to the Proverbs 31 First Five App and the Girlfriends in God online daily devotional. She has published articles in ParentLife, Women’s Spectrum, and Just Between Us and writes her own regular blog in which she shares her musings about what God is teaching her on any given day. Melissa lives in Pickerington, Ohio, with her pastor husband, Sean, and their four kids: Zach, Abby, Sara, and Rachel.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Do you give something up for Lent each year? I don’t know about you, but I don’t remember fasting for Lent while growing up.

About five years ago, a friend recommended a book to me called *Zip it by Karen Ehman and it was about giving up unkind and hurtful words for Lent. I loved that idea because at the time, I was really struggling with keeping control of my words. After that, I decided I wanted to do something each year for Lent.

I am so excited to share with you some of the ideas over the years. One of my favorite books for Lent is 40 Days of Decrease* by Dr. Alicia Brit Chole. I am so excited because she is going to be on the podcast later this year. She is releasing a new book, so she was not able to come on before Lent, but she has generously offered to send two signed copies of her amazing book, 40 Days of Decrease. I am super excited for two people to win a copy of this book before Lent, because this book was a favorite for me! So on the podcast this week, I want to highlight 40 Days of Decrease and share some of my favorite parts as well as share about two others books that I did for Lent: Zip it* and Draw the Circle.*

Also, I am so excited for two people to each win one copy of Dr. Alicia’s book: *40 Days of Decrease. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/c9xptr/two-signed-copies-of-40-days-of-decrease-book-giveaway

Lent book Recommendations:

• 40 Days of Decrease by Dr. Alicia Brit Chole*
• Zip It: The Keep It Shut 40 day Challenge by Karen Ehman*
• Draw the Circle: the 40 day Prayer Challenge by Mark Batterson*

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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How do you respond when life sends its worst? Do you reach out to others, or do you withdraw? Does it make your relationships stronger, or does it cause a division in your relationships? I am so excited to have Carol & Gene Kent and Cindy & Dave Lambert on the podcast this week. We are going to talk about their book, *Staying Power: Building a Stronger Marriage When Life Sends Its Worst. Just a quick message to all my single friends: I am not married. I am divorced. If I am honest, I was a little hesitant about reading a marriage book, but I have to tell you this book is full of God Stories of when life is hard, and God shows up big and deepens their faith! You know how much I love to talk about how our greatest heartbreaks catapult us to our greatest growth. I believe that growth can happen individually and in our faith with God. It can also happen in our relationships, which is what this book is all about.

Here is the question they ask on the back of their book: Will the next crisis your marriage faces be your final hour or your finest hour? To my non-married friends, let me rephrase the question: When you go through your crisis, could that be your finest hour? Could God use that to grow you deeper than ever before? Can it birth a ministry out of you? I cannot wait for you to hear from Carol and Gene and how their greatest heartbreak launched their amazing ministry. Whether you are married or single, I believe this episode is for you. In fact, I have not highlighted a book on marriage before on the podcast, and so today, on Valentine’s Day, I thought this is the one, the book I want to highlight: Staying Power!

I had so much fun recording with all four of them, and they have so much truth to offer you! I promise you do not want to miss this episode.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Carol, Gene, Cindy and Dave’s book: *Staying Power. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/0q1enu/staying-power-book-giveaway

Book Recommendations:

• *The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom
• Townsman by Pearl S. Buck (if interested, you may want to check ebay for this one)*
• *What Wives Wish Their Husbands Knew About Women by Dr. James Dobson
• *Love Must Be Tough by Dr. James Dobson
• *A Grace Disguised by Jerry Sittser
• *Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby

Carol and Gene Kent are the founders of Speak Up Ministries, which includes Speak Up Speaker Services, a Christian speakers’ bureau; Speak Up Conferences, events that equip the next generation of speakers and writers; and Speak Up for Hope, a nonprofit organization that benefits inmates and their families. Carol is an international speaker, and she has authored over twenty-five books. Gene serves as chief operating officer of their ministries. They are both fans of tracking down the best cup of coffee in every city they visit, and their favorite activity is watching sunsets together. You can connect with Carol on her website or on Facebook or Instagram.

Cindy and David Lambert have been shaping influences in the Christian publishing world for decades, both as editors and as authors, having authored over twenty published books between them. Together they own Lambert Editorial, serving authors, publishers, and Christian ministries with their editorial and writing skills. They are the parents of six adult children, have nine grandchildren, and love to launch their kayaks together from their own dock in front of their log cabin in Michigan.

Speak Up for Hope is a nonprofit organization that seeks to live out the principle of Proverbs 31:8-9, MSG: “Speak up for the people who have no voice, for the rights of all the down-and-outers. Speak out for justice. Stand up for the poor and destitute!”

Our Vision: To help inmates and their families adjust to their new normal.

Our Mission: We exist to provide hope to inmates and their families through encouragement and resources.

For more information, go to www.speakupforhope.org.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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How do you respond to your feelings? Are you someone that looks at feelings as negative and you brush them under the rug and don’t allow yourself to have them? Or are you someone that views feelings as so important that you let them guide you and lead you? Or would you say you find yourself somewhere in the middle where you still view your feelings as important, but you don’t let them guide you? I am so excited to have Jessie Hottle on the podcast this week as we talk about her book, *Face Off With Your Feelings: Break Up with the Lies of Your Past and Embrace the Truth for Your Future. I love the five steps she shares about how to make us aware of our emotions. She says that she wants you “to be aware so you can repair.” Such a great quote. I think you are going to learn so much from Jessica; she truly has so much wisdom to offer.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Jessica’s book: *Face Off With Your Feelings.

All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/hf3uir/face-off-with-your-feelings-book-giveaway

Book Recommendations:

• *The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
• *Deadly Emotions by Don Colbert
• *The Other Half of the Church by Jim Wilder and Michel Hendricks

Jessica Hottle is a faith-based fitness coach, podcast host, best-selling author, and speaker with a heart for teaching women how to dismantle the lies that keep them from healing and wholeness. She is the author of 4 books with her new book coming out this fall titled Face Off With Your Feelings: Break Up with the Lies of Your Past and Embrace the Truth for Your Future. Jessica is the host of What’s The Truth, a show where she challenges the way her listeners think so they can change the way they live. Her writing has been featured by she works His way, Cross Training Couture, and Revelation Wellness. When she isn’t writing, speaking, or coaching, you can find her enjoying time with her husband Jon, being a momma to their three cats, and spending her free time outside whenever she can (playing golf, hiking, reading, or writing in her journal). You can connect with Jessica on her website or on Instagram.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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How do you feel about change? Are you someone who embraces change and loves to move forward towards the change? Or are you someone who is not a big fan of change and honestly, it is really hard for you? On the podcast, we are going to highlight a book all about change, and I am excited to have Gem Fadling, the author of *What Does Your Soul Love? Eight Questions That Reveal God’s Work In You. I love what Gem says in her book, “Without a change of heart, outward change never lasts.” So we are going to dive deeper and talk about transformation this week. I promise you do not want to miss what Gem shares.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Gem’s book: *What Does Your Soul Love? All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/hnutfc/what-does-your-soul-love-book-giveaway?

Book Recommendations:

• Dallas Willard,
• Henry Nouwen,
• Richard Rohr
• *The Monastic Heart by Joan Chittister

Gem Fadling, CLC, is a founding partner of Unhurried Living, Inc., a non-profit that trains people to overcome hurry and lead formationally. Gem is a trained Spiritual Director and a Certified Life Coach with a focus on spiritual leadership and soul care. She helps women live intentional and expansive lives. She is the host of the I Can Do That! Podcast and is the author of What Does Your Soul Love? Eight Questions That Reveal God’s Work In You. (IVP 2019).

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Have you ever been curious about something? Perhaps you read it or heard it and it makes you want to understand more. Maybe it has something to do with a character in the Bible. Or maybe you heard song lyrics and something in that song made you want to understand it more. This curiosity causes you to dig deeper. It creates a sense of wonder and makes you want to dive deeper to answer the questions that are flooding your mind. This week on the podcast, I talk with my friend and mentor over the years, Susan Chaska. She is going to share about a song that God placed in her mind and how it caused her to dig deeper. She also talks about never losing sight of this sense of wonder. Last week, I did an episode about what I do to grow my faith and grow my roots deeper. This week, I wanted to reach out and ask some friends. God placed Susan’s name in my mind as she speaks a lot of truth into my life, so I called her. We got talking and I realized that she had so much wisdom that I wanted to do a full episode with her. I am planning to do more episodes with friends throughout the year. So, I cannot wait for you to hear from my friend, Susan. I promise you are going to want to get a pen and paper out, she has so much wisdom to shares!

Over a decade ago, Susan and I served together in Treasured, a Bible Study for young moms. In addition, she is active in women’s Bible Study Fellowship and serves on the leadership team sharing devotionals and encouragement with other women.

Book Recommendations:

*The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing the book recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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How do you grow deeper in your faith? What does that practically look like? What do you daily or weekly to help you grow your roots deep?

Last week on the podcast, we talked about the importance of growing deeper roots as we discussed the book, Rooted. If you missed Episode 114 with Banning, I highly recommend going back and listening to it. Now, this week, I had an idea while taking a shower, which I believe was from God. I thought, What does that look like practically? Maybe you need to do an episode that has nuts and bolts on what does it look like for Jodi to grow her roots deeper? Maybe you can invite friends to share too.* And just like that, an idea for a real practical episode was birthed.

So friend, that is what I decided to do. I am pushing back the episode that I planned to release today and instead recorded this solo episode about what I personally do daily and weekly to grow my roots deeper. I have to say that it was special to trace back and see how God has deepened my walk with Him. I have lots of great resources to share with you too, so please check out the show notes with all the links.

My hope and prayer is that you will continue to grow deeper in your faith and stronger in your relationships in 2022!

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of the Immerse Book: *Messiah. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/jyutxx/immerse-messiah-book-giveaway

Check out:

Proverbs 31 Ministries: I recommend their devotionals and their First 5 App

Immerse Books: Kingdoms, Poets, Chronicles, Beginnings, Prophets, Messiah

*Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

Depth Podcast Episode 1: Unglued by Lysa TerKeurst

Depth Podcast Episode 106: Praying the Scriptures Over Your Life -- Jodi Berndt

Depth Podcast Episode 76: The Chara Project

Depth Podcast Episode 95: She Hears Bible Study

I am so excited to announce that Hope Writers is opening their doors again. If you have a message to share, or a book on your heart, I highly recommend joining the Hope Writers Community. Here are some resources to check out:

Click here to check out 10 questions to ask yourself before you write a book or you can click here to take a quiz to see where you are on the six stage writing path.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Happy New Year! Do you want to grow deeper in your faith this year? Do you want deep-rooted growth?

I am so excited to have Banning Liebscher on the podcast this week and talk about his book, *Rooted: The Hidden Places Where God Wants to Develop You. Banning says that God wants to grow you on the inside before he ever grows you on the outside. This hidden growth is so important. I cannot wait for you to hear what Banning has to share. He has so much wisdom about deep-rooted growth, and I promise you do not want to miss one word.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Banning’s book: *Rooted. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/gihgpv/rooted-book-giveaway

Book Recommendations:

• *A Prophet with Honor: The Billy Graham Story by William Martin
• *Let the Trumpet Sound: A Life of Martin Luther King, Jr. by Stephen B. Oates
• *With Malice Toward None: A Life of Abraham Lincoln by Stephen B. Oates

Banning Liebscher is the founding pastor of Jesus Culture, a ministry of worship, events, and leadership development. In 2014, Banning and his wife SeaJay, their family, and the Jesus Culture team planted Jesus Culture Sacramento, a church committed to seeing believers encounter God, be empowered as world changers, and engage their city as leaders. Banning is the author of four books, the latest one being, *The Three-Mile Walk: The Courage You Need to Live the Life God Wants for You. Banning and his wife have three children.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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What does the words “Emmanuel, God Is With Us,” mean to you? Are they words you remember at Christmas time or do you believe this message all year round?

I am so excited to share with you this week on the podcast about Erin Ulerich’s book, *In Unexpected Ways, Christmas In Everyday Life. We are going to talk about this message, God Is With Us, and how that applies every day, not just at the Holidays. Also, I love Erin’s honesty in this episode as she shares about a time when she felt alone -- she didn’t feel God with her. I cannot wait for you to hear the truths revealed to her during that time as well as our favorite devotionals from her book. I promise you do not want to miss the truth shared!

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Erin’s book: *In Unexpected Ways, Christmas In Everyday Life. In Everyday Life. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/abrasb/in-unexpected-way-christmas-in-everyday-life

Book Recommendation:

• *In Want and Plenty by Meredith McDaniel

Erin Ulerich lives in a small community along the beautiful Natchez Trace with her husband, Stephen, and their three children. Erin enjoys speaking and writing in ways that encourage others to trust God more so that they can live a life of bold hope and unshakeable faith. Connect with Erin online at erinulerich.com, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube for hope-filled words and resources.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Has God ever used His Creation to reveal something about Him? Maybe it is His Nature or His Character?

I am so excited to highlight Dr. Matthew Sleeth’s book, *Reforesting Faith on the podcast this week. The sub-title is “What Trees Teach Us About the Nature of God and His Love for Us.” You know how much I love to talk about trees! And I love that this entire book is looking at the Bible through the lens of trees- it is so exciting! There is so much profound truth that Matthew shares in this book and I cannot wait for you to hear it.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Matthew’s book: *Reforesting Faith. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/usasqp/reforesting-faith-book-giveaway

Book Recommendations:

• *Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
• *The Man Who Planted Trees: a story by Jean Giono

Matthew Sleeth, M.D., a former emergency room physician and chief of the hospital medical staff, resigned from his position to teach, preach, and write about faith and health. Dr. Sleeth has spoken at more than one thousand churches, campuses, and events, including serving as a monthly guest preacher at the Washington National Cathedral.

Recognized by Newsweek as one of the nation's most influential Christian leaders, Dr. Sleeth is the executive director of Blessed Earth and author of numerous articles and books, He lives in Lexington, Kentucky, with Nancy, his wife of forty years. Their grown children serve with their families in full-time parish ministry and as medical missionaries in Africa. You can connect with Matthew on his Blessed Earth Web site.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Have you ever been inspired by a child or impressed by the maturity of a teenager? Have you ever looked at their life and just been in awe with how God gifted them and how they are using those gifts to help others?

I cannot wait to share with you about Jessie Rees and the foundation that was inspired by her. This week on the podcast, I am talking with her father, Erik Rees and he is going to share Jessie’s story and how it birthed the Jessie Rees foundation that helps children fighting cancer. Their Joy Jars and phrase NEGU, Never Ever Give Up, has helped encourage and inspire many children who are walking this hard road as well as their families and siblings.

This Tuesday is Giving Tuesday, so I cannot wait to share with you about this amazing foundation and the inspiration behind it, Jessie Rees! Let me just say, this is a powerful testimony of how God brings purpose to our pain. I promise you do not want to miss one word; there is so much wisdom in this episode.

The Jessie Rees Foundation believes every child fighting cancer deserves joy, the opportunity to smile, and be encouraged to Never Ever Give Up. To learn more about the Jessie Rees Foundation, please visit their website: https://negu.org/ I highly recommend clicking the get involved tab to see all the ways you can help support this phenomenal foundation.

Book Recommendation:

*Living the Life You Were Meant To Live by Tom Patterson

Erik Rees has dedicated himself to empowering people to find and fulfill their God-given purpose in life for more than 25 years. Rees began his career in 1993 as a pastor, strategist and trainer at world-renowned Saddleback Church, where he helped grow the congregation from 3,000 to more than 30,000 followers over a 20-year period. During this amazing time Rees helped train church leaders around the world on keys to building an "Empowering Church Culture". In addition, he wrote several best selling's books: SHAPE: Finding & Fulfilling Your Purpose In Life; Only You Can Be You: 21 Days to Living Your Purpose; Tilt: Small Leadership Changes for Big Results and Your Life Review.

Upon losing his daughter, Jessie, to inoperable brain cancer on January 5, 2012, he and his wife Stacey formed the Jessie Rees Foundation and has functioned as a member of the Board to ensure that children fighting cancer have the support and resources they need to “Never Ever Give Up.” He shares this inspiring message in his newest book Never Ever Give Up: The Inspiring Story of Jessie and her JoyJars.

Under the daily leadership of his wife, the Jessie Rees Foundation has raised over $25,000,000 dollars in donations to care for children impacted by cancer. They have also stuffed and sent over 350,000 JoyJars to children fighting cancer in all 50 states and 41 countries.

He and his wife live in Orange County, Calif. with their two other children, Shaya and JT, and their dogs.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing the book recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Do you want your life to make a difference? Do you want to have an impact on others? What if I told you that every small act of kindness makes a big impact?

This is the theme of the book, *The Simple Difference and I am so excited to have the author, Becky Keife, on the podcast this week. We are going to talk about the big impact from small kindness. I love the Simple Difference Prayer that she shares with us as well as what to do with our “Not Enoughs”. I know that is a common struggle. We think we don’t have enough time or resources and I love what Becky has to say about it. There is so much truth she offers on this episode; you don’t want to miss it.

Also, I am so excited for two people to win a set of Becky’s books: The Simple Difference* and the Bible Study, Courageous Kindness*. All the details of the book giveaways are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link.

Book Recommendations:

• *One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
• *The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom

Becky Keife is the Community Manager for (in)courage, a popular speaker, and the author of The Simple Difference: How Every Small Kindness Makes a Big Impact and the companion Bible Study, Courageous Kindness. She and her husband live near Los Angeles where they enjoy hiking sunny trails with their three spirited sons. Connect with Becky on Instagram @beckykeife or at beckykeife.com.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Do you have a special Christmas tradition to help your kids understand that Jesus is the real reason for Christmas?

Let me tell you about Advent Blocks. This week on the Depth Podcast, I am so excited to talk with Clayton Greene and Chris Pappalardo, the creators of the Advent Blocks and the accompanying book, The King is Coming. We are going to talk about their products today and how they really do help our kids understand the true meaning of Christmas.

I so wish I had the Advent Blocks back when my kids were young. They are phenomenal. Honestly as a parent, you are going to learn just as much as your kids. The book, The King is Coming has so much truth in it and the message, Emmanuel, God is With Us, is throughout the blocks and in the book. So, I cannot wait to highlight the Advent Blocks today and hear more from Chris and Clayton on why they designed these blocks as well as some of their favorite devotionals from the book.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a set of The Advent Blocks. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/xaxmau/advent-blocks-giveaway

Book Recommendation:

• *Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
• Making Sense of God by Tim Keller (prequel to The Reason for God)
• *How We Love Our Kids by Milan and Kay Yerkovich (Check out Depth Podcast Episode 2 to hear more about the book)
• *Unglued by Lysa TerKeurst (Check out Depth Podcast Episode 1 to hear more about the book)

The Advent Blocks team is a fun bunch: Clayton Greene, Chris Pappalardo, Brain Turney, and Lindsey Love. (We call ourselves the Blockheads!) We are a group of friends who make products that are beautiful, tangible, meaningful, and fun. We exist to help families start—and continue—the good kind of habits, cultivatingmeaningful moments in homes across the nation. You can connect with them on their website: www.adventblocks.com.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Do you do anything special for Veteran’s Day to show honor and respect to those who have served our country?

Veteran’s Day is just around the corner so I would love for this episode to help give you some great ideas on how to show respect and honor to not only the service men and women who have sacrificed but also to their families! So, to help us today to better understand what it’s like to be in the military, I invited my friend Jay Pratt. Not only is she going to share with us about her service in the Air Force, but she is also going to tell us about being a military spouse.

What she shared was so eye-opening to me and I hope it brings awareness to you – of just how much these men and women have sacrificed as they have missed Holidays with their loved ones, missed celebrations as well as missed hard times as well like funerals. Also, I love the insight and perspective she brings in being a military spouse and all the challenges that go along with that. There is so much goodness in this episode and my hope is that as you listen, it will give you some great ideas of how you can show honor and respect to our Veterans, not just this week for Veteran’s Day but all year long.

Book Recommendations:

• *The Power is Within You by Louise Hay
• *Three Feet From Gold by Sharon Lechter, Dr. Greg Reid, and Napoleon Hill

Jay Pratt is a poet, writer, public speaker, health & wellness coach, former military spouse, and proud veteran of the United States Air Force. As a mother to eight children, including four foster children, she serves as encouragement and a positive light to mothers and women all over the world. Jay Pratt has been a Victims’ Advocate for over twelve years; delivering mentorship, empowerment, and an active voice of truth. Overcoming various abusive situations, divorce, multiple miscarriages, infertility, debt, health scares, and relationship issues, Jay humbly exemplifies a “But God” testimony. Her mission is to remind everyone that anyone can be used by God, and no one knows how their journey is meant to end. Jay and her family now reside back in her hometown, Independence, MO. You can connect with Jay on social media on both Instagram and Facebook.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Do you struggle with hospitality? Opening up your home? Knowing what to cook? How to decorate? Maybe you are a natural at hospitality and want more ideas!

I am so excited to have Abby Turner on the podcast this week. We will be talking about her new cookbook, *The Living Table: Recipes and Devotions for Everyday Get-Togethers. What I love about her book is that it is more than just a cookbook. It actually has devotions as well as ideas for fun gatherings. I also love the title of her cookbook and we are going to dive deeper into what does that mean, The Living Table. We will also discuss the amazing ideas in her cookbook and share a favorite food choice from each section. You do not want to miss what Abby shares about hospitality and cultivating God-centered friendships!

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Abby’s cook book: *The Living Table. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link

Book Recommendation:

• *Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Abby Turner is a young professional who is single and loving life as a food blogger, speaker, and writer. Born into a large family, she grew up in Central Arkansas, where she learned the importance of community and Biblical hospitality at a young age. After completing undergraduate degrees at Ouachita Baptist University and obtaining her Master's from Baylor, Abby lived in 6 states in 5 years, learning that community is essential to a healthy relationship with Christ. Over the last few years, Abby has spoken at college/universities, churches, companies and has been featured on regional TV shows and podcasts. Abby's passion is to encourage women to stop wasting time waiting for the perfect family, house, or table and to start opening their homes, cooking for friends and building community. You can learn more about Abby and enjoy even more recipes by visiting her website at atabletopaffair.com or on Instagram.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Have you ever thought about praying Scripture over your life? I mean actually taking Bible Verses and using them as your prayer. You could pray for yourself, your kids, your family, or your loved ones.

I think this is such a great idea which is why I love the book by Jodie Berndt, *Praying the Scriptures for Your Life: 31 Days of Abiding in the Presence, Provision, and Power of God. I am so excited to have Jodie on the podcast this week as we talk about abiding, Bible memorization, and practical ways to transform our prayer life. Not only does Jodie show us how to turn Bible Verses into prayers, but she also has such great wisdom for moms. I love the truth and advice she offers. I learned so much for her and I cannot wait for you to learn from her too!

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Jodie’s book: *Praying the Scriptures for Your Life. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/praying-the-scriptures-for-your-life-book-giveaway/

Jodie shared about a resource on her website. Here is a link to the Prayer Calendars that she created.

Book Recommendations:

• *Pray Confidently & Consistently by Valerie Woerner
• *How to Pray by Pete Greig

To join my new Depth Podcast Community Group, click on https://www.facebook.com/groups/depthpodcast

JODIE BERNDT is the author of the bestselling Praying the Scriptures book series. A speaker and Bible teacher, Jodie is a repeat guest on programs like Focus on the Family, the 700 Club, and a variety of popular podcasts, and she has been a contributing writer for Fox News, Club31Women, Ann Voskamp’s daily devotional, and Proverbs 31 Ministries.

Jodie writes about prayer and other family topics in her email newsletter and on Instagram. To download the collection of free resources (including printable prayer cards and calendars), please visit JodieBerndt.com.

Jodie and her husband, Robbie, have four adult children and live in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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How do you respond when life does not go as you planned? Maybe right now you are in the middle of grief. Or maybe there is a relationship in your life that is not going as you hoped it would. Maybe there are circumstances or a transition—something that is not how you hoped it would be.

What if we looked at those circumstances as an invitation—an invitation to lean into God! I love this word, invitation, in Bekah Pogue’s book, *Choosing Real. The subtitle is An Invitation to Celebrate When Life Doesn’t Go as Planned. I think so many of us can relate to that, so I cannot wait to talk to Bekah on the podcast and dive deeper into her book today. I love the wisdom she shares this episode especially the part about transitions. I promise you do not want to miss what she says!

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Bekah’s book: *Choosing Real.

All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/choosing-real-book-giveaway/

Book Recommendations:

• *The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom
• *The Empath's Survival Guide by Judith Orloff
• *Delicious by Ruth Reichl

Bekah Jane Pogue is the founder of Pasture Experience, where she offers a hospitable space for intimate retreats, spiritual direction, and creative expressions in the form of poetry and home design. She is also certified as a Grief Recovery Method Specialist. She enjoys off-road wildflower picking, exploring Nashville with her hubby and sons, and believes that listening is healing. Connect with Bekah on IG at @pastureexperience or visit her website at pastureexperience.com.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Have you ever prayed for a miracle? Maybe for healing for a friend, a loved one, or even yourself? Maybe that miracle did not happen- I know a lot of times we can be frustrated.

This is why I love the words that Elizabeth Leon shared this week on the podcast. She said, “The miracle you get is not always the miracle you prayed for.” I think there is so much wisdom in her words, especially after you hear her story. We are going to be talking about her book,*Let Yourself Be Loved: Big Lessons from a Little Life.

Oct. 15th is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, so I asked Elizabeth to share her story of John Paul Raphael’s life and how God took her greatest heartbreak and catapulted her to her greatest growth. There is so much truth that Elizabeth shares and I am so thankful she is not wasting her pain, but instead using it to help another hurting heart. I promise you do not want to miss one word of what she shares this week on the podcast.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win an advanced copy of Elizabeth’s book: *Let Yourself Be Loved: Big Lessons from a Little Life. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/let-yourself-be-loved-book-giveaway/

Book Recommendations

• *An Exact Replica of a Figment of my Imagination by Elizabeth McCracken
• *I Will Carry You by Angie Smith
• *Once More We Saw Stars by Jason Greene
• *Rare Bird by Anna Whiston-Donaldson

Elizabeth Leon is a Catholic writer, speaker, and musician from Ashburn, Virginia and the author of *Let Yourself Be Loved: Big Lessons from a Little Life. She has been a leader in ministry and faith formation for more than twenty-five years and desires to inspire others to find freedom and healing through Christ. Her gift is her willingness to be vulnerable and love with a heart wide-open despite the brokenness of divorce, death, and abuse. She and her husband Ralph are the parents of 10 children, 5 of hers, 4 of his, and their son, John Paul Raphael who died in 2018. In her book, Elizabeth cracks open the landscape of grief to reveal a love story. She invites readers deeply into her personal journey and invites them to consider their own uncertainty and suffering as a pathway to joy. She is a frequent speaker at women’s events in Northern Virginia and is pursuing her Masters in Social Work at George Mason University. You can find her online at www.elizabethleon.org or www.letyourselfbeloved.com.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Did you know that this week is Mental Illness Awareness Week? I know this subject is not talked about very much in the church, but today I want to give voice to it.

I am so excited to have Carla Arges on the podcast this week. She is a mental health advocate, and I love that she honestly and vulnerably shares about her struggle with mental illness this week. What I also love is she gives such truth and wisdom. She talks about mental health vs mental illness and compares it to physical health and physical illness. It was very eye-opening to me. She also encourages others to focus on their identity in Christ through Affirming Truths. One of my favorite parts of the episode!

I promise you do not want to miss her wisdom.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a set of Carla’s Affirming Truth Cards. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/affirming-truth-cards/

Book Recommendation: The Daily Kairos Journal

Carla is an entrepreneur, author, mom, wife, and mental health advocate. She is the founder of Affirming Truths, a platform to help women affirm their identity in Christ. Her mission is to help women gain confidence in who they are so that they can walk more boldly in the purpose God has over their life. You can connect with Carla on her website or on Instagram.

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How do you view your struggles and difficulties in life? Do you view them like an annoyance or something you have to go through? Or do you view them as a way to grow deeper in your faith? Or can we take it one step further – do you view your difficulties and struggles as a way to reflect God’s glory? These are hard questions, but they are good ones to ponder.

I am so excited to have Jenny Harmon on the podcast this week. She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis almost 19 years ago and she is going to take us through her journey. This month, September, is National Pain Awareness month and I know many like Jenny are experiencing chronic pain. I just love the perspective and wisdom that Jenny shares this episode. I know it offered me so much hope. If you are walking through something difficult, I know her words will encourage you too!

Book Recommendations:

• *Families Where Grace Is In Place by Jeff VanVonderen
• *The Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri Nouwen

Jenny has been married to her husband for 27 years and is the mother of 3 grown children and a Grammy to one. Since the moment Jenny put her faith in Christ at 20 years old, she has been passionately pursuing the Lord. She spent 10 years serving on staff at her church, working in Children's Ministry, Care Ministry and Married Life. Due to her health challenges she transitioned to full-time disability a year ago. In spite of this recent change, she continues to serve at the Church as a Women's Bible Study leader, Co-leads a small group with her husband, and is currently training to become a Biblical Counselor. You can connect with Jenny on Instagram.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Did you hear last week’s episode? It is so exciting! I celebrated 100 episodes on the Depth Podcast last week! In honor of that, I share some of my favorite highlights—some of the behind the scenes and some of the God moments over the last couple years. I realized really quickly that I needed another episode that I could not fit it all in one, so this week, I am sharing Part 2 of celebrating 100 episodes! If you missed Part 1, I highly recommend checking it out.

But before I get to the episode, I wanted to tell you about hope writers! I actually counted up the episodes that I interviewed a Hope Writer! How many of the 100 episodes do you think were Hope Writers? I was pleasantly surprised with how many and would love for you to listen to the podcast to hear the exact number.

I have met some of the most amazing people through Hope Writers. They have inspiring stories. They are writers and authors, and it is such a great community. I am so excited to announce they are opening their doors for membership from Monday September 20th- Friday September 24th. If you are a writer or you have a God Story in your heart and you are interested, I definitely encourage you to check out Hope Writers. Here is a direct link if you are interested in joining.

Favorite Episodes

Episode 37: John Brownlee -- Father's Day

Episode 60: Pat Brownlee -- Family Traditions

Episode 34: Jamie Brownlee Turgeon -- Special Mom Story

Episode 70: Brownlee Sisters -- Love Languages

Episode 2: Milan and Kay Yerkovich -- *How We Love Our Kids

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing these books, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Are you ready to celebrate with me today as we release the 100th episode on the Depth Podcast? I cannot believe we are already at number 100!!

To celebrate 100 episodes, I thought it would be fun to take a trip down memory lane and share some of my favorite highlights over the last 100 episodes. Not only will you get to hear a little clip from the episodes, but you will get to hear a little back story that goes with it.

Just in case you hear a clip, and you want to listen to the full episode, I will include links to all the ones I highlight today in the show notes on my website.

Again, I am so excited to reminisce about some of the special moments as well as the divine appointments God had for me these last 2 years. Thank you for being a faithful listener, and I am excited to celebrate with you!

Favorite Episode

Episode 26: Rosser Family -- Family & Feelings

Divine Appointment:

Episode 53: Kathe Wunnenberg -- *Grieving the Child I Never Knew

Broken Clay Pot:

Episode 7: Suzie Eller -- *The Mended Heart

Episode 86: Katherine Wolf -- *Suffer Strong

Episode 29: Lysa TerKeurst -- *It's Not Supposed To Be This Way

Episode 1: Introduction Episode -- *Unglued

Relying on God's Strength

Episode 69: Mark Batterson -- *Win The Day

Ampersand:

Blog Post: Are You Living in the Middle of the Ampersand?

Episode 48: Kaitlyn Bouchillon -- *Even If Not

Episode 64: Ronne Rock -- *One Woman Can Change the World

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Do you struggle with depression? Do you have dark days or maybe someone in your family does and this is a reality that you live with?

This week on the podcast, Sarah J. Robinson and I discuss her book, *I Love Jesus, But I Want To Die. I think sometimes we think that if we have faith, we will not struggle with depression. But that is not true. I am so thankful to Sarah for vulnerably sharing her struggle with depression and suicidal thoughts as well as offering hope to those walking through their darkest days. I believe her story will also give hope to those who have a loved one who struggles with depression.

It is National Suicide Prevention Week and I think this is a great time to bring voice to this important subject that is not always talked about much. We talk about finding a therapist and overcoming shame in this episode. Honestly, my favorite part is the loving words a couple spoke to Sarah in her greatest time of need. We can all learn so much for the wisdom and truth shared.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Sarah’s book, *I Love Jesus, But I Want To Die. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/i-love-jesus-but-i-want-to-die-book-giveaway/

Therapist Finder:

• Psychologytoday.com
• The American Association of Christian Counselors

Last year during National Suicide Week, I spoke with Kayla about her book, *Fear Gone Wild: A Story of Mental Illness, Suicide, and Hope Through Loss. If you are not familiar with her story, sadly, her husband, Andrew, died by suicide three years ago. If you missed our conversation, I encourage you to check it out: Depth Podcast Episode 49.

Book Recommendations:

• *The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning
• *The Furious Longing of God by Brennan Manning
• *Embracing the Love of God by James Bryan Smith

Mental Health Books

• *Try Softer by Aundi Kolber
• *The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk M.D.

Children’s Books (Sarah reads these on panic attack days to help calm her)

• *Winnie the Pooh
• *The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Sarah J. Robinson once believed her lifelong battle with depression made her a bad Christian. Now she’s 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.

In this debut book, Sarah offers a healthy, practical, and shame-free guide for Christians struggling with mental illness. She shares her story of battling depression and fighting to stay alive despite toxic theology that made her afraid to seek help outside the church.

Pairing her own story with scriptural insights, mental health research, and simple practices, Sarah helps you reconnect with the God who is present in your deepest anguish.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Would you classify yourself as a hustler? A Go Getter? A Hard Worker? Would you say you hustle for yourself or do you have a God centered hustle?

I am so excited to have Erin Harrigan on the podcast this week as we discuss her book, *Pursuing Success God’s Way: A Practical Guide to Hustle With Heart. I love those words paired together, Hustle With Heart, and cannot wait to dive deeper into what that looks like as Erin shares her personal story of how God birthed this message in her. One of my favorite parts is when Erin talks about the importance of avoiding comparison as well as how to be on guard for Satan’s tactics to discourage us.

This episode is packed full of truth and wisdom that you do not want to miss.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Erin’s book: *Pursuing Success God’s Way All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/pursuing-success-gods-way-book-giveaway/

Book Recommendations

• *Visioneering by Andy Stanley
• *Chasing Vines by Beth Moore
• *The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson
• *In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day by Mark Batterson

Erin Harrigan speaks, coaches, and writes on the power of trading in self-reliance for surrender to make God your business partner. As a recovering driver and striver, she teaches women how to pursue success God's way to build a thriving business, and experience freedom from overwhelm, overachieving and under fulfillment.

Erin is a Christian wife, mom, avid traveler who loves tacos, guac and all things 80's!

Her Hustle with Heart Course is coming! Get on the waiting list at https://erinharrigan.com/coursewaitinglist

Check out her podcast, get chapter 1 of her book, and all the things at her website erinharrigan.com

Get to know Erin at:

FB: @thehustlewithheartcoach

IG: @erin_harrigan_entreprenur

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Today is an exciting day! The Depth Podcast is Two Years Old!

I am so excited for this special Birthday Celebration Episode! I cannot wait to share more of the backstory of my ministry. We will talk about what birthed the book giveaway ministry as well as the beginning years on the blog. I cannot wait for you to hear some of the God moments on getting my first guests for the podcast and even more about the progress on my book. As we talk about my ministry these last seven years, I am in awe of God and how He is guiding it all.

Also, I love talking with my friend, Anita Hansen. We met years ago in Treasured, a Bible Study for young moms at our church. She interviews me using your questions from the survey. We start off with some fun questions and then we get deeper and more vulnerable. As I honestly share my own story, I hope my words will help another hurting heart.

I promise you do not want to miss this special episode! Praying our conversation encourages you!

If you missed my special one year birthday celebration episode, click this link to Episode 47.

Book Recommendations:

• *Growing Slow by Jennifer Dukes Lee (Click here to listen to Episode 80)
• *Win The Day by Mark Batterson (Click here to listen to Episode 69)
• *Unglued by Lysa TerKeurst (Click here to listen to Episode 1)
• *How We Love Our Kids by Milan and Kay Yerkovich (Click here to listen to Episode 2)
• *Thrive by Mark Hall
• *Love Lives Here by Bob Goff
• *Girls With Swords by Lisa Bevere
• *When God Doesn't Fix It by Laura Story (Click here to listen to Episode 4)

Thank you again for all your support and encouragement these past two years! I am so looking forward to digging deeper this next year!

Love, Jodi

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Do you find it hard to slow down? Would you classify your life as busy? I think a lot of us would.

I am excited to have Jodi Grubbs on the podcast this week. She is a fellow podcaster, and we talk about slow living. Jodi shares with us about her podcast, Our Island in the City, as well as why slow living is her life message. This revelation that she discovered recently is one of my favorite parts of the episode. I love how God never wastes any of our pain. We also talk about soul-care and its importance in slowing down in life. I promise you do not want to miss the truths Jodi shares.

Book Recommendations:

• *The Listening Life by Adam S. McHugh
• *Essentialism by Greg McKeown
• *Effortless by Greg McKeown
• *What Does Your Soul Love? By Gem & Alan Fadling

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of one of Jodi's recommended books: *What Does Your Soul Love? By Gem & Alan Fadling. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/what-does-your-soul-love-book-giveaway/

I’m Jodi Grubbs ~ a lingering coffee conversationalist and slow living advocate. I live outside of Raleigh, NC and share a 1952 bungalow with my husband and teen daughter. As a former island girl, I am passionate about coming alongside women who long for that shift to slower living.

I’m a writer & the the host of Our Island in the City Podcast where I love conversing with my guests about faith, ordinary soul care and deep community. I love interacting over on Instagram @jodi.grubbs. If you are interested in subscribing to her newsletter, please I’m a writer & the the host of Our Island in the City Podcast where I love conversing with my guests about faith, ordinary soul care and deep community. I love interacting over on Instagram @jodi.grubbs. If you are interested in subscribing to her newsletter, please click this link.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Do you hear God speak to you? Does He speak to you through the Bible as you do your quiet time? Do you hear Him at church, and you feel like the Pastor is speaking directly to your heart? Are there ideas in your head that you know you could not have come up with by yourself? Maybe it is a conversation with a friend, and it confirms everything you feel He is trying to say to you.

I am so excited to have Rachel Groll on the podcast this week. She wrote a Bible Study called *She Hears: Learning to Listen to Jesus. I love that her Bible Study is about the 6 women that interacted with Jesus in the New Testament. I cannot wait for you to hear the insights she brings out from her study. She also will be introducing the color method, a phenomenal way to study the Bible. I promise you do not want to miss the truths she shares.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Rachael’s book: *She Hears All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/she-hears-giveaway/

In addition, the Depth podcast is celebrating its 2 year birthday in less than two weeks! Just like last year, I would love to get your feedback on the podcast, so I have attached a link to a survey for you. Since I love to give away books, I will be picking one person who completes the survey and sending them a favorite book! Thank you in advance for your input. Click here to complete the survey.

Book Recommendation: *Mark of the Lion Series by Francine Rivers

Rachael Groll is a pastor, missionary, and author. Her latest book, *She Hears : Learning to Listen to Jesus came out July 1 and is available wherever books are sold. Rachael has a heart for pointing others to Jesus and serves across the globe in the areas of evangelism and discipleship. You can connect with her at her website, Shehears.org

Apple Podcast: She Hears Podcast

Instagram: she_hears

Facebook: She Hears

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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How do you connect with God? Is it early in the morning with a cup of coffee and your Bible? Do you love to go to worship nights at church and sing? Are you part of a Bible Study where you meet and regularly pray? Or do you love to be out in nature and feel close to God in His Creation. Maybe it is a mixture of all of these.

I am so excited to have Jennie Denney on the podcast this week as we discuss her book, *Shaping the Soul. Jennie invited other artists and writers to collaborate with on this book about spiritual practices. I love that she is encouraging us to create space for the Holy Spirit to work in our lives and that these spiritual practices can work in conjunction with reading your Bible, praying, going to church, all the things that many of us are already doing. I cannot wait for you to hear the creativity and the way we can use our five senses to connect more with God each day and throughout the day. I promise you are going to learn so much from Jennie!

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Jennie’s book: *Shaping the Soul. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/shaping-the-soul-giveaway/

In addition, the Depth podcast is celebrating its 2 year birthday in just one month! Just like last year, I would love to get your feedback on the podcast, so I have attached a link to a survey for you. Since I love to give away books, I will be picking one person who completes the survey and sending them a favorite book! Thank you in advance for your input. Click here to complete the survey.

Book Recommendations:

• *The Quotidian Mysteries by Kathleen Norris
• *Soul Keeping by John Ortberg
• *Embracing the Love of God by James Bryan Smith
• *The Deeper Journey by M Robert Mulholland Jr (sequel: Invitation to a Journey)
• *By Way of the Heart by Wilkie Au

Jennie Denney lives in Southern California with her husband and four children, loves to travel, be in nature, and writes for those trying to figure out a way to live that makes sense in a world that doesn’t. She has a certificate of Bible through Torchbearers Bible School, a certificate in Spiritual Formation through the Apprentice Experience at Friends University, and a Masters degree in Pastoral Studies from Azusa Pacific Seminary.

She wrote and published Soul Cries: A Journal in 2019, where she shares inspirational poems and photography of when her family lived as nomads in Europe. Her newest journal is Shaping the Soul: An Artist Collective, where 21 simple spiritual practices are paired with beautiful artwork from 16 artists, space for journaling reflection, and space for doodling. She would love to connect with you on Instagram at @jennie.denney and at her website, http://Jenniedenney.com, where she shares an encouraging weekly blog post with stories, practices, and lessons she is learning as she tries to figure out a way to live that makes sense in a world that doesn’t.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Are you easily distracted? Maybe it is by your to do list or you have a goal you are trying to reach. Or maybe your mind is preoccupied and while you are listening to a loved one, sometimes your mind goes off on a tangent. Can anyone relate to that? I know I struggle with this. Honestly, I think many of us do.

I am so excited to have Julie Lefebure on the podcast this week! She will share her struggle with distraction and how God has taught her to live in the moment! She will also talk about how she believed the lie that in order for her to be worthy, she had to have worldly things. I love her vulnerability and honesty in this episode and how God changed her heart as she served the homeless and hurting in her community. There is so much goodness and truth shared by Julie; I promise you do not want to miss her encouraging words. You can listen on your favorite podcast platform.

Also, the Depth podcast is celebrating its 2 year birthday in just one month! Just like last year, I would love to get your feedback on the podcast, so I have attached a link to a survey for you. Since I love to give away books, I will be picking one person who completes the survey and sending them a favorite book! Thank you in advance for your input. Click here to complete the survey.

Book Recommendations:

• *The Five Love Languages by Dr. Gary Chapman
• *Wounded by God's People by Anne Graham Lotz
• *It's Not Supposed To Be This Way by Lysa TerKeurst

Julie Lefebure is a Christian encourager who writes, speaks, and coaches to help women find real encouragement for their real lives. At julielefebure.com, you can receive access to her free Resources which are designed to encourage your heart and lift your spirit, especially her Embracing Who You Are printable. She is also the founder of Bring Your Own Bible and Beverage, a quarterly evening of encouragement for women. Julie resides in rural Iowa and is married to Bill. They are avid tandem bicyclists and have a goal to bike in each of the 50 states! They have two fun adult children, a wonderful son-in-law, and a precious 7-month old grandson. She loves walking outdoors, sunrises and sunsets, blooming flowers, live music, meeting new friends, and chai lattes.

You can engage with Julie on Instagram @julielefebure, on Facebook @JulieLefebureWriter, and on Twitter @JulieLefebure.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Would you call yourself a courageous person? Do you easily step out of your comfort zone? Would you say you are living in the purpose or calling God designed for you?

I am so excited to have Melissa Dyer on the podcast this week and highlight her book, *Learning to Roar. I love that her book encourages us to Cultivate Courage; I love these two words paired up together. Melissa is going to share with us her story and how she needed to identify the weeds in her life that were choking her growth. I love that she talks about self-awareness on this episode, one of my favorite parts. She is also going to help us identify our Courage Persona. I promise you do not want to miss what Melissa has to share!

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Melissa’s book: *Learning to Roar. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/learning-to-roar-book-giveaway/

Book Recommendations:

• *A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller
• *A Habit Called Faith by Jen Pollock Michel
• *Undignified by Caroline Dyer
• Courageous Days by Melissa C. Dyer

Melissa C. Dyer is a wife, mother, business owner, and Champion of women. She's worked as a corporate executive, in Christian ministry, and as a homeschool mom. Her writing and teachings have inspired, challenged, and educated readers and listeners for more than 20 years. She's the Author of two books, Learning to Roar and Courageous Days. She's the host of the popular podcast The Cost Is Courage* and she resides in sunny south Florida with her husband and fur baby Jill. She's now the mother of young adult children and an empty nester, you can connect with her ministry at www.MelissaCDyer.com

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Do you ever think about the legacy you want to leave behind? What do you want to be known for? What is important to you in this life? These are great questions to think about and ponder.

I am so excited to have Nina Hundley on the podcast this week as she tells us about her legacy journal, *Dear Tomorrow: Journaling Your Story Today. She will also share her story and what birthed this idea for a simplified legacy journal and the ten questions. I love that these questions can be answered in any season of life: single or married, with kids or without. Just think, what words of wisdom would like to pass along. I promise you do not want to miss this conversation with Nina.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Nina’s journal: *Dear Tomorrow. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link. https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/dear-tomorrow-giveaway/

Book Recommendations

• Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper
• Hinds Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard
• Mark of the Lion Series by Francine Rivers

Nina Hundley believes in the power of written words. She has been published in the medical community, various blogs, and The Joyful Life Community. She is a freelance developmental and copy editor for fiction, nonfiction, and memoirs. She writes with a heart focused on leaving a legacy and how to make choices in who we want to become. Nina publishes a monthly newsletter with book reviews and hope-filled content. She writes short stories of hope on her blog,and welcomes visitors to sign up at www.ninahundley.com. She would also love to connect with you on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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How was your 4th of July? One of my favorite things about this Holiday is that we come together and celebrate how we are proud to be an American! It is one of my favorite songs.

I am so excited to have Susan Park on the podcast this week as she shares with us about being an American from an Asian perspective. This episode is called “Proud to be an Asian American.” Susan shares about growing up and living in two cultures at the same time and some of the challenges as well as what she has learned. This conversation was so eye-opening for me, and I hope it does the same for you.

Book Recommendation:

• *Ordering Your Private World by Gordon MacDonald

Susan Park is a Christian Korean American writer who loves encouraging women to co-create with God in their creative work. She finds joy in connecting with other creative women and praying for them. She loves encouraging them through Scripture and with words of hope.

She is a fiction writer and is currently working on her first novel. It is about a second-generation Korean American college woman set in the 1990s.

Susan lives in the Chicago area and is married to her wonderful husband of seventeen years. She has three lovable boys.

Susan would love to connect with you through her website at www.susanepark.com, or on social media @susaneparkwrites. I especially encourage you to check out her four posts about growing up as a Korean American.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing the book recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Do you have a day to reflect and rest each week? A day to look back over your week and see where were your highs and lows? What were your blessings or bummers? Do you practice a Sabbath?

I am so excited to have Rachel Fahrenbach on the podcast this week to talk about her book, *Rest & Reflect, a 12-week guided Sabbath journal. I know you are going to learn so much from her and I cannot wait for you to hear the 5 R’s and how her family practically observes a 24-hour Sabbath each week. I am also so excited for you to hear the questions she uses in her weekly lookback. They have been so helpful to me and I know they will be a great resource for you. I promise you do not want to miss the wisdom she shares.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Rachel’s book: *Rest & Reflect. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/rest-reflect-giveaway/

Book Recommendations from Rachel:

• *Pudd'nhead Wilson by Mark Twain
• *A Brief History of Sunday by Justo Gonzales

To join my Depth Podcast Community Group, click on https://www.facebook.com/groups/depthpodcast

RACHEL FAHRENBACH is the author of *Rest & Reflect, a guided journal that helps you implement a weekly rhythm of rest and reflection in your week through the practice of Sabbath. Her desire is to see moms reclaim a deep joy and stabilizing peace in their weeks by actively choosing to rest. To support them in this choice, Rachel offers encouragement and resources for implementing a Sabbath practice at rachelfahrenbach.com. Rachel and her husband live in the Chicagoland area with their three kiddos.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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How do you define success? Do you define it by how much money you make? Do you define it by how many followers you have on IG or Facebook? Maybe it is the impact you have on your family and friends.

What if we changed the way we looked at success? Instead of how much we can get, we defined it by how much we can give. I love this idea from Kevin White’s book, *Audacious Generosity. I am so excited to talk with him this week on the podcast about his book as well as giving. I know you are going to love hearing Kevin’s stories about his ministry in India as well as his local ministry. I cannot wait for you to hear the truths he shares and I hope it ignites in all of us an excitement to want to give.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Kevin’s book: *Audacious Generosity All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/audacious-generosity-book-giveaway/

Book Recommendations from Kevin:

• *Purpose Driven Life by Pastor Rick Warren
• *Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby
• *Freedom in Christ by Neil Anderson

As an author, speaker, and leader, Kevin White, is convinced that audacious generosity transforms the world. Kevin’s on a mission to empower a culture of generosity throughout the world with his book, *Audacious Generosity, and his Generosity of God story telling campaign.

A seasoned pastor and entrepreneur, Kevin founded With Love From Jesus Ministries in 1999 to distribute essential resources to high-need populations. The organization continues to carry out its original mission by distributing millions of dollars in resources each year to those who need it most. In 2003, Kevin founded Global Hope India, and he continues to lead the mission-minded organization focused on Indian Nationals as its executive director. Kevin has traveled to India over 50 times taking one thousand people on short-term mission trips to India.

Outside of building successful nonprofits with world-changing impact, Kevin has started churches and businesses. He speaks internationally and hosts three podcast shows in the USA.

An ordained minister, Kevin received his undergraduate degree in 1989 from Southern Wesleyan University. Kevin and his wife, Shelly, have been married 33 years. They have three adult children and one grandchild. Kevin and Shelly live in Cary, North Carolina.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Do you have a strong support group? Do you have a group of friends to encourage you along your parenting and faith journey? Are you a part of a small group at church?

This week, I invited all the dads from my small group Bible Study to share their wisdom and parenting tips in honor of Father’s Day. Our small group at church is a mixture of both married couples and single moms, so I am excited for you to hear from all the dads this week on the Depth Podcast. They share both the rewards and challenges of being a dad, advice they would give to another father as well as things they would have done differently. I promise you do not want to miss all the amazing parenting advice.

I recommend you listen to this episode with your spouse and if you are a single mom like me, I promise there is a lot of parenting insight and truth to glean from these 5 dads: Jason, Tim, Scott, Eric, and Allen! I love their honesty and vulnerability. With Father’s Day just around the corner, I hope their words will encourage all parents to be a student of their kids and be more intentional. You can listen to this episode on your favorite Podcast platform.

Last year, I recorded a Father’s Day episode with my dad, John Brownlee. If you missed my conservation with my dad, I recommend listening to this episode: Depth Podcast Episode 37

One of the book recommendations on this episode is Mark Oestriecher’s book, *Understanding Your Young Teen, Marko shared his wisdom on the Depth Podcast back in January 2020. If you have teenagers, I highly recommend buying his book and listening to this episode: Depth Podcast Episode 14

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Have you ever walked through hard circumstances that redefined how you viewed everything? Maybe it redefined your purpose or how you view brokenness?

I am so excited to talk with Katherine Wolf this week on the podcast about her book,*Suffer Strong: How to Survive Anything by Redefining Everything. Katherine vulnerably shares about how her life took an unexpected turn in 2008 when a massive stroke nearly ended her life. Thankfully she survived and now, she encourages others to redefine how they view suffering. You don’t want to miss what she shares about redefining celebration, loss, and healing. Honestly, my favorite part is when we talk about kintsugi, a beautiful Japanese art that helped me redefine brokenness.

I promise her words will encourage you!

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Katherine’s book: *Suffer Strong. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link.https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/suffer-strong-book-giveaway/

Katherine is a communicator and advocate. She married her husband Jay in 2004 and moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. Their son, James was born in 2007, and six months later Katherine’s life nearly ended with a catastrophic stroke. Miraculously, she survived and continues her recovery to this day, including having a miracle baby, John in 2015. Katherine and Jay have shared their journey of steadfast hope through their books, Hope Heals and Suffer Strong, and at speaking events both live and online before millions. Together, they founded Hope Heals camp, a community for families with disabilities like them. Katherine, Jay and their two sons live in the Atlanta area. To connect, visit hopeheals.com or @hopeheals

To join my Depth Podcast Community Group, click on https://www.facebook.com/groups/depthpodcast

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Would you call yourself an encourager? Do you come alongside and empower other women?

I am so excited this week to have Amy and Blair Debrucque, a mother and daughter who together wrote a four-week encouragement journal called *Embolden. The word, embolden means to give someone the courage or confidence to do something or behave in a certain way. I love the truths they share in this book to help empower other women. I know you are going to love hearing from both of them! To listen, click on the link in my bio.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Amy & Blair’s book: *Embolden. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/embolden-giveaway/

Amy is a wife and mother of 4. She is the founder of the Life On Purpose Movement and the host of Life On Purpose Podcast. After a cancer diagnosis at age 40, she began encouraging other women to share their stories in order to find hope and healing. Her first book, Embolden, that she co-wrote with her oldest daughter Blair releases on April 23rd.

Blair is a senior at Roberts Wesleyan University and will begin a master's program in speech pathology next year. She is an avid reader of mystery novels and also enjoys skiing, hiking, and horseback riding. Blair is excited to share Embolden with women her age, so they have a resource that will help encourage and bring them closer to God.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Have you ever had to wrestle with God? Maybe you are walking through a difficult circumstance and you are asking God the tough questions: Why God? Why is this happening to me?

I am so excited for you to hear Bethany Kimsey’s special mom story. She had to wrestle with God in her late teens when she got a doctor’s diagnosis that she was not going to be able to have kids. I love what Bethany shares on the podcast about what God taught her in the middle of that wrestling. Honestly, it is one of my favorite parts of this episode. Now, I don’t want to give anything away but I just love that nothing is impossible with God, even if the doctors tell you otherwise. I promise you do not want to miss this miraculous story!

Bethany also offers amazing wisdom for moms. One of my favorite quotes she recently shared on Instagram is “We cannot parent perfectly. But we can parent surrendered to the One who does parent perfectly.” As a recovering perfectionist, this truth was so freeing. I know you are going to love the wisdom that Bethany shares!

Bethany Kimsey is a Hope Writer just like me! I am excited to share that Hope Writers is opening their doors for membership this week. If God has placed a message on your heart and you have a desire to write, I highly recommend joining the Hope Writers community. They have incredible teachings and wonderful support! Click on this Hope Writers Link if you are interested.

As a mother to 8 children, Bethany Kimsey has seen God radically change her messy motherhood from weary, anxious, and frantic to peaceful, joyful, and triumphant. She helps weary mothers win the battle against worry and fatigue as they understand their identity in Christ and rest in the hope of the Gospel in community with other moms. As a writer, speaker, and encourager of mothers, she wants to see a generation of Grace-Filled Warriors stand together and walk triumphantly behind the One who sets them free from performance, doubt, and fear.

Bethany has learned the freedom of applying gospel truths to the daily details with children. Over on her podcast, "When God Breaks Through," we learn together how to take spiritual truths into the micro and macro moments of motherhood. How do we make this fuzzy intersection of real life mothering and the gospel clearly defined for vision and confidence? Connection happens when we meet together in the real spaces-- the kitchen tables of life-- sharing stories of hope, truth, and grace.

She would love to connect to encourage you! She has a free download "How do we have gospel conversations with our children at different ages and stages?" you can grab at this link: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/607a40fa6b2fd805959a2464

You can also find her writings and teachings over at her website bethanykimsey.com or on her podcast “When God Breaks Through.” You can also connect on Instagram or Facebook as well.

Podcast Link: https://whengodbreaksthrough.libsyn.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bethanykimsey/

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Have you ever used the words: And Yet? Maybe you’ve said, “God, things are really hard, And Yet, I feel closer to you than ever before.”

Katy Epling used these words “And Yet” on the podcast this week as she shared her special mom story, and it really touched my heart. I love that Katy honestly shares the ups and downs of parenting a child with special needs. According to Katy, the joys far outweigh the struggles. Also, Katy gives us practical ways we can come alongside and help another family as well as some hurtful words to avoid. You do not want to miss all the wisdom she shares with us!

Lastly, Katy and I met through Hope Writers and her Life on Purpose Summit. She even has a book called Life on Purpose. She loves to share with others that God created them on purpose for a purpose!” I cannot wait for you to hear what birthed this truth that God created each one of us exactly as we are. To listen, click the link in the bio.

In fact, I am so excited for someone to win a signed copy of Katy’s book: *Life on Purpose. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/life-on-purpose-book-giveaway/

Katy Epling is a writer and speaker in northeast Ohio. The author of *Life on Purpose: 30 Days of Listening to the One Who Calls You, Katy loves to encourage women to root their identity in Christ. Her mission is to live her everyday life on purpose, for a purpose—and to help everyone she encounters to do the same. Her writing has been featured on sites such as The Huffington Post, Today Parents, The Mighty, and Relevant Magazine. Katy also has a short ebook devo written for parents of kiddos with special needs. It's called You are Not Messing This Up, and it's available here.

Katy and her husband Jon have three beautiful children, who provide her with never-ending material, both dramatic and comedic. When she isn’t writing or speaking, she can be found packing lunches, folding laundry, and making dinner. (And on rare occasions, sipping a chai latte with a friend.) You can find her online at katyepling.com, on Facebook, and on Instagram.

I am so excited to announce that Hope Writers is opening their doors again. If you have a message to share, or a book on your heart, I highly recommend joining the Hope Writers Community. Here are some resources to check out:

Click here to check out 10 questions to ask yourself before you write a book.

Click here to discover where you are on the 6 stage writing path.

If you are interested and have any questions about Hope Writers, please let me know. I am happy to answer them.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Have you ever walked through difficult circumstances and found that it really grew your faith? Not only did it grow your faith, but it grew your trust and dependence on God?

I am excited to introduce my second special mom story. Jennifer Perez shares her foster to adopt story and walking through the years of infertility. She also vulnerably tells her miraculous pregnancy story which sadly did not end as she hoped. But God used it to birth her ministry, to help and encourage other moms. Through all these hard circumstances, her faith deepened in ways she never knew possible. I cannot wait for you to hear the wisdom she shares on the podcast.

Jennifer also wrote a devotional called She Laughs: A 40-Day Journey to a Heart Filled with Joy and Peace. Based on the verse in Proverbs 31:25, this woman “is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.” Jennifer explains that because this woman has a confidence in her God, she is not consumed by stress and worry. It is a great devotional.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Jennifer’s devotional: *She Laughs. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link. https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/she-laughs-devotional-giveaway/

Jennifer Perez is passionate about encouraging women in their faith and pointing them to the hope of Jesus through her writing and speaking. She recently released a 40-day interactive devotional called *She Laughs: A 40-Day Journey to a Heart Filled with Joy and Peace, designed to help women engage with God's Word as they combat stress, anxiety, and worry. With raw honesty and occasionally some humor, she writes devotionals and shares encouraging videos on her social media platforms and blogs regularly at http://www.theencouragingmomblog.com. She lives in Houston, TX with her husband Mace and 2 children and daily misses her baby in Heaven. You can find her on Facebook @theencouragingmomblog and on Instagram @theencouragingmom.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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This week, I am excited to have Holley Gerth back on the Depth Podcast. She is going to share her infertility story as well as how she met her daughter. I promise you that you do not want to miss this special mom story; I love how God orchestrated all of it!

I know Mother’s Day can be hard for those who desire to become a mom and this dream has not come true. So, Holley and I also talk about how we can come along side and help someone walking this hard road of infertility. I love her helpful words to say as well as her beautiful advice to encourage another hurting heart.

If you are walking this hard path of infertility, let me first say, I am so sorry. I believe Holley’s story will encourage you and remind you that you are not alone. I pray our conversation offers you hope in the middle of your unexpected storm.

Last year, Saddleback Church hosted a gathering for grieving women a couple nights before Mother’s Day called the Bella Donne, which means beautiful women in Italian. I have attached the link so you can listen. I pray this encourages you especially if your heart is hurting this Mother’s Day. https://saddleback.com/watch/webcast/belle-donne/belle-donne-2020

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Holley’s book: *You're Going To Be Okay. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/youre-going-to-be-okay-book/

It is fun to have Holley back on the Podcast! If you missed my first conversation with Holley about her book, *The Powerful Purpose of Introverts, please check out Episode 57 on the Depth podcast. I also love what she shares about being an enneagram 1 and how to combat our inner critics.

Holley Gerth loves humans, words, and good coffee. She’s a Wall Street Journal bestselling author, life coach, and counselor with a Master of Science degree in Mental Health. Holley also cofounded the groundbreaking online community (in)courage, which had almost one million page views in its first six months, and cohosts the More Than Small Talk podcast. Her newest release is The Powerful Purpose of Introverts: Why the World Needs You to Be You. Find out more and connect with Holley at holleygerth.com or on Instagram at @holleygerth

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Do you feel pressure to grow? Grow fast? Grow quick? Do you look at your life and think I should be farther along by now? I should have accomplished more of my goals. I know I struggle with this- maybe you do too.

I am so excited to have Jennifer Dukes Lee back on the podcast to discuss her new book, *Growing Slow: Lessons on Un-Hurrying Your Heart From An Accidental Farm Girl. Jennifer divided the book into the four seasons and what happens on a farm: Spring Planting, Summer Growth, Autumn Harvest and Winter Rest. On the podcast, we will talk about each one and how just like these fields, God is growing us. Jennifer says, “God is planting seeds within you- seeds which will bear internal fruit with eternal value.” There are so many nuggets of truth in this episode; I had multiple favorite parts.

Friend, I cannot wait for you to hear the wisdom Jennifer shares from her book.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Jennifer’s book: *Growing Slow. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/growing-slow-book-giveaway/

It is fun to have Jennifer back on the Podcast! If you missed my first conversation with Jennifer about her book, It's All Under Control, please check out Episode 3 on the Depth podcast. I love what she says, “We surrender the outcomes, not the effort.” You can also check out her other two books on Amazon: Happiness Dare and *Love Idol.

Lastly, to join my Depth Podcast Community Group, click on https://www.facebook.com/groups/depthpodcast

Jennifer Dukes Lee lives on the fifth-generation Lee family farm in Iowa, where she and her husband are raising crops, pigs, and two beautiful humans. She writes books, loves queso, and enjoys singing too loudly to songs with great harmony. Once upon a time, she didn't believe in Jesus; now he's her CEO. Find Jennifer at JenniferDukesLee.com and on Instagram at @JenniferDukesLee.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Are you a God Chaser? Are you teaching your kids to be God chasers? Like David in the Bible, do you want your children to be a man or woman after God’s own heart?

This week, I talk with Christie Thomas about her new book,*The Mother and Son Prayer Journal. I love that she wrote this devotional for moms and sons to do together. Christie says, “As your son’s mom, you have more influence on his faith than anyone else in his life.” My friends with daughters, the same is true for you. Christie encourages us to be intentional with this time with our children and I love the great questions in her book that help foster deeper discussion with our kids as they become God chasers, my favorite part of her book. I promise you do not want to miss the wisdom she shares!

We also talk about Christie’s website: Little Shoots, Deep Roots. I love that she is encouraging and equipping parents to nurture deep roots in their family. Friends, you know how much I love talking about depth and deep roots! Christie also wrote two amazing children’s books called Quinn's Promise Rock and Quinn Says Goodbye. I just ordered Quinn Says Goodbye and loved the beautiful illustrations and important message that God is always with you even when hard things happen.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of one of Christie’s book: The Mother and Son Prayer Journal, Quinn's Promise Rock, and *Quinn Says Goodbye. This week, the book giveaway is just a little different because the winner gets to choose which one of Christie’s three books that they would like to win! All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link:

https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/the-mother-son-prayer-journal-giveaway/

Christie Thomas was the Director of Children’s Ministries for over 10 years, until she retired so she could homeschool her three boys and write books. She is the author of Quinn's Promise Rock, Quinn Says Goodbye, and The Mother and Son Prayer Journal.*

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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How do you view church? Do you go to church to check off a box or because it is something you have always done? Or do you go to church because you know the God of the Universe loves you dearly and has saved you?

I am so excited to talk with Holly Christine Hayes this week about her book, *From Basement to Sanctuary. Holly has a powerful testimony and I love that she uses the metaphor of a church building architecture and compares it to her personal story of how she moved up from the basement attending a recovery group to the sanctuary sharing her testimony from the stage. Honestly, my favorite part is how God revealed His grace to her three different times through John 8 as well as what she learned about pew dwellers vs. basement dwellers. This was so eye-opening to me and has really impacted how I view church. I promise you do not want to miss the wisdom she shares!

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Holly’s book: *From Basement to Sanctuary. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link. https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/from-basement-to-sanctuary-book-giveaway/

Holly Christine Hayes is Founder + CEO of Sanctuary Project, a survivor-run nonprofit social enterprise employing and empowering women who’ve survived lives of trafficking, violence, and addiction in Austin, TX. Holly was rescued out of a life of trauma more than nineteen years ago and knows the path to recovery can be long and rocky. An award-winning author of the book *From Basement to Sanctuary, Holly is passionate about sharing her vulnerable journey of healing and finding hope in Christ. She speaks in jails, churches, recovery communities and conferences all over the globe about transformation from trauma and the Redeemer who can lift any life from the pit. You can connect with Holly at https://www.hollychristinehayes.com/

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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If God asked you to take a leap of faith, would you say yes? Would you open your hands and have a willing heart to whatever He is asking you to do?

I am so excited to have Vivian Mabuni on the podcast and we are discussing her book, *Open Hands Willing Heart. I love that Vivian paired open hands with a willing heart. Both are needed to fully surrender and say yes to God. This week, we dive deeper into what it looks like to have a willing heart and I cannot wait for you to hear what Vivian shares about deep roots! Also, we talk about have a willing heart to move towards others with different backgrounds and experiences. As an Asian American, Vivian will share with us about building bridges instead of putting up walls. Honestly, I love the wisdom and light she sheds on this important subject.

On a fun note: I love sharing how Vivian and I met. Even though she just lives miles away from me in Orange County, CA, we actually met in Rwanda in 2019. Vivian was on a missions trip for If Gathering and I was on a missions trip with my son for Saddleback Church. I love God’s providence.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Vivian’s book: *Open Hands Willing Heart All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/open-hands-willing-heart-book-giveaway/

Vivian Mabuni is a national speaker and author, bible teacher and podcast host. Her writing has appeared in Christianity Today, SheReadsTruth, Our Daily Bread, and Propel Sophia. She has been a keynote speaker at conferences, universities and churches across the country including IF:Gathering, QCommons, and Biola University. With 32 years serving on staff with Cru, Viv loves teaching about the Bible and practical application to ministry and life and serves on the Board of Trustees at Denver Seminary. Author of Warrior in Pink and Open Hands Willing Heart and host of the podcast for AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islanders) leaders Someday is Here, Viv loves drinking coffee with her husband of 29 years, Darrin, and marveling at their three young adult kids.

Don't forget to subscribe to the show so you don't miss any new episodes.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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When you read your Bible, do you sometimes find it is hard to understand? What if someone could come along and help you understand it better? What if they could help you find JOY in reading the Bible?

I am so excited to have Jenny Howell, Heather Erickson, and Sarah West, the founders of the Chara Project on the podcast this week. Chara means JOY in Greek and I love that the Chara Project, a non-profit organization helps ALL women find JOY in the Bible. I cannot wait for you to learn their acronym for CHARA, a wonderful tool to help us dive deeper into God’s Word. The Chara Project also models how to love outside their lines as they write and lead Bible studies for interfaith communities.

Since it is the week between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday, I cannot wait for you to hear more about their Bible Study called The Upper Room: The Final Teachings of Christ. This study dives deeper into the final words of wisdom Jesus shares before going to the cross. What perfect timing with Easter around the corner; you can find this bible study free on their website.

I promise you do not want to miss this episode and the amazing truth shared by the Chara Project!

Also, I am so excited to announce we are giving away an ESV Women’s Study Bible this week on the Podcast! The Chara Project loves getting Bibles into people’s hands! All the details of the Bible giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link. https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/esv-womens-study-bible-giveaway/

The Chara Project launched for one main reason: they saw a deepening hunger from women to understand the Bible! They have a passion for sharing Biblical joy through writing and teaching. And that’s what you can come to expect from The Chara Project. They are for ALL women whether you have been in Bible study your whole life, or if this is your first week ever. To connect with the Chara Project, go to https://www.thecharaproject.com/

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Has someone ever said a hurtful word to you that now you wear as a nametag? Maybe it has become your identity. Or maybe you walked through a hard season and now that defines you.

This week, Cindy Bultema shares her powerful testimony of how God has freed her from these labels and helped her find her true identity! This inspired her to write this amazing A to Z identity list that I cannot wait to read over you today on the podcast. The list includes Bible Verses for each word to remind us who God says we are. These words also help us remember the Truth, the capital T Truth! Honestly, learning the difference between what is true and the Truth was my favorite part of the episode.

Cindy is also the Executive Director of GEMS, a ministry to remind girls the capital T Truth! I cannot wait to highlight more about this amazing non-profit that is impacting so many girls worldwide as well as Cindy’s book, *Live Full Walk Free: A Journey through 1 Corinthians, Set Apart in a Sin-Soaked World. There is so much goodness in this episode; I recommend you have a pen and paper to catch all of it! I promise you do not want to miss the Truth that Cindy shares!

So excited for you to download a copy of the A to Z Identity List. There is a fun-colored version for girls, so I printed it in color for my nieces. But I printed it in black and white for my sons! Important truth for both boys and girls!

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Cindy’s book: *Live Full Walk Free. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/live-full-walk-free-book-giveaway/

Cindy Bultema has a powerful testimony of overcoming loss and addiction. Once a young mom who suffered from years of addiction; an eating disorder and a deadly overdose, she now leads thousands of young girls into a loving relationship with Jesus as the Executive Director of GEMS (Girls Everywhere Meeting the Savior), a non-profit ministry impacting the lives of girls worldwide. To learn more about GEMS, visit http://gemsgc.org/

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Have you ever cried out to God and asked, “God, please no more hard things.” Nicki shares these words in her new book, *Flooded. Sadly, for the last two years, it has been one hard thing on top of another for Nicki and her family. This week on the Depth podcast, she vulnerably shares how doubt flooded her soul and began to impact her faith. Maybe you are in a hard season where doubt has flooded your soul and you are struggling with your faith. I cannot wait for you to hear Nicki share about the life of Noah in the Bible and the 5 Best Decisions to Make When Life is Hard and Doubt is Rising (the subtitle of her book).

I promise you do not want to miss the truth Nicki shares.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Nicki’s book: *Flooded. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link. https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/flooded-book-giveaway/

It is fun to have Nicki back on the Podcast! If you missed my first conversation with Nicki about her book, *Why Her, please check out Episode 22 on the Depth podcast. I love what she shares about comparison.

Nicki Koziarz is a two-time ECPA bestselling author and speaker with Proverbs 31 Ministries. She speaks nationally at conferences, retreats, and meetings and hosts her own podcast. An evangelist at heart, Nicki inspires others to become the best version of who God created them to be. Nicki and her husband and three girls run a small farm just outside of Charlotte, North Carolina, which they affectionately call The Fixer Upper Farm. You can connect with Nicki more at her website: https://nickikoziarz.com

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Do you have lies that you are believing that you need to replace with the truth? Perhaps you tell yourself, I am just not smart enough or brave enough. Maybe you don’t have enough time or you think you are not strong enough or good enough. What if we could replace these lies with truth?

I am so excited to have Charity Rios on my podcast this week and we talk about her new children’s book, My Heart's Garden. This book shows us how to tend our hearts, to replace the weeds of lies with seeds of truth so our heart’s garden can thrive. Charity and I talk about common lies we struggle with, shame, the enemy, and the power of Scripture. I cannot wait for you to hear the practical examples of how to teach this to your kids. Honestly, I love when a children’s book can speak truth into adults just as much as the kids, and I believe this beautiful exchange from lies to truth is so important for all ages. I promise you do not want to miss Charity’s wisdom.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Charity’s children’s book: *My Heart's Garden and the My Heart's Garden Workbook. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/my-hearts-garden-childrens-book-workbook-giveaway/

Lastly, I wrote 10 Bible Verses to Combat Your Not Enough Statements and I would love to share this with you. Please go to jodirosser.com to subscribe and I will email you a link to my Free Resources page where you can find these Bible verses and other great resources.

Charity is a Jesus follower, Wife and Boy Mama to 4 of the wildest, and squishiest sets of dimpled cheeks. She is the author of the children’s picture book, My Heart's Garden and companion My Heart's Garden Workbook. Most days you can find her top knottin’ it, totin’ potties and rollin’ in the mini. The power of the gospel is her melody and unleashing women and children from captives into warriors is her passion. She has a Masters in Higher Education and has been a Children’s Pastor, Church Planter and Teacher. Charity would love to send you her Tending Tips emails: a simple weekly practice to connect deeper with Jesus. You can sign up at charityrios.com/tendingtips. You can also connect with Charity at charityrios.com, on Instagram @claritywithcharity or Facebook @charityrios,author.

To join my new Depth Podcast Community Group, click on https://www.facebook.com/groups/depthpodcast

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Do you wish life would slow down? Do you wish you could rest more, be still and connect with God more?

This week on the podcast, I am so excited to talk with Anna Kettle about her book, *Sand Between Your Toes: Inspirations for a Slower, Simpler, & more Soulful life. As a fellow beach lover, I was captivated by the cover of her book. It is beautiful but what is more beautiful is the themes of rest in her devotional: slowing down, being still, connecting more with God, and waiting on His Timing. I loved diving deeper with Anna on the podcast and I promise you do not want to miss what she has to say.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Anna’s book: *Sand Between Your Toes. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/sand-between-your-toes-book-giveaway/

Anna Kettle is an author, blogger, and award-winning marketing professional. Her first published book, Sand Between Your Toes: Inspirations for a Slower, Simpler, More Soulful Life’* has just launched under Tyndale House. Anna is a coffee lover, bookworm, travel enthusiast, live music fan, a keen foodie, a gatherer of people, and a big believer in the healing power of words. She is married to husband Andy, and mum to their son Ben (aged 6). They live in the beautiful waterfront city of Liverpool, England.

You can find her regularly blogging on issues close to her heart such as miscarriage, parenting, faith, slower living, and holding onto hope when things are hard at www.annakettle.com You can find her at on Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram @annakettlewrites. Lastly, you can visit her website to find out more about her new book, download some sample pages for FREE & sign up for her monthly emails for more tips on resting and soulful living.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Do you see time as a gift? I think many of us would say time is important, but do you see it as valuable, priceless, as something that needs to be guarded?

This week on the podcast, I am so excited to talk with Sarah Butterfield about her book, *Around the Clock Mom: Make the Most Of Your God-Given Time. I think as moms, time can be challenging as we try to manage our kid’s schedules and ours too. There just does not seem to be enough minutes in the day. This is why I love Sarah’s book and what she shares on the podcast about tending your time. She gives practical tools to make the most of our minutes. So if you are a mom of a baby or your baby is heading off to college, you do not want to miss this episode.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Sarah’s book: *Around the Clock Mom: Make the Most Of Your God-Given Time. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/around-the-clock-mom-book-giveaway/

Sarah K. Butterfield is an author, speaker, and ministry leader who has a heart for empowering women to grow in their faith and be intentional with their time. Her book *Around the Clock Mom: Make the Most Of Your God-Given Time is now available on Amazon. She and her husband and two boys live in San Diego, where she loves getting lost in a book, and overindulging in ice cream! Follow her writing at sarahkbutterfield.com or on Instagram @bysarahkbutterfield

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Do you know your sibling’s love language? Your kid’s love language? Your parents? How about your friends? Valentine’s Day is all about romantic love, but I want to look at it from a different angle today. What if we looked at all of our relationships through the lens of love languages?

I am so excited to have all 3 of my sisters on the podcast today as we dive deeper into love languages. We share about our primary love language and some fun stories and examples of how we feel loved. It was fun hearing stories from my childhood as well as some from present day too. We also give lots of practical advice and tools to help us love those with a different love language than us. My goal for this podcast episode is to raise our “other-awareness” and help us learn how to love our family and friends better by becoming aware of what fills their love tank.

Honestly, it was so special to talk with each sister, and I cannot wait for you to hear the wisdom they share.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of the *Five Love Languages of Children. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/five-love-languages-of-children-book-giveaway/

To join my new Depth Podcast Community Group, click on https://www.facebook.com/groups/depthpodcast

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Do you ever feel like you don’t have enough time? Enough time for your to do list or even enough time to go after your God sized dreams? What if we can unleash the power of 24 hours?

I am so excited to have Mark Batterson on the podcast this week as we talk about his new book, *Win The Day: 7 Daily Habits to Help you Stress Less & Accomplish More. A group of my friends all read this book, so it was fun to all talk with him on a zoom call together. We asked him questions about our favorite parts of the book as well as what his daily prayer life looks like and his life changing books. I cannot wait for you to hear his wisdom.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Mark’s book: *Win The Day. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/win-the-day-book-giveaway/

Mark Batterson is the lead pastor of National Community Church (NCC) in Washington, DC. One church in seven locations, NCC owns and operates Ebenezers Coffeehouse, the Miracle Theatre, and the DC Dream Center. NCC is currently developing a city block into the Capital Turnaround. This 100,000 square foot space will include an event venue, child development center, mixed-use marketplace, and coworking space. Mark holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Regent University and is the New York Times best-selling author of 20 books including, The Circle Maker, In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day, and Whisper. He and his wife, Lora, have three children and live on Capitol Hill.

To join my Depth Podcast Community Group, click on https://www.facebook.com/groups/depthpodcast

Don't forget to subscribe to the show so you don't miss any new episodes.

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Would you consider yourself a well woman? Let me ask you, how do you define wellness? Physical wellness? Spiritual? Emotional? Relational? Mental?

I am so excited to talk with Gena Anderson on the podcast this week; she is the author of *The Well Woman. As we dive deeper into this subject of wellness, I cannot wait for you to hear her beautiful description of the well woman from her book. It is one of my favorite parts of her book. Gena also talks about living on purpose and the Biblical truths we need in our soil to grow deep roots, another favorite theme for me. Lastly, I am thankful to Gena for vulnerably sharing her heartbreak to strength story and how God used it to grow her deeper in her faith. I promise you do not want to miss this episode.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Gena’s book: *The Well Woman. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/the-well-woman-giveaway/

As a nurse practitioner, Bible teacher, and wellness blogger, Gena Anderson has a passion for helping others to be well. She proudly holds the title of wife, mom, and the world's most average CrossFitter. She loves writing, reading, traveling, and brownies. She's working on that last one. Gena lives in Hutto, Texas with her husband and two children. You can connect with Gena on IG @wellwoman.blog

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This week on the podcast, Dorina Gilmore Young and I talk her new book, *Walk, Run, Soar. The title of her book reminds me of one of my favorite verses: Isaiah 40:31. We both share what this verse means to us as well as Dorina shares how running was part of her grief journey. For all my running friends, you do not want to miss this 52-week running devotional. For all my friends who love to learn about God through His Creation, you will enjoy hearing what Dorina learned about God through her trail runs in nature. Honestly, this is my favorite part; I love how God’s Creation can point us back to God and expand our view of Him and our relationship with Him.

I promise you do not want to miss this episode! To listen, click on the link in my profile.

Book Recommendations:

• One Thousand Gifts by Anne Voskamp
• Take Heart Devotion by InCourage

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Dorina’s book: *Walk, Run, Soar. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/walk-run-soar-giveaway/

Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young is author, speaker, former news reporter, and long-time runner. She blogs at DorinaGilmore.com and is a contributor on DaySpring’s (in)courage writing team. Dorina is a "glory chaser,” who meets God running trails through the mountains or near the ocean. She is passionate about helping people discover God’s glory on life’s unexpected paths. Dorina and her husband Shawn started the Glory Chasers running group on Facebook where they serve up coaching, courage and community for Christian runners. Walk Run Soar, their devotional and training journal published by Bethany House/Baker, released September 2020. Dorina and Shawn are raising three brave daughters in Central California. Connect with her at www.DorinaGilmore.com.

Join Hope Writers Want to share your meaningful words without sacrificing your meaningful life? My friends at @hopewriters will help you figure out what your next step is and find the courage to take it Hope Writers Link

Don't forget to subscribe to the show so you don't miss any new episodes.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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I am so excited to have Andrea Bourgeois on the podcast this week as we talk about her new Bible study, *Just Breathe: a modern day Exodus Journey to Revive Your Soul. What I love is that she parallels our walk with Jesus with the Israelites journey through the wilderness to the Promised Land. We talk about what is it like to be in the wilderness season as Andrea shares her pain to purpose story. We also discuss what it is like to cross over into the promised land, and I love the practical ideas we share for gathering those remembrance stones.

Also, I find it fascinating that God provided for the Israelites daily with the manna as well as the cloud by day and pillar by night. Maybe like me, you set a goal to spend time with God daily this year. Did you ever wonder why daily is so important? In the Bible, it says, our daily bread, not weekly or monthly. Excited to dive deeper into the importance of daily meeting with God on this episode too.

I promise you will not want to miss the truths Andrea shares.

Book Recommendations:

• How to Worship a King by Zach Neese
• Waiting on God by Charles Stanley
• God's Pursuit of Man by A.W. Tozer

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Andrea’s book: *Just Breathe. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/just-breathe-book-giveaway/

Lastly, if you have a goal for writing, I am excited to announce that Hope writers is opening their doors again this January. If you ever had a dream of writing a book or just writing in general, then you will not want to miss this opportunity to join this writing community! I will be posting about it all week on Instagram, but I am super excited about this book giveaway.

Join Hope Writers Want to share your meaningful words without sacrificing your meaningful life? My friends at @hopewriters will help you figure out what your next step is and find the courage to take it Hope Writers Link

Link to Hope Writers: 10 questions My friends at Hope Writers created this free guide just for you. 10 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Write a Book:

Link to Hope Writers Quiz: Do you dream of publishing your writing but you’re not sure what to do next (or where to start)? Check out this free quiz to help you identify where you are on the writing path.

Andrea P. Bourgeois, Author / Speaker / Bible Teacher / Co-Founder of Pain into Purpose Summit

Andrea is passionate about giving people tools to discover God’s faithfulness by studying God’s word, turning pain into purpose, and inspiring others to share their story with the world. She is a high school teacher by day and a writer by night. Her and her husband Brian reside in Southwest Louisiana with their four-year-old son.

You can connect with Andrea on her website: https://andreapbourgeois.com/ as well as on Instagram @andreapbourgeois/

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Have you set goals for 2021? Is losing weight one of those goals?

This week on the Depth Podcast, I talk with Crystal Thompson, a life coach that helps others with weight loss. I love where she has us begin. She does not start with the diet or renewing our body, but she starts with us renewing our mind and our identity in Christ. She encourages us to invite God to be part of the squad. I think it is so important to have God involved in whatever we are doing whether that is setting a goal for weight loss or setting a goal for writing a book. I promise you do not want to miss what she shares and her practical tips.

In addition, I am excited to be giving away a copy of *The Daniel Plan by Rick Warren. This book helped me in my weight loss journey years ago and it also combines faith and friends into the weight loss journey. I am excited for someone to win a copy. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/daniel-plan-book-giveaway/

Lastly, if you have a goal for writing, I am excited to announce that Hope writers is opening their doors again this January. If you ever had a dream of writing a book or just writing in general, then you will not want to miss this opportunity to join this writing community! I will be posting about it all week on Instagram, but I am super excited about this book giveaway.

Join Hope Writers Want to share your meaningful words without sacrificing your meaningful life? My friends at @hopewriters will help you figure out what your next step is and find the courage to take it Hope Writers Link

Link to Hope Writers: The Ultimate Writer's Library Giveaway: My friends at hope*writers created a list of 20 of their most highly recommended books for writers in all stages of writing. Even better… you have a chance to win all of these books!

Link to Hope Writers Quiz: Do you dream of publishing your writing but you’re not sure what to do next (or where to start)? Check out this free quiz to help you identify where you are on the writing path.

Crystal Thompson is a Certified Life Coach and Christian Weight Loss Expert who teaches women how to lose weight with faith, fun and sanity...no diets or deprivation required. She spent 2 decades bouncing between 2 extremes: eating everything that wasn’t nailed down, or obsessing over the latest fad diet.

Once she figured out how to get God on her weight loss squad, she lost 30 pounds...FOR GOOD. She now teaches women from around the world how to combine coaching tools with Biblical through her signature program, The Fearless Weight Loss Academy.™

Don't forget to subscribe to the show so you don't miss any new episodes.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing the book recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Do you want to be a woman who is changing the world? Do you want to use the gifts God has given you and live out the purpose He has made you for?

This week on the podcast, Ronne Rock and I discuss her book, *One Woman Can Change the World. She highlights real stories of real women who are making a difference in the world. It is inspiring to see God using their lives, their struggles, and most importantly, their faith as they are all making an impact right where they are. Ronne says, “They are moving mountains with faith-filled whispers.” Friend, I know you can also be a mountain moving, changing the world woman and make an impact right where you are too! This is what I want for you and me as we begin 2021!

I promise you do not want to miss this episode!

Book Recommendations:

• All of Henry J. M. Nouwen books
• Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
• Prayer: Our Deepest Longing by Ronald Rolheiser
• The Furious Longing of God by Brennan Manning

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Ronne’s book: *One Woman Can Change the World. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/one-woman-can-change-the-world-book-giveaway/

Ronne Rock weaves themes of transformative hope and grace-filled leadership into everything she shares on page and stage. She's an author and speaker—offering honest encouragement and road-tested wisdom about topics ranging from leadership and ministry engagement to discovering your God-crafted design and purpose. You’ll find her words on work/life balance shared in Joyful Life Magazine, and her stories of hope are offered up regularly as she serves as Engagement Manager for Orphan Outreach, a global nonprofit that provides care for the orphaned and vulnerable. Her book, One Woman Can Change the World: Reclaiming Your God-Designed Influence and Impact Right Where You Are, is available wherever books are sold. An Oklahoma gal by birth, Ronne now lives in the Texas Hill Country with her husband, Brad, and rescue pup, Pearl. Her son and his family live in Arizona, which Ronne has deemed way too far away.

Don't forget to subscribe to the show so you don't miss any new episodes.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Are you in a season of waiting? Waiting on God to answer a prayer? Waiting on a dream to come true? What if we could learn how to wait well?

This week on the podcast, Wendy Pope and I talk about her book, *Wait and See: Finding Peace in God's Pauses and Plans. Wendy shares about her own season of waiting as well as the life of David, an excellent example of waiting well during his 15 years from the pasture to the palace. Wendy says, “God’s Timing is always perfect, and God is Never Late.” Friend, if you are beginning to doubt if you heard God correctly in your season of waiting, then I hope Wendy’s 5 misconceptions about waiting will encourage you.

I promise you do not want to miss her wisdom! To listen, click on the link in my profile.

Book Recommendation: *I Am Not But I Know I Am by Louie Giglio

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Wendy’s book: *Wait and See: Finding Peace in God's Pauses and Plans. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/wait-and-see-book-giveaway/

Wendy loves lazy Sundays watching golf with her husband Scott, thrifting with her daughter, and playing practical jokes with her son. Wendy is the Founder and Executive Director of Word Up Ministries. She is a wife to Scott and mother to her grown children, one daughter and one son. Wendy is a member of the Proverbs 31 Ministries’ Speaker Team and the author of Hidden Potential: Revealing What God can Do Through You, Yes, No and Maybe: Living With the God of Immeasurably More, and Wait and See: Finding Peace in God’s Pauses and Plans. She has been leading women all over the world to life change through her in-depth of teaching, Read through the Word study of the One Chronological Bible.

You can connect with Wendy at https://wendypope.org/ Also, If you are interested in downloading the Waiting Well Lock Screens, go to https://wendypope.org/wait-and-see/ and scroll to the bottom of the page.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Do you desire to grow deeper in your faith? Have you ever thought about growing deeper as hidden growth? Growth that happens when no one else can see. Growth that happens between just you and God. Deep Root Growth!

This week on the podcast, I talk with Matt Berry about his new book, *Invited. I love this quote from his book, “Meaningful growth takes place in hidden places.” We dive deeper into this idea of hidden growth as well as talk about the inward and outward practices that help us grow deep roots in our faith. Honestly, talking about growing deep roots is my favorite part!

I promise you do not want to miss this conversation.

Book Recommendations:

• *Prayer by Hans Urs von Balthasar
• *Faithful Presence by David E. Fitch

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Matt’s book: *Invited. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/invited-book-giveaway/

Matt Berry is an author and director of The Jesus Following Network. He also works full-time in the field of Cybersecurity. His mission in life is to inspire and nurture a lifestyle of movement, freedom, and rest in the lives of spiritually inclined people. He and his wife, Elisa, live in Big Lake, Minnesota, where they are raising their four boys to be world changers...and to not burp at the table.

Useful Links:

• Ordering the Book https://www.amazon.com/Invited-Simple-Guide-Connecting-God/dp/1734268905
• The Digital Journey https://themattberry.com/digital-journey
• Website https://find.themattberry.com

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Have you ever wondered if your contribution will make a difference? Sometimes we think we only have a small amount of time or a limited resource, and we wonder if that will that really make an impact. I am here to tell you that YES it will! I love the miracle when God feeds the 5000. The little boy gives his small lunch and God multiplies it. Friend, I believe he will do the same for you.

This week on the podcast, I cannot wait to highlight A Way To Help, a non-profit organization that is making a difference by helping provide clean water to people without in Uganda. I cannot wait for you to hear Marla and Maureen share how God took their desire to help and expanded it beyond their wildest dreams. From bracelets to deep water wells, God loves to take our contributions and multiply them!

My friend and I have had the privilege to help fund two water wells with A Way to Help and it has been a phenomenal experience. I cannot wait to show pictures this week of the priceless smiles of the kids and families in the two villages.

In Max Lucado’s book, Outlive Your Life: You Were Made To Make A Difference, he says, “No one can do everything, but everyone can do something.” This book re-ignited in me a desire to make a difference. I am so excited that we will be giving away a copy of this book on the podcast this week. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/outlive-your-life-book-giveaway/

Friend, this Tuesday is Giving Tuesday, and I want to encourage you to give back. If you are interested in helping make a difference with clean water, I highly recommend A Way To Help. You can go to their website at https://awaytohelp.org/ for details.

Remember You Were Made to Make a Difference!

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Do you have any special family traditions that you do for the Holidays?  I cannot believe the Holiday season begins this week with Thanksgiving, and then Christmas will be here before we know it. 

Christmas is one of my favorite Holidays, and I believe it is because of all the special family traditions we did growing up.  So, I am excited to have my mom join me this week on the podcast.  We are going to share our favorite family traditions I had as a child as well as some special ones that I do with my kids.  It is going to be so fun to take a stroll down memory lane with my mom.

I promise you do not want to miss this special episode.

Also, I would love to hear some of your special family traditions. Will you join me on my Depth Podcast Facebook Group and share some of your favorite Holiday traditions? I am so looking forward to hearing more about your family traditions.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/depthpodcast

Lastly, I want to say how grateful I am for each of you!  Thank you for listening to the podcast and for desiring to grow deeper in your faith and stronger in your relationships!  With Thanksgiving this week, I want to express my gratitude and let you know that I am truly so thankful for you!

Love, Jodi

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Have you ever read a children’s book, and it just really touched your heart? The storyline and the words were exactly what you needed to hear. This is how I felt about the book, *The Remember Balloons.

I am so excited to talk with the author, Jessie Oliveros this week on the podcast. We will be diving deeper into her children’s book on memory loss. Right now, I am in a season where my kids are getting older and so are my parents. Maybe you can relate. I love how Jessie encourages us to intentional and capture the stories and memories we have with our aging loved ones whether it is our parents or grandparents.

I promise you do not want to miss what Jessie shares about her children’s book.

Book Recommendations:

• *Wilfred Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox
• *The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z. by Kate Messner
• *Mercy Suarez Changes Gears by Meg Medina
• *Creating Moments of Joy Along the Alzheimer Journey by Jolene Bracky

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Jessie’s book: *The Remember Balloons. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/the-remember-balloons-giveaway/

Jessie grew up watching Kansas sunsets, and she'll always have wild sunflowers and gold-tipped corn fields in her heart. She spent her college-life climbing mountains in Utah and striving for higher vistas. After a fulfilling career as a registered nurse, Jessie hung up her stethoscope to grow children and stories. She loves root beer floats, autumn, and running in the rain. These days you can find her in the Texas hill country with her husband, their five kids, and a dog named Della.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Would you say you are a grateful person? Do you have a daily or weekly practice of gratitude? Maybe it is a monthly or yearly practice that you do in the month of November.

I am so excited to have Amber Cullum, the host of the Grace Enough podcast share this week. I cannot wait for you to hear her daily practice of gratitude as well as a unique way to look at comparison. Honestly, this is my favorite part.

I promise you do not want to miss the nuggets of truth she shares!

Book Recommendation: *The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

Amber Cullum is the podcast host behind Grace Enough. She is first a child of God and saved by His grace alone. She is a wife to Sam, a mom of 3, a Physical Therapist, a Kentucky native living in Raleigh, and a lover of connecting with people and learning the stories of God’s grace in their lives. You can connect with Amber at GraceEnoughPodcast.com or on Instagram: @graceenoughpodcast_amber

Don't forget to subscribe to the show so you don't miss any new episodes.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing the book recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Are you an introvert? Do you have a loved one who is an introvert? Then you do not want to miss this week’s episode!

I talk with Holley Gerth about her new book, *The Powerful Purpose of Introverts: Why the World Needs You to Be You. Holley explains the difference between an extrovert and introvert; honestly, I love the brain science. She also shares about self-awareness and growth, knowing our struggles and strengths. We even talk about how we can better understand our loved ones through their happiness words.

Are you an enneagram 1? Holley also shares some great tips to combat our inner critic. I promise you do not want to miss what she shares.

Book Recommendations:

• *Quiet by Susan Cain
• *Essentialism by Greg McKeown

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Holley’s book: *The Powerful Purpose of Introverts: Why the World Needs You to Be You All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/the-powerful-purpose-of-introverts/

None of us are 100% introvert or extrovert. To find out how much introvert you have in you, take Holley’s one-minute “What % Introvert Are You?” quiz!

Holley Gerth loves humans, words, and good coffee. She’s a Wall Street Journal bestselling author, life coach, and counselor with a Master of Science degree in Mental Health. Holley also cofounded the groundbreaking online community (in)courage, which had almost one million page views in its first six months, and cohosts the More Than Small Talk podcast. Her newest release is The Powerful Purpose of Introverts: Why the World Needs You to Be You. Find out more and connect with Holley at holleygerth.com or on Instagram at @holleygerth

LIFE ON PURPOSE SUMMIT is this week!

For 5 days, starting November 2nd, writer/speaker Katy Epling is bringing together teaching and resources from 18 speakers and authors who have found their identity and purpose in God. You’ll hear about everything from faith & family to healing from heartbreak & loss to ministry & handling the overwhelm of everyday life—and more.

For example, I’m going to be talking all about Hope for the Hurting Heart on Thursday November 5th!

The best part? It’s totally free! Here is a link to get your free ticket for the Life On Purpose Virtual Summit today! Life on Purpose Registration Page

You can also get your hands on the All-Access Pass!

With the All Access Pass you’ll get Summit Recordings in case you cannot watch them live, VIP Speaker Bonuses and more. Check it out here! Life on Purpose All Access Pass

So excited to have you join me at the Life on Purpose Summit!

Don't forget to subscribe to the show so you don't miss any new episodes.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Have you ever heard someone’s back story and that helped light up their present story?

LaVonda McCullough encourages women to walk confidently in their identity in Christ and find freedom from anxiety, depression, and unforgiveness. Recently I heard her share about her childhood and growing up in a chaotic home. The truths she now shares about God’s love and prayer were birthed from God meeting her in the middle of her hard circumstances and helping her find freedom and forgiveness. Honestly, LaVonda’s testimony is so powerful and the words she shares are full of wisdom and truth!

I promise you do not want to miss what she shares about God’s love, forgiveness, the Bible, and prayer.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of LaVonda’s book: *21 Days of Fasting and Prayer All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/21-days-of-fasting-and-prayer-giveaway/

Book Recommendation:

• Releasing The Prisoner Within by Keith E. Jackson

LaVonda McCullough is an Author, Biblical Life Coach, and Speaker who is passionate about teaching women to become equipped, encouraged, and empowered through the Word of God. Since 2012, she has coached countless women to complete freedom through the spiritual discipline of Daily Quiet Times, Prayer, and Fasting to discover joy in their journey.

Through one-on-one Coaching, Bible Study, Prayer Walks, and retreats (Joyful Journey RefresHER retreat) she teaches women how to reach the divine power within and discover their purpose. Her RefresHER retreats provide a safe, loving, and nurturing environment that allows those she works with to tap into the divine and commune with God themselves.

With personal experience from shame, trauma, depression, and unforgiveness, LaVonda focuses on the whole person - spirit, soul, and body. LaVonda has traveled throughout Europe and Africa speaking about healing through the power of prayer.

LaVonda and her husband, Pastor Micah, are recent empty-nesters of three children, residing in Stuttgart, Germany with their two fur-babies, Prince and Biscuit. Connect with LaVonda atwww.lavondamccullough.com, or on Facebook and Instagram.

LIFE ON PURPOSE SUMMIT:

I am so excited to part of the Life on Purpose Summit! The goal for this summit is to encourage you in purposeful faith!

For 5 days, starting November 2nd, writer/speaker Katy Epling is bringing together teaching and resources from 18 speakers and authors who have found their identity and purpose in God. You’ll hear about everything from faith & family to healing from heartbreak & loss to ministry & handling the overwhelm of everyday life—and more.

For example, I’m going to be talking all about Hope for the Hurting Heart!

The best part? It’s totally free!

Here is a link to get your free ticket for the Life On Purpose Virtual Summit today!

Life on Purpose Registration Page

You can also get your hands on the All-Access Pass for a reduced price right now of $17!

With the All Access Pass you’ll get Summit Recordings in case you cannot watch them live, VIP Speaker Bonuses and more.

Check it out here! Life on Purpose All Access Pass

So excited to have you join me at the Life on Purpose Summit!

Don't forget to subscribe to the show so you don't miss any new episodes.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Have you ever looked at the circumstances of your life and said, “This is Not My Story- this is not the narrative I would have written for my life?” I know that I have.

This week on the podcast, Sarah Westfall, shares her personal “Not My Story” with us. As she vulnerably shares about the loss of her son, Sarah describes how God met her in the middle of the grief. She wanted to quickly move past the pain, but instead God spoke in her heart and said “Be Still. Stay. Rest in Me.” This moment in time birthed a devotional called *Be Still: Leaning into God when Everything is Falling Apart. Sarah invited other writers to join her, and I love that God is the consistent thread that runs through all the devotionals.

Sarah is the host of the Not My Story Podcast as she invites others to share their unexpected story and how God showed up in the middle of the grief. If you are walking through the Unexpected, Sarah wrote an ebook called Interrupted just for you. We talk about it on the podcast and you can download it on her website: https://www.sarahewestfall.com/subscribe

I promise you do not want to miss what Sarah shares this week.

Book Recommendations:

• *I Will Carry You by Angie Smith
• *With: Reimagining the Way You Relate to God by Skye Jethani

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Sarah’s devotional: *Be Still: Leaning into God when Everything is Falling Apart. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click on this direct link: https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/be-still-devotional-giveaway/

Sarah E. Westfall is a full-time writer, speaker, and host of Not My Story, a conversational podcast about faith and the unexpected. She holds a BS in English Education and MA in Student Development Counseling, and her past work includes teaching and serving as a student life professional on college campuses. After experiencing the loss of her son almost a decade ago, Sarah invites readers into a life of authenticity and deep communion with God and with each other. Her work has been featured in RELEVANT, Fathom Mag, and The Joyful Life Magazine. Sarah calls Indiana home, where she lives with her husband Ben and four sons. You can connect with Sarah at sarahewestfall.com or on Instagram @sarah_westfall & @notmystorypod

LIFE ON PURPOSE SUMMIT:

I am so excited to part of the Life on Purpose Summit! The goal for this summit is to encourage you in purposeful faith!

For 5 days, starting November 2nd, writer/speaker Katy Epling is bringing together teaching and resources from 18 speakers and authors who have found their identity and purpose in God. You’ll hear about everything from faith & family to healing from heartbreak & loss to ministry & handling the overwhelm of everyday life—and more. For example, I’m going to be talking all about Hope for the Hurting Heart!

The best part? It’s totally free!

There’s more I’d love to tell you about this summit, but I’ll let you check out all the details for yourself. Here is a link to get your free ticket for the Life On Purpose Virtual Summit today!

Life on Purpose Registration Page

You can also get your hands on the All-Access Pass for a reduced price right now of $17!

With the All Access Pass you’ll get Summit Recordings in case you cannot watch them live, VIP Speaker Bonuses and more.

Check it out here! Life on Purpose All Access Pass

Don't forget to subscribe to the show so you don't miss any new episodes.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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This week, Kirsten Casillas shares with us her Epic Redemption Story. These words captivated me as she described how God was redeeming her story. Do you believe that God can redeem your heartbreak? I believe this is God’s specialty. He takes our greatest heartbreak and turns it into our greatest ministry.

October 15th is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. In honor of this special day, I have asked Kirsten to share her story of Chloe Faith and how God is redeeming her loss with the birth of Blooming Faith Ministries. I hope her story can encourage someone else walking through a similar heartbreak.

Last week, Kathe Wunnenberg shared her story of infertility, multiple miscarriages, and the loss of her baby boy in Episode #53. What makes her story so powerful is that she is not wasting any of her pain, but instead she is allowing God to use it to help others and spread hope. Her book, *Grieving the Child I Never Knew was one of my life changing books as I walked through my miscarriage. I am so excited that we will be giving away a copy of her book this week on the podcast. You can click on this direct link for details: https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/grieving-the-child-i-never-knew-book-giveaway/

Last year, I also honored this special day with a two-part episode on pregnancy loss. In Episode #5: I shared my personal story of losing Baby Grace along with a friend who shared her story of loss. We both went to the Empty Arms Support Group at our church which was pivotal in our healing. In Episode #6, I talked with Dr. Shari Bridgeman who wrote the curriculum for Empty Arms after she personally walked through multiple losses.

I hope these episodes will encourage another hurting heart.

Kirsten Casillas is a wife, mom, and freedom fighter. Her passion is seeing women walk in the freedom and power we already have. She lovingly and boldly invites women into a deeper conversation with themselves, their story and God through her monthly online workshop – Mending the Soul, social media and in-person speaking events.

Kirsten lives in Orange County where she home-schools her 5th & 2nd grade daughters. She serves at Mariners Church where she found healing, calling and a tribe of Soul Sisters. You can connect with Kirsten Casillas on social media and her website www.BloomingFaithMinistries.com.

Don't forget to subscribe to the show so you don't miss any new episodes.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Are you a hopelifter? “Hopelifters are people who have been transformed by their own experience and grief and who are now willingly offering themselves as the hands and feet of Jesus to comfort others hurting hearts.”

Kathe Wunnenberg is a hopelifter! This week on the podcast, Kathe will share about her book, *Hopelifter: Creative Ways to Spread Hope When Life Hurts. She will also vulnerably share her story of infertility, multiple miscarriages, and the loss of her baby boy just hours after he delivered. What makes her story so powerful is that she is not wasting any of her pain, but instead she is allowing God to use it to help others and spread hope. One of my favorite ways she does this is her Hope on Wheels Special Mother’ Day trip for grieving moms. I cannot wait for you to hear about it on the podcast.

Kathe’s book, *Grieving the Child I Never Knew was one of my life changing books as I walked through my miscarriage. I love that this book has special devotionals to read on the hard days like your due date or Mother’s Day. Honestly, this devotional is a big part of my story, I cannot wait for you to hear how it birthed my book ministry. Another one of my favorite parts.

I promise you that you do not want to miss this episode!

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Kathe’s book, *Hopelifter. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click on this direct link:

https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/hopelifter-book-giveaway/

We will also be giving away a copy of *Grieving the Child I Never Knew next week on the podcast.

Book Recommendations:

• Secret Longings of the Heart by Carol Kent
• A Grace Disguised by Jerry Sittser
• Thirty-One Days of Praise by Ruth Meyers

Kathe Wunnenberg is the founder and president of Hopelifters Unlimited. She is a speaker, writer, leader, and connector known for her ability to offer creative solutions for real life problems. The author of “Grieving the Loss of a Loved Oneand *Grieving the Child I Never Knew, Kathe lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her family. You can connect with Kathe at www.hopelifters.com

Don't forget to subscribe to the show so you don't miss any new episodes.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Do you ever wrestle with God? Do you ever struggle to understand why you are walking through difficult circumstances? Chris Simning understands. In 8th grade, his whole world changed when he was stricken with a rare nerve and muscle disease.

This week on the podcast, Chris vulnerably shares his powerful testimony from his new book,*Scribbles. I promise you do not want to miss one word, especially when he shares how God revealed His calling for his life through his challenging circumstances. This is my favorite part.

I first met Chris at Hume Lake Christian Camps my senior year of college, and I was immediately in awe of Chris’ joy for life and love for Jesus while at the same time living with a physical disability. The beautiful thing is that he does not let his disability define him. Instead, he is speaking a powerful message of hope in the middle of brokenness.

I encourage you to lean in and listen to Chris’ inspirational message.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Chris’ book, *Scribbles. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click on this direct link: https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/scribbles-book-giveaway/

Chris Simning is a remarkable storyteller. He has a personal story to share that is timeless and compelling, endearing him to people of all ages. What captivates his audiences worldwide is not just his voice, but rather the manner in which the Lord uses his platform to share about the reality of brokenness, the provision of God in the midst of it, and the resiliency of the Gospel message in what may be deemed tragic. His hope in Jesus has ignited a passion in Chris to speak about the experience of finding purpose in the midst of a life filled with challenges and how God can bring healing to the wounded of heart even in the worst circumstances.

Chris is not a disabled speaker but a speaker who just so happens to have a disability. His story provides hope in a world that seems bleak, and encourages people who need to be inspired by the faithfulness of the Lord, who is with us even when His presence is not felt. His zeal for the Bible, not to mention his humorous personality, is contagious. Chris speaks to churches, retreats, and youth conferences nationally as well as internationally.

Don't forget to subscribe to the show so you don't miss any new episodes.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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This week, I talk with Lynn Cowell and Michelle Nietert about their book, *Loved & Cherished: 100 Devotionals for Girls. I love that this devotional reminds girls of their identity in Christ. They are loved, cherished, and God’s unique masterpiece! These are foundational truths that are important to instill in girls at a young age, so they can remember them through the teenage years. Honestly, I think we as women need to be reminded of these same truths.

I love that Lynn and Michelle are giving a copy of their devotional to a girl in foster care when you buy a copy of *Loved & Cherished! This offer is for the first two weeks of their book launch, so this amazing offer ends Sept 22nd so please act fast. More details about it on the website for their book: https://lovedandcherished.me/

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Lynn and Michelle’s devotional for girls, *Loved & Cherished. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click on the direct link below: https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/loved-cherished-book-giveaway/

Lastly, Lynn and Michelle host a podcast together called Raising Brave Beauties. It was created for moms and daughters to listen together. But I think if you are influencing a girl through church or as a grandmother, aunt, or family friend, I think it would be beneficial for you too. I plan to listen to it with my nieces.

I cannot wait for you to hear all about this devotional on the podcast this week; I promise you that you do not want to miss the truth Lynn and Michelle share!

Book Recommendations:

• The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence
• Disciplines of the Beautiful Woman by Anne Ortlund

Lynn Cowell is part of the Proverbs 31 Ministries’ speaker and writing team. As the author of several books, written for women of all ages, her newest book is: Loved & Cherished: 100 Devotionals for Girls. Lynn calls home North Carolina, where she and her husband, Greg, and the occasional backyard deer are adjusting to life as “just us”. Along with their three adult children, the Cowells love hiking, rafting, and anything combining chocolate and peanut butter. You can connect with Lynn at her website: https://lynncowell.com/ or on facebook and Instagram @lynncowell

Michelle Nietert, M.A., Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor has been providing therapeutic interventions to children and their families in counseling offices for over 20 years. A recognized expert in Solution Focused Therapy, she is the clinical director and owner of a large counseling center in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Michelle’s writing can be found on the MOPS blog, in Lifeway’s Parenting Magazine and she is the Mental Health columnist for Just Between Us Magazine. She also joins her audiences in the parenting trenches as a happily married mom of two school-aged children. To discover her Counselor Thoughts blog and podcast providing Solutions for Life, please visit MichelleNietert.com.

To join my new Depth Podcast Community Group, click on https://www.facebook.com/groups/depthpodcast

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*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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This week, I talk with Tom and Chaundel Holladay about their book,*Love-Powered Parenting. Tom is one of the teaching pastors at Saddleback Church and Chaundel speaks at Treasured, a bible study for young moms. I first read this parenting book at Treasured when my kids were much younger. I recently have read it again now that my kids are older, and I believe the truths they share can apply to all ages from toddlers to teenagers.

I love that this book centers around looking at parenting through the lens of love. Today we focus on my two favorite parts of the book: the power of your priorities and the power of your words. I love the practical tools that Tom and Chaundel share as well as their wisdom from raising 3 children and now 6 grandchildren. Having them both on the podcast was such a joy!

I promise you do not want to miss this episode.

Book Recommendations:

• *Daws: A Man Who Trusted God by Dawson Trotman
• The Navigator by Dawson Trotman
• *High Call, High Privilege by Gail MacDonald
• *How to Really Love Your Child by Ross Campbell

Also, I am so excited for this week’s giveaway of their book,*Love-Powered Parenting. This giveaway is special and unique because when you win, I will send you two copies of this book: one for you and one for a friend! How awesome to win a book for yourself and one for your friend this fall! And there is even more, I will be giving away 5 of these special twin sets!

All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click on this direct link for the book giveaway: https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/love-powered-parenting-giveaway/

If you are interested in becoming a Hope Writer, here is the Join Hope Writers Link

Friends, you do not want to miss your chance to win this amazing parenting book for both you and your friend!

Tom and Chaundel Holladay have three children and six grandchildren and have served together at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California for almost thirty years.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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This week is National Suicide Prevention Week and the podcast is discussing Kayla Stoecklein’s new book, *Fear Gone Wild: A Story of Mental Illness, Suicide, and Hope Through Loss. If you are not familiar with her story, sadly, her husband, Andrew, died by suicide two years ago. Now, Kayla has become an advocate for mental health by spreading awareness and offering hope as she vulnerably shares her story.

Suicide and Mental illness are not discussed much, so I am thankful to Kayla for helping give voice to this important subject. She shares the myths of suicide and how to help someone walking through depression. She honestly talks about her wilderness season and how God has helped her thrive even in the middle of it. Lastly, she gives an amazing illustration of grief and pain to help those who are walking through loss.

I promise you do not want to miss the truth she shares.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Kayla’s book,*Fear Gone Wild. All the details are on my website, jodirosser.com or you can click direct link below: https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/fear-gone-wild-book-giveaway/

In August of 2018, Kayla lost her husband, Andrew – pastor of Inland Hills Church in Chino, California – to suicide. In the wake of the tragedy, she embarked on a brave journey to better understand his harrowing battle with mental illness and, ultimately, to overcome the stigma of suicide.

With a clear-eyed acknowledgment of how misguided and misinformed she was about mental illness, Kayla Stoecklein shares her story in hopes that anyone walking through the wilderness of mental illness will be better equipped for the journey and will learn to put their hope in Jesus through it all.

You can connect more with Kayla on Instagram @kaylasteck or her website at https://www.kaylastoecklein.com/

Book Recommendations:

• Streams in the Desert Devotional by L. B. Cowman and James Reimann
• A Grace Disguised: How the Soul Grows Through Loss by Jerry Sittser

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*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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Do you believe God is good even when He doesn’t do what you hoped He would do? Can you trust Him in the messy middle?

Today, I talk with Kaitlyn Bouchillon about her book, Even If Not: Living, Loving and Learning in the in Between. Kaitlyn vulnerably shares her personal “Even If Not” story as well as her love for the ampersand, the & sign! Many of us are living in the ampersand, the in between. Talking with Kaitlyn about living between broken & mended was honestly my favorite part. Her words from that chapter touched my heart. She said, “When we let God do the mending, Broken Things can become Blessed Things.” Love this!

Kaitlyn has turned this quote into a beautiful piece of artwork with a cracked and broken tea cup. She has offered to give away a print of this amazing quote. I am excited for someone to win this in addition to a copy of her book. All the details are on my website, jodirosser.com or you can click direct link below: https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/even-if-not-book-giveaway/

I promise you do not want to miss this episode.

Kaitlyn Bouchillon is a Virtual Assistant, book launch manager, storyteller and (in)courage contributor who writes about not only discovering God's goodness in the ordinary, but His faithfulness in the difficult. If you’re facing a chapter in your story that you wouldn’t have chosen, you’ll find hope in Kaitlyn’s vulnerable and honest book, Even If Not: Living, Loving and Learning in the in Between. For more encouragement and dozens of free resources (beautiful prints and lock screens!), visit KaitlynBouchillon.com or follow Kaitlyn on Instagram.

Book Recommendation: *One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp

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Today is an exciting day! The Depth Podcast is One Year Old!

I am so excited for this special Behind the Scenes Birthday Celebration Episode! I cannot wait to share with you the God moments from this last year. I am in awe of God as I see His hand guiding the podcast episodes, the timing of when they release, and the winners of the book giveaways. One story is so special that it can only be explained by God orchestrating all the details. His timing is truly remarkable!

Also, I love talking with my friend and accountability partner, Erin Riddle. We met years ago in Treasured, a Bible Study for young moms at our church. We had so much fun as she asked me your questions from the survey. I hope you enjoy learning a little bit more about me!

I promise you do not want to miss this special behind the scenes episode! Hearing the amazing God moments over this last year is honestly my favorite part!

Book Recommendations:

• *The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson
• *Unglued by Lysa TerKeurst
• *How We Love Our Kids by Milan and Kay Yerkovich
• *Thrive by Mark Hall
• *Understanding Your Young Teen by Mark Oestreicher

Thanks for all your support and encouragement this past year! I am so looking forward to digging deeper this next year!

Love, Jodi

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

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This week, I talk with Suzie Eller about her book, *JoyKeeper: 6 Truths That Change Everything You Thought You Know about Joy. Suzie is my first guest to be on my podcast a second time, and I love her vulnerability to share all that has happened in her life since we last talked in the fall. Walking through some hard family circumstances, Suzie has been living out the message she wrote in her book: “Joy is not a feeling. It is a Knowing.” I cannot wait for you to hear all the wisdom she shares as well as some of our favorite Joy Keeper vs. Joy Stealer statements.

I promise you that you do not want to miss this episode!

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Suzie’s book, *JoyKeeper. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click on the link below: https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/joykeeper-book-giveaway/

If you missed my first conversation with Suzie about her book, *The Mended Heart, please check out Episode #7 on the Depth podcast. I love what she shares about brokenness.

Suzanne Eller (Suzie) is a bestselling author. She is co-host of the More Than Small Talk podcast with KLRC Podcast Network, which debuted in the top 25 Christian podcasts. Suzie has appeared on media such as Focus on the Family, Aspiring Women, The Harvest Show, KLOVE and many others. She served with Proverbs 31 Ministries for 14 years. She believes that healed women scoop up other women and run toward the cross. When she's not writing, you'll find her kayaking, hanging out with her "littles," finding the best foodie food truck, or hiking. Connect with Suzie at www.tsuzanneeller.com

Exciting News!! The Depth Podcast is celebrating its one year birthday this August and I want to hear from you, my listener.

I would love for you to take my Depth Podcast Survey. It should take only 5 minutes to complete. After completing this entire survey, you will automatically be entered into a special giveaway happening at the end of August on my celebration episode!

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This week on the Depth Podcast, I talk with DJ Hejmanek, a fellow Hope Writer who loves to help others discover their unique calling. She believes it is foundational to know God as well as know how God designed you specifically. Helping women understand their identity in Christ is one of her passions.

She is also passionate about helping others grow in their faith! After developing a strong foundation, she loves to equip women by teaching them biblical principles that help them connect the dots spiritually. Honestly, this is my favorite part of our conversation.

I promise you that you do not want to miss her wisdom.

DJ Hejtmanek is passionate about equipping women to walk in freedom, to discover who they are and fulfill their calling in Christ. She is a development professional, currently raising funds for an international Christian organization. DJ has worn many hats in addition to fundraising – magazine editor, wife, radio broadcaster, blogger, Mom, public relations spokesperson, community college administrator, children’s book author, Bible teacher, JoJo’s dog trainer, “Dovie” to five little girls, and licensed minister. Her website/blog can be found at https://www.knowingyourgod.com/. She is on Instagram @djhejtmanek and Facebook @knowingyourgod. DJ and husband Louis have been married 38 years, live in Broken Arrow, OK, and have two married children and five beautiful granddaughters living nearby.

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Do you struggle with fear? Do you find yourself up at night worrying about life’s circumstances? Are you anxious as you look ahead at the unknown?

I am excited to talk with JJ Gutierrez about her new book, *Chickening In: From Fear to Courageous Faith. We have all heard the phrase, Chickening Out (being scared), so I love that her book is the opposite, Chickening In (overcoming fear).

So excited for you to hear the wisdom JJ shares about walking in faith instead of fear and learning to trust God in the Unknown. In fact, Traveling Down Unknown Roads is my favorite chapter of her book, and I love our discussion of the life of Joseph, my favorite Bible character. I am truly in awe of God and the timing of this episode as so many of us are facing our own unknown roads with Covid-19.

I promise you do not want to miss this episode.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of JJ’s book, *Chickening In: From Fear to Courageous Faith. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click on the link below: https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/chickening-in-from-fear-to-courageous-faith-book-giveaway/

JJ Gutierrez is a corporate career woman turned homeschool mom, author, writer, and speaker. Married for 24 years with three girls…two adults daughters and 10-year-old Hope, the mastermind behind Chickening IN. JJ has a passion for seeing women grow in courage and faith, and often you can find her starting new small group ministries. JJ loves her German Shepherd- Bella and most days you’ll find her sipping a glass of fresh brewed ice tea.

https://www.chickeningin.com

https://www.facebook.com/chickeningin/

https://www.instagram.com/chickening_in/

UPDATE: JJ has created a Chickening In: Companion Workbook as well as some Chickening In Videos to go with her book! I encourage you to check them out!

To join my new Depth Podcast Community Group, click on https://www.facebook.com/groups/depthpodcast

I would love for you to take my Depth Podcast Survey. After completing the entire survey, you will automatically be entered into a special giveaway happening at the end of August for my podcast birthday celebration episode!

Blog Post Link: https://jodirosser.com/5-truths-i-know-in-the-middle-of-the-unknown/

Book Recommendations:

• *Detours by Tony Evans
• *If You Want to Walk on Water, You Have to Get Out of the Boat by John Ortberg
• *All the Place to Go... How Will You Know? by John Ortberg

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Have you ever walked through something hard and seen God take it and use it for good? Have you ever walked through a heartbreak and then years later helped someone else through that same exact heartbreak?

This week on the Depth Podcast, Martha Black shares with us her new children’s book: *You'll Find Me At The Ocean: A Journey of Grief Through the Eyes of a Child. Sadly, Martha lost her mother to cancer. Through this book, she is taking her greatest heartbreak and turning it into her greatest ministry by helping others who are walking through grief.

Martha vulnerably shares about the loss of her mother along with practical examples of what helped her through the grief. She also shares some wonderful ways we can honor our loved ones on the special days like birthdays and anniversaries as well as how we can come alongside and support those grieving on those hard days.

I think that is why it is so special that this podcast episode is releasing on the birthday of Martha’s mother. What a wonderful way to honor her life and remember her legacy. Friend, you do not want to miss this beautiful story of how a young girl in the middle of her grief finds God’s faithfulness in addition to memories of her mother at the ocean!

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Martha’s book, *You'll Find Me At The Ocean. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click on the link below: https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/youll-find-me-at-the-ocean-book/

I promise you that you do not want to miss this episode.

Book Recommendations

• *Letters from Motherless Daughters by Hope Edelman
• *Motherless Daughters: The Legacy of Loss by Hope Edelman
• *Comfort for Grieving Hearts by Gary Roe

Martha Black is wife, mother, elementary teacher, blogger, author, and speaker. She and her husband, Jeff, reside in Arkansas. Together, they have a brilliant and kind teenage son, Isaiah. In 2019, Martha began blogging on Facebook (Martha Black, Christian Blogger for Butterflies and Daisies), and just a few months later, God gave her the words to her first published book, *You'll Find Me At The Ocean A Journey of Grief Through the Eyes of a Child. Supporting those who are grieving is something that she is very passionate about. In December 2015, she lost her best friend, biggest cheerleader, number one friend…my Mama…to cancer. She was only 58, and Martha was 34 years old and left without a mother. Her Mama loved butterflies and daisies, so the name of her blog is just a small way that she could honor her.

Not long after writing this book, God led Martha to begin a private group on Facebook, Martha Black Ministries: Finding Peace After The Pain. After suffering such a huge loss, she had both discovered what had helped as she grieved and what did not. She desires to offer what she has learned (and continue to learn) about both the grieving process, and what God’s Word teaches us that gives us hope and peace.

It is Martha Black's hope and prayer that what you read on her accounts blesses you and encourages you in The Lord. Some days, she focuses on the topic of grief. There are days she shares what God is teaching her in life and in the world. Other days, she focuses simply on Scripture. Regardless of what Martha shares, it is her prayer that it encourages her readers and gives them a hope that can only be found in God.

Contact Information:

• Email Address: authormarthablack@hotmail.com
• Website: marthablackministries.com
• Facebook Page: facebook.com/marthablack2019
• Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/MarthaBlackMinistries
• Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/authormarthablack

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Are you walking through a hard season? Maybe circumstances did not go as you hoped or planned, and you find yourself in the wilderness.

I cannot wait for you to hear my conversation with Corella Roberts. We discuss her book, Colliding With The Call: When Following God Takes You To The Wilderness. Corella vulnerably shares the truths she learned during her wilderness season in Alaska. I love how she traced the fingerprints of God during this hard time and found His faithfulness through it all. You do not want to miss what God revealed to her especially in my favorite chapter called Circles.*

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Corella’s book,*Colliding With The Call. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click on the link below: https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/colliding-with-the-call-book-giveaway/

I promise you that you do not want to miss this episode.

Corella Roberts makes her home in Northern Thailand where she and her husband partner with an international school to "Serve the Servants." Their first missionary teaching assignment landed them in the remote bush of Alaska, which you can read about in her newly released book, ,*Colliding With The Call. From tundra to tropics, her life of following Jesus has been nothing less than story-worthy, and she loves using her experiences to encourage others to connect deeply with God at corellaroberts.com. You can also find her on Facebook, Instagram, or meandering their local produce market in search of mangosteen and lychee fruit.

Book Recommendations:

• *The Christian's Secret to a Happy Life by Hannah Whithall Smith
• *Furious Longing of God by Brennan Manning
• *The Rest of God by Mark Buchanan

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I talk with Pamela Henkelman, a fellow Hope Writer whose passion is encouraging women. I love how she inspires women to connect with God as well as help them see themselves as God sees them! Pamela understands the connection between intimacy with God and knowing her identity in God and wants to help us see this connection too.

Pamela also has a powerful testimony of how she met Jesus. Honestly, I love all the miraculous stories she shares on the podcast. God has shown up big in her life even through some of the hardest times! She loves to encourage women to be vulnerable and share their God stories. Honestly, this is my favorite part.

I promise you that you do not want to miss her wisdom.

To join my new Depth Podcast Community Group, click on https://www.facebook.com/groups/depthpodcast

Book Recommendations:

• *Search for Significance by Robert McGee
• *Daring Greatly by Brene Brown

Pamela is an enthusiastic encourager. She believes all of life flows from our intimacy with God. She helps women build a close connection with God and understand their identity in Christ, as beloved. She teaches women to release people-pleasing, approval-seeking, and shame through her coaching, writing and speaking.

Pamela lives in the midwest and is married to her Pastor. They have five adult children and two grandsons and will celebrate 33 years of marriage in October.

You can find her monthly newsletter, Be[Loved] Notes on her website, https://www.pamelahenkelman.com/ Her newsletter includes, Be[Loved] Woman’s Story, teaching, coaching, and insights on how to move forward in our relationship with God and our identity in Christ.

For fun, Pamela enjoys deep conversations over coffee, time spent laughing with anyone, and cooking delicious food.

You can find Pamela on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/pam.henkelman/ She also has a private Facebook Group for women called Be[Loved] Community. https://www.facebook.com/groups/belovedcommunitywithpamelahenkelman

You can find her on Instagram www.instagram.com/phenkelman\

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This week, I cannot wait for you to hear my friend, Grace Wabuke Klein as she vulnerably shares her story. She will open your eyes to what it was like for her to grow up in America as an African American woman. I love that she is helping raise awareness in the tone of hope. Grace also shares 4 practical steps to help us move toward unity from the Good Samaritan parable. I promise you do not want to miss her wisdom.

In addition, I highly recommend you reading Grace’s powerful story by decade on Instagram @gracewabukeklein. I know her posts will inspire you to want to lean in and better understand racism. Honestly, I cannot wait to read Grace's entire story in her soon to be released book, The Neighbor Next Door.

Lastly, Grace shares about flourishing in the winter season. Being single for two decades before meeting her husband, Grace shares what God revealed to her about Depth. Honestly, it is one of my favorite parts of our conversation.

Friends, I promise you do not want to miss the nuggets of truth from my friend, Grace.

Book Recommendations

• • Humility by Andrew Murray
• • The Third Option: Hope for a Racially Divided Nation by Miles McPherson
• • Be the Bridge: Pursuing God’s Heart for Racial Reconciliation by Latasha Morrison

Grace and her husband lead focus412, a ministry that helps churches grow. Previously, she was on the pastoral staff at Faith Church in West Covina, California, for more than 15 years. She received a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master’s in Intercultural Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary.

Some fun facts about Grace: when she’s not exploring a fascinating country around the world, she is taking on new home improvement projects, seeking adventure ski diving or scuba diving, trying a new restaurant, enjoying hot yoga, completing marathons and a sprint triathlon. She recently married the love of her life, Phillip Klein and is blessed with two adult daughters, Philecia Klein and Paige Straarup, and a son-in-law, Brad Straarup.

You can connect with Grace at https://www.gracewabukeklein.com/

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Have you ever had an “in awe of God” moment? A moment where God showed up big and exceeded your expectations. I like to call these Ephesians 3:20 moments.

I cannot wait for you to hear my conversation with Danya Jordan. We talk about how we first met which happens to be one of my “in awe of God” moments. We also talk about giving today. I have found that many times, our Ephesians 3:20 moments happen after we faithfully say yes to God and give our time, money, or resources. Giving is so important.

Friends, I love Danya’s heart for giving! She has been helping others reach their God sized vision for 26 years. I am excited for you to hear about Blessings Brokers as well as her passion for God’s Word! I know you are going to be blessed by what she shares especially when she talks about the book she is co-authoring, Lavish.

I promise you that you do not want to miss this episode.

To join my new Depth Podcast Community Group, click on https://www.facebook.com/groups/depthpodcast

Danya Jordan, founder and President of Blessings Brokers, loves serving as a Christian Donor Development consultant. She formerly served as Proverbs 31 Ministries Executive Director of Donor Development. With 26 years of nonprofit leadership, she is passionate about working together to prayerfully equip, empower, and encourage God-sized visions to become reality.

Danya teaches a ladies’ Sunday school class at her church and sings in the praise band. Her mission statement is “You Shine!” based on Matthew 5:16. She loves to Bible teach, write messages that make a difference, motivate, equip and empower leaders, kayak, spend time in the North Carolina mountains, and laugh with family and friends.

You can connect with her at https://blessingsbrokers.com/ as well as @blessingsbrokers on Instagram and Facebook. You can read her blog on http://www.danyajordan.com/ as well as connect with her @danyamjordan on Instagram and Facebook.

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Do you have a God-sized dream? Do you sometimes struggle with how to move forward in your dream?

I cannot wait for you to hear my conversation with Christa Hutchins. We discuss her book, *Moving Forward: Inspiration for the Go-Getter Jesus Girl. I think you are going to love her 4 steps to help you get unstuck as you pursue your God-sized dream. I love all her practical steps and insightful ideas. Her advice on overcoming doubt is my favorite part!

I promise you that you do not want to miss this episode.

I reference a blog post called When Doubt Creeps In. Click this link to read it.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Christa’s book,*Moving Forward. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click on the link below: https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/moving-forward-book-giveaway/

Christa Hutchins uses tough grace to equip busy communicators and leaders with project management and problem solving skills so they can turn their big ideas into a successful ministry or business. She is passionate about teaching women to find practical application of the Bible in their personal, professional and ministry lives. Christa lives in south Louisiana with her husband in their delightfully empty nest. Visit her at www.doanewthing.com to connect and download free resources.

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With Father’s Day just around the corner, I am excited to have my dad, John Brownlee, as a guest on the Depth podcast this week. I asked him to share some of his words of wisdom and best advice as he is a father to 4 girls and a grandfather to 7 grandchildren.

I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but I love that my dad shares some of our funny memories and crazy dinner activities as well as encourages other dads to make their kids a priority. I am so thankful that my dad was an intentional father to me and my sisters.

I recommend listening to this episode along side your spouse or if you are a single mom like me, there are still lots parenting nuggets in this episode for you as well! I believe parenting is the most rewarding and challenging job all at the same time, so I hope this episode encourages you along your parenting journey!

I promise you do not want to miss this episode.

Book Recommendations:

• *The New Strong Willed Child by James Dobson
• *The New Dare to Discipline by James Dobson
• *Bringing up Boys by James Dobson
• *Bringing up Girls by James Dobson

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How do you see yourself? How do you see others? Do you see yourself as a beautiful creation of God? Do you also see others as God’s beautiful creation? How we see ourselves and others is so important.

This week on the Depth Podcast, Brandie Muncaster shares with us her new children’s book: *Garden Tales: A Seed's Story. Her book focuses on who we are in Christ. Through the seed’s search for her identity and the Gardener’s gentle and loving answer, Brandie reminds us that God sees all of us as beautiful and that He made each one of us for a purpose.

This children’s book is phenomenal! I know as you read the truths in this book, it will touch your heart just as much as your kids and grandkids. Knowing we are God’s beautiful creation as well as seeing others the way God sees them will be life-changing. Remember we are all His Masterpiece!

I promise you that you do not want to miss this episode.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Brandie’s book, *Garden Tales: A Seed's Story. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click on the book ministry tab in my profile.

Brandie Muncaster is a wife, mother to three beautiful children and author of the brand-new children’s book *Garden Tales: A Seed's Story. Brandie started writing because she has a passion for helping people discover what it means to live and walk in their true identity. She and her husband have been married over a decade. Some of their favorite things to do as a family to pass the time are playing sports, spending time at the beach and the mountains, doing puzzles and playing scrabble. They happily reside in Charlotte, NC.

You can connect with Brandie at www.brandiejmuncaster.com

Book Recommendations:

• *How We Love Our Kids by Milan and Kay Yerkovich
• *Boundaries by Townsend and Cloud

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Today, I cannot wait for you to hear my conversation with Chuck Tate as we discuss his book, *41 Will Come. The number 40 is a significant number in the Bible; it usually involves a time of waiting or testing. Chuck points on in his book, that the number 41 is also significant. For example, the people of Israel wandered the wilderness for 40 years and on Year 41, they entered the Promised Land. Jesus was tempted and fasted in the desert for 40 days and on Day 41, He launched His ministry. The breakthrough happens on Day 41 or Year 41.

Are you in a season of waiting? Is life hard and you want to give up? Chuck’s book encourages us to hold on and stand strong, your 41 Will Come! Friends, you do not want to miss our conversation. We discuss the story of David and Goliath and how Goliath taunts the army of Israel for 40 days. I love that David enters the picture on Day 41. Cannot wait for you to hear all the nuggets of truth we can learn from David’s example. It is one of my favorite parts.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Chuck’s book, *41 Will Come. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com and you can click on the book ministry tab.

Chuck Tate is the award-winning author of 41 Will Come (Tyndale Momentum) and the founder and lead pastor of RockChurch, a growing and thriving congregation in the heart of Illinois. He also hosts a LIVE weekly podcast (41 Strong) and contributes for CharismaMag.com and North Central University Magazine. He has been featured on the international television show 100 Huntley Street and multiple national radio shows and podcasts, including In The Market With Janet Parshall* (Moody Radio). Chuck and his wife, Annette, are the parents of Savannah (15) and Ashton (12). You can connect with Chuck on his website: chucketate.com

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This week, my sister, Jamie Brownlee Turgeon shares about her two special mom roles as well as encourages all of us to be an influencer in a child’s life. Whether you are the biological mom, adoptive mom, stepmom, aunt, grandma, or mentor, we all have a significant impact. I love that Jamie challenges us to be intentional and purposeful.

First, Jamie shares about how she influences my kids as their much-loved aunt. I am thankful that she has been an important motherly figure to my kids as she loves on them, encourages them, and gives them advice. We talk how my kids would make her a special card for Mother’s Day letting her know how much we appreciate her. If you have a woman in your life that pours into your kids, I highly recommend honoring her on Mother’s Day.

Secondly, after my sister got married, Jamie became a stepmom to two amazing kids. I love how she shares about her impact in this important “bonus mom” role. She is also honest about the ups and downs of being a stepmom and shares some resources that helped her along the way.

Lastly, we will talk about ways we can encourage and come along side women in both of these special mom roles. We definitely try to tackle some of the hard questions.

Friends, one of the main goals of this special mom series was to remind all of us that we all have an important role. We have the privilege to encourage and influence a child; what a honor to be a motherly figure to them! I want to you to know that I am cheering you all on in your “special mom” story, and I pray you are intentional in the kid’s lives that you are impacting.

Recommended Book: *My Bonus Mom

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This week, Allison Chambers shares her foster to adopt story. I love how God placed on her heart this calling to help foster babies. What started as only a desire for emergency placement quickly changed as both her and her husband attended the foster training classes. With three boys at home, they knew in their heart, God was calling them to adopt one more.