Getting to Know Ashley Buchanan-Sorensen, Author of 90 Reflections From God, From Iowa, From Me

Getting to Know Ashley Buchanan-Sorensen, Author of 90 Reflections From God, From Iowa, From Me

Join Single Christian Women Speak as we talk with Ashley Buchanan-Sorensen, Author of 90 Reflections from God, From Iowa, From Me Testimonies have a pre-Christ life, a moment of accepting Christ, and a new life because of Christ. And Ashley was asked to describe herself prior to accepting Christ. She responded, “I was a hot mess.” Many of us can relate to her self-description and her childhood: growing up in a broken home, bouncing between both parents' homes, and moving frequently. Ashley shares that, as a young girl, she grappled with feeling loved by people and by God so deeply that she began to question if God existed. Not knowing how to handle her struggles led to her being arrested at the age of 16. It was in jail that she accepted Christ as her Savior, and she began experiencing change and understanding. Do you battle being grounded? Ashley explains that knowing her testimony, “Keeps me grounded.” Listen to hear some of the ways God has worked in her life. Frequently, single women wrestle to find their place within the church. In this episode, you will hear a place where singles can turn their focus during their journey.   Other topics Ashley discusses are: * Transformation * Hoplessness * Peace * Battling Obedience * Hiding from God This episode is for the single who: * can relate to being "a hot mess." * thinks she is the only one who questions God's love for her * who finds herself hiding from God * struggles waiting on God to bring a man into her life * don't know where God is leading her * thinks she doesn't know enough about Jesus to Him with others It is from Ashley’s life experiences that she wrote in 90 Reflections from God, From Iowa, From Me. [https://www.amazon.com/90-Reflections-God-Iowa-Me-ebook/dp/B0BCHDLK97] Music Shtakalberry via Pixabay [pixabay.com].

A Candid Conversation with Serena Menken on Nurturing Her Teenager through Mental Health Challenges

Join us for this episode as Serena Menken, author of SerenaMenken.substack.com [https://serenamenken.substack.com/?utm_campaign=profile_chips], openly shares her personal experience of walking her teenage daughter through a mental breakdown. Her story begins when she saw signs of anxiety and depression in her teenager. Serena graciously allows us to journey with her as those signs deepened, as well as an eating disorder, and suicidal thoughts developed. (Suicide Hotline is 988) She details her family's experience as they received assessments and navigated recommended treatment plans in care facilities and at home. Serena openly shares her experience to encourage others who may face a similar situation. From a parent's point of view, Serena shares topics on: ·      Self-blame ·      Shame ·      Self-confession ·      Feelings of abandonment ·      Working with a therapist ·      Treatment center experience and home treatment Where does Serena gain strength through her family's journey? She answers this question with examples of how she has depended on her relationship with Christ throughout her parenting journey, describing it as, “I’ve been blessed with a really strong connection because I chose it.” She elaborates, “It’s something I’ve clung to.” Throughout the conversation, you will hear Serena’s words filled with grace and discover why she titled her Substack, Evidence of Grace [https://substack.com/@serenamenken?], where she pours her heart out in writing, for others to gain from.   This episode is for the parent who feels alone and struggles with despair while parenting a child with anxiety, depression, or an eating disorder. As well as parents who hesitate to share their struggles with others, to ask for help, and who tend to neglect their own self-care while tending to others.   Additional Resources are listed below. There is no affiliation with the resources listed below or mentioned in the episode. As always, you are encouraged to do your research and find resources that best suit you. How to Nourish Your Child Through an Eating Disorder [https://www.amazon.com/Nourish-Through-Eating-Disorder-Plate/dp/1615194509/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1VB2TJ5EN69HS&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.mCABDd7CRfVHmOjS0jmgoGZ8PAWa86WKgdlGzzeOH0zjizBI90WC0lRTtfYHf9hvnWXTeZndWc8U43gwXVop5wNJxlA2ctr_qLYb85eKcXTyM7OvRE-TFwoOsDtg7gDX9CGLFy2KllbiUgenfO-YyhIyxKqcIsj4Ac1v1_Q5ts08ZQM5HRQDEPu9DVM7FIiKVD75096Ey6bSSmtfCxXeA1r4_6-batcpMuMfpdd2vQw.Z3q6v3idGhFsaQ6YnTVUGGFAX6MK92melxVw5eOSK8s&dib_tag=se&keywords=parenting+through+an+eating+disorder&qid=1768963845&sprefix=parenting+through+an+eating+disorder%2Caps%2C122&sr=8-1] When Your Teen Has an Eating Disorder [https://www.amazon.com/When-Your-Teen-Eating-Disorder/dp/1684030439/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1VB2TJ5EN69HS&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.mCABDd7CRfVHmOjS0jmgoGZ8PAWa86WKgdlGzzeOH0zjizBI90WC0lRTtfYHf9hvnWXTeZndWc8U43gwXVop5wNJxlA2ctr_qLYb85eKcXTyM7OvRE-TFwoOsDtg7gDX9CGLFy2KllbiUgenfO-YyhIyxKqcIsj4Ac1v1_Q5ts08ZQM5HRQDEPu9DVM7FIiKVD75096Ey6bSSmtfCxXeA1r4_6-batcpMuMfpdd2vQw.Z3q6v3idGhFsaQ6YnTVUGGFAX6MK92melxVw5eOSK8s&dib_tag=se&keywords=parenting+through+an+eating+disorder&qid=1768963845&sprefix=parenting+through+an+eating+disorder%2Caps%2C122&sr=8-3] What Your ADHD Kid Wishes You Knew [https://www.amazon.com/What-Your-ADHD-Child-Wishes/dp/0143132393/ref=sr_1_9?crid=20FDVHYLI0YQ8&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.jfoPO4foAWouHnJwWqWWQNpFX9ouBTJ4O7O1JRge4noTghzXHYT4OQGsotijrhZMuO8EjRDvDV0UEtyE1VM-M4wYbOBXxs_xlo-5dGEX_oPiUpfBHi4NXc6U3qzfAexu2VAe9Rb5K--FGvEg9_vcokd8Mo3SOz8RTuF0totlFRpl5fRUoUC0vOJK2MSzgeZJ51wKDdSRmrztO85WDhOJY0VgRjQKlC2y2ViWpaaJ0kD4iGXFRHkvBST5BpubEHk_FF2wb4_9Vushxujv6odRfar3EeqISGrEDp2T32zfUQ4.WkAfqUkl7JWH9cqluk3306nUOowcE6Mwt3O4ZmFzIPs&dib_tag=se&keywords=adhd+parenting+book&qid=1768964452&s=books&sprefix=adhd+parenting%2Cstripbooks%2C120&sr=1-9] FEAST [https://feast-ed.org/] Brave Girl Eating [https://www.amazon.com/Brave-Girl-Eating-Struggle-Anorexia/dp/006172548X] Music by ShtakalBerry via ⁠Pixabay [https://pixabay.com/]

When Two Testimonies Meet: Steve and Brenda's Journey to Freedom and Joy Part 2

Two people with different backgrounds; one praying for aspouse to share their life with and the other content with the slower paced life they have always lived. Which one are you? In part 2 of The Single Christian Women Speak episode, When Two Testimonies Meet: Steve and Brenda’s Journey to Freedom and Joy, the couple picks up where they left off in Part 1, where they shared their personal journey leading up to the moment they met. Steve shares he knew exactly what hewas looking for and had surrendered his desires to the Lord, when he met the woman, he had been praying for. Brenda, a woman filled with contentment, who was trusting in the Lord each day was caught off guard by the whirlwind thatbegan swirling the moment she received a special text message. Relationship This episode covers many different aspects of relationships.Steve and Brenda answer the question, “What did you see in each other that solidified the relationship?” The term “dating” is familiar to describe the introductiontime in a relationship when two people get to know one another. But Steve describes how their relationship began in the “get to know time”, as he shares how the two of them began sharing with each other who they are and who theyhave been. Stop! Who sets the boundaries in your relationships? Listen toSteve describe how Brenda was a Godly woman and made it easy for him to not be tempted. “She showed me boundaries.” He elaborates on how Brenda did him afavor as he explains, “Brenda didn’t make it easy for me to be tempted.” Then he gets honest about himself, “If she would have shown me any indication that there was, maybe, boundaries not there, I would taken advantage of itprobably.” Commitment to freedom and joy Steve compares the wedding experience to “standing around in heaven.” And Brenda shares the support she had from her grown children and its effects as well as her list of standards, she had for a husband. You know that list every single woman has. Brenda had one too. Expectations We don't have to have a relationship with someone beforeknowing their expectations. We can make major expectations clear from the start. Steve and Brenda share a major sacrifice Brenda made because the expectation was discussed before the commitment to marriage. So, there was no surprise, no bitterness, and no resentment. Intimacy It is often thought that the relationship with a spouse isthe most important relationship in a married person’s life. Hear their answer when asked, “Is the most important relationship you have... with each other?” Who is this episode for This episode is for the single woman who is tempted to runahead of the Lord in search of finding freedom and joy in having a spouse, and who grapples with discouragement, thinking life isn’t going to change. Join us, for a fun story, be encouraged and sign up for our monthly newsletter [/home-a] filled with inspiring articles and current podcast episodes designed to empower single Christian women! Flourish with encouragement tailored just for you—sign up today to receive a copy of the Introduction to TheBelieving Single [/books]. We are glad you are here! Find more information at tracielobstein.com [http://tracielobstein.com/]  Music by ShtakalBerry via Pixabay [https://pixabay.com/]. The opinions expressed by guests may not reflect those of the Single Christian Women Speak Podcast.

When Two Testimonies Meet: Steve and Brenda's Journey to Freedom and Joy Part 1

What happens when two people with completely different life experiences, who have both grown in their faith over the years, meet? In Part 1 of When Two Testimonies Meet: Steve and Brenda’s Journey to Freedom and Joy, Steve and Brenda share their individual stories. They come from very different backgrounds: one has grown to seek a Godly spouse to share their life with, while the other finds contentment in how God has guided them through life’s obstacles. Steve's testimony begins with the death of his father at the age of seven. After experiencing such a loss, he felt a sense of abandonment when his mother dedicated herself to doing what’s best for his future and enrolled him in a boys' school. He reflects on his adult journey of college, military service, and forming commitments to marriage and family, all while lacking a true sense of having a place to call home.   Brenda’s story is quite different; she grew up as a preacher’s kid, experiencing stability by living in the same community all her life and naturally being devoted to her husband and children. Brenda found contentment in her role as a wife and mother. As a widow, she shares how she remained content throughout the grieving of losing her husband, never being overpowered by a pursuit of another relationship. Although she was open to a relationship, she never felt overwhelmed by not having one. At the age of 28, Steve shares how he recognized discouragement within himself and shares his thoughts, “Getting up every day for the rest of my life and going to work, getting off work and coming home, and then having to be a husband and father to three children. It wasn’t a bad life, but I didn’t see a purpose.” Have you ever wondered how a weekend father deals with separation from his children? Or, if a bad ending to a marriage affects the ex-husband? Listen to Steve’s heart as he shares his pain, tears, and prayers, along with the lessons he has learned. While Brenda was grounded in her faith throughout her journey, Steve explains how he discovered the difference between having head knowledge vs having Jesus in his heart. Do you recognize the difference? If so, you may recognize the three things he experienced freedom from after his prayer of surrender: guilt, shame, and burden. Brenda never ran after marriage, and Steve was used to running ahead of God when it came to relationships. However, when he began to pray for a Godly woman to come into his life, God brought him Brenda. In this episode, you will hear about Brenda’s strong and steady lifestyle filled with contentment, and you will delve into the heart of a weekend dad. Steve also shares his heart when he discovered what a marriage is, both with and without God. He explains that he used to try to bring God into the midst of a marriage, rather than beginning the marriage with God. Do you ever question when to bring God into a relationship? This episode serves as the backdrop to Part 2. Together, these episodes are shared for listeners who seek freedom and joy in adventure and relationships. And who yearn to be content in singleness while refusing to engage in a relationship that is not God centered.   Join us for Part 2 when Steve and Brenda share how they met, details of their dating phase, what Steve learned from Brenda’s boundaries, and when she discovered Steve’s name. Music by ShtakalBerry via Pixabay [https://pixabay.com/] The opinions expressed by guests may not reflect those of the Single Christian Women Speak Podcast.

Cally Logan Talks: The Wallflower That Bloomed, Plus More.

Two-time award-winning author Cally Logan joins the Single Christian Women Speak podcast and shares insights into The Wallflower That Bloomed, plus more. Cally Logan [https://callylogan.com/] has appeared on Today's Nashville [https://todaysnashville.com/] and has made multiple appearances on the 700 Club Interactive [https://cbn.com/search/cally%20logan?search=cally%20logan]. She is the Senior Writer for Crosswalk.com [https://www.crosswalk.com/author/cally-logan/] and The Rooted Truth [https://www.therootedtruth.com/]. Her writings have appeared in many publications, including Christine Caines' Propel Women [https://www.propelwomen.org/content/dear-future-husband-a-love-letter-journey/gjebp6]. Cally connects with women who experience the bondage of being labeled shy, awkward, or struggle with introverted tendencies that keep them in bondage. She encourages listeners and readers to bloom into the person that God created them to be. And shares what vulnerability looks like from moments in her own life by exploring how a difference is made in a young woman's life when she invites the Lord to have an input in her wardrobe, she creates personal space in her home, and considers the people that make her table of advisors.   Cally’s online presence is filled with grace, and she shares her outlook on social media, how it can be used, and how she “yields her social media to the Lord.”   Listen to what Cally has to say about “Pick me” girls, how shy Wallflowers can get connected in church, and the advice she gives to women who become friends with everyone who expresses niceness to them. You’ll hear Cally introduce her two other books, including Hang in There, Girl, where she describes being a “big sister in a book.” She wrote this for the young woman who has questions but doesn’t know who to ask. And Dear Future Husband is based on letters Cally writes to her future husband. The reader will be able to connect to the deep desire many women have for a husband. She leaves the listener with intense hope as she explains that our deep desire is already met by God, in His Son Jesus Christ. This episode is for the woman who struggles with self-esteem and yearns to develop into who God has created her to be. Wallflowers will receive encouragement in Cally’s words, stories, and ideas as she encourages women to “Leave a mark, not a stain on this earth." Find out more about Cally, her books, writings, and appearances at CallyLogan.com [http://callylogan.com/].  Music by ShtakalBerry via Pixabay [https://pixabay.com/]