How do you navigate the holidays when grief is a close companion? If you’ve experienced a significant loss, then you know what it’s like for the holiday season to feel more like a sorrowful time of year than a wonderful one. 

 This episode of The Sister Circle Podcast is a special one. I share my grief journey and how I’ve navigated the holiday season without my mother, my very own Mrs. Claus. 

My friend, if you’re coping with a loss this holiday season, know that you will smile again. Just hold on.

Highlights from Today’s Episode

• How to deal with grief
• Honoring the forms of grief and loss
• Taking care of yourself as you cope

Related Resources

Check out this special podcast I did with my mom a few years back, Podcast #198 – Thriving During the Holidays

Listen to my collection of podcast episodes on grief and loss:

• Podcast #089 – Coping with Grief
• Podcast #180 – Staying Awake When Life Hurts
• Podcast #284 – Rebuilding After Loss
• Podcast #308 – Coming Up for Air
• Podcast #403 – Building Resilience with Michele Cushatt
• Podcast #409 – You Can Grieve Well with Tiffany Coleman
• Find the Joy
• How to Deal with Grief and Loneliness
• Make Room for Joy
• Ten Ways to Self-Soothe
• Thoughts on Loss, Grief, and Hope

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Do you remember when you first fell in love with God? What if you returned to the place where your heart was on fire, and you did everything you could to draw close to Him?

In this episode of The Sister Circle Podcast, I discuss the importance of staying connected to the Father through mindfulness and gratitude. 

Here’s to cultivating the spiritual discipline necessary to abide in God.

Highlights from Today’s Episode

• Slowing down this holiday season
• Paying attention to your life
• Learning to abide in God
• Starting a gratitude journal

Related Resources

• Learn more about thankfulness. Listen to Podcast #389 – Growing in Gratitude
• Get inspired to release your thoughts with my Write It Down video

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Connecting with God through Scripture is how intimacy is formed. Much like learning about a loved one through intentional time and attention, you learn more about the character of God through time spent in His word. The thing is, even in knowing this, studying Scripture can still feel like an impossible task.

Tara-Leigh Cobble joins me on this episode of The Sister Circle Podcast. She is a speaker and teacher who has helped millions access and understand the Bible through The Bible Recap Podcast. 

I know this conversation will encourage you to engage with Scripture, even when life dares to get in the way.

Highlights from Today’s Episode

• Reading the Bible to build intimacy with God
• Finding reading resources that work for you
• Connecting with other believers through community
• Seeing the gift in singleness

Related Resources

• Connect with Tara-Leigh Cobble on Instagram or Facebook.
• Grab a copy of Tara-Leigh’s book, The Bible Recap
• Check out Tara-Leigh’s latest books: Knowing Jesus as Savior and The Bible Recap for Kids
• Learn more about Tara-Leigh and her ministry on her website
• Listen to The Bible Recap Podcast

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Have you ever felt like you were spinning out of control? Sometimes, anxiety can make you feel as though you can’t slow down no matter how hard you try. In this episode of The Sister Circle Podcast, I’ll share some of the ways I’ve learned to get to the root of my anxious thoughts and begin to trust in God again. 

Anxiety can rob you of your life, but I want more for you. More importantly, God has more in store for you. And my friend, you deserve to live and live well.

Highlights from Today’s Episode

• Gleaning wisdom from Inside Out 2
• Allowing anxiety to provide information
• Giving everything to God in prayer
• Making the constant decision to trust God

Related Resources

• Grab my book, 28 Days of Prayer 
• Pick up I Surrender All by Priscilla Shirer
• Listen to Podcast #460 – Asheritah Ciuciu – Rest for the Weary
• Find strategies for fear and anxiety in Podcast #502 – Let Go of Worry

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Are you tired of putting on your superwoman cape for everyone and everything? As a woman, I can certainly identify with feeling overrun and overworked. And specifically, as a Black woman, the pressure to constantly be strong can feel downright debilitating.

My friend Dr. Sarita Lyons recently joined me for a real sister-to-sister conversation about her new book, Church Girl: A Gospel Vision to Encourage and Challenge Black Christian Women, and the intersection of race and faith. 

Whether you’re a Black woman searching for her identity in Christian spaces or someone far removed from the Black experience, this conversation will encourage you to not only show up better but to serve and love your sisters in faith better too

Highlights from Today’s Episode

• Overcoming rejection and discouragement
• Knowing when to press and when to pivot
• Shining a light on Black women and the superwoman complex
• Giving God glory in the midst of grief

Related Resources

• Connect with Dr. Sarita on Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube
• Grab a copy of Dr. Sarita’s book: Church Girl: A Gospel Vision to Encourage and Challenge Black Christian Women
• Learn more about Dr. Sarita through her website
• Watch my previous conversation with Dr. Sarita on The Fundamentals of Faith (Podcast #319)
• To hear more on the intersection of race and faith, listen to Podcast #395: Faitth Brooks – The Journey to You
• Listen to Podcast #369: Dorena Williamson – Embracing God’s Design

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What is keeping you from walking in your full authority? No matter what may be holding you back, with God and with time, you can find your stride again.

In this episode of The Sister Circle Podcast, I share a few ways that I’ve learned to keep my identity intact, even as seasons change.

When you’re intentional about tethering yourself to God through every season, you will remain on solid ground. Always know that no matter what, you are the daughter of a King.

Highlights from Today’s Episode

• Build your identity on solid foundation
• Believe that you are royalty
• Behave like a queen

Related Resources

• To learn how to leave a royal legacy, listen to Podcast #374 – Royal and Real
• For more insight on authority, listen to Podcast #402 – Standing in Authenticity and Authority

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Let’s be real. Life can be rough. Along the way, many of us balance our daily responsibilities along with our battles with insecurity, doubt, and the weight of the world’s expectations. Sometimes the challenges we face combined with our perceived shortcomings can make us feel less than worthy. That’s exactly when we need a spiritual joy bomb like Oneka McClellan to remind us that, regardless of our circumstances, we are daughters of THE King. 

We are chosen, we are loved, and we are appointed for greatness! 

Oneka McClellan is a writer, author, speaker, wife, and mother who also pastors Shoreline City Church alongside her husband, Earl. 

In this episode, Oneka joins me on the couch to share insights from her book, Born Royal: Overcoming Insecurity to Become the Woman God Says You Are. Oneka’s message is timeless, and her energy is infectious. She brings a clear word for the women of God: It’s time to walk boldly in the identity God has given you.

Highlights from Today’s Episode

• Cultivating an atmosphere of expectancy and joy
• Experiencing joy in the midst of struggles
• Practicing gratitude in every season
• Increasing your level of expectation
• Stewarding what God has given you

Related Resources

• Connect with Oneka McClellan on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, or on her website.
• Grab a copy of Oneka’s book: “Born Royal: Overcoming Insecurity to Become the Woman God Says You Are.”
• Check out Oneka’s podcast, “The Girls Podcast.”

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When was the last time you had a dream for your life? Sometimes, it takes the wisdom of someone who has gone before you to remind you to dream again.

If you’ve found yourself longing for the chance to dream again, this episode of The Sister Circle Podcast is the one for you. Allow me to share a few things that will help you determine what you want for your life.

I’m so excited about the possibilities that await you on the other side of your dreams.

Highlights from Today’s Episode

• The importance of dreaming again
• The secret for activating your dreams
• The power of dreaming with God

Related Resources

• Listen to my previous conversation with Aunt Jo, Podcast #172 – The Single Woman & Spiritual Motherhood
• Grab my book, She’s Still There, and use the questions at the end as a guide for uncovering your dreams.
• Watch my Write It Down video for more inspiration to take notice of your life.
• Plan out your goals and dreams with The Full Circle Planner

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In a world where we’re bombarded with endless productivity hacks and the pressure to achieve greatness, finding balance can feel like an uphill battle. We’re told that success is about checking off endless to-do lists and constantly hustling toward our goals. But this relentless pursuit of “doing more” can leave us feeling drained, anxious, and disconnected from what truly matters.

What if we could redefine productivity to align with our season of life? In this episode, I reconnected with Kendra Adachi, the brilliant mind behind the Lazy Genius approach. Kendra and I dive into her new book, The PLAN: Manage Your Time Like a Lazy Genius.

Kendra invites us to rethink our relationship with planning and productivity. She teaches us that true productivity is not merely about the tools we use or the systems we implement; it’s about cultivating a mindset that aligns with our values and dreams.

If you’re ready to break free from the hustle and find peace in the present moment, then you definitely want to tune into this episode!

Highlights from Today’s Episode

• Living in your season 
• Making better to-do lists
• Being kind to yourself
• Redefining your dreams
• Developing a solid plan

Related Resources

• Connect with Kendra Adachi on Instagram, Facebook or her website.
• Grab a copy of Kendra’s new book: The PLAN: Manage Your Time Like a Lazy Genius.
• Check out her other books, The Lazy Genius Way or The Lazy Genius Kitchen.
• Check out The Lazy Genius Podcast.
• Get the Voxer App
• Order the book – Getting Things Done by David Allen
• Check out the Bullet Journal
• Moleskine Journals

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Sometimes, I look at the women in my life, and I can see it all in their eyes. The anxiety, the fear, and the worry are evident without them saying a word. We girls often carry the weight of the world on our shoulders and the worry that comes with it.

Through my own uncertainties and unknowns, I’ve learned how to cast my cares on the Lord. My friend, allow me to help you do the same. If you listen until the end, you’ll find a special prayer just for you.

Highlights from Today’s Episode

• Engage with your feelings
• Release rather than ruminate
• Speak life over yourself and your situation

Related Resources

• Learn how to cast your cares through prayer with 28 Days of Prayer 
• Find strategies for dealing with worry in Podcast #468 – How to Manage Stress
• Listen to Podcast #460 – Asheritah Ciuciu – Rest for the Weary

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Have the wounds of rejection caused you to believe that you’re not enough? Maybe rejection has left you feeling that you will never be enough.

My friend Nona Jones returns to the podcast to discuss her latest book, “The Gift of Rejection.” She shares how she has overcome the pain of rejection and stepped into her purpose.

And I want that for you too. When you are willing to get to the root of painful experiences, you can let go of bitterness to become a better you.

Highlights from Today’s Episode

• Identifying the root of pain
• Reframing our core beliefs
• Having difficult conversations

Related Resources

• Connect with Nona Jones on Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube
• Learn more about Nona on her website
• Preorder a copy of Nona’s latest book: “The Gift of Rejection: Harness Your Pain to Propel Your Purpose”
• Grab Nona’s other book “Killing Comparison”
• Listen to my previous chat with Nona, Podcast #323 – Navigating Change, Church, and Culture

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