Carol Roper is the founder of Building Strong Homes One Story at a Time—a ministry dedicated to building godly homes. Carol is a writer, podcaster, and speaker.
If you’re dealing with a prodigal or know someone who is, this episode will encourage you and give you the hope you need to keep pouring into that child. It’s an incredible story of God’s grace.
When I was ready to shut down this podcast, Glen and Kelly Daigle’s story made me want to keep going so that others will have a place to share their own amazing God stories so that together, we can help others to keep building strong.
If you’ve been through a life-altering experience, Wendy wants you to know that no matter what you are facing, God can bring hope and healing to you as well.
This week we’re welcoming back Ann Curry and Leigh Owens, who shared their story in last week’s episode of Leigh losing her mom and youngest sister in a car accident and Ann losing her first husband when she was in her mid-twenties.
You’ll be amazed at Ann Curry’s and Leigh Owens’ hope-filled perspectives and appreciate why their hashtag is CurryStrong. You’ll be laughing and crying, listening to their compelling story of God’s grace in the midst of loss.
Sophie Hudson is the co-host, along with Melanie Shankle, of the Big Boo Cast podcast as well as the voice of the Boo Mama blog (she shares in this episode how that name came to be!) and author of several of my favorite books.
If you’ve ever felt you can’t succeed because of a difficult childhood, listen to Carolyn Knefely’s story and realize how God can help anyone overcome their past to make a real difference in the world.
You wouldn’t expect a bout with breast cancer and a heart transplant would lead to a better marriage, but that’s exactly what happened for Anthony and Mary Mabry.
You wouldn’t expect a bout with breast cancer and a heart transplant would lead to a better marriage, but that’s exactly what happened for Anthony and Mary Mabry.
Right now, our country is one of the most divisive states we’ve been in since before the Civil War. Our world has been turned upside-down where good is bad and bad is good—and no one seems to know what truth really is anymore.
In this episode, George, author of the book From Queer to Christ, shares his painful journey through a secular world at odds with homosexuality, in addition to a religious world that is hostile to homosexuals.
What a pleasure it was to interview Mart Green, son of Hobby Lobby founder David Green, to talk about his family’s philosophy of faith and generosity.
Alex and Stephen Kendrick have brought us some great movies like Facing the Giants, Fireproof, Courageous and War Room and their newest movie, The Forge, released in theaters nationwide on August 23rd.
This story highlights the importance of knowing our family history and legacy in order for us to have a real sense of belonging.
Today we’re returning to the emotional story of Donavan and Lavonna Garrett, whose marriage seemed doomed due to Donavan’s alcohol abuse. I know you’ll be blessed by the outcome of their story.
Donavan and Lavonna Garrett share an incredible story of hope, forgiveness, and healing. My hope is this episode will encourage you, especially if you’re walking through your own seemingly hopeless situation.
Please tune into an encore episode
If you don’t believe God can make a difference in your marriage and family then you need to listen to the testimony of how Donovan’s alcohol abuse almost destroyed him, his marriage and his entire family.
Alex and Candace share how his alcohol problem had gotten so bad that she left him and was determined they were going to be divorced. But when Alex finally surrendered his life to Jesus and stopped drinking, she said, “I know that only God could have done that work in this man.”
This episode touched my heart so much. Kathy’s story will encourage you and give you hope, especially if you’re walking your own difficult journey.
If you missed listening to Kara’s story, I promise this is one that will make you understand the importance of family and how God calls us to prioritize our loved ones.
Summer Throwback! My guests for the first episode of this podcast were my two very best friends, Julie Bagwell and Frieda Younts. By being honest and real with each other, for one thing, but mostly by building our friendship on the foundation of Jesus Christ.
If you’ve ever felt stuck in a seemingly endless cycle of overeating, yo-yo dieting, and obsessive thoughts about food, this episode is for you.
Carol’s interview with Alli Worthington is so inspiring that I know it will encourage you to build whatever dream or calling God has put on your heart. And if you don’t know what that is yet, listen to Alli’s journey and see how God took her step by step to where she is today.
I’ve really struggled to put into words all that I wanted to say to you today because the last few months have been difficult for me as I’ve been seeking what God wants me to do with the podcast. In this episode I will share what God has been showing me recently, an update of what’s going on with my family and my plans for the future.
Lauren Jackson has had a lot of hard challenges in her young life but she’s one of the most optimistic people I’ve ever met. Even though she’s journeyed through the hardships she wants to be a bright light to those around her. You’re gonna love Lauren!
Julie Loos shares why she and Mama Bear Apologetics founder, Hillary Morgan Ferrar, saw the alarming statistics of the number of kids leaving their beliefs and wanted to take action. As Julie says in this interview, “There’s a lot we can do as parents to help our kids be solid in their faith.”
You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending. This is a quote from C.S. Lewis my guest, Jennifer Sakata, shares that fits her own life story.
Lee will inspire you to become the brave mom God has called you to be, as well as who your kids need you to be.
This episode is a little different, but Carol hopes their conversation will encourage you as you journey to build your own strong home and family.
There are a lot of great takeaways from today’s episode. I hope you’ll be inspired to make positive changes in your own family from Kimberly’s message today.
“Faith is the refusal to panic.” This quote by Dennis Rainey had a profound impact on Lori Margo as she walked through her difficult journey with cancer.
Today’s guest, Connie Tresedder shares enlightening teaching about how changing our thinking can change our lives—literally. She helps us understand that just because someone speaks negative words over us doesn’t make it true and explains how our thoughts can steal our peace.
Today’s guest, Melissa Capps, has lots of great tips and insight on the relationship between clutter and our mental health. She believes our homes are not meant to be museums or storage units—they’re where you live.
Have you ever wondered if God had something specific for you to do? That maybe you missed your calling, or you don’t know what your purpose is.
Carol hopes her story will encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and do the things God is calling you to do as well (because God is always calling us to do something!).
Did you know the average age of a widow is 59? And there are eleven million widows in the United States with 1000 women becoming widowed every day??
This is a story that has the ingredients of a great British novel: mystery, World War II, an English lass, and an American soldier and highlights the importance of knowing our family history and legacy in order for us to have a real sense of belonging.
Is hospitality something that doesn’t come easy for you? Are you always worried about how clean (or messy!) your home is? Or that you can’t cook? Or that you just don’t know how to entertain?
Tamera Rasmussen, a board-certified licensed professional counselor, understands that relationships rupture because of unmet needs and helps us understand how to start the process of reconciling those relationships.
In this episode, we talk about why giving our boys a foundation based on truth will help them navigate our difficult culture, how we should encourage our sons to have hearts that please God, not just behave in a way they won’t get caught, as well as developing a no-secrets family.
My guest today, Brant Hansen, will help us look at the bright side of things by turning our focus to all of the good that is around us.
Beth Saadati has been faithfully sharing Jenna’s story for almost a decade now, hoping she can make a difference in the lives of others who have suicidal thoughts or those dealing with loss through suicide.
Since there has been so much doom and gloom for going on two years now, I thought we’d lighten things up a bit by interviewing a wonderful lady who is a Christian speaker and comedian, Jane Jenkins Herlong. Y’all are gonna LOVE Jane.
Mike Novotny isn’t just sharing his opinions about these hot-button issues but that he goes straight to the Bible to share what God says about them.
Listen in as Molly shares her journey to faith as she works her way out of debt and reveals how every messed up, broken story has a purpose.
Today’s guest, Maggie Wallem Rowe, is a national speaker, dramatist, blogger, and author based in western North Carolina whose passion is to connect people to God and each other.
There’s so much good stuff in here that Sandy graciously shares. My prayer is that this episode will not only help you understand yourself and your needs better, but also those in your family.
Carol extends her prayer that this episode will help you build a stronger relationship with your own kids.
Carol extends her prayer that this episode will help you build a stronger relationship with your own kids.
Cecil and Boone have created a ministry called Boone and Me, where they travel the country and share their story educating churches and the congregation about foster care and adoption.
Fathers DO matter in a home. Our culture misleads us to think it doesn’t matter if you grow up with a father or not. But it does.
The empty nest years can feel like a season of losing our purpose, especially as a mom. You’ll walk away from this conversation with a renewed perspective of the empty nest and be excited to forge ahead into the future God has for you.
Amber Albee Swenson shares practical tips that are really simple to incorporate into your relationship with your spouse, as well as, warning signs that show you might be in dangerous territory with someone outside of your marriage.
In the years since his wife’s passing, God has helped Mike Nappa to learn why grieving is such an important part of losing a loved one and how He’s taught him how to grieve well.
Join Carol Roper as she welcomes her guest, Cindy Marlar.
You’ve been told to simply trust that the school system has your child’s mental well-being covered. But what happens when that trust results in your child feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or lost in the education system?
Katie’s message will give you the practical wisdom you’re searching for if you’re trying to decide whether or not homeschooling is the right fit for your family.
If you’re feeling frustrated and discouraged because your efforts to serve others are not producing the desired result, then you are not alone!
Today’s guests want to bring hope to those who are grieving any sort of loss and help them understand that the hit that knocked you down doesn’t have to keep you there.
In a world where children’s literature seemed innocent and free from controversy, Marcia Moston’s journey took an unexpected turn. As she embarked on her role as a library board member, little did she know that she would stumble upon a hidden truth.
You’ve asked for real tips to help parent your teenagers, so this week’s guest, Kelda Poynot, is here to share her wisdom. Kelda’s got lots of practical tips to help us navigate through what often can be a tumultuous time for us and our children.
Kelly Needham discovered how we as a society have been fooled into chasing meaning and purpose in all the wrong places, identifies the source of our hunger for the extraordinary, and shows us the steps we can take today to build a purpose-filled reality without turning our lives upside-down.
La’Toya Guillory has a passion for casting a vision for your family and believes it can be used as a powerful tool to create purpose and stability in a home.
Daniel’s narrative paints a vivid picture of connectedness, peace, and stability. Taking cues from his grandparents, who lived in the same small town in Idaho for 86 years, he emphasizes the importance of belonging to a community and sustaining deep roots.
Jemelene Wilson joins Carol to discuss how to forgive and recover in your marriage after an affair.
As a devoted mother, Brittany Roper’s incredible story is a testament to her unbroken spirit and steadfast faith, finding strength and gratitude amidst the chaos of everyday life.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your suffering and finding no relief in your current efforts to overcome it, such as seeking professional help or relying solely on your own strength, then you are not alone!
Today, Amy shares the rest of her story about how she finally surrendered her life to Jesus and then rebuilt her home into one that is now healthy and whole.
“Divorce is designed to destroy you.” Amy is now an example of how God can bring you to abundant life in Him. She’s so in love with Jesus and knows He’s the only Savior she needs to help her find joy and contentment in her life.
If you or someone you know and love has a special needs child or adult in their life, then you are going to love hearing Lynn Blackburn’s story about her sweet daughter, Emma.
With the graying of divorce becoming more prominent than ever, now is the time for us to address what we want our marriage to look like after our kids have flown the nest.
After working so hard building up her Pursuit of Ministry, God called Kara Stott to lay it all down at what looked like the pinnacle of her success. Through that act of obedience, she began to understand what the really important things in life are.
Erica Wiggenhorn used to be afraid to read her Bible. Erica now says, “There is power in [the Bible]. There is power in this word. It is alive. It is active. And it does something in us when we open it.”
In today’s episode, Kirby King shares the difficult story of finding out about her husband’s six-month-long affair when she’d been married for 34 years. You will walk away from this conversation encouraged in whatever situation you may be facing today.
“It’s a compliment that God gave us to have a strong-willed child… When they’re born, they don’t have any idea how to use it. It’s up to us to help guide it, shape it, form it, and let God use it.”
Pamela Henkelman has an amazing story of redemption that began when her stepdad shot her mom, the bullet grazing her heart. As a result of the shooting, her entire family came to salvation in Christ.
Peggy Bodde is an amazing woman who overcame childhood trauma to become a successful business leader. She was adopted as a baby by a couple who abused her entire childhood and kicked her out of the house at 13 years old.
When you’re going through something hard, it’s such a comfort to have someone come alongside you and says, “I understand; I’ve been there too. I can help.”
In this week’s episode, Natalie tells how she was finally set free from her addictions. (There’s a lot of deep stuff we go into in this episode, so you may not want little ears close by for this one.)
Natalie is a beautiful young woman who was invited into the modeling industry, where she became addicted to drugs. If you’ve ever loved someone with an addiction, I know Natalie’s story will inspire and encourage you. There’s always hope when God is invited in.
David Helling wrote and directed the recently released to theaters movie His Only Son. We had a great conversation about his journey into filmmaking, and I asked why he wanted to share this story of when God asked Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Isaac.
Melanie shares in this episode five tips for those who’ve lost a loved one and five tips for their support team. These are real and practical ways to get through the crushing weight of grief and also how to really help others who are in the midst of grief.
Ruth McWhite shares her passion for mentoring younger women and about those who mentored her and made a real difference in her life.
Jennifer Dukes Lee has been on my bucket list to interview since I started the podcast. This episode will enlighten you in so many ways, and I know you’ll love Jennifer and want to get this journal for yourself!
Melanie’s story is heartbreaking but hopeful. I know death and grief can be an uncomfortable subjects to deal with, but Melanie has so much wisdom to share with those who are either walking their own grief journey or have someone in their life who is.
God intervened, and Megan Phillips miraculously found her biological dad and was amazed by the wonderful grace of God in her life.
You’ll love hearing Lindsay Jackman share how she and her husband can look back and see God’s fingerprints all over their journey to building a life that led to the freedom from debt they now enjoy and the eventual opening of their business, Buffalo Ridge Builders.
Chris and Laura Barrineau understand that everybody’s story is different, but God wants to use everybody’s story for His glory. My conversation with Laura will bless your socks off!
Today I’m honored to introduce you to my podcasting mentor, Alana Dawson. Alana has such an amazing story about how God got her attention after she had a life-threatening pulmonary embolism a few months after she experienced a miscarriage.
Amy Debrucque has learned the secret to overcoming anxiety and fear: surrendering to God every day. I know my conversation with Amy will be an encouragement to you if you’re facing fear, anxiety, perfectionism or having the confidence to step into the purpose God has for your life.
Today’s guest is someone I’m privileged to introduce you to, my daughter, Elise Roper. Elise has such an amazing testimony of how God took some deeply painful disappointments in her life and strengthened her faith and trust in Him.
Jenn Mair’s passion is to let others know they have been set free from the lies and bondage of our fitness culture.
Daphne’s biological father left before she was born, and she never really knew him. But God blessed her with a wonderful stepfather when her mom married her third and final husband.And if you’ve ever wanted to know what it’s like being the Chick-Fil-A cow, Daphne gives us the scoop from her own personal experience.
Singleness can be a long, lonely journey, leaving you wondering if God really does see you in your struggle.
Casey Jones’ story is real and honest and gives hope to those who are going through their own difficult journey. I know you’ll be blessed by Casey’s story.
Today’s guest, Anna Bargeron, almost died after she delivered her first child. Because her pregnancy had been uneventful, doctors were mystified by her extreme sickness after delivery. After they finally discovered the reason for her near-death experience, Anna and her husband had to make the difficult decision of whether or not to get pregnant again or, instead, seek to adopt.
Ruthie talks about the importance of mentors and hospitality and says, “There’s just something special about welcoming people into your home. Mentoring and hospitality are important topics to discuss when it comes to building strong, godly homes. It’s one significant way we can change the landscape of America when it comes to family.
From the outside, it looked like Celeste Vaughan had a charmed life, but inside she was just trying to get through the day. She actually got to the point where she didn’t even care whether or not she was healed; she just wanted to know why she was having to walk this horrific journey.
Kristen Gault has an amazing story of hope after beating stage two triple-negative breast cancer. After 16 rounds of chemo, 33 radiation treatments, and several surgeries, she’s now cancer-free and is still declaring God’s goodness in her life.
