4:13 Podcast with Jennifer Rothschild

Growing up as a Chinese American daughter of a mail-order bride and a busboy in San Francisco's Chinatown, Bonnie Gray never felt like she belonged. She spent her childhood hiding "Chinese Bonnie" who lived in a dysfunctional home in poverty, so she could be accepted as cheerful "American Bonnie" who lived a life that looked like everybody else's. Bonnie joins me on the podcast today, and you'll h...

When you look in the mirror, do you love the skin you're in? For most of us, that seems impossible. And even if we do accept our bodies, does that mean we're abandoning any effort to improve? Oh, girl, this thought process is enough to drive anyone crazy! It's confusing and takes up way too much space in our heads and hearts. So today, we are going to make this a non-issue! Author Jennifer Taylor...

We all want to know how to talk to God and get answers to our prayers. Yet lots of us struggle to pray and are convinced we're doing it wrong. So is there a secret to talking with God? Well, according to today's guest, there is. Author and seminary professor, Kyle DiRoberts, shares the secret to prayer and reveals the impact of humility on your prayers. He'll also give you practical ways to connec...

What's the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word "unclutter"? Is it your house? Well today, you'll learn to unclutter something far more important … your soul. And, just like your house, sometimes we need to get in there, sort through it, and toss the things that weigh us down. Author Trina McNeilly joins me on the podcast and invites you to take a closer look at where the home rea...

So many of us struggle to create space in our daily routines for time with God. We want to feel close to Him, but we're wondering, "How do I create a quiet space in my chaotic schedule? Why is this so hard? Am I the only one?" Well, my friend, you are not the only one. Author Naomi Vacaro, creator of the Quiet Time Companion journal, gives you hope and a unique solution for creating—and maintainin...

In a busy world full of distractions, an intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit is more important than ever. But for many, the Holy Spirit seems vague and even a little confusing. Today, author Becky Thompson is back on the 4:13 to invite you into a closer relationship with the Holy Spirit. She'll unpack who He is and how He moves. And you'll learn how to recognize His voice and discern when G...

I hung out in the podcast closet with two 20-somethings, Nico and Mary, who work at our ministry. They asked lots of great questions common to every 20-something, including questions about dating, marriage, identity, planning their future, being honest about their sin, and simply getting through the decade of their 20's. I loved their questions because, in all actuality, the responses they receive...

In a world that applauds self-improvement, anxiety levels are at an all-time high. We feel pressure to lead, pressure to be productive, pressure to seize the day, and if you're a parent … the pressure to parent well around the clock. Well, today's guest, best-selling author, Ruth Chou Simons found herself squarely situated in that same camp, knowing there had to be a better way of living than the...

Every single day, someone in your world is thinking about choosing suicide. It isn't just one or two people, but ten million Americans will consider killing themselves in the upcoming year. Today's guest, Dr. Matthew Sleeth, believes Christians—and our churches—can be the first to offer hope. As a physician and minister, Dr. Sleeth will give you the practical and spiritual tools you need to help t...

What if it's not the hard roads that slay us, but instead, the unmet expectations of what we thought the road would be that takes us down? Well, if you're facing obstacle after obstacle on the way to your dreams—if you're smack dab in the middle of your own impossible—today's guest will give you the fresh perspective you need. Best-selling author and my friend, Ann Voskamp, will help you discover...

We need each other! None of us are designed to do this life alone, without support, without community. But sometimes we just don't know how to get over our self-reliance and get honest with others. So, today, we're going to learn from author and podcast host, Heather McFadyen, on how to not mom alone! But her insight isn't just for moms; this applies to whoever you are and whatever you do. She'll...

Why is it so hard to pray without getting distracted? And why don't I have this prayer thing figured out by now? Well, if you've ever asked these questions, you are in the right place. A vibrant, unstuck prayer life can begin for you right now. Today, author and prayer journal creator, Valerie Woerner, will give you the tips and inspiration you need to pray boldly to the God who loves you. We're t...

Join me in St. Louis, Missouri, for a Fresh Grounded Faith conference with former "Facts of Life" actress, Lisa Whelchel. She'll take you way back to when she was a Mouseketeer and even do an impromptu ventriloquism bit from her Disney days. She'll talk about what it was like to be on "Survivor" and how grace can totally change your life. Plus, I share about the impact of doubt and fear on our fai...

We may not have carved an image to worship lately, but that doesn't mean we don't have idols in our lives. In fact, our idols are much more subtle. I had an interesting conversation about this very topic with author and Bible teacher, Jen Wilkin, while in the green room at a Lifeway Women Live event. And, we even had a cameo from Jackie Hill Perry right in the middle of it!  We're talking about id...

For billions of people around the world—and for me—Heaven is an awe-inspiring place. But there are so many who doubt that Heaven exists and question if there's life after death. Well, today we get to hear proof from investigative author and theologian, Lee Strobel, as he makes a case for Heaven. He'll explore the evidence for an afterlife as he addresses mankind's biggest fear: death. Plus, you'll...

Do you want to make a difference with your life but feel inadequate to the task or limited by your everyday responsibilities? You, my friend, have incredible influence, and today you'll learn what it means to own it. When you live a lifestyle of leadership, it turns the mundane into meaningful and the small into significant. Today, Author Bobi Ann Allen will help you define what it means to live o...

We are spilling some sizzling hot beans today with Nicole C. Mullen and Jo Dee Messina. Nicole answers a tender question about how a white woman should approach a black woman, and Jo Dee gets honest about her marriage and her faith, and how to start reading the Bible if you, like her, are new to it. Plus, we answer a tough question about suicide, share our role models from the Bible, and give some...

Do you ever feel like you just don't have enough time, and you can't figure out how to get everything done? According to today's guest, it doesn't have to be this way! Author and business coach, Christy Wright says finding true life balance is possible. Christy reveals the main reasons we feel out of balance and how to combat that problem. She also lays out the path to balance that anyone can walk...

Rebekah Lyons spent years battling fear, anxiety, and panic until she found freedom and surrendering her yes to God. From moving to New York City with young children to adopting a child with Down syndrome, Rebekah learned that saying yes to God is the best way to live free. Today, Rebekah will help you move from striving and fear to freedom, joy, and rest. She'll share her own rescue journey from...

Hey, 4:13ers! I just finished recording a podcast episode with my good friend, Ann Voskamp, about her newest book, Waymaker. This podcast episode will be posted in a few weeks, but our conversation was just so good that I couldn't wait for you to hear what she had to say. So, here's a BONUS episode as an appetizer for what's to come! Ann talks about what to do if you're having a hard day, a hard y...

How did you do it? Dr. Debbye Turner Bell heard that question countless times during her reign as Miss America. Everybody wanted to know how, in her words, "this little black girl from Jonesboro, Arkansas" ended up winning one of the most iconic titles in the world. She realized the question wasn't about process but possibility. People wanted to know how they, too, could overcome the odds and find...

Since LifeWay Women is doing my Take Courage Bible Study this spring as their Online Bible Study, I thought an encore of episode #92 would be a great way to get you started. Plus, you're invited to join the Online Bible Study with LifeWay Women. During the study, you'll get free access to my 7 Take Courage teaching videos plus get to be part of an amazing community of women just like you. Head to...

Everyone thinks you've got it together. But inside you're asking, "Am I enough?" No matter how good we may look to others, the nagging voice of self-doubt is hard to shake.    Well, today, it's time to get honest about self-doubt, and then kick it to the curb! Author Erica Wiggenhorn will draw from the story of Moses—the greatest self-doubter in the Bible—to show us how self-doubt is tied closely...

Today on the 4:13, I'm spilling the beans with some of my favorite people. And since you are one of my favorites, too, I want you to join us. Liz Curtis Higgs, Michael O'Brien, and Tammy Trent joined me in Chattanooga, and we had a great conversation.    Tammy Trent lost her husband to a drowning accident, and she shares what she prays when she is at her lowest. I was asked if I ever got mad at Go...

Have you ever felt like you are barely holding on? Some days, some seasons are just hard and no matter how much we know we need to chin up and soldier on, we often just want to let go.    Today, Sheila Walsh is candidly and vulnerably sharing her personal struggles with mental health and how, especially during the pandemic, those struggles threatened to overwhelm her.   In this episode, this belov...