My Southern Godmother

What if one of the most familiar parts of the Bible… is actually the one we’ve overlooked the most? In this episode of My Southern Godmother , Jena sits down with Brad Gray — founder of Walking the Text — to talk about the power, depth, and daily impact of the Lord’s Prayer. Brad shares the incredible story behind his new documentary and series on the Lord’s Prayer, including how a private project...

Fear has a sneaky way of showing up everywhere — in big decisions, small decisions, motherhood, work, uncertainty, and all the “what ifs” we carry around without even realizing it. In this episode of My Southern Godmother , Jena and Debbie talk honestly about what it looks like to trust God when fear feels loud. Jena shares about declaring this her “no fear year,” only to quickly realize how often...

What do you do when things don’t go your way? If you’re being honest…  Do you ever wonder: Is this my fault?  Is this God’s fault?  Why isn’t He fixing this? In this episode of My Southern Godmother , Jena and Debbie have a real conversation about what it looks like to wrestle with God — without walking away from Him. From Debbie’s emotional week thinking her 97-year-old mother was about to pass…...

Change is inevitable… but bitterness doesn’t have to be. In this episode, Jenna and Debbie talk about what it looks like to respond to change with faith—especially when it’s unwanted, unexpected, or uncomfortable. Debbie shares a vulnerable personal update (and a reminder to take your health seriously), and together they unpack why some people get stuck looking backward while others learn how to e...

In this week’s Philippians study, we’re diving into Philippians 2 —the chapter that lovingly (and painfully 😅) calls all of us out: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit…” We talk about what humility actually looks like in real life—not the Pinterest version. The kind that shows up in marriage, leadership, friendships, church life, and even the way we walk into conversations asking, “Wha...

Spiritual warfare can sound intense… but it’s also incredibly practical. In today’s episode, Debbie and I break down what spiritual warfare actually is , what the Bible says about it, and what to do when you feel stuck, anxious, or under attack — mentally, emotionally, or spiritually. Debbie shares a powerful story and visual from history — the Berlin Wall — to explain what Scripture calls strongh...

Life is still hard — even when you’ve walked with Jesus for a long time. In this episode, Jena and Debbie settle into a real, honest conversation about the season they’re in right now — motherhood messes, busy weeks, Scripture, and the challenge of keeping an eternal perspective when life feels loud and heavy. They talk through Philippians 1, reflecting on Paul’s ability to hold joy and suffering...

Some songs are just… songs. And then there are the ones that mark you forever.  In this episode, Jena and Debbie swap stories about the worship songs that literally stopped them in their tracks - pulling over on country roads, kneeling on the den floor with a laundry basket, and meeting God in unexpected places. They share: The Larnelle Harris songs that helped Debbie experience God’s grace in a w...

What happens when you tell God “I’ll go anywhere. I’ll do anything” — and mean it? In this episode, Debbie shares one of the most pivotal stories of her life. After a sermon on Romans 12, she and her husband stood up in church and said the boldest prayer a believer can pray: “Here am I, Lord. Send me.” Within days they had their house on the market, preparing to follow God anywhere He wanted to se...

If life feels like a lot right now, you’re not alone. Between travel, kids out of rhythm, tech chaos, exhaustion, and trying to hold everything together, Jena and Debbie sit down to process a month that felt like too much — and to read the passage that’s been anchoring Debbie’s heart for weeks: Psalm 103:1–13. In this episode, they talk about: The five small words that change everything: “forget n...

It has been a journey y'all! But we are finally here. After months of planning, loads of tech issues....we've finally launched the video version of the My Southern Godmother podcast on YouTube. On today's episode we talk through why we're doing video, what to expect for the future - and even go through Debbie's skincare routine.  (It will have you in stitches!) If you&apos...

Have you ever wondered why certain patterns seem to run in your family—fear, anxiety, striving, or even silence around faith? And have you ever hoped, deep down, “Lord, let it stop with me”? In this episode we talk about generational curses and generational blessings—what they are, how they show up, and how, in Christ, you can partner with God to build a new legacy for your family line. Starting i...

Do you ever feel like you’re too busy for Jesus… but also too tired to do anything about it? This week we dive into the story of Martha and Mary in Luke 10:38–42 and talk about what it really looks like to “choose the better part” when life feels full, loud, and overwhelming. Debbie shares how she recently taught this passage to teen girls and adult couples - all wrestling with the same thing: dis...

What if the best years of your life are still ahead of you? This week on My Southern Godmother , Debbie shares a story (and a hilarious but powerful scripture from Joshua) that completely shifted her perspective when she thought God might be “finished” with her. We talk about: How to recognize when you’re in a preparation season Why your gifts never age - even if your body does The difference betw...

Ever wondered how Paul could say, “I’ve learned to be content in all circumstances” … while sitting in prison? This week on My Southern Godmother , Debbie and I dig into what true biblical contentment really means....and how it’s not the same as complacency.  We share: The big difference between contentment and complacency Why our wants can quietly steal our joy A story about a professional athlet...

To be honest friends, Debbie and I had some scheduling issues and couldn't get out our new episode in time this week. BUT!  We wanted to reshare one of our most popular episodes from the past year.  This episode is rich with advice, scripture, and a great analogy about a cruise ship.  I needed to hear this message again.  We'll be back next week with a brand spankin' new episode for...

Have you ever felt like your prayers were just… bouncing off the ceiling? Same. This week on My Southern Godmother , Debbie and I dive into the real talk of unanswered prayers: How we wrestle with them, what they reveal about our trust, and what it means to pray even when we don’t see results. We talk about: The season I spent begging God for a husband (and what finally shifted) Why “I’m living in...

Have you ever wanted to tell someone about Jesus but didn’t know how to start? You’re not alone. I didn’t grow up knowing how to share my faith. I worried about saying the wrong thing… offending someone… or messing it up completely. But this week on My Southern Godmother , Debbie shares one of the most beautiful stories I’ve ever heard (literally sobbed during this convo!) about a young woman she...

When I was in college, I thought about my body constantly. Am I pretty enough? Skinny enough? Worthy enough? For over a decade, I let those questions define how I saw myself and how I showed up in the world. The scale became my mirror. Control became my coping. And the voice in my head was one I’d never speak to my daughter. But God didn’t leave me there. This week on My Southern Godmother , Debbi...

Honestly, I hate the word submission. So I asked Debbie about it. In this week’s episode of My Southern Godmother , Debbie and I get into it. What does biblical submission actually look like in a healthy marriage? How does mutual respect play into it? And - most important of all - what does the Bible say about our submission to Christ ? In this episode: The story of how Debbie didn’t budge - and w...

There’s a verse in Matthew that hit me like a ton of bricks: “But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:15) I had to ask Debbie if that was really in the Bible. Spoiler: it is. 😳 This week on My Southern Godmother , we’re talking about forgiveness : the kind that feels impossible, the kind you want to avoid, and the kind that sets you free. D...

I’m not proud of it - but I’ve judged people for things I had no business judging. And wouldn’t you know… it came right back around. 😬 This week on My Southern Godmother , Debbie and I talk about the kind of judgment Jesus warns us about - the kind that says more about us than the person we’re criticizing. We dig into a verse I thought I understood…until God used a house project, a newborn, and a...

We’ve all had something said to us that stuck. Sometimes it was life-giving. Other times? It became a label we’ve carried for years. This week on My Southern Godmother , Jena and Debbie talk about the power of words - how they shape our identity, influence our parenting, and reveal what’s in our hearts. In this episode: A bedtime story gone sideways (and the words that brought it back) The comment...

Sometimes, it’s hard to believe that God actually loves us. We say it. We sing it. We know the verses.  But deep down? Many of us still wrestle to believe it’s true— for us . This week on My Southern Godmother , Jena and Debbie talk honestly about what it means to be loved by God—and why it’s so hard to grasp sometimes. In this episode: Mother’s Day reflections (and why it’s a complicated day for...

We believe a crazy thing.  We believe that a man died on a cross to save us from our sins and then three days later he rose from the dead to conquer death.  It's a crazy thing.  But if we really believe that.... If we really believe that God did this because He loves us - it changes everything.  This week Debbie and Jena talk about: - Funny things they believed forever that weren't true...