We're Going There with Bianca Juarez

Are you part of a blended family? Do you know someone who is navigating step-parenting? Have you wondered how non-traditional families make it work? Well, it's something I know all too well and I'm sharing my own experiences in today's podcast. In this episode, I talk about: Navigating step-parenting The importance of learning from other families Establishing boundaries and roles at home The realities of being part of a blended family I was recently invited to the No Greater Joy Podcast hosted by my friends Peter and Heather Stow to discuss my experience with step-parenting. I'm grateful for the space they created for me to share my story and to increase the visibility of blended families in the church. Throughout the conversation, you'll learn more about how I adjusted to life as a S’Mom (aka Step-Mom). I talk about the lessons I learned and also the emotional impact of step-parenting.As you listen, I hope you gain a new perspective on blended families and how they are part of God's plan. When I married Matt, I also gained Parker and Ryen and they've been a beautiful addition to my life. It hasn't always been easy, but the Olthoff household is one full of love and God's grace.I went from being single to becoming a step-parent REAL quick and it changed my life forever. So, whether you're a step-parent or looking for ways to support a friend or family member who is part of a blended family, I hope this podcast encourages you. You can tag us @biancaolthoff, @peterstow and @heatherstow, we'd love to learn more about how this episode spoke to you.Love you, BRESOURCES/LINKSNo Greater Joy Podcast with Peter & Heather Stow Stow MinistriesEp 13: How To Step-Up In Step-Parenting With Parker OlthoffWGT Email: podcast@inthenameoflove.org Music by: Brad Tsushima, Instagram: @bradtsushima, email: bradtsushima94@aol.com, Spotify: “R.A.D.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever made a bad decision and regretted it? Are you wondering if there's a way to redeem your story? Do you want to use your experiences to advocate for change? Fox and Rob Richardson speak candidly and with grace about all of this in today's podcast. In this conversation, we talk about: • How difficult circumstances can lead to bad decisions • The realty for men and women who are incarcerated in the U.S. • Having resilient faith in hard times • The importance of prison ministry Fox and Rob's story is one wrapped in grace and full of redemption. They speak openly about mistakes that they made which led to both ending up in prison. Fox talks about how her faith got her through her sentence and how she fought for her husband's release. Rob details the reality of long-term incarceration and talks about the importance of supporting people who are serving a prison sentence. As you listen, I hope you remember that God's grace is sufficient and that in our weakness the Lord is made strong. Whether you're hoping to rebuild your life after incarceration or looking for ways to support people in prison, there's something for everyone in this podcast. We all make mistakes, and we are not defined by our past. There's a God that loves you and wants to turn your test into a testimony. You can tag us @BiancaOlthoff and @foxandrob, we'd love to learn more about how this episode spoke to you. Love you,  B RESOURCES/LINKS Book by Fox & Rob Richardson: Time, The Untold Story of the Love That Held Us Together When Incarceration Kept Us Apart Book by Gary Smalley: Making Love Last Forever WGT Email: podcast@inthenameoflove.org  Music by: Brad Tsushima, Instagram: @bradtsushima, email: bradtsushima94@aol.com, Spotify: “R.A.D.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is your mind stuck in replay telling you the same negative thoughts? Are you ready to become aware of what you tell yourself and improve your mindset? Then you’re in for a treat! Today I get to have a life-giving conversation with adoptive mom, entrepreneur, business owner, and my twin sister Jasmine Star on mindset shift. In my eyes Jasmine has always been strong-willed, a driver, and prone to success. She shares with us how she learned about fixed and growth mindset and how it has helped her become aware of the things she was repeating to herself. Her breakthrough came after having a shift from a fixed to a growth mindset. Jasmine learned to empower her brain and apply a different mindset to her situations. There are three main categories of self-doubt that a fixed mindset can keep you stuck in: 1. Over Planner 2. Treading Water 3. Destination Obsessed Friends let’s choose to learn from our challenges and write a different story. Get rid of stinking thinking by choosing the hard of change instead of the hard of stasis. I love that I get to have these conversations and share them with you! Tag me @BiancaOlthoff and @JasmineStar and let us know how you are writing a different story today. Love you friends!  B RESOURCES/LINKS  Jasmine Star Website  B's favorite podcast episodes: From Broke to Billionaire Three Reasons Why People Get Stuck Book resources:  Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck Discipline Is Destiny: The Power of Self-Control by Ryan Holiday  WGT Email: podcast@inthenameoflove.org  Music by: Brad Tsushima, Instagram: @bradtsushima, email: bradtsushima94@aol.com, Spotify: “R.A.D. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What are you doing to become the best version of yourself? Are you willing to put in the work that no one else will? I want to take you on a journey and help you discover who you can be. We all go through setbacks and failures that might push us into quitting. But keep in mind that they are part of the learning process. Challenge yourself today and take some time to rediscover who do you want to be in life by asking yourself these questions: 1. What am I happy with? 2. What do I want to do? 3. What makes me unhappy? 4. How do I view setbacks? 5. Am I willing to do the work? I know you can do this! And I’m cheering you on from the sidelines. Tag me @BiancaOlthoff I’m excited to see who you want to be in 2023. Love you friends!  B RESOURCES/LINKS WGT Email: podcast@inthenameoflove.org Music by: Brad Tsushima, Instagram: @bradtsushima, email: bradtsushima94@aol.com, Spotify: “R.A.D.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you having a rocky start to your year? Does it seem like you are starting out on a crazy train? How about we start this season with a positive attitude? Having a word to reflect on throughout the year has always been pivotal in my life and I hope it is helpful to you as well. We all have good intentions when we set resolutions. But let's be honest friends, even though we started out strong, less than half of us made it to the 6-month mark. Focusing on ONE word during the entire year can be very powerful. Not only will you be able to stay focused, but you will also have direction on who you want to be and what you want to step into. Pause, think, and create a list to hone into your word. And remember, don't just be interested in it, be committed to it. Set some time by yourself, with a friend, or your date to go through these steps. I can't wait for you to tag me at @BiancaOlthoff and share what your word for this year is. Love you friends! B RESOURCES/LINKS  Do You Need An Epiphany? // Enough // Matt Olthoff WGT Email: podcast@inthenameoflove.org Music by: Brad Tsushima, Instagram: @bradtsushima, email: bradtsushima94@aol.com, Spotify: “R.A.D.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you find it hard to establish boundaries? Are you sensitive about and do you struggle to have difficult conversations? Is there a part of your life that you're currently grieving? Lysa TerKeurst is an author and speaker who is tackling all these topics in her newest book. In this conversation, we cover: Defining boundaries and why we need them How boundaries can improve your relationships Tackling tough conversations and how it can provide clarity Grieving the relationships and seasons of life that come to an end Lysa's voice is one I trust and respect, especially when it comes to discussing spiritual and emotional well-being. She shares personal experiences and walks us through her process of re-establishing boundaries. Lysa gives insight into how boundaries are a biblical principle and how honoring our boundaries helps us honor others too. We also talk about acknowledging what didn't work out and grieving those things with little funerals. (Liiisten, this sounds weird but it's a game-changer!) If like me, you have a big heart and lots of feelings, I hope this episode helps you as much as it helped me. Whether you're navigating boundaries in your professional or personal life, there's something for everyone in this episode. Sometimes things don't turn out how we planned, and it's okay to grieve what you lost. Establishing boundaries as you heal can improve your relationships and help you to see all the good that's yet to come. You can tag us @BiancaOlthoff and @LysaTerKeurst, we'd love to learn more about how this episode spoke to you. Love you, BRESOURCES/LINKS Check out Lysa’s new book: Good Boundaries and GoodbyesWGT Email: podcast@inthenameoflove.orgThis podcast is sponsored in part by Operation Christmas Child. Pack a shoebox! Learn more by clicking here.Music by: Brad Tsushima, Instagram: @bradtsushima, email: bradtsushima94@aol.com, Spotify: “R.A.D.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever wondered what it's like to co-lead with family? Are you navigating a new partnership of some kind? Leadership is having influence over something, whether it's personal or professional. Matt Olthoff, a.k.a. my husband, and I co-lead The Father's House OC together. We are sharing our experiences and the lessons learned on: • Planting a church • Working together in partnership • What our leadership looks like • Defining individual responsibility Matt's heart for people makes him a great leader. His leadership has impacted me, in marriage and in building a church. We define what leadership is and how we're working together to redefine co-leadership in ministry as a couple. Creating equal opportunity for men and women in ministry is something we care about deeply. Matt empowers me to be a better leader and I am grateful for the journey we've been on. One thing we know for sure is that we are better together. My hope is that as you listen, you'll be able to hear a different perspective on co-leadership. Whether you're learning how to navigate working with people at your job or looking for ways to communicate better in your relationships, there's something for everyone in this podcast. God made us individually and with purpose and we all bring something different to the table. When we collaborate with others in the community, I believe that we can work at our best. You can tag us @BiancaOlthoff and @MattOlthoff, we'd love to know how this episode spoke to you. Love you,  B RESOURCES/LINKS  WGT Email: podcast@inthenameoflove.org This podcast is sponsored in part by Operation Christmas Child. Pack a shoebox! Learn more by clicking here. Music by: Brad Tsushima, Instagram: @bradtsushima, email: bradtsushima94@aol.com, Spotify: “R.A.D.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever been hurt by someone gossiping about you? Are you guilty of talking about someone behind their back? Gossip is running rampant in today's world, both online and in person and we're going to tackle it in this episode. In this episode, I will:  Define gossip and different types of gossipers  Explain why we shouldn't gossip, from a biblical perspective  Why people may feel the need to gossip  How we can actively fight against gossip culture Gossip has become a part of everyday life, whether defined as a water cooler moment with colleagues in the office or chatting about someone else's business with friends. It can also be found online when scrolling through tabloids and social media. While it might seem innocent, it can be hurtful, lead to wild assumptions and cause division in relationships. I'll explain what gossip is and the damage it can cause. I’ll also cover what the Bible says about gossip as well as how gossip is showing up in the [capital C] Church. My heart and my hope is that as you listen, you'll reflect on this topic and have the courage to call out gossip when you see it in real time. Let's instead be generous with encouragement, it goes much further and will have a positive impact on someone's life. You can tag me @biancaolthoff, I'd love to know how this episode spoke to you! Love you, BRESOURCES/LINKSKeeping It G // Gossip + Guile // Issues We Don’t Talk About // Bianca OlthoffThis podcast is sponsored in part by Operation Christmas Child. Pack a shoebox! Learn more by clicking here.WGT Email: podcast@inthenameoflove.orgMusic by: Brad Tsushima, Instagram: @bradtsushima, email: bradtsushima94@aol.com, Spotify: “R.A.D.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you know God's true nature? Ever wondered how God sees you? Is there a God calling on your life? Lisa Bevere is joining me on the podcast to unpack all these topics. We dive deep into: • God's true nature • The power of your YES to God • Why it's important to speak the truth in love • Being anointed by God and working in partnership with Him Lisa is an author, a speaker, and a leader who has spent decades encouraging and empowering people to walk in their purpose. During our conversation, Lisa shares her thoughts on modern Christianity and the importance of knowing the Word of God. She speaks candidly about being anointed by God and working with Him on purpose and for His purpose. Lisa has her ear to the ground and isn't afraid to give us a reality check. Something I love about Lisa's writing and perspective is that it always speaks to God's true nature. It's the reminder that God made each of us uniquely and cultivated a specific purpose for each of our lives. My heart and my hope is that as you listen, you’ll remember that you are a child of God and that you are significant. There’s an assignment on this earth that only you can fulfil. Tag us @biancaolthoff and @LisaBevere, we’d love to see what you're called to and what embracing God's plan looks like for you. Love you,  B RESOURCES/LINKS Lisa Bevere’s Devotional - Fiercely Loved: God's Wild Thoughts about You  Lisa Bevere’s Books WGT Email: podcast@inthenameoflove.org This podcast is sponsored in part by Operation Christmas Child. Pack a shoebox! Learn more by clicking here. Music by: Brad Tsushima, Instagram: @bradtsushima, email: bradtsushima94@aol.com, Spotify: “R.A.D.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you a self-professed control freak? Does the thought of letting someone else take the lead stresses you out? Is there a strong inner critic that you constantly battle with? Sharon Hodde Miller is an author and a co-pastor alongside her husband. She has wrestled with control in the past and will share with us ways we can tackle our own need for control in an upfront but loving way. In this conversation, we talk about: • Defining control and our desire to be in control • Letting go of the need to control everything • The struggle of the inner critic • The power of our God-given agency Sharon shares her experiences in hopes of helping others navigate their relationship with control. She explains that there is power in letting go of control and learning to not be attached to outcomes. We also discuss establishing boundaries and embracing our God-given agency. As you listen, I hope you'll meet yourself with kindness and take a look at your relationship with control. While we can't control everything - we can be certain of one thing... God is perfect and makes no mistakes. You can tag us @biancaolthoff and @sharonhmiller, we'd love to hear how this podcast spoke to you! Love you,  B RESOURCES/LINKS Sharon Hodde Miller’s Book: The Cost of Control: Why We Crave It, the Anxiety It Gives Us, and the Real Power God Promises  WGT Email: podcast@inthenameoflove.org This podcast is sponsored in part by Operation Christmas Child. Pack a shoebox! Learn more by clicking here. Music by: Brad Tsushima, Instagram: @bradtsushima, email: bradtsushima94@aol.com, Spotify: “R.A.D.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices