[SPEAKER_02]: Christian parenting.

[SPEAKER_01]: Welcome to the Bible for Kids Podcast with your hosts, author Trisha Goyer, and author and co-creator of Veggie Tales, Mike Noraki.

[SPEAKER_01]: If instilling biblical values and kids is important to you, this podcast will give you the resources, wisdom, and hope to do just that.

[SPEAKER_01]: Now let's join our hosts, Trisha, and Mike for this week's episode.

[SPEAKER_03]: Welcome back to the Bible for Kids Podcast.

[SPEAKER_03]: I'm Mike Naraki.

[SPEAKER_05]: And I'm Trisha Goyer.

[SPEAKER_05]: Today, Mike and I welcome Amber and Alla Raleigha.

[SPEAKER_05]: But before we do that, we like to start every Bible for Kids Podcasts with a Bible verse, Mike.

[SPEAKER_03]: All right, and today's verse comes from Psalms 34, 17, and 18.

[SPEAKER_03]: The Lord hears this people when they call to him for help.

[SPEAKER_03]: He rescues them from all their troubles.

[SPEAKER_03]: The Lord is close to the broken hearted.

[SPEAKER_05]: Thank you, Mike.

[SPEAKER_05]: Now Amber Leah is the co-author of your scene and other best-selling parenting books.

[SPEAKER_05]: She and her husband, Livin Chattanooga, Tennessee with their four boys and her oldest son is with us, Ollie.

[SPEAKER_05]: So Ollie, Leah is the co-author of your scene.

[SPEAKER_05]: He's a student athlete who overcame anxiety and now encourages teens through his Instagram ministry.

[SPEAKER_03]: Welcome Amber and Ollie.

[SPEAKER_00]: Great to have you all.

[SPEAKER_00]: Hi.

[SPEAKER_00]: Thanks Trisha.

[SPEAKER_00]: We're so glad to be here.

[SPEAKER_00]: We've been looking forward to this conversation.

[SPEAKER_03]: Oh my goodness.

[SPEAKER_03]: Oh well, yeah, it's so cool.

[SPEAKER_03]: I don't know if we've had them.

[SPEAKER_03]: Well, you know, we had it's Trisha, we we interviewed you in your son.

[SPEAKER_03]: So this is my second.

[SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, yeah, this is our second mother's son.

[SPEAKER_03]: You know, author combo.

[SPEAKER_03]: So I know I'd love that.

[SPEAKER_03]: And of course, you're also good friends with Trisha.

[SPEAKER_03]: We were talking about that a little bit off air.

[SPEAKER_03]: Maybe could you could you just tell our audience a little bit more about that, how your friendship came to be with Trisha, [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, you know, I really stumbled upon Trisha through a mutual friend originally.

[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, obviously, God was in it because we've become so close.

[SPEAKER_00]: And initially, I thought, you know, Trisha's such an amazing writer.

[SPEAKER_00]: I want to get to know her because I had an interest in writing books and writing scripts.

[SPEAKER_00]: And eventually, my husband and I, we have a production company.

[SPEAKER_00]: And we started talking to Trisha about, you know, could we create some of this content?

[SPEAKER_00]: for the screen.

[SPEAKER_00]: And that's really how it all started.

[SPEAKER_00]: And then we just really love each other a lot and now she's stuck with us.

[SPEAKER_00]: A lot of years, 14 years, we've been friends and working on projects together.

[SPEAKER_00]: and getting to speak at you know conferences together and things like that has just been beautiful and we both got a whole bunch of kids and so if we relate to that, relate to each other with that situation as well, just having large families versus larger than ours.

[SPEAKER_00]: But we're we're not going to catch up to her.

[SPEAKER_00]: We're not interested in her.

[SPEAKER_00]: You're not doing that, you know, we're not doing that, we're not doing that, we're not doing that, we're not doing that, we're not doing that, we're not doing that, we're not doing that, we're not doing that, we're not doing that, we're not doing that, we're not doing that, we're not doing that, we're not doing that, we're not doing that, we're not doing that, we're not doing that, we're not doing that, we're not doing that, we're not doing that, we're not doing that, we're not doing that, we're not doing that, we [SPEAKER_05]: Oh, yeah.

[SPEAKER_05]: So Ollie, I know you're a typical teenage boy and you play sports.

[SPEAKER_05]: You just had homecoming, so I've watched all the things, Ollie.

[SPEAKER_05]: I just know all the things that's happening.

[SPEAKER_05]: I'm balancing it all, but I always just love for you to tell us about just kind of your Instagram ministry and how that got started.

[SPEAKER_05]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_04]: So, um, okay, this is really cool story because I we legit are sitting in the car right after church and [SPEAKER_04]: Mom dad my brother is in the car and I'm like I say guys, I'm like I'm thinking about starting an Instagram page where I just record some You know little videos some little prayers and just kind of reach out to people my age They are looking for encouragement and mom had always been trying to get me to do this This is one of those things I was doing kind of like pushing me on my arm students like come on you got to do this So I decided to just be obedient to God and just like open that that door to that calling [SPEAKER_04]: And we were kind of with names.

[SPEAKER_04]: You're like, what about what about walking with all like that sounds good like you know, I want to help.

[SPEAKER_04]: I want to help people walk with me so that I can lead them to Christ.

[SPEAKER_04]: And so that was kind of how that came to be and I started my account with.

[SPEAKER_04]: my little catchphrase that i have always say hey and go from there it's kind of my thing it's like my uh my little uh what do you call it it's like it's like half of the Matthew mechanic keyphrase you just had right hey not hey hey hey hey hey hey yeah exactly so yeah so that's how it kind of started and since then i just post videos of myself where i'll read a Bible verse and kind of explain it or i'll pray over the viewer [SPEAKER_04]: I like it to just be a place where people can see my face, but also have a place where I can be vulnerable And also say like what these are the things we go through as teens.

[SPEAKER_04]: This is what it's like to be a young person This is what it's like, you know, I suffer from stress and anxiety too And I know that it's difficult and Lord sees them and that's kind of the main point that I always try and push through our videos and it's so great because Something that I've always kind of known is [SPEAKER_04]: that you can be the only Bible someone reads sometimes.

[SPEAKER_04]: A lot of people may not have access to that.

[SPEAKER_04]: And so by knowing that, I take into consideration that I could be the only way someone ever meets Jesus.

[SPEAKER_04]: And so publicly when I post those videos, I want life to be changed.

[SPEAKER_03]: I love hearing that and it's just so cool to see somebody you're age really engaging in that and I'm sure you've helped a lot of a lot of other kids because I just know that you know, I've seen the anxiety that exists in this generation and it's you know, I [SPEAKER_03]: being able to reach out and really, you know, find community in that way, I think is a wonderful thing for a lot of people.

[SPEAKER_03]: You are seen, you know, that's a bold promise, what convinced you that that was going to be your title.

[SPEAKER_03]: And, you know, maybe talk a little bit more about how you define being seen by God.

[SPEAKER_03]: And then, you know, obviously dig in, you know, maybe beyond the Instagram site, dig into maybe how the book kind of came to be.

[SPEAKER_00]: Well, you know, one of the things that as a parent was so achingly hard for me is watching my teenage or struggle.

[SPEAKER_00]: And I think a lot of parents feel that way.

[SPEAKER_00]: Sometimes we are, we almost sense this helplessness.

[SPEAKER_00]: You know, this heaviness, like how, how can I get through to my child when they're in this place of, of deep pain that I, they can't even really put words to.

[SPEAKER_00]: And [SPEAKER_00]: What do I do in those moments when maybe I feel like they won't even listen to me?

[SPEAKER_00]: But I knew that it was the word of God that is living inactive and that was going to be a powerful scalpel to sort of break and cut through the darkness in all these heart and mind when he was struggling.

[SPEAKER_00]: And this book idea just sort of came from [SPEAKER_00]: me wanting to breathe life and to allie in those dark moments with the truth of God's Word.

[SPEAKER_00]: And to let him know, look, you are seen.

[SPEAKER_00]: You feel like you, you know, a lot of teenagers are wanting to isolate.

[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, I feel that way as an adult.

[SPEAKER_00]: But teens, especially, they don't feel like they can talk to anybody, or they're embarrassed, or they don't even know how to express themselves.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so I just felt the Lord pressing on my heart as a mom to let all of her know, look, you are seen by God.

[SPEAKER_00]: And not only that, but he has all these promises for your life, because in those moments of stress and anxiety and depression, there are a lot of lies, you know, that we're being targeted into all of us heart and mind.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so as we saw God do amazing things and continue to do amazing things and all of us journey as a teenager.

[SPEAKER_00]: We felt just really impressed that we needed to share what we were learning and the encouragement and the hope that's helped Oliver and I weighed through some of this for others.

[SPEAKER_00]: Similar to his Instagram, we thought, well, why don't we put this as a daily devotional because it's really that daily consistent feeding on God's Word and his truth that helped us climb out of that pit of anxiety and depression.

[SPEAKER_05]: That's so good.

[SPEAKER_05]: Holly, what did you think when your mom asked you or did you bring it out to she bring it up about making it into a book?

[SPEAKER_04]: It was definitely, it was definitely her idea and when she presents it to me, I was like, that would be pretty cool.

[SPEAKER_04]: Like, what's that?

[SPEAKER_04]: So we decided, we decided to write the book and you know, having my mama as an author who's wrote many, many books.

[SPEAKER_04]: It's really great to have that as a resource and she not only is my mom, but she's also my coach, she taught me a lot how to write and it's been a real blessing and I'm excited to see that the future holds and your scene is kind of our first little projects and I'm so excited that this book's coming out.

[SPEAKER_00]: Well, and also, you know, all and I knew that when you are writing and when you are focused on somebody else trying to encourage somebody else that that's very cathartic, it's very healing for you.

[SPEAKER_00]: So even, you know, the process of us collaborating and saying, okay, what are the different promises, all you that you think are the ones that a team like you needs to hear the most, to help them.

[SPEAKER_00]: So it was neat for us to just pray and the Lord did amazing things in aligning our spirits and just giving us wisdom to fill this book with 15 different kinds of categories of things that we want to teens to know, you know, that they are seen [SPEAKER_00]: that they are loved, that they can have peace, that they are treasured, that they are guided, that they are healed, like all the different areas that we've seen a lot of his friends and teens that have reached out to him, online, that the areas that they struggle.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so it was a blessing for us to be able to do that.

[SPEAKER_00]: We just felt compelled in our spirits that we needed to help other people in the same way that God was working with us.

[SPEAKER_05]: That's so good.

[SPEAKER_05]: I know like so many times teens fill and they probably get this from parents or coaches like just do better, just try harder.

[SPEAKER_05]: You can, you know, just switch your thoughts and I know as adults we can't do that.

[SPEAKER_05]: Like we really have to reframe our thoughts and getting peace and God and understand them.

[SPEAKER_05]: So Ollie, I would love to hear.

[SPEAKER_05]: I mean, did you ever feel that point where you're trying to get better but realizing that it really is resting in God's [SPEAKER_05]: And there was a past that message on to others?

[SPEAKER_04]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_04]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_04]: So the first thing I really want to say is my generation people are searching.

[SPEAKER_04]: People are looking for an answer, people are looking for a fulfillment to that feeling.

[SPEAKER_04]: And for a lot of people, they move it towards drugs or sometimes it's having premarital sex or stuff like that or they look for different ways to try and make themselves feel happy, [SPEAKER_04]: my mom came aside with me and when I was going through my anxiety and my depression where those dark moments where you know I'd have my door shut and I'd be in my blankets completely covered and I just felt like I was completely in my own head like I felt like I was a different person.

[SPEAKER_04]: It was in those moments that mom helped me and she said, hey, she's like, we need to go to God.

[SPEAKER_04]: And so there were times where she just grabbed my hand and she said, hey, let's pray.

[SPEAKER_04]: And so we prayed about it and we talked to God and [SPEAKER_04]: In those moments, I was able to kind of come out of my shell if that makes sense.

[SPEAKER_04]: And I was able to feel this piece that I couldn't explain.

[SPEAKER_04]: I was able to feel this warmth inside, and I knew that it was God.

[SPEAKER_04]: And the reason that people are searching so much is because they aren't looking in the right places.

[SPEAKER_04]: And I found the right place to look, and we want other people to know that, and it's God.

[SPEAKER_04]: So it's been really really amazing that we've been able to find God and bring him into this because it's we can't do it on our own We can't we're not strong enough and we definitely can't do it on material things it has to be from the Lord [SPEAKER_03]: That's great.

[SPEAKER_03]: Well, just in what a great realization and revelation to have at your age, just to know, you know, when we come to the end of ourselves, we realize all that we're lacking and the only place to go and the only place to turn is God.

[SPEAKER_03]: And we live in a culture that is so driven by individualism and it's like, okay, you can do this.

[SPEAKER_03]: Just gotta try harder.

[SPEAKER_03]: Just gotta dream bigger and, you know, we're not enough and that's a great place to get to.

[SPEAKER_03]: Well, it's time for a break.

[SPEAKER_03]: Finding the perfect gift for the people you love most should feel joyful, not stressful.

[SPEAKER_03]: But between busy schedules and crowded stores is easy to lose the joy of giving.

[SPEAKER_03]: That's why Christian parenting created the 2025 Christmas Gift Guide, a one-step collection of thoughtful, faith-filled gifts for every age and stage.

[SPEAKER_02]: Inside the gift guide, you'll find meaningful ideas for kids, parents, grandparents, and friends, all designed to point hearts back to the true reason for the season.

[SPEAKER_02]: Plus, we've included some of our very favorite Advent resources from family activities to devotionals just for kids, so you can keep Jesus at the center of Christmas.

[SPEAKER_02]: Best of all, it's completely free.

[SPEAKER_03]: Check out the guide today at ChristianParenting.org slash Christmas and make this Christmas your most meaningful and least stressful yet.

[SPEAKER_05]: Hi there listeners, I'm Trishagoyer, the co-author of an exciting new book, Wonders of the Ocean Realm.

[SPEAKER_05]: Imagine this.

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[SPEAKER_05]: With breathtaking full-color artwork on every page, wonders of the ocean realm weaves together scientific wonder and spiritual truth, making it the perfect treasure for your curious middle schooler.

[SPEAKER_05]: Don't wait, wrap your copy today at tindale.com or wherever books are sold.

[SPEAKER_05]: Let's explore Gaza's underwater masterpiece together.

[SPEAKER_05]: Welcome back to the Bible for kids.

[SPEAKER_05]: We are here with Amber and Ali Lia.

[SPEAKER_03]: First thing I want to say is we were talking a little bit before the show about how you're fairly new transplants to the south.

[SPEAKER_03]: And I just want to say I think it's awesome that Ali's already calling you mama.

[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, you know what's even better than that is how often my kids say yes ma'am.

[SPEAKER_00]: I love it.

[SPEAKER_00]: I love it.

[SPEAKER_03]: Yes, I love it.

[SPEAKER_00]: Yes, I love it.

[SPEAKER_03]: Exactly.

[SPEAKER_03]: I love it.

[SPEAKER_03]: Awesome.

[SPEAKER_03]: Well, in the book, you integrate tools like five, four, three, two, one grounding, that method alongside scripture.

[SPEAKER_03]: Can you just talk about what healthy, faith and therapy integration look like kind of day to day?

[SPEAKER_00]: Yes, and I hope this encourages teenagers that are struggling and their families [SPEAKER_00]: We have found that it really is a combination of different tools and resources that's helped us navigate through anxiety and stress and depression.

[SPEAKER_00]: You know, it's been a combination of, you know, supplements or medication therapy, you know, counseling, good solid counseling, Christian counseling and then also deep dive into God's Word and prayer.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so I will say that this whole process really is a journey.

[SPEAKER_00]: It's not necessarily an overnight fix.

[SPEAKER_00]: Yes, God can heal and he can restore and he can redeem and refresh with the word, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: We know that.

[SPEAKER_00]: But oftentimes, it's this sanctifying and healing process day by day.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so some of the tools that have worked really well for us and as a mom, I'm so thankful we had these tools because again, you can feel really like, [SPEAKER_00]: be wilder to know, what do I do when my child is spiraling?

[SPEAKER_00]: Because all of her would sometimes get into a frame of mind where he was almost like angry and really resistant and his thoughts were clouded and very, very negative, which is not really him.

[SPEAKER_00]: Like I watched my happy, confident boy retreat into this person that I knew wasn't the real alley inside.

[SPEAKER_00]: And I knew he loved God.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so how do we get through that?

[SPEAKER_00]: Sometimes, you know, we would do something, we'd say, okay, let's just stop and breathe, Ollie.

[SPEAKER_00]: You know, and I would talk with him about this outside of the conflict, like in advance, like, okay, when you start to feel the anxiety and the thoughts begin to, you know, layer one on top of the other and burning your heart in mind, I want us to stop and just [SPEAKER_00]: breathe, you know, deeply diaphragm in our diaphragm, and then we're already both doing it right now, because we're so used to doing that when we say this.

[SPEAKER_00]: So we're like wanting to stop right now and do it together.

[SPEAKER_00]: But and in the middle of that, like we learned from some very amazing counselors and friends of ours that they give us some of these tools in the devotional as well.

[SPEAKER_00]: So the strategies are there for people to look at, but we'll just say, okay, as we're breathing all, you know, think of five things that you can see.

[SPEAKER_00]: You know, because when you're anxious and stressed, you're mind, you're kind of out of your mind.

[SPEAKER_00]: And everything is swirling and you're not present.

[SPEAKER_00]: And even your thoughts are even going to catastrophe, you know, and they're lying to you oftentimes.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so we want to kind of just get present again and in reality.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so what are five things you can see?

[SPEAKER_00]: You know, what are four things that you can feel right now?

[SPEAKER_00]: Like the shirt against your skin?

[SPEAKER_00]: What are three things you can smell?

[SPEAKER_00]: You know, two things that you could touch.

[SPEAKER_00]: and just going through the senses.

[SPEAKER_00]: And it allows us to just calm enough to get to a place where we can be receptive to prayer or God's Word.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so those kinds of tools practically speaking have also been lifelines for us.

[SPEAKER_03]: Well, I love that, and I'm sure as an athlete, what it's like for physical conditioning, you have the discipline of physical conditioning, I have to do this to get to this point.

[SPEAKER_03]: And I think it's the same way with our minds, just to have that type of discipline to say, okay, I'm not gonna let my thoughts go to this place, I've got these techniques.

[SPEAKER_03]: to say, okay, no, this stops here.

[SPEAKER_03]: I'm going to turn my attention elsewhere to not, you know, catastrophize or go down those dark rabbit holes.

[SPEAKER_03]: And I do believe that's, you know, and a lot like physical conditioning that sort of those things that you can do mentally, really, really help.

[SPEAKER_03]: 100%.

[SPEAKER_05]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_05]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_05]: I love that.

[SPEAKER_05]: And I love how you're using practical things.

[SPEAKER_05]: And I know you also write about just understanding God's grace to reduce anxiety.

[SPEAKER_05]: You talk about God's forgiveness is a good kind of avalanche.

[SPEAKER_05]: So talk about that.

[SPEAKER_05]: Like understanding God is there.

[SPEAKER_05]: He's present.

[SPEAKER_05]: He's not there with a pointing finger at us, but you know, there's forgiveness.

[SPEAKER_05]: There's a grace.

[SPEAKER_05]: How does [SPEAKER_04]: Understanding that God is obviously first Almighty the Omega, but also knowing that he's my best friend You know Jesus he invites us with so amazing is being a Christian isn't religion It's relationship with Jesus and you know he welcomes us into that with him and and you know God really became my best friend Through my stress my anxiety my depression Yes, it was probably the lowest point of my life, but also I found God closer to him that I ever had been in my life through it [SPEAKER_04]: And it was because I realized that there were moments where, you know, I couldn't at school, sitting in the hallway, sitting in class, I can't just say, hey, Mom, you know, I need your help.

[SPEAKER_04]: I'm kind of freaking out.

[SPEAKER_04]: I could sit in that moment, close my eyes, and I could pray, and I could just say, Jesus, my mind is going all over the place right now.

[SPEAKER_04]: I'm really stressed about this, and this, and [SPEAKER_04]: I just need help, and I could pray that, and I would say amen, and I would trust that God was going to provide for me.

[SPEAKER_04]: I could step out in faith and trust that He was going to take care of me his son, and it was so amazing that I was able to realize that because, you know, I realized that God is with us everywhere we go, and God, you know, the Bible tells us that He knows our thoughts even before we speak.

[SPEAKER_04]: He knows our prayers, even before we ask, and it's just amazing to know that God loves us [SPEAKER_04]: wants a relationship with us, it's beautiful.

[SPEAKER_00]: We really see God as a comforter.

[SPEAKER_00]: Yes.

[SPEAKER_00]: You know, it may not be something that you want to experience to have to be in a place where God becomes your comforter because it does mean that you're in a place of heartbreak or pain, but it is precious to know that God is our comforter and we can go to him anywhere at any time.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so speaking that life into all and reminding him, you're not alone.

[SPEAKER_00]: And I think a lot of teenagers feel like they're alone.

[SPEAKER_00]: And they feel like they don't have anyone to go to.

[SPEAKER_00]: And it's not this figment of our imagination.

[SPEAKER_00]: God is real and he is present and he shows up when we call on him.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so that's been a really healthy thing for all he to focus on in those moments when he feels alone.

[SPEAKER_03]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_03]: Well, and based off of that, I feel like I kind of, you're pointing at the answer to the next question I had for you, but when somebody feels alone or overlooked at home or school or even church, what are the, what are the first steps you recommend in those instances?

[SPEAKER_04]: Well, I'd say that the first and most important thing you can do is, you know, it talks about it in the Bible.

[SPEAKER_04]: Um, if you look at Moses' life, you know, there were times where Moses after he was done leaning people out of Egypt, he had to go to a desolate calm and desolate place, and he had to remain there.

[SPEAKER_04]: Or Jesus, think about Jesus right, he went to the wilderness, he had to separate himself from all of civilization and just spend time, intentional time with God.

[SPEAKER_04]: I think that I had to remove myself from certain situations, um, and what that can mean like is, you know, if I'm in school, whatever, I can, I can ask my teacher, [SPEAKER_04]: You might find a step out for just a couple of minutes.

[SPEAKER_04]: You know, I could just get out, get out of where I was, or if I was in my home, and let's say we were with my, you know, I'm at the dinner table with my brothers or something like that.

[SPEAKER_04]: Good say, hey, I'm struggling, is it possible if I step out real quick, and then I would pray.

[SPEAKER_04]: And I'd talk to God and I'd say Jesus, I need your help right now, you know, my heart's beating, feeling really anxious, and I'm not really sure what to do, but I know that you're a provider.

[SPEAKER_04]: I know that you love me and take care of me.

[SPEAKER_04]: and I trust you.

[SPEAKER_04]: Jesus named Amen.

[SPEAKER_04]: And so that was my first step.

[SPEAKER_04]: Is my first step was removing myself from all the craziness and getting to a place where I could just calm down and could just use those technical, those methods where I could just breathe and slow down and then spend time with God and just tell him what I was feeling.

[SPEAKER_00]: And the other thing too is, you know, you don't all he didn't always feel like being around other people when he was feeling anxiety or feeling depression.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so even just this week, he was feeling so much pressure.

[SPEAKER_00]: He's got all these like college applications and tests that he's got to take.

[SPEAKER_00]: And he works a job, you know, Andy's an athlete.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so he was feeling that pressure.

[SPEAKER_00]: You want to tell him what happened yesterday.

[SPEAKER_00]: So I encourage you to do what and what happened.

[SPEAKER_04]: Yeah, honestly, last night, so this is kind of, this is something that's happened.

[SPEAKER_04]: Church is what?

[SPEAKER_04]: It's the house of God, right?

[SPEAKER_04]: And Lord calls us into there.

[SPEAKER_04]: He calls us to meditate in this word, and that's a place where we can do that, be in community.

[SPEAKER_04]: And, you know, last night, I kind of just felt like, you know, man, I don't really want to go to church.

[SPEAKER_04]: Like, I'm tired, I got all these crazy applications going on, I got to do my laundry, I got a messy room, you know, I got all these things.

[SPEAKER_04]: There's just so much, and I just said, you know, I don't really want to go to church.

[SPEAKER_04]: And then I started thinking, you know, mom advised me and was like, [SPEAKER_04]: I just need to go give it to God.

[SPEAKER_04]: And so I was able to go to church and I just kind of said, God, you know, I have all these things that I need to get done.

[SPEAKER_04]: Like I have no time, like I need to get them done.

[SPEAKER_04]: But I'm gonna spend private time purposeful time to go two church, to go on Wednesday night to my youth group and spend time where I can just praise you and listen to worship and then just hear a message and receive it.

[SPEAKER_04]: And I just said, God, I don't know what's in store for me but I just pray you'd speak in to me.

[SPEAKER_04]: And you know, sitting right there in my little seat, you know, with my Bible and a little notebook that I have, you know, our pastor just out of nowhere just starts speaking.

[SPEAKER_04]: It's like the words were coming out alive and it was just hitting me and it was telling me to step out in faith and to trust God that God doesn't always give us a clear answer, but sometimes we just have to say Lord, we know you're good and we trust you.

[SPEAKER_04]: And so I was able to hear that last night and it inspired me so much that I wanted to even go and make a video and be like, y'all, [SPEAKER_04]: This is what the Lord is hammering on me tonight.

[SPEAKER_04]: I don't need to hear it.

[SPEAKER_04]: This is good.

[SPEAKER_04]: That's kind of how I felt.

[SPEAKER_00]: And it was amazing because he went from feeling like kind of like in a slump not wanting to be around people feeling the pressure and the stress of the things that are on his plate.

[SPEAKER_00]: And it just transformed his whole spirit because he was willing to go even though he didn't feel like it.

[SPEAKER_00]: So just having that discipline to be like, okay, here's a few things I commit to.

[SPEAKER_00]: Even when I'm beginning to feel the stress in the anxiety, I am going to go to church on Wednesday nights and committed that.

[SPEAKER_00]: I am going to meditate on a certain Bible verse or I am going to tell a friend that I need some help and some prayer and so being intentional in that way.

[SPEAKER_04]: Um, has made a huge difference and I got everything done, including my laundry.

[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_03]: Well, I was gonna say, I'm so impressed that a teenage boy would actually realize that he's got a messy room.

[SPEAKER_03]: That's a, that's a, that's a, that's a, it's a, it's a, it's a, it's a, it's a, it's a, it's a, it's a, it's a, it's a, it's a, it's a, it's a, it's a, it's a, it's a, it's a, it's a, it's a, it's a, it's a, it's a, it's a, it's a, it's a, it's a, it's a, it's a, it's a, it's a, it's a, it's a, it's a, it's a, it's a, it's a, it's a, it's a, it's a, [SPEAKER_05]: The Bible for Kids Podcast is part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network, a group of 29 shows to help you let go of perfection and embrace the perfectly imperfect parent God created you to be.

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[SPEAKER_03]: Hi, I'm Mike Nurekki, co-creator of Veggie Tales, voice-of-lady to cucumber, and author of The Dead Sea Squirrels.

[SPEAKER_03]: Young readers will love the nutty misadventures of ten-year-old Michael and his friends as they navigate school, learn about the Bible, flee from squirrel nappers, and more.

[SPEAKER_03]: The Dead Sea Squirrels is packed with clean humor and excitement, perfect for enticing even the most reluctant readers.

[SPEAKER_03]: Along the way, kids will laugh out loud and learn wholesome biblical lessons from moral [SPEAKER_03]: Don't miss all 12 Dead Sea squirrels' books, available wherever books are sold.

[SPEAKER_03]: Plus, stream the animated series on Minotid A.

[SPEAKER_03]: Welcome back to the Bible for Kids.

[SPEAKER_03]: Trisha and I are speaking with authors, Amber, and Ali Leah.

[SPEAKER_05]: Oh, I just love all I just love you sharing these stories and it really is spiritual victories is what you're sharing.

[SPEAKER_05]: And I think I'm like, I'm learning for that.

[SPEAKER_05]: There's times where like, okay, I need to, I need to just go and talk to the friend or go to church or do the things.

[SPEAKER_05]: So I think we, I mean, until I get stuck in the same thing, and I love that in the devotional you go from known to victorious.

[SPEAKER_05]: Tell a little bit about how the devotional is laid out and why you wanted to lay it out in that way.

[SPEAKER_04]: the we had 15 titles and are 15 sections in our book you are seeing and each one we wanted to explain like this is something that God has blessed us with like God God sees you God loves you God knows who you are and so in that we just created you know hey let's let's start a couple days off of this one word like let's just go and and talk about how we are known and how God knows [SPEAKER_04]: heals us, heals our bodies, heals our minds, and how God guides us, guides us through seasons of life, and so we created those little chapter marks and we were able to go through those and just put on our own stories and just kind of explain like this is a part of my life that I'm going through right now, and then we were able to kind of have Mom come in as well and be like, you know, and this is, and so parents perspective, parents perspective, [SPEAKER_00]: And I think for you too, like, it was important to know foundationally that you were known and chosen and treasured.

[SPEAKER_00]: So sort of just establishing your value.

[SPEAKER_00]: Like teens at first, that's one of the biggest struggles is watching all of our struggle and then feel really bad about himself for struggling.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so I think a lot of teenagers are feeling shame that they're having these struggles.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so we want them to know first of all, you are not a miss fit.

[SPEAKER_00]: You are not a terrible kid because you're struggling.

[SPEAKER_00]: You're actually treasured and chosen just as you are.

[SPEAKER_00]: You're forgiven.

[SPEAKER_00]: And then we move to these topics of that you are joyful.

[SPEAKER_00]: You can be joyful.

[SPEAKER_00]: You have purpose and you are victorious.

[SPEAKER_00]: That ending on that high note that as you go through and you meditate through these 90 days of transformation, that God is gonna grow in you.

[SPEAKER_00]: this hope and the truth that you can have victory in this area and it does not have to overwhelm you especially because you know sadly all in I have you know been to some really difficult memorials over the last year or two that we were even writing this book where you know teens have gotten to a place where you know they have given up hope completely and they they didn't feel like they could have victory and so you know all in I honestly we feel kind of desperate [SPEAKER_00]: with the truth of God's Word, that they are not their anxiety, with who their anxiety is telling them that they are, and that there is hope and that they can have victory, and that they can have life to the full as God intended.

[SPEAKER_04]: Yeah, the cause, real, and I also want to just add, like, when we were kind of coming up with the titles for each of these sections, you know, we have a lot of, like, you are known and you are loved.

[SPEAKER_04]: And we made a change kind of after we had written, [SPEAKER_04]: I'm decided to make a change where we said, you know, for example, one of our chapters is joyful and instead of, you know, you are joyful, we put, you can be joyful and the reason we put that is because I was kind of sitting in my room and, you know, I just imagined myself, like, if I was quiet, if I was kind of in a place of stress and anxiety and I opened my book and I just see that statement, you can be joyful and it hit me because I was like, [SPEAKER_04]: Okay, don't I feel it right now, but yeah, I can be joyful like it is possible and it's it gives me a little bit of hope and so these sections are moments these are little truths and little pieces of encouragement and things that really can just hit us hard and it's truth straight from the word of God yeah.

[SPEAKER_03]: Amen and I love that.

[SPEAKER_03]: I love you're realizing that too.

[SPEAKER_03]: I think a lot of the a lot of times with teens when they're experiencing these things for the first time and they're heavy emotions and they're deeply troubling but they haven't lived long enough to know that you can go through that and then come out on the other side and be okay and to grasp onto that truth I think is really really important and really wonderful.

[SPEAKER_03]: Amber, I know, you were, you just talk about a little bit ago about, you know, the pain of seeing your kids struggle.

[SPEAKER_03]: And as parents, we can all relate to that.

[SPEAKER_03]: And we want to kind of jump in and fix it, you know, kind of send the SWAT team in and then let's just do that.

[SPEAKER_03]: How, how, what, can you maybe talk about how parents can advocate at school or with clinicians without, you know, embarrassing their kids, you know, getting in there and just really [SPEAKER_00]: You know, I think that it is really important for parents to educate themselves on what are the strategies in the best ways to reach their teens.

[SPEAKER_00]: You know, talking to counselors yourselves, hey, this is my struggle.

[SPEAKER_00]: Can you give me some guidance?

[SPEAKER_00]: And Guy and I, my husband Guy and I all these dad, we did that.

[SPEAKER_00]: You know, we were like, how do we handle the situation in a way that's going to help and not hurt or make it worse?

[SPEAKER_00]: And so learning some of those tools and strategies, you know, I've [SPEAKER_00]: For a long time, I've known that just in parenting in general, you know, people are not real receptive even mature people when they're in a highly emotion state, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: They're not receptive to, you know, coaching or teaching or lecturing, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: And so really being proactive outside of the moments of the stress and the anxiety when they're in that dark place, to talk through and communicate with your child, some of the things that you learn just from professionals, like some of those tools we talked about [SPEAKER_00]: But even, I saw my child spiraling and I had to take the risk and the opportunity to talk to the teachers, the counselors and say, hey, this is the reality, this is the struggle, you know, and I would be careful about what I would say and I trusted them to also have all these best interest in mind.

[SPEAKER_00]: that they would come alongside and partner with us through this, and we were very blessed that we had that, you know, opportunity to have people come alongside us.

[SPEAKER_00]: I would reach out to all of our youth pastor, you know, and just like, hey, would you pray?

[SPEAKER_00]: And, you know, this is why they're there, they're there because they love youth, and so we would bring them into our confidence.

[SPEAKER_00]: I think it's important to destigmatize.

[SPEAKER_00]: This issue and to not let the stigma or the fear of looking.

[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, I could have easily said, you know, I write parenting books and all these things I love the Lord and and no, there's no problems here at the Leah house and I'm just not interested in that You know, I'm interested in being vulnerable and getting the help that we need when we need it There's no shame in that and so reach out get the help that you need But don't think that it's just going to go away on its own, you know, lean in and and get the support that you need That's great.

[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah [SPEAKER_05]: And I think this is a great book for parents to read and the teens then give a copy for the teens.

[SPEAKER_05]: They might want to read it with you.

[SPEAKER_05]: They might not want to read it with you, but I think it's something that we can use.

[SPEAKER_05]: We can understand and be able to kind of speak the same language.

[SPEAKER_05]: Again, the book is You Are Scene, which I love.

[SPEAKER_05]: So Amber and Ollie, we just appreciate you joining us today.

[SPEAKER_05]: But before we go, can you share where listeners can connect with both of you and then learn more about your book?

[SPEAKER_05]: Sure.

[SPEAKER_04]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_04]: Um, my Instagram handle is walk in with Ollie and there are about to their little periods.

[SPEAKER_04]: It's walk in period with period Ollie and on there I post little, uh, little bits of encouragement, little videos, little 30 second minute videos.

[SPEAKER_04]: Um, sometimes just a daily prayer, sometimes a bottle of verse and a little explanation.

[SPEAKER_04]: And I also offer a little moments of hope and a place where people can also be safe and say, hey, this is what we're struggling in, can I get some prayer and where people can pray for them as well?

[SPEAKER_00]: And you can find me at Amber Lea, our last name is spelled LIA.

[SPEAKER_00]: So Amber Lea.com and on Instagram and Facebook, I'm the real Amber Lea and then you can find our book anywhere books are sold.

[SPEAKER_03]: wonderful.

[SPEAKER_03]: Thank you both for sharing just your experience and your time with others.

[SPEAKER_03]: And I know it's got to be a huge help.

[SPEAKER_03]: Listeners, be sure to follow us on Facebook or Instagram at the Bible for Kids.

[SPEAKER_03]: The Bible for Kids is now a 501c3 nonprofit and we'd love to have you join us in our mission of reaching kids with the message of the Bible.

[SPEAKER_03]: Visit thebibilforkids.com to explore our store, donate, or learn more today.

[SPEAKER_03]: We'll see you next time.

[SPEAKER_01]: Thanks for listening to the Bible for Kids Podcast with Trisha Goyer and Mike Nurekki.

[SPEAKER_01]: Be sure to connect with the Bible for kids on Instagram, Facebook, and at thebibelforkids.com.

[SPEAKER_01]: The Bible for Kids Podcast is powered by the Christian Parenting Podcast Network.

[SPEAKER_01]: Find out more at ChristianParenting.org.

[SPEAKER_01]: Our show is also available at waynation.com.