God and My Girlfriends Guest Blogger Highlights -- Volume 2
By Lisa Hentrich, Founder of GAMGstories
“Anywhere, anytime of the day, just a prayer or a phone call away...God and my girlfriends.” - GAMG song lyric
Ever since the “God and My Girlfriends” song I co-wrote was released on Reba McEntire’s Dove and Grammy-winning album in 2017, I knew I wanted to create a sharing space that embodies its message.
If you’re reading this now, I’m so glad you’re HERE, praising God and celebrating girlfriends with us! And if you’re one of our many guest bloggers who have shared your story with us over the past 5 years, THANK YOU for being an inspiration to girlfriends everywhere!
This month, I’m celebrating VOLUME 2 of our girlfriends’ guest blogger stories. (See Volume 1 highlights for more girlfriends and topics)!
We’ve featured a variety of stories and life lessons from girlfriends, with reSOURCEs in each blog to provide helpful take-aways to readers. The Bible instructs us in Galatians 6:2 to “carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Whatever we may be going through in life, it always helps to know that we are not alone. Someone has walked the path before us and has understanding that can help us, especially in the area of faith.
I regularly pray that God will carry these stories to others who will be encouraged, uplifted and inspired by them.
Are you needing some faith fuel right now? Could you use some hope, help and inspiration? We’ve got reSOURCEs for you! Check out the list of topics below, then click on the guest blogger name to be “lifted up” by these girlfriends!
Praying for a MIRACLE? Meet Bria Jean Valderrama. Bria’s story about a miracle turnaround during her pregnancy will give you hope and spiritual encouragement!
Have you forgotten how to DREAM? Meet Amber Alyssa Hayes. Her story will help you return to childlike faith, and see the fruit that comes from allowing yourself to dream again!
LOOKING FOR COMMUNITY? Lydia Walker Athey offers some helpful guidance in her guest blog. She is the founder of the Rustic Songbird Community.
Going through a CANCER DIAGNOSIS? Meet Carla Nelson. She has incredible PEACE IN THE PET SCAN scriptures, wisdom and guidance to share with you from her journey to now healed. Her faith is so tangible, it is changing lives of people I know!
Running low on HOPE? Rachel Barrentine , founder of Anchor House TV, has been there. Her story will help you replenish your faith and GET YOUR HOPES UP!
Buried in EMOTIONAL CLUTTER? Meet Trina McNeilly , founder of the popular lifestyle blog “La La Lovely,” author, and speaker. Trina shares in her guest blog story how inner clutter can paralyze us from moving forward and living life to the fullest. She also provides solutions from her wonderful “Unclutter Your Soul” book!
Plagued by thoughts of SUICIDE? Meet Dawn Dalton, founder of Grace Light Productions. Her real life story that inspired the “Saved By Grace” movie is a lifeline for you, or anyone you know struggling with low self-worth. Dawn was literally saved from the brink of suicide and her story is now a light in the world for others oppressed by darkness.
Searching for life PURPOSE? Meet Megan Naumovski , founder of Drawing on Grace. Meg is an artist and illustrator whose story will help you identify your gifts and talents through her journey of awakening “heart language.” It is NEVER too late for “Awakening Your Gifts!”
Trapped in an ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP? Meet Whitney Wiser , fitness athlete and accomplished bodybuilder. Whitney’s death-defying story will help you reach for faith, find your worth, and become stronger and wiser on the other side. If she can do it, you can too, girlfriend!
Longing for the RURAL LIFE? Danna Larson‘s guest blog story and Rural Revival podcast will take you down country roads, invite you into small-town community, and introduce you to inspiring entrepreneurs. Her passion for sparking revival is contagious!
Has YOUR LIFE become a runaway train? Meet Joy Yancey , co-founder of The Boro Blend, Ivy & Grace Decor, and creator of Take the Back Roads brand. Her “Taking My Life Back” story will help you lean on the Lord, de-stress, and open up your own creative wells of new life purpose.
Waiting on GOD’s PROMISES? Meet Kayla White, owner of Promise Manor - a historic event venue. Kayla’s story will show you that His plans are well worth the wait! Kayla continues bringing other creative ventures to life along with the joys of motherhood after infertility, so she is a wealth of inspiration!
Feeling called to a NEW BEGINNING? Meet Anna Austin. She shares her family’s courageous cross-country journey of founding an entrepreneurial farm and offers “True Blue” trips for living an authentic life!
Think you are BEYOND RESCUE? Australian-born Maz O’Callaghan was delivered from a broken past of drugs, alcohol addiction, self-hatred, stealing, and prostitution. God is now using Maz’s story to bring about healing and redemption in other people through Shores of Grace Ministry in Brazil, where girls and young women have been rescued from a life of trafficking, abuse, addiction and trauma. Don’t miss her inspiring story and learn about the ministry she is involved in!
What does PARTNERING WITH GOD look like? Meet Missy Rolfe. She is the founder of Honeybee Flower boutique, owner of a vintage flower truck named Rosalee, and author of a children’s book celebrating Zinnias. Her story demonstrates exactly how God brings good things to life in partnership with Him!
How can you use your PASSION for a PURPOSE? Sweet Armenia bakery founder Julie Keltonic has an inspiring story that could spark an idea. She is “Baking A Difference” for the people of Armenia with her delicious baklava!
Are you in the RIGHT JOB? I love Jess Smith’s perspective and intentionality to empower others in living out their gifts, talents and calling. It resonated with me because it’s one of the reasons I created the GAMGstories platform: To celebrate girlfriends living out their gifts, talents and calling! In this Q&A interview, Jess and I discuss what she considers her role as a “Kingdom Influencer” to be in her vocation, and how you can evaluate for yourself whether you are in the right job.
Why is FORGIVING important? – Musician, artist, and MEANT FOR GOOD podcast creator Hannah Holbrook shares how letting go of offenses has changed her life. She provides reSOURCEs that helped her in her journey, and she outlines steps for how you can find freedom from the chains of unforgiveness.
WHAT’S COOKING in Hale’s Kitchen? American Idol finalist Rachel Hale has found -- and founded -- a “paleo passion” for cooking. Check out her story of how Hale’s Kitchen came into existence alongside her love of singing and songwriting.
A Christmas Story of SURPRISE HERITAGE. Until the day a Christmas present ‘opened up’ a DNA secret, Phyllis Robertson Thomas had no idea she came from a dynasty. More specifically, a Duck Dynasty! Check out her story of discovering new identity in family reunion. I love how it all started with my niece, Julie... the gift-giver!
What to do with WORRY? My girlfriend Ciara McDonald will teach you how to do spiritual warfare over it! She is a talented singer-songwriter who love the Lord with all her heart and has great wisdom to share.
Trapped by FEAR? Meet Melissa Doll , a gifted teacher and the founder of Honeybee Ministries Iowa. Her guest blog story will equip you with FEAR SLAYING BULLETS!
To each of our guest blogger girlfriends who have shared your stories on the #GAMGstories platform, I say… THANK YOU. It takes courage to publicly let people into our personal struggles, challenges and weaknesses. We can reach the vulnerable by being vulnerable. May we all have a “ripple effect” together… lifting each other up!
God and My Girlfriends
They’re always there when I’m feeling down,
Always around, lifting me up.
-Lyric line from the GAMG song
“Where faith and friendship meet, there’s an inspiring story in the middle.”
- @GAMGstories
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p.s. If you haven’t yet heard my personal recording of the God and My Girlfriends song released in June of 2020, click here to listen or watch the music video. It was so fun seeing all of the photos of girlfriends celebrating one another captured in this video… you might even see yourself in it! Also, check out Reba‘s country version of the song on her Dove and Grammy winning “Sing it Now: Songs of Faith and Hope” album.