You're listening to Moody Radio 89.3, and this is Mornings with Eric and Bridget.

You're listening to Moody Radio 89.3, and this is Mornings with Eric and Bridget.

I think the teen years in general, boys or girls, it's it's just a time of trying to figure out who you are and where your place is in the world, and that can lead to insecurity. I, for one, am so glad that when I was a teen, we really didn't have all the social media things because it was difficult enough to feel secure in and of who I myself. Never mind competing against the whole world.

I think the teen years in general, boys or girls, it's it's just a time of trying to figure out who you are and where your place is in the world, and that can lead to insecurity. I, for one, am so glad that when I was a teen, we really didn't have all the social media things because it was difficult enough to feel secure in and of who I myself. Never mind competing against the whole world.

Yeah, and the world is lying to our kids also, I think that's the other thing, that you're strong and you're secure. If you have friends or people that are are, you know, rallying around you or.

Yeah, and the world is lying to our kids also, I think that's the other thing, that you're strong and you're secure. If you have friends or people that are are, you know, rallying around you or.

Large social media following.

Large social media following.

Yeah, that's kind of what I mean here. You're strong and secure. If you know, you can do these different things, this, that and the other. And that's a lot of times a lie. We're strong and secure when we're safe in our Heavenly Father's care. And then bringing people around us that help us, remind us that that is where we find our security, and that is where we find our help, as opposed to, well, it's okay to go against your parents word on this because that's that's not safe. I always told my kids it was shepherding a child's heart. I believe the book where they talk about circles and when you're outside the circle, that's where there's danger. And our job is to bring you back into that circle where there's safety, where you're doing what is right, there's safety in that circle. And kids will go outside the circle. They they adventure out. And then your job as a parent is to to remind them where the safe place is, where the secure place is. And I think we've we've lost our, our kids, our teens have lost the idea of that. And they they are going out because of social media. And that's one of the reasons, I think, finding other ways they think to be safe and secure, we need to help them find their way back in. And that's why I think this resource is really helpful.

Yeah, that's kind of what I mean here. You're strong and secure. If you know, you can do these different things, this, that and the other. And that's a lot of times a lie. We're strong and secure when we're safe in our Heavenly Father's care. And then bringing people around us that help us, remind us that that is where we find our security, and that is where we find our help, as opposed to, well, it's okay to go against your parents word on this because that's that's not safe. I always told my kids it was shepherding a child's heart. I believe the book where they talk about circles and when you're outside the circle, that's where there's danger. And our job is to bring you back into that circle where there's safety, where you're doing what is right, there's safety in that circle. And kids will go outside the circle. They they adventure out. And then your job as a parent is to to remind them where the safe place is, where the secure place is. And I think we've we've lost our, our kids, our teens have lost the idea of that. And they they are going out because of social media. And that's one of the reasons, I think, finding other ways they think to be safe and secure, we need to help them find their way back in. And that's why I think this resource is really helpful.

Bridget Michelle Schneider is joining us, who's written strong and secure. Michelle, have you Were you seeing that same need to really bolster and encourage young women and teen girls because of just the day and age we live in?

Bridget Michelle Schneider is joining us, who's written strong and secure. Michelle, have you Were you seeing that same need to really bolster and encourage young women and teen girls because of just the day and age we live in?

Yes, as the previous crisis counselor from a school district and also a counselor of 25 years who works with teens and young adult women every day in my office. And men, I have just seen that the messages that the world comes at them hasn't changed, but it's gotten stronger and a little trickier because you don't just hear them when you're at school or engaging with people. You now can pick up a device at any point and have that message of doing more, looking better, and more people liking you just thrown at you at any time. So we really wanted to help young women and girls, but really, you know, I do this every day in my office, really help the US know that they're parents too, that God is this father. And maybe your earthly father failed you. Maybe that relationship wasn't a safe place for you. But. But your heavenly father is a safe place for you and father. God invites you to come running to him when the world is hard.

Yes, as the previous crisis counselor from a school district and also a counselor of 25 years who works with teens and young adult women every day in my office. And men, I have just seen that the messages that the world comes at them hasn't changed, but it's gotten stronger and a little trickier because you don't just hear them when you're at school or engaging with people. You now can pick up a device at any point and have that message of doing more, looking better, and more people liking you just thrown at you at any time. So we really wanted to help young women and girls, but really, you know, I do this every day in my office, really help the US know that they're parents too, that God is this father. And maybe your earthly father failed you. Maybe that relationship wasn't a safe place for you. But. But your heavenly father is a safe place for you and father. God invites you to come running to him when the world is hard.

Okay. Did you know that as a teen girl? Tell us about how you felt as a teen. And when did this message for you take hold?

Okay. Did you know that as a teen girl? Tell us about how you felt as a teen. And when did this message for you take hold?

It's great that you asked that question, because I think that's why that my co-author, Lynn Cow from Proverbs 31 and myself are so passionate about this book because we actually discovered the father, Heart of God from a book, um, called Seeing Yourself Through God's Eyes by Floyd McClung. And I remember the first time I got a glimpse of the father heart of God. I was probably 16 year old, 16 years old, in church, and at the end of a message that a pastor had preached on a Sunday night, Reggie McNeal, who's been a mentor to me in the book, is actually dedicated to. He talked about how much Jesus loves us no matter what. And at the end of that particular night, we sang Jesus loves me, which is something we sing since we're little bitty. I remember teaching that to my my now 17 year old graduating when she was two and singing that Jesus loves me. But it meant that Jesus loved me and it felt different that time. It wasn't the song I sang in church, it was these words that washed over me to the point that they flowed tears down my face. And from that point on, there was just this freedom of knowing that I didn't have to be good enough for God to love me. I think even growing sometimes, growing up in Christian homes is harder that way because there is a focus on character, which is a great thing. But sometimes the message can get lost that while you are called to excellence and not growing weary in doing good at the same time, you are loved because not because of what you do, but because the because you're part of this family of God through Jesus. And the father is for you and loves you. And I just felt such a need in this culture, especially Post-pandemic to take this message in our office that we've been sharing. As I've trained 80 counselors over the years of the father is cheering you on out into your world.

It's great that you asked that question, because I think that's why that my co-author, Lynn Cow from Proverbs 31 and myself are so passionate about this book because we actually discovered the father, Heart of God from a book, um, called Seeing Yourself Through God's Eyes by Floyd McClung. And I remember the first time I got a glimpse of the father heart of God. I was probably 16 year old, 16 years old, in church, and at the end of a message that a pastor had preached on a Sunday night, Reggie McNeal, who's been a mentor to me in the book, is actually dedicated to. He talked about how much Jesus loves us no matter what. And at the end of that particular night, we sang Jesus loves me, which is something we sing since we're little bitty. I remember teaching that to my my now 17 year old graduating when she was two and singing that Jesus loves me. But it meant that Jesus loved me and it felt different that time. It wasn't the song I sang in church, it was these words that washed over me to the point that they flowed tears down my face. And from that point on, there was just this freedom of knowing that I didn't have to be good enough for God to love me. I think even growing sometimes, growing up in Christian homes is harder that way because there is a focus on character, which is a great thing. But sometimes the message can get lost that while you are called to excellence and not growing weary in doing good at the same time, you are loved because not because of what you do, but because the because you're part of this family of God through Jesus. And the father is for you and loves you. And I just felt such a need in this culture, especially Post-pandemic to take this message in our office that we've been sharing. As I've trained 80 counselors over the years of the father is cheering you on out into your world.

So if there was a word that I would use to describe a teen, it wouldn't be peaceful. It would be to a point, hyper. But anxiety is also a part of that. Right in the middle of your book, you have a section. You have five major sections in this book, but the middle one is all about peace. How do we help our our child find that peace in this such? It's just it is an anxious time. We don't understand what's going on with our bodies. We don't understand what's going on with our friends. I can't pass a class. There's just over and over and over again. What? How do we get past that anxiety so that they can find peace and rest in it?

So if there was a word that I would use to describe a teen, it wouldn't be peaceful. It would be to a point, hyper. But anxiety is also a part of that. Right in the middle of your book, you have a section. You have five major sections in this book, but the middle one is all about peace. How do we help our our child find that peace in this such? It's just it is an anxious time. We don't understand what's going on with our bodies. We don't understand what's going on with our friends. I can't pass a class. There's just over and over and over again. What? How do we get past that anxiety so that they can find peace and rest in it?

And here's the hard part of that piece as we talk about renewing your mind. If we're talking about Scripture, if we're talking about counseling, we're talking about cognitive behavioral therapy. I have to sell kids in my office and adults and maybe your listeners on the idea that peace takes practice. It takes practice of being in the presence of a peace giver. And so I want us all to think about that right now. Even we could just take a minute and we could practice the presence of God. And in the process of that, we are going to gain peace in our lives. And so a lot of times I teach kids simple things like breathing in God's love, those great deep breaths. Yeah, I love that you're taking it with me right now. That reset our amygdala and then breathing out whatever worry they're facing today, whether it is they're they're facing going to school. And they realize all their friends were out last night without them. Or whether there's a big right now, we're in the middle of finals for lots of high schools and college age students. And so we're blowing out. We can't control our performance on the test. We can control how well we prepare, but that's all we can control. And so we need to take these deep cleansing breaths. I call them breast prayers of breathing in God's love and breathing out. What? Maybe it's just your sleepiness this morning. If you're like me and you've rolled out of bed just a couple of minutes ago to get going, and so but it is a process of that, and it's a process of really the brain is a muscle and no different than the only way to build muscle with weights is by lifting it. If we want to experience this presence and peace in our lives, can we find it anywhere? Yes, God is omnipresent. Do we experience it probably more in our minds through our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors? If it's practiced, it's like anything else. My son just finished a state track meet. If the only time he ever ran was on that meet, his legs would not do the same thing they do differently because he runs every day for hours to get ready for that meet. And so his legs do something special. Our hearts, our minds, our souls, our bodies can do different things If we begin to practice the presence, the peace as we talked about it, the provision, you know, the healing, all of those different aspects of God that are covered in this devotional.

And here's the hard part of that piece as we talk about renewing your mind. If we're talking about Scripture, if we're talking about counseling, we're talking about cognitive behavioral therapy. I have to sell kids in my office and adults and maybe your listeners on the idea that peace takes practice. It takes practice of being in the presence of a peace giver. And so I want us all to think about that right now. Even we could just take a minute and we could practice the presence of God. And in the process of that, we are going to gain peace in our lives. And so a lot of times I teach kids simple things like breathing in God's love, those great deep breaths. Yeah, I love that you're taking it with me right now. That reset our amygdala and then breathing out whatever worry they're facing today, whether it is they're they're facing going to school. And they realize all their friends were out last night without them. Or whether there's a big right now, we're in the middle of finals for lots of high schools and college age students. And so we're blowing out. We can't control our performance on the test. We can control how well we prepare, but that's all we can control. And so we need to take these deep cleansing breaths. I call them breast prayers of breathing in God's love and breathing out. What? Maybe it's just your sleepiness this morning. If you're like me and you've rolled out of bed just a couple of minutes ago to get going, and so but it is a process of that, and it's a process of really the brain is a muscle and no different than the only way to build muscle with weights is by lifting it. If we want to experience this presence and peace in our lives, can we find it anywhere? Yes, God is omnipresent. Do we experience it probably more in our minds through our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors? If it's practiced, it's like anything else. My son just finished a state track meet. If the only time he ever ran was on that meet, his legs would not do the same thing they do differently because he runs every day for hours to get ready for that meet. And so his legs do something special. Our hearts, our minds, our souls, our bodies can do different things If we begin to practice the presence, the peace as we talked about it, the provision, you know, the healing, all of those different aspects of God that are covered in this devotional.

I love that it's a muscle that we can use and build, and peace is one of those things. But also you talk and you maybe even hear you mentioned about presence. That's something that our Heavenly Father invites us into his presence. How does that help us, especially the teen girls in our lives? Be strong and secure. Recognizing God's presence.

I love that it's a muscle that we can use and build, and peace is one of those things. But also you talk and you maybe even hear you mentioned about presence. That's something that our Heavenly Father invites us into his presence. How does that help us, especially the teen girls in our lives? Be strong and secure. Recognizing God's presence.

Because many of us, but especially in this age range, they feel alone, even in a world full of connection. And so feeling really seen and heard is a challenge with a lot of noise. And so beginning to do this practice allows you to know that no matter where you are, wherever you go. And sometimes I give younger girls and occasionally even teenage girls, I have these little heart shaped stones that I will give them, and I'll ask them to practice God's presence by putting it in their pocket and taking it with them. And just like they might touch their phone, touch that heart to remind them that there is nowhere they're going to go without God with them. And that I remember being a young adult. In fact, I just got back from taking my daughter to London to the church that I served in in college and I worked. I volunteered with a guy named Louie Giglio, and he sent me there, and I went by myself. There was another team of three that went into Western England, but I went into London all by myself, and my daughter looked at me and she's like, why are you smiling while we're walking down these streets like this? And I'm like, because I felt I was all by myself walking to church to work. But I felt the presence of God with me, and I never felt alone on these streets. And I think our kids need to feel that in a hallway right now. Maybe as they're getting ready for summer and their parents are going to be working and they're going to be at home alone. Ah, I always think of that face when I say those words, but at the same time, they're not alone. God is with them. But they. In order for us to experience his presence, we have to recognize that he is with us.

Because many of us, but especially in this age range, they feel alone, even in a world full of connection. And so feeling really seen and heard is a challenge with a lot of noise. And so beginning to do this practice allows you to know that no matter where you are, wherever you go. And sometimes I give younger girls and occasionally even teenage girls, I have these little heart shaped stones that I will give them, and I'll ask them to practice God's presence by putting it in their pocket and taking it with them. And just like they might touch their phone, touch that heart to remind them that there is nowhere they're going to go without God with them. And that I remember being a young adult. In fact, I just got back from taking my daughter to London to the church that I served in in college and I worked. I volunteered with a guy named Louie Giglio, and he sent me there, and I went by myself. There was another team of three that went into Western England, but I went into London all by myself, and my daughter looked at me and she's like, why are you smiling while we're walking down these streets like this? And I'm like, because I felt I was all by myself walking to church to work. But I felt the presence of God with me, and I never felt alone on these streets. And I think our kids need to feel that in a hallway right now. Maybe as they're getting ready for summer and their parents are going to be working and they're going to be at home alone. Ah, I always think of that face when I say those words, but at the same time, they're not alone. God is with them. But they. In order for us to experience his presence, we have to recognize that he is with us.

He is with us. One of the things you talk about here is our Heavenly Father is a healer. Um, that's a a word. As a teenager, I didn't really concern myself with too much. And again, this is going back to the dark ages, but I was pretty healthy. I at times I got sick, but I was pretty healthy. I, you know, healing wasn't as necessary, I think, as it is today, as I get older and I have aches and pains and and struggles and issues. Um, I want him to be a healer. Why is what are we talking about? First off, when we're talking about him being our healer, is it not just a physical, but is it emotional and and why is it important for our young girls to hear this message?

He is with us. One of the things you talk about here is our Heavenly Father is a healer. Um, that's a a word. As a teenager, I didn't really concern myself with too much. And again, this is going back to the dark ages, but I was pretty healthy. I at times I got sick, but I was pretty healthy. I, you know, healing wasn't as necessary, I think, as it is today, as I get older and I have aches and pains and and struggles and issues. Um, I want him to be a healer. Why is what are we talking about? First off, when we're talking about him being our healer, is it not just a physical, but is it emotional and and why is it important for our young girls to hear this message?

Well, first of all, I do work with a lot of students and we see this in adults, but we're seeing this more in the young who have chronic conditions, who have autoimmune issues. The stress of our world is breaking down our bodies. And sometimes that's happening younger and sometimes things are out of our control. I'm working with a beautiful single mom right now who is an eight year old who's had a stroke. And so there are times when families are looking for God to be the healer physically in their lives. But when we look at national statistics of still 1 in 3 to 1 in 5 young women experiencing sexual trauma by the time they're 18, we need to be talking about how God can be involved in the healing process of your life, whether it's been unkind words said at school, whether it's been a group of kids who've had a vindictive vendetta against you, or whether it's been just the sense of feeling broken that the world can bring. And I know for me that God has been such a healer. I think of my life, career verse, which is Isaiah 61, where it talks, 60 where it talks about, you know, binding up, freeing the captives, binding up the brokenhearted. And God wants to bind our broken hearts. He wants to free us from the lies that make us feel like we're never going to be enough, and especially from the hopelessness that can come. So I think healing is a huge, important part of understanding God and then seeking him, as we maybe seek help from others to experience healing when we've been hurt. I even grew up in a Christian home with a father who was an elder, who worked for Pastoral development for Mission Aviation Fellowship, and he said words over me that hurt. And I had to seek healing from the father through some help in college for that.

Well, first of all, I do work with a lot of students and we see this in adults, but we're seeing this more in the young who have chronic conditions, who have autoimmune issues. The stress of our world is breaking down our bodies. And sometimes that's happening younger and sometimes things are out of our control. I'm working with a beautiful single mom right now who is an eight year old who's had a stroke. And so there are times when families are looking for God to be the healer physically in their lives. But when we look at national statistics of still 1 in 3 to 1 in 5 young women experiencing sexual trauma by the time they're 18, we need to be talking about how God can be involved in the healing process of your life, whether it's been unkind words said at school, whether it's been a group of kids who've had a vindictive vendetta against you, or whether it's been just the sense of feeling broken that the world can bring. And I know for me that God has been such a healer. I think of my life, career verse, which is Isaiah 61, where it talks, 60 where it talks about, you know, binding up, freeing the captives, binding up the brokenhearted. And God wants to bind our broken hearts. He wants to free us from the lies that make us feel like we're never going to be enough, and especially from the hopelessness that can come. So I think healing is a huge, important part of understanding God and then seeking him, as we maybe seek help from others to experience healing when we've been hurt. I even grew up in a Christian home with a father who was an elder, who worked for Pastoral development for Mission Aviation Fellowship, and he said words over me that hurt. And I had to seek healing from the father through some help in college for that.

We are talking with Michelle Neidert strong and secure is a devotional. So you've lived the life of a being a teen girl and you've had ups and downs just like every single one of your readers will would have had. So what was your favorite passage or maybe devotional to write because you felt like, man, this is this is the core of the message I'm trying to get across.

We are talking with Michelle Neidert strong and secure is a devotional. So you've lived the life of a being a teen girl and you've had ups and downs just like every single one of your readers will would have had. So what was your favorite passage or maybe devotional to write because you felt like, man, this is this is the core of the message I'm trying to get across.

You know, that is so hard to ask an author for a favorite, but I can tell you one that I was reading this morning that I really loved and it is on page 94. It is a it's called because we trust Him, and there's a scripture that says you will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in you. And I think in this day and age, trusting in the father as it's always been, is a challenge because we are sold the bill of goods, especially young women, in this day and age that we can trust in ourselves. And then when that fails, we feel so hopeless. So as I wrote this particular devotional, and as I was reading it again this morning, I just reminded me that that we can have perfect peace. But it comes from steadfast trust. And first of all, I think that steadfast reminds us that God is steadfast towards us. But then I remind people in my office all the time, I have this crazy sign in our waiting room. Everybody asks about it, says the other six days, 23 hours, because church and counseling and discipleship are meant to be launching pads for goals and encouragement and support that will lead us towards life change that happens on a daily basis. So I think that steadfast trust that means you not only trust when you've got the A, you trust when you're barely making it. As my daughter likes to say, when C's are getting degrees, which I don't love, but she thinks is very funny. And so there is this sense of the steadfastness of the father in our lives. And what I love to encourage people to do as I'm discipling them. And even I had a client, and this was one of the most beautiful things. She had worked with me for a year on, really, she was older. She was the mom of a teenager in college age girl, and she was wanting to heal from her past, and she spent that year tracking her prayer request. And then she was highlighting the the ones that had been answered. And she came into my office one day and just wept as we talked about how full of highlight her journal was, how involved God had been in her life and answering her prayers. And as she faced unemployment for the first time in her entire life, that that was the hope she was holding on to that that trust and that steadfastness. And young people are dealing with this because they are losing their jobs at times. They're dealing with unemployment and and employment. In these high school years. I know I was working with a young adult and she has applied to 50 jobs. Can you imagine applying to 50 jobs and being rejected from 50 jobs? We need some steadfast trust to remember that that doesn't determine our worth or the faithfulness of our God.

You know, that is so hard to ask an author for a favorite, but I can tell you one that I was reading this morning that I really loved and it is on page 94. It is a it's called because we trust Him, and there's a scripture that says you will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in you. And I think in this day and age, trusting in the father as it's always been, is a challenge because we are sold the bill of goods, especially young women, in this day and age that we can trust in ourselves. And then when that fails, we feel so hopeless. So as I wrote this particular devotional, and as I was reading it again this morning, I just reminded me that that we can have perfect peace. But it comes from steadfast trust. And first of all, I think that steadfast reminds us that God is steadfast towards us. But then I remind people in my office all the time, I have this crazy sign in our waiting room. Everybody asks about it, says the other six days, 23 hours, because church and counseling and discipleship are meant to be launching pads for goals and encouragement and support that will lead us towards life change that happens on a daily basis. So I think that steadfast trust that means you not only trust when you've got the A, you trust when you're barely making it. As my daughter likes to say, when C's are getting degrees, which I don't love, but she thinks is very funny. And so there is this sense of the steadfastness of the father in our lives. And what I love to encourage people to do as I'm discipling them. And even I had a client, and this was one of the most beautiful things. She had worked with me for a year on, really, she was older. She was the mom of a teenager in college age girl, and she was wanting to heal from her past, and she spent that year tracking her prayer request. And then she was highlighting the the ones that had been answered. And she came into my office one day and just wept as we talked about how full of highlight her journal was, how involved God had been in her life and answering her prayers. And as she faced unemployment for the first time in her entire life, that that was the hope she was holding on to that that trust and that steadfastness. And young people are dealing with this because they are losing their jobs at times. They're dealing with unemployment and and employment. In these high school years. I know I was working with a young adult and she has applied to 50 jobs. Can you imagine applying to 50 jobs and being rejected from 50 jobs? We need some steadfast trust to remember that that doesn't determine our worth or the faithfulness of our God.

Perfect peace. Well, if you want more information about this resource, strong and secure, it's got devotions and meditations, hundreds of them for your teen daughter young women there. We would love to make you give you information about this. You can go to our website to find out the information about Strong and Secure.

Perfect peace. Well, if you want more information about this resource, strong and secure, it's got devotions and meditations, hundreds of them for your teen daughter young women there. We would love to make you give you information about this. You can go to our website to find out the information about Strong and Secure.