May 2, 2025 • 37 mins
Audition Template: Stereo Session with no tracks. 44.1k, 24 bit, Stereo Master.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey, we're interrupting your podcast for a good reason, your dog.
Every month, BarkBox delivers a brand new collection of toys
and treats made just for them. Whether it's fun plush
toys from BarkBox or ultra tough toys from Superteer, your
dog will get exactly what they want. When you subscribe
on bark dot Co, they'll double your first box for free.
(00:20):
To get your free upgrade, go to bark dot co today.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
It's time to ask yourself, RV there Yet? With unbeatable
deals on the RV of your dreams lazy days, RV
can help you roll into adventure no matter where the
road takes you. And with payments as low as four
dollars a day, your next strip is more affordable than ever.
Hitch onto huge savings with travel trailers and fifth wheels
built for the long haul, more of a driver than
a tower. Hit the gas on big discounts for motor
(00:44):
homes Ready to roam today, Stop by or visit us
online to turn RV there Yet into We're already there
Clearmore on Route sixty six.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
The views and opinions expressed on this program are solely
those of the speakers. And not necessarily those of GEB America,
Oral Roberts University or their employees. This program is not
intended to offer investment, financial, medical, legal, or any other advice.
Viewers should consult a subject matter professional regarding any such matters.
Speaker 4 (01:26):
Hello and welcome to another edition of the GB America podcast.
I'm your host, Stephen Gunn. With me today is our
international TV minister, expert teacher on Biblical Females, conference speaker
and author, and our friend at GB, doctor Marla. Welcome
to the podcast.
Speaker 5 (01:43):
Welcome, I'm happy to be here. Thanks for having me.
Speaker 4 (01:46):
So glad you're here. It's been great. We're just catching
up a little bit and we're both happen to be
at the annual in ourb conference and how excited that was.
And you made some great contacts there, and one of
the biggest things you were there about was the launch
of a new book. Can tell us about the book?
You've got to think you got a handy there me
show show the audience. There, there we go.
Speaker 5 (02:07):
Yes, she is possible to kill Women emerged from impossible odds. Yes,
so yes, I launched it in Dallas that in our
be so excited and God led me to write this
about five years ago, Stephen, And it took me three
years to write it, probably one of the hardest projects
(02:28):
God has ever asked me to do. But praise the Lord.
Immediately I launched it, and within twenty four hours someone's
donating a thousand of them to go into female prisons. Wow,
So praise the Lord. They went all over the world
from Dallas, and so I'm just so grateful. You know,
when God gives us a nudge about something and we
(02:48):
just follow through and do what he tells us to do.
We have no idea on the other side of that.
How incredible and what He has planned from it. And
that's kind of what happened to me. He just took
it and launched it and made it bigger than what
I thought immediately. So praise the Lord.
Speaker 4 (03:04):
Yeah, he does that. He takes takes our things and
makes them make much bigger, which I love because that's
that's the God factor.
Speaker 5 (03:11):
Right, that's I meanly, with God, all things are possible.
Speaker 4 (03:14):
That's right, That's right. So it took you a while.
What do you think what did you find was the
biggest challenge in the process of those three years? Was
it just a matter of things happening. Was there some
kind of just battling of actually getting the thoughts out
or what was What would you say the journey was
like there in that three year time to get the
book done.
Speaker 5 (03:32):
Well, I would say it was there's a million things
to talk about, was my challenge and being a communicator
and speaking the Bible all the time, right, it was
really the hardest thing was trying to narrow down, Okay, God,
what would be specific in this chapter to help somebody?
And what do you want me to say? Because I
(03:54):
have a million stories and scriptures are you know, sixty
six books of the Bible and it's just such a
ginormous endeavor and so but once I kind of honestly
the last final year, I kind of got into a
rhythm and I'm gonna make this a series. It's women
in the Bible. Every chapter has a woman in the Bible.
(04:16):
That's the focal point. Yeah, And the first chapter is
a little bit about my story. The first chapter is
a masterpiece like you and me, so it goes it
goes into all of us being God's masterpiece. The second chapter, though,
is underdog to unstoppable, like orphaned queen Esther, and then
(04:37):
that chapter then and every chapter forward. There's seven chapters total,
but it focuses on that woman in the Bible, that's
the focal woman. But then I tell stories from women
in the world that overcome overcame extreme odds and God
turned things in their life around and how did they
(04:58):
go through that process. So it's it's less about me,
more about the women in the Bible, about women in history.
And then a lot of scriptures, a lot of scriptures.
I point people, you know, to God's word. I figure, hey,
if if you put God's word in there and never
returns void, So I did put a lot of scriptures.
(05:19):
So it's available on my website, and I'm just so
excited to have women get it.
Speaker 4 (05:26):
What is the quid? Well, we'll and we'll we'll bring
it back up at the end again, but what's your
website where people can can go there?
Speaker 5 (05:32):
Doctor Marla dot Org. I'm mailing it even as we speak.
I need to get to the post office. So I'm
really so grateful at the rest. God is so good.
Speaker 4 (05:46):
I love that. I love that, and and uh, we'll
put that in the show notes. People can can go
down their show notes and click on that line can
get information on that. But well, tell me, so, what
was there any of those the women characters that we
maybe you're familiar with that you wrote about in that
that was something new or maybe just kind of an
aha moment for you while you were settying that.
Speaker 5 (06:08):
Well, I think I did introduce a few new things
in this book that I think a lot of people
may not know. For one, Mary Magdalene. The chapter on
Mary Magdalene, Yeah, I don't think a lot of people
know that tradition holds. Now Here's the thing before I
say this, I always wondered, Stephen, what happened to the
(06:29):
women in the New Testament after the New Testament ended?
And Jesus, you know, rose from the dead. Where you
hear what happens to Paul and the disciples? Where did
the women go that we hear about? Like Mary Magdalene? Right,
Mary Magdalene question too? And so I have this inquiry
mind and God knows that because I was in France
(06:52):
and I was in this museum, and I shared this
in the book. I was in this museum and this
this painting on the wall was a was called the
Preacher Mary Magdalene, and it was her in the middle
surrounded by men and women, and they were listening to her,
and the tour lady guide came over that worked at
(07:14):
the art museum, and she started explaining the painting to me,
and she said, this is Mary Magdalene in the center,
and it's because the artist painted this in the eighteen hundreds,
because Mary Magdalene is the one that got on a
boat and came to this city. The seated cities named
(07:35):
after her, and she spread the good news to France,
to this area, to this region in Provence, France. And
I'm standing there literally speechless because I never knew that,
and plus God knew my inquiry mind always wondering where
did these women go. And so there's a lot more
(07:55):
detail that I given my book than just that kind
of the jest of something that was surprising that happened
to me that I share, you know. So that's kind
of exciting.
Speaker 4 (08:07):
That is that's and I have to say that question
you brought up, I'm like, you know what, I don't
even know that I knew that already. So I'm that's
a very interesting fact and something that was cool that
you would have got to see that and then relay
that obviously through the book. That's that's incredible.
Speaker 5 (08:23):
Well, and it's such a joy to me to be
able to share that with the world. You know, if
I think you may not know that unless you go
to France. And I'm always careful to put in my
book when it's outside the Bible, it's not a Bible source.
I say, tradition holds, because you know, I can't prove that.
But another interesting fact on that same subject is her
(08:46):
bones are believed to be in this church, in that
same area that people come from all over the world
and see. It's encased in gold, and it seems like
a special encasing in the Middle Church. And they believe
that because in the seven hundreds, some important emperor guy
(09:06):
or whoever he was, uncovered this marble tomb and in
it said these are the bones of Mary Magdalene. And
it was like in the seven hundreds and then and
that went forward to where they are today. And so
you know, who knows if they're really her bones. We
(09:27):
don't know for sure, but the chances are high. Who
knows if those special people from the New Testament, just
like in the Old Testament, they had a special burial place.
We know though a lot of the people in the
New Testament, they would have a special they were a
special person to God, right, so they were careful about
(09:47):
what happened to their bones when they died. They considered
him a holy person, you know. So anyway, just there's
just a lot of little things like that. And then
of course my theological love for theology and all that,
you know, it all, it all came. Yeah, I am,
I am a girl, So just girl stuff comes out
in it too, just being a girl, you know about personally.
(10:09):
Esther you know, was in the palace and they had
special perfumes and so I bring up some of that
a little deeper. So it's a little bit of everything.
Speaker 4 (10:19):
That's cool. That's very cool. So let's let's kind of
pull back a little bit on that and let's say
you talk to you mentioned in the first chapter kind
of goes into your history. So for those you know,
those of you, those of our listeners and viewers out
there that maybe haven't you know, aren't familiar with kind
of where God has done and your story of you know,
his his impact in your life. Bring us up this
(10:40):
little kind of a synopsis story here where you come from,
what's your background, and what's God done you know lately.
Speaker 5 (10:46):
Well, Stephen, A lot of people don't know. I was
born an orphan. So when I was born, I was
thankfully someone carried me for nine months. I was born
in nineteen sixty nine. I'm twenty nine. No, I'm not
ten years old. But I was born in nineteen sixty nine,
and the woman that carried me, thankfully, she carried me.
(11:07):
I went immediately from being born into foster care. So
for three and a half months, I went into foster care.
And then I was adopted at three and a half
months old. And I know nothing about the first three
and a half months of my life. So I kind
of share a little bit of that, and you know,
just the graciousness of that happening. But then fast forward
(11:28):
to currently, about six years ago, the Lord was leading
me to go on TV. I'd been on the radio
for probably four or five years, and I would give
the scriptures and the Bible and the radio, and I
didn't know how to go on TV. And I was like, God,
I don't know how to do that. I don't know
(11:48):
where to go to do that. I don't know. I
didn't even know how to begin. So that journey I
talk about that and how I was at a convention
and shared my vision and what God was putting in
my heart with a gentleman in charge of like TV
broadcasting ministry, and he was like a leader to kind
(12:09):
of help people in TV ministry that were starting out well.
He sent me a letter, a card in the mill actually,
to my office and telling me that I was the
last person on earth that should do it, and that
I wasn't I didn't seem qualified. And it was like
the saddest, most pessimistic card you can possibly imagine. And
(12:32):
so I was ready to quit before I even started.
And so I was really sad, and I was like
seeking God. And I just share that journey of how
all of that developed and how I I won't share
all of it because you'll have to read chapter one,
but how God turned that around in my heart within
(12:56):
a short period of time, how he put together the
pieces of the puzzle. And you guys, GEB was the
first ones that hosted me, and you guys were so
sweet and gracious to me. I honestly didn't know what
I was doing, but I knew I loved the Bible
and I was passionate about God's word that is, and
you guys could understand that, and you encouraged me. And
(13:20):
you know, here I am. I think it's I'm going
on six years I think of being on TV ministry,
So praise the Lord. You know, we keep trying to
get better. But the main thing is God's word. You know.
If there's God's word, that's what it's all about. That's
the change in our life is God's words. So anyway,
that discouraging word actually will help a whole lot of
(13:41):
women see that. I think the enemy immediately comes to kill,
still and destroy. When we're hearing from God, we're going
to have that opposite voice that's going to try to
come against this, and we have to recognize that and
we have to get past that and go into God's
plan and God's will. Anyway, usually I have figured out
(14:01):
if you hear negativity going on when you know you're
feeling a nuts from God, it's usually that you're on
the right path.
Speaker 4 (14:08):
That's good. That's a good nugget. I love that. And
we're also by the way, we're for religion. Honor that
you uh, we're upcome on, GB We're so thankful that
that was part of the your your journey, you know,
beginning into the TV world. You know, I would say
I think that, well, I love that you would you
should share there about you know, in your passion for
(14:29):
you know, theology, and it wasn't so much that you
have a passion for people just just to know the
word right, just to be philosophical, but really to actually
know him know the word. And that comes through so well.
And it came through in my first encounter to know
you and know your show, and and that I'm excited
about your book because I know that's going to come
through as well for those who are you getting to
read that that that that is, that is the ultimate purpose.
(14:51):
It's not just to just you know, have somebody see
words on a page or read a book. It's actually
be encountered with Jesus and and to have his you know,
his knowledge come through. So I that's so powerful.
Speaker 5 (15:01):
Well, thank you. And it's all about God's presence. And
I write about that in my book when I say theology,
I really mean God's presence behind that. It's all about
that relationship but Jesus and that is that is the
highest thing in our life, you know, number one in
our life. And if it's not, it should be because
(15:22):
he has the greatest thing we can ever find. And
so exactly what you said, I lead people all throughout
the book to follow him with all their heart. Trust
in the Lord with all your heart too. I love
that scripture and lean not own understanding, but acknowledge Him
in all your ways, and he will drive right to
your pathway. So but yeah, it's all about his presence
(15:43):
and our faith, isn't it It is?
Speaker 4 (15:47):
It really is absolutely, you know, I think you know,
for me, I'm thinking of you know, from just a
perspective of the women the Bible, your book, just the
impact of women you know, can have on families and
on culture. You know, for me, you know, my mom,
I'm only child, and my mom at the right time
(16:11):
was able to share with me that that they had
had five miscarriages before me, and so I it it
added a depth of understanding for me where I knew
that I always felt loved with them. I knew that
I was that was never a question. But it also
added a depth of understanding why that was so true,
why there was that level of just impact and you
(16:34):
know them put pointing me to Jesus, you know, growing
up and having that level of of you know my
mom being a prayer warrior. She's still this day is
you know, and leading by example of what that means
to pray and intercede and stand in the gap and
pray for people. And you know, and so yeah, and
so I think too, you know, we as as Christians,
(16:56):
we look at the different examples as your book talks about,
is those different character right, you can look to them
as as a type and as you know, as an
example of what it looks like to lead for the
women of course, but also just as Christians. Right, there's
the ways of being followers of Jesus and being present
and leading out you know, whether I'm thinking of you know, Esther, right,
(17:20):
and the story of Esther is just a powerful story
of being like okay, well, you know it's the quote
everybody knows for such a time as this, right, But
that that story is so much more than that quote,
Like it's very good quote. But what what is what
is the character of Esther and what is her her
story meant to you as a believer and as as
(17:40):
a studier of the Bible.
Speaker 5 (17:43):
Well, I point out as we know, you know, she
lost her parents at a young age, so she was
an orphan right, And I can relate to that because
she lost both. You know, some people lose one parent
in their lifetime as or even young, but she lost
both and she had to leave her home, her parents,
everything that she knew to be normal, and if you
(18:04):
and that's one thing I do in the book is
I get women into the emotions of what's going on
with these ladies. And she had to move and go
and trust and be with her cousin Mordecai, who adopted her.
But even after that, then she gets into the palace
and Mordecai, you know, tells her don't tell him your
true identity. You know that has to be hard someone's
(18:26):
telling you that'd be like someone telling us, don't tell
them you're a Christian or whatever. You know, don't tell
me who you really are, right, And so they change
her name from Hadassa to Esther. That's how she gets
named Esther. But her journey is amazing. You know, she
goes from from this broken hearted I mean she would
have been broken hearted as a young person lose her
(18:48):
parents and moving. So she goes from that to God
putting her as the queen because King Xerxes chooses her,
and it's amazing how Estra trusted in God along her
the threat of her life is trusting in God exactly
that scripture Proverbs three, verse five and six. You know,
she she hadn't been in pain at different times and hurting,
(19:13):
but she kept looking to God. And even when her
whole race was looking to be annihilated by Amen that
manipulated King Xerxes to annihilate all of them. Even at
that point, she calls for a fast to the whole
kingdom and says to all the Jews, let's fast and pray.
(19:33):
Let's see God, you know, And I talk about fasting
in prayer in my book during that time. In my
I give a section on that about the Daniel Fast
and some things that I saw turn around in my
life from from fasting. And so I just I go
on that journey with her, her courage, how she had
wisdom and she she never looked to the world. And
(19:57):
I believe that's why she was chosen. Out of all
all the women that could have been chosen, she probably
would have been the least likely one because she wasn't
she was Jewish. You know, She's been the least likely
woman for the king to choose. And yet God had
a plan and a purpose for her to be chosen.
She was the one God was going to use. And
I know that she was chosen because down deep, when
(20:20):
the tough got going, she was going to point everybody
to God and not herself and not her you know,
philosophical stuff whatever. She would say, No, we're going to
turn to God and God can do it. And so
she was the chosen one.
Speaker 4 (20:36):
That's good. Let me ask you this. This may or
may it connected the book in this case, but Dish
was curious. You know, as one who believes, and we
see God move in our life, what's an example for
you that has been something that you would consider to
be just a powerful healing testimony of whether it's be
a physical something physical or emotional or anything like that
(21:00):
just has resonated and just been a pivotal moment for
your life.
Speaker 5 (21:03):
Well, I share this in chapter seven. My book has
seven chapters. The last chapter is Healed like the woman
with the issue of blood, and so in chapter seven
I talk about healing and I point out scriptures, many
scriptures in the last chapter about how people were healed,
like the lepers and the paralytic and the blind could see,
(21:25):
and the death could hear, and all these things I
share specifically, but I also share about a time when
I had a brain tumor diagnosis. And at the time, Stephen,
I was a single mom and I had two little children.
This was twenty eight years ago. I've been happily married
(21:46):
now for twenty five years. Praise the Lord God brought
me an amazing, godly man. But this time in my
life where I was very vulnerable and I was trying
to make ends meet with two little children at home
as a single mom. And at the same time, I
get diagnosed with the brain tumor and it was the
biggest shock, one of the biggest shocks of my life.
(22:07):
And I wasn't expecting that. At the doctor's office either,
when I went in for excessive hair growth, he diagnosed
that I had a tumor on my pituitary gland, which
is the gland that functions your hair. But anyway, I
was so just shocked by that diagnosis and I prayed
(22:32):
to God during that time, and I can remember driving
my car to this and I shared this in my book.
I drive my car to these this area just to pray.
And there it was in the winter, there were no
trees with leaves on them. I mean, all the trees
had no leaves. It was dark, desolate, exactly how I
(22:53):
was feeling. But I didn't realize that until I was
writing the book. But it really wow a picture of
what I was feeling. Yeah, And I sat in my
car and I was praying, and I felt the love
of the Lord just enter my car so especially, and
I told God, I said, God, if you'll heal me,
I promise you I will live my life doing anything
(23:15):
you want me to do if you'll heal me. My
kids need me and I want to live. And of
course some people live from a brain tumor, but I knew,
I was well enough aware that that was I mean,
that was could be life or death. So I went
back to the next appointment about a week or so later,
maybe two weeks later, and the doctor did some more
(23:38):
testing and he came into the room and he said,
it's a miracle, but your tumor is gone. And I
share this with audiences when I speak or preach and
whatever I do. Yeah, with God, really, all things are possible.
And that's where I get the title of the books.
She is possible because we can go through challenges God
(24:01):
can turn it around. But it stems from that scripture
because that's the scripture that I've seen work in my life.
I mean, God can turn anything around. With him, all
things are possible. But I'll never forget that because that
really set me up for a journey to say yes
to God. I never forgot my deal with God. God,
(24:21):
I'll do whatever you want me to do. And sometimes
some of the things he has me do, I'm like, God,
really you want me to do that, you know, But
I'll do it if God tells me to do it.
I'm vulnerable to do whatever he wants me to do,
and I obey obedience, you know, as I just do it.
So even going on TV, like we talked about earlier,
(24:42):
I know how to do that, but I knew God
was telling me to do it. And that's just where
my heart is. God. I will do anything you want
me to do because I love you with all my heart.
And it's not about me. It's never about me. It's
about His word and sharing the good news of the
Gospel and leading people to have that close close relationship
with Jesus. So I always figure I'm just the person
(25:05):
in the middle between people and what he's doing to
point them to him. You know, talk about me. It's
always about him.
Speaker 4 (25:12):
Right, So what would you say? I love that story.
There's somebody listening or watching here today and they're stuck
in the paralysis by analysis phase of not knowing what
to start to do. What would you what would you
encourage them in?
Speaker 5 (25:30):
I would say fast and prayer. I would say seek
the Lord. Go on a twenty one day, twenty one
day fast and prayer specifically with what you're wanting to
seek from the Lord, and set aside time in that
twenty one days to read God's word and to be
just inundated with him. I think fasting and prayer is
(25:53):
the greatest thing I have discovered that has really when
I went to seminary, my husband saying I just couldn't
get all my questions answered, and my pastor at the
time and my husband said you should think about going
to seminary, And I remember thinking, seminary, what you know?
That was never in my thought that I was fasting
(26:17):
and praying about things in my life what God wanted.
And it was during that twenty one days of fast
and prayer that God put it in my heart to
go to seminary many years ago. I graduated many years
ago in twenty ten with a master's degree at that time.
So I really think if you press into the Lord
and with all your heart and you really seeking, I
(26:41):
have learned from experience there are ways God will answer
what you're seeking. One time God spoke through and I
shared in my book, through a surfing instructor when I
was seeking God about going on TV. I was in
California taking surf lessons and I'd had enough with surfing.
(27:03):
I was like I'd been working on it for about
forty five minutes, the hardest thing I think I've ever
tried to do. And I was beat up and bruised
from the surfboard hitting me in the water and I
was water logged, and oh, I was like I was done.
And I was trying to also in my spiritual life,
seeking God to what I should do about going on
TV at the time when I got that car and
all that right, and the surfing instructor walked over to
(27:26):
me on the side of the shoreline, I was by
myself sitting there. All the others were having a great time.
I was really about feeling like I was in pain,
and he came over to me and he said this,
and when he said this, it was as if God
was speaking through him.
Speaker 6 (27:43):
Oh wow.
Speaker 5 (27:43):
He walked up to me and he said, visualize your victory,
and I was like, I just looked at him because
I had also been sitting there thinking about what God
was telling me to do at that sitting on the shoreline.
He said it again. He said it three times. He said,
visualize your victory. Come on, now, let's go. And I
(28:05):
just thought, I'll never forget it. Because when we're seeking
the Lord for an answered prayer, you know, God spoke
through a donkey in Numbers, chapter twenty two. Right, God
will find ways to show us if we're sensitive. And
the reason why fasting the prayer makes it makes a
sensitive to what's going on around us. And God will
(28:27):
speak in unique ways. But I have learned Stephen, he
will answer. When you speak, you will find and when
you knock, he will open the door. When it's his door,
he will show you the way. And they'll just trust
those little nudges that he's putting in you, because if
you start going down a trail toward that nudge, he'll
(28:48):
either open that door beautifully and show you where to go,
or you'll go down this lane and he'll shut it
and you'll go, Okay, that's not it. But they never
be afraid to just start walking that faith journey out
because I've learned he'll shut the door and you'll go, oh, okay,
that's not it. Go the other direction. Try try plan B.
Whatever you know right, faithful. God is faithful.
Speaker 4 (29:12):
Yes he is, Yes he is. And I think you
you you hit the point there. I think that in
my head I was thinking of But I think what
the way you answered it was far far better, and
more specifically with the tactics that I love that once
you've heard from God, once you've got in the direction right,
is overcoming that fear factor of starting right, go do
(29:37):
something whatever that first step is that he said to do,
go do it, and and take that journey and and
then and then let him lead you.
Speaker 5 (29:44):
Right.
Speaker 4 (29:44):
If we're submitting to him right, we were like, Gordon,
leave me anywhere he goes, take a step, I don't
want to take us up right, It's like, do what
you got, do what you're supposed to do. And I
think that's the biggest factor. Many people, you know, get
tied in that cement shoe. You know, I don't want to.
I don't want to start is the hardest it is,
(30:06):
and I know for myself, but there's been things in
me that I'm like, I know I need to do it,
and if I just do it, then it's a lot easier.
And you know, you know how how things are going
because you've started doing it versus the mental well what
if this and what if that? And I don't and
it's like, no, forget that. God said to do this.
God said, step out, just take the action and.
Speaker 5 (30:27):
Do it so well. And God has a way of
working it out for me to be on TV. He
led me to the first person that helped me was uh.
I mean, we didn't know what we were doing, but
we kept asking you guys and asking others like Rebecca
lady that works with this, you know, what do we
(30:47):
need to do to get better? And so we get feedback.
Speaker 4 (30:51):
Yep.
Speaker 5 (30:52):
You know. My book was like I said, that was hard,
so was going on TV writing a book. I would
just go and set at Starbucks and put heads in
my ears. They get all the noise because at home
I couldn't. I figured out I can't write it home,
so I would just put in my headphones and I
would just say God, and I'd put on Christian music,
you know whatever, God, show give me insight, give me wisdom.
(31:15):
And I thought, just write something, you know. So I
would just write and then I would tweak it and
then i'd write again. And you know, that was a
very long journey. Sometimes I think God he does things
in a short span of time and you'll go, Wow,
that was quick to that step of faith. But when
(31:35):
I've seen more times than not, it's like a step
of faith and you have to keep stepping in faith
and keep stepping in faith, and they keep doing it
and then eventually you get down the road and you go, oh, okay,
now I get the journey. But it's really just little
baby steps going toward that little that thing, whatever it is,
(31:57):
and just saying God, I'm going to take the step
of faith and and just keep going. And you know,
sometimes Stephen, we'd take a couple steps forward, three steps back,
four steps forward, and it's kind of this back and forth.
But I really believe in my heart, Stephen, if we
love the Lord with all of our heart and we're
just we're trusting him, He's going to work it out.
(32:18):
He's going to work out whatever it is in our life,
our purpose. He's going to work it all out if
we just going, you know, just keep going.
Speaker 4 (32:26):
Yep. Well, there's there's somebody listening and watching this right
now that has had a book concept on their mind,
and hopefully hearing this from doctor Marla will encourage you
to take the next step.
Speaker 5 (32:40):
Go ahead and sorry, and what's so?
Speaker 4 (32:43):
Go ahead?
Speaker 5 (32:44):
I felt like God had given me this title, she
is possible? Right, yes, yes, it's not like proper English
and some regard. And my husband would keep saying, can
you come up with a different title?
Speaker 3 (32:58):
You know?
Speaker 5 (32:58):
And I love my husband. I always turned to him
me as so much wisdom, and really I'm everything I am.
I feel like a lot because of my husband. He's
really he's given me so much. He's under girded my
journey with God. But but I kept going back to
that title till finally, after three years my husband's life,
(33:18):
I'd try every title under the sun. I would write
it out and I would share it with him, and
I mean, I bet I came up with one hundred
and fifty titles, but every time I would come back
to she is Possible, And he finally said Okay, just
go with that title because obviously that's the one that
(33:39):
you feel like God is landing on. So I'm like, okay,
so that's how we got the title. So I feel
like sometimes it's not one hundred percent clear. Yeah, but
God will eventually work it all out. He just does. Right.
Whoever's out there that feels like God is telling to
write a book, just do it. Just start on it.
Speaker 4 (34:00):
There it is, yeah, just do it. I love it. Well,
this has been this has flown by. This has been
an amazing time. I hope you, uh, if you're listening
of seeing this, this has been encouraging. It has been
for me. I sometimes I just like this. Podcasts are
just a great conversation that I get to have, and
I'm so grateful for that. Doctor Marlatt has been a
joy to have here. But let's let's finish off. We'll
(34:23):
have lice little fun form. I'll call it popcorn or
kind of just random random questions we do at the
end here. This is just kind of random fun stuff.
So it doesn't have to having to do with the book,
but it's just just enjoyment something. So my favorite you're fine,
my favorite one I have to ask is someone is
placing in front of you your favorite enjoyable food. What
(34:45):
does that look like?
Speaker 5 (34:46):
It's easy? Oh that's easy. Straw chocolate covered strawberries.
Speaker 4 (34:50):
Oh yes, yes, solid choice.
Speaker 5 (34:54):
I loveto I love cheating. Covered strawberries are my heart.
Speaker 4 (35:00):
It can't go wrong with that. That's great.
Speaker 6 (35:02):
I love.
Speaker 5 (35:05):
Really and I also love Krispy Kremes.
Speaker 4 (35:08):
All right, well, this has been another amazing edition of
the GB America Podcast. My host today has been doctor
Marla and as we said before, go to doctor Marla
dot com for more information on her book or her resources. Again,
have find out where she's broadcasting, and she has been
a treasure and a joy to have with with with
(35:30):
us today. And for those who have enjoyed this, please like, share, comment,
and subscribe to the podcast so you can make sure
you hear this as well as all of the other
ones we have coming out through this, whether you're on
prey dot com or YouTube or Spotify or anything other
platforms we're on. We just want to give thanks to
those who are Prey dot com, those who are on there,
(35:52):
and it's been a fantastic time and we will see
you next time on the GB America Podcast. Until then,
have a great day and go make an impact on
somebody's life.
Speaker 7 (36:13):
Thank you for joining us for the geb America podcast.
Be sure to follow us or subscribe on the podcast
platform you prefer. Also, take a moment and share this
great content with your friends and family. You will find
us on Facebook, x, Instagram, and Pinterest.
Speaker 6 (36:29):
Hey, we're interrupting your podcast for a good reason, your dog.
Every month, BarkBox delivers a brand new collection of toys
and treats made just for them. Whether it's fun plush
toys from bark Box or ultra tough toys from Superture,
your dog will get exactly what they want. When you
subscribe on bark dot co, they'll double your first box
(36:52):
for free. To get your free upgrade, go to bark
dot co today.
Speaker 2 (36:58):
It's time to ask yourself there yet. With unbeatable deals
on the RV of your Dreams, Lazy Days RV can
help you roll into adventure no matter where the road
takes you. And with payments as low as four dollars
a day, your next strip is more affordable than ever.
Hitch onto a huge savings with travel trailers and fifth
wheels built for the long haul, more of a driver
than a tower hit the gas on big discounts for
(37:18):
motor homes ready to roam today. Stop by or visit
US online to turn r V there yet into We're
already there. Clearmore on Route sixty six
Hey, we're interrupting your podcast for a good reason, your dog.
Every month, BarkBox delivers a brand new collection of toys
and treats made just for them. Whether it's fun plush
toys from BarkBox or ultra tough toys from Superteer, your
dog will get exactly what they want. When you subscribe
on bark dot Co, they'll double your first box for free.
(00:20):
To get your free upgrade, go to bark dot co today.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
It's time to ask yourself, RV there Yet? With unbeatable
deals on the RV of your dreams lazy days, RV
can help you roll into adventure no matter where the
road takes you. And with payments as low as four
dollars a day, your next strip is more affordable than ever.
Hitch onto huge savings with travel trailers and fifth wheels
built for the long haul, more of a driver than
a tower. Hit the gas on big discounts for motor
(00:44):
homes Ready to roam today, Stop by or visit us
online to turn RV there Yet into We're already there
Clearmore on Route sixty six.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
The views and opinions expressed on this program are solely
those of the speakers. And not necessarily those of GEB America,
Oral Roberts University or their employees. This program is not
intended to offer investment, financial, medical, legal, or any other advice.
Viewers should consult a subject matter professional regarding any such matters.
Speaker 4 (01:26):
Hello and welcome to another edition of the GB America podcast.
I'm your host, Stephen Gunn. With me today is our
international TV minister, expert teacher on Biblical Females, conference speaker
and author, and our friend at GB, doctor Marla. Welcome
to the podcast.
Speaker 5 (01:43):
Welcome, I'm happy to be here. Thanks for having me.
Speaker 4 (01:46):
So glad you're here. It's been great. We're just catching
up a little bit and we're both happen to be
at the annual in ourb conference and how excited that was.
And you made some great contacts there, and one of
the biggest things you were there about was the launch
of a new book. Can tell us about the book?
You've got to think you got a handy there me
show show the audience. There, there we go.
Speaker 5 (02:07):
Yes, she is possible to kill Women emerged from impossible odds. Yes,
so yes, I launched it in Dallas that in our
be so excited and God led me to write this
about five years ago, Stephen, And it took me three
years to write it, probably one of the hardest projects
(02:28):
God has ever asked me to do. But praise the Lord.
Immediately I launched it, and within twenty four hours someone's
donating a thousand of them to go into female prisons. Wow,
So praise the Lord. They went all over the world
from Dallas, and so I'm just so grateful. You know,
when God gives us a nudge about something and we
(02:48):
just follow through and do what he tells us to do.
We have no idea on the other side of that.
How incredible and what He has planned from it. And
that's kind of what happened to me. He just took
it and launched it and made it bigger than what
I thought immediately. So praise the Lord.
Speaker 4 (03:04):
Yeah, he does that. He takes takes our things and
makes them make much bigger, which I love because that's
that's the God factor.
Speaker 5 (03:11):
Right, that's I meanly, with God, all things are possible.
Speaker 4 (03:14):
That's right, That's right. So it took you a while.
What do you think what did you find was the
biggest challenge in the process of those three years? Was
it just a matter of things happening. Was there some
kind of just battling of actually getting the thoughts out
or what was What would you say the journey was
like there in that three year time to get the
book done.
Speaker 5 (03:32):
Well, I would say it was there's a million things
to talk about, was my challenge and being a communicator
and speaking the Bible all the time, right, it was
really the hardest thing was trying to narrow down, Okay, God,
what would be specific in this chapter to help somebody?
And what do you want me to say? Because I
(03:54):
have a million stories and scriptures are you know, sixty
six books of the Bible and it's just such a
ginormous endeavor and so but once I kind of honestly
the last final year, I kind of got into a
rhythm and I'm gonna make this a series. It's women
in the Bible. Every chapter has a woman in the Bible.
(04:16):
That's the focal point. Yeah, And the first chapter is
a little bit about my story. The first chapter is
a masterpiece like you and me, so it goes it
goes into all of us being God's masterpiece. The second chapter, though,
is underdog to unstoppable, like orphaned queen Esther, and then
(04:37):
that chapter then and every chapter forward. There's seven chapters total,
but it focuses on that woman in the Bible, that's
the focal woman. But then I tell stories from women
in the world that overcome overcame extreme odds and God
turned things in their life around and how did they
(04:58):
go through that process. So it's it's less about me,
more about the women in the Bible, about women in history.
And then a lot of scriptures, a lot of scriptures.
I point people, you know, to God's word. I figure, hey,
if if you put God's word in there and never
returns void, So I did put a lot of scriptures.
(05:19):
So it's available on my website, and I'm just so
excited to have women get it.
Speaker 4 (05:26):
What is the quid? Well, we'll and we'll we'll bring
it back up at the end again, but what's your
website where people can can go there?
Speaker 5 (05:32):
Doctor Marla dot Org. I'm mailing it even as we speak.
I need to get to the post office. So I'm
really so grateful at the rest. God is so good.
Speaker 4 (05:46):
I love that. I love that, and and uh, we'll
put that in the show notes. People can can go
down their show notes and click on that line can
get information on that. But well, tell me, so, what
was there any of those the women characters that we
maybe you're familiar with that you wrote about in that
that was something new or maybe just kind of an
aha moment for you while you were settying that.
Speaker 5 (06:08):
Well, I think I did introduce a few new things
in this book that I think a lot of people
may not know. For one, Mary Magdalene. The chapter on
Mary Magdalene, Yeah, I don't think a lot of people
know that tradition holds. Now Here's the thing before I
say this, I always wondered, Stephen, what happened to the
(06:29):
women in the New Testament after the New Testament ended?
And Jesus, you know, rose from the dead. Where you
hear what happens to Paul and the disciples? Where did
the women go that we hear about? Like Mary Magdalene? Right,
Mary Magdalene question too? And so I have this inquiry
mind and God knows that because I was in France
(06:52):
and I was in this museum, and I shared this
in the book. I was in this museum and this
this painting on the wall was a was called the
Preacher Mary Magdalene, and it was her in the middle
surrounded by men and women, and they were listening to her,
and the tour lady guide came over that worked at
(07:14):
the art museum, and she started explaining the painting to me,
and she said, this is Mary Magdalene in the center,
and it's because the artist painted this in the eighteen hundreds,
because Mary Magdalene is the one that got on a
boat and came to this city. The seated cities named
(07:35):
after her, and she spread the good news to France,
to this area, to this region in Provence, France. And
I'm standing there literally speechless because I never knew that,
and plus God knew my inquiry mind always wondering where
did these women go. And so there's a lot more
(07:55):
detail that I given my book than just that kind
of the jest of something that was surprising that happened
to me that I share, you know. So that's kind
of exciting.
Speaker 4 (08:07):
That is that's and I have to say that question
you brought up, I'm like, you know what, I don't
even know that I knew that already. So I'm that's
a very interesting fact and something that was cool that
you would have got to see that and then relay
that obviously through the book. That's that's incredible.
Speaker 5 (08:23):
Well, and it's such a joy to me to be
able to share that with the world. You know, if
I think you may not know that unless you go
to France. And I'm always careful to put in my
book when it's outside the Bible, it's not a Bible source.
I say, tradition holds, because you know, I can't prove that.
But another interesting fact on that same subject is her
(08:46):
bones are believed to be in this church, in that
same area that people come from all over the world
and see. It's encased in gold, and it seems like
a special encasing in the Middle Church. And they believe
that because in the seven hundreds, some important emperor guy
(09:06):
or whoever he was, uncovered this marble tomb and in
it said these are the bones of Mary Magdalene. And
it was like in the seven hundreds and then and
that went forward to where they are today. And so
you know, who knows if they're really her bones. We
(09:27):
don't know for sure, but the chances are high. Who
knows if those special people from the New Testament, just
like in the Old Testament, they had a special burial place.
We know though a lot of the people in the
New Testament, they would have a special they were a
special person to God, right, so they were careful about
(09:47):
what happened to their bones when they died. They considered
him a holy person, you know. So anyway, just there's
just a lot of little things like that. And then
of course my theological love for theology and all that,
you know, it all, it all came. Yeah, I am,
I am a girl, So just girl stuff comes out
in it too, just being a girl, you know about personally.
(10:09):
Esther you know, was in the palace and they had
special perfumes and so I bring up some of that
a little deeper. So it's a little bit of everything.
Speaker 4 (10:19):
That's cool. That's very cool. So let's let's kind of
pull back a little bit on that and let's say
you talk to you mentioned in the first chapter kind
of goes into your history. So for those you know,
those of you, those of our listeners and viewers out
there that maybe haven't you know, aren't familiar with kind
of where God has done and your story of you know,
his his impact in your life. Bring us up this
(10:40):
little kind of a synopsis story here where you come from,
what's your background, and what's God done you know lately.
Speaker 5 (10:46):
Well, Stephen, A lot of people don't know. I was
born an orphan. So when I was born, I was
thankfully someone carried me for nine months. I was born
in nineteen sixty nine. I'm twenty nine. No, I'm not
ten years old. But I was born in nineteen sixty nine,
and the woman that carried me, thankfully, she carried me.
(11:07):
I went immediately from being born into foster care. So
for three and a half months, I went into foster care.
And then I was adopted at three and a half
months old. And I know nothing about the first three
and a half months of my life. So I kind
of share a little bit of that, and you know,
just the graciousness of that happening. But then fast forward
(11:28):
to currently, about six years ago, the Lord was leading
me to go on TV. I'd been on the radio
for probably four or five years, and I would give
the scriptures and the Bible and the radio, and I
didn't know how to go on TV. And I was like, God,
I don't know how to do that. I don't know
(11:48):
where to go to do that. I don't know. I
didn't even know how to begin. So that journey I
talk about that and how I was at a convention
and shared my vision and what God was putting in
my heart with a gentleman in charge of like TV
broadcasting ministry, and he was like a leader to kind
(12:09):
of help people in TV ministry that were starting out well.
He sent me a letter, a card in the mill actually,
to my office and telling me that I was the
last person on earth that should do it, and that
I wasn't I didn't seem qualified. And it was like
the saddest, most pessimistic card you can possibly imagine. And
(12:32):
so I was ready to quit before I even started.
And so I was really sad, and I was like
seeking God. And I just share that journey of how
all of that developed and how I I won't share
all of it because you'll have to read chapter one,
but how God turned that around in my heart within
(12:56):
a short period of time, how he put together the
pieces of the puzzle. And you guys, GEB was the
first ones that hosted me, and you guys were so
sweet and gracious to me. I honestly didn't know what
I was doing, but I knew I loved the Bible
and I was passionate about God's word that is, and
you guys could understand that, and you encouraged me. And
(13:20):
you know, here I am. I think it's I'm going
on six years I think of being on TV ministry,
So praise the Lord. You know, we keep trying to
get better. But the main thing is God's word. You know.
If there's God's word, that's what it's all about. That's
the change in our life is God's words. So anyway,
that discouraging word actually will help a whole lot of
(13:41):
women see that. I think the enemy immediately comes to kill,
still and destroy. When we're hearing from God, we're going
to have that opposite voice that's going to try to
come against this, and we have to recognize that and
we have to get past that and go into God's
plan and God's will. Anyway, usually I have figured out
(14:01):
if you hear negativity going on when you know you're
feeling a nuts from God, it's usually that you're on
the right path.
Speaker 4 (14:08):
That's good. That's a good nugget. I love that. And
we're also by the way, we're for religion. Honor that
you uh, we're upcome on, GB We're so thankful that
that was part of the your your journey, you know,
beginning into the TV world. You know, I would say
I think that, well, I love that you would you
should share there about you know, in your passion for
(14:29):
you know, theology, and it wasn't so much that you
have a passion for people just just to know the
word right, just to be philosophical, but really to actually
know him know the word. And that comes through so well.
And it came through in my first encounter to know
you and know your show, and and that I'm excited
about your book because I know that's going to come
through as well for those who are you getting to
read that that that that is, that is the ultimate purpose.
(14:51):
It's not just to just you know, have somebody see
words on a page or read a book. It's actually
be encountered with Jesus and and to have his you know,
his knowledge come through. So I that's so powerful.
Speaker 5 (15:01):
Well, thank you. And it's all about God's presence. And
I write about that in my book when I say theology,
I really mean God's presence behind that. It's all about
that relationship but Jesus and that is that is the
highest thing in our life, you know, number one in
our life. And if it's not, it should be because
(15:22):
he has the greatest thing we can ever find. And
so exactly what you said, I lead people all throughout
the book to follow him with all their heart. Trust
in the Lord with all your heart too. I love
that scripture and lean not own understanding, but acknowledge Him
in all your ways, and he will drive right to
your pathway. So but yeah, it's all about his presence
(15:43):
and our faith, isn't it It is?
Speaker 4 (15:47):
It really is absolutely, you know, I think you know,
for me, I'm thinking of you know, from just a
perspective of the women the Bible, your book, just the
impact of women you know, can have on families and
on culture. You know, for me, you know, my mom,
I'm only child, and my mom at the right time
(16:11):
was able to share with me that that they had
had five miscarriages before me, and so I it it
added a depth of understanding for me where I knew
that I always felt loved with them. I knew that
I was that was never a question. But it also
added a depth of understanding why that was so true,
why there was that level of just impact and you
(16:34):
know them put pointing me to Jesus, you know, growing
up and having that level of of you know my
mom being a prayer warrior. She's still this day is
you know, and leading by example of what that means
to pray and intercede and stand in the gap and
pray for people. And you know, and so yeah, and
so I think too, you know, we as as Christians,
(16:56):
we look at the different examples as your book talks about,
is those different character right, you can look to them
as as a type and as you know, as an
example of what it looks like to lead for the
women of course, but also just as Christians. Right, there's
the ways of being followers of Jesus and being present
and leading out you know, whether I'm thinking of you know, Esther, right,
(17:20):
and the story of Esther is just a powerful story
of being like okay, well, you know it's the quote
everybody knows for such a time as this, right, But
that that story is so much more than that quote,
Like it's very good quote. But what what is what
is the character of Esther and what is her her
story meant to you as a believer and as as
(17:40):
a studier of the Bible.
Speaker 5 (17:43):
Well, I point out as we know, you know, she
lost her parents at a young age, so she was
an orphan right, And I can relate to that because
she lost both. You know, some people lose one parent
in their lifetime as or even young, but she lost
both and she had to leave her home, her parents,
everything that she knew to be normal, and if you
(18:04):
and that's one thing I do in the book is
I get women into the emotions of what's going on
with these ladies. And she had to move and go
and trust and be with her cousin Mordecai, who adopted her.
But even after that, then she gets into the palace
and Mordecai, you know, tells her don't tell him your
true identity. You know that has to be hard someone's
(18:26):
telling you that'd be like someone telling us, don't tell
them you're a Christian or whatever. You know, don't tell
me who you really are, right, And so they change
her name from Hadassa to Esther. That's how she gets
named Esther. But her journey is amazing. You know, she
goes from from this broken hearted I mean she would
have been broken hearted as a young person lose her
(18:48):
parents and moving. So she goes from that to God
putting her as the queen because King Xerxes chooses her,
and it's amazing how Estra trusted in God along her
the threat of her life is trusting in God exactly
that scripture Proverbs three, verse five and six. You know,
she she hadn't been in pain at different times and hurting,
(19:13):
but she kept looking to God. And even when her
whole race was looking to be annihilated by Amen that
manipulated King Xerxes to annihilate all of them. Even at
that point, she calls for a fast to the whole
kingdom and says to all the Jews, let's fast and pray.
(19:33):
Let's see God, you know, And I talk about fasting
in prayer in my book during that time. In my
I give a section on that about the Daniel Fast
and some things that I saw turn around in my
life from from fasting. And so I just I go
on that journey with her, her courage, how she had
wisdom and she she never looked to the world. And
(19:57):
I believe that's why she was chosen. Out of all
all the women that could have been chosen, she probably
would have been the least likely one because she wasn't
she was Jewish. You know, She's been the least likely
woman for the king to choose. And yet God had
a plan and a purpose for her to be chosen.
She was the one God was going to use. And
I know that she was chosen because down deep, when
(20:20):
the tough got going, she was going to point everybody
to God and not herself and not her you know,
philosophical stuff whatever. She would say, No, we're going to
turn to God and God can do it. And so
she was the chosen one.
Speaker 4 (20:36):
That's good. Let me ask you this. This may or
may it connected the book in this case, but Dish
was curious. You know, as one who believes, and we
see God move in our life, what's an example for
you that has been something that you would consider to
be just a powerful healing testimony of whether it's be
a physical something physical or emotional or anything like that
(21:00):
just has resonated and just been a pivotal moment for
your life.
Speaker 5 (21:03):
Well, I share this in chapter seven. My book has
seven chapters. The last chapter is Healed like the woman
with the issue of blood, and so in chapter seven
I talk about healing and I point out scriptures, many
scriptures in the last chapter about how people were healed,
like the lepers and the paralytic and the blind could see,
(21:25):
and the death could hear, and all these things I
share specifically, but I also share about a time when
I had a brain tumor diagnosis. And at the time, Stephen,
I was a single mom and I had two little children.
This was twenty eight years ago. I've been happily married
(21:46):
now for twenty five years. Praise the Lord God brought
me an amazing, godly man. But this time in my
life where I was very vulnerable and I was trying
to make ends meet with two little children at home
as a single mom. And at the same time, I
get diagnosed with the brain tumor and it was the
biggest shock, one of the biggest shocks of my life.
(22:07):
And I wasn't expecting that. At the doctor's office either,
when I went in for excessive hair growth, he diagnosed
that I had a tumor on my pituitary gland, which
is the gland that functions your hair. But anyway, I
was so just shocked by that diagnosis and I prayed
(22:32):
to God during that time, and I can remember driving
my car to this and I shared this in my book.
I drive my car to these this area just to pray.
And there it was in the winter, there were no
trees with leaves on them. I mean, all the trees
had no leaves. It was dark, desolate, exactly how I
(22:53):
was feeling. But I didn't realize that until I was
writing the book. But it really wow a picture of
what I was feeling. Yeah, And I sat in my
car and I was praying, and I felt the love
of the Lord just enter my car so especially, and
I told God, I said, God, if you'll heal me,
I promise you I will live my life doing anything
(23:15):
you want me to do if you'll heal me. My
kids need me and I want to live. And of
course some people live from a brain tumor, but I knew,
I was well enough aware that that was I mean,
that was could be life or death. So I went
back to the next appointment about a week or so later,
maybe two weeks later, and the doctor did some more
(23:38):
testing and he came into the room and he said,
it's a miracle, but your tumor is gone. And I
share this with audiences when I speak or preach and
whatever I do. Yeah, with God, really, all things are possible.
And that's where I get the title of the books.
She is possible because we can go through challenges God
(24:01):
can turn it around. But it stems from that scripture
because that's the scripture that I've seen work in my life.
I mean, God can turn anything around. With him, all
things are possible. But I'll never forget that because that
really set me up for a journey to say yes
to God. I never forgot my deal with God. God,
(24:21):
I'll do whatever you want me to do. And sometimes
some of the things he has me do, I'm like, God,
really you want me to do that, you know, But
I'll do it if God tells me to do it.
I'm vulnerable to do whatever he wants me to do,
and I obey obedience, you know, as I just do it.
So even going on TV, like we talked about earlier,
(24:42):
I know how to do that, but I knew God
was telling me to do it. And that's just where
my heart is. God. I will do anything you want
me to do because I love you with all my heart.
And it's not about me. It's never about me. It's
about His word and sharing the good news of the
Gospel and leading people to have that close close relationship
with Jesus. So I always figure I'm just the person
(25:05):
in the middle between people and what he's doing to
point them to him. You know, talk about me. It's
always about him.
Speaker 4 (25:12):
Right, So what would you say? I love that story.
There's somebody listening or watching here today and they're stuck
in the paralysis by analysis phase of not knowing what
to start to do. What would you what would you
encourage them in?
Speaker 5 (25:30):
I would say fast and prayer. I would say seek
the Lord. Go on a twenty one day, twenty one
day fast and prayer specifically with what you're wanting to
seek from the Lord, and set aside time in that
twenty one days to read God's word and to be
just inundated with him. I think fasting and prayer is
(25:53):
the greatest thing I have discovered that has really when
I went to seminary, my husband saying I just couldn't
get all my questions answered, and my pastor at the
time and my husband said you should think about going
to seminary, And I remember thinking, seminary, what you know?
That was never in my thought that I was fasting
(26:17):
and praying about things in my life what God wanted.
And it was during that twenty one days of fast
and prayer that God put it in my heart to
go to seminary many years ago. I graduated many years
ago in twenty ten with a master's degree at that time.
So I really think if you press into the Lord
and with all your heart and you really seeking, I
(26:41):
have learned from experience there are ways God will answer
what you're seeking. One time God spoke through and I
shared in my book, through a surfing instructor when I
was seeking God about going on TV. I was in
California taking surf lessons and I'd had enough with surfing.
(27:03):
I was like I'd been working on it for about
forty five minutes, the hardest thing I think I've ever
tried to do. And I was beat up and bruised
from the surfboard hitting me in the water and I
was water logged, and oh, I was like I was done.
And I was trying to also in my spiritual life,
seeking God to what I should do about going on
TV at the time when I got that car and
all that right, and the surfing instructor walked over to
(27:26):
me on the side of the shoreline, I was by
myself sitting there. All the others were having a great time.
I was really about feeling like I was in pain,
and he came over to me and he said this,
and when he said this, it was as if God
was speaking through him.
Speaker 6 (27:43):
Oh wow.
Speaker 5 (27:43):
He walked up to me and he said, visualize your victory,
and I was like, I just looked at him because
I had also been sitting there thinking about what God
was telling me to do at that sitting on the shoreline.
He said it again. He said it three times. He said,
visualize your victory. Come on, now, let's go. And I
(28:05):
just thought, I'll never forget it. Because when we're seeking
the Lord for an answered prayer, you know, God spoke
through a donkey in Numbers, chapter twenty two. Right, God
will find ways to show us if we're sensitive. And
the reason why fasting the prayer makes it makes a
sensitive to what's going on around us. And God will
(28:27):
speak in unique ways. But I have learned Stephen, he
will answer. When you speak, you will find and when
you knock, he will open the door. When it's his door,
he will show you the way. And they'll just trust
those little nudges that he's putting in you, because if
you start going down a trail toward that nudge, he'll
(28:48):
either open that door beautifully and show you where to go,
or you'll go down this lane and he'll shut it
and you'll go, Okay, that's not it. But they never
be afraid to just start walking that faith journey out
because I've learned he'll shut the door and you'll go, oh, okay,
that's not it. Go the other direction. Try try plan B.
Whatever you know right, faithful. God is faithful.
Speaker 4 (29:12):
Yes he is, Yes he is. And I think you
you you hit the point there. I think that in
my head I was thinking of But I think what
the way you answered it was far far better, and
more specifically with the tactics that I love that once
you've heard from God, once you've got in the direction right,
is overcoming that fear factor of starting right, go do
(29:37):
something whatever that first step is that he said to do,
go do it, and and take that journey and and
then and then let him lead you.
Speaker 5 (29:44):
Right.
Speaker 4 (29:44):
If we're submitting to him right, we were like, Gordon,
leave me anywhere he goes, take a step, I don't
want to take us up right, It's like, do what
you got, do what you're supposed to do. And I
think that's the biggest factor. Many people, you know, get
tied in that cement shoe. You know, I don't want to.
I don't want to start is the hardest it is,
(30:06):
and I know for myself, but there's been things in
me that I'm like, I know I need to do it,
and if I just do it, then it's a lot easier.
And you know, you know how how things are going
because you've started doing it versus the mental well what
if this and what if that? And I don't and
it's like, no, forget that. God said to do this.
God said, step out, just take the action and.
Speaker 5 (30:27):
Do it so well. And God has a way of
working it out for me to be on TV. He
led me to the first person that helped me was uh.
I mean, we didn't know what we were doing, but
we kept asking you guys and asking others like Rebecca
lady that works with this, you know, what do we
(30:47):
need to do to get better? And so we get feedback.
Speaker 4 (30:51):
Yep.
Speaker 5 (30:52):
You know. My book was like I said, that was hard,
so was going on TV writing a book. I would
just go and set at Starbucks and put heads in
my ears. They get all the noise because at home
I couldn't. I figured out I can't write it home,
so I would just put in my headphones and I
would just say God, and I'd put on Christian music,
you know whatever, God, show give me insight, give me wisdom.
(31:15):
And I thought, just write something, you know. So I
would just write and then I would tweak it and
then i'd write again. And you know, that was a
very long journey. Sometimes I think God he does things
in a short span of time and you'll go, Wow,
that was quick to that step of faith. But when
(31:35):
I've seen more times than not, it's like a step
of faith and you have to keep stepping in faith
and keep stepping in faith, and they keep doing it
and then eventually you get down the road and you go, oh, okay,
now I get the journey. But it's really just little
baby steps going toward that little that thing, whatever it is,
(31:57):
and just saying God, I'm going to take the step
of faith and and just keep going. And you know,
sometimes Stephen, we'd take a couple steps forward, three steps back,
four steps forward, and it's kind of this back and forth.
But I really believe in my heart, Stephen, if we
love the Lord with all of our heart and we're
just we're trusting him, He's going to work it out.
(32:18):
He's going to work out whatever it is in our life,
our purpose. He's going to work it all out if
we just going, you know, just keep going.
Speaker 4 (32:26):
Yep. Well, there's there's somebody listening and watching this right
now that has had a book concept on their mind,
and hopefully hearing this from doctor Marla will encourage you
to take the next step.
Speaker 5 (32:40):
Go ahead and sorry, and what's so?
Speaker 4 (32:43):
Go ahead?
Speaker 5 (32:44):
I felt like God had given me this title, she
is possible? Right, yes, yes, it's not like proper English
and some regard. And my husband would keep saying, can
you come up with a different title?
Speaker 3 (32:58):
You know?
Speaker 5 (32:58):
And I love my husband. I always turned to him
me as so much wisdom, and really I'm everything I am.
I feel like a lot because of my husband. He's
really he's given me so much. He's under girded my
journey with God. But but I kept going back to
that title till finally, after three years my husband's life,
(33:18):
I'd try every title under the sun. I would write
it out and I would share it with him, and
I mean, I bet I came up with one hundred
and fifty titles, but every time I would come back
to she is Possible, And he finally said Okay, just
go with that title because obviously that's the one that
(33:39):
you feel like God is landing on. So I'm like, okay,
so that's how we got the title. So I feel
like sometimes it's not one hundred percent clear. Yeah, but
God will eventually work it all out. He just does. Right.
Whoever's out there that feels like God is telling to
write a book, just do it. Just start on it.
Speaker 4 (34:00):
There it is, yeah, just do it. I love it. Well,
this has been this has flown by. This has been
an amazing time. I hope you, uh, if you're listening
of seeing this, this has been encouraging. It has been
for me. I sometimes I just like this. Podcasts are
just a great conversation that I get to have, and
I'm so grateful for that. Doctor Marlatt has been a
joy to have here. But let's let's finish off. We'll
(34:23):
have lice little fun form. I'll call it popcorn or
kind of just random random questions we do at the
end here. This is just kind of random fun stuff.
So it doesn't have to having to do with the book,
but it's just just enjoyment something. So my favorite you're fine,
my favorite one I have to ask is someone is
placing in front of you your favorite enjoyable food. What
(34:45):
does that look like?
Speaker 5 (34:46):
It's easy? Oh that's easy. Straw chocolate covered strawberries.
Speaker 4 (34:50):
Oh yes, yes, solid choice.
Speaker 5 (34:54):
I loveto I love cheating. Covered strawberries are my heart.
Speaker 4 (35:00):
It can't go wrong with that. That's great.
Speaker 6 (35:02):
I love.
Speaker 5 (35:05):
Really and I also love Krispy Kremes.
Speaker 4 (35:08):
All right, well, this has been another amazing edition of
the GB America Podcast. My host today has been doctor
Marla and as we said before, go to doctor Marla
dot com for more information on her book or her resources. Again,
have find out where she's broadcasting, and she has been
a treasure and a joy to have with with with
(35:30):
us today. And for those who have enjoyed this, please like, share, comment,
and subscribe to the podcast so you can make sure
you hear this as well as all of the other
ones we have coming out through this, whether you're on
prey dot com or YouTube or Spotify or anything other
platforms we're on. We just want to give thanks to
those who are Prey dot com, those who are on there,
(35:52):
and it's been a fantastic time and we will see
you next time on the GB America Podcast. Until then,
have a great day and go make an impact on
somebody's life.
Speaker 7 (36:13):
Thank you for joining us for the geb America podcast.
Be sure to follow us or subscribe on the podcast
platform you prefer. Also, take a moment and share this
great content with your friends and family. You will find
us on Facebook, x, Instagram, and Pinterest.
Speaker 6 (36:29):
Hey, we're interrupting your podcast for a good reason, your dog.
Every month, BarkBox delivers a brand new collection of toys
and treats made just for them. Whether it's fun plush
toys from bark Box or ultra tough toys from Superture,
your dog will get exactly what they want. When you
subscribe on bark dot co, they'll double your first box
(36:52):
for free. To get your free upgrade, go to bark
dot co today.
Speaker 2 (36:58):
It's time to ask yourself there yet. With unbeatable deals
on the RV of your Dreams, Lazy Days RV can
help you roll into adventure no matter where the road
takes you. And with payments as low as four dollars
a day, your next strip is more affordable than ever.
Hitch onto a huge savings with travel trailers and fifth
wheels built for the long haul, more of a driver
than a tower hit the gas on big discounts for
(37:18):
motor homes ready to roam today. Stop by or visit
US online to turn r V there yet into We're
already there. Clearmore on Route sixty six
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!