
Hiiii GGB! It's been a really heavy week with all that's been going on in the world and we're grateful to be sitting with you chatting today. We are excited to talk to you guys about some things that mean so much to us and let you in a little deeper...
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A
Hey, guys, I'm Ang.
B
And I'm Ari.
A
And this is Girls Gone Bible. We're a faith based podcast where we talk all things spirituality, mental health, relationships. Most of all, we talk about the Bible. We love reading the Bible because we love Jesus and we always say, come as you are, just don't stay that way. You're welcome here no matter who you are, where you come from, what beliefs you have. Yeah, we want you to come here and feel really safe and to discover the love of Jesus because he will absolutely transform your life. Anything you're facing, God can redeem, restore, rescue. And we know that because he did it in our lives. So what's up, Bar?
B
What's up, Ange? We released an episode last week that was an older one that we had filmed months prior, but this is the week back from obviously the death of Charlie Kirk and just even the stabbing of that beautiful girl on the train and just all the horrific evil that's been happening, the school shootings. There's just been so much going on. And Ange and I are both just. We've just been grieving this week and I'm sure all of us are just. The world is just so heavy right now. The things that we're being exposed to online, we get. We're seeing everything, like, right in front of our eyes. And so if you're anything like us, which I know you guys are, you're just. You have a heaviness, you feel scared, you're tired, you can't get out of bed, and of course you can. It's heavy right now. And the things that we are being exposed to when we have to see and the evil is just. It's too much to bear. And then on top of it, you know, we're grieving for the families and Charlie's wife and it's too much. Yeah, it's too much.
A
Yeah. Yeah. It's just such a weird time right now with the Internet and like, how exposed we are, like you said, to everything. And we just obviously, first and foremost want to say, like, we just really, truly bless Charlie's family. His wife Erica, his two children. We mourn with them, we grieve with them, and we stand and in the gap for them and pray for them, like everybody should be doing. Really, all you can do during a time like this is pray your absolute heart out for anybody and everybody. And yeah, I just think, like Ari said, there's a lot of stuff that goes on every single day that we're not even aware of is taking place and it's so devastating and it's so scary. I know I've experienced. I've been tempted to lean into fear a lot because it's just unexplainable, the evil that takes place. I think I felt really confused, really angry. But what I've really realized more than anything truly, is that, like, we have to pray for unbelievers. We have to pray that everybody on earth would come to know Jesus. It's literally the only answer. Fighting, people are arguing like nothing. There's no answer other than Jesus. It's literally just praying that everybody would experience the love of Jesus. Because it's the only way to extinguish evil, period. It's literally the only way that everybody on earth, every pair of eyes, would open up to the truth of Jesus. Yeah, that's all I know. Like, that's literally all I know.
B
Yeah. And a time where you could mock evil and be angry and just sit and, you know, even write comments online and be enraged. Like, we have to be the light and we have to be the family that's ascend us and we have to be in unity. And it is so beautiful seeing everybody come together in prayer. And it's just. It really is beautiful. I've been seeing it so much. Everyone coming together, they're doing their little worship and praying for the families. Erica. And it's awful. And if you've been through grief, you can only imagine what these with the wife and the babies and the families are all enduring. It's. It's brutal. And so I just say, like I wrote on my Instagram story the other day, but it was even comforting to me to even spill out and say that, like, if. Because I spent. I couldn't get out of my bed for literally three days. Like, I was so tired, my heart was just. And it's just the world right now. So if you're anxious, if you can't get out of bed, if you're just trying to get through the day right now, we wanna let you know that that's okay. Like, it really is okay. And it's normal. And it's normal to feel anxious. It's normal to be scared. It's normal to be so grieved that you can't even get your head off the pillow. Yeah, totally. We're seeing and being exposed to so much right now. And I just. We wanna let you know that it's okay and it's normal and it's gonna take a little bit to get back to normal. And so let your and we're all in this together, and we just have to be a family. And we have to be. We have to be people who. Who are like Jesus, who send out love and be, like you said, relentlessly pray and be kind and be people that people look at and say they have something. They have. They have something special in them. Like, we have to carry the light, especially right now, and this darkness. So that's. That's our job right now. And I know that's hard, but we are to be the light and to stick together and be a family.
A
Yeah. And one other thing I would add is. And this might. I don't know, Pete, maybe not everybody would agree with this, but I believe it wholeheartedly that, like, you don't have to read and watch every single thing that's online. Your other job, along with what Ari said, is to protect yourself, to protect your mind. And that doesn't mean bury your head in the sand and not be aware of what's going on in the world, but you are allowed to log off the Internet and stop looking. Because I think I even felt a level of guilt getting offline because I felt like I should be watching the news and everything happening every five seconds, and I'm like, this isn't good for me.
B
Yeah, it's too much for your brain. It were.
A
It's too much. So I just want to give everybody permission to get off of Tick Tock, to get off of Instagram, to get off of the articles. I know it's very like, you want to know what's. You want to read everything you want. It's like very. In a weird way, it's like, addicting. It's enticing. Like, you want. It's not good for your brain. So, like, just protect yourself and understand. Like, you are allowed to protect yourself because that's. That's what matters. That's what really matters, is that you protect yourself and protect your mind. Let Jesus guard your mind during this time and just pray. And what I've seen with every pastor, with every leader that I respect, they're all preaching the same thing right now. And it's urgency. It is. This is not the time for lukewarm Christianity. If there's ever been a time to go completely all in with Jesus and stop being one foot in, one foot out, it's not today. If there's ever been a time to get rid of this idea that there's, like, relaxed, chill Christianity, it doesn't. There doesn't exist. Because for we are seeing the evil that exists in our world right before our eyes, and we haven't even seen this much of it. That's the scary part. It's not scary. We haven't even seen this much of it. But our job is to be so on fire and so on mission that everywhere we go, we're telling people about Jesus. Like, this is. Like, this is the urgency that we're meant to be living with, that we walk along the sidewalk and see someone and know that this person might be really struggling or going through something, and you have no idea where they might end up in life. Go get them. You know what I mean?
B
Ministry doesn't need a microphone. Somebody said that, and I was like, yes, we. We need oil in our cups. Like, we need to be ready. We need to be prepared, especially seeing what just happened. Like, it's time to. To. To get right.
A
Yeah, exactly.
B
I love that you said that.
A
Yeah. And. And don't be afraid. Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid. Read the Word. Know who God is. Read the Old Testament. Read about who the Lord is throughout the entire Old Testament, who he is as a protector, a provider, a defender, and how many times he tells us, do not be afraid. That's the call of God on our lives, is not to be afraid. So, yeah, we say all that to say that we're with you guys. I don't think as believers, we've all probably felt more unified than right now, and I'm grateful for that. I feel unified with you. I feel unified with you guys. I feel unified with leaders and pastors and other believers all across the world. Like, we're all one right now.
B
I agree. I really agree with that. Yeah.
A
Yeah, we need Jesus.
B
But if you guys could just. If you guys could take this next week, honestly, it was a heavy week. Try and do something that's light. Go to the beach. I'm not kidding. Like, I'm gonna just, like, go to the beach. Like, try to relax. Try to. I love that you say, get off Instagram. Get off. Go. Go. Just go rest your mind right now. You need to do things that bring you joy right now. Grief is. Grief is like.
A
Do you want to read your thing?
B
It's so heavy. Yeah, I wrote something this past couple days when I was in the whole grief thing and just feeling everybody's grief and anxiety. And I just wrote something like a little poem. Grief aches like a wound that never closes. A constant throb that whispers it will never go away. Anxiety coils around your chest. Thoughts spiraling, unbearable each One louder than the last. The pain is relentless, a storm that does not pass. Denial grips you. This cannot be my life. You find yourself on the bathroom floor, too weak to rise, too broken to breathe, wondering if you'll ever stand again. And the weight of it all presses you into the ground. Too heavy to bear, too much to survive. But then, a presence in the dust. Jesus kneels beside you. Not disgusted by your ruin, not afraid of your rage. He places his hands on your shoulder, and your storm does not scare Him. He lifts you piece by piece from the floor of your sorrow. He takes your pain and bends it into purpose. He takes your wounds and plants seeds of glory within them. Through grief, he shines through your cracks, his light spills. The darkness that devoured you becomes the canvas of his redemption. And you rise not by your strength, but by his. Yet even as you rise, he does not rush you. He sits with you in the ashes. He holds you in the silence and loves you when you feel unlovable. Your grief is not too much for Him. It is the very place he chooses to show his heart. For what the enemy meant for evil, God has meant for good, not only for you, but for the saving of many lives. Because through your grief, others will find comfort. Through your story, others will find hope. And through your pain, others will see his glory.
A
Wow. Wow, wow, wow. That is beautiful.
B
Yeah, it's true. So hope that. Hope that makes you guys feel a little bit better and carries you through. Yeah.
A
One last thing. I swear. Last thing I'm committing every single day, and I want you guys to hold me accountable to pray for unbelievers. Like, I don't pray that. Like, I don't cry out to God every day and say, God, like, sweep across the globe and save every believer or save every human that's alive right now. You know what I mean? Like, I don't. I. I don't pray that. I pray very close prayers. Like, people. There is, like, a world beyond the people that we know, and, like, we can pray for them. So you can pray for the people in your city, in your school, in your nation, in other nations. Ask God. Lord, is there, like, a nation you've called me to pray for? I personally feel called to pray for the Middle East. I haven't started doing that yet. Why? I feel it. I know I'm supposed to, and I haven't started, but. And so I just think we can all start praying for unbelievers and for, like, regions and, like, specific places. God, save every person in Boston. You know what I mean, save everyone on the Northeast. It's just, let's all do that together. And if you. If you feel called to pray for a certain city, you can just do that or you can comment it if you want it, and we can all just do this together because I think that's like, that's the most beneficial thing we can do right now.
B
Let's all come together and let's be in relentless prayer. Yeah. Charlie was just such a. He was such a incredible man of God. He was an incredible husband, father, and just a solid man of faith.
A
Really loved his family, really loved his wife. He really loves his kids.
B
You know what I always said about Charlie? I always said I. Every time, like, someone would say, like, what kind of guy do you want? I said, I want a Charlie. Because he just. He was. He represented a provider. Like, he, like marriage and children were at the top, were his number one priority. He was like being a father and a husband. And he was 31 years old. And this, like, for a 31 year old man to be like, that is the most precious thing in this life. And he. That's what he always said in his videos to men. And I just loved how he was such a voice to men to be like, get married and have a family. It's the most important and precious thing you'll ever do. And so, yeah, we just. We just honor him and we dedicate this episode to him.
A
All right, guys, we're sorry to interrupt this episode. We just want to remind you guys that we're on the Girls Gone Bible Live tour. Tell them about Tor.
B
It's the best thing ever. We get to be face to face with you guys. We get to love on you guys. Preach the name of Jesus, Pray. It's to be with you guys face to face is hands down the greatest blessing that we've been giving with given. Given way. We're keeping that in. It's the greatest blessing we've been given, given, given, given. And it's one thing to be on a podcast, Ang and I talking to you guys on the camera, but being face to face with you guys is just. It's. It's just the greatest thing ever. So we can't wait to see you.
A
Guys get your tickets@girlsgone bible.com tour and come hang out with us in your city. We can't wait to see you. And I don't know if you guys know this, but we released a devotional. It's out of the wilderness 31 devotions to walk with God through your Hardest seasons. We love this devotional so much. We love this, this book. We believe that God is all over this. I believe that you will encounter Jesus reading this devotional. It's Ariani's Hearts on Paper. We love it so much. We're so grateful that you'd give us this opportunity. And we just want you to see your situation, your life spoken into through our life experiences and where Jesus was in our lives. So if you guys want to go to girlsconbible.com book, you can get your copy. All right, guys. And you know that we're doing GG plus. I'm so sorry, you guys.
B
You laugh. It's fun. Okay, I'm talking.
A
Okay. You guys know that we're doing GGB.
B
Plus and we love it.
A
No, stop. Okay?
B
No, this is good. You need this.
A
Go guys. They need this. You guys, we're doing GGB plus and we're obsessed. It's a subscription based platform where we have convers together and sometimes even alone where we talk directly to you guys. And it's not out for the world to see. It's only our partners, our listeners, our supporters, and our close, close people. It's only GGP plus members who get to watch these videos and hear these conversations. It's two bonus episodes every single month. So we really want you guys to become members. And you can go to Girls got girls guy. Go girlsgone bible.com/&subscribe. We want to see you there. We love you.
B
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A
Eduardo, I think Ari and I wanted to talk about. Can you tell them about your eye?
B
Oh, my gosh, you guys.
A
Yeah, we haven't even talked about that.
B
I.
A
We haven't filmed in a few weeks.
B
I couldn't film you guys. Don't. Honestly, I'm gonna think about it. I might put a picture up here. Please.
A
Please do have to.
B
Right. Yeah. I mean, my. My eye. I looked like I had a child growing out of the lid. I mean, it was. I was. It looked like my eye was having a baby. It was. And.
A
Yeah, so she had a sty slash, a Chelsea, something else or something like that.
B
I thought it was a sty. The doctor gave me ointment. He said, it'll be gone by three days. I wake up three, four days later. I. I can't see. I said, we're going to all have to wear pirate patches at the show.
A
You said, I can't wear makeup on. And I said, I will go on stage with only one eyelash on with you.
B
I said, And I'm cockeyed and there's pus coming out down my cheek, like.
A
And I said, okay, we're not. So we basically had to cancel the first two nights of tour. So we're so sorry to anybody who is affected by that. We've already rescheduled those dates.
B
I was dwelling for freaking weak.
A
Yeah, that was not easy. I want you guys to know that was not easy for us to do. Not easy, not easy. That sucked. But there was just no way. Ari's whole eye was, like, giving. She had pregnant.
B
But I guess, like, it's going around right now. There's like this thing that, like, Sophia Velgar.
A
I thought it was because you fart on your pillow. It's not.
B
I wrote a couple DMS about that.
A
Who?
B
A couple of people said that to me. You guys are sick.
A
Oh, that's not very nice. You.
B
Anyway, just keep fighting on the episode. It makes me so embarrassed.
A
I'm a lady.
B
I'm sorry.
A
So we just want to hang and.
B
We want to hang out with our friends is right.
A
Yeah, we're going to just hang out with our friends. And we want to tell you stuff that you may not know about us yet.
B
Tell us about Grandma Do.
A
No, no. Nami first, please.
B
Oh, I'm not going first. You won't even pay me. Oh, no, we're talking about Grandma Doula. I don't even.
A
Who's Grandma Doula? Her name's Nana D. Who's grand.
B
Oh, my gosh. I apologize. Nanny.
A
No, it's.
B
Sorry, Mom. Tell me about Nana Daya.
A
Nana Daya is my mom's mom. And so a lot of people don't know this, but my. I come from a really long line of great women. Very strong women. Strong, warrior, Albanian women. My mom is one of the most resilient, tough as nails, strongest, smartest, quickest woman I know. And her mom was so strong and so warrior like, and so tough. My Nana Dalia had like five heart attacks throughout her life. Survived them all.
B
So she just, like. She just like, got right up and she was like. But she was like a little picture, like a 4 11, like beating on her chest, being like, come, come at me.
A
Like, she was super small. 411. Do you mean five' 11, four' 11? Yeah. She was a petite little lady and she was just a force. Like she was a lion.
B
She. She beat every heart attack.
A
She beat every heart attack she lived until she. She was in her 90s and she was just the best mom in the world. The best mom the Best grandma. I miss her so much. And she's like. She's my mom's mom.
B
Yeah.
A
You know, and so I just have such a special relationship with my mom. And I had such a special relationship with my mom's mom.
B
So you were how old when she passed?
A
I think I was 16. Yeah. Or no, I think I was already in college, so I must have been 18 or 19, I think, before I was 20.
B
Grandma is. Let me just say grandmas.
A
Grandmas are everything. Everything. Because they love you. They buy you like your parents.
B
Yeah. But more.
A
But they don't discipline you like your parents. So it's just the best relationship I miss.
B
So you said. When you. You said Nana Doya.
A
Nanadaya.
B
Nana Doya.
A
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
B
Okay. And then what'd you call your grandfather?
A
Babajisha. Baba Jusha.
B
Yeah. I love that.
A
I love him, too.
B
He's proud he passed, too.
A
Yeah. And he lived until his 90s, too, so they both lived really rich, long lives. Really. And, you know, left Albania, went through all the things that my parents did. But anyways, I say all this to say there's just so much power in praying for your children, for your children's children. And I feel like oftentimes when we pray, we want to see instant results. But you have no idea what praying for a baby does for their lives. You have no idea how God answers those prayers throughout that child's life. Or if you're even. This is your encouragement that if you're praying for a family member who you're not seeing anything change, you're not seeing those prayers getting answered. Like, keep praying. Don't stop praying. God will answer. He's probably already answering. You know, sometimes I think about, like, if I'm praying for a family member for a long time, and I don't think see the prayer get answered. I can shift my perspective and look at their life and be like, I can see so many ways that God is, like, blessing them and protecting them and taking care of them and making sure things aren't worse than they are, you know? Anyways. All right, guys, let's be real. We've all procrastinated on saving money. We even call it procrasting. You too? Yeah, but Mint Mobile makes it so easy. There's really no excuse, because right now, new customers get 50% off of unlimited premium wireless. That means just $15 a month for premium coverage. And here's the thing. It's not cheap service. It's just cheaper. You still get premium wireless on the nation's largest 5G network with unlimited talk, text and high speed data. The quality is the same as the big guys, but you're not stuck paying triple the price. Switching is simple too. No need to buy a new phone or change your number. Just bring what you've got and you're we were honestly shocked at how good the service is for how little you pay. Like why were we wasting money before? But don't wait. This deal ends September 22nd. Don't procrastinave on this one. Quit stalling and start saving when you make the switch. Shop plans@mintmobile.com GGB that's mint mobile.com GGB upfront payment of $45 required equivalent to $15 a month limited time new customer offer for first three months only. Speeds may slow above 35 gigabytes on unlimited plan. Taxes and fees extra. See Mint Mobile for details. All right guys, can we be honest? Coffee is basically a love language at this point. But you know, it's not love, the crash or the jitters. And that's why we've switched to everyday dose. It's coffee but like with a glow up real 100% Arabica coffee with lion's mane and chaga mushrooms, collagen and nootropics. Translation. It tastes like your regular cup, but it actually does something for you. Focus for your brain support for your skin, hair and nails and smooth energy all day long. No crash, no jitters, just good vibes and brain cells firing. They've got two blends Coffee plus, which is light, smooth with low acidity. Basically your gut's new BFF and Coffee Plus Bold, richer, fuller, still smooth like your regular coffee but with better boundaries. Get 45% off your first subscription order of 30 servings of Coffee plus or Bold Plus. You'll also receive a starter kit with over a hundred dollars in free gifts, including a rechargeable frother and gunmetal serving spoon by going to everydaydose.com ggb or entering GGB at checkout. You'll also get free gifts throughout the year. That's everydaydose.com GGB for 45% off your first order. Okay guys, let's talk about something most of us have been told forever that supplements like creatine are just for guys. Well, that's not true.
B
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A
Today.Com all right, show them your muscles. So my grandma and we're also going to talk about Ari's auntie Barbara, by the way, because we, Ari and I both have family members who are, who are literally probably one of the reasons God uses so many people in our lives, but one of the main reasons why both of us are probably sitting here today talking about Jesus. Nanadaya. So my mom grew up in communist Albania and I never talk about this stuff and it's crazy because it's just such a major part of my life. My mom grew up in and my dad both grew up in communist Albania. And during this time I want to read this kind of because it's so crazy. Between 1960 and 1990, Albania went through one of the harshest anti religious campaigns in the world. In 1967, Enver Hoxha's communist regime declared Albania the world's first atheist state.
B
Oh my gosh. Albania.
A
Albania. Yeah. Wow. All churches. So the leader declared Albania the world's first atheist state and said no one's allowed to it's control. And so no one's allowed to practice religion.
B
In what year?
A
This was in 1967, three years after my mom was born. All churches, mosques and other religious buildings were closed, destroyed, or turned into secular spaces such as warehouses, gyms, theaters. So my mom, growing up, my mom didn't go get step into a church until after my first brother, my oldest brother was born. So she was at least 24 and still living. She was living in Albania.
B
Yeah. How could they have Albanian churches if it was atheists?
A
They didn't have Albanian. So no churches. They didn't practice religion. So any churches or mosques, they would be turned. Like, my mom said that she would go into a church and it would be like a playground. Like, they would be playing basketball. Wow. So you weren't allowed to practice religion. And then it said that priests and other religious leaders were arrested, imprisoned, or even executed. Oh, my God. Isn't that insane? And this is. My mom was alive this whole time. Like, it was not that long ago. This is what happens in the church in other place. Like, by the way, this happens today. Today, yeah. Not in America, but in other places in the world. And we're so unaware. You weren't allowed to own a Bible across a prayer book. Like, you were not allowed to have any of that. The government promoted atheism through school, schools, media, and youth organization. So, like, even there was propaganda. So, like, every messaging that you heard was, God does not exist. God does not exist. Like, it's a. Like, even in America, like, you see media, Hollywood, like, the messaging that they send is all propaganda trying to get you to believe a specific message. That's what they did. Teaching that religion was backward and against socialism. So crazy. Anyways, only after the fall of communism in 1990, 1991, four years before I was born were Albanians allowed. No, six years before I was born were Albanians allowed to practice religion freely again. And many churches and mosques were rebuilt or reopened. So that's like, even what my mom and her mom had to go through to love Jesus and worship Jesus. Like, we just, like. Like, we're not even aware of the sacrifices that were made before we were ever born for us to be able to freely love Jesus today. You know, and like, even before my family, like, the millions of. Of people who died for the gospel, who gave their life, who were in prison for the Gospel, you read the New Testament, all the disciples who literally gave up their lives so that the gospel would reach the ends of the earth. It's just so crazy to think about. And then, so my grandma taught my mom about Jesus, and my mom's siblings and the whole family taught her about Jesus in the privacy of their own home, would teach her how to do the sign of the cross, would teach her. Our Father would teach her Hail Mary. Like, she never went to Catholic mass, she never went to church, she never experienced religion. But my grandma told her about Jesus and, like, would teach her who Jesus is. And about, like, there's a God. His name is Jesus. He died on a cross. And so, like, that's where my. So if you look at my mom, my mom has one of the most special faiths I think I've ever seen. My mom says what most Catholics say and it's my favorite thing, she goes, I was born Catholic and I will die Catholic. It's my favorite thing, she says. And she is the most spirit filled woman. She literally is such a presence person, you guys. My mom closes her eyes and goes, he's here, he's here. You'll see my mom throughout the day. Just in the corner, there's a crucifix on the wall and she just has her hand on Jesus. She's just like hanging out and she's so like, you see my mom, she'll go to these meetings where it's just like the power of God is in the room. People are getting healed, demons are being delivered. Like, it's like so hyper spiritual power of God. And my mom is like, she grew up Catholic, she didn't have these things. But she's so open to the gifts of the spirit. Like, she's so open to like the power of the Holy Spirit. And I just think her faith is so interesting to me because she's so open because her faith was never established in like some sort of religious environment. Like, it was just like, I believe in Jesus.
B
Yeah.
A
You know?
B
Yeah.
A
So really cool. And then I just like, I love. Yeah. I've just always wanted to talk about my grandma, Nana Dia, because she's the reason why I'm here. She's the reason why I'm alive.
B
And when she pray, would she like pray with you when you were a bait, when you were little? I mean, you're 16. But.
A
Well, I remember she would always tell me about Jesus in Albanian. She would always. I didn't have ears to hear then, certainly, like, I didn't get it. But she would talk to me about Jesus. But she would always, like, she would. It was so innocent, it was so tender. She'd be like, like, call on Jesus. Jesus will help you.
B
And did you ever. Are you like, did you even think about it or.
A
So what's weird about my journey is I always talked to Jesus because Eastern European culture, it's like very interesting. I've been like trying to put the pieces together myself and. And because Eastern European culture where I come from is a lot of. There's a lot of. I mean, in all of Eastern Europe, not just Albania, there's like magic, there's white magic, there's like they read cards, they read cups, there's like.
B
Massachusetts.
A
Yeah. It looks like a lot of New age spirit. It's New Age spirituality. It's like psychics and, and mediums and all these different things and using spiritual power outside of like the authority given to us by Jesus. It's a lot of that. And so growing up in Albanian culture, I what I perceive it, it was kind of like a very mystical spirituality. So it was Jesus, but it was like mystical Jesus, like Jesus will save you and change everything. So it's like real like. But do you get what I'm trying to say?
B
Yeah, it was like, like the charismatic, Right?
A
Charismatic, but a little too much like, not grounded in biblical theology. You know what I mean? So that's the issue. It was like very much like out there.
B
Yeah.
A
And it wasn't grounded.
B
Okay.
A
And it was. Yeah, it wasn't like they don't teach you like, obey Jesus because you love him. It's more so like, call on Jesus because he'll save you. Which is beautiful. So that was my theology was like, call on Jesus because he'll help you in hard times. But that's it. I don't have to do anything for him. I don't have to be anything. Like, I can live my life. There is no such thing as, as purity or holiness. I didn't even know what those things were. But yeah, my grandma would tell me, call on Jesus. Call. And I remember my family has always suffered through a lot of crisis and just a bunch of things. And I remember my grandma would always call out, like, in times of distress, just like what my mom did. She would call out like, jesus, Jesus. No, she would say this in Albenin, un come Christian, I have Jesus. And she would like, never be rocked by anything. She was the, the most faith filled woman and she would just. And so my mom today goes, un come Christian, I have Jesus. Like, so I say all that to say thank you Jesus for my mom, thank you Jesus for Nana Daya. Who are the reasons why I'm sitting here today? A faith filled woman.
B
And all her prayers are why you're sitting here right now.
A
Yeah.
B
And she planted the seed for you.
A
Yes. And guess what? It took a long time.
B
It doesn't matter.
A
It took a long time.
B
I bet you heard Nana Doyle's voice saying, call on Jesus.
A
Yeah.
B
Seriously, like you remember that at the time. It's. Isn't it funny how like people can say stuff to us and it doesn't have a mark on us in the time, but then it's like God will remind us of that.
A
That's literally what planting a seed is. Sometimes we get so frustrated with unbelievers or friends or because they're not changing or believing or whatever. But like our job is to plant the seed. The holy spirit waters the seed. It's not our job to water the seed.
B
I know.
A
You know. Or force people to get it.
B
I know. And that's why you can't be so annoyed or frustrated. Because it's not your job, it's Jesus job to change them.
A
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B
Yeah.
A
It's that simple. Like they become you, they take after you. They believe what you believe. Yeah. So yeah, it's so important what we model to our kids, what we model to our grandkids. And by the way, I might not have kids yet, but I know one thing. They hear everything.
B
Everything.
A
From a very young age, I think our parents generation, we're very much under the impression that they're just kids. They don't matter. They don't get it. They don't hear us. Whatever. We heard everything. Our kids will hear everything. It's crazy. All right.
B
We are. We just have to be. You have to be so care. I can't imagine what it's like being a parent. I truly can't. It's your. I can't. It's like you're the day that baby comes out. Your whole life is like protecting this child, watching what you say. I just, I can't Imagine the responsibility of being a mother or a father. It's the biggest responsibility you'll ever.
A
You shape them. It's your job. It's your job to make sure that they turn out.
B
I was talking to Bobby, and he said that to me yesterday. He said, just know the minute that baby comes out, your whole life is that that child is your entire life.
A
I can't wait.
B
Yeah. So crazy. I can't wait.
A
I know, Lelouch.
B
You don't lose what you do, Loosh.
A
All right.
B
I think you're gonna have a girl.
A
I think so, too.
B
You do?
A
Every time. Every time I have a meal.
B
A meal.
A
I wake up every day, I put my hands on my body like this, and I say, I bless my body to eat today. I bless my body to be full today. I bless my body to be nourished today. Because I'm gonna have a child who's going to, first of all, have to be in this body, and this body needs to be healthy for me to carry her. And then she's gonna come out, and she's gonna watch everything I do. And if I'm being weird about food and not letting my body be blessed by the food I eat, like, I am going to curse my daughter with that. So literally, it's like having children has been the driving motivation for me and getting healing and, like, every area of my life.
B
And you're gonna be the best mom and the healthiest.
A
I love you.
B
I can't wait to be an auntie.
A
I can't wait for.
B
I can't wait to be an auntie. First. I'm gonna be the best aunt. I can't wait. You're gonna have a whole army of kids.
A
I can't wait to beat on to your kids. Anyways, what about you?
B
Yeah, I have my nan's sister, my auntie Barbara. She is. Oh, man. She's, like, the most devout Catholic. Her whole life has been devoted to the church since I was just a baby. I talked about her a little bit, but her whole life is just. She's given her whole life to others. She helps.
A
She's your dad's mom or.
B
She's like my grandmother's sister.
A
Okay.
B
My auntie Barbara. Barbara, she's in her 80s, and she probably looks like she's in her 50s. Wow.
A
That Jesus glow.
B
She's just. Her whole life has been dedicated to others and helping people, and all she would do is talk about Jesus.
A
Is she Catholic?
B
She's a. Yeah. Her whole life is to the Catholic church. Stop. Her whole Life.
A
I love it.
B
Yeah.
A
And she always talked about Jesus.
B
Always talked about Jesus. I just would watch her, and I didn't understand.
A
Did you think it was weird when you were younger, or did you kind of like it?
B
I think everybody did.
A
People think she was a little kooky. Yeah, a little. I love her.
B
I would just kind of, like, you know, listen to her, and I. She. It's just crazy how my life. I'm in industry now, and so I talked to her, and now when we're together on the. During the holidays, her and I are in a corner, and we're just like, Jesus. And she has been praying me for me all these years, and so now I just.
A
Just.
B
That's why. Prayer. Praying for. And it's crazy. I love what you said about family members, because I've been praying for three years for family members, and now I see, and I'm just like, oh, my gosh.
A
Yeah.
B
And so you just don't stop praying, even when you don't see it? Because he hears everything. I was in line. I was in line at Whole Foods the other day, and I saw this kid, and he just, like. He was different. Like, you could. He just had this energy, and he was talking to everyone, and he was, like, asking everyone questions and all these things. And I'm. I'm like four people back, and I'm just looking at him, just, like, hearing how he's talking to everyone. And he's bright enough, brightening these people's days. Like, these. This one guy didn't want to talk, but he was like, man, you're just so. Like, he's complimenting him and stuff. And I'm just like, I bet you that guy knows Jesus. Yeah, right? And so I get to the front, and I'm like, hey. And he's like, how are you? And I was like, can I ask you something? I'm like, do you. Are you a Christian or do you know Jesus? He goes, oh, you know, I love Jesus. Yeah, that's my guy. And I was just like, this is who we have to. This is who we have to be like. Like, this is. You want people to look at you and be like, there's something different about that person. You want to carry that light, like I was saying earlier. And so, yeah, when I think about my Auntie Barbara, she just always carried the light at every family gathering where there would be so much darkness, and she would be the light in our family.
A
How did she. I'm just so curious. How did she relate to everybody else who wasn't a believer. Like, was it it?
B
She just loved.
A
She just loved it.
B
She just loved. Yeah, she loved and she prayed and that's what we do, right? She just loved and she prayed.
A
That is so cute. I'm obsessed with her.
B
Yeah. My Auntie Barbara, she, she buy, she would buy me little saint things all the time. St. Anthony things. But her planting that seed.
A
Yeah.
B
Always talking about Jesus, always praying for me. I remembered that later. I remembered that later. Like, so it's like. Yeah.
A
You have no idea what's taking place. Even if someone completely rejects your like, proposal or invitation to Jesus. Are you talking about, like, it doesn't matter. It doesn't actually. You have no idea what God is doing with that. Them even hearing this much about Jesus, this much of the gospel, you have no idea. Even seeing your kindness towards them, like, see he feeling the love of Jesus through you to them, that did something. It opens something in there. We don't know how it works. There's mysteries to the kingdom, so we don't actually know, but something happens.
B
That's why I love earlier how you said, like, let's all put pray for the unbelievers and pray for, pray for each other because we may not have family members that can pray for us. Right?
A
Yeah.
B
Yeah. I just think right now is the time to really be. Be praying for each other. Because it works. It really, really works. Plant that seed everywhere. I'm reading Jeremiah at the end, and all he did was weep for the people, cry out for the people, and God heard him every time. I honestly, it's. It's hard at times because it's not like, it's not easy to read some of the things.
A
Yeah.
B
Because it was like, Barb, I. It's hard for me sometimes to read about like the wrath of on people. It is like, it really is like, I, I really do weep when I read it. But I think it was so. Well, I know it was so barbaric back then.
A
Yeah.
B
Like, people were just crazy. Like, sometimes people will be like, well, why did God, like destroy things? Like, if we knew how crazy it was back then. Like, it was. People were destroying and raping each other and doing all this just barbaric stuff. And so they were all just turning against God. But it is really hard to read.
A
Yeah.
B
But I really love Jeremiah. I love him.
A
He.
B
He's a guy that just loves the people. He loves his people. That's how we have to be. We have to just love others.
A
You know, I, When I took that 30 day month off of Instagram. I've been reading through the Bible from the beginning for quite a while because I was, like, jumping back and forth, but I started reading Genesis. Now I'm in Kings. I was reading, like, six to ten chapters a day, literally, because I didn't have Instagram. So it's all I. It's all I would do. And then because I was reading so much of the Bible, like, what we all say, we preach it every day, but sometimes it doesn't become a reality again until you experience it yourself. Because I was reading so much of the Bible, all I wanted to do was read more of the Bible. I would be doing something, but I would be thinking about. I just read through first and second Samuel, and I would be thinking about Samuel and Saul and David, like, all the time. All the time. It wasn't just, like, Bible stories that I was reading. I was like, in that world with them. It became so real because. And I'm not saying you need to read 10 chapters a day. That's really hard. It's a lot of reading. But there is, like, so many challenges that you can do to get yourself reading a lot. Because when you read more than just one chapter a day and you read, like, through the Bible like that, and you're reading so much, it all becomes a big story. So for me right now, like, the Bible, the narrative of. Of the Israelites and of the God and the Lord all the way in the New Old Testament, like, it's an overarching story. Like, there's a storyline that I'm reading, and it's not just like, you know, David and Bathsheba one day, Ruth and Naomi another day. Like, it's not just these little snippets. It's like a full picture story that I'm getting. And it's changed my life. It is changing the way that I read the Bible. When I was reading specifically, like, like, like eight chapters a day, I would be like, okay, now I understand all of this as a full story. And now I understand who God is. Like, I understand the Bible better because I'm reading big chunks. Yeah. And I always thought that because I would do, like, one to two chapters a day, and then I would listen to a comment, I would meditate, I would listen to a commentary, and I would, like, break down the entire chapter. And I thought. And that is really good, especially. Especially because we teach. However, reading so much of the Bible reading all the way through, you don't have to read it out loud. You can, and you don't have to remember everything. I don't remember everything that I've read, but I know the Bible story as a full, in full picture.
B
I like to read. I like to read more too, because I somehow forget. I'm like, I'd rather just read it through you.
A
Don't even worry, worry about remembering. Don't even worry about it. If you're going to seminary, that's different. Don't worry about remembering. Just worry about just like going all the way through. And the more you read the Word, the more you want to read it. It's crazy. But anyways, I say that to say I'm like, I find I feel so connected to God the Father right now. I've never loved God as Father more than I do now reading the Old Testament. I used to love. I still love Jesus so much. But like, all I wanted was the Gospels. All I wanted was Romans. I just wanted to hear about the blood of Jesus and the redemptive nature of Jesus. But like now reading the Old Testament, I'm obsessed with the Father. He is just. And he brings judgment. But like, there is a method to his, the way that he works. And it's because like he, God protects Israel. Israel is his baby. It's his bride. By the way, it's not modern day Israel. It's Israel. We are the church. We are Israel. If you read the Old Testament, if you've been adopted into the family of Christ, like you are the Israel that God protects, delivers, redeems and loves in the Old Testament. So God's whole purpose in the Old Testament, when he brings wrath and judgment. Judgment. He's protecting Israel.
B
Yeah.
A
So it's like hard to understand because it's like he's kid. Like he's protecting his bride. And that's what he's actually doing for us today. So it's like, yeah, it's hard to understand. I'm still understanding. But it's. It makes more sense when you realize like God's aim was to redeem Israel.
B
Yeah.
A
Because those are his people.
B
Yeah.
A
We are all his people. We are all Israel. So anyways, yeah, yeah.
B
I wish somebody could be a fly on the wall. When I say some of the names. It is truly, I'm like.
A
Oh, I know.
B
Just what a. Sorry.
A
Can you imagine how much he loves it when we're just trying our best? He's.
B
Tell us about your. Your. What is it called? Tell us about your phone cleanse. Oh, she went on a 21 day. Has it. It's been 21 days. Right.
A
So I was gonna do 21 days. It ended up being over a month because I didn't ever want to go back.
B
Can you believe that, guys?
A
My engagement tanked. Probably lost followers, couldn't care less. It's so crazy. Like, I just don't want to be annoying about it because I don't know.
B
It'S just why you're not guys, I just. People need to hear it.
A
The phone is the most. Social media is like, sure, a gift in so many ways because we are on social media. We talk about Jesus on social media, but it is one of the most poisonous, toxic, addictive things I've ever experienced in my life. I took the 30 days off of Instagram, like I said. I read so much of the Bible, I spent so much time with Jesus, you guys. I would be communing with the Holy Spirit throughout the day because I wasn't distracting myself. Imagine I heard this quote that's like most like profound world changing thoughts and ideas and moments of creativity are born out of boredom. It's when somebody's mind is completely empty so that they start imagining. Like they use their imagination. When you're on your phone, your imagination is not active. You are completely absorbed. Like every single part of your brain is like firing off because you're receiving so much information. You don't have a moment to use your imagination. Like, I believe that God speaks to us in our thoughts, in our imagination. He, like downloads ideas and he's like, he, God is a creative genius and his desire is to create through us. Like, you were meant to partner with God in our creativity, to make amazing things, to make a cool podcast, to write beautiful songs, to do like amazing things, things. He can't do that when we're in our phone. And I know that sounds really intense and really crazy, but that's true.
B
And not to mention it, it being on the phone, it fries your brain so bad that you're just like, you're exhausted, like your eyes get heavy. You're not. The screen is.
A
Imagine you're scrolling like this and within five minutes you have, have taken in so much information. It's not normal. It's not good for you. I get off for 30 days. I felt amazing. John specifically, maybe 21 days in, like he was genuine and I wasn't. And he said like, it's not like you were on your phone too much or it was like got in the way of anything. He's like, but I can't tell you how much I appreciate your presence. Yeah, wow, wow, wow. And he was like, can we figure out a way for you to go back on it. That's not, like, how it was. It was amazing. It was really amazing. And then I go to download Instagram after 30 days because I wanted to. I had to post something and I got on my. I'm not exaggerating, you guys. My whole body fills with anxiety immediately. Immediately so much anxiety. And then I find myself very quickly with it. I was on it for maybe 10 minutes. I deleted off my phone. I go, I just got addicted to Instagram. Like, I never left. You think that the 30 days would have been like, okay, now I'm not as addicted. Not really. Within two minutes of being on it, I was right back to where I was. So. Yeah.
B
So where are you at now?
A
So now I'm thinking I might just have it on a different phone that you uses. WI Fi.
B
That's a great idea. Yeah, we. I know. We were doing that for a minute. What happened? I lost that phone.
A
I lost that phone.
B
I'm devastated. All my stuff, all my photos. I have no photos on this one. It's probably better that way. Yeah, I don't need that pass on my phone. Yeah.
A
Get out of here. I think you and I got new phones on purpose for that reason, remember?
B
Yeah, we did.
A
Ari and I wanted to.
B
Yeah.
A
Anyways, we got new phones. Oversharing. I am going to do. And Ari's going to do it with me. Right?
B
When?
A
Well, I'll do another fast.
B
Should we. You know, it's. I love my Pinterest at night. It's not even so much Instagram. It's like, really tick tock and Instagram.
A
You're not on a lot.
B
She really knows how to blow it up, huh? You really know how to crack the case with that shirt, huh?
A
I am not a lawyer. It's just a caller.
B
Oh.
A
Pinterest is fine.
B
It is.
A
I think. I don't know. Why don't you just start with Instagram?
B
Okay.
A
Ari's like an all or nothing, nothing type of person.
B
What do you mean?
A
Like, you're like, either we're gonna go all the way in or all the way.
B
Like, that's how you are.
A
That is how I am.
B
I am not an all or nothing person. You were like, I'm even. I'm either gonna. It's either eat five protein bars chocolate chip from Quest a day, or are they out?
A
Yes, yes, or yes, yes, yes. But you also are like. You're either like, I am going to eat, like, a carrot cake every single day, or I'm not going to even eat eggs because I know I haven't seen you with a carrot cake in a while.
B
I know, but I'm slimming out.
A
You're looking good.
B
You're. But my. I like to eat. I really do. And you know what? I don't, I don't like, try to diet and sometimes I get a little heavy handed on the, on the cakes. I do.
A
Anyways, I hope you guys learned so.
B
Much in this episode. What did we talk about?
A
I hope. Okay, basically what we're trying to say is pray for your kids. Pray for people. Pray for everybody. You have no idea how far your prayers go. Pray, pray, pray. Don't stop praying. Keep praying. Pray that people get saved. Pray that people come to know Jesus. God will honor those prayers. They don't fall on deaf ears. Don't stop praying. Don't stop praying.
B
I don't know what that sounds. I thought you were going to say stop believing. Oh.
A
Let's go, cj.
B
Don't stop. Okay.
A
Way to embarrass me in front of my friends.
B
Go ahead.
A
Okay. You're off key.
B
Hold on to the fe.
A
Why did your mouth do that?
B
You just like wiggled your tongue and it looked creepy. Man, you're so creepy. You're so creepy. When it be cause his APM then.
A
With that big ey.
B
I know.
A
You look great.
B
I do. I still have the. The sty on my eyes. I see it.
A
It's staring at me in my face.
B
Can you see it go like that?
A
Yeah. I'm going to do a close up.
B
I hate taking antibiotics. They make me sick.
A
Yeah, and you didn't finish them. So now it's going to grow over again.
B
You finish your antibiotics.
A
What? What is that?
B
I know, I know. Remind me when we get home.
A
Okay. Clear the bubble in your throat.
B
Gosh, this is the first day. I have to be honest. Like, you are rude.
A
You are very mean.
B
Listen, this is the first day. This is the first day I'm actually like laughing. Good. This is nice. I hope you guys got a little laugh today.
A
Guys, we love you so much. May the Lord bless you and truly keep you. May he make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. May he turn his face towards you and give you peace. Shalom. Shalom.
Episode: The Prayers That Saved Us
Hosts: Angela Halili & Arielle Reitsma
Date: September 19, 2025
In this heartfelt and raw episode of Girls Gone Bible, Angela and Arielle open up about recent tragedies and the intense heaviness that many are feeling in the world today. They discuss the power of prayer—especially intergenerational, persistent prayers—and how faith, community, and personal boundaries are more essential than ever in dark times. Personal family stories, spiritual encouragement, and relatable struggles with social media and mental load round out an episode dedicated to honoring those who have gone before, standing in faith for the present, and dreaming for future generations.
Closing Blessing:
"May the Lord bless you and truly keep you. May he make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. May he turn his face towards you and give you peace. Shalom, shalom." [66:46]
For further connection and community, find Ang & Ari on social media or at girlsgonebible.com. Dedication: This episode is in honor of Charlie Kirk—husband, father, man of faith, and example of commitment to God and family.