Empty Nest Guests

Join Charlotte and guest author Roland Heersink as they talk about how retirement is a turning point that exposes what truly shapes our faith, purpose, and priorities. Many Christians enter the retirement season expecting rest and freedom, only to face unexpected questions about identity, meaning, and how to finish well. Retirement Truths was written by Heersink and contributing theologian Dr. Szaszi Bene from Tyndale Seminary in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The book offers a clear, deeply biblical vision for navigating this decisive stage of life with faith and wisdom. Grounded in more than 150 Bible passages, this book brings rare clarity to a topic Scripture addresses often, but Christian literature rarely explores with depth. Rather than offering lifestyle advice or encouragement to stay busy, his book speaks honestly about the real spiritual challenges of retirement – loss of role, fear, complacency, suffering, declining health, and the approach of death – and shows how the Bible speaks directly to each one. This insightful podcast conversation will help you view retirement not as a problem to manage or a reward to enjoy, but as a distinct calling. In this special season of life, you can: Rethink success Redefine productivity, And live your later years with purpose, surrender, and lasting fruitfulness Retirement also is a time for having: A biblically grounded framework for understanding retirement, rooted wholly in Scripture Clear insight into the hidden spiritual challenges many retirees experience but rarely name Guidance for finishing well, even amid limitation, illness, or uncertainty A perspective on retirement that goes far beyond activity, leisure, or self-fulfillment Whether you are approaching or living in retirement, or are preparing ahead of that time, this podcast offers clarity, depth, and encouragement for one of life’s most important seasons. Retirement is not about doing more. It’s about finishing well. As Roland says, “Do your best, let Jesus do the rest (and don’t be stressed.) " Listen in to this conversation and order Heersink’s book to learn how. Thanks for joining us! Roland Heersink is an author, speaker, and entrepreneur with decades of leadership experience across small, medium, and large organizations. He is the Founder and Chairman of God & Work and Christian Business Angels and has written more than 85 Bible reading plans followed by over half a million subscribers, helping people integrate faith into everyday life. To order Roland’s book, Retirement Truths – What the Bible Says Compared to Popular Narratives, click here. To read one of Roland’s Bible plans, click here. Click here to receive a free PDF from Roland about numbering your days. To learn more about God & Work and Christian Business Angels, click here. Charlotte has published YouVersion Bible plans on various subjects, including Living Fully in the Empty Nest. Click here to subscribe to it. To reach Charlotte’s website and to learn more about her speaking, writing and more, click here.

Listen in as Charlotte welcomes guests Heather Creekmore and Doris Swift. Heather and Doris are authors, speakers, podcast hosts and more. And they are aging gratefully with us! Heather wrote Aging Gratefully, Compared to Who? and The Comparison Free Life. Doris wrote Surrender the Joy Stealers. All books are available on Amazon. Friends, these books are so helpful, and we need them. In this podcast episode, we talk about struggles many women face but rarely speak about openly: body image, midlife, how to age gratefully and what comes to steal our joy as we juggle so much in our encore years. Heather shares a bit about her own journey, one that many of us women have struggled with - years of dieting, disordered eating, and the belief that changing our body would finally bring happiness. Marriage and motherhood don’t resolve these struggles. For Heather, a message about modern-day idolatry led to a powerful awakening in her heart. Charlotte and Doris have their own body image journeys and share from the heart as well. Cultural messages fuel our obsession with appearance, how comparison robs us of our joy, and why true freedom comes from understanding our God-given identity—not from pursuing the latest health trend or fitting into a certain pair of jeans. Doris shares about what led her to write her power Bible study, Surrender the Joy Stealers, and how we can stand firm and stand against what threatens our joy. It’s a task that requires daily surrender and intentionality. Whether you’ve battled body image insecurities, comparison in any area of your life, or the pressures of aging in a looks-obsessed world, this honest and hope-filled conversation will inspire you to pursue joy, purpose, and your fierce calling right where you are. Speaking of Fierce Calling, that is the name of Doris’s podcast. Heather’s is called Compared to Who? You’ll want to tune in to both. Get ready for truths, laughter, encouragement, and the reminder that you are so much more than a number on a scale, a face in the mirror or a person juggling much in the empty nest. Together, and with Christ at the center of it all, we can have a full and joy-filled life. To reach Heather Creekmore, click here. To purchase her books, click below: Aging Gratefully Compared to Who? The Burden of Better To reach Doris Swift, click here: To purchase Doris’s book, click below: Surrender the Joy Stealers To reach Charlotte, click here. To subscribe to Charlotte’s Bible Plan, Living Fully in the Empty Nest, click here.

Seven Strategies for Building Your Grandparenting Skills Portfolio with Drs. Michelle Watson Canfield and Ken Canfield As grandparents, we have a unique opportunity to positively shape our grandchildren's lives. By recognizing our challenges and embracing our callings, we can nurture our family and find fulfillment in our role as grandparents. Listen in as Drs. Michelle and Ken Canfield share how we strategically can be godly role models to our children and grandchildren. This conversation will encourage you to process patterns in your own life and further invest in growing and enhancing your grand parenting skills portfolio. And you'll receive seven helpful strategies. The Canfields have five children and 19 grandchildren. They both have their PhD's and Michelle has her LPC. Both are nationally known leaders and have committed their lives to strengthening families. Dr. Ken founded and is president of the National Center for Fathering as well as the National Association for Grand parenting. He's the author of several books including 7 Secrets of Effective Fathers and The Heart of Grandparenting. You can listen to him on several radio shows too! Michelle has counseled people for over 30 years and is the founder of The Abba Project, a forum for dads whose daughters are in their teens and 20's. Michelle also is an author and has written several books including Dad: Here's What I Really Need From You: A Guide For Connecting With Your Daughter's Heart. Michelle also hosts The Dad Whisperer Podcast. (Both of them do lots more and we'll hear about that too!) The Canfields offer encouraging ways to leave a legacy of love, wisdom and faith that will guide future generations. Thanks for tuning in. To reach Ken Canfield PhD. To reach Michelle Watson Canfield PhD, LPC. To reach Charlotte. FREE PDF of 7 Strategies For Building Your Grandparenting Skills Portfolio.

Your life has been divinely designed by your Creator - a unique and beautiful blueprint. Yet, sometimes, we lose sight of our calling. In this conversation, Charlotte and Julie talk about the impact of a transformative journey of self-discovery. Designed specifically for women seeking clarity in their calling, Julie has developed a beautifully crafted workbook, rooted in scripture, and filled with practical exercises to help you uncover the rich tapestry God has for your life. Join us as we discuss how you can uncover: The specific words that energize your heart The shaping power of your experiences and story-timeline Your God-given skills, temperament, interests, and passions Your spiritual gifts How your current responsibilities align with your design Your personalized Divine Design summary will keep you focused and faithful in this phase of life. Julie also shares how we can partner with God as He reveals the intricate, purposeful design He has placed on your life. You have a particular purpose even in the empty nest. God the Father has been developing and preparing you to steward your gifts well, to overcome limiting beliefs and to fully live with confidence and joy in your encore years. Whether you're in a season of transition, seeking direction, or longing to grow deeper in your calling, your Divine Design will guide you to understand who God created you to be and what innately energizes your heart. This clarity empowers you to embrace your true identity in Christ and boldly step into the life He designed. Now is a wonderful time to steward your unique gifts to bless others, shine His light, and make a meaningful impact for His glory. To reach Julie: https://Milestonecoachingok.com To reach Charlotte: https://charlotteguest.com

A Heart for Eternity With Janet and Dan Hellige The Legacy Coalition Listen in as Charlotte, Janet and Dan talk about what it means for us as empty nesters to have a heart for eternity and to pass that yearning on to our children and grandchildren. Dan is the new CEO of The Legacy Coalition, a Christian grandparenting ministry. He and Janet have five children and seven grandchildren and a heart for what it means to parent and grandchildren with intention and the love of Christ. March 19 - 21, 2026, in Stonebriar, Texas, is the Legacy Coalition's Grandparenting Summit in Frisco, Texas. It's the only national conference on grandparenting. This year's theme, "A Heart for Eternity" invites us to invest our time, energy, and resources in what lasts. Because what we do now impacts not only our children and grandchildren, but untold generations to come. It's a wonderful opportunity to invest in your grandchildren's forever and to grow deeper in Christ as a couple as you do. At the summit you will receive wisdom, find hope, and learn from incredible speakers and breakout presenters. There will be a resource center, offering tools to help your grandparenting journey. And it's also uplifting to gather with other Christian grandparents who want to build their spiritual legacy. There is comfort in community! Janet and Dan encourage others to "be the gospel." There is much to learn from the Helliges, at the grandparenting summit and as you listen to this conversation. Thanks for sharing your time with us! To learn more about The Legacy Coalition and the Grandparenting Summit, click here. To reach Charlotte, click here What the Bible says about aging, grandparenting and leaving a legacy: Job 12:12 - " Is not wisdom found from among the aged? Does not long-life bring understanding?" Psalm 178:6 - "May you live to see your children's children..." Proverbs 13:22 - "A good person leaves an inheritance for their children's children..." Proverbs 17:6 - "Children's children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children." Isaiah 46:4 - "Even to your old age and hairs, I am He. I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you."