Grace In Real Life podcast

What does it look like to connect with the heart of Christ through prayer? How do we do that in our real lives? How do we talk with God instead of at God? To kick off this year, we're in a new series called Spiritual Health . In it we'll walk through five spiritual disciplines:  Studying the Bible with writer Amber Palmer was Episode #97 Praying to connect with the heart of Christ with Kimberly Co...

We're kicking off the new year with a new series on the spiritual disciplines. My prayer for us is that through the Spiritual Health series we would grow in spiritual health.  That the habits you either establish or continue would bring hope and joy and peace and freedom.  That this year, you'll continue to be transformed more and more in the image of Christ by these practices that shape who you a...

We'll enjoy together God's word about the One who is the Word of God: straight Scripture telling of the birth of Christ. We are just enjoying Jesus in all His simple, glorious, swaddled beauty. Because the story of the Son of Man and Son of God is the story of grace. Because grace is the person of Jesus,  everything He does is grace. Grace, grace, it is all grace.   We will revisit a well-worn sto...

We'll enjoy together God's word about the One who is the Word of God: straight Scripture telling of the birth of Christ. We are just enjoying Jesus in all His simple, glorious, swaddled beauty. Because the story of the Son of Man and Son of God is the story of grace. Because grace is the person of Jesus,  everything He does is grace. Grace, grace, it is all grace.   We will revisit a well-worn sto...

We'll enjoy together God's word about the One who is the Word of God: straight Scripture telling of the birth of Christ. We are just enjoying Jesus in all His simple, glorious, swaddled beauty. Because the story of the Son of Man and Son of God is the story of grace. Because grace is the person of Jesus,  everything He does is grace. Grace, grace, it is all grace.   We will revisit a well-worn sto...

Whether you're an empty nester or a newlywed; Whether you're a mom or littles or teens; or whether you're a single adult going home for the holidays, this episode is for you because we break down how to love people well and navigate family dynamics into four different categories: How to navigate differences What to do when you feel unsafe How to hold hard conversations well And making plans with l...

For those of us in America, we know this Thanksgiving week boils down to two realities: Turkey Thankfulness As we gather with people we love most dearly in the whole world and with people who drive us crazy and hurt our feelings, and we break bread and carve a turkey, and share what we are thankful for, let us know deep in our bones that what we are doing  -- this act of gathering and eating with...

How can you practically slow down without opting out during the holidays? What does it look like to create a sustainable pace, and where do you even start? I'm so glad you asked. In this interview, Jodi shares with us: What stands in our way as we move toward slow living A simple process to help you figure out what's important to you And -- my personal favorite -- how to say "no" without actually...

Do you ever feel fleh? "Fleh" is a completely made-up word in our house used to describe when Ryan or I feel off.   We use it when there's nothing big going on, no major life changes, but there's still a sadness that's settled over our souls. What do we do when all doesn't feel merry and bright? In this episode, we're walking through:  Where we typically look to determine what's rumbling in our so...

What stresses you out about Christmas? Is it trying to meet your expectations and those of others? Or maybe it's trying to do All The Things so people will think you're amazing? Or maybe you find Christmas stressful because you're out of your routine and just hate small talk? Each Enneagram type has a different stressor during the holidays.  So what is your big stress, and how can you celebrate th...

I have a few dreams sprouting in my heart. You have dreams too. Dreams like starting a non-profit, adding a little girl to your family, taking people on high-adventure tours to enjoy God's creation, going to work at a job that fills your heart and uses your gifts, and owning your own bed and breakfast-- just to name a few. All of us have dreams. All of us hold hopes in our hearts. I'm talking abou...

Our kids fear missing out when they don't have social media, aren't invited to certain social activities, don't have our permission to date, aren't allowed to watch movies, and can't go to slumber parties, and so on and so on forever.  On the other hand, moms fear that our kids will miss out but on different phases of life: we may want them to say "yes" to every invitation, volunteer opportunity,...

Whether we like to admit it or not, we live with a chronic case of low-grade anxiety. We disguise our fear and call it stress , but we know what it really is. The great news is that we don't have to live this way. We can break free from fear and live in the abundant peace, hope, and joy God promised us. So let's learn about fear through the lens of the Enneagram. What is your type's greatest fear,...

Maybe you don't struggle with the desire to be a perfect mom, but you want to be a good mom, and you're beating yourself up with negative thoughts every time you "fail."  Perhaps you feel like you could do better, that you're not doing enough, that you're failing in all the ways, or your previous mistakes are irredeemable.  Mamas struggle with carrying the weight and responsibility of loving, teac...

What's the difference between being selfish and living into the Jesus-expression of who you are? How can you tell when you're living under the weight of unhealthy expectations? How have we misinterpreted "dying to self"? Today we are talking about unhealthy expectations, and don't we try-hard girls struggle with expectations? We think about them less as ill-fitting and heavy standards and more as...

What's the #1 way to get unstuck from shame? How are shame, conviction, and guilt different? And what are the two main default responses to shame, and how do you get unstuck? Today we are talking about shame, and y'all shame is a place so many of us have stayed stuck.  We can feel shame about anything and everything. We can feel shame about: The choices in our past like having an abortion, committ...

How can you get unstuck from a negative thought life? What do you do when your thoughts seem to spiral? We're in our second installment of the four-part Get Unstuck series. In this series, we're tackling where try-hard girls struggle most: our identity in Christ in Episode 81 with Jen Babakhan our thought-life shame and expectations   To help us get unstuck from a thought life that isn't always ki...

In this bonus, special edition episode, we're talking about 9/11 and how God meets us in the face of national trauma and personal loss. To help us walk through what it was like to work one of the 9/11 scenes and how she saw God's provision in those hard days, former crime scene photographer for the FBI, Jen Combs joins the show.  In today's episode, Jen: shares her story about photographing the hi...

The #1 struggle of try-hard girls is living out of our identity in Christ. When we don't operate from this foundational truth, we are prone to: Being rushed and feeling frantic on the inside, Trying to do All The Things, Getting caught up in perfectionism + people-pleasing, And wondering if we're doing enough. We're kicking off a new series today called Get Unstuck . In this series, we'll tackle w...

Whether your husband travels a lot, works late or unpredictable hours, or is deployed, this episode was designed just for you. We're breaking down what's it like for the dad who's away a lot and practical systems for the mom keeping things afloat. To help us navigate this topic, my husband Ryan McCormick joins the show. In this interview, Ryan and I talk about: the hardest part of traveling for bo...

We're talking about how to be kind to you when you start anything new. This could be a  new season, a new job, a physical move… anything that's new. If you're ready for a deep exhale as you feel the panic, grief, and overwhelm of a new season,  listen in. In this episode, we're breaking down: What you're feeling What's changing And what's true. So no matter when you listen to this or what change i...

How can you offer empathy to those who see masks + vaccines differently than you do as well as how to teach your kids empathy in this craziness?  If you've ever felt judged, defensive, or misunderstood because of your COVID choices, OR if you've ever wondered why we're all so hateful to each other online and in-person about masks and vaccines and wonder how we can treat others with kindness, OR if...

Whether your kids are going back to school in-person for the first time in over a year, struggle with the pressure of testing and giving presentations, or feel the weight of the social side of school, you'll learn 18 practical ways to help your child navigate back-to-school stress. In this episode, you'll learn: How real their stress is, What to do when they struggle with uncertainty, How to handl...

There is no doubt in my mind that you love your kids with your whole heart, but they are driving you crazy. After being together 24/7 in the summer, you really need a break, am I right? So what's going on: why are we so irritated? In Episode 76, we're talking about how to show yourself compassion when you're with your kids All The Time. In this episode, we'll: Break down five subconscious beliefs...

How can you give yourself grace during that "time of the month"? We can't get around it: having a period is something we live with so let's bring it into the light and talk about how you can be kind to you when your hormones -- and emotions -- feel all over the place. In this episode, we'll: Commiserate about what's going on during that week-- all the things we feel And walk through nine ways to g...