Grace Moments

Julie Randall was informed over a decade ago that she was going to die. Stage 4. Cancer. She was given a short timeline of survival. But this determined wife and mother of two decided that this wasn’t going to be her death sentence. She would find a way to beat the disease. In facing death, she discovered how to live. Join today’s episode for a fascinating conversation about attitude and overcomin...

This episode takes you through a few of the most recent books I’ve read on suffering and the lessons I learned from each author along the way. All three stories we look at today share a theme in common: loss. And the truths these people discovered in their grief have the power to change our view of suffering. You’ll be challenged by this one! Visit and subscribe to my blog at: www.graceopens.blogs...

We all love lightbulb moments - times when we suddenly see things with clarity like never before. We also love it when it happens to someone else. But the truth is, we can’t rush that moment. Nothing we say or do will bring it any faster because each of us has to be ready to accept and understand that reality and sometimes, coming into or being brought into that reality before we’re ready does mor...

As Thanksgiving Day will be celebrated in the United States this week, this episode serves as a short but poignant reminder of God’s goodness, love, and faithfulness in all circumstances and why having a posture of thankfulness is so very important. Visit and subscribe to my blog at: www.graceopens.blogspot.com Twitter: @opentograce2015 Instagram: @opentogracealaska Parler: @Opentogracealaska MeWe...

Hope is important. But unless it is placed within a spiritual context, it becomes nothing more than optimism. In this episode, we're going to be talking about the importance of hope and why we need it. But not just why we need hope itself but more importantly, why we need the God of hope Himself. This will really lift your spirits if you're facing a challenging time! Visit and subscribe to my blog...

A key facet to achieving mental wellness is learning the value of non-negotiables - identifying and sticking to certain principles that are unwaveringly true parts of who you are, what you believe, and how you desire to live your life. Many of us, sadly, compromise these things in an effort to please others and end up becoming a version of ourselves that isn't authentic and real. This episode will...

Worry is a real thing, and many of us deal with it on a regular basis. The problems we face can appear to be so pressing, so strong, that we forget to put them in perspective and instead, stress ourselves out over things that God has already told us not be anxious about. Worry is bad for our brains, for our overall health, and for our souls. And, in today's episode, we're going to be talking about...

In times of extreme hardship, it can be difficult to remember that outsiders are watching how you handle what you're walking through. The way in which you carry your pain can reflect for good or bad on the faith you hold and the God you follow. Understanding this gives a whole new perspective to how and why you go through painful times - this isn't just about you and your own growth but also about...

It's common for those going through loss to have to process insensitive, awkward comments, suggestions, and opinions from others who have either not gone through something similar or who have forgotten what it felt like. These remarks can often be incredibly draining and distracting. Today's episode is aimed at helping those looking in from the outside to understand what grief is really like and w...

Human nature is prone to admit need or acknowledge weakness while also not being ready to accept the help or do the hard work of necessary change. In the mental health industry, many therapists and counselors see this problem often. The degree to which you're willing to take on the difficult work of healing is the degree to which you will recover your life and well-being. This episode is a challen...

In a fast-paced world where nearly everything is accessible at our fingertips and we can obtain instant food, information, assistance, or experiences immediately, the average person has lost something of the ability to be patient and let things run their course. Past generations were, perhaps, better at allowing life to develop and trusting God for answers to prayer or resolutions that seemed impo...

Mental health research in the past several years is further exposing and emphasizing the critical link between a child's growing up experience and their eventual mental wellbeing (or lack thereof!) in later life. Studies show that how a little one is raised, for good or bad, shapes their overall perspective and their coping mechanisms that they will use to combat stress, suffering, and relational...

Much of life's journey is a movement from the house of fear - where concerns and doubts and worries and questions reside - into the house of love, where God lives: that place of home where we are free to be authentically ourselves and are taught how to do life in a new way... a way filled with gratitude, hope, joy, closeness, and fruitfulness. Sadly, many of us, even if we have begun this journey,...

Grace Moments is once again joined by neurosurgeon Dr. Lee Warren as he sits down and discusses his newly released book “Hope Is The First Dose.” This episode addresses some of the common struggles of trauma and loss and how you can find hope again after enduring a harsh season of suffering. It also unpacks how you can literally change your life by changing the way you think and why hope is where...

Let's face it: sometimes there are seasons in life when we're just simply not okay. Crisis points happen and losses surprise and love fades and betrayals abound and pain occurs that threaten to tear us to shreds inside, and we're not sure we're going to make it... or even how to deal with and process what has taken place. Suffering has a way of stripping us of all forms of security and causing us...

We live in an instant results society. Most of us, admittedly, aren't that great about being patient and holding out for the things or results we most want. Contentment isn't exactly our strong suit. But when it comes to certain things in life, waiting is the only way forward. There are situations that come up where all we can do is pray... and be still until God gives us an answer. And sometimes...

Music has been shown to be a powerful aid in the maintenance and rebuilding of mental health. Scientific tests show that listening to music and specifically, the art of singing, do wonders for calming down our central nervous system and resetting the functions of the brain in times of stress. This obviously isn't a new concept as many passages of the Bible were written around varying aspects of so...

The unpredictability of life can often make us feel like we're at the whim of uncontrolled chaos and pain, left to fend for ourselves on a sea of suffering with no end in sight. Hard times happen and sometimes, they come in ways that confuse us and make us question the hand of God in their midst. How you view the sovereignty and rule of God over the happenings of the world and your own individual...

Life has a way of crushing our spirits, and many of us often find ourselves wanting to quit... or, at the very least, take a break... from the constant effort of trying to manage ourselves in the midst of the challenges we face. Taking care of our mental health, fighting against the forces that want to rob us of our peace and joy and faith, can be extremely taxing. Endurance and perseverance can b...

This world offers us so many opinions, perspectives, unsolicited advice, and agendas. There can be a whole lot of voices that speak into our lives, framing our identity (for good or bad!) and shaping our inner voice by which we talk to ourselves. Both our own inner voice and the voices of others can be extremely powerful, creating the lens through which we see life. And those voices can also be pr...

Most of us look at healing of any sort - physical, emotional, spiritual, mental - as being a destination. We picture it looking a certain way and find ourselves incredibly disappointed or even angry when it doesn't go the way we hoped. We've been taught to see healing as this end in itself rather than realizing that it's actually a process, a journey. Healing doesn't always mean the wound goes awa...

Do you struggle with finding the humility to admit when you're wrong? Are you always blaming your issues or behavior on somebody or something else instead of owning up to the fact that you might be missing something? Do you have a hard time accepting other perspectives and welcoming information that contradicts your long-held views? This episode will show you how to grow in your ability to see oth...

Carey Conley's life was pretty normal...until it wasn't Within a couple short years, she lost both her husband, Ross and her son, Cole to suicide, leaving her and her daughter to carve out a life they never imagined - one without two of the people they loved the most. In the years since losing the two men in her life, Carey has shared her story of heartache in hopes of drawing awareness to mental...

Since today's episode falls on Valentine's Day this year, its focus is around the larger concept of loving well - of what we ought to be praying for and desiring for one another, regardless of what sort of relationship we may be in. We were designed BY Love and FOR Love, and it is imperative that we reflect that in the way we invest in each other as friends or family. We are created to exhibit the...

Leaders of any kind play a bigger role in the mental health of those they're in charge of than perhaps they really realize. Many don't understand how certain policies or approaches to running things may be negatively affecting those under their direction, causing unnecessary confusion, frustration, or emotional hurt. This episode is primarily aimed at leaders who want to better understand how to m...