Grace Moments

When was the last time someone asked you how you are... really? When did someone last care enough to push past your "I'm fine..." and actually invite you into deeper honesty and vulnerability? It's probably been awhile... and today, we're opening up the space to discuss raw and real soul-confessions - to dialogue what it looks like to build community around our humanness for once and to be candid...

Hope is essential to life. If you have nothing to hope for or hope in , then you have nothing at all. In this episode, we're talking about the importance of having a firm hope and the facets that go into producing it, as laid out in Romans 5:3-5. Let's learn from the Apostle Paul about what it means to possess an unshakable expectation of what's to come and how we can discover God's goodness even...

Life always presents us with two options: focus on our problems or focus on God. Today we talk about the importance of where your gaze ought to be when faced with overwhelming obstacles and challenges and how you can find hope when the odds seem stacked against you.  Visit and subscribe to my blog at: www.graceopens.blogspot.com Twitter: @opentograce2015 Instagram: @opentogracealaska Parler:...

Have you ever faced a situation in your life where it seemed like God kept denying you the outcome that you hoped and prayed for? How did you deal with the reality that, instead of the answer you'd wanted to receive, you were given a Divine "no?" Today's episode discusses the fact that we all face circumstances where it feels like God's will is against our own, but what we do when we're up against...

Everyone's fears can often be traced back to a single lie. For all the ways fear may manifest itself, there is often one, big fear-giant that summarizes them all. Today, we're going to be talking about (and hopefully identifying) the fear-giants in our lives with the goal of gaining greater insight as well as a proactive plan on how to face and fight that fear with faith. It's time to take do...

The Summer Olympics kick off later this week and we're taking the opportunity to explore the concept of success: how our culture views it versus how God views it. So often, we can get so caught up in the pursuit of achievement that we lose sight of what matters most in this life, thus causing ourselves and others unnecessary heartache - all because we're chasing things that have no eternal signifi...

Many Christians believe that doubt is wrong - that, once conversion has happened, faith should be easy and we should never question God. But if we look at Scripture and practical, personal experience, we discover an entirely different picture: doubt is common, and it is natural! Doubt is a part of the realistic human story. Yet it's what we do when we doubt that makes all the difference. Today, we...

At some point, every one of us comes across an Everest in our life that seems impossible to scale. How does one prepare for such a moment, and what essentials should one bring along the way? Today's episode dives into some basic climbing principles and explores key truths in how you can survive the mountain peaks when you face them. Don't be surprised by the challenging climbs you meet up with in...

July 4th is coming up in a few days - a time when Americans remember and celebrate their independence as a nation and pay tribute to the brave patriots who helped found it over 240 years ago. In today's episode, I take you back to a pivotal point in the Revolutionary War and share some life-lessons we can all learn about what it means to see a test through to its conclusion. When situations seems...

We all have chapters in our stories that we're afraid to reveal. There's a part in each of us that just wants others to see the best aspects of ourselves - our successes, our achievements, our talents - and wants to hide from them the worst - our failures, our hurts, our struggles. This episode is all about embracing all of your story...not just the parts you like. There's beauty even in your scar...

Everyone wants to be remembered. Everyone wants to build a significant life. But not everyone desires to build a life that lasts. Harnessing the metaphor of ancient castles, today's episode discusses key principles in how to build a life and eternal legacy that outlive you and also how to prepare for tough times when they come. Don't just build for today - build for forever!  Visit and subscr...

Dr. Lee Warren is an esteemed neurosurgeon who's been to war, written best-selling books, and inspired thousands through his weekly podcast. He's been through a lot of hard things on his journey and found God's grace sufficient in them all. Today's episode is a candid conversation about grief, doubt, trauma, faith, and finding hope in the worst of times. Join Dr. Warren and I as we take a deep div...

Most of think of time as the clock, but what if God looks at time differently? What if time was about "moments ripe for their intended purpose" rather than mere minutes or hours? Today's episode offers a fresh perspective on the concept of time and history: how we can't begin to glimpse how God is moving until we live through an experience and then take a look back.  Visit and subscribe to my...

Stress plays a much greater role in our mental wellness than many of us think. In the final installment of our month-long series on mental health, we explore the role of stress and its impact on our everyday lives and provide some practical advice on how you can set healthier boundaries for yourself, better manage your personal schedule, and learn to prioritize your personal well-being. Today's ep...

Depression affects most people at some point in their lives and, for a few, the darkness is a constant companion. But what if depression could be seen as a hidden superpower? What if it had the ability to actually propel you toward greater intimacy with God? What if it possessed the capacity to help you discover your life-purpose simply by learning to harness it for good? Today's episode walks you...

Trauma is one of the most common yet least-understood aspects of mental distress. In recent years, Post Traumatic Stress has gained attention and awareness due to its frequency among military veterans. In this second part of our Patient, Heal Thyself series, I'll be walking you through what I call a "practical guide to trauma and the brain," giving you information and skills that will help you or...

Most people understand the importance of caring for your body, but many fail to realize the importance of caring for your brain! May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and we're going to be tackling various aspects of mental wellness in the episodes to come. I'll be teaching you how to prioritize your brain health, especially under times of intense stress, loss, or emotional pain. We begin our 4-pa...

Do you ever feel like the hits just keep coming and there's nothing you can do to stop them? Do you ever feel like God isn't listening to you or that He's somehow being unfair? Jamie Ball knows what's it's like to wrestle with all those questions and more, and he's here today to share his incredible story of faith, family, and finding a way forward when life knocks you down. You won't want to miss...

Twenty-two years ago today, Columbine High School was rocked by a tragic shooting that took the lives of thirteen people and forever changed the futures of many more. In this episode, we look at one of the survivors whose story has become a powerful lesson in forgiveness and the power of choice. Today, we're going to be talking about the simple fact that you cannot choose your circumstances but yo...

Understanding who and what you're building your life for matters. Today, we discuss the art of apprenticeship and how we are all students of Christ, learning the art of living from our Master. You may wonder what a 17th century Italian violin maker and an 18th century American founding father have to do with this - guess you'll just have to listen and find out! Visit and subscribe to my blog at: w...

You've probably gone through times in your life when you misinterpreted situations and falsely concluded they were meant for your harm when, in reality, they were for your safety. In this episode, we're talking about why perspective matters. Looking to our great military as an example, I'm showing you the importance of how you choose to look at things and how it changes the way you come through to...

Storms are bound to happen, and much of life is about how we go through them and who goes through them with us. Today we look at an example from nature and remind ourselves that hardships are much better survived collectively than they ever are alone.  Visit and subscribe to my blog at: www.graceopens.blogspot.com Twitter: @opentograce2015 Instagram: @opentogracealaska Parler: @Opentograceala...

Have you ever stopped to think that present challenges could be setups for a greater victory in your life? That the big moments of crisis, decision, and endurance are often preceded by many, little moments of faith, courage, and determination? This episode takes you to some critical times in biblical and human history where God used everyday people in big ways largely because they had a track reco...

Have you ever wished you knew exactly what to say when trying to comfort someone who is grieving? In this second installment of our mini-series on grief, you'll learn some practical tips on how you can better show the love of Jesus to those grieving a loss. In short, today's episode discusses all the things grieving people wish others knew.  Visit and subscribe to my blog at: www.graceopens.b...

Grief affects us all. But it is also one of the least understood aspects of our human experience. There are so many things that can make a grieving person wonder if they're "doing it right" or if others really understand the degree to which they are personally suffering. In this first of a two-part mini-series, we'll explain the truth about loss as well as give those who grieve some realistic hope...