Grit 'n' Grace: The Podcast for Highly Sensitive Christian Women

Do you suffer from "converter guilt"? It's the feeling of failure when you desperately want people to know Jesus, but you've failed to share the Gospel ... again. It's a terrible feeling that most of us have experienced, but today you can be released! Dave and Jon Ferguson, brothers and co-authors of B.L.E.S.S.: 5 Everyday Ways to Love Your Neighbor and Change the World share solutions in this epi...

If you're looking for that last-minute, perfect Christmas gift, we've got it for you! Our favorite creative, Kristie Christie, joins us today to help us with creative gift-giving that has the impact of a lifetime.

Our dear friend Mary Snyder joins Grit 'n' Grace today. With humor (lots of funny in this one!) and southern charm, Mary shares stories that will move you and spur you to action.

Animals, especially our pets, are so much more than just something to cuddle. Pets enrich our lives and create growth in delightful ways. Listen in as Amy and Cheri reminisce about their fur-babies and the lessons they've learned from them. There's lots of laughter (drunk dog, anyone?) and some tears shed too, but you won't be able to walk away without memories of your own furry friends flooding t...

Jen Bleakley, author of Pawverbs: 100 Inspirations to Delight an Animal Lover's Heart , believes that God uses animals to both teach and heal us. In this interview, Jen discusses how animals can be tangible tie-ins to the wisdom in the book of Proverbs, and she gives us a glimpse into how pets can be one of God's greatest gifts. Listen in for delightful insights about the furry friends that we don...

"Over the hill." "No spring chicken." "Has been." These are some of the derogatory terms for people who are aging, but those negative stereotypes are being dismantled. 50 is the new 30, baby! In this conversation, Cheri and Amy discuss the abundant gifts that are emerging as they age. With real talk about menopause and after, they process the second half of life as a time of thriving, not wilting.

The word "menopause" is often associated with its negative symptoms — hot flashes, sleeplessness, and weight struggles. But what if we've missed the gifts associated with menopause? Through personal experience and research, Dr. Cheryl Bridges Johns has identified 7 benefits of this oft-maligned season in a woman's life. Listen in today to hear the good gifts God has in store for His maturing daugh...

Suffering is painful; we'd all like to avoid it. Suffering also has a redemptive quality that is often more powerful than we imagine. Amy and Cheri discuss their own times of suffering and the lessons they've learned. They've found that the redemption's not only personal—it's a gift to pass on to others! Listen in for a changed perspective on the gift that none of us would choose.

It's a hard truth: our greatest times of growth most often happen during seasons of suffering. How do we leverage the hard places instead of crumbling under them? Meg Apperson, author of Sky Full of Stars: Learning to Surrender to God's Perfect Plans , tells her story of suffering through the diagnosis and birth of her daughter who has a cranial facial syndrome. Listen in to hear how Meg has embra...

Since comparison is a trap that keeps us from fully being ourselves, we have to take intentional steps to see it as an enemy and kick it to the curb. From the heart conditions that spark comparison to practical steps to walk into a comparison-free space, our Grit 'n' Grace friends, Cheri and Amy, cover it all with transparency.

"Do I measure up?" Often, when we're trying to answer that question, we look around at everyone else to find our answer. In a word: we compare . In this episode, Shannon Popkin, author of Comparison Girl, shares a new and better way to find our true measure. She leads us to Jesus' example, which — instead of making us feel less than or greater than — will set us free!

Concerning our American race problems, do you feel overwhelmed with conflicting emotions and a lack of understanding? You're in good company. The amount that many of us need to learn is enormous, but there's good news. You don't have to learn it all today. You can take one do-able step at a time. Tune in today to hear what Cheri and Amy have been learning that's making a difference.

In the wake of so many race-related tragedies in America, many of us are suddenly aware of all the things we didn't know. Race educator and two-time Grit 'n' Grace guest, Dr. Lucretia Berry, explains the importance of knowing the history of race so that we can face today's problems and build a better future. Listen in today to hear how to talk to your family and community in ways that create solut...

Many of us have adopted a skewed view of love. The belief that we're loved for our performance or productivity starts burrowing into hearts when we're young, and those deep-seeded convictions are hard to overcome. But these beliefs aren't innocuous. Over time, they kill our souls by drips. Listen in as Amy and Cheri process two truths about who we are that will dismantle the lies that keep us from...

At the core of every girl is the need to be loved and cherished, yet many of us missed out on those gifts. Either they weren't given by those who nurtured us or they didn't make it over the obstacles in our own hearts. Lynn Cowell, co-author of Loved and Cherished: 100 Devotions for Girls, discusses how to lead girls to God's perfect love even when they feel less than perfect. If you need to know...

Even if "control freak" has felt like part of your DNA, you can lose that label today. In fact, you can lose it in a minute. Listen to this episode where Amy and Cheri lose who they're not — control freaks — and unpack the joy of moving into the new identity of "surrendered." It's as simple as one choice, and what you need is just on the other side!

Often, when we think of surrender, we think of weakness and giving up. But what if it's the opposite? What if surrender is where true power is found? Barb Roose, author of Surrendered: Letting Go and Living Like Jesus , explains the downsides of control and the beautiful benefits of letting God lead. She gives 6 surrender principles that are tools taking hold of peace, joy, and power. For all of u...

Do you ever feel like happiness is for other people, not you? In this episode, Cheri and Amy discuss the difficulties of embracing the happiness that's ours in Christ. As we learned in the last episode, all who are His have happiness as their birthright. It's time to cancel our "happiness exemption" and embrace what's woven into our spiritual DNA! Scripture: Psalm 1:1-3 1 Blessed is the one who do...

When it comes to the conversation about race, are you… Afraid to ask questions or speak up for fear of "saying it wrong?" Tired of divisive messages from the noisy extremes? Overwhelmed by the amount of information and unsure where to find reliable sources? If you feel that way, I completely understand. I've been in your shoes. About three years ago, God started to gently but firmly teach me (Amy...

What if the pursuit of happiness has gotten a bad rap? What if it's not wrong or selfish but rather part of who we're meant to be? Katie Orr, the author of Secrets of the Happy Soul, explains the true meaning and source of happiness, giving us the green light to chase it with all our hearts. You'll leave this episode feeling freed and, well, ... happy!

In a frank discussion, Amy an Cheri process the steps (and mis-steps) required to move into a victorious life. They unpack how to leave your old stories in favor of the new one, how to leverage your past as a tool, and how to vanquish your habit of trying to fix it all. It takes God's power to remake our old stories into victory stories, but it's possible!

People almost always become a victim by circumstances beyond their control, but even when your circumstances change, it's hard to lose the label. With great compassion and tenderness, Cynthia Garrett, a victim of childhood sexual abuse, rape, abuse, and cancer, shares the tools she's learned to move from victim to victory. Although it's a painful journey, Cynthia shows us with her own life that it...

One of the greatest lies that keeps us isolated in suffering is the demonic hiss, "You're the only one." In this episode, Cheri and Amy dispel that lie by transparently sharing their own struggles with anxiety and depression. If you feel stuck and/or alone in dealing with your own mental health issues or someone else's, this episode will leave you with both comfort and practical tools for a health...

Would you be surprised to know that a Superior Court Justice in California has suffered from anxiety and depression? Tim Fall, author of Running for Judge , has built a thriving family and career while wrestling with mental health issues. Sharing his story without shame, Tim is working to break down the stigmas so many still carry about mental illness. If you live with anxiety or depression, or lo...

Being prepared for any crisis or emergency can feel overwhelming, but we don't have to live in fear and paralysis. Using practical advice from Kathi Lipp, Cheri and Amy process their readiness and come up with three small steps forward that we can all take today. We can be ready for anything!