Living Wide and Deep

If “God has given me everything I need to raise my kid,” as I’ve often heard, I have a question. “Where’d he put it?” While I understand the good intentions behind this statement and others like it, this mindset does more harm than good. Parenting is relationship work at its most complex, mysterious, and difficult. We know every other relationship arena – from marriage to business – requires activ...

Principles that forge a meaningful life during the “empty nest” years are the same ones needed in other seasons. Ruthie Gray, “juggler of generations,” shares how the application changes, but not the foundational truths. The author of Empty Nest Awakening: Weaving the Threads of Your Passions into Purpose discusses some of these key principles in the second part of our conversation. She shares abo...

Parent well, and you'll work yourself out of a job. Then what? Ruthie Gray, author of Empty Nest Awakening: Weaving the Threads of Your Passions into Purpose speaks hope and wisdom into moms of every season in the first part of our conversation. Among other points, we discuss: *misconceptions younger moms can have about the "empty nest" years *the grief that can accompany children growing up *the...

What happens to the brain during adolescence? No, it doesn't shut down or go off-line, although it can sometimes seem that way. Rather, it goes through an astounding remodel. When parents, educators, and mentors understand this physical process, they can be empowered with confidence, effectiveness, and empathy. Understanding our biology is a critical part of the journey to spiritual strength, emot...

Artist, author, and speaker Cindy Egger continues to encourage and equip listeners to share their story of faith. She reminds us there's not one "right way" to introduce people to Jesus and we're not responsible for outcomes, only faithfulness. Small acts of kindness, striking up simple conversations, meeting for coffee, and opening one's home can have a more profound impact on someone than we may...

"You just can't live without Jesus!" Well, "Yes, you can," thought Cindy Egger, and she had been doing a "good" job of it for 30 years. Raised in a good home and living a good life, Cindy wasn't resistant to the Gospel as much as she didn't see the need for it. Yet eventually she came to see her need for Jesus was much more about a changing internally than externally. After coming to faith as an a...

What should a person say and not say, do and not do, when someone else is deeply hurting over a severe loss? Michelle Ruddell offers practical help and gentle reminders in the second part of our conversation about the co-existence of joy and sorrow. Michelle's son was killed in a car wreck at age 5, and Michelle determined she would not allow grief to turn into bitterness. She courageously shares...

Is experiencing or expressing joy in the midst of great loss and grief a betrayal? A sign of denial? An unhealthy coping mechanism? Author and speaker Michelle Ruddell knows joy and sorrow not only can co-exist but must if loss and grief aren't allowed to turn into bitterness. Losing her five-year-old son in a car accident while 12 weeks pregnant with her daughter, Michelle rejected the debilitati...

Ever had somebody drop TMI (too much information!) on you when you weren't expecting it? Not fun! While much of the world has unlimited information available at one's fingertips, TMI can be a serious problem. A warning in 2 Timothy clues us in, and we look at four specific dangers in today's episode: Distraction Diversion Deterrent Disguise While God desires us to be people of knowledge and wisdom...

If you don't want to live ruled by fear, anxiety, or insecurity, you're going to have to fight. Each person's battles are specific and unique and may change over time. But not fighting won't keep you safe; it will only keep you hidden and ineffective. Kim Hardy shares how we can fight , not alone, but with God on our side! Kim uses her own journey to teach women and youth how aligning our thoughts...

Emily Dickinson's infamous line, "Hope is a thing with feathers" can leave us thinking that hope is light, fanciful, and flighty. But true hope is like concrete anchored deep in bedrock. Author and speaker Kim Hardy knows the immense need for hope after losing her father at a young age and her beloved brother as a young married woman. In her training as a teacher she began to realize how her unrec...

Ever had a conversation take a hard left turn that you never saw coming? Therapist Donna Scott explains how underlying issues can trigger or blow-up conflict and how to handle it successfully. In Part 2 of "Honey, I Shrunk the Conflict," Donna unpacks: Time-out and time-in when a conversation gets hijacked The importance of validation The difference between validation and agreement How empathy and...

Does navigating conflict in one or more relationships feel like scaling Mt. Everest? Try "LUV!" Therapist, coach, speaker, and author Donna Scott shows how "LUV" can shrink overwhelming conflict to a manageable size. The goal isn't the elimination of conflict (an impossibility!) but to approach it as a way to grow both you and your relationship. In Part 1 of our conversation, Donna makes active li...

"Perfect pastor's wife" Cheryl Lutz exchanged her shaky identity, dependent on keeping others happy, with one grounded in accepting Christ's love. She continues sharing her hope-filled message in the second part of our conversation. Today's highlights include: The importance of recognizing patterns in ourselves that point to a need for growth and/or healing Discerning when to seek counsel and what...

Cheryl Lutz shares how she moved from "perfect" pastor's wife to secure daughter of God! and how to exchange people pleasing for a secure identity. Cheryl courageously shares her personal journey, revealing how past traumas and the relentless pursuit of perfection—a misguided endeavor often cloaked in spirituality—can lead to profound emotional and physical crises. Cheryl uses her experience as a...

Language matters. The words and phrases we use have an impact -- whether it's immediate or results from a slow-build. Today we examine four familiar phrases Christians use that need tossing. While the intention might be good, that doesn't mean the effect is. We look at: "God doesn't call the qualified; he qualifies the called." "Christians aren't supposed to judge." "God wants to use you." This is...

If you're a woman seeking to break free from the weight of expectations and unhealthy habits, this podcast will inspire you to take actionable steps towards a healthier, happier you. In Part 2 of my interview with Christine Trimpe, she shares her remarkable journey of losing 100 pounds and the profound lessons learned along the way. We delve into the importance of community support, the challenges...

Ditch the guilt and say hello to "joy" -- and health! Joy and fitness are often seen as distant companions, yet Christine Trimpe’s journey tells a different story. As a speaker, author, and certified health and wellness coach, Christine has transformed her life from battling obesity and sugar addiction to embracing holistic health. You'll be empowered as Christine shares honestly about her journey...

It's January and everybody's promising a program that will make this year amazing. Some have merit; others are money-making tactics. There are three "G's", however, that will absolutely impact how you finish 2025 -- and years beyond! Three key attitudes: gratitude, grit, and a generational perspective shape us and others far more than is evident at first glance. Developing an attitude of gratitude...

The holiday season, often touted as the most joyous time of the year, can paradoxically become a source of overwhelming stress! But we can find peace and joy and say goodbye to chaos by reflecting on the promises found in Isaiah, particularly the four names attributed to Jesus: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. When we stop and meditate on what is contained...

It's easy to think a supernatural event would endow us with great faith. Maybe. Maybe not. Angelic encounters grew Mary and Joseph's faith, but left Zechariah still doubting and questioning. Yet faith is required to please God -- not merely in his existence, but in his character. This is despite whether we get the outcomes we desire or not. Faith is hard. Unbelief is hard. We get to choose which h...

I had grand visions for commemorating Advent with my kids when they were growing up. The candles had other ideas. I envisioned a serene family gathering filled with reflection and togetherness. But this didn't materialize. Instead, Advent became a series of mishaps involving arguments, sibling rivalries, and a match-to-candle ratio that showed something serious was amiss. But I share more here tha...

Many Christmas movies portray the season as one of hot chocolate, comfy slippers, and warm blankets. But the profound message of hope that Christmas brings, is a far grander and grittier story. True hope is not merely about future outcomes but about experiencing God's goodness and strength in our everyday lives. A superficial understanding of hope can be dangerous, particularly if it invites compl...

Nurturing gratefulness in kids isn't easy. But it's not impossible, either! Cultivating a perspective of thankfulness isn't just about making your home life more pleasant -- although that's a good enough reason. But the connection between faith and gratitude is significant, and the cost of ingratitude is extraordinarily high. (See episode 133 for a deep dive into that lesson.) Get ten action items...

The Old Testament book of Exodus includes a sobering story about the high cost of ingratitude. By default, we're at risk for repeating that mistake, but we can choose a different path. We'll see the connection between gratitude and faith, thanksgiving and character. Drawing on Dallas Willard's work in The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life in God, we unpack five ways we can avoid the...