Grit 'n' Grace: Good Girls Breaking Bad Rules

When your husband's retired or continuing to work from home, things can get a little hairy. It can feel like you're losing control of "your domain." Cynthia Ruchti and Becky Melby, co-authors of Spouse in the House, give practical advice for rearranging our attitudes to make room for all we love at home.

Are you bogged down in the pain of some of your most important relationships, feeling like a failure in what matters most to you? Today's episode has four key concepts that can truly change everything. You'll not only see things differently, but you'll have new hope for better things to come. Processing last week's interview with Lily Taylor, author of Unconfined: Lessons from Prison and the Journey of Being Set Free, Cheri and Amy are on a relational-realizations roll. You don't want to miss this one!

Sometimes life takes a turn far worse than you could have imagined. That was true for Lily Taylor, author of Unconfined: Lessons from Prison and the Journey of Being Set Free, during the eight years her son was imprisoned on drug charges. But even in that dark season, rays of God's love and care shone through. Join us today to hear Lily's dramatic, true story and to get a dose of hope that heals the most broken heart.

We all have them. You know... the passages about Jesus that we'd rather skip. They're confusing, and confusion makes us scared. What if Jesus isn't who we hope He is? Dr. Amy-Jill Levine, rides to our rescue in this episode, teaching us how to think through these difficult verses instead of blowing past them. (Spoiler Alert: Jesus IS who we hope He is ... and more.) Come sit at the table and learn alongside Amy & Cheri!

Cheri and Amy share take-your-breath-away insights about how to live a no-regrets life. Far from being intimidating (I mean really, who has no regrets? No one.), this episode is personal, raw and applicable. Amy has already declared this one "GnG's most impactful episode ever." It's one you'll want to listen to twice and share with all your friends!

We can easily become paralyzed by our regrets, giving up the life God has for us and surrendering His joy. Although we all have sins, disappointments, and heartaches, it's possible to surrender those points of regret to God in ways that release us. Rhonda Stoppe, the "No Regrets Woman," shares biblical strategies that help us to move forward in freedom and joy.

Many of us feel caged by our circumstances. Maybe it's being enclosed in a hard marriage, a job you hate, or a painful friendship that's making you feel trapped. Or perhaps it's just ... well ... a GLOBAL PANDEMIC. Kathi Lipp and Cheri Gregory talk today about five ways to move toward An Abundant Place, even when you feel like you can't get away. This is an interview that will breathe fresh, new-year freedom into your heart!

Once more, Amy and Cheri welcome back Grit ‘n’ Grace’s most frequent and beloved guest, Kathi Lipp — co-author (with Cheri) of the new devo: An Abundant Place: Daily Retreats for the Woman Who Can’t Get Away.  Kathi and Cheri share the challenges they faced while writing a book about "abundance" during a time of unprecedented scarcity. And Kathi shares three practical tips for rediscovering (or perhaps reviving) your own creativity in the new year. She reminds us that whether you're writing or cooking or painting or keeping humans alive, "You're putting a creative force in the world. And that's to be celebrated."

In this special year-end bonus-sode, Amy and Cheri welcome back Grit ‘n’ Grace’s most frequent and beloved guest, Kathi Lipp — co-author (with Cheri) of the new devo: An Abundant Place: Daily Retreats for the Woman Who Can't Get Away. In this candid conversation about connecting with God in the everyday ordinaries of our often-overwhelmed lives, Kathi reminds us that "Our minds and souls don't have to be bound by our location." Join in for a time of laughter, reflection, and planning for abundance, right where you are, right now.

Comparison. It's so easy to slip into it. Before we're even aware, we want her story, her talents, or her body. The lines between healthy growth and the obsessive pursuit of better get blurred, and we're back in the comparison trap, stripped of joy and feeling less than. Heather Creekmore, author of The Burden of Better: How a Comparison-Free Life Leads to Joy, Peace, and Rest, gives us one sure step out of the destructive habit of comparison. Listen in today to receive the gift we all want!

When life as you know it — as you dreamed it — ends, it can lead to a deep sense of hopelessness. That's what our guest, Tracie Miles, author of Living Unbroken: Reclaiming Your Life and Heart after Divorce, felt in the early days of her marriage ending. But she didn't stay there. God helped her to move forward, and she's sharing her story so that we can experience the healing that she has received. We can live unbroken, even when the last thing we ever expected becomes part of our story.

Can it be? Thanksgiving is almost here, and Christmas is on the way! This is the year for joy to abound more than ever. Jill Baughan, host of the "Find Joy ... No Matter What" podcast, gives us small, daily exercises that can change everything about how we relate to all the bumps and twists coming our way in the next month. Make sure to listen in to this delightful episode. You'll find your heart readjusted and rested.

Some folks seem wired for joy, carrying sunshine in their pockets everywhere they go. But what if your natural wiring leans more toward "cloudy" or if your circumstances have blown in some storms? Speaker and author Jill Baughan reassures us that we can find joy ... no matter what! If you're struggling to dredge up joy right now, this episode is filled with practical wisdom and quirky, laugh-out-loud moments. (Portrait with a monkey, anyone?!)

It's been a tough couple of years for everyone, but the fresh start that January offers is on its way. This is the year to step into the trifecta that God has for us. Yes, we can (1) glorify God, (2) love our people well, and (3) have a joyful life all at the same time! Tune in today for a conversation with women who have stepped into the life that they were created for. Their aha moments and practical steps will leave you inspired to see 2022 as the year for you!

The year is winding down (can I hear a Hallelujah?!) which means that it's time to evaluation and celebrate. Amy and Cheri do a year in review, discussing what they've done well and not so well in losing who they're NOT, loving who they ARE, and living their ONE life well. Listen in for lots of giggles and some high impact moments too!

So many of us struggle to know what to say and do when someone we know is hurting. That feeling of helplessness can multiply when it involves the loss of a child. In this second episode with Rachel Lewis — author of Unexpecting: Real Talk on Pregnancy Loss — she helps us all to become more grief literate. Rachel not only explains practically how we can help others in their grief but also how to manage our own better. This is an episode that we all need in a pain-stricken, broken world.

It's a loss that's so common that it's often tragically overlooked. Whether you've personally miscarried or love someone who has, you know the unspoken pain of losing a child. Rachel Lewis, author of Unexpecting, tenderly leads us to a deeper understanding of healthy ways to deal with grief triggers, physical changes, and the dismissiveness of others. Rachel also gently instructs us to bring healing, not more hurt, into others' pregnancy loss. This important episode is not to be missed.

Calling can seem like something that's mystical. Something that's given only to the special people. But calling is for all of us... if we can overcome feeling disqualified. Cheri and Amy discuss being used by God despite their failings and give practical practices that set us up to follow God into our assignments. (Also, find out what set Amy on an oppositional defiant path this week!)

So often, we can feel disqualified by our flaws. Jodie Niznik, author of Crossroads: a Study of Esther and Jonah for Boldly Responding to Your Call, assures us again that God uses very ordinary, very flawed people. Using Esther and Jonah as biblical examples, Jodie encourages each of us that we have a significant place — warts and all! — in God's story.

What if peace comes with practice? That was the question that set Kay Wyma, author of The Peace Project: a 30-Day Experiment Practicing Thankfulness, Kindness, and Mercy, on a path to find the key elements that lead to peace. Kay shares the way she stumbled into the some counterintuitive truths for battling anxiety, and then she dives into the brain science (squeeee!). This fun episode will leave you with powerful, practical tips to practice yourself into peace.