Grit 'n' Grace: Good Girls Breaking Bad Rules

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.

In our contentious culture, there are dozens of triggers every day. One of our buzz words is uttered (or typed), and we go from sipping coffee to armoring up for war. How can we find peace when we feel so embattled? In today's interview with Amberly Neese, author of Common Ground: Loving Others Despite Our Differences, we learn lessons for loving others well ... even when we disagree with them.

It's easy to get so caught up in the roller coaster ride of pursuing amazing that we miss the blessings of slow growth and intentional focus. Cheri and Amy discuss the lessons they've learned (some the hard way!) about trying to make up for lost time and chasing dreams of being spectacular. It turns out that "average" is a life of many gifts! Listen in and celebrate with us.

Choosing farm life was a difficult shift for Jennifer Dukes Lee, author of Growing Slow. But over time, as she watched the seasons of planting, growing, harvest and fallow, she began to see the benefits of internal seasons too. Sharing wisdom from creation and personal experience, Jennifer lays out the compelling reasons that we need to reconsider our go-faster-lives.

What would it be like to have an easy companionship with God? One like you have with your best friend? It's possible! Instead of fearing Him as a taskmaster, we can know God as our tutor. Instead of fleeing Him in a panic, we can walk in God's presence. We can take off our masks and enjoy our Maker. Tune in as Amy and Cheri discuss their growth in God, unveiling the joy of living closer to Him.

We believe in Jesus, becoming a part of His family, and then what? A less-than life is what this week's guest, Shellie Rushing Tomlinson — author of Finding Deep & Wide — lived for years. She knew there was more, but she wasn't sure how to tap into it. Through hilarious stories, Shellie shares what she's learned about the life she first heard about in Sunday School as a little girl, the deep and wide life.

It can be scary to come out from behind our carefully crafted facades. Living in freedom makes it so, so worth it, though. Today, as Cheri and Amy reflect on their interview with Barb Roose — author of Breakthrough: Finding Freedom in Christ — they share facade-crushing truths they've learned in pursuit of true freedom in Christ. You may find that there's something better than being a super-Christian!

It's a common human failing to add extra layers on our faith in order to feel good about our relationship with God. Unfortunately, that destructive habit leads to bondage rather than the freedom for which we long. From the book of Galatians, Barb Roose — author of Breakthrough: Finding Freedom in Christ — shares six freedom principles in this episode that will take your breath away and breathe freedom into your walk with God. Freedom may be elusive, but it's not impossible!

Building a habit can have a bad rap unless the end-goal is a pleasure. Knowing God, our highest pleasure, is a goal that can keep us motivated! Today, Cheri and Amy knock obstacles to spiritual growth out of the way and reveal the winsome ways that God keeps them growing.

Developing new and better habits sometimes feels like too much work. But often the work of change is worth it. Jen Pollock Michel, author of A Habit Called Faith, calls us into habits that will deepen our relationship with God. This life of faith is better than any other we've imagined, so tune in today to hear more!

Limited. That's the way most of us would describe our understanding of the spiritual growth curve. Today, Cheri and Amy discuss what they've been learning about the stages of spiritual growth from Kristie Gaultiere, co-author of Journey of the Soul: A Practical Guide to Emotional and Spiritual Growth. God wants us to know Him in ways deeper than ever before! Listen in today to get a hope-filled view of our struggles and a glimpse of the spiritual riches beyond the walls we all hit.  

When we watch a baby grow, we understand that there are developmental stages, but we often expect our souls (and others') to arrive full-grown! Kristi Gaultiere, co-author of Journey of the Soul: a Practical Guide to Emotional and Spiritual Growth, introduces us to the spiritual formation of our souls. It's a joy-filled concept that will allow you to enjoy your soul's steps as well as extend grace to those behind you.

We're told that we're a new creation in Christ, but do we believe it? Do we live like we are? Too often Christian women feel that we need to work to make it true. Today, you can lay down all the effort of trying harder and pick up the peace that you've been given. Cheri and Amy process the revolutionary freedom found in living the truth about our new life.

Angst-y describes the way most of us live our Christian life. Angst over our sins and mistakes. Distress over the ways we fall short. Despair that our trying harder never seems to get us where we want to go spiritually. What if we don't have to live that way? Today, Andrew Farley, author of The Perfect You gives us the secret to overcoming angst with peace. This interview is revolutionary and not to be missed!   "I know we use Bible words like righteousness and holiness. But a lot of Christians feel dirty and distant."  ~Andrew Farley

After slumping into a COVID wardrobe rut, Cheri and Amy needed some help from Shari Braendel of Fashion Meets Faith to get their groove back. Today they discuss their transformation from a 24/7 yoga pants trend to a dive into spring. This fun fashion episode will lift your spirits, give you some laughs, and it just might inspire you to start a transformation of your own. You can look your most beautiful with a plan on a budget!