Grit 'n' Grace: Good Girls Breaking Bad Rules

Friendships are healthy when both parties seek God as the primary source. But when we start seeking a friend to fill our needs, watch out! Putting too much emphasis on any friendship makes it "overweight." Cheri and Amy discuss strategies for shifting our focus back to God, which takes the excess pressure off our friends.

Have you ever had a friendship that was just a little off? You really liked the person, but they were too clingy or demanding or jealous of your other friendships. Or maybe you've been that person? Ouch! That's hard to contemplate, but Kelly Needham, author of Friendish, helps us to strengthen our friendships by putting them into their correct perspective. Tune in for tips to turn your friend-ish relationships into true friendships!

It's that time of year again, when we're getting ready to celebrate all that God has done for us. But what if your faith is faltering? What if the disappointments and questions have piled up so high that you can't even see Him? With her trademark blend of compassion and candor, Michele Cushatt, author of Relentless, tackles these hard questions head-on, sharing Biblical truths discovered during her own years of searching for God's presence in the midst of suffering. Whether you're struggling this holiday season, or love someone who is, you'll be reassured, challenged, and greatly encouraged!

Amy and Cheri dive deep into the hidden strengths of Highly Sensitive Persons. Amy opens up about her experience as a mom raising an HSP son. Cheri discloses a sneaky misconception about HSP's and reveals the strengths locked inside. You'll also receive practical insight into how your strengths can be used in the world in a powerful way. God made you on purpose for a purpose. Find out what it is!

For too long, the word "sensitive" has evoked negative associations. But research shows that 20% of the population have Sensory Processing Sensitivity. In this context, "sensitive" does not automatically mean emotional ... fragile .... or drama queen.  Denise J. Hughes and Cheri Gregory, co-authors of Sensitive and Strong, are debunking myths around being a Highly Sensitive Person and celebrating the unique contributions HSPs have to offer the world. If you're a Highly Sensitive Person, you'll hear how you can leverage your beautiful sensitive heart and celebrate who you ARE. If you're not an HSP, you'll learn how you can better understand the Highly Sensitive Persons in your life.

In today's episode, Cheri and Amy grouse about grumbling. Sounds like fun, right?! Although they start with a little hilarity, your co-hosts finally switch from talking about what's grumble-worthy to what's praise worthy. Tune in for a few giggles at the beginning and some sore toes by the end. Becoming grumble-free is a daunting but worthwhile process!

The complaining of the people around us seems relentless. Sometimes even our own grousing seems overwhelming. If you committed to a grumble-free life, how long would you make it? A day? A week? Longer? (Or maybe not through the next hour!) Author Tricia Goyer, along with her family, committed to a grumble free year. Listen in for the lessons they learned and the strategies they adopted for less complaining and more praise. This episode is a life-changer!

Disappointment at Christmas seems like the worst, especially if someone else is disappointed in YOU. But what if we embrace the reality of disappointment rather than running from it? That paradigm shift could change the everything! Instead of lowering your Christmas joy to the level of the unhappiest person in the room, Amy and Cheri discuss gearing expectations for the greatest happiness and how to move past others' disappointment by getting comfortable with it. "You can't choose joy for other people." ~Amy Carroll “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”  John 1:5

Let's leverage the pre-Christmas months this year to launch a holiday season that won't disappoint . With powerful punches of insight and truth, Kathi Lipp delivers secrets that all of us need to de-clutter Christmas. There's essential advice in this episode that you can't live without (no joke!), and it's not too early to start planning for a dose of Christmas joy!

Amy and Cheri give last words on how Exhale is changing and shaping them as well as a few life and family updates. This is no ho-hum, re-hash episode, though. Listen carefully for a question that could change your family life in the same positive way it's changed Cheri's! And giggle along at an unexpected example of boundary-setting.

We all have plans—plans about where we're going and what we're doing. But often those pre-determined destinations become subject to a detour, and the final stop isn't where we planned to be at all. How we respond to the unexpected road is everything. This week's seed-sender, Shantell Brightman, has found delight in a new destination, one that maximizes her gifts in talents in ways she never imagined. And she shares how you can find joy in the place you never saw coming.

Often, we see focusing on ourselves and our gifts as selfishness, but what if it's really stewardship? This episode's guest, Cindy Finley, is a woman who has overcome the paralysis of not being able do everything with the joy of doing something. She's done it by watching God's work as He pulls the bits and pieces of her life—gifts, talents, experiences—together into a calling, and she's grown in the process. Listen in to this great interview to learn steps to grow your gifts!

God uses every part of us, even our personalities, for His beautiful purposes. He made that personality of yours, after all! Karen McNary, today's guest, tells how God has used her wiring over and over again to connect people and bring His message of reconciliation into the world. Let this wonderful interview give you a glimpse into how your God-given personality might impact your  world.

Just when you think a story is unredeemable, God walks in and uses it in a beautiful way. That's what happened for Kim Tshirret, founder of Hope Reins. God used her childhood love for horses to spark an inspiration for helping children who have suffered abuse, just like she did as a child. The rest of the story is a true miracle! The combination of horses and transformation is irresistible, so don't miss this episode... and have your Kleenex ready.

Cary Heise, this week's "seed-sender" guest, has always been a people-gatherer. Now she uses this gift to draw people around a table for great good. Instead of down-playing your gifting, what if you identify and start to leverage it? If you've been unsure of how to step up into your calling, this episode will spur you on and inspire you!

Do you have a passion to make a difference, but you feel alone? Amanda Davison, founder of A Wife Like Me, used what she once considered a weakness to build a dynamic team. Using social media and engaging online content, she and her team have created a community where they're lowering the divorce rate by strengthening existing marriages through the hearts of wives. You'll learn how to view your weaknesses in a whole new way in this episode of the Seed Sender Series.

Today's guest, Jenn Hand, moves into disaster instead of away from it. On purpose. With the seeds of trauma counseling and personal joy in her hands, Jenn has ministered to hundreds in crisis situations including the earthquakes, hurricanes, and tornadoes. How can she possibly bring joy into the midst of death and devastation? Listen in as Jenn explains the source of strength in her seed sender life.

When you think of producing spiritual fruit for God, how does it make you feel? Amy and Cheri confess that guilt was their long-time reaction. "Surely we're never doing enough!" they thought. But fruit production doesn't happen the way we've thought. Learn in this episode how to step into the fruitfulness for which you're created!

Why are we constantly shocked by our humanity? Our limits? Our needs? Amy and Cheri discuss the difficult beauty of our neediness and the exquisite solution that ends our struggle against weakness. If you're constantly fighting to be more, listen to this episode about the power of being less. This isn't a place to wrestle. It's a spot to rest.

"What is my calling?" When our heart's desire is to follow God, that's the question in our Top 10 during every phase of life. While it often feels hard to know what to do next, it's actually simpler than we ever thought. Amy and Cheri boil down our best life—led by the calling of God—to two basic steps that we can all take. If you're struggling to find your current calling, make sure to listen to this one. You're doing better than you think!