Heart Of The Matter Radio

If you live very long, you will face trials. Gut wrenching stuff. The Lord even promised we would have trouble in this life. So why on earth does the Word say to 'be thankful in all things?' (I Thessalonians 5:18). That really seems crazy because none of us like the hard parts of life. I would rather sip tea and read a mystery novel about some other person's problems.  My guest this week was Author Carol Leatham. After living through a long-term trial, she wrote Finding Joy in My Messy Life. Her answers are raw but real. 

My guest this week was Author Debbie Wilson. She teaches a Bible study in her home and has written a Bible study series about how God is big and we are not. The next book in the series, Little Strength Big God, comes out soon. Debbie shared one of her earthquake moments and told how God gave her strength through that time. How wonderful to have a God we can depend on when life falls apart. 

With the holidays approaching, we'll all be entertaining in our home. By showing hospitality, we can have a huge impact on the lives of others.  Author and speaker Victoria Duerstock was my guest this week. We talked about how hospitality touches people,  overcoming barriers, and great ways to share your life with others.

This is our third podcast on church trauma. This week my guest was author and speaker, Nancy Kay Grace. Her husband has served as a pastor for 47 years. From her wealth of experience, she offered her perspective on healing and forgiving. Download a list of tips for recovery from church trauma here.

Author Rebecca White was my guest this week. She shared her experience with a church split. You will hear her talking about kindness and working to fill in for missing people. You can see how the Holy Spirit works. When people in the church fail, the Lord graciously picks up the pieces and brings us through using imperfect people. Beautiful!

You don't expect to get hurt at church. However, sin causes chaos and people feel betrayed . Post Traumatic Church Syndrome. After suffering, we long to walk away and never go back, but that's not what God wants. Jesus established the church and we need to attend. My guest this week was Dawn Stephens who has authored several children's books. Dawn explains the complexity of her tough church situation, but she also shared how she healed.

Mothering is a big job. People used to say "the one who rocks the cradle rules the world." That quote reflects the importance of the job, yet it's hard work. How can moms maintain their joy and stamina? My guest this week was author Karen Whiting. She wrote a book, Growing a Mother's Heart, and a devotional by the same name. Karen's advice and experience can encourage and equip younger moms.

We celebrate the signing of the Constitution from Sept 17 to 23rd each year. Delegates signed this incredible document 235 years ago. Let's celebrate the freedom and greatness the Constitution gave us by looking back at those who fought for our freedom. My guest this week was Christina Rose learned about her Revolutionary War ancestors who crossed the Delaware with George Washington. She also discussed the fun of finding out your heritage.

Last week we started talking about the progressive church. Our guest was Lucas Miles. He is a pastor, author, media person, and serves on Spark Media. He authored the book, The Christian Left.  We learned the progresive church drited from the Word of God. This week we talked about action steps. How should we react when we see disturbing signs in our church? What if our pastor won't talk about serious issues we face? What if we hear woke ideas? 

As mothers, we want our children to get a full and correct understanding of the Word so they know how to apply it to their lives. We don't want them to misunderstand or water down the Gospel. Scripture called the church 'the pillar and support of the truth,' so its job is vital However, we continue to hear about the progressive church in America.  My guest this week was Lucas Miles , and he will explain what the progressive church is and how we got there.. He is an author, pastor, media personality and on the exeuctive board for Spark Media. His latest book was The Christian Left. 

What lies hold you back? I was embarrased by my frizzy hair on a date because I swallowed the lie that I had to look perfect all the time.  Author Sheryl Turner believed lies from her childhood trauma, plus she held onto the sin from her past. However, there's good news.! She healed and offered hope to others.

Today people look inside themselves and decide who they are. And sometimes they even REdefine themselves based on how they feel. I recall that internal conflict in my early teens when I wondered who I was and what I was supposed to do on earth.  Sometimes during transistions, we rethink all those issues. My guest this week, Liz Thompson, didn't know who she was. She went through a crisis when she realized her parents didn't give birth to her. Liz told her story and explained how she resolved her concerns. 

Our children's education impacts their future. We want them to learn to love learning and fall in love with Jesus. Cynthia prayed for teachers and moms who teach. 

While I grew up, government schools supported our core beliefs, so I didn't attend private school until high school. However, today many people take issue with material presented and choose to teach at home. My guest today was Terri Gillespie. Her choice to homeschool saved her daughter's life. She told her story to encourage others. 

The next three weeks we'll be covering back to school topics as homeschool mothers start teaching. Training your children requires you to fully understand each child's temperment and inclinations. That means we need to pray for God's wisdom. Praying can be one of the hardest things we do. Robyn Dykstra was my guest this week. She didn't grow up in a Christian home. Robyn explained how she learned to pray and how she taught her children to pray. 

As believers, we want to use our money wisely. However, rising prices at the grocery store and gas pump horrify us. What are some ways we can watch our spending in these challenging times? Author Sarah Geringer has learned to live on a shoestring budget. She shared her secrets to cutting back while still having fun. 

We live in an incredible nation. The Constitution is amazing and has lasted longer than any other governing document. Plus, we enjoy wonderful freedoms. As we celebrate July 4, we also applaud those heroes who kept our nation free. This week my guest was Author Mary Jane Holt. She tearfully shared her husband's story. He proudly served in Vietnam. 

My guest this week was Lori Vober. She suffered a stroke at 29, but she survived. As she told her story, she praised her husband for his loyal support. She also offered clues on keeping a marriage strong through adversity.

Sunday is Father's day. When my children were young, I encouraged them to come up with ideas to celebrate dad. However, to do that, you have to teach them to respect him all year.  My guest this week was Rhonda Dragomir and she shared her thoughts on teaching respect.  In addition, I'm offering moms a free resource for Father's Day. You can learn ways to show your hubby he's special all year. 

Nothing hurts like watching your child struggle to learn. I've been there. This week, Victoria Cuore shared her story and explained how she ministers to families with disabled children.