Heart Of The Matter Radio

I remember discovering I was carrying my second child. While I wanted another baby, my first pregnancy was rough and I hated the thought of enduring labor again. My husband couldn't understand my ambivalence because he responded with excitement to the news. However, a few days later, I began to bleed, and that alarmed me.  Suddenly, I wanted this baby. A lot! The inner nurse surfaced and I feared the worst. This time I was correct. My doctor did a sonogram, which proved the sack had dissolved. The baby was dead. Afterward, gloom impacted my judgement.  I thought of my training and decided I would probably never have another child. Infertility would plague me forever. I knew from my studies the problem often started this way.  To make matters worse, Another lady at church had a due date close to mine, and I watched in pain as her tummy grew. My heart ached with emptiness. I avoided her because she would have a new baby, and I would not. That experience gave me sympathy for those who struggle to have a child. M

I had a very involved father who was also very flawed. To my mother's dismay, he saved every paper cup he ever got at Starkbucks so he could shoot at them. When I emptied his house, I discovered he kept every scrap he ever wrote on too. He always kept filling his gas tank until the dollars and cents ended on a even number. He tore up Momma's washcloths so he could get his finger in the hem to wash every spot on his body. But he loved me. Just before he died he told me how much he adored me and let me know he was ready to go to glory. I miss those expressions of love more than I expected. However, what about those who didn't have a father? Today I have Author Fay Lamb. Her latest novel centers on recovering from a father wound, just like she had to do. She shares how she recovered.

We ladies tend to dream about our wedding day all our lives. A beautiful white dress, flowers, an adoring groom, and happy guests make that picture complete. So we want everything to be perfect, but pulling all the details together presents a challenge. With all the people and working parts things can go wrong and family members can cause problems. Everybody prefers to have fun, stress-free wedding Peggy Sue Wells, author and mother of seven, shares a list of tips on helping the bride decide what she wants and knowing what the guests care about so families can create great memories. 

Father's day has arrived again, and sometimes I wonder if merchants and card companies created these events so in order to promote sales.  My family already celebrates each person's birthday, and Christmas, so another occasion seems excessive.  However, the Bible does tell children to honor their parents.  So early in our marriage, my husband and I decided the children would remember him on Father's Day and me on Mother's Day. That allowed them to learn creativity and thankfulness. The idea worked well. However, the Bible tells wives to "respect their husbands" and in Titus it commands older ladies to"...encourage the younger women to love their husbands..." If we respect our husband, we love him. We all know men think differently. When I get upset, I want my husband to help me process my emotions rather than fix the problem. So, what's the secret to love our husbands as God commands? I've asked my husband to answer that. Ray Simmons is a teaching elder at Grace Community Church. 

Raising boys. Despite what you hear in the media, boys and girls act differently from birth. My oldest daughter had imaginary friends who lived in the vents, and she talked over her adventures with them. She also lined up her dolls and scolded them or taught them. Pretend cooking also fascinated her and she often offered me her concoctions. My two girls came first, then I had a son. The noises he made amazed me. He loved to tell me his imaginary adventures where he overcame lions or bears. Once he had a couple brothers, they scuffled in the living room, sometimes knocking things over.  My guest today is Jonathan McKee, and he writes and speaks honestly to young people about the consequences of their choices. Jonathan offers invaluable clues to parenting boys. 

As a girl, I can remember wanting to connect with other children, but I didn't know how. Once I sat down by a girl my age and told her my name. She told me hers, and we began to play. I thought that was easy, just exchange names and then you're friends. However, as you get older the process gets more complex. When I make a friend, I want to stay in touch forever, but time and circumstances change. A friend in high school stopped writing me, and I tried so hard to faithfully send her letters anyhow. At one point, I mailed her a pretty card with an empty mail box to let her know I was sad not to hear from her, but she never responded. That broke my heart.  Kathy Collard Miller has just completed a Bible study on friendship and she offers guidance on making and keeping friends. 

As a preteen, I prayed for Mom to get the wall-to-wall carpet she longed for. Later, my parents won a contest and received carpet for their living room and dining room. Mom was thrilled, and both parents considered me an incredible prayer warrior.  I look back now and wonder if that was God's encouragement. As an adult, I've had times prayer frustrated me. I prayed so hard and cared so deeply. Why didn't God answer.  My husband, Ray Simmons, a teaching elder at our church offers answers.  The photo is an Olive tree in the Garden of Gethsemene

After spending a life time teaching them and guarding them from harm, moms must step aside and allow grown children to make choices. Terri Gillespie, mother, author, and speaker, shares how she built a friendship with her formal prodigal. 

Peggy Sue Wells, mother of seven, offers tips to mothers from her upcoming book. 

Caregiver. Women tend toward nurturing, so we usually end up with the job, but caring for a family member can be tough. Watching a loved one decline hurts, and we all have hot spots and emotional baggage after years of being in the same family.  Veteran caregiver, Deborah Keys shares tips for those considering the job and guidance for those already doing the work. Plus, learn how you can support and encourage someone in the trenches.

During the Great Awakening, many Americans took issue with the revivalists for violating the norms of the typical church service. Rebecca Price Janney shares the history of the awakening and talks about how we can avoid deception today.

Easter outranks all holidays on our calendar because we celebrate a living Savior, but bunnies and eggs offer nothing eternal. On the other hand, the Passover Seder shares many valuable insights into Christ and his sacrifice for us.

We all have to live with less-than-perfect even though we sometimes regret our actions. And often we dislike the actions of others. Linda Rondeau talks about dealing with regret.

Michelle Lazurek shares how hospitality changed her life, and she offers tips on how you can help others.

Lindsey Brackett shares from her latest novel, Still Waters. She gives hints on how we can accept our own limitations and forgive ourselves as well as others.

Suicide destroys a life and hurts everyone else. Christina Rose shares from her family's experience and gives tips for hope and prevention.

Carol McLeod shares how we can protect our hearts by watching what we think.

Sharron Cosby's son struggled with addiction for years. She guides mothers how to look after themselves, overcoming guilt and depression.

Carol McLeod shares how she found joy despite blinding heartache, and she shares how you can experience real joy, no matter what life brings. Carolmcleodministries.com

Losing both parents is traumatic even if it happens once you are grown. However, the psalmist wrote, "When my parents forsake me, the Lord will take me up." Kim de Blecourt shares they journey she walked while adopting a child from overseas, and her book shows the parallels of God adopting us into his family.