Have I told you this week how much my family loved Duck Dynasty? It was/is such a genius way to get people laughing while still instilling biblical truth and good old fashioned family values. The prayers around the table at the end of each show still get me. Today I have the privilege of chatting with Willie Robertson about all things Duck Dynasty, and it’s far past due since I’ve interviewed basically everyone in his family except for him. Willie’s stories are amazing, including how he tried to...
Apr 24, 2024•41 min•Season 1Ep. 48
Seeing as though I have a first-grader and all, empty nesting seems a lifetime away. But for so many of us it’s one of those things that sneaks up in an instant leaving us and wondering what’s next and how to parent these new adults in our lives. Jim Burns is an absolute delight and comes today with lots of practical information on how to prepare for the empty-nesting years. We discuss how women tend to cope with kids leaving home versus men, and he shares plenty of super relatable insights from...
Apr 17, 2024•43 min•Season 1Ep. 47
I hope you enjoyed the solar eclipse yesterday and the reminders of God’s majesty and power over all things on heaven and earth. Not to mention, if the stats are accurate I’m guessing you listened to Bonnie Tyler at some point during the day because. . . . why not? Her 1983 hit song, Total Eclipse of the Heart, reached number 1 on the iTunes Top Songs chart in the US during the solar eclipse yesterday. Bless our hearts for being so predictable and slightly cheesy when it comes to eclipse protoco...
Apr 10, 2024•42 min•Season 1Ep. 46
I come to you today with a slight problem. Okay, it’s a little bit bigger than slight. I’m a huge Candace Cameron Bure fan stemming back from Full House and bleeding all the way forward into the Hallmark Christmas movie era and now Great American Family Channel. Not to mention I’m obsessed with QVC and all of that makes me a HUGE Candace Cameron Bure groupie. Why is this a problem? Thanks for asking. Well she’s on today’s show and let’s say I was a lot. Like a lot too much, and she was ridiculou...
Apr 03, 2024•38 min•Season 1Ep. 45
I hope you’re taking some time this week to slow down and spend a few minutes pondering Holy Week and all that it means to your faith. My prayer is that we don’t come out on the other side of Easter the same way we went into it. I pray that the very reminder of Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice on the cross sparks a new hope in our lives, causing us to want more God in our lives than we currently have. Every year on Good Friday, my husband pulls out the ol’ “It’s Friday . . . but Sunday’s Coming” messag...
Mar 27, 2024•41 min•Season 1Ep. 44
According to the CDC, mental illnesses are the most common health conditions in the United States, with more than one in five adults suffering in some capacity. I say this not to be a downer, but to provide perspective as we consider the importance of treating ourselves well and seeking out the help we need. Laura Smith is with us today talking about her new book, Holy Care for the Whole Self . After years of counseling, she’s come to realize that the very techniques medical professionals sugges...
Mar 20, 2024•35 min•Season 1Ep. 43
I’ve had the unbelievable fortune of interviewing Bob Goff several times over the last few years, and he never disappoints. Yes, he’s an author, podcaster, philanthropist, attorney, and much more. But I think my favorite thing is how he gives the most ordinary situations a “Bob Goff spin,” showing us how to live out the gospel in ways that are simple yet profound. Today we’re discussing how he got talked into writing books and the details behind that little career pivot. He also shares some insi...
Mar 13, 2024•30 min•Season 1Ep. 42
I’m so excited to have my friend Kristen Hatton with us today. Not only is she a Licensed Professional Counselor-Associate, but she’s also a brand new empty nester with a great perspective on fostering relationships with our kids now in preparation for when they live away from our homes. We talk a lot about communication in today’s show, with Kristen highlighting several reasons why our kids may not feel safe or comfortable talking to us. Even with the best of intentions, there are things we ina...
Mar 06, 2024•37 min•Season 1Ep. 41
My name is Cynthia Yanof and I’m addicted to my phone (and my watch, and Netflix, and Diet Dr. Pepper, and Mahjong . . . . too much?) Good thing Joey Odom is with us today! We’re coming in hot with a grace-filled word for those of us all of us who need to be reminded that we can’t allow technology to trump our relationships. We’re talking about navigating our phones in a world where they are so helpful and critical, yet can also be harmful and a crutch. Joey’s thoughts on untethering ourselves f...
Feb 28, 2024•41 min•Season 1Ep. 40
Joni Eareckson Tada had a diving accident as a teenager, leaving her a quadriplegic. Since that time God has used her life in incredible ways to impact millions of people all over the globe for Jesus. Joni has an incredible word for us today on finding peace in our lives by abiding with Jesus. I don’t know about you, but I know how to spend time with Jesus, praise Jesus, and even talk about Jesus. But sometimes “abiding” with him feels complex and needs a little more explanation. Joni’s doing th...
Feb 21, 2024•29 min•Season 1Ep. 39
It’s one of those rare times where it’s just me and a mic today with no guest to be found. Be assured, I’m bringing lots of random thoughts laced with humor (and hopefully) wisdom along the way. But with the addition of lots of new listeners the last few months, I’m realizing it’s time to share some of what’s on my heart as well as how Life is Messy, God is Good came to be. We’re going to talk very practically today about building our homes on a firm foundation (Matthew 7:24-27). I’m being bruta...
Feb 14, 2024•31 min•Season 1Ep. 38
Yesterday was an incredible day and I’m so grateful for your support of Life is Messy God is Good. As we continue the push towards getting this word out, I would be so grateful if you would leave a review on Amazon (or wherever you purchased the book) as well as continue sharing on social media and recommending it to friends. Please accept my deepest and heartfelt THANK YOU! Today’s show is a continuation of our discussions with friends and family who made a cameo in my book. Darin Kinder is not...
Feb 07, 2024•40 min•Season 1Ep. 37
I’m writing to you from the airport in Dallas on my way to Nashville for book interviews. You guys, Life is Messy, God is Good is two weeks out from making its debut. YIKES! If you don’t follow me on social, be sure to do that now so you can see my fun updates. As you know, on MESSmerized we’re doing a little series called “behind the mess.” We’re bringing some folks on the show that are featured in the book, and today it’s two of my favorite people! My two older kids, Kate and Brett, are the fe...
Jan 31, 2024•36 min•Season 1Ep. 36
It’s hard to believe that we’re approaching THREE weeks until my book releases on February 6th (small panic attack as I’m typing this). In honor of the big day coming up, we’re going to do a fun series on MESSmerized the next few weeks where I interview people who are written about in the book. It’s a behind the scenes look at the ways life gets messy for so many of us, and how to find God in the midst of it. This week my dear friend Sharon Haynes is joining us. If you have not heard our story a...
Jan 17, 2024•41 min•Season 1Ep. 35
If you’re anything like me, your heart remains heavy for Israel in these days. It's hard to wrap our heads around the war, God’s bigger plan for their nation, and the hardships so many are facing in the Middle East. Knowing this, I am so excited to have JoAnn Doyle from Uncharted Ministries joining us today. She’s got an amazing perspective on Israel through the lens of someone who has been ministering to Jews and Muslims in the Middle East for many decades. While the news coming from Israel has...
Jan 10, 2024•43 min•Season 1Ep. 34
Happy New Year! 🥳🎉🥳🎉🥳🎉 (Said with my most hoarse voice confirming I do in fact have my annual January cold. 🤒) I don’t know about you, but my social media is jam-packed with everyone’s 2024 resolutions and things they are adding, things they are dropping, and ways they are going to make the most of the new year. And I applaud the ambition! That being said, I’m wondering what God would have us resolve for this new year? What is he calling us to do and how do we create enough margin to hear...
Jan 03, 2024•44 min•Season 1Ep. 33
If you’re in a post-Christmas coma, you’re not alone! Eating cookies for breakfast and watching Hallmark movies instead of entertaining your kids is fine everyone . . . we are doing our best! That being said, can I invite you to join me and two of my favorite people for a few minutes to talk about love? Yes, it’s the last week of our Advent series and love is our topic. It’s easy to see God’s unrelenting love for his people through Jesus’ life, from the manger to the cross. But how does this kin...
Dec 27, 2023•33 min•Season 1Ep. 32
When am I going to learn? Seriously, I’m 20 years into this parenting gig and still insisting on family car rides to look at Christmas lights this time of year. It’s the definition of insanity how I do it over and over again expecting a different result. In my defense, I’m envisioning a picturesque scene of hot chocolate, pj’s, and a spectacle of lights bringing warmth and joy to my family. In reality, it’s 30 minutes in purgatory in a confined space with unwilling participants yelling “don’t to...
Dec 20, 2023•27 min•Season 1Ep. 31
We’re closing in on 12 days until Christmas, and I’m guessing the whole idea of “peace” feels illusive at this point? Or maybe that’s just me. 😂😂😂 Today my dear friend Kay Wyma is joining us on our Advent journey to discuss peace. How does Christmas bring us reminders of peace, especially in a world filled with discord and stress? (Hint: Peace isn’t the absence of conflict, but replacing it with something deeper and more significant.) I especially appreciate Kay’s challenge to identify the ro...
Dec 13, 2023•33 min•Season 1Ep. 30
It’s December and the time of year when we start receiving the perfect Christmas cards in the mail at the exact time as our “friends” start posting their perfectly wrapped presents underneath their fabulously decorated Christmas trees. Sickening, am I right? Ha. 🎄📷🤢 I’m fighting my own battle against the urge to make everything look perfect by sending out quite possibly the worst Christmas card picture any family has dared to mass produce. You’re welcome, and listen to today’s show if you’re ...
Dec 06, 2023•31 min•Season 1Ep. 29
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! And busiest . . . There’s truly nothing like Christmas and the anticipation of fun activities, family gatherings, and celebrating the birth of our Savior. But there’s also the practicalities of shopping, cleaning, hosting, and wrapping that bring chaos to our lives if we aren’t super intentional. (Not to mention that JB is already burning up the speakers of my SUV with Kidz Bop Christmas. Bless it.) I’m so thankful to have Lee Cordon of Do Say Give with ...
Nov 29, 2023•44 min•Season 1Ep. 28
Happy Thanksgiving week! Are you putting up your tree this week and getting a jump on Christmas decorations? Or are you a Thanksgiving loyalist who refuses to address the Christmas chaos until after the bird is consumed? I’m a little bit of both if I’m honest. I’m dead-set on fully embracing Thanksgiving, while also wanting to soak in every single second of Christmas by kicking-off the festivities early. Wherever you land, I’m praying this week holds plenty of sweet family time for each of you, ...
Nov 20, 2023•19 min•Season 1Ep. 28
It’s National Adoption Month, and I would be remiss if I didn’t talk at least a little bit about adoption—since it has changed our lives in all of the best ways! But today we’re also talking more generally about the God-sized callings that are placed on our lives. It’s those things that God asks us to do as a step of faith and a call to obedience. For some of us it’s adoption, but for others it’s a mission trip, or a financial investment into Kingdom purposes, or even stepping into someone else’...
Nov 15, 2023•36 min•Season 1Ep. 27
Can you believe it’s the week before Thanksgiving? 🦃🍁 Here’s a little Thanksgiving tale that my family loves to bring up this time of year. A few years ago I got unreasonably ambitious and made the Pioneer Woman’s pumpkin chocolate pie recipe. Now listen, no shade on Ree as I’m sure her pie is fantastic (done correctly). But somehow I missed a step . . . and showed up to Thanksgiving with the slushiest pie one has ever seen. Not being ones to let things go, my older brothers had a field day sa...
Nov 13, 2023•15 min•Season 1Ep. 27
The day has finally come where I get to share something unbelievably exciting that’s going on in my life. And true to form, I come to you somewhere between wildly excited to share the news while also completely nerved-out because it’s vulnerable and so deeply special to me. But here we go! Drum roll please . . . . You guys, I wrote a book! It’s called Life is Messy, God is Good and it’s the biggest labor of love I’ve had the privilege of being a part of in my life. I say labor of love, because I...
Nov 08, 2023•36 min•Season 1Ep. 26
Yep, it's November and we are turning our focus to worship. If you’re anything like me, you probably think of worship as that 20 minute span of music on Sundays before the sermon. And that is part of the story for sure, but definitely not the whole story. Louie Giglio defines worship this way: It’s our response, both personal and corporate, to God for who He is and what He’s done—expressed in and by the things we say and the way we live. Take a minute to read and reread that definition and consi...
Nov 06, 2023•19 min•Season 1Ep. 26
In today’s show we’re talking about the three fundamental questions our kids are asking: Who am I? Where do I fit? What difference can I make? It doesn’t take long to realize these aren’t just questions for kids, but questions we all deal with at different points in life. Knowing this, It’s critically important we wrestle well with these core concepts of identity, belonging, and purpose—and Brad Griffin from the Fuller Youth Institute is joining us to talk about all of it. When it comes to ident...
Nov 01, 2023•40 min•Season 1Ep. 25
"I strongly suspect that if we saw all the difference even the tiniest of our prayers to God make, and all the people those little prayers were destined to affect, and the consequences of those effects down through the centuries, we would be so paralyzed with awe at the power of prayer that we would be unable to get off our knees for the rest of our lives. Peter Kreeft." - Peter Kreeft This is one of my favorite quotes on prayer, one you are probably familiar with. Wouldn’t it be amazing if we c...
Oct 30, 2023•14 min•Season 1Ep. 25
Guys . . . we have Lee Strobel on MESSmerized today! Lee Strobel is a former atheist turned Christian apologist who tackles the most common questions and objections people struggle with when it comes to faith. Spoiler alert, these obstacles involve the theology around earthly suffering as well as feeling as if God is silent. Lee references statistics indicating that belief in God is now down to 81 percent, compared to 98 percent in the 1960s. It’s with this in mind that he wrote his latest book,...
Oct 25, 2023•36 min•Season 1Ep. 24
Happy Monday everyone! I hope you’ve had a fun and relaxing weekend. Let’s kick-off this week with a keeping it real moment in our house right now (that’s also making me a wee bit crazy). JB, our 6-year-old, has suddenly decided his wake up time is somewhere around 5:45 a.m. That’s a real bad deal in and of itself; however, it’s exacerbated by the fact our teenage son gets his second wind around 11:00 p.m. every night when he’s finally willing to download his day with us. And you better believe ...
Oct 23, 2023•15 min•Season 1Ep. 24
