Merry Christmas Y’all! I know as this episode drops it Thanksgiving week but since Thanksgiving is so late this year, I wanted to get a head start on Christmas! I’ve got my tree up already so I can enjoy it longer and I’m not sad about that at all! Another reason I wanted to go ahead and release this episode is because I’m sharing some Christmas traditions, and you may want to implement some of these ideas into your own family and might need a little time to prepare. So, I’m going to share a little research, a few fun and meaningful Christmas traditions and some fun Christmas stories as well as something we did when our family was grieving and having a hard time wanting to celebrate the holiday at all that helped a lot.

You wouldn't think a breast cancer diagnosis would lead a couple into a marriage that was more joyful than they could have ever imagined, but that's what happened with Glen and Kelly Daigle. They had both been married before they met and were ready for a fresh start, having each gone through difficulties with drugs and alcohol. Glen had recently finished a self-admitted time in rehab for alcohol addiction and Kelly was looking for a man who'd been married, didn't have children and loved the Lord. Since Glen met all three requirements they dated and eventually married. But everything wasn't all rainbows and hearts.

Have you ever had a life changing moment? A tragedy, unexpected diagnosis or sudden loss that left you feeling alone, confused or in despair, wondering what to do next? When Wendy Rickard's husband fell into a utility area, dropping twenty feet on his head, she began to question God. He survived, but his brain injury meant her family lost the father and husband they depended on for everything. Their family of four imploded.

Y’all, I’ve had Sophie Hudson on my bucket list of guests since before I started the podcast! She’s the co-host, along with Melanie Shankle, of the Big Boo Cast podcast as well as the voice of the BooMama blog (she shares in this episode how that name came to be!) and author of several of my favorite books. She’s a southern girl from Alabama who loves her family and her football but mostly she loves Jesus. Her books include A Little Salty to Cut the Sweet, Home is Where My People Are and Giddy Up Eunice. And she recently released her newest book, A Fine Sight to See: Leading Because Your Were Made for It, where she shares how it empowers women to embrace their God-given roles as leaders and serve with boldness, both inside and outside the church. She was such a delight to talk to and has such a heart for women! I know you’re going to enjoy listening to our conversation and love Sophie as much as I do!

You wouldn't expect a bout with breast cancer and a heart transplant would lead to a better marriage, but that's exactly what happened for Anthony and Mary Mabry. In 2018, before Mary's breast cancer diagnosis, their marriage was difficult. But Anthony was there for Mary through six rounds of chemo, losing her hair, a double mastectomy and 20 rounds of radiation. Finally, she was cancer free, and they were ready to move on with their lives. But their marriage still wasn't great. Then the tables were turned in 2020 when Anthony discovered he'd been having silent heart attacks for over six months, and he was put on the transplant list. Something neither of them had seen coming even though a heart attack had taken one of Anthony's brothers a few years earlier. After 48 days in a hospital two hours away from home, Anthony was finally sent home with an electric device to keep his heart working. However, the device was only supposed to work for a year. But God showed up over and over again in their story as He provided one miracle after another as they navigated the difficult journey, waiting 2-1/2 years before finally receiving a heart and kidney transplant.

Today I believe we are seeing evil unleashed in our nation like never before. We are forced to accept things that God calls evil and say we should let everyone have their own truth, but then are forced to go along with it. There are many around the country standing for truth in different arenas. I see my good friend, Marcia Moston, as a member of the local library board battling for the children of our county who are being exposed to literature that isn’t appropriate for adults, much less children. Then being lied about in public, telling others she is banning books. Friend, find out the truth before giving into those lies. Her goal is only to move inappropriate materials out of the children’s section and into the adult section. As responsible parents, I would hope every one of us would agree with Marcia’s position, and others like her, and advocate for them. Please pray for Marcia and those in stations of influence as the radical left is relentless in their pursuit. If you want to learn more about this issue, I’ll have a link to Marcia’s episode in my show notes.

George Carneal grew up in the ’70s, raised by a Southern Baptist minister in the ultra-conservative Bible Belt where his world revolved around the church, country fried chicken and trying to fit in with other boys. As disco music pulsated through the speakers in his bedroom, he plotted his escape from the misery and boredom of Southern suburbia before landing in Los Angeles; a city of glitz and hedonism. Much like Alice as she traveled through the looking glass, this is George's journey through a queer culture fantasyland filled with drag queens, drugs and dangerous situations before discovering healing, joy and peace in Christ. In this episode, George, author of the book From Queer to Christ, shares his painful journey through a secular world at odds with homosexuality, in addition to a religious world that is hostile to homosexuals.

Mart is such a down-to-earth guy who happily shares the secret to Hobby Lobby’s success. I loved hearing the fun and practical ways Mart and his family celebrate each other and minister to those around them. Money isn’t the only way to bless people and Mart makes that clear in the examples he gives. He also shares about the new book he has coming out, co-authored with David Bowden, Learning to be Loved: The Everyday Believer's Guide to a Rich Relationship with God, a transformative guide that will help families strengthen their relationships with God together. Mart also shares several vulnerable stories in this book, including how he had unintentionally hurt his family and through that experience learned the importance of emotional trust. And he talks about the freedom his wife gained after learning to forgive her parents. Both of these stories took time for them to heal before they felt comfortable enough to share, but they know God can use their stories to help others draw closer to Him.

The Forge movie is a bold, inspirational drama about the power of discipleship that takes place in the same cinematic world as WAR ROOM, their 2015 hit film that claimed a rare A+ Cinema Score starring fan favorite Priscilla Shirer. Stephen also shares what it was like growing up with his two brothers and why they started making movies, how their father had prayed his sons would work together and what it's like working with family. Their hope for this new movie is it will help create disciples for Jesus all over the world.