CrossCurrent Podcasts

Books are so much more than just a collection of words. They are lanterns that illuminate our lives in so many incredible ways.

Today, I want to share a story with you about a group of women who also believed in the power of books to transform lives. So much so, that they were willing to endure quite a lot of hardship to get books into the hands of people who otherwise wouldn’t have had access to them during a difficult period of American history. 

In this episode, I’m talking with Caroline Starr Rose, author of our newest Waxwing Books release, Books Up the Mountain: A Packhorse Librarian Story. Caroline is an author and editor of middle grade and picture books, and in our conversation she talks about the real-life program that inspired Books Up the Mountain, the scavenger hunt process of researching historical fiction, and writing stories that honor children and their experiences.

In this episode, you’ll hear: 

• About the Great Depression-era librarians whose work and communities inspired Caroline to create The Book Woman
• Why Caroline finds writing for children such lifegiving and compelling work 
• The challenges presented by writing historical novels versus picture books, and what makes “picture book alchemy”

Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie:

• Read-Aloud Revival
• Waxwing Books
• Subscribe to the Newsletter

Find the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/becoming-a-book-woman

Based on his book Making Your Marriage a Fortress, Gary Thomas helps couples anticipate and weather the inevitable storms of life. He says that they can grow closer to each other and God through these experiences. He provides encouragement and hope for couples who are currently struggling, as well as offering a preparatory warning to couples who haven’t yet faced a crisis and need to know that such crises are inevitable.
Receive a copy of the Helping Kids Through Life’s Changes bundle and an audio download of "Making Your Marriage a Fortress" for your donation of any amount! Plus, receive member-exclusive benefits when you make a recurring gift today. Your monthly support helps families thrive.
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Do you have a story or comment on how Focus on the Family impacted you or your family? Leave a message for Jim Daly! 
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After working as Nixon's "hatchet man," Chuck Colson was transformed through Christ while in prison. 

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Download the Colson Educators app today on the Apple App Store or Google Play.

Little by little

Exodus 23:27-30

Here we have the Israelites moving through the wilderness and received the hopeful promise of a land they would possess.

But it would not come at the snap of God's fingers. It wouldn't even come in a year. It would be a gradual process. Little by little.

There are very practical reasons for this:

- If the land were cleared of its inhabitants immediately, the lack of human maintenance would cause crops to fail and the land to quickly revert to wilderness…oh great, more wilderness!

- With vast, uninhabited, and uncultivated territories, predators and wild beasts would multiply and pose a severe physical threat to the Israelites and their livestock.

- The phrase "little by little" highlights God's method of preparing His people. He gives them time to increase in numbers, become organized, and learn how to manage and care for their new inheritance.

For you mothers and fathers out there, think about the preparation and planning that takes place in those 9 months of pregnancy. Not only buying and receiving baby items but the preparation of your hearts and a 9 month course in maturity as you wait for this gift from the Lord.

As each of us prepares to give birth to our book babies, there is a process God takes us through. Little by little He molds and shapes us. We grow as Kingdom Writers one hard earned sentence at a time.

Yes, there are moments when we wish we could snap our fingers and have the book published. But we would miss out on so much and wouldn't be prepared if put in that position so quickly.

Just as the Israelites wanted to possess the land immediately, people often desire instant answers, success, or perfection. These verses remind us that "little by little" growth protects us from being overwhelmed by blessings or situations they are not yet equipped to handle.

What are some examples of "wild animals" that could become too numerous in our lives if not for the little by little process God takes us through in life and with our books?

(Pride, self-sufficiency, overwhelm with new responsibilities, lack of structure in place, worshiping success, etc).

I see one other glaring reason I think the Lord gives His people this "little by little" strategy: He wants us to rely upon Him every step of the way. If we got everything we wanted in an instant, we would be so prone to living our lives as if to say, "Ok God, I'm good to go! I'll let you know if I need anything else."

Maybe the Lord has given you a vision of a promised land to come. If so, embrace the "little by little" process He has for you. It will be worth the wait.

Resources:

If you're ready to take a step of faith and finally finish your book, we have a few ways we can help you.

1. Free Writing Week Challenge: Create a Writing Habit in 15 Minutes a Day

Even if you feel overwhelmed or stuck in procrastination, sitting down to write for just 15 minutes a day is the best way to finally reach your writing goals. Most writers think they need hours of uninterrupted time to make progress in their writing. However, in this free challenge, we will show you how much you can accomplish in just 15 minutes of focused writing.

Click here to create a consistent writing habit this week.

2. Book Writing Lab Workshop - Map Out Your Book in Just 90 Minutes

If over the last year, you've struggled to get your book written, this workshop is for you. Choose your book topic, write an outline, and create a writing plan in just 90 minutes! Finally, feel confident that you will actually finish your book.

Get started now for just $27</

All the Lives You Can Change: Effective Altruism for Christians (William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2026) is a practical guide for Christians who want their compassion, generosity and service to create meaningful change in the world. The book asks readers to look beyond good intentions and consider which choices can make the greatest difference in the lives of others.

The authors introduce effective altruism, an evidence-based approach to doing the most good, through a Christian framework. They connect careful reasoning, measurable outcomes and thoughtful stewardship with the biblical commands to love God and love our neighbors.

Drawing from Scripture, research and nonprofit experience, the book explores how Christians can give more wisely, choose careers with greater impact and direct their time, money and influence toward urgent global needs. It also encourages readers to expand their understanding of who counts as a neighbor, including people who may be distant, unfamiliar or easy to overlook.

Key Ideas:

One of the strongest ideas from the conversation is that Christian love should be centered on the person receiving help, not only on the intentions of the person giving it. Careful reasoning can help Christians become wiser stewards while taking Jesus’s command to love our neighbors seriously. If you read the book, you’ll learn practical ways to move beyond feeling overwhelmed with giving of your resources and focus on where your choices can create genuine change.

Angela Marie Hutchinson is the author of “Create Your Yes! When You Keep Hearing No,” named a Forbes No. 4 book to advance your career. She is a podcast host for New Books Network, where she leads conversations for the neuroscience and Christianity channels. Hutchinson is also a talent and intellectual property executive, former social media professor and BBC commentator. She resides in Los Angeles with her husband and three children.

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What if the next level of your business and faith begins when you stop trying to control everything?

In this conversation, Kurt Luidhardt talks with Matt Fagioli, serial entrepreneur, bestselling author, and founder of Certain Success.

Matt shares how a difficult season of business and relationship failures led to a powerful encounter with God in a hotel room in Rome and eventually inspired his book, Dirty Disciple.

Matt explains why financial freedom alone often feels incomplete, what it means to surrender your plans to God, and how entrepreneurs can build businesses around faith, mission, and meaningful impact.

He also discusses how virtual events can help purpose-driven leaders reach the right audience, establish trust, and sell higher-value offers without relying on large in-person conferences.

The conversation also explores the difference between webinars and multi-day virtual events, why credibility matters more than celebrity speakers, and how artificial intelligence may reshape jobs and creativity. Matt encourages business leaders to develop a deeper relationship with God, trust their intuition, and move toward the work they feel called to do.

If you are a Christian entrepreneur, author, coach, consultant, or purpose-driven leader who wants to grow your impact without losing sight of your faith, this episode is for you.

00:00 Intro

01:46 Matt’s Encounter With God in Rome

03:14 How Failure Can Lead to a Deeper Faith

04:12 Moving Beyond Surface-Level Christianity

06:12 From Chasing Money to Building a Mission

08:17 Why True Freedom Requires Surrender

09:33 The Story Behind Dirty Disciple

12:10 Building a Business Around Faith and Impact

14:31 Why Virtual Events Are So Powerful

16:57 What Makes a Virtual Event Successful

21:51 Why You May Not Need Celebrity Speakers

23:12 Are Virtual Events Replacing Live Conferences?

25:43 Webinars vs. Multi-Day Virtual Events

32:16 How AI Will Change Work and Creativity

35:17 Lightning Round

Resources Mentioned

Dirty Disciple by Matt Fagioli

Certain Success Podcast 

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Former teachers Sue Acuna and Cynthia Tobias explain the changes middle schoolers experience and their inner struggles. They’ll share advice for parents navigating their children’s transition to middle school. Hear advice for communicating with middle schoolers, dealing with their doubts and questions about God, and adapting as they grow.
Receive a copy of the Helping Kids Through Life’s Changes bundle and an audio download of "Middle School: The Inside Story" for your donation of any amount! Plus, receive member-exclusive benefits when you make a recurring gift today. Your monthly support helps families thrive.
Get more episode resources
Do you have a story or comment on how Focus on the Family impacted you or your family? Leave a message for Jim Daly! 
If you enjoyed listening to Focus on the Family with Jim Daly, please give us your feedback.

Mayor Mamdani's plan for city-run grocery stores versus the American citizen.

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Start Truth Rising: The Study for free today at colsoncenter.org/study.