Who’s your favorite character in the Christmas story? Mary or Joseph? The shepherds? The wise men? Maybe even Linus from A Charlie Brown Christmas?

This Advent, discover a character you may have missed—the gentle, steady movement of the Holy Spirit, woven through every scene of Jesus’ birth.

In this episode, I’m joined by Cynthia Ruchti, author of the Advent devotional The Spirit of Christmas. Cynthia set out on a Scripture-wide adventure, asking, Where has the Holy Spirit been throughout the Old and New Testaments? What she found surprised her: the Holy Spirit is everywhere—quietly, faithfully present.

From her devotional, Cynthia writes:

"When we think of the first Christmas, we often focus on the wide-eyed young mother and her faithful fiance, on tattered shepherds and singing angels and road-weary wise men. But the Holy Spirit was there--and just as He hovered over the waters in the beginning, He hovers over every page of the Christmas Story. 

In our conversation, we explore:

If your Christmas tends to feel more chaotic than calm, this episode is your invitation to slow down and go on a treasure hunt for the Spirit of Christmas. This Advent, “open your eyes to the not-so-hidden presence of the Holy Spirit” and let His staying Presence keep you present.

“The Holy Spirit is Emmanuel who never leaves.”

"There's so much dark this time of year, in us and around us. And that's exactly the reason why our paying attention to where the Holy Spirit is in this story is what's going to make a difference as we lead up to Christmas."

"If the Holy Spirit stayed for Mary, then won't He stay for us too?"

2 Corinthians 13:14 "May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all."

🎄Cynthia's The Roles of the Holy Spirit downloadable

🎶 Cynthia's go-to grace song: Worthy of It All by CeCe Winans

Website: cynthiaruchti.com

Ep. 14 Make Room for the Quieter Voices of Christmas

🎁 My FREE gift to you: Make Room for the Quieter Voices of Christmas

The statistics on pornography are staggering—some report that one in five people view it weekly—leaving behind a hidden heartache that few are willing to talk about. For Jody Allen, author of Hidden Heartache: Finding Courage When Your Husband Struggles with Pornography, that heartache became a deeply personal reality.

In this conversation, Jody shares how she walked through shock, anger, and grief when her husband’s secret came to light—and how God met her in the middle of the mess.

We talk about:

Instead of staying silent, Jody chose to speak up so that other women would know they’re not the only ones facing this hidden battle.

Her story is raw and redemptive, showing that grace is strong enough for even the most broken stories—and that Jesus, the true Problem Solver, can bring beauty from betrayal.

Jody is an author, speaker, and women's ministry leader who isn't afraid to talk about hard realities.

“While we need to acknowledge our feelings, we can't let them be the drivers of how we manage our lives.”

"Forgiveness is not fair."

"I had to put my focus in the right place. Instead of on the problem, I had to focus on the Problem Solver. Jesus is the Problem Solver."

Ezekiel 36:26 "And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart."

Luke 8:43-48 (The Story of the Bleeding Woman)

🌿Jody Allen's Book: Hidden Heartache: Finding Courage When Your Husband Struggles with Pornography

Website: jodyallenwrites.com

Ep. 36 Don't Hoard Your Healing | Nancy Manassero

🎁 My FREE gift to you: Prayers That Change Us

Why is it often harder to show grace to those closest to us than to strangers in the grocery store? Why can it feel easier to welcome other people’s kids than our own? And what does it look like to give grace when you don’t feel like giving it?

Walking in grace can feel slow—as my guest said, "like downloading software years ago"—but it’s worth every step. Grace deepens when we take the time to walk in other people’s shoes.

In today’s conversation, Neil Matthews, host of the Other People’s Shoes podcast, shares how choosing to step into another’s story changes our perspective and practice of grace. Together, we explore what it means to say “yes” to those simple moments turned sacred—when we sit with another person right where they are.

We talk about:

When walking in grace feels hard, it may be time to remove your own shoes and choose to walk in another’s.

“There were times I'd want to give up. But then, there was that little nudge again.”

"Right now, in this moment, I have to remember that ______ is hurting too."

"Maybe God has put _______ in your path to remind _______ that grace is possible, that His love is possible."

🌿Dear Carter and Adia podcast episode

Website: opspodcast.com

Ep. 36 Don't Hoard Your Healing | Nancy Manassero

🎁 My FREE gift to you: Prayers That Change Us

What is the worst thing you don't think you could survive? In this deeply tender and vulnerable conversation, licensed therapist, speaker, and author Kimberly Haar shares her story of grace, forgiveness, and healing after surviving violence and a life-altering tragedy, drawing from her book Healing from Life’s Deepest Hurts.

After enduring unimaginable loss, Kim learned to dance again with the Creator of the Universe as God’s grace met her with open arms. She shares her journey from traumatic assault and kidnapping to the sacred dance of surrender and trust while meeting God under a pergola. With honesty and raw hope, we explore how God's grace meets us in our deepest pain and gently leads us toward restoration, purpose, and joy.

In this episode, we talk about: 

If you’ve ever wondered how to find grace after tragedy, this conversation is a powerful reminder that God meets you right where you are—and restores beauty from brokenness.

"With God, no story is too shattered to be rewritten, and no life too broken to be beautifully restored." Kimberly Haar

⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussion of traumatic assault, and deep loss. Please listen with care.

“Jesus never asks us to do something he hasn't modeled first.”

"When God picks up the pieces, He restores better than it ever was to begin with."

"God doesn't have any favorites. He doesn't have any stepchildren or foster children. We all have His love, and He says to all of us: You are my favorite."

Zephaniah 3:17 "For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a Mighty Savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With His love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs."

The Story of Naomi in the Book of Ruth

Psalm 34:18 "The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed."

🌿Kimberly Haar's Book: Healing From Life's Deepest Hurts

Website: kimberlyhaar.com

Ep. 36 Don't Hoard Your Healing | Nancy Manassero

🎁 My FREE gift to you: Prayers That Change Us

Have you ever been chased by grace or marked by love? In this powerful episode, Chased by Grace, Marked by Love, Crystal Mayo shares how a burn while pulling a pizza from the oven left her with a heart-shaped scar—one that became a tangible reminder of God’s relentless love. From that moment on, she began noticing hearts everywhere—on leaves, in strawberries, even in the clouds—as if grace itself was chasing her down.

Years earlier, Crystal had survived a massive stroke at just 38 years old, an experience that began reshaping how she understood identity, purpose, and God’s presence in suffering.

Before her stroke, Crystal found her identity in achievement—planning events, serving tirelessly, and striving to get everything right. Though she knew God’s love in her head, she often found her worth in ministry performance rather than intimacy with the Master Himself. Her stroke brought all of that to a halt and began a new journey: one from working for God to walking with Him.

In our conversation, we chat about:

If you’ve ever struggled with your identity, battled burnout, or wondered who you are beyond what you do, this episode will remind you of the relentless love that chases you down and marks you as His.

“I heard four words. He said, 'I will restore you.' Those four words became a lifeline.”

“Through the pain and the scars I will be with you."

“In our hard moments, there is Jesus. We can cling to the hem of his garment. We can choose to be like I was and hold it all in or we can reach out to Him.”

Luke 8:43-48 (The woman with the bleeding issue)

🌿 Stroke Awareness with Free Download

Website: crystalhmayo.com

Ep. 25 Divine Detour and Deepened Faith | Lori Ann Wood

🎁 My FREE gift to you: Prayers That Change Us

Parenting a child with special needs can feel like a never-ending balancing act—one that often leads to exhaustion, comparison, and guilt. But what if grace met you right in the middle of it all? Author and speaker Becky Beresford joins Living the Grace Life to talk about finding God’s presence in the chaos and surrendering the pressure to be everything for everyone.

In this honest and hope-filled conversation, Becky shares how she’s learning to draw on God’s strength rather than her own through the challenges of special needs parenting, including:

Becky, author of She Believed He Could So She Did, lives in North Carolina with her husband and three boys. With a background in spiritual formation and discipleship, she helps women experience freedom and strength in God’s grace—right where they are.

If you’ve ever wondered whether God sees you in the midst of your caregiving chaos, this episode is a reminder that He’s right there in the room with you. Grace for you. Grace for them.

“I'm not the Savior of my own story. Or my husband's or my children's. I had to let go and let God be God to them in order to experience God's grace.”

“I'm constantly carrying too much and I have to lay it all down again and again."

“It's okay to meet Christ in the cracks of life.”

John 21 (Peter's walk along the beach with Jesus)

🌿 The Brave Woman Manifesto

Website: beckyberesford.com

Ep. 13 I Didn't Sign Up for This: Resting in God's Goodness | Sarah Frazer

🎁 My FREE gift to you: Prayers That Change Us

Why, God? Why didn’t You answer our prayers? How could You let this happen after everything we’ve been through? Do You know how much this hurts?

Ashley Opliger has wrestled with these same questions in the depths of miscarriage, loss, and grief. Yet through it all, she found the steady presence of God’s grace and hope.

Ashley is the author of the USA Today bestselling book Cradled in Hope and the founder and CEO of Bridget’s Cradles, a national nonprofit that has brought comfort and healing to more than 30,000 bereaved families in 1,600 hospitals across all 50 states. She is a compassionate friend to anyone walking through the heartbreak of pregnancy loss, grief, or the death of a loved one.

In this heartfelt conversation, Ashley shares how she has learned to grieve with hope and trust God in the hardest places:

Though we were not made for this broken world, grief will touch every life. Listen in as Ashley’s story offers real grace, healing, and hope for anyone navigating miscarriage, loss, or the sting of death.

“We need to extend the same grace to ourselves we would extend to someone else if they were telling us their story.”

“Most of the time, the things that come across as insensitive are well-intended, but poorly delivered."

“The sting of death is awful. But that's the point. That's why Jesus came as a sacrifice, so he could overcome it.”

🌿Holding Onto Love After You've Lost a Baby by Gary Chapman and Candy McVicar

Website: ashleyopliger.com

Ep. 46 Embracing Grace: A Summer in the Psalms | Psalm 27

🎁 My FREE gift to you: Prayers That Change Us

October is Dyslexia Awareness Month. What is dyslexia, really? Far beyond “seeing letters backwards,” dyslexia is a lifelong learning difference as a result of how the brain processes language, making reading, spelling, and decoding more challenging. Dyslexia affects 1 in 5 people and is often misunderstood, yet with the right tools, strategies, and grace, students can thrive.

In this episode, I sit down with my son, Ethan Sakata, who was diagnosed with dyslexia at the end of fifth grade. Together, we reflect on his journey, including three years of intensive tutoring through the Barton Reading and Spelling System, the challenges of learning to read, and the victories that came with persistence, mistakes, and grace.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

If you’re a parent, teacher, or student with questions about dyslexia, or if you’ve ever felt like you don’t learn like everyone else, this conversation is for you. Ethan’s story reminds you that even when grace feels hard to come by, God is at work, strengthening and shaping you along the way.

“There wasn't anything about decoding words that came naturally to me. I had to think about every single part of the proccess."

“Less is more when it comes to words for dyslexics.”

"Mistakes helped me identify either places I needed more practice for that tool or a new tool altogether."

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord, "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future."

🌿Barton Reading and Spelling System

Sophia’s Fight SongYouTube created by a 5th-grade girl with dyslexia

Overcoming Dyslexia by Sally Shaywitz

Ep. 50 5 Grace Takeaways that Still Stick | Jennifer Sakata

🎁 My FREE gift to you: Prayers That Change Us

Are you in the sandwich season--raising kids while also caring for aging parents? The pressure, confusion, guilt, and overwhelm can feel crushing when family and business collide with life-altering health needs. Where does grace fit in when you’re being pulled in every direction?

That’s the journey of my guest, Ruthie Gray--wife, GenX mom, 15-year caregiver, and author of Empty Nest Awakening: Weaving the Threads of Your Passion into Purpose. A self-proclaimed “juggler of generations,” Ruthie shares wisdom, peace, and joy for moms navigating multigenerational caregiving.

In this episode of Living the Grace Life, Ruthie and I talk about:

Don’t miss Ruthie’s story of how a small act of kindness for her mom became a powerful reminder of God’s grace in her own life.

If you’ve ever struggled to find peace in multigenerational mayhem, this conversation will encourage you with real grace for your real life in the sandwich season.

“I should have asked for help earlier.”

“This is your life now. It's what's right in front of you."

“When you're taking care of your mind and body, you're actually showing love for the people you're caring for. Because an unhealthy person and an unhealthy mind is an unhealthy caregiver and that has ripple effects on the people you love.”

🌿Peaceful Mom Collection 

Website: ruthiegray.com

Ep. 52 Chasing Grace | Carol McLeod

🎁 My FREE gift to you: Prayers That Change Us

Website | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook

Where do you need grace most in your day? Maybe it’s in the checkout line behind a slow customer, on the road with drivers who forget the rules, or more deeply, as you wrestle with identity shaped by your past choices—or the choices of others. The good news of the Gospel is this: God’s grace cleans the messy past and frees you to reflect God's love today.

In this week’s Living the Grace Life episode, James Early—host of The Bible Speaks to You podcast—shares how to experience grace in everyday life and relationships. Growing up in a Christian home gave James early exposure to Scripture, but he soon learned that reading the Bible required living it out—especially when it came to loving his own brother.

Together, we explore:

James’ prison ministry and the transformation that comes from reading the Bible personally

How church division and a health scare revealed God’s surprising work through grace

The mindset and ongoing process of grace

Why your identity must be rooted in the image of Christ, not your past

The unexpected places grace grows: in gratitude and in encouraging others

If you’ve ever struggled to love the person right in front of you—or felt stuck in the mud of past mistakes—this conversation will remind you that grace is not only possible, it’s already yours in Christ. Grace for you. Grace for them. Grace for today.

👉 Listen now and discover how God’s grace cleans the messy past and creates space for new life.

“Your past does not define you. Your sin does not define you. They're not your identity. God is the only one who defines your true identity.”

“We were created by God to receive love and to give love."

“God said to me. 'Love that person with my love. Watch me love them. And love them like that, in my image and in my likeness.'”

🌿Personalized page for Living the Grace Life Listeners

Website: thebiblespeakstoyou.com

Ep. 40 Be Still and Be Loved | Michael John Cusick

🎁 My FREE gift to you: Living the Grace Life, One Prayer at a Time

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