Living the Grace Life

Do you ever struggle to receive something so incredibly good because you feel like it’s too much—or that you don’t deserve it?

In this powerful Part 2 conversation, Kim Tschirret, founder and CEO of Hope Reins, a 38-acre ranch in Raleigh, NC, reminds us of a life-altering truth: Grace honors the try. Not perfection. Not performance. Just the courage to keep showing up.

Kim shares what it means to live with open hands in the middle of trauma, uncertainty, and fear—and how grace welcomes God’s presence in our imperfection.

What it means to be trauma-informed—and why asking “What happened to you?” changes everything.

The heartbreaking mental health crisis facing kids today.

How to journey from worry to trust—and back again, when worry takes over.

Why gratitude is more than a feeling—it’s a powerful affirmation of God’s sovereignty and goodness.

You’ll also hear the unforgettable story of a young girl whose trauma stole her security—and the blind horse named Joey who helped her find her voice.

Don’t miss the moment Kim realized God had a gift just for her. Selah.

“I don't control because I think I'm right. I control for safety... It's that [fear] of what might happen.”

“Healing can't happen without trust.”

"When I look for Him and live my life with gratitude, I realize God is sovereign and in control. I don't need to be. I'm safe."

“Keeping my eyes open to what He's doing helps me because I see Him working.”

Grace doesn’t demand you to get it all right. Grace simply honors the try.

🎧 Listen now, and share this conversation with someone who needs a reminder that they are not alone—and they are not beyond grace.

🌿 Download your FREE digital copy of Jennifer Bleakley's Joey here

Website: HopeReins.org

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

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Complete show notes here

Did you ever dream of having a horse as a kid? For Kim Tschirret, that dream became a lifeline—and later, a powerful ministry. Kim believes horses, mentors, and Jesus form a life-changing "trifecta" for kids facing today’s mental health crisis. What started as a childhood refuge became a surprising on-ramp to grace, healing & growth.

Growing up in an alcoholic home, Kim found peace and safety with her horse, Country. “The barn was my one safe place,” she recalls. As an adult, she chased performance over self-destruction, only to find herself burned out and empty. Even after meeting Jesus, Kim realized she was still living for approval—transferring her father wounds onto her relationship with God.

In this episode, Kim shares:

🧠 What horses can teach us about trust, communication, boundaries, and leadership

Today, Kim is the founder of Hope Reins, a ranch where rescued horses and hurting kids experience healing together. Her journey has been featured in national media and told in the bestselling book Joey, written by Jennifer Bleakley.

Join us for a grace-filled conversation on the healing power of horses, the freedom found in letting go of performance, and the deep hope we have in Christ.

Listen now and be encouraged—grace, healing & growth meet us in the most unexpected places.

Grace Quotes from Kim Tschirret:

💬 “God doesn't waste anything.”

🌿 Download your FREE digital copy of Jennifer Bleakley's Joey here

Website: HopeReins.org

Instagram: @HopeReinsNC

Facebook: @HopeReinsNC

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

Website | Instagram | Facebook

Complete show notes here

"Don't hoard your healing."

In this powerful Part 2 episode, Nancy Manassero shares the courageous continuation of her story—how a gentle prompting from God led her to do the unthinkable: forgive the father who had raped her nearly 60 years earlier.

Nancy, author of Heartmending: God Can Heal Your Heartbreak from Sexual Abuse, opens up about her journey through deep trauma into deeper grace. Drawing inspiration from Kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold, Nancy beautifully illustrates how God’s grace not only restores, but transforms—turning scars into sacred strength.

The neuroscience of healing and how the brain processes trauma

The two life-giving truths Nancy anchored herself to as she began to heal

Why true healing moves from the inside out

What soul care looks like during a lifelong journey of forgiveness

Nancy’s story is a powerful reminder that healing isn’t meant to be hidden—it’s meant to be shared. And when we do, grace multiplies.

Nancy met Jesus alongside her husband Tom at Swiss L’Abri during their extended honeymoon through Europe. She’s a mom of two adult daughters, “Jama” to six grandkids, and a retired RN with a heart for missions, having served with Mercy Ships in Africa and in post-earthquake Haiti.

💬 "Don't hoard your healing."

🌿 Read Heartmending: God can heal your heartbreak from sexual abuse

Website: nancymanassero.com

Instagram: @nancyannmanassero

Facebook: @nancymanasseroauthor

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

Website | Instagram | Facebook

Complete show notes here

What happens when grace meets the deepest wounds of sexual trauma?

In this powerful episode of Living the Grace Life, my guest Nancy Manassero shares her incredible journey of healing from sexual abuse through the redemptive grace of Jesus. During an extended honeymoon trip through Europe, Nancy and her husband Tom encountered the transformative ministry of Swiss L'Abri, where their faith in Christ was born. But they had no idea that this new path would one day collide with unimaginable trauma.

Nancy, a retired nurse and author of Heartmending: God Can Heal Your Heartbreak from Sexual Abuse, opens up about the night her life changed forever—when a moment meant for fatherly celebration turned into a devastating violation. Her story is raw, redemptive, and rooted in the truth of God’s grace.

We explore themes of:

Forgiveness after sexual abuse

Dispelling the myths of forgiveness

Breaking free from negative thought loops

Finding healing through Christian community and “one anothering”

The lifelong process of heartmending and truth-telling

Nancy believes, “Forgiveness is the epitome of healing.” Her story shows that God’s grace can reach even the most broken places—not only for the survivor, but even for the abuser.

If you’ve wrestled with pain, shame, or silence from past trauma, this episode offers hope, truth, and companionship on the journey toward healing.

🎧 Tune in now and take your next step in living the grace life.

💬 "Forgiveness is the epitome of healing."

🌿 Read Heartmending: God can heal your heartbreak from sexual abuse

Website: nancymanassero.com

Instagram: @nancyannmanassero

Facebook: @nancymanasseroauthor

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

Website | Instagram | Facebook

Complete show notes here

Can you trust God when His answer is no? What about when He says yes? In part 2 of our desperate prayers conversation, Rachel Wojo, author of Desperate Prayers: Embracing the Power of Prayer in Life’s Darkest Moments, shares how she has lived through both.

After losing her adult special needs daughter, Rachel had to tell her own heart: “I did not die.” God still had a purpose for her life—even in the pain.

✅ How to keep trusting God when prayers feel unanswered

Rachel also shares a mysterious gift from God—left under the green balance beam in her backyard. And don’t miss what’s bringing her joy these days—it might just make you laugh, too!

Rachel is a public speaker, podcaster, and passionate follower of Jesus who reminds us that God is the same whether we get the outcome we want or not. And He can be trusted with our surrender.

💬 "I had to say to my own heart, I did not die. God still has a plan and a purpose for me."

🎧 Listen now and discover how to trust God on both sides of desperate prayers!

📖 Genesis 16 — The Angel of the Lord found Hagar in the wilderness. God finds us too, in our seasons of wilderness.

🌿 Rachel's FREE Guide: How to Be a Prayer Warrior for Your Family in Dark Times

Website: rachelwojo.com

Instagram: @rachelwojo

Facebook Group: Rachel Wojo Author

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

Website | Instagram | Facebook

Complete show notes here

What Happens When the White Picket Fence Comes Crashing Down?

Where do you turn when blindsided by heartache? When the "Big D's" — discouragement, divorce, depression, disease, and death — infiltrated Rachel Wojo's life, she dug deep for a faith that was real. She was desperate for more than a borrowed belief; she needed to know God was real.

"I needed to know that God was real, that he was with me, and that this wasn't a farce... I needed to know that there was something more, a deeper love, that God had a plan and a purpose for my life."

In this part 1 of a 2-part conversation, Rachel Wojo, author of Desperate Prayers: Embracing the Power of Prayer in Life's Darkest Moments, shares how prayer became her "first pick, not the final straw." A public speaker, podcaster, and passionate follower of Jesus, Rachel's journey is marked by profound loss: losing her mother to leukemia, her special needs daughter to a rare neurological disease, and her father to illness. Yet, through it all, her faith shines, and God's grace flourishes through prayer.

The impact of 3-word desperate prayers

Why sometimes God's protection looks like a limp

How to drop "prayer perfectionism"

Biblical desperados whose stories teach surrender and the power of desperate prayers

The pivotal choice we make at rock-bottom moments

Just like the oxygen mask rule on airplanes, we must fill our souls before we can help others. Prayer isn't about polished words; it's a soul-saving lifeline that moves us from stiff-arming God to keeping short accounts that welcome His grace.

💬 "I stiff-armed God. I wanted Him close enough to help if needed, but I was angry too."

📖 Genesis 32:22-32 — Jacob wrestles with God, left with a limp and a blessing while leaning on the chest of the Father.

🌿 Rachel's FREE Guide: How to Be a Prayer Warrior for Your Family in Dark Times

Website: rachelwojo.com

Instagram: @rachelwojo

Facebook Group: Rachel Wojo Author

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

Website | Instagram | Facebook

Complete show notes here

Welcome back to Living the Grace Life! In this episode, we're diving deep into Psalm 23 for this month's Grace Prayer Tuesday. If you’ve ever felt you needed to have the perfect words to pray, let this episode be a breath of fresh air. We’re exploring how prayer is more about conversation with God than getting the words right.

God Supplies the Words: We don't have to worry about saying the right thing when we pray. Through scripture, especially Psalm 23, we learn that God provides the words and meets us where we are.

The Good Shepherd's Care: Inspired by A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by Philip Keller, we reflect on how the quality of life for a flock is completely dependent on the shepherd's meticulous care. The same is true for us.

From Talking to Embracing: In verse 4 of Psalm 23, David shifts from talking about God to personally embracing Him. We explore how this reflects our own vulnerability in prayer.

Anointing with Purpose: Anointing isn’t just a serene, gentle act; it's a messy but necessary process for protection and healing. We share how this applies to our everyday lives.

Breath Prayer Practice: Inspired by Summer Joy Gross's book The Emmanuel Promise, we practice a breath prayer based on Psalm 23:5, repeating phrases to calm our hearts and build a deeper attachment to God.

Inhale: "You prepare a feast for me."

Exhale: "In the presence of my enemies."

Inhale: "You honor me by anointing my head with oil."

Exhale: "My cup overflows with blessings."

A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by Philip Keller

The Emmanuel Promise by Summer Joy Gross

I can’t wait for you to hear from my friend Rachel Wojo, author of Desperate Prayers. She shares incredible stories of how God met her in the deepest, most difficult places with tremendous hope.

I’m deeply grateful for your reviews and ratings – they’re helping Living the Grace Life reach a wider audience. If you haven’t already, please consider rating and reviewing the show. And if this episode encouraged you, share it with a friend!

Until next time, remember to live the Grace Life generously – grace for you, grace for them.

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

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In this week's Part 2 episode, we continue our conversation on attachment styles and faith with Summer Joy Gross, author of The Emmanuel Promise. We explore how our early relational patterns influence our connection with God and others. If you missed last week’s episode on secure and insecure attachment styles, go back and listen to Ep. 30, Growing Secure Attachment with God first!

Today, we talk about repentance, reframing it as a response to God’s relentless love rather than a guilt-driven obligation. Using the parable of the prodigal son, we discuss how grace, healing, and connection with God are always available—no matter our past.

We also share practical spiritual practices for deepening attachment with God, including Lectio Divina, sensory tools, and daily rhythms to cultivate awareness of His presence. Stick around until the end, as Summer leads a guided Lectio Divina to help you experience God’s love in a fresh way.

✅ Understanding secure vs. insecure attachment and how it impacts our relationship with God and others

🎧 Tune in now to discover how God is attentive, responsive, and engaged in your life—inviting you into deeper, secure attachment with Him. And remember to live the grace life generously, friend. Grace for you. Grace for them.

💬 "God is running towards us before we even have a chance to get the words out."

📖 Luke 15:11-31 – God comes running before we even have a chance to get the words out. 

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

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Do you remember your first three years of life? Even if you don’t, your body, mind, and soul do. Whether or not you experienced secure attachment shapes how you connect with others—and even how you relate to God.

In this episode of Living the Grace Life, we welcome Summer Joy Gross, author of The Emmanuel Promise, who has guided hundreds of people toward secure attachment with God. Raised by amazing parents, Summer still wrestled with a fear of abandonment and the deep question: Am I truly desired?

🔹 The four attachment styles and how they affect your faith and relationships

Summer also unpacks the concept of "earned secure attachment," a powerful process of rewiring neural pathways for meaningful, lasting connection. Through God’s grace and love, true healing and restoration are possible.

🎧 Tune in now to discover how God is attentive, responsive, and engaged in your life—inviting you into deeper, secure attachment with Him. And remember to live the grace life generously, friend. Grace for you. Grace for them.

💬 "The God and Creator of the Universe has given His full, undivided attention to you."

📖 Exodus 3:7-8 – God sees our suffering and responds with deliverance

The Emmanuel Promise: Discovering the Security of a Life Held by God

➡️ Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review Living the Grace Life! Share this episode with someone who needs encouragement in their journey toward healing and secure attachment with God.

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Complete show notes here

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Did you grow up observing Lent? I didn't. My understanding of Lent was limited to observing people's ash-smudged foreheads and a noticeable uptick in McDonald's Filet-o-Fish sandwiches. In today’s episode, we’re diving into Lent—what it is, why we observe it, and how it prepares us for Easter.

Lent is a 40-day journey (not including Sundays) that begins on Ash Wednesday and goes through Easter. It is a season of reflection, fasting, and prayer—a journey that has become deeply significant in my own faith and grace walk.

We’ll explore the key Lenten practices—fasting, prayer, repentance, and immersion in God's Word. This season invites us to be intentional, stripping away distractions to refocus on our relationship with God.

In this episode, we’ll cover:

Lent is not just about personal sacrifice; it’s about drawing closer to God and realigning our hearts with His. I’ll also share a fasting story that changed my view of everyday habits. Plus, stick around until the end—I have a special invitation you won’t want to miss!

Are you ready to grow in grace this Lenten season? Let’s talk about Lent.

🎧 Listen now and start your Lent journey of drawing near to God!

Complete show notes here

Connect with Jennifer:

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