Christmas can be a season of wonder, hope, and joy. However, it can also be a very difficult season for many. Often it's both good - and hard. 

Dr. Carol shares a few of her favorite things at Christmas, and how these objects signify aspects of what Christmas means. Perhaps this will help you think of your own favorite things this Christmas. All of us at Dr. Carol Ministries pray that Jesus bless you with a special sense of His presence this season. Merry Christmas! Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can leave a confidential message here. 

A Christmas Carol, the classic story by Charles Dickens, has been made into several movies and told in countless ways for generations. However, is it possible that this holiday story of Ebeneezer Scrooge and the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come might have meaning to your own life story? In this special Christmas episode Dr. Carol talks with best-selling author and columnist Bob Welch about stinginess, innocence, grief, joy, transformation, and other contemporary and meaningful lessons about how to live - and how not to live - not only at Christmas but throughout the year. See more from Bob Welch on his website, Facebook, or Instagram Bob Welch's book 52 Little Lessons from A Christmas Carol: Inspirational Reflections for the Advent Season Bob Welch's other "52 Little Lessons" books from It's A Wonderful Life, and Les Miserables In your year-end charitable giving, prayerfully consider a gift to ARISE: A Place of Transformation Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can leave a confidential message here. 

Christians have the best answer to the epidemic of loneliness in our culture. As articulated by the US Surgeon General, being disconnected has life-damaging consequences. But too many in the body of Christ are neither experiencing nor offering the kind of friendship Christians are uniquely equipped to provide. Dr. Carol's guest on this episode is author and podcaster Rebecca McLaughlin who has a PhD in literature from Cambridge University and a theology degree from Oak Hill Theological College in London. She contends that friendship love is not optional for followers of Jesus. She explains why this love is, in New Testament terms, more critical than marriage or romantic love. And she talks about what this can practically look like for you. Connect with Rebecca McLaughlin on her website, X (Twitter), or Instagram    Find Rebecca's book No Greater Love: A Biblical Vision for Friendship          Check out Dr. Carol's article How to Find Your People When You Need Help Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can send a confidential message here. 

There's a guaranteed and often overlooked method to elevate your mood, energize your spirit, and bring you a wave of meaning and joy, and that is - wait for it - generosity! And Giving Tuesday is a strong reminder of just how powerful giving can be. In this Giving Tuesday special, Dr. Carol is joined by John Curtis, professor and senior development specialist, to talk about transformational giving. This is not about organizations asking for money. Instead, this is about the power of generosity to change you! If you're a church or nonprofit leader, you'll want to check out Mission Increase and their powerful principles of transformational giving. On Giving Tuesday and in your year-end charitable giving, prayerfully consider an investment in ARISE: A Place of Transformation Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can leave a confidential message here.

Love sex or hate it, and regardless of your relationship status, you have a sexual story. You might be proud of part of your sexual story. But you may also struggle with shame and guilt about parts of your story. And whether you’re married or unmarried, your sexual story greatly impacts your ability to experience real intimacy with others and with God. In this talk Dr. Carol gave at the SHE Recovery Summit, she uses personal stories, theological perspectives, and clinical research in sexuality and neuroscience, to address how the unhealed parts of your sexual story prevent the intimacy you need, the process of developing the capacity for healthy intimacy, and what nurturing healthy intimacy–with others and with God, and whether married or single–looks like. The SHE Recovery Summit included over 40 speakers sharing their expertise, perspectives, and personal stories in helping women and teen girls address their issues around sexuality. You can purchase a pass to watch all the Summit recordings here. And use the promo code DRCAROL to get 10% off. And check out Dr. Carol's book Sexpectations: Reframing Your Good And Not-So-Good Stories Around God, Love, and Relationships, or all the other associated resources. Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can leave a confidential message here. 

"Is there anything too hard for the Lord?" The Bible asks that question, and answers it with a clear "No, nothing is impossible with God!" But does that apply to a truly destructive marriage? If your relationship is deeply troubled, you may be asking, "Is there any hope?" Shayne and Sheila Pitcock would say YES, there is hope! They join Dr. Carol on this episode to share their story. There are buzzwords here; domestic violence, abuse, separation. Healing requires both partners to allow God to do His work, but you'll hear how God can redeem anything when they do so. And now Shayne and Sheila are helping other troubled couples find the same kind of healing. Check out Shayne and Sheila Pitcock's ministry on their website, or on Facebook. Check out our online course from Dr. Carol Ministries: Fully Alive Marriage Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can leave a confidential comment or question here. 

Knowing information, even information about God, is important. But so many Christians find information woefully inadequate to fully address the realities of their lives. Our souls long for something more - something of beauty, connection, even love. In this unique and beautiful conversation Dr. Carol talks with Quina Aragon, author, editor, and spoken word artist, about the love of God - not in the sense of information, but from story - our story, the Bible's story, and God's story. And you'll especially enjoy the poetic reading near the end of this episode. Connect with Quina Aragon on her website, or on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube. Find Quina's book Love Has a Story: 100 Meditations on the Enduring Love of God     

Would love to have you join us at our Change(d) Conference 2024: Lasting Transformation Around Intimacy, Sexuality, and Relationships.  Learn more and register here.

Check out Dr. Carol's article Genesis to Revelation: The Greatest Love Story Ever Dr.  Carol loves to hear from you. You can leave a confidential message here.

The US Surgeon General has highlighted the epidemic of loneliness in our culture, and the very negative health implications. Just being around people is helpful but inadequate to satisfy the deep longing for connection God built into every human heart. In this practical episode Dr. Carol talks with Becky Harling, speaker, podcaster, Bible teacher, and author, about the deeper connections our hearts truly need, and what you can do to proactively nurture those connections. Though it may feel challenging, every one of us can take the initiative to find your people, and you'll be healthier and happier for it. Connect with Becky Harling on her website, Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram Find Becky's latest book Cultivating Deeper Connections in a Lonely World     

Would love to have you join us at our Change(d) Conference 2024: Lasting Transformation Around Intimacy, Sexuality, and Relationships.  Learn more and register here.

Check out Dr. Carol's article How to Find Your People Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can leave a confidential message here.

The wounds we all experience in life - internally as well as externally - can leave you with permanent scars. As a result you may feel disqualified from experiencing true goodness, from being able to fulfill what you most deeply desire, or from being as useful to God's kingdom as you wish. Dr. Michelle Bengston, speaker, author, and board-certified clinical neuropsychologist, has experienced lots of scars and helped countless others face their own scars. She talks with Dr. Carol on this episode about how our scars - physical and emotional - serve as the very preparation for what God wants to do both in and through you. Your scars are sacred.  Connect with Dr. Bengston on her website, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Find Dr. Michelle Bengston's books: - The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out to God When Pain Overwhelms    - Sacred Scars: Resting in God's Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted      Check out my book and related resources: Sexpectations: Reframing Your Good and Not-So-Good Stories Around God, Love, and Relationships Dr. Carol enjoys hearing from you. You can leave a confidential message here.

Dr. Carol receives lots of questions about relationships, menopause and married sex, marital rape, struggle with pornography, and more. In today's episode she answers some listener submitted questions on a range of subjects. You won't want to miss this!

Resources mentioned in this episode: - Navigating Midlife online course - Article Having the Sex Talk With Your Spouse - eBook Dr. Carol's Guide to Sex and Menopause - Article Why You Are Not Entitled to Sex - Article Where to Start if Your Marriage Lacks Intimacy - Free download A Prescription for Sexual Healing – God's Way - Article Why Doesn't God Deliver Me From This Addiction - Article How God Deals With Repeat Sinners - Resource Page Relationships Help - Article The Most Powerful Prayer I Ever Prayed Check out my book and related resources: Sexpectations: Reframing Your Good and Not-So-Good Stories Around God, Love, and Relationships Dr. Carol enjoys hearing from you. You can leave a confidential message here.