Take the Quiz "How Fast is Your Hamster Wheel Spinning?" at hamster.1fit-wellness.com 

Connect with Nancy Mitchell on Instagram @lifeof_puresilliness 

In this powerful episode of The Grace Cycle Show, host Karen Dittman sits down with her sister, Nancy Mitchell, a middle school teacher from Oklahoma, to share a deeply personal story of God’s sustaining grace in the midst of family crisis. 

Nancy opens up about walking through her child’s severe depression and multiple suicide attempts—an experience marked by fear, heartbreak, and countless unknowns. Through it all, she describes how God met her in the darkest moments, guiding each step with His presence, peace, and provision. 

Karen and Nancy talk honestly about what it looks like to cling to faith when circumstances feel overwhelming, the role of prayer, and the quiet but powerful ways God strengthens parents carrying heavy burdens. Nancy’s story is a testament to God’s nearness—and a reminder that His grace is always enough, even in the most desperate seasons. 

Perfect for: 

• Parents supporting kids through mental health struggles 
• Anyone seeking hope in crisis 
• Listeners looking for real stories of God’s faithfulness 
• Christian women navigating family challenges 

00:00 Welcome to the Grace Cycle Show 

00:53 Special Interview with Nancy Mitchell 

02:07 Nancy's Story: God's Grace in Difficult Times 

03:42 A Mother's Struggle and Faith 

13:46 Encouragement for Other Parents 

21:09 Supporting Dysregulated Kids 

22:03 The Importance of Positive Reinforcement for Kids 

24:15 Balancing Life and Writing a Book 

25:04 Finding Faith in Difficult Times 

28:09 The Prodigal Son and God's Unconditional Love 

32:29 A Conversation with a Former Believer 

36:35 The Power of Faith and Overcoming Doubt 

39:53 Final Thoughts and Takeaways 

Visit https://fruitofgratitude.com for your copy of The Fruit of Gratitude

Want to be a guest on The Grace Cycle Show? Send Karen Dittman a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1733503318442796293a1fecb

Take the Quiz "How Fast is Your Hamster Wheel Spinning?" at hamster.1fit-wellness.com 

Connect with Jenn and find her book Fear, Faith and Freedom at www.abundance-books.com 

In this episode of The Grace Cycle Show, host Karen Dittman sits down with Pastor Jenn Dafoe Turner—life coach, speaker, and Aquisitions Editor at Abundance Books—to explore how God meets us in seasons of loss, transition, and unexpected change. 

Jenn shares her deeply personal story of being asked to resign from her pastoral role, the grief that followed, and the surprising freedom and renewed calling she discovered through God’s grace. Karen and Jenn unpack what it looks like to trust God’s process when life feels shaken, how to walk through disappointment without losing hope, and why surrender often becomes the doorway to healing and purpose. 

Jenn also introduces her book Fear, Faith, and Freedom, offering practical insight for anyone navigating fear or feeling stuck. Karen closes the episode by inviting listeners to take the Hamster Wheel Quiz—a simple tool to help identify what’s keeping you overwhelmed and how to slow down into a more grace-filled life. 

Perfect for: 

• Anyone navigating transition, burnout, or disappointment 
• Women in ministry or leadership roles 
• Listeners seeking spiritual clarity and renewed purpose 
• Those learning to trust God through unexpected life changes 

00:00 Welcome to the Grace Cycle Show 

00:52 Interview with Pastor Jenn Dafoe Turner 

02:10 Jenn's Story of Overcoming Challenges 

05:00 The Healing Process and Finding New Purpose 

18:26 Embracing a New Pastoral Role 

24:50 Jenn's Book: Fear, Faith, and Freedom 

29:08 Final Thoughts and Encouragement 

Visit https://fruitofgratitude.com for your copy of The Fruit of Gratitude

Want to be a guest on The Grace Cycle Show? Send Karen Dittman a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1733503318442796293a1fecb

Get your copy of The Fruit of Gratitude journal at fruitofgratitude.com 

Take the Quiz "How Fast is Your Hamster Wheel Spinning?" at hamster.1fit-wellness.com 

 Wendy’s links: Authorwendybower.com 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wendy.bower.5 

Instagram: @Wendy_Bower_AZ 

In this special Thanksgiving episode of The Grace Cycle Show, host Karen Dittman welcomes author Wendy Bower for a powerful conversation about gratitude, faith, and God’s sustaining grace through life’s hardest seasons. 

Wendy shares her transformational journey through breast cancer and the impossible challenges that shaped her deeper trust in God. She opens up about how gratitude became a lifeline—helping her experience God’s love, strength, and presence in profound new ways. 

Karen and Wendy discuss the importance of authentic community, everyday celebrations, and nurturing joy through a deeper relationship with God. They highlight practical tools for spiritual growth, including Wendy’s book Gratitude Attack and Karen’s gratitude journal, The Fruit of Gratitude, both designed to help listeners cultivate a daily practice of thankfulness. 

The conversation also offers a behind-the-scenes look at Wendy’s creative process, the personal trials she has faced, and how choosing gratitude has shaped her everyday life. This episode is a heartfelt reminder of how God uses gratitude to transform fear into peace and hardship into hope. 

Perfect for listeners who are: 

• Walking through illness, fear, or overwhelming challenges 
• Seeking to grow in gratitude and spiritual resilience 
• Looking for encouragement rooted in faith and God’s grace 
• Interested in Christian stories of healing and hope 
• Wanting practical tools for a daily gratitude practice 

Visit https://fruitofgratitude.com for your copy of The Fruit of Gratitude

Want to be a guest on The Grace Cycle Show? Send Karen Dittman a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1733503318442796293a1fecb

Psalm 34:8 says "Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him."
This guided meditation will help you discover practically how you can take refuge in and with Jesus.

Want to be a guest on The Grace Cycle Show? Send Karen Dittman a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1733503318442796293a1fecb

Take the Quiz "How Fast is Your Hamster Wheel Spinning?" at hamster.1fit-wellness.com 

Find Stacy Schaffer and her book With Love from a Children’s Therapist at authorstacyschaffer.com 

In this episode of The Grace Cycle Show, host Karen Dittman sits down with licensed professional counselor Stacy Schaeffer for a heartfelt conversation about grief, healing, and the transformative power of God’s grace. 

Stacy shares her journey from growing up in an agnostic home to discovering faith through Young Life, and how her mother’s battle with breast cancer and her own experiences with trauma shaped her calling as a therapist. She offers deep insights into the importance of community, faith, and personal healing—especially for those who support children through difficult emotions. 

Stacy also introduces her book, With Love from a Children’s Therapist, offering parents and caregivers practical tools for nurturing children’s mental and emotional well-being. 

Together, Karen and Stacy explore why doing our own inner work is essential to caring for others and how small acts of presence can offer profound healing—especially during the holiday season. Listeners are encouraged to extend grace, compassion, and love to those around them. 

Perfect for listeners who are: 

• Navigating grief, trauma, or emotional overwhelm 
• Parenting children with big emotions or mental health needs 
• Seeking faith-based guidance for healing 
• Wanting to better support others during the holidays 
• Interested in Christian counseling insights 

00:00 Welcome to the Grace Cycle Show 

00:29 Introducing the Hamster Wheel Quiz 

00:52 Interview with Stacy Schaffer 

01:50 Stacy's Journey to Faith 

04:56 The Impact of Community and Faith 

07:32 Overcoming Trauma and Finding Support 

20:34 Insights from Stacy's Book 

31:12 Final Thoughts and Encouragement 

Visit https://fruitofgratitude.com for your copy of The Fruit of Gratitude

Want to be a guest on The Grace Cycle Show? Send Karen Dittman a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1733503318442796293a1fecb

This 7 minute devotional will help you look at your circumstances in a fresh way and look to Jesus, seeking what he says to you.

Want to be a guest on The Grace Cycle Show? Send Karen Dittman a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1733503318442796293a1fecb

Take the Quiz "How Fast is Your Hamster Wheel Spinning?" at hamster.1fit-wellness.com 

Find Sandra Currie at www.loveshealinggrace.com

In this episode of The Grace Cycle Show, host Karen Dittman welcomes licensed marriage and family counselor Sandra Currie for an inspiring and deeply honest conversation about redemption, forgiveness, and God’s healing grace in her broken marriage. 

Sandra shares her powerful personal story of discovering her husband’s affair just before the COVID-19 pandemic—and how, through God’s grace, counseling, and hard work, their marriage was not only restored but strengthened. 

Listeners will gain practical wisdom on rebuilding trust, the importance of community support, reflective listening, and relying on God’s guidance through heartbreak and healing. Sandra also discusses her calling to marriage ministry, lessons from her counseling practice, and her upcoming book that offers encouragement for couples facing relational struggles. 

This heartfelt conversation offers hope, healing, and real tools for anyone navigating marital pain or seeking to restore emotional connection through faith. 

Perfect for listeners who are: 

• Struggling with infidelity, betrayal, or broken trust 
• Seeking hope for marriage restoration through God’s grace 
• Looking for faith-based relationship advice from a counselor 
• Wanting to strengthen communication and connection with their spouse 

00:00 Welcome to the Grace Cycle Show 

00:46 Introducing Today's Guest: Sandra Currie 

01:53 Sandra's Story: Overcoming Betrayal 

04:05 The Healing Journey Begins 

12:29 Finding Community and Support 

16:39 Celebrate Recovery: A Path to Healing 

21:20 Love's Healing Grace: Helping Other Couples 

33:32 Final Thoughts and Encouragement 

Visit https://fruitofgratitude.com for your copy of The Fruit of Gratitude

Want to be a guest on The Grace Cycle Show? Send Karen Dittman a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1733503318442796293a1fecb

In this 7 minute meditation, you'll have an opportunity to become aware of something that is blocking you from experiencing God's love in your life, then let it go and ask Jesus what he wants to give you in its place.

The podcast episode that teaches more about bara is at https://www.buzzsprout.com/2503829/episodes/18141023

Want to be a guest on The Grace Cycle Show? Send Karen Dittman a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1733503318442796293a1fecb

Take the Quiz "How Fast is Your Hamster Wheel Spinning?" at hamster.1fit-wellness.com 

Get a copy of The Fruit of Gratitude at fruitofgratitude.com 

In this refreshing episode of The Grace Cycle Show, host Karen Dittman offers encouragement for anyone feeling overwhelmed or burned out by life’s constant demands. 

Karen introduces the Hebrew concept of “bara,” meaning “to empty to be filled,” and explains how this ancient truth can help you release the need to strive and instead make room for God’s peace, love, and goodness. 

She also introduces her journal, “The Fruit of Gratitude,” designed to help you deepen your connection with God and cultivate a life of thankfulness—especially during the busy holiday season. 

Perfect for listeners who are: 

• Feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or spiritually drained 
• Seeking rest, peace, and renewal through faith 
• Wanting to reconnect with God through gratitude 
• Looking for practical tools for spiritual wellness 

00:00 Welcome to the Grace Cycle Show 

00:54 Moving into the Holiday Season 

01:26 The Deeper Meaning of Gratitude 

02:09 The Concept of Bara 

02:48 Applying Bara to Everyday Life 

05:47 Introducing 'The Fruit of Gratitude' Journal 

07:08 Final Thoughts and Encouragement 

Want to be a guest on The Grace Cycle Show? Send Karen Dittman a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1733503318442796293a1fecb

Take the Quiz "How Fast is Your Hamster Wheel Spinning?" at hamster.1fit-wellness.com 

Kelly’s links: kellyhall.org 

Unshakable Hope Podcast: https://kellyhall.org/unshakable-hope-podcast/ 

In this episode of The Grace Cycle Show, host Karen Dittman welcomes Kelly Hall — podcaster, author, and Bible teacher — for a powerful conversation on faith, resilience, and God’s sustaining grace in the hardest seasons. 

Kelly shares her deeply personal journey of raising four children — three with special needs — while navigating the demands of military life as the wife of a fighter pilot. She opens up about the moment her first daughter was diagnosed as profoundly deaf and how God met her in the depths of fear, grief, and uncertainty. 

Listeners will hear: 

• What it’s really like to parent special needs children with unwavering faith 
• How God’s grace shows up in the unseen and exhausting moments 
• Practical ways to support families walking a similar journey 
• Scriptures that fueled hope in seasons of despair 
• The role of remembering God’s past faithfulness to build present resilience 

Karen and Kelly also discuss the emotional and physical weight of caregiving, the power of surrender, and the beauty that emerges when we allow God’s grace to lead us step by step. 

The episode concludes with an encouraging update on Kelly’s children and an invitation to explore her podcast, Unshakeable Hope, for more stories of God’s faithfulness. 

Perfect for listeners who are: 

• Parenting children with special needs 
• Navigating military or high-demand family life 
• Feeling overwhelmed and desperate for God’s peace 
• Seeking encouragement through real stories of grace and hope 
• Wanting faith-based perspective on suffering and resilience 

00:00 Welcome to The Grace Cycle Show 

00:51 Introducing Kelly Hall: A Journey of Unshakeable Hope 

02:15 Kelly's Early Faith and Unexpected Challenges 

03:39 Discovering Her Daughter's Deafness 

05:41 Finding Hope Amidst Grief 

13:25 The Birth of Twins and New Challenges 

15:42 Moving to St. Louis for Cochlear Implants 

16:46 Navigating Life with Four Children and Special Needs 

21:10 A Moment of Divine Reassurance 

22:13 Facing Challenges with Faith 

24:36 Practical Ways to Support Special Needs Families 

27:36 The Power of Scripture and Community 

29:49 God's Timely Interventions 

33:14 Updates on the Kids' Progress 

36:26 Final Reflections and Encouragement 

38:17 Kelly's Current Ministry and Podcast 

39:45 Closing Thoughts and Resources 

Visit https://fruitofgratitude.com for your copy of The Fruit of Gratitude

Want to be a guest on The Grace Cycle Show? Send Karen Dittman a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1733503318442796293a1fecb