From Regret to Redemption: Vikki Southwell on Abortion, Healing, and God’s Grace
In this powerful episode of Lessons From Living, host Beth sits down with Vikki Southwell, author of His Name is Michael. Vikki opens up about her life’s mistakes—including an abortion at just seventeen—and the deep regret that followed. She shares how God redeemed...
From Manners to Mayhem: Why Respect and Kindness Matter More Than Ever
In this episode of Lessons from Living, we explore the disappearance of civility in today’s world. From politics to social media to everyday interactions, respect and kindness often seem to be fading.Beth reflects on what civility once looked like, even drawing from...
Finding Purpose After Tragedy: A Mother’s Journey Through Grief
In this heartfelt episode of Lessons from Living, Beth speaks with Maureen Yarborough, a mother who has walked through unimaginable tragedy—the loss of a grandchild, and two of her three children, one in a devastating car accident and another to suicide just three...
How Much Is Enough? Decluttering Tips for a Peaceful Home
How much is enough? In this reflective episode of the Lessons from Living podcast, Beth explores the timeless question of simplicity, inspired by the late Nashville priest Charles Strobel and his book The Kingdom of the Poor. With humor, honesty, and practical...
Parenting a Special Needs Child with Faith and Support
Parenting a special needs child comes with unique challenges, deep joys, and life-changing lessons. In this heartfelt episode, Julie Adams shares her journey of adopting Lola Ruth, a tiny Bulgarian orphan with Down syndrome, and the struggles of being a special needs...
How to Move From Fear to Love in Relationships
Do most people operate from fear instead of love? Transformational life coach Annmarie Chereso believes this is common, but she knows how to change this tendency. With heightened awareness and simple practices, every relationship—whether with a partner, child,...
join us to be enlightened and inspired by ordinary folks who model how to best live lives of significance
Latest Blog Posts
Cry Out and Be Heard
While waiting for a potentially devastating scan result recently, I found myself meditating on Psalm 40:1: “I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry.” An image came to my mind of a child lost in a busy area—perhaps a playground. He looks...
Banishing Self-Doubt
As a believer, any confidence comes from my foundation in God—certainly not from myself! If I relied on self-belief, I wouldn’t get out of bed in the morning! So speaking from my perspective, it is important to be confident that my actions align with God’s design...
Merry Christmas Thank You
In this extraordinary season of blessing and gratitude, I would like to take a moment to thank you, my friends, for making Lessons From Living possible. This is a ministry and mission of love. Still, without a community that inspires the subject matter and provides...
To Unity!
I am captivated by the picture of the early church in Rodney Stark’s The Rise of Christianity: “Christianity attracted people from all strata of society, but particularly from among the poor and marginalized. In the Christian community, ethnic divisions were...
Addressing Apathy in an Election Year
A friend recently told me that she had not voted in 12 years. She said the political process was repulsive to her, and it made her feel lousy to be a part of it. I certainly sympathize with this sentiment; as enlightened as our country is in some ways, the political...
Why Sharing Your Story Can Change Lives for Christ
How do we share the power of God without sharing our stories? In this episode of Lessons from Living, I reflect on a recent personal encounter with God’s presence and...
Don’t Be Caged by Your Age: Ande Lyons on Redefining Aging
Feeling invisible after sixty? You're not alone—but you're far from done. Pro-age advocate Ande Lyons joins us for an inspiring conversation about breaking free from age-related expectations and rewriting the story of what it means to grow older. At 69, Ande is the...
Your Effort Matters; Embrace Small Starts
Sometimes, we downplay our efforts to step out in faith (or try anything new) as "small," "measly," and barely worth mentioning. If you're a perfectionist, it's easy to grade your first attempts as subpar. Unfortunately, this mindset can set you up for discouragement...
How Beating Cancer Sparked a Mission to Serve
Do you tend to stay stuck in the fallout of painful experiences, or find a way to create something meaningful from them? That’s exactly what Aaron Grunke chose to do after facing a brutal cancer diagnosis and enduring multiple rounds of chemotherapy at just 21 years...
Easy Way to Bring Joy to Your Life
Feeling a little joy-less today? In this snack-sized episode, Beth explores the idea of anticipatory joy—how simply looking forward to something, big or small, can lift your mood and bring a fresh boost of happiness. Inspired by her upcoming trip to Italy with...
Liberation From Addiction
From the time Melody Crosby Hale was a child, a birth defect led her to believe that God would not love a flawed child. In a desperate attempt to feel empowered, she turned to alcohol and painkillers, which eventually opened the door to stronger drugs. Addiction...
Leave Disappointment in the Dust
Are you one to focus on disappointing situations that come your way, causing you to become immobilized? It’s time to reframe disappointment as an inevitable part of being human but learn to give it the limited focus it deserves. In this episode, Beth gives examples of...