Blog and Radio Archive - Heart of the Matter

wisdom

Wisdom from Proverbs on Relationships, Parenting and Money

September 16, 2019

Once I married, I realized the complexity of relationships. I thought I understood my husband’s facial expressions, and I expected him to read my body language. He didn’t. In fact, I learned his perspective often differed from mine.

Babies are challenging too. They start off sweet and cuddly, but someday they’ll grow up enough to say, “No!”

How should you discipline them? Should you spank? That’s a big controversy today.

Have you ever been misunderstood or betrayed by a friend? What should you do about that?

The book of Proverbs addresses all these issues. Kathy Collard Miller is my guest today, and she shares on these topics from her recent Bible study.

Check out this episode!

Tweens and Teens

How to Manage Your Tweens and Teens

September 16, 2019

I once heard a joke on the James Dobson show. The guest said that when a child turns 12 you lock him/her in a barrel with a small opening, and when he/she turns 13, you stop up the hole. That expresses the frustration we parents feel while trying to navigate those sensitive years.

I was a difficult teen at times too. When my mother got me a ride to school, I took issue with the family I didn’t know and refused to talk. Mother told me they wondered if I hated them, and that wasn’t far from the truth. It’s embarrassing to think how rudely I acted.

My guest is Letitia Suk and she has written 100 Need to Know Tips for Moms of Teens and Tweens.

She’s offering tips on managing our almost-grown-up kids.

Check out this episode!

Encouragement

Welcome September 2019

September 1, 2019

Dear Father, I want my heart to stay aligned with yours, so I’ll have the wisdom and strength to live like Jesus did. Remind me to stay in the Word and take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

As we continue to be intentional with our mission to “bloom” for Jesus, may the September 2019 Others Centered Calendar Challenge be an encouragement to you and those around you. My team and I pray these prompts get you one step closer toward our God, the Ultimate Father.

The Art of Living is #OthersCentered Calendar-sept 2019-Cynthia L. Simmons

To download, the September 2019 Others Centered Calendar Challenge, click here.

Surviving Cancer

Surviving Cancer and Chemotherapy

August 30, 2019

When you hear the word cancer, you tremble. Recently, the doctor found I had enlarged lymph nodes. I understood he was trying to rule out cancer, but I felt creepy when my scan took place in the hospital cancer center.

I’m a retired RN, so I know what can happen.

Have you ever noticed people whisper when they talk about death? I heard a pastor from England remind the congregation that death is serious. At the least, facing death makes you evaluate your life.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m confident in my faith, but I’m not anxious to be sick. The ups and downs of chemotherapy weigh on the family as well as the patient.

I’m thankful my tests came back normal.

Today my guest is Joanie Shawhan, and she shares how she lived through cancer and chemotherapy. Her book is called Dancing with Cancer.

Check out this episode!

Experiencing God's Love

Experiencing God’s Love in a Broken World

August 23, 2019

My bedroom sat at the opposite end of the house from my parents, which enhanced that feeling of loneliness you have after a nightmare. Once I had a terrible dream, and I rushed down that long hallway to my father only to hear him tell me to trust in God. At that moment, I wanted someone I could see and feel.

We all sense the ache and tragedy in our world, so how can we sense the love of God. Deb and Roy Haggerty share from their recent book which draws from a lifetime of learning about God’s mercy and love.

Check out this episode!

Launch Your Children

How to Launch Your Children into Adulthood

August 16, 2019

Years ago, while teaching my kids at home, we watched at the window while two birds landed on our bird feeder. One bird, (I assumed it was the mother bird) grabbed a beakful of seeds and stuffed them down the other bird. I was shocked. The ‘baby’ bird appeared full grown to me, especially since he flew to the feeder himself. After mom gave him several servings, both birds flew away.

What a terrific image for moms. As your children near their teens, you start equipping them to leave the nest and survive on their own.

Counselor Brenda L. Yoder shares ways we can help our kids (and ourselves) through that tough transition.

Check out this episode!

Beautiful

Beautiful: See Yourself as God Sees You

August 9, 2019

I love reading women’s diaries from the past because we often write down what we really think but would never say aloud. Once I read a diary by a young lady who thought she saw her friend in a mirror, and she recorded how beautiful and posed her chum appeared. However, she suddenly realized she was seeing herself.

That story reveals a lot about how a woman sees herself. Not many of us like what we see in the mirror. For instance, I used to long for straight hair instead of curly, but I’ve talked to women who wanted my curls rather than what they had.

Often we come close to condemning ourselves too. Author Tina Yeager shares from her latest book on how we can become beautiful warriors and see ourselves as God does.

Check out this episode!

God's Presence

Signs of God’s Presence During Suffering

August 2, 2019

Life doesn’t always turn out the way we expect. I recall showing off my ring after I was engaged, and one lady commented on how it might look after I mopped the kitchen floor. Looking back, I realize she thought I might be overly romantic rather than living in the real world, but I already knew life could be hard.

And during tough times, we can wonder where God went. However, I have seen him at work during trials. My guest today, Patti Richter, wrote about a friend who experienced God’s presence during a trial.

Check out this episode!

Encouragement

Welcome August 2019

August 1, 2019

Father, as summer comes to an end, I praise you for the sun that warms the earth, for watermelon, cherries, blackberries, and plums that ripen this month. Most of all, I thank you for your abiding presence and that you never changes even though the seasons come and go. We pray this in the name of Jesus, Amen.

As we continue to be intentional with our mission to “bloom” for Jesus, may the August 2019 Others Centered Calendar Challenge be an encouragement to you and those around you. My team and I pray these prompts get you one step closer toward our God, the Ultimate Father.

The Art of Living is #OthersCentered Calendar-August 2019-Cynthia L. Simmons

To download, the August 2019 Others Centered Calendar Challenge, click here.

Anchored

How to Stay Anchored When Life Presents Storms

July 28, 2019

In the South, we expect heavy thunderstorms and often tornadoes in the spring and fall, but we listen to the weather forecast so we can be prepared. When our kids were young, we had a tree fall on our house during a storm that hit in the middle of the night. My husband and I woke the children, and all of us huddled together in the basement until the danger had past.

Life brings storms that can be just as devastating as tornadoes. You can weather those storms stay anchored. Author Cynthia Cavanaugh shares how to do that from her newest book.

Check out this episode!

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