Did you know Jesus was a rule breaker? Today Sharon Jaynes is joining us to tell of times Jesus broke rules to set women free from her new book, "How Jesus Broke the Rules to Set You Free".

Have you seen “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” yet this year? The real hero is Cindy Lou Who, she knew there was some good left in the Grinch. Don't be a Grinch, be Cindy Lou Who and be on the lookout for someone that could use a little extra love this Christmas.

Shopping lists, festive parties, decorating the house, advent calendars with the family, these are the events that we try to cram into the Christmas season. Make room for Jesus somewhere in the busyness of the holidays. It will be the gift that fits just right.

You are deeply loved...no really you are loved...a lot. Loved by the creator of the universe, the Father that sent His Son for you. No matter who you are or what you've done He loves you more than you could possibly imagine.

This is one common denominator in most all of us. Am I really significant? Does my life really matter? How can we encourage others who are asking these questions?

Isn’t it crazy when we complain about the gifts we used to pray for? How can we remember… remember what it was like when we first dated our spouse… or when we held our child for the first time? How can the gift of remembrance make us the women we desire to be?

We all face storms in life. How do you stay encouraged? How do you keep your focus where it needs to be, on Jesus? When you are discouraged we pray you find hope here at the Encouragement Cafe.

"Sticks and stones may break my bones... but words will never hurt me!" Are you serious? We have all spoken words we wish we could retract. At the same time we've also used our words to heal hearts. What words of wisdom and encouragement can you share regarding the power of our words?

Isn't it amazing how our thought life can change everything? How can we grow to have our thoughts be fixed on what is pure, noble, lovely and praiseworthy?

Emotions. We all have them. How do we control them? How do we keep them from coming unglued? Luann & Rachel share what trips their emotional triggers and how they keep from letting them rule their day.

Mindy Hopman shares around the cafe table about how she became a believer after growing up in a Jewish family. It is such a beautiful legacy that God has created for Mindy and her family. She tells her story in her new book, "Beautiful Legacy: Our Roots Run Deep".

How do you consciously choose commitment to your beloved even when things of this world seem to pull you apart? What are your tips, ways to bless each other to strengthen your marriage? How do you stay strong and secure in the Lord? Luann’s friends, Annah, Stephanie, and Olivia join her in the café today.

Who does God say we are? How can we protect that identity? What tools can we use and recommend to others so we can all find our identities based on Scripture and experiences? Luann’s friends, Annah, Stephanie, and Olivia join her in the café today.

What is so amazing about grace? What is it? How do we get it? Why do we want it? Luann’s friends, Annah, Stephanie, and Olivia join her in the café today.

There is no condemnation in Christ Jesus. Then why do we feel so guilty and ashamed? How can we be victorious over guilt? Can we use guilt to our advantage?

Do your kids know how to do their own laundry? What about make dinner, or sew on a button? How will they handle the real world if we don't show then how to take care of themselves? What we teach them now will give the confidence to take on the world in the future.

Have you ever been prompted to write a letter, text, email... just because? Or have you been the recipient of encouraging written words? God's Word heals hearts. Whichever kind of love letter you want to write about... do it... just because.

Can you imagine what it felt like for Peter to walk on water? It took courage, but that's what faith in God through Jesus gives us! How can you follow in his wet footsteps?

No need for sunscreen! We need to let Jesus' light of love and grace permeate every ounce of our beings! But how can we let the Sonshine in when we are afraid to open our hearts? How can we trust Jesus when we feel so fragile and we just can't take another disappointment?

If ever there's a time to slow down and take a "Lazy Summer Day" approach, it is when we find ourselves in the heat of the moment. But it's easier said than done. How can we cool our tempers in a heated moment?

When you're empty, do you run to your Daddy? As women we have many roles and countless people who need us, how do we stay filled up when we are constantly pouring out? What ways have you found to refuel in the midst of your busy life? How do you stay filled with the Holy Spirit when life can leave you drained? We might be grown ups, but we still need our Daddy!

The fruit in our lives is a reflection of our Father. We apples don't fall far from our tree. Because of Him, we all have fruit of the Spirit. It's not based on feelings. It's fruit of being God's daughters and having His fruit of the Spirit in us. How can we enjoy this truth regardless of circumstances?

We all have people in our lives who are just hard to like, let alone love. How do we love those we find it difficult to get along with? How do we love with the love of Jesus? What about when the other person isn't a believer? What about when they are? What if we are them?

It's a new season and we are getting ready for new crops! At the same time, we need to remember to pull the "weeds" from the soil of our hearts. What weeds grow in our hearts' soil? How can we best care for the soil? Rachel's Watermelon, Tomato & Herb Salad from the show: 1 cup cubed watermelon (minus seeds) 2 large tomatoes cored and cut in chunks (yellow ones looks pretty in this) 1 english cucumber cut into chunks 4 large sweet basil leaves chopped (or to taste) 6 fresh mint leaves chopped (or to taste) 3 Tablespoons olive oil 2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice Salt and pepper to taste Combine the fruit, veggies and herbs in a bowl. In small bowl stir together the olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Pour oil mixture over salad and toss to coat.

The world wants to define us by their fickle terms. But our Father identifies us as His own blood-bought daughters. It's who we are in Him that truly matters.

Some of us have been blessed by our earthly fathers. For others, the thought of our fathers hurts more than we can express. But we all have a Heavenly Father who adores us and longs for us to know His Father love. He is indeed a good, good Father!

God has a high standard for marriage. He calls us to love and we are to follow His example. What happens when your "I do" becomes "I don't think so" or "are you kidding me?" Our society tells us to give up and start over but Jesus says love like He does.

We think of leaders as the ones out front, with the title, the suit and the microphone. But all of us have the capacity to lead from wherever we are with the gifts we've been given. Jesus, a servant leader, was an example to us in this - we can lead from behind.

Everyone wants an apology, but no one wants to give one. Whether we've been wronged or we've done the "wronging," as believers we're called to be peacemakers. We are tasked with starting the conversation and being willing to say, "I'm sorry."

We make decisions every day based on the forecast. We prepare for storms or bright blue skies. But are we ready for the wind of the Holy Spirit to bring new change? Inspire others to embrace the movement of the Holy Spirit!

See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. (James 5:7) We invest in the lives of others and it inevitably gets frustrating or downright defeating when we don't see the harvest of all our work! But James tells us to be like the farmer who patiently waits for the rain. Keep sowing seeds and trust God for the rain!

Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth. (Gen. 9:16) The storms of life can be overwhelming. But God offsets them with His promises. Are there certain promises you've held onto to get you through a storm?

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. (Ps. 51:7). God's love is beyond our comprehension. He showers us with forgiveness and He washes us whiter than snow. Although we can feel like failures, He calls us His righteousness in Christ Jesus. Have you received that forgiveness? How can you use that to help someone else do the same?

Most people are at risk of getting Type 2 Diabetes and don't know it. Our guest, Lisa Morrone, will help us not only stop the risk, but reverse it!

We live in the real world with real humans. That means there are inevitably times when we have to work through our anger. WWJD? And what did He say? Help us with this madness!

Many of us are people pleasers and we seek affirmation from others. Sometimes we need to focus on pleasing the One who created us.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted. We are blessed when we mourn. How can we grasp these truths when we hurt so badly? This is especially difficult when others are celebrating love this month!

Love ourselves? Love our enemies? What? We may never have warm fuzzies, but that's not a part of the 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 list. Phew! So it really is possible to love... anyone! What can you share about this definition of true love?

Parakaleo, Greek for encouragement, is a word used for the Holy Spirit - the one who comes alongside and is the ultimate encourager. Sometimes encouraging means a needed arm around a shoulder. Biblically it also means to admonish and instruct with love and grace. How can we let the Holy Spirit work through us as we walk alongside others?

Today we are talking about getting healthy like you've never heard of. Getting healthy is more that just be able to fit into those jeans again. We want you to be healthy so you can do the work God has called you to do. Author and speaker Lisa Morrone is here to help us "Get Healthy for Heaven's Sake".

We know in our minds that the same Spirit that rose Jesus from the grave lives IN us! At the same time, so many of us struggle just to say "No!" to a cupcake. How can we inspire others to realize just how empowered they really are?

New Year’s resolutions are crazy, aren't they? We know the transformation we want, but sometimes we forget it's a process. How can we breathe new life into the day-to-day process?

Do you have a word or a verse to guide your year? When you share it with our readers, how can you encourage them as they let God guide their new year?

Ahh! Doesn't it feel good to turn the page to a new chapter? The possibilities are endless. Let's welcome in this new season of 2016!

When we take inventory on our past year, where do we see God's fingerprints? Sometimes we miss it as it's happening. But hindsight really is 20-20!