Thanksgiving has always carried a certain hush for me—a sacred slowing of the soul. Long before the table is set or the big game begins, something in my heart pauses. Perhaps you feel it, too. This gentle invitation from the Holy Spirit to stop, to breathe, to look back with wonder at the fingerprints of God scattered generously across the months behind us.

A Note from Carol: I’m so delighted to introduce you to Rachael Groll—a dear friend and a woman whose life overflows with passion for Jesus. Rachael is an author, certified life coach, missionary, and podcaster with a heart for sharing the gospel with anyone who will listen. What I love most about Rachael is her authenticity. She brings the Word of God to life with clarity, compassion, and deep biblical insight. I know you’ll be blessed by her wisdom, encouraged by her faith, and drawn closer to Jesus through her ministry.

A Note from Carol: I’m so excited to introduce you to Susan Myers—the Creative Director at Carol McLeod Ministries. Susan is a gifted writer and communicator with a heart that beats for Jesus and a passion to help others know Him more deeply. Her love for God’s Word and her honest reflections on life and faith will encourage you to slow down, listen for His voice, and find joy in His presence. You’re going to love her authenticity, her wisdom, and her gentle reminder that our hope is always found in Jesus.

A Note from Carol: I’m so excited to introduce you to Heather O’Brien—a prophetic healing coach, minister, author, and host of the Heal with God podcast. Heather helps Christians overcome trauma, anxiety, and depression by learning to hear God’s voice. Her story of freedom from fear and addiction is a powerful reminder that God still speaks, heals, and restores. You’re going to love her heart and her passion for helping others experience true healing in His presence.

We have all been created on purpose … with purpose … and for purpose.  Why is it then that so few of us actually live in that sweet spot of God-given purpose? Why is it that we are content to settle for mediocrity, for half-a-life, for busyness rather than for usefulness?

A Note from Carol: One of the greatest joys of my ministry is introducing you to voices that inspire us to love Jesus more deeply. Today, I’m honored to share Myshel Wilkins with you—a gifted worship leader, songwriter, and speaker whose life radiates the beauty of trusting God through every season. Myshel carries a powerful testimony of faith, healing, and perseverance, reminding us that even in our darkest moments, God is faithful. Her words and music invite us to draw near to the heart of the Father, to worship through the pain, and to discover the deep joy that comes from walking closely with Him.

I sit here as October stretches out before me, fully aware that this month is set aside in our nation and around the world as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. For many hearts, this month is raw with memory, grief, and unspoken sorrow. For me? It is sacred. It is a timeline of scars and stitches, tears and whispers, heartbreak and hope.

A Note from Carol: One of the greatest joys of my ministry is introducing you to voices that inspire us to love Jesus more deeply. Today, I’m honored to share Dr. Juli Slattery with you—a respected author, psychologist, and teacher with a deep passion for helping people understand God’s truth about intimacy and relationships. Juli speaks with wisdom and grace about topics many find difficult to discuss, yet she always points us back to the healing and wholeness found in Christ. Her words remind us that when we invite God into every area of our lives—including our deepest struggles—He meets us with truth, redemption, and lasting peace.

A Note from Carol: One of the greatest joys of my ministry is introducing you to voices that inspire us to love Jesus more deeply. Today, I’m honored to share Amber Albee Swenson with you—an author, podcaster, and woman of unwavering faith. Amber has walked through seasons of pain, uncertainty, and surrender, yet she has seen God’s faithfulness woven through it all. In her writing, she invites us to let go of worry, trust God’s provision, and find confidence in Christ alone. Her words remind us that while life can feel overwhelming, God’s peace truly does guard our hearts and minds when we rest in Him.

There are seasons in life when the ground under our feet seems to give way. Maybe it's a door you expected to open that remains shut. Maybe it’s a dream delayed. Or a promise only partially fulfilled. The emotional terrain is unfamiliar: fear, doubt, frustration, even despair. But in that uncertain soil, God is still at work—planting seeds of faith, stretching our trust, teaching us to lean in.

A Note from Carol: One of the greatest joys of my ministry is introducing you to voices that inspire us to love Jesus more deeply. Today, I’m honored to share D’Lytha Myers with you—a gifted writer, creative, and woman of deep faith. D’Lytha and her husband have walked a unique journey of trusting God through seasons of sacrifice, creativity, and calling. In her story, she invites us to consider what it means to surrender our comforts for the sake of God’s greater purpose—especially in the sacred work of raising our children. Her words remind us that while sacrifice is never easy, it often leads to our greatest joy.

Have you found yourself slipping out of the habit of going to church? Maybe it started slowly—you missed a Sunday because of travel, then another because of sickness, and then another because the calendar was simply too full. Or maybe you’ve been carrying wounds from something that happened in church, and the thought of returning feels heavy. Perhaps, after the upheaval of the pandemic, you never quite found your way back into the rhythm of Sunday mornings.

A Note from Carol: One of the greatest joys of my ministry is introducing you to voices that inspire us to love Jesus more deeply. Today, I’m honored to share Natalie Runion with you—a pastor, author, and founder of Raised to Stay, a ministry that encourages weary and wounded leaders to remain faithful to their calling. Natalie’s newest book, I Don’t Even Like Women, is a powerful and vulnerable exploration of female relationships in the church, filled with honesty, humor, and hope. Through her story, Natalie reminds us that even in seasons of disappointment, God is faithful to heal our hearts, redeem our relationships, and invite us into deeper community with one another.

A Note from Carol: One of the greatest joys of my ministry is introducing you to voices that inspire us to love Jesus more deeply. Today, I’m honored to share Jenny Randle with you—an Emmy® award-winning creative, ordained minister, and author whose newest book, The Promised Presence, is a Bible study through Luke and Acts on the power of the Holy Spirit. Jenny’s journey has taken her from Hollywood video editing to ministry leadership, where she now equips believers to experience the Spirit’s presence, power, and purpose. Her story reminds us that God not only redeems our past but empowers us to live with joy and strength today.

A Note from Carol: One of the greatest joys of my ministry is sharing voices that stir the soul and point us back to the heart of God. Today, I’m honored to introduce you to Carole Leathem—speaker, author of Are You Ready to Find Joy when Life Get’s Messy?, and a woman whose story radiates hope and authenticity. With raw honesty and contagious faith, Carole shares her journey of navigating mental illness in her family, discovering God’s presence in unexpected places, and learning to embrace joy even in life’s messiest seasons. Her testimony reminds us that we serve a God who meets us in the middle of our struggles and transforms them into opportunities for deeper trust and abiding joy.