MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purpose

It’s week two of our new series where I’m bringing on people I love, people from my past, and the very people who show up in my new book How’d I Miss That? Today my dear friend Stephanie Martin is back, which means equal parts laughter, honesty, and the occasional, “Cynthia… maybe that story didn’t need to live forever in print.”We start by revisiting our short-lived triathlon era—because some of us were made for marching band, not athletic competitions—and then move into a conversation about friendship. Why we need it, how it shapes us, and how the right people can pull us back to Jesus when we’re laid flat spiritually.Woven through it all is the reminder that good friendships will bump into misunderstandings. That’s normal. But instead of avoiding those moments or letting assumptions do the talking, there’s a better way—one marked by humility, curiosity, and a willingness to check in and clear the air so the friendship can keep growing.If you’ve been needing a refresh on how to build and sustain meaningful friendships, I think this episode will feel like a deep breath and a good laugh. And if you want the full stories behind today’s conversation, you can preorder How’d I Miss That? wherever you get your books.All things CynthiaSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/messmerized-funny-and-faith-based-encouragement-in-marriage/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Hey friends—welcome to a New Year and a new How’d I Miss That? series. Over the next few weeks, we’re leaning into conversations I love, people I love, and a message that shaped me as I wrote book two, How’d I Miss That?. (Oh—and we’re going to laugh a lot too.)There’s a quote that became the backbone of this book:“There’s very little difference between people—but it’s the little difference that makes a big difference.”Jesus shows us exactly what that looks like in Luke 10 with the story of the Good Samaritan. Same man. Same road. Three very different responses. The robbers saw a weakness to exploit. The priest and Levite saw an inconvenience to avoid. The Samaritan saw a neighbor worth loving.The difference wasn’t knowledge or position—it was outlook and availability. Compassion. Interruptibility. A willingness to love when it’s inconvenient.Most of us aren’t traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho—we’re moving between meetings and carpools, dorms and gyms, desks and dinner tables. And those ordinary, in-between places are where the little difference shows up.Jesus ends the story with four simple words: “Go and do likewise.” And if I’m honest, even as a girl who was raised in church, there have been plenty of seasons where I had the head knowledge—but missed the call to go and do likewise.That’s why this book exists. It’s a reminder that small, faithful obedience still changes everything. Jesus calls it mustard-seed faith—quiet, unseen at first, but powerful over time.Today we’re going to talk about our assignment as Christians (spoiler: love is our brand) and how to make sure we “don’t miss it” this year. I can’t wait for you to to tune in! Pre-Order How'd I Miss That?All things CynthiaSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/messmerized-funny-and-faith-based-encouragement-in-marriage/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Before we dive in, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and all the things! I took the last two weeks off to spend time with all the kids and it’s been a glorious time of renewal. Just kidding—I’ve been running around like a crazy person just like everyone else! Either way, I happy to be back and I’m so grateful for you—every listen, every message, every time you invited me into your day this year. What a gift this community has been. Truly, thank you.I saved today’s show for the last one of 2025 on purpose. I wanted us to round out the year with something that brings us back to what matters most going into a new year—being with Jesus. Today’s conversation with Tara Beth Leach is the reminder our souls need about slowing down, meeting God in the morning, and letting small, faithful rhythms steady our hearts.Tara Beth shares how God met her in a season of deep loss, how He invited her to rise—literally—and begin her days with Him, and how it changed everything. She walks us through her G.R.E.A.T. morning framework (gratitude, reflection, exaltation, asking, trusting), and we talk honestly about guilt, grace, phones, noise, and learning to quiet the distractions so we can hear from God.If you’re feeling rushed, tired, emotional, or overwhelmed going into the new year, this episode is for you. Happy New Year friends, and I cannot wait to see all the Lord will do in 2026! ✨P.S. If you’ve loved hanging out here this year, would you consider pre-ordering my new book? It helps more than you know (like… wildly more), and it means you’ll have it waiting for you when launch day hits—no forgetting, no guilt, just joy. Thank you, friends!All things CynthiaThe Great Morning Revolution by Tara Beth LeachSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/messmerized-funny-and-faith-based-encouragement-in-marriage/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Today I got to sit down with Sherri Hughes-Gragg—author, mom of five, and someone who speaks about God’s heart with beautiful clarity. We talked Christmas traditions—the Yanof Family Book Exchange (which started because I refused to let Mike buy himself a full-price book in December), and Sherri’s Santa Soccer, which involved antlers, Santa hats, sugar, and absolute chaos in her yard.Then we went deep.Sherri talked about raising five kids, including daughters adopted from Haiti, and how she moved from parenting out of fear and pressure to parenting from Jesus’ simple plumb line:Love God, love people.Before judgment. Before fixing. Before controlling.Sherri shared openly about walking through divorce and then receiving a cancer diagnosis literally the next day. And how instead of seeing a harsh God, she began seeing the compassion of Christ more clearly than ever.She reminded us Jesus moves toward suffering. Like the widow in Scripture whose only son had died—before He raised the son, He comforted her.As we enter Advent Week 2—PEACE—Sherri offered freedom:It is not your job to fix the world. It is your job to love the people in front of you.Her new devotional, The Compassionate Christ: Draw Near to the Risen Christ, is a beautiful way to begin the new year with a clearer vision of Jesus as gentle, kind, and near.Such a great conversation—I think you’ll love it.All things Cynthia The Compassionate Christ Devotional Follow Sherri on InstagramSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/messmerized-funny-and-faith-based-encouragement-in-marriage/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Today I pulled in one of my closest friends, Stephanie Martin, because nothing says “professional podcast” like asking a bestie 24 hours before recording to jump on the show. We kicked off with Thanksgiving—where Stephanie described having college kids home as “being held hostage in the best way,” which perfectly sums up the chaos of adult children wandering in and out of your kitchen like feral cats. We swapped childhood Christmas memories (her patriotic tree covered in American flags, my chain-smoked Barbie RV) and confessed our modern traditions—like how I make my family decorate the tree even though none of them enjoy it, and how Stephanie is skipping Christmas cards this year because she feels like God is calling her to slow down and actually see people.The heart of the episode was Advent hope. We talked about the 400 years of silence between the Old and New Testaments, the anticipation of the Messiah, and the different reactions to Jesus’ birth—opposition, seeking, apathy, expectancy. It led us to ask: How are we approaching Jesus this season? And how might real hope help us loosen our grip on perfect holidays, perfect kids, perfect everything?We wrapped with two essentials: husbands who buy their own presents (I literally labeled gifts “To Mike, From Mike”) and the Christmas songs we cannot stand. Stephanie declared Wham off-limits, and I begged the world to retire “Christmas Shoes” forever.Stephanie ended with a beautiful prayer for hope, rest, and hearts open to whatever God is doing—right here in the middle of our messy, imperfect holidays. Can’t wait for you to listen today!All things Cynthia Yanof Advent books we discussed:Waiting Here For You - Louie Giglio Come Let Us Adore Him - Paul David Tripp Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/messmerized-funny-and-faith-based-encouragement-in-marriage/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy