American culture is full of striving: hustling at work, pushing ourselves in the gym, working to be beautiful or good enough. In this conversation, I have the gift of talking with Kimberly Stuart about the concept of grace; how to apply it amidst our culture and why it’s worth revisiting.  

Kim Stuart is the author of eight published novels, a speaker, a writing coach alongside author Bob Goff, co-leads writing retreats, and hosts two podcasts. In this conversation, Kim shares about her latest book, Star for Jesus and Other Jobs I Quit: Rediscovering the Grace that Sets Us Free. Kim discusses what drew her to the topic of grace, how we might reframe perfectionism, what living a great story looks like, and how we can use our agency to redefine beauty in our lives.  

Do you ever struggle with fear or anxiety? In this episode, author and pastor, Naeem Fazal shares how beauty can help us overcome fear in our lives. Naeem is the founding and lead pastor of Mosaic Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. He is a Pakistani, born and raised as a Muslim in Kuwait. He came to the U.S. shortly after the Gulf War and had a supernatural experience with Jesus that changed the course of his life.  

In our time together, Naeem shares about his unexpected and life-changing conversion experience, as well as about his new book, Tomorrow Needs You: Seeing Beauty When You Feel Hopeless. He discusses his belief that beauty is the antidote to fear, why we need to put fear on a leash, and how we can practically allow beauty to speak loudest in our lives.

Bruce Herman is a painter, writer, speaker, and the author of Makers by Nature: Letters from a Master Painter on Faith, Hope, and Art. Bruce also taught studio art for nearly four decades at Gordon College and his art has been exhibited internationally and is in public and private collections worldwide.

 In our time together, Bruce reminds us that, being made in the image of the Creator God, we have all been created to create. He also awakens us to the miracles all around us, discussing how God’s own being is revealed in the things He’s made. As a master painter, Bruce’s insights on beauty in the human face and figure, as well as in the world around us, are profound and distinct.

Trevor Hudson is an ordained minister in the Methodist Church of Southern Africa. After spending fifty years doing pastoral ministry in a local congregation, he now gives his time to lecturing, teaching, and writing in the areas of spiritual formation and spiritual direction.

In our time together, we discuss his latest book, In Search of God’s Will: Discerning a Life of Faithfulness and Purpose. Trevor shares practical ways to discern God’s personal will for your life, helping you to become the unique person God has shaped you to be, and ultimately allowing us the privilege of participating in the hope of the entire universe. Trevor reminds us of God’s nearness and active presence in our lives, as well as the true character and astounding love of God.