Get your holly on around the cafe table. Join Luann and Rachel as they reflect on some of their favorite Christmas carols and why they love them.

Some of us may not feel as though we are as good as other people. We may not value ourselves as we should. This week, Luann is joined by special guest Brenda Page. Together, they help remind us that we are all "Precious in His Sight."

This week, Luann is joined by special guest and author, Sarah Seiz. Sarah recently published the book "Purpose Through Perspective: 30 Letters of Encouragement." Hear the stories of how God led Sarah to write this special book.

It has often been said that "Pride goes before a fall" - even when that fall comes after our very best headstand! Join Luann and Rachel at the table as we share stories from life and from Scripture. Stories that will help to guide us in How to Be Humble.

Green Acres – Is it the place to be? Should we all be living a quiet life on the farm somewhere? Luann and Rachel talk about what the Bible means in the verses that urge us to live a quiet life, and work with our hands.

Finding hope even in the midst of grief, Allison offers key lessons from her story and journey. Luann and Allison talk about the practical and tangible ways to still experience the closeness of Christ during difficult seasons.

"I'll stop procrastinating tomorrow." How many times have we said those words? Maybe it's calling on someone or doing something that you've put off time and time again. Join Rachel and Luann as they talk about how to get it in gear and take action.

Sometimes big problems feel like they require big faith and yet in the face of a big problem it can be hard to muster even a little. Rachel and Luann talk about facing problems with faith.

Do you get overwhelmed with the number of items on your schedule, or the number of decisions you need to make? Find it hard to know which is the right choice? Worried you’ll regret your decision? Listen in as Rachel and Luann discuss this, and find out how to become a “satisficer.”

Got more things on your plate than you have time for? Having trouble focusing, and feeling guilty about it? Yep. Rachel and Luann talk about getting stuff done without overwhelming ourselves.

Get off the Couch, Buy the Tickets, Share Life - Do you ever wish life was more fun? That you had more friends? Or that your relationships ran deeper? The solution might just be getting off the couch and into the game. Rachel and Luann talk about how to connect with and do life with others in meaningful ways.

They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Is worth as well? Listen in as Rachel and Luann discuss Jesus' direction to store up treasure in heaven and Luann shares how she views "treasure."

Sometimes life doesn't go to plan. Luann and Rachel discuss how to embrace and respond to the failures that come our way.

Jesus said not to worry about tomorrow (or yesterday) but how hard is that?! Luann and Rachel talk about staying present in the moment

If we’re honest we all have a list of people that we deem “not good” in some way. Maybe they have hurt us. Maybe they don’t believe correctly, or act politely. But Jesus never let anyone’s faults stand in the way of His love and grace.

Envy visits us all from time to time, making us feel short-changed or somehow less-than. Luann and Rachel talk about their struggles with the green-eyed monster, and how to kick him off your ladder to success.

Americans spend 53.5 billion minutes on Facebook in a given month! Many of us spend more time browsing, liking and commenting on social media than we do being “social” face-to-face with friends. Facebook is fun – you’ll find us there – but Luann and Rachel notice there’s something about being physically present in one another’s lives in real time.

Have you ever wondered what your calling is? We believe everyone is called to ministry in some capacity! But maybe you don’t know what your gifts are. Listen as Luann and Rachel talk about their callings and how you can prepare for your call.

Can You Hear Me Now? Adventures in Miscommunication - laugh with Luann and Rachel over some funny miscommunications and learn why listening carefully is so hard to do, yet such an important skill.

Does the idea of hosting a get-together send you into a stressed out cleaning frenzy? We get it, however hospitality doesn't have to be complicated. Today Luann and Rachel discuss ways to simplify, relax and enjoy opening our homes to others.

How can you tell if the decision you’re making or the course you’re taking is going to work out well, or be a bust? Where can we turn for wise counsel? Rachel and Luann discuss some foolish decisions they have made and how we can make wiser choices.

Let's face it, friends. We let our foolish pride get in the way sometimes. Honestly, the hardest thing to do is admit when we're wrong. Think about this for a moment. Can our pride stand in the way of our dear friends and family? How will our actions impact their lives? Join Luann and Rachel at the Cafe as we learn to ditch our ego and come together at the table.

As a child, were you ever treated poorly by your classmates? Did they ever call you names? Such might have been the case with the wee little man, Zaccheus. As a tax collector, he was hated by many and scorned for his actions. Yet, in the eyes of Jesus, he was someone special. Hear the story of Zaccheus along with others shared by Luann and Rachel at the Encouragement Cafe.

Think about the analogy between kiwis and carrots. If you slice open a kiwi, you'll find that the color and texture is different from what might be on the outside. On the other hand, if you were to slice open a carrot, you find that it is the same on the inside as it is on the outside. This same analogy holds true with our own lives. How do people see us? Are we the same on the inside as we are on the outside? Which are you - a kiwi or a carrot?

When we look back in our life's past, what do we see? Are we necessarily proud of everything that we have done? For most of us, the answer would be no. In fact, some of us let our past decisions define who we are. This week, join Luann and Rachel at the table as we share life together. May we be reminded that our past does not define us. It is who we are today that makes the difference.

Within our own friend circles, there are a number of unique personalities. Some of us love to laugh at life, while others take a more serious, ponderous look at life. How do we react, however, during those stressful moments of struggle in life? Join Luann and Rachel as we share life together and try to better understand the weight of our words.

They say that the only constant in life is change. Let's face it, friends. Change is not always easy. It's sometimes hard to change, adapt, or adjust with the times. Yet, we often forget that change may be a blessing from God. This week, join Luann and Rachel at the Cafe as we share stories and experiences of how "new and improved" can be a good thing.

We often have a kind word to say to our friend, neighbor, or co-worker. We do our very best to take care of others, but how well do we take care of ourselves? Join Luann and Rachel at the Cafe as they share their thoughts on how we ought to speak positively to ourselves. Learn this week how to "Speak to Yourself Like a Friend."

It is always encouraging to hear stories of those special people making a positive difference in our communities. This week, join Luann Prater and special guest Bill Mangum as he talks about his work with "The Honor Card" - a special program giving a helping hand to those throughout our region.

Millions of Americans share a common issue - sleep deprivation. What is it that causes us to have trouble sleeping? While the cause may be different for some, there are a number of things that may help us to recover some of those lost hours of sleep. Join Luann and Rachel at the Cafe as we discuss how simple acts of gratitude may help us get a better night's sleep.

It's not the easiest thing to admit when we're wrong. Let's face it; as humans, we like to think that we are right and know what is best. The beauty of admitting our errors is that the admission often strengthens our relationships with our family, friends, and colleagues. Join Luann and Rachel at the Cafe as we share life together and realize that sometimes we just need to admit we're wrong.

Our sweet friend Liz Curtis Higgs is in the cafe with us talking about her new book "The Women of Easter" and sharing life with us. Grab a cup of your favorite drink and join us around the table.

Whether you're in the corporate world, on a sports team... or maybe you're sitting by yourself with a journal in hand. When you're considering your life goals, how do you tune out the madness in this world, and keep your goals God-authored?

Have you ever sat down to watch just one episode of a home makeover show on HGTV, but then 2 seasons later you are covered in crumbs and feel like you are ready to take on that DIY project. Well before you grab a hammer, pop into the café with Luann Prater and Theresa Mills for a special treat about how God works on us as His very own makeover. Rest easy, because He's a Carpenter, so He knows what He’s doing.

Our friend Cheri Keaggy has stopped by today and we can’t wait for you to meet her. She is a talented singer and songwriter that has a beautiful story to share with us today. God has brought Cheri through so much over the years, the road has been bumpy, but beautiful. So, pull up a chair and join us for an amazing journey.

Our friend Lauree Austin is at the table today. Are you ready to be a troublemaker for the Kingdom? The enemy tries to keep you in bondage to hold you back from what you were meant to be. It’s time to be troublemaker and stop believing the lies of the enemy and stand up knowing you are valued and matter to our King. Now let’s bring the fight to the enemy and make some trouble for the Kingdom!

Every age comes with challenges, but every age also comes with a lot of adventures. So, embrace your age, grow from the challenges and don’t miss the adventures!

Do you manage your time or does it manage you? Luann and Rachel share tips and real-world experiences on lessons they learned about how best to respond to the crunch of time and its demands.

Was there someone that helped you build your foundation of faith. Someone that guided you, poured into, or lived out their faith in such a way that made your faith begin to take root. Now, are you doing that for someone younger than you? Whether you believe you are or not you are teaching someone and building a foundation of some kind…make it one of faith in Jesus Christ.

What if God takes us to the uncomfortable, the scary, and the painful? Theresa and Holly talk about Holly's unique and powerful testimony of total life transformation and supernatural healing, with encouragement we can all take away.

Nurturing a grudge is like nurturing a child, because just like a child grows as it is nurtured and cared for, a grudge grows when you don't forgive. When you forgive someone the person that is truly freed is you. Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

You cannot move forward in your future until you let go of your past. Don’t get stuck in shame, unforgiveness, resentment, or the past. Let go so you can take hold of faith. Sharon Jaynes is back with us today sharing the stories behind her book, "Take Hold of the Faith You Long For".

Making healthy choice are always easier with friends. We can do this together!! Healthy choices aren't just for your body, but also for your mind and soul. You are precious and have value...you matter to Jesus.

Life can often throw us curve balls - events and experiences that we just don’t see coming. These things can often rattle us and rock our world. Suppose, however, that we became rattled in a positive way? What are the things that grab our attention and set us moving? Join Luann and Rachel as we share in these experiences together.

There is so much in life that can throw us off-kilter. From time to time, we have to self-evaluate and find our prime motivation. Join Luann and Rachel as they share stories around the table at the Cafe. Together, we'll answer the question, "Where's Your Motive?"

One of the greatest struggles faced by many of us is fear. We are presented with a decision or opportunity, and we sometimes can't move forward because of fear. Luann is joined this week by speaker and author, Lynn Cowell. Together, they share their stories and those of women from the Bible. Through these stories, you, too, can learn how to press forward in light of your fears.

Interruptions to our calendar, plans, and life are inevitable, but God often shows up in those interruptions in ways we could never have otherwise orchestrated on our own. Luann and Holly discuss times in the past when, although they didn’t like it at first, they were thankful for how blessings have often flowed from the interruptions in their own lives.

We live in a world of noise: sound bites, tweets, commercialism… our attention quickly wanders away from true conversations. How can we quiet the background noise and tune in to what’s most important?

We've all heard of New Year's Resolutions, but what if we decided to instead focus on one word - one word that would be our focus for the year. Join Luann and Rachel as they each share how a "word" for the new year, a single word, changed their lives.