Building Strong Homes: Blueprints to Strengthen Your Faith and Family podcast

Ever feel like building a godly home is overwhelming? You're not alone. In this episode, we uncover the very first step to creating a home that stands strong—starting with the right location. Deciding where to put a dream house is the most important part of the design process. Putting so much effort into creating a great home only to realize later it was built in the wrong place can shatter any hopes we have for a strong family. This week is the first in my Kitchen Table series called Blueprints to Building Your Spiritual Dream Home. These episodes are based on the award-winning blog series I wrote several years back that I believe are even more important in today's culture. But there's one episode that is really the starting point for this series and you'll find it on my home page when you click the Open Your Blueprint button. Listen and begin your journey toward peace, purpose, and a lasting legacy. Watch on YouTube How to Build a Godly Home: Choosing the Right Location with Carol Roper

We've all heard it before—bridging the communication gap with a teen can feel like trying to build a bridge with spaghetti. But don't worry, we've got you covered. We're diving into one of the most critical aspects of parenting: communicating with your teenager. Today's guest, Mark Gregston, a renowned expert and founder of Parenting Today's Teens, will share his invaluable insights and practical tips to help you connect with your teen in meaningful ways. Mark will guide us through the challenges and nuances of communicating with teenagers and will explore common barriers, effective strategies, and real-life examples that illustrate how to navigate those tough conversations. Whether it's dealing with a defiant teen or simply trying to understand their world, this episode is packed with actionable advice to improve your relationship with your teen. You can find out more about Mark's ministry at Parenting Today's Teens and Heartlight Ministries. Also, if you'd like to hear some of the teen's stories from Heartlight Minstries go to Heartlight Stories To find the Blueprint Tips for this episode go to CarolRoper.org/podcast Watch on YouTube Unlocking the Secrets to Effective Comminucation with Your Teen with Mark Gregston Sign up for my Keeping Room newsletter Find the first episode for the start of next week's Blueprints to Building Your Spiritual Dream Home series at the Open Your Blueprint button on my homepage at CarolRoper.org

We're celebrating five amazing years of incredible testimonies and conversations! In this special anniversary episode, we're sharing your favorite Christmas traditions, chatting with two inspiring young moms, Carli McNamara and Rebecca Edwards, about holiday memories and motherhood, and revealing the top 10 most-loved episodes of the podcast. Plus, I'll share how many countries the podcast has reached and the surprising number country where we're downloaded the most outside of the United States. We also announce the first and second place winners of our celebration giveaway! Whether you've been here since day one or just discovered us, this episode is packed with joy, nostalgia, and hope for the season ahead. Check out all of the links-including the top 10 episodes, book recommendation, The Art of Manliness Podcast, the Billy Graham Online Advent Devotional, and other shows mentioned in this episode-at CarolRoper.com

Heartache is something we all face—whether through loss, disappointment, or unexpected challenges. Today's guest, Kara Stout—author of An Untroubled Heart—opens up about her personal journey through grief, waiting seasons, and life's unexpected challenges. Drawing from her experiences of loss and her own medical crises, Kara shares how faith became her anchor when peace felt out of reach. Her message is clear: even in the darkest valleys, God's presence offers comfort, strength, and hope. Her story reminds us that hope is not the absence of heartache but the assurance of God's nearness in it. Whether you're battling anxiety, navigating loss, or longing for peace, Kara's insights offer encouragement and practical steps to experience God's comfort daily. Through her 30-day devotional, Kara invites readers to begin each morning in God's presence and end each day in His calming embrace—creating a rhythm that nurtures faith and resilience. Check out Kara's website and book, An Untroubled Heart: Calming Anxiety and Finding God's Peace. You can also follow her on Instagram at Sincerely by Kara Watch on Youtube Hope Beyond the Heartache: The Journey to an Untroubled Heart with Kara Stout Sign up for my monthly newsletter, The Keeping Room: Faith, Favorites and a Little Southern Soul. It's where I keep all the good stuff like a favorite floor plan, recommended beauty product with some decor and faith-filled inspiration faith sprinkled in.

Have you ever struggled with unforgiveness? If we're honest I believe we all have. But that's not how God wants us to live. Even though He commands us to forgive, it's not just to let the other person off the hook. He wants us to forgive because He knows how holding onto resentment can cause a cancer to grow in our hearts, hurting us so much more than the person who caused the hurt. In this episode I'll share several instances where God convicted me of my unforgiving heart as well as a parable where Jesus shows us how ungrateful we are when we don't forgive. Watch on YouTube Unlocking Joy: The Surprising Power of Letting Go with Carol Roper Visit the website at CarolRoper.org