Foster caring is something many families in Australia might consider at some point, but ultimately choose not to for many reasons. It's challenging to care for children with traumatic backgrounds. There are lots of hoops to jump through.Plus, there's the risk of developing strong bonds with children who may leave your care at any point.

While few families take on the responsibility of foster care, they say it takes a village to raise a child. Hear Ben and Corinne share their story of foster care and why being the village for families in foster care is...

Every child has the right to belong, to be loved, and to have a safe place to call home. Unfortunately, we live in a world where that isn't always the case, but there are some whofeel a specific calling to step into the world of caring for children not their own in order to bring hope, where hope is often in short supply.

Hear from Natalie from Lutheran Care who works in foster care family engagement as she shares her story of bringing hope back into the lives of children in foster care. Esther and Casey share...

‘Over 80% of Australians crowd together in cities and large towns yet so many feel alone. Have you ever faced such a lonely time? Do you feel there is very little to hold on to, to keep you going in life? There is a way forward, a step we can take to become connected once again.’

Do you sometimes look at the people around you and think ‘I wish I could be like them’? While social media is a great way to connect, it can also give the illusion everyone else’s lives are more exciting than our ow...

‘So, I had lunch with mum and dad yesterday and I just realised how much they’ve aged, and I don’t think I’m ready, I’m not ready for the change!’

We hear about the fact that we’re living in an ageing society but what about when it becomes personal and it’s your parents that are getting older?

Listen as Celia and Richard explore the challenges adult children face as their parents get old.  

Have you ever heard or used the saying, ‘I remember when...’? Remembering who we are is important to us. Listen to Richard as he shares stories of his grandfather and his journey of memories. When diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, the memories fade, but there is hope in remembering whose we are and the comfort it brings.     

‘I think if we really take to heart that we’re actually God’s creation ourselves and he wants to work with us, then we can make a huge difference in the way we manage the land that we’ve been granted. We’re only custodians for a short time, but we can make a difference.’

Hear David as he shares his experience of regenerative farming and ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.

‘Every little element that I see, and I touch, and I hear, and I feel, is all part of God's creation. In what I do in my yard, in what I do on my verge on my side street, I care for God's creation. We can see it groaning at times and we need to respond.  

Hear Cathryn, a passionate environmental advocate, share her knowledge and experience in sustainable practices. Discover how her faith and caring for the environment go hand in hand. 

Or watch the conversation with Cathryn on YouTube: https://youtu...

‘You’re fired!’ These are not the words you want to hear – ever!

Are you struggling with an uncertain future due to job insecurity? This uncertainty can cause an incredible amount of stress in your life and in the lives of others around you. Richard Fox looks at the effects of job insecurity and some things that can help you get through the uncertainty.

‘I said, that's it. Isn't it. You always get your way. And I walked out. I was really great. Wasn't it? Here am In supposed to be teaching reconciliation and you know, this is, this is humanity at its best. Isn't it? So, uh, well maybe it's at it's worst.’

Paul, as someone who has worked in reconciliation, shares his own stories of conflict and what he has learned along the way. Discover insights that can help you in your relationships.

'A doctor’s job is to cure sometimes, to relieve often and to comfort always.'

Do you like visiting the doctor?For some people the only way you’ll get them to go to the doctor is in the back of an ambulance!

Listen as Richard talks about the impact doctors have on our lives and how Jesus is like the best doctor we could ever have.

‘You just feel so helpless. You feel that there is no way out, you feel like I am so totally stuck in this place.’

How many men face mental health challenges due to work or life stressors but feel unable to talk about it? Statistics show it is a lot more than we may even realise.

Jo’s interview with Chris opens up a raw and honest conversation about the mental health challenges many men today face. From working in ministry to wrestling with his own mental health, Chris shares the importance of talking and connec...

‘The term anxiety covers a lot of fearful conditions. Things like phobias and obsessive-compulsive disorders. A certain amount of nervous energy and fear is actually healthy and quite normal. But when those feelings take over and rule our life, we’ve got a problem’ 

Anxiety can make you feel like every minute is an eternity. You often wonder how you can keep going. And, if you believe in God, you ask the question ‘If God is there, and he's promised peace of heart and mind, then why can't I have it?’.

Listen to Jenny and Steve, who...

Financial Distress can happen to anyone. It can be caused by losing your job, prolonged sickness, a mental health issue or a relationship breakdown. When Kerry’s marriage broke down, she went from living in a comfortable house and lifestyle, to being a single mum with two young children and only 3 dollars in the bank. Kerry shares how she got through this difficult period of her life, and discovered the hope she needed to get through tough times.

We hear a lot more about mental health these days and that it’s an issue for many people. But how do you know when things like sadness or tiredness or lack of motivation has deepened into something like depression? Hear Rosemary share her story of living with depression and the hope she has found.

‘How many times have you heard the phrase ‘life is a journey’? It is true though, isn't it? We can look back atthe past that brought us to where we are today and we wonder what destination lies ahead, but what do we do during those moments where the journey doesn'tseem so fun or perhaps even painful? Where do we find the hope that life’s journey will turn out ok?’

Hear from a group of young people as they reflect on where they’ve come from, what has helped them along the way, and what gives them hope fo...

‘For me, reconciliation is about how do we better ourselves as a community? How do we right that path? How do we become more inclusive? How do we become more compassionate and understanding around things, about what we see in terms of social dysfunction or social disharmony? How do we all support each other so we all have that fair go?’

Shona is an Eastern Arrernte woman who has devoted her personal and professional life to the advancement and rights of aboriginal children, families, and communities. Hear her reflections on reconciliation through understanding our past and being proa...

Family life can be tricky at the best of times, let alone through a crisis. It can be a struggle, especially when you just can’t get along. Things aren’t always so great, and no family is perfect. Rob Schubert shares how great things can happen through imperfect families.

‘I'm always thinking about lots of different things and even reflecting back as a teenager, I worked really, really hard to make sure I did well, which caused a lot of stress and definitely anxiety. So yeah, there's kind of pros and cons to something like ADHD.’

There is a growing number of Australians being diagnosed with ADHD, many of them adults. Today we explore ADHD to gain a better understanding of what it is and how itcan impact a person’s life. Hear Clare’s story of understanding herself, her brain and how it has affected her rela...

‘I remember just driving around the neighbourhood, relentless, looking for Mum. This would've been seven or eight hours and by this stage; I was in tears. I'm just thinking, "Where could she be? Please, God, be with her.”’

Where do you find hope when an illness like dementia changes the relationship you have with your parents?Hear Matt’s story as he shares the struggles and challenges of being the child of ageing parents.

‘There is something really special when you are in a crowd and they pick you out. That to me is the most special thing. Like, they might be upset, but they'll come to you because you are Nana’.

 Over the decades, the role of grandparents has changed. Today, more grandparents are taking up the role of helping to raise their grandchildren in a complex and busy world. But there’s also some beautiful blessings in being a grandparent. In this episode, Tania talks with Julie, an educator in parenting, about the joys and challenges of being a grandpa...

With many people now living longer, there is an ever-growing demand for aged care support. How do families negotiate the transition into aged care? Richard talks with Annette who’s worked in aged care for over 30 years and shares encouraging insights for families facing the move into aged care. 

‘Some people find it hard to understand what is so good about “Good Friday” with this ugly story of an innocent man dying on a cross – but it is this completed work of the Christ and his cross that make this a good day – good for us – that we would know peace with God.’

Bishop Paul Smith shares an Easter reflection on who Jesus really is and how he can offer us redemption and peace.

Hot and thirsty

Do you have a past you want to forget? Trying to ignore it by covering the pain with something else sometimes seems to be the only way, but the guilt and shame stick around. Noel Due shares some stories that show there is hope and a way to find peace.

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When waters rise

‘Life doesn't stop for anything even a natural disaster. You can become pretty naive to think that it won't happen to you. And when it did actually happen, the devastation was beyond our comprehension at the time. And we've been dealing with that for the last two years.’

When the levee broke, Alex’s farm was inundated. Hear Alex’s story of faith and resilience as she faced the devastating impact of floods and unimaginable challenges.

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When waters rise

‘Life doesn't stop for anything even a natural disaster. You can become pretty naive to think that it won't happen to you. And when it did actually happen, the devastation was beyond our comprehension at the time. And we've been dealing with that for the last two years.’

When the levee broke, Alex’s farm was inundated. Hear Alex’s story of faith and resilience as she faced the devastating impact of floods and unimaginable challenges.

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Good grief

'I’ve had a fair bit to do with grief in my life – enough to know that one size does not fit all. My grief, and how I grieve, is not the same as yours.'
How do you deal with grief? We all experience grief in different ways and for varying lengths of time. It’s not an experience we look forward to because it’s hard. But is there another side to grief that we often miss? Something that can make the grief more bearable? Listen to Tim Klein, a funeral director and a pa...

Finding hope in your grief

‘My best friend was diagnosed with cancer. We heard on a Wednesday there's nothing that can be done. He was dead by Friday. That was a bit of a smack in the head!’

Experiencing the grief of losing someone close to you can really shake you up and make you question where God is through all of this. Listen as Steve shares what sustains him amid grief and tough times.

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Do you ever feel inspired to make a difference but feel too small and insignificant?

‘I sometimes find I get a bit overwhelmed when I start looking at how many different ways that we could be helping and serving.

Don't underestimate the power of being friends with someone, being a neighbour to someone, visiting someone who doesn't get out of the house very often. It might be your grandma. The needs could be closer to you than you think.  Making a difference for one person is making a difference.’

Listen as Eloise, a young...

Single but not lonely

'I call it the society blueprint. You finish school, you get a job, you get a partner, you buy a house, children, retire. So, if you don't fit the blueprint, where do you fit in society?'

Emma is constantly faced with questions around her single life. She's also been given plenty of unwanted advice! Listen as Emma shares how she navigates society's expectations as a single person, and the hope she discovered in embracing being single.

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A Ladder & a Torch

'I got introduced to alcohol at 16 and I found this wonderful feeling of release. I could be somebody that I always wanted to be. It became my friend.'

There are many tragic stories about the abuse of alcohol, but how does it start, and how can it change? Listen to Darryl’s story of long-term alcohol addiction and how he found transformation and hope in a higher power.

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Carrying Hope

‘Us Australians are a generous bunch, often willing to support an important cause that might bring hope in a time of need. But when it comes to financial giving, we don't always get to hear the impact that our donations really have.’

Ever wondered what really happens with humanitarian aid overseas? Listen as Sophie Gebreyes, from Lutheran World Federation, shares about Ethiopia’s country program and how generous Australians are making a world of difference in the lives of people in struggling communities.

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Dealing with Stress

Life seems to be going 100 miles an hour. People all around us seem to be suffering from burnout and stress. This isn’t something new. But what is it that causes us to feel like it’s all just getting too much? Listen to Ali and Celia chat about what gets us stressed, how we react to it, what helps us when the crisis hits and managing in the longer term.

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Enduring Love

When love is supposed to be forever, how does it survive through illness and death?

‘There'll be swings and roundabouts. You'll be, oh, you're going fine, you know, and then suddenly you won't.’

Listen to the enduring love story of Cheryl and Trevor. Hear Cheryl share the challenge of working through Trevor’s illness and how she found hope through the loss of a life-time love.

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“It was kind of fun in the early years when he'd be gone for eight weeks at a time and he'd come back and it'd be like a new boyfriend every eight weeks. But it became tiring after a while and we realized that, if you actually expect the fresh and new each time that you're going to get disappointed.” Listen as Luke and Jo share their story of separation and what they’ve learned about their relationship and keeping the family together.

The post Life Together When Apart appeared first on Messages of hope.

What do you do when you’re away from home and you receive a phone call that there is a bushfire in your area? Listen to Richard share how bushfires affected his family and the community he grew up in. How do you pick up the pieces after the devastation of a raging bushfire? Or any devastating tragedy?

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Many farmers around Australia are experiencing a tough time because of drought. Even with all the best risk management and forward planning, we still can’t control the weather. You may not be a farmer but we all have things we can’t control. Losing a job, poor health, a death in the family. Listen as Richard chats with Tim, a farmer from the Mallee of South Australia. In times of drought where does he find hope?

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Have you ever felt unloved and not worth fighting for? Listen as Sophie shares how she moved from feeling unworthy and unloveable to feeling connected and loved.

The post Worth Fighting For appeared first on Messages of hope.

‘New beginnings for me mean you’re leaving something and moving to something in the future you’re not quite sure about. So that can be a whole mixture of emotions.’
New beginnings can be stressful. Unknown experiences of changing jobs, a medical diagnosis, moving to a new country, or a life-changing experience of another kind can impact family life and our expectations. Listen as Richard, Clare and Tania share their experiences and what helps them cope through change.

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‘I take on more things, I'm so overwhelmed, I will end up sick or have some leave or take some time off. And then I have a little bit of respite and then I do the same thing again.’
Choosing to spend time resting is often the last of our priorities in what, for many of us, is a dizzying, fast paced and busy life. But have you ever considered that maybe the solution to all our stress and constantly feeling overwhelmed is to intentionally put rest first? Click here to listen as Lorrene shares 7 types of rest and...

‘Ah, Christmas! Peace on earth and goodwill to all! They’re not very high expectations, are they? But we try so hard to get it right, to meet our expectations of what Christmas is about. We try to create the perfect Christmas.’ Listen as John shares a message that maybe Christmas doesn’t need to be perfect.

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