Take the Quiz "How Fast is Your Hamster Wheel Spinning?" at hamster.1fit-wellness.com

In this powerful episode of The Grace Cycle Show, host Karen Dittman sits down with her friend Sylvia Stevenson, who shares her miraculous testimony of God’s grace during a life-threatening stroke.

Sylvia recounts how she spent three days paralyzed in a bathtub, yet powerfully experienced God’s presence and protection until she was rescued. Her incredible recovery went beyond what doctors thought possible, and today she encourages others to trust God, never give up on prayer, and remain watchful for His answers.

This faith-filled conversation offers hope and inspiration for anyone walking through trials, reminding us that God’s grace meets us even in the most desperate circumstances.

00:00 Welcome to the Grace Cycle Show

01:00 Introducing Sylvia Stevenson

01:50 Sylvia's Miraculous Story

07:19 Experiencing God's Presence

12:09 Sylvia's Encouraging Message

14:21 Wrapping Up and Final Thoughts

Take the Quiz "How Fast is Your Hamster Wheel Spinning?" at hamster.1fit-wellness.com

Elsie’s links: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Elsie-McKenney/author/B0BNZJ7541

Elsiemckenney.com

Trigger warning: reference to a physical attack and references to human trafficking

In this compelling episode of The Grace Cycle Show, host Karen Dittman interviews Elsie McKenney—author and survivor—who shares her extraordinary journey of escaping a cult and discovering lasting freedom through God’s grace.

Elsie recounts her childhood in a Mennonite community, the devastating turn when her family became entangled in a cult when she was just 10 years old, and her harrowing escape at age 19. She opens up about the emotional and spiritual challenges she faced along the way, and how God’s grace both protected and guided her through every step of her journey.

Elsie also discusses her award-winning novel, Eve’s Covering, a gripping story inspired by her real-life experiences, offering hope to others who feel trapped by circumstances beyond their control.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• How God’s grace empowers survival and healing after trauma
• The realities of growing up in and escaping from a cult
• The importance of reclaiming identity and freedom in Christ
• How fiction can be used to share powerful testimonies of faith

00:00 Welcome to the Grace Cycle Show

00:51 Interview with Elsie McKinney: Escaping a Cult

01:04 Elsie's Early Life and Introduction to the Cult

04:56 Life in the Cult and Initial Escape

06:55 Return to Michigan and Continued Struggles

11:26 Final Escape and Finding Safety

20:29 Writing Eve's Covering

22:17 Elsie's Message of Hope and Trust in God

23:41 Closing Thoughts

Perfect for: Christian women, trauma survivors, spiritual seekers, and anyone longing for healing, freedom, and encouragement through faith

Schedule your Discovery Call to see if I'm the right fit to support you in your journey towards growth in Grace: calendar.1fit-wellness.com

7 Minutes with Jesus is a weekly segment of The Grace Cycle Show podcast designed to help participants connect with God on a heart and soul level.

Join me to pray through 2 Chronicles 7:14 for God to heal and restore our nation.

Take the Quiz "How Fast is Your Hamster Wheel Spinning?" at hamster.1fit-wellness.com

Kim Cusimano’s website: fulljoyministries.com

In this heartfelt episode of The Grace Cycle Show, host Karen Dittman sits down with Kim Cusimano—collaborative author and mother of two special needs adults—for an inspiring conversation about experiencing God’s grace in the midst of parenting challenges.

Kim opens up about her journey raising children with unique needs, including her daughter’s struggle with mental illness, and how God’s grace has carried her family through difficult seasons. She shares how her decision to turn their story outward became a source of encouragement for others walking similar paths.

Together, Karen and Kim discuss:

• The power of relying on God’s grace in everyday challenges
• Finding freedom within healthy boundaries
• Remembering God’s faithfulness in times of struggle
• Accepting personal limitations and trusting God’s sufficiency

The conversation is both honest and uplifting, offering hope to parents, caregivers, and anyone walking through seasons that feel overwhelming. Karen closes the episode with reflections on how to rest in the assurance of God’s sufficient grace.

00:00 Welcome to the Grace Cycle Show

00:52 Introducing Kim Cusimano

02:18 Kim's Family Journey

07:49 Challenges and God's Grace

21:24 Practical Tips for Caregivers

31:21 Kim's Ministry and Contact Information

33:20 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Perfect for: Christian women, parents of special needs children, caregivers, and anyone seeking encouragement and practical wisdom rooted in faith.

Schedule your Discovery Call to see if I'm the right fit to support you in your journey towards growth in Grace: calendar.1fit-wellness.com

7 Minutes with Jesus is a weekly segment of The Grace Cycle Show podcast designed to help participants connect with God on a heart and soul level.

In this meditation on John 1:1 with emphasis on Jesus as the Logos or "Living Expression" of God, listeners are invited to reflect on their understanding of Jesus and their own needs then listen for God's voice.

Take the Quiz "How Fast is Your Hamster Wheel Spinning?" at hamster.1fit-wellness.com

Get your copies of Thriving in Grace and Bringing Grace Home at studypack.1fit-wellness.com

Welcome to Season 2 of The Grace Cycle Show! In this premiere episode, host Karen Dittman sets the stage for a powerful new season, focusing on what it truly means to understand and experience God’s grace in everyday life.

Karen expands on the meaning of grace—not just as salvation, but as an ongoing source of strength and transformation—drawing on insights from her book Thriving in Grace.

With biblical examples from Ezra and the New Testament, Karen shows how grace is at work throughout Scripture and in our lives today. She revisits the Grace Cycle framework for personal growth and previews what’s ahead in Season 2: powerful guest testimonies, fresh teachings, and encouragement for your spiritual journey.

The episode wraps with the introduction of an uplifting new segment, Seven Minutes With Jesus, designed to help you build new rhythms of spiritual connection.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How to recognize and experience God’s grace in practical ways
• Why grace is more than salvation—it’s your source for growth and resilience
• Biblical examples of grace in action (Ezra + New Testament)
• A fresh look at the Grace Cycle framework for personal growth

Perfect for: Christian women, spiritual seekers, and anyone longing for freedom from striving and a deeper relationship with God.

00:00 Welcome to Season Two

00:57 Understanding Grace Beyond Salvation

01:51 Examples of Grace in the Bible

04:48 Applying Grace in Our Lives

06:44 Introducing Season Two's Focus

07:27 Upcoming Special Episodes: Seven Minutes With Jesus

08:12 Taking the First Step: The Hamster Wheel Quiz

09:08 Closing Thoughts

Take the Quiz “How Fast is Your Hamster Wheel Spinning?” at hamster.1fit-wellness.com

Book a call with Karen to help you Get Clear at calendar.1fit-wellness.com

Do you have a story of God’s Grace overcoming the impossible in your life? Book a call or email me to share your story, and you might be the next guest on The Grace Cycle Show podcast!

In this episode of The Grace Cycle Show, host Karen Dittman shares practical, faith-based steps for applying The Grace Cycle to your everyday life. You’ll learn how to move through the five stages:

1. Get Clear on what needs to change
2. Reconcile with what you can’t control
3. Act by making small, intentional changes
4. Connect with a supportive, faith-filled community
5. Excitement – celebrate wins and honor God for your progress

Karen emphasizes that these steps can overlap, and lasting transformation comes when you approach them with purpose and intentionality. Using a relatable personal story about a plumbing issue, she illustrates how identifying root causes—both in life and faith—leads to meaningful, lasting change.

In this episode, you’ll also:

• Gain tools for recognizing stressors and patterns that keep you stuck
• Discover how small, consistent changes can lead to spiritual breakthrough
• Hear Karen’s preview for Season 2, featuring guest interviews and brand-new teachings on grace-filled living

Perfect for: Christian women, personal growth seekers, and anyone wanting faith-based guidance for emotional healing, clarity, and transformation.

00:00 Welcome to the Grace Cycle Show

00:56 Understanding the Grace Cycle

01:58 Identifying Root Issues

05:34 Implementing the Grace Cycle

06:50 Driving the Grace Cycle

10:07 Season One Finale

Keywords: Christian podcast, spiritual growth, personal transformation, Grace Cycle, Christian women, emotional healing, intentional living, celebrate wins, stress management, faith-based coaching, practical spirituality, God’s grace, small changes big results

In this empowering episode of The Grace Cycle Show, host Karen Dittman unpacks the final step of The Grace Cycle: E for Excitement—the often-overlooked practice of celebrating your wins as part of your spiritual and personal growth journey.

Karen recaps the full Grace Cycle framework:

• G – Get Clear on where change is needed
• R – Reconcile with what you can’t control
• A – Act by making one simple change
• C – Connect with supportive community
• E – Excitement, to celebrate progress and give glory to God

She also explains how celebration activates the brain’s reward center, releasing dopamine and reinforcing sustainable transformation.

You’ll discover:

• Why excitement is essential for long-term faith-based transformation
• Practical ways to celebrate milestones and progress
• How worship and gratitude can multiply your momentum

Perfect for Christian women, spiritual seekers, and anyone ready to break the cycle of burnout and live with more joy, grace, and purpose.

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome to The Grace Cycle Show

00:56 Recap of The Grace Cycle Steps

04:03 The Final Step: Excitement

05:22 Why Celebrating Wins Matters

08:30 Practical Ways to Celebrate Wins

11:01 Conclusion and Next Steps

Keywords:
Christian podcast, celebrate wins, faith-based transformation, Christian personal growth, Grace Cycle, worship and gratitude, dopamine and growth, Christian women, emotional healing, sustainable change, spiritual celebration, Christian encouragement