Most of us get in touch with our faith several times a day. Perhaps you offer morning prayers to God as you put your feet on the floor. You likely say a prayer before each meal. Maybe you go to daily Mass and/or pray the Rosary each day. Those are the more obvious ways in which the faith is part of our everyday lives. But today we want your take on how your faith informs every area of your life. When you’re at work. When you’re driving on the freeway. When you’re helping your children with their homework or changing a dirty diaper. When you’re mowing the grass or taking out the garbage. When you’re recreating in some manner. How do you keep your mind focused on the Lord throughout the day? Is there a sort of overarching “sense” of being connected to God that permeates your entire life? Share your take with us, and in the process you’ll provide insights that others may not have thought about.

It may not appear to be related to the spiritual life, but how we save money when we can is a very significant thing. It’s a different concept than how we contribute money to charitable causes. Making the effort to save money in every area of our lives is a way of honoring the gifts God has given us and proving that we are good stewards of his generosity. There are countless ways to do this. From clipping grocery coupons, to bundling your home entertainment services. From comparing prices at the store, to not running your heat or air conditioning as much as you might like. Maybe you make a conscious effort to eat out less frequently. Or you could be a parent who convinces your children that they don’t need the latest and greatest fashions or gadgets that many of their friends are wearing and using. Let’s have a creative and beneficial conversation about this. Can you list your top three money-saving strategies? Have you taken notice of how much you’re saving (or just not spending)? Has the money you’ve saved afforded you the opportunity to do other fruitful things in your personal or family life? Has it made it possible for you to give more to the Church or your favorite charity? Maybe it has made you more grateful for every penny the Lord gives you. Enlighten and inspire the rest of us with your take on Monday.

Call in and share anything that is on your heart.  Suggest a future topic. Comment on a past show. Ask a question about the Faith. Unscripted is the open forum platform just for you. We never know how this show will turn out and that is the beauty in it.  We ask the Holy Spirit and your openness to the Spirit to guide this show.  So if you if the “nudge” to call in, please don’t hesitate. 1-800-585-9396.

You’re in an elevator at the hotel where you’re staying on vacation or on a work trip. You’re wearing a crucifix or other obvious religious symbol. The person in the elevator with you asks if you’re a Christian. You have from the ground floor to the 17th floor to share your “elevator speech” testimony with them. We’re not going to time you, but see what you can come up with that would possibly change that other person’s life in a matter of seconds. You might share that you were born and raised Catholic. Maybe you’d want them to know that you became a Christian after living an unfulfilled life far away from God for many years. It could be the Eucharist that you focus on. Share your take on how you would witness to the power of Jesus in your life in a very short elevator ride to your hotel floor.

We’re all familiar with the crucifix. We may have many of them in our homes. They’re obviously in all of our Catholic churches. Perhaps we wear them around our necks or wrists. They’re depicted in religious art the world over. This is all great. But it can contribute to our taking the crucifix for granted. Take a moment and reflect on what it is that you “see” when you gaze upon Christ on the cross. Are you most moved by the total sacrifice He made for you? Perhaps you’re impacted by the pain He must have experienced in his head by the crown of thorns. You may relate most easily to the nails in His wrists or feet. There’s a saying that it was Jesus’ love that held Him to the cross, not the nails. How do you feel His love when you meditate upon the crucifix? Are you able to see your sins nailed to the cross? Does that give you the freedom to let go of them? When you look at Jesus on the cross are you inclined to unite your trials and sufferings to His? Do you believe that there is power in such a spiritual union of your heart with His? Your take today could make it a little easier for someone who is suffering to see the crucifix as the answer to their pain.

1 Corinthians 7:14 talks about how an unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and how the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband.  This means the marriage is holy because of the believer.  But Paul does caution us about being “unevenly yoked” in marriage.  There are challenges that arise when spouses are at odds about the Faith.  When one is a devout Catholic and the other is not.  Maybe you are in an interfaith marriage.  Your spouse is Catholic and you are an entirely different religion or no religion at all.  Share with us how this works in your household.  Are you happy you are married to someone who identifies themselves as 100% Catholic? Call in 1-800-585-9396.

We’re all familiar with the stories of people who say, “God, I’ll never do (fill in the blank) again if you just help me out of this situation!” Or, “Lord, if you do (fill in the blank) for me right now, I will do (fill in the blank) for you the rest of my life.” Does God enter into agreements like that? Can we “bargain” or “negotiate” with God? Do our offerings of service to Him make Him act in a certain way when we make those promises? Have you ever been in a situation where you needed God’s immediate help? Did you offer Him something in return for His swift action? What is your understanding of how God will move in your life? Have you tried to make a deal with Him over something? Did you see the results you were praying for? Did you uphold your end of the bargain? Some would say that prayer changes us, not God. Do you think we are able to change the mind of God? Or change His will in particular circumstances? Share your take on this topic on Friday with Jerry and Debbie – and the world!

Have you lived through a devastating loss or experience that left you thinking you would never recover? You’d never be “yourself” again? You’d never get over it or move beyond it? If not, your time just hasn’t come yet. This is part of every life. No one will navigate their entire life without going through it. The key is to allow the power of Jesus’ healing to put the shattered pieces back together again. What have you gone through that you can now look back and honestly say, “I’m OK now”? Maybe you’re just starting to feel “OK.” Perhaps you’re somewhere along that path, but not fully there yet. Is it even possible to get back to where you were emotionally and psychologically, or even be better and stronger? If that has happened to you let us know about it. As always, you could turn a life around with what you share on the program.

It takes less effort to smile because the facial muscles used are stronger, yet so many choose to frown more readily.  We have heard it said that “a smile says a thousand words.”  Smiling at someone during a random encounter can literally change a person’s outlook on humanity.  A smile can bring joy, comfort and peace.  What does a smile do for you?  Why is it that many folks don’t realize that a smile should be part of the Christian life.  As followers of Jesus, it would seem that a permanent smile should be on our faces at all times. Let’s talk about this evangelization tool of smiling.  Call in to 1-800-585-9396 and share your take on this topic.

From Facebook Live viewer Steve: Here’s a poem my grandparents posted on the wall of their parlor: “Smile awhile and while you smile — another smiles, And soon there are miles and miles of smiles and Life’s worthwhile Because you Smile.” by Kathleen J. Edgar