<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Life-giving Leadership]]></title><description><![CDATA[Empowering individuals, elevating organizations. Unleash your leadership potential with Life-giving Leadership. Grow your influence, inspire change. Lead with purpose, blog with impact. Discover the power of effective leadership.]]></description><link>https://www.lifegivingleadership.org/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Thu, 10 Sep 2026 06:49:35 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.lifegivingleadership.org/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[The Art of Learning More and Stressing Less]]></title><description><![CDATA[Being thrust into a leadership position can feel like drinking from a full-throttle firehose!  However, there is a way to turn the pressure down, and that comes through studying and learning well. Practicing that discipline allows the leader to transform his or her leadership style, cultivate purpose, become more authentic, and bring life into an individual or an organization.]]></description><link>https://www.lifegivingleadership.org/post/the-art-of-learning-more-and-stressing-less</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a986bb2aa9ccb80eaef9a90</guid><category><![CDATA[Cultivating a purposeful life]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 07 Sep 2026 01:00:11 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/890f75_6c91081902d9465cb1f5a528688294ee~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kraig Smith</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Valuable Lessons From Dark Times--Myopia is Real; Embrace the Suck.]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Shadow only wants you to see the never-ending pain before you, but the truth, however, is the same. After some time and some post-traumatic growth, we both can say, "Glad that light at the end of the tunnel wasn't a train!"]]></description><link>https://www.lifegivingleadership.org/post/valuable-lessons-from-dark-times-myopia-is-real-embrace-the-suck</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a7003bc16cff318c186c220</guid><category><![CDATA[Authentic Relationships]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 03 Aug 2026 04:25:45 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/890f75_676e3e946b3549bcb7aac55cd9a0fe05~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_795,h_930,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kraig Smith</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Freedom--what is it good for?]]></title><description><![CDATA[American individualism leaves out a crucial concept of freedom, and that is the freedom to live in a civil society.]]></description><link>https://www.lifegivingleadership.org/post/freedom-what-is-it-good-for</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a56f9abaa2c7341eb4ca651</guid><category><![CDATA[Cultivating a purposeful life]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 15 Jul 2026 03:46:05 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/890f75_4eefb90751de4fdaba6fddbb86e1c188~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_685,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kraig Smith</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Valuable Life Lessons from Dark Times: Don't Go It Alone ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Depression isolates, alienates, and separates. It thrives in the darkness, severing connection for both the depressive and the depressive-adjacent ... And we indeed fell into a pit. But we didn't stay in that pit because we learned this valuable lesson--We don't heal in isolation but in community.
]]></description><link>https://www.lifegivingleadership.org/post/valuable-life-lessons-from-dark-times-don-t-go-it-alone</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a40a095b137b73471ba0637</guid><category><![CDATA[Authentic Relationships]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 29 Jun 2026 03:13:29 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/890f75_f996572eaaff40f5a42ebb8f82b3d281~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_450,h_449,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kraig Smith</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Valuable Life Lessons from Dark Times: Learn What Love Is]]></title><description><![CDATA[At 23, I had love figured out! As an English and German major in college, I had read the greats--Shakespeare, Goethe, Lord Byron, Fried, the Brownings, and so on .... As a Christian, I had read all the Bible said about love. I was steeped in the knowledge of love. My fiancée and I were in love and that was all we needed to make things work. Right! Right? Um ....]]></description><link>https://www.lifegivingleadership.org/post/valuable-life-lessons-from-dark-times-learn-what-love-is</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a2f80ca963b3c1436eaf165</guid><category><![CDATA[Authentic Relationships]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 16 Jun 2026 03:46:28 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/890f75_77e7a1f53fe64094ab49b402ae833a23~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kraig Smith</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Valuable Life Lessons from Dark Times: Rely on the Holy Spirit]]></title><description><![CDATA[Life is a constant journey of twists and bends, ups and downs, ins and outs. We face struggles beyond our comprehension. Christian, don't face this journey alone! God, in His mercy, has provided His Presence, His Counselor, and His Power through His Holy Spirit. Let Him make your burden easy and your yoke light, as Jesus promised, and may you walk with Him daily. He is no magic button or genie-like figure; He is "a very present help in times of trouble."]]></description><link>https://www.lifegivingleadership.org/post/ch-12-valuable-life-lessons-from-dark-times-rely-on-the-holy-spirit</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a20e9abb63f5fb828ed2b5e</guid><category><![CDATA[Authentic Relationships]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 08 Jun 2026 23:31:30 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/890f75_9d63363b6dc44cf18cf9fcc50bac4822~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_400,h_400,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kraig Smith</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Valuable Life Lessons from Dark Times: Get Wisdom]]></title><description><![CDATA[It was only later that I realized my soon-to-be wife was already in the throes of her own system failure as she sank into clinical depression, and the physical darkness and booming silence of those eerie Mississippi nights would soon manifest into our lives when we married just two months later. However ..., I ... learned how to combat the darkness of depression's shadow.

There are thirteen lessons I learned from living with dark. Lesson #1 is ....]]></description><link>https://www.lifegivingleadership.org/post/valuable-life-lessons-from-dark-times-get-wisdom</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a13bc1eb883334b04e8ddfa</guid><category><![CDATA[Authentic Relationships]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2026 05:18:15 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/890f75_8598ab1f04274087a8b5870635588d3a~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_684,h_600,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kraig Smith</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Many Faces of Grace, Part 2]]></title><description><![CDATA[The twin monsters of suicidal ideation can be dealt with through presence, purpose, perspective, and people.]]></description><link>https://www.lifegivingleadership.org/post/the-many-faces-of-grace-part-2</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69e12e4d9e117b67ff829923</guid><category><![CDATA[Authentic Relationships]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 02:17:10 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/890f75_243b999252754d4cac9fd0d73e6a8249~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kraig Smith</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Many Faces of Grace, Part 1]]></title><description><![CDATA[Many of us find ourselves disappointed when God does not work with great displays of power, and we might wonder if He is even aware of our pain. ]]></description><link>https://www.lifegivingleadership.org/post/the-many-faces-of-grace-part-1</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d5c8e8b75c5d305826eefe</guid><category><![CDATA[Authentic Relationships]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 03:55:40 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/890f75_5d8046ee93e94dd8988629d7c89f4faf~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kraig Smith</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[the shadow ... named!]]></title><description><![CDATA[Prologue This is the story of one woman's 13-year struggle to come to grips with  God, faith, and depression.   Gossamer and Bugs Bunny The Shadow . . . When we last left Elijah ( Combatting the Shadow of Depression ), he was standing in the awe-inspiring presence of God and complaining. Now, I understand that complaining to God is a fairly normal human response. But this complaining occurs AFTER God has shown Elijah various manifestations of His power! Generally, we humans are humbled enough...]]></description><link>https://www.lifegivingleadership.org/post/the-shadow-named</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69c9e22c56a82e0017f85462</guid><category><![CDATA[Authentic Relationships]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 30 Mar 2026 04:09:51 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/890f75_9da193561352459988cd01f5cbcbe724~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_336,h_400,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kraig Smith</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Combating the shadow of depression]]></title><description><![CDATA[Prologue: A Journey Through Darkness and Light This is the story of one woman's 13-year struggle to come to grips with God, faith, and depression. The Shadow of the Valley of Death Depression is a strange beast. It can creep in slowly or strike like lightning. Often, those who suffer may not even realize their perception of reality has shifted. It reminds me of the infamous frog in warm water, blissfully unaware of the slowly rising temperature until it's too late! Similarly, someone...]]></description><link>https://www.lifegivingleadership.org/post/combatting-the-shadow-of-depression</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69c32ee88f0e652aaa30029b</guid><category><![CDATA[Authentic Relationships]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 25 Mar 2026 19:43:14 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/890f75_e55af5d3fd594900b27163c8dd101df0~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kraig Smith</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[God shows up!]]></title><description><![CDATA[While God doesn't promise to shortcut the journey, He does promise to strengthen us IN our journey.]]></description><link>https://www.lifegivingleadership.org/post/god-shows-up</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69a500bf51b11cfaff00906e</guid><category><![CDATA[Authentic Relationships]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 02 Mar 2026 07:31:10 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/890f75_dcc9cef5d9554f98b44dfdc00f0f3c67~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kraig Smith</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Muscle memory saves the day!]]></title><description><![CDATA[Muscle memory movements are stored in the cerebellum, ready to activate when needed. How do we store spiritual muscle memory? We build spiritual muscle memory by engaging Scripture, the mind, and an action-reflection model of living until the movements become HABIT.]]></description><link>https://www.lifegivingleadership.org/post/muscle-memory-saves-the-day</link><guid isPermaLink="false">699e7af8e9360bd69c356ddb</guid><category><![CDATA[Authentic Relationships]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 25 Feb 2026 05:19:17 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/890f75_5068ea7cb5194906acf980d2df2056e2~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kraig Smith</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Embracing the Shadows: A Journey Through Faith and Depression]]></title><description><![CDATA[Depression is a strange, new world of darkness and isolation which grays out and reshapes each of life's varied experiences, dragging them all down to the same level of emptiness.]]></description><link>https://www.lifegivingleadership.org/post/alone</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6991397d766c6b5d6498ac9e</guid><category><![CDATA[Authentic Relationships]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 16 Feb 2026 14:47:29 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/890f75_7f030e8f6777420e84cc5e51f5cdc464~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_562,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kraig Smith</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Journey Through Faith and Depression]]></title><description><![CDATA[With depression, there is no generally no forewarning or opportunity to prepare oneself or one's loved ones for what is happening or about to happen. The rabbit hole appears and the slide begins, with no indication of what lies on the other side.]]></description><link>https://www.lifegivingleadership.org/post/down-the-rabbit-hole</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69802a501dce0ff3f1051f2b</guid><category><![CDATA[Authentic Relationships]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 02 Feb 2026 13:15:10 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/890f75_7cd44adbb05d464e9169593b456c4925~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kraig Smith</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Prologue to depression]]></title><description><![CDATA[This is the story of one woman's 13-year struggle to come to grips with God, faith, and depression.]]></description><link>https://www.lifegivingleadership.org/post/prologue-to-depression</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6976d7c4ea2eced608447e4c</guid><category><![CDATA[Authentic Relationships]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 26 Jan 2026 15:01:15 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/890f75_ead0e444856245948221f360ff27d5c9~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kraig Smith</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[God, Faith, and Depression]]></title><description><![CDATA[In the Beginning CRASH ! The glass measuring cup dropped from Jennifer’s hand and shattered into a thousand, glittering pieces across the floor. Unable to cope with this loss and overcome by grief and rage, she rushed into the late afternoon air, slamming the door and leaving behind her husband, her infant daughter, and her life, and found herself face-to-face with who she had become—purposeless, directionless, boiling over with rage and despair.    Meanwhile, buried in my seminary studies,...]]></description><link>https://www.lifegivingleadership.org/post/god-faith-and-depression</link><guid isPermaLink="false">696c53a4482610fa2895b15b</guid><category><![CDATA[Authentic Relationships]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 19 Jan 2026 14:41:53 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/890f75_b53e02ade97b472db9ad9b7be645680d~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kraig Smith</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Shepherd's Hope for His People (Lamentations 5)]]></title><description><![CDATA[The American Church must examine herself and consider her ways, lest she be disgraced.]]></description><link>https://www.lifegivingleadership.org/post/a-shepherd-s-hope-for-his-people-part-5-lamentations-5</link><guid isPermaLink="false">693631f357f9a8b23522f144</guid><category><![CDATA[Transformational Faith]]></category><category><![CDATA[Honest Reflection]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 09 Dec 2025 13:18:57 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/890f75_ec4ecc948c6f4ac1a0a3f5b5099a8d38~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kraig Smith</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA["Something is rotten in Denmark"]]></title><description><![CDATA[True leaders do not make choices with reference to the opinion of the majority. They make choices based on the opinion of the truth and the truth can come from either the majority or the minority!]]></description><link>https://www.lifegivingleadership.org/post/something-is-rotten-in-denmark</link><guid isPermaLink="false">691a908924302f941977c8ed</guid><category><![CDATA[Cultivating a purposeful life]]></category><category><![CDATA[Transformational Faith]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 24 Nov 2025 14:30:39 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/890f75_003ca565f08d427aa87c33f998b6168b~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kraig Smith</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Shepherd's Concern for the Future, Part 3]]></title><description><![CDATA[Repentance offers a path out of a dystopian future!]]></description><link>https://www.lifegivingleadership.org/post/a-shepherd-s-concern-for-the-future-part-3</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6915497caa688239348cf19e</guid><pubDate>Thu, 13 Nov 2025 13:30:09 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/890f75_42c003d739d846909cefafb7d92a986b~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kraig Smith</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>