Cynthia Mendenhall is committed to creating and living a life of audacious adventure, and she loves to challenge others to do the same. Once captive to religion, guilt, and fear, Cynthia’s passion is leading others into the true freedom Jesus offers all of us. Her prescriptive nonfiction sits within the context of stories filled with common sense teaching, splashes of humor, and a biblical foundation. She writes with the quiet voice of a friend sharing conversation over coffee. Cynthia is the author of Spunkify Your Life: 8 Secrets to Living with More Focus, Fascination, and Fun (Day Dreamer Books), the Spunkify Your Life Growth Guide (Day Dreamer Books), and Spunkier Yet! 8 Secrets to Living with More Fullness and Freedom (Day Dreamer Books). She has contributed to several anthologies, including three Chicken Soup for the Soul titles. In 2024, End Game Press will release Cynthia’s latest book, Better Because: Create Your Most Incredible Life After Divorce. Her aim is to guide readers to live, heal, and grow intentionally and biblically beyond the trauma of divorce. She is a devotion writer for VineWords: Devotions and More and a contributing author to the devotional series Love Knots: Stories of Faith, Family, and Friendships, Volumes Two and Three (VineWords Publishing). In addition to writing, Cynthia is a dynamic and engaging speaker, a Certified Christian Life Coach, a trained chaplain, a writing coach, and professional editor. She is a former high school English teacher and an all-around word nerd. After finally making her move to a coastal town on Florida’s east coast last year, Cynthia lives simply with a growing collection of friends, a shiny blue pitcher, and an unlimited amount of spunky hope. She often sneaks away on all sorts of adventures and indulges regularly in literary novels, coffee, and dark chocolate.
When I think of Christmas, I appreciate the extra light in the darkness that it brings into our lives: candles, stars, and twinkling trees. But the light of Christmas began in a dark place. The prophet Isaiah foretold the first Christmas when he spoke to a world that felt as if it were falling apart. God’s people were scared. Armies surrounded them. Their leaders were corrupt. Their nation was divided. And in all that fear, it seemed as if God … Continue reading →
A friend and I planned to meet for dinner. I arrived at the restaurant a few minutes early and sat on a bench in the lobby. Different people arrived, but my friend did not. I had looked forward to connecting with her again. I noted our meeting time and place in my planner. We had a lot of life to catch up on, and these visits had proven beneficial in solidifying a stronger relationship between us. I checked my phone … Continue reading →
Our favorite college team is ready to take the field for the big game’s kick-off. Before that happens, though, the home team band marches onto the field and plays several spirited selections, including the school’s fight song. The band is there to set the tone for the crowd, their own players, and the opponents. Our team may have lost four of its last five games, but the band is here to hype everyone into believing this win belongs to the … Continue reading →
How many times have you laughed today? Any doubled-over belly giggles this week? A chuckle? Maybe a smirk? Let’s laugh again. I once conversed through Messenger with a friend from high school. Our chat had been intelligent and playful. As we signed off, I thanked him for making me laugh aloud through the keyboard of my cell phone. After I thought more about our conversation, I remembered how much I love smiling and laughing until the muscles in my cheeks … Continue reading →
I keep pedaling my bike, smiling so big that I could swallow a bug or two. But I always wanted to quit before traveling a half mile. My legs and bottom hurt. My shoulders tensed and ached. The same grumbly thoughts arrived from my brain: Turn around; you can’t do this. But I kept pedaling, smiling, and believing I could. Partly because that was the plan. Mostly because I had ridden more than a mile many times before, when I … Continue reading →
The first text I typed that morning was the last words we texted to one another the night before. Except that I added the question, No matter what? We had agreed to finally hike a trail new to us. The no-matter-what ended up being two inches of overnight rainfall. The trail we wanted to tackle was known for its cleared paths, steep hills, and a bonus of possible eagle sightings. Let’s do it! My friend replied quickly that morning. So, … Continue reading →
The place was packed, and the line moved slowly. It was too early, and I hadn’t slept well. Call me grumpy. When I finally plopped my bagel and coffee onto a table outside, a message on the sleeve of my cup screamed at me in all happy caps: WAKE UP AND GET IT TOGETHER. I was a little less than amused. Maybe what frustrated me most was the assumption that I did not have “it” together. I needed some grace-filled coffee. … Continue reading →
Dealing with loss can challenge the best of us. Dealing with Loss Our Way One fall, I worked with a client who had three big losses stacked against her. I know, it was only three, but three ended up the perfect number to wipe her out. First, something relational she had prayed for over three years to happen did not materialize. A series of rejections dashed her latest publishing dreams, and her finances became shorter than the days left in … Continue reading →
One regular Sunday, I asked my nephew and his wife to dinner. The menu, while simple, was served in courses. We started with a savory cup of clear soup, then moved to a lovely plated salad. The main course of seared sea scallops, sauced pasta, and roasted asparagus followed. We finished with a fruity and fluffy dessert. Between each course, I cleared the dishes. Each time, my nephew joked, “But wait. There’s more?” We will react the same way to … Continue reading →
I stood at the back of the auditorium and watched two thousand women wave pink plastic spoons in the air. They were about to stir it up. College girls, grandmas, mommas, over-dressed divas, and some tee-shirt warriors stood together waving their spoons. But all those spoons and that stirring came without a single serving of ice cream. The fiery speaker had just dropped a strong truth and a big challenge into the women’s gathering. She confidently stated that everyone present … Continue reading →
