Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith

Our first guest, Patsy Clairmont, is a renowned author, speaker, and one of the founding speakers for Women of Faith. Patsy’s early years were marked by severe anxiety and depression. Whispering prayers of desperation for anything to help her through this time, she was surprised by the small, simple steps God gave her that helped her emerge from the darkness. The surprises would continue to come as she moved from barely being able to leave the house to speaking to millions of people—inspiring them with her humor, wisdom, and stories of overcoming. Later in the episode, we’ll hear from Gil Schaenzle, known as the National Park Mom. After her daughter, Anna, passed away from neuroendocrine cancer at the young age of twenty-one, Gil embarked on a heartfelt mission to raise awareness for this rare disease. Through her campaign to run in all the national parks, and her more recent journey of cycling along America’s historic canals, Gil honors Anna's memory and brings hope to others facing similar battles. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Jeremy Cowart Upcoming interview: Ainsley Britain Patsy Clairmont Women of Faith Florence Littauer Focus on the Family Barbara Johnson Luci Swindoll Marilyn Meberg www.patsyclairmont.com Gil Schaenzle neuroendocrine cancer Healing NET Foundation Interview Quotes: “God brought me to a point of desperation where I realized that if something didn't change, I wouldn't survive myself. And it was at that point that I cried out from the depths of my being, ‘Lord, I'll do whatever you ask of me.’” - Patsy Clairmont “I became hungry for saying God's Word. And then I became absolutely committed to walking in and understanding the truth as it was laid out in His council.” - Patsy Clairmont “Finding a way to use my words that were constructive and helpful gave me a personal sense of dignity. It gave me an understanding that I could be worth something, I could be of value to another human life.” - Patsy Clairmont “Know that God has a divine plan. And if you will listen carefully to what other people say you do well, you have probably found a gift that is placed within you that is so common to you, because you've lived with that ability, that you didn't even recognize it for what it is and what it could be under His tutelage.” - Patsy Clairmont “God had kind of given me enough humility to understand it's never been about who I was. It's always been about who He is and wants to be for us all.” - Patsy Clairmont “I don't know what I would have done without God throughout this whole thing.” - Gil Schaenzle “I like to say that grief is just the other side of the coin of love. We get to live with the head side, the love side, for as long as God deems right. And then the other side of that coin is tails, and that’s grief. And I think that we just have to learn to sit and recognize that when grief comes to sit with us, we have to start looking at it differently.” - Gil Schaenzle “We depend on God for our perspective in life. And when we don't talk to God, we tend to lose that perspective. We need His eyeglasses, if you will. He has His glasses on our face to be able to see the world and treat people the way that He would treat them.” - Gil Schaenzle ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok

Transcribed - Published: 25 July 2024

In this week’s episode, we have the opportunity to listen to John Michael Talbot, a legendary musician and founder of the monastic community Brothers and Sisters of Charity. He shares the intense evolution of his faith: from expressing himself through music, to finding his community in Catholicism, to a moment in a hospital room where he experienced a forgiveness so deep it changed him forever. Later in the episode, we’ll hear from John Andrew Bryant, a chaplain and author. Bryant shares his battle with a mental health condition that not only revealed the inner workings of his mind, but a deeper understanding of his faith. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Jesus Listens Notetaking Edition Past interview: Emily P. Freeman Upcoming interview: Patsy Clairmont John Michael Talbot Brothers and Sisters of Charity Mason Proffit The Imitation of Christ Luke 23:43 NIV John Andrew Bryant Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) A Quiet Mind to Suffer With Interview Quotes: “I was reading my revised standard Bible that my grandma had given me. And those red letters of Jesus seemed to be jumping out. He seemed to be able to say so much more by saying less.” - John Michael Talbot “Suddenly I could see all of my sins. Not just the number, but the depth of them, in a flash. And in that same flash, I could see all of God's forgiveness, all of His mercy. And my response to that was to weep.” - John Michael Talbot “Taking a good twenty to thirty minutes of prayer once or twice a day is vital to our spiritual life. We eat two or three meals every day. It's vital to our physical bodies to stay healthy. Well, our spiritual body is just as important.” - John Michael Talbot “As you get older and stressors compound and there's more stuff to be worried about, or there's more things that feel unmanageable, your brain can just say, ‘Look, timeout. I can't handle this.’ And I think that's what my brain was telling me.” - John Andrew Bryant “As much as your mind and body may feel like they're your enemies, you have to love these enemies you have now. Your mind is turning on you, your body is turning on you, and you have to love them back to health because they're yours and because you're shepherding your body and mind.” - John Andrew Bryan ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok

Transcribed - Published: 18 July 2024

This week, we’ll visit with two musicians who found their love for music early on, but took some devastating detours along the way to their dreams of full-time music careers. Darren Mulligan is songwriter and lead singer for the Dove Award-winning Christian music group We Are Messengers. Early in his music pursuits, Darren found himself indulging in other things that caused damage to himself and to those he loved—admitting that he was, “manipulative and just very broken.” He shares the story of attending a little church in his hometown in Monaghan, Ireland, and what happened that altered his course—and his music—forever. Joseph Habedank is a two-time time Grammy nominated singer and songwriter who traveled for many years with the legendary southern gospel group The Perrys. Dealing with an ailment on the road, Joseph unexpectedly fell into addiction and found himself trading his dreams of singing for the pursuit of his next high. He shares what reaching rock bottom meant to him, and how he sought help in prayer, rehabilitation, and therapy. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Russ Taff Upcoming interview: John Micahel Talbot Darren Mulligan We Are Messengers Ballinode Johnny Cash Willie Nelson Romans 5:3 NIV www.wearemessengers.com Where The Joy Is Joseph Habedank The Perrys “He's Still Working on Me” The Crabb Family Porter's Call in Nashville Cumberland Heights Grammys MusiCares program Russ Taff Autobiography “The Basement” Interview Quotes: “I remember selling all my guitars because I assumed that guitars were the things that had led me into all of this sin in my life. It was a very small view of God that He couldn't use the gifts He had given me, and He couldn't keep me from my sin.” - Darren Mulligan “Misery loves company. But what I later found out in life is that joy needs a friend too, you know?” - Darren Mulligan “There's a lot of areas in my life that I've messed up, nearly every area—being a father, being a husband, being a follower, being a man. And it's the grace of God that I rely on so heavily.” - Darren Mulligan “My joy could only be found in walking close enough to Jesus that I learn to love what He loves.” - Darren Mulligan “I was a Christian music artist, and I was chasing dope. That was my full time job, and I was exhausted. It was probably the darkest time in my life. I really thought I'd never sing again.” - Joseph Habedank “When I lost my job doing what I've always wanted to do, which is sing about Jesus, that was my rock bottom. I thought, "If I can no longer do what God put me on this earth to do, I need help.” - Joseph Habedank “So much of our addiction is tied up in lies. And once we bring something from the darkness into the light, it loses its power.” - Joseph Habedank “It's so amazing to me that we base our whole Christianity on this word called faith. And the reason we do that is because we literally have to talk to someone that we have never seen. We have to lean on that word, faith, and believe that not only is He there, but He's listening and He cares and He loves us.” - Joseph Habeank ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok

Transcribed - Published: 11 July 2024

In this week’s episode, we delve into the remarkable journey of Ricky Dickson, a man whose faith has guided him through a fulfilling career and the trials of leadership. Throughout his forty-three years with Blue Bell Creameries, the beloved ice cream maker, Ricky rose to become the president and CEO, navigating the company through both successful and challenging times. Later in the episode, we’ll hear from Mark Tappan, a police officer whose life took an unexpected turn through his bond with a remarkable police dog named Mattis. Mark shares how his lifelong connection to dogs has taught him lessons in faith, loyalty, and unconditional love. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Erica Campbell Upcoming interview: Darren Mulligan Ricky Dickson Blue Bell Creameries Baylor One Scoop At A Time Mark Tappan Belgian Malinois Colossians 3:23 NIV A Dog Named Mattis Interview Quotes: “My prayer growing up was, ‘God, wherever you want me, I want to not only be open and recognize your call, but also put within me the passion to do whatever that is and to be the best I can be at it.’” - Ricky Dickson “My prayer was consistently like, ‘Please God, give me the strength and the wisdom to walk and to lead in the way you would want me to lead.’” - Ricky Dickson “Faith seems easy until it gets hard.” - Ricky Dickson “God was in control of it all. Even though I couldn't see the end.” - Mark Tappan “Colossians 3:23 says, ‘Everything you do, do with all of your heart, as if working for the Lord, not for men.’ And when I looked at my dog, I saw that in everything he did and the work that he did as a police dog and the friendship that we had. He gave everything to it.” - Mark Tappan ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok

Transcribed - Published: 4 July 2024

Old habits can be hard to break, whether it’s the foods we eat, the media we consume, or any pattern that may not serve us in the way that gets us where we want to be. Our guests this week took a look at their lives and found that doing the hard work of change was key to breaking unhealthy patterns and through faith and prayer, they kept at it, which ultimately produced lasting and rewarding results. Our first guest, Erin Loechner, discusses how we can reverse engineer some of the ways that social media and technology hold our undivided attention and how she personally applied these principles to her own life and to the lives of her children, resulting in more connectivity with each other and the world around them. Later, we'll hear from Dusty and Erin Stanczyk, of www.EatMoveRest.com, who discuss what it means to be more intentional in our approach to the foods that we eat, and how they overcame troubling health issues and found physical and spiritual healing. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Natalie Grant Upcoming interview: Ricky Dickson Erin Loechner Opt-Out Family www.HGTV.com show Waldorf elements www.optoutfamily.com The Opt-Out Family Dusty and Erin Stanczyk www.EatMoveRest.com Jesus Calling App Interview Quotes: “We kind of made this very intentional decision that we as a family were going to be more engaging than the algorithm, and we were going to not only say no to devices, but we were going to say yes to something better. And if we were going to do that, we were going to need to model that for our kids.” - Erin Loechner “Something we started really early on with our children was looking around and looking in our community and finding those natural influencers in our lives, and recognizing that they offer and hold deep experience that we might never encounter otherwise.” - Erin Loechner “Everyone holds a story. Everyone holds so much knowledge and wisdom at their fingertips just through lived experience, and we are constantly pointing our kids to people in real life, rather than Google or Siri or Alexa.” - Erin Loechner “Let's learn from the best. Let's grow from the best. Let's find those people in our lives that have things to share that will add value in a way that screens really can't.” - Erin Loechner “Rather than filling our medicine cabinet with orange vials, we started stocking up on new superfoods every time we'd come home from the grocery store and figuring out how we could implement them. And realizing every colored food has a different benefit. It was just really exciting for us.” - Erin Stanczyk “We only have one body. And God created us in His image, in His likeness. So why would we not do everything within our power to nurture it and nourish it? So eat, move, rest your best, essentially.“ - Erin Stanczyk ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok

Transcribed - Published: 27 June 2024

On this episode of Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer, we’ll hear from comedian Chonda Pierce. Chonda’s ability to bring laughter to others is renowned, but as we know, life’s circumstances can threaten to steal our joy. The loss of Chonda’s sisters and then her husband were crushing blows, but through prayer, therapy and the support of others, she shares how she was able to find light again after facing the worst kind of darkness. Guest’s Links Chonda’s Facebook: @chondapierce Chonda’s Twitter: @chondapierce Chonda’s Instagram: @chondapierce _______________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Jesus Calling Website TikTok *Episode produced by Four Eyes Media*

Transcribed - Published: 25 June 2024

When kindness is shown to us—whether it’s as small as a smile from a stranger, or as big as someone meeting a need at a desperate time in our lives—we see and feel goodness that is often unexplainable. If we look for them, we can find these divine kindnesses each day, those big and little nods from God that bring us hope and comfort, even in the darkest of hours. These moments are powerful reminders of the sustaining force of divine kindness and the enduring faith it nurtures. Founders of the ministry Bottle of Tears Chris and Lindsey Wheeler share the challenges they faced after adopting their daughter, Eliana, from Guatemala, all while navigating Lindsey's development of a rare autoimmune disease, and how the kindness of God kept them from despairing. Later in the episode, we’ll hear from Bryan Crum, a hospice chaplain, who shares what he has learned from spending time with people in their final days and how God shows up in their last moments to demonstrate His sustaining kindness. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Linda Davis and Lang Scott Upcoming interview: Erin Loechner Jesus Listens Notetaking Edition Chris Wheeler Lindsey Wheeler Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Lyme Disease Jennie Allen Psalm 56 NIV Bottle of Tears www.bottleoftears.com Kit and The Missing Notebook Bryan Crum www.bryancrum.com Neighbor, Love Yourself Interview Quotes: “I remember at the beginning of my diagnosis, just really fighting with the Lord, honestly, and going, God, why? Why is this my story? Why have you chosen us to be Eliana’s parents? We are not capable of this. Why did you choose me to have a disease at the same time? It just felt so unfair.” - Lindsey Wheeler “I laid on my bed crying and asking God, ‘How do I do this? How do I run this race when I am homebound?’” - Lindsey Wheeler “God was so cool that I got a front row seat to watch people comfort their friends and family, and I was able to read their letters of encouragement and hope to their friends and family, and it gave me encouragement. It helped me to push forward.” - Lindsey Wheeler “My body continues to fail me, but God hasn't. He has not failed me. And I feel just more confident and more alive than I have in a long time, knowing that He is using me still in the midst of my pain.” - Lindsey Wheeler “My prayer in those moments is, ‘Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.’ Because sometimes that's all you got.” - Chris Wheeler “It's humbling just to be invited into people's homes, into their lives at a time when each moment, each minute is just more valuable because you know they're the final ones.” - Bryan Crum “We let unsaid words hold us in place. And it's almost like this ancient, heavy anchor that ties us down. I've learned that we often need a little nudge to remind us we can untie our boats from that anchor and float away at any time.” - Bryan Crum “We don't have to wait to see what our lives will be like at the end of our stories. Imagine now what you think that final scene of your life is going to be like. And if you don't like what it looks like, make course corrections today. Make the changes now. There's a welcoming home waiting for us.” - Bryan Crum ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok

Transcribed - Published: 20 June 2024

When we face self-doubt, we may find ourselves not believing in our own innate abilities, or we might even decide to turn away from our aspirations in the belief that we’re not “good enough” to get where we want to be. When we willfully stop listening to the voices that tell us we can’t do it, and replace our fears with faith, a transformative effect takes place that allows us to believe in ourselves again and realize that our dreams are worth chasing. Our first guest is the multi-talented Taraji P. Henson. Taraji is not only a renowned actress but also a dedicated mother, philanthropist, author, director, and producer. Though Taraji had dreams of becoming an actress, early rejection caused her to question herself, and move in a different direction. It took the words of her trusted father to remind her what she was made for, and to find the courage to chase her dreams. Later in the episode, we’ll hear from actress and filmmaker Sope Aluko. For over two decades, Sope built a successful corporate career. However, the passion for acting never left her. After the loss of her parents, and a time of personal reassessment, she awakened the dream in her heart and decided to pursue her first love of acting. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Brett Young Upcoming interview: Chris and Lindsey Wheeler Jesus Listens Notetaking Edition Taraji P. Henson Duke Ellington High School of the Performing Arts North Carolina A&T The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation You Can Be A Good Friend Sope Aluko Black Panther Parkinson's Disease Chadwick Boseman Interview Quotes: “I could go anywhere and make friends with anyone, because I came from a great foundation of love. And when you have that foundation, you can turn negatives into positives.” - Taraji P. Henson “God did an amazing thing by putting us on this earth. We're all humans and we all look different. And it is our charge, as humans on this earth, to learn how to get along.” - Taraji P. Henson “I keep God close to me at all times, and I'm constantly in communication with God at all times. I'm nothing without God, like, the fact that I'm here? I'm blessed and I know why.” - Taraji P. Henson “These roles that I booked, every single time I would pray to God, I said, ‘Lord, let it be a role that really speaks to me, that resonates with me.’” - Sope Aluko “It's amazing how God works because He is a planner and He planned every single detail ahead of me.” - Sope Aluko ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok

Transcribed - Published: 13 June 2024

The most valuable life lessons often emerge from our most difficult circumstances. While these experiences give us insight into our own lives, they also provide meaningful stories to share with others and point them towards God, who can ultimately give them comfort through their darkest moments. This week, we’ll hear from Jesse Hutch, a Canadian-born American film and television actor, who recalls how a near-death experience taught him the peace that comes from fully trusting in God’s control and the importance of using scripture and prayer to ground your beliefs. Later in the episode, we’ll hear from Randy Frazee, author of The Story, which arranges the Bible chronologically so that readers can experience it as one, whole narrative. He shares how his journey through depression deepened his empathy and reliance on God, and how he now uses this experience to support others facing similar struggles. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Jeff Allen Upcoming interview: Taraji P. Henson Jesse Hutch Hebrews 4:12 NIV Randy Frazee The Story Philippians 1:3-6 NIV www.randyfrazee.com The Joy Challenge Interview Quotes: “It really is a miracle that I'm alive, and I owe all that to God.” - Jesse Hutch “You still have an option. If you're still breathing, if you're still above ground, you have an option, and that option is to completely give it all over to God, because that honestly is the most peaceful place you can be.” - Jesse Hutch “I'm very interested in the human heart. I think God made it very unique and it's awesome and it's amazing and special. And so I can go play a character that I've never done in real life, and yet I can understand hurt and pain and sadness, joy, jealousy, and all these different emotions that we all go through at times, and you bring that to the table.” - Jesse Hutch “God has this beautiful way of never taking you back on the same trail you walked on. He always brings you back to Him in a new, fresh way.” - Jesse Hutch “I really am mindful to stop and to speak into the life of somebody, whether it's a kid or an adult, a person who is discouraged, because that speaking vision into them, what you see, could really change the outcome of their life.” - Randy Frazee “I think it's important for people to realize that the feelings of anxiety or depression are not sinful. These are emotions that God has given us to alert us and to allow us to go through seasons of difficulty.” - Randy Frazee “He is going to carry us along. He's going to encourage us. He's going to walk us through it. And He factors in our weakness in selecting us.” - Randy Frazee “God offers us in our relationship with Jesus, a joy that's despite our circumstances, despite other people, despite our past, and a level of joy that can actually defeat worry in our lives.” - Randy Frazee “God is writing a story. And you are a character in that story, He deeply loves you and He wants you to look up. And if you look up, He promises that everything is going to turn out just all right for you, it’s going to turn out great for you, and He wants to give you His joy.” - Randy Frazee ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok

Transcribed - Published: 6 June 2024

There is an intricate dance between the difficulty of making changes in our lives and a profound trust in God to guide us through. When we have to make the decision to leave something behind and start anew, there is an emotional toll and a fear of the unknown. However, there is much to be learned from endings and new beginnings, and how sometimes we end up finding peace in the midst of our turmoil. Emily P. Freeman is a spiritual director and author who hosts The Next Right Thing Podcast. Emily shares practical thoughts on how to navigate change, taken from her new book, How to Walk Into A Room: The Art of Knowing When to Stay and When to Walk Away. Stephanie May Wilson is a Tedx speaker, author, and podcaster who speaks to young adults who are facing crucial years where they will make some of their biggest life’s decisions, and advises them on how they can faithfully move forward by trusting God with their questions and their fears. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Reba McEntire Upcoming interview: Jesse Hutch Emily P. Freeman The Next Right Thing Podcast How to Walk Into A Room: The Art of Knowing When to Stay and When to Walk Away Stephanie May Wilson Tedx speaker Create A Life You Love Interview Quotes: “I have a lot of compassion for anyone who is standing in the threshold of a room that they have been in for a really long time, and maybe feel a really deep sense of belonging, to walk out of that room into something that could be amazing and beautiful, but something that also might come with some risk.” - Emily P. Freeman “In reality, there is both beautiful and terrible in probably every space that we're in. And so if we decide to walk away, I think it's so good to do it with our eyes wide open, not just at the hesitations, but also to the gifts, so that we're having a truer experience of not only the room, but also our leaving of it.” - Emily P. Freeman “I truly believe God is always aware of us, that God is fully love and fully attentive and and God will not let us miss our own future. Which means that as I make my decisions, I'm not making them in a room by myself.” - Emily P. Freeman “Even if I make a move in a direction that turns out terrible and I learn something from it, God was still with me. And in that move, I am becoming someone. Because what is infinitely more important than the decision that I make, ultimately, is the person who I am becoming as I make my decisions.” - Emily P. Freeman “True peace is not the absence of discomfort or conflict, but it is an inner brokenness and an inner wholeness and an inner knowing that even though chaos may be all around me, I can still be aligned with what I know and who I am, I can live in congruence with my own core values, with my true identity, with the common good, with my life and God.” - Emily P. Freeman “The ‘everything era’ really is this super tricky period of time where a bunch of different forces are pushing and pulling us in different directions, and where I think it leaves us constantly feeling like we're falling short and falling behind.” - Stephanie May Wilson “I don’t know that I knew that I got to participate in my life. I felt like there was one exact right way to do it, and I had to figure it out. And if I couldn't figure it out, then I was going to mess it all up. And I think that that's a really big lie that I had to combat.” - Stephanie May Wilson “I started to learn that a beautiful life isn't one size fits all, and that there are a whole bunch of different ways that life can be lived, that are all right and beautiful and good and God-approved.” - Stephanie May Wilson ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok

Transcribed - Published: 30 May 2024

On this episode of Jesus Listens, we hear from Evan Craft, a singer-songwriter who discovered the importance of loving and serving others during a mission trip to Mexico. Through his music, Evan now spreads messages of hope and love while raising awareness for causes like homelessness. Guest’s Links Evan Craft’s Facebook: @evancraftmusic Evan Craft’s Twitter: @EvanCraft Evan Craft’s Instagram: @evancraft ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Jesus Calling Website TikTok *Episode produced by Four Eyes Media*

Transcribed - Published: 28 May 2024

*Content Warning: This episode mentions suicide and depression and may not be suitable for all listeners.* We all carry scars, both visible and invisible, that life's challenges leave behind. Far from permanently marring us, our scars can become sites of incredible healing and strength when we open ourselves to faith.This faith doesn't erase the pain or revert the past, but transforms our relationship with our scars. It encourages us to see them not as symbols of hurt but as markers of healing and resilience: vibrant signs of what we've overcome through faith. Lauren Green is a seasoned journalist and the chief religion correspondent for Fox News Channel. Exploring the intricate intersection of religion and journalism, Lauren found herself reporting on stories ranging from everyday news to the profound mysteries of faith that shaped her perspective on communication and human connection. Later in the episode, we’ll hear from Carrie Sheffield, whose troubled, nomadic childhood eventually gave way to a season of academic success and achievements, where her agnostic beliefs were challenged by a quest for deeper meaning. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Jana Monroe Upcoming interview: Emily P. Freeman Jesus Calling for Graduates Lauren Green Fox News Channel Miss America Pageant Medill School of Journalism AME church Light For Today Carrie Sheffield Harvard Kennedy School of Government You Are The Universe Jeremiah 29:11 NIV Curt Thompson Motorhome Prophecies Interview Quotes: “When I became a journalist, it was as if I was trying to translate from one language to another. I was trying to find words to communicate something that I only felt in music.” - Lauren Green “That is one of the challenges for living in a very secular world, is understanding and seeing God in the everyday.” - Lauren Green “Everyone is made in God's image. So first and foremost, whoever they are, whatever they've done, you have to see them first as someone made in God's image.” - Lauren Green “You cannot know God's will for your life unless you read His words.” - Lauren Green “I kind of took pride in what I thought was being humble about being a shoulder shrugger, but part of why I did not believe in God was because I just felt anger toward if there was a God, why would He put me in such a horribly abusive family that eventually led three of my siblings to attempt suicide? That I would think about suicide and have depression and PTSD and anxiety for many years? Why would God do that?” - Carrie Sheffield “Mathematically and statistically and probabilistically, it actually takes a lot more faith to believe in random chance than in some type of divine order.” - Carrie Sheffield “I think trusting that God can help us to do differently and to choose differently, and to know that He wants differently for us, that takes faith.” - Carrie Sheffield ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok

Transcribed - Published: 23 May 2024

When things get tough, and it feels like hope is barely hanging on, it always helps to remember we’re not alone. Haven’t we all benefited from a friend or a loved one who reached out, was able to lend an ear, or who was just there for us when we were going through a rough patch? It's amazing how a little kindness and understanding can bring us back to life. In Ephesians from the Bible, we are instructed to “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. [Ephesians 4:32]” We might never know how the smallest kindnesses we show could have a life-changing impact on those who receive it. Our first guest is Willie Robertson, the CEO of Duck Commander and a familiar face from the Duck Dynasty television series. Willie shares a story about the transformative power of being there for one another—about a minister who showed up for his father, Phil, in one of his darkest hours—and how it inspired a new found faith that would eventually turn his life, and the lives of his family, in a new direction. We’ll also hear from Ben Fuller, a Nashville-based singer/songwriter, who faced addiction in his youth and early twenties. When he lost a close friend to addiction, Ben’s future seemed destined for a similar, dismal outcome. But a family who’d known Ben as a child decided to take him under their wing, invited him to church, and Ben found the hope he’d been looking for all his life. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Delilah Upcoming interview: Lauren Green Ephesians 4:32 NIV Jesus Calling for Moms Grace for the Moment for Moms Jesus Calling for Graduates Willie Robertson Duck Commander Duck Dynasty television series John 4 NIV fruit of the Spirit Gospeler Ben Fuller Romans 10:9 NIV “If I Got Jesus” Interview Quotes: “If you talk to someone and they change their lives, all that could be generational change for them, for their children, for their grandchildren. And all that could take place just by telling someone a story.” - Willie Robertson “Whether I'm studying the Bible with someone and trying to teach someone, or if I'm just literally trying to figure out some of the answers to life, I always just go into the Bible and see what it says.” - Willie Robertson “What I find is when you share your faith, when you do that a lot, it starts fixing a lot of the other problems that you may have in life anyway.” - Willie Robertson “In a moment [during my first time at church] hearing music and worship and seeing everyone's hands in the air and just feeling the Holy Spirit tangible in the room, it was like, This is what I've been looking for.” - Ben Fuller “My Savior, His last few days on earth, He's washing filthy feet and He's spending His night with a leper. That's the Savior that saved my life.” - Ben Fuller “It's amazing how when I don't open the Word of God, or if I'm not constantly seeking His presence, if I'm not constantly asking Him to guide me, to lead me, to just walk with me, it's amazing how upset I'll get, how short tempered I'll get, how quick I am to forget.” - Ben Fuller ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok

Transcribed - Published: 16 May 2024

Traveling far from home can reframe our perspectives on the world, ourselves, and our faith. But more than the places we go, the people we surround ourselves with, and the stories we share with one another, will profoundly shape our lives. Country singer/songwriter and author Stephanie Quayle shares her journey from growing up in Montana to traveling to Switzerland and California before settling in Nashville. Tragic loss in a plane crash compelled her to confront grief and forgiveness, shaping both her life and her music and ultimately, strengthening her faith. We’ll also hear from Anna Broadway, an author who traveled the globe to gain new perspectives on singleness in the church, advocating for a more inclusive and understanding approach. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Glo Atanmo Upcoming interview: Willie Robertson Jesus Calling for Moms Grace for the Moment for Moms Jesus Calling for Graduates Not That Fancy audiobook Stephanie Quayle Godwinks On the Edge Why Do We Stay? Anna Broadway Solo Planet www.annabroadway.com Interview Quotes: “I had so many questions of God; why? Why would You let this happen to me?” - Stephanie Quayle “I went into the water one way and I came out different. It was immediate. I'd already been forgiven by God; I didn't get that forgiveness of myself until that moment.” - Stephanie Quayle “What I love about country music is its storytelling and it’s a very simple version when it comes to complex conversations. I think that sometimes in the way I structure my songs, I can take something that's very heavy and give it a little bit more softness around the edges.” - Stephanie Quayle “Forgiveness, that is such a powerful word. Because you only get forgiveness through faith.” - Stephanie Quayle “We need each other to be different, but we have to figure out how to love and support each other in our differences.” - Anna Broadway “When you do study the Bible for yourself, I think that's the first and most important place to see, Wow, singleness is not necessarily what I make of it.” - Anna Broadway “When we reshape our narrative for life from one that's about finding a relationship or not, and having children or not, to one that's about following Jesus and seeking first God's kingdom, it really changes how we think about singleness.” - Anna Broadway “God can show up where you think it's almost impossible. There is no limit to how and where God can meet us.” - Anna Broadway ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok

Transcribed - Published: 9 May 2024

The content in this episode is for informational purposes only, and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your physician to see what works best for you. During times of pain, loss, and grief, faith and a close relationship with God can serve as a profound source of comfort, strength, and hope. Prayer, meditation, and the study of scripture can be vital practices in nurturing our spiritual resilience, offering a refuge and a sense of peace. In these ways, our faith acts not only as a beacon of light amidst the shadows, but also as a foundation upon which we can rebuild and heal. Dr. Josh Axe, a functional medicine doctor, shares his personal health experiences that have shaped his approach to health and wellness. He recounts his mother's battle with cancer and her successful remission through natural approaches. When Josh had a back injury that turned into a serious infection, his connection to God provided faith and hope that he would make a full recovery. J.S. Park, a hospital chaplain, discusses the importance of being present for people in their most difficult moments and the profound impact of grief support and crisis assistance. J.S. also opens up about his struggle with faith and finding comfort in difficult times. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Leslie Schilling Upcoming interview: Stephanie Quayle Jesus Calling for Moms Grace for the Moment for Moms Jesus Calling for Graduates Dr. Josh Axe www.draxe.com functional medicine hyperbaric chamber Think This, Not That J.S. Park As Long As You Need Interview Quotes: “One of the things I know that God always does is He can turn pain into purpose.” - Dr. Josh Axe “I've found that sometimes if people just break through one limiting belief, it can radically change their life.” - Dr. Josh Axe “If we're having right and positive thinking, it's a major, major contributor to us healing and achieving our optimal level of health.” - Dr. Josh Axe “It was the love of this small, little church that invited me–despite us believing different things, despite the life that I was living at that time–and just kept loving me. And that's how I came to understand God and God's love.” - J.S. Park “It's such a rare thing in life to be in a room where suddenly all the pieces—your experience, your pain, your story, your gifting, your calling, all of it—somehow clicks into place. What a rare and beautiful thing that is.” - J.S. Park “Chaplains fit the space between the sacred and the system, between the medicines and the machines. And so I do my best to be there for anything that my patient needs.” - J.S. Park “Can we pause to take a moment to sit with someone? I think if we paused and offered empathy and compassion–really listening–and then maybe ask that question, ‘What do you need right now?’ we'd hear [others’] stories and be able to connect.” - J.S. Park “Being a loving presence through grief makes the unbearable a little bit more bearable…I don't want a faith that I need to hold up, but a faith that holds me—not one where I feel like I need to prove that it's right, but instead rather one that is going to be able to wrap around my questions and continue to hold me.” - J.S. Park _______________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok

Transcribed - Published: 2 May 2024

Do you ever feel like life has passed you by, or that the best days of your life are gone and done? Self-proclaimed “joyologist” Dawn Barton has experienced those same feelings, but even through the worst heartbreaks and devastating losses, she believes there’s always time to write a new story. Guest’s Links Dawn’s Facebook: @dawnrbarton Dawn’s Instagram: @DawnRBarton ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Jesus Calling Website TikTok *Episode produced by Four Eyes Media*

Transcribed - Published: 30 April 2024

It’s often said that hindsight is twenty-twenty, and our guests this week look back on how God has shaped their own lives in profound ways—though it might’ve been hard to see at the moment. Former boxing champion Andre Ward shares his life story, both inside and outside the ring, marked by struggles with family addiction and a sense of aimlessness. He reveals how he turned his life around and reignited his faith after the passing of his father, and became determined to become a warrior for God. John Burke shares insights he gained from researching over a thousand near-death experiences. These firsthand accounts convinced him—as an agnostic at the time—of the existence of God, and of the notion that God hears us and is answering our prayers. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Tamera Mowry-Housley Upcoming interview: Dr. Josh Axe Jesus Calling for Moms Grace for the Moment for Moms Andre Ward Killing the Image John Burke Acts 14 NIV 2 Corinthians 12 NIV 1 Corinthians 15 NIV Guillain-Barré syndrome Canadian Royal Mounted Police Imagine The God of Heaven Interview Quotes: “Instead of me trying to lean into my faith and let God be my outlet and communicate with Him, I shut down, I went inward. I didn't speak to Him, I didn't speak to the ones around me.” - Andre Ward “It's just amazing to me that God will take people and put them in these different spheres and use them even in spite of where they are, and what the atmosphere is calling for.” - Andre Ward “My rags were filthy, I was dirty, I was in the thick of my mess. But the fact that I called out and said, ‘Can you help me?’—that's when my life started to change for the better.” - Andre Ward “We love putting God in a box and saying, ‘He will do this. He won't do that.’ He can do what He wants to do. And if He’ll take someone like me who's flawed, messed up, and is no good without Him, and put me in a flawed sport like boxing, and say, ‘I want to use this for my purpose. I want to use you as a light,’ He not only can do it, but He will do it.” - Andre Ward “I'm really focused on helping people understand how God is raising up near-death experience testimonies all over the world that are pointing not only to the reality of the life to come shown in the scriptures, but also the reality of this amazing God of light and love who is personal and who revealed Himself through Jesus.” - John Burke “We learn to listen to those quiet, prompting thoughts, and the way we know we're hearing is when we act in faith.” - John Burke “You are unique and you have a unique purpose. And it has to do with love, with loving God, and following His voice throughout the day to love and serve others with all that you've been given.” - John Burke ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok

Transcribed - Published: 25 April 2024

*This episode contains content that may be triggering for some listeners.* Have you ever had a moment where you plastered on a smile, carried on through your day as if everything was perfectly okay, but really on the inside you were hurting? It’s okay to have sorrow, and it doesn’t mean we are cut off from joy in the midst of it. In the Psalms, David reminds us that God reveals joy during all the ups and downs of our lives. “You make known to me the path of life,” David prays, “in Your presence there is fullness of joy.” [Psalm 16:11] Molly Stillman is an author, speaker, blogger, and podcast host who leans toward the brighter side of life and wants to bring that joy to others. The daughter of a nurse who served in Vietnam, Molly’s mother championed for the rights of women veterans all while battling alcoholism and addiction. Molly witnessed her mother’s powerful influence, despite her afflictions, and would come to know what it was like to hold both joy and grief in her heart as she navigated life after her mother’s death. Jeanine Amapola is a speaker and influencer who battled alcohol addiction and toxic relationships. At her lowest point, she wasn’t sure she’d ever feel joy again, but the healing began as she connected with a community of women who had experienced some of her same hardships. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Jen Lilley Upcoming interview: Andre Ward Psalm 16:11 NIV Molly Stillman Vietnam veteran Alcoholics Anonymous Sharon Ann Lane PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) Vietnam Veterans Association Home Before Morning pulmonary edema collagen vascular autoimmune disease Proverbs 17:22 NIV If I Don’t Laugh, I’ll Cry Jeanine Amapola Ecclesiastes 4:9 NIV Becoming Happy and Healthy Interview Quotes: “A lot of veterans today say that women veterans have access to a lot of the things that they have access to because of the advocacy and trail that my mom blazed. And I got to be a front row witness to all of this.” - Molly Stillman “I wasn't walking with Jesus in any way, shape, or form, so I had no solid foundation on which to place anything in my life. And so everything I had built and was continuing to build, was just on very, very loose sand that had no firm foundation.” - Molly Stillman “The shame and the embarrassment, the guilt, that washed over me felt like I had a ton of bricks on my chest and my shoulders. It was devastating to find myself in this position and to just feel that level of condemnation towards myself.” - Molly Stillman “I walked through the doors of a church and I heard that there was a God in heaven who created me on purpose, with a purpose, for a purpose, that He loved me just as I am, that He’d forgiven me of the mistakes that I made, and that there was hope to be found in Him. And so I walked out of those doors that day with hope. And that is a powerful, powerful thing when you are hopeless.” - Molly Stillman “People that say that God doesn't have a sense of humor clearly don't read the same Bible I do, or have the same relationship with God that I do.” - Molly Stillman “I found myself floating around and just looking for affirmation in all the wrong places. And because I had such a severe, severe disdain for myself and a low self-worth, I went to all these other places to try and find confidence and identity and worth and value.” - Jeanine Amapola “I just remember feeling, Man, there's got to be more. I'm not happy. I'm trying to connect with God. I keep going back to my old ways. I keep making bad decisions. I hate my body. I don't like myself.” - Jeanine Amapola “God did not design us to be alone. He literally says, ‘It is not good for man to be alone,’ and so we should pay attention to that. If God says that, then why are we surprised when we're alone, and all of a sudden we're facing all this insecurity and anxiety and depression and doubt and all these lies, and we're feeling lackluster and lukewarm in our faith? Why are we surprised?” - Jeanine Amapola “If you're wanting to have a good friend, you should also be a good friend. I think it's important to surround yourself with people that inspire you, that are also places that you want to be, that are going to live life in such a way that you're like, Wow, that motivates me to want to look more like Jesus.” - Jeanine Amapola ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok

Transcribed - Published: 18 April 2024

In all the moments of our lives, whether we’re dealing with depression or anxiety, or navigating the responsibilities of taking care of other people, or simply trying to make our days have more depth and meaning, our connection to others is key to our well being. Through prayer, intentionality, and consideration, we can strengthen that cord that ties us to others and build relationships that become a lifeline when things get hard. This week, we're joined by Dansby Swanson, a major league baseball player for the Chicago Cubs. Dansby shares the ups and downs of being a major league baseball player, including the stress and anxiety that comes with the job–and how his connections to his family, caring coaches, friends, and to God, made all the difference in getting a handle on his depression. Later in the episode, we'll hear from John Inazu, a professor of law and religion, who discusses how we can foster healthier conversations around challenging topics, creating understanding and connection even with those who disagree with us. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Jordan Davis Upcoming interview: Molly Stillman Thank you to our sponsor: www.give.cru.org Dansby Swanson Chicago Cubs Vanderbilt Atlanta Braves John Inazu Washington University ROTC scholarship Interview Quotes: “God created us to live in community with one another, because there's such a level of His love and connection that comes with that.” - Dansby Swanson “God does a lot of things through people for me, and I'm just so grateful that I'm able to keep that perspective, to just trust in Him and His plan, and just be able to realize what He's done for me along the way.” - Dansby Swanson “Our identity is secure in Christ and what He did for us and no matter how great we are, we're still never going to be perfect. Jesus is the one that lived a perfect life so that He could sacrifice Himself for our shortcomings.” - Dansby Swanson “I think the way we respond to hostility or adversaries, even if we don't win the point, we might actually still model a kind of relationship or model the fruits of the spirit in a way that will make that other person pause.” - John Inazu “I think we are formed by the people around us most deeply when we give them permission and find the time to sit with conversation and listen and pause.” - John Inazu “There will be times in life and roles that you have where you're not equipped yet to jump into that hard conversation. Prayer has to be the anchor of this; that you wake up and you thank God for the part that you get to play in His story, and then you ask for more of the fruits of the spirit.” - John Inazu ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok

Transcribed - Published: 11 April 2024

Content warning: This episode contains mature content and may not be suitable for all listeners. When we face darkness in our lives that threatens to overwhelm us, it can feel like it’s harder and harder to find any light. But in Hebrews 6:19, it says “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” That anchor is Jesus—and He is waiting to hear our cares and concerns, and is present to be that Rock we can cling to in every trial we encounter. This week, our guests talk about how they turned to Jesus when they started to lose hope in humanity. Talk show host and author Tamron Hall had periods in her life where her job took a toll on her mental health, and when she asked God to help her see the good in humanity again, she was able to find a renewed passion for helping others. LaRae Quy, a former FBI agent and spokesperson, faced the harsher side of humanity during her twenty years as an undercover and counterintelligence agent. Hearkening back to the lessons of patience and perseverance she learned growing up on a Wyoming ranch, she reached out to God to bring peace to her mind, which was haunted by the hurts she had seen perpetrated on so many victims in the cases she covered. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Jay Hewitt Upcoming interview: Dansby Swanson Hebrews 6:19 NIV Thank you to our sponsors: www.give.cru.org | BetterHelp.com/JesusCalling Tamron Hall Jordan Manning series Watch Where They Hide Deadline Crime Exodus www.tamronhallshow.com LaRae Quy Romans 5:3 NIV www.laeraequy.com Interview Quotes: “There's no school that can prepare you for a parent handing you the kindergarten photo of their child who's just been found dead and looking to you for comfort, but also believe that you are going to care for them while telling their story and not use it as an opportunity just to get people to watch TV.” - Tamron Hall “I lost my dream job before the public nationally, but I knew it was in God's hands, and I knew that I didn't need to do anything other than find peace with it and find my lane.” - Tamron Hall “The win is in the loss. Faith is in the challenge. The uncertainty is supposed to bolster the faith and the belief that it is going to happen in God's time.” - Tamron Hall “When I'm on set, before I walk out of the doors of the show, I ask God to guide me in my words and let me be a comfort if I need to be that for someone, allow me to bring a smile to someone's face if that's what they need.” - Tamron Hall “God opened the door and I have no doubt it was the right path for me, because the values of the FBI closely aligned with the values I developed on that Wyoming ranch.” - LaRae Quy “We need to have faith in something. We need to find value somewhere. It's how we psychologically survive and thrive.” - LaRae Quy “Through prayer and self-awareness, we get to the truth of who we really are, and the journey of self-discovery can be hard because we’re asked to look at the good, the bad, and the ugly. It doesn't do any good to try to hide all of that from God, because God knows us better than we know ourselves.” - LaRae Quy “Anytime we connect with God, it brings hope back into our lives. Without hope, we cannot be brave.” - LaRae Quy ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok

Transcribed - Published: 4 April 2024

The Bible reminds us over and over what a gift from God children are. As parents, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with all the different worries when it comes to raising a child: Are they healthy? Are they happy? Are they kind to other people? One essential element of parenting that sets a great foundation for a child’s well-being is modeling a spiritually healthy life for our kids, so that they know there’s a God who cares for them, and listens when they pray. This week, we get to hear from three experts on how we can mentally and spiritually nurture the young minds of tomorrow. Dr. Daniel Amen is the founder of Amen Clinics, and a leading expert in brain health and mental health. Charles Fay, PhD, is an nationally recognized author and president of the Love and Logic Institute, which joined Amen Clinics in 2020, offering practical solutions for educators, mental health professionals, and parents dealing with challenging behaviors in youth. Melina Luna Smith is the Executive Director of Storymakers NYC, who works with parents to reach their children through storytelling, and gives tips on how to incorporate story into the everyday life as a family, as a way to connect and teach faith values as well. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Dr. Meg Meeker Upcoming interview: Tamron Hall Thank you to our sponsor: www.give.cru.org Jesus Calling for Easter Dr. Daniel Amen Amen Clinics Charles Fay, PhD Love and Logic Institute Brain SPECT Imaging active listening Raising Mentally Strong Kids Melina Luna Smith Storymakers NYC www.storymakersnyc.com Interview Quotes: “The good habits that our kids have to start with are our good habits.” - Dr. Charles Fay, Ph.D. “Write down the mistakes you hope and pray that your kids make.” - Dr. Charles Fay, Ph.D. “When do we really have the closest, deepest faith encounter with our Lord? Is it when things have gone really well and we've made really good decisions, or is it maybe when we've exercised some free will and we haven't made such a good decision, and then we look up and we say, ‘Oh, please, Lord, I know that I can trust you’? That’s a faith exercise. We all need those.’” Dr. Charles Fay, Ph.D. “If you want to give your child the greatest gift, which is the gift of faith, you need to work on your relationship with God, of course, but also with your kids.” - Dr. Daniel Amen, MD “When [children] connect with us, they put our values inside of their heart, and those values travel around with them.” - Dr. Charles Fay, Ph.D. “We want kids to be engaged with [Bible stories], and we really want them to walk away with information and an experience that is meaningful and that is going to shape and form them, so that they know that God is with them, for them, now and always.” - Melina Luna Smith “God is the ultimate story maker, and we are story makers too.” - Melina Luna Smith “Just as Jesus would always bring the parables to the listeners, He was drawing a story. He was drawing a picture of what was heavenly truth for us to hear.” - Melina Luna Smith ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok

Transcribed - Published: 28 March 2024

On this episode of Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer, we hear from musician Colton Dixon. From his American Idol days to the unexpected challenges in the music industry, Colton shares how his unwavering faith in God has served as his guiding light through every circumstance–enabling him to be a light to others facing their own storms. Guest’s Links Colton’s Facebook: @ColtonDixonMusic Colton’s Twitter: @ColtonDixon Colton’s Instagram: @ColtonDixonMusic ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Jesus Calling Website TikTok *Episode produced by Four Eyes Media*

Transcribed - Published: 26 March 2024

Sometimes, our dreams seem so far-fetched that even we don’t believe we’ll ever achieve them. But in Romans 12:2, it says “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” When we train ourselves to look for the good, to see God’s opportunities around every corner, we’ll find that the life of our dreams isn’t so far away after all. As we celebrate our 400th episode of the Jesus Calling Podcast, we’ll hear from Savannah Guthrie and John Tesh, who both had unconventional and unexpected breakthroughs into television. Savannah, co-anchor of the Today Show on NBC, shares how her greatest dream of being in journalism came only when she made peace with leaving it behind. Musician and former host of Entertainment Tonight John Tesh shares about the challenging road to his career in television; including being expelled from college to living in a tent, wondering if he’d ever have a career in any kind of media. Until one night, during a desperate prayer to God, he got the answers he was looking for. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Ainsley Earhardt Upcoming interview: Dr. Daniel Amen and Dr. Charles Fay Jesus Calling for Easter Romans 12:2 NIV Savannah Guthrie Today Show on NBC Michael Feldman Down Syndrome LSAT Court TV Hoda Kotb Psalm 121:1-2 NIV Mostly What God Does John Tesh Entertainment Tonight Juilliard School The Dave Clark Five The Beatles Jimi Hendrix NC State Matthew 6:9-13 NIV Mary Hart The Moody Blues Red Rocks Philippians 1:21-26 NIV The Purpose Driven Life www.tesh.com ***Thank you to our sponsor: www.give.cru.org Interview Quotes: “When you get really discouraged about the world and the state of the world, for me that really indicates that you could benefit from a different perspective and a higher perspective. And that's why my faith is so important to me.” - Savannah Guthrie “In this business, we cover so many sad stories and you don't want to get a thick skin. I don't want to get a thick skin. I don't ever want my heart to be hard and cold toward the suffering that we sometimes talk about or witness firsthand. It's okay to show that you have a heart and that you care.” - Savannah Guthrie “When we are consumed by the grief of the world, our own griefs, we are usually looking inward, and sometimes we need to look up and out for help, for help coming on the horizon, for perspective, for sunshine, for a belief that not only is help on the way, but help is coming from God Himself, who is all-powerful and all-seeing and has a perspective that I cannot possibly have as a human being.” - Savannah Guthrie “The only prayer that I could remember was the Lord's Prayer. And I would pray that prayer and I would just ask God to save me. And I woke up in the middle of the night, it was like 2:00 in the morning. And the answer came to me, it was basically God saying, ‘Do something.’” - John Tesh “In the Bible, there was never a promise that you were instantly going to be happy, and that you were instantly going to be devoid of any of any hardships. You understand that there's really only one choice, that is to tough it out, shoulder to shoulder with God, and get through it. And when you do get through it, it's an amazing place to be.“ - John Tesh ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok

Transcribed - Published: 21 March 2024

This week’s stories are set an ocean apart, but share a common thread of two individuals placing their trust in God to be a lighthouse in the dark while mapping a new course for their lives. Joseph Rojas, the lead singer of the Christian rock band Seventh Day Slumber, candidly shares a background where abuse, addiction, and suicidal ideation haunted his days, and how that led to a rock-bottom moment in the back of an ambulance, where he had a life-changing encounter with God. Author and podcaster Monica Swanson is a mom to four boys who she decided to start homeschooling when they were elementary age. Though Monica and her husband initially had doubts about handling the boys’ education, they leaned into the task and discovered some of the benefits of this type of education, and now help others who desire to choose this route for their own families. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Brandi Rhodes Upcoming interview: Savannah Guthrie Thank you to our sponsor: www.give.cru.org Jesus Calling for Easter Joseph Rojas Seventh Day Slumber Third Day Skillet Prayer Chain Bleach Unveiled Skies: Conquering Emotional Battles Monica Swanson Deuteronomy 6 NIV www.monicaswanson.com Becoming Homeschoolers Interview Quotes: “It was hard to believe that if there really is a God and He's holy and good, what would He want with someone as messed up as me?” - Joseph Rojas “I gave my heart to Him. I was talking with my heart to God. I don't remember exactly what I prayed, probably something along the lines of, God, if you'll still have me, if you still want me, I'll give my life to you.” - Joseph Rojas “When I saw the people come forward and give their hearts to the Lord, I said, ‘That's what I want to do.’” - Joseph Rojas “I wish that someone would have told me earlier on that I need to quit looking to everybody else to try to tell me who I am…At the end of the day, if you want to know who you are, you should ask the One who created you, and He will tell you that you're not a throw away, that you're not a lost cause, that you're not too fat, that you're not stupid, that you're not worthless. He'll tell you that you are loved beyond measure.” - Joseph Rojas “Faith has been a huge element of our homeschool experience, mostly because we've been able to live out the Deuteronomy chapter six idea of talking about God's commands as we get up, as we walk along the road, as we lie down.” - Monica Swanson ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok

Transcribed - Published: 14 March 2024

This week, we speak with Navy veteran Michael Hyacinthe, who is also an artist and sculptor. Michael recounts the profound impact of his time in the military, and how, after he returned to civilian life, he wanted to use his talent in the arts to support veterans, and eventually children through his company Wimage, who created a toy robot named Wimee, featured on the PBS children’s show called Wimee’s Words. Our second guest is climate scientist and speaker Katharine Hayhoe, whose work bridges the gap between science and faith. Interpreting complex climate data through the lens of religious stewardship, Katharine educates faith-based communities on their role as protectors of creation. Both individuals exemplify how unconventional talents can spark change and encourage others to utilize their own unique gifts for the greater good. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Elisabeth Hasselbeck Upcoming interview: Joseph Rojas Thank you to our sponsor: www.give.cru.org Jesus Calling for Easter Michael Hyacinthe Has Heart U.S. Navy Seabee Wimage Wimee’s Words Navy Mobile Construction Battalion 40 ArtPrize Katharine Hayhoe climate change Saving Us: A Climate Scientist's Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World Interview Quotes: “We're using art as a bridge for the veterans to express themselves and to connect and be a part of the community that they live in.” - Michael Hyacinthe “There are a lot of ups and downs in this journey of life, which sometimes are completely out of our control, but knowing that ultimately I'm doing God's will and I need His strength, I know that I am not alone, that I have someone—the Creator—that is with me and that is guiding me through good and bad.” - MichaelHyacinthe “I need to do everything I can to help fix this problem, because otherwise, how can I truly feel that I am expressing God's love and using the gifts that God has given me to love and to care for others? You don't often think of physics as being a way to love others, but this was a way that I could use my skills to do this.” - Katharine Hayhoe “More than 70% of scientists at research universities in the U.S. identify as spiritual people, but surveys have shown that most of us don't engage in our local churches just because we feel like we wouldn't be accepted if we talked about our science.” - Katharine Hayhoe “Just initiating conversation from the heart rather than the head, talking about what we have in common rather than what divides us, and connecting it to our hands—what we can do to make a difference.” - Katharine Hayhoe “It's just about having that conversation and expressing how you feel, whether it might be joyful, whether it might be sad, whether it might be stymied, not knowing where to go.” - Katharine Hayhoe ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok

Transcribed - Published: 7 March 2024

People of faith have many opportunities to demonstrate how that faith leads and guides them. As a star athlete recognizes where their gifts and talents come from on a platform for all to see, we can also be faithful in our normal daily interactions with others, demonstrating grace—especially when we disagree—and showing kindness, understanding, and humility, all which reflect the love of Christ in our lives. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, an American hurdler and sprinter, competes in the 400 meter hurdles. She is the 2020 Tokyo Olympic champion with the Games record, and 2022 World champion with a world record time of 50.68 seconds. It takes work to be the kind of athlete Sydney has become, but she always acknowledges the One who gave her the talent and the strength to persevere in her sport. Eugene Cho is a pastor, author, and the president of Bread for the World, a Christian advocacy organization that is committed to ending hunger. Many years ago, while pastoring a church, Eugene noticed a tension that was sweeping through his congregation—and it involved groups of people who disagreed strongly over faith and politics. Over time, he began to look at these situations, drawing parallels from the life of Jesus and how He handled those who disagreed with Him and His work. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Emily Chang Upcoming interview: Michael Hyancinthe Thank you to our sponsor: www.give.cru.org Jesus Calling for Easter Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone 2020 Tokyo Olympic champion Doha World Championships in 2019 Far Beyond Gold: Running From Fear to Faith Eugene Cho Bread for the World Luke 10:25-37 NIV John 10:10 NIV Thou Shalt Not Be a Jerk Interview Quotes: “God really helped to rework my mind and my heart to truly put Him on the throne of my life. And because of that, I was able to reprioritize how I viewed track and field and how I prepared for races, how I viewed wins versus losses.” - Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone “I can show up to the track every day and understand that this is a gift He's given me that win, lose, or draw, it's an opportunity to glorify Him, and my value is already secure in Christ.” - Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone “I want to make sure that I'm keeping company with people that are not just people that will agree with everything that I will say, that are willing to challenge me, but also making sure that I'm rooted and guided in the gospel through Jesus Christ.” - Eugene Cho “I just think it's really important that we be wise, cautious, careful not to dehumanize those that we disagree with, because in our self-righteousness, we can become the very things that we criticize in others and not even know it.” - Eugene Cho “We have to understand that the ultimate call for us as followers of Jesus is not to be successful. It's not to be outrageous. It's not to be the loudest. It's not to be the one that's most heard, but the one that's rooted in Christ, who seeks to be faithful, who walks with integrity, who seeks to love like Jesus loved, including making sure that we're mindful of the lessons of the Good Samaritan.” - Eugene Cho “I think it's so important that we understand that everything that we do as followers of Christ must be rooted in this commandment to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. That’s our anchor and our foundation.” - Eugene Cho “Maybe part of the reason why I have always appreciated the invitation to spend time in God's Word on a regular basis is so that as we go about doing this work, we don't lose ourselves in the blustery winds of our culture and times.” - Eugene Cho ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok

Transcribed - Published: 29 February 2024

On this episode of Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer, we hear from author and podcaster, Rebekah Lyons. Rebekah opens up about her experiences with anxiety, raising her beloved son who has Down Syndrome, and how faith and prayer got her through some uncertain moments. Guest’s Links Rebekah’s Instagram Rebekah’s Facebook _______________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Jesus Calling Website TikTok *Episode produced by Four Eyes Media*

Transcribed - Published: 27 February 2024

This week, we’re talking to two women who grew up checking off the boxes to be the best Christians they could possibly be, and who would learn later in life would come to know a God who was more concerned with their hearts than with their behaviors. Comedian Anita Renfroe grew up in a church that didn’t consider laughter to be appropriate within its walls. As a person who always had something funny running through her head, it took her years to realize that joy, which bubbles over into laughter, is actually something that pleases the heart of God. Writer and teacher Hollylu Jostes also grew up in an environment that had very specific notions on what it meant to be a “good Christian.” Basically playing a role that ran counterintuitive to who she was as a person, she struggled to find her authentic self until she learned to know the God who loved her madly, who gave her the freedom to be exactly who she was meant to be. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Rachael Lampa Upcoming interview: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Thank you to our sponsor: www.give.cru.org Jesus Calling for Easter Anita Renfroe Women of Faith “The Mom Song” Good Morning America Modern Family The Middle www.anitarenfroe.com Hollylu Jostes Salty: The Deconstruction of a Good Christian Proverbs 31 NIV Matthew 5:13 NIV www.hollyluspeaks.com Interview Quotes: “One of my favorite things about how the Lord led me into this is that it takes, sometimes, other people to point out things that should be obvious to you, but are not.” - Anita Renfroe “I feel it's a gift when the body of Christ can call out [talents] in each other.” - Anita Renfroe “I like to sign up for things I don't know how to do and do it, and I think that's how I communicate with God the best, is when I'm pushed way out on a limb.” - Hollylu Jostes “I chose Him because He's God. He is the only rational choice, and then everything falls under that. And once that is in the right place, then you are free to be who God created you to be.” - Hollylu Jostes “I think it's important to connect with God daily because He is the fuel. He is what gets us through our day. He's what gives our day meaning and He's what infuses our day with joy. He will meet you in these meager little moments that we offer Him and He will grow them.” - Hollylu Jostes ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok

Transcribed - Published: 22 February 2024

This week, we’ll hear the stories of two individuals who were tragically separated from their families at an early age. Though they faced unimaginable losses, they fought to hold onto what was left of their families, and continued to seek God as they also searched for their belonging in the world. Jochen Wurfl has seen more than his fair share of suffering. As a Holocaust survivor who experienced firsthand Hitler’s persecution of the Jewish people, and separation from his parents, Jochen clung to his brother to survive, and held onto faith that they would make it through. Holly Marie’s parents were members of a cult, who compelled them to give Holly Marie up for adoption when she was just a baby. When members of her biological family connected with her years later, there was an emotional reunion, and revelations that would forever change her life. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Ellie Holcomb Upcoming interview: Anita Renfroe Thank you to our sponsor: www.give.cru.org Jesus Calling for Easter Jochen Wurfl Holocaust survivor Anschluss Hitler Youth Sachsenhausen Czechoslovakia Mauthausen D-Day My Two Lives Holly Marie Genealogy for Justice Dean and Tina Linn Clouse Memorial Fund Finding Baby Holly [email protected] Interview Quotes: “We found the cell where my mother was, and she said, ‘Boys, be good at school. Learn as much as you can. Pay attention. I know you love me and I love you. I want you to leave right now because I am afraid you're going to be arrested and you're going to be sent along with me.’ We never talked to our mother again. We never saw her again. She was taken to Auschwitz and she was killed there.” - Jochen Wurfl “Eventually, our entire family was killed in the concentration camps, or somewhere by the Nazis. Everybody. My brother and I were the only two people who survived.” - Jochen Wurfl “That was probably the happiest day of my life when we landed in LaGuardia and I knew that I was in this country, a country where we had freedom, where you had democracy. Coming from Germany, from the Second World War, the difference was so immense.” - Jochen Wurfl “I still remember when I was twelve years old back in Germany, and we heard then on the BBC that the troops had landed successfully in Normandy. And here all these years later, I was in the color guard in Normandy to celebrate the success of the invasion. The sun was rising over the channel, and we stood there lowering the flags, listening to the tides. It was just an unbelievable experience.” - Jochen Wurfl “I was so blessed in this country and by my life as a whole.” - Jochen Wurfl “I felt overwhelming joy that my biological family actually searched and prayed for me to be found and wanted to meet me.” - Holly Marie “I praise God every day for blessing me with an adopted and biological family who both loved me and prayed with me, and always have my whole life.” - Holly Marie “I praise God for the platform He has opened up for me to share my story. This is an honor that I don't deserve, but shows how great our God is, and that He bestows His greatness upon all those who call upon His name, not because we earn it or deserve it, but because He loves us that much.” - Holly Marie ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok

Transcribed - Published: 15 February 2024

God's love transcends human understanding and surpasses any love we could envision for ourselves. It is pure, unconditional, and ceaseless, unlike human love, which can be influenced by imperfection and self-interest. This divine love serves as an unfaltering source of comfort, healing, and transformation, exceeding any form of love we could dream of in its depth, breadth, and constancy. You may recognize actress Jen Lilley from her appearances on Criminal Minds, General Hospital, Days Of Our Lives, and several Hallmark and Great American Family movies. Her road to becoming an actress had its fair share of challenges, but her faith that God cared about the outcomes of her decisions kept her pushing forward. Authors and influencers Christian and Sadie Huff have learned firsthand that their relationships with friends, family, and as husband and wife dramatically improve when Christ’s love is at the center. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Kerry Washington Upcoming interview: Jochen Wurfl Thank you to our sponsors: www.give.cru.org | www.ReadRelief.com Jen Lilley Criminal Minds General Hospital Days Of Our Lives Bulimia www.jenlilley.com Christian and Sadie Huff How to Put Love First 4:8 Men Podcast Live Original 1 Corinthians 13 NIV Galatians 5 NIV Interview Quotes: “I think anytime you are choosing to center your day around Jesus, you're gonna get through life easier, you're going to get through life with the fruit of the spirit, and you're going to get through life in a way where God really is the author and finisher of your faith.” - Jen Lilley “If your relationship with God is first, how to put love first essentially is saying how to put God first, because if God is first, then love will flow into all your other relationships from there and it'll bless every relationship that you touch.” - Sadie Robertson Huff “Your relationship with God does not have to look one certain way.” - Sadie Robertson Huff “I think that if you do put love first, meaning if you put God first in your life, then you will see these things produced in your life; you will see love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self-control.” - Christian Huff “Before [the Bible] says ‘love your neighbor as yourself,’ it says, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, with all your strength.’ You’ve got to love God first so that you can love who He created–you–-so that you can love people, be a good person in your community and love others in your community well.” - Sadie Robertson Huff “I think connecting to God, prayer and reading; it does make you feel less alone. The Bible and Scripture says that ‘God's always with you,’ it says ‘He will never leave you and never forsake you.’ And I think if you're constantly aware that He's with you in all those moments, it is easier to not go it alone.” - Sadie Robertson Huff _______________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok

Transcribed - Published: 8 February 2024

Of all the languages in the world, music is one of the most profound. Its many shapes and forms can stir up a vast spectrum of emotions and tell stories in a way like no other. Candi Staton is a legendary, 4x Grammy nominated R&B and gospel singer. Candi vulnerably opens up about how her music was a direct reflection of things she was facing, including an absent father, an abusive marriage, and a battle with alcoholism, and how the music helped her build a bridge to God for herself and others. nobigdyl. found his way into the music industry at an early age, and stumbled upon an unexpected blessing when his mentor, Christian rapper Derek Minor, fired him so that he would be “pushed out of the nest.” Now, in his music, he addresses difficult topics like mental health problems in order to help listeners feel less alone. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Gloria Gaynor Upcoming interview: Jen Lilley Thank you to our sponsor: www.give.cru.org Candi Staton Nashboro Records in Nashville Sam Cooke Lou Rawls Aretha Franklin Five Blind Boys Matthew 11:28-30 NIV www.candi-staton.com nobigdyl. Holy Smoke Festival in Nashville, Tennessee MTSU Reflection Music Group Lecrae Kirk Franklin Interview Quotes: “The passion that I have for music, the sincerity… when I sing, I sing from my heart, not because I know a song. I put everything in that song that I would do if I was singing it for the first time.” - Candi Staton “Difficult times always come, you just trust God. He knows the ending from the beginning and the beginning from the ending. He knows all of that. He's already been there. He's already paved the way out. And if you keep those kinds of things in mind, knowing that God has got your back and He's going to lead you into the path of righteousness for His namesake, you can make it through anything.” - Candi Staton “Whatever job you have, whatever career you have, that amount of hours and those setbacks and changing direction and second guessing yourself and redoing it and failing and then succeeding, it's the same thing for artists.” - nobigdyl. “I think that being a believer, a follower of Christ, no part of our life is exempt from caring and honoring for the other person.” - nobigdyl. “He has created us in His image, we are very complex creatures, and I think that an honest look at the Scriptures suggests so much of what we need in these situations where we feel depressed or we feel anxious or we're hurting in any way. We need people to sit with us, to walk with us, to care for us tangibly.” - nobigdyl. “Prayer is essential for me, and one thing that I learned about prayer was that the less I thought of it as a kind of rigid ritual and the more I thought about it as meeting with a Father who loves me, that kind of opened up my prayer life in a whole different way.” - nobigdyl. ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok

Transcribed - Published: 1 February 2024

Life is a tapestry of dreams and aspirations, yet sometimes, despite our best efforts, we fail to see our dreams come to life. In these moments, we might feel engulfed by a sense of loss and disappointment. But we can find solace in a promise from God; when one dream fades, a new one is waiting on the horizon, ready to infuse our lives with renewed hope and purpose. Bryce Kenny is a professional Monster Jam driver who is known as the Great Clips Mohawk Warrior. Bryce always dreamt of being a professional racer, following in the footsteps of his grandfather, who was a professional drag racer. Before reaching his dreams, and eventually setting a World Record in 2021 for the fastest speed in a monster truck, Bryce encountered many roadblocks, and felt he was seeing his dream die before it could even begin—but he would eventually realize that God was working to bring a new dream alive, all in His perfect timing. Also featuring a special segment from the Jesus Calling YouTube Channel: an interview with Susie McEntire Eaton talking to actress Charlene Tilton as recorded for our YouTube monthly video series, Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer! Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Emily Chang Upcoming interview: nobigdyl Bryce Kenny Monster Jam driver Great Clips Mohawk Warrior Guinness World Record in 2021 Live Like Warriors Monster Jam University www.brycekenny.com Geared For Life: Making the Shift Into Your Full Potential Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer YouTube series Charlene Tilton Interview Quotes: “I made that faith jump and said, ‘Look, I don't know what's on the other side of this jump. I don't know where I'm going to land here, but I do know, God placed a calling on my life and the circumstances of my life do not change the calling of my life.’” - Bryce Kenny “I want people to begin to understand that your purpose, that God-given dream that you've had, every God-given dream goes through three stages: a birth, a death and a resurrection.” - Bryce Kenny “God wants to watch us in the skill sets that He gave us. He gave us passions for a reason and it's not just to use us, it's to be in relationship with Him.” - Bryce Kenny “There's no better joy in the world for me than to know that the Heavenly Father is using me somehow to put those smiles on people's faces. I'll never get used to that. And I've never had more fun watching God move His hand over an environment that I couldn't have impacted if it was just myself trying to make it happen.” - Bryce Kenny “No matter how bad it is, I know that God is going to take my situation, even the dire situations, and bring something amazing out of it, whether I get to see it now or twenty years from now. And when you operate with that level of faith, you cannot help but act on that belief, and that is what faith truly is.” - Bryce Kenny “God is the one that is in control and He still has the creative power that He brought all of this into existence with the spoken word—He still has that same creative power to create the life that you have always believed that God has called you to.” - Bryce Kenny “God really had His hand on my life.” - Charlene Tilton “If you are in depression or anxious or in grief or feeling sorry for yourself, what do you do? You go help somebody else. Because that's the best thing.” - Charlene Tilton “It's just a blessing to be able to start every day in the Word of God and in prayer.” - Charlene Tilton ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok

Transcribed - Published: 25 January 2024

Do you find it difficult to believe that you have a life that could be used for good in the world? We tend to minimize the gifts and talents God gave us, wondering how we—just one individual—could ever make a difference. Nature gives us a beautiful example in the way a small, unassuming caterpillar is eventually transformed into a colorful, winged butterfly, bringing joy to others by simply being viewed. When we believe in ourselves and the unique abilities God has given us, and open ourselves up to sharing those gifts with the world, we create impact in a way that might touch lives for years to come. Actress and comedian Yvonne Orji was raised in a Nigerian family, and she was shaped by traditional views on family life: a hard drive for pleasing people, and a fear of failure. When her dreams of becoming a doctor didn’t pan out, Yvonne began looking at her own unique gifts and leaned into those, which led her to becoming an actor, writer, and producer. Advocate Naghmeh Panahi made headlines when her husband, Saeed, was arrested in Iran for his Christian beliefs. As a missionary herself, Naghmeh had seen many of her friends persecuted for their faith, and was determined to get her husband released—despite the abuse she faced in their marriage. Naghmeh found herself with a huge platform she had dreamed about as a child, and the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives all over the world. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Damon West Upcoming interview: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Thank you to our sponsor: BetterHelp.com/JesusCalling Yvonne Orji George Washington University medical school DC Improv Luke 1:45 NIV Bamboozled by Jesus Naghmeh Panahi Saeed Abedini Tahrir Alnisa Foundation Islamic Revolutionary Guards I Didn’t Survive Interview Quotes: “I was like, Could it be that God sees something in me that I don't even yet see in myself?” - Yvonne Orji “For the first time in my life, somebody was giving me the luxury, the privilege, of potential failure. And that's not a thing that I was accustomed to.” - Yvonne Orji “Like food poisoning, fear is one of those things where if you push past it, you might throw up, you might move about, it doesn't feel good in the moment, because you are not on the other side of it to see, What if God has something? But then you do it and you overcome it. And now you can't see yourself without it.” - Yvonne Orji “One of the most confusing things to me, or interesting things to me, was in elementary school when they asked me, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ Which is a normal thing that children say to each other. And I remember thinking, Wow, I've never thought about this. Growing up in war and revolution, you don't really think about growing up.” - Naghmeh Panahi “I got to see the plight of the persecuted church for the first time, and the fear of gathering in homes just to pray together, just to worship together, just to read the Bible together. The fear of being caught with a Bible; it carries the death penalty. And I couldn't wrap my mind around it.” - Naghmeh Panahi “How was I going to get my husband out of one of the worst prisons in the entire world, in one of the most radical countries in the world? I didn't know. The only way I knew was to get on my knees and pray.” - Naghmeh Panahi “I stepped out in faith, and I saw God telling me to do that as I was reading His word and I was praying, God was encouraging me and building up my confidence to step out.” - Naghmeh Panahi “I got to be a voice for the persecuted church. The people I had seen get arrested and beaten and killed because they simply follow Jesus, I got to advocate for them and be a voice for them. And that was encouraging to me.” - Naghmeh Panahi “I cried out to God and said, ‘God, what are you doing? My life's already hard. You're making my life harder.’ But I didn't know at that time that what God was doing was He was setting me free. He was separating me from my abuser so that the fog of confusion, of abuse, was lifting and He was setting me free as His daughter.” - Naghmeh Panhi “The joy and peace can be there in any of our lives as His children, no matter the situation, no matter the loss.” - Naghmeh Panahi ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok

Transcribed - Published: 18 January 2024

Living with a negative worldview, often born out of childhood trauma or difficult experiences in one's life or workspace, can feel as if you're perpetually shrouded in a bleak fog. The world may seem unkind and unfair, every experience tainted by the shadows of your past. Sometimes it can feel like there’s danger around every corner, stealing our joy and our ability to live without constant fear. Former FBI investigator Jana Monroe worked on some notorious and heinous murder cases, including those of Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer. She shares about the demanding challenges of interviewing serial killers and how it affected her mindset and her view of the world–and how prayer and daily reflection with God was a lifesaver in rescuing her from fear. Ike Miller, a pastor and author, shares about the hurdles he faced during his formative years, navigating the difficulties of growing up with an alcoholic father and overcoming unhealthy coping mechanisms. Content Warning: This episode mentions violence and may not be suitable for all listeners. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Herman Mendoza Upcoming interview: Yvonne Orji Jana Monroe Quantico behavioral science unit Hearts of Darkness Ike Miller Bright City Church alcoholism Codependency Good Baggage Interview Quotes: “I would pray and I would have conversations with the Lord, and always there would be this overwhelming sense of calmness.” - Jana Monroe “I began my journey, or He began that journey for me, of starting to look at the good in other people. It was a process. It was certainly nothing that happened overnight, but by having those conversations, He opened up my heart and mind to a whole different perspective and optic of looking at things.” - Jana Monroe “I have faith that the Lord is going to show me the way out of this and show me a different path, and I was never disappointed.” - Jana Monroe “I began to rid myself of some of these unhealthy behaviors when I honestly started paying attention to the pain that these things were causing me: anxiety, depression, emotional exhaustion, and being able to do the work to connect those back to childhood experiences and that environment so that I could begin to disarm the impact of some of those things on me as an adult.” - Ike Miller “One of the things that I often tell people, whether that is in my congregation in preaching or in one-on-one conversations, is pain in the past doesn't die just because we bury it.” - Ike Miller “One of the things that I often tell people, whether that is in my congregation in preaching or in one-on-one conversations, is pain in the past doesn't die just because we bury it.” - Ike Miller “Connecting with God in prayer can help us feel less alone because it creates space for us to understand what pain and fears prevent us from connecting and experiencing intimacy now.” - Ike Miller ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website

Transcribed - Published: 11 January 2024

Perhaps you are facing a time in your life where the world around you seems to be crumbling, and your heart is heavy with the weight of unexpected trials. How, in the midst of our struggles, can we remain steadfast, continue to show up, and face each day with courage and resolve when the pain and fear threaten to steal any last shred of hope we have? Our guests this week believe that every challenge, every hardship, is a part of God's grand design. They found strength in the belief that their trials were not random occurrences, but purposeful events, shaping them, refining them, and guiding them toward a deeper understanding of God’s love for us. Jay Hewitt, a pastor in Southern California, found out at 37 years old that he had a malignant brain tumor. What could have sent him into a tailspin fueled him to do something that seemed counterintuitive to someone who would face months of chemo and treatments that would weaken his body: he decided to run an Ironman race. What he learned in this process about his faith and his relationship with God changed his perspective and gave him an appreciation for how God works through our suffering like he’d never had before. Amanda Held Opelt, a seasoned author, speaker, and songwriter, focuses on faith, grief, and creativity. With fifteen years of experience in non-profit and humanitarian work, she’s seen the human love that rises above and surrounds a hurting community—and the hope that gets rediscovered after seemingly, your life is destroyed. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Meg Apperson Upcoming interview: Jana Monroe Jay Hewitt IRONMAN race Grade II Astrocytoma 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NIV ABC’s Wide World of Sports Nehemiah 8:10 NIV I Am Weak, I Am Strong: Building a Resilient Faith for a Resilient Life Amanda Held Opelt Matthew 26: 36-46 NIV www.amandaheldopelt.com Holy Unhappiness Interview Quotes: “I’d wrestled with God plenty of times before, and I think that real strength comes from wrestling. When you wrestle with God, He strengthens your inner being.” - Jay Hewitt “I've got the grace that I need to get through this. Somehow, I'm going to get to experience God's power being demonstrated through my weakness. And not only that, but I'm going to get to experience the paradox of faith that it's when I'm weak, that I'm strong.” - Jay Hewitt “Any time there's a large obstacle ahead of you, there's great opportunities within that obstacle.” - Jay Hewitt “In His power, get up, stay strong, and press on and see the dreams that God has given you be fulfilled in your life.” - Jay Hewitt “I'm passionate about how the experience of loss or hardship becomes integrated into a person's story—how it makes them who they are, how it impacts their relationship with God and with others, and how people rise up and move forward in the aftermath of grief or a disaster.” - Amanda Held Opelt “I got to witness what happens when people show up for other people when we live as neighbors and offer ourselves and offer resources to one another and come alongside one another in those spaces of lack.” - Amanda Held Opelt “We are given these holy songs of lament as a form of worship, because part of being human made in the image of God, is to suffer pain, and in fact, God Himself is a highly emotive God.” - Amanda Held Opelt “I think part of the reason I believe lament is such a high form of worship is that to me, worship is just any time we stand in agreement with God about what is true, about who He is, and who we are, and when we cry out to Him because the world is not as it should be, when we lament injustice and violence, or when we weep over death.” - Amanda Held Opelt “I think what God really wants with us, where He knows the blessing is, is in intimacy. He wants a relationship with us, and that's where we find the blessing. Relationship with God, intimacy with God, is something He offers to all of us, and sometimes it's actually the path of pain or those uncomfortable emotions. It's the path of lack that brings us into a deeper, richer intimacy with God.” - Amanda Held Opelt “I love committing to rhythms of prayer and scripture reading, because those practices serve as a safeguard to us when our emotions aren't really feeling connected to God. When we have these habits, they make space for our faith, even when our faith feels small.” - Amanda Held Opelt “I think grief will still feel like grief, loss is still going to feel like loss, no matter our commitment to the spiritual disciplines. God doesn't always take away that heavy burden we are carrying, but I do believe He gives us the strength that we need to carry it.” - Amanda Held Opelt “My prayer is that as a Christian, I would not be someone who's just marked so much by my happiness, but more that I would be a person who is marked by hope.” - Amanda Held Opelt ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website

Transcribed - Published: 4 January 2024

Welcome to the Jesus Calling Podcast. The Enneagram system is a widely accepted personality model that offers deep insight into our core driving motivations, opening up exciting possibilities in the prediction and understanding of human behavior. As a doorway to self-discovery and self-awareness, the Enneagram is also a powerful tool for spiritual transformation that can replenish our energy toward our relationship with God and others. This week podcaster and counselor Christa Hardin shares how she’s used the Enneagram as a tool to help couples communicate better and learn more about each other so that they can learn to grow together. Doctors of psychology, Bill and Kristi Gaultiere, share how we can use the Enneagram to deepen our relationship with God by learning more about emotions and personalities. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Enneagram video series Upcoming interview: Jay Hewitt Enneagram Christa Hardin Enneagram Type 7 Wheaton College The Enneagram in Marriage: Your Guide to Thriving Together in Your Unique Pairing Bill and Kristi Gaultiere Soul Shepherding Healthy Feelings, Thriving Faith Enneagram 6 Interview Quotes: “I think that it's important that couples realize that they can shine even more beautifully as they walk through these seasons together with faithfulness and learn about one another's [Enneagram] types, learn about how one another thrives, what makes each other feel safe and secure, what makes one another feel like a bit of a basket case.” - Christa Hardin “It's so lovely to have time and space with God every day to journal, to pray, to be in the Word, to really allow God's Word to refresh us, to trust Him that though pain lasts through the night, joy comes in the morning.” - Christa Hardin “As we bring our emotions honestly, intimately into relationship with Jesus, it results really in us growing in our emotional intelligence and experiencing the positive emotions of the gifts He's given us, which emotions they move us, they motivate us, they enable us to thrive in our life with Jesus.” - Kristi Gaultiere “Cultivating healthy feelings is such an important key to a healthy faith, and the Enneagram is just a great tool to help us be healthy in our emotions, relationships, and spirituality, particularly when we take a Jesus-centered and a Biblical approach to the Enneagram, that's when God can really use this tool to bring transformation in our lives.” - Bill Gaultiere “We've come to blend our personalities together, we've learned that we're better together.” - Kristi Gaultiere ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website

Transcribed - Published: 28 December 2023

For so many, the holidays don’t always represent a time of joy, but trigger memories of painful past trauma, or reminders of deep loss. Whether we greet the holidays with anticipation or dread, we can all be a part of helping each other heal during the holidays. Small acts of kindness, beyond traditional Christmas gifts, can have a big impact in spreading love and creating positive change, especially during a time that brings mixed emotions for so many. Our first guests this week are digital creators Stevie and Sazan Hendrix. They share some tips about how to navigate the holidays, even when they are hard, and how to find hope even when things feel hopeless. Dr. Emily Smith, who is an epidemiologist at Duke University. Emily’s love for both science and people inspired her to help others answer some difficult questions. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Bo Stern Upcoming interview: Christa Hardin Thank you to our sponsor: BetterHelp.com/JesusCalling Stevie and Sazan Hendrix Leukemia Bible A Real Good Life Dr. Emily Smith Duke University Friendly Neighbor Epidemiologist Luke 10:25-37 NIV Mercy Ships COVID Ephesians 3 NIV Hebrews 12:2 NIV Psalm 27:4 NIV The Science of the Good Samaritan Interview Quotes: “Sometimes life happens in the midst of holidays and exciting things and all the happenings and these unexpected, chaotic things happen, but you're still able to stop and see the good, find that hope in the hopeless moments.” - Sazan Hendrix “It's not these larger than life things, it's just these small little tokens of appreciation that you can pour into your community and it just is one little thing at a time. And what is that one thing you can do when you look around to help spread God's kingdom and His love?” - Sazan Hendrix “As an epidemiologist, my job is to quantify the need for children in very low income, impoverished areas and then using that data to choose not to walk by. It's like the Good Samaritan story of where we see someone helping the person on the side of the road in some really tangible ways.” - Dr. Emily Smith “I think that what it looks like to be a good neighbor in today's world is just wherever you are, be a good human.” - Dr. Emily Smith “We don't have to do it all, but we can do what our great work is. I think if people can discern where they are and what great work they are doing, I think it helps not get so paralyzed.” - Dr. Emily Smith “During Christmas, take some time to just breathe and maybe remember who has neighbored us well, to tell them thank you…it cost Jesus so much to be a Good Samaritan, but it gives us courage now to do the same.” - Dr. Emily Smith ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website

Transcribed - Published: 21 December 2023

On this episode of Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer, we’re talking to author, singer/songwriter and multiple Dove Award winner Ellie Holcomb, who shares about the humbling experience of singing on a stage for an audience, her Christmas family traditions, and the hopes she has for the season. Guest’s Links Facebook: @ellieholcombmusic Twitter: @ellieholcomb Instagram: @ellieholcomb ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Jesus Calling Website *Episode produced by Four Eyes Media*

Transcribed - Published: 19 December 2023

The Bible is filled with stories of people who faced uncertain times; like Joseph who was betrayed by his brothers and was sold as a slave, or Job who went through unbearable pain and loss. But their hardships didn’t cause them to give up—in fact, their lives went on to have profound impact, despite the challenges along the way. This week’s guests know what it’s like to feel like giving up after enduring a trying season, but instead, persevered in the hope of making their lives count. South Florida rapper Otis has collaborated with artists such as Rick Ross and Flo Rida. As a youth, Otis was kicked out of multiple schools and made some unwise choices due to peer pressure. Instead of succumbing to a label of being a “problem,” he took the challenges he faced in his youth and turned them into a passion to help all kids succeed. Collegiate softball player Katelyn Pavey was born without a full arm. You might think this could have been an impediment to pursuing a sport like softball, but Katelyn was determined to be the best she could be—and ended up becoming one of the top players in her sport. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Darnell Ferguson Upcoming interview: Stevie and Sazan Hendrix www.ReadRelief.com Otis Kemp Flo Rida Katelyn Pavey Phocomelia Syndrome FCA Midway University Kentucky Christian University I Can Interview Quotes: “I’ll never forget. I said, ‘What am I doing? You know, God, you gave me this gifting or whatever it is,’ I didn't understand it, but I knew that I was supposed to be using it for Him. “ - Otis Kemp “It was hard, it wasn't easy, and I think that's why God is faithful and He’s blessing me now, because I gave up something at a time where it was just insane to the normal individual.” - Otis Kemp “It's been ups and downs, but God has been able to sustain us all the way through. He never said it would be easy, but He said, ‘I'll be there with you even until the end of the age.’” - Otis Kemp “Anything you do for the Lord and you present it to Him in the right heart posture, He will come and consume it and He will dwell there. And so I'm honored that He chose Otis. And that's something no one can ever take from me, that God has smiled on me, and it's just the beginning.” - Otis Kemp “I ended up recovering in four and a half months from this injury, and it just proved to me that trusting in God and trusting that He has a plan, really pushed me to get better and pushed me to come back and play softball again.” - Katelyn Pavey “I don't need to play for myself. I need to play for Him in all my playing and all my life, my actions and my words should be glorifying to Him and show others to Him through my play.” - Katelyn Pavey “He has a plan for me, even though I didn't know what the future held, I just was reminded that I know who holds my future, and that in the end, there's going to be a reason why these things happened.” - Katelyn Pavey ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website

Transcribed - Published: 14 December 2023

As we celebrate the season of advent, it’s a wonderful time to focus on prayer. This dialogue with God can be an avenue leading us to tranquility by enabling us to articulate our deepest fears, hopes, and concerns. It provides an opportunity to let go and surrender our burdens. In the practice of releasing our worries, we open ourselves up to God’s calming embrace of serenity. Father James Martin is a Jesuit priest who is a student of scripture, helping bring it to life for people in new ways. In his latest book called Come Forth, Father Martin explores the story of Lazarus and how understanding the context for Jesus’ greatest miracle can have meaning for us as we strive to let go of things that no longer serve us, and have faith that Jesus can give us new life, just as He gave His friend Lazarus. After Father Martin walks us through the miraculous story of Lazarus, he brings a special message for us about the meaning of Advent as we celebrate this special time of year. Michael Freeland Miller is the founder and one of the senior leaders of UPPERROOM. In April of 2010, Michael and his wife started a small prayer meeting in an office space overlooking downtown Dallas. From that initial prayer meeting, God birthed a movement of prayer and worship that continues to grow globally. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Ryan Stevenson www.ReadRelief.com Not That Fancy Father James Martin Come Forth America Magazine Lent Advent Michael Freeland Miller UPPERROOM Deuteronomy 10:8 NIV www.upperroom.co Interview Quotes: “What do we want to let die? What do you want to let go of? What do you want to get rid of? What patterns, what behaviors, what addictions do we want to leave behind in the tomb to let die so that we can hear God's voice inviting us to come forth?” - Father James Martin “People feel so stressed at Christmas, and what is really a joyful holiday becomes sort of a burden. There's always this temptation at Christmas to want to do everything, visit every person, write every single person you know a Christmas card, buy everyone a gift, sort of go for broke when it comes to Christmas dinner. And I think doing less might be helpful.” - Father James Martin “What does it mean that God became human? What does that mean for me? What does it mean that God was human in the most vulnerable way possible? What does it mean that God would choose to be vulnerable and little and dependent on human beings, on Mary and Joseph?” - Father James Martin “Instead of being on Amazon all day and clicking for the next gift, trying to get the right thing—stressing out about it may not be as helpful as just five minutes of prayer. It's about balance, I think. And Advent enables us to slow down a bit.” - Father James Martin “God becomes human in order that we might relate to God better.” - Father James Martin “I died a thousand deaths to my various strategies and the resume that I had built up in ministry. And the Lord really stripped me in that season in discovering what it was like to build a church around prayer.” - Michael Freeland Miller “I think prayer is a means to God's presence, His spirit.” - Michael Freeland Miller “I find such joy in praying with God's people. I find it encourages my faith to listen to other people pray, and then I love to pray for them and then pray together.” - Michael Freeland Miller ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website

Transcribed - Published: 7 December 2023

God's love knows no borders, boundaries, or limitations. It reaches every person, regardless of origin or language. When we strive to follow Jesus’s greatest commandment, “Love one another,” we can begin to break down the walls that often divide us. This week, we speak to pastor Eric Costanzo and one of his church members, Yana Sherdis, who have dedicated their lives to serving and supporting refugees and international families through their church’s powerful outreach program. We’ll also speak with the director of a new docuseries, ACROSS, Julie Mirlicourtois who shares the inspiring faith of Christian asylum seekers from Central America. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Anthony Ray Hinton Upcoming interview: Father James Martin www.ReadRelief.com John 13:34 NIV Eric Costanzo Yana Sherdis South Tulsa Baptist Church English second language program ESL classes www.southtulsa.org Julie Mirlicourtois ACROSS Oprah Winfrey Show CBS News Maybe God St. Luke's United Methodist Interview Quotes: “The biggest thing that made a difference was when folks who were from our church and had been there for a while really started to interact with their refugee and immigrant neighbors and they realized who they were, and they saw them, just who they truly are.” - Eric Costanzo “When anyone is looking for a safe place or a refuge—it could be because of physical circumstances or emotional circumstances or legitimate issues of safety or spiritual issues—the church can be that kind of safe harbor, just like a ship comes to the harbor so that it might find safe passage.” - Eric Costanzo “I think I had this gift of faith all along. I think I could feel God so clearly, I just had no clue who He was.” - Julie Mirlicourtois “It kind of felt like I had been talking to this person on the other side of a closed door my whole life, wondering if He was real or just part of my imagination, and then He revealed Himself to me in so many undeniable ways.” - Julie Mirlicourtois “I had believed for so long these lies, lies I'd been told about Christians, about Jesus, and I really became determined to cut through the noise of culture and politics and reach people in those secular audiences where I once was.” - Julie Mirlicourtois “Following the lives of these asylum seekers for the past two and a half, three years, I've never understood more of what the Bible tells us when it says ‘Blessed are the poor.’ Their faith has enriched and enhanced my faith and countless other people so much. It's taught me to shift my perspective that the hardships are there for a reason. I can't just make my life and my kids’ lives in this comfortable place. I have to really thank God for the good and the bad and keep growing through it.” - Julie Mirlicourtois ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website

Transcribed - Published: 30 November 2023

We all need God’s mercy at some point in our lives. And for singer Jason Crabb, that time came when he was in a rebellious phase; realizing the faith he had was something passed down from his family–not necessarily his own. Ultimately Jason began a relationship with God for himself–and that “mercy moment” began a habit of recognizing God’s mercy through all the phases of his life. Guest’s Links Facebook: @JasonCrabbMusic Twitter: @jasoncrabbmusic Instagram: @jasoncrabbmusic ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Jesus Calling Website *Episode produced by Four Eyes Media*

Transcribed - Published: 28 November 2023

In today's world, characterized by advanced technology and increasing isolation, there's a pressing need to foster real connection. As technology continues to advance, genuine human connections are taking a backseat. However, in Scripture we find that God recognizes; "It is not good for man to be alone." (Genesis 2:18). As part of God’s unique design, He wired us for meaningful connection where we find strength, love, and support from others. This week, as we celebrate Thanksgiving and a season of connection and gratitude, we have two pastors to help us navigate a season that also can be lonely and disconnected. Author and pastor Levi Lusko sheds light on the growing loneliness crisis in our highly connected world, and Daniel Darling explains the fundamental aspects of healthy relationships, including forgiveness, reconciliation, and trust. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Larry Randolph and Jennifer Bleakley Upcoming interview: Eric Constanzo www.ReadRelief.com Not That Fancy Jesus Listens for Advent and Christmas Genesis 2:18 NIV Levi Lusko Fresh Life Church Surgeon General Psalms 8 NIV Neil deGrasse Tyson Ezekiel 3:15 NIV Marvel at the Moon Daniel Darling National Religious Broadcasters Association Land Center for Cultural Engagement Texas Baptist College 1 Timothy NIV 2 Timothy NIV John 13:34-35 NIV www.danieldarling.com Interview Quotes: “God said, ‘It's not good that man should be alone.’ And so I think there's something of the human experience where our souls will always crave and always be deficient if we're not having those vital exchanges, those conversations, those moments.” - Levi Lusko “I think when we lift our eyes, we'll be reminded, Hey, the one who made the moon, the one who with His fingers called out the stars, with His voice, with the word of His power, separated light from darkness, He loves you. He has a plan for you. He came in the person of Jesus to this world. He wants to have a relationship with you.” - Levi Lusko “No matter what you're facing today, God is safe to build your life upon, and the weather and the wind can change in a moment, but God's Word never will.” - Levi Lusko “Jesus knows what you're going through and He has a plan for you in it. He has a plan to give you power and to give you peace and to give you comfort.” - Levi Lusko “Paul says at one point in 1 Timothy, he says, ‘To fight the good fight.’ In other words, there are things worth fighting for.” - Daniel Darling “Paul says to Timothy in 2 Timothy, ‘Avoid stupid and foolish arguments.’ And so there are things that we may have opinions on and that may be important to us, but we should be open handed about them and learn to love and live with people who disagree.” - Daniel Darling “We should say, ‘I'm going to hold onto you amidst all this turmoil in the world, amidst these raging rapids. I'm not going to let you go as a friend.’ I think this is what God is calling us to do.” - Daniel Darling “We don't have to be alone. We can be known by God and we can know God.” - Daniel Darling “Once we understand how much God has forgiven us in Christ, anything that we've done against God is even worse than the worst thing done to us, if we can imagine that. And God gives us that ability to forgive.” - Daniel Darling “See how God will use you as a witness in your own family and in your own communities.” - Daniel Darling “We're praying to a personal God. We can ask Him for our personal needs. We can draw on Him for strength in our own personal lives, and what a blessing it has been to my family and to countless other families.” - Daniel Darling ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website

Transcribed - Published: 23 November 2023

Do you ever wish you could simply start over, or that you had a second chance? Maybe you feel like your life is “too far gone,” that there’s no hope of ever going back to what could’ve been. But there is good news to be found in 2 Corinthians 5:16-17, which says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old is gone, the new is here!”” There is always a chance for a fresh start, as our God meets you with compassion, grace and beautiful mercy. Pastor Herman Mendoza came up through some tough years growing up in Queens, NY, enduring abuse from his father, and finding it hard to find connection from his peers. He ultimately chose to get involved in gang activity and drug trafficking, which brought him the power and sense of connection he had always wanted, but also ended up with run-ins with authorities, and ultimately jail time that he couldn’t negotiate his way out of. He shares how God changed his path to become a force for good in a place where goodness isn’t easily found. Stephen Arterburn, founder of New Life Ministries, has a focus of transformation with God's truth and a genuine desire to see parents shepherd their children well through the pitfalls of the online world. He shares helpful guidance for parents seeking to mentor their children in this screen-saturated time. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: John & Stasi Eldredge Upcoming interview: Levi Lusko www.ReadRelief.com 2 Corinthians 5:16-17 NIV Herman Mendoza Promise Ministries International Powerhouse Kids Rikers Island Proverbs 26:11 NIV Drug Enforcement Agency www.hermanmendoza.com Stephen Arterburn New Life Ministries New Life Live Jesus Calling for kids www.stephenarterburn.com Understanding and Loving Your Child In a Screen-Saturated World Interview Quotes: “This was all God setting everything up. He would have it no other way.” - Herman Mendoza “For the very first time it wasn't about me. It wasn't about excuses. It wasn't about negotiating with God. It was about the wrongs that I've done and that Jesus paid the price for my sins and that He can make it alright, even though the sins that I was committing, there's a price to pay for them, and I had to pay that price.” - Herman Mendoza “There's hope in Jesus Christ. God is amazing, and when you seek Him, you will find Him. and He will change your life forever.” - Herman Mendoza “You have to come to that place where you have to know Jesus first. He will navigate you through life’s obstacles and life's challenges. God enables me to have freedom through prayer, to talk to Him and and for Him to remind me that He loves me. He's with me, and the Holy Scriptures are there to guide me each and every day.” - Herman Mendoza ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website

Transcribed - Published: 16 November 2023

Experiencing a significant loss or trauma often leads to an identity crisis, a sensation comparable to losing footing on solid ground. You may suddenly feel untethered, as if the person you once knew as "you" has evaporated, replaced by an unfamiliar stranger. Your faith may seem hollow, your relationships distant. It’s like you’re lost in your own life, and you don’t know how to get back. Our guests this week share how they coped with grief and hardship, and how they found their way back from feeling disoriented and disconnected from themselves. Senior pastor of Fellowship Church Ed Young and his wife Lisa share the heart wrenching story of their daughter, LeeBeth, and her struggle with addiction, and how it forever altered the course of their lives. Dr. Morgan Cutlip looked forward to motherhood, but was quickly faced with the real struggles that come alongside it, and made it her life’s work to help mothers cope with that loss of self, and show them how to remember who they are again. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Dr. Lee Warren Upcoming interview: Herman Mendoza Operation Christmas Child Jesus Listens for Advent & Christmas Reba McEntire Not That Fancy Ed Young Lisa Young Fellowship Church AA [Alcoholics Anonymous] COVID A Path Through Pain Dr. Morgan Cutlip Philippians 4:8 NIV Love Your Kids Without Losing Yourself Interview Quotes “Through that pain [of losing our daughter], God just surrounded us with His indescribable love. I still can't believe it to this day, but He did, and He has, and I know He will. We had just experienced something together that nobody wants to experience, but it was something that God was walking with us together.” - Lisa Young “Ed said right after LeeBeth passed away, ‘We will never, ever, ever be the same. We won't do church the same, I won't minister the same, I won't pastor the same.’ And that's in a good way, and so it's continually God showing us new ways to live past this point of grief.” - Lisa Young “Pour your heart out to God, your anger out to God, your questions out to God, but also realize, Man, God’s got this, He's got me.” - Ed Young “When things started happening, things that were painful, I was able to draw upon what God had given me, what God had instilled in me, and that's how joy and pain can coincide.” - Lisa Young “Whatever we face, joy can be ever-present. It seems distant at times, but it's ever-present because of His Presence in my life.” - Lisa Young “I think that we're in a society right now that is like, ‘Feelings are facts,’ and they’re just not. We put a lot of emphasis on feelings, but feelings are signals. Feelings are a warning bell that are calling you to tune in to you and say, ‘What's going on with me?’” - Dr. Morgan Cutlip “I just stay in conversation with God all day. I feel like it's a running dialog, and this really is what helps me in so many ways of feeling like I'm never really alone. I am in a relationship with Someone who knows me deeply, who loves me, who doesn't give me more than I can handle; who I can turn things over to.” - Dr. Morgan Cutlip ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website

Transcribed - Published: 9 November 2023

Many writers and philosophers have compared the process of living our lives to running a race, or following a path. The Bible, in Hebrews among other places, makes this comparison as well by saying; “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith [Hebrews 12: 1-3].” Much as a marathon runner relies on their faith to complete a grueling race, or a mountaineer looks to the heavens for strength to conquer a strenuous climb, our faith can provide a source of strength and motivation to endure life’s challenges, pushing one's limits beyond perceived boundaries. With unwavering passion and determination, eight time American Ninja Warrior finalist and competitor Daniel Gil shares how his relationship with the Lord has helped him push through some of the toughest challenges–both mental and physical. Professional tennis player and Deaf World Championship winner Brad Minns lost his hearing at the age of three and shares the challenges that brought when entering the world of tennis, how he found the strength to defy the odds. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Don Wickstrum Upcoming interview: Pastor Ed & Lisa Young Operation Christmas Child Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV Daniel Gil American Ninja Warrior Hebrews 12:2 NIV Kingdom Ninja Brad Minns Never Give Up book Arnold Schwarzeneggerer The Education of a Bodybuilder Deaflympics Never Give Up movie Interview Quotes: “It wasn't until I was chasing wholeheartedly, fully, and completely after my walk with the Lord that these relationships and these doors began to open for what I feel like God had purposed for my life all along.” - Daniel Gil “I'll put the blinders on, block out all the noise, block out the lights, block out the cameras, block out the audience, and I'll put a smile on my face from ear to ear, because as an athlete and more so as a Christian, I'm grateful for every single opportunity to be there.” - Daniel Gil “I'll give it everything that I've got, but at the end of the day, I don't find my identity in American Ninja Warrior. I don't find my identity in anything that I do. I find my identity in my walk with the Lord.” - Daniel Gil “I said, ‘God help me.’ And [as] I said [that] prayer, I left the rest to God. And I came back and won the match.” - Brad Minns “There's physical training, and there's spiritual training. Physical training has some value, but spiritual training has far greater value because it has benefits, not just in this life, but the life to come.” - Brad Minns “We all have a gift that God created us for, to use while we are here on this Earth to do what He wants us to do. The only way you are going to use that gift to the maximum is to put God first and let Him have total control in your life.” - Brad Minns ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website

Transcribed - Published: 2 November 2023

Naomi Raine from Maverick City Music has been singing since she was just two years old—and the power in her voice comes from a passion to glorify God in her music. Through her life journey, with all its ups and downs, Naomi has kept Christ at the center, allowing Him to shine through in all that she does, which has inspired countless listeners. Guest’s Links Facebook: @NaomiRaineMusic Instagram: @naomiraine ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Jesus Calling Website *Episode produced by Four Eyes Media*

Transcribed - Published: 31 October 2023

When other people's expectations drive our lives, we run the risk of losing our authentic selves, and are subtly steered away from our own unique paths. We’re compelled to show up as others would have us, instead of showing up as our true selves. It can be hard to change our instinct to listen to others and we can get lost in the noise. But when we trust that God will show us who we really are, we are empowered to sift through all those societal expectations and find the courage to stand firm in our truth. This week, singer and songwriter Rachael Lampa shares how she was thrust into the spotlight at an early age, becoming a number one selling Christian artist at only fifteen years old. After a few years of showing up for her record label, her managers, and her fans, Rachael began to feel her own voice starting to diminish. She shares what brought her back from burnout and how she learned to trust her own voice again. After we hear from Rachael, we’ll talk with Dove award winning rapper KB who shares his own identity crisis as a people pleaser, and whose voice of approval he was really seeking in his quest to feel worthy. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Lauren Alaina Upcoming interview: Daniel Gil Operation Christmas Child Rachael Lampa People Loving Nashville www.rachaellampamusic.com “Perfectly Loved” KB www.whoiskb.com His Glory Alone II Interview Quotes: “It was a really special thing to be able to grow in my faith and also grow in music at the same time and watch how the music reflected where I was with my faith.” - Rachael Lampa “I'm turning my back on the thing that I thought I was going to do for the rest of my life. It was one of those first moments where I was able to say, ‘I trust God right now, I trust God a lot. I don't have a plan for what this is going to look like.’” - Rachael Lampa “When we give gifts to people, we don't expect them to take that gift and be like, ‘Here you go, world. You can have it, too.’” - Rachael Lampa “I got to worship [God] in the smallest ways and not always under sound and lights. That is really what brought me to a place where I was able to say, ‘Okay, if music never comes back, I'm okay. I am loved, I still matter, I still have purpose.’” - Rachael Lampa “I fully trust God, and He has just been honestly blowing me away.” - Rachael Lampa “I realized that this unhealthiness that was showing up in my life was connected to me working for the approval of a voice that I would never hear.” - KB “I'm not able to even taste the fruit of my labor because everything I do is always incomplete because I need the approval of my father. That created all kinds of problems in my heart, but what I found was it made me ripe for the Father God.” - KB “God's glory doesn't take a backseat, it doesn't suspend itself in our brokenness, in our confusion; it is a part of how God shows up and shows out in our weakness. There is strength in confessing our fragility and there’s strength in owning our need for healing.” - KB “I've been so grateful for the brothers and sisters that God has assigned to me that make up His church, that helped to hold my arms up, helped calm me to repentance and helped to heal the wounds that I've become so acutely aware of.” - KB “If God is not holding the leash on my desires, if He's not holding the leash on my trauma and what I'm enduring, if He is not holding the leash on my world, I am utterly lost. And I need to break away from that mythical idea that I have the leash in hand and I'm only going to be as happy as I'm in control.” - KB ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website

Transcribed - Published: 26 October 2023

In the bleak aftermath of unspeakable tragedy, it is faith that dawns as our beacon of survival and healing. Faith, by its very nature, is about trust, hope, and a belief that God is in control. It allows us to seek solace and strength in something greater than ourselves, and it provides a comforting balm for our wounded hearts. Both of our guests this week faced heartbreaking circumstances that could have shaken their faith beyond repair, but each of them chose to wait and see what God would do in their lives as they healed from their scars and faced a new way of living through their pain. Nicole Avant is an author and film producer who grew up around the music business. Her father, Clarence Avant, was known as the Godfather of Black Music, and as an executive in the music business, he furthered the careers of jazz legends like Sarah Vaughn and Jimmy Smith, and was a sought after mentor for artists like Jamie Foxx, David Geffen, Whitney Houston, and others. Nicole’s family life was steeped in music and in faith. It was the faith she would cling to when tragedy struck twice—first, the devastating loss of her mother to the hands of a gunman who invaded their home, and then, the loss of her father shortly after. Author and speaker Gary Miracle unexpectedly found himself on his deathbed in the emergency room, with a 1.7% chance to survive the night. A series of small miracles lined up, and though he ultimately lost all four limbs, Gary’s life was spared, inspiring MercyMe’s hit song, “Say I Won’t.” Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: The Beathard family Upcoming interview: Rachael Lampa Operation Christmas Child Nicole Avant Clarence Avant Sarah Vaughn Jimmy Smith Jamie Foxx David Geffen Whitney Houston Bill Withers “Lean On Me” Philippians 1:11 NIV Think You'll Be Happy: Moving Through Grief with Grit, Grace, and Gratitude Gary Miracle “Say I Won’t” septic shock ECMO machine Depression www.garymiracle.com No More Bad Days Interview Quotes: “If I need to understand myself, I always go to a song.” - Nicole Avant “I always go back to the music because you don't feel alone. You never feel alone.” - Nicole Avant “The first scripture that my mom made me memorize was Philippians 1:11, ‘May you always be doing those good, kind things which show that you are a child of God, for this will bring much praise and glory to the Lord.’ And that was kind of my mantra.” - Nicole Avant “My faith was everything to me during the experience [of losing my mother]. It does not take the pain away, but it does help you move through the pain. I was taking it day by day, and then it became, ‘Oh, Lord, minute by minute, minute by minute, give me today.’” - Nicole Avant “Something that took me years to learn, but I'm grateful that I learned it before this [tragedy], is forgiveness really has nothing to do with condonement.” - Nicole Avant “What a beautiful thing that you could change your thinking and you could use your imagination. And if you use it wisely and ask for help from the divine, you're going to be okay.” - Nicole Avant “I want to spend my whole life telling people that God is good and begging people to believe that God is good and convincing people of that, and then when something traumatic happens to me, still living my life like He is really, really good.” - Gary Miracle “I want to fight for life. I want to learn what it means to live and not just be alive.” - Gary Miracle “I'm still here and I'm still alive and I'm still present, and now I get to gladly say that I am in prosthetic legs and God's grace has been so sufficient and so good for me through this season.” - Gary Miracle “I get to say that there were only setbacks in my life because I thought they were setbacks in that moment, but looking back, they weren't setbacks at all. Christ was still working out my story and I just wanted it to be a lot faster and happen sooner than He wanted it to. So I had what I call setbacks, but Christ calls them next steps.“ - Gary Miracle “Be vulnerable enough to tell just one person who you really are, because what I've learned right now in my life is through the sharing of my struggles, both visible and invisible, I've never been more loved in my entire life when I thought I would be judged for all of that.” - Gary Miracle “I believe that there is going to be a day that I am going to be running down the streets of gold with my brand new legs, with my son Ellis, side by side, and I can't wait to meet him and I can't wait to be there. And I can't wait to meet all of you all there as well. So join me in chasing Jesus.” - Gary Miracle ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website

Transcribed - Published: 19 October 2023

In a big world, we might feel a little lost in the mix, like there’s nothing really special about us. But much like a chef skillfully combines ingredients to create the perfect recipe, God uses challenges, experiences, and talents to give us all a one-of-a-kind design. This week, Food Network personality and author Aarti Sequeira shares how cooking as a hobby turned into a sacred place for her, and how the conversations she would have with God in the kitchen led to a deep and meaningful relationship with Him, and with others who came to dine at her table. Chef Darnell Ferguson came from a place in the inner city where he couldn’t find much to believe in—much less himself. It took a special teacher to see the spark of talent he had, and though he would continue to struggle with feeling forgotten and alone, an encounter with God at church turned his world around. After we hear Aarti’s and Darnell’s stories, be sure to stay with us until the end of the show for a special reading from Reba McEntire herself, straight from her new audiobook, Not That Fancy. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Melissa d’Arabian Upcoming interview: Nicole Avant Reba McEntire Not That Fancy Operation Christmas Child Aarti Sequeira Mumbai Dubai Gulf War Larry King Live Suzanne Goen Aarti Paarti Food Network Star www.aartisequeira.com Unwind Darnell Ferguson Emeril Live Superchef Family Cookbook Interview Quotes: “Growing up in Dubai, I was like, well, I'm not Arab, I'm not English, I've always felt like I don't quite fit in here. But the beautiful thing about that is that I think it put in me this heart of wanting to connect with people, finding something in common with them so that we could feel connected.” - Aarti Sequeira “I started to feel really worthless because my identity was so wrapped up in achieving professionally and being a journalist. Once that was taken away from me, who even was I anymore? I felt like a failure.” - Aarti Sequeira “I felt like God would teach me and meet me in the slicing of the vegetables, the sizzling of the garlic and those things. He would just remind me, ‘I am Creator and you are made in my image, and so when you are cooking, this is you acting out of Me.’” - Aarti Sequeira “When I cooked, the kitchen became this place of real sanctuary for me, a place where the chaos of my life could turn into order, where I could take a mess of ingredients and turn them into something beautiful, nourishing, helpful, purposeful. It really sort of took me over.” - Aarti Sequeira “I want people to recognize that when they are in any way impressed by anything I'm saying or doing or cooking or creating, it's not me. If you knew who I was before the Lord took me, I was unremarkable.” - Aarti Sequeira “The very basic nature of sitting elbow to elbow with someone and talking to them face to face is something that our soul is actually aching for.” - Aarti Sequeira “I feel so, so grateful that I have this filter of Jesus through which I look at the whole world. I look at every person through it, and I just have so much compassion for people because of that.” - Aarti Sequeira “I had to learn the hard way. And it also made me understand how much I need forgiveness, how much I need grace, because I know where I came from and I know where a lot of people are at today.” - Darnell Ferguson “If you can attach yourself to the truth about what God says about who you are, it will change your entire life. You can do way more than you ever imagined.” - Darnell Ferguson ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website

Transcribed - Published: 12 October 2023