Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith
Millions have been encouraged and inspired by the words of the #1 best-selling 365-day devotional "Jesus Calling." Listen to real-life stories of faith as told by those who have experienced the power of living in His presence.
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- 313Depend on God and He Will Carry Your Burden: Jon Gordon & Andrew F. CarterLife as a journey is almost cliche now, but there’s a reason why the metaphor persists. Journeys are difficult. We fight through injuries, claw our way to the tops of mountains, and endure the elements. We enjoy the completion of one segment only to find another looming ahead with its own set of obstacles. Journeys are visions of life’s failures and triumphs that emphasize the importance of keeping on. Our guests this week share how they’ve persisted and how Jesus has carried their burdens with them on their journeys. Jon Gordon overcame a negativity learned from childhood to become a highly sought after motivational speaker. But even with his success, he felt empty, and his search for meaning led him to an unlikely source who told him that Jesus could take his soul-pain from him. Andrew F. Carter grew up in a family plagued with drugs, alcohol, and prostitution. After being in and out of jail multiple times, Andrew turned to Jesus long enough to be called to the ministry, but then had what he calls “a Jonah moment” when he ran the other direction. Eventually, he found his way back to that calling as a social media influencer on platforms like TikTok and YouTube where he shares the gospel with millions. For both Jon and Andrew, life has been a journey that’s best done with Jesus. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Dave Pittman Upcoming interview: Dianne Derby Jon Gordon Erwin McManus The Energy Bus The Garden jongordon.com Andrew F. Carter TikTok YouTube Jonah www.andrewfcarterministries.org Interview Quotes: “I started these thank you walks where while you're walking, you say what you're thankful for. And those walks of gratitude also turn into walks of prayer.” - Jon Gordon “I believe in a God that would actually want to take my burden, want to take my soul pain.” - Jon Gordon “I needed a Savior because I couldn't save myself. I wasn't strong enough. I wasn't good enough. It wasn't about my power. It was about transferring my power to the Creator of the universe.” - Jon Gordon “Jesus believes in people more than they believe in themselves.” - Jon Gordon “Jesus came to forgive. He came to love. He didn't come to condemn the world. And so once you understand that love, I think it makes you want to know more.” - Jon Gordon “People need more encouragement today. They need more hope. They need more light. It's what Jesus came to do.” - Jon Gordon “It was like the Holy Spirit coming over me, just like; This is what you were called to do. You have words of gold. You've been called to ministry, and you're going to speak to millions of people, all three of those things. And at that moment, I knew exactly what I was supposed to be doing.” - Andrew F. Carter “All of the things that I thought would bring me happiness, the money, the travel, the girls, all of those things that I thought would bring me true happiness, they failed to fulfill….I was so fulfilled, I was so satisfied, so on fire and driven when I was actually serving God, when I was walking in the purpose that He had for me.” - Andrew F. Carter “I've tried to do things my way. I've taken the wheel. I thought I pulled myself up by my bootstraps and I clawed and fought my way to the top, only to lose it all. And I realized that in my weakness, God is my strength.” - Andrew F. Carter ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PrbuwH Video Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PsmEkJ What’s Good? Playlist: https://bit.ly/3i7VUlZ ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Jesus Calling Website Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
- 314God Has Everything We Need: Dianne Derby & Jordan WilsonPerhaps you’ve found yourself in a time of desperation—feeling like you’ve come to the end of your rope. When you didn’t think the bottom could be any farther down, and you plummet a little more, who do you reach for when all the things you’ve relied on to give you strength and satisfaction come up empty? In the Bible, it says this, in Philippians 4:19-20: “And my God will fully supply your every need according to his glorious riches in the Messiah Jesus. Glory belongs to our God and Father forever and ever! Amen.” Our guests this week share how God came through by putting people in their lives that helped them in their most desperate hours. Journalist Dianne Derby found hope and inspiration from spending each Tuesday with a ninety-nine year old Pearl Harbor survivor who taught her how to slow down and comforted her through a pregnancy crisis. Minister Jordan Wilson was at a low point in his life due to a drug addiction, when he learned his mother had been praying unceasingly for his recovery, and decided to take his father up on an invitation to a church service that would change the whole course of his life. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Derek Evans Upcoming interview: Natalie Grant Philippians 4:19-20 NIV Dianne Derby Pearl Harbor Two Hundred Tuesdays: What a Pearl Harbor Survivor Taught Me About Life, Love, and Faith Garden of the Gods Club Jordan Wilson Friends of Sinners Matthew 14:22-33 NIV www.friendofsinner.org Interview Quotes: “It was so captivating because here [Jim Downing] was in this major, major event at Pearl Harbor. And yet he was turning the focus on to the heroes of today. He said, ‘We only had to endure the bombs for a little while. The heroes today are up against that every day.’” - Dianne Derby “It was just remarkable to hear this man run towards danger, memorize the names of the dead, put out fires on this ship so he could help save others, and then write those letters to the families who lost their loved ones. It was just such a beautiful testimony of faith in one of the darkest, scariest moments of their lives.” - Dianne Derby “I knew that focusing on Jesus and sinking into His love and sinking into my faith were the only ways out of the depths of despair that I faced.” - Dianne Derby “I tried to get out [of addiction] for so long. I did long term rehab, short term rehab, I [saw a] medicine therapist, the whole nine yards, and nothing ever worked. And the reason that nothing worked was I refused to surrender my heart to Christ.” - Jordan Wilson “I am a new person in Christ Jesus, and I feel obligated to share what God has delivered me with the next person to show that there is hope, there is freedom from addiction, and that freedom is Jesus Christ.” - Jordan Wilson “Nothing in this world will ever be able to truly satisfy you. Popularity won't satisfy you. Social status won't satisfy you. Thousands of followers on social media won't satisfy you. You are created by God and for God and outside of a relationship with Him, you'll never be complete.” - Jordan Wilson ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PrbuwH Video Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PsmEkJ What’s Good? Playlist: https://bit.ly/3i7VUlZ ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Jesus Calling Website Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
- 315What If Our Weakness Is Our Biggest Strength?: Natalie Grant & Mary MarantzMaybe you’ve discovered yourself so aware of your apparent weaknesses that you couldn’t imagine how your weaknesses could be strengths. Throw in things like financial difficulties, an unexpected diagnosis, or loss of someone close to you, and it’s easy to think that life is nothing more than different shades of failure. Moments like these invite us to hear Jesus’ words to Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Our guests this week know weakness in its various forms. Natalie Grant faced big hurdles to becoming a successful, award winning Christian musician only to find herself battling thyroid cancer in her forties. Would cancer take away her ability to sing—and if it did, was that really what defined her? Author and speaker Mary Marantz is grateful for what her childhood in rural West Virginia taught her, and carried on the ethic passed on to her from the hard-working logging community where her father made ends meet. In writing her story, Mary hopes that others will find themselves in some of the struggles she had, and that they may also find their weakness might be their biggest strength. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Emily Ley Upcoming interview: Janine Urbaniak Reid 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV Natalie Grant thyroid cancer Truth 4Him Avalon Bernie Herms Jesus Calling for kids www.nataliegrant.com Mary Marantz Yale Law School Slow Growth Equals Strong Roots Dirt Pearl S. Buck www.marymarantz.com Interview Quotes: “I began to notice when I would sing, there was something that happened in the atmosphere and I could tell it was deeper than just a song and a voice.” - Natalie Grant “I think that God is consistently calling us to small steps of obedience. And when we choose to say yes in the small, it's often when people begin to trust us with the big.” - Natalie Grant “Oftentimes in my own life of faith, my experience is that God asks for the yes before He gives the details.” - Natalie Grant ”I can remember being very little, being four or five, and feeling like I knew God as the best friend. He was the green of the grass down to the very pigment. He was a bird stepping into flight. He was the feel of cold, hard ground. How when you broke it up in your hands, you couldn't forget how it felt. He was color and freedom and fire and dirt.” - Mary Marantz “We might know or get a glimpse of where we're headed when we're little, but we're not ready for it until there's time.” - Mary Marantz ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PrbuwH Video Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PsmEkJ What’s Good? Playlist: https://bit.ly/3i7VUlZ ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Jesus Calling Website Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
- 316[BONUS] Trusting God Through Fear and DoubtThis special bonus edition of the Jesus Calling Podcast features multiple guests who have appeared in their own episodes on the Jesus Calling Podcast speaking to how they deal with doubt and fear in their lives. Doubt is a normal part of our experience as humans. When something doesn’t line up with the facts as we know them, or when something unforeseen wrecks carefully laid plans, we might find ourselves wondering if God’s promises really are true. Many of the stories you’ll hear in this episode are from those who faced doubt and the fear that comes from not knowing if what you believe is true—and what happened when they took those doubts to God. Links To Full EpisodesCraig Groeschel Jamie Kern Lima Christi Paul Josh McDowell Caitlin Crosby Paula Faris Dominic Done ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Jesus Calling Website *Episode produced by Four Eyes Media* Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
- 317When The Unthinkable Happens, We Can Turn to God: Kechi Okwuchi and Anne WilsonWhen the unthinkable happens in our lives, a tragedy or a loss so great, we may not know how we could ever move forward. Perhaps we can find comfort in these words from the Psalms: “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” [Psalm 34:18] Though our lives may be changed irrevocably from events so dark we can’t fathom a way out of our pain, when we turn to God, He listens and brings solace in our most desperate hours. In this week’s episode, unthinkable tragedies weren’t the end of the story for our two guests, but the beginning of hard and beautiful work they would do toward bringing comfort and healing to survivors and those experiencing deep loss. At sixteen, Kechi Okwuchi was one of two survivors of a plane crash that claimed the lives of 59 of her classmates and friends. Her will to survive, and her subsequent journey toward becoming a finalist on America’s Got Talent as well as becoming an advocate for burn survivors and for victims of bullying was driven by the desire to do something meaningful with her life in honor of her friends and the families they left behind. Singer/Songwriter Anne Wilson lost her brother in a devastating car accident, and ever since then, her songs have been crafted toward bringing healing to others who have also suffered great loss. Both of these women stand in the place of their hurt and heartache to comfort other survivors in finding hope for another day. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Coping with Grief bonus episode Upcoming interview: Kristoffer Polaha Psalm 34:18 NIV Kechi Okwuchi America’s Got Talent More Than My Scars Anne Wilson “My Jesus” song Grand Ole Opry “No Place Like Home” song My Jesus album Interview Quotes: “I just remember saying in this faraway voice that didn't even sound like me; ‘I don't know, maybe we should pray.’” - Kechi Okwuchi “The parents of those kids–my friends and my classmates–they were praying for me and they saw my life as the one good thing that came out of [the accident].” - Kechi Okwuchi “I really didn't care about winning—I never did throughout the show. It was just a matter of gratitude that I even made it this far, and I ended up with a more, I think, substantial gift than just being on [America’s Got Talent].” - Kechi Okwuchi “We all have it within us to access the strength needed to overcome obstacles that are before us.” - Kechi Okwuchi “To be able to know and have the truth that Jacob is with Jesus, that's what got us through. And that's what is our anchor, especially now, knowing that God is using his story for good, has been such a blessing to our lives.” - Anne Wilson “I wanted to write songs that specifically spoke to people walking through deep pain and loss.” - Anne Wison ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PrbuwH Video Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PsmEkJ What’s Good? Playlist: https://bit.ly/3i7VUlZ ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Jesus Calling Website Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
- 318Speaking Light Into Darkness: Kristoffer Polaha and Scott SaulsWhen Jesus set about gathering His disciples, He chose people from very different backgrounds. His disciples included fishermen, a tax collector, perhaps one of royal blood, and a revolutionary. Not only did they find a working commonality, they were united and transformed through their relationship with Jesus. After Jesus’ ascension, this same rag-tag twelve took the good news that Jesus taught to the farthest reaches of the world. Today's guests, like Jesus’ disciples, have come from very different backgrounds and taken Jesus’ love and message to very different destinations. Kristoffer Polaha lives in Hollywood with his wife Julianne Morris and their three children where he is an actor, producer, director, and writer. Scott Sauls is the senior pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville, TN, where he and his wife Patti have two daughters. Scott has also written six books. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Jason Sautel Upcoming interview: Anthony Ray Hinton Kristoffer Polaha Julianne Morris Stevenson School A Streetcar Named Desire Miss Guided Jurassic World: Dominion www.krispolaha.com Scott Sauls Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville, TN Sarah Young Philippians 1 NIV Romans 8 NIV 2 Corinthians 4 NIV Chip Dodd Beautiful People Don't Just Happen Interview Quotes: “I had to just give my acting over. I had to literally just say, ‘God, it's in your hands. If you want me to be an actor, you open up doors, and if you don't, you will close them. I am no longer going to try to control this thing.’” - Kristoffer Polaha “If you believe there is a God in the universe who created the universe and everything in it, everything that is seen and unseen, and that the hairs on our head are numbered, then why wouldn't you just want to constantly be in contact with that?” - Kristoffer Polaha “We become more and more the people that God has created us to be through the crucible of hard things...You can't take contentment for granted based on your circumstances.” - Scott Sauls “We are supposed to use our emotions as part of the stewardship of the lives that we've been given by God.” - Scott Sauls “The secret of contentment can be found in any and every circumstance and in any and every outcome.” - Scott Sauls ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PrbuwH Video Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PsmEkJ What’s Good? Playlist: https://bit.ly/3i7VUlZ ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Jesus Calling Website Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
- 319[BONUS] Reflecting on God’s Promises During Fearful Times: Cade ThompsonAs the world mourns after another school shooting, parents and children are navigating how to deal with the fear and trauma that follows these tragedies. Times like these can fill us with despair, but we can cling to the belief that God is still present, even in dark times. In John 16:33, the scripture tells us “to take heart, for [God] has overcome the world.” Our guest this week is Christian musician Cade Thompson. At 21 years old, Cade dealt with the fear and trepidation that many students have– wondering if they will be safe at school. He shares his experience, how he turned to God during this time, and how that inspired him to write a song to encourage others who are dealing with the fear, anxiety, and pain these events can cause in their lives. Quotes “I believe ultimately that a new normal can truly come from the power of Jesus Christ.” —Cade Thompson “John 16:33, ‘Take heart for I have overcome the world.’ And that right there is one of the most beautiful messages, and when I see these tragedies hit our world, that's what I can rest in.” —Cade Thompson “I'm praying that we, as believers and as Christians, can show the world what it means to be a light in the season that we're living in, to truly reflect Jesus Christ in all that we do.” —Cade Thompson LinksJesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Cade’s website Cade’s Facebook Cade’s Twitter Cade’s Instagram “New Normal” song Matthew West John 16:33 NIV ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Jesus Calling Website *Episode produced by Four Eyes Media* Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
- 320Spreading Love Over Hate: Anthony Ray Hinton & John M. PerkinsThis week we are celebrating Freedom Day, or what is more commonly known as Juneteenth, the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Anthony Ray Hinton is an American activist, writer, and author who was wrongly convicted of the 1985 murders of two fast food restaurant managers in Birmingham, Alabama. Hinton was sentenced to death and held on the state's death row for twenty-eight years. During that time, he befriended a member of the Klu Klux Klan and through that friendship, that man moved from a life of hatred to a love for people of all races, and a love for God. Ultimately, Anthony was found to be innocent of his charges and was released from prison. Dr. John M. Perkins has been a counselor to six presidents, community development leader, and civil rights legend. Dr. Perkins grew up in Mississippi and was born during the height of Jim Crow and the Great Depression. The loss of his mother due to malnutrition and his brother, who was killed by police after his return from World War II, shaped Perkins’ life and ultimately inspired him to pursue civil rights issues, particularly around racial violence in the U.S. Today, at ninety-two years old, Dr. Perkins continues his work by shedding light on injustices and drawing Christians into the work of social justice and civil rights. Both of these men give us a picture of the trials and tribulations they’ve had to endure in this life—exacerbated by issues of race—and how they’ve dedicated their lives to spreading love over hate and the joy that comes in the freedom they’ve found in Christ. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Sadie Robertson Upcoming interview: Janine Urbaniak Reid Juneteenth Anthony Ray Hinton Henry Francis Hayes The Sun Does Shine Dr. John M. Perkins Pellagra Henri Nouwen Mornings with Henry Psalm 1 NIV Interview Quotes: “I'm just so thankful that my mother brought me up to be blessed, be thankful for what I have, and to love even those who don't love me.” - Anthony Ray Hinton “I learned how to pray. And I learned how to ask God to do whatever needs to be done for that person to bring love into their heart because I had learned something. It's not about me. It's about them.” - Anthony Ray Hinton “I was determined to be a voice for those who don't have a voice. I have to fight for those who can't fight for themselves.” - Anthony Ray Hinton “God created one human race in His image to reflect His love and His compassion in the world.” - Dr. John M. Perkins “Redemption is not of ourselves, our redemption is a gift of God is a gift of God. That's why we should love one another. Love is eternal. Isn't that beautiful?” - Dr. John M. Perkins ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PrbuwH Video Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PsmEkJ What’s Good? Playlist: https://bit.ly/3i7VUlZ ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Jesus Calling Website Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
- 321Faith Amidst Uncertainty: Janine Urbaniak Reid and Megan SmalleyWhen we face scary situations in life, it's easy to wonder if our faith—especially the amount of faith we have—makes a difference. But is it healthy to quantify faith, to think If I just had more faith, my problem would go away! Though tempting, that line of thought doesn’t square with the faith-filled greats all throughout history who followed God despite the fear and uncertainty of their experiences. They practice what the poet John O'Donohue argues we must learn: to "Hold nothing back [and] learn to find ease in risk." God's grace can empower and sustain our faith, too, just like Abraham’s, Rahab’s, and David’s. Our guests this week are Janine Urbaniak Reid and Megan Smalley. Both tell stories of faith in the crucible, of being pushed to their breaking points only to find God's grace remaining alongside the fear, suffering, joys, and the triumphs. God's grace powered Janine through her son Mason's cancer battle and Megan through an arduous journey to reach her dream of having children. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Michael Jr. Upcoming interview: Amy Kennedy and David Degler from A Christian Ministry in the National Parks John O'Donohue Janine Urbaniak Reid Mark 9:24 NIV Texas Children's Hospital Philippians 4 NIV The Opposite of Certainty: Fear, Faith and Life in Between Megan Smalley IVF (in vitro fertilization) Infertility Jesus Calling mobile app Infertility Sisterhood www.megansmalley.com Give Grace Interview Quotes: “If I could just do what I needed to do, then I was sure that God would bless me. And the plans would go according to what I thought was acceptable. Now, the only thing that we know for sure is that, as some people say, God laughs when you tell Him your plans.” - Janine Urbaniak Reid “Every time I've been emptied out in my life, I don't love it. But it's a place of miracles, too.” - Janine Urbaniak Reid “Sometimes we have to push past our self-imposed limits. But there's a time when crisis goes too deep and long that we just have to take care of ourselves.” - Janine Urbaniak Reid “The point was never to be a perfect mom. The point was always to just be a human mom and love these people through it all.” - Janine Urbaniak Reid “There are some things that we walk through that are earth-shattering that we did not choose and we would never choose. And it is so hard…God doesn't promise us an easy life. He promises us hard things. And we have to figure out how to walk through those hard things. And then when we get to the other side, how to look back and recognize what God did and how He brought you through it.” - Megan Smalley “A lot of times in the season of grief, it's hard to find the words. I can't even tell you how many times I prayed for a baby. And it's like, Okay, God, I don't have any more words.” - Megan Smalley “I think when you can step outside of yourself and serve somebody else, it gives you a very healthy perspective.” - Megan Smalley “I think it's a learned skill to focus on what Grace is and then learn how to accept it and apply it in your life.” - Megan Smalley ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PrbuwH Video Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PsmEkJ What’s Good? Playlist: https://bit.ly/3i7VUlZ ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Jesus Calling Website Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
- 322[MONTHLY SPECIAL] Letting GoThis monthly special edition of the Jesus Calling Podcast features multiple guests who have appeared in their own episodes on the Jesus Calling Podcast speaking to how they learned to let go, start over, and find healing from difficult situations. Sometimes we may not understand why we face times in our lives when we need to move on and begin anew. Letting go of something we’ve been a part of for a long time—good or bad—can be painful. Letting go of relationships, whether through a loss or through changing circumstances can be especially heartbreaking. Many of the stories you’ll hear in this episode are from those who responded to either dire situations where letting go was required, or who purposefully chose to start something new that led them to a place where they could fully discover who God wanted them to be. Links To Full EpisodesBrett & Brad Warren Tara Royer Steele Emily Ley Dr. Derwin Gray Kayla Stoecklein Steve White ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Jesus Calling Website *Episode produced by Four Eyes Media* Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
- 323Finding the Beauty in God’s Creation: Amy Kennedy & David Degler and John SowersAs we celebrate the origins of America with 4th of July events, it’s a great time to reflect on the beauty of God’s earth, the people He created, and the ways we are gifted to serve and be served by others. Amy Kennedy and David Degler are part of a ministry called A Christian Ministry in the National Parks, formed to meet the faith needs of national park employees while also helping visitors find the most beautiful manifestations of God’s creation in the parks. John Sowers is an author who developed a love for writing when his grandmother wrote him weekly letters while he was away at college. He carried that legacy forward by writing special letters to his daughters, which he shares in his latest book entitled Say All the Unspoken Things. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Rick Steves Upcoming interview: Sara Gruber A Christian Ministry in the National Parks Amy Kennedy David Degler Olympic National Park Smoky Mountains National Park www.acmnp.com John Sowers Say All the Unspoken Things www.johnsowers.com Interview Quotes: “That summer, I learned so much about who I was, what God was calling me to, how to love people, and just really opened my mind for a bigger world.” - Amy Kennedy “The heartbeat of [the ministry] is that we would provide a space for people to use the national parks landscape and the beauty that's there to reflect the love of this great Creator.” - Amy Kennedy “Our team members are intentionally working on their own leadership development while trying to be a great example of Christ in the place that they live, work, and serve.” - Amy Kennedy “I left that summer, and I realized what ministry should be. It's not sitting behind a pulpit and speaking to people that you never interact with. It's being a part of a community, showing up daily, interacting with them, getting to know them, and figuring out how to share Christ's love through your actions on the smallest level.” - Amy Kennedy “Writing to me has just been a real blessing and a real fulfilling thing that I feel like that's why I was put on the earth.” - John Sowers “I have a whole stack of these beautifully cursive written letters from my great-grandfather to my great-grandmother. And so it's been really neat to be from a family of letter writers and then get to carry on that tradition to write these letters to my daughters.“ - John Sowers “Do my friends know how much I love them? Am I holding on to grudges? Have I expressed my full heart to my children or to my spouse or parents? Have I said all the unspoken things to them?” - John Sowers “[When I lost my mother and grandmother] I had some really great friends who showed up for me and who helped point me to God and, in some ways, helped be the hands and feet of God to me.” - John Sowers ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PrbuwH Video Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PsmEkJ What’s Good? Playlist: https://bit.ly/3i7VUlZ ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Jesus Calling Website Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
- 324Living in the Present Moment with God: Jim Sonefeld and Sara GruberRecent attention to mindfulness through the popularity of prayer and meditation apps reminds us how important it is to stay in the present with God. Our perspective is transformed when we are more able to recognize God in each moment. Scripture backs up this premise with the statement “pray without ceasing.” [1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV]. When we open our hearts to the presence of God in every moment, we begin to look at life differently. Today's guests both pay special attention to the present by emphasizing the importance of a daily walk with Jesus. Both wrestle with conditions that require ongoing attention. Jim Sonefeld, drummer for the rock band Hootie and the Blowfish, addresses his alcoholism on a daily basis, noting that his spiritual growth blossomed, "When [he] made that decision to practice a daily surrender, a daily prayer, [and] a daily devotion." Our second guest, Sara Gruber, deals with chronic disease. After the initial and very scary discovery, she has found that the daily impact of an ongoing illness presses her into a complete dependence upon God. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: John Hill Upcoming interview: David and Tamela Mann 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV Jesus Calling app Jim Sonefeld Hootie and the Blowfish Contemporary Christian music Proverbs 26:12 NIV “Not Waiting on Sunday” Swimming with the Blowfish Remember Tomorrow www.jimsonefeld.com Sara Gruber Dysautonomia Blessings of Chronic Illness Interview Quotes: “My first experience meeting Hootie and the Blowfish [was] a great enactment of love—unconditional love, giving, and using their position on stage to influence--giving to somebody who really needed it.” - Jim Sonefeld “In a rare moment of motivation, I decided to face the truth, the truth that I was not in control of my life. And I needed to ask someone else for help.” - Jim Sonefeld “I needed to go out and follow Jesus. And that led me to bringing my spiritual music to audiences—smaller audiences than I was used to—and giving them a message of hope and redemption.” - Jim Sonefeld “All of that busyness, I couldn't do it anymore. And it was just me and God and John and the girls and we had to figure out a new life, a new way to approach things, a shift in our household.” - Sara Gruber “Nobody understands what it's like to live inside my body except God and I, and it led me to this complete dependance on God. I could explain all of my symptoms. I could explain what I felt and what I was going through. But I felt like God was the one I was living it with.” - Sara Gruber “I've spent a great part of my life being a caretaker and now I have to learn how to receive care and receive it with grace and know that in some way I am gifting others by allowing them to care for me.” - Sara Gruber “Isn't it so amazing when you have those moments, those little brilliant moments where you have these small miracles that maybe aren't so small, and you realize that God worked this just for you, all these little things that we take for granted?” - Sara Gruber “I absolutely believe in the power of prayer. You just kind of feel like your body and everything is wasting away and you're looking for purpose and you're so frustrated and I started thinking, You know, there's not a lot I can do physically, but I can pray.” - Sara Gruber ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PrbuwH Video Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PsmEkJ What’s Good? Playlist: https://bit.ly/3i7VUlZ ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Jesus Calling Website Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
- 325Creatively Bringing Hope & Joy Toward a Brighter Day: David and Tamela Mann and Laura StoryWe humans are, by design, creators. We build. We write. We cook. We adapt. We learn. Hardship tends to bring out the best in our creative abilities. The first book of the Hebrew Bible describes in poetic brilliance the story of God creating order out of supreme chaos, bringing light out of darkness, and life from lifeless spaces. We praise our Creator in no greater way than when we take what is before us in our skills, our desires, and our time to create beautiful things where there was nothing. Today's guests found that difficult times and their unique life stages gave fertile soil for their creative ideas. The husband and wife team of David and Tamela Mann turned to their music and comedy sketches to bring joy and hope; Laura Story turned to writing and penned a book about courage not being the absence of fear but the strength to take another step. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Alex Seeley Upcoming interview: Kristin Smedley David and Tamela Mann Willie Stewart James Moore Mattie Moss Clark Twinkie Clark Overcomer “Help” Tyler Perry show Assisted Living on BET Laura Story “Blessings” Casting Crowns www.laurastorymusic.com So Long, Normal: Living and Loving the Free Fall of Faith Interview Quotes: “I thank God for Him living in me and giving me the opportunity to represent Him, and my thing is always to represent Him well.” - Tamela Mann “I try to use my platform to bring more light to [God]." - David Mann “A lot of us need help, but we're afraid to ask for help, and we all need a touch from the Lord.” - Tamela Mann “I'm just praying that we can all just unify somehow, see each other as people and not skin color and not political affiliation.” - David Mann “Don't seek to be famous. Seek to be faithful.” - Laura Story “I'm great at being a person of faith until whatever chapter of my story actually requires faith.” - Laura Story “God didn't create us for normal. He created us for extraordinary lives that are completely and utterly dependent on Him." - Laura Story ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PrbuwH Video Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PsmEkJ What’s Good? Playlist: https://bit.ly/3i7VUlZ ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Jesus Calling Website Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
- 326We’ll Never Walk Alone: Kristin Smedley and Donovan CarterThe statement "God works through people in our lives" could be thought of as just a cliche—until we start to really take notice of the people around us and begin to identify what they bring to our world. This realization provides a comforting perspective that shifts us from feeling alone in the world to a grateful understanding that God shows up through the people he uses to walk alongside us through the worst and greatest times of life—and in that, we see a little bit of the divine in the faces of our friends and family. Our guests this week articulate with great clarity how special people have helped them find their paths forward when it didn’t seem possible to get there on their own. Kristin Smedley became an advocate within the blind community after becoming a mother to three children, two of whom are blind. She has given a TED talk about her experiences and also hosts the podcast Brilliantly Resilient. Donovan Carter is a former NFL player turned actor who makes it abundantly clear that his successes would not have happened without those who stood by him before he ever threw a football or landed an acting role. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Derek Evans Upcoming interview: Gary Chapman Kristin Smedley Brilliantly Resilient Podcast LCA CRB1 Braille Literacy International Challenge Jesus Calling for Moms www.kristinsmedley.com Thriving Blind: Stories of Real People Succeeding Without Sight Donovan Carter Dwayne Johnson Philippians 4:6-7 NIV www.donovanwcarter.com Interview Quotes: “I was raised in a firm foundation of faith and that God is good and He wants good things for you in this world. And I thought to myself, What kind of a god does this? This is hard. And honestly, I thought, It's mean. I mean, I'm looking at this perfect little person and all of my hopes and dreams for him were extinguished.” - Kristin Smedley “It was like God took a freight train and hit me in the head and said, ‘Kristin, look at this little person. Blindness is not bothering him. It's bothering you. He is figuring everything out.’” - Kristin Smedley “I was just trying to figure out how to make it. And I just kept staying in the Word, kept praying, kept talking to God, you know, ‘Whatever you got for me, Lord, just let me know.’” - Donovan Carter “God made me fearfully and wonderfully. I could do anything in this world if I wanted to and if I had the right mindset, and I'm just so appreciative of Him in my life.” - Donovan Carter ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PrbuwH Video Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PsmEkJ What’s Good? Playlist: https://bit.ly/3i7VUlZ ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Jesus Calling Website Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
- 327[MONTHLY SPECIAL] Relationships That LastThis monthly special edition of the Jesus Calling Podcast features multiple guests who have appeared in their own episodes on the Jesus Calling Podcast speaking to how they formed relationships that last. The relationships God has given us in this life bring us joy, connection, and safety. Whether it be a spouse, our family, our friends, or even a beloved pet—much like our relationship with God—the bonds we foster with others carry us through good days and tough times. Through tragedy and loss, our treasured relationships leave an imprint on our heart that will last beyond the time we have together here on earth. Links To Full EpisodesJeremy Miller & Dr. Brandon Lane Phillips John & Stasi Eldredge Michael & Zina Goodin Peter Mutabazi Mark Miller & Madison Brown Dr. Jim Burns Rev Run & Justine ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Jesus Calling Website *Episode produced by Four Eyes Media* Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
- 328Embracing Emotions for a More Christ-Like Perspective: Dr. Gary Chapman and Jason WilsonEmotions can be a sticky topic for Christians. While most of us know having a healthy range of emotions is good for us and those we love, we are often dissuaded from leaning too much into our emotions or feelings for the fear of becoming swept away by them, and distracted from our calling. But Jesus shows us a true picture of how emotions can give us perspective and language for relating to ourselves and others. He shows the gamut of emotions from anger to those who are exploiting the things of God for their own gain, to compassion for the Samaritan woman at the well who had been discarded by her people (John 4 NIV). Jesus exemplified how our emotions can inform us as to how we show up in the world, and having a healthy balance of emotions keeps us in touch with ourselves and others. Today's guests discuss emotions from two different perspectives. Dr. Gary Chapman looks at his seminal work, The Five Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts, not only as it relates to human relationships but also in our relationship with God. His discussion comes as the book celebrates its 30th anniversary, having sold over twenty million copies world-wide and being translated into fifty languages. Jason Wilson is a writer and non-profit CEO who advocates emotional intelligence among men. He shows the example of Jesus as the “comprehensive man,” in the fact that He was not only bold, strong, and aggressive, but compassionate, nurturing, and caring. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. Daniel Amen Upcoming interview: Todd Hoffman John 4 NIV Dr. Gary Chapman The Five Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts www.5lovelanguages.com Jason Wilson Yunion Obama administration This Is Us Cry Like A Man Laurence Fishburne Battle Cry Romans 12:2 NIV Matthew 5:16 NIV Matthew 6:25-34 NIV www.mrjasonwilson.com Interview Quotes: “There's an ancient Hebrew proverb that says life and death is in the tongue. We can kill people by the way we talk to them or we can give a light. And for some people, affirming words really communicates a love to them or an emotional level.” - Dr. Gary Chapman “Each of us has a primary love language. And if you don't speak [your loved one's] primary language, they will not feel loved, even though you're speaking some of the other languages.” - Dr. Gary Chapman “One of our deepest emotional needs as humans is the need to feel loved by the significant people in your life.” - Dr. Gary Chapman “My life has never been the same, it was almost like God was saying, ‘I have something for you to do, but I don't know if you're ready for it yet.’” - Jason Wilson “Like Moses, when his desire was to free the Israelites, he did it his way at first and it almost cost him his life. That's the majority of us. When I became a follower of Christ, I had the t-shirt, hat, bumper stickers, you know, everything Jesus, okay? But it was really my way, not His way.” - Jason Wilson “When you make mental health as important as this world says we should maintain our physical bodies, it becomes a part of the culture, so we have to change our culture.” - Jason Wilson “As the scriptures say, the power of Christ is perfected through our weakness. But what do we always say to each other? ‘Stay strong.’ So when we fear being weak, now the power of Christ can't really be perfected through us.” - Jason Wilson “[God] never said, ‘Do not be concerned about anything.’ So, we will always have concerns. We will always be nervous. And it's okay, you know, allow yourself the freedom to be human, but also allow yourself to walk by the power of His spirit to move through those fears, those anxieties, nervousness, depression, etc.” - Jason Wilson ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PrbuwH Video Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PsmEkJ What’s Good? Playlist: https://bit.ly/3i7VUlZ ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Jesus Calling Website Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
- 329What Failure and Mistakes Teach Us: Todd Hoffman and Adam and LaVon HamiltonWhen we feel we are falling short, failing, or generally losing, it’s important to remember that when we don’t fail, we may not learn, we won’t have the experience of recovering, and we may not try again. Some Christians are deluded into thinking that because they are in a relationship with God, failure is not an option. However, scripture tells us in multiple places that God uses suffering and failure to build strength and character in our lives. All three of our guests today know what it’s like to fail. Discovery Channel’s Todd Hoffman has had highs and lows in his mining career. He's learned as much–if not more–from his mistakes navigating the world of gold mining as from his successes. Pastor Adam Hamilton and his wife Lavon know what it’s like to serve the Lord and their family as best as they possibly can, but that sometimes, they don’t meet the mark as spouses and parents. They speak about the challenging transitions of parenting kids as they become adults. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Dr. Meg Meeker Upcoming interview: Walker Hayes and Craig Cooper Luke 16 NIV Todd Hoffman Hoffman family Gold Rush on Discovery Channel Joshua 24:15 NIV Hoffman Family Gold Adam Hamilton United Methodist Church of the Resurrection www.cor.org Interview Quotes: “I don't care about fame, but I do care about the reach when it comes to my faith.” - Todd Hoffman “I was kind of depressed and coming out of that and trying to fix things in my marriage. And that's when God kind of met me. I said, ‘I need a good idea and I need something new to believe in.’ And that's when I got that vision of Gold Rush.” “We try to serve the Lord the best we can and we fail, but we get back up and we ask for forgiveness and we carry on.” - Todd Hoffman “I would hope that as long as we're still alive, that we're finding ways to parent, that you're still finding ways to show [your children] love and care. And I know as we age, the tables kind of turn and they start helping take care of us. But I think that no matter how old you are, you can still look for ways that you can be a mom or dad to your children.“ - LaVon Hamilton “I feel like all of our best years were way after our thirties. You know, there were some things that were great at that time, I'm not denying that, but I feel like we have more joy. There is more satisfaction in life. I think we feel more in love with each other today than at any point in our past.” - Adam Hamilton “You have to figure out how you transition together, or how you learn the dance steps for this phase in your life. Because dance music doesn't stay the same throughout your whole life. It changes as you go through life.” - LaVon Hamilton “There's a direct correlation between our spiritual life and our time with God and how we live out our faith towards the people that are closest to us.” - Adam Hamilton ________________________ 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 Jesus Calling Website Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
- 330Just When We Need It, God Sends Help: Walker Hayes, Craig Allen Cooper, and Evan DougoudHave you ever been in a desperate situation wondering how you will make it to the next day? Perhaps there isn’t enough money to pay that one bill, or perhaps your health hasn’t been the greatest and you wonder if you’ll ever feel better, or maybe you’re in a dire situation and you just can’t see your way out of it. During these times, one person’s kind gesture or offer of help is sometimes the way we’re able to make it to the next day—turning a corner away from a turbulent season of our lives. So often these “angels” appear in the form of friends, family, and sometimes even strangers who act as God’s agents to lift us up into a better place. This week we will hear two touching stories that speak to how God sends his help through others—right when we need it most. We’re talking with singer Walker Hayes and his friend, Pastor Craig Allen Cooper, and founder of the Be Heard movement, Evan Dougoud. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Krispin Mayfield Upcoming interview: Jeff Henderson Walker Hayes Craig Cooper Glad You’re Here Redeeming Grace Church Evan Dougoud Be Heard Movement Transformation Church www.beheardmovement.com Interview Quotes: “I’d just been beat up by Nashville and wasn't really excited to be known or know people. I was not a very approachable person when I met Craig, at all. And a lot of that was by choice, and just that was kind of comfortably where I lived.” - Walker Hayes “I said, ‘Lord, I try to encourage other people, you know that. I need you, please, to encourage me. Is anything I'm doing to make a difference in anybody's life? Please show me that you have me where you want me.’” - Craig Allen Cooper “I think God was kind to show me Christ in another human, and I'm so grateful for that.” - Walker Hayes “It was just very, very tough to try to focus on school when you're trying to focus on surviving.” - Evan Dougoud “I'm standing here today only as a walking miracle, but most importantly, God saved me and I want to help and go and do the same for somebody else.” - Evan Dougoud “What if I didn't move to Tulsa? There's people on the street I would've never met, who may have died on the street if I didn't move, if God didn't use my story, if God didn’t redirect my steps.” - Evan Dougoud “I stopped putting God in a box of how He will provide for us.” - Evan Dougoud “I learned that trust is gained in buckets, but lost in drops. By us being consistent, by us being a man of our word, by us just showing up, it created a unique, trusting relationship to those who are unhoused.” - Evan Dougoud ________________________ 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 Jesus Calling Website Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
- 331Your Time Is Now–Let God Help You Make the Most of It: Jeff Henderson and Jonathan EvansThere's an African proverb that pairs well with John 14:6 where Jesus proclaims Himself "the way, the truth, and the life." It goes like this: "We make the road by walking." What comes to the fore in both of these statements is the thought that life is not necessarily stretching out in front of us well-paved and easily discernible, but that life is an active endeavor requiring learning, maturing, and adapting. Jesus emphasizes His nearness to us in the process, but the implication is to step forward confidently even while the unknown confronts us with every step we take. We don't have to know where we'll be exactly twenty years down the road, but only where we are now and what we’ll do next. This week, we talk to two people who have learned to navigate their callings in the now and the next. Jeff Henderson is a pastor and businessman who talks about the thumbprints of God that mark our lives, giving us clues to living out our purpose. Jonathan Evans is the son of Dr. Tony and Lois Evans. With numerous efforts to become an NFL player thwarted, Jonathan reshifted his expectations and began to see how God was getting him to his dream—just not exactly in the way he thought. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: John Maxwell Upcoming interview: Tayla Lynn John 14:6 NIV Jeff Henderson The For Company COVID Atlanta Braves Chick-Fil-A Peter Drucker John Maxwell Maxwell Leadership Truett Cathy www.jeffhenderson.com What To Do Next Jonathan Evans Dr. Tony and Lois Evans Dallas Cowboys Mavericks San Diego Chargers Tennessee Titans Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship Your Time Is Now: Get What God Has Given You Book of Joshua Deuteronomy 34 NIV www.jonathanblakeevans.com Interview Quotes: “The path to your dream job often leads through your day job. So God's thumbprints on you, the way He's created you, God’s thumbprints on you are clues about His plans for you. And so I think the purpose of our lives is a lot closer than we might think.” - Jeff Henderson “You don't know what door God will open up if you're faithful in the small things. So be faithful in the small things. Be faithful where you are, because God's paying attention.” - Jeff Henderson "I think it breaks God's heart that so many of His sons and daughters go to work and they're mistreated. Everyone deserves to be led well because they are a son or daughter of God." - Jeff Henderson “If I'm in a difficult situation, I'm trying to change that prayer to, ‘God, I want to get out of this. But if you choose to leave me here, help me to learn the lesson that you're trying to get me to learn right now. What is the lesson in this season of suffering that you're trying to teach me that a season of comfort would not?’" - Jeff Henderson “I'm excited to be selected to be on the team and be out running plays that He's calling.“ - Jonathan Evans “I got called back by the Cowboys to be the chaplain. It wasn't until I was obedient that I got the call to come back to the NFL.” - Jonathan Evans “I've been cut, I've been traded, I've been hurt. I've been not wanted. I've been rejected. I've experienced all those things, which makes me even better as God's player, as the chaplain for the Cowboys.” - Jonathan Evans “Jesus got everything done in thirty-three years, and He didn't run anywhere. He walked.” - Jonathan Evans “I believe everyone has a calling on their life. And a lot of times we're looking at the barriers, looking at the problem, looking at the loss, looking at the grief, looking at the pain as the reasons why we're not called to go forward instead of the catalyst that shoots us off into the calling that God has for us.” - Jonathan Evans “I think that people must realize that your faith, your calling, your purpose, your destiny is unique to you, and it's on you to connect with God so that you can find you.” - Jonathan Evans “Whenever you're looking at your own insufficiencies to determine whether you can go do what God keeps begging you to do, then you know that you're saying, “You know what? I'd rather be comfortable than be called.” And that's how you know.” - Jonathan Evans ________________________ 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 Jesus Calling Website Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
- 332God Works With Who We Are to Shape Who We’re Meant to Be: Tayla Lynn & Hannah DasherMichelangelo famously said, "The sculpture is already complete within the marble block before I start my work. It is already there; I just have to chisel away the superfluous material." This quote creatively and non-judgmentally describes the process of removing unwanted traits, polishing gifts, and working raw materials to create something memorable. Like the artist, God is always shaping us until we eventually realize what emerges from that process reveals the beauty of who we are as God’s creation. This week we talk to two people who understand this sometimes difficult and loving sculpting process. Tayla Lynn is the granddaughter of country music legend Loretta Lynn, and she understands the perils of chipping past substance addiction to find her true, beautiful self. Hannah Dasher tells of working through the pain of her parents' divorce to find her dream of becoming a country musician materialized on social media. Both stories highlight the fact that we are all in the process of becoming complete. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Chris Janson Upcoming interview: Emily Chang Tayla Lynn Loretta Lynn Trey Twitty Coal Miner's Daughter Adderall ADHD Hurricane Mills Tayla Lynn Sings Loretta Lynn www.taylalynn.com Hannah Dasher Stand By Your Pan Alan Jackson www.hannahdasher.com Interview Quotes: “At times it was literally me and God in a closet. I knew nobody else would protect me, and I knew that He would somehow, and I would be okay with Him, hand-in-hand.” - Tayla Lynn “I think as a mama, it's a little bit harder to let go and forgive yourself when you feel like you've maybe done something to your kid. You just feel that kind of guilt any time you're not being the best mom you can. I still have shame that I'm working on from that.” - Tayla Lynn “I never felt like God wasn't there. I always knew any time that I wasn't feeling God, it was because that was of my own doing. God is everything to me. Jesus is everything to me. It's always been that way.” - Tayla Lynn “It's so important to spend quality time with the Lord each day. It holds me accountable. Lord knows I need it, and it really makes me sensitive to opportunities that He's put in my path.” - Hannah Dasher “I’m not in this [music] career for me. I'm here by His design, and I'm a vessel for Him to further His Kingdom, not my own. And when I finally started to realize that it removed so much pressure from me and really turned it into purpose.” - Hannah Dasher ________________________ 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 Jesus Calling Website Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
- 333[MONTHLY SPECIAL] Faith Around The WorldThis monthly special edition of the Jesus Calling Podcast features multiple guests who have appeared in their own episodes on the Jesus Calling Podcast speaking to how faith impacts people all over the world. As Christians, we have the ability to be the hands and feet of Jesus wherever we go—whether that’s in our home country or while we’re traveling abroad. Each of us are longing for the same type of close relationships with God, even though our lives may look very different. All around the world, people are seeking to know and connect with God in different ways, giving us the perfect opportunity to see Him move no matter where we are—and be changed because of it. Links To Full EpisodesAngus Buchan Sinach Sheila Walsh Glo Atanmo Darlene Zschech Mica Paris Jeanne Lakin _______________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Jesus Calling Website *Episode produced by Four Eyes Media* Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
- 334Take A Step Of Faith Toward Your Purpose: Emily Chang & Jodi StuberAre you facing a crossroads in your life where your next move involves taking a step that feels unfamiliar or hard? None of us really knows what the next minute, days, or weeks might bring, but God does. And when we trust that He is in charge of our future, taking those leaps of faith leads us ever closer to where we’re living in the fullness of who we’re meant to be. Emily Chang is the CEO of the McCann World Group advertising company. As a successful executive who has headed up initiatives at Starbucks and Apple, it would seem Emily’s legacy might be secured—but her corporate achievements simply were the springboard for the legacy she really wishes to establish—which is to personally make a difference for good in people’s lives by opening up her home to youth in need. Jodi Stuber grew up with a love of horses, always dreaming of having one of her own. When Jodi found out about equine therapy, she knew this great love of horses was just a stepping off point to her true calling of serving people—including children and veterans—by connecting them to animals at the Hopewell Ranch, which she co-founded in 2004. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Brian Tome Upcoming interview: Dr. Myron Rolle Emily Chang McCann World Group The Spare Room Purpose Driven Life social legacy Jodi Stuber Hopewell Ranch COVID Project Solomon PTS [Post Traumatic Stress] www.hopewellranch.org Project Solomon Interview Quotes: “It's a privilege to know our God. And it's a privilege to understand that we can thrive, we can live in abundance and in joy, and especially when we put others before ourselves, when we put God at the center of our life, everything changes.” - Emily Chang “Faith is taking a step without knowing exactly the outcome, but having absolute conviction that God is at work and you get to be a part of what He is doing.” - Emily Chang “It's like an incredibly freeing thing when all we have to do is say, ‘Okay, whatever you want, let me go try and be obedient and do the best I can.’ And God is amazing and always surpasses your wildest imagination.” - Emily Chang “I think these small and regular habits become a lifestyle. And then our lifestyle strengthens our beliefs as well as our beliefs strengthen our lifestyle. And ultimately, that combination shapes who we are.” - Emily Chang “It was such a blessing to see how the Lord took the things that I desired and manifested them so that we could start with that healing presence of the Lord through animals. And it was just really special.” - Jodi Stuber “I like to think that when He formed the Earth and the people and the animals, that's creation. And so I believe that when you have somebody who's creative, God shares that piece of His heart with us, to give back to those around us. And I just think that's a beautiful gift and I love it.” - Jodi Stuber “I feel like there's so many people feeling lonely because they don't think anybody sees them. We know God sees them. And what I love is when He shines a spotlight on people that we can then minister to and try to help things be a little better. And that's so rewarding.” - Jodi Stuber ________________________ 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 Jesus Calling Website Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
- 335Great Moments Can Happen In Seasons of Uncertainty: Dr. Myron Rolle and Inky JohnsonWhat comes to mind when you hear the word "catalyst"? A short cut? A dynamic experience? A transformative idea? The ancient roots of this word comes from a verb that means to unloose, to set free. Think of a horse hemmed in a barn stall. A catalyst would be an open door. This week, both of our guests today had dreams involving football. Both, however, had other gifts and talents they would see come to the fore, and realized that the disappointing situations and tough choices that happened to them while on the way to their dreams were catalysts for broader horizons with bigger pastures. Dr. Myron Rolle is a neurosurgeon who has traveled the world; making it a better place using primarily his gifts, as he puts it, "from the neck up." By choosing a path toward medicine, Myron’s football dreams were cut short, but was able to see the wisdom in having his dream diverted. Inquiros "Inky" Johnson nearly died while playing football, but the spiritual mentoring he received during his years at the University of Tennessee set him on course to be a motivational speaker who uses his platform to travel the world and make it a better place, too. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Jason Brown Upcoming interview: Jodi Benson Dr. Myron Rolle The 2% Way Proverbs 29 NIV Habitat for Humanity Princeton University Senator Bill Bradley Rhodes Scholarship Bobby Bowden Luke 10:20 NIV Florida State human mesenchymal stem cell research Inquiros "Inky" Johnson University of Tennessee Fitzgerald Field brachial plexus James Mitchell www.inkyjohnson.com Interview Quotes: “[Our family] had to stick together. We had to lean on each other, to lean on our relationship with Christ. And if we did that, then maybe success would follow.” - Dr. Myron Rolle "I'd be a student first, an athlete second, [but FSU promised] to grow me as a leader, as a Christian, as a man, and eventually as a role model." - Dr. Myron Rolle "One thing that Coach Bowden said was that he was excited about his players getting into the NFL. But he's more proud and more pressed to see all of his players’ names written in the Lamb's Book of Life and joining him in heaven one day." - Dr. Myron Rolle "I knew that football had an expiration date. If I had my way, I would not have had it as early. But again, it worked out how it did. And it is a blessing to be able to be in this field now, waking up every day, doing surgery, helping patients in the hospital, teaching young medical students." - Dr. Myron Rolle “My junior year, the second game, 2006, September 9th, I went to make a routine tackle. It ended my career, and it changed my life forever. I thought I was in a bad dream. I didn't think my career would not only end that day, I didn't think I would be left with a paralyzed right arm and hand, from that day moving forward.” - Inquoris “Inky” Johnson “When I look back on it, God was preparing me all along before [my career ending] injury ever happened.” - Inquoris “Inky” Johnson “I think one of the common mistakes we make as people is thinking where we meet people is where they've always been.” - Inquoris “Inky” Johnson “Some of the greatest forms of growth happen in uncertain moments.” - Inquoris “Inky” Johnson ________________________ 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 Jesus Calling Website Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
- 336Deepening Our Connection with God and Each Other with Jodi Benson and Deb LiuConnection is one of the most important components to having a satisfying and full life. Connection to our family, our friends, through our work, and what we bring to others in the world has the effect of making us feel like we are a part of something bigger than ourselves. Since God created us for connection, it is His desire that we connect with Him too. In Jeremiah 29:12, God beckons us to connect with Him simply because when we do, we can know that He hears us—and knowing that God’s ears are always open to us is the bedrock from which we can move forward confidently in life. Our guests this week have made it their life’s purpose to connect with others in important ways—and recognize their desire for connection comes from their own connection to God. Jodi Benson is best known as the voice actor of Ariel in The Little Mermaid. She has had the honor and privilege of creating a character that has been known by several generations of parents and children, building connection to millions through her artistry. Deb Liu is a second generation Chinese immigrant. Connection with a community that was somewhat foreign to her when she was growing up was something Deb always longed for, which eventually she found when her family was embraced by their first real church home. She’s stayed mindful of how to build those connections all throughout her career at places like Facebook and eBay and at her current position as the CEO of Ancestry.com. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Tim Atwood Upcoming interview: Ainsley Earhardt Jeremiah 29:12 NIV Jodi Benson Ariel in The Little Mermaid Disney Legend Millikin University Part of My World Deb Liu CEO of Ancestry.com Boston Consulting Group Stanford Take Your Power Back Interview Quotes: “Just to be able to feel like God had given me these gifts, and I just wanted to use them to the best ability that I could and be able to support myself and try to make a living doing this crazy business. So definitely God just really created the path very, very clearly for me.” - Jodi Benson “Divine orchestration is truly the key because we can have this plan in my mind, you know? I can have this, I'm seventeen years old and I'll have this plan. And my plan was just blown up because God's plan was a thousand times better.” - Jodi Benson “That's very hard for a planner like me to not be able to have this big, huge picture. But honestly, if He did, He knew I couldn't handle it. I mean, if He showed me at seventeen or at twenty-one or at twenty-five things that were five years in advance, He knew I wouldn't be able to handle it. That's how gracious and loving and kind He is. So He gives me just enough that I can handle.” - Jodi Benson “He can handle me in any way that I present myself to Him.” - Jodi Benson “If I get myself all wrapped up in the past or I get myself all wrapped up in tomorrow, I kind of lose what it is that He wants me to do today. So I try to keep it simple.” - Jodi Benson “The work I do at Ancestry; it's really about connecting people with their own history. The work that we do is to really help people discover their own past, to discover new family members, discover something about themselves that they never knew. We're one human family and we're way more interconnected than you could ever imagine.” - Deb Liu “I think each moment you have in life is a choice. It's a choice to lift others up or to tear others down, to create value in the world or to consume value in the world.” - Deb Liu ________________________ 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 Jesus Calling Website Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
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