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Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith

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Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith

Sarah Young

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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  1. 337When We Stumble, God Catches Us: Ainsley Earhardt & Ryan GeorgeIsn’t it amazing how uniquely God created us? How He gave us different desires, skills, talents to fulfill what it is we are to do in the world? We are “fearfully and wonderfully made,” [Psalm 139:14] the scriptures tell us, but by no means are we perfect. We sometimes stumble on the way to what it is we’re supposed to be doing in this world. But that’s where God comes in. We can talk to God about what we want, what we need, what we’re passionate about. Because we’re His beloved creation, He’s listening, He’s guiding, and He’s there for us when we turn to Him for help to figure it all out.  Our guests this week each have made choices as to how they will show up in the world. News anchor Ainsley Earhardt believes she has been uniquely gifted to show others—especially children—that they are unique, special, and made for amazing things. Adventurer Ryan George has traveled the globe to skydive, surf, and climb mountains all for the thrill of adventure and showing others how they can experience adventure in their own lives—big and small.    Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Kristin Smedley Upcoming interview: Samuel Rodriguez Psalm 139:14 NIV   Ainsley Earhardt  Jesus Calling app I’m So Glad You Were Born   Ryan George  GoPro cameras adrenaline junkie Enneagram Type 7 www.explorience.org Scared to Life   Interview Quotes: “I look at children, especially now that I'm a mother, and I know that for each of them, God has a purpose and a plan for their futures and for their lives.” - Ainsley Earhardt “I tell my daughter all the time, ‘you are such a blessing. I am so glad to have you. I'm so glad God made you perfectly for our family, for me.’” - Ainsley Earhardt “I call it digital courage, because as soon as I hit that record button, I was able to do things that scared me because I knew that I can show it online. And so what I did was I turned social media into a platform to seek the approval that I didn't get growing up, to try to get affirmation. And my working theory was, If I were interesting, people would be interested in me. And it's empty.” - Ryan George “Part of my process of being able to use social media healthily is to celebrate other people and to call out what's adventure in their life.” - Ryan George “What I learned is that vulnerable leaders are the most attractive and they're the ones that people want to follow.” - Ryan George “We're all called to live an extraordinary life. And so I look for adventure, not just on these massive trips that end up on social media, but in my daily life.” - Ryan George  ________________________ 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.21 min
  2. 338[MONTHLY SPECIAL] Being Salt & LightThis month, we’re featuring multiple guests speaking to ways we can be like “salt and light" in the world wherever we go–and how living a life that puts others first can also bring peace and light to our own lives. Every good deed that we put out into the world builds off one another to help make the world a better place. Whenever we can be a light to others, or bring tangible resources to people who aren’t in a place to provide it to themselves—we are following Christ’s command to “love others as He first loved us.” Being charitable, loving, and giving are traits we can all strive for–and our guests this month demonstrate how they’ve been inspired to instill these traits in their own lives as they pursue to serve others out in the real world.    Links To Full EpisodesBen Higgins Tom & Pam Banwart Holly Hayes Operation Christmas Child Matthew Barnett Rebecca Smith Will McGinnis ________________________  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.39 min
  3. 339When God Is For Us, No One Can Stand Against Us: Cynt Marshall and Samuel RodriguezAll of us have faced times in our life that felt like a battle. Maybe you’ve had moments of disappointment and pain where you felt like no one understood you, or you had no support system. Perhaps someone hurt you with their words or planted a seed of doubt in your mind that you’d never get to where you want to be in life, and that trying to reach for more would be impossible. Here’s some comforting news: we’re not alone when we face battles in our lives. We’re not left to fight by ourselves. God is greater than whatever we’re facing and He has promised—He will never leave us.  Our guests this week held on to the promise that they could stand strong in God’s power when people or circumstances might have crushed their spirits. Samuel Rodriguez experienced situations in his young life where discrimination threatened to divert him from the path he was meant to follow to become a pastor, author, movie producer, and advisor to three of the last four U.S. presidents. Cynt Marshall endured the abuse and abandonment of her father, but her faith in the Lord and the guidance of her mother led her to thrive despite her circumstances, ultimately becoming a highly successful business woman and the CEO of the Dallas Mavericks NBA franchise.    Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Dedee & Greg Lhamon Upcoming interview: Chris Nikic   Cynt Marshall Marshalling Resources Dallas Mavericks University of California at Berkeley Teenagers protesting in Parkland, Florida Reverend Dr. Billy Graham You’ve Been Chosen   Samuel Rodriguez New Season Church  National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference 1 Peter 1:16 NIV John 17:21 NIV Matthew 5:14-16 NIV  Luke 1:37 NIV https://pastorsam.com   Interview Quotes: “I always saw myself as the person to help everybody and to provide resources and to be there for people.” - Cynt Marshall “My leadership philosophy is around three Ls, and it's ‘listen to, learn from, and love the people.’” - Cynt Marshall “With faith in God and with standing on His promises, you can truly thrive—not just get through it—but truly thrive through the unexpected.” - Cynt Marshall "I've learned bad things do happen to good people. And so we have to accept adversity and never give up and let the Lord guide us through it." - Cynt Marshall "Love expels fear, mercy triumphs over judgment. All things are possible." - Samuel Rodrigez “We had this crazy dream that the church can be both Billy Graham and Dr. King, and that it can be both righteousness and justice, truth and love, sanctification and service, conviction and compassion.” - Samuel Rodriguez “If you look at the cross as two pieces of wood, one vertical and horizontal, the strongest part of the cross is the nexus. The point of convergence where they intersect. This is the place where we marry the optics of redemption with the metrics of reconciliation.” - Samuel Rodriguez "If our commitment is to be light in the midst of darkness and not just whine about the darkness, doors will continue to open." - Samuel Rodriguez ________________________ 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.27 min
  4. 340Come Just As You Are, You Matter to God: Chris and Nik Nikic & Brittany Maher and Cassandra SpeerSo many of us are running a race to win the affection and approval of those around us. Did you ever stop to consider how much of your own identity you might be sacrificing to live up to some standard that others have prescribed for you? If we are solely living to ensure that other people love us, we give them the power to determine our self worth. There’s a better way. When we recognize that our identity is rooted in our status as wholly created by God, we can enjoy the spiritual benefits of forgiveness, a personal relationship with God, and the knowledge that our life matters, not because others say it does, but because God says it does.  Our guests this week share about the goals and expectations they had for happiness and fulfillment, laced with presuppositions about what would actually bring them that happiness—only to find that God was showing them that their happiness and worth would ultimately spring through their identities as His beloved children.    Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Amanda Jane Cooper Upcoming interview: Carlos and Alexa PenaVega   Nik Nikic and his son Chris Ironman 1% Better: Reaching My Full Potential, and You Can Too   Brittany Maher  Cassandra Speer  Her True Worth Her True Worth: Breaking Free from a Culture of Selfies, Side Hustles, and People Pleasing to Embrace Your True Identity in Christ Isaiah 48 NIV   Interview Quotes: “Everybody else was so hung up with whether or not he could finish [the Ironman]. We just were pursuing God's will in our life, and we thought that that's what God put into our hearts and in Chris’s heart when he set that goal for him to be a world champ.” - Nik Nikic “Everybody, no matter what their means are, can achieve amazing things, whether it's work or education or a better marriage or whatever it is. It's a process and it is just about being happy about getting a little bit better each day and just becoming a better version of yourself every day.” - Nik Nikic  “I became so disheartened by those false messages, that unless our makeup, hair, body are perfect by culture standards, only then am I worthy. And I found myself very entrapped in that culture of trying to meet that internal longing to be worthy of the space I take in this world with external means.” - Brittany Maher “When I lost that job, it really felt like I had lost myself, if I'm being totally honest, and God really met me in the middle of that.” - Cassandra Speer  “Prayer and reading the Bible is like breathing in and breathing out. You can't have one without the other. And we have to partner with God's Word and His truth so that we can write it on the tablets of our heart and know just exactly what He says about us.” - Brittany Maher “We're created by God to actually need affirmation. When we look for that affirmation in other places is where sometimes we allow our worth and our value to rise and fall on if we're being praised or not.” - Brittany Maher “People's opinions change, seasons change, relationships change, social media algorithms change. We cannot place our value and our identity in these things because they're movable. If we place our value and our worth in the affirmation of others and not in God, we will fall when their opinions shift.“ - Cassandra Speer  ________________________ 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.22 min
  5. 341Moving Where God Leads, Even When It Feels Uncomfortable: Carlos and Alexa PenaVega and Michael Phillips***Content Warning: This episode mentions eating disorders.***   Most of us can recall times in our lives where we've felt lost, confused, or unsure of how to move forward. It can be easy to shy away from these moments—to hide them and put on a smile to pretend as if our road has always been an easy one. But what if instead of striving for perfection around every corner, we stop and lean into these uncomfortable moments? What would happen if we looked at our moments of feeling lost and vulnerable as opportunities to become closer to God? To strengthen our faith and use these stories as testimony? Our guests this week explore these questions as they share their stories of faith and healing. Carlos and Alexa PenaVega share the honest and vulnerable moments that strengthened their relationship with God and taught them the lessons that would inform the rest of their lives. Michael Phillips grew up in Baltimore and was told from an early age that he would not become the lawyer he dreamed to be. As administrators, teachers, and principals told him he would inevitably end up incarcerated, Michael fought a deficit narrative that hung over him for much of his young life.   Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Kristin Smedley Upcoming interview: Amy Kenny   Carlos and Alexa PenaVega Big Time Rush What If Love Is the Point?: Living for Jesus in a Self-Consumed World Michael Phillips T.D. Jakes Foundation Thurgood Marshall Perry Mason racketeering conspiracy Oral Roberts University  Maya Angelou  Wrong Lanes Have Right Turns   Interview Quotes: “I was really pursuing that deeper relationship with God. I grew up semi-Christian, but the craving that there was something deeper was there. And I just knew that I wanted to see God or experience God on that next level. I didn't want to have this surface level relationship with Him anymore.” - Alexa PenaVega “Whenever something's going on, we pray about it.” - Alexa PenaVega “It was just so cool to see God use our testimony on that level to really impact the world.” - Carlos PenaVega “When you jump into being somebody of faith or when you jump into Christianity, I feel like a lot of times it's painted as like your life is going to be so perfect after you become a Christian. And what actually happened for us was like life actually got way harder when we became Christians, but everything was more peaceful and everything made more sense to us, like, we actually felt more complete.” - Alexa PenaVega “From first grade on, that deficit narrative about what I could and could not do continued to be spoken over my life by certain adults, teachers, administrators in my school.” - Michael Phillips “When trauma goes unacknowledged, tragedy often goes uninterrupted.” - Michael Phillips “It took some time to become untethered from the things that I did as part of my identity. I was very loyal to my mistakes, and it took some time for me to realize those are just some things I did. That's not who I was, and I finally came to a place where I was tired enough of wrestling with all of that pain.” - Michael Phillips “I think with a deep focus on some of those things for children in our communities would completely change the game for our young people. And so instead of a culture that says, ‘What's wrong with you?’ It will become a culture of ‘What happened to you?’ Or, ‘How are you doing?’” - Michael Phillips “To say that children are at risk seems as if their expectation of who they can become or what they can accomplish will be nothing more than a failure. Right? And so to reverse that stigma, that label placed upon them, we need to say that they are at promise.” - Michael Phillips ________________________ 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.36 min
  6. 342Every Single Body is Wonderfully Made By God: Dr. Amy Kenny and Anna Lind ThomasWhere does the human body fit into our theology? In Scripture, humans are said to be "created in the image of God,” but overall the creation of our bodies is a great mystery, and we cannot say it has been created in the image of God without trying to understand what that phrase means. We don't get to choose its color, its height, or even the basic functionality of its parts. It remains largely an unpredictable, dynamic space that we must learn to inhabit, love, and enjoy as the most basic gift we’ve been given. Both of our guests this week learned to love the bodies that they were given. Dr. Amy Kenny is a disabled scholar and lecturer in Shakespearean studies at the University of California Riverside. She celebrates the beautiful vulnerability of her disabled body within the theology of the image of God and she advocates for disabled and unhoused people. Anna Lind Thomas is a comedian who overcame perceptions of being the "ugly duckling" when compared to her sister by taking time to hone her comedic craft, learn radical self-compassion, and celebrate the unpredictability of our human bodies.    Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Miles McPherson Upcoming interview: Tara Cole Genesis 1:27 NIV   Dr. Amy Kenny Romans 1:20 NIV John 9 NIV Luke 14 NIV My Body Is Not a Prayer Request: Disability Justice in the Church   Anna Lind Thomas I’m Not Ready for This Interview Quotes: “I started to realize that if the invisible qualities of God's divine nature can be clearly seen in that crookedness of trees, in the bouncing kangaroo, in the languishing lion, and the waddling penguin, then why can't I see it in myself, in my own disabled body?” - Dr. Amy Kenny  “I practice really acknowledging the beautiful vulnerability of my life. I listen to my body and acknowledge that she is a temple and I try to behold those invisible qualities of divine nature throughout creation as a practice every day to make sure I am rooted.” - Dr. Amy Kenny “My disabled body declares the truth that we are from ash and we will one day return to ash. And that day might be sooner than we plan. But my disabled body also declares what the Creator can do with a little bit of ash. And so I give thanks for that.” - Dr. Amy Kenny “I realized that not taking yourself so seriously is a gift, and having a healthy sense of humor about yourself, it really is a skill and it's kind of a nice way to live.” - Anna Lind Thomas “There is something about that deep belly laugh that makes us be like, Okay, I can handle this. You know, I can do this, I can handle this, let's go for it. There's really true power in that, and it's such an important thing.” - Anna Lind Thomas ________________________ 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   Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.26 min
  7. 343[MONTHLY SPECIAL] God Hears Our PrayersThis month, as part of the Jesus Calling Podcast, we’re featuring multiple guests who have previously appeared on the show who share what it means to know a God who hears our prayers and wants to know us by our communication with Him.  We hope you find inspiration from these stories of praying people, and how the very act of incorporating prayer into our lives has the ability to change our outlooks for the better.   Links To Full EpisodesDanny Gokey Nell O'Leary Holly Singletary Dianne Derby Randy Hartley Chris & Kelly Janson Krispin Mayfield ________________________  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.33 min
  8. 344Thriving Vs. Surviving—The Little Things That Bring Us Joy: Amy Hannon & Tara L. ColeAs so many of us go about our day to day, living what we might see as “ordinary” lives, we might wonder, while we are working hard at our jobs, providing for ourselves or our families, and staying so busy with the many things that make up the basic details of surviving—how can we also begin thriving and really enjoy our lives beyond merely keeping it all together?  Our guests this week offer some simple suggestions toward ways to bring some peace and joy to our daily existences. Tara L. Cole is a writer, educator, and mom raising school-aged kids during what can often be seen as turbulent times. She offers a few simple ways she helps guide her kids through this season of their lives through spending time with them, providing boundaries for the media they consume, and introducing prayer into their daily routines. Amy Hannon, the founder of Arkansas kitchen boutique Euna Mae’s, finds that simple hospitality brings joy to herself and others. And although she has turned it into a beautiful business, she encourages us that hospitality doesn’t have to be a show and gives us easy steps to welcome gladly and serve faithfully in ways that fill our hearts and others.    Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Dawn Barton Upcoming interview: Kelley Earnhardt Miller Thank you to our sponsor: https://higherbond.com/podcast/   Amy Hannon Arkansas kitchen boutique Euna Mae’s Gather and Give, Sharing God's Heart Through Everyday Hospitality and Gathering eunamaes.com   Tara L. Cole Jesus Listens for Kids  www.taralcole.com Everyday Prayers For The School Year   Interview Quotes: “It was at [Euna Mae’s] house where I have some of my favorite memories of watching her cook for and serve the ones that she loved. And I really didn't realize it then, I realized it later, but her love for gathering people around food was leaving a really long lasting impression on me.” - Amy Hannon “We have to remember more than anything to seek the Lord and ask Him to find favor with our invitation and to fill us with His love and to radiate His life through us, because that's what we want. We need to be completely honest with the Lord about our worries and our concerns and ask Him to stir up joy and delight as we seek to love and service people.” - Amy Hannon “Just keep things simple because the hospitality of the Bible isn't fancy and the purpose isn’t to show off your life. The purpose is to share your life with others.” - Amy Hannon  “Jesus knew better than anybody that a simple invitation for connection and community over a shared meal created the perfect opportunity for emotional, relational, and spiritual transactions to take place. And that's the hope of our hospitality.” - Amy Hannon “I would really encourage you to just start making space in your day and praying to God and asking Him, ‘What can we let go of here in this season, the stage we find ourselves in?’” - Tara Cole “The best guidance I can give as we introduce our kids to a healthy prayer life is to look at the season or stage that you find yourself in, because every season and stage of life with your kids is going to look different.” - Tara Cole ________________________ 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 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.25 min
  9. 345Facing Storms & Finding Solace in God: Kelley Earnhardt Miller & Hayley Arceneaux“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,” sings the Psalmist, “I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. (NKJV) This is not just beautiful poetry. These were the fervent prayers of David (Psalm 23) as he tended to his father Jesse’s sheep. At any moment, a lion or wolf could attack. Within the line, “I will fear no evil,” there’s a cry for help and a statement of faith. We can all go to this prayer, just as David did, when the storms of life threaten us—filling us with fear for our lives and our future.  Our two guests this week faced such storms and found solace that God was comforting them through their most desperate times. Kelley Earnhardt Miller lost both of her parents prematurely: her father—the famous NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt, Sr.—died in a car crash, and her mother from cancer. Through it all, she kept God at the center and found her calling in her caring for her little brother, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., not only as a troubled teen but as a successful adult. Hayley Arceneaux's childhood was hijacked by a cancer diagnosis, yet she found inspiration from the medical professionals at St. Jude's Children's Hospital where she was being treated. Her decision to become a physician assistant not only saw her return to St. Jude's to work with leukemia and lymphoma patients, but she also became the youngest American ever to orbit the earth. Both Kelley and Hayley found ways to dig deep into their relationship with God to fight through the hard times.   Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Sara Evans Upcoming interview: Dr. Elizabeth Stevens Psalm 23 NIV   Thank you to our sponsor: https://higherbond.com/podcast/   Kelley Earnhardt Miller  Dale Earnhardt, Sr. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Drive: 9 Lessons to Win in Business and in Life   Hayley Arceneaux's St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital Osteosarcoma tae kwon do Inspiration4 SpaceX Wild Ride: A Memoir of I.V. Drips and Rocket Ships Interview Quotes: "I'm so thankful for having faith because I had a place to put my questions and lay that with God, and just have a peace and comfort about it that you can feel." - Kelley Earnhardt Miller “God is the center of everything.” - Kelley Earnhardt Miller “I have just a lot of great people, a lot of great Christians in my world. I think that's important to keep your faith intact as we go through this earthly world, because those people inspire me and they continue to push me to grow as a Christian.” - Kelley Earnhardt Miller “I kept screaming, ‘I don't want to die. I don't want to die.’ And I looked at my mom and I said, ‘God must hate me.’ Because I thought, Why else would this be happening? And she said, ‘No, God loves you.’"  - Hayley Arceneaux “Those days going through cancer treatment, especially at such a young age, I had some really difficult days. But when I look back at that year, I just remember the beautiful moments and the good times and the other patient families and the staff that really felt like my family.” - Hayley Arceneaux “It was just wonderful being around these really supportive adults because it helped me focus on something that was beyond just my own sickness and my own pain. They really encouraged me to feel like I had a purpose there and to be able to give back and show gratitude instead of just feeling like the sick one.” - Hayley Arceneaux “It was about eight months from when I initially got the call to go to space before we launched, and I said a lot of prayers in those eight months for training, for my safety, and definitely for the space travel itself. And having faith, I think, really helped bring so much peace.” - Hayley Arceneaux ________________________ 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 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.29 min
  10. 346Believing God’s Promises When Your Plans Fall Apart: Dr. Elizabeth Stevens & Daniel and Noell JettPursuing our God-given dreams can lead us into unexpected places, whether it’s climbing mountains, building homes, or sharing your story with those who need encouragement. God’s beautiful purpose remains steadfast, but sometimes we can’t see past the setbacks or the trials that confront us first. Learning to trust God in everything puts us in a posture of peace and allows for His grace to define our days. These are the moments that can hold deep meaning for us when we look back and see that God never left our sides. Our guests this week share with us what happened when they believed for something better when their own plans were sidelined. Dr. Elizabeth Stevens had dreams of joining the Air Force and becoming a psychiatrist, responding to the spark in her heart which told her she could help people in this way. Faced with deeply difficult events and setbacks to her health, she questioned if God had abandoned her when she truly just wanted to live for Him. Daniel and Noell Jett shared a mutual desire of building their dream home together. Proving to be more difficult than they expected, they share how God showed them that it wasn’t about having their dream home, but enjoying the journey as a family together—no matter where they laid their heads at night.    Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview:  Upcoming interview:  Thank you to our sponsor, Samaritan’s Purse!   Dr. Elizabeth Stevens Advancing Warriors International Longs Peak Groundhog Day Order Elizabeth’s book “Unshackled” at 10% off until 11/17/22 with the discount code UNSHACKLED-JESUSCALLING https://www.drelizabethstevens.com/order-unshackled    Daniel and Noell Jett Jett Set Farmhouse Daniel and Noell’s TikTok www.jettsetfarmhouse.com Create Your Dream Home on a Budget   Interview Quotes: “My whole life I really tried to be the person people thought I needed to be, be the person God needed me to be. And I wore these masks of trying to prove my worth, trying to cover and hide any vulnerabilities or failures or darkness within me because I didn't want to see it and I didn't want anyone else to see it.” - Dr. Elizabeth Stevens “I blamed everything on my traumatic brain injury because I didn't realize that that deeper trauma, that soul trauma, was actually what needed to be healed primarily in order for me to recover from my traumatic brain injury.” - Dr. Elizabeth Stevens “Once I realized that even in my darkest state, even in my rebellion, God loved me the same, and I could actually feel it more, that empowered me to really stop trying to protect myself, stop trying to hide, stop trying to cover up.” - Dr. Elizabeth Stevens “When someone is hurting, a lot of times in the field of psychiatry and psychology, the spiritual aspect of things is neglected. But a lot of people are dealing with a lot of spiritual struggles, whether they've been burned by a religion, burned by the church, burned by other Christians…And so I've provided that space where they can talk through spiritual struggles, any struggles that they have, and they don't feel judged.” - Dr. Elizabeth Stevens “God redeems all wounds. God's great enough and powerful enough to provide a way out." - Dr. Elizabeth Stevens "I was finally able to learn about a real relationship with God and discover a life with love and the way I believe that Jesus meant for it to be lived." - Noell Jett “True happiness is found within yourself, within God, within your family.” - Noell Jett “Happiness and true contentment and peace are not found in external circumstances. If you're not happy where you are in the moment of this time, you're not going to be happy when you get a new house.” - Noell Jett “We didn't need the material things. What we needed was our relationships and the time that we got to spend together and the closeness and the bond that we had as a family, as one unit—that was really the most important thing to us and still is.” - Daniel Jett ________________________ 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 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.33 min
  11. 347There’s No Box Big Enough To Contain God: Jesse Bradley and Tovares & Sofa GreySometimes our plans in life can be misdirected and net us emptiness. When we decide to live selfishly and aren’t open to where God is leading us, we effectively put God “in a box” by limiting ourselves from the vast potential for light and goodness He wants to bring to our lives. Each of our guests this week had life experiences that required them to let go of their ideas of what their lives were supposed to look like so that they could grow into the plans that God had for them. Jesse Bradley admits he never thought he'd ever be a pastor. His goals were professional sports, and he achieved that success. But when his body had an allergic reaction to some medication he was taking, he had to make a shift and found God transforming him for new pursuits and new passions. Tovares and Safa Grey have—in a very short time—helped many young people navigate the world of dating and relationships. They understand that many young people feel the pressure of being in a relationship. They feel the key to staying open to what will unfold in our lives is letting go so that we don't put God in a box. This place of compromise is a scary place—a mental battleground—but it holds tremendous potential for God’s goodness to manifest itself in our lives.   Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Nate Pyle Upcoming interview: Tamera Mowry-Housley PFR   Thank you to our sponsor, Samaritan’s Purse!   Jesse Bradley Grace Community Church University of Minnesota  Golden Gophers  Dartmouth College C.S. Lewis Psalm 63:8 NIV Psalm 62:8 NIV Isaiah 41:10 NIV Every Group www.jessebradley.org    Tovares and Safa Grey Godly Dating 101 Proverbs 5 NIV Ephesians 5:25 NIV www.godlydating101.com   Interview Quotes: “The inside story is the real story and the full story. And sometimes you're the only one who knows it and God knows the inside story as well. And the outside looked like success, but the inside for me, there was emptiness.” - Jesse Bradley “Pain has been a big part of my transformation.” - Jesse Bradley “You want a godly marriage, you want a healthy marriage. But there are some people who desire a marriage because everyone else on their timeline is married.” - Tovares Grey “My advice to other young people who are dating today, don't limit God to your idea of who you think you should be with.” - Safa Grey “[God's] concerned about every single aspect of our lives. He wants us to talk to Him. He wants us to have a relationship.” - Safa Grey “At the end of the day, everything points back to God, and so we have to date with that intention in mind.” - Safa Grey ________________________ 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   Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.27 min
  12. 348God Is In the Details: Tamera Mowry-Housley and Mike KinneyEphesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” We all long—at some point in life—to have that moment of clarity where we know exactly what we’re supposed to do and which way we need to go, and everything feels like it clicks into place. Those “aha!” moments can be hard to come by, but we can rely on God to reveal clues to us about where He wants us to be—and often it’s in those little details that we ourselves might not even notice. Taking time to be still, read God’s Word, and watch for those signs that He’s working goes a long way to making the most out of the short time we have on earth.  When she was a little girl, Tamera Mowry-Housley knew that she wanted to be an actress, and with the support of her family, dove in headfirst. But navigating a life in the spotlight at such a young age presented a unique set of difficulties. Mike Kinney was miraculously rescued from a tragic car accident, which led him to consider, Who am I and where do I go from here? After healing from the accident, Mike came to realize that God was organizing the details for him to lead others to see what God has for them, and help them find their own “aha!” moments in life.   Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Inky Johnson Upcoming interview: Andy Dooley Ephesians 2:10 NIV   Tamera Mowry-Housley Days of our Lives As the World Turns Sister, Sister The Real Ezekiel 34:11-16 NIV You Should Sit Down For This   Mike Kinney Tom Griswald Bob and Tom  Pete Townsend Out of the Fire: How an Angel and a Stranger Intervened to Save a Life   Interview Quotes: “I used to struggle with the spirit of perfection. I thought that if I was perfect, all the problems would go away. All my insecurities would go away. And later I found out it was actually the more you think like that, the more you're imprisoned, because the Lord loves us without perfection.” - Tamera Mowry-Housley “I've realized that prayer and reading the Word isn't something I want to do. It's something I need to do. It's a necessity to protect my peace, my spirit, and my mind daily…I've learned that if I don't feed my soul with the Word of God and talk to God daily, it's easy for me to kind of lose my step.” - Tamera Mowry-Housley “Whenever I feel like I'm struggling, lost, uncertain, I go to the Word. I go to the Word of God. And there,I find my answers.” - Tamera Mowry-Housley “It was kind of like I was on this journey to try to figure out what my purpose, what my calling could be.” - Mike Kinney “The [car] accident had messed with some areas of my brain that could affect motor skills. And they didn't know if I'd be able to play music again because the area of my brain that was impacted by the accident should have affected my ability to play music. There was this need, and I feel like the Lord gave me this dream. It was a gift that He gave me and it became a symbol of hope over the next, you know, eighteen plus years.” - Mike Kinney “That's been part of the anthem of my story is that you're never too broken to be used by God.” - Mike Kinney ________________________ 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 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.34 min
  13. 349[MONTHLY SERIES] Pursuing a Relationship With Jesus: Susie McEntire-Eaton & Emily LeyOn this episode of Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer, we’re talking to mom, author, and entrepreneur Emily Ley, who’s the queen of organization. She walks us through how we can set ourselves up for success and get closer to the Lord in the process.   Guest’s Links Facebook: @emilyley Twitter: @emilyley Instagram: @emilyley ________________________  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.15 min
  14. 350Embracing Our Differences to Serve God Faithfully: Lil Mike and Funny Bone & Andy DooleyEach one of us is uniquely made by God and given a specific life path. God wants us to celebrate the way He made us and serve Him with our different abilities. By embracing our differences and bridging our unique stories with our faith, we can help connect God’s love to more people.   Our guests this week share with us how they’ve used their unique life paths to share God’s love with others—whether it’s with their communities or their family circle. Stars of the TV show Reservation Dogs, Lil Mike and Funny Bone are Indigenous entertainers who have delighted audiences with their humor and talent on television and on stages across the country. Their personal stories of the challenges they’ve faced and their talent for the creative arts has helped create a bridge between their Christian faith and their culture. Andy Dooley is a fitness influencer and author who found a way to connect his seemingly disparate gifts of athleticism and artistry to share his brand of hope and faith with the world. By allowing God to shape his life and embracing his differences, Andy found his purpose in teaching fitness to others through videos online and is beginning a newer journey of leading his family through a faith-filled life.    Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Dr. Derwin Gray Upcoming interview: Nikki DeLoach   Lil Mike and Funny Bone Reservation Dogs The Power Team Indigenous people  “Fist in the Air” www.mikebonemedia.com   Andy Dooley Building a Family of Faith   Interview Quotes: “We like to be living examples of what we speak about in our music. You know, we talk about not drinking, not smoking. And when you see us out in public, we are not drinking and not smoking…Something that's real cool in the Indigenous community; a lot of the beliefs line up with the Word, to be thankful in all things and to pray in all things.” - Funny Bone “Just being able to watch [our kids] ask questions and find relationship with God in their way is just cool. And it starts with us as parents just modeling it, exposing them to it, and having time together and just showing them how cool God really is.” - Andy Dooley “Prayer isn't just one time. You know, prayer can be throughout the day. You can just talk to God while you're driving. You could just talk to God while you're at the gym. Or you have thoughts or decisions or you're going through a certain situation in a season in your life, God wants to hear from you on a regular basis.” - Andy Dooley ________________________ 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 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.22 min
  15. 351[BONUS] Good Samaritans Give Help To Communities Devastated By Hurricane IanIn the hours before September 28th, 2022, as Hurricane Ian roared toward the Florida coast, no one knew the level of devastation that would occur in its wake. With 147 deaths, multiple homes and buildings decimated, and over 60,000 people displaced from their homes, volunteers from all over the world streamed into Florida communities to lend their help toward healing and rebuilding. We talk to two of those Good Samaritans who gave of their time and resources to offer refuge and hope after devastating loss.    Quotes “God had been preparing me even before I knew He was preparing me.” - Rev. David Acton “If you have a heart to share hope and a heart to love on others, God figures out the rest.” - Rev. David Acton “A lot of times we just sit and we just cry and pray together because there are no answers sometimes.” - Rev. David Acton “I knew right then I had to do something to help. I didn't know what that looked like. I just prayed that God would show me some guidance and what do I need to do? How can I help?” - Krista Kowalczyk “In my everyday prayers, what I was saying is, ‘Okay, I'll do this while I'm waiting to hear what you want me to do.’ It took me a long time of helping people with their photographs to realize that I'm actually helping people more than I realized.” - Krista Kowalczyk “I have really relied on prayer to get me through this time. It has been hard, just seeing so much devastation and so much loss. I've prayed every day that I have the strength to continue to help people.” - Krista Kowalczyk   LinksJesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens   Christ Fellowship Church Hurricane Irma American Red Cross New Hope Church   Impressions Photography Hurricane Ian ________________________  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.18 min
  16. 352Trusting God and Your Intuition: Nikki DeLoach and Pat BradleyAll of us have experienced what we like to call “gut feelings.” At various times in each of our lives, it’s been that deep intuition that perhaps moved us to make a decision that was good for us—choosing one thing over, or avoiding a situation that didn’t feel quite right. Other times, perhaps we didn’t follow that quiet tug on our hearts, and pursued a different route—maybe ending up in a less than ideal result. However we view those gut feelings, the message is the same; God will always find a way to reach us. He is that "still small voice" that Elijah heard (I Kings 19:12), and in our lives often presents itself as that deep intuition about who we are and what we should do.  Our guests this week had those “gut feeling” moments that they ended up following that led to some pretty amazing things in their lives. Hallmark actress and producer Nikki DeLoach tells about her singularly-focused dream to become an actress and how she felt the pull to learn how to “tell stories” by learning how to produce projects as well. Pat Bradley worked for Crisis Aid International ministry for years, helping people all over the world. But it wasn’t until he felt the unexplainable tug toward helping people in a place no one else wanted to go that he had to trust where his heart was leading him. They both found that the more time they spent in conversation with God, the more they could trust the “still small voice” of their intuition to lead them to the right place.   Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Emily Chang Upcoming interview: Kevin Olusola I Kings 19:12   Nikki DeLoach Ryan Goodell Hallmark Christmas movies Hallmark Channel Children's Hospital of Los Angeles The Gift of Peace   Pat Bradley  Crisis Aid International Open Doors International Christian ConcernColin Powell www.crisisaid.org   Interview Quotes: “I spent a lot of time looking up at God saying, 'Why, why not me? Did you forget about me? And what I didn't realize in those moments was that I was actually very deeply being taken care of by God because I just didn't know what fame would have done to me at such a young age." - Nikki DeLoach "I don't care about the color of your skin. I don't care about your gender. I don't care about your socioeconomic level. I don't care about what religious faith you're in. What I care about is; are you in need? Can I help you? Can I pray for you? Let's be in community together. That's how Jesus lived his life." - Nikki DeLoach "Christmas is really about remembering what's most important. Are we alive? Are we breathing? Are we honoring the ones we've lost? Are we being good to other people? Are we giving back? That's Christmas." - Nikki DeLoach "Somebody had to do something in these hopeless situations. God really did put it on my heart that doing nothing was no longer an option." - Pat Bradley "The 'no go' zones were areas where no one was going to help people. And we found ourselves to be the only ones in there doing something." - Pat Bradley ________________________ 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   Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.24 min
  17. 353[BONUS] Lives of Service and Gifts of ImpactAs we approach Christmas, it’s nice to reflect on the gift God gave us through Jesus and how He served the people in his circle and beyond–and how He shows up for us through others in ways we’d never expect. Have you ever received a gift that was so intentional it brought you to tears? Or maybe you’ve given a gift that ended up having a profound effect on someone else’s life. This holiday season, we’re talking to several people who know a few things about meaningful gifts, and what it means to them to provide a place of business in the community for people to find gifts and resources that lift others up, and what it’s like to be in service to the people around us—especially at this time of the year.    Quotes “What we're about is encouraging faith, inspiring change, and sharing life, not just our personal lives, but the life that comes from knowing Jesus Christ.” - Donna McCullough, Dove Christian Supply  “We've been told over and over again by our community how important and how vital we [Logos Bookstore] are. People come in with all kinds of prayer requests and needs and we are there to love on them. And we count it as a privilege.” - Susan Lewis, Logos Bookstore “For me personally, as we own and operate these Christian bookstores, we are constantly on our knees before God depending upon Him to supply so that we can keep the stores alive and open with all the challenges that we've faced. So prayer is critical. And Sarah [Young] is communicating to her readers how important it is to have a powerful dependance in our God.” - Kevin Furgusen, Willamette Valley Christian Supply “Jesus Calling, it's the right words at the time that you need them. It's the Lord speaking to you, it just speaks to your heart and it comforts you. It soothes your soul.” - Vickie Achord, Olive Branch Bookstore “I think with all the craziness that's going on in the world around us, I think people are recognizing the importance of direction from God. And I think it's making people spend more time praying for their personal lives, for their decisions that they make. We understand the importance of prayer for the people that we care about.” - Dennis Lovvorn, New Covenant Bookstore    LinksJesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens   Dove Christian Supply Logos Bookstore Willamette Valley Christian Supply Olive Branch Bookstore New Covenant Bookstore _______________________  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.19 min
  18. 354Restoring Our Relationships and Reconnecting to God: Kevin Olusola & Seth and Heather Thompson DayTheologian and monk Thomas Merton once wrote, “The beginning of love is to let those we love be perfectly themselves, and not to twist them to fit our own image. Otherwise we love only the reflection of ourselves we find in them.” We were designed by God to live life with and surrounded by people. But to successfully do so, we have to learn what makes others tick. We have to know how they move, and how we can speak love and understanding into their lives. Truly loving people comes with knowing that they are flawed, but resisting the desire to “fix them” to some standard of our own. When we choose to let others be perfectly themselves, we begin to understand God’s unconditional love toward all of us. Our guests this week are people who’ve truly come to the realization that in order to make a relationship thrive, acceptance and resiliency are so important. Beatboxer, cellist, and singer/songwriter Kevin Olusola from the acapella musical group Pentatonix talks about what it takes to make space for his bandmates through their differences, and how they move beyond those differences to make beautiful harmonies together. Husband and wife duo Seth and Heather Thompson Day speak about the tensions they’ve experienced with their individual families and how as a couple, they are committed to the hard work of living relationally with others and with God.    Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Tauren Wells Upcoming interview: Matt Rawle Thomas Merton   Kevin Olusola Pentatonix Celebrate and Collaborate with Yo-Yo Ma  KRS-One David Crowder Band The Sing-Off Pentatonix’s performance of “E.T.” by Katy Perry Imagine Faith Talk www.kevinolusola.com   Seth and Heather Thompson Day  Jesus Christ Superstar I’ll See You Tomorrow   Interview Quotes: “I said to God, ‘I think you're absolutely crazy. This doesn't make any sense, but I can't deny that I feel like you're leading me here. I don't know if it's forever, but I know I at least have to follow this right now.’” - Kevin Olusola  “I don't think any of us knew that it was going to lead to all this. We're five such different people in such a beautiful way. That's what makes the sound interesting. We're all bringing our different ideas of musicality to make one joyful noise.” - Kevin Olusola “If God Almighty is the one that has put the plan in place for you to be successful so that His glory is known, you better believe that God will create a way for you to have success not just in your career, but also in your family, also in your health. He's created a way because God wants a holistic, loving, joyous life focused on Him.” - Kevin Olusola “I don't know why we struggle to speak life into ourselves. But when I met Heather, I was able to speak life into her. And she was able to speak life into me.” - Seth Day “I think the beauty of the Christian experience is we actually can allow our spirits and our brains and our bodies and our hearts to be transformed in the hands of God. And I've seen that firsthand in my own family.” - Heather Thompson Day “One of the things that Heather has done by willing the good for me is that she's valued my pain. But she's also definitely valued the promise that God has over my life.” - Seth Day “I think that's what all of us need to do in our lives, is to look to people who have done it when things weren't ideal, to build our confidence, and go, ‘Well they did it. So can I.’” - Seth Day ________________________ 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 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.27 min
  19. 355God Shows Up In Our Stories, Especially at Christmas: Danica McKellar & Matt RawleWhether you’ve been a Christian your whole life because you were raised in the faith, or you’re just curious about what Christianity is all about, there are many ways we can come to know God, sometimes when we’re not even looking for Him. In the Bible, the prophet Isaiah tells us in Romans 10:20 that “[God] is found by those who did not seek [Him], [He] became manifest to those who did not ask for [Him].” As we all enjoy our favorite stories of Christmas this year, and as Christians celebrate the birth of Christ, everyone can pause and reflect on the ways God might show up in our lives and look forward to new ways we might uncover His goodness in the coming year as well.  Actress Danica McKellar always felt a tug at her heart that there was something out there she hadn’t quite uncovered yet. Not long ago, when her friend and fellow actress Candace Cameron Bure sent her a Bible, the switch flipped and she came to the realization that it had been God tugging at her heart all along. Now, she’s embarked on a new-found journey of faith and is eagerly anticipating this Christmas season with a new lease on life. Author and pastor Matt Rawle loves digging deep into our culture to find traces of God in places we’d least expect. He’s uncovered themes in beloved Christmas classics like The Grinch and has found joy and a new understanding of God and the way He presents Himself in the world.   Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Mark Lowry Upcoming interview: Harris Faulkner Romans 10:20 NIV   Danica McKellar  Candace Cameron Bure The Wonder Years Christmas at the Drive-In Great American Family Channel Carlos Whittaker   Matt Rawle Duke Divinity School How The Grinch Stole Christmas United Methodist Church Asbury United Methodist Church John the Baptist Advent Christmas The Nutcracker www.mattrawle.com The Heart That Grew Three Sizes The Redemption of Scrooge The Gift of the Nutcracker Jesus Revealed Interview Quotes: “Jesus is something that I wanted my whole life, or had my whole life and just didn't realize it.” - Danica Mckellar “Of utmost importance is not the religion, it's the relationship. And that is precious to me. And it's a journey of discovery.” - Danica McKellar “I can let go and let God. I can find that peace that surpasses understanding, because I know it doesn't matter what's going on in this world now that I have this connection to True Peace." - Danica McKellar "You know that childhood joy when you see how excited they are for Christmas? This year there's a whole new layer for me. It's the actual meaning behind the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ." - Danica McKellar “We don't always use culture beneficially, but culture in and of itself certainly isn't bad, but it can, I think, powerfully communicate to us who God is." - Matt Rawle “If we believe The Incarnation [of God in the form of Jesus] to be true, then culture is a vehicle through which we can discern God…Scripture says that God created all things through Christ and God was pleased to reconcile all things through Christ. Therefore, there is a hint of God in everything.” - Matt Rawle “Jesus taught using pop cultural references of the time. Of course, we're 2,000 years removed from that, so they don't seem to be so popular in terms of pop culture today. But in Jesus's time, they absolutely were.” - Matt Rawle “Christmas in particular is a great time to explore that intersection between culture and our shared lives together in spreading the gospel.” - Matt Rawle ________________________ 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 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.26 min
  20. 356[MONTHLY SPECIAL] Prayers for Every SeasonThis month we’re featuring multiple guests who have previously appeared on the Jesus Calling podcast, speaking about prayer during times of sorrow and in times of joy. Christmas is the season to celebrate the love and hope of Jesus; but for some, it can bring difficulty. Our guests remind us that no matter what season we’re in, prayer can be a light in our darkness.    Links To Full EpisodesMargaret Feinberg Zim Flores Tana Amen Jess Connolly Levi Lusko Natalie Grant Tabitha Brown ________________________  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.35 min
  21. 357Walking In Another’s Shoes, Like Jesus Did For Us: Harris Faulkner and Omar Benson MillerPerhaps you’ve heard the sentiment, “you can’t really judge a person until you walk a mile in their shoes.” This thought goes beyond the idea of just a reprimand against being judgemental. It’s one that reminds us to have empathy and understanding of others’ experiences and actions with an open heart and mind. The greatest example of walking in someone else’s shoes is Jesus, being fully God, who stepped into humanity’s shoes by being born into this world—so we could know with certainty that He experienced the same kinds of trials and losses, wants and needs that we all experience as humans. When we tune into how Jesus lived, we in turn can begin to tune into others, and like Jesus, show them love even when we don’t understand or agree with them.  Our guests this week are people who’ve had experience stepping into other people’s shoes—one as a reporter who makes it her job to understand the people she is interviewing to best be able to tell their stories, and the other an actor, who has had to inhabit the lives of the characters, real and fictional, that he brings to life in TV and film. News anchor and author Harris Faulkner shares how the loss of her parents opened up a side of her that helps her relate to people in a more compassionate way—one that shows up when she’s interviewing people about their own experiences, good and bad. Actor Omar Benson Miller tells us how he walks into each role he’s given with the intention to gain the full experience of someone’s story and how each character he has played has shown him the value of giving kind consideration to everyone’s story.   Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Ben Higgins Upcoming interview: Maggi Thorne   Harris Faulkner Faith Still Moves Mountains   Omar Benson Miller 8 Mile Miracle at St. Anna CSI Miami Bible   Interview Quotes: "When [my dad] prayed for me and my mom, he was very specific in saying, 'I want them to find peace, joy, and health when I am not with them. Lord, I need you to be a protector for them when I am not with them.' And that's especially true now in terms of how I walk out my own faith." - Harris Faulkner “I believe God loves all of us.” - Harris Faulkner “I leaned back into God and He leaned into me and I was able to go forward. And I prayed more. And things got better. But it was in His timing, not mine.” - Harris Faulkner “My mom told me growing up, ‘Give all of your worries and sorrows in life to God. And don't forget to pray when things are going well, too.’ When I remembered that my mom had said that when I was praying less and crying more in my loss, what it reminded me of is that there will be days that will go well again. That this too shall pass. Loving our parents and losing our parents will never pass. But that point of anger with the Lord will. And we must work on that.” - Harris Faulkner “What I've tried to do is utilize the platform that God has given me to lift up others.” - Harris Faulkner “When the storms of life come, you know God's listening because you talk to Him every day, and He hears you.” - Harris Faulkner “It takes a real deep understanding of your relationship with God to know how to pray for someone else.” - Harris Faulkner “I don't know what happens and has happened to people. I don't know people's stories. I don't know what they believe. I don't know what they've been through. I don't know who they've hurt or who has hurt them. So I like to go in with a blank slate.” - Omar Benson Miller  “And the challenge is laid out that you are going to have a hard time doing the right thing, because that's what this world is. That's what this life is. So the closer you draw near to the Spirit of God, the closer, the better, and easier that will become.” - Omar Benson Miller “I think that being a person is hard, being a human is hard. This is why it's so important to have kindness and so imperative to try to make allowances for other people, because at some point you're going to need allowances yourself as well.” - Omar Benson 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 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.25 min
  22. 358There’s No Faith Too Small To Move Mountains: Maggi Thorne & Don WickstrumWhen we think about life events that define our existence, what naturally comes to mind? Perhaps it’s finishing your education, or getting that first job, starting a family? Or maybe the tougher things come to mind, like facing an illness, losing a loved one, or struggling to make ends meet after a job has ended. There’s one common denominator in both the hard and joyful events of our lives—our faith. It’s in those defining life moments—even the ones where you crash and fail hard—that greatness, courage, and true purpose reveal themselves. That one act of taking the next small step on the way to our next big hurdle reminds us of how Jesus says, “All it takes is to have faith the size of a mustard seed, and mountains will move.” [Matthew 17:20] Our guests this week have experienced the kinds of life events we’re talking about that make one take stock in who they are. From failing an obstacle course on national television to crashing a racecar on a winding track up a mountain, they’ve faced unusual challenges, but their stories don’t end in failure. Each of them chose to dust themselves off, take another small step of faith, and continue to do what they were meant to do. American Ninja Warrior Maggi Thorne shares how she battled with mild traumatic brain injury while racing up the infamous warped wall. She walks us through her decision to step away and heal and how she leaned on God to find the strength to never give up. Pastor and race car driver Don Wickstrum takes us on his path to racing to the clouds on a 12.42 mile intensive mountain course, amid a colon cancer diagnosis. He shares how he chose not to quit, but instead how he relied on God to make it to the finish line.    Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Todd Hoffman Upcoming interview: Chris Tomlin Matthew 17:20 NIV   Maggi Thorne American Ninja Warrior Spartan Ultimate Team Challenge Team Ninja Warrior mild TBI Madonna Rehabilitation Services in Lincoln, Nebraska EMDR therapy Ephesians 2:10 NIV www.maggithorne.com   Don Wickstrum NASCAR   Bobby Unser  Pikes Peak Race University of Platteville Chasing Hope www.iamsecond.com   Interview Quotes: “[My] experiences have actually led to my passion to serve the poor, the underprivileged, the underrepresented, and making sure my platform of American Ninja Warrior—what I feel like God has blessed me with—is used to advocate for those and specifically speak into the life of youth and tell them you have opportunity, it's not opposition, and anything is possible.” - Maggie Thorne “I knew God had given me this role and responsibility and He can take this next path too. Because a lot of people, when I said, “I think I'm going to go out and build people and not buildings, and I'm going to quit,” they thought I was bananas and couldn't quite understand it and told me I was ruining my life, actually. And I'd never be successful again. But I really had faith and trust in God.” - Maggie Thorne “How I train has shown up in competition because you're going to experience the unexpected, you're going to experience failure. And how you've trained as a whole, that's when it's going to be there and show up.” - Maggie Thorne “[I realized], Okay, this isn't about saying ‘never give up.’ It's about becoming never give up. Can we become what we say? And what does that journey look like? And the first step was acceptance. I'm never going to be who I was again, but who can I be now and can I put that in God's hands?” - Maggie Thorne “I began to realize that I didn't need to know the ending of the story. I just needed to tell it and where I was at because it would speak to someone.” - Don Wickstrum “It was an absolutely incredible moment for me; realizing God's faithfulness and the fact that He didn't rescue me from adversity. He gave me the power and strength to endure it so that I could have a character built up in hope.” - Don Wickstrum “There's still hope for you for your purpose. There's still hope for you to be reconciled through Jesus Christ. There is still hope for you to live another day fulfilling the will of God.” - Don Wickstrum ________________________ 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 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.32 min
  23. 359When You Don’t Know Where You’re Going, God Will Provide Direction: Chris Tomlin and Kelvin McElroyHave you ever been driving somewhere, or even walking in the city or on a trail, and found yourself hopelessly lost? In the era of smartphones and GPS, this has become a lot less likely, but we can all recall moments where we didn’t have the tools at our disposal to lead us back to where we needed to go, and we ended up wandering, trying to remember where we came from and how to get back to that spot. It’s a scary feeling not knowing where you’re going, and even more scary when life presents situations to us where we’re just not sure what to do or who to turn to to help us get where we need to be. When we feel lost in life, confused about what to do next, God promises that “He will stand by us and strengthen us, so that through us His message can be fully proclaimed.” (2 Timothy 4:18).  Grammy-award winning worship leader Chris Tomlin knew from a very young age that he wanted to connect with the people around him in meaningful ways by playing and singing music, but wasn’t exactly sure how that would pan out in his life. As a young man, he found himself speaking a prayer that he didn’t really understand at the time, but has been a constant throughout his life: “Whatever You want, for the rest of my life, I’m available and will follow you.” Brigadier General Kelvin McElroy was raised to believe that committing yourself strongly to anything you wanted to pursue would get you where you wanted to be, but still needed a nudge from others who believed in him when he himself couldn’t see his own potential. Both of these men would go on to powerfully lead others into lives of service and commitment to God, using what God gave them to point people in His direction.  Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Kevin Olusola Upcoming interview: Cam Ayala 2 Timothy 4:18 NIV   Chris Tomlin Always    Kelvin McElroy Department of the Space Force  Department of the Air Force Scott Air Force Base   Interview Quotes: “I just like it when people sing. I don't really like standing up there and playing with everybody watching me. I like when people join in.” - Chris Tomlin "I wasn't trying to [become a worship singer]. Never looked to do it. Wasn't something I set out to do. It was just God opening up the doors in an incredible way." - Chris Tomlin "When you hear my songs, those don't come from just making something up. It really comes from God. Some of the prayers come out in public because they're my songs." - Chris Tomlin "Our willingness is our wealth, our soul is the soil, and God's word is the seed." - Kelvin McElroy "When you serve others, you will always find that no matter where you go, people are faithful and willing to pull you in and take care of you." - Kelvin McElroy “God's Word is our one. Right? It leads us, it guides us, and if we take the time to listen and apply God's Word, the answer’s already there, and He's given us everything that we need.” - Kelvin McElroy ________________________ 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 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.25 min
  24. 360Finding Peace In Times of Turmoil: Cam Ayala & Tiania Haneline and Scarlett SmithThere is much talk of turmoil in our world, and we see it reflected in what we read, watch, and observe in the media. Sometimes this turmoil shows up directly in our lives—whether it’s negative words toward us from others, untruths about who we are and what we stand for, or other negative situations that undermine our self worth and identity. As we face words meant to harm and hurt us, we can know there is refuge when it feels like it’s “us against the world.” A verse in the Bible, from John 16, tells us that God is our source of peace, also reminding us “in the world you have tribulation. But take heart–God has overcome the world.”  Our guests this week saw their lives—and the world around them—in turmoil, and found themselves turning to God for the peace that can only come from seeking to be in His presence. Cam Ayala, who starred on ABC’s The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise shares about how his struggle with a lifelong illness was used on the show to portray him in a negative light, and how after the show ended, his faith would uphold him through the biggest decision he would ever have to face about his health and his identity. Social media influencer Tiania Haneline and her five-year-old daughter Scarlett Smith started a positive affirmation routine that has taken the internet by storm. Tiania shares how speaking kind words to her daughter each day is creating a lifelong habit of facing negativity with positivity.   Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Trey Johnson Upcoming interview: Tom Schueman John 16 NIV   Cam Ayala ABC’s The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise Romans 5 NIV Lymphedema Texas Medical Center   Tiania Haneline and Scarlett Smith TikTok I’m Going to Have a Good Day! Daily Affirmations with Scarlett   Interview Quotes: “God always has a way of showing His way if you are opening your heart and seeking that light.” - Cam Ayala “I knew that reigniting my relationship with Jesus was going to be the only way that I would make it through this [amputation] surgery and really through the rest of my life. I had tried doing things on my own accord, trying to be my own strong, independent man. But time and time again, I felt that my own personal strength was insufficient.” - Cam Ayala “There's Scripture that says, ‘When we are weak, He is strong.’ And so really leaning on the strength of Christ in me was more than enough to get me through some of the toughest physical adversities that I had faced in previous surgeries.” - Cam Ayala “I'm a firm believer that God gives His toughest battles to His toughest warriors, and that with a loss like this of a limb is going to come a great gain in what Jesus is going to do with me, through me, to me, and ultimately for other people to bear witness to.” - Cam Ayala “When you seek Him wholeheartedly, He will be there to get you through some of the most difficult seasons or moments in your life.” - Cam Ayala “I think it is very important for my children and myself to have these affirmations to instill in us. So whenever Scarlett has someone in her class that says that they don't like her hair, you know, she can come back with, ‘Well, I love my hair.’ So I just want them to be able to take what I have taught them and be able to use it in the real world.”  - Tiania Haneline “I got Scarlett to look at herself in the mirror while I was doing her hair, and I was like, This is going to be able to show her I love my curls, I love my brown skin. I am strong, I am beautiful.” - Tiania Haneline “I'm beautiful. I'm strong. I'm not fearful. I love my curls. Jesus loves me. And I'm going to have a good day.” - Scarlett Smith “My prayer right now is that I will raise my children up to follow Jesus and to be amazing women and men.” - Tiania Haneline ________________________ 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 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.27 min
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