Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith

Finding our way in life can be challenging, overwhelming, and discouraging. The path may seem clear at times, and then others, we feel pushed in a direction that may not feel comfortable or familiar. The only thing that we can trust is that God will show us the way and we must step out in faith to find our purpose. Travis Tritt, a wildly popular 90’s country star, thought he had his life mapped out in his hometown of Marietta, Georgia, managing the family air conditioning business. Tom Phillips, a pastor who worked with the Billy Graham Association as a crusade director, studied medicine in college. Both men were led to follow dreams that seemed out of reach, but God had their futures in mind the whole time. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Listens Sarah Young Past interview: David Crowder Upcoming interview: Brett Young Travis Tritt Grand Ole Opry Ray Charles Eagles Common Thread Charlie Daniels Set in Stone Tom Phillips Billy Graham Association Billy Graham Cliff Barrows www.billygraham.org Dr. Tom Phillips’ latest books Interview Quotes: “I grew up with the understanding of what God meant to my family's life, to my life. We had Bible study on a regular basis. And it was just a great place to sort of build your foundation for the rest of your life.” - Travis Tritt “Even though there were times when I strayed away from [faith], it was always something that was in the back of my mind, in the back of my heart.” Travis Tritt “I'm one of those people that can look back and say, honestly, my dreams have more than come true.” - Travis Tritt “I am a big believer in counting your blessings. So my prayers start off each night with thanking God for all the blessings.” - Travis Tritt “I believe now we are in the early phases of the latter rain in America that will cause the greatest fruit that's ever been borne by the church of this nation.” - Dr. Tom Phillips “It was like a light bulb for destiny came on in my heart and my life. And I surrendered to whatever God wanted me to do. And I made a deal with Him though, I didn't want to give up medicine, so I’d surrender to medical missions. And He said, ‘That's not what I asked you to do. I didn't ask you to surrender half yourself. I asked you to surrender your whole self.’” - Dr. Tom Phillips “The church is here to change the culture. The word of God is here to change the culture and make us more like the Creator.” - Dr. Tom Phillips ________________________ 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.

Grief, death, and loss are an inevitable part of life, though knowing that doesn’t make the pain any easier to bear. Whether you’ve faced unexpected loss time and time again or are navigating grief for the very first time, the waves of difficulty can be drowning. But the good news is that God can offer us a life raft. Isaiah 57:18-19 says, “I will heal them; I will guide them and restore comfort to Israel’s mourners, creating praise on their lips. Peace, peace, to those far and near.” This week’s guests, Holly Singletary and Andy Griggs, share the holes left in their hearts, and how God has helped heal them, and they share how we can find comfort in the legacies of loved ones passed, and also know deep in our hearts that one day, we will see them again in heaven. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Isaiah 57:18-19 NIV Jesus Listens Past interview: Eddie Montgomery Upcoming interview: Travis Tritt Holly Singletary Daryle Singletary Hope With Holly Podcast Hope With Holly Blog Merle Haggard George Jones www.hopewithholly.com Andy Griggs Job 1:10 NIV www.andygriggs.com Interview Quotes: “I came home that weekend after meeting Daryle and told my mom and dad that I found the man I was going to marry.” - Holly Singletary “It was really sweet to watch [Daryle as a dad] because I think our role of waiting so long prepared us for a different kind of parenting. I felt like we had a lot more patience and we appreciated some of the moments maybe that we would not have appreciated earlier on in life.” - Holly Singletary “It's okay to cry. We have good and bad days and some days we miss [Daryle] more, especially on those special days or special moments or just an everyday moment. I'm like, ‘It's okay to be sad.’ But one thing I tell them, ‘It's not okay to stay there. I don't want you to stay there. I don't want that to turn into bitterness and anger and madness.’” - Holly Singletary “Legacies don't die. They don't die very easily. It takes a long time to see the sunset of a legacy. Yeah, because everybody's life is a sunset, that's a beautiful thing at times. Life is a beautiful thing. Beautiful thing. how God made this.” - Andy Griggs “I think it is instilled into man that outside of our heavenly father and His sovereignty, the most powerful thing in this universe is my words and my prayer, I really believe them. I think prayer, it changes. It changes the future, it changes everything I'm looking at.” - Andy Griggs “I have learned that when you grieve through the Spirit, there's a healing that takes place. And it's supernatural. It's godly.” - Andy Griggs “As a true believer in Christ, I think that one of our biggest assets in all of life is having that Comforter with us, and that gets me through the valleys.” - Andy Griggs ________________________ 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.

The best news we could ever receive is that in the middle of our most broken, painful moments, there is Someone who will reach out to us—no matter what we’ve done, who we’ve hurt, or the mistakes that we’ve made. God does not care what you look like, or the road that you’ve traveled—all He cares for is your heart and where you’re headed. Sharon Jaynes is an international conference speaker and author. Time and time again, Sharon has seen the power of forgiveness in her life, and has seen how your worst, most heartbreaking moments can be the springboard for positive change. Christine Soule grew up in a broken home, struggled with drug addiction, was a victim of sex trafficking, and had nowhere to turn. Eventually, Christine found God and she did a 180 on her lifestyle—boldly making different life choices, relying on nothing but the goodness of God to heal her broken soul and spirit. Christine is now the the founder and CEO of Providence Heights, a nonprofit organization that was created to house women and children in need, as well as providing counseling, jobs, and education. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Listens Past interview: Zach Williams Upcoming interview: Holly Singletary Sharon Jaynes When You Don’t Like Your Story Proverbs 31 Ministries Girlfriends in God, Inc. sharonjaynes.com Christine Soule Providence Heights Benny Hinn Broken and Beautiful Interview Quotes: “I always felt as a little girl that I wasn't good enough, I wasn't smart enough, I wasn't pretty enough. I wasn't a good enough daughter. And if I could be, then maybe my parents wouldn't be so angry and fight all the time.” - Sharon Jaynes “I said, ‘Dad, none of us can be good enough. If we could be good enough, then Jesus wouldn't have had to die on the cross.’ But he could not understand that kind of grace for a man like him.” - Sharon Jaynes “I want to encourage you that getting from that place to being able to tell your story of redemption is a process.” - Sharon Jaynes “We have to stop and think, Who is it that I am not forgiving? Because as long as we have unforgiveness in our heart, we will get stuck in a bad chapter in our story. So the first step is deciding you want to get well, the second step is to forgive those people who have hurt you.” - Sharon Jaynes “If someone steps in that church and they look a little different than you, they're seeking God. They need a savior and you know what? Grab a hold of them because they have made the scariest, most bold step, probably up to that point in their life. So love them. It's a huge deal to let them know that they matter.” - Christine Soule “Don't expect people to change overnight, just one step at a time so that they can really allow God to cultivate them. It's not our job just to fix them. It's God's job to cultivate them.” - Christine Soule “Just know friends, that He is for you. Even in the midst of difficult circumstances, He's for you. He's with you. He loves and adores you, and allow that to turn your life into something truly beautiful.” - Christine Soule ________________________ 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.

Many of us feel called to serve others in some way—and often when we think about what that could look like, we feel paralyzed by too many options. There are so many needs all across the world that must urgently be met, so how do we know where to start? This week’s guests, CEO of Convoy of Hope Hal Donaldson and CEO of Haiti Made Will McGinniss share how they found a way to make real change in lives and in hearts—spreading the word of God and caring for His people at the same time. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith Susie McEntire-Eaton Circleallacess.com Past interview: Brian Tome Upcoming interview: Sharon Jaynes Hal Donaldson Convoy of Hope Mother Teresa Golden State Warriors San Jose State University Disruptive Compassion Your Next 24 Hours Will McGinniss Audio Adrenaline Hands and Feet Project Haiti Made “Hands and Feet” song James 1:27 NIV www.haitimade.com Interview Quotes: “I met Mother Teresa. And during the course of that interview, she asked me, “What are you doing to help the poor and the suffering?” And I figured it was probably not a good idea to lie to Mother Teresa. So I told her the truth. I said, “I'm really not doing much of anything.” And she looked back at me and she said, “Everyone can do something.” And she began to talk to me about doing the next kind thing that Jesus put in front of me.” - Hal Donaldson “When you're obedient to God and you do the things that are important to God, God takes that step of faith and He grows it. He makes it something larger than we ever dreamed.” - Hal Donaldson “We can allow the images of despair to paralyze us or the enormity of the problems to paralyze us, or we can roll up our sleeves and say, “Let's get to work.” Jesus used me to make a difference.” - Hal Donaldson “The key to life, the key to fulfillment, purpose, it doesn't come from exceeding others. It comes from elevating others.” - Hal Donaldson “The very first week I got into this Christian rock band and God had a different plan, He would be like, ‘Yeah, I'm going to take your heart to help people and I'm going to give you a platform to do that. And you're going to reach a lot of people who come from all different walks of life and your music's going to bless them and encourage them.’” - Will McGinniss “What we've learned through time is that there has to be a cultural exchange and we both learn from one another, you know, not that we come in with all the right ideas and completely, you know, just save them, because Jesus has been there for centuries, you know, and decades. But we often come in and feel like we know what's best for these people. And we want to help and have great intentions, but our helping can often create more problems. And so we want to do that in a way that's an equitable exchange.” - Will McGinniss “And as He's entrusted more to me, running Haiti Made now, I don't always feel qualified every day, but I know if I show up every day with a good effort and a good work ethic and just with God's spirit and His help, I call on Him daily to help me lead this team and to be able to get in the right doors, get the right doors open to sell these goods. And we're just continually trying to be creative and having this work grow and to create more jobs and touch more and more families through that.” - Will McGinniss ________________________ 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.

When we face life experiences that hurt us, that drastically alter the way things go, it can cut deep and cause us significant pain. But as the Bible says in 1 Peter 2:24, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” Remember that even in the most daunting of circumstances, Jesus took your wounds as His own so that you may know peace and hope in salvation. Our guests this week have experienced their own personal wounds. Former mafia member Michael Franzese shares about growing up in one of the most notorious crime families, how he himself descended into the darkness, and how ultimately, God healed every element of his past and made him a new person. Michele Wilbur-Christiansen shares the tragic story of her parents’ heartbreaking death, and how her and her siblings found peace in knowing that one day, they will be reunited with them in heaven. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast 1 Peter 2:24 NIV Jesus Listens Sarah Young Jesus Calling Past interview: Lecrae Moore Upcoming interview: Hal Donaldson Michael Franzese New York Cosa Nostra Joe Colombo Rudy Giuliani Book of Proverbs Michele Wilbur-Christiansen Capital University in Columbus, Ohio Interview Quotes: “The night I went back into prison, they told me I'd never see the street again, I'd never seen my wife and children, they were going to try and indict me on new charges. The government was upset with me because I wouldn't cooperate. They threw me in a hole, I was in solitary, and it was probably the worst night of my life. I thought I was going to lose everything that was dear to me, never see my wife and kids again, I was in my mid thirties. I was still a young guy. So it was a very difficult night. And I was lying on the cot, honestly, I just wanted to close my eyes and not wake up.” - Michael Franzese “The Bible became my Bible. It became true to me.” - Michael Franzese “The heroism of my life kind of transferred from my father to Jesus. I was enamored with the personality of Jesus, the character of Jesus as a man. He was a true man's man.” - Michael Franzese “When times are at their worst for us is when Jesus is the most powerful in our lives.” - Michael Franzese “I did stray away from God, but never really from family. And then over time, I saw how God was working for me in my life, I became a born-again Christian. So I was able to see how God was working for me, even if I kept Him behind the scenes. And then eventually I came to know Him as more than just a religion, but more as my personal friend and Savior.” - Michele Wilbur-Christiansen “Knowing our parents were in His presence gave us comfort through our pain. And a reminder that He always has our best interests in mind, even in the worst moments of our lives.” - Michele Wilbur-Christiansen “This tragedy has caused me to question God at times. I've asked, ‘Why them God, why now?’” - Michele Wilbur-Christiansen “God continually reminds me that we are to trust Him with all of our heart, not just some or not just the parts that we decide to give Him.” - Michele Wilbur-Christiantiansen “Take your anger, your sadness, and all your emotions and all your questions to God, He can handle it and still lovingly accepts you with open arms. He will meet you in your mess.” - Michele Wilbur-Christiansen ________________________ 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.

Every Christian faces a time in their relationship with Jesus that is frustrating, that’s full of questions, full of doubt, full of wondering if God is even real, if He listens, or if He cares. But time and time again, the Lord has proven that He does hear your every prayer, as Psalm 66:19 reminds us: “God has surely listened and has heard my prayer.” God is also okay with our doubts—He gives us the space we need to figure out for ourselves that He is good, all the time, and He will be with us always. This week’s guests are two dreamers—the founder of IT Cosmetics, the largest luxury makeup company in the country, Jamie Kern Lima, who faced years of trials and God doubt but managed to find a way to keep the faith, and God rewarded her with the breakthrough she’d been longing for. And the creator of Black Liturgies, Cole Arthur Riley, a born skeptic who educated herself on a variety of religions before finding a home in the Christian church who held space for her questions. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Psalm 66:19 NIV Jesus Calling TV show Jesus Calling Stories of Faith Susie McEntire-Eaton Circleallacess.com Past interview: Dominic Done Upcoming interview: Michael Franzese Jamie Kern Lima IT Cosmetics Believe It Jesus Calling app Rosacea QVC Cosmetic Executive Women Miss Lisa Mason. QVC show host jamiekernlima.com itcosmetics.com Cole Arthur Riley Black Liturgies Chesterton House Blackliturgust.com Instagram Interview Quotes: “I think so many of us learn that sometimes God's setbacks are really set ups for what we're supposed to do next.” - Jamie Kern Lima “Truthfully, there are nights when I’d get these really hard rejections and I’d end up crying myself to sleep. And the one thing that kept going as I would literally pray and be like, ‘God, I feel like you put this dream on my heart and I don't understand why it's not working, am I wrong?’” - Jamie Kern Lima “All of us have had people reject us or tell us we're not enough or we need to change who we are to fit in or we don't belong. And I think so many times learning to turn down the volume on that and not let it take root in our spirit is so important, because I believe our calling is always stronger than our opposition.” - Jamie Kern Lima “I would rather show real women all ages, shapes, sizes, skin challenges, skin tones. And if the single mom in Nebraska is going to give me two seconds of her time and she turns on her television, even if she buys nothing, I would rather have her see women who look like her and me calling them beautiful and meaning it, than sell a ton of product and stand for nothing.” - Jamie Kern Lima “I was really fortunate to have spiritual mentors early on that allowed me to have a lot of agency over my seeking even as they were teaching me things that probably felt really basic to them in many ways.” - Cole Arthur Riley “Words do have tremendous power, both their presence and their absence. I think our task as Christians is to be really honest and faithful discerners of what any given moment calls for, voice or silence. Both can be oppressive, but both can be beautiful disciplines of rest, hope, and solidarity.” - Cole Arthur Riley “It can be a real gift for us to join voices with other people across space and across time to say, ‘This is who God is, this is who we are,’ and to tell the story.” - Cole Arthur Riley ________________________ 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.

Many of us have had a moment in our lives that define us as people and as servants of God—and sometimes that moment comes at a fork in the road. Which path will you take? The one you’ve worked hard for and the world tells you you should want? Or the one God wants you to take? It’s almost guaranteed that every time you decide to take the Lord’s path, you will encounter mountains of blessings that you’d never have expected. ABC News reporter Paula Faris was at the height of her career when she faced a devastating series of tragedies that forced her to slow down and recognize that God was calling her to go in another direction. Former NFL lineman Jason Brown had worked hard to make his way up the football ladder, eventually becoming the highest-paid center in the sport. It seemed he had everything he wanted, but the luxurious lifestyle he pursued took his focus off his family and marriage which began to suffer, causing him to reassess what he really wanted out of life. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Sarah Young Jesus Listens jesuscalling.com/jesuslistens Past interview: Zim Flores Upcoming interview: Jamie Kern Lima, IT Cosmetics Paula Faris Morning Star Christian Community Good Morning America Weekend The View Joshua 5-6 NIV Journeys of Faith at ABC Faith & Calling Podcast The Paula Faris Show www.paulafarisofficial.com Called Out Jason Brown First Fruits Farm Lunsford Bernard Brown II UNC Chapel Hill 2005 NFL draft wisdomforlife.org Centered Interview Quotes: “And at the end of the day, I think what's most important is that we don't get caught up in the differences, but that we can unite on some of the main tenets of the Bible...the most important thing at the end of the day is that if we are Christians, they'll know it by our love for one another.” - Paula Faris “I think we owe it to not only ourselves, but we owe it to unbelievers to have a reason for the hope that is within us.” - Paula Faris “Trying to keep a positive mindset when you're in that valley, when you're circling that city, that this is where the growth is happening and God is getting ready to start a new chapter and write a new chapter in your life.” - Paula Faris “I don't want to just have five, ten minutes out of the day where I'm talking to God, I try to talk to God throughout my day, and I'm the type of person where I need encouragement throughout the day. So for me, it's a daily conversation. God is always by my side.” - Paula Faris “Once you ask the spirit to come into your life and to allow you to see things in a new way, you will. And it'll transform your relationship with God. It will transform your belief in God, it’ll transform the way that you see God. And you'll start seeing Him in the sunsets across the sky. You'll start to hear Him in the voices of loved ones and in the faces of loved ones. And you'll feel Him in that gentle breeze and you'll hear Him speaking softly in the depths of your spirit.” - Paula Faris “What do you want people to truly remember you by at the end of your life?” - Jason Brown “Everybody on the outside thought that we were this picture perfect family, but on the inside, behind closed doors, we weren't. We were still going to church every single Sunday, and we knew the talk and the lingo of how to put on the fakeness and the front of being a good Christian. Right? But when we left church and came back home, you know, there was no true mission. There was no true obedience to Christ.” - Jason Brown “Because of my success and my pride in sports and football, it developed an arrogance that I thought I was strong enough and smart enough to be in control and to fight hard enough in my flesh and figure this thing out. And Jesus simply told me that there's nothing that you can do in and of yourself that can bring about the faithfulness that He desires for me.” - Jason Brown ________________________ 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.

At this time of year, as we celebrate the brave men and women who fought for the freedom of our country, it’s a good time to reflect on what it actually means to be brave. Sometimes, as in the case of our military heroes, bravery means laying down your life for a greater good, or for your fellow man. Sometimes bravery can mean stepping into something new, apart from everything you’ve known before, to pursue something greater for your life. And sometimes bravery is the simple act of pushing through something hard, something painful, in order to climb out of the darkness to step back into the light. Our guests this week have each shown acts of bravery in their lives—one in service to our country as a Marine, and in his own personal battle with PTSD, and another who faced addiction and fights each day not to be pulled back into its grip; we’re talking with Chad Robichaux, a former Force Recon Marine who served in Afghanistan, and Tim Atwood, a touring musician who has shared the stage with some of country music’s biggest legends. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Calling armed forces edition Christianbook.com Past interview: Sara Evans Upcoming interview: Paula Faris Chad Robichaux PTSD United States Marines Recon marine TS-SCI clearance Mighty Oaks Foundation www.mightyoaksprograms.org National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255 Tim Atwood Mel Street Lynn Anderson Jim Ed Brown Grand Ole Opry’s staff band Taylor Swift Carrie Underwood Vince Gill Inspirational Country Music Awards Who I Am www.timatwood.com Interview Quotes: “I'll be forever grateful for the Marine Corps for giving me that second chance, a clean slate of life and to escape that childhood that I was in and have a chance to build a life.” - Chad Robichaux “What I discovered is that the Bible has a very clear blueprint on how to navigate each and every situation.” - Chad Robichaux “During that time, I really dove into martial arts as a professional fighter and won a world championship, ranked number six in the world as a flyweight. And so on the surface, everything looked really good. But I was spiraling personally. And I was still dealing with panic attacks. I was still dealing with a lot of anger issues in my life. And my marriage was falling apart.” - Chad Robichaux “I surrendered my life to Christ. I began to find restoration in my marriage and my relationship, in my own brokenness, and the PTSD. And so I was able to get hold of my life again. So I found restoration. I found hope again for the first time in a very long time.” - Chad Robichaux “We really have to seek our purpose to find out what His purpose is. And I think when we find that we find a role in His purpose, that's when we find our contentment, our joy, and then we are able to tap into everything we're created for.” - Chad Robichaux “One day I just decided, you know, I've played behind everybody I can think of, just enjoyed it. But I think that I would be better served at the front of the stage. And by watching all these entertainers over the years, I kind of learned exactly how to do it.” - Tim Atwood “I’m really just enjoying the opportunity to get out front and entertain because I feel like I'm more of an entertainer than anything. It gives me a platform to talk at most of the shows I do. I've mentioned to everybody that I'm a Christian and that God gave me the gift and I've given the gift back to God.” - Tim Atwood “You have to believe that you've got what it takes, but you also have to listen to the Voice.” - Tim Atwood “I thank God that there’s servicemen and women out there fighting for our freedom.” - Tim Atwood “I pray for Him to give me guidance and show me the way that I should go and the things that I should do to be a blessing to other folks.” - Tim Atwood ________________________ 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.

The idea of loving others doesn’t seem too difficult when we put it in the context of those closest to us, the ones who support us, care for us, and who give love in return. But the love that God commands us to have as Christians goes beyond that love we have in small circles—and it demands that as Jesus first loved us, we must love others in return. In the Bible, we’ll find in I John 4:20-21, it says: Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And He has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. Our guests this week have committed their lives to showing the world that there isn’t anyone who isn’t worthy of love—both God’s love and the love of their fellow man. We’re talking to singer, speaker, and social advocate Cece Jones-Davis, and digital artist Danielle Coke. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast John 4:20-21 NIV Jesus Calling devotional for kids Jesus Calling Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith on Circle TV Circleallacess.com Past interview: Linsey Davis Upcoming interview: Chad Robichaux Cece Jones-Davis Matthew 5:6 NIV Howard University Yale Divinity School Yale Institute of Sacred Music, Worship, and the Arts Sing for Change www.cecejonesdavis.com Alive Danielle Coke Artivism Luke 10:27 NIV Good Samaritan Worthy https://ohhappydani.com/ @ohhappydani Interview Quotes: “As a kid, I was curious, I wanted to know more, even though there was a lot about spirituality that was really scary to me. And the older I got, that yearning just never left me, it constantly chased me down. And it drove me into pursuing God.” - Cece Jones-Davis “God has had to do a lot of work with me over the years to say, ‘You are smart, you are enough, you're not just what other people have said about you.’” - Cece Jones-Davis “My ministry has from the beginning more so been about my public witness and about how I can outwardly face toward the world outside of the church. What can I do? And so I'm happy to be living in this time when I feel like my life can be used in some way to advance God's kingdom and to stand up for what I believe God is on the side of.” - Cece Jones-Davis “Sometimes I'm connecting as I'm sitting at my desk and I'm like, ‘Okay, now, Lord, I know we haven't had a long conversation today yet, but Lord, you saw the calendar. I'm going to need you to be with me every step of the way.’” - Cece Jones-Davis “I've witnessed what happens when diversity is not a priority.” - Danielle Coke “A big part of why I'm so passionate about justice is tied back to my relationship with God and how I view His calling for our lives.” - Danielle Coke “I encourage people to seek the scriptures about how God is consistently calling us to seek justice and love mercy, how He's giving us stories like the Good Samaritan and illustrating what it means to not just walk past by someone who is struggling, but to help them, lift them up, and be there in a tangible way.” - Danielle Coke “We are all worthy of love. We are worthy of being valued and we're worth fighting for.” - Danielle Coke ________________________ 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.

Maybe you’ve heard someone say “Well, if you really knew me, you might not like me…” or maybe you’ve even said that to yourself. There can be much fear in being truly known—will I still be loved, despite my mistakes, despite my desperate thoughts, despite that I might not ever be enough on my own? The resounding answer to that question from God’s perspective is yes. God promises to love us with an everlasting love, and is continually drawing us to Himself with loving kindness, as we’re told in the scripture (Jeremiah 31:3). Our guests this week hit lows in their lives they didn’t know if they’d recover from, and just when they lost hope, they turned to God only to find that He was there, loving them despite their mistakes, fear, and pain. We’re speaking with television personality Rosie Rivera, the CEO of Jenni Rivera enterprises, and firefighter turned evangelist Jason Sautel. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jeremiah 31:3 Jesus Calling for First Responders editions ChristianBook.com Past interview: The Next Door organization Upcoming interview: Cece Jones-Davis Rosie Rivera Jenni Rivera enterprises Rosierivera.com God Is Your Defender Jason Sautel The Rescuer California Conservation Corps California Department of Forestry https://jasonsautel.wordpress.com/ Interview Quotes: “I really, really loathed myself and I thought everyone else would, too, if they really, really knew me and that somehow transferred into God.” - Rosie Rivera “I told God I was a mess. I was still hung over. I still smelled like alcohol and everything. And I was just at the front of the altar crying my eyes out, letting Jesus know everything that He already knew, that I didn't want to live anymore without Him, and that day I just realized what the cross was, like, it just hit me in such a beautiful way that He had died for me. He already knew everything, and that He loved me. And it can still fill me with love.” - Rosie Rivera “Power comes with His word. I can trust that no matter what is going on with the world, as long as I am holding His hand, I am safe and I am on the right path. It reminds me that in the highs and the lows, He is the same.” Rosie Rivera “No matter what goodness of this world I'd try to throw into it, it would not seal it up and it would actually make things worse. So being a firefighter that was called to help other people but had no idea how to rescue himself, it was really challenging, especially at that point in my life.” - Jason Sautel “At the end of the day, all that is on that fire truck and under all that gear and behind that badge is a human being who just wants to help other people.” - Jason Sautel “I started recognizing Grace, even though I didn't realize what it was at the time, in the form of people being nice to me when I didn't deserve it.” - Jason Sautel “I'm just praying for people that draw closer to God and I'm praying for people to put their faith in Jesus. And for those who have, I'm praying that they will reflect on what their faith truly means, because I have learned over the many years of responding to the bad stuff of this world, I can't fix anything, nor can time. Time alone heals nothing. Time with Jesus heals everything.” - Jason Sautel ________________________ 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.

It’s often been said that we shouldn’t live in the past, but sometimes, inevitably, our past mistakes can haunt us. Regret over decisions made, things we’ve said and done that impacted others negatively, or opportunities missed. But God calls us to a different reality—one that is based on the present with Him and the promise for a future that He lovingly prescribes. Our guests this week have all had events in their past that haven’t been easy to overcome. But each of them took a step forward, a step toward God, and stepped away from having their past define them. We’re talking to author and speaker Christine Caine and the members of the popular worship band I Am They—Matt Hein, Justin Shinn, and Abbie Parker. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Listens jesuscalling.com/jesuslistens Jesus Calling Past interview: Jamie Blane Upcoming interview: Rosie Rivera Christine Caine Propel Women Romans 8:38-39 NIV 1 John 1:5 NIV Psalm 119 NIV Revelation 21:5 NIV Hebrews 12 NIV A-21 Campaign ChristineCaine.com How Did I Get Here? I Am They Foursquare Church Vicodin OxyContin Heroin Mennonite church Romans 5:20-21 NIV “Scars” https://www.iamthey.com/ Faithful God Interview Quotes: “There are a lot of things in my life that, you know, it would seem naturally speaking, should have stopped me from fulfilling my purpose and destiny. But Jesus being the amazing God that He is, He not only saved me and healed me and restored me, but He used those broken fragments of my past to not only give me a future, but to help me give other people a future.” - Christine Caine “You are never too far gone for God not to be able to bring you back.” - Christine Caine “I have found in my life that prayer moves God, and when God is moved, God can move mountains.” - Christine Caine “I think that if we could trust the character and the nature and the goodness of God, we will get to the other side and find that our God was in control the whole time. I love that about God.” - Christine Caine “I went into an eighteen month drug court program, so I was doing outpatient rehab, I was doing counseling, all that stuff. But what really made the biggest difference in keeping me clean was getting back involved with my church.” - Justin Shinn “When you disappoint yourself, it can be really hard to believe that anyone else would not be disappointed in you, so that was a lesson that took a long time to relearn.” - Abbie Parker “We sort of flipped the narrative that shame would have cast in our lives and decided this is no longer going to be a shameful narrative. This is going to be a story of God's grace and forgiveness and goodness and redemption in our lives.” - Abbie Parker “It was just something that became the hidden addiction. And I never drank and I never got into drugs and that kind of thing, but [pornography] was kind of the thing that I could hide that was slowly but surely, in the same ways, eating me up from the inside.” - Matt Hein “[Sitting in my pastor’s office confessing my addiction] was the moment that I found and I realized Grace and who Grace was and what Grace was capable of.” - Matt Hein ________________________ 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.

The concept of identity is a lofty one to wrap our minds around, and we are often encouraged to make sure our identity aligns with who God has called us to be. But how do we do that in real life? It often takes a situation beyond our control, where we feel over our heads, to get us to a point where we realize we have to realign our priorities. It’s there, in that space, that we often find God, and we see clearly what He wants for us. All Elite Wrestling star Brandi Rhodes is the wife of Cody Rhodes and daughter-in-law of the legendary Dusty Rhodes and is a star herself in American Elite Wrestling, talks about how faith and family played a role in forging her into the strong woman she is today. Renowned cardiac anesthesiologist and TedX speaker Dr. Sasha Shillcutt discusses the difficulties of juggling the roles of mom and a physician, how she found the balance by developing a spiritual practice of seeking God daily for 30 minutes. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Peace For Everyday Life video with Rolene Strauss Upcoming guest: Christine Caine Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith TV Show Host: Susie McEntire-Eaton How to watch: Circleallacess.com Brandi Rhodes Cody Rhodes Dusty Rhodes All Elite Wrestling Christopher Bowman Dr. Sasha Shillcutt Brave Enough Jesus Calling app https://www.becomebraveenough.com/ Between Grit and Grace Interview Quotes: “I had a really, really core upbringing in church and Christianity. And I love that because it was a situation, at least back then, where everybody was okay with everybody. We had all kinds of people across the board at that little school. Everyone was accepted, and we learned so much. I think that alone is the reason why I continue to pursue faith today.” - Brandi Rhodes “I remember I just prayed that whole time that I was just warming up around, God, please be my legs. I can't feel them. This is important. I really need You right now. And that was the best I ever skated in my entire life.” - Brandi Rhodes, on prepping for one of her biggest skating competitions as a young adult “I felt like I was failing as a mom. And when I would spend time trying to be the best mom I could be, I felt like I was failing as a physician. I think this is something that happens to a lot of women. I recognized how isolated I was, how I had really drifted away from the person God had called me to be.” - Dr. Sasha Shillcutt “When you bring women together from diverse backgrounds, you recognize that so many of our trials and tribulations are similar, and we may be in different stages of our life or different phases, different states, different countries even. But we often face the same struggles.” - Dr. Sasha Shillcutt “There's times as a doctor that it’s 3:00 in the morning and I'm in the operating room, and I don't know the next thing I should do to help a patient. I don't know the best thing. I'm not sure we're gonna make it out of the operating room. I'm struggling. And I can tell you in those moments, what I lean on is Christ.” - Dr. Sasha Shillcutt “I pray that when I show up, I will affect the people in the room--sometimes that's two people, sometimes that's a thousand people--but that God will just help me bring kindness and clarity wherever I go, because the world is hard right now and there's a lot of anger and anxiety. And I just want to be a person that can bring clarity and kindness.” - Dr. Sasha Shillcutt ________________________ 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.

When we’re having a bad week and it seems like everything is going wrong, it’s nice to be able to have one constant to look to—something that never changes, is always reliable and there for us when we need it. This week two men of faith share how God’s love has been that constant in their lives; Grammy award winning country singer from the group Rascal Flatts, Gary LeVox and pastor, speaker, and evangelist—and the personal pastor of Dr. Billy Graham, Dr. Don Wilton. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Listens Sarah Young Past interview: Lauren Akins Upcoming interview: Brandi Rhodes Gary LeVox Rascal Flatts Board of DD, Developmental Disabilities “Someone Else's Star” Hebrews 11 NIV One On One Dr. Don Wilton Dr. Reverend Billy Graham Saturdays With Billy Africa Inland Mission theencouragingword.org Interview Quotes: “I was like, ‘Lord, I think you've given me the gift of a gift to sing,’ and I just felt so convicted, I was like, ‘I'm so sorry that I have not used it.’” - Gary LeVox “I really trust and believe that He's got everything laid out, His purpose and His plan for me is going to be perfect, even though I don't see it, sometimes I get so frustrated that I have no other choice but to trust Him.” - Gary LeVox “There's so many times I look back through my musical career and just my life and being a husband and a dad that I've looked and have just [seen] where God has shown up, where I have fallen short, where He's picked it back up and, you know, God has always been with me at times I didn't even know to help me get through things.“ - Gary LeVox “I came into a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus. And my life has never been the same again, because the Lord gave to me a fresh purpose and a new meaning, and He changed my life and my perspective forever. And I will forever be grateful to the Lord and the influence of people in my life.” - Dr. Don Wilton “To describe the impact of Mr. Graham on my life is almost impossible for me to do. Mr. Graham didn't just talk to me about how to live. He showed me, up close and personal. I didn't just watch him. I sat with him. I didn't just listen to him. I conversed with him. And we became so close. He enabled me to see my own life in a fresh way. He challenged me at the deepest level of my soul spirit.” - Dr. Don Wilton “The very love with which he [Billy Graham] loved me was in and of itself the greatest reflection of [the way] God loves you, which he said over and over and over again to peoples and nations of every tongue and of every tribe and of every race and of every culture.” - Dr. Don Wilton ________________________ 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.

Have you ever asked God to send you a sign? Just a little signal that you’re going in the right direction, or maybe a big red warning sign when you’re not? Whether we see them every day or not, God has a way of showing up and showing His love for us in the simple things—and in the complex things of life. Whether it’s a beautifully composed song that brings tears to your eyes, or the faithful wagging tail of a beloved canine companion, God has a way of delighting us by filling our world with little signs every day of His love and care for us, and if we stay on the lookout for those signs, we’ll begin to see His presence much more clearly. Harry Connick, Jr. recognizes the power of music, and loves to use his talent for singing, writing, and performing to bring joy to others—and now, through a new collection of gospel songs, he’s sharing the faith that has carried him through the ups and downs of his life. SQuire Rushnell and Louise DuArt are the authors of the bestselling books Godwinks—and now a brand new book called Dogwinks that tells the true stories of how God has used our canine companions to show His love for us in simple and profound ways. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Jesus Calling Podcast Season 2 of the TV Show Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith Circleallacess.com Past interview: Bradley Walker Upcoming interview: Dr. Don Wilton Harry Connick, Jr. When Harry Met Sally The Memphis Belle “Alone with My Faith” single Alone With My Faith album SQuire Rushnell and Louise DuArt Godwinks Dogwinks Schoolhouse Rock The Carol Burnett Show Sandi Patty Nicole C. Mullen www.godwinks.com Interview Quotes: “I've always been someone who really wanted to try as many things as possible. I really love life. I love living life. I love—this sounds a little strange, I guess—but I love the potential to fail, I like taking risks, I like the potential to succeed more, but I don't mind failing.” - Harry Connick, Jr. “I'm a work in progress. I'm imperfect. I have a long way to go, so I feel like my purpose is to try—quotes around the word “try”—to be the best person that I can be every day. I don't always succeed, but if I can continue to try to emulate what I believe to be true, I think that's my most powerful way of getting the message of my faith across.” - Harry Connick, Jr. “My faith is what continues to get me through these tough times. But I just thought about how complex it is and how it's a gift, I think, from God to really compel us to want to communicate with Him.” - Harry Connick, Jr. “We may forget our prayer, but God never does.” - Louise DuArt “God had a plan and a purpose the whole time.” - Louise DuArt “A dogwink is simply God using that vessel to just love us through them.” - Louise DuArt “I just love how God uses everything in nature. He uses everything. He's sovereign.” - Louise DuArt “It's very logical that if you have a conversation daily with your own earthly mother or father or children or boss or neighbor, the more conversation that you have on a regular basis, the better your relationship. So it stands to reason that if we have a great conversation, a relationship every day with our Father in heaven, He's going to be listening to us as much as we're listening to Him.” - SQuire Rushnell ________________________ 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.

Sometimes when we pray, we really want answers, and sometimes we don’t always get those answers we’re seeking. However, our faith tells us that when we ask for help, whether we see it or feel it, God is there. When we ask for guidance, He leads us, not always on the path we would choose, but one that shapes who we are to become; and always to a place where He knows we can be used well. Lathan Warlick is a positive musician who had a near-death experience one night when he was confronted by two men with a gun. Lathan did the only thing he could think of—ask God for help—and when he was inexplicably saved, he decided to dedicate his life and career to spreading God’s word and encouraging positivity. Growing up in poverty, Dr. William Cooke shares how he wanted to truly make a difference by helping others. That desire led him to begin a practice in a community that was dealing with a devastating opioid crisis that was so overwhelming, after several exhausting years, Dr. Cooke questioned God as to if he had pursued the right path. Just as he was ready to throw in the towel, the answer to his question came from a very unexpected place. Both men looked to God for what roads they should take next, and God was faithful to lead them to the next season of faithfulness to Him, and better equipped to serve others. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith Circleallacess.com Jesus Calling book Past interview: Carlos Whittaker Upcoming interview: Harry Connick Jr. Lathan Warlick Luke 15 NIV lathanwarlick.com Dr. William Cooke National Physician of the Year Canary in the Coal Mine Community Health and Economic Prosperity Hepatitis C HIV Interview Quotes: “It was like something was sitting on my shoulders. It was like something was holding me, you know, and the feeling was so powerful that it made me start weeping for no reason.” - Lathan Warlick “God was calling me to be a light out into the world.” - Lathan Warlick “It was like God put me out of my comfort zone to put me over here in order for something else to happen. God will make stuff so uncomfortable for you for Him to get your attention.” - Lathan Warlick “I felt my calling was to try to work with individuals, families in a community that didn't have access to health and opportunity and hope.” - Dr. Willam Cooke “As I started working with patients and families, I started to realize that there was something really dark there, that there was this sense that the American dream was not available to everyone.” - Dr. William Cooke “We had to treat people, not diseases. So this seemed like the opportunity to do something new that, you know, this had never happened before. No one really knew how to respond to this.” - Dr. William Cooke “I had this idea that if I had enough faith and I fought hard enough for the people of Austin, [Indiana] that God would come in and fill in the gap and make the change. And I'd done my part. I had done my part. The people of Austin had tried. Why was God not doing what I thought was His end of the bargain?” - Dr. William Cooke ________________________ 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.

Ministry has many layers—it must be adaptable, malleable, able to meet the needs of whoever needs serving the most. It requires a lot of creativity, and often, it means stepping outside our comfort zone, stretching our abilities to fill the gaps. Number 1 Billboard-charting artist Lucas Hoge has integrated his faith and his music for years, and has gotten to travel all over the world experiencing God’s creation. But when he and his bandmates faced seasons in which they weren’t able to get to church, they came up with a creative solution to a common problem: virtual Sunday sessions that cater to those who can’t attend a brick-and-mortar gathering, enabling them to fill their souls with a good word regardless of location. Pastor Brian Tome has seen firsthand how the church often does not cater to men’s learning styles, and has dedicated his life to speaking guys’ language through movement, camping, and connection in a way that effectively reaches the leaders of the household and inspires them to walk in the Christian way. He shares about the concept of understanding our identity, and how to take the one small step that will make God’s heart smile, even if it scares you. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Life in His Presence Past interview: Angus Buchan Upcoming interview: Lathan Warlick Lucas Hoge Sunday Sessions Sunday Sessions album Golden Knights https://www.lucashoge.com/ Brian Tome Crossroads Church Move Matthew 3:16-17 NIV www.briantome.com Interview Quotes: “God is the center of my relationship with Him and with the world, I feel we can get through this if I know that He's there guiding me.” - Lucas Hoge “I feel like God put songs and ideas into my heart so that I can put them out there. And even if it's one person that hears that song that resonates for them and maybe helps them or gets them through a tough time or might even change their life, that's what that means to me.” - Lucas Hoge “I came into a relationship with Jesus, which I found a relationship with Him is different than a relationship with religion. And that changed everything.” - Brian Tome “I couldn't have predicted that God would do those things in and through us. But what I found, is if you take just one faithful step every day, if you actually do the thing, whatever the thing is that God is putting before you, that thing will snowball.” - Brian Tome “Most men feel very disconnected from their church. Most men, if they go to church, they feel like they are in an environment that is foreign to them.” - Brian Tome “Jesus didn't come to hold class. He came to change the world. He came to move you and me out of the place of apathy and into a place of challenge.” - Brian Tome ________________________ 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.

The Bible shows time and time again that Jesus was near to the broken. He was close to those that society discarded, He brought healing to the hopeless, and He reached into the pit of sin and rescued those who didn’t even believe themselves worth rescue. That is our call as Christians, to provide that same type of love and support to those who need it the most, rather than turning our backs on them. CEO of the Sanctuary Project, Holly Hayes, was saved from a life of violence and trauma by turning to a stolen Bible. Now, Holly uses her company, which creates jewelry, to employ women coming out of violence, trafficking, and addiction, giving them a place to start fresh, a place to feel loved, and a place to develop a relationship with Christ, free of judgement. Founder of Better Life Bags Rebecca Smith thought God had made a mistake calling her to move to a little town in Michigan, thinking she’d never feel at home. But after Rebecca’s bag company grew too big for her to handle by herself, she found that there was a large community of women who desperately needed employment and a place to connect with other women. Holly and Rebecca have both experienced the call of God in their lives, and now hope to make that same difference for the people they help by meeting them in their pain and needs. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Mark 2:17 NIV Jesus Calling Life in His Presence Past interview: Tammy Arnold Upcoming interview: Lucas Hoge Holly Hayes The Sanctuary Project Oprah’s book recommendations John 8:7 NIV SanctuaryProject.com Rebecca Smith Better Life Bags Kiva www.betterlifebags.com A Better Life Interview Quotes: “I went from this really normal, healthy young girl who had trauma but didn't know it to someone who began acting out in every sense of the word and in every way. And all of the sudden my inward trauma became very outward.” - Holly Hayes “I was homeless, addicted, completely lost, completely broken. And I was on the floor of a public bathroom just crying and watching my tears hit the floor one day and three words fell out of my mouth. I said, ‘God help me.’” - Holly Hayes “You would think I cried out to God and then I was all better, right? It took years for me to even realize who that God was that I cried out to.” - Holly Hayes “I was desperate to know who this God was that saved me all those years ago on that bathroom floor, because at this point, I knew I had been so miraculously rescued and everything I had searched for had come up empty.” - Holly Hayes “I stood face to face for the first time with this God who had rescued me off the floor of that bathroom those years ago. And so it was so clear in that moment that Jesus was the God that would rescue someone in the pit of sin and give them a whole new life.” - Holly Hayes “I know there is only one way to get needs met, and that is through prayer.” - Holly Hayes “He is so faithful to the people He loves, especially the vulnerable.” - Holly Hayes “When it comes to meeting the needs of his Beloved, of His people, He is so faithful.” - Holly Hayes “Anything that's different than what we grew up with or are used to is scary if you're just entering it. But my challenge to myself and to people who are scared, I think any time we are confronted with fear of any sort of race, religion, like any sort of difference, is just meet somebody. Like, get a face and a name and shake their hand, get to know their story.” - Rebecca Smith “If we're hurrying through life and rushing, we can't hear those [whispers from God]. We're just too loud and too busy to be able to hear His still, small whispers.” - Rebecca Smith “God has a plan for each one of our lives. He has it laid out for me. He has this pathway laid out. And my only job is just to take one step at a time. I don't have to run down the path. I can simply walk and God reveals the next step as it comes.” - Rebecca Smith “To me, the goal in life, in business, in parenting, in any of it is not winning. The goal is not to finish first, the goal is to finish and to finish well in the lane that God has given us to run.” - Rebecca Smith ________________________ 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.

Outcomes in our lives are comprised of both decisions we make and things that happen to us. Some we can control and others we can’t, but what we do have a say in is how we respond to the events that take place. We can allow our experiences to pull us into darkness, or we can use them as a catalyst for good change—getting us closer to the lives God intended. Former Major League Baseball player Darryl Strawberry had a difficult childhood full of abuse and violence at the hands of his alcoholic father. Those difficulties left him unable to handle the stardom that would come his way once he entered the professional sports world, and he found himself down a path paved with sin. Darryl’s mother prayed fervently that God would knock him from his throne, and God saved Darryl when he couldn’t save himself. Now, Darryl has been called to spread the message of God’s forgiveness and redemption all over the country through Strawberry Ministries. Amy Downs was just an average girl who found herself in a tragic situation: she was a clerk at a bank that was destroyed in the Oklahoma City bombing, which claimed the lives of eighteen of her coworkers. Amy was one of the last survivors to be pulled from the rubble, and once she saw the sunlight, Amy told God that she wanted to live her life differently. That sparked a myriad of changes, including improvements to her health, her spiritual life, her education, and her career—and now Amy is the CEO of the very same bank where she was once a “math challenged” teller who saw no hope in her future. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling for Graduates Jesus Calling Past interview: Kurt Angle Upcoming interview: Holly Hayes Darryl Strawberry Strawberry Ministries MVP of the Texas League Findingyourway.com Turn Your Season Around Amy Downs Murrah Building https://amydowns.org Interview Quotes: “I wore a baseball uniform for seventeen years and I identified myself as a baseball player. And it wasn't until I came to Christ that I was able to identify myself as a man.” - Darryl Strawberry “Everybody was praising me for this great baseball player I was about to become. But I always say it was my pain that started to lead me to my greatness and my greatness would lead me to my destructive behavior.” - Darryl Strawberry “God was doing for me what I couldn't do for myself because of my mother’s prayers to cover her children.” - Darryl Strawberry “God made me understand that the forgiveness was not for [my father]. It was for me.” - Darryl Strawberry “When God does His transformation, He does it for you, but He does it to get through to you so He can get somebody else to have the same revelation that you have had.” - Darryl Strawberry “I remember looking up at the gray sky and just taking that first breath of fresh air and promising God I will never live my life the same.” - Amy Downs “I thought, if I had an issue with drugs, I would go to rehab. I'm going to have to do what it takes for me to get free [from obesity] and just not worry about judgment from others. So I did.” - Amy Downs “Having that experience of facing death at twenty-eight and just sort of realizing, like, I want to live my life with intention, and whether that's doing things purely for my own selfish enjoyment, like a triathlon, you know, or whether that is wanting to serve people in a very difficult role and position, like being CEO of an organization.” - Amy Downs ________________________ 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.

Finding our God-given purpose is just the first step—it’s truly owning who He meant us to be that makes a difference, because follow through and commitment mean everything. However, earthly obstacles can get in our way of fully believing in and accepting ourselves. That’s why we need Christ so desperately, to help us understand our own value. Gospel singer Kierra Sheard-Kelly has waded through her fair share of negativity and body-shaming, and pursuing a career in the spotlight meant that there were scores of mean comments thrown her way. Kierra decided that she’d fortify herself by rooting her heart and her feelings in the word of God, which centered her and helped her embrace how God shaped her. Now, she’s living her faith boldly and proudly, encouraging others to stand out. Fox News anchor Shannon Bream started out as a lawyer, but felt a deep pull to the world of journalism, and sacrificed endlessly to work her way in. After being told by one television exec that she wasn’t good for TV, and that she’d never make it in the business, Shannon took a good hard look at her skills and her purpose, dug her heels in, and trusted that God would open the doors needed, and eventually she was led to a series of opportunities that got her where she is today. Now, she’s sharing stories about women in the Bible who sat at God’s feet, and is highlighting how passionately Christ cared for His relationships with women—placing them in positions where they can maximize their influence. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Romans 8:38 and 39 Jesus Calling Jesus Always Past interview: Mike Weaver Upcoming interview: Darryl Strawberry Kierra Sheard-Kelly Clark Sisters Big, Bold, and Beautiful: Owning the Woman God Made You to Be Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren Proverbs 11:14 Shannon Bream Fox News at Night Women of the Bible Speak Finding the Bright Side Liberty University Florida State Miss America pageant program Miss USA Brit Hume Fox News Queen Esther Deborah Interview Quotes: “I literally have gotten so many answers from my advisors. And that can be my friends, my loved ones, my sibling, anybody that I feel like God has said yes to. And they've contributed so much to the path of my life.” - Kierra Sheard-Kelly “I live my faith, bold and proud, by owning who I am, owning what God is doing in my life.” - Kierra Sheard-Kelly “Because you know Jesus, it doesn't make you small, it doesn't make you weird, it doesn't make you abnormal, it actually puts you in a secure place, in a sure place,” - Kierra Sheard-Kelly “There's a glory that rests on your life, and heaven is rejoicing when you live it out and when you own it.” - Kierra Sheard-Kelly “Even if you don't speak the same language, you can have the same heart and be a part of the body of Christ.” - Shannon Bream “Your job cannot be your God, it can't be what drives your life.” - Shannon Bream “Jesus treated women as equals. They were studying with Him at His feet, which was not common in those days.” - Shannon Bream “The God who intervened in all of these situations centuries ago is the same God today. I'm struck by the fact that these frustrations and troubles and challenges the women had, many of them are very common to today. Family troubles, sibling rivalries, chronic illness, financial trouble, widowhood, infertility, betrayal.” - Shannon Bream ________________________ 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.

Though it can be difficult to comprehend, God places equal weight on the lives of all His children. That’s the beauty of the cross—no matter what we’ve done, our sins are washed clean. And no matter what sort of trouble we may find ourselves in, He will rescue us over and over. Pianist Paul Cardall was born with only half a heart, which meant years of stress, surgery, and pain. When finally given the opportunity for a transplant, Paul faced the hardship of knowing that his survival meant someone else lost their own life. Paul battled PTSD and survivor’s guilt for years, finally coming to accept that God laid down His own life willingly for Paul, and that he was worth being rescued. Author Charles Martin spent years trying to uncover what his parents had always instilled in him: what was the thing God created you to do? After walking away from an amazing employment opportunity to pursue writing full force, Charles dove into Matthew 8 and the story of the shepherd leaving the ninety-nine to save the one, which inspired his newest book, The Water Keeper. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Psalms 32:7 Jesus Calling Jesus Calling for Armed Forces edition JesusCalling.com Past interview: Lecrae Moore Upcoming interview: Kierra Sheard-Kelly Paul Cardall New Life The Broken Miracle album Trauma-related guilt The Broken Miracle book “Family” “For Better Or Worse” Charles Martin The Water Keeper Matthew 18 www.charlesmartinbooks.com Interview Quotes: “I was feeling God telling me, ‘Everything is okay. I've got you. This is a gift I'm giving you.’” - Paul Cardall “The hardest thing in my world was I knew that for me to live, it meant somebody had died.” - Paul Cardall “It struck me as completely illogical that the shepherd would leave the flock and the safety of the flock to go get the one who's got himself lost. And yet He does it repeatedly, and of course, I know that's the story of the gospel and of course, I know that's what Jesus does for us.” - Charles Martin ________________________ 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.

As we seek to determine God’s wishes for who we are to become, pursuing Him through prayer is one of our most trustworthy tools. If we seek to strengthen that bond with our Savior by staying in constant communication with Him, we’ll have clarity on where we are headed, and we will also begin to live from a more selfless perspective. Father James Martin, a Jesuit priest and editor-at-large of America Magazine, has learned over the years that prayer requires honesty, trust, and acceptance—but the good news is that there isn’t a right or a wrong way to pray, because God will reveal Himself to each of us differently. A relationship with God requires the same elements and effort as any of our human relationships, and when we take that approach, our faith walk will begin to change. MSNBC and NBC news anchor Richard Lui is the first Asian American man to anchor a daily national cable news program. As his career was soaring to new heights, he was presented with the greatest challenge yet: to care for his aging father who is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Taking this opportunity as a lesson in selflessness, Richard was prepared to walk away from his dream job, but luckily was given a chance to balance both his career and his family. Richard shares about his father’s faithfulness throughout the years, and what he’s learned by being a caregiver. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Philippians 2:3-4 Jesus Calling®: The Story of Easter Sarah Young Jesus Calling Past interview: Greg Alan Williams Upcoming interview: Charles Martin Matthew 18 Father James Martin Learning to Pray: A Guide for Everyone University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business Thomas Merton The Seven Storey Mountain Jesuits Karl Rahner Matthew 26:38-40 John 11 Richard Lui Alzheimer’s disease Enough About Me: The Unexpected Power of Selflessness Mrs. Fields cookies City College of San Francisco Berkeley Rodney King Magic Johnson Interview Quotes: “I was invited to think about having a personal relationship with Jesus and a real, open relationship with God.” - Father James Martin, S.J. “For the most part, I think that people can trust within reason the kinds of things that happen to them in their prayer and in their daily life. If they feel that it is God's presence, it usually is.” - Father James Martin, S.J. “All the things that make for a good personal relationship make for a good relationship with God.” - Father James Martin, S.J. “God loves us. And so once people are able to accept that love, it really is transformational. They know that they're valued and who they are and that they are enough.” - Father James Martin, S.J. “The idea is to trust that God is waiting to hear from you and that also there's no wrong way or right way to pray.” - Fames James Martin, S.J. “Sometimes you get up in the morning, and you walk outside and you take a deep breath and something hits your brain and hits you in a way that says, You know what? I think my calling just may have changed and what I want to do just changed.” - Richard Lui “[This memory of my dad] gave me a point of view that these little things I was doing, they were important.” - Richard Lui ________________________ 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.

God finds great joy in us using our gifts to share His light in the world—there is no greater feeling than recognizing our purpose and fulfilling it to the best of our ability, giving voice to His faithfulness. Worship artist Kari Jobe began writing and singing songs of praise when she was only thirteen, paving the way for a lifetime of ministry. Now she pours blessings over her listeners and brings her family along for the journey, and feels honored that God has fulfilled her deepest desires to sing. British gospel singer Mica Paris was raised in the church, and got her start in music there. Over the years, Mica began to stray from her faith and got caught up in glittery fame. Looking back, she realizes that God was always there holding her steady, and her renewed hope in Him has changed her voice and her message. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Calling® for Easter Past interview: Lacey Buchanan Upcoming interview: Father James Martin Kari Jobe “The Blessing” Numbers 6 www.karijobe.com Mica Paris The Gospel According to Mica: The Story of Gospel Music in Six Songs Gospel Windrush generation Rupert the Bear https://gospel.micaparis.com Interview Quotes:“I brought everybody [my listeners] along that journey with me, because I realized there are people who probably have been through that or a similar thing. And it's like, ‘I need your wisdom and maybe anything I'm learning could be ministry to you.’” - Kari Jobe “God is so faithful, we can look back and see similarities in our lives where we weren't sure what was going to happen. But God came through. God did a miracle. God changed our perspective. God brought healing. And so I just want to say, let's look to the future and realize that the same God that walked us through all those other things, is the same God that walks with us into our future.” - Kari Jobe “If you don't have a little time with Him on your own, you kind of feel a bit disconnected if you don't do it for a bit. So you literally have to keep checking in.” - Mica Paris “I feel like even the times when I did forget the faith, it was something that was always looking after me.” - Mica Paris ________________________ 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.

There is no better feeling than the moment you discover you are a part of something bigger than yourself—when you know God is there with a plan for you, and you realize that you have been soaked in His grace since the beginning of time. Comedian Michael Jr. had that moment after using his last few dollars to get to New Jersey to perform a show with iconic comedians George Wallace and Jerry Seinfeld. After performing, the manager invited Michael to church with him. Dejected about being completely broke and unable to get back to New York, Michael was gifted $200 and a napkin with a church address on it. That was a turning point, pushing Michael to read the Bible and use his gift of creating laughter to help spread the gospel. NFL player Jordan Matthews was trying desperately to navigate a performance-based world, but he was getting caught up in the highs and lows. Longing for consistency, Jordan looked to other guys in the NFL who had built a foundation of faith that allowed them to be okay no matter their circumstances. That’s when Jordan found Jesus, and began to walk in true relationship with Christ. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Ephesians 2:8-9 Jesus Calling®: The Story of Easter Sarah Young Past interview: Trevor Brazile Upcoming interview: Mica Paris Michael Jr. Jerry Seinfeld George Wallace Chris Rock Seinfeld A Red Blueprint michaeljr.com Jordan Matthews Trey Burton Chris Maragos Nick Foles Galatians 5 Psalm 34:4-6 Psalm 105:4 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Interview Quotes: “All these people I never even knew before gave me all this love because I gave them a part of me.” - Michael Jr. “It's just super exciting to be able to see this and notice and feel it—that heaven is real, that God gave me this gift not to serve me, not so I can do a bunch of shows and get a bunch of people and just laugh. It's so much more to do than just laughter. Comedy is the vehicle. It is not a destination.“ - Michael Jr. “I know I'm called to help people understand their purpose.” - Michael Jr. “I want to make laughter common in uncommon places.” - Michael Jr. “Everything [humans make is], 100-percent, always going to be performance-based. If you don't meet this criteria, you're out, you're done.” - Jordan Matthews “I realized that those pages in the Word, they weren't just words on a page. Those things meant something.” - Jordan Matthews “And I was like, ‘Look, Lord, I know I haven’t been doing this thing right. I know that I'm probably still going to mess up at times, but I know this whole thing is about You. And I can't save myself, so it's up to You to do it, and I feel that happening right now.’” - Jordan Matthews “I know that I have a foundation that I can stand on and a relationship that can't be taken away, no matter my performance. And that's something that's very freeing.” - Jordan Matthews “I just felt like the gospel was able to give me perspective. I don't serve a God who sat on a throne and didn't know what suffering was. He came down, and He did the work, and He suffered. If He can go through that for me, I can go through this for somebody else.” - Jordan Matthews ________________________ 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.

It is so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life that we take for granted the little miracles that come together to form our very existence. If we learn to train our minds to sort out God’s miracle moments from the mundane, we will learn to live from a posture of reverence and awe—making our faith walk more wondrous than we could’ve thought. Life coach Tim Storey is a miracle himself—raised in a low income family, Tim relied on his understanding of God from a young age, and it led him to become a leader among some of Hollywood’s most successful names. Now, Tim seeks to point others to God by unifying them through universal principles straight out of the Bible, bringing healing where there was once hurt. Pianist Gordon Mote was born blind, but he was also born with immense musical talent, which took him to Nashville where he eventually became a first call studio keyboardist--performing on albums for the biggest names in country music. After 9/11, Gordon prayed deeply for one thing: to make a difference in the world. Each of us has the potential to be a miracle to someone else and to appreciate the miracles in the world around us—if only we ask God to let us see ourselves and His creation through His eyes. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Sarah Young Jesus Calling 40 Days of Jesus Always Christianbook.com Jesus Calling® for Easter Past interview: Joyce and John Smith Upcoming interview: Michael Jr. Tim Storey Pastor Ron Prinzing Jack Lemmon Walter Matthau Vidal Sassoon Lee Iacocca James Caan Charlton Heston Miracle Mentality Gordon Mote Alan Jackson Brad Paisley Blake Shelton Martina McBride Carrie Underwood Alabama School for the Blind Pig Robbins Country Music Hall of Fame “Amazing Grace” “Grace Became Amazing” LOVE LOVE LOVE Interview Quotes: “I take time to really look at things through the eyes of faith on a daily basis.” - Tim Storey ”I believe that grace fills in the gaps.” - Tim Storey “A lot of people say, ‘I used to be into faith, but I feel let down,’ or ‘Religion has become big business,’ and that's my opportunity to really talk more about Christ as the friend and Christ as the One who understands and Christ as the humanitarian.” - Tim Storey “If you have sadness, He came to bring you joy. If you have dead things, He wants to exchange your ashes for beauty.” - Tim Storey “No matter what you've been through, God is still there for you. God will still guide you, guard you, govern you.” - Tim Storey “God is a miracle working God, that's part of what He does.” - Tim Storey “We are walking miracles, even in our limitations, our setbacks, our frailties, our faults, our failures.” - Tim Storey “If we could comprehend—which we can't—what it must be like for Jesus to have that kind of mercy and grace for us and then to look down on this earth He created and see how we treat each other...I just feel like we need to love and do our very best to love because He first loved us.” - Gordon Mote ________________________ 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.

Though times of pain and difficulty are hard to weather, they are often the seasons of life that bring the greatest spiritual reward, because it is often when we are desperate for healing and relief that we cry out to God, and those are the times that we can see great improvement by clinging to Him. Throughout her marriage, author and speaker Karen Ehman has been surprised by the difference in expectations and reality, and she’s learned that by looking for God in the little moments and continuing to show up in prayer, you can tackle any problem with your spouse. Kristina Kotlus had laid out a specific prayer to God: “Let me see you working.” She never imagined that her encounter with Him would come in the form of two cancer diagnoses, but she’s been amazed at how God took that opportunity to show her just what He was capable of. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Past interview: Dawn Barton Upcoming interview: Tim Storey Karen Ehman Proverbs 31 Ministries Make Their Day https://www.karenehman.com Keep Showing Up Kristina Kotlus I Quit: Facing Cancer with Faith, Family, & Friends College of the Holy Cross George Mason Philippians 4:7 kristinakotlus.com Interview Quotes: “It brings this little level of excitement when you watch God work while you two are forming a team and working together.” - Karen Ehman “So often the way that we show love is not the way our spouse receives love.” - Karen Ehman “I think that's just a real crucial way that we can keep showing up is to use our words to speak to God about our marriages and to speak to God about our own behavior.” - Karen Ehman “I can look back in my life and see those exact difficulties, those problems, those pains, they were kind of the fertilizer for my faith. They’re when my faith grew the most.” - Karen Ehman “It really wasn't until I was diagnosed that I really understood an actual really scary thing, and I actually saw God's ability to step into that huge void where I couldn't carry the load and I couldn't change my circumstances—but He could.” - Kristina Kotlus, on her cancer diagnosis “I let myself have the emotions I was going to have, but I put a time limit on it. So I would literally set an egg timer or a timer on my cell phone and give myself fifteen minutes. I would have all of the negative thoughts. I would have all of the fears. I would just have them all and cry it out. And when my timer went off, I would literally out loud say, ‘Okay, you have been heard.’” - Kristina Kotlus “I don't think that God gave me cancer, I don't think that He shot down a lightning bolt from heaven and put the tumor inside of my head, but I do think that He used that experience as an answer to that prayer for me to see Him.” - Kristina Kotlus “I am choosing joy and I am deciding that I am going to go forward with confidence because I know my God has this.” - Kristina Kotlus ________________________ 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.

A beautiful element of Christianity is that when we allow ourselves to relax into the peace and grace that God offers, we experience true rest and healing that restores every part of our soul. Catholic recording artist Julie Carrick has seen God touch her life in the moments she was suffering the most—through infidelity, miscarriage, and cancer—and it’s led her to appreciate His unfailing grace and perfect love, which meets her in all of her brokenness and boosts her with the strength to carry on. Physician and author Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith is an expert on rest in all of its forms, and knows how crucial it is that we give ourselves the type of rest our bodies, minds, and souls truly need. Because it is only when we are well-rested and energized that we can dedicate the best of ourselves to Christ—even the King rested on the 7th day. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Past interview: Jana Kramer & Mike Caussin Upcoming interview: Karen Ehman Julie Carrick Carrick Ministries Foundation Unfailing Grace Grotto JulieCarrick.com Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith Good Housekeeping Doctors’ Secrets Sacred Rest: Recover Your Life, Renew Your Energy, Restore Your Sanity John 10:10 http://www.drdaltonsmith.com/ Interview Quotes: “God's unfailing grace. No matter what we go through, that grace is there.” - Julie Carrick “The scripture—although it was written thousands of years ago—it wasn't written just for a thousand years ago. It was written timelessly. There is no beginning. There's no end. It was written for us today as much as it was back in the day.” - Julie Carrick “We're in a position where we are working out of our exhaustion rather than working out of the fullness of all that we have to give. We're not fully being able to use our gifts and our talents and all that God's placed inside of us because we are always working out of that place of depletion.” - Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith “To give of our best, we have to be able to take the time to intentionally rest well.” - Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith “I always like to meditate on a characteristic of God or even a word that brings you back to think about who God is in your life. Peace, love, joy. Pick a word, a phrase that you will focus on as a way of calming your mind and keeping it from being able to just jump to whatever thought that it decides it wants to.” - Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith “I believe every one of us needs to have those people in our lives, whether it's a counselor or a therapist or a trusted friend, a family member, someone who knows at the very core of what's going on with you.” - Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith “We need to see the value in spending time with those people who can pour back into us. We can't always be the ones pouring out into others.” - Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith “Spiritual rest is the rest we experience when we have intimacy with God, when we take time to break away just to be with Him where we're not coming with our agenda. We're not coming with our prayer list. We're coming simply to just spend time in His presence and to enjoy being with Him.” - Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith “God's best for us is where we actually go back to the very beginning and we do it as He has modeled even from the very beginning of creation.” - Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith ________________________ 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.

Think of a time when you were able to spread a little sunshine to others. What kind of happiness and fullness did that bring you? God calls us to be conduits of His joy, peace, and healing, but we can only do that once we develop our faith muscle enough to leave the stresses and pressures of the world and step into His calling for us. Artist and writer Ruth Chou Simons always had a love for art, but felt pushed into places the world deems more practical. Creativity and beauty continued to find its way into her life through cracks and crevices, and after Ruth became a mom, she started a blog, Grace Laced, as a way to muse on the way God’s faithfulness was showing up in the everyday, and it led to an artistic career that brought her fulfillment beyond her wildest dreams. Life coach and author Jess Connolly has made it her personal mission to help people discover what their God-given gifts are, because it’s not about what we can do with our lives, but who we can serve through our actions. Jess has learned over the years that on our own, we could never be enough, but by His grace, we are. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Always Jesus Calling Past interview: Jaci Velasquez Upcoming interview: Julie Carrick Ruth Chou Simons Grace Laced GraceLaced Beholding and Becoming:The Art of Everyday Worship Grace Laced Shop Jess Connolly You Are the Girl for the Job Bright City Church Go and Tell Gals 1 Peter 2:9 Interview Quotes: “I thought my worth was so tied to what I could accomplish. And long story short, the Lord really did get a hold of me, and God in His kindness showed me that nothing I had to bring to the table, no matter how hard I tried, no matter what college I went, to what degree I graduated with, what job I landed, none of those things could earn me to favor with God.” - Ruth Chou Simons “Those are truly just seasons that come about where God really breaks you of things that you think can save yourself. And He shows you what true salvation is.” - Ruth Chou Simons “I was simply writing to faithfully document and see how God's faith, God's favor, and His grace intersects everyday life, even when life wasn't turning out the way I expected it to.” - Ruth Chou Simons “I think anything, any dream you have, anything you want to do successfully in a big way, you need to do faithfully in a small way.” - Ruth Chou Simons “There are lots of things we want to be in the presence of. And we forget that we were made to be in the presence of our Savior.” - Ruth Chou Simons “Fullness of joy comes through Christ and through our knowing Him.” - Ruth Chou Simons “We get to be rooted in the good news that though we are not enough, God is.” - Jess Connolly “One of the best ways we can fight fear is saying true things about God.” - Jess Connolly “I have learned that part of the beauty of prayer is that when I pray for certain things, for God to move in certain ways, I begin to look for and see the fruit of those things. And so I'm really praying to see His power and to see His presence and to see His peace manifested in people.” - Jess Connolly ________________________ 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.

In each of our lives, there will come a time that we face a season of hardship, of difficulty, even true suffering. But no matter how awful things may seem to be, God is right there to help carry you when you can’t walk on your own. Ministry leaders and authors Ruth & Patrick Schwenk went through a ten-year period in which they had nine pregnancies—five of which sadly ended in miscarriage. After having four healthy children and relocating to Ann Arbor, Michigan to launch a new church, Patrick was suddenly diagnosed with a rare blood cancer, and it sent their family into a tailspin once again. Clinging to God, the Schwenks found a way to cope and survive, trusting in the strength of Jesus to get them through. Former Army Captain Harold Earls and his wife Rachel know all about sacrifice—from a national perspective to a personal one. Early in their marriage, Harold felt called to climb Mt. Everest in support of veteran PTSD and suicide awareness, and in doing so, it terrified Rachel that she’d lose her husband before they could ever start a life together. By turning to God as reassurance that everything would be okay, they made it through the tumultuous climb. Then, as a guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington, Virginia, Harold began a new mission each day of honoring the men and women who gave their all for their country and relied on his devotional ritual to help keep his mind on God’s purpose for his life. For each couple, looking to Jesus to help them through their toughest struggles helped them realize that God can bring forth good from pain and from sacrifice—and He can give you the strength to help you through the worst of it. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling devotional Past interview: Jonathan Pitts Upcoming interview: Ruth Chou Simons Ruth & Patrick Schwenk John 3:30 Moody Bible Institute Psalm 9:10 1 Peter, 1:3-4 In a Boat in the Middle of a Lake: Trusting the God Who Meets Us in Our Storm Harold & Rachel Earls Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Earls Family Vlogs Earls Fam Foundation Florida State University West Point Mount Everest Veteran suicide statistics Arlington National Cemetery A Higher Calling Interview Quotes: “I had to give up everything that I had been and I had to follow Him with my whole heart.” - Ruth Schwenk “I feel like God used that suffering and that uncertainty and that fear to really deepen my faith because I had a choice. I could either trust Him or I couldn't. And there was literally no earthly thing that I could do to change my situation.” - Ruth Schwenk “There are so many ways that chaos and pain and suffering and loss can be places of great anxiety, but they also can be places of great abundance where God is beginning to do something new and something powerful.” - Patrick Schwenk “We believe that God hears our prayers. He loves us. He desires to take care of us just as His child. He desires to take care of us just like we as a mom or a dad desire to take care of our own child.” - Ruth Schwenk “I am grateful and it helps me to see the good around me and all the blessings that God has just given me, which really carries me through those hard moments.” - Rachel Earls “Everything that makes me proud to be an American, I would see on a daily basis [at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier]. And so for me to have the opportunity to serve there with an extraordinary group of young men and women honestly has been a highlight of my life so far and something that I am thankful for.” - Harold Earls “This country, although we have our flaws, our flaws are still worth fighting for.” - Harold Earls “Men and women that were so brave, that we don't even know who they are, made those sacrifices for you and I, so that we could have the religious freedoms that we have so that we can worship the God that we worship, so we can go to church on Sunday and say Jesus in public.” - Harold Earls ________________________ 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.

God has blessed each of us with a special gift, a talent, a unique way that we can spread His Word in the world. Our gifts are given to us for a reason—no one else can do what we do. It is the way we were formed, and it’s why it’s so crucial that we learn to hone into God’s voice and what He’s calling us to do, lest the world suffer from the lack of our obedience. Former Bachelor star and founder of Generous Coffee, Ben Higgins, had a moment in his childhood that made him realize that people’s stories are more complex than he ever thought possible, and that pain and suffering are interwoven with joy. After Ben’s following boomed from the publicity that being on national television brought, he realized he had an opportunity to use his platform for good, for change in the lives of those who desperately need it. That’s when he founded Generous Coffee, seeking to fulfill a purpose greater than himself and connecting with stories that truly mean something to us as humans. Author and speaker John Bevere had an encounter with God in 1991, when God told him to write. John laughed at God, thinking he was surely mistaken and calling on the wrong follower. After several nudgings, John gave in, and now his books are being used to build Christ’s kingdom worldwide. These two men show that when we harness our God-given abilities and surrender to His callings, lives and hearts can be changed, and we can have an impact greater than we ever thought possible. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling devotional Jesus Calling for Armed Forces edition JesusCalling.com Past interview: Cynthia Garrett Upcoming interview: Patrick and Ruth Schwenk Ben Higgins ABC’s The Bachelor - 20th season Generous Coffee Alone in Plain Sight Humanity Hope United generousmovement.com John Bevere Messenger International X: Multiply Your God Given Potential 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV COVID Colossians 3:23-24 NIV 1 Peter 4:10 NIV 2 Timothy 1:6-7 NIV messengerinternational.org Interview Quotes: “I think the scariest thing that we could have in our life is experiencing pain and feeling alone in that pain. I don't know a scarier feeling than feeling alone.” - Ben Higgins “What if pain is the connector? What if pain is the thing that we can look at each other and feel less alone? And what if pain is the place that we not only grasp for God, but that God enters into our pain?” - Ben Higgins “I want to share empathy. I want to hear your story. I don't want to argue with you. I want to understand more than be understood.” - Ben Higgins “The more I become vulnerable, the more I let people understand who I am, the more that I also believe that I want to understand who others are.” - Ben Higgins “The callings on our lives are beyond our natural abilities.” - John Bevere “Being faithful means multiply, even if you're working for somebody else. If you're a line worker at the factory, if you're a janitor, you multiply where God has placed you. Be faithful, believe for the supernatural gifting to multiply, to shine as a light in that arena.” - John Bevere “God has called us to take what is uniquely gifted in us and multiply it to impact many. If you look at God's first commandment, it was be fruitful and multiply.” - John Bevere “That gift on your life is not for you. It's for the people that in your world of influence that God is sending you to. So if you don't operate in your gift, then the people in your world of influence don't get what God intended them to get.” - John Bevere Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

God calls us to two highly important responsibilities: to love our Him with all of our being, and to treat our neighbors as we would want to be treated. By doing so, we can help turn our world into a better place, and appreciate the beauty of God’s creation. Travel expert Rick Steves has seen, tasted, and experienced many different cultures, and of all the memories he’s made and souvenirs he’s collected, he believes none are as important as the broadened perspective his adventures have helped him gain. Rick’s faith has deepened after seeing how God works in various cultures of humanity, and worshipping with different people has helped him see the true value of different communities and faith traditions. Thomas Morstead, a punter for the NFL’s New Orleans Saints, applied a mantra early on in life that no matter what, he would always give things his best shot, and leave the rest up to God. Following that principle has led Thomas to major success in the NFL, and has helped him use his influence to impact lives through his What You Give Will Grow Foundation. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Past interview: Joanne Rogers Upcoming interview: Ben Higgins Rick Steves Rick's public television program San Juan Islands Guatemala RickSteves.com Thomas Morstead What You Give Will Grow Foundation Super Bowl XLIV Coach Payton What You Give Will Grow American Cancer Society American Heart Association Good Friday The Middle School Rules of Thomas Morstead Interview Quotes: “I think it carbonates your whole world when you get out there and you realize, Wow, different people find different truths to be self-evident and God-given. It makes you less fearful. It's a beautiful thing. “ - Rick Steves “We're a great country, but we're four percent of this planet, and there's ninety-six percent of humanity out there. And it really makes sense to get to know the rest of the world.” - Rick Steves “I love to meet other people of faith. And I love to share my faith with people who have no faith. Very fundamentally, we are children trying to figure out our relationship with God and trying to get close to our Heavenly Father.” - Rick Steves “But once in a while, it's good for me to get out there and worship with people who don't have the same hymnal, who don't have the same accent, who don't have the same blonde hair. It's exciting. And it's a beautiful thing. It's a celebration. I would imagine God likes to see that, too.” - Rick Steves ”For me, the most beautiful souvenir is bringing home a broader perspective.” - Rick Steves “Travel helps you appreciate how many people over how many centuries with how many styles of faith have praised God. We have a deep seated need to just to have quiet time to be with our creator, with our Heavenly Father.” - Rick Steves “I've always attacked things and tried to do the best I can at whatever I'm doing, and that's just opened up other opportunities that you didn't even know would be out there.” - Thomas Morstead “Accountability always, always rests on yourself and not on anybody else. And so I think when you start to live your life that way, it's a very quick way to get to some arbitrary thing called happiness when your life isn't dictated by others.” - Thomas Morstead “I just think if you're surrounded by negativity all the time, you're going to be negative. And if you're surrounded by positivity, you're going to be positive. And so I think everyone should guard their heart.” - Thomas Morstead ________________________ 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.

Have you ever wished you’d made a different choice? Or imagined how different your life might have been if you’d taken a different path? No matter how bleak things might have been at one point, God can take your story and use it for good, and He can point you on the right path to healing. Nurse and author Tana Amen experienced more pain and chaos in her life than one person should ever have to face. She shoved all of the hurt deep down inside, building a façade to convince others she was okay, when she actually was about to crack. When she met her future husband, Dr. Daniel Amen, Tana learned some ways to heal herself and was loved so well by Daniel (and by God) that she began to find the restoration she so desperately needed. It was in that time that she realized God cares way more about where you’re going than where you’ve been. Cheryl Parks, Mila Brown, and Corday Rice join us from the Jobs Partnership organization in Peoria, Illinois, which seeks to help people transition from a life of incarceration back into society as healthy, healed individuals. These women share how they’ve seen the power of God operating in their lives, and how He rescued them from situations where they couldn’t escape of their own power. Now, they’re passionate about sharing about their pasts in hopes that they can change the lives of others the way they’ve been changed by God. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling book Sarah Young Jesus Always book Jesus Calling for First Responders editions Past interview: Dr. Daniel Amen Past interview: Rebecca Bender Upcoming interview: Rick Steves Tana Amen Dr. Daniel Amen Amen Clinics Leave It to Beaver Thyroid cancer 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 EMDR Jobs Partnership organization Cheryl Parks Jobs Partnership Reentry Interview Quotes: “If I only took fifty percent responsibility, it meant someone or something else had the other fifty percent. It meant I wasn't really in control. It wasn't me just relying on God. It was like me giving up control and being a victim.” - Tana Amen “What I learned is that when I put myself out there and helped when I didn't want to, I just had no idea how much the help was for them, but the healing was for me.” - Tana Amen “I think it's important to draw boundaries, but also understand when God's calling you to do something.” - Tana Amen “God cares less about where you've been than where you're going. And I'm so grateful for that grace and that mercy.” - Tana Amen “I feel like my life is so much better today not in spite of my struggles, but because of them.” - Tana Amen “Meditation is when I listen to God and I listen for what He's saying to me. And prayer is when I'm talking to God and I tell Him my joy, my frustration, everything that there is, and I get it out of my head and it just really stills my soul and it's so helpful.” - Tana Amen “If my story can help anybody, one person, I've done what I needed to do.” - Mila Brown “The whole time that I was incarcerated, in my mind, I'm like, God, where am I going to go? I know no one. I have nobody. I have no family, no friends. No one has reached out to me for the four and a half years that I have been incarcerated. What am I going to do?” - Corday Rice “People say that change is scary, but change is good.” - Corday Rice “It was good to have women just look at me and just say that, “I love you.” And they didn't even know me. So I knew right then and there that that could only be the love of God that's working through them in the Jobs Partnership program.” - Corday Rice “I feel like God knew that I didn't have the strength to get out of the situation that I was in, so He forced my hand.” - Mila Brown ________________________ 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.

We live in a world where achievement is largely used as a motivator, and much of our time is spent consumed, looking for the next win—whether it be personally or professionally. It would benefit each of us to remember that in the long term, the ultimate win for us is establishing a relationship with Christ. Tony Dungy, the first African-American head coach to win an NFL Super Bowl, learned from mentors early on in his career that football wasn’t all that mattered—what mattered was the kind of man he was and the kind of men he shaped. A trailblazer, Dungy found a way to coach that aligned with his Christian values, showing the world that you can hold strong to your beliefs and find value in who Christ says you are, rather than who the world wants you to be. NFL linebacker and author Sam Acho grew up in a faith-based home, forming a relationship with God early on. But as he got more integrated in his career, Sam began to separate from his foundational values, and he suffered an identity crisis—he looked happy on the outside, but he didn’t feel it on the inside. It wasn’t until he went through a reckoning of sorts that Sam realized God believed he was worth getting to know, and when he started placing value on what really matters, things started to turn around. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Jesus Calling Podcast Winter 2021 Jesus Calling Magazine JesusCalling.com/magazine Jesus Calling for First Responders editions Past interviews: Lolo Jones and Evander Holyfield Upcoming interview: Tana Amen Coach Tony Dungy All Pro Dad National Football League NBC’s Football Night in America Sunday Night Football Matthew 16:26 University of Minnesota Steelers Chuck Noll Tampa Bay Buccaneers Spelman College Super Bowl LII Sam Acho Let the World See You Dallas Theological Seminary Living Hope Bible Fellowship Church Reggie Bush Matt Leinart Pete Carroll Rivals Brian Orakpo Chris Ogbonnaya Emmanuel Acho Hebrews 11:1 Interview Quotes: “Welcome to the National Football League. You're now getting paid to play football, so that makes it your profession. But please, please don't make football your whole life.” - Chuck Noll, to Tony Dungy “I made a decision I was going to be different. And not everybody was ready for that.” - Tony Dungy “You can honor the Lord and you can be openly expressive about your faith and still be excellent.” - Tony Dungy “God takes you through things and you grow from them and then you look back and say, ‘Oh, that wasn't that big a deal.’ But at the time, it was monumental. God is giving you little trials to get you through, but you're going to keep your focus on Him.” - Tony Dungy “Christ is so much a part of my life that if I can just help steer someone else, anyone towards Jesus, it's very important. Truth always wins. And we can't be afraid of sharing the truth.” - Tony Dungy “We were created for relationship, we were created to love.” - Sam Acho “You are worth getting to know. Your pains, your joys, your fears, your hurts, all of you. You're worth getting to know. Why? Because you're already fully seen, fully known and fully loved by Jesus.” - Sam Acho ________________________ 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.

Can you remember a moment when God washed your slate clean, and gave you the opportunity to start over? Think about the impact of second chances in your life—where would you be if it weren’t for His endless grace? South African farmer and evangelist Angus Buchan knows firsthand how much courage it takes to fall to your knees and say, “Help me, God.” Ever since he made the radical life change to Christianity, Angus has faced his fair share of heartache, including working himself to the bone on his farm, facing devastating fires, and coping with the tragic loss of his nephew. But even in hardship, Angus has experienced miracles that have infused him with a passion to share the Word of God all over Africa, lighting up the world with his energy and enthusiasm. Pie shop owner Tara Royer Steele grew up working hard in her family’s business, but all the focus on the business left her longing for affirmation of who she was—not just what she could do. After years in an abusive marriage, she was ready to give up, but felt God pushing her towards something better, assuring her that He would be enough for her. Tara found the courage to start over, ultimately leading her to reach her dream of creating a haven for people to connect at a warm, friendly place over slices of pie. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling book Jesus Calling for First Responders editions Angus Buchan Faith Like Potatoes KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa 2 Corinthians 5:17 2 Corinthians 9:8 Shalom Ministries Mighty Men conferences Randy Travis Tara Royer Steele Royer's Pie Haven Match.com Fruit of the Spirit Jesus Calling for Kids Eat. Pie. Love. Interview Quotes: “I knew in my heart that Jesus Christ was now the general manager of my life, my farm, my family.” - Angus Buchan “Look, I've had some tragedies, as you probably know, like all of us, but miracles have taken place. Nobody will ever persuade me that Jesus Christ is not alive and the Son of God, never.” - Angus Buchan “I had joy, I had peace, and I was ready for whatever God told me to do.” - Angus Buchan “We are going to flood this beloved country of South Africa. We're going to preach the undiluted gospel of Jesus Christ, that that is what I'm praying for right at this very moment.” - Angus Buchan “The cafe became a relational restaurant, and people that walked to the door felt safe and welcomed and loved and seen.” - Tara Royer Steele “There is no way that I would be sitting here right now if God hadn't protected and provided through that whole season.” - Tara Royer Steele, on working in her family business “God had to grab me and say, “Listen, this is your last chance. I love you. I see you. I am enough for you.” - Tara Royer Steele “Someone asked me, ‘What's your business plan?’ I was like, ‘Well, God's my business plan.’” - Tara Royer Steele “It's so easy for us in a world now where we quickly react and we don't step back and truly savor the moments that we have and these opportunities that we have to meet people exactly where they are and be the hands and feet of Jesus.” - Tara Royer Steele ________________________ 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.

No matter the trials that come your way, no matter how far gone you think you are, you are never alone in your suffering. God is beside you every step of the way, ready to rescue you when you reach for His hand. Professional skateboarder Ryan Sheckler was thrust into fame at the tender age of thirteen. Caught up in his wild success and a partying lifestyle, by the time he was eighteen Ryan started spiraling hard into alcoholism. And years later, when he finally checked into rehab, Ryan finally learned God had a bigger purpose for his life. Growing up in the Netherlands, pastor Henriët Schapelhouman always had open conversations with God. And as an adult, she knew that He placed her adopted son, Harrison, into her life for a reason. But when Harrison began to suffer from a drug addiction, Henriet questioned why God would let her family go through such a difficult trial. Henriët continued to pray faithfully, believing that God would rescue her son from those deadly grips—and after Harrison had a brush with death, she cried tears of joy when she watched her son leave his dark days behind him. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling book Jesus Calling editions for First Responders ChristianBook.com Past interview: The Next Door addiction treatment center Upcoming interview: Angus Buchan Ryan Sheckler The Life of Ryan Michael Phelps Make-A-Wish Foundation Sheckler Foundation Henriët Schapelhouman True Hope Community Church Mennonite Brethren Church Free Methodist church The Story Lives: Leading a Missional Revolution henrietschapelhouman.com Interview Quotes: “The huge step for me was admitting that I was powerless and I couldn't do it without Him. I could not do anything else without Him.” - Ryan Sheckler “It's not lame to be vulnerable. It's not bad to tell people how you're thinking or to really express emotion, or to cry. That's what we're supposed to do.” - Ryan Sheckler “None of us are alone in this world. We're not alone. And we're supposed to go through pain to be able to teach this lesson.” - Ryan Sheckler “Everyone's going to go through pain. We all go through pain. For me, pain is my teacher, my biggest teacher.” - Ryan Sheckler “I'm a firm believer that the road home needs to stay open, just like the father of the prodigal son stood waiting for his son to return.” - Henriët Schapelhouman “People thought it was enabling, but I was a firm believer that my job was to hang on to God and hang on to Harrison, that I basically was between them because Harrison wasn't connecting with God. So I felt like I was the conduit. And that was my job.” - Henriët Schapelhouman “Without Jesus, I would not be standing. I mean, first and foremost, you need Jesus. And if you don't know Jesus, it's a great time to reach out to Him or at least reach out to someone who knows Him.” - Henriët Schapelhouman ________________________ 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.

Gifts come in all shapes and sizes, but there’s nothing greater than the gift of love, no matter its wrapping. As award-winning worship artist Chris Tomlin looked forward to welcoming his newest daughter in December, he was reminded of the miracle of Christ’s birth, and how Jesus was the greatest gift we could ever receive. Tom and Pam Banwart have been spreading love in a variety of ways in their Florida community since the start of COVID-19. Through acts of service and kindness like bagel deliveries, active prayer outside hospitals, and sharing worship music, the Banwarts are suiting up and showing up for our frontline responders and demonstrating a consistent, Christ-like love to those fighting every single day. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Always Jesus Calling Sarah Young Past interview: RaeLynn Upcoming interview: Ryan Sheckler Chris Tomlin Scripture: Birth of Jesus Virtual Event - Christmas Songs of Worship: ChrisTomlin.com New album: Miracle of Love: Christmas Songs of Worship Tom & Pam Banwart COVID-19 Pandemic Interview Quotes: “When I come to try to write songs, I'm always thinking, I want to write songs that bring worship to God, the reason that we have Christmas.” - Chris Tomlin “Can you imagine what Mary must have felt when the angels came to Joseph and Mary in the tree and said, ‘Oh, by the way, you're about to have a baby and it’s going to be the Son of God.’” - Chris Tomlin “I sat down and I thought, Here's a moment to write a song that's really personal to me, [because] my Christmas baby is coming, but [it] also has a parallel of Jesus coming at Christmas as well.” - Chris Tomlin “Jesus is the greatest miracle that's ever happened to the world.” - Chris Tomlin "When COVID-19 hit, we didn't know what to do, we were afraid. The thought that just kept coming to me was, What a wonderful opportunity for us as Christians, that God gave us this chance to fight the spiritual battle." - Tom Banwart “The best thing for me in my life has been the consistency of Christ. And He has consistently been there, no matter what I'd done, where I'd been or anything. He's been there, and they need to know that they had that, too.” - Tom Banwart, on praying for first responders and patients outside their local hospital ________________________ 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.

Trying to follow God’s direction for our lives can feel a little intimidating. Are we sure we’re doing what He wants us to do? Are we on the path He’s charted out for us? Carlos Whittaker had built a successful and passion-filled career as a worship leader, so when he felt God’s nudge to go in a different direction, he took the plunge—only to be met with confusion and a bank account that was rapidly draining. But Carlos didn’t waver from his calling, and he was given a huge opportunity that changed the trajectory of his entire life. Pastor Sheryl Brady serves at a campus of Potter’s House in Dallas, TX, sharing God’s hope and goodness with the community. But when Pastor Brady experienced a dark season of loss, she struggled to share the message that once came with ease, and began to grow distant from God. But as she held onto the truth she knew deep down—that God loved her and she loved Him—Pastor Brady found the strength to be open and honest about her pain, and it led her to immense healing. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling book Sarah Young Parable.com Recommended interview: John Maxwell Upcoming interview: Chris Tomlin Carlos Whittaker New Book: Enter Wild Colón, Panama LAX L.A. Community College Monterrey, Mexico First Bilingual Baptist Church Integrity Music Hillsong United John Mark McMillan Jeremy Camp The Newsboys My Utmost for His Highest Elevation Church North Point Community Church Cross Point Church WhiteHouse.gov Song: ”What Can Wash Away My Sins? Nothing But the Blood of Jesus” John 10:10 Compassion International Sheryl Brady New Book: Don't Miss the Moment Potter’s House Bishop T.D. Jakes Romans 8:38 Interview Quotes: “I prayed about it one day, and I felt very clearly the Lord telling me, ‘They're right, you are supposed to be a speaker and an author next. That is the next thing I have for you.’” - Carlos Whittaker “It doesn't matter how long you're in the wilderness. If the Lord has promised you something, He will come through with it.” - Carlos Whittaker “When the Lord tells you to do something scary, I promise you the risk is worth it.” - Carlos Whittaker “We're not called to become Christians and wait for heaven. We actually are called to become Christians and bring heaven. And that potential and opportunity with the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives is available to us.” - Carlos Whittaker “Life to the full has nothing to do with the abundance of things and everything to do with accessing the King.” - Carlos Whittaker “We've got the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel, the helmet of salvation, the shield of faith in the sword of the Spirit. And all of these things will allow us to be strong, not in our might, but in the strength of God.” - Carlos Whittaker “I feel like so many times we underestimate and we undervalue the moments that God has given us. Moments are small enough to be missed, and yet there they are big enough that one minute can change your life forever.” - Sheryl Brady “I realized that God is sovereign and I can't make Him do anything. But I also realized that if I would let Him, He would walk me through the decisions He makes that I don't understand.” - Sheryl Brady “If you're grieving and you feel isolated and you feel like it's easier to isolate yourself, it might be easier to isolate yourself, but don't do it because somebody around you has what you need to help you get through this moment.” - Sheryl Brady _______________________ 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.

We all struggle with insecurities and feeling like we aren’t enough. But we serve a God who loves us regardless of how much we love ourselves. And He can still use us, even when we don’t feel equipped. Mike Weaver, lead singer of the Dove-Award winning group Big Daddy Weave, lived much of his life from a place of low self-esteem, always comparing himself to others and wishing he looked different. But he had a special and unexpected moment with God when he realized that God doesn’t just love him—He likes him, too. That realization helped Mike begin to appreciate himself and his own special gifts, refreshing his perspective and perception of God. Dr. James Merritt, pastor of Cross Pointe Church in Atlanta, knows that more than anything, our character counts, even more than what others might think about us. He shares how we can cultivate strong character, and why standing for what we believe in holds a greater reward than getting approval from someone else. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling iPhone app Jesus Calling book Sarah Young Parable.com Past interview: Chelsea Crockett Upcoming interview: Sheryl Brady Mike Weaver I Am Redeemed book by Mike Weaver Big Daddy Weave “Redeemed” song University of Mobile Jeremy Redmon COVID-19 James 4:8, Jeremiah 29:12 Dr. James Merritt Character Still Counts book by Dr. James Merritt Cross Pointe Church Touching Lives Dwight L. Moody Billy Graham Interview Quotes: “I just never felt like I belonged in front of people. However, worship would give me an opportunity to disappear and still do what I love.” - Mike Weaver “The way I thought other people were accepting me is how I was able to accept me. The way I thought other people were liking me is how I gave myself permission to like me.” - Mike Weaver "I was telling God this long list of things that I hated about myself, and then that still, small voice of the Holy Spirit interrupted: 'Michael, why don't you let Me tell you what I think about you for once?'" – Mike Weaver “Jesus came in and He bailed me out again. He did it again. He broke through for me. And He always is the hero of my story. And so I was just like, ‘God, how amazing that You can bring this [song] out of self-hatred. That's how great of a Redeemer You are.’” - Mike Weaver, on the success of his song, “Redeemed” “We have experienced Him in such incredible ways in that place of need, realizing, Jesus, we need You.” - Mike Weaver “When God looks at us, He's not looking at our mistakes. He is looking at what Jesus has done on our behalf and our identity. Our entire identity is rooted not in our imperfection, but the perfection of Jesus Christ applied to our life.” - Mike Weaver “At the end of the day, at the end of your life, character is everything.” - James Merritt “Character is not taught, it's caught. And the best teachers of character are parents.” - James Merritt “I think it all begins with saying, ‘You know what? Character is more important to me than my reputation. It really is the essence of who I am.’” - James Merritt “At the end of your life, it really won't matter what anybody thought about you. The only thing that will matter is what God knew about you.” - James Merritt ________________________ 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.

Have you ever experienced the pain of reaching the end of something you loved—a relationship, a job, a phase of life? Looking back, how was God able to lead you from that loss into a new chapter? Entrepreneur and author Zim Flores is familiar with the pain of letting go. A few years ago, she gave up her highly successful company, Travel Noire, because she felt God calling her to move to a new place. Looking back, Zim can see how God worked all things together for her good, which she talks about in her new book called Dare to Bloom. Mental health advocate Kayla Stoecklein experienced the tragic loss of her young husband to suicide, just as he was hitting his stride as the lead pastor of a large church in California. Reeling from her new life as a widow with three young boys, Kayla began to reexamine the way she thought about mental health, and God helped Kayla use her story to begin helpful and healing conversations around this issue. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling book Other Interview of Interest: Brett Swayn Upcoming interview: Mike Weaver of Big Daddy Weave Zim Flores New book: Dare to Bloom Travel Noire Biafran War Mayo Clinic Bangalore John 15 Kayla Stoecklein New book: Fear Gone Wild Vanguard University Inland Hills Church Godsgotthis.com National Suicide Prevention Interview Quotes: “I don't think that it should be something that is a rarity for women and men of God to talk about God in a way that inspires people to think a little bit differently about God in their own lives.” - Zim Flores “I would say that my time in India being away from everything that I knew, everybody that I knew, speaking a different language completely, that was where my faith in God was strengthened.” - Zim Flores “Your sacrifice unto God is not for naught. He will honor that sacrifice, whether it is tomorrow, whether it's next month, whether it's five months or a year from now. God always makes good on His promises.” - Zim Flores “I am an open vessel. I think the best thing that we can be for God is available.” - Zim Flores “I believed with enough prayer that God would intervene, that God would save [Andrew]. I was willing to do whatever it took to beg God for that miracle, and we didn't get that miracle.” - Kayla Stoecklein “Oftentimes there's so much shame and stigma with that word suicide. I think oftentimes the family that's left in the shrapnel is afraid to say that word, is afraid to admit that it was a suicide and tries to hide it up or tries to cover it or thinks it's their fault. And I knew right away that it wasn't anybody's fault.” - Kayla Stoecklein “God was on the move and He handed me this microphone, and I couldn't look away. And so I kept sharing and I really, truly felt the presence of God like I had never felt in my entire life.” - Kayla Stoecklein “We serve a God that can squeeze so much purpose out of our pain and that can turn really horrible, horrific, ugly things into beautiful redemption stories for others.” - Kayla Stoecklein ________________________ 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.

Many of us can think back on a moment—or many moments—that defined our lives for better or worse. But when we’re actually in that moment, it’s hard to see how it could potentially shape who we are down the road. It’s not usually until later that we can look back and see how God was working everything together for good. Academy Award-winning actor Matthew McConaughey recently pulled out thirty-six years of his journals, prepared to be ashamed and embarrassed by their contents. But when he flipped through the pages, he realized there was a through-line of beautiful moments, lessons, and experiences that all contributed to the man he is today. Author and speaker Rebecca Alonzo’s childhood was tainted by a member of her parents’ church who terrorized their family, ultimately leading to the tragic death of her mother and father. After years of wrestling with God, and being unable to see how He is good, Rebecca realized that she needed Him more than she needed to be mad at Him, and her anger dissolved into forgiveness, mapping out a new course for her future. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Free sample of Jesus Calling: Note-Taking Edition Jesus Calling book Past interview: Rebecca Bender and Patti Callahan Upcoming interview: Zim Flores Matthew McConaughey Greenlights book Just Keep Livin Foundation University of Texas at Austin Rebecca Alonzo The Devil in Pew Number Seven book rebeccaalonzo.com Ephesians 4:31 Romans 8:28 John 15:12 Interview Quotes: “I did go through an, ‘Okay, I need to figure out what matters and what doesn't’, because over one weekend my life changed so much.” - Matthew McConaughey, on the smash success of his film A Time to Kill “My family, one of the best traits we have is resilience.” - Matthew McConaughey "We need to take time where we stop and do inventory. That's what church is for me now . . . That's, Let's go back to our last week, who we were in it. How did we do?" - Matthew McConaughey “The thing that really surprised me about writing is that I was writing about the exact same stuff, the same questions at fourteen is the same question that woke me up at 2:32 AM last night, it's essentially the same stuff. And going back and looking at [my younger self] and really diving into it has been extremely valuable my life.” - Matthew McConaughey, on keeping a journal for 36 years “I can see myself in them and hear how they got back on the right track when they were on the wrong track. So that feels really good to me.” - Matthew McConaughey, on participants in his "just keep livin'" Foundation for youth “Our hands are on the wheel, but God's laying out the highway.” - Matthew McConaughey “I didn’t know if I was going to wake up in my bed, or if I was going to wake up in heaven.” - Rebecca Alonzo, on living through harassment as a child by a fellow townsperson “When I lost my adoring father, oh, wow. It just spun me into two years of really being angry at God. And I said, ‘Lord, Mom, when she died, a man shot her and took her life. But when dad died, Lord, You took him.’” - Rebeca Alonzo “I need God more than I need to be mad at Him. I need Him more than I need to blame Him, I need His wisdom, I need His direction, I need His comfort.” - Rebecca Alonzo “It takes energy to hold on to anger.” - Rebecca Alonzo “He knows everything that we've been through. He knows every thought that we struggle with. He knows every pain that we carry in our hearts. And every time God kept His promise.” - Rebecca Alonzo ________________________ 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.

From time to time, life has a way of making us feel that everything is crumbling down around us. Problems can shake us, and even break us. But what will still be there when nothing else is left is family: whether it’s the family you’re born into or the family you choose. Growing up in a remote Mennonite community in northern Alberta, Canada, Brad and Curtis Rempel of the country music duo High Valley cultivated a rich passion for music and tight-knit family. As they try to put music into the world that draws families together, Brad and Curtis have come to realize where their priorities lie—and that’s with raising their kids. Super Bowl-winning quarterback Trent Dilfer knows the value of appreciating your family, particularly since he tragically lost his son Trevin at a young age. Keeping faith as the foundation for his life, Trent has repurposed his pain into passion, and started saying yes to where God wanted him to go, which led to the unlikely decision to coach high school football and mentor young athletes in Nashville, TN. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Always Jesus Calling Note-Taking Edition Jesus Calling book Past interview: Ron Hall Upcoming interview: Matthew McConaughey Brad and Curtis Rempel Ricky Skaggs Skaggs Family Records.com Trent Dilfer Super Bowl XXXV Lipscomb Academy Disneyland Philippians 4:6–7 Interview Quotes: “I've been a dad for almost seven years, and I'm still just trying to always pray that God will keep me humble, and if I want my kids to own their own mistakes, I’ve got to own mine.” - Curtis Rempel “We pray as a family all the time that God will work in our hearts, help us to be servants of each other, and be humble.” - Curtis Rempel ”You do all the things that you think are the right things to do, but God has this story that He's writing.” - Brad Rempel “God has this amazing way of just doing what He wants with what you've got.” - Brad Rempel “Football has this unique way of not just impacting the individual that's playing it, coaching it, but especially here in the south, it impacts communities.” - Trent Dilfer “I've been asked this question a million times about how my faith has impacted my life, and I can always give the same answer. It is my life. It's the foundation. It's the starting point for everything.” - Trent Dilfer “I still to this day can't understand how somebody can get through how hard life is without that peace that transcends understanding.” - Trent Dilfer “As these wounds were being opened, as I was dealing with some of this pain, again, it was bringing out a passion in me that I hadn't had in years—maybe more than I had ever had. That passion surfaced as thought leadership, has surfaced as capacity, has surfaced as energy, has surfaced as compassion.” - Trent Dilfer, on coaching high school football “Sometimes we stay in our pain because we think that's where we should live. And we'd feel guilty if that pain turns into something positive. I would just tell you from life experience that that pain repurposed into passion is an incredible, redemptive quality that only the Lord Jesus Christ can provide.” - Trent Dilfer ________________________ 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.

Can you remember praying for something with everything you had, but felt your pleas went unanswered? Maybe you’ve prayed a silent prayer, unable to find the words, and God moved everything into place better than you could’ve imagined. Regardless of how we perceive it or how we’ve experienced it, prayer is powerful, and it can change things—whether it’s your circumstances, or even you. Throughout his personal life and his forty-year ministry, Bishop T.D. Jakes has seen firsthand how the earth moves when women engage in prayer. And now that our world is facing battles on so many fronts, he urges everyone to pray both offensively and defensively, because it has the potential to change the world. Lieutenant Colonel Dan Rooney, a fighter pilot and PGA professional, considers himself a vessel of impact, noting that the only way he was able to achieve his goals was because God was on his side. By dedicating himself to 30 minutes of prayer a day, Lt. Col Rooney has learned how to engineer a life of fulfillment, noting that as a faith-based person, we often have to jump before we’re ready. Driven by his God-given purpose, Lt. Col Rooney’s organization Folds of Honor is assisting families of fallen and disabled veterans, showing that when we dedicate ourselves to the Lord, He will use you as an instrument for good. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling book Past interview: Charles Billingsley Upcoming interview: Trent Dilfer Episode sponsor: Operation Christmas Child Build a shoebox for a child online at Samaritan’s Purse.org/occ Bishop T.D. Jakes Potter's House T.D. Jakes Foundation T.D. Jakes Enterprises When Women Pray book Mother Teresa COVID-19 Lieutenant Colonel Dan Rooney Folds of Honor University of Kansas United States Air Force Eglin Air Force Base Luke Air Force Base Fly into the Wind book Interview Quotes: “This is a good time to amass women and challenge them to pray, because we are being attacked on so many fronts today: personally, nationally, medically, economically.” - T.D. Jakes “Every woman has to use prayer both as offense and defense.” - T.D. Jakes “Every choice you make follows a logical path. And it starts with, I won't do that. I can't do that. I'd like to. I'll try. I can. I will.” - Lt. Col. Dan Rooney “I dedicated myself to thirty minutes of daily prayer. And it was a life changing gift that the Air Force, probably above all else, gave me.” - Lt. Col. Dan Rooney “I would say the defiant thread of true greatness in faith-based people is you get to a place in your life and you’ve got to go before you're ready...This reckless faith that I've learned as a fighter pilot in an inherently very dangerous business is such a gift. Life is not a dress rehearsal.” - Lt. Col. Dan Rooney “He picks the least among us, but He picks the willing.” - Lt. Col. Dan Rooney _______________________ 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.

The greatest gift we can ever give—or receive—is love. It’s the only thing that multiples when we give it away, whether we’re showing that love to family and pets, friends and strangers. Michael and Zina Goodin of Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary share how they began to care for older dogs who often got overlooked, providing for them in such a way that brings out their best. Over the years, Michael and Zina have learned a few life lessons from their canine friends, which they share in their new book, Homecoming Tales. Orphan care advocate Beth Guckenberger of Back2Back Ministries is familiar with small beginnings—and if you ask her, she’ll tell you just how amazing it is that God was ever able to use her to create such a ministry. Through the miracles she’s seen, and the amazing children she’s met along the way, Beth has seen the value of stepping out in faith, and how God works all things together for good as we shower others with His love. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling book Past interview: Kristen Chenoweth and Joanne RogersUpcoming interview: Bishop TD Jakes Episode sponsor: Operation Christmas Child Build a shoebox for a child online at Samaritan’s Purse.org/occ Michael and Zina Goodin Book: Homecoming Tales Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary Middle Tennessee Golden Retriever Rescue Simon and Garfunkel song, “Old Friends” Michael and Zina’s feature in the October 2020 issue of Jesus Calling Magazine Beth Guckenberger Back2Back Ministries Young Life Zachariah 14 BRCA2 cancer BRCA2 positive Interview Quotes: “That's our goal: for as long as the dogs are with us, to keep them as happy and comfortable as we can.” - Michael Goodin “Because of Lucy-Lu's attitude, we realized that these senior dogs, no matter what terrible background they came from, could appreciate the rest of their life and leave the past behind them and have a good life.” - Zina Goodin “One of the greatest things about older dogs, especially when they have been in the shelters, when we bring them out of that shelter, they don't even remember the past. They just live in the day, and they get so happy.” - Michael Goodin “I had to try to understand what it looked like for God to be sovereign in stories that were hard.” - Beth Guckenberger “We knew that we were taking small steps, and this was a small beginning. We had no idea what was going ahead. But there was a lot of comfort in believing that God was just rejoicing in our obedience.” - Beth Guckenberger “Watching the power of love in the life of an adopted child and what it does to a child to feel known and loved and seen, it definitely birthed all the rest of the stories that happened in our family.” - Beth Guckenberger “This is exactly why we sow truth into our hearts, so that in a moment we most need it, It's right there at the ready for us. So for me, when I get big feelings like fear or anger or anything that can threaten to steal the peace that I have, I just remind myself of what's true.” - Beth Guckenberger “The faster we get to that space where we can trust God to be good and right, the less energy we spend fighting what He has for us.” - Beth Guckenberger ________________________ 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.

Have you ever felt pulled towards something, but you’re not sure what? Maybe God was nudging you to pursue the calling He has for you. Artist Anne Neilson, famous for her angel paintings, has felt those nudges all throughout her life, starting when she was a little girl and knew she was meant to be an artist. Now looking back, Anne can see God’s fingerprints all over her life, and how He shaped her art into a ministry beyond what she ever imagined, including the inspiration to write a new devotional called Anne Neilson’s Angels. Nikki Speer, founder of the nonprofit Redefined Courage, has watched many women in her family battle with breast cancer. When Nikki noticed that her mom—the woman she’d always seen as the most radiant in the room—no longer felt beautiful, she realized God was prompting her toward a new calling: to design clothing for women dealing with breast cancer that was not only comfortable and allowed them to heal, but also helped them feel confident in their fight. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith television show Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Devotional Jesus Calling Magazine Jesus Calling for Kids Past guest: Delilah Upcoming guest: Michael and Zina Goodin of Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary Episode sponsor: Operation Christmas Child Build a shoebox for a child online at Samaritan’s Purse.org/occ Anne Neilson Anne Nielson's Angels: Devotions and Art to Encourage, Refresh, and Inspire Steven Curtis Chapman Kathie Lee Gifford Nikki Speer Redefined Courage Breast cancer Lymphedema Interview Quotes: “There were times that I really questioned, Is this what God has called me to do?” - Anne Neilson “God has put these people in my path. He weaves us all together, and it's for a purpose that we might not even know.” - Anne Neilson “Words are powerful—the words that come out of our mouth, the words that are spoken to our friends, our children, our colleagues, our employees, to ourselves.“ - Anne Neilson “These angels do bring comfort and healing through the power and the presence of the Holy Spirit, through art. God is the master Artist. He is the master Creator.” - Anne Neilson “We were walking out of the mall, and I made the bold promise that I would design clothing for [my mom] so that she could feel beautiful.” - Nikki Speer “This is not a, ‘Man, I drew this sticky note, and this amazing thing was created.’ There were a lot of samples, and there was a lot of learning and growing and changing and mistakes, but a lot of God working.” - Nikki Speer “When I was growing up, my mom would tell me, ‘You should always leave a conversation knowing more about the other person than they know about you.’” - Nikki Speer “I have these What if? moments that well up inside of me. But in quietness and trust truly is my strength. And those What if? moments become my Even if... moments with God.” - Nikki Speer “I really do believe that if you are feeling right now--a nudge or a calling or prompting from God, that you should go for it. I have always said that it was in the obedience I found the blessing.” - Nikki Speer ________________________ 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.

In times of hurt, sometimes our first instinct is to distance ourselves from God, because it’s hard to understand why He’d allow us to suffer. But what we don’t always realize is that He is a God of restoration. And when we turn to Him to find peace, He can bring good out of our brokenness. GRAMMY award-winning rhymist and activist Lecrae Moore’s early years were spent in a broken, abused environment, creating emotional trauma he had to learn to unpack. Curious about who God was, and terrified he would be responsible for his own destiny, Lecrae looked to Christianity for purpose. But as he began to find healing, the religious community turned their back on him because his views were different than theirs. In response, Lecrae turned his back on God, seeking affirmation in all the wrong places. Lecrae began seeing a therapist and was diagnosed with depression, and as he worked through his trauma, his heart was softened—and restored—by Jesus. Christian music artist Jeremy Camp’s first wife, Melissa, tragically passed away from cancer at only 21 years old. But through his grief, Jeremy knew God was still good, and he continued to pursue faith in all that he did. Eventually, God led Jeremy to find his wife Adrienne, and now they continue to build their faith as a family. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling book Episode Sponsor: Samaritan’s Purse.org/occ Past interview: John and Stasi Eldredge Future interview: Anne Neilson Lecrae Moore “Cry for You” song Jeremiah 30:17 Restoration album I Am Restored book Psalm 23 Jeremy Camp Adrienne Camp “I Still Believe” song Psalm 34:18 Proverbs 3:5–6 I Still Believe movie Interview Quotes: “When you're neglected and abused, you can develop a massive sense of insecurity. And in order to deal with that insecurity, I performed because it was a way I could find affirmation.” - Lecrae Moore “I had a friend tell me, “Well, since you're an atheist, Lecrae, you know that there's no hope or belief in anything except yourself.” And I never forgot how petrified I was, because I could barely tie my shoe, and now I was in control of my destiny and purpose.” - Lecrae Moore “Even the toughest of people have a breaking point. I knew I had reached my breaking point, and I knew I needed professional help.” - Lecrae Moore “The fear is that you're standing on the edge, the precipice of change, and you're afraid to jump because you just don't believe that change can really happen. But the reality is that the first jump is the evidence of change. You've already begun the process when you take the leap.” - Lecrae Moore “That's one of the most beautiful realizations I came to is that even in my darkest place, God's there. If I return to that dark place, what's the worst thing that's gonna happen that I'm afraid of? God will be there with me.” - Lecrae Moore “When we can see the massive length, the depth, the height of God's love, it's transforming. It transforms our views on everything.” - Lecrae Moore “You're not gonna be able to change the world effectively until you own your story and allow it to turn you into someone amazing.” - Lecrae Moore “When asked how she was doing, her response to me was, ‘I'm doing okay because I realized that if I die from this cancer, but if one person gives their life to Jesus, then it's all worth it.’” - Jeremy Camp, on his first wife Melissa as she battled cancer “God definitely walked me through some grieving that was not easy.” - Jeremy Camp “Okay, God, I'm going to acknowledge You in this. I’ll acknowledge You and acknowledge my pain. I’ll acknowledge my hurt, be real with You. And I know that You'll direct me.” - Jeremy Camp, on his faith after his wife Melissa's death “I was blown away by somebody who could watch his wife suffer and die and still be standing up saying, ‘Lord, I believe. And even though I don't understand everything and even though this is hard, I'm choosing to trust You and I'm choosing to walk through this just clinging on to You.’” - Adrienne Camp, on her husband Jeremy “This is just a story of someone who went through a hardship, went through pain, and realized that the only thing that got him through it was Jesus. And that is the only hope and the only true source of peace and joy. He's the answer to everything.” - Jeremy Camp ________________________ 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.

Often in life, unexpected changes can lead to new dreams. God has proven time and time again that He can use any moment—good or bad—to change the trajectory of our lives for His glory. Legendary entertainer Kathie Lee Gifford was born with dreams that unfolded as she pursued her passion to perform. As she’s moved through the entertainment world for the past fifty years, Kathie has followed where God has called her, including a new season where she’s helping kids pinpoint the dreams God has in store for them with her brand-new book children’s book Hello, Little Dreamer. NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly, and his wife, philanthropist Jill Kelly were living what they thought was the perfect life—Jim had just retired after a successful career with the Buffalo Bills, they had a beautiful daughter and had just welcomed their son Hunter into the world. But their world was rocked when Hunter was diagnosed with a rare disorder and projected not to live past his second birthday. The Kellys realized they couldn’t rely on the things they had before, like their own ability to make things happen, and had to instead reach for something greater. Both Jim and Jill came to faith because of a desperate need for hope, and when they realized how much healing God can bring, they started the Hunter’s Hope Foundation to provide that same light to others. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith television show on Circle TV Note-Taking edition of Jesus Calling Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Lives Jesus Today Jesus Always Past interviews: Matthew Barnett, Richard Cowdrey Future interviews: Lecrae Moore Kathie Lee Gifford Hello, Little Dreamer Jim Kelly Jill Kelly National Football League Buffalo Bills Super Bowl University of Miami USFL Pro Football Hall of Fame Hunter’s Hope Foundation Cerebral palsy Krabbe leukodystrophy Interview Quotes: “People asked me this my whole life: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” And I think that's the wrong question to ask children. I think it's not what they want to be so much as what does God want you to be?” - Kathie Lee Gifford “I can't tell you how many people I was honored and privileged to lead to the Lord because I happened to be on a movie set, on a TV set, or in a recording studio or on location.” - Kathie Lee Gifford “Preach the gospel at all times, and when necessary, use words. Love people. When you love people, that's when they sense Jesus.” - Kathie Lee Gifford “I've never been confused at all about what I'm supposed to do. And I think that's because I was pursuing my dreams. I can't even imagine what God's got for me next.” - Kathie Lee Gifford “In that moment of just tremendous fear and anguish and devastation, I knew that I was going to have to seek beyond what this world has to offer.” - Jill Kelly, on her son Hunter’s Krabbe leukodystrophy diagnosis “We realized . . . that it was God using the suffering of our one and only son to point us to the suffering of His one and only Son, Jesus.” - Jill Kelly “He is the reason, without doubt, that I've seeked the Lord and that I am where I am now in my walk with my faith.” - Jim Kelly, on his son Hunter “God, through Hunter, taught us the greater hope. And that's eternal life. So that's our greater hope for the foundation as well.” - Jill Kelly “As long as what I'm doing today is making somebody want to seek tomorrow, make them want to thank the good Lord for that tomorrow, that's what it's about. “ - Jim Kelly “What an honor it is and so humbling to be a conduit of God and to be His ambassador and to allow Him to work through us.” - Jill Kelly _________________________ 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.

Losing someone you love is one of the most devastating, heart-breaking things we can go through—and the pain feels especially sharp when that person is taken from us by the hands of another. Even though we’ll always carry grief from losing our loved one, God offers us a chance to find life again as we reach for Him and remember He’s still there, leading us toward a hope and a future. Award-winning country music songwriter Casey Beathard, along with his sons—San Francisco 49ers quarterback C.J. Beathard and country music artist Tucker Beathard—share stories of a close-knit, loving family of seven surrounded by football and music. But tragedy struck the family in December 2019, when their son and brother Clay was the victim of a fatal stabbing in Nashville. In the days that followed, the Beathards dug deep into faith, finding hope in God and encouragement in the memories of Clay’s strong conviction and light. As they healed together, the Beathards found there’s freedom in forgiveness, and they take heart in knowing that one day, they’ll see Clay again. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith television show on Circle TV jesuscalling.com/TV Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Past interview: Eddie Montgomery Upcoming interview: Kathie Lee Gifford Casey Beathard Kansas City Chiefs Miami Dolphins Don Shula Redskins San Diego Chargers C.J. Beathard Junior Seau Rodney Harrison Tucker Beathard Interview Quotes: “If he didn't believe in something, if he didn't didn't agree with something, he was not going to get peer pressured into doing something he didn't think was right.” - C.J. Beathard on his brother, Clay “He wanted to do what was right and fight for the people that were oppressed.” - Casey Beathard, on his son Clay “The only thing that possibly got us through this is at the end of the day: our core foundation. We were all at least rooted with the mindset of knowing that the only way to get through this was diving in and asking Jesus and and relying on the Lord to handle it.” - Tucker Beathard “We dug hard looking for hope...We were just feeding off each other about who God is and what He really has for you. And all sudden, the despair turned into a gigantic hope.” - Casey Beathard “I literally used to pray, like, “God, please let me be the first one to go in my family, because I can't—I wouldn't be able to handle it.” But I'd totally underestimated the power of Jesus Christ. I mean, that's just the bottom line. That's all that really matters. And it's like with Him, this world can't faze you.” - Tucker Beathard “I truly believe—I know [my brother Clay is in heaven]. And we'll be there someday, and I know I'm gonna get to see him again." - C.J. Beathard ________________________ 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.

The world is a noisy, chaotic place. At any given moment, there are countless voices shouting at us, trying to command our attention. But we can find peace when we train ourselves to mute those voices and listen to the only One who matters: God. Pop singer Ally Brooke rode a rollercoaster of highs and lows during her stint in the iconic girl group Fifth Harmony, and over time she felt her voice was drowned out by the demands of the music industry on the group. After branching out as a solo artist, Ally began to uncover her authentic self, thanks in part to the strong foundation of faith her tight-knit Mexican American family helped her build, which she talks about in her brand-new book Finding Your Harmony. Podcaster and author Jamie Ivey knows all about comparison culture, and how it always seems the grass is greener on the other side. But she’s learned a new phrase that’s set her free: You Be You. Now she shares how to utilize the gifts God has given you, and that it’s how you use your influence—not how large it is—that really makes a difference. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith television show on Circle TV jesuscalling.com/TV Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Note-taking edition of Jesus Calling Jesus Always Past guests: Morgan Harper Nichols, Kel Mitchell Upcoming guests: Casey Beathard, CJ Beathard, Tucker Beathard TV show host: Lauren Alaina Ally Brooke Fifth Harmony Finding Your Harmony The X Factor Jamie Ivey You Be You Interview Quotes: “Number one in our house is God and Jesus. And having that type of foundation in my life has completely changed everything for me.” - Ally Brooke “When I took a beating from the music industry, being in Fifth Harmony and the real challenges that came my way afterwards too, God was right there to say, ‘Trust me. I have a plan for you and I'm here with you. You're not alone. We're going to get through this together.’” - Ally Brooke “I'll have my days where maybe I'm going through something or I'm sad or I have a ton of anxiety or I have a ton of worry or doubt. And Jesus Calling, through that devotion, I'm able to silence those thoughts and those worries and to help put them at ease.” - Ally Brooke "It takes a lot of spiritual maturity to say, 'I'm very thankful for the people I'm having lunch with. And I'm going to spend my life doing whatever God wants for me right where I am, and not constantly look at the other table wondering what they're doing.'" - Jamie Ivey “I started recognizing so many moments of people wishing that they had a different life, a “better” life, her life. And I noticed that they were missing the moments that God had created for them.” - Jamie Ivey “There's this idea that you begin to matter and what you have to say begins to matter when a lot of people are listening. And I just want to encourage people that believing that lie keeps people paralyzed and not doing the things God's asked them to do.” - Jamie Ivey “Every one that God's put in front of you matters. And we don't need to put our eyes on what we hope to happen five, ten years down the road, because we will waste a lot of time wishing for something we don't have.” - Jamie Ivey “If the only thing I was looking at and noticing was other people's lives, then I would struggle to think that my life mattered and my voice was enough.” - Jamie Ivey "We can yearn for the day we don't have to wear a mask and we can go back to 'normal.' But we can also be in the moment and go, 'What do You have for me right here where I am?'" - Jamie Ivey ________________________ 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.

We are human, which means we will make mistakes and never reach a standard of perfection. But we live in a world that constantly whispers, You can never come back from this mistake, or, You’ll never be good enough—but God’s grace and mercy say otherwise. Actor and singer Jana Kramer and her husband, NFL alum Mike Caussin, faced their own share of uphill battles in their young marriage. Facing her husband’s infidelity and addiction publicly, Jana had a choice to make: walk away, or work through it together. Jana and Mike chose to fight for their marriage, and now they’ve filled their toolbox with skills that they put into practice every single day, reminding us in their new book The Good Fight that while relationships are hard work, they’re worth it. Author Margaret Feinberg felt herself begin to believe lies that whispered, You’re a has-been, and, You’re a failure. Her overthinking began a negative thought spiral, so she began a practice of declaring God’s truths over her life daily, leading her to see her worth through His eyes and writing a book to encourage others called More Power to You. We serve a God of mercy, love, and healing. And though we may not live the picture-perfect life we want, He can redeem any mistakes we make so we can show the power He gives broken people. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith television show Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling app Cyntoia Brown-Long Jana Kramer Mike Caussin The Good Fight book Dancing with the Stars Whine Down podcast Margaret Feinberg More Power to You book Interview Quotes: “I'm constantly praying for our family. I want us to stay together. I'm praying for his recovery. I'm praying for our recovery. I just hope that we always choose to stay in it. And so I just pray that we're always strong enough to continue to grow.” - Jana Kramer “When we finally started praying out loud together, I'm doing my stuff spiritually, she's doing her stuff spiritually, then we started to see where we allowed Him in and we could feel that vulnerability in the room.” - Mike Caussin “Owning your side of the street, it's controlling what you can control. And as much as we find us trying to convince each other to see things our way, to convince each other to have our opinion or our outlook or believe our truth, we can't control someone else's thoughts or feelings. Control what you can control.” - Mike Caussin “Where we're at now is just remembering all the things that we've learned and how to continue to keep using our tools and to continue to grow. We have the tool box filled with stuff, we continue to go to therapy. We continue to learn. And so I just pray that we're always strong enough to continue to grow.” - Jana Kramer ”We have a lifetime full of tools in our tool box. And we just need to use them, because we've learned them for a reason. They have helped us. They've helped us get this far. And so for the next five years and so on, we need to continue to implement them because that'll help us avoid some of these moments of disconnect.” - Mike Caussin “God ultimately has control over the situation and we need to give Him more power.” - Mike Caussin “What's incredible is God has given us the ability to literally renew our mind through the power of the Holy Spirit and scripture, and we can begin doing it today.” - Margaret Feinberg “I began just carving out ninety seconds a day or so, just to begin declaring these and to declare them out loud. And they’re declarations like this: ‘Jesus is king of my life. I am who Christ says I am.’” - Margaret Feinberg “There is something that happens when we begin declaring the truth of who we are and who were called to be.” - Margaret Feinberg “When those lies start to enter in and try to tell us these things that just simply aren't true, we rise up with the truth embedded in us about our beauty, about the way that we're made, about how God is and the power of God guarding our thoughts.” - Margaret Feinberg “Joy is the weapon that we use to fight life's battles.” - Margaret Feinberg ________________________ 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.

Join us in celebrating 5 Million Downloads of the Jesus Calling Podcast! Knowing that we have God on our side enables us to find the courage to overcome any fear. Lauren Akins—philanthropist, author, mom, and wife to country music superstar Thomas Rhett—longed to find her purpose. When she turned to God for help, He opened doors that led to a life of service and loving the ones in front of her, expanding her life to reach more than she ever hoped for. Now as a mom to three little girls, Lauren reflects back on her life, thankful for the many types of love she’s experienced, and recognizes “God-winks” woven into the fabric of who she is. Guinness World Record-holding tightrope walker Nik Wallenda comes from seven generations of performers. Through all the daring feats and dazzling challenges that he’s faced in his lifetime, he’s always kept his eye on the One who could get him through. But when one terrifying moment happened right in front of his eyes—when his family members fell off the wire—he faced a fear that almost crippled his career. After coming to terms with that fear and realizing God still needed to use him to inspire others, Nik found the courage to get back on the wire, and show the world the power of God. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Life in His Presence Bear Grylls and Rhonda Vincent Upcoming Guests One Tree Hill star Jana Kramer NFL player Mike Caussin Lauren Akins Live in Love book by Lauren Akins Thomas Rhett University of Tennessee Suzanne Mayernick Love One International www.laurenakins.com Nik Wallenda Facing Fear book by Nik Wallenda Guinness World record setting “King of the High Wire” Funambulist SeaWorld San Diego Niagara Falls Discovery Channel PTSD Interview Quotes: “It felt like I was just kind of tagging along wherever Thomas Rhett went. I love being his cheerleader and supporting him, and I love watching him do what he loves. But I felt like I had more of a purpose.” - Lauren Akins “I can see, looking back, where the Lord has shut doors and open doors, and I tried to have the motto of, ‘Where He opens the door, I'll walk through it, regardless of what I can see on the other side.’” - Lauren Akins “There were times where I felt like I just couldn't pray another prayer, or when I felt the weakest in those moments, that is where I could just feel Jesus was carrying me on the backs of my friends spiritually and on His back.” - Lauren Akins “Loving one at a time and doing what you can right just for the one, and then moving on to another one, and then another one—that's how Jesus works. Those are His hands and feet.” - Lauren Akins “The Lord puts people in front of us to love.” - Lauren Akins “That is the most important thing, inviting Him into your world so that you're able to see the world through His eyes and you're able to love the way that He loves.” - Lauren Akins “To think that we still can't grasp just quite how much He loves and how good His love is something that is so hard for my mind to try to wrap around.” - Lauren Akins “My great-grandfather said it best: ‘Life is on the wire, and everything else is just waiting.’" - Nik Wallenda “I know for a fact that God has opened doors for me to get to where I am in order to bring glory to His name” - Nik Wallenda “What I didn't realize was that was a seed of fear, of negativity, of doubt, implanted in my head right after that accident happened, and I just wouldn’t acknowledge it.” - Nik Wallenda “I think that's what so many people do as they continue to water that seed of doubt, seed of negativity, that seed of I'm not good enough and I'm not smart enough and I will not make it through this, I'm not healthy enough, and people continue to water them. I think that's what holds people back from their greatness and often holds people back from their calling.” - Nik Wallenda “I would much rather go to heaven knowing that I was bold in who I was and what I believed in, that some people were upset and offended by that, then offend those people and they not ever get the knowledge of who God really isn't and how much you really love them.” - Nik Wallenda “I think we have such an amazing, gracious God. And He acknowledges that even to those who don't believe in Him, His Word still applies. His Word cannot return void.” - Nik Wallenda “As my relationship with God has grown more and more, it took those valleys in order for me to get to those peaks.” - Nik Wallenda ________________________ 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.

Sometimes before we know it, darkness can wrap itself around our hearts and minds. But when we feel ourselves lost and without hope, God is always there to lead us toward a new way of living, where we can find forgiveness for others—and ourselves. Beth Nimmo is the mother of Rachel Joy Scott, the first victim of the 1999 Columbine High School shooting. Beth didn’t know she’d ever see light again after the loss of her precious daughter, but God used Rachel’s strong faith and spirit of joy to guide Beth to help troubled teens. TJ Stevens was one such teen—after an abusive childhood and several suicide attempts, TJ walked into his Virginia high school with a gun, filled with a darkness driving him to do things he’d have never thought possible. But when TJ was on his knees in desperation, he felt God moving him toward a different outcome. As TJ says, “It’s never too late to turn around and do the right thing.” Beth and TJ’s paths crossed along parallel lines, and together, they share how God has met them in their lowest points, and how pain doesn’t have to be a life sentence. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Thomas Rhett Lauren Akins National Suicide Prevention line I Am Second Beth Nimmo Rachel Joy Scott Columbine School shootings in 1999 TJ Stevens Interview Quotes: “What we give focus to, we give strength to--I gave focus to nothing but darkness, and darkness filled me to a point where there was an abyss of nowhere to turn.” - TJ Stevens “When the heart isn't changed, even if you have modified behavior and there's a certain amount of control there, eventually what's in the heart will manifest itself on the surface.” - Beth Nimmo “It's never too late to turn around and do the right thing.” - TJ Stevens “One of the things that we have a responsibility for to the next generation coming up is; we have to show them what you're in right now doesn't have to be your life sentence and it doesn't have to define the rest of your life.” - Beth Nimmo ________________________ 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.