Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith

In our darkest moments, when we’re searching for hope and healing, we can take comfort in this: we serve a God of restoration, and His greatest desire is to heal our hearts. And all around us, we can see God’s handiwork in the living testimonies of lives restored by Him. Husband-and-wife ministry team John and Stasi Eldredge share how they help others discover (and, for some, remember) the life-changing power of turning your focus back to God, which John outlines in his devotional Restoration Year. Chris Norton was a young college football player when he suffered a devastating injury that left him paralyzed below the neck. With grit and faith, he worked hard to overcome negative diagnoses and met the goal of walking across the stage at his college graduation. Chris and his wife Emily share how they’ve weathered some of their toughest times. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

God works in mysterious ways. When we have the road mapped out, He can take us in an entirely different direction than where we thought we were headed. Auntie Anne’s Pretzels founder, Anne Beiler, shares how she was striving to keep up the pretense of a perfect life, but when her daughter was tragically killed and Anne was manipulated and abused by someone who should’ve been a counselor, Anne buried herself in secrets. Eventually Anne discovered the power of confession, and she decided to let go of guilt and live with transparency. And today God has taken Anne’s pain and used it to help her lead a life of compassion. Starting her entertainment career as a professional singer, Nancy Hicks felt God pulling her away from music to become a host at QVC, where she ministered to others on and off screen. As her life changed, Nancy felt God guiding her to a life in ministry, and today Nancy’s mission is to share God’s love with the world. Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Sarah Young Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling devotional Jesus Calling for Easter Lifeway’s $5 Promotion on Jesus Always Jesus Calling episode, “Women Leading through Forgiveness and Grace: Nona Jones & Alex Seeley” Anne Beiler Auntie Anne’s Pretzels Anne Beiler’s new book, “The Secret Lies Within: An Inside Out at Overcoming Trauma and Finding Purpose in the Pain Bible Gateway Bobcat Equipment Nancy Hicks QVC Broadcast Programming Nancy Hicks’s new book, “Meant to Live: Living in Light of the Good News” Parsons Institute (Fashion) FIT in New York (Fashion) Wheaton College (Chicago, IL) Mayo Clinic (Colon Cancer) John and Stasi Eldredge Interview Quotes: “Secrets leave you powerless, they keep you in a place of darkness, keep you defeated. These secrets that talk to us inside do not allow us to live in freedom.” - Anne Beiler “Confession can change the trajectory of your entire life and your family.” - Anne Beiler “I had to experience all this pain so that I could be compassionate with those who are suffering in our world today. “ - Anne Beiler “Guilt says, ‘I did something wrong.’ Shame says, ‘I am something wrong.’ So in our pain, we believe lies.” - Anne Beiler “When I feel decisions are tough, and things don’t always turn out the way I prayed for or believed that they should turn out, that's my go to: Life is hard, God is good. ” - Anne Beiler “I was like, Where am I going here? At the end of this one event that I was singing at, I sensed the Lord saying, “Continue to use the gift to honor me.” - Nancy Hicks “If you call yourself a follower of Christ, you don't get to pick whether or not you get to be a minister of the gospel, or whether you're in ministry. Everything is ministry.” - Nancy Hicks “It didn't matter what time, I was in my car, I'd be praying and saying, “Abba, use me today. Use me in the green room. Use me in the makeup chair. God, use me as light and salt.“ - Nancy Hicks, on ministering while she was at QVC “I remember holding my arms wide out, tears streaming down my face, and just saying, ‘God, what are we gonna do with the next chapter of this one life? I am all in for the kingdom, and I don't have anything holding me back.’ I just begged God, ‘Spend me. Just spend me.’” - Nancy Hicks“I think there is no substitute for an authentic relationship which takes time with God.” - Nancy Hicks ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0 Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O ________________________ 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 will always be with you, supporting you in times of joy and carrying you through times of despair. This week’s guests tell how, after weathering success and loss, sharing their artistic talents with others have brought hope and healing: country music artist Lauren Alaina and hospitality pioneer Kreis Beall. Lauren traces her path as a young singer from the American Idol stage to Dancing with the Stars and beyond. After American Idol, Lauren remembers how, as a 15-year-old, the sudden pressure in the spotlight alongside horrific social media comments about her appearance spawned an eating disorder, and how her faith and family helped her through that dark time. And Lauren shares why she knows God is real, after her beloved stepfather described heaven as he slipped away from the earth. In the foothills of the Smoky Mountains, Kreis Beall and her husband Sandy slowly built a luxury destination resort called Blackberry Farm, where Kreis’s talents soared as she shared her gifts for design and hospitality. Though she’s won considerable success, it wasn’t until she developed a relationship with God later in life that she truly felt successful—and she recalls how her new-found faith helped her through the devastating loss of her son, Sam, which she shares in her memoir called The Great Blue Hills of God. Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Sarah Young Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling devotional Jesus Calling for Easter Lifeway’s $5 Promotion on Jesus Always Lauren Alaina American Idol (Season 10) Dancing with th Stars (Season 28) Mayo Clinic (Melanoma Cancer) “The Other Side” lyric video Kreis Beall Blackberry Farm The Great Blue Hills of God: A Story of Facing Loss, Finding Peace, and Learning The True Meaning of Home book Bible Gateway (Matthew 10:25) Anne Beiler, the founder of Auntie Anne’s Pretzels Interview Quotes: “There are always going to be people who are going to have something to say that is not nice. But if I feel good about myself, and I have people around me that lift me up, that takes the power away from them.” - Lauren Alaina “We turn our back on Him, but He never turns his back on us. And [if] we're willing to go back to Him, He's always there.” - Lauren Alaina “I don't want some young girl out there looking at me and thinking that I'm just the most confident person in the world, because I choose to be confident. . . . I was very insecure for a long time, and I've had to work really hard on learning to love myself.” - Lauren Alaina ”I think the most important thing we can do is lift people up and love others and and know that someday we're all going to be reunited in the kingdom of heaven.” - Lauren Alaina “I'm constantly thinking about the next step, where we're going, what we're going to do. I love to set goals, but I think it's also really important to count your blessings where you are right now.” - Lauren Alaina “It's super important to find what God means to you. He means something different to everyone. He is my best friend and my Father and all of these things, but for me, He is just a source of strength, and someone that I can talk to when I'm weak.” - Lauren Alaina “I think having someone who totally believed in me fueled the fire. And it kept pushing me to dream and create.” - Kreis Beall “Sometimes the role of success can put a blinder on the things that are really important in life.” - Kreis Beall ”As I slowed down, I could experience more than in all the busyness and success that ruled my life.” - Kreis Beall “Once you uncover the joy that God provides for you, joy is always deep within. And it remains, whether happenings are good or bad.” - Kreis Beall “I don't know what I would have done without my faith if Sam had died five years earlier, if either one of my children had.” - Kreis Beall “I have had a lot of sorrow and loss in my life, but it's important for me to look at all the joy.” - Kreis Beall ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0 Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O ________________________ 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.

“Why me, God?” Sound familiar? We’ve all questioned why God has allowed bad things to happen in our lives, but this week’s guests, musician Dave Pittman and home designer Rachel Van Kluyve, have faced serious trials that caused them to question their purpose and how to move forward. Growing up, Dave faced bullies because of his Tourette’s Syndrome. After a deep, dark battle, Dave learned to embrace what made him different. As he’s built his music career post-American Idol, today Dave uses his music and experiences to help others find their reason to live. After Rachel had her first child, she grappled with postpartum depression that isolated her. As she began to post online about her decorating hobby, she began to build a supportive, close-knit online community that now helps women and girls around the world. Today Rachel shares her book She Built Herself a Home and how people can easily create spaces to build closer connections to God and to each other. Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Sarah Young Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling book Jesus Calling for Easter Jesus Calling ‘What’s Good’ YouTube series featuring Dave Pittman Jesus Calling podcast episode with Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Jeremy Cowart Davd Pittman “Crazy Brave’ song “Different Kind of Love” album Tourette Syndrome ABC’s American Idol Neil Patrick Harris Bible Gateway Rachel Van Kluyve CrateandCottage.com She Made Herself a Home: A Practical Guide to Design, Organize, and Give Purpose to Your Space book Facebook Marketplace Lauren Alaina Interview Quotes: “I was more afraid of living through that again than I was of dying.” - Dave Pittman, on being bullied as a child with Tourette Syndrome ”My mom—both my parents—just drilled into my head and my heart the importance of accepting yourself for who you are, and not just who you are, but who you are in Christ, your identity, who you've become in your walk with Christ.” - Dave Pittman “I think it's okay to ask why, even now, because Job did. We look at Job in the Bible, he asked God, ‘Why? Why is this happening to me?’” - Dave Pittman “Anyone can accept something they have to do, but when you can embrace something that you get to do, it’s different. It changes things.” - Dave Pittman ”After I had my first baby, it just kind of all fell apart. I got postpartum [depression]. I lost myself. You know, I was a smart magna cum laude graduate, and I just didn't know what I wanted to do or who I wanted to be, and it spiraled quickly out of control.” - Rachel Van Kluyve “When I started my Instagram journey, I felt the Lord specifically saying, ‘Everyone knocks social media for not being a good thing for this generation. But I want to use it for good.’” - Rachel Van Kluyve “We have the power to do so much as moms, as women. [We can] sit at home with a touch of a button and some ingenuity, and we can put together this great thing for people around the world.” - Rachel Van Kluyve “When we built this house, I prayed specifically that we'd always be hospitable. And it's really the home that's never closed. So because of that, our why has become hospitality, and letting people see Christ at all times, and that they're welcome here.” - Rachel Van Kluyve “It's all about creating that space that gives security and peace so that you can give it to others.” - Rachel Van Kluyve ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0 Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O ________________________ 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.

Fear of the unknown and fear of change are some of the greatest struggles we will ever face. How can we possibly leave behind what’s familiar to us? How will we know where to go next? What will happen to us and our loved ones? It can be terrifying, lonely, and confusing. Today’s guests share how they found the courage to make a change, which led them to freedom and joy like they had never experienced. Human trafficking survivor and activist Rebecca Bender opens up about the life she was manipulated into and how, by listening to God’s voice and the strong spirit that He gave her, she found a way out. Novelist Patti Callahan Henry shares how she left her job as a nurse to become a writer, and the story she wrote about C.S. Lewis’ wife, Joy, who also took a leap of faith that led her to a love that she never could’ve imagined for herself. If you’re considering making a change in your life, remember this: it is in the uncomfortable and the unfamiliar that we grow and have an opportunity to depend on God like never before. And He has plans for hope and a future for each one of us. Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Sarah Young Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling book Jesus Calling: The Jesus Calling MagazineJesus Calling for Kids at Barnes & Noble (PINK and BLUE versions) Rebecca Bender Rebecca Bender InitiativeIn Pursuit of Love: One Woman’s Journey from Trafficked to Triumphant bookNational U.S. Trafficking Hotline: 1 (888) 373-7888 to get help today Patti Callahan Henry Becoming Mrs. Lewis: The Improbable Love Story of Joy Davidman and C.S. Lewis book Behind the Scenes of Becoming Mrs. Lewis [Podcast] C.S. Lewis Yale Younger Poets Award American Idol finalist Dave PittmanTourette’s Syndrome Interview Quotes: ”I felt like an outsider, which pushed me, I think, even further away from wanting to be a part of a community of faith.” - Rebecca Bender ”You can't imagine going back to hopelessness, so you choose to look the other way because you really want the dream that's being dangled in front of you.” - Rebecca Bender “I was so, so filled with knowing that I could hear the voice of the Lord, the voice of the Creator of the universe who chose to talk to me, and that really kept me through some of my darkest times.” - Rebecca Bender “This is my favorite part about God: how He breaks off chains, He breaks up shame. He can completely redo our lives.” - Rebecca Bender “You have to be real with God. He knows what you're thinking, and He knows even more than you do what's happening in your brain and in your mind and your heart. So just crying out to Him helps really shift and give you some revelation and helps you take your eyes off of your circumstance to see what He has in store.” - Rebecca Bender “What I love about the work that God allows me to do today is not only do we get to bring justice for the victim . . . but I love that it's also creating constant change in the community.” - Rebecca Bender ”You know, Jesus loves girls like me—we’re all over the Bible. Put the shame on who should own the shame, which is the perpetrators.” - Rebecca Bender “[My faith] transforms, and it transforms me. As long as it's always about the indwelling God, I feel fairly safe in my faith.” - Patti Callahan Henry “I do believe that it was the first time Joy ever truly loved, and it's because she first found her true self in God.” - Patti Callahan Henry ”We might need to pack up everybody's expectations and everybody's demands and everybody's definitions of us.” - Patti Callahan Henry “My favorite quote by Joy is, ‘If we should ever grow brave, what on earth would become of us?’" - Patti Callahan Henry ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0 Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O ________________________ 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’re able to share our hearts and to love others because God chose to love us first. Today’s guests, Joseph “Rev Run” Simmons of RUN-D.M.C. and his wife Justine, along with evangelist and founder of Think Eternity Matt Brown share how they’ve learned to develop qualities of pure, selfless love and how this love has profoundly changed their lives. When he was at the height of his music career, Rev Run couldn’t ignore the void inside him, and it wasn’t until he discovered Jesus that he finally felt whole. He and Justine share their marriage secrets and what it takes to make a relationship work (spoiler alert: put God first!). There’s one nagging thought that keeps Matt Brown up at night: how will the world ever feel God’s love if Christians don’t accurately represent it? If we want to experience the full love that God has for each of us and spread that love to others, we need to set our intentions of seeking that love daily. Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Sarah Young Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling bookJesus Calling for Kids, Girls Edition devotional BibleGateway Patti Callahan Henry Becoming Mrs. Lewis book Rev Run & Justine Simmons Old School Love: And Why It Works bookJoseph "Rev Run" Simmons God, Can You Hear Me? Children’s bookRolling Stone Magazine Matt Brown Think Eternity Truth Plus Love: The Jesus Way to Influence book Interview Quotes: ”It's just funny how you can visualize and set your intentions, and things just come to pass.” - Rev Run “There's this void that success and money can't fill.” - Rev Run “You’d think that making hit records or money or cars or fame or people saying, "Oh, you're the greatest," people praising you for making your music would do it. But actually, when you start praising God, that's when you get happy.” - Rev Run “I love [my husband] so much, but I love God more.” - Justine Simmons “Spending and dedicating time with God leads to a better hearing ear.” - Rev Run “Enjoying each other's company is probably a big part of staying together.” - Rev Run “God has a way of making it clear to us where He wants us to go and what He wants us to do. . . . To grow in the Lord, and to reflect God to the world around us, we need both truth and love.” - Matt Brown “How is the world supposed to see the grace of God if the people of God are not gracious?” - Matt Brown ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0 Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O ________________________ 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.

Jesus didn’t come for perfect people—He came to heal the broken and the hurting. Today’s guests, artist and author Amy Kavelaris and Christian music artist Austin French, share how God met them in their broken places and healed their lives and hearts. Amy draws inspiration from the awe-filled way her three little girls see the world, and it reminds her of the light God is in her life. When she gets overwhelmed by demands on her time or struggles to navigate life’s changing seasons, Amy remembers that God is creating opportunities for her. Austin French faced an internal battle with Christianity for years, only to realize he wasn’t hurt by a broken God, but by broken people. He finally found peace and healing when he learned that Jesus wants every piece of us. We are not defined by our scars—we’re defined by His. Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Sarah Young Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling book Jesus Calling AppJesus Calling® for Easter. With 50 Jesus Calling devotions Jesus Calling interview with Mercy Me’s Bart Millard Amy Kavelaris Bloom Print Studio Harper Collins / Thomas Nelson / Tommy Nelson Good Night, My Darling Dear book Austin French ABC’s “Rising Star” NBC’s “The Voice,” Interview Quotes: “I just had this innate feeling that God existed and that I just wanted to follow Him with my life.” - Amy Kavelaris ”I think it's so important that we celebrate God's creation. It's fun to add a little whimsy and sparkle into the everyday, because our kids see the everyday as wonderful and extraordinary.” - Amy Kavelaris ”I get so much more from watching [my girls] and seeing how they react to [the world]. It's just this beautiful relationship that we have, where it 100 percent inspires what I do every day.” - Amy Kavelaris ”This is all about Him. He’s the only reason I'm doing any of this.” - Amy Kavelaris “I find that the only joy and freedom is when we gaze upon His light and His truth. It's then that we find that true, indescribable joy, and stop chasing after what the world tells us we need.” - Amy Kavelaris “I didn't understand why we had to change who we were at church and why we couldn't be who we were all the time. As an eight-year-old kid, I wrote down: I never want to be a Christian.” - Austin French “I realized that I had been hurt by broken people, not Jesus. Jesus is what He told me He was—He was the Healer of broken people.” - Austin French “We're very needy people, all of us. We need people. We need a God who's with us and working with us.” - Austin French ”I think the only way to find a relationship with Jesus and truly find freedom in Jesus is to understand that brokenness is a part of this story.” - Austin French “We're not defined by our scars or the scars that you're walking through right now— we're defined by His. - Austin French ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0 Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O ________________________ 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.

Life will give us our share of dark times, but we can choose to be the light. Today’s guests share how they use the power of story to share messages of hope and purpose. Award-winning ABC News correspondent Linsey Davis shares how she has taken lessons from her childhood in church, her time as a reporter, and the values she’s trying to instill in her young son to show that what’s important is loving people, not focusing on our differences. After several miscarriages, when Angela Rodgers discovered she was pregnant again, she was told the baby would have several health issues—but Angela loved her little girl and knew God had a plan for her life. Dynamic mother-daughter duo Angela and Grace Anna Rodgers are now sharing nine-year-old Grace Anna’s gift of singing with the world, spreading happiness and reminding others that what matters about people is who they are on the inside, not the outside. Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Sarah Young Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling book Jesus Calling Family Devotional Jesus Calling: 365 Devotions for KidsJesus Calling App Linsey Davis ABC’s World News Tonight ABC’s Good Morning America ABC’s Nightline The World is Awake: A Celebration of Everyday Blessings book One Big Heart: A Celebration of Being More Alike Than Different book Angela and Grace Anna Rodgers GraceAnnaSings.org Grace Anna Sings: A Story of Hope Through a Little Girl with a Big Voice book Who Do You See When You Look at Me? book Grace Anna singing the National Anthem (Facebook video) Conradi Hunermann Syndrome Sammy Kershaw Bobby Henline Contemporary Christian Music artist Austin French Interview Quotes: “[My mom was] very much responsible for my falling in love with storytelling and with writing and with the English language.” - Linsey Davis “When I look back now, I think [my time in church as a child] was so important to who I am today.” - Linsey Davis “I can see God's hand in other people's lives, for sure. But when truly catastrophic things happen, I don't know how to explain it. But I have to believe that God has a plan.” - Linsey Davis “My son's five, and when he comes home and he's met a new friend, he doesn't tell me about their race or their background or religion or culture. He just says what they have in common.” - Linsey Davis “Let's say, ‘Hey, we have different color skin and hair and features and likes and dislikes. But guess what? God gave us all this one unique gift. He gave us all one big heart and that's the most important part, because that's where love starts.’” - Linsey Davis “From the very beginning, we wanted Grace Anna, even when the doctors didn't give us a whole lot of hope.” - Angela Rodgers “What would touch my heart so deeply is you would see these colonels and these generals with all these medals be brought to tears when Grace Anna would sing the national anthem.” - Angela Rodgers “Sometimes you go through things that change who we become.” - Angela Rodgers “I think God made each of us with unique gifts. We’re all different in some way. So we can show love by being kind and trying to learn from each other.” - Grace Anna Rodgers ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0 Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O ________________________ 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.

Our planet holds more than seven billion people, and each one reflects who God is—because He created every one of us in His image. Today we hear from two women who have learned the value of who God created them to be and now lead others into finding their own worth as they carve out new spaces to foster connection. Nona Jones, head of faith-based partnerships at Facebook, shares how she overcame years of abuse and trauma to learn that she’s more than what happened to her, and chose forgiveness as a way out of her shame. Today she connects with churches all over the world and people searching for God’s purpose for their own lives. Pastor Alex Seeley shares how difficult it was to uproot her life in Australia to follow God’s calling for her family in America, only to discover that churches in the US didn’t seem to have a place for her. Alex shares how she and her husband Henry created The Belonging Co as a place to help artists and musicians in Nashville without a church home to experience God’s presence, and the life-changing power of discovering His presence in our own journeys. Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Sarah Young Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling book Jesus Calling Weekly Prayer Call Nona Jones Success From the Inside Out: Power to Rise from the Past to a Fulfilling Future Book Alex Seeley The Belonging Co Church The Opposite Life: Unlocking the Mysteries of God’s Upside-Down Kingdom Book Biblegateway (The Beatitudes) Planetshakers Ministry Interview Quotes: “The reason I was acting out [was] because of so much chaos at home. I was responding and reacting to trauma, and nobody ever asked me why I was acting that way. They just assumed I was a bad kid.” - Nona Jones “I have this scar on one of my wrists that's a constant reminder of what I tried to do [to end my life], but it's also a reminder of God's grace, because He determined that my life was worth living, even when I didn't see it.” - Nona Jones “Trauma really changes the way you see yourself. The thing I would like to encourage other people to know is you are not what happened to you.” - Nona Jones “Twenty-five minutes after I resigned from my job in faith, Facebook called me out of the blue.” - Nona Jones “If you look at the life of Jesus, He didn't tell people, ‘Hey guys, come see me at the temple on Sunday at 11:00, I have this amazing series that's coming up.’ He didn't do that. He ministered to people wherever they were.” - Nona Jones “Just like a healthy family needs both parents to bring balance to home life, I think a church so needs the balance of male and female attributes of the father heart of God.” - Alex Seeley “There are so many people that are hungry for an encounter with God, but they're being given a religious experience, but not this amazing encounter with the Holy Spirit and Jesus.” - Alex Seeley “To have an encounter where Jesus changes your life, and then people take note of the change that's happening.” - Alex Seeley “I think the world is confused, because people who call themselves Christians are not acting in an opposite spirit. They're acting like everybody else.” - Alex Seeley “I've been a Christian for thirty-five years, and I can't get past the fact that He loved me while I was a broken mess.” - Alex Seeley ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0 Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O ________________________ 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.

None of us is guaranteed a pain-free life. But when we can’t see the right way to move forward, that’s where God steps in to take us by the hand and leads us out of the dark. On today’s episode, Army veteran and Bachelorette contestant Luke Pell and author/speaker Jack Deere share some of their painful moments—an unexplainable, near-death experience; watching a spouse slip into an alcohol addiction; losing a child—events that almost caused them to give up. But each man reminds us: when it feels like we have nothing left to cling to, God is there. And He’s ready to guide us through those experiences so that later, we can support others who may not be able to find their way out, either. Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Sarah Young Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling book Jesus Always Family Prayer Calendar Luke Pell ABC’s The Bachelorette show West Point - United States Military Academy Mayo Clinic (PTSD) BibleGateway Jack Deere Dallas Theological Seminary Even in Our Darkness: The Story of Beauty in a Broken Life book Young Life C. S. Lewis John Snyder Oil Company Nona Jones, Facebook’s Global Faith-Based Partnerships Interview Quotes: “As you become an adult, you have to figure out what your faith really means to you.” - Luke Pell “If you're not growing and getting stronger and [going in] the direction of your goals, you're going to be digressing in the wrong direction.” - Luke Pell “One of the biggest victories in my faith was that I came back to a spot where I was completely surrendering my plans and my expectations back to God, and what purpose I was put on this earth for, instead of [wondering] what I could get out of this world and what people thought of me.” - Luke Pell “Only one thing does matter: it’s the legacy that you left, the inspiration that you left in the world, the people that you inspired, your faith that you were able to show to the rest of the world around you, and the lives that you were able to change.” - Luke Pell “Then God shows up and comes alongside you through somebody [who] gives you inspiration, or however that message comes, ‘You're gonna be okay. You're gonna make it through.’” - Luke Pell “I've really learned to appreciate those moments of uncertainty, when you're feeling more alone and you're feeling like you don't know what tomorrow holds. . . . Those are the times when I get the most direct purpose from God in my life.” - Luke Pell “We have to really stay true to ourselves and true to our faith, and keep that faith walk intact, regardless of what the rest of the world is throwing at you every day. The more we're thinking about the rest of the world and what they're thinking about us, the less we're thinking about what God has for us and where our faith walk should be.” - Luke Pell “[My] childhood produced this desire to keep really tight control in my life. I blocked out some of the stuff and thought, Feelings are bad. Stay in your mind. Don't go to your feelings. That was the hardening effect that my childhood had on me.” - Jack Deere “When you're seventeen years old and everybody you've ever loved has left you, to hear that God won't leave you is just too good to be true.” - Jack Deere “The only Person who never needed any help chose twelve helpers. Why? For the pleasure it gave Him to love those twelve apostles and to teach them to love what He loved.” - Jack Deere “Although I had plenty of my own shame, I didn't even think in those categories. I just thought, You have an unpleasant feeling. Just get rid of it. I lived out of my mind, not out of my feelings.” - Jack Deere “I began to see that the most important thing in life is feeling the affection of God, actually being friends with Him. We love Him because He first loved us.” - Jack Deere ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0 Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O ________________________ 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.

Ever wonder exactly who you are and what you were made for? Today’s guests tell how, as they pursued ways to know God and themselves a bit more, He’s helped them understand their true selves—not what other people say they are. Enneagram coach Beth McCord shares how she and her husband, Jeff, used this popular personality test to understand each other and improve their marriage, finding out the attributes God gave them both along the way. Author Esther Fleece Allen explores the power behind the names that God gives us, and how this can help us shed labels others might give us so that we can hear who God says we are while discovering His purpose for our lives. Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Sarah Young Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling Weekly Prayer Call True Connection with God and Each Other: Darlene Zschech and Margaret Feinberg episode Beth McCord YourEnneagramCoach.com The Enneagram Collection Book Series Becoming Us: Using the Enneagram to Create a Thriving Gospel-Centered Marriage book Esther Fleece Allen No More Faking Fine: Ending the Pretending book Your New Name: Saying Goodby to the Labels that Limit book Interview Quotes: “If we learn why people do what they do, we can have more empathy, understanding, grace, mercy, compassion, and love in ways that really reflect the heart of Christ.” - Beth McCord “God created us all differently, and each of the personality types have a beautiful way that we reflect in it.” - Beth McCord “So often my heart wants to do it myself, to figure it out myself, to pull myself up by my bootstraps. But only Christ can fix me. Only Christ can love me. Only Christ has everything accomplished for me.” - Beth McCord “Something that is very sacred and important to God is names.” - Esther Fleece Allen “[I ask myself,] ‘Who does He say that I am and how can I begin to believe the new names He's given me, apart from the labels that I've associated with for far too long?’” - Esther Fleece Allen “God does not speak to me in a condemning way like these labels are doing. God speaks to me in a new way, a language that I'm not even really familiar with, because we're so used to criticism in this life.” - Esther Fleece Allen “There's power in a name. There's power in what we name others, what we name future generations, and there's power in the name we take on for ourselves, of who we're going to become.” - Esther Fleece Allen ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0 Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O ________________________ 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 where we grow up, no matter who our parents are or which zip code we live in, each of us will meet challenges. And in those moments, we have a choice: do we give up, or do we keep going? Today we talk with two athletes who, with God by their sides, have endured the sting of defeat and the joy of victory. Lolo Jones is one of only ten athletes who have competed in both the Summer and Winter Olympic games. Lolo shares how some of the hardest moments of her childhood helped her to compete on the world stage. When he was growing up in Atlanta, Evander Holyfield found community (and a hint at his athletic future) at the Boys Clubs of America. He shares how his mother and his faith guided him into a storied boxing career, and why sometimes our defeats are more instructive than our wins. Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Sarah Young Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling Weekly Prayer CallJesus Calling app Serving Our Savior in the Spotlight: Josh Turner and Michael McDowell episode Lolo Jones Salvation ArmyHurdles of Hope FoundationLondon Olympics Evander Holyfield Atlanta’s Boy’s Clubs of America Riddick Bowe Michael Moorer Mike Tyson Lennox Lewis John Ruiz Muhammad Ali Interview Quotes: “I definitely think that my hardships molded me for the life that I would have to go through later.” - Lolo Jones “This statistic of kids that have incarcerated parents—it tremendously increases their chance that at one point in their life, they will be incarcerated as well. I wanted to break that chain.” - Lolo Jones “I know my childhood strengthened me for a time to stand on the world stage and compete.” - Lolo Jones “If I go through hardships, I know to say, ‘Okay, this really, really hurt me. This is frustrating. I wanted this so bad, and it was ripped away,’ instead of being like, ‘How could you, God?’”- Lolo Jones “As Christians, we try to predict how God's going to use us, and when He doesn't use us in that manner, we become hurt.” - Lolo Jones “I became who I am because I really wanted to please my momma. My mom was so disappointed so much her life, and I wanted to be that joy.” - Evander Holyfield “Having setbacks paves the way to show you how good God is.” - Evander Holyfield “Every time you mess up, you've got to have Somebody who will give you another opportunity.” - Evander Holyfield ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0 Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O ________________________ 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.

Some of God’s greatest miracles come when He brings good out of dark places. In Ogden, Utah, pastor Matt Roberts felt he didn’t feel comfortable inviting his friends and neighbors to church as it didn’t feel like a place where people could be vulnerable, so he decided to create an open community he thought they—and he—would feel like they belonged. When his former youth pastor, Rob Cowles, came for a visit, Rob knew The Genesis Project was something special and decided to plant his own location in Fort Collins, Colorado—in, of all places, a former strip club. Carrie Stuart Parks was a young woman with a flair for art when her father, the head of the School of Law Enforcement in northern Idaho, decided to invite Carrie to use her talents on crime scenes. Carrie became enamored with the work, helping victims close the chapter on some of the darkest moments of their lives. She even began a second career as a thriller novelist—not knowing her mentor was a wildly successful author himself—and work to help reach not knowing her mentor was a wildly successful author himself—now reaches the world through stories and emotions we all can relate to. Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Sarah Young Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling Large Text Cloth Botanical Cover God Can Redeem Your Struggles: Joel & Luke Smallbone and Sandi Patty Lolo Jones Olympic athlete The Genesis Project Matt Roberts The Genesis Project, Ogden, UT Rob Cowles The Genesis Project, Fort Collins, CO The God of New Beginnings: How the Power of Relationship Brings Hope and Redeems Lives book Gary Haugen International Justice Mission, founder Carrie Stuart Parks FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia Secrets to Drawing Realistic Faces book Frank Peretti author Unitarian Universalism HarperCollins Christian Publishing Interview Quotes: "It was really hard to invite [my friends and community] to church with me. It was such a cultural gap . . . " - Matt Roberts “That time in Portland was very monumental for us, really learning what it meant to be an embedded church in the middle of a culture that desperately needed a Savior.” - Matt Roberts “What does it mean to live bravely in the way of Jesus?” - Rob Cowles, on Gary Haugen “There was an authenticity about their worship [at The Genesis Project], because they really knew what it was to be brought back from darkness, brought back from death into new life.” - Rob Cowles “Community doesn't happen by accident. We have to actually cultivate and create a space where people can come in and be real, be open, and be honest.” - Matt Roberts “What happens is if you create a culture where it's not safe to talk about your brokenness, to talk about your failure, to talk about your pain, that then you naturally create a culture where you have to be fake.” - Rob Cowles “I pray that I will be salt and light to them as I speak to them. I wear a cross, I let them know, just by having that cross on the outside, where I'm coming from. I don't say anything to them. I just let the presence of that and my words be, hopefully, helpful.” - Carrie Stuart Parks ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0 Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O ________________________ 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.

Christmas can be a time for joy, but also for reflection—and for many, a reminder of lost moments and loved ones. This week’s guests, musicians Dailey & Vincent and Ernie Haase, remind us this season is filled with hope, because God loved us so much that He sent Jesus into the world. These artists tell us how they fell in love with music (from bluegrass to gospel) and why they center their songs and shows around positive messages. Dailey & Vincent recently released The Sounds of Christmas project, and share their warmest (and most hilarious) Christmas memories and family traditions. Ernie Haase gives a behind-the-scenes look at the way his new album with Signature Sound, A Jazzy Little Christmas, was born out of a fun-filled holiday trip to New York, and how we can still celebrate the holiday while honoring those who are no longer with us at Christmas. Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Sarah Young Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling for Christmas Dolly Parton Belives with God, All Things Are Possible episode Celebrating the Power of Jesus’ Love: Mark Lowry and CBD President Ray Hendrickson episodeChoosing Christ Through Doubt & Fear: Bear Grylls & Rhonda Vincent episode Lifting Up Others Through Service: Country Singer Jimmy Fortune and US Army Veteran Jess Key episode Shining God’s Light Through Music: Oak Ridge Boys & Aaron Watson episode Dailey & Vincent The Sounds of Christmas album The Dailey & Vincent show on RFD Television “Jingle Bells” video International Bluegrass Music Association Ricky Skaggs BibleGateway (1 Timothy 6:12) Hallmark Channel Christmas Ernie Haase “A Jazzy Little Christmas” album Cathedral Quartet The Message Bible, Eugene Peterson New York Cares (Winter Wishes program) Interview Quotes: “The most important part about all the music, just boiling it down to the bare bones, is the way you speak to other people. The songs that we pick and the way the songs speak to their hearts and give them such peace and joy.” - Darrin Vincent “It's a universal language—music speaks to everybody.” - Darrin Vincent “We don't know what all these people are going through. But many people in that audience are going through something. It is our job to go out there and take them on a 90-minute ride that will make them forget whatever they're dealing with, and hopefully leave there feeling a lot better.” - Jamie Dailey “My testimony is that a perceived no might be just a not now from God.“ - Ernie Haase “What Sarah has done with the Jesus Calling book, for me, she’s made Jesus very personal, very relatable.” - Ernie Haase “Hopefully, by people listening to our music and enjoying our music, it'll make the season a little bit brighter for some people.” - Ernie Haase ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0 Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O ________________________ 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.

Whether our friends walk on two legs or four, connection gives meaning to our lives. God often uses these bonds to show how we can care for others, but what we don’t often realize is that those opportunities help us learn how to care for ourselves, too. Bull rider Cody Nance talks about how his faith and career blossomed through his family and through friends he met on the rodeo circuit. HIS Haven Ranch mentors Laurie Baer and Janice Larsen share how they serve kids who are hurting in their community through horse therapy by providing an additional support system to their lives, reminding us all how God's creatures, big and small, can bring joy to our lives. Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Sarah Young Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling Weekly Prayer Call God’s Gift of Pets: Animal Rescue Advocate Lavonne Redferring and Country Singer Irlene Mandrell Cody Nance Paris, Tennessee Cody Nance Instagram Cody Nance Facebook Cody Nance Twitter HIS Haven Ranch Dailey & Vincent Interview Quotes: “I've been able to be used on a platform like I've never imagined before, and I'm just thankful that God is allowing me to do that.” - Cody Nance “I do believe that God saved me when I was young, but I believe I lost track of the most important thing, and that was being faithful in my love for Him and His worship.” - Cody Nance "[When] I'm strapped to the back of a [2,000 lb. bull] jumping in the air and kicking . . . sometimes it gets a little wild. But He's always there and He's always taking care of me." - Cody Nance “Our four-legged friends gave us a picture and a model of something that God could do on a greater level.” - Laurie Baer “Our mission was to make a place that would empower and transform lives through healing and the Savior.” - Laurie Baer “We pray that the perspective that [our riders] have will be an eternal perspective, so we'll use a horse and we use the Word of God. And they seem to work really well together.” - Laurie Baer “It's not our job to judge the growth. It's not our job to judge the fruit. It's our job to sow the seed, to water the seed, and that means giving God's Word and dispensing it freely.” - Janice Larsen “We're all at risk for something, if we're being honest with ourselves. We all have vulnerabilities.” - Laurie Baer ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0 Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O ________________________ 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 never leaves our side, no matter what. On today’s episode, 24-time PRCA rodeo champion Trevor Brazile shares how bull rider Cody Custer helped him rededicate his life to Jesus, and why he is instilling strong cowboy values of honor, respect, and faith into his children. Christian music artist Zach Williams shares how God reclaimed his story as a struggling rock star and transformed his life toward creating a different kind of music, touching more lives than Zach could have ever imagined—thanks, in part, to a surprise collaboration with Dolly Parton. Both Trevor and Zach show how God stuck by them in good times and bad, even if they didn’t feel His presence, and how they honor Him by using their platforms to spread His love to others. Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Sarah Young Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling Textured Gray Leathersoft with Full Scriptures Trusting God to Fill the Gap: Rodeo Stars Tyson Durfey (w/ wife Shea Fisher) and Cody Custer Dolly Parton Believes in God, All Things are Possible Trevor Brazile Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Zach Williams Rescue Story album Rescue Story video “There Was Jesus” Live CMA Performance with Dolly Parton Redeemed by Big Daddy Weave His Haven Ranch Interview Quotes: "[My son] may not choose to be a rodeo cowboy . . . but I wanted him to grow up in a culture of respect, not only for people, but for animals." - Trevor Brazile ”Philippians 4:13—I like that [verse]. ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’ Because we can't do everything under our own power. We need God's help sometimes—all the time.” - Treston Brazile ”Unconditional love is perfected when we love Him back, and that's why it's so important to spend that time in the Word and just build on that relationship.” - Trevor Brazile “The success that we've had has given me a platform to let people know that it wasn't all me. It was my Savior.” - Trevor Brazile “I just fell in love with this idea that I could start writing these songs and telling these stories in this season of life that I was going through.” - Zach Williams “I was thinking that I should be happy for all the things that I have, but nothing I was doing was filling this hole in my life.” - Zach Williams “My wife invited me to go to a prison with her and share some of these songs. And for me, that was like the first time that God had really spoken to me and said, ‘These are the songs. These are the people. These are places. This is the music that I have for you to write.’” - Zach Williams “To hear people share a story with me and be like, 'Hey, man, I heard your song, "Fear's a Liar," and it saved my life' . . . it's better than any award you're going to get or any kind of recognition." - Zach Williams “God has been doing some pretty amazing things in my life over the last few years.” - Zach Williams ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0 Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O ________________________ 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 walk unexpected paths in our lives, we’re joined by a God who never leaves our side and is involved in every step of our journey. On today’s episode, John Maxwell shares the joy of understanding the God who speaks in Jeremiah 29:11, who has “plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us a hope and a future.” He also shows us that we all have leadership qualities if we’re positively influencing others’ lives. When he was a young husband, pastor Nate Pyle never imagined he’d have to face the “for worse” part of his marriage vows so early. As he and his wife experienced infertility and struggles with mental health, Nate began to think about the difference between giving up and letting go, and how God helps us move through grief and times of suffering. Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Sarah Young Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling App Jesus Calling weekly prayer call T. D. Jakes and Don Moen: Where Is God When Our Dreams Are Crushed? John Maxwell Leadershift: The 11 Essential Changes Every Leader Must Embrace book The Leader's Greatest Return: Attracting, Developing, and Multiplying Leaders book Nate Pyle More Than You Can Handle: When Life's Overwhelming Pain Meets God's Overcoming Grace book Bible Gateway Trevor Brazile Interview Quotes: “Everything I know about leadership is from the Bible.” - John Maxwell “I think God's Word is the ultimate leadership book.” - John Maxwell “God’s incredibly interested in all your junk.” - John Maxwell “If I'm 1000 steps from God, He takes 999 steps to my door.” - John Maxwell “The moment I ask questions, I start connecting with people, because now I'm valuing their opinion and I'm starting to influence and lead them from where they are, not from where I am.” - John Maxwell “This idea that God won't give you more than you can handle, I think, is a way in which we try to shelter ourselves from the world, because the world is more than you can handle.” - Nate Pyle “We read through the Bible, what we see, more often than not, is that the way God chooses to save His people is not to save them from the negative experience, but rather to save them through it.” Nate Pyle “We have to remember that sometimes God shows up through the people who show up next to us as we're walking through something difficult.“ - Nate Pyle “Suffering is the common denominator for all humans. It's the thing we have in common.” - Nate Pyle ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0 Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O ________________________ 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.

One of God’s greatest blessings to us are friends and neighbors. And in fact, God designed us to care for each other, to learn from each other, and to support each other in life’s most difficult moments. In today’s episode, entertainer Kristin Chenoweth shares how good friends have mentored her and shaped her—and how actor/producer Rita Wilson sharing a copy of Jesus Calling strengthened her faith. As the wife of Fred Rogers, Joanne Rogers saw firsthand how an open heart and a soft word can change a relationship, and she shares how important reconciliation and being a good neighbor was to her husband. R&B sensation and now-pastor Montell Jordan tells how, even in the midst of worldwide music success, a family friend saved him from the brink of losing everything he loved, including his marriage, by sitting him down to have a painful discussion. More than ever, we need connection with others who will walk alongside us through thick and thin—and God wants us to be that friend to others as well. Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Sarah Young Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling books Jesus Always Jesus Calling weekly prayer call God’s Perfect Purpose for Our Imperfect Lives: Rita Wilson and Lisa Osteen Comes The Joy of Spreading Love, One Heart at a Time: Deliliah and Gary Thomas Kristin Chenoweth Kristin Chenoweth Arts and Education Fund Broadway Bootcamp Kristin Chenoweth Theatre Hallmark’s A Christmas Love StoryKristin Chenoweth’s Christmas Concert with the Tabernacle Choir For the Girls recording Art of Elegance recording Joanne Rogers A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood movie Montell Jordan Victory World Church Lecrae Interview Quotes: “Work hard, play hard, love what you do. Life's short. Don't live beyond your means. All those things—stay humble. A smile goes a long way. Don't sweat the small stuff. Those kinds of things that I heard growing up helped me a lot.” - Kristin Chenoweth “A lot of people say you should do your prayer or meditation or your quiet time, whatever that is for you, in the morning. But for me, it's a nighttime thing.” - Kristin Chenoweth “I believe that sometimes things happen to you so that God can speak, because sometimes you can't hear when you get too busy.” - Kristin Chenoweth “I think it's important, when you have been given opportunities and had success, you need to give it to the people behind you.” - Kristin Chenoweth “[Fred and I] did have a very good friendship, which I think is very important for young married people.” - Joanne Rogers “His program was his ministry.” - Joanne Rogers “Everything is so divisive right now. Someone said to me, ‘He would be on his soapbox,’ and I said, ‘Oh, no, I don't think so. He would just be walking the walk and trying to do what he could with reconciliation.’“ - Joanne Rogers “A lot of times I was in church, but church wasn't always in me.” - Montell Jordan “Everything changed for me, having a number-one record as your first record out of the box. I didn't recognize that great success did not come with an instruction manual.” - Montell Jordan “[My wife Kristin and I] are still regularly recovering to make sure that that we maintain what God restored.” - Montell Jordan ”When God closes the door, no man can open it. And when he opens the door, no man can close it.” - Montell Jordan “Maybe this is something that people need, and our story is something that makes sense to people who are navigating through landmines and fields that we've already crossed.” - Montell Jordan, on sharing his story ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0 Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O ________________________ 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 were not designed to be perfect; we were designed to be uniquely us. Today’s guests, authors Sally Clarkson and her son Nathan, and writer Hayley Morgan share their stories of struggling to accept their differences and imperfections. Though Nathan was discouraged because he didn’t fit into society’s mold, and Hayley feared she wasn’t perfect enough, God revealed His purpose for their lives and has helped them utilize their gifts in ways they never knew possible. Their stories remind us even if we can’t see it, God has a bigger plan ahead for each one of us, and He can use our differences to do all kinds of good. Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Sarah Young Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling weekly prayer call When Your Purpose Seems Unclear, Seek God: Jeremy Cowart & Elisabeth Hasselbeck Sally Clarkson Nathan Clarkson “Only You Can Be You: What Make You Different Makes You Great” book “Different: The Story of an Outside-the-Box Kid and the Mom Who Loved Him” book Hayley Morgan The Twig Goes Out On a Limb blog “Always Enough, Never Too Much: 100 Devotions to Quit Comparing, Stop Hiding, and Start Living Wild and Free” book Interview Quotes: “Even in the midst of my adolescent angst, I found a God who says He loved me as I was, and I found a God who said I was made for a purpose, and that all these differences could be used for His glory and for the story that He wanted to tell with my life.” - Nathan Clarkson “Let's rejoice in this place and find out how we can bring light to any of our dark corners, but also to learn to be content within the story that we've been given.“ - Sally Clarkson “Every single personality, whether they're loud or or whether they're shy, whether they like adventure or they like sitting at home reading—we wanted to give a book to parents that would imprint the minds of their children to say, ‘All of us are an incredible, magnificent reflection of the fingerprints of God as He made us each individually for His own glory.’“ - Sally Clarkson “I started to untangle the idea of grace and grace for every day, not just grace as a one time event.” - Hayley Morgan “Once I really understood grace, I had to apply the gospel to my life every day, to myself every day. I'm never going to grow out of needing it. That freed me up so much to then walk with the Lord, not just try to please Him and try to impress Him.” - Hayley Morgan “The Lord has used my failures in equal or greater measures than He has used my successes to draw me closer to Him.” - Hayley Morgan ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0 Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O ________________________ 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 always light, even in the darkest times. Today’s guests faced the most unimaginable circumstances, but by clinging to faith, they survived and protected others. Southwest Airlines pilot Tammie Jo Shults saved the lives of 148 passengers when she safely landed a plane after an engine exploded mid-flight. In the middle of chaos, Tammie Jo’s conversation with God gave her peace during the crisis and helped reveal a solution to landing the plane. Retired Air Force pilot and former Vietnam POW Col. Smitty Harris spent years in prison teaching others a method of communication called the tap code, which helped boost morale and spread information among other prisoners. Smitty shares powerful stories of secret church services and moments that helped prisoners survive mentally, physically, and spiritually. Through the uncertainty of survival, Tammie Jo and Smitty realized that God will never forsake us—He will always provide a way. Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Sarah Young Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling weekly prayer call Becoming an Everyday Hero: Neal McCoy & Rodney D. Bullard Tammie Jo Shults Nerves of Steel (Young Readers Edition) book Holloman Air Force Base Jungle Pilot Book (Nate Saint) Col. Carlyle “Smitty” Harris Tap Code: The Epic Survival Tale of a Vietnam POW and the Secret Code That Changed Everything book Hanoi Hilton Ho Chi Minh Tap Code, Chapter 1 on audiobook Interview Quotes: “Whenever I dreamed about what I wanted to do in life, I dreamed without fences.” - Capt. Tammie Jo Shults “There are some times when we just have to take what's not fair and and work around it.” - Capt. Tammie Jo Shults “He asks us to pray for people that don't treat us very well, because He'll deal with them. But dealing with us, in our own heart, in that situation, is really the first step to overcoming it.” - Capt. Tammie Jo Shults “Hope doesn't have to change our circumstances to change us.” - Tammie Jo Shults “Our communication [with the tap code] became so fast and so good, and we were interested in so many things, between each other and trying to find out information. . . . We talked about God, religion, and how important it was, especially now. It turned out that we were all Christian.” - Col. Carlyle “Smitty” Harris “We used our time [as POWs] productively. We had classes in almost anything you'd want. There would be someone in that group—it was pretty educated group, everyone had at least a Bachelor's degree and [there were] quite a few Masters.” - Col. Carlyle “Smitty” Harris “The hardest part about those eight years being away from my family was just that—being away from my family.” - Col. Carlyle “Smitty” Harris “And I knew, even in the darkest times, when things were at their lowest, lowest ebb, I knew I could always pray and I knew someone was listening, they could do something about it.” - Col. Carlyle “Smitty” Harris ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0 Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O ________________________ 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.

Some days, it feels like we’re facing battles alone. But the truth is, God is always with us. And He shows His presence through the connections we have with others. Today’s guests share how cultivating strong friendships over time have transformed their lives. TV actor Jeremy Miller (best known as Ben Seaver on Growing Pains) and pediatric cardiologist Brandon Lane Phillips met when they were kids, and eventually, Brandon’s fight for Jeremy would end up saving his life. Indiana friends and contractors Josh Arnett and Aaron Gray were propelled to fame when they put aside their tools to record a spontaneous hymn of worship—and one Facebook video later, the viral singing sensations “The Singing Contractors” were born. With these stories, we remember that when we step outside our comfort zone and reach out to others, God can use those people and those moments for His purpose. Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Sarah Young Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling weekly prayer call NEW! Jesus Calling Magazine The Unfailing Kindness of Christ: Candace Cameron Buré and Kristin Fry Jeremy Miller & Brandon Lande Phillips When I Wished Upon a Star book IMDB: Jeremy Miller, ‘Ben Seaver on Growing Pains’ IMDB: Kirk Cameron IMDB: Alan Thicke Congenital Heart Defect Tetralogy of Fallot Starlight Children’s Foundation The Singing Contractors “How Great Thou Art” song “Working on a Building” CD Interview Quotes: “If I could go from my little town in Louisiana to meet these people in Hollywood, then as far as I was concerned, I could do anything.” - Brandon Lane Phillips “I started running from God. I wasn't angry at God, I was just ashamed. I knew I was doing everything wrong. I quit going to church. I quit praying. I quit everything. I just ran the other direction. And it was a miserable way to live, I can tell you that. “ - Jeremy Miller “My family, my faith, and my recovery are the center of my life every single day.” - Jeremy Miller “[I am] able to utilize all the hurts, all the problems, all the horrors that I went through in my addiction, and even growing up, to help others.” - Jeremy Miller “The fact that God gives us that opportunity to take that pain and those struggles and use them for something good and give them a purpose is such a blessing. And in my mind, it makes all of it worth it.” - Jeremy Miller “God's plan—good, bad, or indifferent as it's affecting our life at that moment—is exactly how He meant it to be. So wherever we are, whatever we're dealing with right now, at this moment, is exactly perfect.” - Jeremy Miller “What did Jesus do? He equipped the unequipped . . . I feel it's what He's doing with us. We're unequipped, but He's helping us every step we take.” - Aaron Gray, The Singing Contractors “What keeps us going is when we know that something as little as what we're doing can encourage somebody else—that encourages us to keep going and to keep pressing on. That's why we do it.” - Josh Arnett, The Singing Contractors “The ultimate friend and the ultimate encourager is Jesus himself.” - Josh Arnett, The Singing Contractors “When tools, beards, Jesus, and our music collide—it's fun to talk about the tools and beards and everything. But at the end of the day, we just want to uplift Jesus’ name.” - Aaron Gray, The Singing Contractors ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0 Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O ________________________ 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 spend our lives trying to match our talents with the world’s need. We want to feel useful, after all. But when we’re hustling to get dinner on the table, or shuttling loved ones to doctor’s appointments, or rushing to meet a deadline, “finding our purpose” feels like a task that’s way too big to check off the list. But even if we don’t feel it, God has a purpose for our lives, and is doing great things, even through imperfect humans. Our guests, actor/producer Rita Wilson and pastor Lisa Osteen Comes, remind us that God has put greatness inside each of us, and as we travel through our lives, He reveals new gifts we can use to reach others. Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Sarah Young Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling weekly prayer call Jesus Calling podcast - “Using Our Gifts for Good: Musciaian RaeLynn & Writer Kristy Cambron Rita Wilson Halfway to Home album The Spark song Throw Me a Party song My Big Fat Greek Wedding movie Mamma Mia! Movie Screen Actor’s Guild The Brady Bunch sitcom Lisa Osteen Comes Lakewood Church (Houston, TX) You Were Made for More: How to Become All You Were Created to Be book The Singing Contractors’ “How Great Thou Art” Interview Quotes: “We're works in progress. We're not really finished, and we are constantly trying to be better.” - Rita Wilson “But at the end of the day, you want to be remembered for making someone's life better.” - Rita Wilson “Having been blessed with an extraordinary life, you almost become more thankful. You can't take credit for it. In a way, I feel like everything that I do—anything good that is coming out of it, I believe—is from a higher power.” - Rita Wilson “Creativity is time independent.” - Rita Wilson “All these things come against us in life, and sometimes it looks like we're not gonna make it, we're not going to live out our dreams. But with God's help, we can.” - Lisa Osteen Comes “What did God put in you naturally? What are your gifts, what are your talents? Because whatever He puts in you, He's going to use for your destiny, for His purpose, for His glory.” - Lisa Osteen Comes "I am God's child and He has a plan for me. He will help me if He calls me. He will equip me and help me to do whatever He has called me to do." - Lisa Osteen Comes ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0 Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O ________________________ 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 we picture our lives going one way, until we encounter impossible choices and painful struggles we never saw coming. But no matter your past, your pain, or your mistakes, when we give our stories over to God, He can write a new ending for us—one filled with potential and purpose. On today’s episode, author and activist Cyntoia Brown-Long is joined by her husband Jamie Long as she shares her redemptive story of an adolescence marred by trafficking and drug use that led to a murder conviction and a life sentence in prison. Despite the walls around her and no guarantee of freedom, Cyntoia determined to expand her horizons and better herself personally in prison. But Cyntoia found it was when she began to give her life back to God that a new chapter really started to unfold. Cyntoia’s husband Jamie tells how God miraculously brought the couple together, and how He’s using them to not only strengthen each other, but to help others find justice and mercy. Interior designer Liz Marie Galvan tells the story of a life seemingly filled with joy and opportunity. Married to the love of her life, she had a budding career in design and dreams of a family—until she was confronted with the harsh reality of infertility. Hesitant to share her pain with others, she eventually found community with those who were walking through the same issues. Now, through the work she does to create cozy homes and being open about her personal story, Liz Marie sees how God can be a light during our darkest of hours and how He can redeem our stories for a greater good. Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling weekly prayer call Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith [Original Video Series] featuring Rita Wilson Cyntoia Brown-Long Simon Shuster Book publisher ‘Free Cyntoia: My Search for Redemption in the American Prison System’ book Libscomb University PBS Documentary: Me Facing Life #FreeCyntoia hashtag (Twitter) Bill Haslam (Tennessee Governor) Liz Marie Galvan Cozy White Cottage: 100 Ways to Love the Feeling of Being Home The Found Cottage Christopher Lowell Trading Spaces Interview Quotes: “I knew that there was some way that I could live some type of meaningful life [in prison].” - Cyntoia Brown-Long “Jesus is always calling. He has a word for you 365 days every year. It doesn't stop. He's always there. He's there when you need Him. He's there just to say, "Hey, thank you." - Jamie Long “But to experience true freedom—whether in prison or out of prison—it comes through Him.”- Cyntoia Brown-Long “He is a God of second chances.” - Cyntoia Brown-Long “Even though I was in a physical prison, I was in prison within prison. I was in a prison of anger. I was in a prison of my past, constantly letting that anxiety hold me captive.” - Cyntoia Brown-Long “No matter what your prison is, you just have to submit to Him and cast all your cares on Him and let Him do what He does. That's who He is. He's God.” - Cyntoia Brown-Long “I was able to meet an entire community of people that were going through the same struggle [through my blog]. It was so helpful to be able to rally together and give each other hope and pray for each other.” - Liz Marie Galvan “I was starting to stumble a little bit and wonder why I was going through this. And I was looking to God, wanting to know why I was not able to bear a child. It was one of the darkest seasons of my life.” - Liz Marie Galvan ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0 Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O ________________________ 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 mired in shame, it’s hard to believe we could ever be worthy of God’s grace. But when we step aside and allow God into the pit, He can pull us out of our mess and use our lives to show His glory in ways we could never imagine. Today we hear from Lauren, Aja, and Natalie—three women who have traveled through The Next Door, a nonprofit, faith-based organization that helps women coming out of incarceration to rebuild their lives. With vulnerability and strength, these women remind us there is nothing we can do that can separate us from God’s love. Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Sarah Young, author of Jesus Calling Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling weekly prayer call Jesus Calling interview with Next Door graduates Janie & Tammy The Next Door non-profit organization Nashville, TN Interview Quotes: “The Next Door has completely changed my life. I had to find me again.” - Lauren, The Next Door “There’s a difference between guilt and shame. Guilt is, ;I feel bad for something I've done,” but shame is, “I feel bad because of who I am.’” - Lauren, The Next Door “God really shows up when we get out of the way and let Him.” - Lauren, The Next Door “[The Next Door] took me in. And I'll never forget walking in the building and taking the biggest deep breath, because it was like coming home again. You know, I didn't have a home. And that's what they've become for me.” - Lauren, The Next Door “When I finally stop trying to save myself, to let Him save me, He does it's much bigger than I could have ever done for myself.” - Lauren, The Next Door “You have no idea what you'll do until you're in the grips of [addiction]. It was really hard. But because it was so hard, it helped someone else, and it qualifies me to speak life into other women. That, to me, is all the hope I need.” - Lauren, The Next Door “When I came to The Next Door, I found a greater relationship with God.” - Aja, The Next Door “We would read Jesus Calling at the beginning of group every day, and it would just fall right in line with what was going on in my life. And today, it is still falling in line with what is going on in my life, right in the middle of my struggles.” - Aja, The Next Door “There is a God and He is real. AlI you have to do is hold onto His hand and He will do the rest. Hold on to Him. He will lead you where you need to go.” - Aja, The Next Door “I found that not only does He know broken people, but He loves broken people that can help broken people.” - Natalie, The Next Door ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0 Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O ________________________ 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 humans love to feel powerful and in control. But each of us has a handful of weaknesses, and we try desperately to hide them from the rest of the world. But time and again, God tells us when we’re weak, He is strong. And when we turn over our weakness to Him and make Him the hero of our lives, He can transform that weakness into our greatest strength for His glory. Our guests this week, pastor Derek Grier and publisher Wayne McKay, share how God’s used some of their pain points to reach others. As an introvert, Dr. Grier never expected to be a pastor. With God’s help, he’s learned how to refuel so he can lead the rapidly-growing Grace Church and reach others through new book When God Stops. When he was a child in Sunday School, Wayne McKay had a hard time understanding the Bible. As an adult, he developed BibleForce, a graphic novel brand that would help kids engage with the life-changing messages of God’s Word and show them heroes to look up to. Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Sarah Young, author of Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Calling (Textured Gray Leathersoft): Enjoying Peace in His Presence (with Full Scriptures) Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling interview with David Crowder & Francesca Battistelli Bishop Derek Grier Grace Church (Dumfries, VA) When God Stops: Faith That Gets God’s Attention Howard University Wayne McKay (Founder of BibleForce) BibleForce Graphic Novel The Next Door ministry organization Interview Quotes: “The way I have learned to describe it is that introversion versus extroversion is about how you refuel.” - Dr. Derek Grier “What captured me was [Jesus’] character. He became my hero, even before He became my Lord.” - Dr. Derek Grier “I don't really think I grew my church as much as my church grew me.” - Dr. Derek Grier “If you begin to really communicate God's truth caringly, consistently, and clearly, hungry people will beat a path to your door, because people want to know God.” - Dr. Derek Grier “Sometimes, we just stay in that place where God revealed Himself to us twenty years ago, and that's it.” - Dr. Derek Grier “We have to continue to step out in our faith journey and do things that we have not done before, in order for us to continue to get a growing revelation of who God is.” - Dr. Derek Grier “I wasn't a very good student of the Bible when I was a kid, because I just didn't understand it. If I'd had a picture story where I could’ve looked at something, then I would have been far more interested when I was younger.” - Wayne McKay “I think heroes should be displaying good moral code, standing up for others, unafraid to take on confrontation, and should be a good member of the community.” - Wayne McKay ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0 Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O ________________________ 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.

Our journey of faith can be a long, slow process, or one where a single life event can jar us into discovering our true relationship with God. Singer Gloria Gaynor, the voice behind one of the world’s most powerful anthems, “I Will Survive,” knows what it’s like to be moved into a space where she needed to know about “this Jesus” she had heard about all her life and if she really believed who He said He was. Former physician Jeff Huxford also knows, all too well, what it was like to have a “comfortable” faith, until a devastating accident turned his world upside down and caused him to reassess everything. Through both their stories, we’ll see how they arrived at a place of deep trust in Jesus—when everything else was going awry in their lives—and how God’s grace, mercy and faithfulness helped them survive their toughest moments. Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Sarah Young, author of Jesus Calling Jesus Calling (Textured Gray Leathersoft): Enjoying Peace in His Presence (with Full Scriptures) Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling interview with NFL Mark Herzlich and his wife Danielle Gloria Gaynor Gloria's new gospel album, "Testimony" Jason Crabb, Bart Millard, & Yolanda Adams “He Won’t Let Go” ft. Bart Millard “I Will Survive” Video “Why Do Fools Fall in Love” by Frankie Lymon “Save Your Love For Me” by Nancy Wilson Isaiah 7:14 on BibleGateway Jeff Huxford Finding Normal: An Uninvited Change, An Unexpected Outcome “Traumatic Brain Injury” – The Mayo Clinic Interview Quotes: “Children don't know they're poor, as long as they're loved. So we didn't know we were poor, because we were very much loved.” - Gloria Gaynor “I just wanted somebody to hear me sing. I didn't care about accolades or applause, I just wanted somebody to hear me sing.” - Gloria Gaynor “So I was just leaving [my problems] up to Him. I was fully assured that God would do something, I just didn't know what.” - Gloria Gaynor “I like songs that are meaningful, that have lyrics, that touch people's hearts, and that have good melodies.” - Gloria Gaynor “My pastor AR Bernard says, ‘If you want to be successful in life, find out what God is doing and get in on it.’” - Gloria Gaynor “He is so faithful. It is incredible how He is always there for you.” - Gloria Gaynor “When God has a timetable, and you run out ahead of God, you end up out there by yourself.” - Gloria Gaynor “Hold on. Stay on the path. Keep the faith, and know that He won't let go.” - Gloria Gaynor “My head went through the open window, slammed against the concrete pole, and I suffered a traumatic brain injury.“ Jeff Huxford “After a brain injury, the [affected] person essentially becomes a new person. Who they were before is a thing of the past.” - Jeff Huxford “My faith was based more on the don'ts rather than the do's.” - Jeff Huxford “I like the way Jesus Calling seems to make you slow down, rest, and think about what Jesus is trying to tell you right now.” - Jeff Huxford “I grew up believing that it makes you uncomfortable, don't do it. But the truth is, there's a lot of things in the Bible that God calls us to do. And it's not always going to be comfortable, because He knows that when we do things that are uncomfortable, that's when we grow, and our faith gets stronger.” - Jeff Huxford ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0 Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O ________________________ 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.

Even after we know Jesus, many of us struggle with mistakes from our past. It seems like those memories will always haunt us and influence decisions we make. How do we learn to let go of the past and let God guide our future? This week’s guest, singer/songwriter Matt Maher, shares how we can use our experiences and the constant presence of a supporting, loving God to become a blessing to others, whether we’re sharing our resources or learning to forgive our parents (and ourselves). In this episode, we’re reminded that God believes in us and He can help us peel back the layers of our souls; using our present to heal our past. Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Sarah Young, author of Jesus Calling Jesus Calling (Textured Gray Leathersoft): Enjoying Peace in His Presence (with Full Scriptures) Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling interview with Jay DeMarcus & Kim Walker-Smith Singer/Songwriter Matt Maher Echoes album Newfoundland St. Johns, Newfoundland Benedictine Order Arizona State University Interview Quotes: “One of the most important things that I learned in growing up in Newfoundland, you treat everyone as if you are encountering the face of God.” - Matt Maher “I think there were plenty of times when I didn't realize how much God believed in me.” - Matt Maher “When it comes to the psychology of faith and how faith develops, a lot of us end up having very stunted experiences of growth. And we don't even realize that subconsciously, we're still praying and talking with God the same way that we did when we were four or five years old.” - Matt Maher “There was just a lot of undoing that God needed to do. He needed to peel back a lot of layers, there was a lot of inner monologues where I was speaking for Him.” - Matt Maher “I've always said that songwriting comes out of the overflow of the human heart that [comes from] spending time with God. And that's how I express. That's how God made me, to express life and process the things that I see or the things that I'm going through.” - Matt Maher “For me, fatherhood has been one of the ways in which God has brought a lot of healing into my life, as I've been able to lean into faith and grace and extend that to my kids. God uses those moments in the present. He repairs the past.” - Matt Maher ______________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0 Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O ________________________ 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 people of faith, we can talk about some of life’s hardest moments openly, knowing when we share our struggles, our friends and family will rally around us. But what do we do when we have questions and doubts about our faith? Where will we find acceptance when we question the tenets of our faith or even the presence of God? God promises He is always near to us, no matter what—and that includes our questions and doubts. This week’s guests, pastors and writers Erwin McManus and Dominic Done, talk about the battles we fight to find hope and answers. And they remind us when we seek God, even in the midst of our hardest moments, we can find His peace, which passes all understanding. Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Sarah Young, author of Jesus Calling Jesus Calling devotional Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling weekly Prayer Call Jesus Calling interview with Bishop T. D. Jakes & worship leader Don Moen Erwin McManus Mosaic Church (Los Angeles, CA) The Way of the Warrior: An Ancient Path to Inner Peace Boulevard of Broken Dreams Dominic Done Westside: A Jesus Church When Faith Fails: Finding God in the Shadow of Doubt James K. A. Smith Doubting Thomas Bible Gateway C. S. Lewis, A Grief Observed Friedrich Nietzsche Existential Nihilism vs. Atheism Worldviews Interview Quotes: “The reason there are wars that rage all around us is that there are wars that rage within us.” Erwin McManus “The battle for peace is exactly that: it's a struggle, it's a battle, it's a daily engagement for peace within your soul.” - Erwin McManus ”For hope to exist, it has to be in the future. When our hope is placed in the past, it turns into regret.” - Erwin McManus “I'm convinced the reason we're created in the image of God is that we're imagined by God to create” - Erwin McManus “Anyone who ever aspires to do anything meaningful is going to have the loss of a dream. One huge challenge is to not put your identity in the dream, because if your value as a human being is based on the dream you're pursuing, then your value is really fragile.” - Erwin McManus “Many of us can identify and relate to a guy like Doubting Thomas. We want a deeper form of faith, but we also don't know what to do with our struggles and our questions.” - Dominic Done “I think it takes wisdom to learn how to live in the tension of an unresolved faith.” - Dominic Done “I would actually argue that God designed [us] in such a way that questions are born and that questions can lead us into a deeper, richer, more meaningful relationship with God.” - Dominic Done “I would argue that the mystery in a relationship is actually what makes a relationship beautiful.” - Dominic Done “We get so obsessed with wanting all the answers. But it's not about having every single answer. It's about the wrestle. It's about the struggle. It's about intimacy with God.” - Dominic Done “I'm learning that God is speaking, but I'm not always listening.” - Dominic Done ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0 Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O ________________________ 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.

Some moments feel like you’re playing in a big game. It’s the 4th quarter, your team is down by 6, and you’re the quarterback—the outcome rests on your shoulders. You’ve spent hours watching your opponent on film, and you’ve played against them for nearly 60 minutes. You’ve been watching their patterns and strategies, and you come up with a play you’re certain will outsmart them and lead you to victory—but your Coach doesn’t agree. He gives you another play to run, one you don’t quite understand. So you’re faced with a dilemma: should you run your own play, the one you understand? Or do you trust your Coach’s wisdom and run with His strategy, leaving the game in His hands? Our guests this week, NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner and CBS Sports broadcaster James Brown, decided to live according to God’s playbook. And each of their journeys is a testament to the amazing things that happen when we lean on God’s wisdom and trust His timing. Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Sarah Young, author of Jesus Calling Jesus Calling devotional Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling weekly Prayer Call Jesus Calling interview with Mark Herzlich Jesus Calling interview with Erwin McManus Kurt Warner, NFL Hall of Fame quarterback TreasureHouse Organization James Brown, Sportscaster 60 Minutes CBS Sports Fox NFL Sunday Fox Sports NFL Network NFL Today Thursday Night Football DeMatha Catholic High School Bill Bradley The Cove (Billy Graham Training Center) Interview Quotes: "When I finally did get to the NFL, it was so much bigger than [people wearing my jersey]. It was, 'How can I use this to inspire and impact other people?'" - Kurt Warner “[I have] this unique story that has a chance to impact more people because of the journey [itself] than anything accomplished on the field.” - Kurt Warner “Every time something goes against us, the first thing we want to do is scream out to God, or blame God, or blame someone else. And [now I] have that constant reminder: Hold on, we've been here before. And you've seen how God has taken something that you think is horrific and [He has] made it into something unique, special, and impactful.” - Kurt Warner "My [high school basketball coach] stressed those of us playing for him had to have four priorities in place: God had to be first. Family second. Then school, then your sport." - James Brown “Many things that are very simple are really profound and leave an indelible impression, a life-changing influence.” - James Brown “So even though in the work environment, you may not find me running around beating people over the head with the Bible, I pray that I am modeling God's word with all the characteristics being displayed in what I do.” - James Brown “God has got each of us right where He wants us, so let's maximize that lean, that sphere of influence where we are.” - James Brown ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0 Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O ________________________ 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 our world, it’s easy to let others define our worth. After all, we interact with people and get feedback on our performance all day long at work, at school, in communities online and off. We feel great when other people compliment us or “like” our posts—but what happens when people don’t like what we’re doing? What happens when we try to chase that affirmation from people and fail to live up to their ever-changing standards? This week, we talk with two actors in the spotlight—Priscilla Shirer and Jeremy Ray Taylor—who try diligently to remember God defines their worth, not the world, and that our days are so much better when we live for His glory and not our own. Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Sarah Young, author of Jesus Calling Jesus Calling devotional Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling weekly Prayer CallJesus Calling Interview with Tony Evans Jesus Calling Interview with country singer Josh Turner and NASCAR driver Michael McDowell Priscilla Shirer Going Beyond Ministries Overcomer Movie (official website) Overcomer Movie (IMDB) Overcomer Movie trailer (YouTube) Alex Kendrick Kendrick Brothers I Can Only Imagine movie Jeremy Ray Taylor Harrison Ford NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner Interview Quotes: “Sometimes we are wishing away the very things about our uniqueness that are designed to be used for a purpose we can't even comprehend.” - Priscilla Shirer “Each and every one of us have to decide who or what we're gonna give permission to identify us, to label us, to name us.” - Priscilla Shirer “Who you are in God can still anchor you even when there is chaos swirling around you.” - Priscilla Shirer “What [defines] you? Who have you given that authority to? And in the end, it better be God, because everything else is up one day and gone tomorrow. But what God says about you remains, no matter what happens in this life.” - Priscilla Shirer “I've just enjoyed the creative outlet of doing something different, and yet the same, in the sense that it's an opportunity to still share the love of Jesus just in a different way.” - Priscilla Shirer “That's what overcoming is. It's having a peace that literally passes your understanding. You literally don't understand how you have peace in the midst of the storm that you are suffering and struggling through.” - Priscilla Shirer “Life on a farm definitely has prepared me for acting. It definitely built a work ethic, I’d say.” - Jeremy Ray Taylor “I recognized [him] and I was like, “Oh gosh, that’s Harrison Ford,” and he's just a normal guy, too. That was one crazy thing that I realized is that everybody [in Hollywood] is just normal.” - Jeremy Ray Taylor “The more we're around people [in the film industry], the more we love it, and the more we're just able to love on people.” - Tracy Taylor “For us, staying connected to God, that’s important as a conversation. And it’s just trying to keep that focus, to keep that the center of what you do and where you are.” - Tracy Taylor ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0 Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O ________________________ 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 that’s more connected than ever but, ironically, more isolated. We disappear into our smartphones and tablets, ignoring the the people God placed us with right in our own living rooms, schools, workplaces and out in the world. Perhaps it’s easier to tap “like” on a screen than ask someone about their day or how we can help them—but that’s not the kind of relationship God called us to have with others. Today we talk with four women—Laurie Crouch, Victoria Osteen, and Dr. DeeDee Freeman of TBN’s Better Together, and novelist Rachel Hauck—to learn how they’re intentionally cultivating their relationships with others, especially their friendships, and how taking time to nurture those relationships with love reaps lasting rewards for everyone. Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Sarah Young, author of Jesus Calling Jesus Calling devotional Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling weekly Prayer Call Jesus Calling Interview Candace Cameron Buré BetterTogether.tv Laurie Crouch Trinity Broadcasting Network Victoria Osteen Lakewood Church Dr. DeeDee Freeman Spirit of Faith Christian Center Rachel Hauck The Memory House book Asbury Seminary Laura Ingalls Wilder “Little House” book series Once Upon a Prince (Hallmark Channel) Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Interview Quotes: “One of the biggest lies that the enemy put in the church is what we have taken from the world to say, ‘Women can’t get along.’ But we can get along. We can be here for one another. We can encourage each other” - Dr. DeeDee Freeman “When you hear someone's story, their challenge, what they've been through, it causes you to understand that person better.” - Victoria Osteen “I believe the diversity of how we are is a representation of what Christ is. And so we have to learn how to come together, bring our differences together, and really share and look like what God intended for us to look like.” - Dr. DeeDee Freeman “It's so important to find people you can pray with, and that can agree with you to lift each other up.” - Laurie Crouch “If women knew their worth, if they really understood their value in the eyes of God—and that's where it starts. It's not in the eyes of man, but it's in the eyes of God—I believe we tap into a superpower.” - Victoria Osteen “You know, you can hear scriptures all your life. You can read a scripture a hundred times, but sometimes a friend or someone close to you can read it to you and bring out something that you have never, never thought of.” - Laurie Crouch “I believe God is so awesome with the creativity of how He made us so unique, if you will, to bring our strengths and our talents together to make the whole picture of what God truly looks like.” - Dr. DeeDee Freeman “Love is in everything. Is there any story where there's not a love angle, be it parental or sibling or friendship?” - Rachel Hauck “About the time I started going into full-time writing, I was also on this journey of understanding this amazing love story in scripture.” - Rachel Hauck “When you're confident you're doing the thing that God designed you to do, then you can endure the hard times, or the disappointments, or the ups and the downs.” - Rachel Hauck ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0 Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O ________________________ 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 one of us is fighting a hard battle. Day in and day out, we try our best to care for loved ones and spread a little of God’s goodness in the world—and sometimes that load feels heavier than others. But as we stumble around with the weight of our burdens, we forget we don’t have to carry them alone. Our guests this week, author and speaker Matthew Kelly and nonprofit leader Tammy Bullock, remind us that despite the burdens on our backs, we can choose to view our world through the lens of joy. And that joy helps us remember no matter what we’re carrying, God is always by our side, helping to lighten the load. Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Sarah Young, author of Jesus Calling Jesus Calling devotional Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling weekly Prayer Call Jesus Calling Interview Candace Payne Matthew Kelly Dynamic Catholic Rediscover the Saints: Twenty-Five Questions That Will Change Your Life book Tammy Bullock Nashville Rescue Mission Bible Gateway – Philippians 4:13 Marian Love artist Sony Records Brentwood Baptist Church Preston Taylor Ministries Interview Quotes: “Humanity is broken and messy.” - Matthew Kelly “I still believe the gospel of Jesus Christ is the best way to live." - Matthew Kelly “I think it's very important that we monitor our joy, that we stay attentive to our joy.” - Matthew Kelly “If we're mindful that everyone we meet is carrying a heavy burden, we treat people with a different gentleness or with a different respect.” - Matthew Kelly “We talk about having a personal relationship with God, but it's hard to connect to that sometimes, and I think [Jesus Calling] effortlessly creates that connection and creates a bridge.” - Matthew Kelly “In any situation we turn to God and say, ‘God, what do you want me to do right now?’ And if we just set aside self-interest, what we feel like doing, what we want to do, and we just do what we feel God is calling us to do in that moment, we've created a holy moment.” - Matthew Kelly “The saints didn't live holy lives. They lived holy moments, and between the holy moments.” - Matthew Kelly “But we all are called to be saints in the way Paul envisioned in his letters. I think that’s a concept that needs to be rediscovered, because it leads us to understand that we have a part to play in the revitalization of our society and the renewal of our world.” - Matthew Kelly “As Christians and as a society, we need to give our leaders permission to be human, because we'll see an astounding new authenticity if we do.” - Matthew Kelly “The spirit of God's relationship with [humanity] throughout the Judeo-Christian tradition has always been one of collaboration.” - Matthew Kelly “At nine years old, I understood [the meaning of] faith: a hope for something I cannot see, but I can believe it.” - Tammy Bullock “If You will save me, I will use this voice You have given me. I will use my voice, my speaking voice, all that I am to bring You glory." - Tammy Bullock “Some of her last words I can remember [my mom] saying to me are, ‘Tammy, don't scratch with the chickens. You were made to soar.’” - Tammy Bullock “I have seen so many women feel loved, feel embraced, and feel as if Jesus is talking to them. [Jesus Calling] is very personal, and they need to feel loved because perhaps each woman, depending upon her life story, has never felt loved unconditionally.” - Tammy Bullock ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0 Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O ________________________ 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 God created our world, the first thing He said was, “Let there be light.” And since then, the people of God have been beating back the darkness by shining His glorious light. This week, three music artists—Anthony Evans and duo Jenny & Tyler—tell us how they came to the realization of their calling, and why it’s so meaningful to them to spread Christ’s light to others. Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling devotional Jesus Calling books Jesus Always Prayer Calendar Anthony Evans Dr. Tony Evans Dr. Lois Evans NBC’s The Voice Unexpected Places book Press Release: Anthony Evans as ‘Beast’ in Beauty & the Beast Live Tour Promise Keepers International Justice Mission Bible Gateway JC Interview with Another Artist Spreading God’s Light: Ellie Holcomb Jenny and Tyler Official Music Video: Waters Roll Interview Quotes: “I have never tried to take on the identity of my parents or siblings, because I know that God has created me with a very unique build, and [it’s] the same thing with you.” - Anthony Evans “I believe that my faith and my abilities were not just built for inside of the four walls of a church.” - Anthony Evans “I'm always challenged to make sure I'm not compromising my faith in order to connect.” - Anthony Evans “I define success by, Am I at peace internally? Because you can't go out and write a check for peace after you do the biggest thing in the world.” - Anthony Evans “I have people in my life here in LA, in Hollywood who don't know church, but [Jesus Calling] has impacted their life.” - Anthony Evans “When you step boldly into the unknown, God is always faithful to light up the next step.” - Anthony Evans “When we know that we have been crucified with Christ and it's no longer us who live but Him who lives in us, it's a lot easier to live beyond our circumstances and live in hope and in victory.” - Tyler Summers “I think we'll never get past that message of ‘Abide in Me.’” - Tyler Summers “It's so easy to hide behind the artist facade, or to look at ourselves as artists instead of as children of God who are loved deeply.” - Tyler Summers ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0 Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O ________________________ 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 farther we get into our faith journeys, the more difficult and complex they seem to be. Obstacles block our paths, daylight dims and the road grows hard to see. But after a while in the dark, the light of dawns breaks through the night, warming the world and showing the way forward. God’s love is that light for our paths, and our guests this week—adventurer Bear Grylls and musician Rhonda Vincent—remind us that even when challenges barrage our faith, we can choose to stay on the road and follow the path He laid for us. Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling devotional Jesus Calling books CMAfest Bear Grylls Man vs Wild TV Show Running Wild TV Show Soul Fuel daily devotional Rhonda Vincent Live at the Ryman with Bluegrass Legends Ryman Auditorium “Where I Come From” song Interview Quotes: “But the great message of grace is that through all of that, somehow despite ourselves, despite our fallenness, we're actually still held, and we're still forgiven.” - Bear Grylls “If I ever sense the presence of God, it’s actually in relationships,” - Bear Grylls “The journey of faith can be sort of a difficult one to navigate.” - Bear Grylls “The moments you think would be the greatest triumphs have often been in my place of real doubt and struggle.” - Bear Grylls “Somehow through the fog of being a human being, I choose to trust in this message of grace and this message of love.” - Bear Grylls “I have seen so many blessings and miracles that God has given us.” - Rhonda Vincent “I am so thankful that I have that faith, and I got to have the Bible as a guide and as a road map of life.” - Rhonda Vincent “I love the connections that that music brings.” - Rhonda Vincent “[When you’re an artist] there becomes a responsibility and expectation to make sure, number one, that you are representing yourself [well. I think], How does God perceive me? “ - Rhonda Vincent ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0 Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O ________________________ 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 life brings us to our knees, it’s nearly impossible to remember that one day the pain won’t feel as sharp, and somehow we’ll find new life beyond the sorrow. In fact, God can redeem our darkest moments by bringing love and joy and newfound purpose to our days. That’s what He’s done for our guests this week: pastor and author Jonathan Pitts, who recently lost his 38-year-old wife author Wynter Evans Pitts, and entrepreneur John Hill, who struggled to find his way in life until He trusted God for each moment. Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling devotional Jesus Calling books Jesus Always CMAfest Jonathan Pitts Church of the City, Franklin TN Emptied: Experiencing the Fullness of a Poured-Out Marriage Book For Girls Like You organization Anthony Evans, Jr. singer & artist Mitral Valve Prolapse (Mayo Clinic) Factor V Lieden (Mayo Clinic) Urban Alternative (Tony Evans) John Hill The Good Contractors List C12 Group Interview Quotes: “Our identity, although it included our race, had nothing to do with our race. Our identity was much deeper than that.” - Jonathan Pitts “It would take me years to discover just the level of woman that I married.” - Jonathan Pitts “The beautiful thing of our marriage wasn't that it was perfect, but it was progressional.” - Jonathan Pitts “Wynter accomplished her mission and God called her home.” - Jonathan Pitts “[Slowing down] allows my girls to grieve even better, because with me being present, that allows me to be there for them.” - Jonathan Pitts “As hard as it's been [to lose a wife and mother], there's been a lot of sorrow, but there's been a ton of joy coupled with it.” - Jonathan Pitts “As a teenager, I started falling away from God, realizing, If it's black or white, there's no way I'm ever gonna make it to heaven.” - John Hill “I just want to love You like I loved You when I was a kid, before I knew what sin was, before I knew what all this stuff was.” - John Hill “I want to live every day--not just be alive.” - John Hill “We get way too involved in trying to help God. God doesn't need our help. He needs our obedience.” - John Hill ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0 Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O ________________________ 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.

Life can be a long, difficult ride and there are times that fill us with despair, especially when giving our best isn’t enough to help us change our circumstances. While we wrestle with fear and uncertainty, God works quietly in the background, filling the gaps in our efforts, carefully nudging us forward so we can keep going. Our guests have held onto their faith as they’ve traveled the winding roads of Western sports: world champion rodeo athlete Tyson Durfey and his wife, country music artist Shea Fisher, and former champion bull rider Cody Custer. Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling devotional Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling.com/daily-email Tyson Durfey Shea Fisher Central Park by the Bethesda Fountain, Cody Custer National Finals Rodeo PBR Interview Quotes: “I go in 100 percent with whatever I decide to go after. I picked up the Bible, and it grabbed hold of my heart. It was just that transition, and it was truly amazing for me.” - Tyson Durfey “When you hear the word of the Lord that vivid and that audible, it shakes you to your core, it really does.” - Tyson Durfey “Where you don't see the way, God sees the way.” - Tyson Durfey “It's important to remember that if you can't do it, God will fill in the gap.” - Tyson Durfey “I don't know if everything happens for a reason, but I believe there's a reason in the middle of what happens.” - Cody Custer “I don't believe that God ever takes His hand off any of us, no matter what we're doing, no matter what's going on in our lives.” - Cody Custer ”I think people get too wrapped up in circumstances and forget [success is] not the end all.” - Cody Custer “I learned a lot more from my boy than I ever thought I did.” - Cody Custer “[Jesus Calling] is just a book with words until the Spirit hits it, and then it's life.” - Cody Custer “Everybody grieves their own way. Grieve how you grieve. There's no there's no cookie cutter way to grieve.” - Cody Custer ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0 Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O ________________________ 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 how careful, each of us will go through life with bumps, bruises and scars. Behind each wound we receive is a story of how we tried, failed, and persevered through hardship. And one of the ways God can redeem our scars is to help us share those experiences with others so they feel less alone. Our guests this week—pastor and writer Mark Eaton, and country music singer/songwriter Kelsey Lamb—come from different places and circumstances. But Mark and Kelsey have each rolled up their sleeves to do the hard work of sharing their scars with others, helping them walk through or avoid pain in their own lives. Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling devotional Jesus Calling books Jesus Always July 2019 Family Prayer Calendar Mark Eaton, Eaton Leadership Susie McEntire Eaton Kelsey Lamb Pali Adventures Interview Quotes: "[When I became a Christian], I somehow had the impression that life was going to get better the next day." - Mark Eaton "I met the Lord when I was 14 because of a church that cared enough to . . . bring a youth pastor onto their staff." - Mark Eaton "What was a tool became an addiction and later became a compulsion. 'I have to be popular. I have to be liked.' . . . And there's a point when those tools fail." - Mark Eaton "What a gift [my dad] gave me by stepping off his platform and being willing to change and adjust our relationship." - Mark Eaton "To me, every day not not divided up into good and bad, but easy and hard . . . because what's a bad thing one day might be the thing that saves you the next." - Mark Eaton “I want to be around people who have scars, who are willing to talk about them and not afraid to show them.” - Mark Eaton “Almost all of my songs come from personal experiences: my break ups, moving to Nashville, college. All of that is in my music, hoping to help someone else get through it.” - Kelsey Lamb "When you jump back into [Jesus Calling] you start to realize that every devotion ends up being completely applied to what you're going through." - Kelsey Lamb "I don't think [my career] will ever just be handed to me. I think [God] puts opportunities in my path to help me work to get to the next step." - Kelsey Lamb ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0 Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O ________________________ 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.

While we may not realize it at the time, struggle is a blessing because down the road, remembering the struggles we have endured helps us empathize with others going through the same hardship. Our guests—country and gospel music legend Jimmy Fortune and US Army veteran and dragon boat racing champion Jess Key—have used their lives to spotlight this truth: no matter what you’ve been through, God is not done with you yet. He can use anything in your life, the good and the bad, and make it beautiful. Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling devotional Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling on Zulily Jimmy Fortune Jimmy Fortune’s new album God and Country Jimmy Fortune, I Believe music video Jimmy Fortune, Meet at Arlingon video The Statler Brothers Bill Gaither Music Cracker Barrel JESS KEY Childhood PTSD National Dragonboat Team National Suicide Hotline Interview Quotes: “[My dad’s true character] came to the forefront when he let God have his life.” - Jimmy Fortune ”The Statler Brothers were a safe place for me because they were all about God and family and their country.” - Jimmy Fortune “Whatever I do with my music, I want it to be in a positive way to help people in their lives.” - Jimmy Fortune “God works through us. And in His love for us, He works through people and He works through books like this Jesus Calling.” - Jimmy Fortune “So we [need to] all work together to accomplish the goal that God wants us to accomplish, and that's to help the downtrodden and the people of this world who need to hear about Him.” - Jimmy Fortune “It's so important that we acknowledge our soldiers and thank them for what they did for us. They gave, they sacrificed their lives for us.” - Jimmy Fortune “God is where you need to turn to and give your life, because He's going to be the one that's going to help you through all this, because it is no secret what God can do." - Jimmy Fortune “I grew up seeing this abuse, and I was abused myself. I thought it was normal thing, but come to think of it, I was becoming the abuser. I would get drunk and ballistic with an uncontrollable kind of anger. If you imagine an MMA fighter, that's the kind of rage I had inside and I didn't know why.” - Jess Key “One night I got drunk, and I attempted suicide. I was not in my right mind. I thought that was the way out. I had suffered so much that I didn't know how to cope.” - Jess Key “As a kid, I always said to myself I would never grow up and be my mom. Yet I was living that same life, choosing the same path that she did.” - Jess Key “Through it all, God worked these miraculous things out.” - Jess Key “Your story is not over. It's just beginning. God will use any circumstance, whether it be good or bad, and He'll turn it into something beautiful.” - Jess Key “The waves of adversity crashed over me all throughout life, but God is simply saying, ‘Keep your focus on My presence, and be in the present.’” - Jess Key “You can find freedom once and for all, and it's through Christ. He is our freedom. He is our hope. He is our everything. You’ve just got to trust in that.” - Jess Key ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0 Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O ________________________ 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.

One of the hardest parts of our Christian walk is to make that walk consistent, especially in the storms of life. But today’s guests, pastor Rich Wilkerson, Jr. and entertainers David & Tamela Mann, have found when they draw near to God, especially when they’re in the valley, He remains faithful to us. And in fact, God’s presence gives us the strength to keep going so we can perform one of our highest callings: to nurture relationships with the people around us and fill them with His love. Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling devotional Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling June Prayer Calendar Rich Wilkerson, Jr. (Facebook) Vous Church Rich Wilkerson book, Friend of Sinners: Why Jesus Cares More About Relationship Than Perfection David Wilkerson book, The Cross and the Switchblade The Cross and the Switchblade movie trailer Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) David and Tamela Mann (Facebook) David and Tamela Mann book, Us Against the World: Our Secrets to Love, Marriage, and Family The Manns television reality show Kirk Franklin & The Family Tyler Perry Interview Quotes: “[Our time at VOUS church] has been an amazing three years, getting to see people's lives changed and transformed by the message of Jesus.” - Rich Wilkerson, Jr. “I'm just thankful for the heritage [to] know so many things that have happened in my life are because I stand on the shoulders of the giants in the faith [who] have gone before me.” - Rich Wilkerson, Jr. “From a young age, I was always very sensitive towards God. I knew I loved God, and I knew that God loved me. I don't think I was always sure how I fit in. I didn't really see how I was going to play my part.” - Rich Wilkerson, Jr. “I think so often in church, we're so good at talking about things after the miracle happens. I think we need more people to be open when they're actually in the midst of pain.” - Rich Wilkerson, Jr. “Many times we don't allow ourselves to be honest with God in our pain, in our worry, in our fear to ever discover that He's actually right there with us.” - Rich Wilkerson, Jr. “When it comes to God, there are certain things you can't learn on the mountaintop. You actually have to learn it in the valley.” - Rich Wilkerson, Jr. ”Storms either have a way of pushing you away from God, or you can choose to allow your storm to push you towards God.” - Rich Wilkerson, Jr. “Ultimately the way that you view God is going to dictate how you receive and communicate with God.” - Rich Wilkerson, Jr. “I want people to hear the truth, that the gospel is good news, that God is not mad at you. He’s madly in love with you.” - Rich Wilkerson, Jr. “In any marriage you're gonna have some challenges, [but] you have to make up your mind that you love each other enough to fight for each other.” - Tamela Mann “Singing was our passion, it was our heart.” - Tamela Mann “I'm just so happy to be able to share my gift and to be where we are today. We take no credit. All glory goes to God.” - Tamela Mann “[Jesus Calling] gives you some practical things I can take home [and go,] ‘Oh okay, I can do that.’” - David Mann “People won't judge you on your perfection. They'll judge you on your consistency.” - David Mann “We just want to let people know there is still hope. Our Savior still lives.” - David Mann ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0 Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O ________________________ 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 have seasons when we feel crushed by the weight of our problems. A job loss. A loved one grows seriously ill. An unexpected bill in the mail. In the middle of overwhelming anxiety, it’s hard to remember, let alone believe, the promise God gives us in Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” But today’s guests, Bishop T. D. Jakes and worship leader Don Moen, remind us that in the middle of our problems, we can take a step back and remember that “God will make a way,” and He can redeem everything, even our darkest moments, for His glory. Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling devotional Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling Daily Email T. D. Jakes The Potter’s House Church T. D. Jakes’ book, Crushing: God Turns Pressure Into Power Don Moen Don Moen’s book, God Will Make A Way: Finding His Hope in Your Story Integrity Music Oral Roberts University Interview Quotes: “The cross itself was a horrific emblem of suffering and shame. It was not something that Jesus enjoyed. The Bible says He despised the shame of it, but for the joy that was set before Him, He endured the suffering of the cross.” - T. D. Jakes “There may be some things that are bad that still work together for [our] good.” - T. D. Jakes “You have to be gentle with people that are hurt. You have to be empathetic.” - T. D. Jakes “I'm at that stage of my life now that I really want to leave footprints behind about what it really costs to be who you are and how to survive crushings that people don't see.” - T. D. Jakes “God develops us through the crushing. God develops the world around us. . . . There will be something good that comes out of it, if you can resist the temptation to become bitter and take the more difficult choice of becoming better.” - T. D. Jakes “I did not ever try to be an artist. I never wanted to be an artist.” - Don Moen “And as human vessels, we need to just get out of the way and let God do what He wants to do.” - Don Moen ”God will make a way where there seems to be no way.” - Don Moen “We look at setbacks in our lives sometimes as way too permanent, but God uses these setbacks to bring us to the place where He wants us to be, to help transform us into the men and women He wants us to be.” - Don Moen ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0 Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O ________________________ 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.

Dads hold a tender place in our hearts. Like our heavenly Father, they have a unique way of showing they see us, we matter, and we are loved. And as we become parents, we want to shower our children with the same kind of love and provision a good father graciously gives. Our guests are Christian singer/songwriter Steven Curtis Chapman and his daughter Emily Chapman Richards, and Sawyer Brown frontman and Christian music producer Mark Miller and his daughter, TV host Madison Brown. These dads and daughters talk about special moments they had with their own fathers, along with the faithful legacies they’re working to pass on to their children today. Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling devotional Jesus Calling: 365 Devotions for Kids Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling calendar Steven Curtis Chapman Deeper Roots: Where the Bluegrass Grows, Steven Curtis Chapman’s latest album Show Hope Compassion International Mark Miller, frontman to Sawyer Brown Madison Brown, host of Chasing Down Madison Brown Casting Crowns Star Search American Idol Interview Quotes: “My dad, even if he's not here in physical presence, I know that I'm in his heart and I'm on his mind. I'm in his prayers and his thoughts. He's got my back, and he sees with me." - Steven Curtis Chapman “I love my dad. Dad has always, and continues to remain to this day, always very intentional with every moment he has.” - Emily Chapman Richards “There's nothing sweeter to the heart of a dad than to hear his children bless him.” - Steven Curtis Chapman “That’s what’s so beautiful about Jesus Calling, I think. It's just the approach of speaking in a language where you feel like Jesus is speaking these things to you and right into your situation.” - Steven Curtis Chapman “There were several other things throughout my career that were crossroads that really challenged my faith. I always went in the direction of my faith, and it always was the right thing to do.” - Mark Miller “I want [my kids] to grow up the way that I did, to know that if you're willing to work, you can achieve anything you want to. But you have to work to get it.” - Mark Miller ”[Jesus Calling has] become not only a great way for all of us to have a good daily devotional, but at the same time a great way to stay together as a family.” - Madison Brown ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0 Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O ________________________ 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 we look at the path before us, and we can’t see the way ahead. But there are two things that bolster our courage and help us take a step forward: a God we know will see us through, and family standing by our sides. Country superstar Randy Travis and his wife Mary, and country artist John Berry have seen their share of highs and lows: humble beginnings, family tragedies, award-winning songs and medical trials. And through it all, they’ve made it to the other side thanks to the love of their God and the unwavering faith of their families. Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling devotional Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling calendar Randy Travis Randy Travis memoir: “Forever and Ever Amen” Nashville Palace Randy Travis, Rise & Shine album Randy Travis, Three Wooden Crosses video Randy Travis, When Mama Prayed video Randy Travis, 1982 video Randy Travis, On the Other Hand video John Berry John Berry, Saddle in the Wind John Berry, You Love Amazes Me video Inspirational movie, Beautifully Broken on DVD Interview Quotes: “The more [Randy] heard [his music] touched somebody, the more inclined he was to sing a new song, write a new song. So I think that's why now . . . we have such a beautiful catalog of Randy Travis music straight from the heart.” - Mary Travis “Randy’s life and music has had an impact on millions of people.” - Mary Travis “I think the great thing about love is that you know the worst about each other, but you only see the best.” - Mary Travis “To watch [my dad] grieve and watch him to lean on Christ and to get up in the morning to deal with face and every day, it was quite a lesson to see my father cling to Christ throughout that time of his life [after my mom’s death].” - John Berry “I found out later every time I was off the bus, the guys in the band would go rummage through the back room, trying to find the drugs they knew I had to have been on.” John Berry “I have to think our Heavenly Father every day for the love [my wife Robin] has for me.” - John Berry ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0 Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O ________________________ 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 year, the women of Brookland Baptist Church in Columbia, South Carolina hold an annual Women’s Day for the community, where they endeavor to lift each other up in Christ. We were honored to listen to mothers, daughters, and friends discuss the importance of community and talk about their weekly prayer call, where they read Jesus Calling together, pray for each other and pray for the women attending their event. Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Devotional Jesus Always Devotional Jesus Calling: 365 Devotions for Kids Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling Groups Brookland Baptist Church Interview Quotes: “Jesus Calling really helps prepare me for that workday because it asks me to get in His presence and go to Him and not to try and carry all of it with me.” - Angela, Brookland Baptist Church “[Jesus Calling] has really brought my daughters and I together.” - Johanna, Brookland Baptist Church ”Jesus Calling book has shown me that God loves us, no matter what. No matter what. Through it all, He loves us. - Josephine, Brookland Baptist Church ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0 Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O ________________________ 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.

Altar'd State is a faith-based retail company that gives back and works with organizations to help people around the world. One of their partners is Compassion That Compels, who provides hope and emotional support to women fighting cancer, one compassionate act at a time. Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Devotional Jesus Calling books Altar’d State Compassion that Compels Interview Quotes: “One of the things I love about Altar’d State is I'm able to do what I'm passionate about and what I really love, but also live out my faith and give back to my community.” - Aaron Walters, Altar’d State “I am a living testimony of if you follow God's plan, He will take care of you.” - Aaron Walters, Altar’d State “We provide hope and emotional support to women fighting any type of cancer, one compassionate act at a time.“ - Kristianne Stewart, Compassion That Compels “Instead of telling people we're Christians, we just show them that we're Christians.” - Mary Beth Fox, Altar’d State ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0 Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O ________________________ 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.

Olympic runner Ryan Hall and inspirational thought leader Holly Dowling have found their true worth comes from God, not the world. Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Devotional Jesus Calling books Ryan and Sara Hall website Ryan Hall’s book, Run the Mile You’re In: Finding God in Every Step Team World Vision Holly Dowling website Young Life organization Girl Up organization Interview Quotes: “God was telling me that He gave me a gift to run with the best guys in the world, but He gave me that gift so that I could help other people.” - Ryan Hall “I started seeing myself how God sees me, and that was a really, really powerful shift for me.” - Ryan Hall “I want to extract all these lessons that God's taught me, all the things I feel like He's told me along the way, and I want to share those with people so I can help them on their journey.” - Ryan Hall “I believe that it's in our imperfections that we're beautiful. When we're broken, we’re beautiful.” - Holly Dowling “I think the greatest gift we can give to ourselves is permission to love ourselves for who we are.” - Holly Dowling ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0 Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O ________________________ 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 are 7 words that can change the way we worship. Today, Christian music songwriter Chris Tomlin and pastor Darren Whitehead let us in on a few and explain how we can revolutionize our relationship with God when we learn the true meaning of worship. Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Devotional Chris Tomlin & Darren Whitehead book: Holy Roar: Seven Words That Will Change the Way You Worship Chris Tomlin, How Great Is Our God song Chris Tomlin, Good, Good Father book Church of the City (Franklin, TN) Watoto Children’s Choir of Uganda Ocean Way Studio (Nashville, TN) Interview Quotes: “Toldah is the idea of lifting your hands in praise...thanking God for what He has done, but it's also thanking God for what He has not yet done.” - Darren Whitehead “This is the essence of Toldah. It is, ‘I will trust You when I'm uncertain. I will trust You when I'm afraid. I will worship You when I'm anxious. I will lift my hands to You for that which has happened and that which has not yet happened. I will trust You.’” Darren Whitehead “When we make praising God a lifestyle, He guides us in ways that we are aware of and ways that we are not aware of.” - Darren Whitehead “Worship is, it's universal. It is a universal language. And just to play a small role in that has been an incredible journey in my life.” - Chris Tomlin ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0 Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O ________________________ 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.

Rascal Flatts’ Jay DeMarcus and Jesus Culture’s Kim Walker-Smith remind us how God can use the shattered pieces of our lives to create a beautiful mosaic that shows His glory. Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Devotional Jesus Calling: 365 Devotions for Kids Jay DeMarcus’s book, Shotgun Angels: My Story of Broken Roads and Unshakeable Hope Max Lucado’s book, Grace for the Moment: Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year Kim Walker-Smith’s book, Brave Surrender: Let God’s Love Rewrite Your Story Jesus Culture Jesus Culture Conference Interview Quotes: “I'm grateful I had a mom who cared enough to really lay the groundwork for me for later on in life.” - Jay DeMarcus “[My mom] kept pushing me and telling me that I was right where God wanted me to be and that I didn't need to let the enemy defeat me.” - Jay DeMarcus “As long as you keep your ears and your eyes and your heart open, you also can recognize those God moments.” - Jay DeMarcus “You have to be very deliberate about making time for everything that's important to you in your life.” - Jay DeMarcus “The thing I love about Jesus Calling is I feel like He's speaking right to me when I'm reading it.” - Jay DeMarcus “Man makes his plans, but the Lord aligns his steps.” Proverbs 16:9 “I feel Jesus constantly pulling me back and reminding me to live in that moment with Him.” - Kim Walker-Smith “Freedom and authenticity and vulnerability in worship is something that I have contended for in my life.” - Kim Walker-Smith “I poured out my heart into this book with as much vulnerability and honesty as I could, because I wanted people to see the reality of Jesus in our circumstances, our pain, our mess, whatever it is we're facing.” - Kim Walker-Smith “One thing that I have learned in my journey with Him is that it's really easy to surrender when you feel beatdown, broken, at the end of yourself. “ - Kim Walker-Smith “[God] is a kind and loving Father that comes to us and meets us where we are and answers when we call out to Him.” - Kim Walker-Smith “As I surrender to Him and [am] present with Him in the moment, He can transform that and create something beautiful out of that.” - Kim Walker-Smith ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0 Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O ________________________ 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.

For decades, Melinda Gates and Dr. Tony Evans have empowered women and men to reach for lives of dignity and hope. Since she and her husband Bill began their foundation in 2000, Melinda has been working tirelessly to improve the lives of women and children worldwide. And in that time, she’s seen when you lift up a woman, she lifts up everyone else. She’s written about her experiences in her new book The Moment of Lift. Dr. Evans believes God wants every man to be a world changer, and in order to do so, he needs to take responsibility for his life and his actions. He shares how an ordinary man can become extraordinary in his new film Kingdom Men Rising. Links, Products and Resources: Melinda Gates book, The Moment of Lift Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Tony Evans documentary film, Kingdom Men Rising Tony Evans’ The Urban Alternative Jesus Calling 365 Day Devotional Book Jesus Calling Daily Email Interview Quotes: “We have this need as human beings to connect to one another.” - Melinda Gates “If you lift up a woman, she lifts up everyone else.” - Melinda Gates “I spend quiet time every morning. That's where I find my soul and my inspiration, and where I focus closely on who is it that I want to be in the world.” - Melinda Gates “Men have to be willing for God to tell them what to do in their personal life, in their family life, their church life, and in their civic life.” - Dr. Tony Evans “The way a man leads his family best is around the table—praying and blessing, guidance, correcting—he does all that at the table.” - Dr. Tony Evans ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0 Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O ________________________ 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.

Today we hear the miraculous true story of one mother’s belief in the power of prayer that not only brought her son back to life, but continues to inspire people around the world in a new inspirational movie called Breakthrough, starring Chrissy Metz from NBC’s This Is Us. On a cold winter’s day in Missouri, John Smith was a 14-year-old boy playing on a frozen lake with two of his best friends. But a carefree day soon grew dire as the ice gave way and boys fell into the lake. While John’s friends were able to escape, John remained underwater for fifteen minutes. And by the time he was pulled out by first responders, he didn’t have a pulse. John’s mother Joyce was summoned to the hospital, and when she saw her son’s lifeless body on the hospital bed, she turned to God for a miracle. Later, we hear how the Smiths’ story traveled from a Missouri hospital room to a Hollywood studio, and how the cast and crew of Breakthrough were able to see God’s hand throughout the creation of the film. Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: “Breakthrough” movie “Breakthrough” book Beth Moore’s “Believing God” “Miracles from Heaven” movie NBC’s “This Is Us” Interview Quotes: “I had drowned and was underwater for 15 minutes.” - John Smith “I lay lifeless. They did everything medically, scientifically that they could do.” - John Smith "I believe God is who He says He is. I believe God can do what He says He can do. And I believe in God." - Joyce Smith “Anybody would be [upset] when they tell you that you know they've just pulled your son out of the lake and he doesn't have a heartbeat. . . . But my first go-to was God to pray. That was what I had been prepared to do over the weeks beforehand.” - Joyce Smith “[God], You say we can come to You with the things going on in our lives, and You're there to be faithful to us and answer our prayers." - Joyce Smith “Holy Spirit, please come and bring me back my son." - Joyce Smith “When [Mom] prayed, something so powerful rushed up my body that it pushed three nurses searching for a pulse physically back, and they can't explain it.” - John Smith “Because God is omnipotent, and we are created in His image, our words have potency to them, they have power.” - Joyce Smith ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0 Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O ________________________ 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’re celebrating one of God’s most special gifts: our pets. Animal rescue advocate Lavonne Redferrin and musician Irlene Mandrell have been deeply touched by God’s creatures and share sweet stories of how animals have impacted their lives. Lavonne Redferrin is the founder and executive director of Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue, which not only matches animals up with loving families, but works with local organizations, like prison ministries, to provide the therapeutic benefits of being around animals. Lavonne tells us about the earliest days of the organization and why she thinks God blessed us with the gift of pets. Growing up, Irlene Mandrell saw her fair share of miracles as she watched her sister Barbara rise to country music fame, then saw her sister Louise’s star rise alongside her own as the three formed the group Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters. Irlene reflects on everyday miracles and special relationships she’s had with her family, her pets, and with God. Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Devotional “6 Things Pets Teach Us” download Proverbs 12:10 Rescue Chewy Pet Food & Supplies Davidson County TN Second Chances (Offender Dog Program) Irlene Mandrell’s “God Rains Miracles” book Interview Quotes: “Proverbs 12:10 is an organization dedicated to saving as many of His helpless as we can.” - Lavonne Redferrin “[The] animal has blessed [inmates] or taught them patience or given them something to wake up for inside those bars.” - Lavonne Redferrin, on the Second Chances program with the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office “[Proverbs 12:10 is] at the point that we place an average of a thousand animals a year.” - Lavonne Redferrin “We truly are dedicated to all [animals] in our care.” - Lavonne Redferrin “The best way to show your animals that you love and care for them is to give them a proper home in which to live.” - Lavonne Redferrin “We've had animals surrendered to us, and they will literally sit and watch for hours and days for that person to come back.” - Lavonne Redferrin "Push back the demands pressing in on you, and create a safe space around you, a haven in which you can rest in Me." - Jesus Calling “I truly believe that [animals are] everything God meant for us to be.” - Lavonne Redferrin “You’d wish God would just slow down time a little bit because everything's so wonderful. And I just find myself thanking Him.” - Irlene Mandrell “God rains miracles all around us—we just have to look for them!” - Irlene Mandrell Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest Jesus Calling Website Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast Original Series video podcast Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.