The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey

Do you struggle with living in the past? Do you find yourself worrying about the future? I’m sure at some point in your life you would answer those questions with a big YES! Today I sit down with Jeanne Stevens and discuss how it’s possible to find truth and peace by living in the present.Jeanne Stevens is the founder and co-lead pastor with her husband of Soul City Church in Chicago, Illinois. Jeanne seeks to live healthy rhythms while being a wife, mom, speaker, author, and leader. She is passionate about helping people wake up to their purpose as they pursue a life of wholehearted freedom. Jeanne shares how blame, shame, guilt, grief, and bitterness draw us back to our past, make us worry about the future, and keep us from living in the present. She encourages us to take our thoughts captive and dwell with God who is always in the present. Jeanne and I talk about the reality of this in our parenting journey and in our marriages. I’m so thankful for this conversation and for Jeanne’s work. I encourage you to check out the links from the show and grab yourself a copy of What’s Here Now?: How to Stop Rehashing the Past and Rehearsing the Future. SHOW LINKS:Soul City ChurchSpeed of TrustSmart Brevity: How to Say More with LessThe Psychology of MoneyTime: The Untold Story of the Love that Kept us Together when Incarceration Kept us Apart

Have you ever asked yourself if you’re worshiping God with your physical body? Have you wondered if the body is important to Jesus? On today’s show I sit down and answer these questions with author of A Body of Praise: Understanding the Role of our physical bodies in Worship, David Taylor. David is no stranger to The Happy Hour and you may remember him from last December when we discussed Advent. Today David and I talk about our bodies being used as an expression of praise and worship. We discuss how worship has very little to do with how we are raised, or our personality type, and instead has everything to do with what the scriptures commands of us. David draws on the wisdom of the Bible, church history, and theology. He takes a unique insight into the arts and sciences, ethics, and spiritual formation. David tells us there is something for our physical bodies to do that decisively forms Christlikeness in us within the context of corporate worship. I encourage you to listen to this episode with an open mind and ask God how you can bring all of yourself to worship him! SHOW LINKS:The Last Duel Film 2021The Body Keeps the ScoreWhat Happened to You?Prayer in the NightWhy Humans Like to CryChrist the Lord: The Road to Cana Christ the Lord: Out of EgyptHandle with Care: How Jesus Redeems the Power of Touch in Life and MinistryEpisode 299 w/Lore Ferguson Wilbert

Happy Friday, friends! Today is the final episode in our Unreached People Groups series. Today’s guest is founder of Activate Global and creator of Elevate, Jessica Hotz. Activate Global is a ministry committed to taking the love of Jesus to the most challenging places around the world. This mission is accomplished through the planting of sustainable churches and providing resources for people to create kingdom-minded business, like Elevate, that focus on empowering families. Today, Activate Global serves in the world’s 15 most challenging nations. It’s currently engaging with 142 people groups, has launched over 200 businesses, trained more than 600 leaders, and has planted 568 churches! On today’s episode, Jessica shares how this journey started in her twenties, how she knew God was calling her to the nations, and the adventure she and her husband have been on for the past decade. In the end, we talk about some of the products that Elevate is creating and the giveaway that’s happening on my Instagram! If you missed any episodes in this series – please go back and listen. I’m so proud of this series and would love for you to share them with friends. My biggest prayer is that God has awakened your heart for the nations and unreached people living without the knowledge of a Savior who loves them deeply. SHOW LINKS:Watch Jamie on YouTubeActivate GlobalElevateJoshua Project Finishing the TaskDon’t Hold Back Up From Slavery Women Who Risk

Hey friends, today is part three of the four-part series of about Unreached People Groups. If you haven’t listened to our first two episodes, go back and listen to David Platt and Steven Morales to hear how God is moving around the world! Today’s episode is with my friend Andy Kampman. Andy is a pastor at my home church, The Austin Stone, and leader of Launch Global. To know Andy and his family is to know his heart and passion for the Gospel to spread to the Nations. Launch Global’s mission is to mobilize churches to develop laborers and leaders who multiply healthy churches among unreached people groups. On today’s episode Andy shares more about how to get connected to Launch Global and how we can be intentional in reaching the nations within our very own communities. This conversation challenges all of us to be intentional in cultivating hearts and lives that show the nations God’s heart for them. Check out all the links provided to find valuable resources for kids, young adults, and families! SHOW LINKS:Launch GlobalWeave FamilyThe Traveling Team 6 Lessons on God's Heart for the World State of the World Red Zones with David PlattUnreached People Groups Reaching the Unreached What is Unreached People Groups? for Kids

Hey friends! Welcome back to part two of our four-part series, Unreached People Groups. Last week you heard how over 3 billion people around the globe have never heard the name of Jesus. Today I’m excited to sit down with Steven Morales and discuss the fastest-growing church in the world! Steven is an amazing storyteller and pastor based in Guatemala City. He is passionate about spreading the Gospel around the nations and currently serves as content director for Radical. Steven hosts the documentary series, Neighbors and Nations, and friends, if you haven’t seen this series, click the link below and go watch it now! In today’s episode, Steven shares how the Gospel is spreading to the nations, and how the Iranian church is considered the fastest-growing church in the world. Despite the possibility of losing their businesses, being kicked out of school, and even being disconnected from their families, Iranians are choosing to spread the good news of Jesus! Hearing the stories coming out of Iran was so encouraging to me, and also convicting! Would I chose this life of Christianity if I knew there was so much to lose? Would I be able to endure what the persecuted church is enduring? I’m excited about this series, and I hope the episodes are moving your heart like they’re moving mine! I pray our hearts are pushing towards loving God’s people more and living bold and courageous lives for the sake of the Gospel! Don’t forget to share this episode with a friend and catch all of our interviews on YouTube.SHOW LINKS:Neighbors and NationWatch Jamie on YouTubeNoonday CollectionRadicalRadical’s Secret ChurchThe 50 Countries Where It’s Hardest to Follow Jesus in 2022The Power of Geography Everywhere Everything All At Once

Hey friends! I pray Easter weekend was a blessing for you and your people! We enjoyed a Good Friday service where we reflected on the sacrifice of Jesus, and then celebrated his resurrection on Sunday with our family and friends.Today’s episode is the first of a four-part series: Unreached People Groups. Our first guest is new to The Happy Hour but a longtime friend, David Platt. David is a best-selling author, former president of International Missions Board, and currently pastoring in the Metro D.C. area. David’s mission is to equip the American church to reach unreached people groups around the globe. On today’s episode, David teaches us exactly what it means to be part of an unreached people group, and shares heroic stories of persecuted christians who are spreading the Gospel around the world. Friends, today’s conversation is both challenging and humbling as we dive into what it means to be a Christian in America. How are we stewarding our resources and freedoms? Are we choosing to live bold lives in our communities and workplaces for the sake of the Gospel? Is knowing and sharing the Word of God worth our life to us? I don’t know about you, but when I get to the end of my life, I want to have confidence that it was all about Jesus! Grab a copy of David’s new book Don’t Hold Back: Leaving Behind the American Gospel to Follow Jesus Fully, and share today’s episode with a friend!SHOW NOTES:Don’t Hold Back: Leaving Behind The American Gospel to Follow Jesus FullyThe ChosenSecret ChurchRadical on YouTubeWaiting on God

Hey Friends! Happy Good Friday! As we enter this weekend reflecting on Easter and the miracle of the cross, I’m thrilled to welcome back a long time friend to the Happy Hour, Rebecca McLaughlin. Rebecca McLaughlin is an award winning author and today we dive into her book, Is Easter Unbelievable? Four Questions Everyone Should Ask About the Resurrection Story. Let me ask you this, does your belief in Jesus being the Son of God, dying on the cross, and his resurrection change the way you live? Do these truths penetrate your heart to the point where your life looks radically different from those around you? In today’s episode Rebecca shares why and how they should. We discuss how Jesus’ love for us displayed through his death is even more stunning than his love for us shown through his life, how the Gospel gives us 4 pieces of evidence of his resurrection, and how our earthly relationships point us to reunification with our Savior! Friends, this is an important conversation to me. Wherever you are in your life right now, my prayer is that Jesus is appealing to you and that the miracle of the cross resonates with you. If you would like to talk more about what this means in your life or if you don’t have a Bible, please reach out to [email protected]. We’re here for you and we’re thankful to be on this journey together. Make sure to grab a copy of Rebecca’s book and share this episode with a friend.SHOW LINKS:Is Easter Unbelievable? Four Questions Everyone Should Ask About the Resurrection StoryNavigating Gospel Truth Bible StudyBorn Again This WayA Secular AgeBiblical Critical TheoryEpisode 314 with Rachel Gilson

​​Hey friends! Today I sit down with my long-time friend, Lisa Whittle. For those that don’t know, Lisa does all the things! She is the founder of Called Creatives, Bible teacher, best-selling author, and host of podcasts Ministry Strong and Jesus Over Everything. On today’s episode we discuss Lisa’s newest book releasing April 18th, God Knows.God knows where you are weak and where you are strong. God knows your future, and he knows your pain. He knows where you seek vindication and where you need healing. Today Lisa shares with us how she learned to walk through this life with rest and reliance on trusting that God knows! Lisa and I share personal stories on how we are releasing bitterness and the need to seek vindication as we practice trusting that we are seen and known by our loving Father. Friends, this conversation with Lisa is so good, and I hope it provides encouragement to your life. Make sure to order her book on Amazon and tune into Season 2 of our podcast Launch! SHOW LINKS:God Knows

Let’s be honest, relationships are complicated. Whether it’s a relationship with a family member, a church, or even food, relationships are layered with complexities! On today’s episode I discuss these complexities with Kendall Vanderslice.Kendall is a professionally trained baker, author, and founder of Edible Theology. She is passionate about helping people heal their relationships with food, their bodies, and the Body of Christ. In today’s episode you’ll hear Kendall’s take on why the best community happens around a table, and how the science of bread teaches us about growth and strength! If you’ve ever struggled with your relationship with food, family, or community, this episode is for you!SHOW NOTES:Edible TheologyBy Bread AloneThe Lives We Actually HaveTogether

Hey friends! I am thrilled to have a conversation with a first time guest to the Happy Hour and a new friend, State Representative Treneé McGee. I first heard of Treneé while attending the Stand For Life conference and knew pretty quickly I wanted to learn more about her. Treneé McGee is the youngest black woman in the General Assembly for the state of Connecticut representing the 116th district. Treneé is a Whole Life advocate who is passionate about educating others on the history of abortion and its impact on the black community. She is also deeply entrenched in theatre and explains to listeners the relationship between arts and politics and how one prepared her for her main role today! On today’s episode we get to know Treneé a little better as she informs listeners on how we can advocate for unborn babies and their mothers from a whole-life perspective. You'll hear four practical actions listeners can take to bridge the gap between the pre-born and their mothers:Build community relationshipsAttend local meetingsOffer prayerRedirect our financial loyaltyI hope today’s episode encourages you and equips you with ways you can put your beliefs into action!

Hey, ya’ll! Today I’m excited to welcome Katie Davis Majors back to the Happy Hour! Katie was on episode 208 and we always have the best conversations!In today’s episode we covered some important topics including her transition to living back in the United States after living in Uganda, dealing with anxiety, and a few practical ways she stays grounded when her anxiety is in full force. Katie also shares all about Amazima Ministries, a nonprofit dedicated to providing basic needs and school attendance to the people of Uganda. Katie’s latest book Safe All Along: Trading Our Fears and Anxieties for God’s Unshakable Peace, releases on March 28th – make sure to grab a copy!I hope today’s episode reminds you that if you struggle with anxiety, you are not alone, and God is with you every step of the way! SHOW LINKS:The Happy Hour Episode 208 with KatieAmazima MinistriesSafe All Along: Trading Our Fears and Anxieties for God’s Unshakable PeaceRuthless Elimination of HurryHinds’ Feet on High Places

Hey Friends! Welcome back from our little Spring Break! We missed you! Our family rested well and spent quality time together outside, around the dinner table, and in downtown Austin! I had a great conversation with author of Redeeming Your Time: 7 Biblical Principles for Being Purposeful, Present, and Wildly Productive, Jordan Raynor. This was the first book my team and I read for our Lunch & Learn in January and February, and I highlighted a ton of stuff! This book isn’t only for those in the workplace but for anybody with time to manage, so ALL OF US!Jordan Raynor is a leading voice of the face and work movement. Through his bestselling books, podcast, and devotionals, Jordan has helped missions of Christians in every country connect the gospel to their work. In addition to his writing, Jordan serves as the Executive Chairman of Threshold 360, a venture-backed tech startup which Jordan previously ran as CEO following a string of successful ventures of his own.In today’s episode, we talked about how this book is different from any other time management book published, how people can make their workplace sacred, and Jordan’s three-step method on taking control of your emails and texts! I hope this conversation is as encouraging to you as it was to me. Grab a copy of Jordan’s book and let me know which methods you’re incorporating into your life! SHOW LINKS:Redeeming Your TimeWord before WorkThe Lego StoryDopesick on Hulu

Question for you. If the enemy was going to try to take you down today, how would he do it? Today I sit down with friend, pastor, and author JP Pokluda to discuss his new book, Why Do I Do What I Don’t Want to Do?: Replace Deadly Vices with Life-Giving Virtues.JP Pokluda is the lead pastor of Harris Creek Baptist Church in Waco, Texas. JP became a Christian in his early twenties and has a passion to inspire young adults to radically follow Jesus and unleash them to change the world around them. In his new book, JP challenges his readers to survey their life and recognize their vices. He reminds us that as we pursue Christ and holiness, we are not striving to not do certain things, but instead we are striving to become Christ-like. In today’s honest conversation, you’ll hear how JP has overcome addiction, how we can identify the idols in our life, and how all of us can grow and change.Click here for all show links

Ya’ll, grab your sweet tea or coffee or whatever it is you drink and get comfortable for a possibly very uncomfortable conversation with our guest today, KB! I am thrilled to have him on the show and discuss his new book, Dangerous Jesus: Why the Only Thing More Risky Than Getting Jesus Right is Getting Jesus Wrong.Kevin Burgess, aka KB, is a husband and father of three children. He is an award-winning rapper, winning a Dove Award for Rap/Hip-Hop Album of the Year in 2020. KB is also a speaker, host of the popular podcast Southside Rabbi, and author. He is a studier of the Word and in his latest book, KB challenges us to look at Christianity as being more than our traditions, perceptions, and denominations, and look more like Christ!With a published study recently revealing that with every one person who joins the church, four leave, KB and I sit down to talk about the hard topics Christianity in America is facing. We discuss topics surrounding pro-life, race, success and wealth, and what it means for Christians to be dangerous. I want to encourage all of us to enter into the challenging spaces of this conversation because I truly believe there is goodness on the other side! Click here for show links

Happy March friends! We have an amazing lineup of guests on the show this month and I'm so excited for the episodes ahead. Today I sat down with Jinger Duggar Vuolo and discussed her new book, Becoming Free Indeed: My Story of Disentangling Faith from Fear. Truthfully, when I first heard of this book, I didn't think I would be interested. After several friends encouraged me to give it a read, I was shocked! This is no "tell all", but instead Jinger does an amazing job of pointing us to Jesus as the Gospel is woven through every page! Jinger Duggar Vuolo grew up on television from the young age of ten years old. For almost 18 years she appeared on TLC's reality show, 19 Kids and Counting. Jinger has always been vocal about her faith, even as she entered into adulthood and began the terrifying process of detangling everything she had ever been taught. As Jinger watched lifelong friends leave God and christianity altogether due to church hurt and leadership abuse, Jinger felt compelled to share her story of how detangling her rigid childhood teachings actually led her to freedom in Christ. In today's episode you'll hear more about Jinger's journey, what she's still learning to let go of, and how every morning she reminds herself of how loving and gracious our God is. I hope you're encouraged by listening and remember to go grab yourself a copy of her new book!Click here for all show notes.

Happy Friday, friends! Cancel your plans and head to the theater TONIGHT for the release of the movie “Jesus Revolution.” I had the opportunity to view this movie and you can trust me when I say you don’t want to miss out! As someone who didn’t have the privilege of living through the Jesus Movement during the 60s and 70s, it was an honor to hear first-hand testimony from someone at the very center of this film, and today’s guest, Cathe Laurie. Cathe Laurie was raised overseas and her family moved to California during the hippy era. In searching for something more, Cathe looked in all the wrong places; that is, until a friend introduced her to Jesus. From there, Cathe and her husband Greg courted, married, and began a church in 1974 that they still pastor to this day! Cathe and her husband have been married for almost 50 years, have three children, and multiple grandchildren. This woman has lived a full life and remains faithful in finding ways to point people to Jesus! Cathe brings an honest and refreshing perspective on Christian life and ministry. On today’s episode, you’ll hear more about her thoughts in making the “Jesus Revolution” film, her conversion to Christianity, her prayer for revival, and how no one is outside the possibility of Jesus changing their life!Click here for show notes.

Y'all, I am THRILLED to have Beth Moore on today's episode! This will be Beth's 4th time as a guest on my show, and I swear each time gets better and better! Beth Moore was an inspiration to me as a young believer and her teachings continue to challenge and encourage me. Beth's memoir, All My Knotted-Up Life, released yesterday, and let me tell you, you want to run, not walk, to pick up your copy! Even after following Beth for decades, I learned so much about her that I never knew.Incase you're unfamiliar with Beth, she is an author, speaker, and founder of Living Proof Ministries. Her dynamic teaching and conferences take her all over the globe. She's authored several bestselling books and Bible studies and was Lifeway Christian's first official published Bible Study. Beth has been married to her husband Keith Moore for 45 years, and she's a mother of two daughters. Beth has faithfully served her local community and church for decades!As I finished Beth's memoir, tears rolled down my face. Today you'll hear how Beth knew the timing was right to author a memoir, the struggles their family has endured with mental illness, and how Beth looks back on hardships with the perspective that "surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever" (Psalm 23:6). I pray the vulnerability of today's episode encourages you. Thanks for listening!Click HERE for show notes.

I am so excited to introduce ya’ll to a new podcast joining Ivey Media! This podcast is special to us as this couple went through our podcast course where we team up and support people who have a passion for podcasting. At the end of the course we chose one student to be part of Ivey Media and that leads us to Chelsea and Layton Boeve with Liberator Podcast. Chelsea and Layton currently reside in Michigan where they love their dog and are avid hikers. Layton lives and dies with Michigan football while Chelsea loves a strong black coffee! Chelsea and Layton are passionate about healthy relationships and strong marriages. Their podcast aims to bring the perspective of both men and women who have engaged with or been hurt by the use of pornography.Liberator Podcast has a goal of making people feel safe, find community through brokenness, and to equip people who have been hurt by or who struggle with pornography. Chelsea and Layton break down the science of addictive behaviors and how to find freedom. Chelsea and Layton’s goal is to help people break free from the stigma of pornography and create a new narrative of finding freedom. This podcast is for everyone and anyone. Whether you have personally been affected by pornography, or know someone who is, this podcast is a great tool to learn from and share with your friends!Click HERE for show links.

Not too long ago a friend asked me, “Jamie, what is your assignment? What are you pouring your heart into?” and those questions changed my life. Today I sit down with that friend, the amazing Dr. Alicia Britt Chole.Alicia is a people grower who walks alongside people in the health of their soul and their nearness with Christ. She believes that reality is a friend (and denial is an enemy) of intimacy with God. She is a wife of 32 years of Dr. Barry Jay Chole and mom of Jonathan (25), Keona (19), and Louie (16), all through the miracle of adoption. Alicia is passionate about offering others a framework for processing spiritual pain as a friend of--not a failure of--intimacy with God.Buckle up for today’s episode because we dive in DEEP! We discuss how less is more, reality is our friend, the observance of Lent, and how we walk alongside the disciples in their most delusional space in their entire life. Alicia challenges us to break free from the “God if you do this, I’ll do that'' mentality and allow God to be the good Father He is.Click here for all show notes.

Happy Friday friends! Today we are diving into Part 2 of my conversation with Jasmine Holmes. We've been discussing women from her book, Carved in Ebony, and learning about remarkable women who changed the lives of the people in their corner of the world. Today we cover two more women who couldn't have come from more different backgrounds. Charlotte Forten Grimke, a born-free woman from the north, and Maria Fearing, a woman from the south born into slavery, lived lives that remind us that God can use anyone in BIG ways! Jasmine L. Holmes is an educator, research assistant, and the author of Carved in Ebony and Mother to Son. She creates public history resources for teachers and lifelong learners. Jasmine and her husband Phillip live in Jackson, Mississippi with their three sons. I am so grateful for the work Jasmine is doing and the way she encourages us to remember our past. Her resources and books help us remember that God can use anyone no matter who they are, where they're from, or what their past is. Charlotte and Maria were women who faithfully followed God and made a difference with whatever they were given! I hope you enjoyed this two-part series as much as I did! If you haven't yet, make sure to go back and listen to Part 1 of this amazing conversation!Click for all the Show Links Connect with JamieFacebook // Instagram // YouTube

Every month is a good month to learn about Black History, and in the special month of February I'm sharing with you some amazing people who have incredible resources we can learn from. Today I am SO excited to have Jasmine Holmes on The Happy Hour for the very first time! I'm so excited about it that I've actually invited her to be on TWO episodes this week!Jasmine L. Holmes is an educator, research assistant, and the author of Carved in Ebony and Mother to Son. She creates public history resources for teachers and lifelong learners. Jasmine and her husband, Phillip, live in Jackson, Mississippi, with their three sons. I am so grateful for the work Jasmine is doing and the way she encourages us to remember our past. Her resources and books help us remember that God can use anyone no matter who they are, where they're from, or what their past is. On today's episode we talk about Black history in America and two incredible women that changed the future for generations to come. Elizabeth Freeman and Frances Ellen Watkins Harper were courageous, smart, bold, and understood the dignity of people who were born in God's image. Don't forget to come back Friday for part 2 of this amazing conversation! Click for all the show links .Connect with JamieFacebook // Instagram // YouTube

Have you ever felt like you don’t belong? Like you don’t have a seat at the table? Have you ever felt lost? If you have, this is the episode for you. Today I sit down with Ann Voskamp as we remember that we all need to sing a brave song over ourselves and our children. Ann Voskamp is a wife to The Farmer and a mother of 7 children. She is a New York Time’s Bestselling author and speaker. She has authored multiple books including One Thousand Gifts, The Greatest Gift, Unwrapping the Greatest Gift, and her newest children’s book, Your Brave Song. Your Brave Song is really for all ages as we all need reminding that we are chosen not for what we do, but for who we are… for WHOSE we are!Click for all the Show Links Connect with JamieFacebook // Instagram // YouTube

Today we’re celebrating Angie Elkins' 1 year Anniversary with The Happy Hour. For those of you who don’t know, Angie is The Happy Hour’s editor and Director of Podcast for Ivey Media. She resides in Florida with her husband and three kids where she loves studying God's Word, serving in the local church, and visiting Disney World. Angie is also the host her own podcast, Chatologie, a faith based podcast that invites guests to share how God has been present in their lives, what they are currently working on, and how their ministry is going out into the world.Today Angie sits down with singer/actress, voice of The Little Mermaid, and now author, Jodi Benson. Jodi challenges us to lay down comparisons and discover your own giftedness and passions. She shares about how one small decision changed her life forever!GO SUBSCRIBE TO CHATOLOGIE!Click for all the Show Links Connect with JamieFacebook // Instagram // YouTube

This week we have a special episode with a fellow podcaster, Paul Hastings, who has a unique way of immersing listeners into people's life changing stories. He is the host of "Compelled", a podcast sharing stories about God transforming Christians around the world. Paul is an award-winning podcaster, filmmaker, speaker, entrepreneur, and proud husband and father.On this episode we remember the Space Shuttle Columbia crew and talk more about Compelled Episode #46 with Evelyn Husband Thompson, the wife of the shuttle Commander. Evelyn's story moved me deeply and was a great reminder that because we have hope in Jesus, there is life after tragedy.Listen to the rest of the Evelyn's StoryClick for all the Show Links Connect with JamieFacebook // Instagram // YouTube

Tiffany Daniels is the Founder and Director of THERE{4} Teen Gathering. Tiffany has a passion to see the hearts of high school girls transformed by the gospel of grace. Since 2016, God has used THERE{4} Teen Gathering’s 11 conferences (nine in the US and two in Kigali, Rwanda) to reach tens of thousands of girls in all 50 states and upwards of 30 countries worldwide via livestream.Tiffany lives in Arlington, Texas with her husband, David, Lead Pastor of Central Bible Church. Their three grown children are spread out between Fort Worth, Seattle and Nashville and she has 2 amazing little grandkids!Tiffany is as genuine as they come. One of those people who if she says she’s praying for you, you better believe she means it! In today’s episode we talk all things raising teenagers, a few upcoming trips we have together, and how no season is waisted by God! Be ready to be challenged in taking your next best step as you listen!Click for all the Show Links Connect with JamieFacebook // Instagram // YouTube

Collectively, we can look back on the year 2020 and remember how tough it was for everyone! But one thing I look back on with joy is how Carlos Whittaker emerged as a hopeful and steady voice online, walking us through tough conversations and being a true leader for many in what felt like a dark time. I am THRILLED to have Carlos back on the show today as we reflect on his journey over the past few years. Plus, we talk all about his new book, How to Human: Three Ways to Share Life Beyond What Distracts, Divides, and Disconnects Us.If you aren’t familiar with Carlos Whittaker, let me introduce you! Carlos is a podcaster, author, global speaker, and a follower of Jesus who desires to make people feel seen and cared for. His motto in life is, “Don’t stand on issues. Walk with people.” He lives in Nashville, Tennessee where you can find his family farming and dancing to Beyonce (seriously, Google it!). In How to Human, Carlos takes us through a three-part journey: “Be, see, and free.” BE fully who God created you to be. SEE humans around you, particularly those who feel invisible. Lastly, FREE humans through service! Through looking at the example of Jesus’ life, we can gain a fresh vision of exchanging a culture of division for real relationships. This book is for everyone and anyone who needs reminding that we can navigate hard times with grit, kindness, and a good joke or two!Connect with JamieFacebook // Instagram // YouTubeGET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

We are THRILLED to announce today the newest member of the Ivey Media Podcasts collective, Debra Fileta, and her show Love & Relationships!Debra is a licensed professional counselor who believes that “healthy people make healthy relationships.” Love & Relationships is a hotline-style show where listeners call in with questions about dating, marriage and singleness. Debra also focuses a lot of her show on mental and emotional health so that each of us can become healthy individuals. Love & Relationships is impromptu, raw and unedited, just like a counseling session. The beauty of Debra’s podcast is that we can learn and grow through hearing other people’s growth. In today’s episode of The Happy Hour, you’ll hear a clip of Debra’s “Are you really okay?” series where she talks with Christine Caine about her journey of mental and emotional health. If you love it, also go check out similar conversations Debra has with faith leaders like Louie Giglio and Levi Lusko! Debra has her “Couples Therapy” series starting in February, and you’ll want to hang on until the end of the episode to hear about a new series of 5-minute episodes she’ll be releasing on Thursdays, too! Go subscribe to Love & Relationships, and follow Debra on Instagram! Connect with JamieFacebook // Instagram // YouTube

When Breonna Taylor was killed, her police report was virtually blank. Feeling as if she was suffocating in the initial silence and lack of public outcry, anti-racism educator and activist Faitth Brooks wondered, “Would the world care about and remember me if I was killed?”My guest today is Faitth Brooks. We don’t waste any time jumping into why her new book, “Remember Me Now” is incredibly needed in all our lives, but is written specifically for Black women. It is a love letter celebrating and caring for the fullness of living Black Women.This love letter is celebrating and caring for the fullness of living Black Women. Faitth is honest and transparent with her experiences as a Black woman in the Christian space. She shared how often there was no celebration or care for her and how she was kept painfully silenced. I hope you will listen with a posture to learn and curiosity for celebrating the Black women in your path. Faith Brooks is a writer, speaker, social worker, activist, and co-host of the “Melanated Faith” podcast. She engages in activism to find sustainable solutions to systemicALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HEREConnect with Faitth: InstagramListen to Faitth's podcast: Melanated Faith PodcastBooks by FaitthRemember Me Now, A Journey Back to Myself and a Love Letter to Black Women The Anti-Racism Journal: Questions and Practices to Move Beyond Performative AllyshipWhat Faitth is Reading and WatchingLeadership on the LineWhat Matters MostListening for GodSeveranceConnect with JamieFacebook // Instagram // YouTube

In 2020, I launched Ivey Media, the company that contains everything I do – writing, speaking, and yes, podcasting. We thought as a team, “What if we had more podcasts that we could help, supporting people as they dream about and host their shows, and find advertisers so these hosts can make podcasting their jobs?” It’s from that place that the Ivey Media Podcasts collective was created and it launched last summer! One of the shows on our network is Ministry Strong. Ministry Strong exists to strengthen and encourage ministry leaders to serve Jesus with integrity for the long haul. Ministry Strong is hosted by my friend, Lisa Whittle, who you probably know if you’ve been a long-time listener of The Happy Hour. Lisa also co-hosts our new parenting show, Launch, with me. The second half of Ministry Strong’s first season is live TODAY, and I want to play an episode for you so you can get a sense of the conversations that take place on that show between Lisa and her Season 1 co-host, Joel Muddamalle.The episode you will hear today is episode five. Lisa and Joel tackle the topic of church hurt and spiritual abuse in this episode. They talk about the importance of clearly defining these terms and how to tell the difference. As a bonus, Lisa and Joel discuss how “honor culture” and entitlement fit into the equation. Take a listen. You won’t regret it! Connect with JamieFacebook // Instagram // YouTubeGET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

The same way you fall in love with your favorite authors and storytellers, whether it’s through movies or podcasts… allow God to become that again in your life” – Kat Armstrong If you are like me walking into the year, you have all these thoughts about wanting to eat better, exercise more, and maintain great friendships. Or maybe you are saying, “I want to get back into God’s Word.” If that is you, I have a great show for you today!My guest is Kat Armstrong and she is one of my favorite Bible teachers. Not only that, but she’s in the running for the guest we’ve maybe had on more times than anyone else – five times! Kat is wise, she is genuine, and she has two new Bible studies releasing next week. What I love about these studies is that they can be done individually or with a group. The “Storyline Bible Studies” will guide you through the storylines of scripture as they each follow people, places, or things in the Bible. Kat and I spend time today talking about the first two studies, Mountains and Valleys. We talk about what it means to get back into God’s Word if you’ve been afraid, if you’ve been hurt, or if you have felt unwelcome because of His Word. Kats shares how she would introduce someone who’s scared or overwhelmed to start reading the Bible. She says to keep reading until you run into a rabbit trail, and if you find yourself overwhelmed, pause your plan and give your brain a break to help dive in again. We really want to encourage you to look at God’s Word as one whole big story, telling God’s story of love toward us. Connect with JamieFacebook // Instagram // YouTubeGET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

Hey friends, and happy Friday! Cheers to the second episode of The Happy Hour 2023! I have a first-time guest on today, Ericka Anderson, and she has listened to all five hundred and fifty-one episodes of The Happy Hour! Ericka is a mom, wife, freelance writer, and podcaster who recently wrote a book called “Reason to Return,” focused on the topic of women leaving the church. 16 million American women have left the church in the last decade, and Ericka shares a few reasons why. Some of these reasons include trauma, busyness, and church hurt. Other women may leave the church because they feel unseen or alone in their current season of life, such as single women not feeling like their needs are being met. Erica even shares her story of church trauma. I’m telling you, her experience is something worth listening to, even if it’s really hard to hear. For most women that walk away from the church, it’s not usually because they have a problem with God; it’s the people who have hurt them. After all, churches are full of broken, sinful people – you and me included! But Ericka’s hope in writing “Reason to Return” is to help draw women back to a body of believers, one that is good and healthy for them to be a part of. Ericka and I wrap up our conversation with a beautiful story about the friend Ericka had in mind when she wrote this book. This specific person was absent from the church completely. While Ericka was still writing the book, that woman walked into a church one day and gave her life to Jesus! What an answer to prayer! While Ericka’s friend didn’t read “Reason to Return” before that day, I pray this story brings you hope that there are Jesus-loving people in a church somewhere, ready to welcome you (or someone you know) into their church family. If you or a loved one is in hard church season, I pray you’ll pick up a copy of “Reason to Return” and see how Ericka’s story might minister to you. Connect with JamieFacebook // Instagram // YouTubeGET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

Happy New Year! I cannot believe we are entering another year! Welcome to the very first episode of The Happy Hour in 2023. It may be a little early in the year to declare this, but my conversation today is probably going to be one of my favorite episodes when I do a “2023 year in review” in December! The team and I thought about doing something different to start the new by letting my dear friend Jackie Hill Perry interview me. I think we all know who Jackie is, but if you’re not familiar, I’m delighted to introduce you! Jackie is a wife and mom, the author of Gay Girl Good God and Holier Than Thou, co-host of the Thirty Minutes with The Perrys podcast alongside her husband Preston, and a gifted preacher. I have never been interviewed on my show but this was so much fun!Jackie puts me in the hot seat, for sure! She’s asking all the questions and she does not hold back. We talk about me preaching for the first time in a church on a Sunday morning. We discuss the topic of women in leadership, as well as my obsession with watching “Sister Wives.” I even get very vulnerable about something that until this conversation, I had only shared with five people. You will definitely want to push play to hear what I share. Jackie leaves us with great wisdom with the reminder that God’s ‘no’ is not mean. His ‘no is never wasted or lacking in love, but when He says ‘no,’ it is training and disciplining us to trust the Father. Friends, I hope your new year is off to a great start! Connect with JamieFacebook // Instagram // YouTubeGET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

Can you believe Christmas is this Sunday?! What a year this has been! I cannot believe this is the final episode of 2022. I’m closing out December with a conversation with my dear friend Vivian Mubani! Vivian is no stranger to The Happy Hour – she was my guest on Episodes #59 and #251. Today we talk about her podcast, Someday Is Here (which is on our Ivey Media Podcasts network!), her hope for the Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAPI) community, her cancer journey, and why representation matters. Vivian’s podcast is targeted towards Asian Americans, and she shares about the AAPI community and how the intersection of the eastern and western worlds impacts our faith, our leadership, and how we do life. Although Someday Is Here is meant to speak to the unique experience of Asian Americans, Vivian also welcomes those who do not identify as such, because Vivian understands that we are better when we are learning together. I have learned so much from my dear friend about the AAPI community and I hope you will join me in learning more about why the representation of these brothers and sisters really matters. A big THANK YOU to all of our Happy Hour listeners this year! This show wouldn’t be possible with you all, and I am so grateful that you take time out of your day to listen!Have a Merry Christmas, friends! Connect with JamieFacebook // Instagram // YouTubeGET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK! It is so very true, and today you get to meet my whole team! My heart overflows with love for each of the ladies you will hear from today. The gifts, talents, voices, and personalities they bring not only make our company better, but they make me better as well. Ivey Media has been through so much growth this year. It has also been so sweet to merge so many beautiful people together in one company!I ask each woman about four things: What they love about working at Ivey Media, their personal and/or professional goals for 2023, their favorite book they read in 2022, and their favorite episode of The Happy Hour from this past year.First up is Lyndsey Sweeney! Without Lyndsey, this show simply would not function. Lyndsey is our Director of Operations and she has been with me for five years now. Lyndsey shares how she has seen the company grow and how God moved her own personal story and giftings into the Ivey Media space. I am so honored to have Lyndsey on this team. Second up is Angie Elkins. Angie is our Manager of Podcasts, which means she edits all the episodes and makes sure they are ready for our listeners. Angie has been with Ivey Media for one year now and we are all so thankful for the joy she brings to work! Third up is Amanda Reed! Amanda manages our partnerships and she loves that her role helps bring podcasting conversations to life. Amanda and her husband also introduced me to Austin FC and let me just say, I’m a true soccer fan now because of the Reeds. I’m grateful for all the work Amanda does to keep Ivey Media moving forward. Fourth up is Shannon Stone! Shannon handles all things dealing with finances, HR, and insurance. Although Shannon is not in the office very often, I’m always mentioning her name in the office and want her input on many more things besides finances. Shannon is such a gift to me and our whole team! Fifth up is Ashley Colwell! Ashley recently joined our team as the Podcast Production Assistant, which means she talks to all the guests, does the scheduling, and does a whole lot of communicating via email. Fun fact: Ashley has listened to The Happy Hour since the very first episode, and even before then, she would read my blogs! It’s so fun to have her here now helping us to produce the show! And last but not least, Ashley Minor! Ashley’s role is Podcast Assistant, and she writes our show notes and schedules the episodes to go out on the blog and Simplecast so that they can then be downloaded or streamed by our listeners. Ashley was on The Happy Hour back in October of this year, when we talked about the Texas Longhorns and college ministry. Ashley, thank you for all you do! Connect with JamieFacebook // Instagram // YouTubeGET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

With the big day right around the corner, today is our last episode for our Characters of Christmas series! I personally feel like I have grown and learned so much with each conversation about Jesus’ birth, and my heart feels more ready to anticipate and celebrate on Christmas Day.Today’s guest is no stranger to The Happy Hour and he is going to end our series by sharing about the Wiseman – how they point us back to Jesus and how we can see the character of Jesus through them. Preston Perry is a poet, Bible teacher, and podcaster, and he gives us great insight about how we should imitate the Wisemen’s faith in Jesus. He said the Wiseman are wise not because of their own knowledge, but because their wisdom is rooted in their faith in God. They had to have a measure of faith to have traveled all that way to believe in the prophecy that the Messiah would come. Another thing Preston said that struck me was when he pointed out the 900 miles (!!) the Wiseman traveled to see Jesus. Preston said that causes him to observe his own life and ask the question, “How far am I willing to go to meet Jesus?” We ended our conversation by discussing the joy the Wisemen had when they finally laid their eyes on Jesus, and how we too should have great joy when we enter into His presence. What a series this has been! I am so thankful to be reminded of the real reason why we celebrate. Connect with JamieFacebook // Instagram // YouTubeGET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

The holidays can be a tough time for people, but what we can find in today’s story is that God is faithful no matter what you are going through. God is faithful to His Word, He keeps his promises, and when we act in faith, we can know that He will always respond. Today my guest is Pastor Bryan Carter, senior pastor at Concord Church in Dallas. We are continuing our Characters of Christmas series, and today we are talking about the Shepherds. I ask Pastor Bryan why it’s important that the Shepherds were the first to hear about Jesus, and how their character points us back to Jesus. Considered unclean and without status, the Shepherds are included in the announcement of Jesus Christ. For us, that is good news because it shows us that God sees all people no matter their popularity. This shows Jesus as a Shepherd by choosing the Shepherds to be a part of the announcing of His birth. Pastor Bryan mentioned how the Shepherds did not delay going to Bethlehem, and that shows us their confidence and faith in God. We too should hear the voice of God and not delay when He calls us. Pastor Bryan also mentioned how this story links us to Jesus not only being a shepherd but also the Lamb who washes away all of our sins, which means that we can have hope that He will shepherd and restore His people. Connect with JamieFacebook // Instagram // YouTubeGET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

I hope y’all are enjoying these seasonal episodes about the Characters of Christmas! Today we’re focusing on the angels, and there is no other person that I think fits this topic than my friend Ellie Holcomb. Ellie has been on The Happy Hour before and she also recently released her latest children’s book, Sounding Joy.Sounding Joy goes hand in hand with today’s show. I read a little of her book at the end of the episode, and I think after listening that you will want to buy a copy! We talk about how remembering the angels points us back to Jesus, what Ellie sees about the character of Jesus through the angels, and what stands out about the angels when Ellie thinks about the birth of Jesus this year. Ellie discusses a moment from her childhood when she remembers singing “Joy to the World” that led her to think about what it truly means to“Repeat the sounding joy.” Ellie shares how this song shows the heart of God – because the angels are the ones singing it, we are invited into the songs as well. Today’s episode ends with Ellie challenging us to think about what it would look like to continue to sing that song the angels sang all those years ago. Doing so points us back to being peacemakers, to being people who are about reconciliation, and being the hope for people who are in a time of suffering. Connect with JamieFacebook // Instagram // YouTubeGET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

We are continuing our Characters of Christmas series with today’s guest Ross Lester. Ross is a friend of mine, he’s the campus pastor at one of our locations of The Austin Stone Community Church, and he is no stranger to The Happy Hour. Ross was on Episode #375, and I’m excited to have him back to talk about Joseph, the father of Jesus’ during His time spent on earth. Listen, you are in for a great episode! Ross and I talk about the relationship between Joseph and Jesus, and you guys, I’m really curious if Jesus gave Joseph a few secrets while they were working in the shop together. I wonder if they talked about all the daddy-son things. I ask Ross the same questions I have asked our previous guest during this series: How does Joseph point us back to Jesus, and what do we see about God’s character through Joseph and Jesus’ relationship? One thing I’ve never thought about that Ross mentioned is that when Mary, Joseph’s fiance, comes to him saying she’s pregnant as a virgin, Joseph could have immediately put her before the court. In that time, Mary would have been stoned to death publicly. But instead, Joseph is so Christ-like that he lives out the story of the woman caught in adultery in John 8, instead wanting to divorce Mary privately instead of having her tried. Ross says he believes Joseph wanted to release Mary and actually give her another opportunity to rebuild her life instead of being put to death. The Bible describes Joseph as a righteous man and we see that all throughout the Bible when his name is mentioned. Joseph models Christ by being obedient. He kept the law, which is all about mercy. He signs up to take on a child that’s not his own biologically. He eventually has to move his young family to Egypt to protect Jesus. And Joseph is full of humility – he doesn’t center himself in the story. I don’t know about you, but my desire is to live a righteous life devoted to God like Joseph.After listening to today’s episode, you are going to love Jesus more as you learn more about the people who surrounded him at His birth.Connect with JamieFacebook // Instagram // YouTubeGET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

Hi friends! We are continuing our Characters of Christmas series with my guest Jami Nato. Jami was on The Happy Hour back in 2016. We re-aired that episode in 2021 during our Flashback Friday podcast series, and now Jami is back with us to talk all about Mary, the mother of Jesus. Maybe December is a hard month for you or maybe 2022 has been a particularly challenging year for you. I want to encourage you to lean into this last month of the year standing on something that is unshakeable: Jesus Christ. On today’s episode, Jami and I talk about how Mary’s character points us to Jesus, and Jami tells us what she observes about the character of God through Mary’s role in His birth. Jami talked about how God built a community for Mary because He knew she would be afraid, and how even during His death, He provided for Mary. The beautiful thing is that Jesus is doing the same thing for us today. He knows that we are afraid of certain things, so He creates community for us. Then, with the Holy Spirit living inside of us as believers, He still guides us and gives us provision. That is the hope that you can stand on in this season. I hope you were encouraged during this episode and that you walk away from listening knowing that even during the hard days, you can still have joy, hope and peace through Jesus Christ. Connect with JamieFacebook // Instagram // YouTubeGET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

Hi Friends! I have loved this last year with our rhythm of episode series, bringing you conversations all centered around a specific topic or theme. Today, we’re starting our next series, called Characters of Christmas! Today’s guest is my friend Rebecca McLaughlin who is no stranger to The Happy Hour. Some of you may remember Rebecca from Episode #402 when we talked about her book Confronting Christianity. Rebecca holds a Ph.D. from Cambridge University and a theology degree from Oak Hill College. Her first book, Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for the World’s Largest Religion, was named Christianity Today’s 2020 Book of the Year! In this episode, we talk about Rebecca’s latest book, Jesus Through The Eyes of Women. We discuss why we as Christians believe what we believe, because what we believe should inform the way we approach Christmas to honor and celebrate the birth of Jesus! There are four questions Rebecaa asks in this book that are very helpful if you are engaging with nonbelievers on the topic of Christmas. These questions are: Was Jesus a real person? Can we take the gospels seriously? How can you believe in a virgin birth? And finally, why does it matter? We’ve got even more Christmas conversations coming your way, and this episode with Rebecca really helps to set the scene for what’s to come. Enjoy!Connect with JamieFacebook // Instagram // YouTubeGET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

Hey you guys! Today my guest on The Happy Hour is someone new to me, and that’s Rich Villodas. Rich is from New York, has been married to his wife Rosie for 16 years, and they have two children together, Karis and Nathan. Rich has been at New Life Fellowship Church for 15 years, 10 of those spent as head pastor. New Life Fellowship Church was founded in 1987 and there are over 75 nations represented in his church, in an area where 123 languages are spoken! Rich and I talk about his latest book that he released this past summer, Good and Beautiful and Kind: Becoming Whole in a Fractured World. This is a book we all need, because we are definitely living in a fractured world and we see those fractures around us all the time. Rich explains the three fractures he has seen in his church and fractures he sees happening all around the world. Rich says we are living in C.P.R. world: Covid, Political, and Racism. We are having a hard time breathing, and our hearts are whaling. In his new book, Rich starts with sin, reframing it in a way that would lean toward beauty, goodness, and kindness. Becoming whole is something we have been longing for as people since Genesis 3, and in Rich’s new book, he helps and guides us back to experiencing being whole again.We all long for beauty, goodness, and kindness, but we will not get there by accident. Transformation won’t take place without us actually doing the work. Connect with JamieFacebook // Instagram // YouTubeGET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

Make connection today to a child through compassion. CLICK HERE TO SPONSORI love any time I get to sit down with my friend Jonathan and talk about Compassion International, so today is automatically up there in my list of favorites. After my conversation with Jonathan, stick around for Angie Elkins’ conversation on this episode with Dr. Yannely Suero, another former Compassion child who is now a pediatrician! Compassion International’s mission is to release children from poverty in Jesus’ name. During the episode, Jonathan and I talk about what Compassion does for children in the Dominican Republic, what happens when we say ‘yes’ to sponsoring a child, and how families and generations are changed forever through Compassion sponsorships. Jonathan shares his amazing story about what Compassion did for him! His sponsor, Jamie from Michigan, would write letters to him saying simple things like, “I’m thankful for you and I’m praying for you,” and that helped him to feel as though God had placed people around him for love and support, even thousands of miles away. Now Jonathan’s family – because of his sponsor Jamie’s $38 monthly gift – live a completely different life. He and his children are not enslaved to poverty, because of Compassion. Jonathan says Compassion is more than people writing a check: it’s about people truly joining in God’s mission. As a sponsor, I totally agree with Jonathan! My family and I sponsor four kids in Kenya, Haiti, Peru and Mexico City – it has not only been life changing for each of them but for my family as well. The second part of today’s episode is a conversation between Ivey Media’s own Angie Elkins and Yannely, another former Compassion child. Yannely also had an incredible sponsor, Dorothy, who encouraged her greatly, even prophesying that Yannely could be an amazing doctor – and now Yannely is a pediatrician! If you are not already sponsoring a child, I hope that you will pray about taking the next step to help another child who is waiting for sponsorship to change their life too. You never know what your $38 dollars can do for a child and for an entire generation. Connect with JamieFacebook // Instagram // YouTubeGET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

It’s time again for one of my favorite things we do all year – the Holiday Gift Guide! Our team has been in the Christmas spirit since August as we’ve worked to pull together this year’s Gift Guide, and we’re thrilled to share it with you today.This year’s Gift Guide includes small and woman-owned businesses, ethically made products, companies with give-back models, and cause- or faith-based companies. As you’re planning your holiday shopping, our hope is that you’ll shop small and support these incredible people!We had the best time in early October at our Holiday Gift Guide LIVE! Event, and we captured all the fun through a podcast recording and YouTube video. In listening or watching, you’ll learn even more about these amazing brands and their products… plus these brands have exclusive discounts mentioned ONLY in the podcast + video content, so you’ll want to be sure and write those down too!Happy shopping, friends, and merry (early) Christmas!Connect with JamieFacebook // Instagram // YouTubeGET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

If you’re not quite in the Christmas spirit yet, I think this episode will get you there, especially as we keep our focus on the birth of Jesus. In today’s episode, I interview four people, plus I’m giving away a ton of things (!!) so you want to stick around until the end! My first guest is David Taylor and let me just say, after talking with David, I’m inspired to go and get my doctorate degree. David is a professor at Fuller University and he teaches about the Trinity, the Bible, and creation. His ultimate goal is for his students to know and love God. In this episode, David defines the meaning of Advent, discusses why it matters, and stresses the importance of churches and followers of Jesus committing to the practice of Advent.My second guest is Clayton Greene. Clayton helps us to uniquely anticipate the days leading up to Christmas with our kids – not for the gifts they’ll receive but in anticipation of the birth of Jesus. I asked Clayton why Advent is so important to him and his family, and I think we can all relate to his story. In explaining to his five-year-old daughter that Christmas is all about Jesus, Clayton was met with her actual perception of the holiday, as she vocalized to him that Christmas felt like it was all about receiving presents. That’s when Clayton said he had to do something about his family’s priorities, so he created Advent Blocks. Advent Blocks are a way for kids to anticipate the story of Jesus leading up to Christmas instead of anticipating what gifts may be under the tree. When Clayton first started Advent Blocks, there were five families participating – today, around 16,000 families use Advent Blocks each year to observe Advent as a family! My last guests are Raechel and Amanda, founder and co-founder of She Reads Truth. If you have been listening to the show for a while, you know these two are no strangers to The Happy Hour! Raechel and Amanda’s desire is for every person to have a heart that longs for Jesus. They have written serval great resources, and we talk about their most recent resource, “Joy of Every Longing Heart.” We end our conversation by sharing how we can look at the Christmas story and focus on our Savior’s return.These resources that my friends have created are very helpful and they remind us what this Christmas season is all about: the birth of our Lord and Savior. Connect with JamieFacebook // Instagram // YouTubeGET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

Disclaimer: This episode contains discussions about pornography and sex addictions.This Boundaries series has been a fun and meaningful one for us to put together, and I can’t believe we’ve reached the end of these episodes! For our final interview of the series, Jim Cress closes us out, and there couldn’t have been a more perfect person to wrap it all up. Jim is a father, a husband of almost 38 years, a licensed professional counselor and certified sex addiction therapist, as well as an ordained minister through Dallas Baptist Seminary. Jim and I talk about boundaries within a marriage, why boundaries in a marriage are necessary, defining what a boundary is, and what it looks like for a parent to walk through a pornography addiction with their child. Boundaries can seem like a scary thing but my hope for you is that you see boundaries as good things. Boundaries are to keep us safe, which is an example of agape love because we are called to love our neighbors as we love ourselves – we can only do that if we are setting good boundaries. Jim defined a boundary as, “Not controlling the other person but controlling ourselves,” and when we understand this, we begin to set boundaries more frequently.We wrapped up our conversation discussing how spouses should address one another when one may be struggling with pornography, along with practical ways to be proactive with your kids about their sexual life. These are not easy conversations, but if we declare what is true and seek help, we can have hope that things will change.I hope you have enjoyed this series as much as I did. Now let’s go out and live healthier lives by setting good boundaries with our spouses, kids, friends, co-workers, and our technology. Connect with JamieFacebook // Instagram // YouTubeGET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

Hey friends! I hope you are enjoying our Boundaries series as much as I am. Today is special – we have two interviews in one show, with three total guests! The focus of these conversations is boundaries with technology. I know this can be a touchy subject, but I encourage you to really lean in and examine your own relationship with technology as you listen. First up is Tracy Foster, co-founder and executive director of Screen Sanity. Screen Sanity’s main focus is to maximize the benefits of technology while minimizing the side effects for kids. The second half of today’s episode is with Heath Wilson and Joey Odom, co-founders of technology company Aro. Their mission is to help people experience life uninterrupted by reducing time spent on devices.I think we can all agree that technology can be detrimental to family time, self-time, and even our ability to focus at work. In fact, I learned through today’s conversations that technology is one of the biggest obstacles families are facing right now, more than sex more than drugs. Tracy and I talk about boundaries with kids and social media, and about the playbook that Screen Sanity created for kids. We talk about how parents, adults, and teachers can help create healthy boundaries around technology. Tracy even walks us through how online companies target our kids to get as much time from them as possible, and encourages an emphasis on family values to help children understand why boundaries are put in place.Heath and Joey talk about one of the main reasons technology is a problem for us today – it’s because we don’t have a place for it. Defining the proper place for technology is the first step to cutting back on time spent on our phones. We talk about how Aro got started as a company, and the story is one I’m sure we can all relate to. When Heath’s son was five, he was playing in a soccer game and had not scored a goal all year. Until one day Heath’s son’s soccer dream came true and he scored a goal. But Heath missed the moment because he was looking down at his phone! It was at that moment Heath knew he had to come up with a solution for experiencing life uninterrupted with our cellular devices, and Aro was born. This Boundaries conversation is a good one! I can’t wait to hear what you think. Connect with JamieFacebook // Instagram // YouTubeGET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

We are continuing on in our new Boundaries series and it just keeps getting better! Today on the show is my friend, Dr. Alison Cook. Alison is a psychologist, has her own private practice, writes, coaches, and has worked as a therapist for women for approximately 20 years. Alison and I talk about how embracing healthy boundaries sometimes starts with setting initial boundaries for ourselves. She explains what it means to get to know the state of our soul, taking those parts of us that were formed when we were younger and what keeps us from moving past those wounds and burdens. We talk about why doing the internal work is so important and we end our conversation with Alison explaining the difference between codependency versus healthy dependency. Alison says boundaries aren’t primarily the exercise of saying ‘no’ to other people. Rather, boundaries are about saying yes to yourself and your own work of healing. It takes a lot of courage to say there is a wound inside of us that needs healing, but until we can understand ourselves more fully, we will be unable to create good boundaries. Alison believes our own internal work precedes the work of boundaries. The degree to which we are dealing with our own souls and the woundedness is the capacity with which we will be able to show up with others. Boundaries are not an easy thing, but as Alison will help you to see today, boundaries are meant to protect our beautiful souls. Connect with JamieFacebook // Instagram // YouTubeGET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

Hey friends! We are starting a new series today called Boundaries, and as hard as boundaries may be for some of us, I really think you’re going to enjoy these conversations. I’m starting off the series with my dear friend, Lysa Terkeurst. Lysa is no stranger to The Happy Hour, and I’m sure many of you know her name. She is an author and speaker, not to mention an impactful communicator of God’s Word. Lysa recently wrote a book called Good Boundaries and Goodbyes, which I had the privilege and honor to endorse. Let me just say, you need to grab yourself a copy!In addition to talking about the new book, Lysa and I also have a discussion about the fact that people don’t understand that it’s perfectly okay to set healthy boundaries. We don’t know when it’s time to say goodbye, or what it truly means to love one another. And many of us have believed the lie that it’s un-Christian to put boundaries in place. Lysa wrote Good Boundaries and Goodbyes as a follow up to another of her books. She realized after writing Forgiving What You Can’t Forget that she needed to work on boundaries in her own life and get to the root issue of why she struggled to do so. Lysa says she was afraid to make boundaries because it could possibly disappoint people and they may walk away or stop providing what she thought only they could provide to make her feel okay in this world. Truth be told, when we set boundaries with people, sometimes it does upset them. But Lysa says, if we are afraid that someone is going to reject us or be upset with us, that person already had a high likelihood of eventually rejecting us one day. Boundaries aren’t just a good idea; they’re God’s idea. Join me today for a great conversation with my friend, Lysa Terkeurst. Connect with JamieFacebook // Instagram // YouTubeGET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

I’m sad to say that we’re wrapping up our Collaboration Over Competition series, but we are finishing strong! My guests today are two of my dear friends, Lisa Whittle and Alli Worthington, founders of the organization Called Creatives. Called Creatives is a private coaching community with hands-on training for those who want to write and speak with influence and impact. With a growing membership base of more than 500, Called Creatives provides opportunities for mastermind groups, publishing support, private events, and so much more! In today’s episode, we talk about how Alli and Lisa meld their gifts together, how they work to overcome any feelings of jealousy, and what it looks like for them to collaborate with one another. I asked Lisa and Alli how the idea for Called Creatives came to be, and let me just say, I wish I had a personality like Alli. Alli decided she wanted to do a membership site for creative women who wanted to write and speak because nothing like it existed for women in that area. With no fear or hesitation, Alli immediately got started but she didn't want to do it alone. Alli prayed about the idea, and less than five minutes later, the Lord spoke very clearly to her: “It’s Lisa”. Lisa, on the other hand, was a bit more hesitant about collaborating with anyone because she said she really struggles to trust others. In fact, Lisa told Alli that she did not trust her when Alli first asked! Lisa says although she was afraid, she knew she just needed to take one step. Lisa reminds us that initial fear and not feeling “all in” in the early stages of something doesn’t mean we shouldn’t just start. See how it goes! Do it afraid. Together, Alli and Lisa are thriving as teammates. Within their community of 500 members, more than THIRTY books will be published by the end of this year! That’s what intentionally choosing to collaborate can do! I hope you have enjoyed this series and that you have a new perspective on the decision to choose collaboration over competition, wherever in your life competition may start to creep in.Connect with JamieFacebook // Instagram // YouTubeGET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

My next two guests are mastering collaboration over competition. Together, they have written several books, including Are My Kids On Track, and Intentional Parenting. They are also the hosts of the Raising Boys & Girls podcast. Sissy Goff is the Director of Child and Adolescent Counseling at Daystar Counseling Ministries for more than thirty years. David has been at Daystar for 25 years, now serving as the Director of Family Counseling. Have you enjoyed our Collaboration Over Competition series so far? If so, it only gets better! On the episode today, David and Sissy talk about the fear of someone liking the other person’s books more than they like yours, and how we can benefit from each other’s strengths. We also have a discussion on what Sissy and David say are the greatest struggles parents today face, and whether or not parents are responding adequately to kids who might be dealing with depression. David mentioned that he has only authored one book by himself, and he believes collaborating with others makes him a better writer. He says it is so much better when we work together and surround ourselves with people who outpace us. We talked about anxiety and the stress kids experience today as they apply to get into college, and that is something I’ve only recently come to learn in starting to launch my own children. When I was applying to get into college, it was not competitive – now, kids are up against so many other applicants just to get into their college of choice, and it is causing anxiety to rise dramatically. Sissy says, “Reminding them of their courage in the moments of anxiety starts with us. We have to use wise words to help our children get through the pressures that are weighing down on them.” Enjoy today’s show! If you find it encouraging, share it with a friend.Connect with JamieFacebook // Instagram // YouTubeGET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE