The Wake-Up Call

While Christmas is a profound celebration for those who know and love Jesus, it is even more important for those who don’t.

We aren’t just saved from something but saved for something: to become more like Jesus.

His love unquestionably comes first. Our love is always in response to His.

The kingdom of God presents a different metric of success: love.

There may be multiple right decisions, but a decision made in love is always the best.

The commands of Jesus are commandments of love.

True love, as God demonstrates it, is not self-seeking; it willingly lays down personal comfort, preference, and privilege for the good of another.

God’s glory isn’t tied to any specific form or experience. His glory is in His presence.

In this episode of "Wake Up Call Conversations," JD Walt engages in a heartfelt conversation with Tara Beth Leach, a pastor and author, about her book "The Great Morning Revolution: Daily Spiritual Practices for Meaningful Moments with God." Tara Beth shares her personal journey through a challenging period marked by family health crises and financial struggles, which led her to a spiritual awakening. She describes how setting a morning routine of gratitude, reflection, exaltation, asking, and trusting transformed her life, providing a framework for others seeking spiritual renewal. The discussion highlights the importance of beginning each day with intention and the profound impact of dedicating the first moments of the morning to spiritual practices. JD and Tara Beth also reflect on the significance of early morning prayer, drawing inspiration from biblical examples and personal experiences. You can purchase Tara Beth's new book "The Great Morning Revolution" here: https://my.seedbed.com/product/the-great-morning-revolution-daily-spiritual-practices-for-meaningful-moments-with-god/

In brokenness and need is when the joy of salvation is realized.

Fixing our eyes on Jesus makes joy available to us, even in weariness, discouragement, or suffering, which seek to eclipse the joy we have before us.

This is the scope of God’s redemptive work: Nothing will be left untouched by it.

Through the power of the Spirit, we can affirm and encourage one another in faith, knowing that God’s promises are always best enjoyed together.

All true goodness, satisfaction, and joy can only come from a loving relationship with God.

All true goodness, satisfaction, and joy can only come from a loving relationship with God.

God’s glory isn’t tied to any specific form or experience. His glory is in His presence.

God is always working to bring forth something greater than we could ask or imagine.

In the soil of pain and shame, Zechariah’s demand for certainty grew, yielding the fruit of unbelief when met with the promise of God.

In this episode, J. D. and Sterling Allen delve into the significance of worship in the Christian faith, emphasizing the holistic nature of worship beyond just singing or preaching. Sterling shares his journey as a pastor and worship leader, highlighting the importance of being actively engaged in worship and the role of pastors as worship leaders. They discuss the creation of the Seedbed Worship Planner, a resource designed to aid pastors and church musicians in crafting meaningful worship experiences. The conversation also touches on the value of hymnals in preserving traditional hymns and the need for a balanced approach to incorporating both old and new songs in worship. Sterling's personal anecdotes about his daughter, Hannah Grace, and their shared love for worship underscore the episode's theme of passing down faith traditions through music and community. You can find the Seedbed Worship Planner here:https://my.seedbed.com/product/seedbed-worship-planner-2026/

Unity and peace are not things we earn or create, but that we receive from God and share in the keeping of.

Simply put: the kingdom of God is where God is King.

Peace is not found in the absence of anxiety, but in the presence of God.

Peace is not found in the absence of anxiety, but in the presence of God.

Not if something bad happens, but when something bad happens, He will be our peace.

Remembering the big picture grounds us in a grander and greater narrative than we could ever imagine.

Advent also invites us to look ahead, to anchor our hope in Christ’s return and the restoration He will bring.

Christian hope is not aimless optimism. It is the hope we were saved into, a hope that gives us the strength to wait patiently for what we do not yet see.

Rich Villodas has been a friend of Seedbed since speaking at our New Room Conference in 2021. His books explore living life in the footsteps of Jesus as we see him in the Gospels. This discussion between J. D. and Rich centers around the Sermon on the Mount and its profound impact on their lives and ministries. They explore themes such as the importance of living out the teachings of Jesus, the role of humility and love in overcoming societal challenges like toxic partisanship, and the significance of emotional health in spiritual growth. Rich shares personal stories of his spiritual journey, including his family's conversion and the mentorship of his grandfather, emphasizing the transformative power of scripture. They also discuss the practical application of the Sermon on the Mount in daily life and ministry, highlighting the need for integrity and maturity in leadership. Join Rich, J. D. and others at our upcoming New Room Pastor's Retreat this February 25–27 in Black Mountain, NC: https://my.seedbed.com/product/new-room-pastors-retreat-2026/ CONNECT:Subscribe to the WUC daily email: https://seedbed.com/wakeupcall/ Join the conversation here:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/seedbedwakeupcall/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewakeupcall/

This season of waiting invites us to embrace the tension between our joy in what we have received already and our hope for what is yet to come.

Faith in God’s promises does not mean the absence of questions.

Waking up requires us to pause, to ask the hard questions, and to make room for the light to break in.

Following Jesus does not mean an easy life; however, it does lead to a life of power and purpose, joy in the face of suffering, and profound, even world-changing, love for God and people.

Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.

As Jesus was and is, so we are and shall become—words becoming flesh.

Abba Father, thank you for your Son, Jesus, who breathes into us the breath of life—the Holy Spirit.

In this episode of the Wake Up Call Conversations podcast, host JD Walt engages in a profound discussion with Dr. Ben Witherington III, a renowned New Testament scholar, about the historical and spiritual significance of Advent and Christmas. The conversation delves into the real themes of Advent, contrasting the often commercialized holiday season with the intense and challenging environment of Jesus' birth. Dr. Witherington provides insights into the historical context of the Middle East during Jesus' time, the significance of the virgin birth, and the role of honor and shame in ancient cultures. The episode also explores the dual nature of Advent as a time of anticipation for both the birth of Christ and His eventual return, encouraging listeners to prepare spiritually for the season.Join us this Advent for "Brought To The Light", our Wake-Up Call Advent series by Anna Grace Legband.You can purchase a paperback copy here: https://my.seedbed.com/product/brought-to-the-light-advent-for-all-who-need-it/CONNECT:Subscribe to the daily Wake-Up Call email: https://seedbed.com/wakeupcall/Join the Wake-Up Call community here:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/seedbedwakeupcall/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewakeupcall/

Because they broke ranks with respectable religion and associated themselves with a crucified Messiah, they will live in the eternal respect of the risen Lord (and ours).

Truth has a side. We find it by listening to his voice.

The Father puts all the freight and weight of his love for the world on his Son. Jesus puts all the freight and weight of the world’s faith on his followers’ love for each other.

This is what the disciples of Jesus do. They put down pretense, confess their ignorance, and ask one another questions in order to grow in their faith and understanding.

I have called you friends.

We will finally see greater things when we learn the ways of greater love.

What holds you back from pouring your very best into the most menial and ordinary acts?

In this very first episode of Wake-Up Call Conversations, J. D. Walt speaks with Andrew Forrest, the senior pastor at Asbury Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The discussion centers around Andrew's new book, "Love Goes First," which explores the concept of reaching out to others in an age of anxiety and division. Andrew shares personal stories and insights on how love can be a proactive force, emphasizing the importance of moving towards others with love, even when faced with differences or hostility. The conversation delves into themes of reconciliation, the role of the church in today's society, and the transformative power of love in bridging divides. Andrew's book "Love Goes First":https://my.seedbed.com/product/love-goes-first-reaching-others-in-an-age-of-anxiety-and-division/ Chapters (00:00:00) - Introduction to Conversations(00:02:05) - Andrew Forrest's Journey and Ministry(00:03:52) - The Book: Love Goes First(00:09:45) - The Posture of Love in a Divided World(00:13:42) - Navigating Cultural Changes as Christians(00:17:40) - The Power of Moving First(00:26:22) - The Call to Proclaim Kindness(00:34:30) - Grace and Reconciliation: The Power of Welcome(00:37:49) - Moving First: Practical Steps in Love(00:42:24) - Loving Individuals: The Heart of the Gospel

To be the seed means to surrender your life to Jesus and all the glorious purposes for which God made you in the first place.

Our biggest problem is not sin; it’s our broken ability to trust.

I find the more I actually expect to hear from Jesus, the more I hear from him.

Every broken place in every broken life holds the possibility for the glorious works of God to be put on display.

The gospel does not do away with justice and judgment; rather, it crushes condemnation.

When Jesus comes into your life he becomes the endless source of eternal life that actually springs up from within you and then flows out of you to others.