Millions have been encouraged and inspired by the words of the #1 best-selling 365-day devotional "Jesus Calling." Listen to real-life stories of faith as told ...
[BONUS] Preparing Our Hearts for the Holidays with Lanier Ivester
As we enter the season of Advent and Christmas, we’re bound to be overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle. The list of dishes to prepare, gifts to buy and wrap, cards to send, and parties to attend feels never-ending… which often results in the real reason for the season getting pushed aside. But when we set time aside to properly prepare our hearts to honor the birth of Jesus, the experience of Christmas can take on a whole new meaning—becoming a season of hope, rest, and renewal. For this special holiday bonus episode, we’re joined by Lanier Ivester, a writer and homemaker who has taken time-honored holiday traditions and shaped and molded them to fit her family—keeping restful intentionality at the center of it all. Lanier shares how to let go of what doesn’t serve your soul, how to embrace the imperfection that makes gathering with our communities more authentic and real, and how to find glimmers of joy when you’re celebrating Christmas with a grieving heart. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned:Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Jesus Listens for Advent & Christmas Jesus Calling for Christmas Lanier Ivester’s website Glad & Golden Hours by Lanier Ivester Lanier Ivester’s Facebook Lanier Ivester’s Instagram Lanier Ivester’s Twitter Interview Quotes “We can burden ourselves even with wanting to bring intention into the holiday season. But the fact is that very turning of our hearts towards intention is itself intention. And that's honoring to God.” - Lanier Ivester “In Christ, we can serve and prepare for the holidays and love our people and do all the things from a place of unconditional love. And that is a resting place. We don't have to do it all. We can step in, out of the wind of our culture, and just take refuge under His wings and really ask Him for wisdom.” - Lanier Ivester “Scientists will tell you that taste and scent really create these pathways in our brain. They are what's known as memory bridges that can connect us to a place and a people and a time really effortlessly. And it's for that reason I've subconsciously carried forward a lot of my favorite meals and recipes from my childhood and brought them into my celebrations to this day with my husband and our friends.” - Lanier Ivester “It's definitely a combination of anticipation and savoring. We need both, and there's so little room in our culture for either one of those.” - Lanier Ivester “The reality is, many times the holiday season can be extremely difficult. Whatever we're walking through—whether it's grief, whether it's loss, whether it's deferred hopes or unanswered prayers, or things just not being the way that we want them to be—the holidays really amp that up, because it's easy for expectations of what a happy holiday is supposed to look like to slam up against our reality and make us feel a sense of lack in the light of what seems to be going on in the world around us.” - Lanier Ivester “Traditions serve our relationships. The traditions that we love are a container for our relationships—they were not the thing. The people are the thing, and the traditions hold the people.” - Lanier Ivester “We serve a God who is in the details of our lives, and it's very easy to overlook that or think something is not large enough or important enough for His notice. But when we sit down with our plans for our holidays, our plans for our gatherings, and invite Him first before we invite anyone else into this space—asking Him to create a welcoming atmosphere—I think that that brings our holidays into a much more sacred space.” - Lanier Ivester “Advent makes space for our grief. It gives us freedom to name our sorrows, our longings, our yearnings to the One who will set them right, ultimately. But the flip side of that is if Advent makes space for our grief, Christmas makes space for our joy.” - Lanier Ivester ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok *Episode produced by Four Eyes Media* Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
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21:17
Finding Grace in Every Step and Every Ingredient: Demi-Leigh Tebow & Kendall Vanderslice
*This episode mentions violence and may be triggering for some listeners.* This week, we’re joined by Demi-Leigh Tebow, a South African native, former Miss Universe, and wife of NFL superstar Tim Tebow. Demi-Leigh is a passionate advocate for individuals with special needs and disabilities. She discusses how her faith helped her overcome personal challenges, including a life-altering carjacking, and how it now fuels her mission to empower women through her Unbreakable Women’s Workshop. Later in the episode, we’ll hear from Kendall Vanderslice, a baker, writer, and teacher, who takes us on a profound dive into the practice of bread making. Kendall shares how she discovered baking as her calling, explores the rich symbolism of food in scripture, and reveals how the kitchen can become a sacred place for encountering God. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Molly Stillman Upcoming interview: Alyssa Bethke Jesus Calling commemorative edition Jesus Calling app Demi-Leigh Tebow Tim Tebow Unbreakable Conference A Crown That Lasts cerebellar agenesis The Tim Tebow Foundation Night to Shine Miss Universe human trafficking 1 Corinthians 9:25 NIV www.demitebow.com Kendall Vanderslice Genesis 1 and 2 NIV Genesis 3 NIV www.kendallvanderslice.com Bake & Pray: Liturgies & Recipes for Baking Bread as a Spiritual Practice Interview Quotes: “I eventually realized that I had a choice to make. I could choose to question God for the rest of my life, or I could choose to trust Him for the rest of my life. I knew choosing to trust Him also meant making peace with knowing that I was not going to have all of the answers, and that that was going to be okay.” - Demi-Leigh Tebow “I don't like being interrupted. I don't like being taken off the course of my day. I don't like stopping to help somebody else in need. Right? That's uncomfortable. Well, I think that there can be so much blessing in obedience in those moments where we are willing to be interrupted for the sake of somebody else.” - Demi-Leigh Tebow “I had to learn that if I truly wanted to have real confidence in my identity, I had to root my confidence in something other than myself. Something that is fixed. Something that is never changing. Something that is always trustworthy and something that is bigger than myself.” - Demi-Leigh Tebow “My diamond and pearl crown did not last. But do you know what will last? The impact that I get to have with that crown, living out my God-given purpose, maybe using that crown as a vessel.” - Demi-Leigh Tebow “I am thankful for my plans that have been ruined. I am thankful for the wrenches that have been thrown in my plans. Because His plans have been better and bigger and more perfect for me every single time.” - Demi-Leigh Tebow “It is such a joy to get to share what I have learned through the process of baking with others so that they can meet God in the kitchen with dough between their fingers.” - Kendall Vanderslice “The simplicity of baking itself is, I think, a really holy calling.” - Kendall Vanderslice “We have this picture of death and resurrection all woven into the process of baking bread. I think it is no small matter that Jesus then chose bread as the central element of the communion table.” - Kendall Vanderslice “We are invited to rest, not as a reward for what we've gotten done, but as a means of delighting in God's creation and being reminded that we were created to take care of and delight in this delicious and beautiful world.” - Kendall Vanderslice ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
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[JESUS LISTENS MONTHLY SERIES] Prayers of Gratitude: Paige King Johnson
On this episode of Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer, we’ll hear from country singer/songwriter Paige King Johnson, who first fell in love with music when her grandfather gifted her a guitar when she was just a little girl. Paige shares about her new song, “I Thank God,” a prayer turned into a song that reminds us to be grateful for the gifts God gives us, and how practicing being grateful can change our lives for the better. Guest’s Links Facebook: @PaigeKingJohnson Instagram: @paigekingjohnson YouTube: @PaigeKingJohnson ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Jesus Calling Website TikTok *Episode produced by Four Eyes Media* Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
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Our Healing Could Be Just One Prayer Away: Dr. Sarita Lyons & Lisa Victoria Fields
This week, we explore the journeys of two remarkable women who have navigated the complexities of faith, community, and personal struggles. First, we’ll hear from Dr. Sarita Lyons, Director of Discipleship and Women’s Ministry at Epiphany Fellowship Church in Philadelphia. Sarita shares her deep love for Scripture, and how that juxtaposed with her personal, challenging experiences in a church setting. She attempts to shed light on the complexities of church relationships and the importance of healing and restoration within the faith community. Later in the episode, we’ll hear from Lisa Victoria Fields, founder and president of the Jude 3 Project. Lisa went from an aspiring Wall Street financier to a passionate Christian apologist. She discusses the significance of wrestling with faith and how her work equips others to explore and affirm their own convictions. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Erwin McManus Upcoming interview: Demi-Leigh Tebow Dr. Sarita Lyons Epiphany Fellowship Church Pastor Mark Lyons Pastor Eric Mason www.saritalyons.com Church Girl: A Gospel Vision to Encourage and Challenge Black Christian Women Other Jesus Calling interviews about church hurt Other Jesus Calling interviews about prayer Lisa Victoria Fields Jude 3 Project John 6:67-69 NIV When Faith Disappoints: The Gap Between What We Believe And What We Experience Other Jesus Calling interviews about wrestling with questions Interview Quotes: “Before we decide to quickly leave [the church], I would say try to find a way to make connections with leaders to share what your experience was, to see if there's a path created for restoration. Give the house a chance to do the right thing before presuming and assuming that they would not.” - Dr. Sarita Lyons “Defining clearly what the situation is and getting help from the community and not isolating are really, really key in trying to make good choices and discern what to do next.” - Dr. Sarita Lyons “God is so good and He's so big that He can handle all of those different seasons of life that we are in as we are healing and working through church hurt. Sometimes the healing that we are looking for is literally one prayer away.” - Dr. Sarita Lyons “I think you need a space to wrestle with God so He can be the one to give you the answer to the questions you're facing.” - Lisa Victoria Fields “A faith that cannot be tested cannot be trusted.” - Lisa Victoria Fields “Part of our healing comes from communicating our frustrations and our doubts and our pains to others, and then taking those in prayer to God.” - Lisa Victoria Fields ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
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24:13
God Is the Author of Every Part of Our Stories: Nicholas Sparks & Mattie Jackson Smith
Today, we are thrilled to be joined by Nicholas Sparks, a renowned author whose novels like The Notebook and A Walk to Remember have touched hearts around the world. While many know him for his captivating love stories, few realize that Nicholas’ journey to writing was born out of personal setbacks and unexpected moments of faith. He’ll let us in on his latest book, Counting Miracles, a powerfully emotional novel about wondering if we can change—or even make our peace with—the path we've taken. Later in the episode, we’ll hear from Mattie Jackson Smith—author, speaker, and daughter of country music legend Alan Jackson—as she shares about the process of grieving her husband, Ben, and the identity loss that came with it. As Mattie struggled to trust God in the face of unimaginable suffering, she watched as God turned her life story around in a way she never could have imagined. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Willie Robertson Upcoming interview: Dr. Sarita Lyons Jesus Calling commemorative edition Jesus Calling app - Premium subscriptions 20% off for a limited time! Nicholas Sparks The Notebook A Walk to Remember Counting Miracles Notre Dame Book of Job www.nicholassparks.com Other Jesus Calling interviews about forgiveness Mattie Jackson Smith Alan Jackson Mattie’s first interview on the Jesus Calling Podcast John 11:35 NIV www.mattiejackson.net Through the Valley of Grief Other Jesus Calling interviews about making peace with our circumstances Interview Quotes: “I’ve learned a couple of things about myself [while becoming a writer]. Number one, that I had it in me to finish a story once I started, and number two, there were parts of telling a story that I really enjoyed.” - Nicholas Sparks “It's the nature of life for challenges to happen. And I think in the end, what is most important to God is that we choose to still believe.” - Nicholas Sparks “All of a sudden a widow at twenty-eight, it upends everything about your life. The loss and grief of him and our love, but also our future and everything else we had planned for. There is this devastating emptiness of that person not being in your life. But there is also this emptiness in this really painful and unwanted shift of our identity in relation to that person.” - Mattie Jackson Smith “God didn't design us to hold the weight of death on our own.” - Mattie Jackson Smith “He is always faithful not to fix our circumstances, but to meet us in them over and over and over again.” - Mattie Jackson Smith “What's the balance of really asking God for what I want and surrendering it to Him? He keeps writing our stories into more joy and into more beauty and into a more abundant life.” - Mattie Jackson Smith “You think back to being a kid and If you're afraid of the dark, it's still dark. But when your parents hold you tightly, what's around you doesn't change, but you feel secure. And I think that's the way that I experience the peace of God. And I think that's one of the most miraculous things that we experience as believers.” - Mattie Jackson Smith ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Millions have been encouraged and inspired by the words of the #1 best-selling 365-day devotional "Jesus Calling." Listen to real-life stories of faith as told by those who have experienced the power of living in His presence.
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