Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith

This week’s stories are set an ocean apart, but share a common thread of two individuals placing their trust in God to be a lighthouse in the dark while mapping a new course for their lives.  Joseph Rojas, the lead singer of the Christian rock band Seventh Day Slumber, candidly shares a background where abuse, addiction, and suicidal ideation haunted his days, and how that led to a rock-bottom moment in the back of an ambulance, where he had a life-changing encounter with God. Author and podcaster Monica Swanson is a mom to four boys who she decided to start homeschooling when they were elementary age. Though Monica and her husband initially had doubts about handling the boys’ education, they leaned into the task and discovered some of the benefits of this type of education, and now help others who desire to choose this route for their own families.    Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Brandi Rhodes Upcoming interview: Savannah Guthrie Thank you to our sponsor: www.give.cru.org Jesus Calling for Easter   Joseph Rojas Seventh Day Slumber Third Day Skillet Prayer Chain Bleach Unveiled Skies: Conquering Emotional Battles   Monica Swanson Deuteronomy 6 NIV www.monicaswanson.com Becoming Homeschoolers   Interview Quotes: “It was hard to believe that if there really is a God and He's holy and good, what would He want with someone as messed up as me?” - Joseph Rojas  “I gave my heart to Him. I was talking with my heart to God. I don't remember exactly what I prayed, probably something along the lines of, God, if you'll still have me, if you still want me, I'll give my life to you.” - Joseph Rojas  “When I saw the people come forward and give their hearts to the Lord, I said, ‘That's what I want to do.’” - Joseph Rojas “I wish that someone would have told me earlier on that I need to quit looking to everybody else to try to tell me who I am…At the end of the day, if you want to know who you are, you should ask the One who created you, and He will tell you that you're not a throw away, that you're not a lost cause, that you're not too fat, that you're not stupid, that you're not worthless. He'll tell you that you are loved beyond measure.” - Joseph Rojas “Faith has been a huge element of our homeschool experience, mostly because we've been able to live out the Deuteronomy chapter six idea of talking about God's commands as we get up, as we walk along the road, as we lie down.” - Monica Swanson ________________________ 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.

This week, we speak with Navy veteran Michael Hyacinthe, who is also an artist and sculptor. Michael recounts the profound impact of his time in the military, and how, after he returned to civilian life, he wanted to use his talent in the arts to support veterans, and eventually children through his company Wimage, who created a toy robot named Wimee, featured on the PBS children’s show called Wimee’s Words. Our second guest is climate scientist and speaker Katharine Hayhoe, whose work bridges the gap between science and faith. Interpreting complex climate data through the lens of religious stewardship, Katharine educates faith-based communities on their role as protectors of creation. Both individuals exemplify how unconventional talents can spark change and encourage others to utilize their own unique gifts for the greater good.   Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Elisabeth Hasselbeck Upcoming interview: Joseph Rojas Thank you to our sponsor: www.give.cru.org Jesus Calling for Easter   Michael Hyacinthe Has Heart  U.S. Navy Seabee Wimage Wimee’s Words Navy Mobile Construction Battalion 40 ArtPrize   Katharine Hayhoe climate change Saving Us: A Climate Scientist's Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World    Interview Quotes: “We're using art as a bridge for the veterans to express themselves and to connect and be a part of the community that they live in.” - Michael Hyacinthe “There are a lot of ups and downs in this journey of life, which sometimes are completely out of our control, but knowing that ultimately I'm doing God's will and I need His strength, I know that I am not alone, that I have someone—the Creator—that is with me and that is guiding me through good and bad.” - MichaelHyacinthe “I need to do everything I can to help fix this problem, because otherwise, how can I truly feel that I am expressing God's love and using the gifts that God has given me to love and to care for others? You don't often think of physics as being a way to love others, but this was a way that I could use my skills to do this.” - Katharine Hayhoe  “More than 70% of scientists at research universities in the U.S. identify as spiritual people, but surveys have shown that most of us don't engage in our local churches just because we feel like we wouldn't be accepted if we talked about our science.” - Katharine Hayhoe  “Just initiating conversation from the heart rather than the head, talking about what we have in common rather than what divides us, and connecting it to our hands—what we can do to make a difference.” - Katharine Hayhoe “It's just about having that conversation and expressing how you feel, whether it might be joyful, whether it might be sad, whether it might be stymied, not knowing where to go.” - Katharine Hayhoe ________________________ 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.

People of faith have many opportunities to demonstrate how that faith leads and guides them. As a star athlete recognizes where their gifts and talents come from on a platform for all to see, we can also be faithful in our normal daily interactions with others, demonstrating grace—especially when we disagree—and showing kindness, understanding, and humility, all which reflect the love of Christ in our lives. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, an American hurdler and sprinter, competes in the 400 meter hurdles. She is the 2020 Tokyo Olympic champion with the Games record, and 2022 World champion with a world record time of 50.68 seconds. It takes work to be the kind of athlete Sydney has become, but she always acknowledges the One who gave her the talent and the strength to persevere in her sport. Eugene Cho is a pastor, author, and the president of Bread for the World, a Christian advocacy organization that is committed to ending hunger. Many years ago, while pastoring a church, Eugene noticed a tension that was sweeping through his congregation—and it involved groups of people who disagreed strongly over faith and politics. Over time, he began to look at these situations, drawing parallels from the life of Jesus and how He handled those who disagreed with Him and His work.    Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Emily Chang Upcoming interview: Michael Hyancinthe  Thank you to our sponsor: www.give.cru.org Jesus Calling for Easter   Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone 2020 Tokyo Olympic champion Doha World Championships in 2019 Far Beyond Gold: Running From Fear to Faith   Eugene Cho Bread for the World Luke 10:25-37 NIV John 10:10 NIV Thou Shalt Not Be a Jerk   Interview Quotes: “God really helped to rework my mind and my heart to truly put Him on the throne of my life. And because of that, I was able to reprioritize how I viewed track and field and how I prepared for races, how I viewed wins versus losses.” - Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone  “I can show up to the track every day and understand that this is a gift He's given me that win, lose, or draw, it's an opportunity to glorify Him, and my value is already secure in Christ.” - Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone  “I want to make sure that I'm keeping company with people that are not just people that will agree with everything that I will say, that are willing to challenge me, but also making sure that I'm rooted and guided in the gospel through Jesus Christ.” - Eugene Cho  “I just think it's really important that we be wise, cautious, careful not to dehumanize those that we disagree with, because in our self-righteousness, we can become the very things that we criticize in others and not even know it.” - Eugene Cho  “We have to understand that the ultimate call for us as followers of Jesus is not to be successful. It's not to be outrageous. It's not to be the loudest. It's not to be the one that's most heard, but the one that's rooted in Christ, who seeks to be faithful, who walks with integrity, who seeks to love like Jesus loved, including making sure that we're mindful of the lessons of the Good Samaritan.” - Eugene Cho “I think it's so important that we understand that everything that we do as followers of Christ must be rooted in this commandment to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. That’s our anchor and our foundation.” - Eugene Cho “Maybe part of the reason why I have always appreciated the invitation to spend time in God's Word on a regular basis is so that as we go about doing this work, we don't lose ourselves in the blustery winds of our culture and times.” - Eugene Cho  ________________________ 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.

On this episode of Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer, we hear from author and podcaster, Rebekah Lyons. Rebekah opens up about her experiences with anxiety, raising her beloved son who has Down Syndrome, and how faith and prayer got her through some uncertain moments.   Guest’s Links Rebekah’s Instagram Rebekah’s Facebook _______________________  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.

This week, we’re talking to two women who grew up checking off the boxes to be the best Christians they could possibly be, and who would learn later in life would come to know a God who was more concerned with their hearts than with their behaviors. Comedian Anita Renfroe grew up in a church that didn’t consider laughter to be appropriate within its walls. As a person who always had something funny running through her head, it took her years to realize that joy, which bubbles over into laughter, is actually something that pleases the heart of God. Writer and teacher Hollylu Jostes also grew up in an environment that had very specific notions on what it meant to be a “good Christian.” Basically playing a role that ran counterintuitive to who she was as a person, she struggled to find her authentic self until she learned to know the God who loved her madly, who gave her the freedom to be exactly who she was meant to be.    Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Rachael Lampa Upcoming interview: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Thank you to our sponsor: www.give.cru.org Jesus Calling for Easter   Anita Renfroe Women of Faith  “The Mom Song”  Good Morning America Modern Family  The Middle www.anitarenfroe.com   Hollylu Jostes  Salty: The Deconstruction of a Good Christian Proverbs 31 NIV Matthew 5:13 NIV www.hollyluspeaks.com   Interview Quotes: “One of my favorite things about how the Lord led me into this is that it takes, sometimes, other people to point out things that should be obvious to you, but are not.” - Anita Renfroe  “I feel it's a gift when the body of Christ can call out [talents] in each other.” - Anita Renfroe  “I like to sign up for things I don't know how to do and do it, and I think that's how I communicate with God the best, is when I'm pushed way out on a limb.” - Hollylu Jostes  “I chose Him because He's God. He is the only rational choice, and then everything falls under that. And once that is in the right place, then you are free to be who God created you to be.” - Hollylu Jostes  “I think it's important to connect with God daily because He is the fuel. He is what gets us through our day. He's what gives our day meaning and He's what infuses our day with joy. He will meet you in these meager little moments that we offer Him and He will grow them.” - Hollylu Jostes ________________________ 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.

This week, we’ll hear the stories of two individuals who were tragically separated from their families at an early age. Though they faced unimaginable losses, they fought to hold onto what was left of their families, and continued to seek God as they also searched for their belonging in the world. Jochen Wurfl has seen more than his fair share of suffering. As a Holocaust survivor who experienced firsthand Hitler’s persecution of the Jewish people, and separation from his parents, Jochen clung to his brother to survive, and held onto faith that they would make it through. Holly Marie’s parents were members of a cult, who compelled them to give Holly Marie up for adoption when she was just a baby. When members of her biological family connected with her years later, there was an emotional reunion, and revelations that would forever change her life.    Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Ellie Holcomb Upcoming interview: Anita Renfroe Thank you to our sponsor: www.give.cru.org Jesus Calling for Easter   Jochen Wurfl  Holocaust survivor Anschluss  Hitler Youth Sachsenhausen Czechoslovakia  Mauthausen D-Day My Two Lives   Holly Marie Genealogy for Justice Dean and Tina Linn Clouse Memorial Fund Finding Baby Holly babyhollytips@oag.texas.gov Interview Quotes: “We found the cell where my mother was, and she said, ‘Boys, be good at school. Learn as much as you can. Pay attention. I know you love me and I love you. I want you to leave right now because I am afraid you're going to be arrested and you're going to be sent along with me.’ We never talked to our mother again. We never saw her again. She was taken to Auschwitz and she was killed there.” - Jochen Wurfl  “Eventually, our entire family was killed in the concentration camps, or somewhere by the Nazis. Everybody. My brother and I were the only two people who survived.” - Jochen Wurfl “That was probably the happiest day of my life when we landed in LaGuardia and I knew that I was in this country, a country where we had freedom, where you had democracy. Coming from Germany, from the Second World War, the difference was so immense.” - Jochen Wurfl  “I still remember when I was twelve years old back in Germany, and we heard then on the BBC that the troops had landed successfully in Normandy. And here all these years later, I was in the color guard in Normandy to celebrate the success of the invasion. The sun was rising over the channel, and we stood there lowering the flags, listening to the tides. It was just an unbelievable experience.” - Jochen Wurfl “I was so blessed in this country and by my life as a whole.” - Jochen Wurfl “I felt overwhelming joy that my biological family actually searched and prayed for me to be found and wanted to meet me.” - Holly Marie  “I praise God every day for blessing me with an adopted and biological family who both loved me and prayed with me, and always have my whole life.” - Holly Marie  “I praise God for the platform He has opened up for me to share my story. This is an honor that I don't deserve, but shows how great our God is, and that He bestows His greatness upon all those who call upon His name, not because we earn it or deserve it, but because He loves us that much.” - Holly Marie ________________________ 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.

God's love transcends human understanding and surpasses any love we could envision for ourselves. It is pure, unconditional, and ceaseless, unlike human love, which can be influenced by imperfection and self-interest. This divine love serves as an unfaltering source of comfort, healing, and transformation, exceeding any form of love we could dream of in its depth, breadth, and constancy. You may recognize actress Jen Lilley from her appearances on Criminal Minds, General Hospital, Days Of Our Lives, and several Hallmark and Great American Family movies. Her road to becoming an actress had its fair share of challenges, but her faith that God cared about the outcomes of her decisions kept her pushing forward. Authors and influencers Christian and Sadie Huff have learned firsthand that their relationships with friends, family, and as husband and wife dramatically improve when Christ’s love is at the center.    Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Kerry Washington Upcoming interview: Jochen Wurfl Thank you to our sponsors: www.give.cru.org | www.ReadRelief.com    Jen Lilley Criminal Minds General Hospital Days Of Our Lives Bulimia www.jenlilley.com   Christian and Sadie Huff  How to Put Love First 4:8 Men Podcast Live Original  1 Corinthians 13 NIV Galatians 5 NIV   Interview Quotes: “I think anytime you are choosing to center your day around Jesus, you're gonna get through life easier, you're going to get through life with the fruit of the spirit, and you're going to get through life in a way where God really is the author and finisher of your faith.” - Jen Lilley  “If your relationship with God is first, how to put love first essentially is saying how to put God first, because if God is first, then love will flow into all your other relationships from there and it'll bless every relationship that you touch.” - Sadie Robertson Huff  “Your relationship with God does not have to look one certain way.” - Sadie Robertson Huff  “I think that if you do put love first, meaning if you put God first in your life, then you will see these things produced in your life; you will see love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self-control.” - Christian Huff  “Before [the Bible] says ‘love your neighbor as yourself,’ it says, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, with all your strength.’ You’ve got to love God first so that you can love who He created–you–-so that you can love people, be a good person in your community and love others in your community well.” - Sadie Robertson Huff “I think connecting to God, prayer and reading; it does make you feel less alone. The Bible and Scripture says that ‘God's always with you,’ it says ‘He will never leave you and never forsake you.’ And I think if you're constantly aware that He's with you in all those moments, it is easier to not go it alone.” - Sadie Robertson Huff  _______________________ 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.

Of all the languages in the world, music is one of the most profound. Its many shapes and forms can stir up a vast spectrum of emotions and tell stories in a way like no other.  Candi Staton is a legendary, 4x Grammy nominated R&B and gospel singer. Candi vulnerably opens up about how her music was a direct reflection of things she was facing, including an absent father, an abusive marriage, and a battle with alcoholism, and how the music helped her build a bridge to God for herself and others. nobigdyl. found his way into the music industry at an early age, and stumbled upon an unexpected blessing when his mentor, Christian rapper Derek Minor, fired him so that he would be “pushed out of the nest.” Now, in his music, he addresses difficult topics like mental health problems in order to help listeners feel less alone.   Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Gloria Gaynor Upcoming interview: Jen Lilley Thank you to our sponsor: www.give.cru.org    Candi Staton Nashboro Records in Nashville Sam Cooke Lou Rawls Aretha Franklin Five Blind Boys Matthew 11:28-30 NIV www.candi-staton.com   nobigdyl. Holy Smoke Festival in Nashville, Tennessee MTSU Reflection Music Group Lecrae  Kirk Franklin   Interview Quotes: “The passion that I have for music, the sincerity… when I sing, I sing from my heart, not because I know a song. I put everything in that song that I would do if I was singing it for the first time.” - Candi Staton “Difficult times always come, you just trust God. He knows the ending from the beginning and the beginning from the ending. He knows all of that. He's already been there. He's already paved the way out. And if you keep those kinds of things in mind, knowing that God has got your back and He's going to lead you into the path of righteousness for His namesake, you can make it through anything.” - Candi Staton “Whatever job you have, whatever career you have, that amount of hours and those setbacks and changing direction and second guessing yourself and redoing it and failing and then succeeding, it's the same thing for artists.” - nobigdyl. “I think that being a believer, a follower of Christ, no part of our life is exempt from caring and honoring for the other person.” - nobigdyl. “He has created us in His image, we are very complex creatures, and I think that an honest look at the Scriptures suggests so much of what we need in these situations where we feel depressed or we feel anxious or we're hurting in any way. We need people to sit with us, to walk with us, to care for us tangibly.” - nobigdyl. “Prayer is essential for me, and one thing that I learned about prayer was that the less I thought of it as a kind of rigid ritual and the more I thought about it as meeting with a Father who loves me, that kind of opened up my prayer life in a whole different way.” - nobigdyl. ________________________ 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.

Life is a tapestry of dreams and aspirations, yet sometimes, despite our best efforts, we fail to see our dreams come to life. In these moments, we might feel engulfed by a sense of loss and disappointment. But we can find solace in a promise from God; when one dream fades, a new one is waiting on the horizon, ready to infuse our lives with renewed hope and purpose.  Bryce Kenny is a professional Monster Jam driver who is known as the Great Clips Mohawk Warrior. Bryce always dreamt of being a professional racer, following in the footsteps of his grandfather, who was a professional drag racer. Before reaching his dreams, and eventually setting a World Record in 2021 for the fastest speed in a monster truck, Bryce encountered many roadblocks, and felt he was seeing his dream die before it could even begin—but he would eventually realize that God was working to bring a new dream alive, all in His perfect timing. Also featuring a special segment from the Jesus Calling YouTube Channel: an interview with Susie McEntire Eaton talking to actress Charlene Tilton as recorded for our YouTube monthly video series, Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer!   Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Emily Chang Upcoming interview: nobigdyl   Bryce Kenny Monster Jam driver  Great Clips Mohawk Warrior Guinness World Record in 2021 Live Like Warriors Monster Jam University www.brycekenny.com Geared For Life: Making the Shift Into Your Full Potential   Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer YouTube series Charlene Tilton   Interview Quotes: “I made that faith jump and said, ‘Look, I don't know what's on the other side of this jump. I don't know where I'm going to land here, but I do know, God placed a calling on my life and the circumstances of my life do not change the calling of my life.’” - Bryce Kenny “I want people to begin to understand that your purpose, that God-given dream that you've had, every God-given dream goes through three stages: a birth, a death and a resurrection.” - Bryce Kenny  “God wants to watch us in the skill sets that He gave us. He gave us passions for a reason and it's not just to use us, it's to be in relationship with Him.” - Bryce Kenny  “There's no better joy in the world for me than to know that the Heavenly Father is using me somehow to put those smiles on people's faces. I'll never get used to that. And I've never had more fun watching God move His hand over an environment that I couldn't have impacted if it was just myself trying to make it happen.” - Bryce Kenny  “No matter how bad it is, I know that God is going to take my situation, even the dire situations, and bring something amazing out of it, whether I get to see it now or twenty years from now. And when you operate with that level of faith, you cannot help but act on that belief, and that is what faith truly is.” - Bryce Kenny  “God is the one that is in control and He still has the creative power that He brought all of this into existence with the spoken word—He still has that same creative power to create the life that you have always believed that God has called you to.” - Bryce Kenny   “God really had His hand on my life.” - Charlene Tilton “If you are in depression or anxious or in grief or feeling sorry for yourself, what do you do? You go help somebody else. Because that's the best thing.” - Charlene Tilton “It's just a blessing to be able to start every day in the Word of God and in prayer.” - Charlene Tilton ________________________ 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.

Do you find it difficult to believe that you have a life that could be used for good in the world? We tend to minimize the gifts and talents God gave us, wondering how we—just one individual—could ever make a difference. Nature gives us a beautiful example in the way a small, unassuming caterpillar is eventually transformed into a colorful, winged butterfly, bringing joy to others by simply being viewed. When we believe in ourselves and the unique abilities God has given us, and open ourselves up to sharing those gifts with the world, we create impact in a way that might touch lives for years to come.   Actress and comedian Yvonne Orji was raised in a Nigerian family, and she was shaped by traditional views on family life: a hard drive for pleasing people, and a fear of failure. When her dreams of becoming a doctor didn’t pan out, Yvonne began looking at her own unique gifts and leaned into those, which led her to becoming an actor, writer, and producer. Advocate Naghmeh Panahi made headlines when her husband, Saeed, was arrested in Iran for his Christian beliefs. As a missionary herself, Naghmeh had seen many of her friends persecuted for their faith, and was determined to get her husband released—despite the abuse she faced in their marriage. Naghmeh found herself with a huge platform she had dreamed about as a child, and the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives all over the world. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Damon West Upcoming interview: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Thank you to our sponsor: BetterHelp.com/JesusCalling   Yvonne Orji  George Washington University medical school DC Improv Luke 1:45 NIV Bamboozled by Jesus   Naghmeh Panahi Saeed Abedini Tahrir Alnisa Foundation Islamic Revolutionary Guards I Didn’t Survive   Interview Quotes: “I was like, Could it be that God sees something in me that I don't even yet see in myself?” - Yvonne Orji  “For the first time in my life, somebody was giving me the luxury, the privilege, of potential failure. And that's not a thing that I was accustomed to.” - Yvonne Orji  “Like food poisoning, fear is one of those things where if you push past it, you might throw up, you might move about, it doesn't feel good in the moment, because you are not on the other side of it to see, What if God has something? But then you do it and you overcome it. And now you can't see yourself without it.” - Yvonne Orji  “One of the most confusing things to me, or interesting things to me, was in elementary school when they asked me, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ Which is a normal thing that children say to each other. And I remember thinking, Wow, I've never thought about this. Growing up in war and revolution, you don't really think about growing up.” - Naghmeh Panahi   “I got to see the plight of the persecuted church for the first time, and the fear of gathering in homes just to pray together, just to worship together, just to read the Bible together. The fear of being caught with a Bible; it carries the death penalty. And I couldn't wrap my mind around it.” - Naghmeh Panahi “How was I going to get my husband out of one of the worst prisons in the entire world, in one of the most radical countries in the world? I didn't know. The only way I knew was to get on my knees and pray.” - Naghmeh Panahi  “I stepped out in faith, and I saw God telling me to do that as I was reading His word and I was praying, God was encouraging me and building up my confidence to step out.” - Naghmeh Panahi  “I got to be a voice for the persecuted church. The people I had seen get arrested and beaten and killed because they simply follow Jesus, I got to advocate for them and be a voice for them. And that was encouraging to me.” - Naghmeh Panahi “I cried out to God and said, ‘God, what are you doing? My life's already hard. You're making my life harder.’ But I didn't know at that time that what God was doing was He was setting me free. He was separating me from my abuser so that the fog of confusion, of abuse, was lifting and He was setting me free as His daughter.” - Naghmeh Panhi  “The joy and peace can be there in any of our lives as His children, no matter the situation, no matter the loss.” - Naghmeh Panahi  ________________________ 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.