Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith

Have you ever asked God to send you a sign? Just a little signal that you’re going in the right direction, or maybe a big red warning sign when you’re not? Whether we see them every day or not, God has a way of showing up and showing His love for us in the simple things—and in the complex things of life. Whether it’s a beautifully composed song that brings tears to your eyes, or the faithful wagging tail of a beloved canine companion, God has a way of delighting us by filling our world with little signs every day of His love and care for us, and if we stay on the lookout for those signs, we’ll begin to see His presence much more clearly. Harry Connick, Jr. recognizes the power of music, and loves to use his talent for singing, writing, and performing to bring joy to others—and now, through a new collection of gospel songs, he’s sharing the faith that has carried him through the ups and downs of his life. SQuire Rushnell and Louise DuArt are the authors of the bestselling books Godwinks—and now a brand new book called Dogwinks that tells the true stories of how God has used our canine companions to show His love for us in simple and profound ways.     Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Jesus Calling Podcast Season 2 of the TV Show Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith Circleallacess.com Past interview: Bradley Walker Upcoming interview: Dr. Don Wilton   Harry Connick, Jr. When Harry Met Sally The Memphis Belle “Alone with My Faith” single Alone With My Faith album   SQuire Rushnell and Louise DuArt Godwinks Dogwinks Schoolhouse Rock The Carol Burnett Show Sandi Patty Nicole C. Mullen www.godwinks.com   Interview Quotes: “I've always been someone who really wanted to try as many things as possible. I really love life. I love living life. I love—this sounds a little strange, I guess—but I love the potential to fail, I like taking risks, I like the potential to succeed more, but I don't mind failing.” - Harry Connick, Jr. “I'm a work in progress. I'm imperfect. I have a long way to go, so I feel like my purpose is to try—quotes around the word “try”—to be the best person that I can be every day. I don't always succeed, but if I can continue to try to emulate what I believe to be true, I think that's my most powerful way of getting the message of my faith across.” - Harry Connick, Jr. “My faith is what continues to get me through these tough times. But I just thought about how complex it is and how it's a gift, I think, from God to really compel us to want to communicate with Him.” - Harry Connick, Jr.  “We may forget our prayer, but God never does.” - Louise DuArt  “God had a plan and a purpose the whole time.” - Louise DuArt  “A dogwink is simply God using that vessel to just love us through them.” - Louise DuArt “I just love how God uses everything in nature. He uses everything. He's sovereign.” - Louise DuArt  “It's very logical that if you have a conversation daily with your own earthly mother or father or children or boss or neighbor, the more conversation that you have on a regular basis, the better your relationship. So it stands to reason that if we have a great conversation, a relationship every day with our Father in heaven, He's going to be listening to us as much as we're listening to Him.” - SQuire Rushnell ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PrbuwH Video Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PsmEkJ What’s Good? Playlist: https://bit.ly/3i7VUlZ ________________________  Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Jesus Calling Website   Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Sometimes when we pray, we really want answers, and sometimes we don’t always get those answers we’re seeking. However, our faith tells us that when we ask for help, whether we see it or feel it, God is there. When we ask for guidance, He leads us, not always on the path we would choose, but one that shapes who we are to become; and always to a place where He knows we can be used well. Lathan Warlick is a positive musician who had a near-death experience one night when he was confronted by two men with a gun. Lathan did the only thing he could think of—ask God for help—and when he was inexplicably saved, he decided to dedicate his life and career to spreading God’s word and encouraging positivity. Growing up in poverty, Dr. William Cooke shares how he wanted to truly make a difference by helping others. That desire led him to begin a practice in a community that was dealing with a devastating opioid crisis that was so overwhelming, after several exhausting years, Dr. Cooke questioned God as to if he had pursued the right path. Just as he was ready to throw in the towel, the answer to his question came from a very unexpected place. Both men looked to God for what roads they should take next, and God was faithful to lead them to the next season of faithfulness to Him, and better equipped to serve others.    Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith  Circleallacess.com Jesus Calling book Past interview: Carlos Whittaker Upcoming interview: Harry Connick Jr.   Lathan Warlick Luke 15 NIV lathanwarlick.com   Dr. William Cooke National Physician of the Year Canary in the Coal Mine Community Health and Economic Prosperity Hepatitis C HIV   Interview Quotes: “It was like something was sitting on my shoulders. It was like something was holding me, you know, and the feeling was so powerful that it made me start weeping for no reason.” - Lathan Warlick “God was calling me to be a light out into the world.” - Lathan Warlick “It was like God put me out of my comfort zone to put me over here in order for something else to happen. God will make stuff so uncomfortable for you for Him to get your attention.” - Lathan Warlick “I felt my calling was to try to work with individuals, families in a community that didn't have access to health and opportunity and hope.” - Dr. Willam Cooke “As I started working with patients and families, I started to realize that there was something really dark there, that there was this sense that the American dream was not available to everyone.” - Dr. William Cooke “We had to treat people, not diseases. So this seemed like the opportunity to do something new that, you know, this had never happened before. No one really knew how to respond to this.” - Dr. William Cooke “I had this idea that if I had enough faith and I fought hard enough for the people of Austin, [Indiana] that God would come in and fill in the gap and make the change. And I'd done my part. I had done my part. The people of Austin had tried. Why was God not doing what I thought was His end of the bargain?” - Dr. William Cooke ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PrbuwH Video Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PsmEkJ What’s Good? Playlist: https://bit.ly/3i7VUlZ ________________________  Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Jesus Calling Website Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Ministry has many layers—it must be adaptable, malleable, able to meet the needs of whoever needs serving the most. It requires a lot of creativity, and often, it means stepping outside our comfort zone, stretching our abilities to fill the gaps. Number 1 Billboard-charting artist Lucas Hoge has integrated his faith and his music for years, and has gotten to travel all over the world experiencing God’s creation. But when he and his bandmates faced seasons in which they weren’t able to get to church, they came up with a creative solution to a common problem: virtual Sunday sessions that cater to those who can’t attend a brick-and-mortar gathering, enabling them to fill their souls with a good word regardless of location. Pastor Brian Tome has seen firsthand how the church often does not cater to men’s learning styles, and has dedicated his life to speaking guys’ language through movement, camping, and connection in a way that effectively reaches the leaders of the household and inspires them to walk in the Christian way. He shares about the concept of understanding our identity, and how to take the one small step that will make God’s heart smile, even if it scares you.    Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling  Life in His Presence Past interview: Angus Buchan Upcoming interview: Lathan Warlick   Lucas Hoge Sunday Sessions Sunday Sessions album Golden Knights https://www.lucashoge.com/   Brian Tome  Crossroads Church Move Matthew 3:16-17 NIV www.briantome.com   Interview Quotes: “God is the center of my relationship with Him and with the world, I feel we can get through this if I know that He's there guiding me.” - Lucas Hoge “I feel like God put songs and ideas into my heart so that I can put them out there. And even if it's one person that hears that song that resonates for them and maybe helps them or gets them through a tough time or might even change their life, that's what that means to me.” - Lucas Hoge “I came into a relationship with Jesus, which I found a relationship with Him is different than a relationship with religion. And that changed everything.” - Brian Tome “I couldn't have predicted that God would do those things in and through us. But what I found, is if you take just one faithful step every day, if you actually do the thing, whatever the thing is that God is putting before you, that thing will snowball.” - Brian Tome “Most men feel very disconnected from their church. Most men, if they go to church, they feel like they are in an environment that is foreign to them.” - Brian Tome “Jesus didn't come to hold class. He came to change the world. He came to move you and me out of the place of apathy and into a place of challenge.” - Brian Tome ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PrbuwH Video Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PsmEkJ What’s Good? Playlist: https://bit.ly/3i7VUlZ ________________________  Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Jesus Calling Website Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

The Bible shows time and time again that Jesus was near to the broken. He was close to those that society discarded, He brought healing to the hopeless, and He reached into the pit of sin and rescued those who didn’t even believe themselves worth rescue. That is our call as Christians, to provide that same type of love and support to those who need it the most, rather than turning our backs on them. CEO of the Sanctuary Project, Holly Hayes, was saved from a life of violence and trauma by turning to a stolen Bible. Now, Holly uses her company, which creates jewelry, to employ women coming out of violence, trafficking, and addiction, giving them a place to start fresh, a place to feel loved, and a place to develop a relationship with Christ, free of judgement. Founder of Better Life Bags Rebecca Smith thought God had made a mistake calling her to move to a little town in Michigan, thinking she’d never feel at home. But after Rebecca’s bag company grew too big for her to handle by herself, she found that there was a large community of women who desperately needed employment and a place to connect with other women. Holly and Rebecca have both experienced the call of God in their lives, and now hope to make that same difference for the people they help by meeting them in their pain and needs.    Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Mark 2:17 NIV Jesus Calling Life in His Presence Past interview: Tammy Arnold Upcoming interview: Lucas Hoge   Holly Hayes The Sanctuary Project Oprah’s book recommendations  John 8:7 NIV SanctuaryProject.com   Rebecca Smith Better Life Bags Kiva www.betterlifebags.com A Better Life   Interview Quotes: “I went from this really normal, healthy young girl who had trauma but didn't know it to someone who began acting out in every sense of the word and in every way. And all of the sudden my inward trauma became very outward.” - Holly Hayes “I was homeless, addicted, completely lost, completely broken. And I was on the floor of a public bathroom just crying and watching my tears hit the floor one day and three words fell out of my mouth. I said, ‘God help me.’” - Holly Hayes “You would think I cried out to God and then I was all better, right? It took years for me to even realize who that God was that I cried out to.” - Holly Hayes “I was desperate to know who this God was that saved me all those years ago on that bathroom floor, because at this point, I knew I had been so miraculously rescued and everything I had searched for had come up empty.” - Holly Hayes “I stood face to face for the first time with this God who had rescued me off the floor of that bathroom those years ago. And so it was so clear in that moment that Jesus was the God that would rescue someone in the pit of sin and give them a whole new life.” - Holly Hayes “I know there is only one way to get needs met, and that is through prayer.” - Holly Hayes “He is so faithful to the people He loves, especially the vulnerable.” - Holly Hayes “When it comes to meeting the needs of his Beloved, of His people, He is so faithful.” - Holly Hayes “Anything that's different than what we grew up with or are used to is scary if you're just entering it. But my challenge to myself and to people who are scared, I think any time we are confronted with fear of any sort of race, religion, like any sort of difference, is just meet somebody. Like, get a face and a name and shake their hand, get to know their story.” - Rebecca Smith “If we're hurrying through life and rushing, we can't hear those [whispers from God]. We're just too loud and too busy to be able to hear His still, small whispers.” - Rebecca Smith “God has a plan for each one of our lives. He has it laid out for me. He has this pathway laid out. And my only job is just to take one step at a time. I don't have to run down the path. I can simply walk and God reveals the next step as it comes.” - Rebecca Smith “To me, the goal in life, in business, in parenting, in any of it is not winning. The goal is not to finish first, the goal is to finish and to finish well in the lane that God has given us to run.” - Rebecca Smith ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PrbuwH Video Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PsmEkJ What’s Good? Playlist: https://bit.ly/3i7VUlZ ________________________  Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Jesus Calling Website Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Outcomes in our lives are comprised of both decisions we make and things that happen to us. Some we can control and others we can’t, but what we do have a say in is how we respond to the events that take place. We can allow our experiences to pull us into darkness, or we can use them as a catalyst for good change—getting us closer to the lives God intended.  Former Major League Baseball player Darryl Strawberry had a difficult childhood full of abuse and violence at the hands of his alcoholic father. Those difficulties left him unable to handle the stardom that would come his way once he entered the professional sports world, and he found himself down a path paved with sin. Darryl’s mother prayed fervently that God would knock him from his throne, and God saved Darryl when he couldn’t save himself. Now, Darryl has been called to spread the message of God’s forgiveness and redemption all over the country through Strawberry Ministries.  Amy Downs was just an average girl who found herself in a tragic situation: she was a clerk at a bank that was destroyed in the Oklahoma City bombing, which claimed the lives of eighteen of her coworkers. Amy was one of the last survivors to be pulled from the rubble, and once she saw the sunlight, Amy told God that she wanted to live her life differently. That sparked a myriad of changes, including improvements to her health, her spiritual life, her education, and her career—and now Amy is the CEO of the very same bank where she was once a “math challenged” teller who saw no hope in her future.    Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling for Graduates Jesus Calling Past interview: Kurt Angle Upcoming interview: Holly Hayes   Darryl Strawberry Strawberry Ministries MVP of the Texas League Findingyourway.com Turn Your Season Around   Amy Downs Murrah Building https://amydowns.org   Interview Quotes: “I wore a baseball uniform for seventeen years and I identified myself as a baseball player. And it wasn't until I came to Christ that I was able to identify myself as a man.” - Darryl Strawberry “Everybody was praising me for this great baseball player I was about to become. But I always say it was my pain that started to lead me to my greatness and my greatness would lead me to my destructive behavior.” - Darryl Strawberry “God was doing for me what I couldn't do for myself because of my mother’s prayers to cover her children.” - Darryl Strawberry “God made me understand that the forgiveness was not for [my father]. It was for me.” - Darryl Strawberry “When God does His transformation, He does it for you, but He does it to get through to you so He can get somebody else to have the same revelation that you have had.” - Darryl Strawberry “I remember looking up at the gray sky and just taking that first breath of fresh air and promising God I will never live my life the same.” - Amy Downs “I thought, if I had an issue with drugs, I would go to rehab. I'm going to have to do what it takes for me to get free [from obesity] and just not worry about judgment from others. So I did.” - Amy Downs “Having that experience of facing death at twenty-eight and just sort of realizing, like, I want to live my life with intention, and whether that's doing things purely for my own selfish enjoyment, like a triathlon, you know, or whether that is wanting to serve people in a very difficult role and position, like being CEO of an organization.” - Amy Downs ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PrbuwH Video Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PsmEkJ What’s Good? Playlist: https://bit.ly/3i7VUlZ ________________________  Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Jesus Calling Website   Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Finding our God-given purpose is just the first step—it’s truly owning who He meant us to be that makes a difference, because follow through and commitment mean everything. However, earthly obstacles can get in our way of fully believing in and accepting ourselves. That’s why we need Christ so desperately, to help us understand our own value. Gospel singer Kierra Sheard-Kelly has waded through her fair share of negativity and body-shaming, and pursuing a career in the spotlight meant that there were scores of mean comments thrown her way. Kierra decided that she’d fortify herself by rooting her heart and her feelings in the word of God, which centered her and helped her embrace how God shaped her. Now, she’s living her faith boldly and proudly, encouraging others to stand out. Fox News anchor Shannon Bream started out as a lawyer, but felt a deep pull to the world of journalism, and sacrificed endlessly to work her way in. After being told by one television exec that she wasn’t good for TV, and that she’d never make it in the business, Shannon took a good hard look at her skills and her purpose, dug her heels in, and trusted that God would open the doors needed, and eventually she was led to a series of opportunities that got her where she is today. Now, she’s sharing stories about women in the Bible who sat at God’s feet, and is highlighting how passionately Christ cared for His relationships with women—placing them in positions where they can maximize their influence.    Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Romans 8:38 and 39 Jesus Calling Jesus Always Past interview: Mike Weaver Upcoming interview: Darryl Strawberry   Kierra Sheard-Kelly Clark Sisters Big, Bold, and Beautiful: Owning the Woman God Made You to Be Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren Proverbs 11:14   Shannon Bream Fox News at Night Women of the Bible Speak Finding the Bright Side Liberty University Florida State Miss America pageant program Miss USA Brit Hume Fox News Queen Esther Deborah   Interview Quotes: “I literally have gotten so many answers from my advisors. And that can be my friends, my loved ones, my sibling, anybody that I feel like God has said yes to. And they've contributed so much to the path of my life.” - Kierra Sheard-Kelly “I live my faith, bold and proud, by owning who I am, owning what God is doing in my life.” - Kierra Sheard-Kelly “Because you know Jesus, it doesn't make you small, it doesn't make you weird, it doesn't make you abnormal, it actually puts you in a secure place, in a sure place,” - Kierra Sheard-Kelly “There's a glory that rests on your life, and heaven is rejoicing when you live it out and when you own it.” - Kierra Sheard-Kelly “Even if you don't speak the same language, you can have the same heart and be a part of the body of Christ.” - Shannon Bream “Your job cannot be your God, it can't be what drives your life.” - Shannon Bream “Jesus treated women as equals. They were studying with Him at His feet, which was not common in those days.” - Shannon Bream “The God who intervened in all of these situations centuries ago is the same God today. I'm struck by the fact that these frustrations and troubles and challenges the women had, many of them are very common to today. Family troubles, sibling rivalries, chronic illness, financial trouble, widowhood, infertility, betrayal.” - Shannon Bream  ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PrbuwH Video Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PsmEkJ What’s Good? Playlist: https://bit.ly/3i7VUlZ ________________________  Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Jesus Calling Website Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Though it can be difficult to comprehend, God places equal weight on the lives of all His children. That’s the beauty of the cross—no matter what we’ve done, our sins are washed clean. And no matter what sort of trouble we may find ourselves in, He will rescue us over and over. Pianist Paul Cardall was born with only half a heart, which meant years of stress, surgery, and pain. When finally given the opportunity for a transplant, Paul faced the hardship of knowing that his survival meant someone else lost their own life. Paul battled PTSD and survivor’s guilt for years, finally coming to accept that God laid down His own life willingly for Paul, and that he was worth being rescued. Author Charles Martin spent years trying to uncover what his parents had always instilled in him: what was the thing God created you to do? After walking away from an amazing employment opportunity to pursue writing full force, Charles dove into Matthew 8 and the story of the shepherd leaving the ninety-nine to save the one, which inspired his newest book, The Water Keeper.   Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Psalms 32:7 Jesus Calling Jesus Calling for Armed Forces edition JesusCalling.com Past interview: Lecrae Moore Upcoming interview: Kierra Sheard-Kelly   Paul Cardall New Life The Broken Miracle album Trauma-related guilt The Broken Miracle book “Family” “For Better Or Worse”   Charles Martin The Water Keeper Matthew 18 www.charlesmartinbooks.com   Interview Quotes: “I was feeling God telling me, ‘Everything is okay. I've got you. This is a gift I'm giving you.’” - Paul Cardall  “The hardest thing in my world was I knew that for me to live, it meant somebody had died.” - Paul Cardall “It struck me as completely illogical that the shepherd would leave the flock and the safety of the flock to go get the one who's got himself lost. And yet He does it repeatedly, and of course, I know that's the story of the gospel and of course, I know that's what Jesus does for us.” - Charles Martin ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PrbuwH Video Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PsmEkJ What’s Good? Playlist: https://bit.ly/3i7VUlZ ________________________  Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Jesus Calling Website Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

As we seek to determine God’s wishes for who we are to become, pursuing Him through prayer is one of our most trustworthy tools. If we seek to strengthen that bond with our Savior by staying in constant communication with Him, we’ll have clarity on where we are headed, and we will also begin to live from a more selfless perspective. Father James Martin, a Jesuit priest and editor-at-large of America Magazine, has learned over the years that prayer requires honesty, trust, and acceptance—but the good news is that there isn’t a right or a wrong way to pray, because God will reveal Himself to each of us differently. A relationship with God requires the same elements and effort as any of our human relationships, and when we take that approach, our faith walk will begin to change. MSNBC and NBC news anchor Richard Lui is the first Asian American man to anchor a daily national cable news program. As his career was soaring to new heights, he was presented with the greatest challenge yet: to care for his aging father who is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Taking this opportunity as a lesson in selflessness, Richard was prepared to walk away from his dream job, but luckily was given a chance to balance both his career and his family. Richard shares about his father’s faithfulness throughout the years, and what he’s learned by being a caregiver.    Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Philippians 2:3-4 Jesus Calling®: The Story of Easter Sarah Young Jesus Calling Past interview: Greg Alan Williams Upcoming interview: Charles Martin Matthew 18   Father James Martin Learning to Pray: A Guide for Everyone University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business Thomas Merton The Seven Storey Mountain Jesuits Karl Rahner Matthew 26:38-40 John 11   Richard Lui Alzheimer’s disease Enough About Me: The Unexpected Power of Selflessness Mrs. Fields cookies  City College of San Francisco  Berkeley Rodney King  Magic Johnson   Interview Quotes: “I was invited to think about having a personal relationship with Jesus and a real, open relationship with God.” - Father James Martin, S.J. “For the most part, I think that people can trust within reason the kinds of things that happen to them in their prayer and in their daily life. If they feel that it is God's presence, it usually is.” - Father James Martin, S.J. “All the things that make for a good personal relationship make for a good relationship with God.” - Father James Martin, S.J. “God loves us. And so once people are able to accept that love, it really is transformational. They know that they're valued and who they are and that they are enough.” - Father James Martin, S.J. “The idea is to trust that God is waiting to hear from you and that also there's no wrong way or right way to pray.” - Fames James Martin, S.J. “Sometimes you get up in the morning, and you walk outside and you take a deep breath and something hits your brain and hits you in a way that says, You know what? I think my calling just may have changed and what I want to do just changed.” - Richard Lui “[This memory of my dad] gave me a point of view that these little things I was doing, they were important.” - Richard Lui ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PrbuwH Video Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PsmEkJ What’s Good? Playlist: https://bit.ly/3i7VUlZ ________________________  Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Jesus Calling Website Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

God finds great joy in us using our gifts to share His light in the world—there is no greater feeling than recognizing our purpose and fulfilling it to the best of our ability, giving voice to His faithfulness. Worship artist Kari Jobe began writing and singing songs of praise when she was only thirteen, paving the way for a lifetime of ministry. Now she pours blessings over her listeners and brings her family along for the journey, and feels honored that God has fulfilled her deepest desires to sing. British gospel singer Mica Paris was raised in the church, and got her start in music there. Over the years, Mica began to stray from her faith and got caught up in glittery fame. Looking back, she realizes that God was always there holding her steady, and her renewed hope in Him has changed her voice and her message.   Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Calling® for Easter Past interview: Lacey Buchanan Upcoming interview: Father James Martin   Kari Jobe “The Blessing”  Numbers 6  www.karijobe.com   Mica Paris  The Gospel According to Mica: The Story of Gospel Music in Six Songs Gospel Windrush generation Rupert the Bear https://gospel.micaparis.com   Interview Quotes:“I brought everybody [my listeners] along that journey with me, because I realized there are people who probably have been through that or a similar thing. And it's like, ‘I need your wisdom and maybe anything I'm learning could be ministry to you.’” - Kari Jobe “God is so faithful, we can look back and see similarities in our lives where we weren't sure what was going to happen. But God came through. God did a miracle. God changed our perspective. God brought healing. And so I just want to say, let's look to the future and realize that the same God that walked us through all those other things, is the same God that walks with us into our future.” - Kari Jobe “If you don't have a little time with Him on your own, you kind of feel a bit disconnected if you don't do it for a bit. So you literally have to keep checking in.” - Mica Paris “I feel like even the times when I did forget the faith, it was something that was always looking after me.” - Mica Paris ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PrbuwH Video Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PsmEkJ What’s Good? Playlist: https://bit.ly/3i7VUlZ ________________________  Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Jesus Calling Website Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

There is no better feeling than the moment you discover you are a part of something bigger than yourself—when you know God is there with a plan for you, and you realize that you have been soaked in His grace since the beginning of time. Comedian Michael Jr. had that moment after using his last few dollars to get to New Jersey to perform a show with iconic comedians George Wallace and Jerry Seinfeld. After performing, the manager invited Michael to church with him. Dejected about being completely broke and unable to get back to New York, Michael was gifted $200 and a napkin with a church address on it. That was a turning point, pushing Michael to read the Bible and use his gift of creating laughter to help spread the gospel. NFL player Jordan Matthews was trying desperately to navigate a performance-based world, but he was getting caught up in the highs and lows. Longing for consistency, Jordan looked to other guys in the NFL who had built a foundation of faith that allowed them to be okay no matter their circumstances. That’s when Jordan found Jesus, and began to walk in true relationship with Christ.    Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Ephesians 2:8-9 Jesus Calling®: The Story of Easter Sarah Young Past interview: Trevor Brazile Upcoming interview: Mica Paris   Michael Jr. Jerry Seinfeld George Wallace Chris Rock Seinfeld A Red Blueprint michaeljr.com   Jordan Matthews Trey Burton  Chris Maragos Nick Foles Galatians 5 Psalm 34:4-6 Psalm 105:4 2 Corinthians 1:3-4    Interview Quotes: “All these people I never even knew before gave me all this love because I gave them a part of me.” - Michael Jr. “It's just super exciting to be able to see this and notice and feel it—that heaven is real, that God gave me this gift not to serve me, not so I can do a bunch of shows and get a bunch of people and just laugh. It's so much more to do than just laughter. Comedy is the vehicle. It is not a destination.“ - Michael Jr. “I know I'm called to help people understand their purpose.” - Michael Jr.  “I want to make laughter common in uncommon places.” - Michael Jr.  “Everything [humans make is], 100-percent, always going to be performance-based. If you don't meet this criteria, you're out, you're done.” - Jordan Matthews “I realized that those pages in the Word, they weren't just words on a page. Those things meant something.” - Jordan Matthews “And I was like, ‘Look, Lord, I know I haven’t been doing this thing right. I know that I'm probably still going to mess up at times, but I know this whole thing is about You. And I can't save myself, so it's up to You to do it, and I feel that happening right now.’” - Jordan Matthews “I know that I have a foundation that I can stand on and a relationship that can't be taken away, no matter my performance. And that's something that's very freeing.” - Jordan Matthews “I just felt like the gospel was able to give me perspective. I don't serve a God who sat on a throne and didn't know what suffering was. He came down, and He did the work, and He suffered. If He can go through that for me, I can go through this for somebody else.” - Jordan Matthews ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PrbuwH Video Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PsmEkJ What’s Good? Playlist: https://bit.ly/3i7VUlZ ________________________  Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Jesus Calling Website Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.