Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith

*Trigger Warning*  This episode contains content that talks about suicide and self-harm that could be disturbing to some listeners.    Many of us could never imagine that we would ever go through a dark time so dark and so hopeless that we would consider taking our own lives. Yet, so many people who have experienced deep depression know what it feels like when their minds can’t seem to grasp on to hope any longer. During Suicide Prevention week, we’ll speak to two guests whose lives have been directly altered by depression and suicide, American Idol alumnus Dave Pittman & singer Briana Domenica. Dave shares how he was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome at an early age, how being “different” and not understanding why caused problems at school, and how the hopelessness he felt sent him spiraling down a dark path toward taking his own life. Briana Domenica recounts her own struggles with suicidal tendencies and how she has tried to turn her pain into purpose by pouring her heart and soul into music—hoping she can uplift others and encourage an environment of positivity and love.    Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Suicide Prevention week Sarah Young Jesus Calling Jesus Listens National Suicide Prevetion Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 Past interview: Chad Robichaux Upcoming interview: Larry Fleet   Davd Pittman “Crazy Brave’ song “Different Kind of Love” album Tourette Syndrome ABC’s American Idol Neil Patrick Harris Bible Gateway   Briana Domenica Psalms 23:4 NIV Angel in the Sky Romans 8:28 NIV brianadomenica.com   Interview Quotes: “I was more afraid of living through that again than I was of dying.” - Dave Pittman, on being bullied as a child with Tourette Syndrome ”My mom—both my parents—just drilled into my head and my heart the importance of accepting yourself for who you are, and not just who you are, but who you are in Christ, your identity, who you've become in your walk with Christ.” - Dave Pittman “I think it's okay to ask why, even now, because Job did. We look at Job in the Bible, he asked God, ‘Why? Why is this happening to me?’” - Dave Pittman “Anyone can accept something they have to do, but when you can embrace something that you get to do, it’s different. It changes things.” - Dave Pittman “I dealt with this hopelessness for four years until my aunt Linda noticed the cuts on my wrist. She kissed them and she told me I was worthy, loved, and a child of God. That conversation not only saved my life, but it encouraged me to get the help that I so desperately needed.” - Briana Domenica “I think simply starting a dialog can combat that [mental health] stigma because unless we start a dialog, we will never see change. And I want people to know that they are not alone. There is help, but most importantly, there is hope. And I love this acronym for hope: hold on, pain ends.” - Briana Domenica “Everyone's journeys are different, but moving from a place of darkness to light is possible. All you need is a little faith, even if it's the size of a mustard seed. Take it one day at a time, speak up, and reach out, because help and hope are available.” - Briana Domenica ________________________ 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.

Do you have a dream for your life that didn’t pan out exactly as you had planned? Maybe something out of your control happened that made that dream impossible, or maybe you made some choices that turned your life in a direction that wasn’t in line with your hopes and goals? Though we can be filled with regret over dreams lost or deferred, God has another way of looking at those shifts in our lives and He encourages us that He will always guide us to where He wants us to be, as we’re reminded in Proverbs 19:21 “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” Country music star Brett Young had dreams of being a pro baseball player until an injury halted his career. Sarah Jakes Roberts, daughter of Bishop T.D. Jakes, never imagined that she would become pregnant as a teenager and for many years dealt with the shame and disappointment of having a life that didn’t turn out as she had planned. Each of these stories shows us that God can take our circumstances, no matter what they are, and still get us to where we can live the amazing life he has in store for us.   Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Proverbs 19:21 NIV Jesus Calling Jesus Listens Sarah Young Past interview: Pastor Matthew Barnett Upcoming interview: Ben Courson   Brett Young Fresno State Arizona State Love You, Little Lady Weekends Look A Little Different These Days  www.brettyoungmusic.com   Sarah Jakes Roberts Bishop T.D. Jakes Woman Evolve The Potter's House One Woman Evolve: Break Up With Your Fears and Revolutionize Your Life   Interview Quotes: “Without my faith, I wouldn't have been able to get over the injury and let baseball go and be open enough to let something else come in. And music ended up being something that I love more than I loved baseball. And it feels exactly like what I was supposed to do in life.” - Brett Young “I always say, ‘If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans.’” - Brett Young “The fact that God is giving us this life and these unique days one at a time, it feels almost irresponsible to try to fit them into a mold or try to make today yesterday or look forward to tomorrow rather than living in this precious moment that you've been given.” - Brett Young “I think life is a collection of God opening and closing doors. And I think we're the only ones that get in our way of seeing when a door is being closed and when the door is being opened.” - Brett Young  “[I] decided to completely stay away from anything that looked like ministry and even God, because I wasn't sure that there was a place for a girl who had made such a big, big mistake that I thought was beyond recovery.” - Sarah Jakes Robert “It took a step of faith for me to believe that maybe [salvation] applied to me too, not just the woman who's on the other side of the pew or my neighbor, but this same redemption is available to me.” - Sarah Jakes Roberts “It doesn't matter what color we are—on the inside, we're all trying to sort through the sin of life and missing the mark and wondering where we fit. And I have found that sometimes we allow things to divide us that keep us from actually being able to edify one another because of the barriers that exist in culture.” - Sarah Jakes Roberts  “God's presence is always available to us. But sometimes we are present in our life, so much so that we miss out on God's presence.” - Sarah Jakes Roberts ________________________ 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 way in life can be challenging, overwhelming, and discouraging. The path may seem clear at times, and then others, we feel pushed in a direction that may not feel comfortable or familiar. The only thing that we can trust is that God will show us the way and we must step out in faith to find our purpose. Travis Tritt, a wildly popular 90’s country star, thought he had his life mapped out in his hometown of Marietta, Georgia, managing the family air conditioning business. Tom Phillips, a pastor who worked with the Billy Graham Association as a crusade director, studied medicine in college. Both men were led to follow dreams that seemed out of reach, but God had their futures in mind the whole time.   Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Listens Sarah Young Past interview: David Crowder Upcoming interview: Brett Young   Travis Tritt Grand Ole Opry Ray Charles Eagles Common Thread Charlie Daniels Set in Stone   Tom Phillips Billy Graham Association Billy Graham Cliff Barrows www.billygraham.org Dr. Tom Phillips’ latest books   Interview Quotes: “I grew up with the understanding of what God meant to my family's life, to my life. We had Bible study on a regular basis. And it was just a great place to sort of build your foundation for the rest of your life.” - Travis Tritt “Even though there were times when I strayed away from [faith], it was always something that was in the back of my mind, in the back of my heart.” Travis Tritt “I'm one of those people that can look back and say, honestly, my dreams have more than come true.” - Travis Tritt “I am a big believer in counting your blessings. So my prayers start off each night with thanking God for all the blessings.” - Travis Tritt “I believe now we are in the early phases of the latter rain in America that will cause the greatest fruit that's ever been borne by the church of this nation.” - Dr. Tom Phillips “It was like a light bulb for destiny came on in my heart and my life. And I surrendered to whatever God wanted me to do. And I made a deal with Him though, I didn't want to give up medicine, so I’d surrender to medical missions. And He said, ‘That's not what I asked you to do. I didn't ask you to surrender half yourself. I asked you to surrender your whole self.’” - Dr. Tom Phillips “The church is here to change the culture. The word of God is here to change the culture and make us more like the Creator.” - Dr. Tom Phillips ________________________ 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.

Grief, death, and loss are an inevitable part of life, though knowing that doesn’t make the pain any easier to bear. Whether you’ve faced unexpected loss time and time again or are navigating grief for the very first time, the waves of difficulty can be drowning. But the good news is that God can offer us a life raft. Isaiah 57:18-19 says, “I will heal them; I will guide them and restore comfort to Israel’s mourners, creating praise on their lips. Peace, peace, to those far and near.” This week’s guests, Holly Singletary and Andy Griggs, share the holes left in their hearts, and how God has helped heal them, and they share how we can find comfort in the legacies of loved ones passed, and also know deep in our hearts that one day, we will see them again in heaven.    Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Isaiah 57:18-19 NIV Jesus Listens Past interview: Eddie Montgomery Upcoming interview: Travis Tritt   Holly Singletary Daryle Singletary Hope With Holly Podcast Hope With Holly Blog Merle Haggard  George Jones  www.hopewithholly.com   Andy Griggs Job 1:10 NIV www.andygriggs.com   Interview Quotes: “I came home that weekend after meeting Daryle and told my mom and dad that I found the man I was going to marry.” - Holly Singletary “It was really sweet to watch [Daryle as a dad] because I think our role of waiting so long prepared us for a different kind of parenting. I felt like we had a lot more patience and we appreciated some of the moments maybe that we would not have appreciated earlier on in life.” - Holly Singletary “It's okay to cry. We have good and bad days and some days we miss [Daryle] more, especially on those special days or special moments or just an everyday moment. I'm like, ‘It's okay to be sad.’ But one thing I tell them, ‘It's not okay to stay there. I don't want you to stay there. I don't want that to turn into bitterness and anger and madness.’” - Holly Singletary  “Legacies don't die. They don't die very easily. It takes a long time to see the sunset of a legacy. Yeah, because everybody's life is a sunset, that's a beautiful thing at times. Life is a beautiful thing. Beautiful thing. how God made this.” - Andy Griggs “I think it is instilled into man that outside of our heavenly father and His sovereignty, the most powerful thing in this universe is my words and my prayer, I really believe them. I think prayer, it changes. It changes the future, it changes everything I'm looking at.” - Andy Griggs “I have learned that when you grieve through the Spirit, there's a healing that takes place. And it's supernatural. It's godly.” - Andy Griggs “As a true believer in Christ, I think that one of our biggest assets in all of life is having that Comforter with us, and that gets me through the valleys.” - Andy Griggs ________________________ 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 best news we could ever receive is that in the middle of our most broken, painful moments, there is Someone who will reach out to us—no matter what we’ve done, who we’ve hurt, or the mistakes that we’ve made. God does not care what you look like, or the road that you’ve traveled—all He cares for is your heart and where you’re headed. Sharon Jaynes is an international conference speaker and author. Time and time again, Sharon has seen the power of forgiveness in her life, and has seen how your worst, most heartbreaking moments can be the springboard for positive change. Christine Soule grew up in a broken home, struggled with drug addiction, was a victim of sex trafficking, and had nowhere to turn. Eventually, Christine found God and she did a 180 on her lifestyle—boldly making different life choices, relying on nothing but the goodness of God to heal her broken soul and spirit. Christine is now the the founder and CEO of Providence Heights, a nonprofit organization that was created to house women and children in need, as well as providing counseling, jobs, and education.    Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Listens Past interview: Zach Williams  Upcoming interview: Holly Singletary   Sharon Jaynes When You Don’t Like Your Story Proverbs 31 Ministries  Girlfriends in God, Inc. sharonjaynes.com   Christine Soule Providence Heights Benny Hinn Broken and Beautiful   Interview Quotes: “I always felt as a little girl that I wasn't good enough, I wasn't smart enough, I wasn't pretty enough. I wasn't a good enough daughter. And if I could be, then maybe my parents wouldn't be so angry and fight all the time.” - Sharon Jaynes “I said, ‘Dad, none of us can be good enough. If we could be good enough, then Jesus wouldn't have had to die on the cross.’ But he could not understand that kind of grace for a man like him.” - Sharon Jaynes “I want to encourage you that getting from that place to being able to tell your story of redemption is a process.” - Sharon Jaynes “We have to stop and think, Who is it that I am not forgiving? Because as long as we have unforgiveness in our heart, we will get stuck in a bad chapter in our story. So the first step is deciding you want to get well, the second step is to forgive those people who have hurt you.” - Sharon Jaynes “If someone steps in that church and they look a little different than you, they're seeking God. They need a savior and you know what? Grab a hold of them because they have made the scariest, most bold step, probably up to that point in their life. So love them. It's a huge deal to let them know that they matter.” - Christine Soule “Don't expect people to change overnight, just one step at a time so that they can really allow God to cultivate them. It's not our job just to fix them. It's God's job to cultivate them.” - Christine Soule “Just know friends, that He is for you. Even in the midst of difficult circumstances, He's for you. He's with you. He loves and adores you, and allow that to turn your life into something truly beautiful.” - Christine Soule ________________________ 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.

Many of us feel called to serve others in some way—and often when we think about what that could look like, we feel paralyzed by too many options. There are so many needs all across the world that must urgently be met, so how do we know where to start? This week’s guests, CEO of Convoy of Hope Hal Donaldson and CEO of Haiti Made Will McGinniss share how they found a way to make real change in lives and in hearts—spreading the word of God and caring for His people at the same time.    Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith Susie McEntire-Eaton   Circleallacess.com Past interview: Brian Tome Upcoming interview: Sharon Jaynes   Hal Donaldson Convoy of Hope Mother Teresa Golden State Warriors San Jose State University Disruptive Compassion Your Next 24 Hours   Will McGinniss Audio Adrenaline Hands and Feet Project  Haiti Made “Hands and Feet” song James 1:27 NIV www.haitimade.com   Interview Quotes: “I met Mother Teresa. And during the course of that interview, she asked me, “What are you doing to help the poor and the suffering?” And I figured it was probably not a good idea to lie to Mother Teresa. So I told her the truth. I said, “I'm really not doing much of anything.” And she looked back at me and she said, “Everyone can do something.” And she began to talk to me about doing the next kind thing that Jesus put in front of me.” - Hal Donaldson “When you're obedient to God and you do the things that are important to God, God takes that step of faith and He grows it. He makes it something larger than we ever dreamed.” - Hal Donaldson “We can allow the images of despair to paralyze us or the enormity of the problems to paralyze us, or we can roll up our sleeves and say, “Let's get to work.” Jesus used me to make a difference.” - Hal Donaldson “The key to life, the key to fulfillment, purpose, it doesn't come from exceeding others. It comes from elevating others.” - Hal Donaldson “The very first week I got into this Christian rock band and God had a different plan, He would be like, ‘Yeah, I'm going to take your heart to help people and I'm going to give you a platform to do that. And you're going to reach a lot of people who come from all different walks of life and your music's going to bless them and encourage them.’” - Will McGinniss  “What we've learned through time is that there has to be a cultural exchange and we both learn from one another, you know, not that we come in with all the right ideas and completely, you know, just save them, because Jesus has been there for centuries, you know, and decades. But we often come in and feel like we know what's best for these people. And we want to help and have great intentions, but our helping can often create more problems. And so we want to do that in a way that's an equitable exchange.” - Will McGinniss “And as He's entrusted more to me, running Haiti Made now, I don't always feel qualified every day, but I know if I show up every day with a good effort and a good work ethic and just with God's spirit and His help, I call on Him daily to help me lead this team and to be able to get in the right doors, get the right doors open to sell these goods. And we're just continually trying to be creative and having this work grow and to create more jobs and touch more and more families through that.” - Will McGinniss ________________________ 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.

When we face life experiences that hurt us, that drastically alter the way things go, it can cut deep and cause us significant pain. But as the Bible says in 1 Peter 2:24, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” Remember that even in the most daunting of circumstances, Jesus took your wounds as His own so that you may know peace and hope in salvation. Our guests this week have experienced their own personal wounds. Former mafia member Michael Franzese shares about growing up in one of the most notorious crime families, how he himself descended into the darkness, and how ultimately, God healed every element of his past and made him a new person. Michele Wilbur-Christiansen shares the tragic story of her parents’ heartbreaking death, and how her and her siblings found peace in knowing that one day, they will be reunited with them in heaven.    Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast 1 Peter 2:24 NIV Jesus Listens Sarah Young Jesus Calling  Past interview: Lecrae Moore Upcoming interview: Hal Donaldson   Michael Franzese New York Cosa Nostra  Joe Colombo Rudy Giuliani Book of Proverbs   Michele Wilbur-Christiansen Capital University in Columbus, Ohio   Interview Quotes: “The night I went back into prison, they told me I'd never see the street again, I'd never seen my wife and children, they were going to try and indict me on new charges. The government was upset with me because I wouldn't cooperate. They threw me in a hole, I was in solitary, and it was probably the worst night of my life. I thought I was going to lose everything that was dear to me, never see my wife and kids again, I was in my mid thirties. I was still a young guy. So it was a very difficult night. And I was lying on the cot, honestly, I just wanted to close my eyes and not wake up.” - Michael Franzese “The Bible became my Bible. It became true to me.” - Michael Franzese “The heroism of my life kind of transferred from my father to Jesus. I was enamored with the personality of Jesus, the character of Jesus as a man. He was a true man's man.” - Michael Franzese “When times are at their worst for us is when Jesus is the most powerful in our lives.” - Michael Franzese “I did stray away from God, but never really from family. And then over time, I saw how God was working for me in my life, I became a born-again Christian. So I was able to see how God was working for me, even if I kept Him behind the scenes. And then eventually I came to know Him as more than just a religion, but more as my personal friend and Savior.” - Michele Wilbur-Christiansen “Knowing our parents were in His presence gave us comfort through our pain. And a reminder that He always has our best interests in mind, even in the worst moments of our lives.” - Michele Wilbur-Christiansen “This tragedy has caused me to question God at times. I've asked, ‘Why them God, why now?’” - Michele Wilbur-Christiansen “God continually reminds me that we are to trust Him with all of our heart, not just some or not just the parts that we decide to give Him.” - Michele Wilbur-Christiantiansen “Take your anger, your sadness, and all your emotions and all your questions to God, He can handle it and still lovingly accepts you with open arms. He will meet you in your mess.” - Michele Wilbur-Christiansen ________________________ 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.

Every Christian faces a time in their relationship with Jesus that is frustrating, that’s full of questions, full of doubt, full of wondering if God is even real, if He listens, or if He cares. But time and time again, the Lord has proven that He does hear your every prayer, as Psalm 66:19 reminds us: “God has surely listened and has heard my prayer.” God is also okay with our doubts—He gives us the space we need to figure out for ourselves that He is good, all the time, and He will be with us always. This week’s guests are two dreamers—the founder of IT Cosmetics, the largest luxury makeup company in the country, Jamie Kern Lima, who faced years of trials and God doubt but managed to find a way to keep the faith, and God rewarded her with the breakthrough she’d been longing for. And the creator of Black Liturgies, Cole Arthur Riley, a born skeptic who educated herself on a variety of religions before finding a home in the Christian church who held space for her questions.   Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Psalm 66:19 NIV Jesus Calling TV show Jesus Calling Stories of Faith Susie McEntire-Eaton Circleallacess.com Past interview: Dominic Done Upcoming interview: Michael Franzese   Jamie Kern Lima IT Cosmetics Believe It Jesus Calling app Rosacea QVC Cosmetic Executive Women Miss Lisa Mason. QVC show host jamiekernlima.com  itcosmetics.com   Cole Arthur Riley Black Liturgies Chesterton House Blackliturgust.com Instagram   Interview Quotes: “I think so many of us learn that sometimes God's setbacks are really set ups for what we're supposed to do next.” - Jamie Kern Lima “Truthfully, there are nights when I’d get these really hard rejections and I’d end up crying myself to sleep. And the one thing that kept going as I would literally pray and be like, ‘God, I feel like you put this dream on my heart and I don't understand why it's not working, am I wrong?’” - Jamie Kern Lima “All of us have had people reject us or tell us we're not enough or we need to change who we are to fit in or we don't belong. And I think so many times learning to turn down the volume on that and not let it take root in our spirit is so important, because I believe our calling is always stronger than our opposition.” - Jamie Kern Lima “I would rather show real women all ages, shapes, sizes, skin challenges, skin tones. And if the single mom in Nebraska is going to give me two seconds of her time and she turns on her television, even if she buys nothing, I would rather have her see women who look like her and me calling them beautiful and meaning it, than sell a ton of product and stand for nothing.” - Jamie Kern Lima “I was really fortunate to have spiritual mentors early on that allowed me to have a lot of agency over my seeking even as they were teaching me things that probably felt really basic to them in many ways.” - Cole Arthur Riley “Words do have tremendous power, both their presence and their absence. I think our task as Christians is to be really honest and faithful discerners of what any given moment calls for, voice or silence. Both can be oppressive, but both can be beautiful disciplines of rest, hope, and solidarity.” - Cole Arthur Riley “It can be a real gift for us to join voices with other people across space and across time to say, ‘This is who God is, this is who we are,’ and to tell the story.” - Cole Arthur Riley ________________________ 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.

Many of us have had a moment in our lives that define us as people and as servants of God—and sometimes that moment comes at a fork in the road. Which path will you take? The one you’ve worked hard for and the world tells you you should want? Or the one God wants you to take? It’s almost guaranteed that every time you decide to take the Lord’s path, you will encounter mountains of blessings that you’d never have expected. ABC News reporter Paula Faris was at the height of her career when she faced a devastating series of tragedies that forced her to slow down and recognize that God was calling her to go in another direction. Former NFL lineman Jason Brown had worked hard to make his way up the football ladder, eventually becoming the highest-paid center in the sport. It seemed he had everything he wanted, but the luxurious lifestyle he pursued took his focus off his family and marriage which began to suffer, causing him to reassess what he really wanted out of life.    Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Sarah Young Jesus Listens jesuscalling.com/jesuslistens Past interview: Zim Flores Upcoming interview: Jamie Kern Lima, IT Cosmetics   Paula Faris Morning Star Christian Community Good Morning America Weekend The View Joshua 5-6 NIV Journeys of Faith at ABC  Faith & Calling Podcast The Paula Faris Show www.paulafarisofficial.com Called Out   Jason Brown First Fruits Farm Lunsford Bernard Brown II UNC Chapel Hill 2005 NFL draft wisdomforlife.org  Centered   Interview Quotes: “And at the end of the day, I think what's most important is that we don't get caught up in the differences, but that we can unite on some of the main tenets of the Bible...the most important thing at the end of the day is that if we are Christians, they'll know it by our love for one another.” - Paula Faris  “I think we owe it to not only ourselves, but we owe it to unbelievers to have a reason for the hope that is within us.” - Paula Faris “Trying to keep a positive mindset when you're in that valley, when you're circling that city, that this is where the growth is happening and God is getting ready to start a new chapter and write a new chapter in your life.” - Paula Faris “I don't want to just have five, ten minutes out of the day where I'm talking to God, I try to talk to God throughout my day, and I'm the type of person where I need encouragement throughout the day. So for me, it's a daily conversation. God is always by my side.” - Paula Faris “Once you ask the spirit to come into your life and to allow you to see things in a new way, you will. And it'll transform your relationship with God. It will transform your belief in God, it’ll transform the way that you see God. And you'll start seeing Him in the sunsets across the sky. You'll start to hear Him in the voices of loved ones and in the faces of loved ones. And you'll feel Him in that gentle breeze and you'll hear Him speaking softly in the depths of your spirit.” - Paula Faris “What do you want people to truly remember you by at the end of your life?” - Jason Brown “Everybody on the outside thought that we were this picture perfect family, but on the inside, behind closed doors, we weren't. We were still going to church every single Sunday, and we knew the talk and the lingo of how to put on the fakeness and the front of being a good Christian. Right? But when we left church and came back home, you know, there was no true mission. There was no true obedience to Christ.” - Jason Brown “Because of my success and my pride in sports and football, it developed an arrogance that I thought I was strong enough and smart enough to be in control and to fight hard enough in my flesh and figure this thing out. And Jesus simply told me that there's nothing that you can do in and of yourself that can bring about the faithfulness that He desires for me.” - Jason Brown ________________________ 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.

At this time of year, as we celebrate the brave men and women who fought for the freedom of our country, it’s a good time to reflect on what it actually means to be brave. Sometimes, as in the case of our military heroes, bravery means laying down your life for a greater good, or for your fellow man. Sometimes bravery can mean stepping into something new, apart from everything you’ve known before, to pursue something greater for your life. And sometimes bravery is the simple act of pushing through something hard, something painful, in order to climb out of the darkness to step back into the light. Our guests this week have each shown acts of bravery in their lives—one in service to our country as a Marine, and in his own personal battle with PTSD, and another who faced addiction and fights each day not to be pulled back into its grip; we’re talking with Chad Robichaux, a former Force Recon Marine who served in Afghanistan, and Tim Atwood, a touring musician who has shared the stage with some of country music’s biggest legends.    Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Calling armed forces edition Christianbook.com Past interview: Sara Evans Upcoming interview: Paula Faris   Chad Robichaux PTSD United States Marines Recon marine  TS-SCI clearance Mighty Oaks Foundation www.mightyoaksprograms.org National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255   Tim Atwood Mel Street Lynn Anderson Jim Ed Brown Grand Ole Opry’s staff band Taylor Swift  Carrie Underwood Vince Gill Inspirational Country Music Awards Who I Am www.timatwood.com   Interview Quotes: “I'll be forever grateful for the Marine Corps for giving me that second chance, a clean slate of life and to escape that childhood that I was in and have a chance to build a life.” - Chad Robichaux “What I discovered is that the Bible has a very clear blueprint on how to navigate each and every situation.” - Chad Robichaux “During that time, I really dove into martial arts as a professional fighter and won a world championship, ranked number six in the world as a flyweight. And so on the surface, everything looked really good. But I was spiraling personally. And I was still dealing with panic attacks. I was still dealing with a lot of anger issues in my life. And my marriage was falling apart.” - Chad Robichaux “I surrendered my life to Christ. I began to find restoration in my marriage and my relationship, in my own brokenness, and the PTSD. And so I was able to get hold of my life again. So I found restoration. I found hope again for the first time in a very long time.” - Chad Robichaux “We really have to seek our purpose to find out what His purpose is. And I think when we find that we find a role in His purpose, that's when we find our contentment, our joy, and then we are able to tap into everything we're created for.” - Chad Robichaux “One day I just decided, you know, I've played behind everybody I can think of, just enjoyed it. But I think that I would be better served at the front of the stage. And by watching all these entertainers over the years, I kind of learned exactly how to do it.” - Tim Atwood “I’m really just enjoying the opportunity to get out front and entertain because I feel like I'm more of an entertainer than anything. It gives me a platform to talk at most of the shows I do. I've mentioned to everybody that I'm a Christian and that God gave me the gift and I've given the gift back to God.” - Tim Atwood “You have to believe that you've got what it takes, but you also have to listen to the Voice.” - Tim Atwood “I thank God that there’s servicemen and women out there fighting for our freedom.” - Tim Atwood “I pray for Him to give me guidance and show me the way that I should go and the things that I should do to be a blessing to other folks.” - Tim Atwood ________________________ 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.