Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith

One of God’s greatest blessings to us are friends and neighbors. And in fact, God designed us to care for each other, to learn from each other, and to support each other in life’s most difficult moments. In today’s episode, entertainer Kristin Chenoweth shares how good friends have mentored her and shaped her—and how actor/producer Rita Wilson sharing a copy of Jesus Calling strengthened her faith. As the wife of Fred Rogers, Joanne Rogers saw firsthand how an open heart and a soft word can change a relationship, and she shares how important reconciliation and being a good neighbor was to her husband. R&B sensation and now-pastor Montell Jordan tells how, even in the midst of worldwide music success, a family friend saved him from the brink of losing everything he loved, including his marriage, by sitting him down to have a painful discussion. More than ever, we need connection with others who will walk alongside us through thick and thin—and God wants us to be that friend to others as well. Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Sarah Young Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling books Jesus Always Jesus Calling weekly prayer call God’s Perfect Purpose for Our Imperfect Lives: Rita Wilson and Lisa Osteen Comes The Joy of Spreading Love, One Heart at a Time: Deliliah and Gary Thomas   Kristin Chenoweth Kristin Chenoweth Arts and Education Fund Broadway Bootcamp Kristin Chenoweth Theatre   Hallmark’s A Christmas Love StoryKristin Chenoweth’s Christmas Concert with the Tabernacle Choir   For the Girls recording Art of Elegance recording   Joanne Rogers A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood movie Montell Jordan Victory World Church Lecrae   Interview Quotes: “Work hard, play hard, love what you do. Life's short. Don't live beyond your means. All those things—stay humble. A smile goes a long way. Don't sweat the small stuff. Those kinds of things that I heard growing up helped me a lot.” - Kristin Chenoweth “A lot of people say you should do your prayer or meditation or your quiet time, whatever that is for you, in the morning. But for me, it's a nighttime thing.” - Kristin Chenoweth “I believe that sometimes things happen to you so that God can speak, because sometimes you can't hear when you get too busy.” - Kristin Chenoweth “I think it's important, when you have been given opportunities and had success, you need to give it to the people behind you.” - Kristin Chenoweth “[Fred and I] did have a very good friendship, which I think is very important for young married people.” - Joanne Rogers “His program was his ministry.” - Joanne Rogers “Everything is so divisive right now. Someone said to me, ‘He would be on his soapbox,’ and I said, ‘Oh, no, I don't think so. He would just be walking the walk and trying to do what he could with reconciliation.’“ - Joanne Rogers “A lot of times I was in church, but church wasn't always in me.” - Montell Jordan “Everything changed for me, having a number-one record as your first record out of the box. I didn't recognize that great success did not come with an instruction manual.” - Montell Jordan “[My wife Kristin and I] are still regularly recovering to make sure that that we maintain what God restored.” - Montell Jordan ”When God closes the door, no man can open it. And when he opens the door, no man can close it.” - Montell Jordan “Maybe this is something that people need, and our story is something that makes sense to people who are navigating through landmines and fields that we've already crossed.” - Montell Jordan, on sharing his story ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0  Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O  ________________________    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.

We were not designed to be perfect; we were designed to be uniquely us. Today’s guests, authors Sally Clarkson and her son Nathan, and writer Hayley Morgan share their stories of struggling to accept their differences and imperfections. Though Nathan was discouraged because he didn’t fit into society’s mold, and Hayley feared she wasn’t perfect enough, God revealed His purpose for their lives and has helped them utilize their gifts in ways they never knew possible. Their stories remind us even if we can’t see it, God has a bigger plan ahead for each one of us, and He can use our differences to do all kinds of good.   Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Sarah Young Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling weekly prayer call When Your Purpose Seems Unclear, Seek God: Jeremy Cowart & Elisabeth Hasselbeck   Sally Clarkson  Nathan Clarkson “Only You Can Be You: What Make You Different Makes You Great” book “Different: The Story of an Outside-the-Box Kid and the Mom Who Loved Him” book   Hayley Morgan The Twig Goes Out On a Limb blog “Always Enough, Never Too Much: 100 Devotions to Quit Comparing, Stop Hiding, and Start Living Wild and Free” book   Interview Quotes: “Even in the midst of my adolescent angst, I found a God who says He loved me as I was, and I found a God who said I was made for a purpose, and that all these differences could be used for His glory and for the story that He wanted to tell with my life.” - Nathan Clarkson “Let's rejoice in this place and find out how we can bring light to any of our dark corners, but also to learn to be content within the story that we've been given.“ - Sally Clarkson “Every single personality, whether they're loud or or whether they're shy, whether they like adventure or they like sitting at home reading—we wanted to give a book to parents that would imprint the minds of their children to say, ‘All of us are an incredible, magnificent reflection of the fingerprints of God as He made us each individually for His own glory.’“ - Sally Clarkson “I started to untangle the idea of grace and grace for every day, not just grace as a one time event.” - Hayley Morgan “Once I really understood grace, I had to apply the gospel to my life every day, to myself every day. I'm never going to grow out of needing it. That freed me up so much to then walk with the Lord, not just try to please Him and try to impress Him.” - Hayley Morgan  “The Lord has used my failures in equal or greater measures than He has used my successes to draw me closer to Him.” - Hayley Morgan  ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0  Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O  ________________________    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 always light, even in the darkest times. Today’s guests faced the most unimaginable circumstances, but by clinging to faith, they survived and protected others. Southwest Airlines pilot Tammie Jo Shults saved the lives of 148 passengers when she safely landed a plane after an engine exploded mid-flight. In the middle of chaos, Tammie Jo’s conversation with God gave her peace during the crisis and helped reveal a solution to landing the plane. Retired Air Force pilot and former Vietnam POW Col. Smitty Harris spent years in prison teaching others a method of communication called the tap code, which helped boost morale and spread information among other prisoners. Smitty shares powerful stories of secret church services and moments that helped prisoners survive mentally, physically, and spiritually. Through the uncertainty of survival, Tammie Jo and Smitty realized that God will never forsake us—He will always provide a way.    Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Sarah Young Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling weekly prayer call Becoming an Everyday Hero:  Neal McCoy & Rodney D. Bullard   Tammie Jo Shults Nerves of Steel (Young Readers Edition) book Holloman Air Force Base Jungle Pilot Book (Nate Saint)   Col. Carlyle “Smitty” Harris Tap Code: The Epic Survival Tale of a Vietnam POW and the Secret Code That Changed Everything book Hanoi Hilton Ho Chi Minh Tap Code, Chapter 1 on audiobook   Interview Quotes: “Whenever I dreamed about what I wanted to do in life, I dreamed without fences.” - Capt. Tammie Jo Shults “There are some times when we just have to take what's not fair and and work around it.” - Capt. Tammie Jo Shults “He asks us to pray for people that don't treat us very well, because He'll deal with them. But dealing with us, in our own heart, in that situation, is really the first step to overcoming it.” - Capt. Tammie Jo Shults “Hope doesn't have to change our circumstances to change us.” - Tammie Jo Shults “Our communication [with the tap code] became so fast and so good, and we were interested in so many things, between each other and trying to find out information. . . . We talked about God, religion, and how important it was, especially now. It turned out that we were all Christian.” - Col. Carlyle “Smitty” Harris “We used our time [as POWs] productively. We had classes in almost anything you'd want. There would be someone in that group—it was pretty educated group, everyone had at least a Bachelor's degree and [there were] quite a few Masters.” - Col. Carlyle “Smitty” Harris “The hardest part about those eight years being away from my family was just that—being away from my family.” - Col. Carlyle “Smitty” Harris “And I knew, even in the darkest times, when things were at their lowest, lowest ebb, I knew I could always pray and I knew someone was listening, they could do something about it.”  - Col. Carlyle “Smitty” Harris   ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0  Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O  ________________________    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.

Some days, it feels like we’re facing battles alone. But the truth is, God is always with us. And He shows His presence through the connections we have with others. Today’s guests share how cultivating strong friendships over time have transformed their lives. TV actor Jeremy Miller (best known as Ben Seaver on Growing Pains) and pediatric cardiologist Brandon Lane Phillips met when they were kids, and eventually, Brandon’s fight for Jeremy would end up saving his life. Indiana friends and contractors Josh Arnett and Aaron Gray were propelled to fame when they put aside their tools to record a spontaneous hymn of worship—and one Facebook video later, the viral singing sensations “The Singing Contractors” were born. With these stories, we remember that when we step outside our comfort zone and reach out to others, God can use those people and those moments for His purpose.   Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Sarah Young Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling weekly prayer call NEW! Jesus Calling Magazine  The Unfailing Kindness of Christ: Candace Cameron Buré and Kristin Fry   Jeremy Miller & Brandon Lande Phillips When I Wished Upon a Star book IMDB: Jeremy Miller, ‘Ben Seaver on Growing Pains’ IMDB: Kirk Cameron  IMDB: Alan Thicke Congenital Heart Defect Tetralogy of Fallot Starlight Children’s Foundation    The Singing Contractors  “How Great Thou Art” song “Working on a Building” CD   Interview Quotes: “If I could go from my little town in Louisiana to meet these people in Hollywood, then as far as I was concerned, I could do anything.” - Brandon Lane Phillips “I started running from God. I wasn't angry at God, I was just ashamed. I knew I was doing everything wrong. I quit going to church. I quit praying. I quit everything. I just ran the other direction. And it was a miserable way to live, I can tell you that. “ - Jeremy Miller “My family, my faith, and my recovery are the center of my life every single day.” - Jeremy Miller “[I am] able to utilize all the hurts, all the problems, all the horrors that I went through in my addiction, and even growing up, to help others.” - Jeremy Miller “The fact that God gives us that opportunity to take that pain and those struggles and use them for something good and give them a purpose is such a blessing. And in my mind, it makes all of it worth it.” - Jeremy Miller  “God's plan—good, bad, or indifferent as it's affecting our life at that moment—is exactly how He meant it to be. So wherever we are, whatever we're dealing with right now, at this moment, is exactly perfect.” - Jeremy Miller “What did Jesus do? He equipped the unequipped . . . I feel it's what He's doing with us. We're unequipped, but He's helping us every step we take.” - Aaron Gray, The Singing Contractors “What keeps us going is when we know that something as little as what we're doing can encourage somebody else—that encourages us to keep going and to keep pressing on. That's why we do it.” - Josh Arnett, The Singing Contractors “The ultimate friend and the ultimate encourager is Jesus himself.” - Josh Arnett, The Singing Contractors “When tools, beards, Jesus, and our music collide—it's fun to talk about the tools and beards and everything. But at the end of the day, we just want to uplift Jesus’ name.” - Aaron Gray, The Singing Contractors ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0  Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O  ________________________  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 spend our lives trying to match our talents with the world’s need. We want to feel useful, after all. But when we’re hustling to get dinner on the table, or shuttling loved ones to doctor’s appointments, or rushing to meet a deadline, “finding our purpose” feels like a task that’s way too big to check off the list. But even if we don’t feel it, God has a purpose for our lives, and is doing great things, even through imperfect humans. Our guests, actor/producer Rita Wilson and pastor Lisa Osteen Comes, remind us that God has put greatness inside each of us, and as we travel through our lives, He reveals new gifts we can use to reach others.   Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Sarah Young Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling weekly prayer call Jesus Calling podcast - “Using Our Gifts for Good: Musciaian RaeLynn & Writer Kristy Cambron Rita Wilson Halfway to Home album The Spark song Throw Me a Party song   My Big Fat Greek Wedding movie Mamma Mia! Movie   Screen Actor’s Guild The Brady Bunch sitcom   Lisa Osteen Comes  Lakewood Church (Houston, TX) You Were Made for More: How to Become All You Were Created to Be book   The Singing Contractors’ “How Great Thou Art”   Interview Quotes: “We're works in progress. We're not really finished, and we are constantly trying to be better.” - Rita Wilson    “But at the end of the day, you want to be remembered for making someone's life better.” - Rita Wilson    “Having been blessed with an extraordinary life, you almost become more thankful. You can't take credit for it. In a way, I feel like everything that I do—anything good that is coming out of it, I believe—is from a higher power.” - Rita Wilson   “Creativity is time independent.” - Rita Wilson “All these things come against us in life, and sometimes it looks like we're not gonna make it, we're not going to live out our dreams. But with God's help, we can.” - Lisa Osteen Comes “What did God put in you naturally? What are your gifts, what are your talents? Because whatever He puts in you, He's going to use for your destiny, for His purpose, for His glory.” - Lisa Osteen Comes "I am God's child and He has a plan for me. He will help me if He calls me. He will equip me and help me to do whatever He has called me to do." - Lisa Osteen Comes ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0  Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O  ________________________    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 we picture our lives going one way, until we encounter impossible choices and painful struggles we never saw coming. But no matter your past, your pain, or your mistakes, when we give our stories over to God, He can write a new ending for us—one filled with potential and purpose. On today’s episode, author and activist Cyntoia Brown-Long is joined by her husband Jamie Long as she shares her redemptive story of an adolescence marred by trafficking and drug use that led to a murder conviction and a life sentence in prison. Despite the walls around her and no guarantee of freedom, Cyntoia determined to expand her horizons and better herself personally in prison. But Cyntoia found it was when she began to give her life back to God that a new chapter really started to unfold. Cyntoia’s husband Jamie tells how God miraculously brought the couple together, and how He’s using them to not only strengthen each other, but to help others find justice and mercy. Interior designer Liz Marie Galvan tells the story of a life seemingly filled with joy and opportunity. Married to the love of her life, she had a budding career in design and dreams of a family—until she was confronted with the harsh reality of infertility. Hesitant to share her pain with others, she eventually found community with those who were walking through the same issues. Now, through the work she does to create cozy homes and being open about her personal story, Liz Marie sees how God can be a light during our darkest of hours and how He can redeem our stories for a greater good.   Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling weekly prayer call Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith [Original Video Series] featuring Rita Wilson Cyntoia Brown-Long Simon Shuster Book publisher ‘Free Cyntoia: My Search for Redemption in the American Prison System’ book   Libscomb University PBS Documentary: Me Facing Life  #FreeCyntoia hashtag (Twitter) Bill Haslam (Tennessee Governor)   Liz Marie Galvan Cozy White Cottage: 100 Ways to Love the Feeling of Being Home The Found Cottage Christopher Lowell Trading Spaces   Interview Quotes: “I knew that there was some way that I could live some type of meaningful life [in prison].” - Cyntoia Brown-Long “Jesus is always calling. He has a word for you 365 days every year. It doesn't stop. He's always there. He's there when you need Him. He's there just to say, "Hey, thank you." - Jamie Long “But to experience true freedom—whether in prison or out of prison—it comes through Him.”- Cyntoia Brown-Long “He is a God of second chances.” - Cyntoia Brown-Long “Even though I was in a physical prison, I was in prison within prison. I was in a prison of anger. I was in a prison of my past, constantly letting that anxiety hold me captive.” - Cyntoia Brown-Long “No matter what your prison is, you just have to submit to Him and cast all your cares on Him and let Him do what He does. That's who He is. He's God.” - Cyntoia Brown-Long  “I was able to meet an entire community of people that were going through the same struggle [through my blog]. It was so helpful to be able to rally together and give each other hope and pray for each other.” - Liz Marie Galvan “I was starting to stumble a little bit and wonder why I was going through this. And I was looking to God, wanting to know why I was not able to bear a child. It was one of the darkest seasons of my life.” - Liz Marie Galvan ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0  Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O  ________________________    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’re mired in shame, it’s hard to believe we could ever be worthy of God’s grace. But when we step aside and allow God into the pit, He can pull us out of our mess and use our lives to show His glory in ways we could never imagine. Today we hear from Lauren, Aja, and Natalie—three women who have traveled through The Next Door, a nonprofit, faith-based organization that helps women coming out of incarceration to rebuild their lives. With vulnerability and strength, these women remind us there is nothing we can do that can separate us from God’s love.    Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Sarah Young, author of Jesus Calling Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling weekly prayer call Jesus Calling interview with Next Door graduates Janie & Tammy The Next Door non-profit organization  Nashville, TN    Interview Quotes: “The Next Door has completely changed my life. I had to find me again.” - Lauren, The Next Door “There’s a difference between guilt and shame. Guilt is, ;I feel bad for something I've done,” but shame is, “I feel bad because of who I am.’” - Lauren, The Next Door  “God really shows up when we get out of the way and let Him.” - Lauren, The Next Door “[The Next Door] took me in. And I'll never forget walking in the building and taking the biggest deep breath, because it was like coming home again. You know, I didn't have a home. And that's what they've become for me.” - Lauren, The Next Door “When I finally stop trying to save myself, to let Him save me, He does it's much bigger than I could have ever done for myself.” - Lauren, The Next Door “You have no idea what you'll do until you're in the grips of [addiction]. It was really hard. But because it was so hard, it helped someone else, and it qualifies me to speak life into other women. That, to me, is all the hope I need.” - Lauren, The Next Door  “When I came to The Next Door, I found a greater relationship with God.” - Aja, The Next Door “We would read Jesus Calling at the beginning of group every day, and it would just fall right in line with what was going on in my life. And today, it is still falling in line with what is going on in my life, right in the middle of my struggles.” - Aja, The Next Door “There is a God and He is real. AlI you have to do is hold onto His hand and He will do the rest. Hold on to Him. He will lead you where you need to go.” - Aja, The Next Door “I found that not only does He know broken people, but He loves broken people that can help broken people.” - Natalie, The Next Door   ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0  Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O  ________________________    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.

We humans love to feel powerful and in control. But each of us has a handful of weaknesses, and we try desperately to hide them from the rest of the world. But time and again, God tells us when we’re weak, He is strong. And when we turn over our weakness to Him and make Him the hero of our lives, He can transform that weakness into our greatest strength for His glory. Our guests this week, pastor Derek Grier and publisher Wayne McKay, share how God’s used some of their pain points to reach others. As an introvert, Dr. Grier never expected to be a pastor. With God’s help, he’s learned how to refuel so he can lead the rapidly-growing Grace Church and reach others through new book When God Stops. When he was a child in Sunday School, Wayne McKay had a hard time understanding the Bible. As an adult, he developed BibleForce, a graphic novel brand that would help kids engage with the life-changing messages of God’s Word and show them heroes to look up to.   Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Sarah Young, author of Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Calling (Textured Gray Leathersoft): Enjoying Peace in His Presence (with Full Scriptures) Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling interview with David Crowder & Francesca Battistelli Bishop Derek Grier Grace Church (Dumfries, VA) When God Stops: Faith That Gets God’s Attention Howard University   Wayne McKay (Founder of BibleForce) BibleForce Graphic Novel   The Next Door ministry organization    Interview Quotes: “The way I have learned to describe it is that introversion versus extroversion is about how you refuel.” - Dr. Derek Grier   “What captured me was [Jesus’] character. He became my hero, even before He became my Lord.” - Dr. Derek Grier    “I don't really think I grew my church as much as my church grew me.” - Dr. Derek Grier   “If you begin to really communicate God's truth caringly, consistently, and clearly, hungry people will beat a path to your door, because people want to know God.” - Dr. Derek Grier   “Sometimes, we just stay in that place where God revealed Himself to us twenty years ago, and that's it.” - Dr. Derek Grier   “We have to continue to step out in our faith journey and do things that we have not done before, in order for us to continue to get a growing revelation of who God is.” - Dr. Derek Grier    “I wasn't a very good student of the Bible when I was a kid, because I just didn't understand it. If I'd had a picture story where I could’ve looked at something, then I would have been far more interested when I was younger.” - Wayne McKay    “I think heroes should be displaying good moral code, standing up for others, unafraid to take on confrontation, and should be a good member of the community.” - Wayne McKay ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0  Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O  ________________________    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.

Our journey of faith can be a long, slow process, or one where a single life event can jar us into discovering our true relationship with God. Singer Gloria Gaynor, the voice behind one of the world’s most powerful anthems, “I Will Survive,” knows what it’s like to be moved into a space where she needed to know about “this Jesus” she had heard about all her life and if she really believed who He said He was. Former physician Jeff Huxford also knows, all too well, what it was like to have a “comfortable” faith, until a devastating accident turned his world upside down and caused him to reassess everything. Through both their stories, we’ll see how they arrived at a place of deep trust in Jesus—when everything else was going awry in their lives—and how God’s grace, mercy and faithfulness helped them survive their toughest moments.  Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Sarah Young, author of Jesus Calling Jesus Calling (Textured Gray Leathersoft): Enjoying Peace in His Presence (with Full Scriptures) Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling interview with NFL Mark Herzlich and his wife Danielle Gloria Gaynor Gloria's new gospel album, "Testimony" Jason Crabb, Bart Millard, & Yolanda Adams “He Won’t Let Go” ft. Bart Millard    “I Will Survive” Video “Why Do Fools Fall in Love” by Frankie Lymon “Save Your Love For Me” by Nancy Wilson  Isaiah 7:14 on BibleGateway   Jeff Huxford Finding Normal: An Uninvited Change, An Unexpected Outcome “Traumatic Brain Injury” – The Mayo Clinic   Interview Quotes: “Children don't know they're poor, as long as they're loved. So we didn't know we were poor, because we were very much loved.” - Gloria Gaynor “I just wanted somebody to hear me sing. I didn't care about accolades or applause, I just wanted somebody to hear me sing.” - Gloria Gaynor “So I was just leaving [my problems] up to Him. I was fully assured that God would do something, I just didn't know what.” - Gloria Gaynor “I like songs that are meaningful, that have lyrics, that touch people's hearts, and that have good melodies.” - Gloria Gaynor  “My pastor AR Bernard says, ‘If you want to be successful in life, find out what God is doing and get in on it.’” - Gloria Gaynor “He is so faithful. It is incredible how He is always there for you.” - Gloria Gaynor “When God has a timetable, and you run out ahead of God, you end up out there by yourself.” - Gloria Gaynor “Hold on. Stay on the path. Keep the faith, and know that He won't let go.” - Gloria Gaynor “My head went through the open window, slammed against the concrete pole, and I suffered a traumatic brain injury.“ Jeff Huxford “After a brain injury, the [affected] person essentially becomes a new person. Who they were before is a thing of the past.” - Jeff Huxford “My faith was based more on the don'ts rather than the do's.” - Jeff Huxford “I like the way Jesus Calling seems to make you slow down, rest, and think about what Jesus is trying to tell you right now.” - Jeff Huxford “I grew up believing that it makes you uncomfortable, don't do it. But the truth is, there's a lot of things in the Bible that God calls us to do. And it's not always going to be comfortable, because He knows that when we do things that are uncomfortable, that's when we grow, and our faith gets stronger.” - Jeff Huxford ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0  Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O  ________________________  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.

Even after we know Jesus, many of us struggle with mistakes from our past. It seems like those memories will always haunt us and influence decisions we make. How do we learn to let go of the past and let God guide our future? This week’s guest, singer/songwriter Matt Maher, shares how we can use our experiences and the constant presence of a supporting, loving God to become a blessing to others, whether we’re sharing our resources or learning to forgive our parents (and ourselves). In this episode, we’re reminded that God believes in us and He can help us peel back the layers of our souls; using our present to heal our past.    Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Sarah Young, author of Jesus Calling Jesus Calling (Textured Gray Leathersoft): Enjoying Peace in His Presence (with Full Scriptures) Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling interview with Jay DeMarcus & Kim Walker-Smith   Singer/Songwriter Matt Maher Echoes album Newfoundland St. Johns, Newfoundland Benedictine Order  Arizona State University   Interview Quotes: “One of the most important things that I learned in growing up in Newfoundland, you treat everyone as if you are encountering the face of God.” - Matt Maher “I think there were plenty of times when I didn't realize how much God believed in me.” - Matt Maher “When it comes to the psychology of faith and how faith develops, a lot of us end up having very stunted experiences of growth. And we don't even realize that subconsciously, we're still praying and talking with God the same way that we did when we were four or five years old.” - Matt Maher “There was just a lot of undoing that God needed to do. He needed to peel back a lot of layers, there was a lot of inner monologues where I was speaking for Him.” - Matt Maher “I've always said that songwriting comes out of the overflow of the human heart that [comes from] spending time with God. And that's how I express. That's how God made me, to express life and process the things that I see or the things that I'm going through.” - Matt Maher “For me, fatherhood has been one of the ways in which God has brought a lot of healing into my life, as I've been able to lean into faith and grace and extend that to my kids. God uses those moments in the present. He repairs the past.” - Matt Maher ______________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0  Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O  ________________________  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.