That's Just What I Needed Podcast

Hey Friend! All I can say about today’s episode is, “WOW!”  Renee Swope joins us to talk about how you can be confident in your parenting journey, whether you’re a mom (or dad) who’s just starting out or you have grown kids. We tackle how to handle your child’s anxiety (oh my gosh…this is SO GOOD!), the importance of saying you’re sorry (and why it’s never too late), and how to mine for your child’s gold (even if your “child” is an adult.)  This episode is longer than usual, but honestly, I could have listened to Renee’s wisdom for another hour.  It. Is. That. Good.  And this is one you’ll want to make sure you share. (Sidenote: to share, find the three tiny dots beside the podcast cover picture, click on the dots, and you’ll see where you can share. Don’t forget to rate and review, too!)  xo, Donna   About Renee  Renee Swope is a former executive director and radio co-host with Proverbs 31 Ministries and a writer for (In)Courage (a division of Day Spring). But those who know her well would tell you she is a people-loving, adventure-seeking friend and mom who loves Jesus, her family, and being outside. They might also mention she can be a mess and has been known to take her dog’s medicine (accidentally) and call the fire department more than once.  Renee’s passion is to encourage and equip women, moms, and girls to overcome self-doubt and live in the fullness of their God-given purpose, gifts, and potential, roles, and relationships—and empower them with courage and confidence to make a difference right where they are, with what they already have.   Listen in to learn more about:  Renee and her experience with writing her new book, A Confident Mom {03:00}  Why do moms struggle with confidence? {08:00}  Why you should apologize to your children {13:00}  You don’t need to parent the way you were parented {16:30}   Favorite Quotes :  “It’s never too late to say, ‘I’m sorry.” “It’s more important to do the right thing than do things right.” Links www.reneeswope.com Renee Swope’s Books: The Confident Mom:  Simple Ways to Give Your Child What They Need Most  A Confident Heart: How to Stop Doubting Yourself & Live in the Security of God’s Promises   Connect with Donna: For a copy of “15 Things, Jesus Would Say to You if You Met Him for Coffee,” go to www.donnajones.org/blog  Pick up a copy of Donna’s book : Seek: A Woman’s Guide to Meeting God  https://www.amazon.com/Seek-Womans-Guide-Meeting-God/dp/0800725328/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3QOGM9DLB01MK&keywords=seek+a+womans+guide&qid=1644959052&s=books&sprefix=Seek+a+woman%2Cstripbooks%2C190&sr=1-2 Connect with Donna: Instagram: @donnaajones Website: www.donnajones.org Twitter:@donnajonesspeak Vimeo: @DonnaJones Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Hey Friends!  There has been so much talk lately on social media about friendships. Friendship can be a source of great happiness, but friendship can also be a source of heartache and hurt.  We are created for connection, but many women don’t have that one good, trusted friend. Did you know that more than 30% of women are more afraid of loneliness than of dying of cancer? Pretty mind-blowing, right?  In today’s episode, I’m talking about all things friendship. We’ll dive in together into what makes a good friend, how to spot a toxic friend, and why you must have at least one truly good friend.    Listen in to learn more about: What makes a healthy friendship? [2:59] The 12 signs of a toxic friend. [6:57] Why do we need friends at all? [8:45} Plus, much more, including how friends are guardrails for our relationship with God.  Also, I’ll be talking about friendships all week on Instagram ( @donnaajones) and Facebook (Donna Jones, Speaker, and Author - Home), so make plans to join me!    Favorite Quotes: Definition of a Good Friend: one who propels you to be the best version of you–the one God had in mind when He created you. A good friend is a cheerleader, not a competitor. 12 Signs of a Toxic friend: She is often critical of others (you better believe she’s critical of you, too!) She talks more than she listens; more self-centered than other-centered. Her “care” is her attempt to control. She loves to give advice but rarely takes advice; she tries to change others but seldom looks to change herself She is easily offended; her feelings are often hurt. Her apologies are insincere; she may not apologize at all. She justifies or blames others for her behavior, rather than owning behavior. She is passive-aggressive. She is MIA (missing in action) when you need her most. She demeans you (or your kids), sometimes cloaking her put-downs in humor. She doesn’t just love to be the focus of attention; she needs to be the focus of attention. Her life is one continuous drama. Her conversation is constantly full of complaints and critiques.  Resources Link to Bible Study on Friendship: http://www.crosslinechurch.com/sermons/friendship-what-makes-a-good-friend-really-lesson-1/ For a copy of “15 Things, Jesus Would Say to You if You Met Him for Coffee” go to www.donnajones.org/blog  Pick up a copy of Donna’s book : Seek: A Woman’s Guide to Meeting God  https://www.amazon.com/Seek-Womans-Guide-Meeting-God/dp/0800725328/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3QOGM9DLB01MK&keywords=seek+a+womans+guide&qid=1644959052&s=books&sprefix=Seek+a+woman%2Cstripbooks%2C190&sr=1-2 Connect with Donna: Instagram: @donnaajones Website: www.donnajones.org Twitter:@donnajonesspeak Vimeo: @DonnaJones Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Hey Friends! On the show today, I’m joined by the fabulous Kelly Minter. We sit down to discuss how we sometimes compartmentalize our faith and why that doesn’t work, how spending time in God’s word brings us closer to God, and share tips on making prayer more meaningful, even when it’s hard. Kelly even shares the story of how my daughter ended up staying at her home in Nashville!   Kelly Minter is an author, Bible teacher, and podcaster. Her most recent Bible study from Lifeway publishers is Encountering God: Cultivating Habits of Faith Through the Spiritual Disciplines. Kelly speaks around the country and also works closely with Justice & Mercy International in the Amazon jungles of Brazil and the Eastern European country of Moldova. Kelly is deeply passionate about teaching the Bible and believes it permeates all of life. When she’s not writing, traveling, or speaking, she enjoys time in her garden, cooking, and being with her friends and family. A Southern transplant, she delights in long walks, her local church, meaningful conversation, and coffee in her Justice & Mercy International diner mug. Listen in to learn more about: Kelly’s journey to Nashville, being a singer-songwriter, and lessons that season brought.  The idea that a righteous person is not divided and why we shouldn’t compartmentalize our faith.  How are spiritual disciplines gifts from God, and what should we do with that knowledge? When we pray in secret, our Father is there with us.  Plus, much more, including Donna’s tips for writing your prayers!   Favorite Quotes: “Spiritual Disciplines are a gateway to God’s blessings.” “God is after our hearts.” “But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Matthew 6:6 Resources Ways to Connect with Kelly:  Facebook @KellyMinterAuthor  Instagram @Kelly_Minter Website: www.KellyMinter.com For a copy of “15 Things, Jesus Would Say to You if You Met Him for Coffee,” go to www.donnajones.org/blog  Pick up a copy of Donna’s book : Seek: A Woman’s Guide to Meeting God  https://www.amazon.com/Seek-Womans-Guide-Meeting-God/dp/0800725328/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3QOGM9DLB01MK&keywords=seek+a+womans+guide&qid=1644959052&s=books&sprefix=Seek+a+woman%2Cstripbooks%2C190&sr=1-2 Connect with Donna: Instagram: @donnaajones Website: www.donnajones.org Twitter:@donnajonesspeak Vimeo: @DonnaJones Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Hey Friend!> On the show today I’m joined by the lovely Pat Layton who discusses how to get unstuck in areas that keep holding us back. Pat shares her testimony of coming to Christ after having an abortion, the lessons she learned from Psalm 139, and how God sees our past, present, and future.  Pat is the author of 6 books. All of these literary successes, however, are a precursor to what Pat calls her “favorite work ever”  – Life Unstuck: Peace with the Past, Purpose in the Present, and Passion for the Future.  Patricia Layton’s most precious role is Wife of 37 years, Mom of 3, Mother-in-“Love” of 2 beautiful young women, and “G” (grandmother) of 5 (3 boys and 2 girls).  Every spare moment that is not filled with “all of the above” is stolen for rocking on her front porch drinking sweet tea and reading decorating magazines.   Listen in to learn more about Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Hey friend! Do you struggle with worry, fear, or negative thoughts? I’m pretty sure I see you nodding. We all struggle with negative thinking on some level. When negative thoughts enter our minds, we shouldn’t entertain them even for a moment. But, what can we do to kick them out?  Today we get real and we get practical as we learn how to stop worry, fear, bitterness, and a thousand other negative thoughts from consuming our life. Donna Listen in to learn how to: Remove the stinking thinking which  poisons our perspective, thoughts, and our relationships Reroute our thoughts like our GPS does when we make a wrong turn.  Stop negative thoughts before  they start  Practice thankfulness and gratitude.    Favorite Quotes: What I feed grows.  If I feed it I will feel it.  I feed the negative. I will feel the negative. But, the reverse is also true. If I feed the positive I will feel the positive.  Do you ever think about what you think about? Negative thoughts never led to a positive life.  Our ability to control our emotions is directly related to our ability to manage our thoughts.  Philippians 4:8 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. For a copy of “15 Things Jesus Would Say to You if You Met Him for Coffee” go to www.donnajones.org/blog  Pick up a copy of Donna’s book : Seek: A Woman’s Guide to Meeting God  https://www.amazon.com/Seek-Womans-Guide-Meeting-God/dp/0800725328/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3QOGM9DLB01MK&keywords=seek+a+womans+guide&qid=1644959052&s=books&sprefix=Seek+a+woman%2Cstripbooks%2C190&sr=1-2 Connect with Donna: Instagram: @donnaajones Website: www.donnajones.org Twitter:@donnajonesspeak Vimeo: @DonnaJones Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Hey Friend!  You are not going to want to miss one minute of today’s episode because we chat about a struggle I’ve heard whispered by pastor’s wives (yep), prodigals (definitely!), and everyone in between. In fact, it’s probably safe to say we all struggle with this issue at some point. What is it?  Here’s a hint: it’s not a behavior; it’s a belief.  “I have a hard time believing God loves me.” It’s not that we have difficulty believing in God’s love for us generically, but sometimes we have difficulty living like it’s true for us personally. As it turns out, this is a really big deal. When we don’t live in light of God’s love it affects everything about us; the way we see ourselves, our circumstances, our decisions, our world.  So, tune in to find out what to do when God’s love seems distant. You are loved (you really are!), Donna   Favorite Quotes: “ Your deepest desire is to be loved, and Christ’s deepest desire is for you to know you are.. “ “What a person desires is unfailing love.” Proverbs 19:22 NLT   Listen in to learn more: What is the common struggle that everyone has? Jesus shared his thoughts on this struggle and prayed for us! How can we believe that God loves us?  RESOURCES For a copy of “15 Things Jesus Would Say to You if You Met Him for Coffee” go to www.donnajones.org/blog  Pick up a copy of Donna’s book : Seek: A Woman’s Guide to Meeting God  https://www.amazon.com/Seek-Womans-Guide-Meeting-God/dp/0800725328/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3QOGM9DLB01MK&keywords=seek+a+womans+guide&qid=1644959052&s=books&sprefix=Seek+a+woman%2Cstripbooks%2C190&sr=1-2 Connect with Donna: Instagram: @donnaajones Website: www.donnajones.org Twitter:@donnajonesspeak Vimeo: @DonnaJones Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

You don’t have to be stuck in the emotional places you find yourself in! Best-selling author, Lisa Whittle, joins me on the podcast this week to talk about being the boss of your emotions, showing up for your life when you want to shut down, and how to shift from obsessing over “what if?” to accepting “what is.” Lisa helps us see how hard things can take us to good places.    Favorite Quotes: “Life is simultaneously hard and good.” “If we know Jesus, the end of our story is not the hard, but the good.” “Our culture has elevated emotions to being gods. Emotions make great guides but very poor gods.” “We really can boss our emotions.” “Acceptance and preference are two different things. We don’t have to prefer something to accept something.” “You don’t need a brand new life; you just need Jesus to run the life you have.”   Listen in to learn more: {01:25} Introduction to Lisa and where the idea for her book came from {08:54} The good that can come from the hard {15:05} Showing up when you want to shut down {23:41} Controlling your own emotions {34:39} What Lisa hopes people will take from her book   About Lisa  Jesus is everything. It is the heart, the passion, and the leadership approach of author, speaker, and ministry leader, Lisa Whittle. As the daughter of a pastor, Lisa’s longest community is with the Church, which has become her greatest place of ministry. Her love runs deep to see people pursue Jesus for life, grow deep roots of faith, and walk strong in the midst of a world that so often seems to have gone crazy. Lisa is the author of eight books and makes her home in North Carolina with her husband, three children, and their dog, who thinks he’s human.  RESOURCES  Lisawhittle.com The Hard Good  Jesus over Everything  Lisa’s Podcast: Jesus Over Everything with Lisa Whittle    Connect with Donna: Instagram: @donnaajones Website: www.donnajones.org Twitter:@donnajonesspeak Vimeo: @DonnaJones   Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Episode Title:  How to Love Someone Who’s Being Unlovable Hey Friend! I am so excited about this episode, and I know you will too. Jill Savage and I sat down to discuss how do you love someone who is unlovable? I guarantee that Jill’s inspiring story will be just what you needed.  Jill Savage is the author of 14 books, host of the “No More Perfect Podcast,” and founder and former CEO of Hearts at Home Ministries. Jill and her family have lived through the highest of highs and lowest of lows, which makes her compassionate, relatable, and full of wisdom.  She and her husband, Mark, have five grown kids, and together they lead a marriage ministry designed to help couples heal broken relationships. Resources  jillsavage.org Pick up a copy of Seek: A Woman’s Guide to Meeting God by Donna Jones.   Connect with Donna: Instagram: @donnaajones Website: www.donnajones.org Twitter:@donnajonesspeak Vimeo: @DonnaJones   Listen in to learn more about:  {04:11} Jill’s journey with God through a broken relationship {09:40} When God asks us to love the unlovable person {13:00} Lessons from Romans 12 {25:30} Sleeping single in a King size bed {27:48} Advice for younger women    Memorable Quotes “I will bring a better me to the relationship, and I will bring a better me to whatever comes next in my life.” “You can either get hard or get humble.” “My prayer became, ‘God, It is not well with my circumstances, but I am determined that it will be well with my soul.’” Scripture reading Romans 12:9-21 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

If you’ve ever had a conversation where you’ve walked away thinking, “Wow! That was just what I needed”, you know you felt encouraged, learned a thing or two, laughed, and maybe even felt a bit challenged. Author, national speaker, and pastor’s wife, Donna Jones provides life-giving “that’s just what I needed” conversations to help you know, love, and follow God in the midst of real-life--the one with daily demands and crazy cultural chaos. Sometimes she’ll welcome a guest we can learn from; sometimes the conversation will be just her and you. But, Donna’s hope is that each conversation will be exactly what you need. ovAFs42u2yxG44bC9aQfSFnqfNwWMAaGTJiAnzsH ovAFs42u2yxG44bC9aQf Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.