The Love Offering

Growing up as a Chinese American daughter of a mail-order bride and a busboy working in San Francisco Chinatown, Bonnie Gray had never truly felt beautiful or beloved. She had built her life to look pleasant and ordinary, with a wonderful husband, two amazing boys, and a thriving career. But despite these blessings, she still felt the tugging emptiness of a missing piece.At 39, a long-forgotten birth certificate in an old file cabinet sparked a curiosity Bonnie couldn’t ignore. Determined to uncover family secrets and understand the home she was born into, Bonnie embarked on a journey that would leave her forever changed. Returning to the culture, places, and stories that shaped her, her search led her to soul-shaking discoveries about her identity, human kindness, and what it truly means to be loved.Bonnie is on the show today sharing her memoir titled Sweet Like Jasmine. It is a profoundly moving account of how God uses our unique and broken stories to create a beautiful mosaic of His love, one life at a time.Feel seen and valued, because you are worthy of loving, resting in God’s love for you.See the grace woven in each chapter of your life and embrace the wholeness of who you are.Learn to listen deeply to your life and feel empowered in your true worth.Find freedom, hope, and healing in rewriting your stories with faith.Through powerful truths and insightful reflection prompts, find beauty out of brokenness and belonging out of loneliness.Be love offerings by sharing with others what brings us joy and peace. But you first have to receive it yourself. Connect with Bonnie:https://thebonniegray.comSupport the Show: https://rachaelkadams.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Is it just me? Am I the only one who’s lonely? Am I the only one without friends?If you’ve ever asked yourself these questions, Amy Weatherly and Jess Johnston, founders of the widely popular “Sister, I Am with You,” are raising their hands to say, “Yeah, us too.” And they want to encourage, equip, and reassure you that you have what it takes to build the kind of friendships you want.I’ll Be There (But I’ll Be Wearing Sweatpants) provides you with the how of cultivating deep relationships in this messy, chaotic, beautiful life. Through this episode, you’ll learn how to:▫️admit you need friends—then go out and find them,▫️dismantle the lies you’ve believed about friendship,▫️love yourself so you can find people who will love you for you,▫️be a good friend even though you can’t be a perfect one, and▫️heal from a friend breakup—and find the courage to try again.It’s time you felt completely accepted as you are—from the top of your messy bun to the tips of your unpedicured toes. Let’s start making friendships a priority—together.“To be a love offering view every connection as a gift from God.”“Instead of working for love, come from a place where you’re working from love.”Audio Book sample: https://soundcloud.com/harperaudio_us/ill-be-there-but-ill-be-wearing-sweatpants-by-amy-weatherly-jess-johnston-chapter-1?si=d0a7aa1b3d79484c9506ede89c5cf36e&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharingConnect with Amy and Jess:https://www.sisteriamwithyou.comSupport the Show: https://rachaelkadams.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

All of us live with some sort of longing in our hearts—a gap between the life we want and the life we actually have. As we try to navigate this sense of longing and the circumstances we desperately wish would change, we try to hang on to the belief that God will fulfill our desires, while waiting to see the answers to our prayers realized. For some, those prayers are answered. Yet for others, the longing persists, making us weary at best and debilitated at worst. Living this way leaves us asking the same questions: “How do I find God’s joy in this life when it isn’t the life I hoped for?” or “How do I deal with the gap between the life I want and the life I’ve been given?”Elizabeth Woodson is on today’s episode equipping us for joyful living in that gap. You’ll learn to:▫️Realize joy is possible▫️Avoid emotional escapism and naïve blindness to reality▫️Have your eyes opened to what “biblical contentment” really means▫️Enjoy God’s unfailing presence▫️Understand your divine calling Elizabeth shares life-changing truth that has the heart-healing power you’ve been searching for, and helps you walk through your current life situations from a new perspective—one that embraces actual, real, deep joy in the midst of the inevitable longings of life.“This week’s love offering is to see other people. No one is as strong as we think they are.”Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/missjazzyliz/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/missjazzyliz Website: https://www.elizabethwoodson.org/Support the Show: https://rachaelkadams.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Our life journeys can be filled with steps of faith and adventure, but also difficulty and challenges. Ricky and Krista Ortiz are certainly familiar with both. After meeting in Bible college they married and then started Meta Church in NYC. In today’s episode Ricky and Krista are honest about their personal and marital struggles. At the brink of divorce, they stood before their own Red Sea wondering how they would ever get across. Join us as we discuss:▫️Grief, loss, addiction, and depression▫️How Jesus changed their lives ▫️Serving as pastors in NYC▫️How they serve their community in tangible ways▫️Living open-handedly with generosity ▫️Staying faithful despite difficulties▫️Making an impact on our world Ricky and Krista share their story in hopes that all who hear it will know God can work in the midst of theirs too. If you are standing in front of your own Red Sea today, do not be afraid. Stand still. The Lord will fight for you (Exodus 14:13-14). And when God helps you make it to the other side, we pray you stand in awe of Him. Just as Ricky and Krista continue to do. “Be a funnel and be open handed. It’s our love offering back to God.” “Be a love offering by telling your God story.” Connect with Ricky and Krista:Meta Church - @metanyc - https://meta.churchKrista - @krista_ortiz - kristaortiz.com Ricky - @rico6886Faithbox - @getfaithboxSupport the Show: https://rachaelkadams.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

What if my hope only leads to disappointment? What if I embrace joy only to have it ripped from my hands? What if my celebration is the cause of others' sadness? What if my joy takes me away from the God I knew so well in my pain?Author and marriage and family therapist Nicole Zasowski knows what it's like to take a blow that makes it difficult to look to the future with expectation and ask herself these questions. Yet, as she found the courage to celebrate, she discovered God is as present in our joy as He is in our pain.Yes, God's purpose for us is worked out in our struggles. But what if it is also worked out in our dreams and our delighted joy? In What If It's Wonderful? Nicole helps you:▫️overcome the fears that keep you from looking toward the future with joy;▫️let go of the lies you've believed about happiness and embrace celebration as a part of spiritual growth;▫️approach life with an expectant heart and courage to trust God's good gifts. With a psychological and spiritual case for celebrating, Nicole challenges you to let go of the habit of practicing disappointment and fully embrace joy, beckoning you to ask yourself a new question: What if it's wonderful?“This week’s love offering is to give affirmation. Express your thanksgiving and gratitude for others in your life.”Connect with Nicole:https://www.nicolezasowski.comSupport the Show: https://rachaelkadams.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Internationally bestselling author Francine Rivers is on the show today sharing the impact of a story and about God’s redeeming love. Francine had a successful writing career in the general market for several years becoming a born-again Christian; she then wrote Redeeming Love as her statement of faith. A retelling of the biblical story of Gomer and Hosea set during the time of the California Gold Rush, Redeeming Love is now considered by many to be a classic work of Christian fiction and it continues to be one of the industry’s top-selling titles year after year. Since Redeeming Love, Francine has published numerous bestselling novels with Christian themes—including The Masterpiece, Bridge to Haven, and A Voice in the Wind —and she has continued to win both industry acclaim and reader loyalty around the world. Francine and her husband live in Northern California and enjoy time spent with their grown children and grandchildren. She uses her writing to draw closer to the Lord, and she desires that through her work she might worship and praise Jesus for all He has done and is doing in her life.“Be a love offering by allowing God to live through you. He makes all of us unique. Allow God to shine through you wherever you are.” Connect with Francine:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FrancineRivers Twitter: https://twitter.com/FrancineRivers Website: www.FrancineRivers.comSupport the Show: https://rachaelkadams.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

A true story about making the most of your one incredible life–With an overwhelming mix of pride, excitement, and terror, Stacey and her children held hands and watched the rocket ignite and lift off for a nine-month mission to the International Space Station.This is the story of the astronaut’s wife—a journey full of unexpected twists and turns. While her husband orbited the Earth, Stacey was about to embark on a knock-your-socks-off adventure right here at home. Experience this deeply meaningful season with Stacey—full of unique challenges and surreal opportunities—and discover rich lessons in:▫️preparing for any mission or adventure life throws at youtrusting God when you feel weak or alone▫️rediscovering your fun side when you’ve been trapped in survival mode too long▫️choosing hope in the face of fear and uncertaintyContaining behind-the-scenes glimpses into a side of space flight that most will never experience, Stacey shares a funny, poignant, and meaningful exploration of living life to the fullest—no matter where you roam.To be a love offering: “There are so many scary things in the world. The best thing we can be right now is something different. Let’s offer hope. Every day is one step closer to something new.”Connect with Stacey:@staceymorgan2000www.staceymorgan2000.comSupport the Show: https://rachaelkadams.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

To ask for help feels like defeat. Yet when we try to do life all by our own strength, we end up depleted, lonely, and ineffective. Heather MacFadyen wants you to know that you are not meant to go it alone. She's on the show sharing how we can be empowered by God, supported by others, and connect in our relationships. With encouragement and insight, she helps you foster the key relationships you need to be the woman you want to be.“Love one another is a command. Love one another as I have loved you. He did so with strength and vulnerability. If you are going to follow His command we must be willing to bravely be vulnerable too.”Connect with Heather:https://dontmomalone.com@dontmomaloneSupport the Show: https://rachaelkadams.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Two's company, especially for those who love each other. So what happens when--due to retirement, working from home, or even running a business together--spouses find that being in the same space all the time is awkward, complex, annoying, and just plain challenging? How can partners co-exist without co-exhausting each other? Cynthia Ruchti and Becky Melby have written Spouse in the House. They know all too well how adjusting to a new, all-the-time closeness can cause the bliss of marriage to form blisters. Drawing from their experiences, and from men and women across the country in the same situation, they take a deep breath and dive into the root causes of the discomfort. Join us in today’s episode as Cynthia digs into the ways God's Word addresses the topic, and offers practical tips for learning the spiritual, emotional, relational, and even physical steps that can help us replace irritation with peace. To be a love offering: “Have an attitude that keeps investing in making your relationships better. Here I am Lord. Show me today how to show love to this man I live with.”Connect with Cynthia:www.cynthiaruchti.comwww.hemmedinhope.comSupport the Show: https://rachaelkadams.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

As believers, we often struggle to let go of the things that keep us from reaching out to God. Valerie Woerner is on the show today teaching us that we don't have to limp through our prayer lives carrying the weight of every distraction. We can learn to pray boldly to the God of the universe who is beckoning us to come sit with him, share our needs and our hearts, and simply know him. Prayer invites action into our lives by the God who is more powerful than we are on our own. What weights do we need to take off so they don’t hold us back from a deeper conversation with God? What distractions are holding us back from running freely with our Father? Let’s get rid of the burdens that are suffocating our prayer lives and leaving us gasping for Jesus so we can experience true joy in prayer that we never thought possible. Because, ultimately, prayer changes everything. A vibrant, unstuck prayer life can begin for you right now.“We can love other people by lifting people up in prayer.”Connect with Valerie:www.valmariepaper.comPrayer in a Noisy World podcastSupport the Show: https://rachaelkadams.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.