Millions have been encouraged and inspired by the words of the #1 best-selling 365-day devotional "Jesus Calling." Listen to real-life stories of faith as told by those who have experienced the power of living in His presence.
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The Power of Releasing Hidden Hurts: Joe Dobbins & Aimee Byrd
Season 1 · Episode 428
Thursday, October 3, 2024 • Duration 31:24
This week, we’ll hear from two influential voices in the Christian community, Joe Dobbins and Aimee Byrd. Joe Dobbins, pastor of Twin Rivers Church in St. Louis, Missouri, and author of Hope After Church Hurt, shares he and his wife's painful experiences with their church and the healing process that followed. His insights provide a roadmap for those struggling with similar wounds, offering steps toward restoring faith and re-engaging with the church. Following Joe's story, our next guest is speaker, blogger, and podcaster Aimee Byrd. Aimee opens up about her lifelong journey of searching for belonging in the church, and how she learned through trials and painful hurts that God wants us to ask questions, and even though we might be scarred by those who twist truths to facilitate how they think we should live, we can find our way back to God and what He says about how we were meant to live.
“The season that followed that painful experience was one where we physically attended church, but we withheld our hearts, and the rejection we felt caused us to lose confidence in leaders. It created a distrust for people, and it did cause us to question our place in the community…God is omnipresent, meaning He's everywhere that we are at all times. But just because you are in His presence doesn't mean you have entered His presence. To enter God's presence, meaning to receive Him, your heart has to be open. And pain had caused my heart to close.” - Joe Dobbins
“Healing begins by knocking your feelings off the throne of your heart and allowing Jesus to retake His proper place.” - Joe Dobbins
“Forgiveness is never a one-time event. It's a daily exercise, that every time you remember how they hurt you, you're going to have to decide to release it and forgive it again. And eventually what happens is that practice causes the decision in your head to move into the feelings in your heart. And if you'll do it enough, you'll eventually find the pain you've been carrying from rejection is replaced with God's peace.” - Joe Dobbins
“Jesus said, ‘Follow me,’ not follow my followers. And I believe that a lot of church hurt is wrapped up when our expectations are not met from a person we esteem, or see that they should be further along in their journey.” - Joe Dobbins
“I think it's interesting today how Christians are really known more for the points they want to make. But yet Jesus was known for asking questions…the church would do well today to remember listening is loving, because often we too quickly jump to trying to tell people what they need to do before we understand the pain they've been through.” - Joe Dobbins
“I still had this vigor to learn more about God and who He was. And I started learning like, Oh, there's a word for that. It's called theology, just the study of who God is. And that fascinated me.” - Aimee Byrd
“I was traveling all over the place, meeting so many different women in the church, and realizing that there are many like me who are struggling as thinking women in the church who want to be more engaged theologically, who want to get into deeper Bible study, to be able to be invested in the whole heart of the church.” - Aimee Byrd
“There were so many things I needed to die to myself in this process of disillusionment and healing. But you look to the left and you look to the right and you realize there's a whole crowded underground of people doing the same thing, and that's what church should be.” - Aimee Byrd
“God wants us to come with our questions.” - Aimee Byrd
“We're here to tell our stories, to hold one another's stories. And as we look at our wounds and the scars as they're healing, they bear testimony to where we've been, what we're going through, where Christ has met us.” - Aimee Byrd
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Harmony and Hope: Facing Life’s Best and Worst Moments with Josh Baldwin and Diane Chew
Season 1 · Episode 427
Thursday, September 26, 2024 • Duration 32:21
Sometimes life hands us a situation, or an experience, that we never expected. Maybe it’s something exciting, like a new relationship or adventure, but sometimes it can be full of sorrow, too, like the loss of a job we loved or an unexpected illness that derails everything. But it’s in those moments that we find out who we are, and what God has made us capable of, giving us an opportunity to really show up for others.
This week, we sit down with Josh Baldwin, a worship leader, songwriter, and artist with over two decades of experience. Josh opens up about walking through a challenging season of mental health in his family, and how he turned to music for comfort and direction from the Lord, which he now uses to bring comfort and peace to his listeners.
Later, we’ll hear from Diane Chew, known as Dementia Coach Diane, a life coach and caregiver for her husband, Ben, who has Lewy Body Dementia. Diane shares practical tips for dementia care and emphasizes self-care for caregivers, drawing from her experiences of over fifty years with Ben and the challenges of his cognitive decline. She finds solace and community through social media and discusses the crucial role of faith in navigating these challenges.
[JESUS LISTENS MONTHLY SERIES] Prayers for Healing: Petrina Pacheco
Tuesday, September 24, 2024 • Duration 09:56
On this episode of Jesus Listens, we hear from Petrina Pacheco, a singer-songwriter from Biloxi, Mississippi. She reveals a season of her life when she was in an abusive relationship and how she found freedom and healing from that situation. Today, Petrina has transformed her struggles into a source of hope for others facing abuse; creating healing music and sharing at outreach ministries.
Disconnecting to Reconnect: A Faithful Approach to Mental Health with Faith Broussard Cade & Hannah Brencher
Season 1 · Episode 426
Thursday, September 19, 2024 • Duration 35:47
*This episode mentions suicide and depression and may not be suitable for all listeners.*
In an era where the pressures of modern life can feel overwhelming, two remarkable stories offer a unique perspective in our increasingly digital world.
Our first guest, mental health counselor and advocate Faith Broussard Cade, embarked on a path to self-discovery following a traumatic brain injury. Diagnosed with post-concussive syndrome after a severe car accident, her journey underscored the critical importance of self-care and the necessity of prioritizing mental well-being in today’s fast-paced world.
Later in the episode, we’ll hear from Hannah Brencher—an author and educator—who delves into the impact of constant digital connectivity on mental health and personal well-being, drawing from her own experiences. Hannah shares her journey toward unplugging, which began as a personal revelation on her birthday and led her to set a goal of 1,000 hours of disconnection over the course of a year.
Reflecting The Hope God’s Given Us: Matt Forté & Jonnie W.
Season 1 · Episode 425
Thursday, September 12, 2024 • Duration 25:36
*This episode mentions violence and may be triggering for some listeners.*
This week, we talk with Matt Forté, a former NFL running back who played ten years with the Chicago Bears and the New York Jets. Beyond his impressive career on the field, Matt has transitioned into roles as an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and ministry worker. Matt shares his inspiring story, from his early days in football to his work in gun violence prevention and support for at-risk families.
Later in the episode, we’ll also be joined by comedian Jonnie W., who shares why he believes in the value of laughter. Known for his unique blend of stand-up comedy and music, Jonnie’s approach to comedy is not just about making people laugh, but also about bringing light and positivity into the world.
Courage in Crisis: Michael Hingson & Eve Selis Lean on Faith To Survive
Season 1 · Episode 424
Thursday, September 5, 2024 • Duration 26:09
*This episode contains content that may be triggering for some listeners.*
Our guests this week went through circumstances that could potentially cause someone to want to give up. But instead of descending into panic, or utter hopelessness, they re-centered their focus on their faith, and trusted God that He would provide a way forward.
Blind speaker Michael Hingson faced the unimaginable as a survivor of 9/11, escaping from tower one with the help of his guide dog, Roselle, and the spirit of calm he inhabited became a beacon for others in the middle of the panic and chaos. Singer Eve Selis openly shares about the tragic and devastating loss of her brother Pete, and what her journey of healing looked like. By journaling and praying her way through the darkness, Eve became her most vulnerable self, which resonated with others and helped her find a renewed sense of hope when she’d been hopeless for so long.
Healing Hearts: The Impact of Compassionate Service with Dr. Ming Wang & Raeanne Newquist
Season 1 · Episode 423
Thursday, August 29, 2024 • Duration 27:08
This week, we explore stories of service from two guests who have made it their life’s work to help others.
Dr. Ming Wang is a renowned, cutting-edge laser eye surgeon who grew up with a dad in medicine, so it was ingrained in him from an early age to help people. Dr. Wang shares his incredible life experiences—including how he narrowly escaped a life of hard labor while living in China—how his atheist worldview was shaken while in medical school, and how he now helps people living in darkness see light for the first time.
Raeanne Newquist works in marketing for Mercy Ships, an international charity which consists of two state-of-the-art hospital ships that bring hope and healing to the people of Africa who lack access to safe and reliable healthcare. Raeanne shares the transformations she’s seen in patients not only physically, but emotionally and spiritually as well.
[JESUS LISTENS MONTHLY SERIES] A Prodigal Son's Return Through Prayer: Daniel Maritz
Tuesday, August 27, 2024 • Duration 10:34
On this episode of Jesus Listens, we hear from Daniel Maritz, a Youtuber and author, who shares how aspects of his life mirror the story of the prodigal son. He opens up about the pivotal moment when the pain of loss brought him to his knees, and how he found his way back through prayer.
Guest’s Links Daniel Maritz’s Facebook: @MaritzDaniel
Experiencing Joy in All Our Circumstances: Tahj Mowry & Melvin Crispell III
Season 1 · Episode 422
Thursday, August 22, 2024 • Duration 25:05
This week, we talk with multi-talented actor Tahj Mowry. Known for his roles in beloved TV shows like Smart Guy, Full House, and Disney's Kim Possible, Tahj shares his journey from a child actor to an adult in the industry, how he stays grounded in a sometimes chaotic environment, and the joy and gratitude he taps into through his faith.
Later in the episode, we’ll hear from Melvin Crispell III, a remarkable gospel recording artist who grew up immersed in the church and followed in the footsteps of his talented gospel music singing parents. He opens up about losing his mom and dad, how prayer became his solace and strength, and how he continues to honor his parents' legacy and spread joy to others through music.
Transform Your Mindset and Elevate Your Outlook: Dr. Alan Weissenbacher & Carolyn Weber
Season 1 · Episode 421
Thursday, August 15, 2024 • Duration 25:26
This week, we have the privilege of hearing from Dr. Alan Weissenbacher, the managing editor of the journal Theology and Science and a teaching pastor in Berkeley, California. Deriving from his work with those who struggle with addiction, he illustrates how we can harness the power of neuroscience to change our habits, emphasizing the importance of replacing negative thoughts with positive ones, and how our focus can reshape our brain's pathways, which includes the disciplines of prayer and studying Scripture.
Later in the episode, we'll hear from Carolyn Weber, an acclaimed author, speaker, and professor who experienced a profound spiritual awakening during her time at Oxford University. Initially an agnostic, Carolyn's encounters with diverse Christian communities and her thorough reading of the Bible led her to embrace Christianity. Her memoir and its subsequent film adaptation chronicle her journey from skepticism to faith.
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Interview Quotes:
“Wherever He's given permission to reign in my life, then the peace just automatically is there because the peace follows Him.” - Josh Baldwin
“I feel like it's hard for me to be anxious about things and grateful to the Lord for all He’s done at the same time.” - Josh Baldwin
“I felt like all I could do was kind of react to one mini crisis after another. I was just responding and reacting to what felt like a constant emergency.” - Diane Chew
“I needed somehow to process everything that was happening every day. I wanted to find the blessings, but I was often trapped in my own head, and I was isolated and alone and scared and I didn't know what to do.” - Diane Chew
“We have three choices in life when we face circumstances that we didn't expect. We can change them, we can accept them, or we can suffer.” - Diane Chew
“It takes constant practice to look for the blessings, and to stay connected to something bigger than my thoughts and feelings.” - Diane Chew
“It takes stubbornness, I think, to not go down with the ship. I am not going to give up my life. Ben wouldn't want me to do that.” - Diane Chew
“The Holy Spirit will give us the wisdom to know what I just need to let go of, and what I can act on, and to give me that strength and faith to act when I can and let go when I can't.” - Diane Chew
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“I had a decision to make. Do I keep up the facade that I've always kept of being the superwoman who can always do everything and be everything to everyone? Or do I give up that facade for the hope of being able to have a future?” - Faith Broussard Cade
“What was supposed to be fifteen days of me kind of jump-starting my own healing journey has now turned into six and a half years of writing notes and encouraging this community collective healing journey for a lot of other people, not just myself.” - Faith Broussard Cade
“I found my hero. She's been inside of me the entire time, and I am so proud of who she has become.” - Faith Boussard Cade
“Just because it's not a good fit for someone else doesn't negate the goodness–the innate goodness–of who I am and who I try to be, and how I try to show up for others.” - Faith Boussard Cade
“What I really wanted to do in that unplugged year was just be present to it for myself, for that part of myself that was exhausted, for that part of myself that needed to get back these vital parts of herself.” - Hannah Brencher
“What would it really look like to check in with myself, and what would it really look like to take care of myself at the end of a long day?” - Hannah Brencher
“I can actually experience peace just by taking these little ordinary moments throughout my day and seeing them as an opportunity to meet with God and hear from God.” - Hannah Brencher
“He's a God of peace. He's a God of goodness. He's a God that wants good for your life, and He's a God that just wants you to be near. Not for any other motive, but the fact that He loves you and He wants to be with you, and He wants to show you daily life through a lens that maybe you haven't looked through before.” - Hannah Brencher
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“I just knew I had a calling on my life to be an athlete.” - Matt Forté
“Every day, marching up eight flights to get books and to go to practice and get back home, all of that really taught me never to complain about the luxuries that you get in life that we often overlook or take for granted. It taught me a lot.” - Matt Forté
“Put in a lot of hard work, but also have faith in yourself and really have faith in God that He is a good God, that He has good plans for you as well.” - Matt Forté
“Had it not been for Jesus coming down and dying for our sins and living a sinless life and paying the debt for what we've accumulated, there would be no hope. And in return, we have to reflect the hope that He's given us.” - Matt Forté
“I think there's something formative about that that kind of clicks in a comedian's brain, that extra little bump of attention that you get from someone laughing or you kind of push someone's buttons in a way. There's something about that that is pretty remarkable.” - Jonnie W.
“I like to think about the people that are coming to my shows and what private pain they might have, what they might need release from. My comedy comes from a place of faith. I feel like it's such a gift that I discovered that I could do this and that God's opened doors for me to go do it, so I never take it for granted.” - Jonnie W.
“I think you're missing out on something that God wired inside of you if you're not laughing.” - Jonnie W.
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“I knew that if Roselle wasn't feeling fear, whatever was going on wasn't such an imminent threat to us that we couldn't try to evacuate in an orderly way, because dogs have a very greatly heightened sense of those kinds of things.” - Michael Hingson
“When we started to run, I remember the first thought I had was, God, I can't believe you got us out of a building just to have it fall on us. And when I thought that, I immediately heard in my mind a voice that said—as clearly as you're hearing me now—‘Don't worry about what you can't control. Focus on running with Roselle and the rest will take care of itself.’ I felt this absolute calm and certainty that if we worked together, Roselle and I would be fine.” - Michael Hingson
“There are a lot of things that happen to us that we don't necessarily have any control over. But what we absolutely and totally have control over is how we deal with it and how we react to it.” - Michael Hingson
“We need to learn how to listen to God, and we need to recognize that all the answers that we need are always available to us if we only really look for them.” - Michael Hingson
“When something tragic happens, you are in shock. And your trauma… you can't breathe. You go into hiding. There's so much shame involved. And there's literally nobody to talk to.” - Eve Selis
“If I did not believe in God and have my faith, I would not be here right now. It was the only thing that got me through.” - Eve Selis
“It's a spiritual job to be a musician, and music connects us to something bigger than us, and I believe that it's the closest thing to the divine that we have.” - Eve Selis
“I can tell you that there is nothing more powerful that you can do for somebody who is hurting than to pray for them or send them a positive thought or text them, ‘I love you.’ That's a prayer.” - Eve Selis
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“In 1982, with $50 borrowed from a visiting American professor, with a Chinese English dictionary, I came to America, even though I did not know the language, and even though I did not know anyone, even though I was very poor. But I was happy because I was free.” - Dr. Ming Wang
“From a very young age, I was imprinted [with] the attitude of working hard, studying hard for knowledge, and also the heart to help others.” - Dr. Ming Wang
“I realize that science is still important and necessary, but not sufficient. I realize there's science giving me the tools. But a faith in Christ gives me a purpose for what I'm going to use the tools for.” - Dr. Ming Wang
“[Mercy Ships] is really an extraordinary community to be a part of because our crew come from all over the world. At any given time, there's over fifty nations represented on board our vessels. So it is this multicultural, Jesus-loving community that all come together with one purpose, and that is to bring hope and healing to the world's forgotten poor.” - Raeanne Newquist
“I think the healing oftentimes comes through the surgery, but it also comes through the emotional healing that these people who've been outcasts receive when we look them in the eye and we hug them and touch them and tell them they're valuable and they're worthy.” - Raeanne Newquist
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“Acting has always been that comfort for me and that is the true passion for me that I don't think I'll ever get away from or stop. And I'm thankful that I still love it to this day and that I'm able to continue to do what I love to do.” - Tahj Mowry
“That's one of the reasons why I do what I do, to make people smile, to make people feel, to make people see themselves in me. And that's beautiful. That's one of the most beautiful parts of my job.” - Tahj Mowry
“We're called to die every day to our flesh, to ourselves, and to surrender to Christ daily, to take up our crosses daily. It's not just like a one time thing. It's a choice that we should make every day.” - Tahj Mowry
“I think an attitude of gratitude, a heart of thankfulness, is where worship begins. If we stay thankful, we're never ungrateful.” - Tahj Mowry
“God didn't fail me. He literally answered my prayer and He placed so many people around me to make sure I was good, to make sure that I stayed on my feet, to make sure I didn't go without. That's just one example of God's goodness.” - Melvin Crispell III
“People are listening to music and it is really changing lives. And I'm grateful that God saw fit to use me because I'm nowhere near perfect. I really have such a long way to go in my walk, in my journey. But I'm grateful. And I'm honored that God decides to use me in the way He does.” - Melvin Crispell III
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“If I didn't have those years at the Denver Rescue Mission, I wouldn't have been inspired to research the brain and how God designed that brain to learn and grow. And then by knowing that, how I could improve rehabilitation programs and help people improve their spiritual lives in the church as a whole.” - Dr. Alan Weissenbacher
“Replacing unhealthy thoughts with healthy ones impacts the brain's structure and function. Replace the problem thoughts with good ones, turning yourself in that direction.” - Dr. Alan Weissenbacher
“Don't pray to the problem. Pray to get the solution.” - Dr. Alan Weissenbacher
“In a way, I didn't realize how much that template of my earthly father influenced any concept of a heavenly one.” - Carolyn Weber
“I think that those earlier life experiences in which I had felt very cherished and loved—but that the rug had been pulled out from under me—shaped my earlier initial views of faith in that it was very difficult to trust anyone but myself. I think sometimes we don't want to admit the things that hurt the most.” - Carolyn Weber
“I began to realize that faith and intellect are not opposites. They're not incompatible.” - Carolyn Weber
“Our souls are restless, our hearts are restless, until they find their home in God, and I identified with that longing.” - Carolyn Weber
“His love for us, it just endures. And that's still incredibly mind-blowing and soul-filling.” - Carolyn Weber
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