Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith

There comes a point when our faith has grown strong enough that we can turn outward and put it to work serving those who need it most. Gary Sinise comes from a long legacy of supporting the military, from brave family members who served as far back as World War I, to portraying wounded Vietnam vet Lt. Dan Taylor in the iconic movie Forrest Gump. After the events of 9/11, Gary was inspired to find more ways to serve those who sacrificed for our nation, which he details in his book Grateful American. Dr. Derwin Gray created a successful life for himself in the NFL, desperate to escape the dysfunction that surrounded him in childhood. But after achieving his career dreams, Derwin realized he wouldn’t ever be satisfied without a greater purpose. He bravely stepped into God’s calling for his life and founded Transformation Church, a multi-ethnic church seeking to help others live a Jesus-centered life—what Dr. Gray calls in his new book The Good Life. These two men have grown their faith and been encouraged by the people they serve, and they demonstrate the beautiful things that can happen when we use our gifts and talents to bless those around us. Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Sarah Young Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling devotional Courage to Use Your Voice: Mark & Danielle Herzlich episode    Gary Sinise Gary Sinise Foundation Grateful American: A Journey from Self to Service book Vets Night Disabled American Veterans Organization Lt. Dan Band Battle of the Argonne Steppenwolf Theater in Chicago Forrest Gump Brooklyn Wall of Remembrance Dr. Derwin Gray Transformation Church The Good Life: What Jesus Teaches About Finding True Happiness book     Paige VanZant   Interview Quotes: “September 11th, 2001, our country is attacked and our men and women start raising their hands to deploy in reaction to that terrible event. And I just felt compelled and called in a certain way to serve. And so you go from this singular focus on self to this broader focus on serving others.” - Gary Sinise  “I am a grateful American. I'm grateful for so many things.” - Gary Sinise “Having veterans in my family, having been involved with supporting Vietnam veterans, I just knew where I was going to employ my services, and it was going to be to help our men and women get through the next phase of deploying to the war zones and helping them and their families get through that. And that just that lit a fire under me.” - Gary Sinise  “The more I got active, the more I gave, the more I healed, the more I wanted to do.” - Gary Sinise “I've seen the needs in all these different places and I want to try to continue to help fill those needs.” - Gary Sinise “When Jesus called me, when Jesus loved me, when Jesus met me, He literally put things in me and brought gifts out of me that I didn’t even know was possible.” - Dr. Derwin Gray “By my third year in the NFL at age twenty-five, I said ‘There's got to be more to life than this.’” - Dr. Derwin Gray “It was like I was chasing my shadow and I finally caught it, but realized it went right through my hands, and I was looking for things that only Jesus can give.” - Dr. Derwin Gray “He gave me unconditional love. He gave me a new identity: beloved child of God. He gave me a new purpose, and that is to know Him and to make Him known through every facet of my life.” - Dr. Derwin Gray “Jesus's blood not only forgives our sins, but He gives us a family with different colored skins.” - Dr. Derwin Gray ”So often we are so self-sufficient that we can't be God sufficient. So often we're so centered upon ourselves that we can't be Jesus-centered.” - Dr. Derwin Gray ________________________ 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 spend so much time trying to choose a path for our futures, and it’s easy to get wrapped up in what *we* want versus what *God* wants. Artist, musician, writer, and creator Morgan Harper Nichols struggled to find her purpose, her identity, and her place to belong. By pushing herself to go deeper into connection and following God’s nudges to use her artistic gifts, Morgan found hope in showing up for others, and she realized the true definition of “grace.” Actor and producer Kel Mitchell spent most of his childhood in the Nickelodeon spotlight on shows like All That and Kenan & Kel. As he suffered through mistakes in his young adulthood, Kel realized he needed to discover who he was outside of television—and that instead of leading his own way, he needed to let God show him the way forward. Kel came back to his spiritual roots, where Jesus showed him his true calling: youth ministry. Today, Kel reminds us that we can never be too busy for God, because it’s only when we hand over our time and our plans that we see our lives begin to fall into place.  Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Sarah Young Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling devotional Jesus Calling by Sarah Young products at Target.com When Dream Are Far From Reach, Trust God’s Vision: Matthew Barnett and Richard Cowdrey   Morgan Harper Nichols  Morgan Harper Nichols’s Pinterest All Along You Were Blooming book   Kel Mitchell All That Kenan & Kel Nickelodeon Kel Mitchell’s Facebook   Dr. Derwin Gray   Interview Quotes: “What does it mean to serve and to love and to give to others while also simultaneously feeling like you're not enough?” - Morgan Harper Nichols “But all along, [my purpose] was just about how I can be present to other people with what I have, with what I've been given, even though I don't feel good enough.” - Morgan Harper Nichols  “We're still being called to go deeper. We're still being called to come out on the water and to not be afraid of engaging with what's bigger than us.” - Morgan Harper Nichols “One single word can really, really impact someone in a way that matters in their life, whether they tell you or not. Connection happens through the imperfections and it happens through the broken places.” - Morgan Harper Nichols “I decided to say, ‘Hey, I'll figure this out on my own. I'll figure this out.’ And when I did that, it put me on the wrong path a lot of times.” - Kel Mitchell “As Christians, there are troubles you're going to go through, because we live in a sinful world. But at that same time, you have to know that God knows the way of getting you out of trouble.” - Kel Mitchell “It's awesome to be an ambassador of Christ and lead [kids] to the Lord as they see the light within you.” - Kel Mitchell “I feel like you have to learn and you have to go through those setbacks so you can have an amazing and beautiful, divine comeback.” - Kel Mitchell ________________________ 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.

Fathers play a lasting role in our lives, and we learn countless lessons from them, like who we want to be and how we want to lead. Master communicator and motivational speaker Dr. Rick Rigsby grew up with a father who, despite being a third-grade dropout, sailed across the world, learned multiple languages, and instilled in a young Dr. Rigsby the basic life lessons that profoundly impacted the way he viewed himself and his potential. Above all, Dr. Rigsby’s father helped him see how living with faith and keeping our word can grow our influence to impact other people for the better. From the time he was a young boy, Jerrad Lopes couldn’t wait to be the dad he never had. But as an adult, when Jerrad hit a wall of professional setbacks that sent him into depression, he knew he wasn’t being the best dad and husband he could be. After a bitter fight with his wife, Jerrad turned to God to help show him how to lead. Now, Jerrad ministers through his organization Dad Tired to other men who face shame and a lack of confidence, so they can become dads and husbands who help their families grow more rooted in faith.   Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Sarah Young Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling devotional Dr. Meg Meeker: Seeking the Love of a Father Jesus Calling Large Deluxe Orange, available exclusively at Barnes & Noble Jesus Calling Small Deluxe Blue, available exclusively at Barnes & Noble   Dr. Rick Rigsby Lessons from a Third Grade Dropout: How the Timeless Wisdom of One Man Can Impact an Entire Generation book Texas A&M California Maritime Academy in Vallejo, CA Chuck Noll, Pittsburgh Steelers NFL football coach John Wooden, UCLA basketball coach   Jerrad Lopes DadTired.com Dad Tire Podcast  Dad Tired: Stumbling Your Way to Spiritual Leadership book BibleGateway.com Psalm 1   Kel Mitchell   Interview Quotes: “How you do anything is how you do everything. It's never wrong to do the right thing. You tell somebody you're gonna get there at five, get there at four. Be ready to work.” - Dr. Rick Rigsby quoting his father “[My parents constantly raising the bar was] something I hated as a kid, something I couldn't stand as a teenager, but something that brings water to my eyes as an adult.” - Dr. Rick Rigsby “If you don't learn character in the trenches, if you don't learn the basics in the trenches, what in the world makes us think that when we get to the big stage, it's all of a sudden going to happen?” - Dr. Rick Rigsby “Faith encourages me to go beyond my comfort zone and to have a visceral reaction for the people of Jesus and encourage them.” - Dr. Rick Rigsby “Your ability to influence people within the sphere of your periphery will determine the impact that you make.” - Dr. Rick Rigsby “Think for a moment about the person who led you to the Lord. Was it that person's words, or was it that person's lifestyle?” - Dr. Rick Rigsby “I’m going to have a bunch of titles on my business card one day, [but] the thing that will go with me to the grave are the titles of husband, father, and disciple.” - Jerrad Lopes “If you believe you're too sinful or you're not equipped or you're not spiritual enough to lead your family, you're not believing in the God of the Bible.” - Jerrad Lopes ‘I'm just reminded that for me to be filled with life, to give life, to see the goodness of God used and fruit come out of it, I just have to be in the Living Water, which is the Word and Jesus Himself.” - Jerrad Lopes ________________________ 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.

Everyone is placed in our lives for a reason. God intentionally chooses to put people in our path to teach us and to mold us into who He created us to be, and sometimes those relationships are not what we would expect. Dr. Dharius Daniels was studying to be a lawyer, until a mentor in college helped him realize that his true calling was ministry. As he began to study the Bible more intently, Dr. Daniels realized how we as individuals (and our relationships) have the ability to change lives, and that adding value to someone’s life is a calling of the highest kind, which he shares in his book Relational Intelligence. Ron Hall had one goal in life: to get out of poverty and create a life that matched his definition of success. He worked hard and achieved his goals, but his pursuit of success led to challenges in his relationship with his wife, Debbie. After reexamining his priorities, Ron committed himself to pursuing God the way Debbie did, and it led him to work with the homeless. On the streets of Fort Worth, Texas, Ron met a remarkable man named Denver, who would teach Ron more about life than he ever expected, as chronicled in the movie and New York Times bestselling book, Same Kind of Different as Me.   Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Sarah Young Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling devotional Jesus Always devotional promotion at Lifeway.com Dr. Dharius Daniels Relational Intelligence book Ron Hall Same Kind of Different as Me book Same Kind of Different as Me movie Texas Christian University Ecclesiastes 9:15 (BibleGateway.com)   Dr. Rick Rigsby Interview Quotes: “What I began to see is the need for an expression of the gospel that did more than address people's morals, but addressed people's lives.” - Dr. Dharius Daniels  “You cannot have a high quality of life without doing relationships well.” - Dr. Dharius Daniels  “There is no area of our life that is not directly or indirectly impacted by our relationships: our physical well-being, our financial well-being, our relational well-being, our spiritual well-being.” - Dr. Dharius Daniels “God knew what He was doing when He put [my wife Debbie] in my life.” - Ron Hall “I told people that my wife and I at the time, we were both living purpose-driven lives. My purpose in life was chasing the almighty dollar and her purpose in life was chasing the Almighty God.“ - Ron Hall “‘God is checking you out to see what kind of person you really are,’ Denver said, ‘because most of you folks look at the homeless as a problem. But through God's eyes, He sees this as an opportunity for the faithful to show the love of Christ. We’re all homeless. We’re just working our way back home.’“ - Ron Hall “I witnessed the miracle of a homeless ex-con known as Suicide, who did not know how to read and write, become a number-one New York Times bestselling author . . . My good friend Denver, who was my homeless mentor, taught me more about life than anyone.” - Ron Hall   ________________________ 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.

It’s a hard truth that none of us is exempt from the pain of losing loved ones. And while Jesus tells us that, “In this world, you’ll have trouble,” He also promises that no matter what, He will never leave our side, and that He’ll remain a rock we can lean on through the pain of loss. Our two guests, country music artist Eddie Montgomery and Jesus Calling reader Kacie Clousing, have experienced tragic losses. But as they reached for God, He paved the way to survival and healing. Eddie Montgomery, of the award-winning duo Montgomery Gentry, talks about the deep bond he had with his music partner of three decades, Troy Gentry. When he lost Troy in a devastating helicopter crash, Eddie learned how to cope with his pain by remembering the good memories they made together, and turned to “the Man Upstairs” for strength. After battling infertility and having two healthy miracle babies, Kacie Clousing was thrilled when she and her husband discovered she was pregnant again. At a routine twenty-week ultrasound, Kacie learned that although she could feel her son kicking and moving within her, he wouldn’t survive the pregnancy. As she grieved the shattered dreams of what could’ve been, she kept reaching for God during her darkest days and held on to the belief that He would take care of her and her family, no matter how difficult the outcome.  Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Sarah Young Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling books Jesus Always devotional promotion at Lifeway.com Jesus Calling podcast episode:  God Brings Life After Loss: Jonathan Pitts and John Hill   Eddie Montgomery Montgomery/Gentry John Michael Montgomery    Kacie Clousing   Dr. Dharius Daniels   Interview Quotes: “Me and Troy put this duo [Montgomery Gentry] together, Nashville did not. And I think that’s why it was different, because we’d get each other in and out of trouble, we had each other's back. We knew who we were.” - Eddie Montgomery “There’s not a day that goes by I don’t think about [Troy].” - Eddie Montgomery “Before we go on stage, we get together and thank the Man Upstairs that He’s let us live this long and let us do what we do.” - Eddie Montgomery “That's how you get through [loss]. You remember all the smiles and the good times.”- Eddie Montgomery “In a second, our life went from, Oh, my goodness, things are fine. We're having a boy. We're so excited, to just nothing but complete sorrow and grief.” - Kacie Clousing “I started to have a mantra, where when I would start to think about the bad, I would just say, ‘I trust in you, Lord, to stop my negative thoughts and to not fall into the dark hole again.’” - Kacie Clousing  “God will take care of you and your family, and bring to your life what is meant to be.” - Kacie Clousing   ________________________ 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.

Through all the highs and lows that life throws our way, there is one constant: God. Despite uncertainties, despite pain, and despite hurt, God is always there, longing for us to rely on Him to become our source of Joy. Author and joyologist Dawn Barton has faced more fall-to-your-knees pain and loss than most can imagine. And after every setback, Dawn shares she found the secret to moving forward: choosing to stand back up and look for joy. Singer/songwriter Ashlyn Grayce was raised in a home filled with music and faith, and now she’s branching out into a career of her own. Ashlyn dedicates every performance to the One who got her there, and shares her faith and life story to write songs that she hopes will bring healing to people of all ages from the inside out.  Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Sarah Young Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling devotionalJesus Calling for KidsJesus Always Jesus Calling and Jesus Always available exclusively at Costco.com Peace in Uncertain Times YouTube Series with Alena Pitts Dawn Barton Mary Kay Cosmetics Laughing Through the Ugly Cry: And Finding Unstoppable Joy book   Ashlyn Grayce Alan Jackson Lifeway Christian BibleGateway.com, Isaiah 41:10   Eddie Montgomery Montgomery/Gentry    Interview Quotes: “I've had so much that I think gives me every excuse in the world to be not joyful. But I really want to scream from the mountaintops why we should be joyful and why it's a choice.” - Dawn Barton “It’s no one's job to make you feel better but yours.” - Dawn Barton “I think it's important to have a friend that will say, ‘This is enough. It's time for you to get up.’” - Dawn Barton “I think that's that little gift God gives you, sometimes just that feeling of, ‘Don't let go. Hold on a little tighter, a little longer, this time.’” - Dawn Barton “I'm so glad that I used tragedy as the fuel for something that was beautiful.” - Dawn Barton  “It's just so powerful that one three-minute song can really change the life of a listener or someone writing it.” - Ashlyn Grayce “I just think that it's so important to not be afraid and know that Jesus is right there with you every step of the way.” - Ashlyn Grayce   ________________________ 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.

In observance of Memorial Day, veteran and country music artist Craig Morgan and the First Lady of Louisiana, Donna Edwards, join the Jesus Calling Podcast to share how their faith, families, and a dedication to public service have shaped their lives in incredible ways. Craig Morgan served in the Army for 17 years before pursuing a country music career, which now allows him to serve military members via USO shows and special tours. After losing his 19-year-old son Jerry in a tragic accident, Craig felt moved by God to share his pain through a song called “The Father, My Son, and the Holy Ghost,” which has touched countless lives. First Lady Edwards shares why she and her husband, Governor John Bel Edwards, were inspired to dedicate their lives to serving the public. As part of that service and in devotion to God, First Lady Edwards felt led to share Jesus Calling with incarcerated women in her state, and visited them in person to deliver the books, which had an enormous impact on her and women in the facility. Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Sarah Young Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling devotional Jesus Today devotional Sarah Young products at Target Jesus Calling Podcast episode:  Becoming an Everyday Hero: Neal McCoy & Rodney D. Bullard   Craig Morgan Grand Ole Opry Video: The Father, My Son, and the Holy Ghost Craig’s World on Circle TV Louisiana First Lady Donna Edwards See Donna at Work: Governor’s Mansion   Dawn Barton Interview Quotes: “It was when I left home and joined the military, I think that's when I developed the aspirations for writing. Being away from home, creating a sense of appreciation for all the things that I had left and got away from.” - Craig Morgan “I thought I was exempt from something like that [when my son died], because our faith was so strong. We were a good Christian family, and I thought that something like this would never happen to us.” - Craig Morgan “When I lost Jerry, I felt like I didn't know enough about God because I needed to know more to understand what was going on.” - Craig Morgan “God wrote this song. I did not write this song.” - Craig Morgan, on his song "The Father, My Son, and the Holy Ghost" “I can't hug people that aren't standing before me, but I still very much feel their presence. Everybody talks about these God moments, you know, where you feel something and you feel the presence of God. That's what that is. I still feel that I have those moments with my son.” - Craig Morgan “We’ve always been firm in our direction and what we felt were our morals and values.” - Louisiana First Lady Donna Edwards   “We don’t necessarily have to agree — but I’m called to love you regardless.” - Louisiana First Lady Donna Edwards   “150 women who were imprisoned stood up and applauded the fact that I stepped into their life that day,” - Louisiana First Lady Donna Edwards   “Only with God’s help and praying and asking for God to help you, can one truly forgive.” - Louisiana First Lady Donna Edwards   ________________________ 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 don’t have to be perfect to receive God’s love. He longs to meet us in our brokenness so that He can be a part of our healing. Olympic gold medal gymnast Shawn Johnson East and her husband, NFL player Andrew East, share their love story that’s now blossomed into parenthood. And in their young marriage, Shawn and Andrew have weathered highs and lows, including a painful miscarriage, and they remember how sharing with their online community and hearing stories from thousands who had experienced the same pain helped them heal. Jewelry designer Lisa Leonard was juggling so much—a loving marriage, being a mom to two sons (one with special needs) and a passion for her burgeoning business—that she worked herself into a burnout, which took a toll especially on her marriage. As she began to work through these hard feelings, Lisa realized God didn’t require her to be perfect and put together all the time. Slowly but surely, Lisa’s zest for life returned, and she began to build a peaceful life that allowed her to keep creating new resources and loving others the way she always wanted.   Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Sarah Young Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling devotionalJesus Today   Jesus Calling exclusives from Barnes & Noble online The Next Door Treatment Facility interviews on Jesus Calling podcast   Andrew & Shawn Johnson East YouTube channel, The East Family Shawn Johnson East website Andrew East website London Olympics Dancing with the Stars  Lisa Leonard Be You book Brave Love book Your Spark book   Gary Sinise IMDB - Gary Sinise as “Lieutenant Dan” in the film Forrest Gump, Interview Quotes: “I remember going to the Olympics, winning an Olympic gold medal, standing on the medal podium with a gold medal around my neck and feeling almost empty.” - Shawn Johnson East “Shawn's career was just kind of ending when we met, and my career was about to begin in the NFL. It's such a unique position, and I'm so thankful that Shawn is very uniquely qualified to be a part of the ups and downs of the NFL.” - Andrew East “[Sharing about my miscarriage with my online community] helped me heal so much, just seeing how many thousands of stories came back of people who had gone through the same thing.” - Shawn Johnson East “There's so much power in the community.” - Andrew East “I'm excited about the marriage aspect of parenting, but I'm also excited about the responsibility of what it means to be a thoughtful parent and how you do that well.” - Shawn Johnson East “I felt like I wanted to do something different and bring beauty into the world.” - Lisa Leonard “I felt like as a mom with two boys, one with special needs, and my husband and my friends and my extended family, the easiest way to simplify things was to take my needs and wants and put them way up high on a shelf.” - Lisa Leonard “God can handle our brokenness. He is not surprised by it. He's not scared of it. He's enough to fill that space.” - Lisa Leonard “This is a journey. We don't have it all figured out. And there's grace, so this is love, right? We don't do everything perfectly, but we're in it together.” - Lisa Leonard ________________________ 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.

God is the restorer of all, and He often works through us to rebuild lives, to touch hearts, and to transform people here on earth. Stars of HGTV’s “Restored by the Fords” brother-and-sister-duo Leanne and Steve Ford share how their supportive parents paved the way for their creative careers, encouraging their kids to try new things, even if they made mistakes along the way. When they understood failure is a normal part of life, Leanne and Steve learned to push their creativity to new heights, and today they inspire others to create homes that help them feel safe and loved. Dr. David Vanderpool has also taken part in rebuilding, but in a different way: by living in Haiti and serving others through his relief organization Live Beyond, Dr. Vanderpool has discovered that living simply and focusing on connecting with others has brought his family closer to God and allowed him to share God’s love with those in need.  Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Sarah Young Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling devotional Jesus Today devotional Jesus Calling, the new botanical edition Jesus Calling podcast episode:  God Lifts Us Up to Our Full Potential: Philanthropist Melinda Gates & Pastor Tony Evans     HGTV Show Restored by the Fords (Leanne & Steve Ford) Work in Progress bookCountry Living Magazine   Dr. David Vanderpool Live Beyond relief organization  Britannica, 2010 Haiti Earthquake Olympic gold medal gymnast Shawn Johnson East   Interview Quotes: “I realized that it was our family and our faith that created this life where we didn't care what anyone else thought.” - Leanne Ford, remembering her childhood “We are in a society where if you mess up, it's looked down upon. And the problem with that is that the fear of failure kills creativity.” - Leanne Ford “I really believe that when you love your home, it really translates into the rest of your life.” - Leanne Ford “The ability to bring joy and happiness to people, whether it be a giggle or a laugh or a house they're proud of or an idea that gets them inspired, what an awesome gift that we’re able to do that.” - Leanne Ford  “Jesus came to fill the gap between this disparity.” - Dr. David Vanderpool “When you divest yourself of material things and Plan B starts to fade away a little bit, I think what happens is the Lord becomes nearer and He becomes a whole lot more apparent.” - Dr. David Vanderpool “There's nothing that is more gratifying or supporting than knowing that you're walking exactly where God wants you to walk.” - Dr. David Vanderpool ________________________ 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.

Whether or not we see Him, whether or not we feel Him, God is always near, walking beside us no matter where we go. YouTuber and mother of eight Angela Braniff shares how she checked all the boxes to gain a “perfect” life, until she realized Jesus’ life was about far more than giving her what the world considered “perfect.” By warily trusting God’s plan, and learning that she didn’t have to please others, Angela stepped out in faith and discovered a life more fulfilling than she’d ever imagined for herself. Jennifer Greenberg was a victim of abuse for twenty-one years, and in her darkest moments, she cried out to God, wanting to know if He was there. When she clearly heard God say that He would never forsake her, it all changed for Jennifer. She learned to trust God with her anger, moving forward into freedom and healing.  Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Sarah Young Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling devotionalJesus Calling Prayer Call Jesus Calling® for Graduates    Angela Braniff, founder of the popular YouTube channel This Gathered Nest Love Without Borders book   Jennifer Greenberg BibleGateway.com (Hebrews 13:5) Not Forsaken book PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255   HGTV Show Restored by the Fords (Leanne & Steve Ford) Work in Progress book   Interview Quotes: “I just thought that if I did all the right things, then my life would turn out how everyone told me, and it would be happy and fulfilled and everything would be great.” - Angela Braniff “I cried out to God and said, ‘I need you to give me Your eyes. Break my heart for what breaks Yours. If there's more to this life, I need You to show me.’” - Angela Braniff “They will grow up and have questions, things I can't answer, things I can, and wounds that I, in my humanness, no matter how much I love them as their mother, cannot fix or heal. But the one thing I can do is point them to Jesus, who loves them and who can heal those wounds for them.” - Angela Braniff, on her adoptive children “Trust that the plan He has is just so much better than any plans we could have ever made for ourselves.” - Angela Braniff “I knew that no matter what happened, God would never forsake me. He would never abandon me.” - Jennifer Greenberg "When you grow up with abuse, that is your normal. And so when you start to leave that environment, you're going to come to new realizations for how dysfunctional your past environment was." - Jennifer Greenberg “I was able to come to a place in my life where I realized that the reason I was angry at my abuser was because I was angry at evil...I realized that I could trust God to be angry for me.” - Jennier Greenberg “I realized at one point that sometimes we talk about clinging to faith in God, but really, it's God who clings to us.” - Jennifer Greenberg ”Not only do we have a Savior who redeems us from our sins, we have a Savior who can relate with us in an extraordinarily personal and profound way.” - Jennifer Greenberg ________________________ 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.