The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey

I’ll never forget when we had friends whose parents divorced after 25 years of marriage. As a newlywed I had no idea how that could happen. How, after making it 25 years, could your marriage just end? Now that I’ve been married for over 20 years, I know exactly how that happens. On today’s show Josh and Katie Walters share their story of how their marriage seemed to be over, but how God renewed it into something new and beautiful. Josh and Katie Walters live in Charleston, SC with their 7 kids. Ages 20-2 two of their girls are out of the home in college and one is serving in Togo, West Africa with the non-profit they lead Francis + Benedict. Josh and Katie both serve on staff at Seacoast Church and for the last 15 years have been pastoring couples with the comfort they have received. God brought them through a devastating season in their marriage and the brokenness they experienced became their catalyst for healing and getting a New Marriage, with the Same person. Their book releases Jan 9th and it’s a vulnerable account of the principals they learned moving from a season of pain to a place of joyThis conversation is for the couples who just got home from their honeymoon, or the couples that have been married for 20+ years. Josh and Katie have amazing insight into how every couple should experience a second marriage - but with the same people! 

Brandi Wilson had it all. She was married, had 3 children, and in ministry with her husband in a loving church. Brandi’s world was turned upside down in 2016 when her husband walked away from their church and their marriage. On today’s show Brandi shares how she found herself in deep grief and suffering, but how she found hope and peace on the other side of that journey.Today, Brandi Wilson is an author, coach, and speaker who has been in leadership for more than a decade at Leading and Loving It, a non-profit created to empower women to love life and ministry. Brandi has helped plant two churches and is passionate about walking alongside single moms and divorced women as they navigate parenting and life. Her latest book is Better Than Okay: Finding Hope and Healing After Your Marriage Ends. Brandi lives with her three sons in Nashville, TN.Friends, even if you haven’t lost your marriage and you haven’t walked a similar road, I’m certain Brandi’s story will encourage you! When our trust is in Jesus, no matter what we walk through, there is peace and hope on the other side of our grief!  Show Links:Brandi WilsonBetter Than OkayDwell Differently - Use code JAMIEMatthew 6:21Luke 13:10-13The Innervoice of LoveHow to do the Work Three WishesLessons in ChemistryCONNECT with Jamie

Too often we go about life thinking we’re doing it on our own. We pursue our dreams, ambitions, and goals without giving any thought to what God wants for our life. Today’s guest shares how she ignored God for 48 years while she gave herself all the glory after accomplishing goal after goal. Suddenly her life turned upside down and through the power of a praying friend, Julie Chen Moonves found herself in an unlikely position…. In a random church, on her knees, surrendering everything to Jesus. Her life was changed forever.Julie is a TV personality and host having worked in news, daytime talk and reality tv. She has been married to her husband for 19 years, has 4 kids, and 4 grandchildren. Julie is passionate about serving God and serving others! It doesn’t matter if prayer or searching for God is your last resort, God will meet you where you are! It is never too late to have a personal relationship with the Lord. Jesus is so patient and so faithful! Draw near to God and he will draw near to you! SHOW LINKS:But First GodJames 4:8 Big BrotherThe Happy Hour Book Club CONNECT WITH JAMIE

We’ve all walked through our seasons of wilderness. Seasons where you felt lonely, angry, and abandoned. You’ve wondered if anyone sees you. Does God even see you? Friends, what if those seasons of wilderness weren’t about thinking you were abandoned by God, but instead designed for you to grow in intimacy and friendship with God? On today’s show Faith Eury Cho challenges our way of thinking about the wilderness as she shares her own season of anger and discouragement. Faith Eury Cho has been a preacher since she was 19-years-old. Alongside her husband David, Faith co-founded and co-pastors Mosaic Covenant Church of NJ. In addition, she is the founder and CEO of The Honor Summit, a nonprofit organization that activates Asian American women for the mission of God. She is also an itinerant speaker and author of Experiencing Friendship with God (releasing October 17th 2023). However, her most precious role is being a mother to her 4 children— Moriah, Elias, River, and Adalynn.Whether you’re currently in a season of wilderness, or on the other side, I hope this episode encourages you to not get caught up in a noisy, empty christianity, but instead to press into an intimate friendship with your Savior. SHOW LINKS:Experiencing Friendship with GodThe Night is NormalSeveranceThe Happy Hour Book ClubCONNECT WITH JAMIE

Today’s episode concludes our 3 part bonus series on Pregnancy and Infant Loss. We’ve had incredible conversations with Jonathan and Peta PItts and Rachel Lohman. If you haven’t listened to those episodes yet, I encourage you to go back and listen now! On today’s episode I welcome Kayla Aimee to The Happy Hour for the first time. Kayla Aimee is an author by night and a digital marketing director by day. During out-of-office hours you can find her exploring the North Georgia mountains with her children and making semi-viral TikToks of her twin kittens. Kayla is a wife and mother to two children, one being a former micro-preemie weighing just 1lb 8oz at birth. On today’s episode Kayla shares her experience of spending half of the year in the NICU as a new mother and the challenges she and her husband faced. SHOW LINKS:Anchored: Finding Hope in the Unexpected In Bloom: Trading Restless Insecurity for Abiding ConfidenceThe Peasant KingThe Happy Hour Book Club CONNECT with JAMIE

Today’s episode is part 2 of our 3 part bonus series on Pregnancy and Infant Loss. Last week we heard from Jonathan and Peta PItts as they shared about the loss of their son. On today’s episode I have a very real and vulnerable conversation on the topic of miscarriage with Rachel Lohman.Rachel is the author of Miscarried Hope: Journeying with Jesus through Pregnancy and Infant Loss and founder of Hope Again Collective, a handmade jewelry line that shares the stories of loss moms and has donated over $10,000 in practical grief resources from jewelry sales to women going through miscarriage or stillbirth. She is a mother to two living children and one in Heaven. Rachel and her husband Mark pastor The Bridge, a bilingual church in Southern California.Through sharing her personal experience of miscarriage, Rachel is helping other mother's erase the stigma and shame that surrounds miscarriage and helping mother's find hope on the other side. If you’ve walked down this road, I hope through this conversation you can believe there is hope on the other side of the heartbreak. If you haven’t experienced miscarriage, I hope this conversation gives you new ways you can be a better friends to the women in your life who are walking this road. SHOW LINKS: Miscarried Hope: Journeying with Jesus Through Pregnancy and Infant LossHope Again CollectiveHappy Hour Book ClubCONNECT WITH JAMIE

Ronald Regan once said, “When a child loses his parents, they are called an orphan. When a spouse loses their partner, they are called a widow or widower. When parents lose their child, there isn’t a word to describe them.” This month’s bonus series is on Pregnancy and Infant Loss. We have three episodes covering this topic with guests who have walked this difficult path. On today’s episode I have a very real and vulnerable conversation with my friends Jonathan and Peta Pitts. Jonathan and Peta Pitts have been married for two years. Finding each other later in life, they live in Franklin, TN where they are raising Jonathan's four biological daughters and preparing for the arrival of their son. Jonathan is a Pastor at Church of the City and Ministry Executive. Peta is a career actress who has worked all over the world in theater and television. Earlier this year Jonathan and Peta walked the devastating road of losing their newborn son. There were many times in this interview that I was moved to tears, not just because of their heartbreak, but because of their bravery and how they have fought for their faith through this trial. These interviews are vulnerable and can be difficult to listen to if you've walked this road. Please listen with care and know that you are not alone! SHOW LINKS:The Voice of the HeartHappy Hour Book Club CONNECT with JAMIE

No matter how old you are or what season you’re in, friendships are so important, but not every friendship is the same! On today’s episode I welcome back lawyer and author Justin Earley to talk about the differences between friendships and why having covenant friendships are so important. Justin Earley graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in English Literature before spending four years in Shanghai, China as a missionary. Justin got his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center and now runs his own law practice in Richmond, Va. Justin frequently speaks at business and legal events on habits, technology, and mental health; and at churches and conferences on habits, spiritual formation and parenting. He is married to his wife Laura and has four sons. It’s so important to have those friends in your life that not only “get” you, but also lovingly challenge you. I love my friends who have spoken into me and challenged me to be the woman God has called me to be! I hope you leave this conversation desiring to have friends and be a friend at a deeper level! SHOW LINKSHabits of the HouseholdMade for People Relevant PodcastA Body of PraiseAnxiety OpportunityThe Happy Hour Book ClubCONNECT with JAMIE!

Beneath our every day smiles and greetings we all have cracks and bruises from past abuse, disappointment, hurt, or rejection. Have these cracks and bruises been holding you back? There is healing for you! On today’s show my friend Pastor Mike Todd is PREACHING about how we can let go of what is weighing us down and live in the freedom of healing! Mike Todd along with his wife Natalie, have been the Lead Pastors of Transformation Church based in Tulsa, OK since February 2015. Their personal philosophy and driving passion is re-presenting God to the lost and found for transformation in Christ. Their mission is to place Christ in the center of culture to impact their community, city, and world with the gospel presented in a relevant and progressive way. Pastor Mike’s newest book Damaged but Not Destroyed will give you tools to identify the impact of your damage, see yourself the way God sees you, and realize that healing is all about progression, not perfection.No matter how badly you’ve messed up, and no matter the pain you’ve experienced, nothing can destroy the God-given value of your life. It’s time to turn your damage into destiny! You may be damaged, but you are not destroyed. SHOW LINKS:Mike Todd’s previous Happy Hour episode Damaged But Not DestroyedEcclesiastes 4:9-12The Happy Hour Book ClubCONNECT WITH JAMIE

Hey friends! October is here and hopefully wherever you are feels like fall! We have an incredible month of interviews coming up! As you know, each month we're doing a Bonus Series! If you haven't listened to September's Bonus Series on World Religions, I encourage you to go check it out! This month we're sharing stories of Pregnancy and Infant Loss. Even if you haven't experienced this kind of loss firsthand, I hope these conversations can help you learn how to support and be a good friend when the people in your life do walk through this. Other guests this month include Mike Todd, Justin Earley, Faith Eury Cho, and Julie Chen Moonvez! Trust me when I say you don't want to miss these interviews! If you haven't joined The Happy Hour Book Club, what are you waiting for?! This month we're reading THE DEEP DOWN THINGS by Amber Haines & Seth Haines. In The Deep Down Things, Amber and Seth point to a simple truth: even in the darkest times, there are tangible signs of hope all around us. The authors demonstrate how tasting, touching, feeling, holding, and participating in these tangible acts of hope picks us up, builds our strength, and moves us into beauty, even in times of despair. They invite readers to participate with those signs of hope and thereby experience the divine love of God, even in the struggle of their everyday lives. Click here to join our book club today! Connect with JamieDwell Differently - code: JAMIEPsalm 48:14