Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith

This week, we are delighted to have Sarah Kroger, a talented singer/songwriter and worship leader from Nashville, Tennessee. Sarah shares the early days of her creative exploration while facing bullying, and how when she attended a transformative youth conference, she realized that faith could be something that was alive in your life, not just a box to be checked off on Sundays. Later in the episode, we’ll hear from Clare McCallan, an accomplished author and creative director of St. Joseph's Home for Artisans in Boston. Clare shares her experience of taking a leap of faith, banding together with the local artist community, and restoring an old convent to become a vibrant place that nurtures and cultivates young artists.   Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: David & Tamela Mann Upcoming interview: Dr. Alan Weissenbacher Not That Fancy Sarah Kroger   Simon & Garfunkel “No Filter” www.sarahkroger.com A New Reality   Clare McCallan St. Joseph's Home for Artisans This Is The Day The Renaissance Room St. Leonards Courage to Create Interview Quotes: “I refused to sing in front of my family for years. I just kind of locked away this gift and threw away the key and was like, I will never, ever sing in front of anybody. It'll just be something that I do for myself.” - Sarah Kroger  “I felt like God was lovingly tapping me on the shoulder and just saying, ‘Sarah, I gave you this gift not just for yourself. I gave you this for my kingdom. I gave you this gift for my glory. And by you hiding it, it's not doing anyone any favors. So will you step out in faith? Will you say yes to me?’” - Sarah Kroger “In a lot of ways, it's like being being able to create spaces where people feel safe enough to come to God just as they are, and feel safe enough to bring their questions and whatever they're walking through into a worship set, into a session that we're having, into whatever it is that we're doing, to be able to foster that kind of environment through music.” - Sarah Kroger   “If we can't be brutally honest with God, then who can we be honest with?” - Sarah Kroger  “We are never alone. He says, ‘I am with you always.’ That's a promise of God, even in the midst of the darkness.” - Sarah Kroger  “My life has been much happier ever since I've decided to just go all in on the way God made me and just live in pure creativity, both in my personal life and in my professional life.” - Clare McCallan  “Everybody wants the product, nobody wants the process. We serve a God born in a manger. Humble beginnings are not a bad thing.” - Clare McCallan  “God has equipped you with a unique set of gifts and a power for prolific love to create things that will change your world, the world around you, and the world as a whole. And your gifts as a craftsman, your ability to create, has the power to save souls around you. Your witness matters. Your gifts—even if you aren't aware of them—matter, and the world needs what only you can create.” - Clare McCallan ________________________ Enjoy watching these addition

If there is one thing we all desire as human beings, it is to be known—truly, deeply known—and loved just as we are. Psalm 139 says “You have searched me, Lord, and you know me… you are familiar with all my ways,” reminding us that we can experience the joy of being known to our core when we look to the Lord. Ainsley Britain is an Enneagram coach who delves into how we were individually and uniquely made by God, and how we can apply the knowledge of how we were created to our relationships with others—especially while navigating the challenges of high school. Ali Gilkeson is a member of the beloved band Rend Collective, which was initially designed as a welcoming place for people who didn’t always feel like they belonged in the church. Through recognizing our individual roles in life, Ali shares how a raw, honest relationship with God can help us find our way home.   Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Steve Wariner Upcoming interview: Sarah Kroger Psalm 139 NIV   Ainsley Britain  Enneagram coach  Enneagram type two wing three Enneagram three www.ainsleybritain.com The Enneagram for Teens: A Complete Guide to Self-Discovery and Spiritual Growth   Ali Gilkeson Rend Collective “My Lighthouse” song Sole Survivor My Lighthouse children’s book   Interview Quotes: “One of the things I love about the Enneagram, specifically how it relates to teens, is that not only do you understand your strengths and weaknesses, but you understand the motivations behind your actions.” - Ainsley Britain “If we can have the knowledge and understanding that all of the root fears, the root motivations, the root trauma, all of these wounding childhood messages can be healed with the Lord. And I believe that the Enneagram is just that helpful tool to kind of uncover that.” - Ainsley Britain  “I think it's so important to connect with God daily because just like any of your other relationships, that's where the depth is. That is where the intimacy is. It's how you maintain and foster a friendship with the Lord.” - Ainsley Britain “All we care about is connection with God and connection with each other in a real, authentic way.” - Ali Gilkeson “Authentic worship isn't really even about the sound of a song. It's about the state of your heart.” - Ali Gilkeson ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes:     https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7  Bonus Podcasts:     https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw  Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer:  https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C  Peace for Everyday Life:     https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj  Peace in Uncertain Times:     https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u  What’s Good?     <a href="h

On this episode of Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer, we hear from TV personality Lydia McLaughin. Lydia leaned on God throughout her experience on the Real Housewives of Orange County. She also talks about how her faith held her up during her mother’s sickness.    Guest’s Links Lydia McLaughlin’s Facebook: @oclydia Lydia McLaughlin’s Twitter: @oclydia Lydia McLaughlin’s Instagram: @oclydia  _______________________  Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Jesus Calling Website TikTok   *Episode produced by Four Eyes Media* Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Our first guest, Patsy Clairmont, is a renowned author, speaker, and one of the founding speakers for Women of Faith. Patsy’s early years were marked by severe anxiety and depression. Whispering prayers of desperation for anything to help her through this time, she was surprised by the small, simple steps God gave her that helped her emerge from the darkness. The surprises would continue to come as she moved from barely being able to leave the house to speaking to millions of people—inspiring them with her humor, wisdom, and stories of overcoming. Later in the episode, we’ll hear from Gil Schaenzle, known as the National Park Mom. After her daughter, Anna, passed away from neuroendocrine cancer at the young age of twenty-one, Gil embarked on a heartfelt mission to raise awareness for this rare disease. Through her campaign to run in all the national parks, and her more recent journey of cycling along America’s historic canals, Gil honors Anna's memory and brings hope to others facing similar battles. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Jeremy Cowart Upcoming interview: Ainsley Britain   Patsy Clairmont Women of Faith Florence Littauer Focus on the Family Barbara Johnson Luci Swindoll Marilyn Meberg www.patsyclairmont.com   Gil Schaenzle neuroendocrine cancer Healing NET Foundation Interview Quotes: “God brought me to a point of desperation where I realized that if something didn't change, I wouldn't survive myself. And it was at that point that I cried out from the depths of my being, ‘Lord, I'll do whatever you ask of me.’” - Patsy Clairmont “I became hungry for saying God's Word. And then I became absolutely committed to walking in and understanding the truth as it was laid out in His council.” - Patsy Clairmont  “Finding a way to use my words that were constructive and helpful gave me a personal sense of dignity. It gave me an understanding that I could be worth something, I could be of value to another human life.” - Patsy Clairmont “Know that God has a divine plan. And if you will listen carefully to what other people say you do well, you have probably found a gift that is placed within you that is so common to you, because you've lived with that ability, that you didn't even recognize it for what it is and what it could be under His tutelage.” - Patsy Clairmont “God had kind of given me enough humility to understand it's never been about who I was. It's always been about who He is and wants to be for us all.” - Patsy Clairmont  “I don't know what I would have done without God throughout this whole thing.” - Gil Schaenzle “I like to say that grief is just the other side of the coin of love. We get to live with the head side, the love side, for as long as God deems right. And then the other side of that coin is tails, and that’s grief. And I think that we just have to learn to sit and recognize that when grief comes to sit with us, we have to start looking at it differently.” - Gil Schaenzle  “We depend on God for our perspective in life. And

In this week’s episode, we have the opportunity to listen to John Michael Talbot, a legendary musician and founder of the monastic community Brothers and Sisters of Charity. He shares the intense evolution of his faith: from expressing himself through music, to finding his community in Catholicism, to a moment in a hospital room where he experienced a forgiveness so deep it changed him forever.  Later in the episode, we’ll hear from John Andrew Bryant, a chaplain and author. Bryant shares his battle with a mental health condition that not only revealed the inner workings of his mind, but a deeper understanding of his faith.   Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Jesus Listens Notetaking Edition Past interview: Emily P. Freeman Upcoming interview: Patsy Clairmont   John Michael Talbot Brothers and Sisters of Charity Mason Proffit The Imitation of Christ Luke 23:43 NIV   John Andrew Bryant Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) A Quiet Mind to Suffer With   Interview Quotes: “I was reading my revised standard Bible that my grandma had given me. And those red letters of Jesus seemed to be jumping out. He seemed to be able to say so much more by saying less.” - John Michael Talbot  “Suddenly I could see all of my sins. Not just the number, but the depth of them, in a flash. And in that same flash, I could see all of God's forgiveness, all of His mercy. And my response to that was to weep.” - John Michael Talbot  “Taking a good twenty to thirty minutes of prayer once or twice a day is vital to our spiritual life. We eat two or three meals every day. It's vital to our physical bodies to stay healthy. Well, our spiritual body is just as important.” - John Michael Talbot  “As you get older and stressors compound and there's more stuff to be worried about, or there's more things that feel unmanageable, your brain can just say, ‘Look, timeout. I can't handle this.’ And I think that's what my brain was telling me.” - John Andrew Bryant  “As much as your mind and body may feel like they're your enemies, you have to love these enemies you have now. Your mind is turning on you, your body is turning on you, and you have to love them back to health because they're yours and because you're shepherding your body and mind.” - John Andrew Bryan ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes:     https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7  Bonus Podcasts:     https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw  Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer:  https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C  Peace for Everyday Life:     https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj  Peace in Uncertain Times:     https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u  What’s Good?     https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj  Enneagram:     <a href="https:

This week, we’ll visit with two musicians who found their love for music early on, but took some devastating detours along the way to their dreams of full-time music careers. Darren Mulligan is songwriter and lead singer for the Dove Award-winning Christian music group We Are Messengers. Early in his music pursuits, Darren found himself indulging in other things that caused damage to himself and to those he loved—admitting that he was, “manipulative and just very broken.” He shares the story of attending a little church in his hometown in Monaghan, Ireland, and what happened that altered his course—and his music—forever.   Joseph Habedank is a two-time time Grammy nominated singer and songwriter who traveled for many years with the legendary southern gospel group The Perrys. Dealing with an ailment on the road, Joseph unexpectedly fell into addiction and found himself trading his dreams of singing for the pursuit of his next high. He shares what reaching rock bottom meant to him, and how he sought help in prayer, rehabilitation, and therapy.    Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Russ Taff Upcoming interview: John Micahel Talbot   Darren Mulligan  We Are Messengers Ballinode Johnny Cash  Willie Nelson Romans 5:3 NIV www.wearemessengers.com Where The Joy Is   Joseph Habedank  The Perrys “He's Still Working on Me” The Crabb Family Porter's Call in Nashville Cumberland Heights Grammys MusiCares program Russ Taff Autobiography “The Basement”   Interview Quotes: “I remember selling all my guitars because I assumed that guitars were the things that had led me into all of this sin in my life. It was a very small view of God that He couldn't use the gifts He had given me, and He couldn't keep me from my sin.” - Darren Mulligan  “Misery loves company. But what I later found out in life is that joy needs a friend too, you know?” - Darren Mulligan  “There's a lot of areas in my life that I've messed up, nearly every area—being a father, being a husband, being a follower, being a man. And it's the grace of God that I rely on so heavily.” - Darren Mulligan “My joy could only be found in walking close enough to Jesus that I learn to love what He loves.” - Darren Mulligan “I was a Christian music artist, and I was chasing dope. That was my full time job, and I was exhausted. It was probably the darkest time in my life. I really thought I'd never sing again.” - Joseph Habedank “When I lost my job doing what I've always wanted to do, which is sing about Jesus, that was my rock

In this week’s episode, we delve into the remarkable journey of Ricky Dickson, a man whose faith has guided him through a fulfilling career and the trials of leadership. Throughout his forty-three years with Blue Bell Creameries, the beloved ice cream maker, Ricky rose to become the president and CEO, navigating the company through both successful and challenging times. Later in the episode, we’ll hear from Mark Tappan, a police officer whose life took an unexpected turn through his bond with a remarkable police dog named Mattis. Mark shares how his lifelong connection to dogs has taught him lessons in faith, loyalty, and unconditional love.    Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Erica Campbell Upcoming interview: Darren Mulligan   Ricky Dickson Blue Bell Creameries Baylor  One Scoop At A Time   Mark Tappan Belgian Malinois Colossians 3:23 NIV A Dog Named Mattis   Interview Quotes: “My prayer growing up was, ‘God, wherever you want me, I want to not only be open and recognize your call, but also put within me the passion to do whatever that is and to be the best I can be at it.’” - Ricky Dickson “My prayer was consistently like, ‘Please God, give me the strength and the wisdom to walk and to lead in the way you would want me to lead.’” - Ricky Dickson “Faith seems easy until it gets hard.” - Ricky Dickson “God was in control of it all. Even though I couldn't see the end.” - Mark Tappan “Colossians 3:23 says, ‘Everything you do, do with all of your heart, as if working for the Lord, not for men.’ And when I looked at my dog, I saw that in everything he did and the work that he did as a police dog and the friendship that we had. He gave everything to it.” - Mark Tappan  ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes:     https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7  Bonus Podcasts:     https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw  Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer:  https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C  Peace for Everyday Life:     https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj  Peace in Uncertain Times:     https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u  What’s Good?     https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj  Enneagram:     https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY  ________________________  Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Old habits can be hard to break, whether it’s the foods we eat, the media we consume, or any pattern that may not serve us in the way that gets us where we want to be. Our guests this week took a look at their lives and found that doing the hard work of change was key to breaking unhealthy patterns and through faith and prayer, they kept at it, which ultimately produced lasting and rewarding results.  Our first guest, Erin Loechner, discusses how we can reverse engineer some of the ways that social media and technology hold our undivided attention and how she personally applied these principles to her own life and to the lives of her children, resulting in more connectivity with each other and the world around them. Later, we'll hear from Dusty and Erin Stanczyk, of www.EatMoveRest.com, who discuss what it means to be more intentional in our approach to the foods that we eat, and how they overcame troubling health issues and found physical and spiritual healing.   Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Natalie Grant Upcoming interview: Ricky Dickson   Erin Loechner Opt-Out Family www.HGTV.com show Waldorf elements www.optoutfamily.com The Opt-Out Family   Dusty and Erin Stanczyk www.EatMoveRest.com Jesus Calling App   Interview Quotes: “We kind of made this very intentional decision that we as a family were going to be more engaging than the algorithm, and we were going to not only say no to devices, but we were going to say yes to something better. And if we were going to do that, we were going to need to model that for our kids.” - Erin Loechner “Something we started really early on with our children was looking around and looking in our community and finding those natural influencers in our lives, and recognizing that they offer and hold deep experience that we might never encounter otherwise.” - Erin Loechner  “Everyone holds a story. Everyone holds so much knowledge and wisdom at their fingertips just through lived experience, and we are constantly pointing our kids to people in real life, rather than Google or Siri or Alexa.” - Erin Loechner  “Let's learn from the best. Let's grow from the best. Let's find those people in our lives that have things to share that will add value in a way that screens really can't.” - Erin Loechner  “Rather than filling our medicine cabinet with orange vials, we started stocking up on new superfoods every time we'd come home from the grocery store and figuring out how we could implement them. And realizing every colored food has a different benefit. It was just really exciting for us.” - Erin Stanczyk “We only have one body. And God created us in His image, in His likeness. So why would we not do everything within our power to nurture it and nourish it? So eat, move, rest your best, essentially.“ - Erin Stanczyk ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes:     https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7  Bonus Podcasts:     https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw  Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer:  https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C  Peace for Everyday Life:     https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj </

On this episode of Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer, we’ll hear from comedian Chonda Pierce. Chonda’s ability to bring laughter to others is renowned, but as we know, life’s circumstances can threaten to steal our joy. The loss of Chonda’s sisters and then her husband were crushing blows, but through prayer, therapy and the support of others, she shares how she was able to find light again after facing the worst kind of darkness.    Guest’s Links Chonda’s Facebook: @chondapierce Chonda’s Twitter: @chondapierce Chonda’s Instagram: @chondapierce _______________________  Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Jesus Calling Website TikTok   *Episode produced by Four Eyes Media* Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

When kindness is shown to us—whether it’s as small as a smile from a stranger, or as big as someone meeting a need at a desperate time in our lives—we see and feel goodness that is often unexplainable. If we look for them, we can find these divine kindnesses each day, those big and little nods from God that bring us hope and comfort, even in the darkest of hours. These moments are powerful reminders of the sustaining force of divine kindness and the enduring faith it nurtures.  Founders of the ministry Bottle of Tears Chris and Lindsey Wheeler share the challenges they faced after adopting their daughter, Eliana, from Guatemala, all while navigating Lindsey's development of a rare autoimmune disease, and how the kindness of God kept them from despairing.  Later in the episode, we’ll hear from Bryan Crum, a hospice chaplain, who shares what he has learned from spending time with people in their final days and how God shows up in their last moments to demonstrate His sustaining kindness.   Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Linda Davis and Lang Scott Upcoming interview: Erin Loechner Jesus Listens Notetaking Edition   Chris Wheeler Lindsey Wheeler Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Lyme Disease Jennie Allen Psalm 56 NIV Bottle of Tears www.bottleoftears.com Kit and The Missing Notebook   Bryan Crum www.bryancrum.com Neighbor, Love Yourself   Interview Quotes: “I remember at the beginning of my diagnosis, just really fighting with the Lord, honestly, and going, God, why? Why is this my story? Why have you chosen us to be Eliana’s parents? We are not capable of this. Why did you choose me to have a disease at the same time? It just felt so unfair.” - Lindsey Wheeler  “I laid on my bed crying and asking God, ‘How do I do this? How do I run this race when I am homebound?’” - Lindsey Wheeler “God was so cool that I got a front row seat to watch people comfort their friends and family, and I was able to read their letters of encouragement and hope to their friends and family, and it gave me encouragement. It helped me to push forward.” - Lindsey Wheeler “My body continues to fail me, but God hasn't. He has not failed me. And I feel just more confident and more alive than I have in a long time, knowing that He is using me still in the midst of my pain.” - Lindsey Wheeler  “My prayer in those moments is, ‘Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.’ Because sometimes that's all you got.” - Chris Wheeler  “It's humbling just to be invited into people's homes, into their lives at a time when each moment, each minute is just more valuable because you know they're the final ones.” - Bryan Crum “We let unsaid words hold us in place. And it's almost like this ancient, heavy anchor that ties us down. I've learned that we often need a li