My Chains are Gone Podcast

This episode was curated as God put on my heart the neighborhood around our church in Columbia. Our church is close to the heart of the city with diversity of age, ethnicity, educational backgrounds, and economics but seemingly little presence of God. Recently there have been several shootings in the area. Our hearts ache for the people in that community and believe the only lasting ointment of healing can come through the work of God through Jesus. Placement of church buildings in not an accident, so let’s call out to God for our neighbors. If you are not a part of Karis Church, you might find this relates to another neighborhood or place that God is putting on your heart. Let the Father guide you in who/where to pray these scriptures over. These scriptures include ones to pray over the people but also to the workers God is calling to labor in these fields. Luke 10:2, John 6:44, John 14:6, Matthew 19:14, Psalm 147:3-6, Ezekiel 11:19-20, Psalm 146:3-9, John 14:12, Psalm 40, 1 John 3:18, Phil 4:13, Matthew 25:34-40, Philippians 2:12-13, Gal 6:9, Romans 10:13-15, Luke 10:2-3, Acts 26:18, Matthew 7:7-8

We are continuing on our journey of crying out for God’s intervention and in this episode, we are asking God to comfort and care for those who are suffering physically and/or mentally right now. Our mind, body, and soul are interconnected somehow. When our body goes awry, our mind and soul can suffer. The chemicals in our body can get out of balance and our minds can become a prison. Events of our life can overwhelm us, drive us into a depression, and once again, we can feel captive. There are various good physical interventions for these ailments that God uses, but I also 100% believe that God wants us to cry out to him for ourselves and others who are bearing such burdens. These scriptures are meant to ignite our faith and illuminate God’s words about how he cares, interacts, and feels about our sufferings. May God bring healing, protection, hope, and endurance to those suffering right now. Psalm 46:1-3, Romans 8:38-39, Psalm 139:7-12, Psalm 57:1, Matthew 11:28-30, Psalm 91:1-6, 1 Peter 5:6-11, Psalm 143, John 14:1, 16-19, 27, John 16:33, Romans 8:24-28, Jeremiah 29:11-13, Isaiah 40:28-31, Isaiah 43:1-3a, Philippians 4:6-8, 1 Peter 1:6-8, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

We are taking a season to pursue a time of persistent prayer and calling on the Lord to intervene in various ways. This is the second installment of praying for children. This episode is a set of scriptures that I desire to pray over my own children. More than anything, I want them to know God and walk with God. Oh that we could see a new generation with hearts set on the Lord! This episode starts with the Lord’s Prayer and a reminder for the prayer. Then we continue with scriptures that cue us to ask for God’s blessing for our children and asking him to give our kids hearts that pursue wisdom, faith and trust in Him, humility, and a love and pursuit of God instead of the world. This episode ends with one of Paul’s prayers for the Ephesians that I think is just beautiful. May God hear our petitions for our children’s hearts and draw them to himself. Thank you to Austin Stone Worship for allowing me to utilize songs from the Reveille Album 2 in the background. Luke 11:9-10, Mark 10:14-16, Psalm 71:5-8, Proverbs 2:6, Proverbs 1:7, Proverbs 27:17, Proverbs 3:5-6, Psalm 37, James 4:7-8, 1 Peter 5:5-7, 1 John 1, 1 John 2:15-17, Matthew 6:19-20, John 15, Ephesians 6:1, Philippians 4, Ephesians 3:14-21

This episode is in 6 parts: 1. A brief injection of faith and focus into the heart of the prayer as we call out to God according to his word. 2. Declaration of God’s care and love for each child as one created by and seen by God. 3. Prayer for freedom for the children and justice for the offenders.  4. Prayer for physical, emotional, and spiritual healing found in Christ and that in God’s grace and power he would bring redemption to these children. 5. Prayer for awakening and action in the church’s role of rescuing vulnerable children. 6. Praying for the authorities to be used as tools of protection and justice. Please unite together in the throne room of God and plead for God to move in children you know specifically or in mass ways around our city, nation, and world. Psalm 138:2b, Luke 1:37, Ephesians 6:12, Mark 10:13-16, Psalm 139:13-15, Zephaniah 3:17, Pslam 10:1-18, Psalm 82:4, Psalm 76:9, Psalm 144: 5-8, Isaiah 61:1, Ezekiel 34:16, 27b-28, Isaiah 46:4, John 10:9-11, John 14:12, Matthew 25:40, Proverbs 31:8-9, Isaiah 58:6-7, Isaiah 1:15-17, 1 John 3:18, James 2:14-17, James 4:17, Matthew 7:21, Phil 4:13, Gal 6:9, James 1:22, 1 Tim 2:1-4  

This episode was inspired after asking God how to pray for my friends that do not know the truth about Jesus. These scriptures are great to pray over anyone trusting in something other than the Jesus of the Bible for salvation. Jesus is fully God (part of the Trinity), fully man, and has existed for all eternity. He alone brings salvation! Scriptures include: Ephesians 6:10-18, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, 2 Corinthians 4:4-5, 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, 1 John 4:1-3, 1 John 5:11-12, Hebrews 7:25-26, Colossians 1: 15-22, Hebrews 4:12-13a, Mark 10:27, 1 Thessalonians 2:4-6, John 14:13-14, Romans 9:15-17, 23, Romans 10:9, 13-15, Luke 10:2, Ephesians 6:18-20

James 5:16 of the Bible says "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." Romans 5 tells us that God makes a sinner righteous through faith in the work of Jesus. God paves the way for us to be right with him. Confession and repentance is an ongoing practice for the believer. God gives us the gift of Jesus' righteousness and hears us when we pray! 1 Chronicles 7:14, 1 John 1:8-10, Matthew 7:3-5, James 4:6-10, James 5:16, Psalm 101:7, Mark 7:20-23, Ephesians 2:1-5, Galatians 5:13-, Hebrews 10:19-23, Hebrews 12: 1-3, Romans 8:1-2, Philippians 4:4-9, Jude vs24

What if a group of people started crying out to God to move, according to His word, in the lives of the people around them? What if we started crying out to God to free the captives of false religion, abuse, human trafficking, idolatry, depression, injustice, and the list goes on? What if the Church unified over praying scriptures and jointly asking God to do the same things in our day? I wonder if God uses mathematics in prayer.. like if 1 person prays, we see some movement of God.. if 2 people.. a little more.. but what would happen if 100 people were praying for the exact same thing appealing to God according to his word? What amazing things might we see? Season 3 of the My Chains are Gone Podcast is going to be episodes geared towards catalyzing us to pray for God to break the chains in the world around us.

We are closing out season 2 with an interview with my cousin Kate. If you listened last week, you heard her mother, Judy share her story. Kate shares how Jesus redeemed her from an early age and taught her to trust in him no matter the circumstances. Her faith was put to the test when her husband, Doug, suddenly passed away leaving her as a single mom of a 20 month old daughter. Kate shares how God showed his love and grace through very tangible means over the last 11 years. There was a moment in this interview with Kate that I cut out that had me fighting back the tears. I am sure I am not alone. Death was never God’s original design, as seen in the book of Genesis. It comes with pain and sorrow for those of us who are left grieving for our loved ones. Our only hope over the sting of death, as the Bible so clearly portrays, is belief in the work of Jesus on the cross. We grieve on this side of death but there is no grieving in heaven. Jesus says there are no more tears, no death, no sin and that he has gone ahead of us to prepare a place for those who believe. It will be beautiful to be reunited with our loved ones that have gone before us who are well acquainted with the glories of Christ and eternal life which Jesus purchased for us. In the meantime, we must live out the life God has for us which includes knowing him and learning to trust him more daily. I pray that you were encouraged by God’s grace towards Kate, giving her the strength and courage to keep going. Thanks for listening and I hope you feel emboldened to tell your story too.

Today we get to hear from my aunt, Judy. She is 79 years old and has been one of my heroes of the Christian faith. How often to we get to hear the stories of one who has walked with Jesus for 70 years? Judy shares how God’s word and grace have sustained her and enabled her to live a life of blessing even through a stroke that paralyzed her from the waist down 20 years ago. Judy wants everyone to know that the only way she has been able to survive and thrive after her stroke is by God’s power and grace. She shared after our interview that the excellent therapists, doctors, and people who helped over the time of her recovery were such a gift from God. Also, God gave her the will to fight and work hard to learn how to walk again and perform all her daily tasks in a new way. She is so thankful for God’s grace towards her in her recovery to enable her to live a life of blessing. Also, after our interview, she shared of two hymns that have been ingrained in her soul giving her incredible encouragement and assurance through the years. She loves Rock of Ages and quoted “Nothing in my hand I bring, but simply to thy cross I cling” and also the lyrics of another hymn “My hope is built on nothing else but Jesus' blood and righteousness.” Judy loves the theology in these songs.

Jana Rae has such a sweet soft heart for Jesus and you might find yourself shedding a few tears alongside of her. She speaks about how the power and grace of God protected her and carried her through her younger years of running from God. She started following God as a single mom and later married a man that cared deeply for her and her daughter but was not a follower of Jesus.  Fast forward.. and this past December, Jana Rae got to see 32 years of prayer answered seeing her husband step into a relationship with God. He was baptized in our church and it was one of the highlights of my year to rejoice with them! At the end Jana Rae shares of a hard new trial that she is walking into. I hope you enjoy Jana Rae’s story!

Daniel shares his story with us today. He grew up in the church knowing the teachings of the Bible but feared truly giving his life to Jesus because of his relationship with his abusive father. Although his classmates and teammates would have thought Daniel’s was successful and happy, depression, anxiety, and addiction to pornography plagued him. In college, God used several new friends to show Daniel grace, love, and compassion. God chipped away at Daniel’s fearful heart and has replaced it with a joy filled Gospel loving heart. I hope you are encouraged by Daniel’s story.

It is my turn! So many brave people have gone before me, putting on vulnerability and sharing their stories. I faced quite a few challenges - from cold after cold after cold (you can still hear my stuffy nose) - to wrestling with whether my story mattered - to worried if I could share my story without a complete monotone 60 minute boring monologue. God injected me with courage and today you get to hear how God has worked in snapshot moments of my life.  I love being a part of the family of God. I hope you find yourself encouraged today and remember that your story is important too. 

Today, Fred shares his story which includes a season of homelessness. He shares about the rays of light and hope that he and his wife experienced living on the street through the kindness of strangers in Anaheim, California. He attributes God’s grace for sustaining and bringing them to a new place in life with a home and Christian community. Listen as he gives a face to the homeless and reminds us of the image bearers of God that our living on the streets in our country.

My Chains are Gone is back! I've had a long break, but I am back and planning to produce an episode a month. Stay tuned! Today, Rachel shares her story. Rachel is one of my favorite ladies to talk with about theology. She backs up what she believes with scripture and does not shy away from difficult topics. Rachel bravely shares about her experience with same sex attraction, homosexuality, faith, the church, and the faithfulness of God. I hope you are encouraged by the work of God in Rachel’s life.

Today Jake shares his story of how God made his spiritual heart alive in spring semester of 2009. He developed a hunger for God’s word and desired to walk in God’s purposes for him. Jake was on the track to teach and be involved in church planting when his life got turned upside down. He shares of his fight for survival after experiencing a heart condition which ultimately led to heart failure. He woke up from a coma with a brain injury which radically changed his ability to communicate, move, and perform daily functions. Jake shares of how his life as a follower of Jesus has changed and how his trust in God has deepened. It is evident that God is working in and through Jacob. Jake did not receive a set back with his health trauma and current disability, but he received a step forward - towards God’s purposes for him. In this interview, Jake mentions his blog - I have already been encouraged and challenged by some of Jake’s writings, admonishing believers in how to love people with disabilities well. If you are interested, check out his website www.fromgroanstoglory.com I hope you are encouraged by Jake’s story and how the Lord has sustained his life physically and spiritually through such trauma.

God is our refuge and strength,     an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way     and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam     and the mountains quake with their surging. Psalm 46:1-3 I really enjoyed sitting down with Kelly and hearing her journey of faith. Kelly and her husband watched many of their friends rejoice with positive pregnancy tests while hers remained negative. She shares how God met her in that season of disappointment.   A few years later, they were met with a different trial.  Cancer. The daughter they prayed and waited for took a turn for the worse with a diagnosis of Leukemia. God was faithful carrying them and giving them a loving community. Allie is joyfully on the other side of fighting cancer, and Kelly shares of the gentleness of God as she now processes her experience. The Bible reminds us that He is strong - always and forever. He is always on the throne. He is always good. I was encouraged to hear of the ways that God met Kelly and her family in the midst and aftermath of a cancer diagnosis. He will never let go of us! I hope you enjoy Kelly's story!

Today we hear from Will, the husband of Rachelle from episode 24. Will described himself as a lazy agnostic. He was just trying to survive everyday in the midst of an abusive relationship. Will had abandoned God. However, just like the prodigal son, Will experienced the open arms of a loving Father when he called out to him in a place of brokenness. Listen for the huge turn around that God brought about in his life and how the Lord sustains him now in his daily trials.

This is a story of adoption - eternal spiritual adoption and adoption in the here and now. So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15 NLT Today we hear from my friend Melissa living in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Melissa experienced a lot of trauma and brokenness as a young child, including sexual abuse from her great grandfather, an elder in the church. She bravely shares of the deep impact of the abuse. Even in her hardest moments, God never left Melissa's side. As a teenager, she was taken in by a friend’s family which set her on a new track and gave her a vision for foster care and adoption. God is healing and redeeming Melissa and her family for generations to come. I was so encouraged by the redemptive work in Melissa’s life and how God has used her trauma from the past to bring life to those around her. I hope you are encouraged by Melissa’s story too.

What a joy it was to hear from Billy Glosson today! I am once again thankful for technology, and the ability to interview someone hours away. Today Billy shares his journey of faith and how God has shaped him and given him a purpose and drive to pursue preaching and church planting in North Carolina. In some very tender parts of his story, he shares of two crushing experiences in which God faithfully carried him through – a heart-shattering with a fiancé and more recently and raw, a miscarriage with his wife, Hannah. Who else but the Lord could so faithfully bring his people through the crushing dark experiences of life? You might hear a few name-drops in this episode. I encourage you to check out Ryan’s story from episode 13, Bobby in episode 9, Derek in episode 15, and here in a few weeks, Melissa Worley! I love all these interwoven stories of God’s great Redemption story! I hope you are encouraged by Billy’s words and God’s work in his life.

Kurt loves to share about God’s work in his life. God has been with him his whole life even when he was not paying attention. Kurt experienced a lot of hurt from his father growing up and remained angry and bitter for a long time. God used a fire, the shattering of his marriage, and his daughter’s invitation to church to start opening Kurt’s eyes to the power of the Gospel in his own life. Kurt is now filled with an inexplicable joy and peace as he trusts in God’s work. I hope you enjoy Kurt’s story!

Darren shares his story with us today! He shares of his high school experience when the Holy Spirit opened his eyes to the Gospel message uniquely through a History Channel series on the Bible! God continued to pull on his heart through a high school Christian club and then his heart and desires in life completely changed. He had a new lens on life! Darren also takes us through his current struggles with health and the tough lessons he is learning about living in suffering. There are no easy or apparent answers to the question of why we suffer or when there will be relief of suffering. Escaping suffering won’t always be the result, and I was thankful for Darren’s reminder that the Holy Spirit can bring a supernatural comfort in our afflictions and knowing Christ can bring more joy then living a healthy productive life. I hope you enjoy Darren's story.

Today we hear from Annie, a wife and mom of two precious boys. Annie met Jesus in the Catholic church as a child. After a short season of running from God in college, God drew her back in through the love of a roommate and some older women as well as a summer studies trip to Greece. I loved her story of how she met her husband shortly after this trip! In a vulnerable part of Annie's story, she shared of being shaken when she and her husband were faced with a life or death decision regarding their unborn baby, Luke. In a routine mid-pregnancy ultrasound, they discovered Luke had Spina Bifida. She shares of the community and prayers during that tough season that helped shine light in their dark moments. As she shared, life was not an easy choice, but it was the right choice. I hope you enjoy Annie's story!

Sarah grew up in a Christian household, regularly attending church, and hearing the truths from the Bible from an early age. She enjoyed some of the richness of following Jesus but also had conflicting experiences of shame and guilt. She learned to live a double life in which she hid her sin, keeping friends at an arm’s length.  It was really interesting to hear what (or who) God used as a catalyst to show her the value of transparency and the freedom of confession in Christ. I have a feeling you’ll want to go listen to her husband, Tim’s story, in episode 23, after this! It is a gift to grow up in a Christian home and starting a relationship with God from an early age.  It is evident, however, no matter how long we have been walking with Jesus, we must keep using the tools he has given us to walk faithfully with him. His word, prayer, and his people can help expose our dark places, bringing light and healing.   If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 I hope you enjoy Sarah's story!!

David shares his story with us today and tells of two experiences that radically shaped his faith in Jesus. As a 13 year old, David physically was at the rock bottom and he cried out to God for help. Jesus met him and brought him to a full recovery. Then, in his early twenties, David felt a different type of rock bottom.  He wrestled with his faith and with his purpose and value in life. Jesus met him in a different way – through the arms of teenagers in Mexico. David calls Jesus life giving as he recognizes his daily existence is the result of the grace of Jesus. I hope you enjoy David’s story.

Today we hear Teresa's story! Teresa is such a sweet loving gal and God is using her to bring love to the people (and animals) around her. Named after Mother Teresa, Teresa shares how she felt the weight of living above the line her whole life. She shares of her many spiritual influences as a kid that held her together when her family broke apart and her dad jumped ship to live a homosexual lifestyle. We hear how she was trying so hard to be on God’s good side and how she came to understand grace. Towards the end, Teresa bravely shares about sexual abuse she endured and the slow healing process that God has been orchestrating for her.  We cannot work hard enough to earn God’s favor. We cannot win by trying our hardest to be loving, joyful, peaceful, kind, patient, and good enough for Him to love us. He loves us because he made us! And he has made a way for us to have peace with Him – through his Son Jesus. Teresa has learned this and embraced the grace that He offers. I hope you are encouraged to hear how God has redeemed the hard parts of her story and is continuing to redeem.

Gbenga is from Nigeria and currently a grad student at Mizzou. In his early life, Gbenga was taught a lot about the Bible by his family and church. He hoped his mother's faith and prayers would save him. When he came to America and heard arguments against the existence of God, he rejected the idea of God. Fortunately, God did not reject Gbenga. Listen and hear the people and circumstances God used to help Gbenga see that he was real and loved him. Talk about the chills! My arms were covered with goosebumps! Then hear Gbenga share how God is working in his heart now as he looks towards the future. I hope you enjoy Gbenga’s story.

Today, Rachelle shares her story! We've been trying to get together for 4 months to do this interview, but due to sicknesses and incessant mid-west snow days this was postponed until now! To give you a little foretaste, Rachelle grew up non-religious home yet poking her head in all sorts of religious books. She converted to Mormonism in her early adulthood and shares her experience of diving deep into the religion. Someone close to her eventually shared with her the message of the Gospel and after months of wrestling, Rachelle started on her journey following Jesus. As you listen to this part, I want us to remember that the people of the Mormon church are deeply loved by God and this is not an attack on the people but an invitation to look into the way God has revealed himself to the world and invited us into a relationship with Himself.  Our family has several Mormon friends that I care about deeply and would love for this to be an opening to conversation rather than a shutting of doors. Rachelle also shares about what her experience has been mothering a daughter with special needs.  I hope you enjoy this episode!

  Tim learned that money and worldly success wouldn't make him free. Knowledge wouldn't make him free. Working harder wouldn't make him free. Only Jesus  can set him free. As Tim said, there are many twists and turns to his story but the one theme remains – grace. 

There are so many beautiful gems in this interview with Charvel! Sometimes as adults, we can forget how real and active a teen's faith can be. Charvel’s experience as a believing teen and making difficult choices in light of her faith in Jesus is beautiful.  We hear her side of the story with Ethan (episode 21) turning from Atheism to Jesus. Then Charvel takes us on her journey through adulthood – complete with shifting identities, heartaches with being uprooted from places of comfort, disappointment, friendship as an adult, and wrestling with present day doubts in her faith. Again, so many beautiful gems! I hope you enjoy Charvel’s story!

Ethan grew up in a loving home but one in which there was no God and no Savior. For his family, religion was a crutch. Why are we here? Did someone create us? If someone did create us, does he love us? Is this man, Jesus, really a historical person? Could the accounts of his disciples really be true? If those stories are true, and Jesus lived, died, and was resurrected, what does that mean for me? These are great questions for everyone to wrestle with. I enjoyed hearing Ethan’s story and how these essential questions played a role in him coming to know Jesus as his Savior and how knowing Jesus has transformed him. How did a person growing up thinking that God was a myth come to believe that the Bible is true and Jesus is the Savior of the world?

One thing I love about this podcast, is hearing the different ways Jesus calls people to follow him. Everyone has a unique story but the resounding theme is that Jesus has the power to save, redeem, and bring life to souls. There is so much brokenness in the world, and unfortunately as a child, Brittany was exposed to abuse that left her feeling insecure and powerless. Brittany shares how a relationship with her heavenly Father has brought her security and value which were lacking in her childhood. A theme in her Brittany’s story is how church community has become family to her and the power of God has been seen through their genuine love, support, but also helping her fight sin and grow in maturity.

In this interview, Kristen shares her experiences of walking with Jesus through struggles of worth and identity. She has wrestled with the messages that people have intentionally and unintentionally pushed on her related to her experiences of being a larger- bodied woman. She happily calls herself "fat" and shares how Christ has helped her to have love for her body. In the church, it is common to talk about diversity related to race, age, demographics, etc., and my chat with Kristen has helped me see another way that people feel ostracized and/or unrepresented – body size and shape. In the image of God, people are made different in color, height, bone width, shape, and metabolism. I hope and pray, that we can continue to move forward in celebrating the beauty of all of these diversities. I hope you enjoy Kristen’s story.

Today I introduce you to my spunky friend Anna, a palliative doctor. Anna tells of her experience growing up in a cult church that made up their own rules apart from the Bible. In her story, she shares how new experiences in college freed her up to discover what God really thought about her. Hear also about how she ended up in Japan for a year as a brand new believer.

Matt is an art professor at the University of Missouri, a husband, and a father of 4 young kids. In this interview, we get to hear from a man that has been trusting Jesus and pursing God since he was a child. I was amazed at the deep thoughts that Matt experienced in early adolescents regarding who God was and what his purpose was in life.  Matt shares how God has walked with him in his desire for purity in his marriage as well as how God has called him to not just have good theology but live a life of action in this broken world. I found it very insightful and challenging as I thought upon my own deepening of my faith and remembering that Christ calls us to live out our theology of loving others and bringing light to the world!

Anna, a senior in college, shares how entangled her life was in unhealthy relationships and how she had no direction for life. Eighteen months ago Anna met some new friends who had a different way of living. Though she was tempted to hide her past, Anna learned (and still is learning) that Jesus takes her as she is and makes her new – leading her down a path that is good and safe.  Anna was so brave to share her story. As all of us, she is continuing to learn what it means to trust in Jesus that we fight to keep the faith. Her story brought the following scripture to mind: So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.  And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. Romans 8:1-2 Jesus sets us free!

This interview with Derek was a full circle moment as he was greatly influenced by his friend Bobby, whom I interviewed in episode 9. Derek and Bobby were party buddies until Bobby met Jesus. Derek shares his initial perspective on Bobby’s conversion to Christianity. Then you’ll get to hear of how Derek finally ended up trusting in Jesus too and how it changed his life! I hope you are encouraged by the impact that friends can make on one another and the value of a loving community. Derek mentioned three people I’ve interviewed – Bobby, his wife Charlee, and Brooke – I highly recommend you go back and listen to those if you haven’t already!

Small town Mississippi girl, Charlee, grew up in a southern society where going to church and calling yourself a Christian is expected even if your life looks nothing like Jesus’ call to live. In that environment, Charlee started having sex at age 13 and spent the majority of her freshman year of highschool drunk – to the point of hiding vodka in a water bottle at school. God had his eyes set on Charlee and through her story you hear how God pursued her and showed her that comfort, approval, and satisfaction are ultimately found in a relationship with his Son Jesus. She shares how she fought through deep rooted unhealthy sexual behaviors and a time of depression and isolation after getting married. Christ met her in both of those places and showed her the way to true freedom.

Depression. Suicidal thoughts. Bipolar. Agnosticism. Ryan had everything going against him and many in the early part of his life would be shocked that he now loves Jesus, is married to a lovely believing woman, is fathering 3 children, and serving the God that he once hated. Listen to the story of how God pursued Ryan and ultimately broke the chains of blindness to the truth and feelings of unworthiness. Also, Ryan shares the contrast of his experience of depression and suicidal thoughts as a Christian through the love of a church community.

I am thrilled to share this interview with you today.  I’ve known Steve for quite some time and when I married my husband, Steve became my uncle. Steve has won teacher of the year awards in Sedalia and is very well loved by his community. He has more friends on facebook then I could ever dream of!! Today Steve shares his story of his experience running hard and fast away from God. As Steve said, he needed God to hit him over the head with a frying pan to get his attention. Listen and be encouraged of the power and grace of God in Steve’s life.

In last week’s episode, I interviewed Maureen and she shared about some of the tough seasons their family has been through. This week, I interview her husband, Aaron. He shares his internal struggles with pride and confusion during his season of unemployment. He gives a great insight into some of the ways that the man of the house can struggle with leading his family while also depending on Christ. For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. Isaiah 41:13

Life is full of ups and downs. In today's episode we get to hear how faith in Jesus helped Maureen in the ups and downs of her life. She shares how Jesus helped her fight through heartache, panic attacks, anxiety, and anger during several periods of unraveling. It is so important to remember that as Christians, Jesus does not always take the tough seasons away..  most of the time he uses those tough circumstances to draw us close to him and show us his greatness.  I hope you are encouraged to keep fighting the battle as you listen to Maureen share her story. Psalm 107 1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;     his love endures forever. 2 Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—

Bobby is a talented musician, bold truth teller, a loving husband and a new daddy. In his story, Bobby shares how he was very content living in a lifestyle of selling and consuming marijuana when God’s love for him suddenly broke through. Faith opened his eyes to his reality and need for grace. In the second half of the interview, Bobby shares a very relatable testimony of God’s continued grace amidst his struggles with returning to sin and the resulting shame.    I think so many of us can relate to Bobby’s experience of God’s grace when we keep returning to the worldly fabricated pleasures of sin and needing to fight for faith. It reminds me of the scripture in which Paul encourages Timothy to fight the good fight of faith. Faith takes fighting for and praise be to Him who will present us before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy. I’m sure glad he doesn’t give up on us!

My heart felt like it was going to stop a few times as I was listening to Stephanie share her story. Stephanie grew up in an atheist home with a neglectful drug addicted family. She mocked God for the early part of her life.  In a turn of events, Stephanie got trapped in a horrible abusive marriage with a husband who forced her to read the Bible every day but twisted the words out of context to enslave her. A surprising concussion shook her out of believing the lie that her husband was her only hope. She shares how she woke up to the beautiful gospel message that she could be free and loved always forever. From all appearances, you would never know that Stephanie carried such a past with her, and I am so grateful that she courageously shares her painful story on this podcast.

In her early twenties, Brooke was a skeptic with no direction. She ended up working at a restaurant with 6 crazy Bible believers. Through their genuine interest, investment, and care for her, Brooke came to question her lack of belief. Over a period of a year and a half, Brooke came to see that the Bible was true and good for her. In the second half of the interview, we dig into the chains that have shackled Brooke. She shares her experience in the bondage of comparison, which leaves her feeling defeated and worn. She beautifully expresses how knowing Christ makes a difference. Brooke also explains how her history of growing up as a biracial girl in a predominately white community left her fighting for acceptance. She thought she needed to earn the approval of others. Brooke shares how embracing Jesus allowed her to know true love and acceptance. I hope you are encouraged by Brooke’s story!

Today I am introducing you to my friend, Amy Larson. Amy wears several hats as a church planter’s wife, mom of 3 teenagers, ICU nurse, and friend. She tells us her story which includes fighting for control and fulfillment through drugs, alcohol, and relationships after the tragic loss of her mom early in life. Through her step-mom, Amy heard the whispers of God’s love for her, but it wasn’t until she was 21 in another bout of post-drinking vomiting on the bathroom floor, that she finally heard loud and clear that she was unconditionally loved. She embraced that love, repented and trusted in Jesus and has spent the next 21 years growing in faith. Through her current health trials, she is very aware that God is in control and good and has been able to see many blessings come out of sorrow and pain. I hope you enjoy Amy’s story!

In today’s episode, I interview my friend Lori. She is a wife and a mom of 2 little ones with 2 on the way!! Lori did not grow up in church so we get to hear how she learned about God’s love for her in youth group. A few years into being a Christian she got side tracked by an unhealthy high school relationship, then God used a car accident to pull her back to a deeper relationship with him. We hear how a big NO from God lead to a new open door that set her on an adventurous track. Her adventurous track continues with her pregnancy of twins. Lori wraps her story up sharing of her current battles with the chains of discontentment and distraction. I hope you are encouraged through Lori’s story.

In this episode, I had the opportunity to interview Barry Still. I interviewed his wife in last week’s episode and we learned that Kim and Barry have two children and are in the midst of making a huge move to the southern hemisphere in Rio Di Jinero Brazil! Today Barry shares his story about how God got a hold of his life from an early age and the struggles he experienced as a young college student trying to follow Jesus. We get to see how God used the power of community and grace to break the chains of pornography in his life. It is quite moving to hear of the painful damaging effects on their marriage along with the healing balm of forgiveness between them. In addition, last week we heard how God moved in Kim’s heart to bring her a desire to share the Gospel with the people of Brazil, and this week Barry shares the other side of the story - how God rattled him out of his place of comfort as a high school chemistry teacher into a place of willingness to let God use his teaching skills in another country. I hope you enjoy this interview!

Kim Still is a wife, a mom of 2, and a woman who has caught a vision for what God is doing in Brazil and has been patiently waiting for her chance to enter in to that mission. In this interview we get to hear her story of how God set her free from the bondage of sin. She grew up going to Unitarian Universalist churches exposed to all religions but with the understanding that Christianity is the one religion that definitely is not true. In college she found herself depressed, confused, and entangled in cutting and self-harm when Christ intervened, pointed her to truth, and set her free.  On her journey as a new believer, we discover how Christ generated a deep love for the people in the slums of Rio De Janero Brazil and how a drug lord execution building is being turned into a place of light and truth in Brazil. 10 years later she is back with her husband and 2 kids.  Be encouraged by Kim’s story!

Today Jeremy Grove shares his story. Jeremy grew up in a loving home but through a series of events found himself running from God and towards drugs and girls. It wasn’t until he had a run in with the cops and a prodigal son moment with his father that he truly understood God’s grace. We get to hear his continued battle with drug use and how God broke the chains. Then Jeremy beautifully describes the vision that God has given him in moving his family across the globe to Japan. Find out more about Jeremy and Leanna's journey to Japan at https://www.grovefam.com/ I hope you enjoy Jeremy’s story!

This is the first episode of my first podcast!!  I am so excited to share Leanna’s story with you! First of all, I love Leanna. She is such a bright light for Jesus and I find myself encouraged every time I talk with her. She is a wife and mom of 3 – 2 girls and one little baby boy. Her and her husband are on track to move to Japan before the end of the year to go live among the Japanese in Tokyo and be a light in a dark place. Leanna’s story is one of a little girl growing up going to church and hearing and knowing about God’s love for her, but entering a season of rebellion and depression. She turned to love in all the wrong places, attempting to fill her life with unhealthy relationships, alcohol, and drugs. Finally, she hit rock bottom on a stranger’s bathroom floor, unable to hear or move.. and at that point, she finally called out to the one who could save her. What an intense beautiful moment! I hope you are encouraged by this story as much as I was! If you want to learn more about the Leanna and Jeremy's journey towards Japan, check out their website: https://www.grovefam.com/