Send me a text and let me know your thoughts! Have you ever felt left out? In this episode, Jan Johnson talks with Joanna Immanuel (from Germany) and Angie Clayton, editor of the anthology Chosen, Sacred Journeys with a Faithful God, about how God turns the hard places of our lives into places of calling. Joanna shares how an acorn and Isaiah 61 reshaped her view of the “dirt” in her story, and how being called forth by God healed the little girl who felt she never measured up. Angie explores the great exchange, beauty for ashes, and why the comfort we’ve received is meant to be shared. Then hear Joanna’s remarkable airport story that taught her to give thanks in every circumstance. If you’ve been holding your pain with a closed fist, this conversation invites you to open it. As a passionate writer and author whose heart is to scribe God’s Papa-heart (www.rewritten.life), Joanna’s desire is to see writers and scribes released to co-author their books with God. She is the creator of the online course WRITE YOUR BOOK WITH GOD, and the founder and host of both the virtual INKLINGS “Balloon Ride with God” Writers’ Retreats and a free live Zoom meeting that invites you to "Write with God for 33 minutes daily" on weekdays and encounter God in each of your writing times. Joanna is a born and trained language teacher (K5-12) and lecturer (Developing English Skills). She has also been trained and certified in counselling and SOZO tools. In her free time, Joanna loves traveling the world together with her beloved husband, playing with her two tomcats and cultivating her garden. Joanna Immanuel (www.rewritten.life) is the author of: • Rewritten Life. COME AND SIT WITH ME FOR A WHILE https://amzn.to/3ZGwZfj Love Letters from a Lavishly Loving God • Speak Only One Word – A true story https://amzn.to/3yB6yvC • Write with God for 33 minutes daily Join our FREE daily Zoom writing sessions at 10:30 a.m. EST • Write Your Book With God online course – www.writeyourbookwithgod.com • Contribution to Angie Clayton's latest volume: "Chosen: Sacred Journeys with a Faithful God" --> Chapter: "Chosen. Beloved All Along" Isaiah 61:3: “To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.” 2 Corinthians 1:4: “Who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort whitch we ourselves are comforted of God.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18: “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” Music from #Uppbeat https://uppbeat.io/t/ra/flow-state License code: U8LCZSJQYF0FUAP6 Music from #Uppbeat https://uppbeat.io/t/tobias-voigt/hope-and-wonder License code: XXAPHVLRL1JYTHLD Chapter Markers 00:00 Welcome: Meet Joanna, Angie, and the Chosen anthology 01:26 Feeling left out: the child who never felt good enough 01:54 Isaiah 61 and the acorn that holds an oak tree 04:17 Dirt, hiding, and the seed the squirrel buries 05:00 Jesus' mission: roots down, then called forth 06:26 "God must have had a really good day": words that heal 08:12 Angie jumps in: garland instead of ashes (Isaiah 61:3) 11:04 Ashes can't reignite: open hands and the crown 11:51 Incense: worshiping God while things burn down 13:07 David, the overlooked one God chose 14:07 Days written before we were born, and not looking back 14:58 The year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance 16:19 Words that give life: a prayer over the listener 17:27 Comfort received, comfort shared (2 Corinthians 1) 19:24 The "holy opportunity" and accepting who God says we are 20:24 Sozo ministry and being made whole 21:10 The airport story: a princess, a boarding pass, and business class 26:26 Giving thanks in the storm: the emergency landing 27:41 Angie as spiritual mom: a "love gift" from Papa 28:04 Countenance and light: what a joyful face says 29:03 Recap: the acorn, the dirt, and the power of thanks 29:45 In all things, not for all things 30:13 Romans 8:28 and "double for the trouble, triple for the trauma" 31:00 Joanna's books, Papa Letters, and the daily writing Zoom 34:13 Final words: search "chosen" in the Bible 36:03 Wrap-up and thank you Welcome to Just Talkin' About Jesus. I'm Jan Johnson, a seasoned believer who loves relationships and, you know, just talkin' about Jesus. Here you will find testimonies of those who God has changed through his grace. Stories of feeling unworthy because of being sex trafficked, or of radical redemption of a woman who grew up with abuse, neglect, abandonment and drugs. A story of an abortion survivor. This and more. Lean in now. Consider subscribing to this podcast, YouTube and Substack- all with the same name: Just Talkin' About Jesus! https://www.youtube.com/@JustTalkinAboutJesus https://jan-johnson.com/ https://justtalkingaboutjesus.com/ https://janjohnsonauthor.substack.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@JustTalkinAboutJesus Thanks for listening! If you have a story to tell, check out the form on my website- justtalkingaboutjesus.com. I'd love to connect with you! No, really.... hit me up!