Living the Grace Life

Jennifer Sakata
  • 5.0 (38)
  • CHRISTIANITY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to the corner of real grace for your real life. Join Jennifer Sakata and special guests to navigate forgiveness, belonging, and empowerment as faithful expressions of God’s generous grace.  But what is God’s grace? What is it not? What does grace look and sound like amid a busy and full-plated life? Through stories, authentic conversations, and biblical teaching, Jennifer helps bridge the gap between what we think about grace and how we live through it. Each episode helps shift our understanding of grace from a Sunday morning concept to an everyday lived experience. God’s grace is that forward movement that restores connection and rebuilds relationships. Living the Grace Life is a solo and interview podcast committed to transformation, helping you replace the overwhelm of doing more and living less with a slower pace that nurtures God’s real grace in your real life.  Grace for you. Grace for them. Listen in now and let’s grace this life! Connect with Jennifer at https://jennifersakata.com/

  1. Grace for the Anxious Soul with Becky Keife | 76

    5D AGO

    Grace for the Anxious Soul with Becky Keife | 76

    Anxiety can feel like a deep-down soul weariness that convinces us we’re stuck indefinitely. But what if the anxious soul is not only struggling—but also being invited into something deeper with God? In this conversation, author and mental health advocate Becky Keife helps us see how anxiety can become an unexpected doorway to grace, healing, and deeper dependence on Jesus. Becky, author of A Verse a Day for the Anxious Soul, brings both compassion and biblical wisdom to the topic of anxiety. Together we talk honestly about what anxiety feels like, how it shows up differently in each of us, and how God meets us right in the middle of our messy, overwhelming moments. If you’ve ever carried the quiet weight of worry or felt like your mind never fully rests, this episode offers practical help and spiritual encouragement for the anxious soul. In this episode, we explore What anxiety actually feels like and how it manifests for different people Questions that help distinguish everyday fatigue from anxiety or depression What's at stake when we don't seek help Anxiety management strategies that don't work Grace in the story of Zacchaeus the tax collector  Becky's go-to Peace Practices for calming the anxious mind How anxiety can become an unexpected gift that leads us toward God We close our conversation with one of Becky’s favorite breath prayers—a simple practice you can return to whenever anxiety rises. If you’ve ever lived with the persistent weight of an anxious soul, this episode will remind you that Jesus meets you with grace, presence, and peace. 💬 Grace Quotes from Becky Keife: "Grace lifts our eyes up.” "I can know a lot of truth, but I have to live it for it to make a difference. “Living in the 'and's' of life is our open hands to receive God's grace."   Scriptures Mentioned: Matthew 11:28-30 – Jesus invites us to take His yoke and find rest for our souls. Luke 19:1-10 – The story of Zacchaeus, reminding us Jesus welcomes us before we clean ourselves up. Resources Mentioned: 🌿Becky's book A Verse a Day for the Anxious Soul 🎶 Becky's go-to grace song I Speak Jesus by Charity Gayle Connect with Becky Keife: Website: beckykeife.com Instagram: @beckykeife Facebook: @beckykeife   Related Episodes: Ep. 61 Walking in Grace & Other People's Shoes with Neil Matthews Ep. 10 Scars of Grace: Embracing Our Woundedness for Wholeness with Russell Joyce Ep. 39 God's Steadfast Love in Daily Life with Rachael Adams Stay Connected with Jennifer Sakata: 🎁 My FREE gift to you: Prayers That Change Us 📩 Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive content & episode updates ⭐ If this episode resonated with you, leave a review and share it with a friend!   Website | Instagram | Facebook

    54 min
  2. Sunday God Meets Monday Mom, Erin Greneaux | Ep. 75

    MAR 3

    Sunday God Meets Monday Mom, Erin Greneaux | Ep. 75

    What if Sunday God Meets Monday Mom is more than a book title? What if it’s the invitation your soul has been longing for? In this episode of Living the Grace Life, award-winning author Erin Greneaux joins us to talk about how Sunday God meets Monday mom in the messy, ordinary, beautiful chaos of motherhood. Have you ever gotten a parking ticket on your child’s field trip? Missed “Muffins with Mom”? Snapped when you meant to stay calm? Erin gently reminds us that grace isn’t earned on Sunday and spent by Monday; it’s a gift we receive right in the middle of everyday life. As a mom of three girls, Erin has learned that grace is often hardest to receive when we think we must deserve it—and just as hard when we think we don’t need it. In Sunday God Meets Monday Mom, she invites mothers to experience God not in grand spiritual moments, but in the small, unseen spaces of daily faithfulness. 🎙In our conversation, we explore: How to spend time with God when your margin is small Moving from check box faith to real life with God Recognizing where God is at work in everyday moments Questions that invite God into your daily rhythms Training your mind to see God in ordinary parenthood The heart behind her book Sunday God Meets Monday Mom 💛 If you’re feeling depleted, touched out, spiritually dry, or quietly wondering if you’re doing enough… This episode offers practical, accessible wisdom rooted in the message of Sunday God Meets Monday Mom, that grace meets you in small, ordinary moments.   💬 Grace Quotes from Erin Greneaux: "God has something He wants to show you about Himself, especially in the crazy moments.” "Seeking God in everyday moments trains our brain for how to view life." “When you train your mind and heart to see God in everyday moments, then you'll see him in crises as well."   Resources Mentioned: 🌿Erin's book Sunday God Meets Monday Mom 🌿Weekly Devos 🎶 Erin's go-to grace song O, Lord You're Beautiful Connect with Erin Greneaux: Website: greneauxgardens.com Instagram: @eringreneaux Facebook: @greneauxgardens   Related Episodes: Ep. 58 When Grace Meets Special Needs Parenting with Becky Beresford Ep. 52 Chasing Grace with Carol McLeod Ep. 39 God's Steadfast Love in Daily Life with Rachael Adams Stay Connected with Jennifer Sakata: 🎁 My FREE gift to you: Prayers That Change Us 📩 Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive content & episode updates ⭐ If this episode resonated with you, leave a review and share it with a friend!   Website | Instagram | Facebook

    41 min
  3. I Can Only Imagine 2 with Producer Cindy Bond | Ep. 74

    FEB 24

    I Can Only Imagine 2 with Producer Cindy Bond | Ep. 74

    I Can Only Imagine became one of the highest-grossing music biopics of all time. In this episode, producer Cindy Bond shares the unexpected, grace-filled journey behind the film and the highly anticipated I Can Only Imagine 2. Before she became a Hollywood producer, Cindy Bond was raised by her grandparents, came to faith at a Billy Graham Crusade at Candlestick Park, and pursued acting alongside actors including George Clooney and Michelle Pfeiffer. Unexpectedly, she stepped in to produce a theater show when the original producer quit. What she didn’t know then was that God was shaping her into what she now calls a “media missionary.” Despite hardship, detours, and closed doors, Cindy’s life is a testimony to how struggle creates empathy--and empathy opens the door to grace. In this powerful conversation, we talk about forgiveness, second chances, staying grounded in a competitive industry, and the debut of I Can Only Imagine 2. 🎙 In This Episode, We Discuss: Cindy's unexpected route to producing I Can Only Imagine How hardship shaped her faith and calling The journey from compassion → empathy → grace The prayer Cindy prays every morning Rhythms of grace that keep her grounded in Hollywood Living with awareness of what's going on around us--and in us What audiences can expect from I Can Only Imagine 2 💛 If You’ve Ever Struggled to Forgive… This episode will gently challenge your perspective and invite you into grace beyond your limitations. Cindy reminds us that redemption isn’t just cinematic, it’s personal. 💬 Grace Quotes from Cindy Bond: "Struggle creates empathy and empathy leads to grace.” "We're not just playing church anymore. We're being real. We're being authentic. And these moveis are filled with second chances, just like we need." “Movies are a mission field. For two hours, we get to pour in hope and redemption to a captive audience."   Resources Mentioned: 🌿I Can Only Imagine and I Can Only Imagine 2 🌿I Can Only Imagine 2 Trailer 🎶 Cindy's go-to grace songs I Can Only Imagine, Even If, It is Well with My Soul Connect with Cindy Bond: Website: ICanOnlyImagine.com Instagram: @cindy_bond007 Facebook: @ICanOnlyImagine   Related Episodes: Ep. 61 Walking in Grace and Other People's Shoes with Neil Matthews Ep. 60 Healing from Life's Deepest Hurts with Kim Haar Ep. 36 Don't Hoard Your Healing with Nancy Manassero Stay Connected with Jennifer Sakata: 🎁 My FREE gift to you: Prayers That Change Us 📩 Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive content & episode updates ⭐ If this episode resonated with you, leave a review and share it with a friend!   Website | Instagram | Facebook

    35 min
  4. Japanese American Incarceration and Unexpected Grace | Ep. 73

    FEB 17

    Japanese American Incarceration and Unexpected Grace | Ep. 73

    How does grace survive in the face of deep injustice? In this episode, Jennifer Sakata explores Japanese American Incarceration during World War II and the unexpected grace that emerged from unimaginable loss and trauma. In This Episode: The impact of Executive Order 9066 Stories from Jennifer's husband's family The testimony of Mr. Ted Nagata, incarcerated at Topaz camp How forgiveness and grace can follow injustice Why Japanese American Remembrance Day matters On February 19, 1942, Executive Order 9066 led to the forced removal and incarceration of over 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry, most of them American citizens. Jennifer reflects on this history through personal stories that reveal not only what was taken, but what endured: faith, dignity, and grace. Why This Story Still Matters Families lost homes, businesses, and freedom Communities endured life behind the barbed wire Survivors modeled humility, forgiveness, and resilience Remembrance leads to healing and justice Jennifer closes with a prayer inspired by Psalm 139 and a call to extend unexpected grace, protect civil liberties, and choose forgiveness over bitterness. A Closing Invitation Jennifer ends with a prayer inspired by Psalm 139 and a call to: Extend unexpected grace Protect civil liberties Choose forgiveness over bitterness   💬 Grace Quotes from Jennifer Sakata: "Behind these facts stand the lives of people whose families, livelihoods, and futures were completely and sometimes irreparably upended." "Many people offered pardon in place of finger-pointing. Because grace always takes a different path." "Grace compels us to extend forgiveness beyond our ability to give it."   Resources: Burn Order podcast by Rachel Maddow Interview with Mr. Ted Nagata, courtesy of Densho Digital Repository A Place Where Sunflowers Grow by Amy Lee Tai (children's picture book) Baseball Saved Us by Ken Mochizuki (children's picture book) Weedflower by Cynthia Kadohata (for middle schoolers and early highschoolers) Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston & James D. Houston Impounded: Dorothea Lange and the Censored Images of Japanese American Internment ed. by Linda Gordon & Gary Okihiro When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka Only What We Could Carry: The Japanese American Internment Experience ed. by Lawson Fusao Inada Related Episodes: Ep. 36 Don't Hoard Your Healing with Nancy Manassero Ep. 27 Unexpected Grace & the Impact of Executive Order 9066 Ep. 10 Scars of Grace: Embracing Our Woundedness for Wholeness with Russell Joyce Stay Connected with Jennifer Sakata: 🎁 My FREE gift to you: Prayers That Change Us 📩 Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive content & episode updates ⭐ If this episode resonated with you, leave a review and share it with a friend!   Website | Instagram | Facebook

    24 min
  5. Ep. 72 Grace Behind Our Smiles | Joe and Tara Buchanan

    FEB 10

    Ep. 72 Grace Behind Our Smiles | Joe and Tara Buchanan

    Have you ever wondered what’s really going on behind those smiles? On today’s episode of Living the Grace Life, I’m joined by Joe and Tara Buchanan, co-hosts of the Behind Our Smiles podcast, who vulnerably share how God’s grace met them in the middle of a marriage most counselors would have said won't last, and how healing replaced heartbreak. In our conversation, we explore: What happens when family systems collide Substitutes for grace in marriage, including self-sufficiency and unrealistic expectations Self-awareness opens the door to vulnerability and transformation Rhythms of grace that nurture connection and trust John 15 and what it means to truly abide in the source of grace At the end of the day, grace invites us to wrestle with Joe and Tara's question "We all need fixing, and we all need God to transform us, but into whose image, and into what kind of person?" Whether your marriage feels strong and life-giving or fragile and exhausting, today’s episode is an invitation to real grace for your real life--the kind that meets you behind the smiles and leads you toward deeper healing and hope.   💬 Grace Quotes from Joe and Tara Buchanan: "Grace is not going to flow when I'm still in my head counting.” "The source of grace is the Vine. Maybe I haven't received grace from my husband recently, but I've received grace from the Lord and that's the starting point." “It may not get better tomorrow or next week or next month. But in time, as you trust God, He will lay out the plan. He'll give you the next step. Not the next 10. But if we trust Him with one step at a time, He will lead. In time, we begin to see extraordinary advances in our marriage."   Scripture Mentioned: John 15   Resources Mentioned: 🌿Joe and Tara Buchanan on Behind Our Smiles podcast  🌿Jennifer and Craig Sakata on Behind Our Smiles, Episode 130 "I Just Wanna Hear the Heartbeat" 🌿Jennifer Sakata on Behind Our Smiles, Episode 155 "I'm a Verbal Processor" 🎶 Joe and Tara's go-to grace song Abide Connect with Joe and Tara Buchanan: Website: behindoursmiles.com Instagram: @joeandtara Facebook: @tarabme   Related Episodes: Ep. 71 How to Live Deeply Loved | Bill and Kristi Gaultiere Ep. 40 Be Still and Be Loved | Michael John Cusick Ep. 39 God's Steadfast Love in Daily Life | Rachael Adams Stay Connected with Jennifer Sakata: 🎁 My FREE gift to you: Prayers That Change Us 📩 Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive content & episode updates ⭐ If this episode resonated with you, leave a review and share it with a friend!   Website | Instagram | Facebook

    57 min
  6. Ep. 71 How to Live Deeply Loved | Bill & Kristi Gaultiere

    FEB 3

    Ep. 71 How to Live Deeply Loved | Bill & Kristi Gaultiere

    Do you believe you were meant to Live Deeply Loved? According to Bill and Kristi Gaultiere, “empathy is oxygen for the soul.”  Learning how to live deeply loved begins with receiving and offering empathy in our most important relationships--with God, others, and ourselves. In this episode of Living the Grace Life, Jennifer Sakata sits down with Bill and Kristi Gaultiere, founders of Soul Shepherding and authors of Deeply Loved, to explore how empathy leads to emotional healing, spiritual maturity, and deeper connection. We often settle for shallow relationships but this conversation shows us a better way forward. Bill and Kristi unpack how empathy transforms the way we love, apologize, listen, and grow. You’ll learn how to move beyond surface-level interactions and experience the safety, belonging, and freedom God intends for your relationships. In our conversation, we explore: The difference between true empathy and its counterfeits--coddling and self-pity Common barriers that make it hard to receive empathy The Four A's of empathy Why self-empathy is an expression of gratitude to God How we unintentionally interrupt empathy by jumping to encouragement The essential ingredients to offering a sincere, healing apology As Bill and Kristi remind us: “Truth without empathy is harsh, but empathy without truth is inaccurate. Responsibility without empathy is drudgery, while empathy without responsibility is coddling.” Growth happens when empathy, truth, and responsibility work together. Listen in and discover how to Live Deeply Loved, and extend that love to others in ways that transform your relationships and your soul. 💬 Grace Quotes from Bill & Kristi Gaultiere: "We need more than willpower. Empathy helps us go deeper.” "Empathy plus truth plus responsibility equals growth." “Empathy is oxygen for the soul." Scripture Mentioned: 1 Corinthians 15:10   Resources Mentioned: 🌿Bill & Kristi's Book Deeply Loved 🌿Soul Shepherding Retreat 🌿Soul Care Shepherding Spiritual Directors 🎶 Kristi's go-to grace song: The Steadfast Love of the Lord 🎶 Bill's go-to grace song: Psalm 16 by Shane and Shane Connect with Bill & Kristi Gaultiere: Website: soulshepherding.org Instagram: @soulshepherding Facebook: @soulshepherding   Related Episodes: Ep. 40 Be Still and Be Loved | Michael John Cusick Ep. 39 God's Steadfast Love in Daily Life | Rachael Adams Ep. 30 Growing Secure Attachment with God | Summer Joy Gross Stay Connected with Jennifer Sakata: 🎁 My FREE gift to you: Prayers That Change Us 📩 Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive content & episode updates ⭐ If this episode resonated with you, leave a review and share it with a friend!   Website | Instagram | Facebook

    41 min
  7. Ep. 70 Grace in the Story of Ruth | Mariel Davenport

    JAN 27

    Ep. 70 Grace in the Story of Ruth | Mariel Davenport

    “God’s grace is not flashy or loud; it quietly redeems what’s broken.” In this episode of Living the Grace Life, Bible teacher and author Mariel Davenport invites us into the story of Ruth — a tender, powerful picture of God’s pursuit, redemption, and grace when we have nothing to offer Him. Once an atheist, Mariel shares how Scripture transformed her faith and how Ruth’s story reveals a God who draws near to the disqualified, the weary, and the empty-handed. Together, we explore how God’s grace meets us in ordinary faithfulness, how community shapes spiritual formation, and how Scripture becomes a living encounter with a pursuing God. If you’ve ever wondered whether God could really be after you — especially in seasons of loss, doubt, or spiritual dryness — this conversation will remind you that grace is already moving toward you. In this episode, we talk about: Feeling disqualified yet pursued by God anyway Grace in the story of Ruth and God's redemptive love How community shapes faith and spiritual growth Mariel's TEND method for meaningful Bible Study TENDing through Psalm 23 in seasons of uncertainty If you’ve ever felt too far gone, empty-handed, or unsure where you belong with God, Mariel offers a gentle, hope-filled reminder: grace does its best work in unlikely places — and God is already moving toward you.   💬 Grace Quotes from Mariel Davenport: “God is after the heart of each one of us." "We are all the ones who have nothing to offer God. But He pursues us and under His wings we come to take refuge." "God's grace is not flashy or loud; it quietly redeems what's broken.” Scripture Mentioned: The Book of Ruth   Resources Mentioned: 🌿Mariel Davenport's Bible Study Ruth: Finding Grace in the Unexpected 🌿TEND Method Guide 🌿Tending Together Online Community 🎶 Mariel's go-to grace song: How Can You Not by Leanna Crawford Connect with Mariel Davenport: Website: marieldavenport.com Instagram: @marieldavenport Facebook: @MarielDavenportAuthor   Related Episodes: Ep. 69 How to Love Your Morning | Jennifer Dukes Lee Ep. 59 Chased by Grace | Crystal Mayo Ep. 51 The Grace Thread in Everyday Life | Eric Nevins Stay Connected with Jennifer Sakata: 🎁 My FREE gift to you: Prayers That Change Us 📩 Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive content & episode updates ⭐ If this episode resonated with you, leave a review and share it with a friend!   Website | Instagram | Facebook

    48 min
  8. Ep. 69 How to Love Your Morning | Jennifer Dukes Lee

    JAN 20

    Ep. 69 How to Love Your Morning | Jennifer Dukes Lee

    Do mornings motivate you, or do you kind of dread them? What if loving your morning has nothing to do with waking up earlier and everything to do with waking up differently? In this episode, we talk about how to love your morning in a grace-filled, life-giving way that helps you start your day with peace, intention, and joy. Jennifer Dukes Lee, author of How to Love Your Morning (April 2026), believes that being a morning person has nothing to do with the hands on the clock, but rather how you wake up. Having researched the 200 mornings that appear in the Bible, she has concluded that not only are you a morning person, but God is too! In our conversation, we talk about: Jennifer's journey from being an agnostic news reporter to a Good News news reporter Four morning archetypes and their impact on how we start the day The distinction between a routine and a ritual Morning rituals to keep you grounded in grace Jennifer's 5-minute Quiet Time Template Jennifer is a best-selling author, a fan of queso, bright lipstick, and singing loudly to songs with great harmony. She lives on a fifth-generation farm in Iowa with her husband, where together they've grown crops, pigs, two beautiful humans, and an enduring faith. If you've ever struggled with how to love your morning, let today's conversation help you reframe how you experience the start of your day--with real grace for your real life.  💬 Grace Quotes from Jennifer Dukes Lee: “If you have something to wake up for, it's easier to put your feet on the floor.” "God is always there. He doesn't come in the measure of time [you] spend with him. " "We see a God who seems to have a soft spot for mornings, an invitation into hopefulness." Scriptures Mentioned: Lamentations 3:22-23 "The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Psalm 30:5 "For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning." Genesis 1:3 "And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light."   Resources Mentioned: 🌿Jennifer Dukes Lee's Book (April 2006, available for pre-order): How to Love Your Morning 🌿5-Minute Quiet Time Template 🌿Additional FREE Resources 🎶 Jennifer's go-to grace song: Your Grace Still Amazes Me by Phillips Craig and Dean Connect with Jennifer Dukes Lee: Website: jenniferdukeslee.com Instagram: jenniferdukeslee Facebook: JenniferDukesLee   Related Episodes: Ep. 59 Chased by Grace | Carol McLeod Ep. 41 What if Doubt is Part of Faith? | Niki Hardy Ep. 25 Divine Detour and Deepened Faith | Lori Ann Wood Stay Connected with Jennifer Sakata: 🎁 My FREE gift to you: Prayers That Change Us 📩 Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive content & episode updates ⭐ If this episode resonated with you, leave a review and share it with a friend!   Website | Instagram | Facebook

    50 min
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Trailer

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About

Welcome to the corner of real grace for your real life. Join Jennifer Sakata and special guests to navigate forgiveness, belonging, and empowerment as faithful expressions of God’s generous grace.  But what is God’s grace? What is it not? What does grace look and sound like amid a busy and full-plated life? Through stories, authentic conversations, and biblical teaching, Jennifer helps bridge the gap between what we think about grace and how we live through it. Each episode helps shift our understanding of grace from a Sunday morning concept to an everyday lived experience. God’s grace is that forward movement that restores connection and rebuilds relationships. Living the Grace Life is a solo and interview podcast committed to transformation, helping you replace the overwhelm of doing more and living less with a slower pace that nurtures God’s real grace in your real life.  Grace for you. Grace for them. Listen in now and let’s grace this life! Connect with Jennifer at https://jennifersakata.com/

Information

  • Creator
    Jennifer Sakata
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    76
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Living the Grace Life

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