Living the Grace Life

Jennifer Sakata
  • 5.0 (42)
  • 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. 5d ago

    Struggling to Pray? Don't Try to Pray Like Her with Shellie Tomlinson | Ep. 94

    Do you ever find yourself struggling to pray? Or compare yourself to that friend for whom prayer seems to come effortlessly? If God wants me to pray—and I want to pray—why is prayer so hard? What if struggling to pray doesn't mean you're doing something wrong? Shellie Tomlinson, author of Don't Try to Pray Like Her, invites you to experience prayer, not as a formula to master, but as time spent with a God who actually wants to be with you.  In this episode, we talk about: Shellie's journey from struggling to pray to loving prayer Two ordinary analogies for prayer that lead to actually praying How to respond to unanswered prayer The church's sad secret—and the hiding it can lead to Prayer as an inheritance for those who pursue life through Jesus The surprising impact Shellie's book has had on men Through her desperation, Shellie learned to embrace prayer. Through her words and this conversation, she invites you to do likewise. Because prayer isn't about getting the words right or unlocking some secret pathway. It's about spending time with God, who wants to spend time with you. 💬  Grace Quotes: "God always loves first." "It's not my desire for God that transforms me. It is being in His actual presence that's transformative and prayer takes us there." "Our inheritance as children of the Most High is communion with Him."   Scriptures Mentioned:  John 7:37 - An invitation to bring your thirst to Jesus Ephesians 3:20 - God accomplishes more than you can imagine Resources Mentioned: 🌿 Shellie's book Don't Try to Pray Like Her 🌿 Shellie's FREE resources 🎶 Shellie's Go-to grace song, No One Ever Loved Me Like Jesus by Stephanie Gretzinger Connect with Shellie Rushing Tomlinson: Website: BelleofAllThingsSouthern.com Instagram: @ShellieTomlinson Facebook: @ShellieRushingTomlinson   Related Episodes: Ep. 92 Awaken Delight: God is Delicious with Stephanie Rousselle Ep. 91 Grace and Belonging: Welcome to the Grace of God | Season 3 Opener Ep. 83 The Pursuit of Holy Leisure with Cara Ray Stay Connected with Jennifer Sakata: 🎁 My FREE gifts to you: Go-To Grace Songs to Deepen Your Faith & 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!   👉🏼Living the Grace Life is the place where real grace meets real life. Host Jennifer Sakata helps us bridge the gap between grace as a theological idea and lived practice in everyday moments of faith, encouraging listeners to experience forgiveness, freedom, and trust that they then extend to others.   Website | Instagram | Facebook

    Struggling to Pray? Don't Try to Pray Like Her with Shellie Tomlinson | Ep. 94

  2. Sep 22

    Uniquely Made in Newness of Life with Mary Rooney Armand | Ep. 93

    What does it mean to be uniquely made by God—and how might embracing the person He created us to be open the door to newness of life? Psalm 139 reminds us that we are beautifully and wonderfully made. But sometimes, the life in front of us tells a very different story. We're impatient and tired, overwhelmed and distracted, distant from God, and unsure of where we belong. We may love the idea of belonging, yet still decide that belonging must be somebody else's story.  Author Mary Rooney Armand wants us to see ourselves differently—as beloved, forgiven, and freed children of God. In this conversation about her book Uniquely Made, Mary and Jennifer talk about what it means to receive the identity God has already given us and walk forward in the newness of life Christ offers. In this episode, we talk about: Walking in newness of life with Christ What we need to turn over to embrace our new identity Strengthening your spiritual C.O.R.E. What forgiveness is—and what it isn't The dual impact of forgiveness and unforgiveness Receiving the welcome of God as His beloved daughter or son Mary Rooney Armand is one of those people who lights up a room with her Southern smile and genuine welcome. Listen in to discover what it might look like to welcome the identity God has given you as a uniquely made daughter or son of the King.   💬  Uniquely Made Quotes: "God didn't just use flawed people. He used their stories to build His Kingdom, and that's the nature of grace." "We are all extended the same cup of grace." "There's no expiration date on God's grace, forgiveness, and on His ability to use you for His purpose."   Scripture Mentioned:  Romans 6:4 - Walk in newness of life Resources Mentioned: 🌿 Mary's books Uniquely Made + Life Changing Stories 🌿 4 Lessons on Surrender and Grace by Jennifer Sakata 🌿 How to Forgive and Surrender with Mary + Jennifer on YouTube 🎶 Mary's Go-to grace song, The Goodness of God by Cece Winans Connect with Mary Rooney Armand: Website: ButterflyLiving.org Instagram: @ButterflyLiving_ Facebook: @ButterflyLiving2022   Related Episodes: Ep. 91 Grace and Belonging: Welcome to the Grace of God | Season 3 Opener Ep. 90 Grace Says You Belong Here with Jennifer Dukes Lee as Host Ep. 83 The Pursuit of Holy Leisure with Cara Ray Stay Connected with Jennifer Sakata: 🎁 My FREE gifts to you: Go-To Grace Songs to Deepen Your Faith & 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!   👉🏼Living the Grace Life is the place where real grace meets real life. Host Jennifer Sakata helps bridge the gap between grace as a theological idea and lived practice in everyday moments of faith, encouraging listeners to experience forgiveness, freedom, and trust that they then extend to others.   Website | Instagram | Facebook

    Uniquely Made in Newness of Life with Mary Rooney Armand | Ep. 93

  3. Sep 15

    How to Awaken Delight: God is Delicious with Stephanie Rousselle | Ep. 92

    How do you know a fake from the real thing? Think imitation vanilla versus that luscious flavor scraped straight from the vanilla bean. One is manufactured; the other contains the substance to awaken delight.  What if the same is true of our spiritual lives? What if delight isn't something we produce—but something we receive as we awaken to the goodness and Presence of God?  Stephanie Rousselle is a former atheist who once resolved to live inside the fullness of God's grace for seven days. Thirty years later, she is still proclaiming the life-changing truth she discovered: God is delicious. In her book Awaken Delight, Stephanie invites us to rediscover delight as a gift from God and a way of experiencing His Presence.  She describes delight as "the quiet revolution that reshapes how we endure pain, love others, and understand our own heart." Stephanie invites us to a fresh awakening and a deeper understanding of what it means to "taste and see that God is good." In our conversation, we explore: The staggering claims God makes on our lives The "fake vanillas" we reach for instead of the real thing How delight and deliciousness invite us to taste and see the goodness of God Spiritual practices and disciplines as an extension of God's welcome to us The surprising relationship between pain and delight How pruning can become an invitation to trust God If you've ever found yourself exhausted trying to manufacture spiritual feelings or make yourself "better" at faith, this conversation offers a different way. What if delight begins, not with striving, but with receiving? What if God Himself is the deepest joy we've been looking for?   💬  Awaken Delight Quotes: "God has used the way he has wired us to welcome him." "There's absolutely nothing you can do for God to make him love you more. And there is nothing you can do for God to make him love you less." "True happiness is found in delighting in God, not in the fleeting pursuit of happiness our culture endeavors."   Scripture Mentioned:  John 15 - Abide in the Vine Resources Mentioned: 🌿  Awaken Delight 5-Day Devotional 🌿 Awaken Delight book 🎶  Stephanie's Go-to grace song, Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus by Helen Lemmel Connect with Stephanie Rousselle: Website: GospelSpice.com Instagram: @GospelSpiceLife Facebook: @GospelSpice   Related Episodes: Ep. 90 Grace Says You Belong Here with Jennifer Dukes Lee as Host Ep. 67 Awakening to the Spirit of Christmas with Cynthia Ruchti Ep. 39 God's Steadfast Love in Daily Life with Rachael Adams Stay Connected with Jennifer Sakata: 🎁 My FREE gifts to you: Go-To Grace Songs to Deepen Your Faith & 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!   👉🏼Living the Grace Life is the place where real grace meets real life. Host Jennifer Sakata helps bridge the gap between grace as a theological idea and lived practice in everyday moments of faith, encouraging listeners to experience forgiveness, freedom, and trust that they then extend to others.   Website | Instagram | Facebook

    How to Awaken Delight: God is Delicious with Stephanie Rousselle | Ep. 92

  4. Sep 8

    Grace and Belonging: Welcome to the Grace of God | Season 3 Opener

    When have you felt the most welcome? Not just included or invited, but truly welcomed—that deep-in-your-bones feeling that says, I belong here. In this Season 3 opener of Living the Grace Life, Jennifer Sakata explores grace and belonging, and what happens when we recognize God's grace as His welcome to us. Grace and belonging aren't yours because you've earned them or deserved them. They become yours as you receive them from the God who created you in His image. After two seasons of exploring what it means to live with grace in the middle of real life, Jennifer returns to the heart of the message: grace was never meant to stay a theological idea. God's grace is meant to do something—to change us, impact us, and transform us in ways we could never manufacture on our own. And that transformation begins with the welcome of God. In this episode, you'll discover: Why God's grace is more than a theological concept How grace and belonging are deeply connected What God's welcome reveals about our identity and belonging How living from God's grace changes the way we live in real life Season 3 is an invitation to discover grace as the welcome of God—and to explore what changes when we stop striving to earn our place and begin receiving the welcome that God has already extended.   Reflection question: Where might God be inviting you to stop striving for belonging and simply receive His welcome? Key Scripture: Genesis 1:27    💬  Grace and Belonging Quotes: "Grace was never meant to be just a theological idea. Grace is always meant to change us, impact us, and transform us. It all begins with the welcome of God." "The welcome of God is never forced or manipulated. And it's not put on one moment and removed for less-than-stellar behavior the next." "God's welcome reminds us that we belong—no matter what."   Related Episodes: Ep. 90 Grace Says You Belong Here with Jennifer Dukes Lee as Host Ep. 51 The Grace Thread in Everyday Life with Eric Nevins Ep. 2 Real Grace for Your Real Life, Sunday to Everyday Stay Connected with Jennifer Sakata: 🎁 My FREE gifts to you: Go-To Grace Songs to Deepen Your Faith & 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!   👉🏼Living the Grace Life is the place where real grace meets real life. Host Jennifer Sakata helps bridge the gap between grace as a theological idea and lived practice in everyday moments of faith, encouraging listeners to experience forgiveness, freedom, and trust that they then extend to others.   Website | Instagram | Facebook

    Grace and Belonging: Welcome to the Grace of God | Season 3 Opener

  5. Sep 1

    Grace Says You Belong Here with Jennifer Dukes Lee | Ep. 90

    Grace says you belong here. Two years of Living the Grace Life have brought us back to the heart of the message that started it all: God's grace welcomes us, meets us in the hard places, and reminds us that we belong. What began as a tiny God-whisper in front of a blank canvas eventually made its way to a hot-tub conversation—and then into the launch of Living the Grace Life podcast. Two years and 90 episodes later, we're gathering around the table of God's welcome to celebrate what grace has been teaching us along the way. In this special two-year anniversary episode, Jennifer Sakata turns the mic over to author, speaker, and friend Jennifer Dukes Lee, who takes on the role of host and asks Jennifer some fun, thoughtful, and deeply personal questions about grace and the journey of Living the Grace Life. In this episode, we talk about: If grace were a dessert, what would it be? When has grace felt more like sandpaper? What do you most need to remember about grace? What is your personal morning ritual? How does grace tuck you in at night, or wake you in the morning? How has podcasting changed you? Share a Bible passage that's enlightened your understanding and experience of grace. Where is Living the Grace Life podcast headed in the next year? Underneath all the laughter and reflection is this reminder: Grace comes, even in the hard places. It doesn't require holding it all together or having all the right answers. Grace grows in us as we remain connected to the Vine—in the big things and the beautifully ordinary ones. If you've ever felt like you don't measure up or somehow missed your invitation to the Table, let this anniversary conversation remind you: You belong here.   And Jennifer Dukes Lee? She's not only a seasoned-through-life author, but also a queso-loving, bright lipstick-wearing, loud-singing harmonizer whose love for Jesus shows up as real grace in real life.   💬  Grace Quotes from Our Conversation: "God is never stingy with grace." "Communion is the ultimate place of welcome without words—where we not only see the cost of God's welcome, but also experience freedom because of it." "Lord, I belong to you. And so do they." Resources Mentioned: 🌿  Go-To Grace Songs Spotify Playlist  🎶  Jennifer's Go-to grace song, Names by Tiffany Hudson Connect with Jennifer Dukes Lee: Website: JenniferDukesLee Instagram: @JenniferDukesLee Facebook: @JenniferDukesLee Related Episodes: Ep. 69 How to Love Your Morning with Jennifer Dukes Lee Ep. 51 The Grace Thread in Everyday Life with Eric Nevins Ep. 49 What G.R.A.C.E. Taught Us: Season One Reflections on Real Faith and Healing 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!   👉🏼Living the Grace Life is the place where real grace meets real life. Host Jennifer Sakata helps bridge the gap between grace as a theological idea and lived practice in everyday moments of faith, encouraging listeners to experience forgiveness, freedom, and trust that they then extend to others.   Website | Instagram | Facebook

    Grace Says You Belong Here with Jennifer Dukes Lee | Ep. 90

  6. Aug 11

    The Art of Vinemaking with Bette Dickinson | Episode 89

    What if surrender isn't the end of your story, but the beginning of something beautiful? What if the places you feel most emptied are the very places God is preparing to grow the richest fruit? And what if the life you've been longing for isn't found in striving harder, but in the art of abiding? In this third and final episode of our Summer Book Club: The Grace of Surrender, Jennifer joins author and artist Bette Dickinson in the vineyard to explore what it really means to surrender, abide, and bear fruit. Drawing from John 15 and Bette's book, The Art of Vinemaking, this conversation challenges our culture's deeply rooted connection of fruitfulness with productivity. Instead, Bette invites us to embrace a vine-over-fruit mindset—one that prioritizes abiding with Jesus over striving to produce. Together, Jennifer and Bette discuss: Moving from a productivity-driven approach to a flourishing mindset Bette's Vine-over-fruit mindset and how it transforms our experience of fruitfulness How surrender nurtures a rhythm of rest Lament as an act of surrender Practical postures and rhythms that help us live surrendered lives Whether you consider yourself a wine connoisseur or have no interest in swishing reds and pairing food, this conversation offers a fresh perspective on what it means to bear fruit and how God grows something beautiful through the slow, sacred work of surrender. **This episode is the final conversation in our Summer Book Club series: The Grace of Surrender. If you've joined us for the series, I hope this conversation brings the themes of surrender, abiding, and grace together in a meaningful way that leaves you wondering—not, What fruit am I producing? but rather, Am I abiding in the Vine? 💬  Grace Quotes from Bette Dickinson: "Our souls were never meant to bear the weight of endless harvest." "The vinedresser's primary concern isn't fruit - it's flourishing." "When we abide in the vine, we don't lose ourselves; we become more fully who we were created to be. Our uniqueness isn't erased; it's brought to life." Resources Mentioned: 🌿  Bette's books The Art of Vinemaking 🌿  Bette's FREE Seasons Quiz 🎶  Bette's go-to grace song, Come Tear Down the Walls by Common Hymnal Connect with Bette Dickinson: Website: bettedickinson.com Instagram: @Bette_Dickinson Facebook: @BetteLDickinson# Related Episodes: Ep. 88 How to Live in the Freedom of Surrender with Mary DeMuth Ep. 87 Don't Have to Hold It All Together with Nichole Suvar Ep. 47 Embracing Grace, A Summer in the Psalms | Psalm 46 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!   👉🏼Living the Grace Life is the place where real grace meets real life. Host Jennifer Sakata helps bridge the gap between grace as a theological idea and lived practice in everyday moments of faith, encouraging listeners to experience forgiveness, freedom, and trust that they then extend to others.   Website | Instagram | Facebook

    The Art of Vinemaking with Bette Dickinson | Episode 89

  7. Jul 7

    How to Live in the Freedom of Surrender with Mary DeMuth | Episode 88

    How do we let go when holding on feels safer? In this second conversation of our Summer Book Club series, Jennifer welcomes bestselling author Mary DeMuth to explore the freedom of surrender—and why surrender isn't about losing yourself but finding deeper healing, hope, and life with God. Together, they unpack how open hands create space for God's grace, Living Water, and lasting transformation. Drawing from her books, The Freedom of Surrender and Restory Your Life and her own journey of healing from childhood trauma, Mary shares how God has rewritten her story and how He continues to invite each of us into freedom through surrender. We talk about: Why surrender is an invitation to freedom—not defeat Mary's journey through trauma toward healing and restoration The role of community in God's healing work How to anchor your identity in Christ instead of your circumstances Simple spiritual practices that cultivate surrender The prayer Mary returns to when surrender feels difficult If you've ever wondered if your story is too broken for God to redeem, this conversation offers a hopeful reminder that his grace meets us in our surrender. 💬  Grace Quotes from Mary DeMuth: "The Lord uses the way He made you as an avenue for healing." "An untold story never heals.” "Lord, I can't. You can. Help.'" Resources Mentioned: 🌿  Mary's books The Freedom of Surrender and Restory Your Life 🌿  Mary's Substack newsletter 🌿  Pray Every Day Podcast 🌿  Practicing the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence 🎶  Mary's go-to grace song, Gratitude by Brandon Lake Connect with Mary DeMuth: Website: marydemuth.com Instagram: @MaryDeMuth YouTube: @MaryDeMuth Related Episodes: Ep. 88 I Don't Have to Hold It All Together with Nichole Suvar Ep. 60 Healing from Life's Deepest Hurts with Kim Haar Ep. 45 Embracing Grace, A Summer in the Psalms | Psalm 91 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!   👉🏼Living the Grace Life is the place where real grace meets real life. Host Jennifer Sakata helps bridge the gap between grace as a theological idea and lived practice in everyday moments of faith, encouraging listeners to experience forgiveness, freedom, and trust that they then extend to others.   Website | Instagram | Facebook

    How to Live in the Freedom of Surrender with Mary DeMuth | Episode 88

  8. Jun 2

    I Don't Have to Hold It All Together with Nichole Suvar | Ep. 87

    Do you live overwhelmed, rushed, and stretched thin by anxiety? Do you struggle to let things go? What if there's a slower, more grace-filled way? According to author Nichole Suvar, there is. It begins by realizing you don't have to hold it all together. This episode launches our Summer Book Club mini-series, The Grace of Surrender—three conversations centered on three formational books that invite us into deeper trust, open hands, and God's grace in the places where life feels a little undone. Nichole shares her personal journey with anxiety, panic attacks, and the habits of control that often masquerade as peace. Together, we explore how surrender impacts both our spiritual lives and our physical well-being. We talk about: Nichole's experience with panic attacks—beginning at age eight The difference between being busy and overwhelmed How the vagus nerve helps regulate the body's stress response Practical rhythms that support nervous system regulation  The difference between trying harder and trusting God more deeply Moving from rigid boundaries to grace-filled living Surrender isn't about giving up—it's about loosening your grip and learning to trust God when life feels heavy. If you struggle with letting things go, listen in for real grace, open hands, more grace. 💬  Grace Quotes from Nichole Suvar: "Controlling my environment felt like it helped quiet the anxiety. But it really just shoved it down further." "We need to take our overwhelm to the Lord first—even if it's just to say, 'This is too much. I can't hold all of this.” "God's answer, everytime, is this: 'I never asked you to hold it all together.'" Resources Mentioned: 🌿  Nichole's book I Don't Have to Hold It All Together 🌿  Eden attribute quiz  🌿  Free Gift: Resource for an Intentional Summer 🎶  Nichole's go-to grace song, Be Thou My Vision by Keith and Krysten Getty Connect with Nichole Suvar: Website: livewithintent.org Instagram: @MrsNicholeSuvar YouTube: @NicholeSuvar Related Episodes: Ep. 76 Grace for the Anxious Soul with Becky Keife Ep. 86 Training in Grace: From Trying to Formation with Kyle Waid  Ep. 49 What GRACE Taught Us: Season One Reflections on Real Faith and Healing 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!   👉🏼Living the Grace Life is the place where real grace meets real life. Host Jennifer Sakata helps bridge the gap between grace as a theological idea and lived practice in everyday moments of faith, encouraging listeners to experience forgiveness, freedom, and trust that they then extend to others.   Website | Instagram | Facebook

    I Don't Have to Hold It All Together with Nichole Suvar | Ep. 87
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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
    94
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Living the Grace Life

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