Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith Sarah Young

As we celebrate the season of advent, it’s a wonderful time to focus on prayer. This dialogue with God can be an avenue leading us to tranquility by enabling us to articulate our deepest fears, hopes, and concerns. It provides an opportunity to let go and surrender our burdens. In the practice of releasing our worries, we open ourselves up to God’s calming embrace of serenity. 
Father James Martin is a Jesuit priest who is a student of scripture, helping bring it to life for people in new ways. In his latest book called Come Forth, Father Martin explores the story of Lazarus and how understanding the context for Jesus’ greatest miracle can have meaning for us as we strive to let go of things that no longer serve us, and have faith that Jesus can give us new life, just as He gave His friend Lazarus. After Father Martin walks us through the miraculous story of Lazarus, he brings a special message for us about the meaning of Advent as we celebrate this special time of year. Michael Freeland Miller is the founder and one of the senior leaders of UPPERROOM. In April of 2010, Michael and his wife started a small prayer meeting in an office space overlooking downtown Dallas. From that initial prayer meeting, God birthed a movement of prayer and worship that continues to grow globally. 
 
Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned:
Jesus Calling Podcast
Jesus Calling
Jesus Always
Jesus Listens
Past interview: Ryan Stevenson
www.ReadRelief.com
Not That Fancy
 
Father James Martin
Come Forth
America Magazine
Lent
Advent 
 
Michael Freeland Miller 
UPPERROOM
Deuteronomy 10:8 NIV
www.upperroom.co

 
Interview Quotes:
“What do we want to let die? What do you want to let go of? What do you want to get rid of? What patterns, what behaviors, what addictions do we want to leave behind in the tomb to let die so that we can hear God's voice inviting us to come forth?” - Father James Martin 
“People feel so stressed at Christmas, and what is really a joyful holiday becomes sort of a burden. There's always this temptation at Christmas to want to do everything, visit every person, write every single person you know a Christmas card, buy everyone a gift, sort of go for broke when it comes to Christmas dinner. And I think doing less might be helpful.” - Father James Martin 
“What does it mean that God became human? What does that mean for me? What does it mean that God was human in the most vulnerable way possible? What does it mean that God would choose to be vulnerable and little and dependent on human beings, on Mary and Joseph?” - Father James Martin
“Instead of being on Amazon all day and clicking for the next gift, trying to get the right thing—stressing out about it may not be as helpful as just five minutes of prayer. It's about balance, I think. And Advent enables us to slow down a bit.” - Father James Martin 
“God becomes human in order that we might relate to God better.” - Father James Martin  
“I died a thousand deaths to my various strategies and the resume that I had built up in ministry. And the Lord really stripped me in that season in discovering what it was like to build a church around prayer.” - Michael Freeland Miller 
“I think prayer is a means to God's presence, His spirit.” - Michael Freeland Miller 
“I find such joy in praying with God's people. I find it encourages my faith to listen to other people pray, and then I love to pray for them and then pray together.” - Michael Freeland Miller
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Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel!
Audio Episodes:     https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 
Bonus Podcasts:     https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw 
Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer:  https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C 
Peace for Everyday Life:     https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj 
Peace in Uncertain Times:     https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u 
What’s Good?     https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj 
Enneagram:     https://bit.l

God's love knows no borders, boundaries, or limitations. It reaches every person, regardless of origin or language. When we strive to follow Jesus’s greatest commandment, “Love one another,” we can begin to break down the walls that often divide us.
This week, we speak to pastor Eric Costanzo and one of his church members, Yana Sherdis, who have dedicated their lives to serving and supporting refugees and international families through their church’s powerful outreach program. We’ll also speak with the director of a new docuseries, ACROSS, Julie Mirlicourtois who shares the inspiring faith of Christian asylum seekers from Central America. 
 
Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned:
Jesus Calling Podcast
Jesus Calling
Jesus Always
Jesus Listens
Past interview: Anthony Ray Hinton
Upcoming interview: Father James Martin
www.ReadRelief.com
John 13:34 NIV
 
Eric Costanzo 
Yana Sherdis
South Tulsa Baptist Church
English second language program
ESL classes
www.southtulsa.org
 
Julie Mirlicourtois
ACROSS
Oprah Winfrey Show
CBS News 
Maybe God 
St. Luke's United Methodist



Interview Quotes:
“The biggest thing that made a difference was when folks who were from our church and had been there for a while really started to interact with their refugee and immigrant neighbors and they realized who they were, and they saw them, just who they truly are.” - Eric Costanzo 
“When anyone is looking for a safe place or a refuge—it could be because of physical circumstances or emotional circumstances or legitimate issues of safety or spiritual issues—the church can be that kind of safe harbor, just like a ship comes to the harbor so that it might find safe passage.” - Eric Costanzo 
“I think I had this gift of faith all along. I think I could feel God so clearly, I just had no clue who He was.” - Julie Mirlicourtois 
“It kind of felt like I had been talking to this person on the other side of a closed door my whole life, wondering if He was real or just part of my imagination, and then He revealed Himself to me in so many undeniable ways.” - Julie Mirlicourtois 
“I had believed for so long these lies, lies I'd been told about Christians, about Jesus, and I really became determined to cut through the noise of culture and politics and reach people in those secular audiences where I once was.” - Julie Mirlicourtois 
“Following the lives of these asylum seekers for the past two and a half, three years, I've never understood more of what the Bible tells us when it says ‘Blessed are the poor.’ Their faith has enriched and enhanced my faith and countless other people so much. It's taught me to shift my perspective that the hardships are there for a reason. I can't just make my life and my kids’ lives in this comfortable place. I have to really thank God for the good and the bad and keep growing through it.” - Julie Mirlicourtois 
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Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel!
Audio Episodes:     https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 
Bonus Podcasts:     https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw 
Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer:  https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C 
Peace for Everyday Life:     https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj 
Peace in Uncertain Times:     https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u 
What’s Good?     https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj 
Enneagram:     https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY 
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We all need God’s mercy at some point in our lives. And for singer Jason Crabb, that time came when he was in a rebellious phase; realizing the faith he had was something passed down from his family–not necessarily his own. Ultimately Jason began a relationship with God for himself–and that “mercy moment”  began a habit of recognizing God’s mercy through all the phases of his life. 
 
Guest’s Links
Facebook: @JasonCrabbMusic
Twitter: @jasoncrabbmusic
Instagram: @jasoncrabbmusic
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*Episode produced by Four Eyes Media*

In today's world, characterized by advanced technology and increasing isolation, there's a pressing need to foster real connection. As technology continues to advance, genuine human connections are taking a backseat. However, in Scripture we find that God recognizes; "It is not good for man to be alone." (Genesis 2:18). As part of God’s unique design, He wired us for meaningful connection where we find strength, love, and support from others.
This week, as we celebrate Thanksgiving and a season of connection and gratitude, we have two pastors to help us navigate a season that also can be lonely and disconnected. Author and pastor Levi Lusko sheds light on the growing loneliness crisis in our highly connected world, and Daniel Darling explains the fundamental aspects of healthy relationships, including forgiveness, reconciliation, and trust.

 
Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned:
Jesus Calling Podcast
Jesus Calling
Jesus Always
Jesus Listens
Past interview: Larry Randolph and Jennifer Bleakley
Upcoming interview: Eric Constanzo
www.ReadRelief.com
Not That Fancy
Jesus Listens for Advent and Christmas
Genesis 2:18 NIV
 
Levi Lusko 
Fresh Life Church
Surgeon General
Psalms 8 NIV
Neil deGrasse Tyson
Ezekiel 3:15 NIV
Marvel at the Moon

 
Daniel Darling
National Religious Broadcasters Association
Land Center for Cultural Engagement 
Texas Baptist College
1 Timothy NIV
2 Timothy NIV
John 13:34-35 NIV
www.danieldarling.com
 
Interview Quotes:
“God said, ‘It's not good that man should be alone.’ And so I think there's something of the human experience where our souls will always crave and always be deficient if we're not having those vital exchanges, those conversations, those moments.” - Levi Lusko 
“I think when we lift our eyes, we'll be reminded, Hey, the one who made the moon, the one who with His fingers called out the stars, with His voice, with the word of His power, separated light from darkness, He loves you. He has a plan for you. He came in the person of Jesus to this world. He wants to have a relationship with you.” - Levi Lusko 
“No matter what you're facing today, God is safe to build your life upon, and the weather and the wind can change in a moment, but God's Word never will.” - Levi Lusko 
“Jesus knows what you're going through and He has a plan for you in it. He has a plan to give you power and to give you peace and to give you comfort.” - Levi Lusko
“Paul says at one point in 1 Timothy, he says, ‘To fight the good fight.’ In other words, there are things worth fighting for.” - Daniel Darling 
“Paul says to Timothy in 2 Timothy, ‘Avoid stupid and foolish arguments.’ And so there are things that we may have opinions on and that may be important to us, but we should be open handed about them and learn to love and live with people who disagree.” - Daniel Darling 
“We should say, ‘I'm going to hold onto you amidst all this turmoil in the world, amidst these raging rapids. I'm not going to let you go as a friend.’ I think this is what God is calling us to do.” - Daniel Darling
“We don't have to be alone. We can be known by God and we can know God.” - Daniel Darling 
“Once we understand how much God has forgiven us in Christ, anything that we've done against God is even worse than the worst thing done to us, if we can imagine that. And God gives us that ability to forgive.” - Daniel Darling
“See how God will use you as a witness in your own family and in your own communities.” - Daniel Darling 
“We're praying to a personal God. We can ask Him for our personal needs. We can draw on Him for strength in our own personal lives, and what a blessing it has been to my family and to countless other families.” - Daniel Darling 
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Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel!
Audio Episodes:     https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 
Bonus Podcasts:  

Do you ever wish you could simply start over, or that you had a second chance? Maybe you feel like your life is “too far gone,” that there’s no hope of ever going back to what could’ve been. But there is good news to be found in 2 Corinthians 5:16-17, which says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old is gone, the new is here!”” There is always a chance for a fresh start, as our God meets you with compassion, grace and beautiful mercy. 
Pastor Herman Mendoza came up through some tough years growing up in Queens, NY, enduring abuse from his father, and finding it hard to find connection from his peers. He ultimately chose to get involved in gang activity and drug trafficking, which brought him the power and sense of connection he had always wanted, but also ended up with run-ins with authorities, and ultimately jail time that he couldn’t negotiate his way out of. He shares how God changed his path to become a force for good in a place where goodness isn’t easily found. Stephen Arterburn, founder of New Life Ministries, has a focus of transformation with God's truth and a genuine desire to see parents shepherd their children well through the pitfalls of the online world. He shares helpful guidance for parents seeking to mentor their children in this screen-saturated time.
 
Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned:
Jesus Calling Podcast
Jesus Calling
Jesus Always
Jesus Listens
Past interview: John & Stasi Eldredge
Upcoming interview: Levi Lusko
www.ReadRelief.com
2 Corinthians 5:16-17 NIV
 
Herman Mendoza
Promise Ministries International
Powerhouse Kids
Rikers Island
Proverbs 26:11 NIV
Drug Enforcement Agency
www.hermanmendoza.com
 
Stephen Arterburn
New Life Ministries
New Life Live
Jesus Calling for kids
www.stephenarterburn.com
Understanding and Loving Your Child In a Screen-Saturated World



Interview Quotes:
“This was all God setting everything up. He would have it no other way.” - Herman Mendoza
“For the very first time it wasn't about me. It wasn't about excuses. It wasn't about negotiating with God. It was about the wrongs that I've done and that Jesus paid the price for my sins and that He can make it alright, even though the sins that I was committing, there's a price to pay for them, and I had to pay that price.” - Herman Mendoza 
“There's hope in Jesus Christ. God is amazing, and when you seek Him, you will find Him. and He will change your life forever.” - Herman Mendoza 
“You have to come to that place where you have to know Jesus first. He will navigate you through life’s obstacles and life's challenges. God enables me to have freedom through prayer, to talk to Him and and for Him to remind me that He loves me. He's with me, and the Holy Scriptures are there to guide me each and every day.” - Herman Mendoza 
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Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel!
Audio Episodes:     https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 
Bonus Podcasts:     https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw 
Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer:  https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C 
Peace for Everyday Life:     https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj 
Peace in Uncertain Times:     https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u 
What’s Good?     https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj 
Enneagram:     https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY 
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Experiencing a significant loss or trauma often leads to an identity crisis, a sensation comparable to losing footing on solid ground. You may suddenly feel untethered, as if the person you once knew as "you" has evaporated, replaced by an unfamiliar stranger. Your faith may seem hollow, your relationships distant. It’s like you’re lost in your own life, and you don’t know how to get back. 
Our guests this week share how they coped with grief and hardship, and how they found their way back from feeling disoriented and disconnected from themselves. Senior pastor of Fellowship Church Ed Young and his wife Lisa share the heart wrenching story of their daughter, LeeBeth, and her struggle with addiction, and how it forever altered the course of their lives. Dr. Morgan Cutlip looked forward to motherhood, but was quickly faced with the real struggles that come alongside it, and made it her life’s work to help mothers cope with that loss of self, and show them how to remember who they are again. 

 
Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned:
Jesus Calling Podcast
Jesus Calling
Jesus Always
Jesus Listens
Past interview: Dr. Lee Warren
Upcoming interview: Herman Mendoza
Operation Christmas Child
Jesus Listens for Advent & Christmas
Reba McEntire
Not That Fancy
 
Ed Young
Lisa Young
Fellowship Church
AA [Alcoholics Anonymous]
COVID
A Path Through Pain
 
Dr. Morgan Cutlip
Philippians 4:8 NIV
Love Your Kids Without Losing Yourself

 
Interview Quotes
“Through that pain [of losing our daughter], God just surrounded us with His indescribable love. I still can't believe it to this day, but He did, and He has, and I know He will. We had just experienced something together that nobody wants to experience, but it was something that God was walking with us together.” - Lisa Young
“Ed said right after LeeBeth passed away, ‘We will never, ever, ever be the same. We won't do church the same, I won't minister the same, I won't pastor the same.’ And that's in a good way, and so it's continually God showing us new ways to live past this point of grief.” - Lisa Young 
“Pour your heart out to God, your anger out to God, your questions out to God, but also realize, Man, God’s got this, He's got me.” - Ed Young 
“When things started happening, things that were painful, I was able to draw upon what God had given me, what God had instilled in me, and that's how joy and pain can coincide.” - Lisa Young 
“Whatever we face, joy can be ever-present. It seems distant at times, but it's ever-present because of His Presence in my life.” - Lisa Young 
“I think that we're in a society right now that is like, ‘Feelings are facts,’ and they’re just not. We put a lot of emphasis on feelings, but feelings are signals. Feelings are a warning bell that are calling you to tune in to you and say, ‘What's going on with me?’” - Dr. Morgan Cutlip
“I just stay in conversation with God all day. I feel like it's a running dialog, and this really is what helps me in so many ways of feeling like I'm never really alone. I am in a relationship with Someone who knows me deeply, who loves me, who doesn't give me more than I can handle; who I can turn things over to.” - Dr. Morgan Cutlip
________________________
Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel!
Audio Episodes:     https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 
Bonus Podcasts:     https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw 
Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer:  https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C 
Peace for Everyday Life:     https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj 
Peace in Uncertain Times:     https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u 
What’s Good?     https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj 
Enneagram:     https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY 
________________________ 
Connect with Jesus Calling
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