Michaela returns to share how the gospel has transformed her life from depression and suicidal thoughts to freedom and purpose over the past four years.

• First freed through Romans 6:7 - "you are free from sin"
• Initially struggled with "firehosing" people with the gospel, expecting everyone to receive it as enthusiastically as she did
• Found that people outside church settings were often more receptive than those in religious environments
• Discovered the Bible became a completely different book - from rules and condemnation to a love story
• Shifted from talking about the gospel constantly to living it out authentically, which has proven more effective
• Received a powerful garden metaphor from God about removing different types of "weeds" (lies) from her life
• Learned that weeds (lies) about God must be removed first before addressing other areas
• Currently navigating infertility challenges while learning to experience joy alongside suffering
• Growing in understanding that God is safe and trustworthy, not a disappointed authority figure
• Realizing that behavior change follows heart transformation, not the other way around

"Rate and subscribe to our podcast on Apple and Spotify. Join us in Denver, Colorado from September 26-28 for fellowship and ministry. Partner with us at loverealityorg/give to help us continue preaching this gospel."

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Audree shares her powerful journey from carrying overwhelming guilt and shame over past mistakes to finding complete freedom in Christ and learning that God's love transcends our darkest moments.

• Growing up under a controlling father who ruled the family with a strict, dictatorial approach
• Running away from home at 17 and facing an unplanned pregnancy without support
• Choosing abortion and carrying the heavy burden of guilt for two decades
• Joining the military, getting married, and struggling with postpartum depression
• Committing adultery during a difficult period and almost destroying her marriage
• Facing her father's cancer diagnosis and death while dealing with marital crisis
• Finding a church community where she could ask questions and learn about God's grace
• Getting baptized and experiencing a transformative moment of freedom
• Sharing her testimony publicly and watching how her vulnerability helped others heal
• Understanding that one in four women have had abortions and many carry hidden pain

"I no longer had to carry the guilt and the shame and the unforgiveness for myself, the condemnation, all of it. It just fell away."

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Josh Newbegin shares his powerful journey from living a party lifestyle to becoming a burned-out church worker to finally discovering true freedom in the gospel of grace. His testimony reveals how the most significant transformation in his life wasn't leaving his partying days behind, but escaping the performance-based Christianity that kept him in a spiritual cage.

• Grew up in church but left to pursue adventure and the party lifestyle in snowboarding communities
• Found emptiness in his dream lifestyle despite achieving everything he thought would fulfill him
• Returned to faith but approached it with a performance mindset, trying to earn God's approval
• Experienced burnout from working so hard in ministry while simultaneously battling secret shame
• Discovered through mentorship that his value is intrinsic, not based on performance or others' opinions
• Realized he had become like the older brother in the prodigal son story – doing the right things for wrong reasons
• Found freedom when he understood God already declared him enough and worthy of love
• Now helps other men find freedom from pornography addiction by addressing the underlying pain
• Continues practicing "gospel" daily, reminding himself of the truth that he is already enough in Christ

If you're struggling with feeling that you're never doing enough for God, remember that your value isn't based on your performance. The gospel declares you are already enough because of what Jesus has done.

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Diana shares her transformative journey from rigid religious legalism to experiencing God's unconditional love and freedom in Christ. Her story reveals how understanding grace completely changed her life, healing her from addiction and anxiety.

• Growing up without a father, Diana was taught from childhood that God was her father
• Began experimenting with alcohol at age 10 while living as a latchkey kid
• Met her husband Micah in elementary school and married shortly after high school
• Struggled with postpartum depression after the miracle birth of their son
• Initially embraced extreme legalism in parenting and spiritual practices
• Became angry when her husband started exploring a grace-centered approach to faith
• Experienced a life-threatening COVID battle that became a spiritual turning point
• Found freedom from addiction and anxiety when she truly understood God's unconditional love
• Discovered in Romans 5:8 that God demonstrates His love through Christ's sacrifice while we were still sinners
• Now passionate about sharing the liberating truth of the gospel with others

If you want to experience this same freedom, join us for our Bible studies where we're growing and learning how to walk in liberty. Visit loverealityorg to get connected and partner with us through your generous giving.

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The gospel brings freedom from sin and transforms lives, yet preaching this message often comes with unexpected costs and opposition from established religious systems.

• Wes Vi discusses his complicated relationship with the church as an institution
• Understanding the "dark night of the soul" as a spiritual experience where God feels distant yet remains present
• Finding confidence in ministry through seeing the gospel transform lives
• How preaching changed when Wes began trusting the Spirit rather than perfectly planned manuscripts
• The controversy that arose when Wes partnered with Love Reality for evangelistic outreach
• Opposition growing through misrepresentations and accusations about Wes's theology
• Discovering that official church doctrinal statements actually aligned with his gospel teaching
• Making the painful decision to leave a church community he deeply loved
• Finding God's blessing and continued ministry opportunities in a new setting
• Learning that the gospel provides resilience through suffering without becoming bitter
• Baptizing sixteen people on his final Sabbath as evidence of gospel transformation

"You can stay and I'll bless you, or you can go and I'll bless you." When you walk in freedom, God remains faithful no matter where your journey leads.

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Micah Modrell shares his powerful journey from rigid religious legalism to discovering the transformative grace of the gospel that completely changed his understanding of God and his approach to ministry.

• Born and raised in an Adventist home with legalistic tendencies
• Parents divorced when he was eight, creating a split between "church house" and "fun house"
• Developed what he calls "an aggressive conscience" that led to cycles of guilt
• Married his high school girlfriend at 19, continuing to attend church but inconsistently
• Became extremely legalistic after having children, believing his salvation depended on behavior
• Struggled with addiction issues that worsened under legalism rather than improved
• Discovered Jonathan Leonardo's teaching that introduced him to a new understanding of God's grace
• Experienced a powerful shift from seeing God as "information" to seeing God as relationship
• Found new freedom to minister to others without needing to prove he was right
• Now lives with peace instead of constant striving, focusing on encouraging others

If you've been blessed by these stories of transformation, please support this ministry by visiting loverealityorg/give so we can continue producing these episodes and spreading the message of freedom in Christ.

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Stephanie shares her powerful journey from seeking love and validation in relationships to finding her true identity and freedom in Christ.

• Growing up in a Christian home with loving parents who demonstrated real faith daily
• Developing a destructive relationship framework in eighth grade after being cheated on
• Believing the lie that physical intimacy was required currency to gain and maintain love
• Meeting and marrying Taylor, but bringing unrealistic expectations into marriage
• Placing her husband on "the throne of her heart" instead of God
• Seeking affirmation outside marriage when feeling emotionally disconnected
• Experiencing the devastating consequences of an affair
• Finding transformation through understanding her true identity in Christ
• Learning that unconditional love comes first from God, not other people
• Walking in freedom and parenting from a foundation of complete acceptance
• No longer needing external validation to feel worthy and valued
• Sharing her story to help others recognize the lies that keep them in bondage

If you're struggling with finding your worth in relationships or battling guilt and shame from past mistakes, remember that your identity is not defined by what you've done but by who God says you are: loved, righteous, complete, and free in Christ.

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Nancy Dodson shares her transformative journey from a legalistic faith upbringing to discovering God's true nature through devastating grief after her son's suicide. She vulnerably explores how trauma reshaped her understanding of God and why churches often fail those experiencing profound loss.

• Growing up in a performance-based religious environment where salvation depended on a five-step process
• Experiencing abuse, divorce, and church trauma while maintaining a facade of spiritual stability
• Losing her 17-year-old son Tyler to suicide in 2019, creating a clear "before and after" line in her life
• Finding the freedom to question, rage, and wrestle with God without fear of disappointing Him
• Discovering that many Christians are uncomfortable with raw grief and unanswerable questions
• Realizing she wasn't wrestling with God but with what she'd been taught God was
• Embracing the mystery of faith instead of needing formulas and explanations for everything
• Learning that churches often lack the capacity to properly support those experiencing traumatic grief
• Finding comfort in knowing she'll be reunited with Tyler and all pain will be healed

If you're wrestling with faith questions or experiencing grief, remember that God can handle your raw emotions and authentic doubts. As Nancy says, "Don't let go," because even when you can't feel God's presence, He's walking alongside you.

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Kirsti shares her powerful journey from viewing God as distant to discovering His intimate love and presence within her. Her transformation reveals how understanding our identity in Christ brings freedom from both our own sins and the sins committed against us.

• Growing up with divorced parents in an unconventional household filled with exotic animals
• Feeling different from peers as the only Adventist in town
• Experiencing distant father figures that shaped her perception of God
• Losing her father suddenly during her freshman year of college
• Tragically losing her sister to suicide while in college
• Struggling in personal relationships due to seeking approval and worth
• Finding healing through intentional forgiveness toward her stepfather
• Discovering that Christ actually lives within believers
• Learning that God's love isn't earned through performance
• Experiencing transformation in parenting, relationships, and spiritual life
• Reading Scripture with new eyes and understanding
• Moving from religious obligation to genuine desire for God

If you want to experience this freedom too, join our Bible studies at lovereality.org where you can learn about your identity in Christ and discover how His love transforms everything.

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Reneze shares her miraculous birth story and spiritual journey from childhood struggles with rage to finding her purpose through God's transformative love.

• Born in Trinidad when doctors said her mother's fibroids made pregnancy impossible
• Grew up in a Jewish neighborhood in Brooklyn where Sabbath observance was part of the community
• Played with "guardian angels" as a child when feeling alone and isolated
• Experienced healing from rage when a teacher responded with compassion rather than punishment
• Found strength in Scripture, particularly Matthew 7:7 and Matthew 18:6
• Struggled with depression during college despite previous academic success
• Discovered her calling in counseling after teaching English in South Korea
• Faced health challenges similar to her mother's fibroids
• Navigated racial tensions during the pandemic that deepened her understanding of God's work
• Found community with Love Reality, reinforcing her belief in transformation through Jesus

"God really loves you, really cares. He's never left you or forsaken you and even though it's hard to be steadfast in your beliefs in Him, keep holding on. It gets better. God will answer those prayers. It may not be the next day, but God is working. He's never stopped working."

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