This week on SPARK the Podcast, Jenna Shotmeyer shares all about forgiveness.  Jenna was only 18 and in her first semester of college when someone dropped a cooler from a balcony and onto her head, giving her a traumatic brain injury and completely changing her life.  Over the years, God radically healed Jenna physically.  Through His grace and forgiveness of us, God showed Jenna that forgiving others that owe a debt to us is something we can do, because through His love and mercy, He sent His only son to forgive the even greater debt we owe to Him.     

The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. - Psalms 103:8-12

Connect with Jenna Shotmeyer:

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/jennashots

Website- http://www.jshotmeyer.com

Learn more about NJ SPARK at www.njspark.co or follow us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/njsparkco.

This week on SPARK the Podcast, Stephanie Herrera shares about her and her husband’s journey to financial peace, and about how she found true contentment in God and growth in her relationships through the process. Stephanie explains how they practically managed their money on a weekly and monthly basis, the importance of creating a budget, and what it felt like to make the final payment on their debut and to be debut free. Finally, Stephanie shares how going through the financial peace journey changed her, the way she views money, and her thoughts about what brings true contentment.

Connect with Stephanie Herrera:

Learn more about NJ SPARK at www.njspark.co or follow us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/njsparkco.

This month on SPARK the Podcast, Amy and Mekina chat all about finding true contentment in God, not in things. Amy shares about the contentment challenge she has been on (through Nancy Ray) a challenge where she committed to give up all unnecessary shopping for three months from January - April. Amy explains what God has been showing her through this challenge, and how true contentment can be found in the simple everyday experiences, and in relationship with Him.

When we have God in our lives, we have been given such a gift, such a blessing! We have the opportunity to live a life that is focused on the things that bring true contentment, like the freedom to live without worry about the future, knowing that on this side of Heaven that we will not live a life without pain, sickness, and heartache, but knowing that our life is saved through the precious blood of Jesus Christ.  We have a God that loves us and is for us and not against us.  We have a God that wants to be in relationship with us, who loves us so much that He gave His son so that we can have life through Him.  I can not imagine a greater gift than that.

Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. -1 Timothy 6:6-8

Resources:

Contentment Challenge with Nancy Ray- https://nancyray.com/contentmentchallenge

Connect with Amy:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amyrizzutophotography

Website: www.amyrizzutophotography.com

Connect with Mekina

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mekinasaylor

Website: www.mekinasaylor.com

Learn more about NJ SPARK at www.njspark.co or follow us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/njsparkco.

This week on SPARK the Podcast, Mackenzie Grace shares all about what it looks like to have her heart radically changed by the grace of God. Mackenzie shares her thoughts on how we as Christians can run our business without falling into the traps of being prideful or boasting in our successes, and how can we focus on the path God has laid before us without judging others and judging ourselves.

"I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.  Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God." -1 Corinthians 4:3-5

Connect with Mackenzie Grace:

Website- www.mackgcreative.com

Instagram- www.instagram.com/mackenziegracecreative

Learn more about NJ SPARK at www.njspark.co or follow us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/njsparkco.

This month on SPARK the Podcast we are going to be talking about the Freedom of Self Forgetfulness! This short book by Tim Keller (it is only aa 45 minute read) had a big impact on us, and we highly recommend it! In a world that is constantly telling us to focus on ourselves, forge our own paths, and not worry about what anyone else thinks, the concepts in this book make so much sense, but really seem to go against the cultural norms. Amy and Mekina share an open and honest conversation about about pride, self esteem, humility, thinking of ourselves less, and finding true joy in the hope the gospel brings.

Learn more about NJ SPARK at www.njspark.co or follow us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/njsparkco.

Resources:

The Freedom of Self Forgetfulness by Timothy Keller

On this episode of SPARK the Podcast, Debbie Ryan shares her experience with reading through the Bible!  Debbie has read through the entire Bible seven times, and is reading through now for an eight!  Debbie explains how she approaches reaching the Bible, what she does when she comes across challenging passages, and how she knows what the Bible says is true. Thank you Debbie for sharing your wisdom and your heart!  We are so grateful for you!

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. -2 Timothy 3:16-17

Resources:

Mission:119- www.mission119.org

Dwell Bible-  https://dwellapp.io  

The Bible Project- https://bibleproject.com

Learn more about NJ SPARK at www.njspark.co or follow us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/njsparkco.

Amy and Mekina share all about reading the bible; the challenges and triumphs that come from studying God's word, and practical resources if you want to cultivate a daily habit of reading the bible too!  It is an honest and open conversation, and we hope you enjoy it!

Resources:

She Reads Truth Bible- https://shereadstruthbible.com

Dwell Bible App- https://dwellapp.io

Learn more about NJ SPARK at www.njspark.co or follow us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/njsparkco.

The new year is right around the corner and we are chatting about goal setting and resolutions!  While goals can be important, today we want to talk about one decision you can make that will not only change 2021 for you, it has the power to change your entire life.  If you haven’t made the decision to invite Jesus into your heart, and it is something that you have been curious about or have been considering, we want to invite you to do that with us today.

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. -Romans 20:9

Learn more about NJ SPARK at www.njspark.co or follow us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/njsparkco.

Christmas is almost here, and what a wonderful time of year this is!  On this episode of SPARK the Podcast, Amy and Mekina share all about their final preparations, chat through the exciting news of Mekina's engagement, and focus in on the true meaning of Christmas.  They read three beautiful passages about the birth of Jesus from the Bible, and talk about the sign this must have been for the shepherds that visited Him that night, and share what this sign means for us.  Join us in celebrating the birth of our savior, the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.  Thank you so much for listening, we hope you have a wonderful Christmas this year!

Learn more about NJ SPARK at www.njspark.co or follow us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/njsparkco.

This week we have asked our SPARK girls to share what Christmas means to them, what the true meaning of Christmas is, how to keep Christ at the center of Christmas and what brings true light and joy to this season. John 1:4-5 says “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”  This Christmas season, let’s turn our eyes towards the true light of the world.  We pray your days are filled with the hope, peace, joy and love that only Christ can bring.  Merry Christmas!

Compassion International

Learn more about NJ SPARK at www.njspark.co or follow us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/njsparkco.