SPARK the Podcast

On this episode of SPARK the Podcast, Erica Freitas shares her thoughts on endurance and racism.  She prays a beautiful prayer when she says, "My prayer is that we can finally see change. I stand for the sanctity of life of every person. We are made in HIS image."  

Connect with Erica Freitas:

Website- www.ericaleephotographyny.com

Instagram- www.instagram.com/ericaleephotography

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

On this episode of SPARK the Podcast, Angela Cardenas shares her story of her battle with leukemia. When she was in the hospital, Angela prayed “God, don’t let me loose sight of your love for me.” Through prayer, positivity, trusting in the process, and a little bit of faith, Angela battled cancer. She encourages others going through a difficult season to take it a day at a time, an hour at a time, and sometimes, even a minute at a time. Finally, Angela reminds us that God is always with us, no matter what.

Want to find an easy and practical way to help? Angela encourages us to become a bone marrow donor.  Register at bethematch.org. It only takes 5 minutes, and you could save someone’s life.

Connect with Angela Cardenas

Website: https://angelacardenas.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/angela.cardenas

Learn more about SPARK and join our weekly bible study online or in person!

Website: njspark.co

Instagram: www.instagram.com/njsparkco

On this special round table episode of SPARK the Podcast, Cinnamon Wolfe, Nichole Tippin, Cassi Claire, Sarah Kukan, and Mekina Saylor share their hearts and perspective on endurance in 2020 and how they have seen God working in their lives.

Each guest talks through her plans and goals for 2020, then shares what the year has actually looked like.  Cinnamon, Nichole, Cassi, Sarah and Mekina explain how God has been refining them, changing them, and what He has been showing them. They encourage us not to try and take on everything on our own, but to lean into God’s endurance.  By pulling back and looking at the big picture, we can see glimpses of God’s goodness and love, even in the midst of challenging situations.

Guests:

Cinnamon Wolfe - 5:22

Website: www.cinnamonwolfe.co

Instagram: www.instagram.com/cinnamonwolfe.co

Nichole Tippin - 8:51

Website: www.nicholetippinphotography.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/nicholetippinphotography

Cassi Claire - 15:05

Website- www.cassiclaire.com

Instagram- www.instagram.com/cassiclaire

Sarah Kukan - 28:58

Website: www.graceandpace.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/graceandpace

Mekina Saylor - 40:07

Website: www.mekinasaylor.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/mekinasaylor

Learn more about SPARK at njspark.co and join the conservation on Instagram at www.instagram.com/njsparkco.

In this episode of SPARK the Podcast, Mekina and Amy talk through what the bible says about endurance.  They dive into what it looks like to turn away from sin and run the race, with endurance, that God has set before us. If we as Christians are desiring to follow God’s will for our lives, seeking after His plans to make disciples of all nations and teach them in His ways, where does our hope come from when times get hard? 

Simply put,  It comes from hope in our Lord Jesus Christ!  The first and most important thing we can do is to fix our eyes on Jesus, as true hope can be found in Him!

In John 14:27 we are reminded of this when Jesus says “ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid”.

Sometimes we just need a bit of a reminder that, even though life has its challenges, the hope of the gospel isn’t about this life. The hope of the Gospel is in the life that God has planned for us, living in relationship with Him while on earth, and then having the joy of  praising him eternally in heaven.

www.njspark.co

While Fabiana learned about God from her mom when she was a little girl, she remained skeptical about religion and didn't fully understand what being a Christian and having a relationship with Jesus meant.  Through a series of unique events, Fabiana moved from Brazil to the United States and ended up living with a Christian family.  Their love and respect for one another grew her desire to know more about God, especially after she met her now husband Jonathan and saw the same qualities in him.  Fabiana cried out to God, asking to understand all of this and to know Him, and the very next day, God answered her prayer!  Hear Fabiana's beautiful testimony on this episode of SPARK the Podcast.  "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." - Jeremiah 29:13

www.njspark.co

In this episode of SPARK the Podcast, Jordan Jones dives into what her prayer life looks like and how journaling deepens her relationship with God.  Jordan talks through what it looks like to pray with her husband, and how together, they created the Kairos journal to help others build the habit of meeting with God each day. This is such a beautiful conversation about how prayer changes our study of the knowledge of God, to the pursuit of God himself.

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.  Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.  -Ephesians 3:16-20

www.njspark.co

In this episode of SPARK the Podcast, Deborah Ryan shares about the incredible power and potential in prayer. She dives into what the Bible says about prayer, why we pray, how we enter into prayer, and how God does answer prayer, but not always in the way we ask. Why do we pray? Simple answer, because Jesus prayed. Following a life of Jesus and exemplifying HIS life is what we do as believers in Jesus!  Through prayer, we invite the God of the Universe into a situation and into our lives. Prayer changes things, but even more prayer changes us.  “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Prayer is a two way conversation, a beautiful way to have an intimate relationship with God. This week on SPARK the Podcast, Amy and Mekina dive into the power of prayer, and what prayer looks like in their daily lives. They share stories of healing, big and small moments of answered prayer in their lives, and what hearing God looks like for them. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." -Philippians 4:6-7

Lauren Kearns grew up knowing who God was her whole life, but didn't fully understand that He was seeking a daily relationship until her husband explained the gospel to her right before they were married at 18 years old.  Lauren shares about the exciting way God transformed her life and talks through the fear that having a true relationship with God would make her an outcast. Her story so beautifully points to the fact that following God is not always the wider path, but it is the more important path.  Lauren shares, "I know way more now than back when I knew everything, and that is because Christ is at the center of my life."  

"Faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we do not see." -Hebrews 11:1

How is our identity directly linked to our purpose?  In this episode of SPARK the Podcast Jenna Shotmeyer shares how a traumatic brain injury at the age of 18 forced her to reexamine God’s purpose for her life.  When Jenna lost pieces of her memory and her health, her plan for her life changed.  Even when our purpose changes, our identity remains the same.  Jenna explains that being a child of God is enough, and gives encouragement and hope for those searching for their identity and place in this world.

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. -John 1:12