Happy newly-weds Laura and Martin thought they had their whole lives filled with adventure and dreams ahead of them, when suddenly the news of a brain-tumor turned their life upside down. With Martin’s loss of short term memory, loss of partial eyesight, and other complications, the fairytale life they dreamed of was no longer possible. On today’s show Laura Story shares with us the unique challenges their family faces with Martin’s limitations, what the Lord has taught her through brokenness, and how joy and intimacy has been found through the life they never imagined. 

Laura Story is a wife, mother, songwriter, worship leader, author, artist, and Bible teacher. Her songs - which have won Grammy's, Billboard Music Awards, and Dove Awards - include "Blessings," and Chris Tomlin's "Indescribable." She is the author of several bestselling books and Bible studies including When God Doesn't Fix It and So Long Normal. Laura has a master of theological studies and doctorate in worship studies, and has served as a worship leader at Perimeter Church in Atlanta since 2005. Her greatest joy is being a wife to martin and mother to Josie, Ben, Griffin, and Timothy. 

Thanks for listening and sharing this episode with a friend! We hope that whatever challenges you’re facing, this episode encourages you to trust God’s faithfulness and know that just because your circumstances may not get better, you can. 

SHOW LINKS: 

When God Doesn't Fix It

Humility

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As we wrap up this four part series, New Year, Same You, I want to acknowledge that not all of us are looking forward to the year. Some of us have crawled into 2024 still feeling like we are purely surviving, still grieving the losses of 2023, and still healing from the damage done. You know better than anyone that just because it’s a new year, it’s not a new you. In part 4 of this series I discuss these unique challenges with the author of Not What I Signed Up For, Nicole Unice. 

As a pastor and community leader. She is the author of several books on healthy faith, honing in on the connection between our emotional and spiritual life. She’s the host of How to Study the Bible, a popular weekly podcast that reaches people in 188 different countries in the last year alone, and preaches frequently for conferences and churches. She makes her home with husband, Dave, in the historic Fan district of Richmond, VA with their three almost-grown children and two pups.

Nicole knows loss, grief, and failed expectations and as she emerges from that season she has a great word of encouragement for all of us. She challenges us not to miss the God-opportunities that are right in front of us, even in the hard, and to lean into truly living a life of faith through trusting God’s purposes.

SHOW LINKS:

Not What I Signed Up For 

Dwell Differently 

Beyond Our Control

Finances can be a touchy topic for so many people, but what if it doesn’t have to be that way? What if your money can serve you instead of you feeling like a slave to your money? This episode is part 3 of our 4 part series, New Year, Same You and today’s guest Rachel Cruze, challenges the way we think about our money. Rachel loves helping people get out of debt, take control of their money, build wealth, and actually have fun in the process! 

I’m all for having goals, but we can’t strive to hit unattainable goals for the wrong reasons! However, we can make changes by putting in the small steps over a period of time! During this four part series we discuss how we go into a new year as the same self but with the intentionality to make changes in our bodies, how we live out our calling, our finances, and our expectations. 

Rachel shares with us the best thing and the worst thing we could do with our money in 2024 and I hope this episode gives you a fresh perspective of what’s possible with your finances!

SHOW LINKS:

The Rachel Cruze Show 

Smart Money Happy Hour

Every Dollar Budget - Use this link for $15 OFF!

Smart Money Smart Kids 

I’m GIad for What I Have

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In part 2 of our January Bonus Series I have a discussion with Chelsea Sobolik on how women contribute to the Kingdom of God through our work. Chelsea is the author of "Called to Cultivate: A Gospel Vision for Women & Work" and "Longing for Motherhood: Holding Onto Hope in the Midst of Childlessness" She's the Director of Government Relations for World Relief, and lives in Northern Virginia with her husband Michael and their son, Dev. Chelsea is passionate about helping women understand that they have a vital role to play in the flourishing of their families, the church, their communities, and the kingdom of God through their work.

Friends, why do this series? I’m all for having goals and fresh starts, but we can’t strive to be people we’re not. We can’t strive to hit unattainable goals for the wrong reasons! However, we can make changes by putting in the small steps over a period of time! During this four part series we’re going to discuss how we go into a new year as the same self but with the intentionality to make changes in our bodies, how we live out our calling, our finances, and our expectations. 

What’s your next best step?

SHOW LINKS:

Called to Cultivate 

Liturgy of the Ordinary

Seven Women and The Secret of their Greatness

Why Can’t I Get It Together

We’ve all heard it said, “New Year, New You!” But let’s be honest, I’m the same person I was 13 days ago in 2023. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for having goals and fresh starts, but we can’t strive to be people we’re not. We can’t strive to hit unattainable goals for the wrong reasons! However, we can make changes by putting in the small steps over a period of time! During this four part series we’re going to discuss how we go into a new year as the same self but with the intentionality to make changes in our bodies, how we live out our calling, our finances, and our expectations. 

In part one of this series,  Alisa Keeton from Revelation Wellness challenges how we interact with our physical bodies as we go into the new year. Alisa is a wholehearted pursuer of God’s love. She is also an author, speaker, and the founder and CEO of Revelation Wellness. As a health and wellness professional for nearly 30 years, Alisa carries a deep passion for bringing fresh meaning to the world of health and fitness. 

On today’s show, Alisa encourages everyone to question where their desire to change their body comes from, what does it mean to have ability over vanity, and how even if you have a body that is limited you can still worship and glorify God through caring for it. We hope this episode challenges and encourages you to take your next best step. Make sure to listen to the end for some exciting news Alisa and I reveal!

SHOW LINKS:

Www.revelationwellness.org

Galatians 3:3

God Walk

Love-Paced Race

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Have you been following Jesus for a while and maybe have become disillusioned with it all? Maybe you’re someone who has needed to detangle your faith and the beliefs you were raised under. What if all of that was because of the ways we’ve been formed by modern western Christianity, and not by Jesus himself. In today’s episode John Mark Comer shares with us how we can truly be in relationship with Jesus, become like Jesus over time, and then do as Jesus did in our life. 

John Mark Comer is the founder of Practicing the Way, a nonprofit designed to create simple resources for church communities around the world. He is a New York Time’s bestselling author of seven books, including The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, one of my favorite books! John Mark holds a master’s degree in Biblical and Theological Studies from Western Seminary and these days, you can find him continuing to read, listen, and learn what it looks like to follow Jesus in community. 

I hope this episode encourages you to look, sound, and act more like Jesus!

SHOW LINKS:

Ruthless Elimination of Hurry 

Practicing the Way 

Why Can’t I Get It Together 

The Happy Hour Book Club

The Other Year 

The Body Keeps the Score

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Happy New Year friends! We are so excited for 2024 and all that it holds for us! Several months ago I read a book and immediately knew I wanted to start off 2024 on The Happy Hour with the author. Have you felt like you do a lot for God, and you still feel disconnected? Do you ever feel like you are reading your Bible all the time, and doing all the right things, yet still live in so much fear? Do you find yourself desperate for control? If any of that is you, you are not alone! On today’s show Holy Post Podcast Host and author, Skye Jethani challenges us to stop living our life under, over, from, and for God, and start living life with him! 

An award-winning author, speaker, and co-host of the Holy Post Podcast, Skye has written more than a dozen books and served as an editor and executive at Christianity Today for more than a decade. Raised in a religiously and ethnically diverse family, his curiosity about faith led him to study comparative religion before entering seminary and pastoral ministry. With a unique ability to connect Christian thought and contemporary culture, his voice has been featured  in The New York Times, USA Today, and The Washington Post, and he’s spoken to audiences throughout the world as diverse as the U.S. Naval Academy, The Chautauqua Institution, and the Lausanne Movement.

You guys, if you’re anything like me, this conversation may start off with a lot of conviction, but hang in there! There is so much hope in all of this too! Skye reminds us that from the beginning of time God has shown his people patience and grace while he waits for us to simply come be with him.

SHOW LINKS:

With

What if Jesus was Serious About Heaven?

What if Jesus was Serious about the Church?

What if Jesus was Serious about Prayer?

What if Jesus was Serious?

The Holy Post

Pivot

Skye Jethani

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A new year always brings mixed emotions. As we remember 2023 and look ahead to a new 2024 my prayer is that we embrace all that God has for us! 

SHOW LINKS:

Romans 12:12

www.dwelldifferently.com (code JAMIE)

With

The Holy Post 

Practicing the Way

The Other Year

Happy Hour Book Club

Why Can't I Get It Together

Last month I had the opportunity to go to the Mexico/United States border with Women of Welcome and World Relief. A group of friends and Happy Hour listeners joined me and we had the opportunity to gain proximity to those who were living the experience of immigration, as well as meet with pastors, community leaders, and border patrol officers to learn more about this issue. This was my third trip and I still walked away immensely impacted by the stories shared. In this month's bonus series you'll hear from two leaders who led the trip and a few voices from those who attended. 

On the final episode of this three part series, I have a conversation with the leaders of the trip, Bri Stensrud and Matthew Soerens. Bri Stensrud is an author and human dignity advocate who leads a nationwide Christian women's community called Women of Welcome. The community is dedicated to diving into the whole of scripture to understand God’s heart for the immigrant and refugee in an effort to live out biblical hospitality in an authentic way.

Matthew Soerens is the Vice President for Advocacy & Policy at World Relief and the National Coordinator of the Evangelical Immigration Table. He’s the coauthor of several books including Welcoming the Stranger: Justice, Compassion & Truth in the Immigration Debate and Inalienable: How Marginalized Kingdom Voices Can Help Save the American Church. He lives in Aurora, Illinois with his wife Diana and their four kids.

Immigration may be a topic that has been politicized, but I believe it's a topic that is close to the heart of God and should be important to every Christ follower. My prayer as you listen to these episodes is that you'll be filled with questions and the desire to learn more about what God's Word says on this topic. I pray that we are moved to be compassionate and loving to all of our neighbors.

SHOW NOTES:

The Little Liar

Give them Grace

Free Family Refugee Guide 

World Relief, The Path

Good Neighbor Teams

Women of Welcome

Matthew Soerens article on Holy Post

Welcoming the Stranger: Justice, Compassion and Truth in the Immigration Debate

Inalienable: How Marginalized Kingdom Voices Can Help Save the American Church

Seeking Refuge: On the Shores of the Global Refugee Crisis 

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