God Is the Author of Every Part of Our Stories: Nicholas Sparks & Mattie Jackson Smith

Today, we are thrilled to be joined by Nicholas Sparks, a renowned author whose novels like The Notebook and A Walk to Remember have touched hearts around the world. While many know him for his captivating love stories, few realize that Nicholas’ journey to writing was born out of personal setbacks and unexpected moments of faith. He’ll let us in on his latest book, Counting Miracles, ​​a powerfully emotional novel about wondering if we can change—or even make our peace with—the path we've taken. Later in the episode, we’ll hear from Mattie Jackson Smith—author, speaker, and daughter of country music legend Alan Jackson—as she shares about the process of grieving her husband, Ben, and the identity loss that came with it. As Mattie struggled to trust God in the face of unimaginable suffering, she watched as God turned her life story around in a way she never could have imagined.    Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Willie Robertson Upcoming interview: Dr. Sarita Lyons Jesus Calling commemorative edition Jesus Calling app - Premium subscriptions 20% off for a limited time!    Nicholas Sparks  The Notebook  A Walk to Remember  Counting Miracles Notre Dame Book of Job www.nicholassparks.com Other Jesus Calling interviews about forgiveness   Mattie Jackson Smith Alan Jackson Mattie’s first interview on the Jesus Calling Podcast John 11:35 NIV www.mattiejackson.net Through the Valley of Grief Other Jesus Calling interviews about making peace with our circumstances   Interview Quotes: “I’ve learned a couple of things about myself [while becoming a writer]. Number one, that I had it in me to finish a story once I started, and number two, there were parts of telling a story that I really enjoyed.” - Nicholas Sparks   “It's the nature of life for challenges to happen. And I think in the end, what is most important to God is that we choose to still believe.” - Nicholas Sparks “All of a sudden a widow at twenty-eight, it upends everything about your life. The loss and grief of him and our love, but also our future and everything else we had planned for. There is this devastating emptiness of that person not being in your life. But there is also this emptiness in this really painful and unwanted shift of our identity in relation to that person.” - Mattie Jackson Smith  “God didn't design us to hold the weight of death on our own.” - Mattie Jackson Smith  “He is always faithful not to fix our circumstances, but to meet us in them over and over and over again.” - Mattie Jackson Smith “What's the balance of really asking God for what I want and surrendering it to Him? He keeps writing our stories into more joy and into more beauty and into a more abundant life.” - Mattie Jackson Smith “You think back to being a kid and If you're afraid of the dark, it's still dark. But when your parents hold you tightly, what's around you doesn't change, but you feel secure. And I think that's the way that I experience the peace of God. And I think that's one of the most miraculous things that we experience as believers.” - Mattie Jackson Smith  ________________________ 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 Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This content may be triggering for some listeners. This week we talk with Scotty Hasting, a combat wounded Army infantryman turned national recording artist. Scotty’s journey from the battlefield to the stage is nothing short of remarkable. After surviving a harrowing attack in Afghanistan, where he was shot multiple times, Scotty fought to recover physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Through his battles with PTSD and depression, he found healing in music—an outlet that not only brought him peace, but gave him a new lease on life. Later in the episode, we’ll hear from Dave Gibbons, a globally connected advisor, author, and senior pastor at New Song Church in California. With a life shaped by diverse cultures and a deep understanding of human struggles, he opens up about his early experiences with faith, the hidden wounds from his past, and his journey through betrayal, forgiveness, and mental health breakthroughs—revealing how forgiveness has the power to heal even the deepest wounds.   Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Nona Jones Upcoming interview: Nicholas Sparks Jesus Calling commemorative edition   Scotty Hasting Black River Entertainment PTSD  U.S. Paralympic program “How Do You Choose” by Scotty Hasting 80th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy, France Dennis Bolt www.scottyhasting.com Other Jesus Calling interviews with veterans   Dave Gibbons www.davegibbons.org The Shape of My Eyes: A Memoir of Race, Faith, and Finding Myself, Other Jesus Calling interviews about betrayal and forgiveness   Interview Quotes: “After going through everything that I've gone through, it truly made me understand that life is precious, that every moment is precious, and that you need to live every second to the fullest. Because as I have seen, life can change very quickly.” - Scotty Hasting “When it's quiet is when the demons knock the loudest. And for the longest time, I wanted nothing to do with going to church and with God.” - Scotty Hasting “As someone who suffers from PTSD, depression, and anxiety, it's hard to find a moment to be lost in, because it's hard to not be over there. It's hard to not be back in Afghanistan all the time.“ - Scotty Hasting “PTSD and depression and anxiety will always be there. My relationship with God makes it a little bit more manageable.” - Scotty Hasting “It makes me incredibly proud to be able to say that I served my country, that I was a part of something bigger than myself. I'm a part of a brotherhood that will never waver, a brotherhood that will always be there for each other no matter what.” - Scotty Hasting   “Suffering can actually be part of a way to go deeper into your humanity.” - Dave Gibbons “When you realize how much you've been loved and forgiven, it helps you to love others.” - Dave Gibbons  ________________________ 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 Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Country music has a rich tradition, inspired by gospel music—sharing a common core of storytelling, emotional expression, and a love of faith and family. Some of today’s brightest country stars embrace those roots, and sing their faith to the thousands of listeners who come to their shows and buy their music. Today, we have a special bonus episode featuring some of those artists, all who have contributed to a brand new collection of music from Jesus Calling, called “Songs for Sundays.”    Links to Full Episodes Anne Wilson Jordan Davis Mattie Jackson Smith Reba McEntire ________________________  Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube TikTok Jesus Calling Website   *Episode produced by Four Eyes Media* Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

*This episode mentions suicide and depression and may not be suitable for all listeners.* Our first guest is Sabrina Greenlee—the mother of NFL star DeAndre Hopkins, a grandmother, and a survivor—whose faith was the lifeline that broke the cycle of violence that followed her throughout her life.  Later in the episode, we’ll hear from professional IndyCar driver Sting Ray Robb, who shares how his childhood passion evolved into a lifelong career, and how his faith has guided him through life’s most uncertain times, both on and off the track.   Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Mary Marantz Upcoming interview: Scotty Hasting Jesus Calling commemorative edition   Sabrina Greenlee DeAndre Hopkins Other Jesus Calling guests talking about domestic violence disputes Augusta Burn Center Philippians 4:13 NIV www.sabrinagreenlee.co Grant Me Vision   Sting Ray Robb NTT IndyCar series Skip Barber series James 1 NIV Ecclesiastes 4 NIV Proverbs 16:9 NIV Other Jesus Calling guests talking about achieving their dreams www.stingrayrobb.com   Interview Quotes: “I began to start repairing my life. What that looked like, I had no idea. I just knew that I couldn't allow my children to be captivated by the streets or people. I made up my mind that what happened to me, I didn't want them to use as an excuse for them not succeeding in life.” - Sabrina Greenlee  “There were so many different things that happened to me, and each time I got up. No matter what happened, I stood for myself. I stood in my truth.” - Sabrina Greenlee “Once I found the presence of God and He met me where I was, everything turned around. But you first have to surrender and give God your life. In the end, He'll give you the glory for your story.” - Sabrina Greenlee  “It kind of seems that how I was challenged in the racing world, I was also challenged in my faith. I said a long time ago that I would not be a racer if it wasn't for my faith. It's my foundation that I lean on, and it's the thing that I call to and find purpose in.” - Sting Ray Robb  “I had the realization and clarity and peace that came from knowing that [the race] wasn't in my control. I could trust God's sovereignty.” - Sting Ray Robb “I'm doing my best with racing to glorify Him and use this as a platform to reach others and provide some form of excellence that people can see a reflection of God through.” - Sting Ray Robb  “God has called us in a direction, and it's our job to hitch ourselves to that direction and go with what He's telling us to do.” - Sting Ray Robb   ________________________ 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 Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

On this episode of Jesus Listens, we hear from Dr. Jim Burns, the president of HomeWord and a renowned author and speaker. Dr. Burns shares his passion for empowering families to succeed by helping parents and children navigate the challenges of today's culture.    Guest’s Links Facebook: @jim.burns Instagram: @drjimburns   Twitter: @drjimburns ________________________  Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Jesus Calling Website TikTok   *Episode produced by Four Eyes Media* Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

*This episode contains mature content and may not be suitable for all listeners.* This week, we’re joined by Sherry Hoppen—author, speaker, recovery coach, and founder of She Surrenders. Sherry recounts her family history of alcohol abuse, and how she herself descended into a secret addiction to alcohol, all the while trying to paint the perfect picture of her life as a wife, a mom, and a Christian.  Later, we’ll hear from author and advocate Tanya Glessner, who also struggled with addiction's grip, one fueled by the trauma and violence she experienced in her childhood. Spiraling into a life filled with drugs and crime, Tanya eventually went to prison, where unexpectedly, she had a personal and spiritual awakening.   Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Ryan Sheckler Upcoming interview: Sabrina Greenlee Jesus Calling commemorative edition   Sherry Hoppen She Surrenders addiction to alcohol addiction grows in the dark Ride 4 Life “Revelation” by Third Day Jeremiah 29:11 NIV www.shesurrenders.com www.selahhouserecovery.org Sober Cycle: Pedaling Through Recovery One Day At A Time   Tanya Glessner Fort Scott Compassionate Ministries The Light You Bring Interview Quotes: “From the outside, yeah, it all looks pretty good. I wore the mask of everything: Christian, mom in the community, my husband was an elder. There was no place for me to stand up and say, ‘I'm an alcoholic and I need help.’” - Sherry Hoppen   “I knew that [alcohol] had the power to take away everything I love, every single thing. So I raised one hand in the air to God and with the other unscrewed the bottle over the sink. And I said, ‘God, take it. I surrender my life and I give it to you. I'm yours. I'll do whatever you want.’ And I poured it down the sink.” - Sherry Hoppen  “The grace that God showed me each and every day, even while I was drinking, was the only thing that rescued me from complete self-destruction and saved my life.” - Sherry Hoppen  “I'll always cherish the memories of how God started to mend my brokenness.” - Tanya Glessner  “I am living proof that no one is too far gone to be saved. God never wastes a hurt. He is using my past to write others' futures.” - Tanya Glessner  “Prayer is like picking up the phone and calling the one person you know you can count on in any situation, no matter what time it is.” - Tanya Glessner  ________________________ 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 Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

*This episode mentions violence and may not be suitable for all listeners.* This week, we’re joined by two remarkable guests: former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and evangelist Preston Perry. Both have navigated complex challenges, from political arenas to personal struggles, all while remaining deeply committed to their faith in God. Scott Morrison reflects on his time as Prime Minister of Australia, leading through natural disasters, global crises, and the balancing act of being a husband and father. He offers a candid glimpse into how his relationship with God sustained him during his years in public service. Later, we’ll hear from Preston Perry, a poet, author, teacher, apologist, and evangelist from the South Side of Chicago. Growing up in challenging circumstances, Preston’s life took a transformative turn through a series of encounters with mentors and personal tragedies, guiding him to discover God’s purpose and use his gifts to reach others through his powerful words.   Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Terence Lester Upcoming interview: Sherry Hoppen Jesus Calling commemorative edition   Scott Morrison  Jesus Calling App Plans For Your Good   Preston Perry With The Perrys 1 Peter 3:15 NIV Moody College in Chicago www.preston-perry.com How To Tell The Truth: The Story of How God Saved Me To Win Hearts, Not Just Arguments   Interview Quotes: “In our home, it was not about what you accumulated as what you contributed.” - Scott Morrison “I don't know how people do politics and don't have faith. Frankly, I don't know how they survive it. You've got to be able to know what you're about and what you're trying to achieve. And that can't be about you.” - Scott Morrison  “I really drew on my faith to give me that strength, to give me that endurance, to give me that resilience, to give me the hope and the optimism that I so often needed. And it was a refuge. It was a storehouse.” - Scott Morrison “By all means, stand up for the principles of God, and then the Word of God and what His eternal standards are. Hold fast to those things. Let's not forget what the goal is. The goal is to honor Him and glorify Him.” - Scott Morrison  “You are, as a human being, created by His hand, in His image, for His glory. That means you're special. He had His designs for you before you were even born. And when you ground your identity in that, then the storms come and you can weather them.” - Scott Morrison   “I think what my grandmother's words showed me was that this God that she served was real and tangible. It wasn't just behavior modification. It wasn't just duties. It wasn't just standing outside, passing out your literature. This real God was able to come and give her strength and joy and comfort her in her time of need.” - Preston Perry  “Jesus came for souls. He didn't come to look smart or intelligent or to look like He knew better than the next man, or just win arguments. He wanted to win people. And so if the information we know is what we find our identity in and not the God that we know, we'll always treat people like projects and not image bearers.“ - Preston Perry “I've learned in evangelism to ask good questions. Because when you ask good questions, people teach you how to serve them.” - Preston Perry  ________________________ 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 Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This week, we explore how two individuals answered the call to serve those in need, and how their actions have sparked movements of care and compassion that are changing lives one small step at a time. We’ll hear from Adrien Lewis, a devoted husband, father, and founder of CarePortal, an innovative platform that connects churches and communities to families in need. Adrien shares how a mission trip to Haiti transformed his life, shifting his perspective and leading him to put his faith into action.  Later in the episode, we'll hear from Cara Finger, a foster and adoptive mom who—after witnessing children in foster care carry their belongings in trash bags—felt compelled to create My Bag My Story. This ministry provides quality bags for these children, giving them dignity and a sense of belonging during their most challenging transitions.   Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Evan Dougoud Upcoming interview: Scott Morrison Jesus Calling commemorative edition   Adrien Lewis CarePortal Global Orphan Project Matthew 25:40 NIV   Cara Finger My Bag My Story   Interview Quotes: “I think God just gave us a bigger vision for our lives, a bigger purpose than we had before. We started to think about ourselves and what we could be part of to change the world, and how much that mattered to us, how much we wanted that, and how much we knew that Jesus wanted that for us.” - Adrien Lewis  “Everybody has a chance at transformation. And connection is the thing that changes everything.” - Adrien Lewis  “When we became foster parents, every child that came to us came through our door carrying their belongings. We were handed either a grocery sack, a trash bag, or nothing carrying the children's belongings, and it kept bothering me.” - Cara Finger “Having a bag to carry your stuff in, to carry your belongings in is so important. It is very, very important for kids. If you are made to leave your home in the middle of the day or in the middle of the night, how some of these kids do, it's one simple thing that can make a child feel valued and seen.” - Cara Finger  “Even though a bag seems really small, it makes a huge difference in a child's dignity and their organization and feeling like they have something to call their own, to carry their belongings in.” - Cara Finger   “It is very important to give our life away somehow. We were not meant to not live in community. Everybody needs everybody.” - Cara Finger  ________________________ 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 Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This week, we’ll hear from two influential voices in the Christian community, Joe Dobbins and Aimee Byrd. Joe Dobbins, pastor of Twin Rivers Church in St. Louis, Missouri, and author of Hope After Church Hurt, shares he and his wife's painful experiences with their church and the healing process that followed. His insights provide a roadmap for those struggling with similar wounds, offering steps toward restoring faith and re-engaging with the church. Following Joe's story, our next guest is speaker, blogger, and podcaster Aimee Byrd. Aimee opens up about her lifelong journey of searching for belonging in the church, and how she learned through trials and painful hurts that God wants us to ask questions, and even though we might be scarred by those who twist truths to facilitate how they think we should live, we can find our way back to God and what He says about how we were meant to live.    Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Levi Lusko Upcoming interview: Adrien Lewis Jesus Calling commemorative edition   Joe Dobbins Twin Rivers Church  Luke 6:28 NIV Romans 8:29 NIV Psalm 103:13 and 14 NIV Hope After Church Hurt   Aimee Byrd Recovering from Biblical Manhood and Womanhood John 12:24 NIV www.aimeebyrd.com The Hope In Our Scars   Interview Quotes: “The season that followed that painful experience was one where we physically attended church, but we withheld our hearts, and the rejection we felt caused us to lose confidence in leaders. It created a distrust for people, and it did cause us to question our place in the community…God is omnipresent, meaning He's everywhere that we are at all times. But just because you are in His presence doesn't mean you have entered His presence. To enter God's presence, meaning to receive Him, your heart has to be open. And pain had caused my heart to close.” - Joe Dobbins “Healing begins by knocking your feelings off the throne of your heart and allowing Jesus to retake His proper place.” - Joe Dobbins  “Forgiveness is never a one-time event. It's a daily exercise, that every time you remember how they hurt you, you're going to have to decide to release it and forgive it again. And eventually what happens is that practice causes the decision in your head to move into the feelings in your heart. And if you'll do it enough, you'll eventually find the pain you've been carrying from rejection is replaced with God's peace.” - Joe Dobbins   “Jesus said, ‘Follow me,’ not follow my followers. And I believe that a lot of church hurt is wrapped up when our expectations are not met from a person we esteem, or see that they should be further along in their journey.” - Joe Dobbins  “I think it's interesting today how Christians are really known more for the points they want to make. But yet Jesus was known for asking questions…the church would do well today to remember listening is loving, because often we too quickly jump to trying to tell people what they need to do before we understand the pain they've been through.” - Joe Dobbins  “I still had this vigor to learn more about God and who He was. And I started learning like, Oh, there's a word for that. It's called theology, just the study of who God is. And that fascinated me.” - Aimee Byrd   “I was traveling all over the place, meeting so many different women in the church, and realizing that there are many like me who are struggling as thinking women in the church who want to be more engaged theologically, who want to get into deeper Bible study, to be able to be invested in the whole heart of the church.” - Aimee Byrd   “There were so many things I needed to die to myself in this process of disillusionment and healing. But you look to the left and you look to the right and you realize there's a whole crowded underground of people doing the same thing, and that's what church should be.” - Aimee Byrd  “God wants us to come with our questions.” - Aimee Byrd  “We're here to tell our stories, to hold one another's stories. And as we look at our wounds and the scars as they're healing, they bear testimony to where we've been, what we're going through, where Christ has met us.” - Aimee Byrd ________________________ 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 Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Sometimes life hands us a situation, or an experience, that we never expected. Maybe it’s something exciting, like a new relationship or adventure, but sometimes it can be full of sorrow, too, like the loss of a job we loved or an unexpected illness that derails everything. But it’s in those moments that we find out who we are, and what God has made us capable of, giving us an opportunity to really show up for others. This week, we sit down with Josh Baldwin, a worship leader, songwriter, and artist with over two decades of experience. Josh opens up about walking through a challenging season of mental health in his family, and how he turned to music for comfort and direction from the Lord, which he now uses to bring comfort and peace to his listeners.  Later, we’ll hear from Diane Chew, known as Dementia Coach Diane, a life coach and caregiver for her husband, Ben, who has Lewy Body Dementia. Diane shares practical tips for dementia care and emphasizes self-care for caregivers, drawing from her experiences of over fifty years with Ben and the challenges of his cognitive decline. She finds solace and community through social media and discusses the crucial role of faith in navigating these challenges. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Jennie Finch Upcoming interview: Joe Dobbins Jesus Calling commemorative edition   Josh Baldwin “History Maker” by Delirious? www.joshbaldwin.com   Diane Chew Dementia Coach Diane Lewy Body Dementia Matthew 6:25 NIV Philippians 4:6-7 NIV Emotional Freedom Technique www.dementiacoachdiane.com   Song permission: Prince of Peace Josh Baldwin, Hank Bentley, Ben Fielding © 2023 Bethel Music Publishing (ASCAP) / Glory Ghost Publishing (ASCAP) (admin by Bethel Music Publishing). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.   Interview Quotes: “Wherever He's given permission to reign in my life, then the peace just automatically is there because the peace follows Him.” - Josh Baldwin  “I feel like it's hard for me to be anxious about things and grateful to the Lord for all He’s done at the same time.” - Josh Baldwin “I felt like all I could do was kind of react to one mini crisis after another. I was just responding and reacting to what felt like a constant emergency.” - Diane Chew   “I needed somehow to process everything that was happening every day. I wanted to find the blessings, but I was often trapped in my own head, and I was isolated and alone and scared and I didn't know what to do.” - Diane Chew  “We have three choices in life when we face circumstances that we didn't expect. We can change them, we can accept them, or we can suffer.” - Diane Chew  “It takes constant practice to look for the blessings, and to stay connected to something bigger than my thoughts and feelings.” - Diane Chew  “It takes stubbornness, I think, to not go down with the ship. I am not going to give up my life. Ben wouldn't want me to do that.” - Diane Chew  “The Holy Spirit will give us the wisdom to know what I just need to let go of, and what I can act on, and to give me that strength and faith to act when I can and let go when I can't.” - Diane Chew  ________________________ 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 Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.