Why Jesus Loves Messy Miracles with Pastor Samuel Rodriguez

From the pandemic Instagram lives to deep dive podcast conversations we have had an absolutely electric time on On a Lighter Note. It has been a journey of revelation, inspiration, pure joy and profound hope in the midst of truly dark and sometimes even scary times. As we wrap up Season 2 Elyse takes a look back at some of the most popular episodes over the seasons — reminding us of the wisdom we can glean as we embark on the next chapter. As always, this episode is for you exactly where you are as a reminder to keep the light on no matter how dark it may get. 

We all talk about “Cancel Culture” but have we confronted the fact that we all participate in some form? Responding to hate with more hate in the comments, liking mean-spirited posts, or laughing at the latest “social media dragging” are a few examples. How do we turn it all around for good? Here to shed light and a newfound perspective is Brittany Dawn, Founder of She Lives Freed and Chiseled and Called Podcast. Ultimately Brittany has walked through the fire of social media bullying and come out not smelling like smoke.  Her newfound intimacy with God and focus on his purpose is to blame in the best way and it’s helped her respond the bullies without becoming a bully herself  in the process… something we could all learn from.Through her vulnerability she invites us all to lay down our armor, confront our skeletons and remember to treat each other with the grace, sincere compassion and a very healthy dose of boundaries. It’s hard work, but it’s good work. This is a conversation that will leave you feeling genuinely uplifted comforted and hopefully inspired to look at the people we encounter with a heavenly perspective.  From Award-Winning Producer and Actress Roma Downey - we bring you the  “On A Lighter Note” Podcast - a conversational interview series hosted by Author & Speaker Elyse Murphy. We feature voices from all walks of life to speak into the ways we are coping with the unexpected twists and turns of life, while providing inspiration, hope and valuable insights to help us thrive during challenging times. 

Does checking your bank account give you anxiety? Do you feel hopeless about paying off mountains of student loan or credit card debt? Finances are often the trigger for anxiety and hopelessness in so many people today especially in America where 78% are living paycheck to paycheck. But here to dispel anxiety and fuel us with powerful truth is Financial Expert and bestselling author Rachel Cruze. We all need more education and grace when it comes to our finances.  Rachel is all about equipping everyday people and especially empowering women to take ownership of their financial life to find freedom. The Bible says the love of money is the root of all evil — it does not say the stewardship of money is. We are breaking off the shame that comes with money mistakes and embracing the power of kingdom stewardship. Knowledge is literally power and in this case money.  From Award-Winning Producer and Actress Roma Downey - we bring you the  “On A Lighter Note” Podcast - a conversational interview series hosted by Author & Speaker Elyse Murphy. We feature voices from all walks of life to speak into the ways we are coping with the unexpected twists and turns of life, while providing inspiration, hope and valuable insights to help us thrive during challenging times. 

What would you do if you had to fly a plane with no experience? Try the radio? Pray? Freak out? A man named Doug White had to learn first hand what flying by faith when was forced to safely land his family on a plane after the pilot died unexpectedly mid-flight. This episode we are joined by the man whose incredible true story became the inspiration for LightWorkers' latest film ON A WING AND A PRAYER now available on Prime Video starring Dennis Quaid. We are also joined by incredible screenwriter Brian Egeston who put pen to page to bring Doug's story to the world.  In this conversation we learn first hand the miraculous untold stories from the harrowing journey of that fateful Easter Sunday 14 years ago, to how Brian learned of his story, formed an unlikely friendship with Doug and the winding road to landing the movie in Hollywood just in time for its Easter anniversary. The once nightmare has became a profound testimony of God's faithfulness. This conversation and film will remind you of the power of prayer, the strength of community and restore your faith in miracles. Watch ON A WING AND A PRAYER - NOW AVAILABLE on Prime Video. https://www.amazon.com/Wing-Prayer-Dennis-Quaid/dp/B0B75TB7H8

Do miracles really happen? Join producer Roma Downey and film director Sean McNamara for an inside look at the making of their latest movie "On A Wing And A Prayer" arriving on Prime Video Friday April 7. Starring the incomparable Dennis Quaid, Heather Graham and Jesse Metcalfe and based on a miraculous and heroic true story of a man named Doug White played by Dennis Quaid as he goes on a harrowing journey to safely land a plane and save his entire family from disaster after their pilot dies unexpectedly mid-flight.  In this special making of, we go behind the scenes with Roma and Sean sharing stories from making a movie in a pandemic, to shooting in a tiny cockpit — to the string of “coincidences” that lead to the film coming together. This conversation and film will remind you of the power of prayer, the strength of community and restore your faith in miracles. Watch "On a Wing and a Prayer" streaming on Prime Video starting Good Friday, April 7th just in time for Easter.

Do you feel disqualified in asking God for help because of a mess you caused yourself? Or are feeling more and more hopeless that God will intervene in a crisis you can’t seem to find him in? Is any mess too big for God? In today’s episode of On a Lighter Note - Pastor Samuel Rodriguez is here to profess what God has proclaimed over our mess. Jesus knew exactly how to speak to our souls for this exact situation and he did it by doing the unexpected, by using the very mess we’re so defeated or feel bound by — to turn his most profound miracles.  In his latest book “Your Mess, God's Miracle: The Process Is Temporary, the Promise Is Permanent” — he guides us through the scriptural evidence that God is always working no matter what our state of mind, body and heart my understand at the time. You can pre-order your copy “Your Mess, God's Miracle: The Process Is Temporary, the Promise Is Permanent” - https://www.amazon.com/Your-Mess-Gods-Miracle-Temporary/dp/0800762061

We all want a miracle but we don’t want to actually NEED a miracle. Meaning we want the incredible miracle story, but not the mess, crisis or struggle that comes before it. So what happens when we can’t find God when we’re waiting on a miracle? What happens when we can’t understand why he won’t answer our prayer (the way we think it should be answered). Easter is the pinnacle of the ultimate miracle and it’s also a time we often reflect on the reality of our faith. Do I really trust God? Does he really do miracles in my life? And what happens when He doesn’t appear to answer it?  This Episode Elyse gets real about when faith became real to her. Through her own personal trials to those of the ones closest to her — she reminds us how it’s in the beautiful, broken and messy reality where God meets us with the biggest and brightest miracles that make faith what it is. From award-winning producer and actress Roma Downey's LightWorkers Media, welcome to the On a Lighter Note Podcast hosted by writer & speaker Elyse Murphy. Here we have conversations with people from all walks of life to speak into the ways we are coping with the ups, the downs and the detours of life to help us thrive even in challenging times. Even when it seems we're surrounded by darkness, there's always a little bit of light to be found - so let's go find it together! New episode airs every Tuesday.

What’s it actually like just starting a marriage? And not just the Instagram reel, post-honeymoon version but the real, vulnerable and heart striking humility. In part two of our amazing conversation on relationships, The Heart of Dating’s Kait & JJ Tomlin are here to tell all the lessons 6 months into marriage! From separating fairytales from truth, merging homes and schedules, the challenge of comparison and embracing the beautiful and messy life of covenant marriage that is worth everything. Kait and JJ are not holding back on the profound beauty and the Godly challenge of becoming one. Because no one is an expert except for God when it comes to relationships.  From award-winning producer and actress Roma Downey's LightWorkers Media, welcome to the On a Lighter Note Podcast hosted by writer & speaker Elyse Murphy. Here we have conversations with people from all walks of life to speak into the ways we are coping with the ups, the downs and the detours of life to help us thrive even in challenging times. Even when it seems we're surrounded by darkness, there's always a little bit of light to be found - so let's go find it together! New episode airs every Tuesday.

What is the secret to a healthy relationship? Can men and women really be friends? We’ve asked this question for eons but what if it's a lot more simple than we make it? The incredible clinical Psychologist and New York Times bestselling author Dr. Henry Cloud breaks down the most crucial element in every relationship — trust. We’ll dive into how to earn trust and recover when it’s broken. Dr. Cloud discusses how friendships are often the educational training camp for entering a romantic relationship. From dissecting why we make irrational decisions when we fall in love (the "love drug") to breaking down how Christian culture can inadvertently discourage men and women from being friends - we going all the way in.  This episode with Dr. Henry Cloud will equip and inspire you with the keys to healthier and happier relationships with our friends, romantic partners and  your community at large.   Pre-order your copy of Dr. Henry Cloud's new book "Trust" today, coming March 28th! From award-winning producer and actress Roma Downey's LightWorkers, welcome to the On a Lighter Note Podcast hosted by writer & speaker Elyse Murphy. Here we have conversations with people from all walks of life to speak into the ways we are coping with the ups, the downs and the detours of life to help us thrive even in challenging times. Even when it seems we're surrounded by darkness, there's always a little bit of light to be found - so let's go find it together! New episode airs every Tuesday. 

Has our world lost touch with kindness? How do we stay kind while managing our own feelings of pain or distrust of others? This incredibly special episode of On a Lighter Note we are taking a lesson from, LightWorkers president, award-winning actress, producer and the world's most famous angel Roma Downey from her latest book “Be an Angel” which is now available. Roma touches not only on the importance of extending compassion to others especially in our isolated post-COVID world, but she highlights the small and practical steps we cna take towards embracing acts of kindness as a lifestyle. In our relationship series we are touching on how we relate to others in our world and Roma is full of so much wisdom from her devotional “Be an Angel” sharing stories of forgiveness, grace and encouragement. From the highs to the lows, she will walk through the principles of how to be an angel. “Be an Angel” is a beautiful devotional full of quotes, scripture and reflections full of wisdom, affirmation, and encouragement to fill your cup to make the world a kinder place.  Order your copy of “Be an Angel” TODAY! https://linktr.ee/romadowney