Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith

What It Means to Be Truly Known: Ben Higgins & Jamie MacDonald

This week, we welcome Ben Higgins back to the show—entrepreneur, author, and former star of The Bachelor who has turned public fame into a platform for authentic connection. Ben shares why true connection can’t be found through screens or status, but through honest conversation and shared life with others. Later in the episode, we’ll hear from Nashville singer-songwriter Jamie MacDonald. From growing up in a home where singing wasn’t allowed to standing on stages sharing songs of hope, Jamie’s story is a powerful reminder that some voices are too full of light to stay silent. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Ali Gilkeson Upcoming interview: Jordan Smith Jesus Listens: Prayers for Every Season Ben Higgins Generous Coffee Alone in Plain Sight www.thebenhiggins.com www.generouscoffee.com Jamie MacDonald Michael W. Smith Stephen Curtis Chapman www.jamiemacdonaldmusic.com Interview Quotes: “There’s still this piece of our heart that screams out to sit beside somebody else, to look somebody else in the eye, to ask them the questions that actually matter. I think we’re seeing that even when everything’s handed to us, there’s still something missing, which is the connection to humans face-to-face.” - Ben Higgins “I think if you want to really get to know somebody, if you really want for somebody to get to know you, you have to let them see the stop moments of your life. You have to be able to sit with them in their roughest seasons and their most joyous seasons and celebrate when joy is at the table and also mourn with them when maybe mourning is necessary.” - Ben Higgins “Life doesn’t give us the gift of hiding out when pain is at the forefront of our experience. I think we’ve all learned that when pain is a part of our life, sitting alone in that is not the most healing. It is getting with people who can relate. It is speaking to professionals who can process. It is getting around friendships who can love on you and getting around family who can give you a hug.” - Ben Higgins “When divisiveness is no longer the common thread amongst us as humans, I think we’re going to really look back on a time where we maybe burnt too many bridges and be embarrassed by that. I want to hopefully give people the warning to not jump too quickly into cutting everybody out that they don’t agree with.” - Ben Higgins “Being in the public eye has taught me that the more vulnerable I become and the more outspoken I become on the things that are tough in my life, the more connected I feel to others because there’s other people dealing with it also.” - Ben Higgins “I knew I felt good singing. It’s the one thing that brought me the most joy throughout some of my lonely, hardest times when I was young. It brought me happiness and peace. And it was also a way to encounter God’s presence.” - Jamie MacDonald “There were just a lot of miracles that [God] did in my life to get me out of that place, and it’s been a slow, steady climb—a lot of behind the scenes work that He’s done in my heart to heal me and all the identity issues that come with letting your life hit the bottom.” - Jamie MacDonald “Singing in the prison really gave me courage again and hope to sing, and it really gave me my why. When they sing in there, there’s no cameras, there’s nobody putting them on YouTube. It’s all for the Lord, and it’s an encounter with God’s presence and a ministry to each other.” - Jamie MacDonald “I think where all of the best songs come from is when you can be yourself and you’re not trying to reach a certain audience necessarily or trying to be commercial.” - Jamie MacDonald “God is really good at picking up the broken pieces and making it into something beautiful. I want people to know that it’s never too late, and no matter what you’ve done in your life, when you give it to Jesus and you turn to Him and you confess and you give Him those things, He chooses to forget them.” - Jamie MacDonald ________________________ 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.

[JESUS LISTENS MONTHLY SERIES] God Delights In Our Willingness to Try: Heather Thompson Day

“Passion is what we can't stop doing despite not having any accolades or open doors.” Get ready for a real and raw conversation on Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer as Heather Thompson Day shares her journey with Susie McEntire-Eaton. Discover how to find God's delight in our attempts, even in failure. Guest’s Links Heather’s YouTube: @heatherthompsonday1 Heather’s Facebook: @HeatherThompsonDay Heather’s Instagram: @heatherthompsonday Watch this interview on our YouTube channel! https://bit.ly/480YXcq ________________________ 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.

Let the Christmas Spirit Ring: Brenda Lee & Philip Nation

This week, we welcome a music legend whose voice has become synonymous with the sounds of the season. At just twelve years old, Brenda Lee recorded “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” She shares memories of recording in Nashville alongside country greats, her deep respect for the team behind every hit, and the enduring value of kindness in a competitive industry. Later in the episode, we’ll hear from pastor, author, and publisher Philip Nation, who has dedicated his career to making Scripture accessible to readers everywhere. Philip opens up about his desire to know and understand God’s Word more fully. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Lisa Harper Upcoming interview: Ben Higgins Jesus Listens: Prayers for Every Season Brenda Lee “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” Owen Bradley Johnny Marks Anita Kerr Quonset Hut Studio Loretta Lynn www.brendaleeofficial.com Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree book Philip Nation Gospel of John John 3:16 John 17 Hosea 14:4 about.me/philipnation Interview Quotes: “It was a team effort, so if I had a hit, so did they, all those wonderful people. And we just had a ball.” - Brenda Lee “I try to tell the new artists that are coming up, ‘You don’t do this by yourself. You may be the greatest singer that ever walked the earth, but if you don’t conform and listen, you’ll still be a great singer, but nobody will know.’” - Brenda Lee “If you don’t make it on your voice, you’ll make it on your kindness. Goodness always wins out.” - Brenda Lee “I think that walking alongside other people in celebrations and in painful times, and constantly looking to the Scripture to inform, guide, and help you make decisions, to find hope when times are dark, and to be able to magnify your joys when you’re celebrating—to do that together is the very nature of what we see God unfolding in the Bible.” - Philip Nation “[God] is constantly calling people together to live by faith and to walk through this world, not as lone rangers and solitary believers, but to do it together.” - Philip Nation “There is plenty of anxiety and stress and pressure that just flows through our lives, which is why we need the study of Scripture. It’s why we need to be able to pause in prayer [and do as] the Scripture tells us, to pray without ceasing, just to let our hearts be abounding in prayer and our minds being constantly renewed by the Scripture.” - Philip Nation “When I pick up the Bible, I realize that this is God knowing what humanity is all about and desiring to speak with me personally, kindly, and clearly. Even in the midst of stress and anxiety, it is the place we can turn our minds and allow the Holy Spirit to say, ‘I want to meet you and care for you in this moment of need.’” - Philip Nation ________________________ 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.

Finding Hope in the Most Challenging Seasons: Candace Cameron Bure & Shawn Johnson

This episode mentions suicide and may be triggering for some listeners. On today’s episode, we talk with two guests who have navigated both the heights of success and the depths of personal struggle, learning a profound truth: finding hope isn’t just for the good times. Candace Cameron Bure, the beloved actress and author, shares how she rooted her identity not in Hollywood fame, but in her faith, discovering her true value when the applause stopped. Then, Pastor Shawn Johnson opens up about his lifelong battles with anxiety, depression, and a devastating medical diagnosis, revealing how he found the courage to “kiss the fire” and walk through his hardest seasons with God’s strength. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Anthony Lucia Upcoming interview: Brenda Lee Candace Cameron Bure Full House Fuller House Bob Saget Luke 2 NIV Jesus Listens for Advent and Christmas www.candacecbure.com Pastor Shawn Johnson Attacking Anxiety Kiss the Fire Mayo Clinic Parkinson’s disease www.redrockschurch.com Interview Quotes: “I really started digging deeply into the Word of God and understanding that my identity isn’t in my occupation, who I know, or how much money I have. My identity is rooted in Christ, that I am the daughter of the King. My purpose is to glorify God in all that I do.” - Candace Cameron Bure “There was always a hug at the end of Full House and Fuller House, and we always worked through the problems. It was a really great model for so many people that have families that don’t feel safe. This was a family that they could look to for that.” - Candace Cameron Bure “My joy comes from the Lord and the goodness that He gives me and having hope in Him for eternity. And through that joy, He gives me my strength to persevere each day, to endure every day, to take another step, to be able to breathe deeply. God calls us to walk with Him, and you can’t get to know someone if you don’t spend time with them.” - Candace Cameron Bure “As a working woman, there are so many days that I can feel overwhelmed. I have to remind myself that my joy doesn’t come from the circumstances around me, but from the Lord. He gives me the strength to persevere, endure, and take another step each day.” - Candace Cameron Bure “I started to realize the more I would be willing to talk about my real struggles, the more people felt like, Oh my gosh, me too. If that guy can admit he struggles, then I could too.“ - Shawn Johnson “We’re gonna kiss this fire and walk away whistling. That phrase ‘kiss the fire’ just sort of became almost like a mantra for me. I didn’t talk to anyone else about it, but I would remind myself daily that, I’m not going to give up. I’m not going to quit. I’m not going to stop trusting God, although part of me wants to. I’m not gonna stop believing that He has a plan for my future. I’m not going to stop trying to do the things I think He’s called me to do.” - Shawn Johnson “I work out a lot, and remind myself every day that none of us know how long we’re going to live. And so today I’m going to be a really good dad to my three boys. I’m going to be a good husband to my wife. I’ll try to be a great pastor this week, a good friend.” - Shawn Johnson “A daily devotion is so important because life’s already hard enough, and we need to constantly be reminded that God is with us and that God is working and that God has a plan even when we can’t see it and don’t understand it.” - Shawn Johnson ________________________ 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.

When Tragedy Strikes: A Spiritual Path to Compassion and Action ft. Theresa Bruno and Rev. Joash Thomas

*This episode mentions suicide and may be triggering for some listeners.* This week, we hear from author, podcaster, and entrepreneur Theresa Bruno. After experiencing a profound loss that threatened to plunge her into complete despair, Theresa shares how through raw honesty and unwavering prayer, she discovered the strength to not only keep going, but to find hope amidst the wreckage. Next up, we talk with Reverend Joash Thomas, author, speaker, and tireless advocate for liberation, especially for those caught in the brutal grip of trafficking and all who suffer at the margins. The Reverend’s spiritual work centers on a justice-focused interpretation of Scripture, guiding us to envision a faith that unifies rather than separates, pleading for mercy for all of God’s precious souls. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past episode: God Loves Broken People Upcoming interview: Candace Cameron Bure Theresa Bruno The Soul Talks Podcast He’s Not Coming Back: Rewriting Life After Loss Reverend Joash Thomas Anglican Episcopalian tradition Luke 4:18 NIV The Justice of Jesus Psalms Interview Quotes: “The way I really like to look at the whole of my life and all the things I’ve done is that early on, the beauty of music organized me.” - Theresa Bruno “Even though I was mad and I yelled at [God] a lot, there was still a presence I was being invited into, and I think that word is so important. There’s an invitation in our darkest times.” - Theresa Bruno “I tried to be perfect, because I thought if I was perfect, then God would love me. But I never really understood what it meant at all to have any kind of intimacy with God.” - Theresa Bruno “I’ve tried to flip my prayers into thankfulness for whatever is provided, so I don’t feel like I live in a place of constant begging and beseeching. In order to live more fully into faith and less into fear, it requires dedicated practice.” - Theresa Bruno “Courage is like a burst. You have enough courage to do something. Resilience is that slow burn that gets stronger and stronger and rises and rises, and that builds with every little tiny step.” - Theresa Bruno “Grief, the way we deal with it, is such a jagged line. And everybody does grief differently. I know you can’t feel it or know it right now, but this is not your final moment. Your story is still being written.” - Theresa Bruno “I know that if it breaks my heart, it also breaks the heart of God. Who we see throughout the Bible is a God of justice and mercy. If something like sexual abuse or human trafficking is keeping the little children from coming to Jesus, then we need to remove those hindrances.” - Rev. Joash Thomas “Jesus coming down to earth is called the incarnation and that was physical, through which spiritual truths were made known. My hope for the church is to retrieve the physical good news while still holding onto the spiritual good news that we embody, and to fully proclaim both together so that it actually sounds like good news to people who are poor and oppressed.” - Rev. Joash Thomas “People read the Bible in very different ways, but we’re still united in Jesus, and we have to be united in Him to bring the good news to a world in need of good news today—a world full of injustice and oppression.” - Rev. Joash Thomas “We’re human beings with mistakes who don’t always get everything right. But at the same time, there’s also goodness in us because we’re all made in the image of God.” - Rev. Joash Thomas ________________________ 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.