healing
Thriving Through the Unexpected
“Help me not to let unexpected events throw me off course. Instead of getting upset or anxious, I want to respond calmly and confidently—remembering that You are with me.” Jesus Listens, November 3 In the years since I found out I had cancer, plenty of people have asked me why I think I got sick in the first place. Why did this happen to me? Why does cancer happen to anyone? I actually love that question, because it gives me a chance to share the story, once again, of my mother’s prophetic words. My simple answer is that this happened to me because I was chosen. A Legacy of Firsts If you know anything about me, it’s probably that I’ve been blessed with many opportunities to serve others by being a “first.” First Black senior class president of Kennedy High School in Richmond, California. O...
The Three Best Words for the Brokenhearted
“I can invite You into those broken places and collaborate with Youin putting the fragments back together in new ways.” – Jesus Listens, July 3 In fresh grief, well-meant words can sometimes wound. Even now, I shake my head at the unhelpful comments I made as a young mom handing over a hot casserole and the painful comments said to me a few years later after my husband died. So when a radio host recently asked me for the three best words to tell someone in grief, I perked up. Maybe it’s “I love you,” I thought as I waited for his answer. Those words sure comforted me as a new widow. Or maybe it’s “let me help.” Practical love is so needed when life falls apart. But neither guess was correct. The three best words to say to someone in grief? You’re not alone. The deepest comfort comes w...
The Hope of Heaven: Kristen Kill & Donna Barrett
Our first guest is Donna Barrett. While working as a missionary in Nicaragua, Donna’s life was affected not only by the systemic poverty she witnessed in this country, but the relationships she formed by working alongside the team who accompanied her on the trip; in particular a gregarious young woman who God placed in her path, who would have an impact on her life for years to come. Our second guest is writer Kristen Kill. Kristen was exhausted, depressed and desperate for a change. Something sparked in her when she read the Psalms and discovered the true meaning of “selah” – the pause, rest or interlude between the notes in song. Kristen discovered the secret of finding selah in her own life, and shares how others can also find this rest. Narrator: Welcome to the Jesus Calling podcast. W...
Turn Toward Light
One of the most destructive storytellers in the world is shame. As we walk through our days, whether we face challenges or triumphs, shame leans into our ear, whispering things we wouldn’t tell our worst enemies. No one will help you. You don’t matter. You are invisible. You are not enough. Shame tells lies I’ve been a Licensed Professional Counselor for more than twenty years, and the last seven years I’ve trained in shame resilience. I know shame’s quiet power can take us down quickly. And I know the stories shame tells me about myself are lies. Yet the feelings shame evokes are so powerful, they often leave me on my knees, and not the peaceful prayerful kind—more like a pit stop on the way to the fetal position. I know your shame can take you to a dark place too. But instead of staying ...
