This episode was curated as God put on my heart the neighborhood around our church in Columbia. Our church is close to the heart of the city with diversity of age, ethnicity, educational backgrounds, and economics but seemingly little presence of God. Recently there have been several shootings in the area. Our hearts ache for the people in that community and believe the only lasting ointment of healing can come through the work of God through Jesus. Placement of church buildings in not an accident, so let’s call out to God for our neighbors. If you are not a part of Karis Church, you might find this relates to another neighborhood or place that God is putting on your heart. Let the Father guide you in who/where to pray these scriptures over. These scriptures include ones to pray over the people but also to the workers God is calling to labor in these fields. Luke 10:2, John 6:44, John 14:6, Matthew 19:14, Psalm 147:3-6, Ezekiel 11:19-20, Psalm 146:3-9, John 14:12, Psalm 40, 1 John 3:18, Phil 4:13, Matthew 25:34-40, Philippians 2:12-13, Gal 6:9, Romans 10:13-15, Luke 10:2-3, Acts 26:18, Matthew 7:7-8

My Chains are Gone Podcast

Prayer Series: Church Neighborhood Prayer Walk

We are continuing on our journey of crying out for God’s intervention and in this episode, we are asking God to comfort and care for those who are suffering physically and/or mentally right now. Our mind, body, and soul are interconnected somehow. When our body goes awry, our mind and soul can suffer. The chemicals in our body can get out of balance and our minds can become a prison. Events of our life can overwhelm us, drive us into a depression, and once again, we can feel captive. There are various good physical interventions for these ailments that God uses, but I also 100% believe that God wants us to cry out to him for ourselves and others who are bearing such burdens. These scriptures are meant to ignite our faith and illuminate God’s words about how he cares, interacts, and feels about our sufferings. May God bring healing, protection, hope, and endurance to those suffering right now. Psalm 46:1-3, Romans 8:38-39, Psalm 139:7-12, Psalm 57:1, Matthew 11:28-30, Psalm 91:1-6, 1 Peter 5:6-11, Psalm 143, John 14:1, 16-19, 27, John 16:33, Romans 8:24-28, Jeremiah 29:11-13, Isaiah 40:28-31, Isaiah 43:1-3a, Philippians 4:6-8, 1 Peter 1:6-8, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Prayer Series: The Battle in Depression, Anxiety, and Physical Sufferings

We are taking a season to pursue a time of persistent prayer and calling on the Lord to intervene in various ways. This is the second installment of praying for children. This episode is a set of scriptures that I desire to pray over my own children. More than anything, I want them to know God and walk with God. Oh that we could see a new generation with hearts set on the Lord! This episode starts with the Lord’s Prayer and a reminder for the prayer. Then we continue with scriptures that cue us to ask for God’s blessing for our children and asking him to give our kids hearts that pursue wisdom, faith and trust in Him, humility, and a love and pursuit of God instead of the world. This episode ends with one of Paul’s prayers for the Ephesians that I think is just beautiful. May God hear our petitions for our children’s hearts and draw them to himself. Thank you to Austin Stone Worship for allowing me to utilize songs from the Reveille Album 2 in the background. Luke 11:9-10, Mark 10:14-16, Psalm 71:5-8, Proverbs 2:6, Proverbs 1:7, Proverbs 27:17, Proverbs 3:5-6, Psalm 37, James 4:7-8, 1 Peter 5:5-7, 1 John 1, 1 John 2:15-17, Matthew 6:19-20, John 15, Ephesians 6:1, Philippians 4, Ephesians 3:14-21

Prayer Series: The Battle for My Kids - Raising up the Next Generation

This episode is in 6 parts: 1. A brief injection of faith and focus into the heart of the prayer as we call out to God according to his word. 2. Declaration of God’s care and love for each child as one created by and seen by God. 3. Prayer for freedom for the children and justice for the offenders.  4. Prayer for physical, emotional, and spiritual healing found in Christ and that in God’s grace and power he would bring redemption to these children. 5. Prayer for awakening and action in the church’s role of rescuing vulnerable children. 6. Praying for the authorities to be used as tools of protection and justice. Please unite together in the throne room of God and plead for God to move in children you know specifically or in mass ways around our city, nation, and world. Psalm 138:2b, Luke 1:37, Ephesians 6:12, Mark 10:13-16, Psalm 139:13-15, Zephaniah 3:17, Pslam 10:1-18, Psalm 82:4, Psalm 76:9, Psalm 144: 5-8, Isaiah 61:1, Ezekiel 34:16, 27b-28, Isaiah 46:4, John 10:9-11, John 14:12, Matthew 25:40, Proverbs 31:8-9, Isaiah 58:6-7, Isaiah 1:15-17, 1 John 3:18, James 2:14-17, James 4:17, Matthew 7:21, Phil 4:13, Gal 6:9, James 1:22, 1 Tim 2:1-4  

Prayer Series: Battle for Children - Rescue the oppressed and bring justice

This episode was inspired after asking God how to pray for my friends that do not know the truth about Jesus. These scriptures are great to pray over anyone trusting in something other than the Jesus of the Bible for salvation. Jesus is fully God (part of the Trinity), fully man, and has existed for all eternity. He alone brings salvation! Scriptures include: Ephesians 6:10-18, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, 2 Corinthians 4:4-5, 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, 1 John 4:1-3, 1 John 5:11-12, Hebrews 7:25-26, Colossians 1: 15-22, Hebrews 4:12-13a, Mark 10:27, 1 Thessalonians 2:4-6, John 14:13-14, Romans 9:15-17, 23, Romans 10:9, 13-15, Luke 10:2, Ephesians 6:18-20

Prayer Series: The Battle for Souls - Salvation for our friends and neighbors

James 5:16 of the Bible says "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." Romans 5 tells us that God makes a sinner righteous through faith in the work of Jesus. God paves the way for us to be right with him. Confession and repentance is an ongoing practice for the believer. God gives us the gift of Jesus' righteousness and hears us when we pray! 1 Chronicles 7:14, 1 John 1:8-10, Matthew 7:3-5, James 4:6-10, James 5:16, Psalm 101:7, Mark 7:20-23, Ephesians 2:1-5, Galatians 5:13-, Hebrews 10:19-23, Hebrews 12: 1-3, Romans 8:1-2, Philippians 4:4-9, Jude vs24

Prayer Series: The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Help!

What if a group of people started crying out to God to move, according to His word, in the lives of the people around them? What if we started crying out to God to free the captives of false religion, abuse, human trafficking, idolatry, depression, injustice, and the list goes on? What if the Church unified over praying scriptures and jointly asking God to do the same things in our day? I wonder if God uses mathematics in prayer.. like if 1 person prays, we see some movement of God.. if 2 people.. a little more.. but what would happen if 100 people were praying for the exact same thing appealing to God according to his word? What amazing things might we see? Season 3 of the My Chains are Gone Podcast is going to be episodes geared towards catalyzing us to pray for God to break the chains in the world around us.

Season 3 – If my people who are called by my name… Could this be the beginning of new stories?

We are closing out season 2 with an interview with my cousin Kate. If you listened last week, you heard her mother, Judy share her story. Kate shares how Jesus redeemed her from an early age and taught her to trust in him no matter the circumstances. Her faith was put to the test when her husband, Doug, suddenly passed away leaving her as a single mom of a 20 month old daughter. Kate shares how God showed his love and grace through very tangible means over the last 11 years. There was a moment in this interview with Kate that I cut out that had me fighting back the tears. I am sure I am not alone. Death was never God’s original design, as seen in the book of Genesis. It comes with pain and sorrow for those of us who are left grieving for our loved ones. Our only hope over the sting of death, as the Bible so clearly portrays, is belief in the work of Jesus on the cross. We grieve on this side of death but there is no grieving in heaven. Jesus says there are no more tears, no death, no sin and that he has gone ahead of us to prepare a place for those who believe. It will be beautiful to be reunited with our loved ones that have gone before us who are well acquainted with the glories of Christ and eternal life which Jesus purchased for us. In the meantime, we must live out the life God has for us which includes knowing him and learning to trust him more daily. I pray that you were encouraged by God’s grace towards Kate, giving her the strength and courage to keep going. Thanks for listening and I hope you feel emboldened to tell your story too.

Provision in the Waves of Grief and in the Midst of Loss - Kate's Story

 Today we get to hear from my aunt, Judy. She is 79 years old and has been one of my heroes of the Christian faith. How often to we get to hear the stories of one who has walked with Jesus for 70 years? Judy shares how God’s word and grace have sustained her and enabled her to live a life of blessing even through a stroke that paralyzed her from the waist down 20 years ago. Judy wants everyone to know that the only way she has been able to survive and thrive after her stroke is by God’s power and grace. She shared after our interview that the excellent therapists, doctors, and people who helped over the time of her recovery were such a gift from God. Also, God gave her the will to fight and work hard to learn how to walk again and perform all her daily tasks in a new way. She is so thankful for God’s grace towards her in her recovery to enable her to live a life of blessing. Also, after our interview, she shared of two hymns that have been ingrained in her soul giving her incredible encouragement and assurance through the years. She loves Rock of Ages and quoted “Nothing in my hand I bring, but simply to thy cross I cling” and also the lyrics of another hymn “My hope is built on nothing else but Jesus' blood and righteousness.” Judy loves the theology in these songs. 

Judy's Story - My Hope is Built on Nothing Less

Jana Rae has such a sweet soft heart for Jesus and you might find yourself shedding a few tears alongside of her. She speaks about how the power and grace of God protected her and carried her through her younger years of running from God. She started following God as a single mom and later married a man that cared deeply for her and her daughter but was not a follower of Jesus.  Fast forward.. and this past December, Jana Rae got to see 32 years of prayer answered seeing her husband step into a relationship with God. He was baptized in our church and it was one of the highlights of my year to rejoice with them! At the end Jana Rae shares of a hard new trial that she is walking into. I hope you enjoy Jana Rae’s story!

Jesus Redeems it All! - Jana Rae's story

Daniel shares his story with us today. He grew up in the church knowing the teachings of the Bible but feared truly giving his life to Jesus because of his relationship with his abusive father. Although his classmates and teammates would have thought Daniel’s was successful and happy, depression, anxiety, and addiction to pornography plagued him. In college, God used several new friends to show Daniel grace, love, and compassion. God chipped away at Daniel’s fearful heart and has replaced it with a joy filled Gospel loving heart. I hope you are encouraged by Daniel’s story.

Knowing About God but not Knowing God - Daniel's Story

It is my turn! So many brave people have gone before me, putting on vulnerability and sharing their stories. I faced quite a few challenges - from cold after cold after cold (you can still hear my stuffy nose) - to wrestling with whether my story mattered - to worried if I could share my story without a complete monotone 60 minute boring monologue. God injected me with courage and today you get to hear how God has worked in snapshot moments of my life.  I love being a part of the family of God. I hope you find yourself encouraged today and remember that your story is important too. 

My turn! How Jesus Rescued Me - Podcast host, Jill's story

Today, Fred shares his story which includes a season of homelessness. He shares about the rays of light and hope that he and his wife experienced living on the street through the kindness of strangers in Anaheim, California. He attributes God’s grace for sustaining and bringing them to a new place in life with a home and Christian community. Listen as he gives a face to the homeless and reminds us of the image bearers of God that our living on the streets in our country.

Homeless - Life on the Streets and Faith - Fred's Story

My Chains are Gone is back! I've had a long break, but I am back and planning to produce an episode a month. Stay tuned! Today, Rachel shares her story. Rachel is one of my favorite ladies to talk with about theology. She backs up what she believes with scripture and does not shy away from difficult topics. Rachel bravely shares about her experience with same sex attraction, homosexuality, faith, the church, and the faithfulness of God. I hope you are encouraged by the work of God in Rachel’s life.

Same Sex Attraction, Homosexuality, and Faith in Jesus - Rachel's Story

 Today Jake shares his story of how God made his spiritual heart alive in spring semester of 2009. He developed a hunger for God’s word and desired to walk in God’s purposes for him. Jake was on the track to teach and be involved in church planting when his life got turned upside down. He shares of his fight for survival after experiencing a heart condition which ultimately led to heart failure. He woke up from a coma with a brain injury which radically changed his ability to communicate, move, and perform daily functions. Jake shares of how his life as a follower of Jesus has changed and how his trust in God has deepened. It is evident that God is working in and through Jacob. Jake did not receive a set back with his health trauma and current disability, but he received a step forward - towards God’s purposes for him. In this interview, Jake mentions his blog - I have already been encouraged and challenged by some of Jake’s writings, admonishing believers in how to love people with disabilities well. If you are interested, check out his website www.fromgroanstoglory.com I hope you are encouraged by Jake’s story and how the Lord has sustained his life physically and spiritually through such trauma. 

Episode 36: From Groans to Glory - Jake's Story

A podcast full of stories of ordinary people sharing how God has broken chains, set them free, and called them out of darkness into his marvelous light.

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My Chains are Gone Podcast

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