1 00:00:08,257 --> 00:00:09,137 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:11,097 --> 00:00:13,777 Speaker 2: Did you know that Jesus Calling has its own YouTube channel. 3 00:00:14,257 --> 00:00:17,296 Speaker 2: It's full of great content that will enhance your spiritual life. 4 00:00:17,617 --> 00:00:20,576 Speaker 2: You'll find beautiful videos with short devotional moments to help 5 00:00:20,576 --> 00:00:23,137 Speaker 2: you through your day, as well as stories on video 6 00:00:23,177 --> 00:00:27,257 Speaker 2: from celebrities, authors, pastors, and everyday people who share what 7 00:00:27,297 --> 00:00:30,176 Speaker 2: their faith journey has meant to them. You'll also find 8 00:00:30,217 --> 00:00:33,737 Speaker 2: that Jesus Listens Stories of Prayer series hosted by Susie 9 00:00:33,817 --> 00:00:38,496 Speaker 2: McIntyre Eaton, featuring new guests monthly. Subscribe Today for new 10 00:00:38,577 --> 00:00:39,617 Speaker 2: videos each week. 11 00:00:43,177 --> 00:00:45,416 Speaker 3: If I could go back to the early days when 12 00:00:45,417 --> 00:00:47,617 Speaker 3: I was first starting this, if someone would have told 13 00:00:47,656 --> 00:00:52,016 Speaker 3: me that we would be doing anywhere from two to 14 00:00:52,057 --> 00:00:55,697 Speaker 3: five shows a day with two hundred and fifty or 15 00:00:55,737 --> 00:00:59,177 Speaker 3: so people at every single show, and that it would 16 00:00:59,217 --> 00:01:02,337 Speaker 3: be what it is today, I probably would have laughed 17 00:01:02,337 --> 00:01:04,697 Speaker 3: and said, there's no way. But it's been a blessing 18 00:01:04,977 --> 00:01:08,417 Speaker 3: and our team at the Listening Room is just incredible 19 00:01:08,457 --> 00:01:11,737 Speaker 3: and I couldn't do this without them. 20 00:01:12,017 --> 00:01:14,977 Speaker 2: Welcome to the Jesus Calling Podcast. This week, we sit 21 00:01:15,097 --> 00:01:17,697 Speaker 2: down with Chris Blair, the owner of the Listening Room 22 00:01:17,737 --> 00:01:21,457 Speaker 2: Cafe in Nashville, a place known not just for great music, 23 00:01:21,657 --> 00:01:24,417 Speaker 2: but for the spirit of generosity that lives within its walls. 24 00:01:24,777 --> 00:01:27,577 Speaker 2: Chris came to Nashville chasing a dream, but what began 25 00:01:27,657 --> 00:01:30,337 Speaker 2: as a pursuit of music slowly became a calling to 26 00:01:30,377 --> 00:01:34,057 Speaker 2: create space for others, Space where stories are honored, community 27 00:01:34,097 --> 00:01:37,457 Speaker 2: is formed, and giving back becomes more important than getting ahead. 28 00:01:38,017 --> 00:01:41,137 Speaker 2: Later in the episode, we'll hear from country artist Cindy Thompson, 29 00:01:41,297 --> 00:01:44,137 Speaker 2: who experienced a rapid rise to fame with her debut 30 00:01:44,137 --> 00:01:47,217 Speaker 2: album My World and the hit song What I Really 31 00:01:47,257 --> 00:01:50,017 Speaker 2: Meant to Say. At the height of her success, she 32 00:01:50,057 --> 00:01:52,817 Speaker 2: began to struggle with panic attacks in a deep sense 33 00:01:52,817 --> 00:01:55,417 Speaker 2: that God was moving her in a different direction. She 34 00:01:55,497 --> 00:01:58,457 Speaker 2: shares the private process of wrestling with this decision and 35 00:01:58,577 --> 00:02:01,817 Speaker 2: how after walking away from her career, her focus became 36 00:02:01,857 --> 00:02:04,897 Speaker 2: on the one individual over the accolades of the world. 37 00:02:05,777 --> 00:02:07,257 Speaker 2: Let's begin with Chris's story. 38 00:02:13,937 --> 00:02:17,857 Speaker 3: My name is Chris Blair and I grew up in 39 00:02:18,057 --> 00:02:21,537 Speaker 3: Saint Louis, Missouri. Moved to Nashville, Tennessee in two thousand 40 00:02:21,577 --> 00:02:25,577 Speaker 3: and three for the music industry, and I run the 41 00:02:25,657 --> 00:02:32,377 Speaker 3: listening room cafe. Growing up in Saint Louis, Gosh, I 42 00:02:32,457 --> 00:02:35,337 Speaker 3: had a lot of dreams. I think I've always had 43 00:02:35,417 --> 00:02:38,177 Speaker 3: music in my bones. I started singing when I was 44 00:02:38,457 --> 00:02:42,577 Speaker 3: six years old, started playing piano before that. My passion 45 00:02:42,617 --> 00:02:45,617 Speaker 3: was always music. I had a great upbringing. My parents 46 00:02:45,697 --> 00:02:48,457 Speaker 3: were always supportive in whatever my brother and I wanted 47 00:02:48,497 --> 00:02:52,857 Speaker 3: to do. I moved to Nashville in two thousand and three. 48 00:02:53,017 --> 00:02:56,857 Speaker 3: I did that to pursue an artist's career. And yeah, 49 00:02:56,857 --> 00:02:58,777 Speaker 3: it was the first time that I had left. You know, 50 00:02:58,817 --> 00:03:02,377 Speaker 3: my family all lives in Saint Louis. I moved to 51 00:03:02,497 --> 00:03:07,257 Speaker 3: Nashville not knowing anybody. It was really scary. I had 52 00:03:07,297 --> 00:03:10,217 Speaker 3: met with a guy by the name of Doug Howard, 53 00:03:10,217 --> 00:03:12,297 Speaker 3: who at the time was head of A and R 54 00:03:12,457 --> 00:03:16,657 Speaker 3: for Lyric Street Records, and he invited me down and 55 00:03:17,017 --> 00:03:19,457 Speaker 3: I played a few songs for him, and he said, hey, 56 00:03:19,497 --> 00:03:23,537 Speaker 3: you've got something. We'd love to work with you. And 57 00:03:23,937 --> 00:03:28,057 Speaker 3: I had literally just bought my first house in Saint 58 00:03:28,097 --> 00:03:32,177 Speaker 3: Lois maybe a year or so before that. My brother 59 00:03:32,217 --> 00:03:35,097 Speaker 3: had just bought a house a couple miles down the road. 60 00:03:35,177 --> 00:03:37,297 Speaker 3: He and I are very close, and like I said, 61 00:03:37,337 --> 00:03:41,217 Speaker 3: my family was all in the area, so it was 62 00:03:41,257 --> 00:03:43,537 Speaker 3: just you know, friends, everything, my support system. It was 63 00:03:43,577 --> 00:03:47,417 Speaker 3: home and I went back from that meeting with Lyric Street, 64 00:03:47,737 --> 00:03:50,777 Speaker 3: put my house on the market, and a week later 65 00:03:50,937 --> 00:03:54,017 Speaker 3: was in a U haul driving outside of Saint Lois, 66 00:03:54,137 --> 00:03:58,017 Speaker 3: balling my eyes out, wondering what I was doing, but 67 00:03:58,137 --> 00:04:02,977 Speaker 3: also exciting to just chase that dream. So when I 68 00:04:03,017 --> 00:04:07,697 Speaker 3: moved to Nashville pursuing the art career, I also had 69 00:04:07,737 --> 00:04:12,017 Speaker 3: a background in finance, so I was a financial planner 70 00:04:12,057 --> 00:04:16,217 Speaker 3: in Saint Louis before moving and I went and my 71 00:04:16,337 --> 00:04:19,697 Speaker 3: first job that I got was at a bank, and 72 00:04:20,057 --> 00:04:22,137 Speaker 3: I wanted to be a teller so that I had 73 00:04:22,337 --> 00:04:26,657 Speaker 3: no responsibilities that I could basically have quote unquote bankers hours. 74 00:04:27,416 --> 00:04:31,777 Speaker 3: Interviewed for that position, got a call back and they said, hey, 75 00:04:31,856 --> 00:04:35,496 Speaker 3: you're overqualified for a teller position, but we would love 76 00:04:35,616 --> 00:04:37,777 Speaker 3: to bring you as a branch manager. 77 00:04:38,217 --> 00:04:40,697 Speaker 4: And I took that job. 78 00:04:41,097 --> 00:04:43,696 Speaker 3: Was making more money than I ever thought I would 79 00:04:43,697 --> 00:04:45,416 Speaker 3: make in my life at that point. 80 00:04:45,897 --> 00:04:48,377 Speaker 4: It was great, but it was a lot. I would 81 00:04:48,697 --> 00:04:49,057 Speaker 4: put a. 82 00:04:49,017 --> 00:04:52,337 Speaker 3: Suit and tie on every day, go to the bank, 83 00:04:52,577 --> 00:04:57,176 Speaker 3: work those hours, would leave the bank and go play 84 00:04:57,457 --> 00:05:02,097 Speaker 3: tutsis every Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday from six to 85 00:05:02,137 --> 00:05:05,376 Speaker 3: ten pm, then go back home, sleep a few hours, 86 00:05:05,777 --> 00:05:07,736 Speaker 3: do it all over again, and then on the weekends 87 00:05:07,777 --> 00:05:10,337 Speaker 3: I would go out on the road with my band 88 00:05:10,496 --> 00:05:15,697 Speaker 3: and pursue the artist thing. So during that time, it 89 00:05:15,777 --> 00:05:20,296 Speaker 3: was brutal, it was exhausting. It really pushed me into 90 00:05:20,337 --> 00:05:24,056 Speaker 3: a season where I stopped appreciating music because I was 91 00:05:24,496 --> 00:05:26,016 Speaker 3: doing it in a way that I didn't want to 92 00:05:26,017 --> 00:05:30,297 Speaker 3: do it. What was different at that point is I 93 00:05:30,337 --> 00:05:35,577 Speaker 3: also met a few songwriters who had had multiple hits, 94 00:05:35,657 --> 00:05:39,257 Speaker 3: some of them Grammy Award winning songwriters that kind of 95 00:05:39,296 --> 00:05:43,296 Speaker 3: took me under their wing and open to this world 96 00:05:43,376 --> 00:05:46,896 Speaker 3: up to songwriting. Meeting these guys was the first time 97 00:05:47,056 --> 00:05:52,296 Speaker 3: that I really got to experience collaboration and going into 98 00:05:52,296 --> 00:05:55,056 Speaker 3: a room and writing with other people, and. 99 00:05:54,976 --> 00:06:03,936 Speaker 4: I fell in love with it. Early on. 100 00:06:04,657 --> 00:06:09,177 Speaker 3: In the listening room was really, really difficult. I had 101 00:06:09,176 --> 00:06:14,217 Speaker 3: a partner when I started, and he was not really 102 00:06:14,296 --> 00:06:18,097 Speaker 3: around much, just didn't There was not that support that 103 00:06:18,217 --> 00:06:21,856 Speaker 3: I had hoped for, and I bought him out in 104 00:06:21,897 --> 00:06:26,296 Speaker 3: two thousand and nine and quickly started to struggle financially, 105 00:06:27,137 --> 00:06:29,816 Speaker 3: and it was rough. There were often times where I 106 00:06:29,856 --> 00:06:34,616 Speaker 3: would close the venue down and I would go into 107 00:06:34,657 --> 00:06:37,577 Speaker 3: the office and I would lay down on the cold 108 00:06:37,657 --> 00:06:41,416 Speaker 3: concrete floor and sleep for a few hours because I 109 00:06:41,416 --> 00:06:43,777 Speaker 3: had to be back in a few hours to open 110 00:06:43,816 --> 00:06:46,976 Speaker 3: it back up. I don't even remember how long it was. 111 00:06:47,017 --> 00:06:51,217 Speaker 3: I didn't take a paycheck. I was the cook, the 112 00:06:51,257 --> 00:06:56,097 Speaker 3: sound engineer, the janitor, the bartender, the you know. I 113 00:06:56,337 --> 00:07:01,616 Speaker 3: was just running around doing everything. And I remember the 114 00:07:01,697 --> 00:07:05,256 Speaker 3: first time that I kind of closed the books for 115 00:07:05,296 --> 00:07:08,497 Speaker 3: the month. Then we had had probably the best month 116 00:07:08,537 --> 00:07:12,777 Speaker 3: that we had ever had, and there were just tears 117 00:07:12,777 --> 00:07:14,737 Speaker 3: of joy because I was going to be able to 118 00:07:14,816 --> 00:07:16,817 Speaker 3: take a paycheck for the first. 119 00:07:16,617 --> 00:07:17,737 Speaker 4: Time in a long time. 120 00:07:17,977 --> 00:07:23,377 Speaker 3: And this was all while I was racking up credit 121 00:07:23,417 --> 00:07:26,657 Speaker 3: card debt, had already eaten through all of my savings 122 00:07:26,657 --> 00:07:29,417 Speaker 3: that I had had as a banker and everything before that. 123 00:07:29,857 --> 00:07:33,657 Speaker 3: And I was walking through the restaurant and I saw 124 00:07:34,297 --> 00:07:38,017 Speaker 3: one of my managers at the time out on our 125 00:07:38,217 --> 00:07:44,417 Speaker 3: patio crying, and I walked outside and was like, Hey, 126 00:07:44,497 --> 00:07:45,136 Speaker 3: are you okay? 127 00:07:45,177 --> 00:07:45,857 Speaker 4: What's going on? 128 00:07:46,137 --> 00:07:50,497 Speaker 3: And their family had been going through some hard times, 129 00:07:50,657 --> 00:07:52,817 Speaker 3: I think, with some medical bills and things like that, 130 00:07:53,017 --> 00:07:55,576 Speaker 3: and he had just gotten a foreclosure notice on his house, 131 00:07:56,497 --> 00:08:00,817 Speaker 3: and almost to the penny, the amount of money that 132 00:08:00,857 --> 00:08:04,737 Speaker 3: he needed to pay his mortgage was what I was 133 00:08:04,777 --> 00:08:08,297 Speaker 3: going to be able to pay myself, and I gave 134 00:08:08,337 --> 00:08:14,137 Speaker 3: it to him, and you know, those were some early 135 00:08:14,497 --> 00:08:18,337 Speaker 3: rough days. That was also around the time of the 136 00:08:18,377 --> 00:08:23,897 Speaker 3: twenty ten flood. There were a handful of songwriters that 137 00:08:24,857 --> 00:08:27,256 Speaker 3: saw through the smile that I would put on my 138 00:08:27,337 --> 00:08:32,337 Speaker 3: face and started peeling layers back one evening in a 139 00:08:32,377 --> 00:08:37,497 Speaker 3: conversation to really figure out what was going on, and 140 00:08:38,537 --> 00:08:41,497 Speaker 3: I kind of broke down and let them know all 141 00:08:41,537 --> 00:08:43,737 Speaker 3: the hard things that were happening and that I didn't 142 00:08:43,777 --> 00:08:44,857 Speaker 3: know how long I was going to be able to 143 00:08:44,937 --> 00:08:48,177 Speaker 3: keep the venue, but I figured it was a few 144 00:08:48,177 --> 00:08:50,897 Speaker 3: months and then I was out of money and that 145 00:08:51,057 --> 00:08:54,417 Speaker 3: was it. You know, the conversation in my mind was over. 146 00:08:54,537 --> 00:08:58,857 Speaker 3: And we have always done benefit shows from early on. 147 00:08:59,017 --> 00:09:01,137 Speaker 3: It was just a big part of my heart that 148 00:09:01,177 --> 00:09:03,937 Speaker 3: I wanted to give back, and it was Brian White, 149 00:09:04,737 --> 00:09:08,657 Speaker 3: bridget Tatum and Danny Myrick were the three songwriters and 150 00:09:08,897 --> 00:09:10,777 Speaker 3: they came to me and said, hey, can we get 151 00:09:10,777 --> 00:09:12,377 Speaker 3: a date. We're going to put a show together, and 152 00:09:12,697 --> 00:09:14,737 Speaker 3: I just assumed it was a regular show. Gave them 153 00:09:14,737 --> 00:09:19,977 Speaker 3: the date and they later shared with me that this 154 00:09:20,137 --> 00:09:22,377 Speaker 3: was going to be what they called the listening room 155 00:09:22,377 --> 00:09:28,257 Speaker 3: Appreciation Days, and they had created a show that was 156 00:09:29,377 --> 00:09:35,617 Speaker 3: just jam packed with all huge songwriters and huge artists 157 00:09:35,897 --> 00:09:40,657 Speaker 3: that all just immediately came to support what we were doing. 158 00:09:41,417 --> 00:09:44,297 Speaker 3: And the songwriting community knew the struggles, but nobody else did. 159 00:09:44,377 --> 00:09:47,177 Speaker 3: And it was just a ticket to come see an 160 00:09:47,257 --> 00:09:50,617 Speaker 3: awesome show, and they were giving all of the money 161 00:09:50,697 --> 00:09:55,057 Speaker 3: back to me to pay the bills. And the day 162 00:09:55,137 --> 00:10:00,097 Speaker 3: that that show was scheduled and happened was a couple 163 00:10:00,217 --> 00:10:02,897 Speaker 3: weeks after the twenty ten Nashville flood. 164 00:10:03,697 --> 00:10:07,217 Speaker 4: I remember just I needed that money. I needed all 165 00:10:07,257 --> 00:10:07,497 Speaker 4: of it. 166 00:10:08,017 --> 00:10:10,617 Speaker 3: But something in my heart just said, you know that 167 00:10:10,817 --> 00:10:14,777 Speaker 3: Nashville's struggling, and I want to just give a quote 168 00:10:14,897 --> 00:10:20,977 Speaker 3: unquote percentage back to the community. So I contacted my 169 00:10:21,097 --> 00:10:24,017 Speaker 3: friend Lisa, who now works at the CMAS, but at 170 00:10:24,017 --> 00:10:26,937 Speaker 3: the time she was working at a nonprofit called Hands 171 00:10:26,977 --> 00:10:30,617 Speaker 3: on Nashville that was kind of this quarterback nonprofit that 172 00:10:30,857 --> 00:10:33,817 Speaker 3: would take money and then find the need in the 173 00:10:33,817 --> 00:10:36,497 Speaker 3: community to give it to other nonprofits that needed it. 174 00:10:36,897 --> 00:10:40,137 Speaker 3: So I said, you know, hey, a portion of our 175 00:10:40,177 --> 00:10:43,017 Speaker 3: proceeds will go to that. And you know, honestly, in 176 00:10:43,057 --> 00:10:46,737 Speaker 3: my head it was like maybe five percent, you know, it. 177 00:10:46,697 --> 00:10:48,057 Speaker 4: Was it was not going to be much. 178 00:10:49,737 --> 00:10:53,937 Speaker 3: And at that show, I put a band together and 179 00:10:53,977 --> 00:10:55,177 Speaker 3: surprised everyone. 180 00:10:55,297 --> 00:10:56,097 Speaker 4: My parents had. 181 00:10:55,937 --> 00:10:58,417 Speaker 3: Come in from Saint Louis, friends had come in from 182 00:10:58,417 --> 00:11:00,617 Speaker 3: Saint Louis. I mean, it was a standing room only, 183 00:11:00,657 --> 00:11:04,697 Speaker 3: sold out show, and I was on stage. I played 184 00:11:04,697 --> 00:11:07,617 Speaker 3: I don't know three or four songs, but one of 185 00:11:07,617 --> 00:11:09,897 Speaker 3: the songs that I was playing was a song that 186 00:11:09,937 --> 00:11:14,057 Speaker 3: I wrote not too long before that called why Don't 187 00:11:14,097 --> 00:11:18,697 Speaker 3: You Fall? And it was a song basically about falling 188 00:11:18,737 --> 00:11:19,697 Speaker 3: into God's. 189 00:11:19,417 --> 00:11:21,177 Speaker 4: Arms when you're walking through the hard times. 190 00:11:22,177 --> 00:11:27,137 Speaker 3: And I remember being on stage and seeing that song 191 00:11:27,577 --> 00:11:30,617 Speaker 3: and scanning the room and I saw my friend Lisa 192 00:11:30,817 --> 00:11:33,497 Speaker 3: standing over by the front door, right by the window, 193 00:11:34,017 --> 00:11:37,577 Speaker 3: and I mean, honestly, it was like this beam of 194 00:11:37,697 --> 00:11:39,897 Speaker 3: light coming in the window that was just like a 195 00:11:39,977 --> 00:11:44,697 Speaker 3: glow around her head. And I stopped in the middle 196 00:11:44,697 --> 00:11:49,337 Speaker 3: of that song, broke down, started crying on stage in 197 00:11:49,377 --> 00:11:54,257 Speaker 3: front of everybody, got super vulnerable and said, you guys 198 00:11:54,297 --> 00:11:56,897 Speaker 3: think you're here for just a great show, and you are. 199 00:11:57,017 --> 00:11:58,977 Speaker 4: These guys have put together an incredible show. 200 00:11:59,017 --> 00:12:01,817 Speaker 3: But what you don't know is that this is this 201 00:12:01,897 --> 00:12:04,497 Speaker 3: is because we're struggling, and this is them coming around 202 00:12:04,537 --> 00:12:11,417 Speaker 3: to help us. But I looked over at Bridget, Danny 203 00:12:11,497 --> 00:12:15,177 Speaker 3: and Brian and said, I'm sorry. I know you guys 204 00:12:15,217 --> 00:12:17,137 Speaker 3: did this for me, but I can't take any of this. 205 00:12:17,297 --> 00:12:19,257 Speaker 3: And then I looked over at Lisa in the corner 206 00:12:19,257 --> 00:12:21,697 Speaker 3: and I said, one hundred percent of what we do 207 00:12:21,777 --> 00:12:26,577 Speaker 3: today goes back to Hanson Nashville. And I said, you know, 208 00:12:26,617 --> 00:12:28,337 Speaker 3: I don't know that we'll be able to keep going, 209 00:12:28,577 --> 00:12:32,137 Speaker 3: but if we don't, then I'm going out. 210 00:12:31,937 --> 00:12:34,017 Speaker 4: On a high note. And if we do, then it's 211 00:12:34,057 --> 00:12:35,177 Speaker 4: God's will. And that's it. 212 00:12:35,817 --> 00:12:38,737 Speaker 3: That was the turning point for the Listening Room. I 213 00:12:38,777 --> 00:12:42,177 Speaker 3: didn't do anything different. I'm not that smart, but I 214 00:12:42,217 --> 00:12:46,457 Speaker 3: truly believe that is when God came into it and 215 00:12:47,777 --> 00:12:51,217 Speaker 3: people started showing up. And that's the reason the Listening 216 00:12:51,297 --> 00:12:53,256 Speaker 3: Room is what it is today. Is because of that, 217 00:12:53,697 --> 00:12:56,297 Speaker 3: because I am If I could go back to the 218 00:12:56,337 --> 00:12:58,897 Speaker 3: early days when I was first starting this, if someone 219 00:12:58,937 --> 00:13:03,897 Speaker 3: would have told me that we would be doing anywhere 220 00:13:03,937 --> 00:13:07,577 Speaker 3: from two to five shows a day with two hundred 221 00:13:07,577 --> 00:13:10,337 Speaker 3: and fifty or so people at every single show, and 222 00:13:11,097 --> 00:13:14,097 Speaker 3: that it would be what it is today, I probably 223 00:13:14,177 --> 00:13:16,657 Speaker 3: would have laughed and said there's no way. But it's 224 00:13:16,697 --> 00:13:20,457 Speaker 3: been a blessing and it's a testament to I guess 225 00:13:20,577 --> 00:13:23,657 Speaker 3: what we've created, and what we've created is because of 226 00:13:24,497 --> 00:13:26,817 Speaker 3: the vision that I had, but more so because of 227 00:13:26,857 --> 00:13:30,137 Speaker 3: the songwriting community that has supported it, the fans that 228 00:13:30,177 --> 00:13:32,977 Speaker 3: have supported it. And you know, our team at the 229 00:13:32,977 --> 00:13:36,417 Speaker 3: Listening Room is just incredible and I couldn't do this 230 00:13:36,457 --> 00:13:44,617 Speaker 3: without them. We say at the Listening Room that we 231 00:13:44,817 --> 00:13:48,897 Speaker 3: connect people with the stories behind the songs. That's our mission. 232 00:13:49,777 --> 00:13:54,217 Speaker 3: And you know, I get to hear these longer versions 233 00:13:54,377 --> 00:13:58,937 Speaker 3: of the stories behind the songs, and when people are 234 00:13:58,977 --> 00:14:02,777 Speaker 3: performing on stage, they'll tell the story, and you know, 235 00:14:02,817 --> 00:14:05,857 Speaker 3: they're great stories, but it's not the full story. You 236 00:14:05,897 --> 00:14:07,697 Speaker 3: listen to a song on their radio and you just 237 00:14:07,737 --> 00:14:12,337 Speaker 3: assume that that's that person's song and that's their life 238 00:14:12,377 --> 00:14:14,977 Speaker 3: and they wrote it, and many of them do, but 239 00:14:15,977 --> 00:14:20,217 Speaker 3: many of them don't. And you know, I loved diving 240 00:14:20,257 --> 00:14:24,577 Speaker 3: into that and I loved hearing those stories. I connected 241 00:14:24,577 --> 00:14:27,337 Speaker 3: with it. That's part of the reason that I wanted 242 00:14:27,377 --> 00:14:29,257 Speaker 3: to start the Listening Room in the first place. And 243 00:14:29,297 --> 00:14:31,817 Speaker 3: then that's also why I started the story Span the 244 00:14:31,817 --> 00:14:35,937 Speaker 3: Song's podcast to bring in and spend thirty minutes to 245 00:14:36,017 --> 00:14:40,377 Speaker 3: an hour with individual artists and songwriters and really share 246 00:14:40,417 --> 00:14:44,857 Speaker 3: their story of not just the songs, but you know 247 00:14:44,937 --> 00:14:48,297 Speaker 3: how they got started, their struggles, their wins, and all 248 00:14:48,297 --> 00:14:50,777 Speaker 3: of that, and I think that's why people connect with it. 249 00:14:51,297 --> 00:14:53,337 Speaker 3: We went through a lot of hard times in the 250 00:14:53,377 --> 00:14:57,617 Speaker 3: early days, but that was the early dream of what 251 00:14:57,697 --> 00:15:00,377 Speaker 3: I wanted people to experience when they walked into the 252 00:15:00,377 --> 00:15:02,457 Speaker 3: doors of the listening room for the first time, is 253 00:15:02,457 --> 00:15:05,497 Speaker 3: that they just felt like they belonged, and they could 254 00:15:05,697 --> 00:15:10,217 Speaker 3: walk out feeling like they were connected to the stories 255 00:15:10,257 --> 00:15:12,217 Speaker 3: behind the songs in a way that they had never 256 00:15:12,257 --> 00:15:15,937 Speaker 3: heard and couldn't wait to come back. I got through 257 00:15:15,977 --> 00:15:19,457 Speaker 3: those hard times by trusting God and leaning on prayer. 258 00:15:20,697 --> 00:15:22,217 Speaker 3: I'm very familiar with Jesus calling. 259 00:15:22,257 --> 00:15:25,177 Speaker 4: I don't even remember when I got my first. 260 00:15:24,897 --> 00:15:29,137 Speaker 3: Book, but it was years ago and it was given 261 00:15:29,177 --> 00:15:32,217 Speaker 3: to me by a friend. Then I'd found out that 262 00:15:33,017 --> 00:15:37,377 Speaker 3: my wife had also been reading it. Since twenty thirteen, 263 00:15:38,057 --> 00:15:42,737 Speaker 3: I am still trying to find the right time to 264 00:15:42,817 --> 00:15:45,377 Speaker 3: slow down and connect with God on a daily basis. 265 00:15:46,257 --> 00:15:50,737 Speaker 3: I have seasons where I do really well for several 266 00:15:50,817 --> 00:15:54,617 Speaker 3: weeks and then I'll miss a couple days, and I 267 00:15:54,617 --> 00:15:58,577 Speaker 3: think that's okay too, But you know, it's a marathon, 268 00:15:58,657 --> 00:16:00,377 Speaker 3: and I think that's what it's supposed to be. And 269 00:16:00,417 --> 00:16:02,977 Speaker 3: you just have to attack every day as a new 270 00:16:03,057 --> 00:16:10,777 Speaker 3: day and try to spend that time. Jesus listens, February sixteenth. 271 00:16:11,137 --> 00:16:14,457 Speaker 3: Gentle Jesus, you've been teaching me that there is no 272 00:16:14,617 --> 00:16:19,737 Speaker 3: randomness about my life. Here and now comprise the coordinates 273 00:16:19,737 --> 00:16:23,457 Speaker 3: of my daily life. The present moment is not only 274 00:16:23,537 --> 00:16:27,217 Speaker 3: the point at which my time intersects eternity. It is 275 00:16:27,297 --> 00:16:31,377 Speaker 3: the place where I encounter you, my eternal Savior. Every 276 00:16:31,417 --> 00:16:34,817 Speaker 3: moment of every day is alive with your glorious presence. 277 00:16:35,737 --> 00:16:39,257 Speaker 3: Help me to keep my thoughts focused on you, enjoining 278 00:16:39,297 --> 00:16:42,937 Speaker 3: your presence here and now. I find that the more 279 00:16:42,977 --> 00:16:46,217 Speaker 3: time I spend communicating with you, the less I worry. 280 00:16:46,857 --> 00:16:49,457 Speaker 3: This frees me to let your spirit direct my steps, 281 00:16:49,897 --> 00:16:53,017 Speaker 3: guiding my feet into the way of peace in your 282 00:16:53,017 --> 00:16:53,697 Speaker 3: guiding name. 283 00:16:54,337 --> 00:16:54,697 Speaker 4: Amen. 284 00:16:56,737 --> 00:17:00,457 Speaker 2: To learn more about Chris Blair, visit Chris Blair dot com. 285 00:17:00,497 --> 00:17:02,297 Speaker 2: And to keep up with the latest shows at the 286 00:17:02,297 --> 00:17:06,936 Speaker 2: Listening Room, visit Listeningroom Cafe dot com. Stay tuned to 287 00:17:06,977 --> 00:17:18,937 Speaker 2: Cindy Thompson's story after a brief message. Teens today face 288 00:17:19,057 --> 00:17:21,817 Speaker 2: more pressure than ever if you're looking for a way 289 00:17:21,857 --> 00:17:25,016 Speaker 2: to bring calm, clarity, and faith into their everyday lives. 290 00:17:25,297 --> 00:17:28,577 Speaker 2: The new teen edition of Jesus Calling is here to help. 291 00:17:29,577 --> 00:17:32,736 Speaker 2: This well loved teen edition has been refreshed with a 292 00:17:32,777 --> 00:17:36,097 Speaker 2: brand new, modern cover, making it even more inviting for 293 00:17:36,137 --> 00:17:40,057 Speaker 2: today's teens. Jesus Calling for Teens is a three hundred 294 00:17:40,097 --> 00:17:42,657 Speaker 2: and sixty five day devotional and cuts through the noise 295 00:17:42,697 --> 00:17:46,297 Speaker 2: of an overwhelming world. Each short entry offers peace when 296 00:17:46,337 --> 00:17:50,497 Speaker 2: anxiety creeps in and comfort when they feel alone. Every 297 00:17:50,537 --> 00:17:54,216 Speaker 2: day brings them grounding scripture, gentle biblical guidance, and a 298 00:17:54,217 --> 00:17:57,057 Speaker 2: moment to pause and connect with Jesus in a meaningful way. 299 00:17:57,977 --> 00:18:00,657 Speaker 2: The teen edition is perfect for building morning quiet time, 300 00:18:01,017 --> 00:18:04,657 Speaker 2: youth groups, small groups, or simply building a steady daily 301 00:18:04,737 --> 00:18:07,897 Speaker 2: rhythm with God and with Jesus Calling. Available for adults 302 00:18:07,897 --> 00:18:11,017 Speaker 2: and kids, families can grow together and share the journey. 303 00:18:11,737 --> 00:18:14,777 Speaker 2: If a teen in your life is looking for direction, reassurance, 304 00:18:14,857 --> 00:18:17,976 Speaker 2: or a deeper relationship with Jesus, this devotional gives them 305 00:18:18,057 --> 00:18:22,457 Speaker 2: daily reminders that they're seeing, loved and never alone. Find 306 00:18:22,497 --> 00:18:31,857 Speaker 2: the teen Edition of Jesus Calling wherever books are sold. 307 00:18:33,337 --> 00:18:36,177 Speaker 2: Our next guest is Cindy Thompson, a country artist who 308 00:18:36,257 --> 00:18:39,057 Speaker 2: saw her Nashville dream come true with her debut album 309 00:18:39,137 --> 00:18:41,577 Speaker 2: My World and the hit song What I Really Meant 310 00:18:41,577 --> 00:18:41,936 Speaker 2: to Say. 311 00:18:42,377 --> 00:18:43,897 Speaker 1: At the height of her career, when. 312 00:18:43,697 --> 00:18:47,017 Speaker 2: Everything seemed to be falling perfectly into place, Cindy began 313 00:18:47,097 --> 00:18:49,737 Speaker 2: to sense God leading her in a completely different direction. 314 00:18:50,377 --> 00:18:53,936 Speaker 2: What followed was a powerful journey of trust, surrender, and 315 00:18:54,017 --> 00:18:57,577 Speaker 2: rediscovering her identity beyond the stage. 316 00:18:57,657 --> 00:19:01,657 Speaker 5: Well, my name is Cindy Thompson, originally from South Georgia. 317 00:19:01,977 --> 00:19:05,137 Speaker 5: I moved to Nashville over twenty five years a guyer 318 00:19:05,177 --> 00:19:07,937 Speaker 5: to follow my dream of being a country music singer. 319 00:19:08,417 --> 00:19:10,257 Speaker 5: It's what I'd always wanted to do since I was 320 00:19:10,257 --> 00:19:17,457 Speaker 5: twelve years old. I grew up in Tifton, Georgia, and 321 00:19:18,057 --> 00:19:21,137 Speaker 5: it was a beautiful experience. I was allowed to dream 322 00:19:21,177 --> 00:19:24,337 Speaker 5: in my house and Jesus was a big part of 323 00:19:24,417 --> 00:19:29,017 Speaker 5: our conversation on a daily basis. I was bullied pretty 324 00:19:29,057 --> 00:19:32,377 Speaker 5: severely in middle school. Deep down inside, I didn't really 325 00:19:32,377 --> 00:19:34,657 Speaker 5: want to be seen. I was just a quiet little 326 00:19:34,697 --> 00:19:37,137 Speaker 5: girl who just wanted to disappear. I had a great 327 00:19:37,177 --> 00:19:39,537 Speaker 5: home life. My parents were very much on the pulse 328 00:19:39,577 --> 00:19:42,297 Speaker 5: at that time in my life and for me I 329 00:19:42,297 --> 00:19:44,897 Speaker 5: felt very loved at home. I was very confident, but 330 00:19:45,257 --> 00:19:49,617 Speaker 5: that whole experience really just changed me. I thought, well, 331 00:19:49,617 --> 00:19:52,057 Speaker 5: I'll play clarinet. My sister was in the marching band. 332 00:19:52,097 --> 00:19:55,457 Speaker 5: It's a big band. I can disappear, and so I did. 333 00:19:55,497 --> 00:19:57,897 Speaker 5: I joined the band, but I was a terrible clarinet player. 334 00:19:57,977 --> 00:20:01,936 Speaker 5: I was last chair. And one afternoon the choir teacher 335 00:20:01,977 --> 00:20:04,977 Speaker 5: came in and she said, is Cindy Thompson in here? 336 00:20:05,017 --> 00:20:08,177 Speaker 5: And this was a huge class, and I eventually raised 337 00:20:08,177 --> 00:20:11,137 Speaker 5: my hand. I was a little timid and afraid, and 338 00:20:11,217 --> 00:20:13,936 Speaker 5: she asked me to step outside. And this is really 339 00:20:13,977 --> 00:20:18,417 Speaker 5: where I began to dream bigger for myself. She said 340 00:20:18,417 --> 00:20:20,297 Speaker 5: to me, in the whole way, I heard that you 341 00:20:20,297 --> 00:20:22,817 Speaker 5: could sing. And I said, well, I don't know if 342 00:20:22,817 --> 00:20:25,857 Speaker 5: I can sing, and she said, well, come with me. 343 00:20:25,897 --> 00:20:28,257 Speaker 5: We're going to go into my class. We walked into 344 00:20:28,297 --> 00:20:31,457 Speaker 5: the choir class where all the cool kids were, and 345 00:20:31,897 --> 00:20:33,497 Speaker 5: she put me in front of the piano and began 346 00:20:33,537 --> 00:20:36,337 Speaker 5: to play all these scales, one after the other, and. 347 00:20:36,297 --> 00:20:38,457 Speaker 1: She asked me to sing them back, and they got. 348 00:20:38,257 --> 00:20:42,017 Speaker 5: Harder and harder and harder, and I did them all 349 00:20:42,377 --> 00:20:43,897 Speaker 5: and she said to me that day she's like, I 350 00:20:43,937 --> 00:20:45,337 Speaker 5: don't care what you do with your clarinet. 351 00:20:45,377 --> 00:20:46,857 Speaker 1: That's your chair over there. 352 00:20:47,697 --> 00:20:51,217 Speaker 5: We eventually changed my classes and she told my parents 353 00:20:51,977 --> 00:20:54,817 Speaker 5: she's a star. It was hard for me to understand 354 00:20:54,817 --> 00:20:56,936 Speaker 5: because they had come out of that bullying experience and 355 00:20:56,977 --> 00:21:00,777 Speaker 5: I didn't know what I was. And she was the 356 00:21:00,817 --> 00:21:04,297 Speaker 5: first person to really call out what God had put. 357 00:21:04,177 --> 00:21:04,857 Speaker 1: On my life. 358 00:21:04,977 --> 00:21:07,817 Speaker 5: She saw annoying that I didn't see, and I needed 359 00:21:07,857 --> 00:21:10,617 Speaker 5: a teacher like that in my life. That is when 360 00:21:10,657 --> 00:21:14,817 Speaker 5: I really began to dream about music, and she was 361 00:21:14,857 --> 00:21:22,857 Speaker 5: the catalyst. I had written all the songs and obviously 362 00:21:22,857 --> 00:21:26,617 Speaker 5: gotten the record deal at Capital, and for me, success 363 00:21:26,937 --> 00:21:31,257 Speaker 5: first and foremost was that that I actually was able 364 00:21:31,297 --> 00:21:33,217 Speaker 5: to achieve a dream that I felt God had planted 365 00:21:33,297 --> 00:21:35,297 Speaker 5: in my heart, which was to move to Nashville and 366 00:21:36,097 --> 00:21:39,177 Speaker 5: get a record deal. And what made it even better 367 00:21:39,977 --> 00:21:43,617 Speaker 5: was that Capital believed in my songs that I'd written 368 00:21:43,777 --> 00:21:46,257 Speaker 5: and allowed me to be very much a part of 369 00:21:46,297 --> 00:21:48,937 Speaker 5: the project. You want your song to reach the top 370 00:21:48,977 --> 00:21:53,617 Speaker 5: of the charts. You want to receive the accolades and awards, 371 00:21:53,697 --> 00:21:57,777 Speaker 5: because you know that in a way does signify that 372 00:21:57,857 --> 00:22:00,217 Speaker 5: you were recognized for your hard work and your art, 373 00:22:00,417 --> 00:22:03,216 Speaker 5: and so for me, those were kind of the things 374 00:22:03,297 --> 00:22:06,457 Speaker 5: that mattered. I just knew that it that point, being 375 00:22:06,497 --> 00:22:09,177 Speaker 5: on a label and having my songs on a record 376 00:22:09,337 --> 00:22:12,976 Speaker 5: meant so much to me. When I made the choice 377 00:22:13,017 --> 00:22:16,737 Speaker 5: to leave the music industry, it wasn't haphazard, it wasn't overnight. 378 00:22:17,097 --> 00:22:19,777 Speaker 5: It was a process that I really didn't share with anyone. 379 00:22:19,857 --> 00:22:22,137 Speaker 5: It was like I had this big secret that I 380 00:22:22,137 --> 00:22:27,216 Speaker 5: couldn't tell anyone. Because I had reached my ultimate dream 381 00:22:27,417 --> 00:22:31,057 Speaker 5: and I had successful music. I was being called the 382 00:22:31,137 --> 00:22:35,097 Speaker 5: it girl, and I was having meetings with corporations about 383 00:22:35,257 --> 00:22:38,257 Speaker 5: representing products. There were so many things happening that you 384 00:22:38,337 --> 00:22:42,857 Speaker 5: dream about. But deep down inside, I was having panic attacks. 385 00:22:43,177 --> 00:22:46,377 Speaker 5: I was depressed. I was on anti depressants. I was 386 00:22:47,057 --> 00:22:49,577 Speaker 5: having my heart monitored every week. I was in so 387 00:22:49,737 --> 00:22:52,257 Speaker 5: much pain, and I didn't understand why, because what I 388 00:22:52,337 --> 00:22:54,817 Speaker 5: was walking out was so beautiful, and to the outside world, 389 00:22:54,897 --> 00:22:57,537 Speaker 5: you look at that and you think, wow, that's amazing, 390 00:22:58,537 --> 00:23:00,377 Speaker 5: and it was in so many ways. 391 00:23:00,417 --> 00:23:03,097 Speaker 1: But I always say that fame is unnatural. 392 00:23:03,697 --> 00:23:06,137 Speaker 5: It doesn't mean that we can't be fame, or that 393 00:23:06,177 --> 00:23:09,137 Speaker 5: God doesn't put us in physicians to represent him. 394 00:23:09,097 --> 00:23:12,057 Speaker 1: Or be a light to the world. But for me 395 00:23:12,137 --> 00:23:12,417 Speaker 1: at that. 396 00:23:12,497 --> 00:23:15,737 Speaker 5: Time, I just knew that if I didn't walk away, 397 00:23:16,977 --> 00:23:19,537 Speaker 5: I don't know what would happen. You know, looking back now, 398 00:23:19,617 --> 00:23:22,617 Speaker 5: it was self preservation and it was obviously the Lord's 399 00:23:22,657 --> 00:23:26,897 Speaker 5: hand on my life. So that decision came with much prayer, 400 00:23:27,257 --> 00:23:30,936 Speaker 5: and I remember having this moment where I was like, Okay, Lord, 401 00:23:31,497 --> 00:23:33,617 Speaker 5: if you really want me to do this, I need 402 00:23:33,697 --> 00:23:38,137 Speaker 5: something supernatural from you only. I didn't include other people 403 00:23:38,177 --> 00:23:40,097 Speaker 5: in this decision because I didn't want them to have 404 00:23:40,177 --> 00:23:42,017 Speaker 5: the pressure of the yes or the no, or me 405 00:23:42,137 --> 00:23:44,697 Speaker 5: walking away or not walking away. Right, it was a 406 00:23:44,737 --> 00:23:46,976 Speaker 5: private conversation with me the Lord. It was a private 407 00:23:47,097 --> 00:23:50,297 Speaker 5: wrestle with me and him because he had ultimately given 408 00:23:50,337 --> 00:23:55,777 Speaker 5: me the dream. I remember on the back of the 409 00:23:55,817 --> 00:23:59,177 Speaker 5: bus one night, just breaking down and I just really 410 00:23:59,217 --> 00:24:02,417 Speaker 5: felt the Lord say, walk away. You can trust me 411 00:24:02,497 --> 00:24:04,657 Speaker 5: with this. I never ask you to do anything I 412 00:24:04,657 --> 00:24:05,976 Speaker 5: don't complete in your life life. 413 00:24:06,857 --> 00:24:07,577 Speaker 1: And I said no. 414 00:24:08,617 --> 00:24:11,696 Speaker 5: So I kept working, I kept going, and it was 415 00:24:11,777 --> 00:24:14,737 Speaker 5: this moment where I asked, Lord, give me something supernatural, 416 00:24:14,737 --> 00:24:18,457 Speaker 5: and it happened. I was in an airport. My flight 417 00:24:18,577 --> 00:24:20,737 Speaker 5: was delayed. I was with my band and they went 418 00:24:20,737 --> 00:24:22,377 Speaker 5: to grab lunch and I was just sitting there with 419 00:24:22,417 --> 00:24:24,697 Speaker 5: my husband. He was reading a newspaper and I'd gotten 420 00:24:24,737 --> 00:24:27,457 Speaker 5: a new self help book. I thought, maybe this one 421 00:24:27,497 --> 00:24:30,256 Speaker 5: will help me figure out my life. And I was 422 00:24:30,737 --> 00:24:34,737 Speaker 5: seeking the Lord and praying and I look over about 423 00:24:34,777 --> 00:24:37,696 Speaker 5: two gates down. Those both were closed, but there was 424 00:24:37,777 --> 00:24:40,577 Speaker 5: a woman, an African American woman in her late eighties, 425 00:24:41,297 --> 00:24:44,177 Speaker 5: being wheeled up to this gate and just kind of 426 00:24:44,217 --> 00:24:47,297 Speaker 5: pushed facing the wall. And she was left there by 427 00:24:47,337 --> 00:24:51,537 Speaker 5: the airline employee and she was trying to move her wheelchair. 428 00:24:51,617 --> 00:24:53,577 Speaker 5: And I thought, this so strange that someone would do 429 00:24:53,617 --> 00:24:55,897 Speaker 5: that to somebody, and so I said to my husband, look, 430 00:24:55,937 --> 00:24:57,897 Speaker 5: that's so strange. It looks like she has to go somewhere. 431 00:24:57,897 --> 00:24:59,417 Speaker 5: And he said, well, maybe he should go help her. 432 00:25:00,257 --> 00:25:03,137 Speaker 5: And I was like, no, I have a self help book. 433 00:25:03,897 --> 00:25:05,256 Speaker 5: No one's going to call me on my phone. They 434 00:25:05,257 --> 00:25:08,297 Speaker 5: think on a flight like I got some rest here. No, no, no, 435 00:25:09,337 --> 00:25:12,377 Speaker 5: And it just wouldn't shake. So I kept looking and 436 00:25:12,577 --> 00:25:14,537 Speaker 5: I finally got up and I went over to her 437 00:25:14,537 --> 00:25:15,976 Speaker 5: and I said, ma'am, do you need to go somewhere? 438 00:25:16,057 --> 00:25:18,577 Speaker 5: And she said yes, honey, I need to go to 439 00:25:18,617 --> 00:25:20,617 Speaker 5: the bathroom. And I said, well, I can take you 440 00:25:21,617 --> 00:25:24,337 Speaker 5: and so we began to walk in this busy airport 441 00:25:24,417 --> 00:25:26,417 Speaker 5: and I had to push her through the traffic of 442 00:25:26,457 --> 00:25:28,936 Speaker 5: the airport. Right, everyone was going to where they needed 443 00:25:28,937 --> 00:25:30,617 Speaker 5: to be in this busy world that we live in, 444 00:25:31,497 --> 00:25:34,657 Speaker 5: and I remember just thinking, how am I going to 445 00:25:34,937 --> 00:25:35,737 Speaker 5: get over there? 446 00:25:35,937 --> 00:25:37,137 Speaker 1: It's crazy in this airport. 447 00:25:37,177 --> 00:25:39,936 Speaker 5: So I just started pushing her through the traffic, and 448 00:25:40,017 --> 00:25:43,177 Speaker 5: immediately I encountered this young girl who just looked so 449 00:25:43,417 --> 00:25:46,217 Speaker 5: mad at me for getting in her way, and I thought, 450 00:25:46,217 --> 00:25:46,817 Speaker 5: that's kind. 451 00:25:46,657 --> 00:25:47,577 Speaker 1: Of who I'm becoming. 452 00:25:48,097 --> 00:25:48,297 Speaker 2: You know. 453 00:25:48,377 --> 00:25:49,857 Speaker 1: It's just a quick moment. 454 00:25:49,617 --> 00:25:52,377 Speaker 5: Right, this is all happening fast, but also felt like 455 00:25:52,457 --> 00:25:56,337 Speaker 5: it was slow motion. And again I've not spoken one 456 00:25:56,417 --> 00:25:59,537 Speaker 5: word to this woman except by saying, can I take 457 00:25:59,577 --> 00:26:00,137 Speaker 5: you somewhere? 458 00:26:00,417 --> 00:26:02,297 Speaker 1: And I said, why, I can take you right my flight? 459 00:26:02,377 --> 00:26:05,137 Speaker 5: So lay So I get in this bathroom there's no 460 00:26:05,177 --> 00:26:07,657 Speaker 5: one in there, and I help her get into a 461 00:26:07,697 --> 00:26:12,017 Speaker 5: stall and she's just thanking me. We're not really talking 462 00:26:12,217 --> 00:26:15,217 Speaker 5: at all, and she comes out. I help her get 463 00:26:15,257 --> 00:26:19,617 Speaker 5: in the wheelchair and she grabs both in my hands 464 00:26:20,457 --> 00:26:22,777 Speaker 5: and she says to me, you need to make the 465 00:26:22,857 --> 00:26:24,777 Speaker 5: choices that make you happy in life. 466 00:26:25,777 --> 00:26:29,297 Speaker 1: You need to be happy, And immediately I knew it 467 00:26:29,337 --> 00:26:29,857 Speaker 1: was the Lord. 468 00:26:29,937 --> 00:26:33,657 Speaker 5: He had used someone to get my attention that I 469 00:26:33,777 --> 00:26:36,377 Speaker 5: hear you, and I've given you something today to show 470 00:26:36,417 --> 00:26:39,417 Speaker 5: you that it's okay to make this decision. I knew 471 00:26:39,417 --> 00:26:40,817 Speaker 5: without a doubt what I was going to do. I 472 00:26:40,857 --> 00:26:42,936 Speaker 5: went back at her settled, went back to sit with 473 00:26:42,977 --> 00:26:45,337 Speaker 5: my husband, and I said, I'm going to walk away. 474 00:26:45,417 --> 00:26:49,097 Speaker 5: I'm officially doing this. And so that's when the real 475 00:26:49,177 --> 00:26:56,417 Speaker 5: journey began, meeting with my label, walking away, and immediately 476 00:26:56,777 --> 00:27:07,177 Speaker 5: everything stopped. After I left my career, there was a 477 00:27:07,217 --> 00:27:11,537 Speaker 5: moment in time where I was just thinking what's next 478 00:27:11,657 --> 00:27:15,537 Speaker 5: and just sitting with the Lord in this decision I made, 479 00:27:15,777 --> 00:27:18,456 Speaker 5: because literally everything stopped. There was no tour bus, there 480 00:27:18,457 --> 00:27:21,857 Speaker 5: were no interviews, there was no flights, there was no 481 00:27:22,417 --> 00:27:27,697 Speaker 5: red carpets. It was all gone and it was very quiet. 482 00:27:27,977 --> 00:27:30,617 Speaker 5: You know, I think that time with the Lord on 483 00:27:30,657 --> 00:27:33,537 Speaker 5: a daily basis can either make or break your day. 484 00:27:33,777 --> 00:27:36,737 Speaker 5: I mean, how many times we can call it out 485 00:27:36,777 --> 00:27:38,057 Speaker 5: by the end of the day, Like, you know, I 486 00:27:38,057 --> 00:27:41,977 Speaker 5: didn't spend my time with the Lord. You just know it. 487 00:27:41,977 --> 00:27:45,097 Speaker 5: It just runs so differently when you do. I was 488 00:27:45,137 --> 00:27:48,217 Speaker 5: trying to remember when I got my first Jesus Calling Book. 489 00:27:48,777 --> 00:27:54,377 Speaker 5: It was many years ago, and it really was so 490 00:27:54,457 --> 00:27:57,936 Speaker 5: important to my daily routine. It was helpful because I 491 00:27:57,937 --> 00:28:01,537 Speaker 5: think a lot of times we get intimidated by the 492 00:28:01,537 --> 00:28:03,577 Speaker 5: Bible itself, like where do I start? 493 00:28:03,617 --> 00:28:06,617 Speaker 1: Where do I go? You know, and if you're not 494 00:28:06,657 --> 00:28:07,617 Speaker 1: in a study or. 495 00:28:07,577 --> 00:28:10,456 Speaker 5: You don't have a devotional in front of you, that 496 00:28:10,537 --> 00:28:12,857 Speaker 5: can be intimidating. And so it was so helpful for 497 00:28:12,977 --> 00:28:15,977 Speaker 5: me on those days when I just really needed to 498 00:28:16,017 --> 00:28:18,976 Speaker 5: hear from the Lord, just such an encouragement as a 499 00:28:19,057 --> 00:28:24,017 Speaker 5: daily devotional with scripture included. I got a call to 500 00:28:24,097 --> 00:28:26,017 Speaker 5: come and speak at a girl's ministry to share my 501 00:28:26,057 --> 00:28:27,216 Speaker 5: testimony and to sing. 502 00:28:27,977 --> 00:28:29,257 Speaker 1: I said yes right away. 503 00:28:29,697 --> 00:28:34,777 Speaker 5: I remember thinking, Okay, this ministry provides a home for 504 00:28:34,857 --> 00:28:37,857 Speaker 5: girls who've been through very traumatic situations. 505 00:28:37,897 --> 00:28:39,057 Speaker 1: It's not a large home. 506 00:28:39,177 --> 00:28:41,137 Speaker 5: They only accept so many at a time because they 507 00:28:41,257 --> 00:28:42,777 Speaker 5: really focus on healing them. 508 00:28:43,377 --> 00:28:45,257 Speaker 1: And it's a beautiful, beautiful place. 509 00:28:45,337 --> 00:28:49,537 Speaker 5: And the more I thought about accepting this opportunity, I thought, 510 00:28:49,577 --> 00:28:50,297 Speaker 5: I can't go there. 511 00:28:50,417 --> 00:28:53,057 Speaker 1: I had a great upbringing, I had loving parents. I've 512 00:28:53,057 --> 00:28:53,857 Speaker 1: got a record deal. 513 00:28:53,897 --> 00:28:56,377 Speaker 5: I let my record deal go, Like, why would any 514 00:28:56,417 --> 00:28:59,737 Speaker 5: of them relate to me? In fact, they're probably gonna 515 00:28:59,737 --> 00:29:01,617 Speaker 5: hate me. I don't want to do this, and so 516 00:29:01,697 --> 00:29:05,617 Speaker 5: the enemy just would it stop saying these things to me. 517 00:29:05,857 --> 00:29:08,297 Speaker 5: Up until the night before I was supposed to go. 518 00:29:09,217 --> 00:29:11,777 Speaker 5: They're not going to care. They don't need you to come, 519 00:29:12,337 --> 00:29:14,657 Speaker 5: and I kept thinking, you're right, you're right, I don't 520 00:29:14,657 --> 00:29:17,817 Speaker 5: need to do this. This is crazy, But I committed 521 00:29:17,897 --> 00:29:20,777 Speaker 5: and I went, and I meet the head of the 522 00:29:20,817 --> 00:29:22,497 Speaker 5: ministry and she says, you know, we're kind of on 523 00:29:22,537 --> 00:29:25,017 Speaker 5: a strict schedule. They have to be in bed by 524 00:29:25,097 --> 00:29:27,297 Speaker 5: nine o'clock, so just as long as you share your story, 525 00:29:27,737 --> 00:29:30,297 Speaker 5: you should have time for one song, and then that 526 00:29:30,337 --> 00:29:32,977 Speaker 5: would be great. And I'm like, okay, we've got it. 527 00:29:33,937 --> 00:29:35,657 Speaker 5: So as the girls start to trickle in, I could 528 00:29:35,657 --> 00:29:38,377 Speaker 5: see the girls that probably were new and kind of 529 00:29:38,417 --> 00:29:40,977 Speaker 5: mad about their situation and didn't really want to be 530 00:29:41,257 --> 00:29:44,097 Speaker 5: there listening to a speaker. And then there was one 531 00:29:44,097 --> 00:29:45,937 Speaker 5: girl that came in and sat at the very front 532 00:29:46,017 --> 00:29:49,337 Speaker 5: row and just was staring at me. And I shared 533 00:29:49,377 --> 00:29:53,497 Speaker 5: my testimony as saying my song, and then realized the 534 00:29:53,657 --> 00:29:57,817 Speaker 5: ministry had said, you have time for one more song. Well, 535 00:29:57,817 --> 00:29:59,817 Speaker 5: we've not worked on another one. So I looked at 536 00:29:59,857 --> 00:30:00,977 Speaker 5: my husband and said, what do you want to do. 537 00:30:01,017 --> 00:30:02,577 Speaker 5: We didn't work on anything, and he said, I've got 538 00:30:02,617 --> 00:30:05,617 Speaker 5: an idea. Let's do this song. So as it began 539 00:30:05,657 --> 00:30:07,777 Speaker 5: to sing that song, that girl in the front row 540 00:30:08,017 --> 00:30:12,137 Speaker 5: began to weep and weep. When I finished the song 541 00:30:12,537 --> 00:30:14,737 Speaker 5: and said, you know, goodbyes to some of the people 542 00:30:14,737 --> 00:30:17,817 Speaker 5: that work there, she lingered and asked if I could 543 00:30:18,057 --> 00:30:20,617 Speaker 5: sit with her, So I said absolutely. 544 00:30:20,777 --> 00:30:21,537 Speaker 1: We sat down. 545 00:30:22,177 --> 00:30:25,577 Speaker 5: Now that weekend I would have been at the ACM 546 00:30:25,617 --> 00:30:27,617 Speaker 5: Awards that exact night. 547 00:30:28,657 --> 00:30:30,777 Speaker 1: It would have been the year that we would have. 548 00:30:30,777 --> 00:30:33,697 Speaker 5: Prepped for nominations and all the things you do in 549 00:30:33,777 --> 00:30:36,617 Speaker 5: that second year being an artist. I was projected to 550 00:30:36,737 --> 00:30:40,617 Speaker 5: have maybe have some nominations. And so here I was 551 00:30:40,857 --> 00:30:43,337 Speaker 5: sitting at this ministry the night that I would have 552 00:30:43,377 --> 00:30:46,857 Speaker 5: been at the ACM Awards, with this beautiful young girl, 553 00:30:47,857 --> 00:30:50,057 Speaker 5: and she said to me, when I found out it 554 00:30:50,097 --> 00:30:52,657 Speaker 5: was you, I couldn't believe it. I ran up here 555 00:30:52,657 --> 00:30:55,737 Speaker 5: and I looked through the window and I ran in 556 00:30:55,817 --> 00:30:58,937 Speaker 5: my bedroom and began to pray. She said, I've wanted 557 00:30:58,977 --> 00:31:02,177 Speaker 5: to meet you my whole life, and I prayed that 558 00:31:02,257 --> 00:31:05,457 Speaker 5: you would sing that song because it was attached to 559 00:31:05,737 --> 00:31:09,177 Speaker 5: memory as to why I'm in here to this relationship 560 00:31:09,257 --> 00:31:11,377 Speaker 5: she shouldn't have been in. That was their song, and 561 00:31:11,417 --> 00:31:13,937 Speaker 5: she said, God, if she just sings it one more time, 562 00:31:14,457 --> 00:31:17,057 Speaker 5: I can have a new memory attached to that song. 563 00:31:18,257 --> 00:31:21,217 Speaker 5: And at this point I'm crying because I feel the 564 00:31:21,297 --> 00:31:23,857 Speaker 5: Lord saying to me, Cindy, I know where you would 565 00:31:23,857 --> 00:31:28,617 Speaker 5: have been, but I care about the one, and it 566 00:31:28,737 --> 00:31:31,417 Speaker 5: was just a beautiful story of you know, God really 567 00:31:31,417 --> 00:31:33,577 Speaker 5: does care about the one and he'll go to any 568 00:31:33,737 --> 00:31:39,297 Speaker 5: length to reach them. 569 00:31:39,337 --> 00:31:43,097 Speaker 2: To learn more about Cindy Thompson, visit www dot Cindy 570 00:31:43,177 --> 00:31:46,057 Speaker 2: Thompson dot com. If you'd like to hear more stories 571 00:31:46,057 --> 00:31:48,457 Speaker 2: about what happens when we put others first. Check out 572 00:31:48,457 --> 00:31:57,337 Speaker 2: our interview with old friends Senior Dog Sanctuary. Next time 573 00:31:57,377 --> 00:32:00,257 Speaker 2: on the Jesus Calling podcast, well hear from Christian artist 574 00:32:00,337 --> 00:32:03,257 Speaker 2: Jeremy Risotto, who you may recognize from his appearances on 575 00:32:03,297 --> 00:32:06,297 Speaker 2: American Idol and The Voice. Jeremy opens up about his 576 00:32:06,377 --> 00:32:08,897 Speaker 2: journey to the stage, have his music as a window 577 00:32:08,937 --> 00:32:11,777 Speaker 2: into his heart and a story of family, faith and 578 00:32:11,817 --> 00:32:13,257 Speaker 2: the moments that shape us. 579 00:32:14,417 --> 00:32:16,417 Speaker 3: I never thought in a million years I'd do The Voice, 580 00:32:16,457 --> 00:32:19,217 Speaker 3: but my God has done exceedingly Abundon more than I saw. 581 00:32:19,297 --> 00:32:20,777 Speaker 1: And it wasn't because I was the best singer in 582 00:32:20,817 --> 00:32:21,897 Speaker 1: the world or anything like that. 583 00:32:22,097 --> 00:32:23,617 Speaker 4: It was because I knew that God was. 584 00:32:23,577 --> 00:32:27,097 Speaker 1: Doing this and He wasn't wasting this opportunity for me. 585 00:32:34,457 --> 00:32:36,977 Speaker 2: Thanks for listening to the Jesus Calling Stories of Faith 586 00:32:37,057 --> 00:32:40,897 Speaker 2: podcast on the Live Audio Network. Every week, we'll bring 587 00:32:40,937 --> 00:32:43,497 Speaker 2: you stories from people who share their journeys of faith 588 00:32:43,857 --> 00:32:47,577 Speaker 2: and how prayer and a relationship with God transformed their lives. 589 00:32:48,337 --> 00:32:51,697 Speaker 2: Be sure to follow us on Apple, Spotify, iHeart, or 590 00:32:51,737 --> 00:32:55,017 Speaker 2: wherever you listen to podcasts, and leave us a review 591 00:32:55,097 --> 00:32:59,297 Speaker 2: so others can be inspired weekly by these stories of faith. Finally, 592 00:32:59,617 --> 00:33:03,137 Speaker 2: you can find encouragement resources and more on the Jesus 593 00:33:03,137 --> 00:33:06,377 Speaker 2: Calling website at Jesus Calling dot um.