1 00:00:08,257 --> 00:00:12,737 Speaker 1: Life Audio. Did you know that Jesus Calling has its 2 00:00:12,737 --> 00:00:15,857 Speaker 1: own YouTube channel. It's full of great content that will 3 00:00:15,937 --> 00:00:19,416 Speaker 1: enhance your spiritual life. You'll find beautiful videos with short 4 00:00:19,417 --> 00:00:22,057 Speaker 1: devotional moments to help you through your day, as well 5 00:00:22,096 --> 00:00:26,057 Speaker 1: as stories on video from celebrities, authors, pastors, and everyday 6 00:00:26,096 --> 00:00:29,057 Speaker 1: people who share what their faith journey has meant to them. 7 00:00:29,337 --> 00:00:32,577 Speaker 1: You'll also find that Jesus Listens Stories of Prayer series 8 00:00:32,697 --> 00:00:37,777 Speaker 1: hosted by Susie McIntyre Eaton, featuring new guests monthly. Subscribe 9 00:00:37,817 --> 00:00:39,537 Speaker 1: today for new videos each week. 10 00:00:43,137 --> 00:00:47,497 Speaker 2: People would say, how can we do that over and over? 11 00:00:48,137 --> 00:00:52,056 Speaker 2: You do it because the song is good and you 12 00:00:52,137 --> 00:00:56,177 Speaker 2: don't get tired of it. We love Christmas. I guess 13 00:00:56,257 --> 00:00:58,857 Speaker 2: that's our favorite, Hollie, because everybody gets together. 14 00:01:00,497 --> 00:01:03,937 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Jesus Calling Podcast. First, we welcome a 15 00:01:04,017 --> 00:01:07,017 Speaker 1: music legend whose voice has becomes synonymous with the sounds 16 00:01:07,057 --> 00:01:09,817 Speaker 1: of the season. At just twelve years old, Brenda Lee 17 00:01:09,857 --> 00:01:13,217 Speaker 1: recorded Rocking Around the Christmas Tree. She shares memories of 18 00:01:13,257 --> 00:01:16,737 Speaker 1: recording in Nashville alongside country greats, her deep respect for 19 00:01:16,817 --> 00:01:19,697 Speaker 1: the team behind every hit, and the enduring value of 20 00:01:19,777 --> 00:01:23,377 Speaker 1: kindness in a competitive industry. Later in the episode, we'll 21 00:01:23,417 --> 00:01:26,977 Speaker 1: hear from pastor, author and publisher Philip Nation, who has 22 00:01:27,017 --> 00:01:30,897 Speaker 1: dedicated his career to making scripture accessible to readers everywhere. 23 00:01:31,297 --> 00:01:34,337 Speaker 1: Philip opens up about his desire to know and understand 24 00:01:34,417 --> 00:01:38,737 Speaker 1: God's word more fully. Let's begin with Brenda Lee's story. 25 00:01:41,457 --> 00:01:48,697 Speaker 2: Rocking around Christmas Tree and Christmas Body. Never in my 26 00:01:48,897 --> 00:01:58,257 Speaker 2: dreams did I think this would be my signature song. Never. 27 00:02:01,657 --> 00:02:04,777 Speaker 2: I'm one of those artists. It doesn't matter to me 28 00:02:05,737 --> 00:02:08,137 Speaker 2: if everybody in the room says, bringda, that's going to 29 00:02:08,217 --> 00:02:10,577 Speaker 2: be a hit. If I don't like it, I can't 30 00:02:10,617 --> 00:02:14,537 Speaker 2: do it. I just can't do it. And they say, 31 00:02:14,617 --> 00:02:18,137 Speaker 2: but you're a singer. I said, yeah, I am, but 32 00:02:18,657 --> 00:02:24,057 Speaker 2: I'm not a pretender. I knew in my heart that 33 00:02:24,217 --> 00:02:26,537 Speaker 2: I didn't love them enough to make them a hit, 34 00:02:27,777 --> 00:02:32,897 Speaker 2: So why take somebody's life work. Maybe that is the 35 00:02:33,217 --> 00:02:37,777 Speaker 2: secret of a writer, when they write a song like that, 36 00:02:38,737 --> 00:02:41,657 Speaker 2: you only have to write one if it gets big enough. 37 00:02:42,777 --> 00:02:47,097 Speaker 2: I credit Owen Bradley with choosing the right songs because 38 00:02:47,137 --> 00:02:49,817 Speaker 2: of're twelve years old. I didn't know. I just knew 39 00:02:49,897 --> 00:02:51,937 Speaker 2: I loved to sing and they were letting me. So 40 00:02:52,097 --> 00:02:56,697 Speaker 2: I was a happy camper. I was presenting with Triple 41 00:02:56,737 --> 00:03:00,337 Speaker 2: Platinum for Rocking. I shouldn't say I was shocked, but 42 00:03:00,417 --> 00:03:04,377 Speaker 2: I was shocked because it's just been out so long 43 00:03:05,337 --> 00:03:10,617 Speaker 2: and it's just amazing. But it's good, it was recorded good, 44 00:03:10,777 --> 00:03:14,577 Speaker 2: and it has great musicians on it. All the ingredients 45 00:03:14,617 --> 00:03:18,337 Speaker 2: are there. I'm so proud for the writer, Johnny Marks. 46 00:03:18,897 --> 00:03:21,977 Speaker 2: It's written some of the biggest Christmas songs ever, and 47 00:03:22,217 --> 00:03:26,097 Speaker 2: Owen and the musicians and the singers on it. They 48 00:03:26,177 --> 00:03:28,977 Speaker 2: need occurs and I'm just proud for all of them 49 00:03:29,497 --> 00:03:33,497 Speaker 2: because they're all part of it, and the fans, and 50 00:03:33,537 --> 00:03:35,937 Speaker 2: it all goes back to the song you should never 51 00:03:36,017 --> 00:03:39,137 Speaker 2: lose that. I'm not worried if it's going to be 52 00:03:39,737 --> 00:03:42,697 Speaker 2: number one, number ten, number two, I don't care. Just 53 00:03:42,737 --> 00:03:45,497 Speaker 2: so it comes out and people hear it. And I'm 54 00:03:45,657 --> 00:03:49,297 Speaker 2: such a fan of everybody, and I get a kick 55 00:03:49,297 --> 00:03:51,697 Speaker 2: out of the other artists that are on. I love 56 00:03:51,817 --> 00:03:54,857 Speaker 2: watching them. But I wonder to myself, well, I'll be 57 00:03:54,937 --> 00:03:59,697 Speaker 2: hearing this in thirty years. It was a team effort, 58 00:04:00,657 --> 00:04:04,137 Speaker 2: so if I had a hit, so did they, all 59 00:04:04,177 --> 00:04:08,777 Speaker 2: those wonderful people, and we just had a ball. The 60 00:04:08,857 --> 00:04:12,537 Speaker 2: pans that hut on sixteenth Avenue South in Nashville, where 61 00:04:12,537 --> 00:04:16,137 Speaker 2: I cut all my its. It's not there anymore. I 62 00:04:16,217 --> 00:04:19,537 Speaker 2: cried when they got rid of it, because so many 63 00:04:19,657 --> 00:04:24,856 Speaker 2: hits were recorded there by different people. Loretta lyn Me, Patsy, 64 00:04:25,657 --> 00:04:30,016 Speaker 2: Kitty Wells, and Owen recorded this allt Can you imagine 65 00:04:30,017 --> 00:04:33,576 Speaker 2: trying to choose songs for each artist? I don't know 66 00:04:33,657 --> 00:04:38,296 Speaker 2: I did it. Owen Bradley was a genius, and Selby 67 00:04:38,337 --> 00:04:43,376 Speaker 2: Kofeine the mixer, Owen's brother. And the musicians, my lord. 68 00:04:43,856 --> 00:04:47,736 Speaker 2: Not to say the musicians today are not great. They are, 69 00:04:48,736 --> 00:04:51,577 Speaker 2: but I would put I called them the A Team. 70 00:04:52,257 --> 00:04:55,976 Speaker 2: I would put the A Team up against anybody because 71 00:04:55,976 --> 00:05:01,616 Speaker 2: they could play anything. Any artists that came in never 72 00:05:01,697 --> 00:05:04,656 Speaker 2: sounded like the artists that just went out the door 73 00:05:05,657 --> 00:05:09,096 Speaker 2: traned off on sacks. Ain't Garland on guitar, Grady Martin 74 00:05:09,137 --> 00:05:12,897 Speaker 2: on guitar, Buddy Harmon on drums, Ford Kramer on piano, 75 00:05:13,537 --> 00:05:18,217 Speaker 2: Bobby Moore on base. The Needa curR sayers, you just 76 00:05:18,296 --> 00:05:21,777 Speaker 2: had the best of the best. My sessions were like 77 00:05:22,176 --> 00:05:24,697 Speaker 2: Ford Kramer may say, hey, I think this LIQ would 78 00:05:24,736 --> 00:05:27,856 Speaker 2: go great here. Grady Martin might say the same, Haint 79 00:05:27,936 --> 00:05:32,217 Speaker 2: Garland might boots, Bobby Moore, all of them. And they 80 00:05:32,217 --> 00:05:34,616 Speaker 2: didn't know they were good either. They just loved what 81 00:05:34,697 --> 00:05:37,296 Speaker 2: they were doing. And that's the difference in the business 82 00:05:37,296 --> 00:05:42,297 Speaker 2: to me today. I just loved Christmas. I really did, 83 00:05:42,816 --> 00:05:45,936 Speaker 2: because it was always family. And then I married, and 84 00:05:45,976 --> 00:05:49,776 Speaker 2: then I had another family. I had my husband's family, 85 00:05:50,137 --> 00:05:54,257 Speaker 2: our family, my family. It's always been a biggie for us. 86 00:05:54,616 --> 00:05:58,456 Speaker 2: We have a beautiful tree. Sometimes we have two. We 87 00:05:58,537 --> 00:06:00,537 Speaker 2: used to get a group together and I all go 88 00:06:00,616 --> 00:06:01,777 Speaker 2: caroll In at Christmas. 89 00:06:01,816 --> 00:06:02,537 Speaker 3: It was fun. 90 00:06:03,176 --> 00:06:07,176 Speaker 2: We's had doors shutting our face everything. We'd be like, no, no, 91 00:06:07,257 --> 00:06:09,976 Speaker 2: we're here to Carol. We don't want anything, we just 92 00:06:10,017 --> 00:06:12,457 Speaker 2: want to care for you. Had my girls. The first 93 00:06:12,496 --> 00:06:15,256 Speaker 2: time somebody closed the door, they said, mal, they just 94 00:06:15,296 --> 00:06:18,817 Speaker 2: closed the door on you. We have flaughed so hard 95 00:06:18,897 --> 00:06:28,896 Speaker 2: sometimes and it was just so fun and sweet. I 96 00:06:29,017 --> 00:06:31,176 Speaker 2: try to tell the new artists that are coming up, 97 00:06:31,577 --> 00:06:34,097 Speaker 2: you don't do this by yourself. You may be the 98 00:06:34,137 --> 00:06:37,016 Speaker 2: greatest singer that ever walked the earth, but if you 99 00:06:37,137 --> 00:06:42,376 Speaker 2: don't conform and listen, it will still be a great singer. 100 00:06:42,376 --> 00:06:46,257 Speaker 2: But nobody don't know the love of the music and 101 00:06:46,376 --> 00:06:52,777 Speaker 2: the willingness to change if you have to. The willingness 102 00:06:52,856 --> 00:06:57,337 Speaker 2: to take directions and not say no. This is the 103 00:06:57,337 --> 00:07:01,697 Speaker 2: way I play, and a lot of artists don't realize that, 104 00:07:01,976 --> 00:07:05,496 Speaker 2: and they're not nice to people. My mama always told me, 105 00:07:06,017 --> 00:07:08,496 Speaker 2: don't forget your raising. If you don't make it on 106 00:07:08,537 --> 00:07:13,497 Speaker 2: your voice, you'll make it on your kindness. Be nice 107 00:07:13,737 --> 00:07:19,097 Speaker 2: site people, and do right. Goodness always wins out. 108 00:07:21,577 --> 00:07:25,096 Speaker 1: To learn more about Brenda Lee, visit Brenda Leeofficial dot 109 00:07:25,097 --> 00:07:28,177 Speaker 1: com and find her albums wherever you get your music, 110 00:07:28,657 --> 00:07:30,657 Speaker 1: and be sure to check out the Rocking Around the 111 00:07:30,697 --> 00:07:34,537 Speaker 1: Christmas Tree book at your favorite retailer. Stay tuned to 112 00:07:34,577 --> 00:07:47,297 Speaker 1: Philip nations story after a brief message. These uncertain times 113 00:07:47,297 --> 00:07:50,776 Speaker 1: bring anxiety and fear, but Jesus Listens Prayers for Every 114 00:07:50,777 --> 00:07:55,857 Speaker 1: Season gives you daily prayers of comfort with seasonally inspired illustrations. 115 00:07:56,017 --> 00:07:59,337 Speaker 1: This beautiful book includes prayers that speak to your situation, 116 00:07:59,937 --> 00:08:03,177 Speaker 1: whether it's a time of stress or strength. Look for 117 00:08:03,297 --> 00:08:12,377 Speaker 1: Jesus Listens Prayers for Every Season wherever you buy books. 118 00:08:13,816 --> 00:08:16,816 Speaker 1: Our next guest is Philip Nation, a pastor, author and 119 00:08:16,857 --> 00:08:19,897 Speaker 1: Bible publisher whose life work is centered on helping others 120 00:08:19,937 --> 00:08:22,937 Speaker 1: fall in love with God's word. Philip has dedicated his 121 00:08:22,977 --> 00:08:26,417 Speaker 1: career to making scripture accessible and a lie for readers everywhere. 122 00:08:26,777 --> 00:08:28,777 Speaker 1: He shares how growing up in a home of faith 123 00:08:29,057 --> 00:08:32,617 Speaker 1: sparked a lifelong desire to understand God's word and how 124 00:08:32,617 --> 00:08:35,977 Speaker 1: it continues to bring peace and direction in every season. 125 00:08:38,897 --> 00:08:42,457 Speaker 4: My name is Philip Nation, and the most important thing 126 00:08:42,697 --> 00:08:45,057 Speaker 4: about who I am in this season of life is 127 00:08:45,097 --> 00:08:48,937 Speaker 4: I'm a grandfather of God, a granddaughter and a grandson. 128 00:08:48,977 --> 00:08:52,977 Speaker 4: They're both toddlers. My wife and I and she we've 129 00:08:53,017 --> 00:08:56,097 Speaker 4: been married for thirty one years, and we've got two 130 00:08:56,137 --> 00:08:59,577 Speaker 4: sons that are both grown and both married. Over the 131 00:08:59,657 --> 00:09:03,657 Speaker 4: last almost six years now, I have been leading Bible 132 00:09:03,697 --> 00:09:07,457 Speaker 4: publishing for Thomas Nelson, which is a part of HarperCollins 133 00:09:07,617 --> 00:09:14,017 Speaker 4: Christian Publishing Division. My interest in the Bible, I have 134 00:09:14,217 --> 00:09:18,737 Speaker 4: that great testimony that it started early in life. I'll 135 00:09:18,737 --> 00:09:23,737 Speaker 4: say that really it's my mom, Delores Nation, who passed 136 00:09:23,777 --> 00:09:27,137 Speaker 4: away a couple of decades ago, but I can still 137 00:09:27,217 --> 00:09:28,937 Speaker 4: see it in my mind's eye. I have it in 138 00:09:29,017 --> 00:09:34,217 Speaker 4: my home office. Her red leather King James Version Bible 139 00:09:34,417 --> 00:09:37,817 Speaker 4: was just very ever present in our home. I know 140 00:09:38,137 --> 00:09:41,617 Speaker 4: exactly where she kept it, with a spiral bound notebook 141 00:09:41,617 --> 00:09:44,337 Speaker 4: that she kept all of her prayer requests that she 142 00:09:44,457 --> 00:09:47,737 Speaker 4: kept up with with people from our church family, and 143 00:09:47,857 --> 00:09:51,297 Speaker 4: so very early on in life, the Bible was just 144 00:09:51,457 --> 00:09:55,617 Speaker 4: ever present in our home because of my mother and 145 00:09:55,697 --> 00:10:00,537 Speaker 4: my father, so we went to church regularly. I came 146 00:10:00,617 --> 00:10:05,417 Speaker 4: to faith in Christ as a child and understood that 147 00:10:05,617 --> 00:10:10,257 Speaker 4: the Bible is God telling us who He is. When 148 00:10:10,297 --> 00:10:14,217 Speaker 4: I think about the first copies of the Bible that 149 00:10:14,617 --> 00:10:17,977 Speaker 4: came into my life that had a real significance for 150 00:10:18,057 --> 00:10:21,337 Speaker 4: me carrying them around and using them, the first one 151 00:10:21,657 --> 00:10:26,777 Speaker 4: is one that now ironically, providentially wonderfully I'm now the 152 00:10:26,817 --> 00:10:31,897 Speaker 4: publisher of it, and we call it the Jesus Seaside Bible. 153 00:10:32,417 --> 00:10:35,177 Speaker 4: I remember carrying that Bible with me to church. It 154 00:10:35,417 --> 00:10:37,657 Speaker 4: saved me. It felt like it saved my soul and 155 00:10:37,737 --> 00:10:41,297 Speaker 4: a lot of very long sermons from my pastor of 156 00:10:41,337 --> 00:10:44,377 Speaker 4: my home church in Birmingham. And I still have that 157 00:10:44,457 --> 00:10:48,137 Speaker 4: Bible on my bookshelf, and now it's one that Thomas 158 00:10:48,177 --> 00:10:52,977 Speaker 4: Nelson Bibles. We are still publishing it these five decades later. 159 00:10:53,857 --> 00:10:57,977 Speaker 4: In terms of when I began to grow, the first 160 00:10:58,057 --> 00:11:03,097 Speaker 4: Bible that I really began to study with was one 161 00:11:03,377 --> 00:11:07,817 Speaker 4: that was given to me by my parents. It was 162 00:11:07,897 --> 00:11:11,697 Speaker 4: when I was about sixteen years old that I let 163 00:11:11,737 --> 00:11:14,497 Speaker 4: them know that I felt like God was calling me 164 00:11:14,617 --> 00:11:17,337 Speaker 4: into the ministry and I didn't know what that meant. 165 00:11:17,457 --> 00:11:20,417 Speaker 4: And so through a lot of prayer and counsel with 166 00:11:20,497 --> 00:11:24,537 Speaker 4: my pastor, we figured that out. And my parents gave 167 00:11:24,617 --> 00:11:28,737 Speaker 4: me a Thompson Chain Reference study Bible, which was this 168 00:11:28,897 --> 00:11:33,777 Speaker 4: big thick It felt like this big, overwhelmingly sized Bible. 169 00:11:34,337 --> 00:11:37,977 Speaker 4: But I remember learning how to use all of the 170 00:11:38,017 --> 00:11:41,897 Speaker 4: study tools inside of it, and how it guided me 171 00:11:42,137 --> 00:11:46,217 Speaker 4: to better understand the themes of the Bible and how 172 00:11:46,217 --> 00:11:49,177 Speaker 4: to actually go from one passage to another to see 173 00:11:49,177 --> 00:11:54,817 Speaker 4: how there's this one grand, coherent story and framework of 174 00:11:54,937 --> 00:11:58,817 Speaker 4: doctrine that God was giving us through the scripture. And 175 00:11:58,857 --> 00:12:01,457 Speaker 4: again it's one that I still have to this day. 176 00:12:01,657 --> 00:12:05,217 Speaker 4: I still use it today, and just so thankful for 177 00:12:05,297 --> 00:12:09,257 Speaker 4: that first edition of the Bible that I was able 178 00:12:09,337 --> 00:12:13,977 Speaker 4: to really begin to dig in and study on my 179 00:12:14,097 --> 00:12:19,337 Speaker 4: own and become a self feeder. When I was that 180 00:12:19,577 --> 00:12:23,417 Speaker 4: young man who felt called to ministry, we were going 181 00:12:23,417 --> 00:12:26,657 Speaker 4: to Sunday School. There were discipleship classes I was a 182 00:12:26,697 --> 00:12:29,817 Speaker 4: part of that were on the church campus on Sunday nights, 183 00:12:29,897 --> 00:12:33,937 Speaker 4: and there were special Bible studies on Wednesday nights. But 184 00:12:34,057 --> 00:12:37,697 Speaker 4: the Bible study. The relationship that meant the most to 185 00:12:37,777 --> 00:12:41,697 Speaker 4: me during those days and then has been replicated in 186 00:12:41,777 --> 00:12:45,497 Speaker 4: other decades of my life was when there was one guy. 187 00:12:45,937 --> 00:12:49,257 Speaker 4: His name was Matthew. He was about eight years older 188 00:12:49,257 --> 00:12:53,257 Speaker 4: than me. He was a part time associate to the 189 00:12:53,297 --> 00:12:56,457 Speaker 4: youth minister at our church. He had a full time 190 00:12:56,537 --> 00:13:01,737 Speaker 4: job working in a machine shop. Matthew came alongside of 191 00:13:01,777 --> 00:13:03,537 Speaker 4: me and he said, I want to do for you 192 00:13:04,097 --> 00:13:06,897 Speaker 4: what somebody did for me, and I want to offer 193 00:13:06,977 --> 00:13:10,657 Speaker 4: to disciple You and I would go to Matthew's house 194 00:13:10,857 --> 00:13:14,897 Speaker 4: every Thursday night. He was married, they had one small child, 195 00:13:15,617 --> 00:13:19,137 Speaker 4: and we would spend about two hours together, you know, 196 00:13:19,297 --> 00:13:22,017 Speaker 4: sitting around and talking and then him walking me through 197 00:13:22,097 --> 00:13:27,457 Speaker 4: passages of scripture and us praying together. And Matthew did 198 00:13:27,457 --> 00:13:30,777 Speaker 4: that for three years of my life, and it made 199 00:13:30,897 --> 00:13:33,497 Speaker 4: all the difference in the world that there would be 200 00:13:33,577 --> 00:13:36,417 Speaker 4: one person who would just draw me into a close 201 00:13:36,457 --> 00:13:42,897 Speaker 4: friendship and help me just walk closer to Jesus. I'm 202 00:13:42,937 --> 00:13:46,777 Speaker 4: a huge proponent of studying the Bible with other people. 203 00:13:47,217 --> 00:13:50,497 Speaker 4: The story that I have been able to live out 204 00:13:50,657 --> 00:13:53,497 Speaker 4: of being a part of the community of faith of 205 00:13:54,057 --> 00:14:00,177 Speaker 4: healthy congregations and strong Christian friendships. I just see the 206 00:14:00,337 --> 00:14:05,017 Speaker 4: benefit over and over and over again. And so I 207 00:14:05,057 --> 00:14:10,457 Speaker 4: think that walking alongside of other people in celebrations and 208 00:14:10,577 --> 00:14:18,417 Speaker 4: in painful times, and constantly looking to the Scripture to inform, 209 00:14:18,777 --> 00:14:22,937 Speaker 4: to guide, to help you make decisions, to find hope 210 00:14:23,097 --> 00:14:27,137 Speaker 4: when times are dark, to be able to magnify your 211 00:14:27,297 --> 00:14:31,497 Speaker 4: joys when you're celebrating. To do that together is the 212 00:14:31,657 --> 00:14:35,737 Speaker 4: very nature of I think what we see of God 213 00:14:36,257 --> 00:14:40,937 Speaker 4: unfolding in the Bible is that he constantly is calling 214 00:14:41,017 --> 00:14:45,257 Speaker 4: a people together to live by faith and to walk 215 00:14:45,297 --> 00:14:51,217 Speaker 4: through this world not as lone rangers and solitary believers, 216 00:14:51,257 --> 00:14:55,457 Speaker 4: but to do it together. And I do know and recognize, 217 00:14:55,457 --> 00:14:58,177 Speaker 4: even as someone who has served as a pastor, that 218 00:14:58,217 --> 00:15:00,577 Speaker 4: there are times, there are seasons of life where you 219 00:15:00,657 --> 00:15:05,737 Speaker 4: find yourself feeling whether it's you feel ostracized or you 220 00:15:05,777 --> 00:15:09,057 Speaker 4: feel out of step and out of sync, there's still 221 00:15:09,217 --> 00:15:13,257 Speaker 4: important relationships that you can have. I think it's maybe 222 00:15:13,257 --> 00:15:17,537 Speaker 4: it's best to find your way into a congregation that's 223 00:15:17,577 --> 00:15:21,177 Speaker 4: got a strong, small group type of system, whether that's 224 00:15:21,257 --> 00:15:27,577 Speaker 4: typical Sunday morning, Sunday school, or midweek Bible studies. Our 225 00:15:27,697 --> 00:15:34,017 Speaker 4: lives are so filled everyone has a plan for us. 226 00:15:34,457 --> 00:15:37,617 Speaker 4: It sometimes feel like everyone who has your email address 227 00:15:38,057 --> 00:15:42,657 Speaker 4: considers themselves your boss. There's plenty of anxiety and stress 228 00:15:43,097 --> 00:15:47,017 Speaker 4: and pressure that just flows through our lives, which is 229 00:15:47,177 --> 00:15:51,337 Speaker 4: why we need the study of scripture. It's why we 230 00:15:51,417 --> 00:15:54,857 Speaker 4: need to be able to pause and prayer as well 231 00:15:54,897 --> 00:15:58,377 Speaker 4: as what the Scripture tells us to pray without ceasing, 232 00:15:58,657 --> 00:16:02,537 Speaker 4: just to let our hearts be abounding in prayer and 233 00:16:02,617 --> 00:16:09,137 Speaker 4: our minds being constantly renewed by the scripture. There is 234 00:16:09,177 --> 00:16:12,137 Speaker 4: this moment that we all have when we think I 235 00:16:12,337 --> 00:16:16,657 Speaker 4: just can't do one more thing, and that leather bound 236 00:16:16,897 --> 00:16:21,937 Speaker 4: Bible looks like one more thing, and it looks intimidating 237 00:16:22,097 --> 00:16:25,697 Speaker 4: and it feels overwhelming. And I'll say, as a guy 238 00:16:25,697 --> 00:16:29,217 Speaker 4: who is the publisher of the Bible, there are times 239 00:16:29,217 --> 00:16:33,057 Speaker 4: when I want to say, yes, it does feel like 240 00:16:33,177 --> 00:16:36,137 Speaker 4: it's a bit more than I know what to do with. 241 00:16:36,657 --> 00:16:39,737 Speaker 4: It's a big book. It's larger than any book you'll 242 00:16:39,737 --> 00:16:43,777 Speaker 4: ever read, most likely, and it can feel like a lot. 243 00:16:44,697 --> 00:16:47,937 Speaker 4: But what I always have to turn my mind toward 244 00:16:48,737 --> 00:16:51,937 Speaker 4: is that the study of scripture, the reading of scripture, 245 00:16:52,097 --> 00:16:56,377 Speaker 4: the taking one psalm or one story of the life 246 00:16:56,377 --> 00:17:00,577 Speaker 4: of Jesus, or one prayer from the Old Testament, that 247 00:17:00,697 --> 00:17:03,497 Speaker 4: this is my get to and not my have to. 248 00:17:04,216 --> 00:17:07,936 Speaker 4: This is the blessing that cuts through the stress and 249 00:17:07,977 --> 00:17:10,817 Speaker 4: the anxiety of my life. This is the place where 250 00:17:10,857 --> 00:17:16,257 Speaker 4: God is supernaturally needing me in the moment where I 251 00:17:16,297 --> 00:17:20,417 Speaker 4: feel overwhelmed by the flood of responsibilities, of the fifty 252 00:17:20,457 --> 00:17:23,976 Speaker 4: five hour work week, of the financial pressures, of the 253 00:17:24,137 --> 00:17:32,337 Speaker 4: unexpected medical diagnosis, of the broken relationship, that when I 254 00:17:32,457 --> 00:17:37,617 Speaker 4: pick up the sacred Scripture, this is God knowing what 255 00:17:37,737 --> 00:17:42,456 Speaker 4: humanity is all about, and desiring to speak with me 256 00:17:42,857 --> 00:17:47,897 Speaker 4: so personally, so kindly, so clearly, and so even in 257 00:17:47,937 --> 00:17:51,097 Speaker 4: the midst of your stress and anxiety. It is the 258 00:17:51,137 --> 00:17:54,177 Speaker 4: place where we have to turn our minds and allow 259 00:17:54,217 --> 00:17:56,497 Speaker 4: the Holy Spirit to say, this is the place where 260 00:17:56,497 --> 00:17:59,617 Speaker 4: I want to meet you and care for you in 261 00:17:59,657 --> 00:18:03,417 Speaker 4: this moment of need, rather than oh, it's just one 262 00:18:03,417 --> 00:18:05,537 Speaker 4: more thing I got to check off my to do life. 263 00:18:10,497 --> 00:18:14,937 Speaker 4: There are some wonderful verses that, for whatever reason, God 264 00:18:15,057 --> 00:18:18,976 Speaker 4: was kind enough to make them land solidly in my 265 00:18:19,137 --> 00:18:23,577 Speaker 4: heart so that I carry them with me. The book 266 00:18:23,577 --> 00:18:27,697 Speaker 4: of the Bible that I most frequently recommend is one 267 00:18:27,737 --> 00:18:31,337 Speaker 4: that probably you would hear the same recommendation from a 268 00:18:31,337 --> 00:18:35,097 Speaker 4: lot of people, and it's the Gospel of John. For me, 269 00:18:35,497 --> 00:18:39,456 Speaker 4: it is the place where in those twenty one chapters 270 00:18:40,217 --> 00:18:43,976 Speaker 4: you come face to face with Jesus in both the 271 00:18:44,137 --> 00:18:51,097 Speaker 4: nature of his divinity and in just his very blunt humanity. 272 00:18:51,777 --> 00:18:57,497 Speaker 4: You get these intimate portraits of Jesus interacting with individuals, 273 00:18:57,577 --> 00:19:02,337 Speaker 4: and then the sweeping epic telling of the last week 274 00:19:02,457 --> 00:19:06,497 Speaker 4: of Jesus's life, his death by crucifixion, and his burial 275 00:19:06,617 --> 00:19:10,577 Speaker 4: his resurrection. I just love the Gospel of John for 276 00:19:10,657 --> 00:19:15,537 Speaker 4: so many different ways, from the individual verse that many 277 00:19:15,577 --> 00:19:19,297 Speaker 4: people have committed to memory of John three sixteen, to 278 00:19:19,857 --> 00:19:23,977 Speaker 4: the whole chapter of John seventeen, which is the prayer 279 00:19:24,177 --> 00:19:28,817 Speaker 4: of Jesus before he is arrested. Many people have called 280 00:19:28,857 --> 00:19:32,137 Speaker 4: it the high priestly prayer of Jesus. And so by 281 00:19:32,257 --> 00:19:37,337 Speaker 4: interacting with that book first, if you're going to come 282 00:19:37,377 --> 00:19:41,696 Speaker 4: into studying the Bible, it will set a foundation to 283 00:19:41,817 --> 00:19:46,017 Speaker 4: then help you see how the whole Bible is pointing 284 00:19:46,217 --> 00:19:51,497 Speaker 4: to Jesus. I think of another verse Hoseiah chapter fourteen, 285 00:19:51,937 --> 00:19:54,936 Speaker 4: verse four, where God says to the people of Israel, 286 00:19:54,977 --> 00:19:57,177 Speaker 4: and I feel like he says it to me. He says, 287 00:19:57,217 --> 00:20:01,897 Speaker 4: I will heal their waywardness and love them freely because 288 00:20:01,937 --> 00:20:06,817 Speaker 4: my anger has turned away from them. I just it 289 00:20:06,897 --> 00:20:10,257 Speaker 4: is the flood of grace that I need and I 290 00:20:10,337 --> 00:20:13,417 Speaker 4: need to be reminded of so often with whether or 291 00:20:13,457 --> 00:20:15,857 Speaker 4: not I am troubled, or whether or not I have 292 00:20:15,977 --> 00:20:20,696 Speaker 4: troubled myself by my own wayward actions, that God is 293 00:20:20,897 --> 00:20:24,297 Speaker 4: filled with such grace and mercy toward me. I carry 294 00:20:24,337 --> 00:20:30,897 Speaker 4: those dearly in my heart. Devotionals are just another way 295 00:20:30,937 --> 00:20:34,177 Speaker 4: that we get to walk alongside of each other, where 296 00:20:34,217 --> 00:20:38,177 Speaker 4: an author has pulled back the veil of his or 297 00:20:38,257 --> 00:20:41,137 Speaker 4: her heart to say, this is where God is taking 298 00:20:41,177 --> 00:20:43,817 Speaker 4: me in his word, this is what He's teaching me. 299 00:20:44,457 --> 00:20:48,337 Speaker 4: So I love the fact that we have these devotionals 300 00:20:48,377 --> 00:20:52,857 Speaker 4: from history, from hundreds of years back to the modern 301 00:20:52,937 --> 00:20:56,377 Speaker 4: day of devotionals like Jesus Calling, because it's a way 302 00:20:56,457 --> 00:20:58,897 Speaker 4: that an author has been able to say, let me 303 00:20:58,937 --> 00:21:01,857 Speaker 4: point you to some verses and then show you what 304 00:21:01,937 --> 00:21:06,457 Speaker 4: I've learned here, whether it is in the very unique 305 00:21:06,537 --> 00:21:11,457 Speaker 4: and kind of clever style of Jesus Calling to many others. 306 00:21:11,937 --> 00:21:15,137 Speaker 4: I love the fact that, especially with a devotional book 307 00:21:15,217 --> 00:21:18,457 Speaker 4: like Jesus, calling that on every page there is this 308 00:21:18,577 --> 00:21:22,017 Speaker 4: pointing back towards scripture, that the devotion itself is not 309 00:21:22,137 --> 00:21:26,216 Speaker 4: the end, but it's the entry point to be able 310 00:21:26,257 --> 00:21:29,497 Speaker 4: to go and reflect upon what God has said in 311 00:21:29,577 --> 00:21:33,216 Speaker 4: his word. I'm a huge proponent that there are times 312 00:21:33,257 --> 00:21:35,696 Speaker 4: when we run out of words, we don't know what 313 00:21:35,817 --> 00:21:38,417 Speaker 4: to say to God, we don't know what to think next, 314 00:21:39,417 --> 00:21:44,337 Speaker 4: and a devotional gives you that entry point once again 315 00:21:44,537 --> 00:21:48,177 Speaker 4: into the beautiful body of Christ. Of how others are 316 00:21:48,297 --> 00:21:55,217 Speaker 4: thinking deeply about the things of God. Jesus listens November 317 00:21:55,377 --> 00:22:01,257 Speaker 4: the eleventh, Beloved Jesus, because I am your follower, you 318 00:22:01,457 --> 00:22:04,897 Speaker 4: also speak my name in the depths of my spirit. 319 00:22:05,697 --> 00:22:08,177 Speaker 4: When I take time to hear you speaking to me 320 00:22:08,377 --> 00:22:13,937 Speaker 4: personally in scripture, reassuring me of your love, I am blessed. 321 00:22:14,817 --> 00:22:18,897 Speaker 4: I delight in these beautiful words of blessing. I called 322 00:22:19,097 --> 00:22:23,257 Speaker 4: you out of darkness into my marvelous light, and I 323 00:22:23,337 --> 00:22:28,737 Speaker 4: have loved you with an everlasting love. The unshakable knowledge 324 00:22:28,777 --> 00:22:33,177 Speaker 4: that you love me forever provides a firm foundation for 325 00:22:33,257 --> 00:22:36,817 Speaker 4: my life. Help me to follow you faithfully and joyfully, 326 00:22:37,297 --> 00:22:41,377 Speaker 4: proclaiming your praises as I journey through my life in 327 00:22:41,457 --> 00:22:43,777 Speaker 4: your magnificent name. Amen. 328 00:22:46,897 --> 00:22:50,457 Speaker 1: To learn more about Philip Nation, please visit about me 329 00:22:50,777 --> 00:22:53,657 Speaker 1: slash Philip Nation, and be sure to check out his 330 00:22:53,697 --> 00:22:56,696 Speaker 1: books at your favorite retailer. If you'd like to hear 331 00:22:56,737 --> 00:23:00,097 Speaker 1: more stories about Hope, check out our interview with Lisa Harper. 332 00:23:06,537 --> 00:23:08,897 Speaker 1: Next time on the Jesus Calling podcast, we'll hear from 333 00:23:09,057 --> 00:23:12,617 Speaker 1: entrepreneur and author Ben Higgins, who you may recognize from 334 00:23:12,617 --> 00:23:15,777 Speaker 1: ABC's The Bachelor. Ben opens up about how he's turned 335 00:23:15,777 --> 00:23:19,497 Speaker 1: public fame into a platform for authentic connection and how 336 00:23:19,577 --> 00:23:22,257 Speaker 1: faith and generosity draw us back to the community we 337 00:23:22,257 --> 00:23:22,936 Speaker 1: were created for. 338 00:23:24,617 --> 00:23:28,377 Speaker 3: I think it's the one calling that we sometimes forget 339 00:23:28,417 --> 00:23:32,577 Speaker 3: as humans, is we are called to support well each other. 340 00:23:32,777 --> 00:23:35,417 Speaker 3: And I also think we have a God of support, a. 341 00:23:35,337 --> 00:23:37,737 Speaker 5: God that loves and that cares, and that when we're 342 00:23:37,777 --> 00:23:40,496 Speaker 5: at our lowest, doesn't want us to live at our lowest, 343 00:23:40,497 --> 00:23:42,456 Speaker 5: that wants to lift us up from the ashes and 344 00:23:42,497 --> 00:23:46,457 Speaker 5: say go and be fruitful, and be joyful, and go 345 00:23:46,657 --> 00:23:47,697 Speaker 5: and share with others. 346 00:23:56,017 --> 00:23:58,577 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening to the Jesus Calling Stories of Faith 347 00:23:58,617 --> 00:24:02,497 Speaker 1: podcast on the Life Audio Network. Every week, we'll bring 348 00:24:02,497 --> 00:24:05,097 Speaker 1: you stories from people who share their journeys of faith 349 00:24:05,377 --> 00:24:09,137 Speaker 1: and how prayer and a relationship with God transformed their lives. 350 00:24:09,897 --> 00:24:13,257 Speaker 1: Be sure to follow us on Apple, Spotify, iHeart, or 351 00:24:13,337 --> 00:24:16,577 Speaker 1: wherever you listen to podcasts, and leave us a review 352 00:24:16,697 --> 00:24:20,897 Speaker 1: so others can be inspired weekly by these stories of faith. Finally, 353 00:24:21,177 --> 00:24:24,696 Speaker 1: you can find encouragement resources and more on the Jesus 354 00:24:24,737 --> 00:24:27,977 Speaker 1: Calling website at Jesus Calling dot com.