1 00:00:08,257 --> 00:00:09,457 Speaker 1: Life audio. 2 00:00:11,137 --> 00:00:14,537 Speaker 2: Find inspiration as close as your phone. Download the Jesus 3 00:00:14,576 --> 00:00:17,416 Speaker 2: Calling app and get started today for free. Look for 4 00:00:17,457 --> 00:00:20,097 Speaker 2: the Jesus Calling app in both the Apple and Google 5 00:00:20,137 --> 00:00:31,257 Speaker 2: Play stores. Hi, I'm Susie McIntyre Eaton, and I want 6 00:00:31,297 --> 00:00:35,097 Speaker 2: to welcome you to Jesus Listen Stories of Prayer. My 7 00:00:35,217 --> 00:00:39,697 Speaker 2: guest today is Jen Lily. You may know her by 8 00:00:39,857 --> 00:00:44,336 Speaker 2: her appearances and acting ability in Days of Our Lives, 9 00:00:45,016 --> 00:00:49,897 Speaker 2: General Hospital, and even Gray's Anatomy. Well, I'm going to 10 00:00:49,976 --> 00:00:53,456 Speaker 2: talk to her about how she got those opportunities, her 11 00:00:53,537 --> 00:00:57,497 Speaker 2: walk with Christ, even in the midst of very very 12 00:00:57,537 --> 00:01:02,937 Speaker 2: hard times and seasons of her life. Hey, Jen, welcome 13 00:01:02,977 --> 00:01:05,497 Speaker 2: to the show. Well, I know you've really hit your stride. 14 00:01:05,817 --> 00:01:09,377 Speaker 2: Is a Hallmark actor for the movies which you know 15 00:01:09,577 --> 00:01:12,297 Speaker 2: us women love. We love, you know, to spend our 16 00:01:12,377 --> 00:01:15,857 Speaker 2: sundays watch in a Hallmark movie. It's always really really great. 17 00:01:15,897 --> 00:01:18,657 Speaker 2: But would you tell us how you got started working 18 00:01:18,697 --> 00:01:19,697 Speaker 2: for these films? 19 00:01:20,177 --> 00:01:23,297 Speaker 1: Oh my goodness, Yes, it was totally a God thing. 20 00:01:23,657 --> 00:01:28,377 Speaker 1: So I moved to you know, Los Angeles and became 21 00:01:28,457 --> 00:01:31,457 Speaker 1: an actor. God opened a lot of doors. I mean 22 00:01:31,497 --> 00:01:34,897 Speaker 1: I worked really hard, but also he very much opened doors. 23 00:01:35,497 --> 00:01:38,257 Speaker 1: I was on Days of Our Lives playing a very 24 00:01:39,057 --> 00:01:42,217 Speaker 1: risky character, which the Lord actually told me to play 25 00:01:42,217 --> 00:01:45,177 Speaker 1: that role, which is a whole different story. It was 26 00:01:45,217 --> 00:01:49,497 Speaker 1: a very interesting trajectory, and the casting director at the 27 00:01:49,537 --> 00:01:53,297 Speaker 1: time for Hallmark, Penny Perry, loved Days of Our Lives, ironically, 28 00:01:53,417 --> 00:01:55,577 Speaker 1: so she was already familiar with my work. At the 29 00:01:55,617 --> 00:01:58,777 Speaker 1: same time, I did a movie called The Spirit of 30 00:01:58,857 --> 00:02:02,697 Speaker 1: Christmas and it was independent that ended up going to Lifetime, 31 00:02:02,697 --> 00:02:05,137 Speaker 1: but Hallmark had wanted it. It became the number one 32 00:02:05,217 --> 00:02:09,177 Speaker 1: Christmas movie in the world, so that got Hallmark's attention, 33 00:02:09,496 --> 00:02:12,137 Speaker 1: and then that's how I got involved with those movies 34 00:02:12,137 --> 00:02:15,177 Speaker 1: and that kind of career path opened up for me 35 00:02:15,217 --> 00:02:15,577 Speaker 1: as well. 36 00:02:15,937 --> 00:02:19,617 Speaker 2: My husband Mark will say, are you in Hallmark again? 37 00:02:20,177 --> 00:02:24,377 Speaker 2: And you know it's so is it fun to act 38 00:02:24,417 --> 00:02:25,457 Speaker 2: in those roles? 39 00:02:26,297 --> 00:02:29,137 Speaker 1: I think they are the most fun movies to do. 40 00:02:29,497 --> 00:02:36,337 Speaker 1: And what really strikes me about them is makes me 41 00:02:36,377 --> 00:02:39,777 Speaker 1: emotional the profound impact they have on people. It's amazing 42 00:02:39,817 --> 00:02:43,376 Speaker 1: because I meet fans and so many of them will 43 00:02:43,377 --> 00:02:46,697 Speaker 1: come up to me, and you know, the holidays are wonderful. 44 00:02:47,297 --> 00:02:49,657 Speaker 1: At the same time, there's always going to be a 45 00:02:49,697 --> 00:02:54,857 Speaker 1: holiday season that's tough for you because moving residences. I 46 00:02:54,977 --> 00:02:57,337 Speaker 1: like to say, if you're a believer, you know you 47 00:02:57,417 --> 00:03:00,657 Speaker 1: go from here to living in heaven. You move your residence. 48 00:03:01,697 --> 00:03:04,097 Speaker 1: The first holiday that you have without your parents or 49 00:03:04,137 --> 00:03:06,376 Speaker 1: a sibling or a loved one is really tricky. It's 50 00:03:06,417 --> 00:03:08,737 Speaker 1: really hard to navigate. And so many of my fans 51 00:03:08,777 --> 00:03:11,417 Speaker 1: will say to me, you know, your movie was the 52 00:03:11,457 --> 00:03:15,217 Speaker 1: only ninety minutes that I didn't cry this holiday season. 53 00:03:15,297 --> 00:03:17,897 Speaker 1: So I really love doing them. But I also love 54 00:03:17,977 --> 00:03:22,697 Speaker 1: doing them because they get people through just tough times. 55 00:03:22,817 --> 00:03:27,417 Speaker 2: I absolutely agree with that. I've lost both of my parents. 56 00:03:27,617 --> 00:03:30,257 Speaker 2: Of course, you know, now I've got to face the 57 00:03:30,337 --> 00:03:33,457 Speaker 2: reality that my children will be dealing with my death, 58 00:03:33,657 --> 00:03:36,777 Speaker 2: you know, within you know, the next ten, fifteen years, 59 00:03:36,817 --> 00:03:41,537 Speaker 2: maybe twenty if if I'm very lucky. But I think 60 00:03:41,577 --> 00:03:44,777 Speaker 2: it's very good for people to be able to laugh 61 00:03:44,977 --> 00:03:49,817 Speaker 2: during Christmas, to believe and to understand what Christmas is 62 00:03:49,857 --> 00:03:53,017 Speaker 2: all about. That it's not our circumstances. It's about the 63 00:03:53,057 --> 00:03:59,097 Speaker 2: Savior being born, crucified, resurrected, and given us hope. You know, Yes, 64 00:03:59,817 --> 00:04:04,457 Speaker 2: you've been very open about your fifteen year struggle with 65 00:04:05,177 --> 00:04:08,977 Speaker 2: an eating disorder. Would you tell us about that because 66 00:04:09,137 --> 00:04:13,457 Speaker 2: so many people have eating disorders and they feel hopeless 67 00:04:13,737 --> 00:04:14,857 Speaker 2: and helpless with that. 68 00:04:15,977 --> 00:04:19,816 Speaker 1: Yeah, I actually loved talking about this because God is 69 00:04:19,856 --> 00:04:24,416 Speaker 1: so kind. It's really interesting. I became an on fire, 70 00:04:24,537 --> 00:04:27,616 Speaker 1: really obsessed Jesus freak since the age of nine. So 71 00:04:27,856 --> 00:04:31,296 Speaker 1: I mean, I've I've known for so long my identity 72 00:04:31,296 --> 00:04:35,297 Speaker 1: in Christ. And it's just very interesting because even though 73 00:04:35,337 --> 00:04:38,657 Speaker 1: I knew who I was in Christ, I still fell 74 00:04:38,697 --> 00:04:42,337 Speaker 1: into the trap of an eating disorder in high school. 75 00:04:42,376 --> 00:04:45,337 Speaker 1: And so for fifteen years I struggled with bolimia. I 76 00:04:45,376 --> 00:04:48,097 Speaker 1: can't tell you how many altar calls I went up 77 00:04:48,137 --> 00:04:48,936 Speaker 1: to to get. 78 00:04:48,816 --> 00:04:51,176 Speaker 2: Prayer for it. I would cry. 79 00:04:50,936 --> 00:04:54,176 Speaker 1: In prayer when I would tell people about it, you know, 80 00:04:54,217 --> 00:04:56,976 Speaker 1: if I would finally confide in someone. Part of it 81 00:04:57,017 --> 00:04:59,697 Speaker 1: was that people had a really bad reaction. I mean 82 00:04:59,736 --> 00:05:02,217 Speaker 1: a lot of times people would abandon me. They wouldn't 83 00:05:02,416 --> 00:05:04,976 Speaker 1: want to be in my life anymore because they couldn't believe. 84 00:05:05,056 --> 00:05:06,976 Speaker 1: You know. I was struggling with that, and so I 85 00:05:06,976 --> 00:05:08,737 Speaker 1: was listening to a lot of John Vivie and then 86 00:05:08,736 --> 00:05:11,497 Speaker 1: at the same time, my pastor in LA and he 87 00:05:11,537 --> 00:05:13,177 Speaker 1: I've talked to him so many times about this. He's like, 88 00:05:13,176 --> 00:05:14,976 Speaker 1: I don't even remember saying that wasn't the point of 89 00:05:15,017 --> 00:05:17,176 Speaker 1: a sermon. But how many times have you been listening 90 00:05:17,257 --> 00:05:19,777 Speaker 1: to a message and it's not even the point of 91 00:05:19,816 --> 00:05:22,337 Speaker 1: the message, but something that the pastor or a speaker 92 00:05:22,376 --> 00:05:25,736 Speaker 1: says hits you with Holy Spirit conviction and you just 93 00:05:25,816 --> 00:05:28,737 Speaker 1: kind of like are stuck on that. And Jake Sweetman 94 00:05:28,816 --> 00:05:32,936 Speaker 1: from Cathedral Church in LA said, the best definition that 95 00:05:33,017 --> 00:05:35,976 Speaker 1: I can come up with for sin is trusting in 96 00:05:36,017 --> 00:05:39,056 Speaker 1: anything more than you trust in God. I realized in 97 00:05:39,097 --> 00:05:43,897 Speaker 1: that moment, my goodness, I'm actually trusting that God can't 98 00:05:43,936 --> 00:05:49,016 Speaker 1: heal me because I deserve it. I'm trusting that my 99 00:05:49,137 --> 00:05:52,217 Speaker 1: eating disorder is what will keep me thin. I'm trusting 100 00:05:52,257 --> 00:05:56,777 Speaker 1: that by being thin, I'm going to get acting jobs 101 00:05:56,936 --> 00:06:00,056 Speaker 1: as if I couldn't work if I wasn't thin. I was, 102 00:06:00,457 --> 00:06:03,576 Speaker 1: And then I'm trusting like, oh that my eating disorder 103 00:06:03,577 --> 00:06:05,537 Speaker 1: and my acting is my provider and not God. And 104 00:06:05,537 --> 00:06:08,017 Speaker 1: so it just started kind of opening up this huge 105 00:06:08,056 --> 00:06:11,056 Speaker 1: can of worms in my heart and I was just 106 00:06:11,176 --> 00:06:14,217 Speaker 1: laid bare. And so it led me on this journey, 107 00:06:14,217 --> 00:06:16,976 Speaker 1: and I mean it was difficult, but it was It 108 00:06:17,017 --> 00:06:21,457 Speaker 1: was a journey of making sometimes even like minute by 109 00:06:21,537 --> 00:06:25,097 Speaker 1: minute decisions of I am actually going to trust that 110 00:06:26,097 --> 00:06:28,976 Speaker 1: God will provide for me. And I remember a year 111 00:06:29,296 --> 00:06:32,897 Speaker 1: kind of after starting to make the decision, you know, 112 00:06:32,936 --> 00:06:36,537 Speaker 1: like I had probably been like a year not throwing up. 113 00:06:36,657 --> 00:06:40,537 Speaker 1: That I had this like one snack bag size of Cheetohs, 114 00:06:40,577 --> 00:06:43,416 Speaker 1: which is like nothing, It's like one hundred and fifty calories. 115 00:06:43,976 --> 00:06:47,416 Speaker 1: And I remember freaking out. I remember sitting on my couch. 116 00:06:47,496 --> 00:06:49,496 Speaker 1: I was crying. I wanted to throw up, and I 117 00:06:49,616 --> 00:06:52,496 Speaker 1: was so scared, and I remember the Holy Spirit saying, like, 118 00:06:52,577 --> 00:06:56,816 Speaker 1: do you trust me? He's just so gracious, and so 119 00:06:57,056 --> 00:06:59,337 Speaker 1: I'm just so relieved to be on the other side 120 00:06:59,337 --> 00:07:03,976 Speaker 1: of it, because any form of addiction is a prison 121 00:07:04,217 --> 00:07:06,577 Speaker 1: that you feel like you can't get out. And at 122 00:07:06,577 --> 00:07:09,296 Speaker 1: the same time, God is so able. 123 00:07:09,737 --> 00:07:14,097 Speaker 2: Oh, you are so refreshing you. You know. We we 124 00:07:14,177 --> 00:07:17,457 Speaker 2: can sit and we can judge Hollywood, We can sit 125 00:07:17,617 --> 00:07:21,577 Speaker 2: and judge Hallmark, we can sit and judge. But God 126 00:07:21,777 --> 00:07:26,337 Speaker 2: has people in specific areas where he needs them, and 127 00:07:26,417 --> 00:07:30,017 Speaker 2: you are definitely in the right spot. Let's talk about 128 00:07:30,057 --> 00:07:33,777 Speaker 2: your new book, Wake Up your Faith. Tell me I 129 00:07:33,857 --> 00:07:37,937 Speaker 2: can't imagine you getting stagnant in your faith or passive 130 00:07:37,977 --> 00:07:40,337 Speaker 2: in your faith. Was there a time when you got 131 00:07:40,337 --> 00:07:41,537 Speaker 2: stagnant in your faith. 132 00:07:41,777 --> 00:07:44,297 Speaker 1: I don't know that my relationship with Jesus ever got stagnant, 133 00:07:44,337 --> 00:07:48,537 Speaker 1: but I did leave the church for a while in college. 134 00:07:48,617 --> 00:07:51,537 Speaker 1: Because if you feel like your faith is a little sleepy, 135 00:07:52,857 --> 00:07:56,576 Speaker 1: then can I just encourage you to go out of 136 00:07:56,617 --> 00:07:59,816 Speaker 1: your way and like I dare you, like even go 137 00:07:59,897 --> 00:08:02,737 Speaker 1: pay for somebody's coffee behind you in the drive through. 138 00:08:03,337 --> 00:08:06,136 Speaker 1: It will actually have an effect on you. When you 139 00:08:06,297 --> 00:08:09,657 Speaker 1: actually go out and love someone, it does more for 140 00:08:09,857 --> 00:08:14,177 Speaker 1: you than just for that person. And so that's kind 141 00:08:14,217 --> 00:08:17,497 Speaker 1: of where the title came from. And I was asked 142 00:08:17,497 --> 00:08:23,417 Speaker 1: to write this devotional. Really the title was motivated by James. 143 00:08:23,617 --> 00:08:26,016 Speaker 1: James is probably my favorite book in the Bible, and 144 00:08:26,057 --> 00:08:28,297 Speaker 1: it's a short one and he's Jesus' brother of course, 145 00:08:28,337 --> 00:08:33,937 Speaker 1: so like but in James it says, show me your 146 00:08:34,017 --> 00:08:36,857 Speaker 1: faith without works, and I will show you my faith 147 00:08:37,057 --> 00:08:40,377 Speaker 1: with works, by my works, because faith without works is dead. 148 00:08:40,977 --> 00:08:45,297 Speaker 1: And I think so many times we misunderstand that verse 149 00:08:45,897 --> 00:08:50,457 Speaker 1: and we get like religious or weirdly theological about it, 150 00:08:50,497 --> 00:08:52,857 Speaker 1: and we think that that James is saying you earn 151 00:08:52,897 --> 00:08:55,457 Speaker 1: your salvation through works, and like that could not be 152 00:08:55,497 --> 00:08:58,897 Speaker 1: further from the truth. What James is very clearly saying, 153 00:08:58,937 --> 00:09:03,177 Speaker 1: if you read it in context, is when you love 154 00:09:03,337 --> 00:09:08,057 Speaker 1: the Lord, you know you are a new creation. So 155 00:09:08,177 --> 00:09:11,457 Speaker 1: your natural byproducts will be the fruit of the Holy Spirit. 156 00:09:12,377 --> 00:09:14,497 Speaker 1: And so you will have love, you will have joy, 157 00:09:14,537 --> 00:09:17,417 Speaker 1: you will have peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and 158 00:09:17,417 --> 00:09:21,537 Speaker 1: self control naturally because you are plugged into the vine 159 00:09:21,777 --> 00:09:25,177 Speaker 1: who is Jesus. We've been grafted in. I'm so grateful. 160 00:09:25,497 --> 00:09:28,817 Speaker 1: So James is saying, if you really follow the Lord, 161 00:09:30,857 --> 00:09:35,217 Speaker 1: good works should follow you, just because you are the 162 00:09:35,297 --> 00:09:36,697 Speaker 1: hands and feet of Jesus. 163 00:09:37,177 --> 00:09:39,297 Speaker 2: A lot of people, uh, if they're kind of a 164 00:09:40,217 --> 00:09:44,017 Speaker 2: religious type of mindset. If I just do all the 165 00:09:44,097 --> 00:09:47,457 Speaker 2: right things and I don't sin, and I keep you know, 166 00:09:47,577 --> 00:09:50,977 Speaker 2: myself squeaky clean, then I won't have to go through. 167 00:09:51,217 --> 00:09:54,097 Speaker 2: God will just kind of go around me, and you know, 168 00:09:54,217 --> 00:09:57,217 Speaker 2: he won't bother me, you know. And that's not a 169 00:09:57,257 --> 00:10:01,137 Speaker 2: life to go around and just check all of the 170 00:10:01,257 --> 00:10:04,297 Speaker 2: p's and q's and dot your eyes and cross your t's. 171 00:10:05,537 --> 00:10:08,017 Speaker 1: That's not what Jesus came to die for. I mean, 172 00:10:08,017 --> 00:10:10,857 Speaker 1: he really did come to give us life and life 173 00:10:10,857 --> 00:10:13,857 Speaker 1: to the full. I mean, being a Christian should be 174 00:10:13,857 --> 00:10:15,017 Speaker 1: the greatest adventure. 175 00:10:15,897 --> 00:10:19,377 Speaker 2: That's exactly right, Jen, That's exactly right. I think you've 176 00:10:19,417 --> 00:10:22,577 Speaker 2: been on a great adventure ever since you were born, 177 00:10:22,857 --> 00:10:25,817 Speaker 2: and you are meant for what you're doing. You have 178 00:10:26,337 --> 00:10:29,457 Speaker 2: so much to offer, so much to offer. Tell us 179 00:10:29,497 --> 00:10:32,417 Speaker 2: where we can get to know you better, where we 180 00:10:32,457 --> 00:10:34,177 Speaker 2: can get your devotional your book. 181 00:10:34,377 --> 00:10:38,497 Speaker 1: People can find me on Instagram. I'm very active on there, 182 00:10:38,617 --> 00:10:42,017 Speaker 1: and I run my own stuff, So that's at Jen 183 00:10:42,137 --> 00:10:45,377 Speaker 1: j E n Underscore Lily, which is l I L 184 00:10:45,497 --> 00:10:47,817 Speaker 1: E Y. And then you know, if you do want 185 00:10:47,817 --> 00:10:50,057 Speaker 1: to try and wake up your faith, it's on Amazon. 186 00:10:50,137 --> 00:10:53,497 Speaker 1: It's you know, Barnes and Noble Books, a million, Target, Walmart, 187 00:10:53,617 --> 00:10:55,337 Speaker 1: kind of anywhere you want to buy a book, Christian 188 00:10:55,337 --> 00:10:59,337 Speaker 1: Books dot Com, you know, but Amazon, Amazon's great free ship. 189 00:10:59,457 --> 00:11:02,937 Speaker 2: You love it, good, awesome, awesome. Well, I am so 190 00:11:03,097 --> 00:11:07,857 Speaker 2: glad that you joined us. It's been a wonderful time 191 00:11:07,897 --> 00:11:10,697 Speaker 2: for me. You have encouraged me, and I know you 192 00:11:10,777 --> 00:11:15,377 Speaker 2: will our listeners so much, so much. God bless you 193 00:11:15,457 --> 00:11:18,937 Speaker 2: and thank you you too. I hope you enjoyed our 194 00:11:18,977 --> 00:11:22,017 Speaker 2: time today with Jen Lily boy. I sure did. I 195 00:11:22,097 --> 00:11:26,217 Speaker 2: am so encouraged. So I like to end our conversation 196 00:11:26,417 --> 00:11:31,297 Speaker 2: Today with an excerpt from Jesus Listens. It's from September 197 00:11:31,337 --> 00:11:37,337 Speaker 2: twenty sixth. Victorious Jesus helped me to welcome problems as 198 00:11:37,457 --> 00:11:41,737 Speaker 2: perspective lifters. When things are going smoothly in my life, 199 00:11:41,857 --> 00:11:45,577 Speaker 2: it's easy for me to sleep walk through my days 200 00:11:46,377 --> 00:11:50,057 Speaker 2: just following my routines. But if I bump into an 201 00:11:50,097 --> 00:11:53,577 Speaker 2: obstacle that blocks my way, I suddenly wake up and 202 00:11:53,657 --> 00:11:59,097 Speaker 2: become more attentive. But experience has taught me that this 203 00:11:59,257 --> 00:12:02,457 Speaker 2: negative attitude will take me down into a pit of 204 00:12:02,617 --> 00:12:07,217 Speaker 2: self pity. Instead of this hurt response, I can view 205 00:12:07,337 --> 00:12:11,657 Speaker 2: the problem as a ladder, enabling me to climb up 206 00:12:12,057 --> 00:12:17,377 Speaker 2: and see my life from your perspective. Once my perspective 207 00:12:17,537 --> 00:12:21,217 Speaker 2: has been heightened, I'm free to look away from the 208 00:12:21,297 --> 00:12:26,137 Speaker 2: difficulty and turn wholeheartedly to you. As I focus my 209 00:12:26,217 --> 00:12:31,057 Speaker 2: attention on you, the light of your presence shines upon me, 210 00:12:31,737 --> 00:12:39,217 Speaker 2: blessing and refreshing me and your radiant and refreshing name. Amen. 211 00:12:46,617 --> 00:12:49,457 Speaker 1: Be sure to follow us on social media and on 212 00:12:49,497 --> 00:12:52,457 Speaker 1: the Jesus Calling podcast on Apple or wherever you get 213 00:12:52,457 --> 00:12:54,977 Speaker 1: your podcasts so that you can keep up with our 214 00:12:54,977 --> 00:12:58,337 Speaker 1: weekly audio episodes in special monthly series like this one, 215 00:12:58,817 --> 00:13:01,337 Speaker 1: and be sure to subscribe to the Jesus Calling channel 216 00:13:01,377 --> 00:13:04,937 Speaker 1: on YouTube, where you'll find the video version of this interview. 217 00:13:05,257 --> 00:13:06,097 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening.