Finding Faith: Sharing Stories of Encounter and Questions: Recent Episodes
Jessy Bennett
It has always astounded me that even the disciples of Jesus often did not recognize or acknowledge who He was. The same is true in our world today. It is difficult to recognize Jesus, as He is often hidden from us, dressed up in questions and difficult conversations. Maybe you have questions about who Jesus is and why He should matter in your life. From beginning to end, but especially in the Gospel’s, there is a priority of asking questions and seeking answers as a way of coming to know truth and wisdom. More importantly, asking and seeking are a way to come to know who God is, and why He matters. Questions and hard conversations are not the enemy but rather a path to encountering Jesus.“Finding Faith” is a Podcast aimed at sharing the stories of people who have had an encounter with Jesus. Over the course of the first season, we will share stories from young adults who have sought answers to their own questions and discovered what faith meant to them. Everyone has a story and “Finding Faith” seeks to tell those stories and allow others to ask the questions they need answered.
If you have questions, need someone to journey with or would be interested in sharing your story please reach out to me at: findingfaith123@gmail.com.
Make sure to follow us on social media to keep up with the podcast!
Facebook: @stmarywhitesvilleya
Instagram: @st_mary_ya
Twitter: @st_mary_ya
Lauren Johnson shares her story of finding Jesus at a young age, but falling away during her middle and high school age years. In the midst of a difficult marriage, Lauren felt drawn back to faith and longed for the peace she knew when she was younger.
As she began to search for a church to call home, her (at the time) husband's grandmother offered to take her to a Catholic mass at any parish she chose. The silence, the beauty and the purpose all helped to ease Lauren's heart. Eventually Lauren went through RCIA and joined the Catholic Church.
Lauren shares her questions when joining the Church as well as the struggles she has faced in practicing her faith. One such cross she speaks of has been the cross of infertility. Lauren shares how difficult that has been but also the blessing of discovering what spiritual motherhood means. Far from a consolation prize, spiritual motherhood is a gift.
Below are resources Lauren has shared with me on the topic of spiritual motherhood should you desire to learn more about that topic.
Essays on Woman, by Edith Stein (St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross)
The Eternal Woman, by Gertrud von le Fort
The Priesthood of the Heart: Woman’s Unique Vocation, by Jo Croissant (this has
NOTHING to do with women priests)
True Devotion to Mary, by St. Louis de Montfort
The Privilege of Being a Woman, by Alice von Hildebrand
This article: https://churchlifejournal.nd.edu/articles/editorial-musings-the-charism-of-infertility/
This book: https://tanbooks.com/vocation/catholic-women-books/the-anti-mary-exposed-rescuing-the-culture-from-toxic-femininity/?gclid=CjwKCAjwwqaGBhBKEiwAMk-FtEG5-M3bpOtBSa7SbMIUV3Asqa9IPdjQVafmcZW-OWpyNwfvS5P-txoCvZMQAvD_BwE
(From Lauren): This one is not a Catholic author, but listening to many of her recorded presentations have been very impactful on me. This is one of her books, but I found she is much more profound for me when I hear her actually speaking the words:
Let Me Be A Woman, by Elisabeth Elliot
If you have questions, need someone to journey with or would be interested in sharing your story please reach out to me at: findingfaith123@gmail.com.
Make sure to follow us on social media to keep up with the podcast!
Facebook: @stmarywhitesvilleya
Instagram: @st_mary_ya
Twitter: @st_mary_ya
If you have questions, need someone to journey with or would be interested in sharing your story please reach out to me at: findingfaith123@gmail.com.
Make sure to follow us on social media to keep up with the podcast!
Facebook: @stmarywhitesvilleya
Instagram: @st_mary_ya
Twitter: @st_mary_ya
If you have questions, need someone to journey with or would be interested in sharing your story please reach out to me at: findingfaith123@gmail.com.
Make sure to follow us on social media to keep up with the podcast!
Facebook: @stmarywhitesvilleya
Instagram: @st_mary_ya
Twitter: @st_mary_ya
Aislinn Domantay works at a Theology Teacher at Owensboro Catholic Middle School. Her family moved to the US from the Philippines when she was a pre-teen, just beginning to figure out the world. Thankfully, one of the things she chose to hold onto was her Catholic faith. In her soul she knew that faith was important and something she desired to grow in.
As a child and even into her teen and early college years, Aislinn was focused on doing things "the right way." She got good grades, didn't cause trouble and did all the things she was supposed to in her faith life. In college, found a community that helped her see her faith as more than just checklist. God was someone who loved her and desired to be in relationship with her--not just a list of rules and precepts to be followed.
After serving as a FOCUS missionary in Nashville for four years, Aislinn decided it was time to move into her "life-long" mission which brought her to Owensboro, KY.
If you have questions, need someone to journey with or would be interested in sharing your story please reach out to me at: findingfaith123@gmail.com.
Make sure to follow us on social media to keep up with the podcast!
Facebook: @stmarywhitesvilleya
Instagram: @st_mary_ya
Twitter: @st_mary_ya
Doug Payne is a recent graduate from WKU with a degree in Outdoor Recreation. He shares his story about how he has learned to trust God's plan for his life. From entering the seminary to trusting God in the small daily things--Doug talks about his process of discernment and how he has learned to lean on God and trust.
If you have questions, need someone to journey with or would be interested in sharing your story please reach out to me at: findingfaith123@gmail.com.
Andrea Aud is a cheerful employee of Trinity High School who uses her gifts and talents to serve the young people at the school. She shares her experiences of questioning God and whether or not he was real throughout her time in high school.
It was on a retreat, Teens Encounter Christ (aka TEC) that she cried out to Him, begging for a sign. God reveled himself to Andrea on that retreat and helped her see that she was loved unconditionally. Since than, her faith has been bolstered by other encounters with Jesus. While it took sixteen years for Andrea to share her story, she knows that she must tell how God has worked in her life and encourages others to do the same!
If you have questions, need someone to journey with or would be interested in sharing your story please reach out to me at: findingfaith123@gmail.com.
Clint Campbell is a father, husband and entrepreneur. He tells his story of encountering Jesus while on a Koinonia in his college years. After this experience, Clint began to make some changes in his life. Spending time in the "Classroom of Silence," he would sit at the feet of Jesus.
Fast forward, Clint was a father and husband in a job he couldn't stand but felt he needed to stick with in order to provide for his family. After a conversation with his wife, they determined the best course of action was for Clint to home-school their children and pursue a career in music. In 2020 they were making plans for Clint to open a recording studio when the pandemic hit and everything shut down. But the Lord provided. Clint surrendered to God's will and trusted. A year later, Clint's music studio--Surrender Studios--is now open for business.
Click here to watch the Youtube video by Matthew Kelly on "the Classroom of Silence" mentioned by Clint.
Click here to check out Surrender Studios.
If you have questions, need someone to journey with or would be interested in sharing your story please reach out to me at: findingfaith123@gmail.com.
Alyssa Magnuson is newly married and the Pastoral Associate at St Michael's parish in Sebree, KY. In high school she had to job shadow someone in the profession she was interested in for her future. After shadowing a veterinarian for a day (where she discovered just how bad her cat/dog allergy was), Alyssa went back to the drawing board to discover what it was she was passionate about in life.
She knew she loved Spanish class and singing in the choir--but how do you turn that into a profession? Eventually Alyssa heard "the call" to study theology and serve in a ministerial position. She landed in Sebree, KY where she is the hands and feet of Jesus to the people at St Michael's parish and uses her gifts and talents in a variety of ways.
If you have questions, need someone to journey with or would be interested in sharing your story please reach out to me at: findingfaith123@gmail.com.
Jesse Horn, husband, father and farmer talks about how God has shown up at different points in his life and how his faith has evolved over time. Growing up in the Methodist Church, Jesse had a strong foundation of faith laid by his family. But in college, he fell away from his faith. After receiving a call from his father asking him to come home and help with harvest, Jesse's life plans began to change. Realizing how much he missed his family and farming, he moved back home. It was during this time that the embers of faith began to once again grow and Jesse's faith was reignited.
He eventually joined the Catholic Church, shortly before marriage. Jesse shares how his faith guided him and his wife through difficult times as they struggled to determine if and when to start a family, the challenges and set-backs that brought as well as the strain parenthood eventually placed on their marriage. But each step of the way God provided and accompanied Jesse and his wife.
If you have questions, need someone to journey with or would be interested in sharing your story please reach out to me at: findingfaith123@gmail.com.
Alex Schindler is a Kentucky girl living outside the Twin Cities in Minnesota. She is an aspiring musician and works in parish ministry. Alex shares her story of how she left and came back to the Church on two different occasions (once at the beginning of college and once at the end of college). These "pauses" have helped Alex learn more about her faith and what is important to her about being a follower of Jesus.
Discipleship is a journey, one that Alex is walking for herself and alongside others to help bring them to an understanding of the love that Jesus has for them.
If you have questions, need someone to journey with or would be interested in sharing your story please reach out to me at: findingfaith123@gmail.com.
*Note: I realized when editing that I said "inter-faith" (i.e. Catholic + Jewish) instead of "inter-denominational" (i.e. Catholic + Baptist). My apologies for the word confusion!
Casey Hamilton shares his story of growing in his faith as a young man due to the many questions asked by his (then) girlfriend, Anna. He is Catholic, she is Baptist. They began dating in high school and Anna had a lot of questions about the Catholic Church. Casey sought out the answers to Anna's questions and as a result, grew in his own knowledge and love of the faith.
As time went on, the differences between their two denominations seems to be too great and Casey and Anna broke things off. But the pair knew in their hearts that they were supposed to be together. Eventually they began dating again and rather than focus on all the things that separate them--they began to focus on all the things they had in common and how to make an inter-denominational marriage work.
If you have questions, need someone to journey with or would be interested in sharing your story please reach out to me at: findingfaith123@gmail.com.
Kadie Riney is a stay home mom to three beautiful littles. She shares with us how she came to encounter Jesus in the profoundly generous response from her community after the worst day of her life--the day she lost her home in a housefire. Kadie was home with her three young children when she noticed black smoke coming from the office after she had attempted to use the treadmill. She didn't think much of it, but gathered her children and went outside only to realize the fire was beyond her control. Within minutes, members of the community were banding together to help Kadie and her husband John.
Recognizing that as bad as that day was, Kadie is grateful that her family was safe. Kadie and her family were overwhelmed by the the care, concern and outpouring of generosity from the community. These people truly became the hands and feet of Jesus for the Riney family and they are incredibly grateful for all that they have received. Kadie say it best, "When all was lost, much was restored."
If you have questions, need someone to journey with or would be interested in sharing your story please reach out to me at: findingfaith123@gmail.com.
Amanda Payne shares her story of finding faith and the lesson's she has been taught throughout her journey. After a triad of tragedy struck her life in late high school-early college, Amanda was left feeling anxious and scared for her family and the future. But her faith, the lessons she was taught by her parents and time have helped her come to an understanding about who God is and why she may never know "why."
Amanda shares how the foundation laid by her parents has helped her to overcome the loss of a friend, her father and her brother as well as grow in her faith over the years. Like Peter, she desires to boldly claim who God is, but sometimes struggles to live that truth. Amanda's poignant story and sharing of scripture reminds us that a relationship with Jesus is important and faith will see you through the most difficult moments if you allow it to.
If you have questions, need someone to journey with or would be interested in sharing your story please reach out to me at: findingfaith123@gmail.com.
Jessy Bennett is a wife, mother, the host of this podcast and the Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry at St Mary of the Woods in Whitesville. She shares he story about struggling with being vulnerable and the lessons she has learned over the years. While she is by no means perfect, each day Jessy strives to live her life with a heart that is open to Jesus and those around her.
If you have questions, need someone to journey with or would be interested in sharing your story please reach out to me at: findingfaith123@gmail.com.
Make sure to follow us on social media to keep up with the podcast!
Facebook: @stmarywhitesvilleya
Instagram: @st_mary_ya
Twitter: @st_mary_ya
Jason Rigsby is a convert to the Catholic faith and married to Laura Rigby (also interviewed on the podcast). After two divorces and a failed attempt to gain an annulment, Jason wasn't sure he would be able to continue practicing his newly found Catholic faith.
But after meeting Laura, he knew he had finally met the woman he would share the rest of his life with. Jason tells us about the journey of his faith coming alive in the Catholic Church along with the struggles that came with obtaining certificates of invalidity (annulments) for his previous two marriages. It was through the help of a licensed professional counselor that Jason was able to take a good look at his past and see where his woundedness had worked against him, as well as tools to help him in his future.
If you have questions, need someone to journey with or would be interested in sharing your story please reach out to me at: findingfaith123@gmail.com.
Matt Knight is a husband, father of two and the Director of Youth Ministry at St Pius X Catholic Church in Owensboro, KY. He has a passion for serving others through mission trips and often encounters Jesus through worship and music.
Matt talks about how he encountered Jesus through the youth ministry program at his parish, Holy Name of Jesus in Henderson, during his time there in high school. After hearing a talk from his youth minister on the importance of Christian's living authentically rather than "two-faced" he began to contemplate what that would mean for his own life.
If you have questions, need someone to journey with or would be interested in sharing your story please reach out to me at: findingfaith123@gmail.com.
Anything worth doing, is worth doing poorly.
Today I'm sharing some personal reflections that I have recently stumbled through. I hope these words encourage and uplift you, even in the midst of these uncertain days.
Have a blessed Thanksgiving! Stay safe, eat well and enjoy some time with your family.
A new episode will be posted next week. As always, thank you for listening. If you need someone to journey with, would like to tell your story or have any other questions or comments, please feel free to contact me at findingfaith123@gmail.com.
Jose Solorza is originally from El Paso, TX. His family moved to Henderson, KY for his fathers job when he was just a young boy. Jose talks about the challenges his family faced when moving, and the part his family played in helping to establish the Hispanic community at Holy Name in Henderson.
Jose shares how his faith journey began generations ago in Chihuahua, Mexico with the story of Padre Pedro de Jesús Maldonado Lucero and his great-grandfather. He recounts the amazing story of the martyrdom of Padre Maldonado and his families connection to this saint.
Jose also shares how he and his wife, Emily, who were married this past summer during the pandemic share and celebrate their faith. As a young couple, they take seriously the need to share the joy they find in their faith and in Jesus. You can be Catholic and have a good time in life! Jose talks about a video on the Diocese of El Paso's website that includes his grandmother. If you are interested in watching this short video about the Martyrs of Mexico, please click this link:
If you have questions, need someone to journey with or would be interested in sharing your story please reach out to me at: findingfaith123@gmail.com.
Sammy Jo Mills is a wife, mother of three and works part time as a nurse at the hospital. Sammy Jo shares how she grew up in a Catholic environment but was shy about asking questions. She prefers quiet one-on-one time with God over round table talk about him in groups of people.
In high school she admits to being a heavy partier, but by college she realized she needed to slow down if for no other reason than to pass nursing school. She began to encounter Jesus in the quiet of holy hours which she attended with her mother. The low light and the quiet helped her to feel the true presence of Jesus displayed in the monstrance.
If you have questions, need someone to journey with or would be interested in sharing your story please reach out to me at: findingfaith123@gmail.com.
Charlie Hardesty is the Owensboro Diocesan's Director for Youth and Young Adult Ministry. He shares the story of how he encountered Jesus through an experience with loneliness. Charlie loves people and is an extrovert. His sophomore year of high school when his friends began to drink and enter the party scene, he became the voice that encouraged more innocent types of fun. This quickly led to him being left out and cut off from his friends.
He was invited to attend a retreat and it was there that he encountered Jesus in a special way. Over the next few years he continued to grow in his faith and eventually felt a call to serve the Lord through ministry. Charlie has a heart for serving the youth of our Diocese and helping lead them to encounter Jesus.
If you have questions, need someone to journey with or would be interested in sharing your story please reach out to me at: findingfaith123@gmail.com.
Laura Rigsby grew up in the Baptist faith. Her dad was a preacher who eventually started his own traveling cowboy church that provided Sunday services to families who were attending Horse Competitions on the weekends.
When Laura was interning in Texas, she was in the beginning stages of a relationship with a man from KY who was a convert to Catholicism. On a road-trip to see the Alamo, Laura asked him questions about the Catholic faith and what is was like to attend a Catholic mass. After visiting the Alamo, Laura and her (then) boyfriend decided to check out the many Spanish missions in the area. As it turns out, one of the missions was still an active Church--and they arrived just in time to join them their for Saturday night vigil mass.
Once back in KY, Laura and her boyfriend began attending mass at St Joseph's in Bowling Green where Laura eventually decided to enter the Church through the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) process.
If you have questions, need someone to journey with or would be interested in sharing your story please reach out to me at: findingfaith123@gmail.com.
Travis Roby has been a life-long member at St Mary of the Woods Parish. He began working lawn care when he was just a kid and decided that one day he wanted to own his own lawn care business.
After he graduated high school, he began to get a little more serious about life and decided to do some research into business management. During the winter, when things weren't as busy in lawn care he went to the public library to get some books to read. While there, he felt drawn to the section on religion. He began checking out various books about Catholicism, lives of the saints and other important religious historical figures alongside his books on business. It was through those books that he began to encounter Jesus. He likes to listen to EWTN and Catholic talk radio while he tends peoples lawns.
If you have questions, need someone to journey with or would be interested in sharing your story please reach out to me at: findingfaith123@gmail.com.
Emily Payne is a Whitesville native and graduate of St Mary's and Trinity High School. Emily talks about how her faith has always been a part of her life, but it was more centered on herself and what she wanted/needed.
It wasn't until she became pregnant that she truly began to pray for someone other than herself. They discovered during pregnancy that her daughter's heart was not forming properly and she would need surgery shortly after birth to repair her heart.
The birth of her daughter brought more complications and health issue--along with more worry and fear. But Emily and her husband had an amazing support system of family and friends who were there with may prayers for healing and words of comfort. During her daughter's heart surgery, Emily recalls feeling a sense of peace that and knowing that God was in control of this situation. So they prayed and handed it over to him.
Emily shares her experiences of learning to trust in God and how she has grown in her faith over the years.
If you have questions, need someone to journey with or would be interested in sharing your story please reach out to me at: findingfaith123@gmail.com.
Ben Warrell works as the Director of Gasper River Catholic Youth Camp and Retreat Center in Bowling Green, KY. As a young man, Ben was not interested in his faith. Once he could drive, he would "go to mass" separately from his family so he could sneak off and get breakfast with his friends. When he almost got caught, he went to mass long enough to get a bulletin and see who was saying the homily.
Ben encountered Jesus at a retreat that his brother and several friends forced him to attend. Afterwards, Ben began to turn his life around. He attempted to volunteer with the Youth Ministry program at his parish, but was never contacted. He ended up working as a summer camp counselor for a Methodist Camp, where he grew in his faith and began asking questions about his Catholic faith. He continued working at that camp for many years in several different roles.
In 2007, he took a leap of faith and quit his job at the Methodist Camp to help the Diocese find a location and build a camp of their own. Following the Holy Spirit's lead, the Diocese purchased and renovated Gasper River. Over the past 14 years, Camp has added a building, several low and high elements and has plans to continue expanding over the coming years.
For more information about Gasper River, visit their website at www.gasperriverretreatcenter.org
If you have questions, need someone to journey with or would be interested in sharing your story please reach out to me at: findingfaith123@gmail.com.
Helen Beckert, originally from Henderson, KY found her way to Owensboro and is now the Campus Ministry Intern at Brescia University. She graduated from Murray State University with the intention of teaching History--but God had other plans. After serving as a FOCUS Missionary for nearly three years, she was offered the opportunity to work on her Master's while working at Brescia.
Listen to Helen's story about how an injury lead to a conversion of heart and an encounter with the Lord. Through her physical and spiritual healing, she came to treasure the image of Jesus as "The Good Shepherd."
If you have questions, need someone to journey with or would be interested in sharing your story please reach out to me at: findingfaith123@gmail.com.
*Sorry for the poor quality of sound during James story portion! We had some technical difficulties with the equipment!***
James Jarboe is a husband, father of four and a hobby farmer. He is a life-long parishioner of St Mary of the Woods and graduated from St Mary of the Woods K-8 and Trinity High School.
James shares memories from a young age of abuse at the hands of his father, both physically and psychologically. As a young man, the anger and shame that came along with his past nearly led him to take his own life. But the grace of God washed over him and spoke into his heart. It's been a long journey, but James speaks of the healing he has found in Jesus Christ.
Jesus wants us to live in the present, live for the future--not in or from the past. James was able to forgive his father for the wrongs he had committed against him and with the help of the Holy Spirit and his wife, James is breaking the cycle of abuse that has plagued his family for generations.
If you have questions, need someone to journey with or would be interested in sharing your story please reach out to me at: findingfaith123@gmail.com.
Kara Bekebrede is originally from Louisville KY, but now lives in Owensboro KY. She attended college at Murray State University and now works for St Lawrence/St Williams in Knottsville.
Kara grew up a cradle Catholic but wondered what she was made for. Was there anything in life worth living and dying for? She tried ROTC but quickly realized that wasn't the route for her. It was through the experience of FOCUS missionaries on her college campus that she began to encounter Jesus and found something worth living and dying for. Knowing that she was a part of something bigger and something that truly mattered gave Kara the courage to begin seeking others out in an effort to share her faith, to invite them to participate in small groups and even just to lift someone's day by taking a genuine interest in them as a person with dignity created in the image of God.
If you have questions, need someone to journey with or would be interested in sharing your story please reach out to me at: findingfaith123@gmail.com.
Evan Burch is a graduate of Western Kentucky University and a stockcar racer. During his senior year at WKU, Evan talks about how he encountered the love of Jesus through the campus ministry FOCUS team that was present on WKU's campus. He became involved in their small group ministry and his faith began to flourish.
Early one morning on the way home from a race, Evan tells the story of how the trailer containing his stockcar caught on fire. This was a pretty impactful moment for him about what was important in life and who the important people were around him.
If you have questions, need someone to journey with or would be interested in sharing your story please reach out to me at: findingfaith123@gmail.com.
Hannah Bland currently serves our Diocese as the Director of Children's Ministry at St Stephen Cathedral in Owensboro KY. Born and raised in Whitesville, Hannah talks about her struggles with virtue and discipline.
She frequently attended retreats, youth group and other opportunities to grow in her faith, but these were often "mountain top" experiences with little conversion and substance in between. Even though she hung around with a good crowd of kids, she found herself falling into sinful behaviors.
During her time serving as a Summer Staff member at Gasper River Catholic Youth Camp and Retreat Center, Hannah began to develop a sense of virtue and discipline from the guidance of a fellow Staff member. This was the beginning of a life-style change and has helped Hannah to grow in her faith and develop discipline in her spiritual, physical and emotional life.
If you have questions, need someone to journey with or would be interested in sharing your story please reach out to me at: findingfaith123@gmail.com.
Dcn. Corey Bruns is currently serving as a seminarian in the Diocese of Owensboro. God willing, he will be ordained a priest in 2021.
From a young age, Dcn. Corey's family was immersed in the life of the Church. As a young man, Corey knew he was being called to serve God and His people as a priest. Dcn. Corey shares many many events in his life that have helped shape his love for God and His people.
If you have questions, need someone to journey with or would be interested in sharing your story please reach out to me at: findingfaith123@gmail.com.
After years of falling into sinful habits, it was marriage prep that helped bring Mallory to a greater understanding of the importance of confession and regular practice of her faith. Motherhood continued to deepen her desire to pray and seek the Lord.
But it wasn't until the Pandemic and having the Eucharist taken away that she truly began to understand the source of strength that she found in receiving Jesus. Listen to Mallory talk about her journey of faith and the many bumps she has experienced along the road.
If you have questions, need someone to journey with or would be interested in sharing your story please reach out to me at: findingfaith123@gmail.com.
Ethan shares his story of how his relationship with God the Father lead to a reconciliation with his earthly father.
Ethan grew up in the small town of Fancy Farm Ky in a single parent household. He hadn't seen his dad since he was four years old. During spiritual direction he was challenged to read "The Return of the Prodigal Son" and consider reaching out to his dad. While it seemed these two challenges were unconnected, the journey that unfolded led to a joyous reunion and a lesson in the unconditional love of God the Father.
Ethan owns his own business, Abba Healing Services, where he provides mental health counseling to couples, people who struggle with sexual addictions or whom have experienced trauma. For more information about his business visitwww.abbahealingservices.com
If you have questions, need someone to journey with or would be interested in sharing your story please reach out to me at: findingfaith123@gmail.com.
Danielle shares her story of how she found her way, ever so slowly, into the Catholic Church after meeting Jarrod, an adorable Catholic country guy from Kentucky, at a homeless shelter.
Growing up in an Interdenominational Protestant home, a relationship with Jesus was encouraged and expected. Danielle's parents taught her to listen to the voice of God and follow Him where ever he lead. After six years of asking questions and seeking answers, Danielle finally felt the peace she had been searching for. Knowing the decision she made for was herself and no one else, she entered the Catholic Church at Easter in 2019.
If you have questions, need someone to journey with or would be interested in sharing your story please reach out to me at: findingfaith123@gmail.com.
Each episode in this podcast carries with it the privilege of hearing the stories of people from this community. Guests will share their experience of walking, crawling towards or running away from Faith and God. In this first episode we will begin by sharing the story of Jesus. No matter where you are in your faith journey, I encourage you to begin here and listen closely to what I am about to share. You may be skeptical or unsure of the message you hear—that’s ok. From beginning to end, in the Scriptures (most especially in the Gospel’s) there is a priority of asking questions and experiencing doubt. Asking and seeking are a way to come to know who God is and why He matters. Questions and hard conversations are not the enemy of faith but rather a path to encountering Jesus—one that He regularly encouraged.
The message of the love of God can be a difficult concept to grasp and there’s no one size fits all when it comes to a relationship with God. If you are interested in hearing more stories of encountering and finding faith, make sure to tune in next week to hear from our first guest.
If you have questions, need someone to journey with or would be interested in sharing your story please reach out to me at: findingfaith123@gmail.com.
"But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, Jacob, and formed you Israel:
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name and you are mine.
For I the Lord am your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
You are precious in my eyes and honored, and I love you."
-Isaiah 43: 1, 3-4
These words serve as a reminder of not only who you are, but whose you are. The Lord has called you by name, and he says "you are mine." It is the abundant love of God that calls you forth from the lies designed to keep you off balance by the Enemy. Unloveable doesn't exist--it was cancelled by the cross.
You are loved.
You are enough.
You have been called by name
and the Lord says, "You are mine."