Living the Grace Life

Ep. 35 Where Grace Intersects Sexual Trauma | Nancy Manassero

What happens when grace meets the deepest wounds of sexual trauma?
In this powerful episode of Living the Grace Life, my guest Nancy Manassero shares her incredible journey of healing from sexual abuse through the redemptive grace of Jesus. During an extended honeymoon trip through Europe, Nancy and her husband Tom encountered the transformative ministry of Swiss L'Abri, where their faith in Christ was born. But they had no idea that this new path would one day collide with unimaginable trauma.
Nancy, a retired nurse and author of Heartmending: God Can Heal Your Heartbreak from Sexual Abuse, opens up about the night her life changed forever—when a moment meant for fatherly celebration turned into a devastating violation. Her story is raw, redemptive, and rooted in the truth of God’s grace.
We explore themes of:
Forgiveness after sexual abuse
Dispelling the myths of forgiveness
Breaking free from negative thought loops
Finding healing through Christian community and “one anothering”
The lifelong process of heartmending and truth-telling
Nancy believes, “Forgiveness is the epitome of healing.” Her story shows that God’s grace can reach even the most broken places—not only for the survivor, but even for the abuser.
If you’ve wrestled with pain, shame, or silence from past trauma, this episode offers hope, truth, and companionship on the journey toward healing.
🎧 Tune in now and take your next step in living the grace life.
Grace Quotes from Nancy Manassero:
💬 "Forgiveness is the epitome of healing."💬 "I give you [God] permission to change my mind."💬 "This hate that I'd been carrying for him became pity and compassion and it launched my forgiveness journey. We need the power of the Holy Spirit to enable us to do what seems and feels impossible."
Resources Mentioned:
🌿 Read Heartmending: God can heal your heartbreak from sexual abuse🌿 Downloadable Journal: Forgiveness Sets You Free🌿 Resources to nurture your healing🌿 Nancy's FREE Resources🌿 Nancy's newsletter, Hope for Healing🌿 Swiss L'Abri, where Nancy and Tom met Jesus
Connect with Nancy Manassero:
Website: nancymanassero.com
Instagram: @nancyannmanassero
Facebook: @nancymanasseroauthor
Stay Connected with Jennifer Sakata:
🎁 My FREE gift to you: Living the Grace Life, One Prayer at a Time📩 Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive content & episode updates⭐ If this episode resonated with you, leave a review and share it with a friend!
 
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Complete show notes here
 

Ep. 34 How to Live on Both Sides of Desperate Prayers | Rachel Wojo

Can you trust God when His answer is no? What about when He says yes? In part 2 of our desperate prayers conversation, Rachel Wojo, author of Desperate Prayers: Embracing the Power of Prayer in Life’s Darkest Moments, shares how she has lived through both.
After losing her adult special needs daughter, Rachel had to tell her own heart: “I did not die.” God still had a purpose for her life—even in the pain.
In This Episode, You'll Learn:
✅ How to keep trusting God when prayers feel unanswered✅ Why waiting is an invitation to deeper faith✅ How God's provision often comes in unexpected ways
Rachel also shares a mysterious gift from God—left under the green balance beam in her backyard. And don’t miss what’s bringing her joy these days—it might just make you laugh, too!
Rachel is a public speaker, podcaster, and passionate follower of Jesus who reminds us that God is the same whether we get the outcome we want or not. And He can be trusted with our surrender.
Grace Quotes from Rachel Wojo:
💬 "I had to say to my own heart, I did not die. God still has a plan and a purpose for me."💬 "As long as we have breath in our lungs, there's a purpose for our life."💬 "We think our prayer has gone unanswered because we can’t see how God sees."
🎧 Listen now and discover how to trust God on both sides of desperate prayers!
Scriptures Mentioned:
📖 Genesis 16 — The Angel of the Lord found Hagar in the wilderness. God finds us too, in our seasons of wilderness.
Resources Mentioned:
🌿 Rachel's FREE Guide: How to Be a Prayer Warrior for Your Family in Dark Times🌿 Read Desperate Prayers: Embracing the Power of Prayer in Life's Darkest Moments
Connect with Rachel Wojo:
Website: rachelwojo.com
Instagram: @rachelwojo
Facebook Group: Rachel Wojo Author
Stay Connected:
🎁 My FREE gift to you: Living the Grace Life, One Prayer at a Time📩 Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive content & episode updates⭐ If this episode resonated with you, leave a review and share it with a friend!
 
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Complete show notes here

Ep. 33 Desperate Prayers for Real Life | Rachel Wojo

What Happens When the White Picket Fence Comes Crashing Down?
Where do you turn when blindsided by heartache? When the "Big D's" — discouragement, divorce, depression, disease, and death — infiltrated Rachel Wojo's life, she dug deep for a faith that was real. She was desperate for more than a borrowed belief; she needed to know God was real.
"I needed to know that God was real, that he was with me, and that this wasn't a farce... I needed to know that there was something more, a deeper love, that God had a plan and a purpose for my life."
In this part 1 of a 2-part conversation, Rachel Wojo, author of Desperate Prayers: Embracing the Power of Prayer in Life's Darkest Moments, shares how prayer became her "first pick, not the final straw." A public speaker, podcaster, and passionate follower of Jesus, Rachel's journey is marked by profound loss: losing her mother to leukemia, her special needs daughter to a rare neurological disease, and her father to illness. Yet, through it all, her faith shines, and God's grace flourishes through prayer.
In This Episode, You'll Discover:
The impact of 3-word desperate prayers
Why sometimes God's protection looks like a limp
How to drop "prayer perfectionism"
Biblical desperados whose stories teach surrender and the power of desperate prayers
The pivotal choice we make at rock-bottom moments
Why Desperate Prayers Matter:
Just like the oxygen mask rule on airplanes, we must fill our souls before we can help others. Prayer isn't about polished words; it's a soul-saving lifeline that moves us from stiff-arming God to keeping short accounts that welcome His grace.
Grace Quotes from Rachel Wojo:
💬 "I stiff-armed God. I wanted Him close enough to help if needed, but I was angry too."💬 "Pain cannot grip you tighter than God's grace."💬 "Praying in a panic creates a powerful pathway to peace."
Scriptures Mentioned:
📖 Genesis 32:22-32 — Jacob wrestles with God, left with a limp and a blessing while leaning on the chest of the Father.
Resources Mentioned:
🌿 Rachel's FREE Guide: How to Be a Prayer Warrior for Your Family in Dark Times🌿 Read Desperate Prayers: Embracing the Power of Prayer in Life's Darkest Moments
Connect with Rachel Wojo:
Website: rachelwojo.com
Instagram: @rachelwojo
Facebook Group: Rachel Wojo Author
Stay Connected:
🎁 My FREE gift to you: Living the Grace Life, One Prayer at a Time📩 Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive content & episode updates⭐ If this episode resonated with you, leave a review and share it with a friend!
 
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Complete show notes here

Ep. 32 The Good Shepherd Has His Eye on You | Psalm 23

Welcome back to Living the Grace Life! In this episode, we're diving deep into Psalm 23 for this month's Grace Prayer Tuesday. If you’ve ever felt you needed to have the perfect words to pray, let this episode be a breath of fresh air. We’re exploring how prayer is more about conversation with God than getting the words right.
Key Takeaways:
God Supplies the Words: We don't have to worry about saying the right thing when we pray. Through scripture, especially Psalm 23, we learn that God provides the words and meets us where we are.
The Good Shepherd's Care: Inspired by A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by Philip Keller, we reflect on how the quality of life for a flock is completely dependent on the shepherd's meticulous care. The same is true for us.
From Talking to Embracing: In verse 4 of Psalm 23, David shifts from talking about God to personally embracing Him. We explore how this reflects our own vulnerability in prayer.
Anointing with Purpose: Anointing isn’t just a serene, gentle act; it's a messy but necessary process for protection and healing. We share how this applies to our everyday lives.
Breath Prayer Practice: Inspired by Summer Joy Gross's book The Emmanuel Promise, we practice a breath prayer based on Psalm 23:5, repeating phrases to calm our hearts and build a deeper attachment to God.
Breath Prayer from Psalm 23:5:
Inhale: "You prepare a feast for me."
Exhale: "In the presence of my enemies."
Inhale: "You honor me by anointing my head with oil."
Exhale: "My cup overflows with blessings."
Resources Mentioned:
A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by Philip Keller
The Emmanuel Promise by Summer Joy Gross
Coming Up Next Week:
I can’t wait for you to hear from my friend Rachel Wojo, author of Desperate Prayers. She shares incredible stories of how God met her in the deepest, most difficult places with tremendous hope.
⭐Thank You for Your Support:
I’m deeply grateful for your reviews and ratings – they’re helping Living the Grace Life reach a wider audience. If you haven’t already, please consider rating and reviewing the show. And if this episode encouraged you, share it with a friend!
Until next time, remember to live the Grace Life generously – grace for you, grace for them.
Stay connected:
My FREE gift to you: Prayer eBook Living the Grace Life, One Prayer at a Time
📩 Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive content & episode updates. If this episode resonated with you, leave a review and share it with a friend!
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Complete show notes here
 

Ep. 31 Deepening Attachment to God | Summer Joy Gross

In this week's Part 2 episode, we continue our conversation on attachment styles and faith with Summer Joy Gross, author of The Emmanuel Promise. We explore how our early relational patterns influence our connection with God and others. If you missed last week’s episode on secure and insecure attachment styles, go back and listen to Ep. 30, Growing Secure Attachment with God first!
Today, we talk about repentance, reframing it as a response to God’s relentless love rather than a guilt-driven obligation. Using the parable of the prodigal son, we discuss how grace, healing, and connection with God are always available—no matter our past.
We also share practical spiritual practices for deepening attachment with God, including Lectio Divina, sensory tools, and daily rhythms to cultivate awareness of His presence. Stick around until the end, as Summer leads a guided Lectio Divina to help you experience God’s love in a fresh way.
Key Topics Covered:
✅ Understanding secure vs. insecure attachment and how it impacts our relationship with God and others✅ The connection between repentance and healing attachment wounds✅ How God pursues us first, even before we turn to Him✅ St. Patrick's daily prayer practice✅ Spiritual practices to strengthen your relationship with God✅ How Lectio Divina and other sensory tools can deepen faith✅ A guided meditation to experience God’s grace and presence
🎧 Tune in now to discover how God is attentive, responsive, and engaged in your life—inviting you into deeper, secure attachment with Him. And remember to live the grace life generously, friend. Grace for you. Grace for them.
Grace Quotes from Summer Joy Gross:
💬 "God is running towards us before we even have a chance to get the words out."💬 "[God] is attentive, responsive, and engaged towards what's going on in us."💬 "The truth of [God's] Presence is not dependent upon my awareness of His Presence. He is present, whether I'm aware or not."💬 "This moment of quieting our hearts is really important because it gets the soil of our heart ready to receive the seed of the Word."
Scriptures Mentioned:
📖 Luke 15:11-31 – God comes running before we even have a chance to get the words out. 📖 Luke 15:3-7 – God pursues us and seeks us until we are found.
🙏🏼St. Patrick's Breastplate Prayer (A portion of it):
Christ with me,Christ before me,Christ behind me,Christ in me,Christ beneath me,Christ above me,Christ on my right,Christ on my left,Christ when I lie down,Christ when I sit down,Christ when I arise,Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,Christ in every eye that sees me,Christ in every ear that hears me.
Resources Mentioned:
🌿 Join the Table of the Beloved online retreat & spiritual community on Patreon🌿 Watch Lectio Divina & faith-based content on YouTube: The Presence Project / Summer Joy Gross🌿 Read The Emmanuel Promise for deeper insight into faith and healing
Connect with Summer Joy Gross:
Website: summerjoygross.com 
Instagram: @revsummerjoy
Facebook Group: The Presence Project
Stay connected:
My FREE gift to you: Living the Grace Life, One Prayer at a Time
📩 Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive content & episode updates⭐ If this episode resonated with you, leave a review and share it with a friend!
Website | Instagram | Facebook
 
Complete show notes here

Ep. 30 Growing Secure Attachment with God | Summer Joy Gross

Do you remember your first three years of life? Even if you don’t, your body, mind, and soul do. Whether or not you experienced secure attachment shapes how you connect with others—and even how you relate to God.
In this episode of Living the Grace Life, we welcome Summer Joy Gross, author of The Emmanuel Promise, who has guided hundreds of people toward secure attachment with God. Raised by amazing parents, Summer still wrestled with a fear of abandonment and the deep question: Am I truly desired?
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
🔹 The four attachment styles and how they affect your faith and relationships🔹 Why your need is the runway to deeper attachment with God🔹 How community plays a crucial role in securing healthy attachment🔹 The powerful story of a woman whose search for love led her to Jesus
Summer also unpacks the concept of "earned secure attachment," a powerful process of rewiring neural pathways for meaningful, lasting connection. Through God’s grace and love, true healing and restoration are possible.
🎧 Tune in now to discover how God is attentive, responsive, and engaged in your life—inviting you into deeper, secure attachment with Him. And remember to live the grace life generously, friend. Grace for you. Grace for them.
Grace Quotes from Summer Joy Gross:
💬 "The God and Creator of the Universe has given His full, undivided attention to you."💬 "[God] wants to be with us from ground zero—in the middle of our dirt, our mess, and our deep soul longings."💬 "Needs and longings were placed there by God to invite us into the gifts of abundant life."
Scriptures Mentioned:
📖 Exodus 3:7-8 – God sees our suffering and responds with deliverance📖 Psalm 23 – The Lord as our Shepherd, guiding us in love📖 John 4:1-42 – The woman at the well and Jesus' invitation to living water
Resources Mentioned:
The Emmanuel Promise: Discovering the Security of a Life Held by GodThe Presence Project PodcastFree weekly mini-retreat newsletter
Connect with Summer Joy Gross:
Website: summerjoygross.com 
Instagram: @revsummerjoy
Facebook Group: The Presence Project
Patreon: patreon.com/thepresenceproject to join LIVE retreats called Table of the Beloved
 
➡️ Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review Living the Grace Life! Share this episode with someone who needs encouragement in their journey toward healing and secure attachment with God.
 
My FREE gift to you:
Free eBook: Living the Grace Life, One Prayer at a Time
Complete show notes here
 
Connect with Jennifer:
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Ep. 29 What is Lent? The Journey of Drawing Near

Did you grow up observing Lent? I didn't. My understanding of Lent was limited to observing people's ash-smudged foreheads and a noticeable uptick in McDonald's Filet-o-Fish sandwiches. In today’s episode, we’re diving into Lent—what it is, why we observe it, and how it prepares us for Easter.
Lent is a 40-day journey (not including Sundays) that begins on Ash Wednesday and goes through Easter. It is a season of reflection, fasting, and prayer—a journey that has become deeply significant in my own faith and grace walk.
We’ll explore the key Lenten practices—fasting, prayer, repentance, and immersion in God's Word. This season invites us to be intentional, stripping away distractions to refocus on our relationship with God.
In this episode, we’ll cover:
What Lent is and its biblical significance
The meaning behind fasting (spoiler: it’s not just about giving up chocolate!)
How prayer during Lent deepens our connection with God
The role of repentance and confession in our spiritual growth
The importance of immersing ourselves in Scripture
Lent is not just about personal sacrifice; it’s about drawing closer to God and realigning our hearts with His. I’ll also share a fasting story that changed my view of everyday habits. Plus, stick around until the end—I have a special invitation you won’t want to miss!
Are you ready to grow in grace this Lenten season? Let’s talk about Lent.
🎧 Listen now and start your Lent journey of drawing near to God!
Complete show notes here
 
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Ep. 28 How to Find Hope in God's Promises | Hebrews 11:13

In this Grace Prayer Tuesday episode, we dive into Hebrews 11:13 and explore what it means to hold onto hope in God's promises, even when we can't see them fulfilled in our lifetime. Through prayer, scripture, and reflection, we lean into God's grace and remind ourselves that hope is not found in what we see, but in the eternal faithfulness of God.
Key Takeaways:
Heroes of the Faith: A look at the figures in Hebrews 11—Abel, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Moses, Rahab, and others—who trusted God even when they did not see His promises fulfilled in their lifetimes.
Lori Ann Wood’s Story: A personal testimony of faith and resilience in the face of a life-altering diagnosis, and how Hebrews 11:13 became an anchor for her hope.
Moses’ Journey: During Jesus' transfiguration, it was revealed that Moses did, in fact, enter the Promised Land, showing God’s grace in a way beyond human expectation.
Hope in the Unseen: Understanding that God’s promises sometimes take longer than a lifetime to unfold, but they are always fulfilled in His perfect time.
Prayer as Surrender: A guided prayer using the P.R.A.Y. acronym—Praise, Repent, Ask, and Yield—to help listeners lean into God’s promises with trust and surrender.
Scripture Highlight:"All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth." — Hebrews 11:13 (NLT)
Reflective Thought from Ann Voskamp's book Sacred Prayer:"You can only truly let go of what you’re holding tightly when you trust that it is completely safe in God's hands."
Resources Mentioned:
Episode 25: Divine Detour and Deepened Faith (Conversation with Lori Ann Wood) 
Sacred Prayer: 90 Days of Deeper Intimacy with God by Ann Voskamp
Free Download: Living the Grace Life, One Prayer at a Time
Closing Encouragement:Friend, you are completely safe in God's hands. Just as He fulfilled His promises to Moses, to Laurieann, and to countless others, He will fulfill His promises to you. Keep living the grace life—grace for you, grace for them.
Connect & Engage:
Subscribe and leave a review!
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Share this episode with a friend who needs to be reminded of God’s faithfulness.
Until next time, remember to live the grace life generously! Grace for you. Grace for them.
Complete show notes here
 
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Ep. 27 Unexpected Grace & the Impact of Executive Order 9066

How does grace survive in the face of deep injustice? When grace comes unexpectedly.
In today’s episode of Living the Grace Life, host Jennifer Sakata takes us to the powerful intersection of unexpected grace and deep hardship through the lens of Japanese American internment during World War II. February 19, 1942, marks the signing of Executive Order 9066, which led to the forced relocation and internment of over 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry, most of whom were American citizens. Jennifer reflects on the emotional and historical impact of this injustice and shares stories of unexpected grace from families who lived through it, including her husband's family and family friend Mr. Ted Nagata, who was interned at the Topaz camp.
This episode sheds light on the harsh realities faced by Japanese Americans, from the confiscation of homes and businesses to the extreme living conditions in the internment camps. Jennifer also highlights the importance of recognizing the deep humility and forgiveness shown by those wronged, rather than responding with bitterness or anger.
Through this conversation, Jennifer shares her own journey of discovering the internment story later in life, underscoring the importance of remembering and honoring Japanese American Remembrance Day on February 19, 2025. 
This episode offers a message of hope, inviting listeners to reflect on the lessons learned from the Japanese American internment experience and how grace can counteract injustice while offering profound healing and transformation. Jennifer closes with a prayer adapted from Psalm 139 and a call to action, urging us to extend unexpected grace, protect civil liberties, and embrace forgiveness.
 
Grace Quotes from Jennifer Sakata:
"Behind these facts stand the lives of people whose families, livelihoods, and futures were completely and sometimes irreparably upended."
"To this day, I am astonished and humbled by family members and friends who were interned but refused to become bitter...Who despite every reason not to, offered pardon in place of finger-pointing."
"Grace compels us to offer forgiveness beyond our ability to give it."
 
Resources Mentioned:
Interview with Mr. Ted Nagata, courtesy of Densho Digital Repository
A Place Where Sunflowers Grow by Amy Lee Tai (children's picture book)
Baseball Saved Us by Ken Mochizuki (children's picture book)
Weedflower by Cynthia Kadohata (for middle schoolers and early highschoolers)
Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston & James D. Houston
Impounded: Dorothea Lange and the Censored Images of Japanese American Internment ed. by Linda Gordon & Gary Okihiro
When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka
Only What We Could Carry: The Japanese American Internment Experience ed. by Lawson Fusao Inada
As we approach Japanese American Remembrance Day on February 19, 2025, Jennifer challenges listeners to reflect on the power of grace, both in personal relationships and in a broader societal context. Learn more about this often-overlooked part of U.S. history and how the lessons of grace and forgiveness continue to shape our world today.
 
Complete show notes here
Connect with Jennifer:
Jennifer's FREE Resource, Living the Grace Life: One Prayer at a Time
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Ep. 26 Postpartum Depression & Grace | Amanda Scarborough

Did you know that postpartum depression affects more than 1 in 7 women? Yet, so many suffer in silence, trapped by overwhelming emotions and conflicting thoughts.
In this week's episode of Living the Grace Life, Amanda Scarborough shares her journey through the darkest of nights, when she contemplated ending both her life and her newborn son's. In her book, A Beautiful War, Amanda unpacks the confusion, fear, anxiety, and shame that often overshadow the joy of newborn motherhood. Through it all, she encountered Jesus and discovered a hope that carried her forward.
In this episode, we discuss:
The reality of perinatal and postpartum depression
Conflicting emotions after childbirth
Lies that paralyze vs. the truth that sets free
The stigma surrounding Christians and medication
The role of community and grace-filled support
At first glance, this conversation is about postpartum depression. But at its core, it's an invitation to find our identity in Jesus, no matter the battle. Trusting in Jesus doesn't mean the war won't come--it means He stands on the battlefield first, armed with grace, fighting for you.
If you've ever wrestled with thoughts that don't match what you think you should be feeling, Amanda's story is a reminder: You are not alone.
Take a deep breath--hope is here. 
 
Grace Quotes from Amanda Scarborough:
🖊 "My dark subconscious began to make its way to the surface in a way I was not prepared to battle on my own."🖊 "I stopped begging Jesus to take everything away; instead, I gave it all to Him."🖊 "There is hope, and His name is Jesus."
 
🎧 Listen now and share with someone who needs this encouragement.
 
Connect with Amanda Scarborough
Web: www.AmandaLScarborough.comIG: @amanda.l.scarboroughFB: https://www.facebook.com/AmandaLScarborough/
 
Complete show notes here
Connect with Jennifer:
Jennifer's FREE Resource, Living the Grace Life: One Prayer at a Time
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