Living the Grace Life

The Pursuit of Holy Leisure with Cara Ray | Ep. 83

Are you a check-the-box person—or someone who longs to slow down and be more intentional with God? In this episode, we explore the pursuit of holy leisure and how it becomes an invitation to grace when you struggle to sustain a meaningful rhythm of meeting with Him.
Author Cara Ray shares how the pursuit of holy leisure reshapes our understanding of rest, productivity, and presence with God. Drawing from her book, The Pursuit of Holy Leisure, she offers a vision for a Sabbath-shaped life that holds both deep spiritual connection and everyday responsibilities in tension—without striving or performance.
If you’ve ever felt stuck between doing more and desiring more of God, this conversation will help you move from performance to presence. Together, we unpack how the pursuit of holy leisure allows you to slow down, commune with God, and rediscover your identity through who He is—not what you do.
You’ll also hear how Cara’s journey was influenced by Richard Foster and his classic book Celebration of Discipline, and how spiritual practices can gently lead us into a life of abiding rather than achieving.
In this episode, we talk about:
How the pursuit of holy leisure began in Cara's own life
The difference between "vegging out" and true holy leisure
Why slowing down is essential for spiritual formation and connection with God
Moving from performance-based faith to presence-centered living
Rhythms of grace that help you stay grounded in the pursuit of holy leisure
The role of stillness—and why it's more than just inactivity
Practical, everyday steps to begin the pursuit of holy leisure
When life feels out of balance, resting in God can seem out of reach. But the pursuit of holy leisure offers a better way—a grace-filled rhythm of slowing down, abiding deeply, and enjoying God in the middle of your everyday life.
💬  Grace Quotes from Cara Ray:
"Ultimately, we make time for the things that are important to us."
"God's grace isn't part of the story; it's the thread woven throughout the Scriptures, beginning in the Garden and culminating in the Cross.”
"When we slow down, that is when our eyes open—when our hearts open and see there is grace."
 
Scriptures Mentioned:
Luke 10:38-42– The story of Martha and Mary
Resources Mentioned:
🌿  Cara's book Pursuit of Holy Leisure🌿  Cara's FREEBIES and resources🌿  Richard Foster's book The Celebration of Discipline
🎶  Cara's go-to grace song Goodness of God by Cece Winans
Connect with Cara Ray:
Website: cara-ray.comInstagram: @pursuingotiumsanctumFacebook: @pursuingotiumsanctum
Related Episodes:
Ep. 70 Grace in the Story of Ruth with Mariel DavenportEp. 69 How to Love Your Morning with Jennifer Dukes LeeEp. 52 Chasing Grace with Carol McLeod
Stay Connected with Jennifer Sakata:
🎁 My FREE gift to you: Prayers That Change Us📩 Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive content & episode updates⭐ If this episode resonated with you, leave a review and share it with a friend!
 
👉🏼Living the Grace Life is the place where real grace meets real life. Host Jennifer Sakata helps bridge the gap between grace as a theological idea and lived practice in everyday moments of faith, encouraging listeners to experience forgiveness, freedom, and trust that they then extend to others.
 
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A King Washes Feet: Loving those We Resist with Jessica Bond | Ep. 82

“Lord, who are we drawing today?” It’s the question Jessica Claire Bond asked after her artwork went viral—and became the heartbeat behind her illustrated Bible study, A King Washes Feet. What started as a single image quickly grew into a powerful visual series capturing the tension we feel when a King stoops low to wash everyone’s feet.
In A King Washes Feet, Jessica Claire Bond invites us into the radical humility of Jesus—a humility that challenges our comfort and confronts our assumptions. It’s one thing to serve those we love or agree with. But what does it look like to follow Christ’s example when it means loving our enemies, extending grace to those we resist, or embracing people we don’t understand?
Through her thought-provoking illustrations, A King Washes Feet brings the Gospel to life in unexpected ways—pairing individuals like police officers and inmates, victims and offenders, political opposites, and unlikely neighbors. The message is both unsettling and deeply beautiful: Jesus doesn’t withhold His love based on our categories.
In our conversation, we explore the deeper meaning behind A King Washes Feet and how it calls us into a transformed way of living:
The viral moment that launched the Footwashing Series
Why we resist God's love for certain people
The cost—and freedom—of living out the radical gospel
Letting go of the expectations we place on Jesus
The tension between familiarity and true surrender
Who might be missing from our churches—and why
When we picture everyone sitting at the same table—enemies, strangers, and those who have hurt us—it can feel uncomfortable, even impossible. But A King Washes Feet reminds us of this truth, as Jessica puts it: "It's not about who's on the seat, but who's washing the feet." 
 
💬  Grace Quotes from Jessica Claire Bond:
"The world is hungry for footwashing.”
"Our God knows a different kind of love. Our Jesus has firsthand experience extending love and giving grace to people who betray him in less than 12 hours."
“It's not about who's on the seat, but about Who's washing the feet."
 
Scriptures Mentioned:
John 13:1-17 – Jesus washes the disciples' feet and commands them to do likewise.
 
Resources Mentioned:
🌿  Jessica's book A King Washes Feet
🎶  Jessica's go-to grace song Center by Abbie Gamboa
Connect with Jessica Claire Bond:
Website: saltandgold.com.auInstagram: @saltandgoldcollectionFacebook: @saltandgoldcollection
Related Episodes:
Ep. 36 Don't Hoard Your Healing with Nancy ManasseroEp. 35 Where Grace Intersects Sexual Trauma with Nancy ManasseroEp. 71 How to Live Deeply Loved with Bill and Kristi Gaultiere
Stay Connected with Jennifer Sakata:
🎁 My FREE gift to you: Prayers That Change Us📩 Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive content & episode updates⭐ If this episode resonated with you, leave a review and share it with a friend!
 
👉🏼Living the Grace Life is the place where real grace meets real life. Host Jennifer Sakata explores how God’s grace moves from theological idea to lived practice in everyday moments of faith, encouraging listeners to experience forgiveness, freedom, and trust that they then extend to others.
 
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Shaped by God's Promises with Shannon Popkin | Ep. 81

What do you do when God makes a promise—but your reality doesn’t match it yet? In this episode, Shaped by God’s Promises, we step into the tension of waiting, when doubt creeps in, and control feels easier than trust. If you’ve ever found yourself striving, second-guessing, or trying to “make things happen” instead of resting in God’s timing, this conversation will lead you back to a faith that holds steady, even in the unknown.
What does it look like to be Shaped by God’s Promises when life doesn’t unfold the way you expected? In the space between what God has spoken and what you can see, faith can feel fragile—and waiting can feel long. But it’s in that tension that God is at work, shaping your heart, your trust, and your story.
When we can’t count on others—or even ourselves—it’s easy to tighten our grip and try to control the outcome. But self-reliance is a graceless substitute for faith, leaving us depleted and striving. Instead, God invites us into something deeper: a steady confidence in His promises, even when fulfillment feels far off.
In this episode of Living the Grace Life, I’m joined by author and Bible teacher Shannon Popkin to talk about what it means to be Shaped by God’s Promises through seasons of waiting. Drawing from the life of Sarah in Genesis, Shannon shares from her book and Bible study, revealing how God’s faithfulness meets us in the middle of doubt, unmet expectations, and self-reliance.
Together, we explore how God uses both the waiting and the fulfillment to form authentic faith—not manufactured effort or “fruit stapling,” but Spirit-grown transformation.
In today's conversation, we chat about:
When Sarah's faith shifted into self-reliance, and what we can learn from it
The moment God ensured Sarah personally heard His promise
How to trust God's promises for both the present and the future
The internal shift that happens when we truly believe what God has said
Why "fruit stapling" doesn't lead to real spiritual growth
Shannon's personal story of reconciliation after many years of waiting
Three grace-filled mindsets for living as women shaped by the promises of God
If you’ve ever wrestled with control, doubt, or discouragement while waiting on God, this conversation will help you move from striving to surrender—and from fear to authentic, grace-rooted faith.
Because beneath every story—including yours—is a faithful God who keeps His promises, not because we deserve it, but because of His unchanging grace.
💬  Grace Quotes from Shannon Popkin:
"Faith ends where self-reliance begins."
"Don't judge God's faithfulness to you based on what you're seeing in the here and now."
"Control says, 'It's all up to me.' Surrender says, 'It's all up to God.'"
"It's never too late to be shaped by God's promises.”
 
Scriptures Mentioned:
Hebrews 11 – The Great Hall of FaithGalatians 5:22-23 – The Fruit of the Spirit
 
Resources Mentioned:
🌿  Shannon's FREE Printable - Pray the Promises🌿  Shannon's book Shaped by God's Promises
🎶  Shannon's go-to grace song I'll Wait for You by Shane and Shane
Connect with Shannon Popkin:
Website: shannonpopkin.comInstagram: @shannonpopkinFacebook: @shanpopkin
Related Episodes:
Ep. 25 Divine Detour and Deepened Faith with Lori Ann WoodEp. 28 How to Find Hope in God's Promises | Hebrews 11:13Ep. 42 What if Doubt is Part of Faith? with Niki Hardy
Stay Connected with Jennifer Sakata:
🎁 My FREE gift to you: Prayers That Change Us📩 Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive content & episode updates⭐ If this episode resonated with you, leave a review and share it with a friend!
 
👉🏼Living the Grace Life is the place where real grace meets real life. Host Jennifer Sakata explores how God’s grace moves from theological idea to lived practice in everyday moments of faith, encouraging listeners to experience forgiveness, freedom, and trust.
 
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Healing After Abortion: Grace, Hope & Recovery with Tonya B. Jones | Ep. 80

One in four women will have an abortion at some point in their lifetime. Yet so many silently wonder if healing after abortion is truly possible. If you’ve ever carried the weight of shame, regret, or unanswered questions, this conversation offers hope.
April is Abortion Recovery Awareness Month, and in this powerful episode, we answer with a resounding yes—healing is possible. Tonya Bailey Jones, retired Naval Officer and author of Pearls in the Pews, shares her deeply personal journey through multiple abortions, hidden shame, and her eventual path to freedom through God’s mercy and grace.
Together, we explore what it means to step out of hiding, get honest with God, and begin the process of true healing. Tonya offers a compassionate and honest look at the realities many women face, along with the grace that meets them there.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why healing after abortion often begins with honesty
The impact of past wounds on present choices and identity 
Tonya's journey of "unmasking" and finding freedom
Common misconceptions about grace in abortion conversations
The importance of grieving in post-abortion healing
Normalizing grace in the church for women seeking restoration
If you've ever stood at the corner of a hard decision—or carried one quietly ever since—you are not alone. There is grace for your story and hope for your healing.
💬  Grace Quotes from Tonya B. Jones:
"Your soul needs the grace of God, but you can't receive it while you keep condemning yourself.”
"The heart of an abortion-wounded woman is grieving and they often don't know it."
“If you can love the abortion-wounded woman to life, you'll love her to keeping the life of her baby."
 
Scriptures Mentioned:
Romans 8:1 – Living free from condemnationRevelation 12:11 – Defeated by the Blood of the Lamb
 
Resources Mentioned:
🌿 Tonya's book Pearls in the Pews🌿 Rachel's Vineyard Abortion Recovery and Retreat Center🌿 Alternatives to abortion and recovery support: Care Net
🎶  Tonya's go-to grace song Thank You for the Blood by Charity Gayle
Connect with Tonya B. Jones:
Website: tonyabjones.comInstagram: @blessed1_t2wFacebook: @thetonyabjones
Related Episodes:
Ep. 61 Walking in Grace & Other People's Shoes with Neil MatthewsEp. 60 Healing from Life's Deepest Hurts with Kimberly HaarEp. 54 Grace Cleans the Messy Past with James Early
Stay Connected with Jennifer Sakata:
🎁 My FREE gift to you: Prayers That Change Us📩 Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive content & episode updates⭐ If this episode resonated with you, leave a review and share it with a friend!
 
👉🏼Living the Grace Life is the place where real grace meets real life. Host Jennifer Sakata explores how God’s grace moves from theological idea to lived practice in everyday moments of faith, encouraging listeners to experience forgiveness, freedom, and trust.
 
Website | Instagram | Facebook
 

He Knows Your Name with Paige Allen | Ep. 79

Do you ever feel invisible—unseen behind the pile of laundry or overlooked in the boardroom? In this episode of Living the Grace Life, we’re asking a deeply personal question: what changes when you truly believe He knows your name? If you’ve ever wondered whether you’ve been forgotten, this conversation is a powerful reminder that you are fully seen, known, and loved by God.
Author and speaker Paige Allen joins us to talk about her book He Knows Your Name and what it means to live from a place of belonging instead of striving. With honesty, humor, and depth, Paige invites us to step out of hiding—from behind performance, expectations, or accomplishments—and into the freedom of being God’s beloved.
Together, we explore how identity rooted in grace reshapes the way we live, rest, and relate to others.
In our conversation, we explore:
Why names matter and what they reveal about identity
Paige's experience growing up as a pastor's kid and navigating expectations
What it means to live like God's daughter (or son) first
How rest and celebration help us remember who we are
Why chasing approval leads to isolation and disconnection
The story of the Bleeding Woman and how her healing speaks to our longing to be seen
Paige Allen is a pastor, speaker, and writer whose hilarious yet deeply vulnerable storytelling disarms listeners and creates space for truth to take root in the heart.
If you’ve ever struggled to find your place or questioned your worth, this conversation will gently remind you of what’s always been true: He knows your name.
 
💬  Grace Quotes from Paige Allen:
"There's something profound about the Lord coming to us and saying, 'Hey, who are you?'”
"We still have to do things. But everything comes across differently when it's flowing from a place of security—that I'm his daughter or son."
“God just loves his kids so much that he comes after us, again and again."
 
Scriptures Mentioned:
Luke 8:43-48 – The Bleeding Woman receives healing2 Corinthians 4:7-8 – The treasure of Jesus in earthen vessels
 
Resources Mentioned:
🌿  Chapter One of Paige's book He Knows Your Name
🎶  Paige's go-to grace song Love Note by Abbie Gamboa
Connect with Paige Allen:
Website: paigeallen.netInstagram: @paigeallentexasFacebook: @itspaigeallen
Related Episodes:
Ep. 30 Growing Secure Attachment with God with Summer Joy GrossEp. 71 How to Live Deeply Loved with Bill & Kristi GaultiereEp. 70 Grace in the Story of Ruth with Mariel Davenport
Stay Connected with Jennifer Sakata:
🎁 My FREE gift to you: Prayers That Change Us📩 Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive content & episode updates⭐ If this episode resonated with you, leave a review and share it with a friend!
 
👉🏼Living the Grace Life is the place where real grace meets real life. Host Jennifer Sakata explores how God’s grace moves from theological idea to lived practice in everyday moments of faith, encouraging listeners to experience forgiveness, freedom, and trust.
 
Website | Instagram | Facebook
 

Where is God in Infertility? with Angela Mackey | Ep. 78

Where is God in infertility? It’s a question many couples quietly carry as they walk through one of life’s most painful and isolating experiences. With one in six couples facing infertility, the ache is widespread—but often hidden, especially in faith communities. In today’s episode of Living the Grace Life, we gently step into that question: Where is God in infertility, and how do we hold onto faith when answers don’t come?
Author of Difficult to Conceive, Angela Mackey knows this journey intimately. After enduring two tubal pregnancies, one of which nearly cost her life, along with the heartbreak of pregnancy loss and the emotional rollercoaster of IVF, Angela found herself wrestling deeply with God’s goodness. In her most honest moments, she asked the same question so many are afraid to say out loud: Where is God in infertility?
In this grace-filled conversation, Angela shares how God met her not with easy answers, but with His Presence in the middle of grief, confusion, and longing. Together, we talk about how to navigate the tension between hope and heartache, and how faith can remain steady even when circumstances don’t change.
In this episode, we explore:
The struggle between control and surrender
The tension between hope and heartache in infertility
What to do when God's promises don't match your reality
The healing power of lament and honest prayer
Practical tools for grieving infertility and pregnancy loss
How the church can better support those walking through infertility
If you’ve ever wondered where is God in infertility, this conversation will remind you that even in the silence, He is near. And even when the outcome isn’t what you prayed for, His grace is still at work—bringing hope, healing, and deeper intimacy with Him.
 
💬  Grace Quotes from Angela Mackey:
"Grace is like manna—enough for the day.”
"I'm bringing you low so that I can bless you, not to harm you. So you can walk out of this changed and closer to me. - God"
“The only way to overcome the darkness is to go to the Lord with our lament and receive His grace."
 
Scriptures Mentioned:
Genesis 32:22-32 – Jacob wrestles with God1 Samuel 1:9-28 – Hannah prays for a sonHebrews 12:2 – Jesus endured the shame and suffering of the cross
 
Resources Mentioned:
🌿  Angela's book Difficult to Conceive
🎶  Angela's go-to grace song Abide by Aaron Williams
Connect with Angela Mackey:
Website: angelamackey.comInstagram: @rethinkingmythinkingFacebook: @angelamackey/ChristianSpeaker
Related Episodes:
Ep. 57 Finding Grace in Miscarriage and Grief with Ashley OpligerEp. 13 I Didn't Sign Up for This: Resting in God's Goodness with Sarah FrazerEp. 42 God, Can We Chat? with Niki Hardy 
Stay Connected with Jennifer Sakata:
🎁 My FREE gift to you: Prayers That Change Us📩 Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive content & episode updates⭐ If this episode resonated with you, leave a review and share it with a friend!
 
👉🏼Living the Grace Life is the place where real grace meets real life. Host Jennifer Sakata explores how God’s grace moves from theological idea to lived practice in everyday moments of faith, encouraging listeners to experience forgiveness, freedom, and trust.
 
Website | Instagram | Facebook
 

The Hallway Miracle with Cara Shine on Fear and Faith | Ep. 77

Fear swept through Washington D.C. during the Beltway Sniper attacks—but inside one elementary school hallway, something unexpected happened.
Today on Living the Grace Life, I’m joined by Cara Shine, author of The Hallway Miracle, to talk about the moment when fear and faith collided. And how even the smallest step of faith can change a life. 
Raised in the Jewish faith and bullied by peers, Cara carried deep wounds that made her wary of Jesus. During the 2002 Washington D.C. Beltway Sniper Attacks, she was paralyzed by fear. But inside her school, the teachers seemed unafraid.
A desk calendar.A package of peanut M & M's.A principal's pocket cross. 
These small, ordinary items became the unexpected pathway that helped Cara lay down her fear and begin picking up faith.
In this episode, we explore:
Real-life barriers like racism, bullying, and cultural heritage
Trauma of living through a public crisis
Surprising power of small acts of faith
The Holy Ripple Effect of living out our faith
The Prayer that changed everything 
Cara’s journey included forgiving those who bullied her and leaving behind thirty-year-old scars and the belief that she wanted nothing to do with Jesus—and that Jesus wanted nothing to do with her.
If you’ve ever felt outside the bounds of God’s love, let Cara’s story guide you to your own Heneni, the Hebrew word meaning “God, here I am.”
Cara Shine’s story in The Hallway Miracle shows how even small acts of courage and faith can ripple outward, changing lives in ways we may never see.
 
💬  Grace Quotes from Cara Shine:
"Because I wasn't seeking God, I was vulnerable and anxiety found me.”
"Rob and Sharon had this peace in the middle of chaos that didn't make any sense to me. I wanted it too."
“Because of their genuine friendship, I was influenced by their faith until it became mine."
 
Scripture Mentioned:
Matthew 22:36-40 – The Shema Prayer and the Greatest Commandment
 
Resources Mentioned:
🌿  Cara's book The Hallway Miracle
🎶  Cara's go-to grace song Shout to the Lord by Darlene Zschech
Connect with Cara Shine:
Website: carashine.comInstagram: @carashineauthor
 
Related Episodes:
Ep. 61 Walking in Grace & Other People's Shoes with Neil MatthewsEp. 10 Scars of Grace: Embracing Our Woundedness for Wholeness with Russell JoyceEp. 6 Real Conversations About Anxiety and Grace with Caris Snider
Stay Connected with Jennifer Sakata:
🎁 My FREE gift to you: Prayers That Change Us📩 Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive content & episode updates⭐ If this episode resonated with you, leave a review and share it with a friend!
 
Living the Grace Life is the place where real grace meets real life. Host Jennifer Sakata explores how God’s grace moves from theological idea to lived practice in everyday moments of faith, encouraging listeners to experience forgiveness, freedom, and trust.
 
Website | Instagram | Facebook
 

Grace for the Anxious Soul with Becky Keife | 76

Anxiety can feel like a deep-down soul weariness that convinces us we’re stuck indefinitely. But what if the anxious soul is not only struggling—but also being invited into something deeper with God? In this conversation, author and mental health advocate Becky Keife helps us see how anxiety can become an unexpected doorway to grace, healing, and deeper dependence on Jesus.
Becky, author of A Verse a Day for the Anxious Soul, brings both compassion and biblical wisdom to the topic of anxiety. Together we talk honestly about what anxiety feels like, how it shows up differently in each of us, and how God meets us right in the middle of our messy, overwhelming moments.
If you’ve ever carried the quiet weight of worry or felt like your mind never fully rests, this episode offers practical help and spiritual encouragement for the anxious soul.
In this episode, we explore
What anxiety actually feels like and how it manifests for different people
Questions that help distinguish everyday fatigue from anxiety or depression
What's at stake when we don't seek help
Anxiety management strategies that don't work
Grace in the story of Zacchaeus the tax collector 
Becky's go-to Peace Practices for calming the anxious mind
How anxiety can become an unexpected gift that leads us toward God
We close our conversation with one of Becky’s favorite breath prayers—a simple practice you can return to whenever anxiety rises.
If you’ve ever lived with the persistent weight of an anxious soul, this episode will remind you that Jesus meets you with grace, presence, and peace.
💬 Grace Quotes from Becky Keife:
"Grace lifts our eyes up.”
"I can know a lot of truth, but I have to live it for it to make a difference.
“Living in the 'and's' of life is our open hands to receive God's grace."
 
Scriptures Mentioned:
Matthew 11:28-30 – Jesus invites us to take His yoke and find rest for our souls.
Luke 19:1-10 – The story of Zacchaeus, reminding us Jesus welcomes us before we clean ourselves up.
Resources Mentioned:
🌿Becky's book A Verse a Day for the Anxious Soul
🎶 Becky's go-to grace song I Speak Jesus by Charity Gayle
Connect with Becky Keife:
Website: beckykeife.comInstagram: @beckykeifeFacebook: @beckykeife
 
Related Episodes:
Ep. 61 Walking in Grace & Other People's Shoes with Neil MatthewsEp. 10 Scars of Grace: Embracing Our Woundedness for Wholeness with Russell JoyceEp. 39 God's Steadfast Love in Daily Life with Rachael Adams
Stay Connected with Jennifer Sakata:
🎁 My FREE gift to you: Prayers That Change Us📩 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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Sunday God Meets Monday Mom, Erin Greneaux | Ep. 75

What if Sunday God Meets Monday Mom is more than a book title? What if it’s the invitation your soul has been longing for? In this episode of Living the Grace Life, award-winning author Erin Greneaux joins us to talk about how Sunday God meets Monday mom in the messy, ordinary, beautiful chaos of motherhood.
Have you ever gotten a parking ticket on your child’s field trip? Missed “Muffins with Mom”? Snapped when you meant to stay calm? Erin gently reminds us that grace isn’t earned on Sunday and spent by Monday; it’s a gift we receive right in the middle of everyday life.
As a mom of three girls, Erin has learned that grace is often hardest to receive when we think we must deserve it—and just as hard when we think we don’t need it. In Sunday God Meets Monday Mom, she invites mothers to experience God not in grand spiritual moments, but in the small, unseen spaces of daily faithfulness.
🎙In our conversation, we explore:
How to spend time with God when your margin is small
Moving from check box faith to real life with God
Recognizing where God is at work in everyday moments
Questions that invite God into your daily rhythms
Training your mind to see God in ordinary parenthood
The heart behind her book Sunday God Meets Monday Mom
💛 If you’re feeling depleted, touched out, spiritually dry, or quietly wondering if you’re doing enough…
This episode offers practical, accessible wisdom rooted in the message of Sunday God Meets Monday Mom, that grace meets you in small, ordinary moments.
 
💬 Grace Quotes from Erin Greneaux:
"God has something He wants to show you about Himself, especially in the crazy moments.”
"Seeking God in everyday moments trains our brain for how to view life."
“When you train your mind and heart to see God in everyday moments, then you'll see him in crises as well."
 
Resources Mentioned:
🌿Erin's book Sunday God Meets Monday Mom🌿Weekly Devos
🎶 Erin's go-to grace song O, Lord You're Beautiful
Connect with Erin Greneaux:
Website: greneauxgardens.comInstagram: @eringreneauxFacebook: @greneauxgardens
 
Related Episodes:
Ep. 58 When Grace Meets Special Needs Parenting with Becky BeresfordEp. 52 Chasing Grace with Carol McLeodEp. 39 God's Steadfast Love in Daily Life with Rachael Adams
Stay Connected with Jennifer Sakata:
🎁 My FREE gift to you: Prayers That Change Us📩 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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I Can Only Imagine 2 with Producer Cindy Bond | Ep. 74

I Can Only Imagine became one of the highest-grossing music biopics of all time. In this episode, producer Cindy Bond shares the unexpected, grace-filled journey behind the film and the highly anticipated I Can Only Imagine 2.
Before she became a Hollywood producer, Cindy Bond was raised by her grandparents, came to faith at a Billy Graham Crusade at Candlestick Park, and pursued acting alongside actors including George Clooney and Michelle Pfeiffer. Unexpectedly, she stepped in to produce a theater show when the original producer quit. What she didn’t know then was that God was shaping her into what she now calls a “media missionary.”
Despite hardship, detours, and closed doors, Cindy’s life is a testimony to how struggle creates empathy--and empathy opens the door to grace.
In this powerful conversation, we talk about forgiveness, second chances, staying grounded in a competitive industry, and the debut of I Can Only Imagine 2.
🎙 In This Episode, We Discuss:
Cindy's unexpected route to producing I Can Only Imagine
How hardship shaped her faith and calling
The journey from compassion → empathy → grace
The prayer Cindy prays every morning
Rhythms of grace that keep her grounded in Hollywood
Living with awareness of what's going on around us--and in us
What audiences can expect from I Can Only Imagine 2
💛 If You’ve Ever Struggled to Forgive…
This episode will gently challenge your perspective and invite you into grace beyond your limitations. Cindy reminds us that redemption isn’t just cinematic, it’s personal.
💬 Grace Quotes from Cindy Bond:
"Struggle creates empathy and empathy leads to grace.”
"We're not just playing church anymore. We're being real. We're being authentic. And these moveis are filled with second chances, just like we need."
“Movies are a mission field. For two hours, we get to pour in hope and redemption to a captive audience."
 
Resources Mentioned:
🌿I Can Only Imagine and I Can Only Imagine 2🌿I Can Only Imagine 2 Trailer
🎶 Cindy's go-to grace songs I Can Only Imagine, Even If, It is Well with My Soul
Connect with Cindy Bond:
Website: ICanOnlyImagine.comInstagram: @cindy_bond007Facebook: @ICanOnlyImagine
 
Related Episodes:
Ep. 61 Walking in Grace and Other People's Shoes with Neil MatthewsEp. 60 Healing from Life's Deepest Hurts with Kim HaarEp. 36 Don't Hoard Your Healing with Nancy Manassero
Stay Connected with Jennifer Sakata:
🎁 My FREE gift to you: Prayers That Change Us📩 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