Donald Kelly 8/24/22 Donald Kelly 8/24/22

066 - The Common Ways Christians Worship Other Gods

While you likely aren’t constructing a statue or temple in your backyard for them, false gods and idols are still present in today’s society. In today’s episode of Changing, Donald discusses the importance of identifying these false gods in our life, common idols, and how we can work to remove them for a healthier and more fruitful relationship with the Lord.

Common Idol: Social Media

Is social media bad? No. But it can certainly rob us of our agency.
When you’re at church, are you unable to listen to your service because you’re checking your phone? If yes, you are likely putting social media before God.
When you get out of bed in the morning, do you thank the Father for blessing you for a new day, or do you check your phone for social media updates?
Don’t completely remove social media from your life, but instead, compare it relative to the time you spend with God.

Common Idol: Sports and ESPN

Sports aren’t bad. However, many neglect their family relationships and relationship with God because of it.
If you think you can’t attend church because you don’t want to miss a game, you might have a problem.
While you shouldn’t completely remove sports from your life, look at how you spend time with sports compared to your time with God and your family. Then, determine if you should scale back and remove some of it from your schedule.

TV Shows and Celebrities

There are celebrities and TV shows we watch all the time. Do you feel a stronger relationship with these actors than God? Only you can answer that question.

Bonus: Anything!

At the end of the day, you can put anything before God. It could be family, friends, work, or even hobbies. Don’t let anything come between you and your relationship with God.
Talk and meditate with God instead of pursuing false idols, and you’ll feel happier, stronger and more at peace with your life.

Above all, first, lead with love. If this podcast speaks to you or helps you on your journey to change, let us know by leaving a rating or review. Share your testimony or contact Donald at donaldckelly09@gmail.com, or contact him on Twitter or Instagram.

Donald Kelly 8/24/22 Donald Kelly 8/24/22

065 - What Is A Fast & How Do I Do It?

How and what exactly is a fast, and why should we do one? In today’s episode of Changing, Donald answers all our fasting questions and explains how and why we should add this method of worship to build our relationship with the Lord.

What is fasting?

Fasting is going without food (and sometimes water) for specified periods.
As Christians, we do 24-hour fasts one day each month, where we go without food or water.
However, in other religions, some have up to 40-day fasts where they only eat during specific times of the day.
Fasts can even be with other earthly tethers like social media or alcohol.

How can you fast?

The idea is that you are getting rid of something your body needs. But you are putting the needs of your spirit over the needs of your body.
The best way to overcome those physical desires is by praying and asking the Lord for help.

How to have a fast:

Have a purpose, prepare properly, and pray to the Lord for strength throughout the fast.
When Donald wanted to get baptized, his mom forced him to wait. But Donald fasted, prayed, and asked the Lord to help his mom become more accepting of his baptism.

Ultimately, you fast because you love God and want direction from him. It’s a spiritual experience, and Donald heavily encourages you to try one and embrace your spiritual needs.

Donald Kelly 8/24/22 Donald Kelly 8/24/22

064 - We Didn't Come This Far To Only Come This Far

No matter what stage of life you’re at, we all feel the temptation to give up. After all, why should we bother trying to do good each day? In today’s episode of Changing, Donald discusses how we can persevere through obstacles and continue living by God’s word, even when it seems difficult.

Israelites were the Egyptian’s slaves for hundreds of years.

The Lord sent Moses to be the instrument to lead the Israelites out of slavery to their promised land.
When Moses told everyone they were leaving, the people were skeptical. After all, Moses wasn’t the first one who tried to escape.
The Israelites crossed out of Egypt to travel to a home of happiness. However, many Israelites grew anxious about their Egyptian captors apprehending them.

God guided them thus far, and he didn’t bring them to die.

What would you do? You could run, fight, or give up. Or you could do what Moses did - have faith.
Moses likely thought about how much faith and trust the people had put in God during their journey. They didn’t come this far to only come this far.
We know what ended up happening - Moses parted the sea, and after the Israelites passed, the water drowned the Egyptians who gave chase.

The moral of the story? If God told you that he’s going to do something, and you remain faithful, trust him! This is the person who created everything. If he can create everything, he can probably help you pay that utility bill, raise a family, or find a job. You need his guidance and strength to do what he knows you should do.

Donald Kelly 8/23/22 Donald Kelly 8/23/22

063 - 5 Ways To Draw Closer To Your Earthly Father Even If You Don't Have a Great Relationship

Father’s Day is an important holiday for many reasons. While our relationship with our heavenly father is imperative, loving and serving our earthly father is just as important. In today’s episode of Changing, Donald discusses how we can serve our father and build a better relationship for long-term growth with five different strategies.

Learn about your past.

Research your family tree and do genealogy to learn about your family’s past.

Cook a meal with your father.

What’s the cuisine or recipe your dad loves making or eating?
Create those things with him, and create a family recipe to pass down to your own kids.

Talk to him.

Learn about how he met your mother, what he used to do when he was younger, or memorable moments from his own life.
Conversations about his interests will help you learn more about him and give him a chance to speak about his aspirations.

Plan a vacation or stay-cation:

Plan a short trip together depending on your resources and relationship with your father!
Consider traveling back to his hometown or a memorable time of his life so he can share another part of his life with you.

Play a game.

Whether in-person or remote, playing a game together will be an easy and enjoyable way to spend time together and enjoy one another’s company.

A final bonus tip: pray for him. Especially if you don’t have the best relationship with your father, you’d be amazed at what can happen when you approach the situation with humility to the Lord.

Donald Kelly 8/23/22 Donald Kelly 8/23/22

062 - As For Me And My House We Will Serve The Lord

Serving God isn’t reserved just for Sunday morning; it’s something we should incorporate into every area of our lives. And what better way to start than our own homes? In today’s episode of Changing, Donald discusses five practices and strategies to serve the Lord within your own home.

Commit as a family and as an individual to make your house a holy place

When Donald first attended church, his family did not come with him. Wanting to study scripture in peace, Donald hid in the bathroom for solitude.
He dedicated himself to the Lord, and his family saw the effort he was making.
Look at the movies you’re watching, the music you listen to, and your attitude toward Jesus in your house. Set the atmosphere that leads to a positive change.

Study the scripture and pray as a family each day

Study scripture daily to learn about the lord and make your house one of holiness.
Read and study with your family to have a supportive and loving environment.

Do wholesome family activities.

Go on trips together as a family, hold holiday barbecues, and just spend time together.
It creates relationships and bonds that lead to a better atmosphere and environment.

Serve one another.

Be of service to one another within the family.
Can you help your brother with the dishes? Can you do something for your parents? Ask yourself what you can do to support those in your home.

Have a family council

Holding a family council helps ensure your family has the means and the attitude necessary to act with kindness and holiness at the forefront of your mind.

Donald Kelly 8/23/22 Donald Kelly 8/23/22

061 - Love, Share and Invite

The most powerful things we can do as Christians are to love, share, and invite others to change and love God. In today’s episode of Changing, Donald discusses these three topics and explains how we can use them to help everyone feel the inspiration to draw closer to Christ.

Love

Everything the Savior did comes back to love. We need to love our brothers and sisters if we want to help them.
It’s not about you; it’s about helping and caring for other individuals.
The best way you can help someone change and grow closer to God is by loving them.

Share

Many people refrain from talking about church when friends and coworkers ask us what we did over the weekend. But why not?
Share about the beautiful choir performance, a fish-fry fundraiser, or any other important event that could benefit them. You’re sharing something that could genuinely help them!
You can also share your church’s events and information, or God’s messages, on social media.

Invite

Give your local community a natural way to be a part of your church community.
As they spend time around your church community, they’ll feel God’s presence, and, over time, they’ll see the trajectory to change.

Donald Kelly 8/23/22 Donald Kelly 8/23/22

060 - I Lost Everything!

In today’s episode of Changing, we’re joined by fellow podcaster Stephen A. Hart as he describes his relationship with Christ and how he gained faith amid multiple obstacles in his life.

In today’s episode of Changing, we’re joined by fellow podcaster Stephen A. Hart as he describes his relationship with Christ and how he gained faith amid multiple obstacles in his life.

Stephen was incredibly successful as a business owner.

After graduating from college in ‘99, Stephen found himself in the mortgage industry before starting his first business in the financial sector in 2005.
In 2007, his business was thriving. Because of that, he purchased things like a million-dollar brownstone and a Jamaican wedding.
However, his success was cut short when he discovered a massive investment had tanked.

How did Stephen recover from the tanked investment?

Having everything ripped from under him three weeks into marriage had a massive blow to his pride.
Shortly after the business collapsed, so did the real estate and financial market.
Everything fell apart. Left with personal debt, Stephen had to dissolve his business and start over with a new structure.

Amid this turmoil, he found God.

After this ordeal, Stephen wanted to understand what life was really about.
He realized he needed to look to God for what was next. He changed his entire mindset and began to focus on new goals.
And so, over the next ten years, he reframed everything. The way he looks at money, his life, and his legacy.

How does Stephen maintain his relationship with God?

Throughout the pandemic, Stephen anchored himself in Matthew 6:25-34 and Phillippians 4:6-8.
His focus this last year was to go not one day at a time but one hour at a time.
Stephen’s lasting advice: change happens. We’re always working on ourselves, but over time, those changes will lead to positivity in your future if God is at the center.

Connect with Stephen on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter, as well as his website. Reach out to him if you have any questions or want to know more about his journey to Christ.

Donald Kelly 8/23/22 Donald Kelly 8/23/22

059 - Having The Faith To Go Forward In The Face of Difficulties

We’re not always at our strongest, but through our faith, it’s something we can fortify and improve. In today’s episode of Changing, Donald discusses the importance of faith and how we, as followers of God, should be willing to overcome obstacles through our faith.

Abraham was told to sacrifice his only son.

In Genesis 22, Abraham leads his son, Isaac, up the mountain to sacrifice him. This experience is profoundly sad, but Abraham knew God would not lead him wrong.
Not only did Abraham have to trust God, but Isaac had to trust Abraham. Everyone knew the other was doing the right thing.
While we aren’t asked to sacrifice children, we make sacrifices every day, from our money and time to our food and willpower. Frequently, we don’t act like Abraham.

We all have times when we feel our sacrifice is too great.

Donald remembers questioning how he’d be able to afford his new rent payment when he moved to a new office building.
However, he realized if he stepped foot in the dark, the Lord would provide the opportunity he needed.
Think about how many people the Lord has helped throughout the bible. If he did that for them, he would do those for you.
If you don’t have sufficient faith to do something, pray. Pray to the Lord for strength to go up the mountain and do what you need.

Whatever situation you’re in, the Lord will provide. He’ll provide what you need if you have faith in him. If this podcast speaks to you or helps you on your journey to change, let us know by leaving a rating or review. Share your testimony or contact Donald at donaldckelly09@gmail.com, or contact him on Twitter or Instagram.

Donald Kelly 8/23/22 Donald Kelly 8/23/22

058 - What Is A Temple And How They Help Me Draw Closer to Christ

Temples are not new - they’re holy places to separate our faith from the cares and concerns of the everyday world. In today’s episode of Changing, Donald is joined by the owner of Flood Me Social (a Tik Tok influencer marketing firm), Michael Manzur, to discuss his trips, travels, and perspective behind the importance of temples.

The beauty and nature of why we go to temples are essential.

Temples are a representation of a holy place. Regardless of religion, there are places you can go to grow in your spiritual journey.
They’re a place for solitude and reflection, and they’re tremendously crucial to every religion.

What happens inside temples?

Because they are holy places, many obtain a temple recommend before entering. It’s a series of questions by a faith leader, where they ask questions pertaining to your faith.
As you enter the temple, you leave the world behind. You enter to learn and to serve.
Depending on your faith, there are baptisms and areas for reflection.

Temples aren’t always secret; they’re sacred.

Many temples have open houses, inviting people outside the faith to enjoy the decor, atmosphere, and history that makes the temple special.
CNN did a special feature showing the inside of an LDS Church; click here to watch it.
At temples, you can take your burdens to God. You don’t have to be a faith member to get value and peace from these special places.
For more content from Michael, find him on YouTube, Tik Tok, and Instagram.

Temples are a symbol of our faith, and it’s important we recognize their importance for any religious community. If this podcast speaks to you or helps you on your journey to change, let us know by leaving a rating or review. Share your testimony or contact Donald at donaldckelly09@gmail.com, or contact him on Twitter or Instagram.

Donald Kelly 8/23/22 Donald Kelly 8/23/22

057 - The Proper Way to Delegate In Your Church Responsibilities

Delegation is vital to help other people grow and improve (as well as help ourselves when we’re overloaded.) In today’s episode of Changing, Donald explains how to delegate church responsibilities better. For more context, check out our prior episode discussing the importance of humility.

Here’s what many people skip when it comes to delegating:

Exodus 18:20 - And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and thou shalt show them the way they must walk and the work they must do.
If you’re delegating a task, you need to provide the vision, idea, and direction of what you want out of the task.
You can’t give a task without providing clear instruction, just like you can’t pull a stranger off the street and expect them to know how to handle your job.

You have people willing to help you out like Moses had people helping him.

If someone is able and willing to help you, do not be afraid to teach them and show them what’s right to get the job done.
There is nothing wrong with asking for help, including church activities.
Everyone deserves a chance to learn and grow alongside God. Be the catalyst that helps people take that next step.

If this podcast speaks to you or helps you on your journey to change, let us know by leaving a rating or review. Share your testimony or contact Donald at donaldckelly09@gmail.com, or contact him on Twitter or Instagram.

Donald Kelly 8/23/22 Donald Kelly 8/23/22

056 - Be Humble Enough To Learn And Change

There are things about Moses we often overlook. And in today’s episode of Changing, our host Donald Kelly goes through his life. In this first part of a two-part discussion, Donald looks at what we can learn from Moses and how living a humble life kept him a devoted servant of the Lord.

The Lord can use us despite our shortcomings.

God already knows all our weaknesses and flaws. So if he calls on us to do something, it’s because he knows we can overcome the obstacles and fulfill his calling.
Moses wasn’t as good a speaker as his brother, yet the Lord chose him to lead his people out of Egypt. That wasn’t by accident.

Despite becoming the leader of millions, Moses remained humble.

In Exodus 18:12, Jethro taught Moses the importance of delegation of responsibility.
Moses had just brought millions of people across the Red Sea and now was being advised by an ordinary man.
Rather than dismissing his ideas, Moses was humble enough to listen to Jethro. In doing so, he became a better student of the Lord.
Jethro wasn’t sharing his ideas for his own ego; he did it to better help Moses to lead.

In our lives, many people will give us guidance.

While we don’t always have to obey the ideas they share, listening to their opinions and leaving our egos behind can help us improve.
Take council as you would take something from a grocery store. You look at everything, consider everything, but only take what you want.

Donald Kelly 8/23/22 Donald Kelly 8/23/22

055 - 5 Things You Can Do To Remember Easter Year Round

Happy Easter from Changing! Easter is a day to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and Christians around the world come together to celebrate. (For the history of the holiday, check out our previous episode!) Easter is a powerful holiday with a powerful message, and the meaning behind it shouldn’t be limited to one day. In today’s podcast, Donald discusses five ways to celebrate Easter all year long!

Dedicate your life to Christ.

A church leader told Donald, “the only thing we can give to Christ is our will.” Christ gave up everything for us to have eternal life.
When Donald prepared for his two-year mission, he changed the books, the music, and the people he surrounded himself with to better reflect Jesus.
Look at your day-to-day life. Are these things conducive to you being a better Christian?

Take part in family history.

Family history is an opportunity to learn both about yourself and your ancestors.
When you can connect with the people before you, you get the chance to see the qualities of the people that ultimately shaped you.
Christ’s resurrection gave us the chance to have a physical body again, meaning you’ll get the opportunity to see these folks again.

Teach someone else about Jesus Christ.

The idea of Easter is that the apostles spread the message of Christ’s resurrection. How many times do we share that message today?
God encourages us to spread the gospel and his message, yet many of us fail to do this as frequently as we should.

Watch a movie or listen to music that carries Easter’s message.

Media focused on the story of God, Christ’s resurrection, or just God’s message are great sources to allow God to have a part in every aspect of your life.

Attend church each week.

We go to church so we can learn and become better.
If once each week sounds like too heavy of a commitment, start with once a month. Simply begin making an effort to improve your relationship with God, and the personal change will come with time.

If this podcast speaks to you or helps you on your journey to change, let us know by leaving a rating or review. Share your testimony or contact Donald at donaldckelly09@gmail.com.

Donald Kelly 7/27/22 Donald Kelly 7/27/22

054 - What Exactly Is Easter All About?

Easter is one of the most important holidays of Christianity. But what happened that made it the holiday today, with the eggs and bunnies? In today’s episode of Changing, Donald dives into the holiday history, helping us realize why Easter is so important and why we celebrate it the way we do.

Easter is the Christian holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Following his resurrection, Jesus presented himself in front of Mary Magdalene and other disciples.
In Luke 24:39, Christ showed them that Jesus was real and that he took upon our sins so we could be cleansed from our mistakes.
While Easter was celebrated after that point, it didn’t have the moniker we know today.

Why doesn’t Easter have a set day each year?

Easter Sunday (and related celebrations like Ash Wednesday) are not on a specific date. Typically, Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring Equinox.
One theory states that this ties back to light, because the full moon's light symbolizes Jesus’s light of the world.
Another theory considers the Council of Nicaea. At this point in history, different parts of the world used various calendars, with some using the Gregorian and some using the Julian calendar. This could have affected the dates of the celebration.

Common Easter traditions:

A series of Easter events begins with Lent, a 40-day fast. A holy week, including Palm Sunday, Holy Wednesday, Holy Thursday, (the celebration of the last supper), Good Friday, and Easter Sunday, occurs throughout the holiday.
For Donald, Jamaica’s heavy British influence meant he celebrated eating Easter Bun, which is essentially a fruitcake.
The earliest reported observance was in the 2nd century. We assume people did before that, but there’s little documentation.

The name Easter ties to the Spring goddess Eostre.

While Christians recognized Easter as a Christian celebration, they continued to use the name to designate the holiday as a Springtime celebration.
Historians don’t know why the tradition of eggs and bunnies started, but it began with German immigrants in the 1700s.
Rabbits are enthusiastic procreators. So, baby bunnies became associated with birth and renewal. Eggs, in certain cultures, are associated with fertility and rebirth.
There’s not anything explicitly stating why these associations made their way into Easter celebrations.

Episode Sources:

If this podcast speaks to you or helps you on your journey to change, let us know by leaving a rating or review. Share your testimony or contact Donald at donaldckelly09@gmail.com.

Donald Kelly 7/27/22 Donald Kelly 7/27/22

052 - Trust God, He Can Change You!

In today’s episode of Changing, Donald is joined by his spiritual mentor and friend, Randy Wilburn. As a child of Christ, Randy has seen firsthand the power and freedom that comes when we open our hearts to God. And in today’s episode, he shares some of what he’s learned over time.

God is with us through all our trials and tribulations.

Even figures like Joseph had many obstacles to overcome. But, the Bible is quick to remind us that God is always with him.
We don’t go through challenges alone; God is always there. And remaining focused on Him allows us to endure any conflict we encounter.
If you focus on life from a long-term mindset, you’ll be able to deal with the trials you face.

God prepares more for our lives than we can imagine if we’re prepared to listen.

Allow God’s word to marinate in you to start being a change agent in the world.
Many young people today want to go out and take on the world. But make sure you do so with the mindset and belief that God has your back.

Randy gave his life to Christ three separate times.

Growing up in the church, he gave his life to Christ in his youth. However, it wasn’t until the third time (when he was 26) that he felt ready to stop running from God.
Before, he wanted to live life uninhibited by the limits the word might seem to impose. But it took until he was 26 to be ready to submit to the Lord.

Don’t put God in a box.

God can make things happen overnight. He can completely change someone once they’re willing to open themselves to Him, and we can’t even fathom how it works.
God can make changes in our lives, whether financial, health, or another issue.
You’ll be challenged by wearing your love of God on your sleeve. You might not want other people to know.
But be yourself, because people would rather see a sermon than hear one every day of the week.

When you focus on Christ, life just gets better. You can reach Randy on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. To talk more about a relationship with Christ, email him at rw@randywilburn.com. If this podcast speaks to you or helps you on your journey to change, let us know by leaving a rating or review. Share your testimony or contact Donald at donaldckelly09@gmail.com.

Donald Kelly 7/27/22 Donald Kelly 7/27/22

051 - The Danger of Comparison

It is easy to lose sight of our goals when comparing ourselves to others. So why do we fall into that mindset? In today’s episode of Changing, Donald explains how we can avoid this mistake and refocus on what matters: our relationship with Christ.

Comparison isn’t always bad. But the issue arises when we compare ourselves to others.

Today more than ever, we are addicted to our phones. (Many teenagers spend seven hours a day on average on their phone!)
Social media might be pictures, but it isn’t the full picture because people only post things they want others to see.
However, because people assume social media reflects real life, we believe others’ lives are perfect. In these moments, we feel jealousy and envy.
Are we too distracted by the world around us to truly follow Christ? If you want to improve, remember that social media isn’t reality. Look into your own life rather than the lives of others.

We all have challenges and difficulties, but people won’t post that online.

Now, that doesn't mean you should post all your life obstacles. However, focus on helping others rather than creating a life on social media.
We can give a portion of time to help others have meaningful lives, and it’s essential to ask for help when needed.

Focus on the Savior.

In Matthew 14, Peter lost focus on the Savior. He was too captivated by what was happening around him that caused him to sink.
But when he asked for help from Jesus, he immediately came to his aid.
Are you focusing on what the Lord whats you to do each day? There is liberation in focus on Christ.
Proverbs 16:3 tells us what happens when we focus on Christ - there is power and miracles in it.
The Doctrine of Covenants 6:36 tells us to be unafraid and follow without doubt. How can you look unto the Savior with all your thoughts?

When you focus on Christ, life just gets better. If this podcast speaks to you or helps you on your journey to change, let us know by leaving a rating or review. Share your testimony or contact Donald at donaldckelly09@gmail.com.

Donald Kelly 7/26/22 Donald Kelly 7/26/22

050 - 5 Ways To Help Youth Own Their Spirituality In 2022

When it comes to spiritual growth, there’s only one person who can improve and strengthen that growth - you! In today’s episode of Changing, Donald dives into five ways you can foster spirituality in yourself and help others do the same.

Define your intentions

As a child of God, our ultimate goal is to join Him in Heaven. But what can we do now to get there?
You must be intentional. Set small, achievable goals instead of broad goals like being a better husband, wife or sibling.
Intentional goals (and plans to accomplish them) will put you on the path to success.

Be curious

There are countless examples of curiosity in the Bible leading to different answers and results.
Curiosity isn’t a bad thing. It helps you grow, improve, and develop a better understanding of the world and the history of the world around you.

Learn to listen to the spirit

What atmosphere helps you listen to the spirit? Whether it's the peace and solitude in nature, the background noise of a coffee shop, or meditating in the comfort of your living room.
Wherever puts you in the mood to listen to Christ and the spirit, do it more frequently?

Be anxiously engaged in worthwhile causes.

The organization justserve.org has tons of projects across the country that allow you to help people in your community.
Step away from your problems to focus on the issues of others and help other sons and daughters of Christ.

Associate with the right people.

When you associate with the right friends and people, you’ll be uplifted.
Evaluate the people around you. Are they helping you to become a better person?
If not, seek out people who’ll help you grow in your relationship with Christ.

As we continue through 2022, implement these five principles to grow your spirituality and develop a stronger relationship with Christ. To contact Donald to discuss growing in your relationship with God, contact him at donaldckelly09@gmail.com.

Donald Kelly 7/26/22 Donald Kelly 7/26/22

049 - I Was Transformed Through COVID

Today’s episode of Changing features one of these stories. In this episode, Donald interviews Jaunai Walker to discuss how isolation and COVID led to her religious transformation

While COVID-19 had many adverse and traumatic effects across the globe, it also helped many people connect with God on a deeper level. Today’s episode of Changing features one of these stories. In this episode, Donald interviews Jaunai Walker to discuss how isolation and COVID led to her religious transformation.

God guides us through every part of our lives, even if we don’t realize it.

God was present in Jaunai’s upbringing, but her family went to church inconsistently.
Despite this, she started her own journey in 2008. She felt God was missing in her life, and since that point, she’s focused on coming closer to Christ.
Of course, she’s made mistakes. But it’s about admitting those mistakes and asking God for forgiveness.

Despite her efforts, Jaunai knew something was missing.

During church service, Jaunai was quiet. She sang when needed, but she didn’t talk to other people or interact with others. She just listened.
When churches all went virtual because of COVID, she found herself completely isolated from everyone else at the church.
A group of people invited her to a Bible study with them, which changed everything.
She realized she was quiet in church because she was afraid of people's thoughts.

She focused on the Bible and his teachings, which started her transformation.

You don’t need a physical church to have a relationship with Christ.
God answered her prayers by putting people in her life who had her join a bible study. That group helped her understand what the bible says about herself.
Many people starting their journey with Christ go to a pastor or other figure to tell them about the Bible. In reality, you get the most out of it when you read the stories yourself!

What caused her to transform?

It was the holy spirit. She had an internal feeling she couldn’t explain, telling her she was missing something.
One morning, she woke up with the word “reset” burning in her brain. And then, two months later, she realized why that happened.
Covid allowed people to draw closer to God. She needed a personal reset, and this was the time.
Before the change, she felt empty, and things just weren’t working out.
And now, after listening to God, she is the person who sits and talks to others about the love Christ has for people and discusses scriptures from the Bible.

Applying her learnings to life today:

The app Olive Tree helps her understand scripture.
She’s more comfortable in her skin because she knows who she belongs to and her purpose in life.
Jaunai never spoke in church, but now, she’s found her voice and shares her testimony.
She introduces the word of God to people’s businesses.
It was a full reset. God provides professional, personal, and spiritual expansion when you dedicate your life to him.
When you show gratitude for what God has done for you, the next door in life opens.

Jaunai’s final piece of advice? Just ask God for help when you need it. He will hear you, he will listen, and he will help you be your best self. To connect with Jaunai about her journey with Christ, follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. You can also visit her website (www.jaunaiwalker.com) and check out her other guest appearance on Donald’s other podcasts, The Sales Evangelist and Selling in Color.

Donald Kelly 7/26/22 Donald Kelly 7/26/22

048 - You Don’t Have To Do It On Your Own

In today’s episode of Changing, Donald interviews Matt Ruedlinger to discuss how we can call upon God to help ease our burdens in all instances, not just religious challenges.

Life is hard enough; why add more stress on top of it? We are prone to perfectionist tendencies; we hold high standards for ourselves and those around us. However, this behavior (while good in some situations) can lead to overloading our plates. In today’s episode of Changing, Donald interviews Matt Ruedlinger to discuss how we can call upon God to help ease our burdens in all instances, not just religious challenges.

Shifting his mindset helped Matt change his business.

Building a relationship with Christ makes it easier to rely on him. It’s a constant exercise of growth.
When Matt relies on Christ, he feels peace. Things that frustrate him when he’s alone don’t give him those same feelings.
When you can give your troubles to Christ, life just gets easier.
James 1:2-4 “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”

When we go through challenges, we grow with Christ.

As a business owner, how Matt reacts to things can directly correlate to their lives. His business is like a ministry; what he does affects everybody.
Call upon God to help you. Whether that’s church-related, family difficulties, or workplace challenges, you can ask God for help with anything. (You aren’t limited to matters of the church.)
People will see his love through you when you let him be a part of your life.

How do you get to a place where you can start relying on the Lord?

It’s something you’ll constantly work towards, but it’s about creating habits.
Try writing post-it notes or other reminders so you remember to step back and ask Christ for help when needed.
Instinctively, we know we can call upon God for help.

Connect with Matt on LinkedIn or contact him at matt@triplermarleting.com to continue this conversation with him.

Donald Kelly 7/26/22 Donald Kelly 7/26/22

047 - Learning To Listen To The Still Small Voice

God has a message for all of us. For some, that message might be a small action or decision that carries a tremendous impact. Or, for others, it’s a huge action that also results in a big impact! In today’s episode of Changing, Donald is joined by Jon Hensley, a man who experienced the latter of these two scenarios. In this episode, he’ll recount his story of when he learned to listen to that voice, and what changed as a result.

The story starts in 2007 when Jon entered the army.

When he first arrived, he was ready to save the world and was quite convinced he knew what was going on.
His mom mentioned her friend’s daughter was married to a colonel where he was located. After she mentioned that, Jon had a strange feeling he needed to reach out and offer his help (as a priest of the church.)
All he knew about the family was that the daughter had left the church and didn’t want anything to do with it.
This fact made him think he probably shouldn’t offer help. So, he blew it off.

But he couldn’t shake the feeling.

He was still apprehensive, so he called his mom and told her to tell her friend to tell her daughter the message. And she did.
Out of the blue, Jon got a call from the colonel. While Jon had never heard the voice before, he knew who it was. And the colonel wanted Jon to bless his wife.
So Jon went to his home, and the moment he saw the woman, his heart broke. She had an ailment where her jaw was disconnected from her skull.
She had been through several surgeries to have her jaw wired shut, and those surgeries meant she was bruised, swollen, and in pain.
Her doctors had told her they couldn’t fix the problem, but after she begged for another attempt, they agreed to one final try. And that attempt was tomorrow.

The whole family was exhausted and scared - they were asking for a miracle.

When Jon sat down with her, he asked her to repent. He felt compelled to say that.
As he said those words, he saw the desperation, fear, and anxiety in her eyes. She was ready to ask the Lord and needed to hear his message.
As the mouthpiece to the blessing, Jon told her if she would repent, she would be healed. And if she didn’t, a worse trial would befall her.
He didn’t know what came over him, but he felt compelled to say it.
She repented. And the next day, the surgery was a responding success. And to this day, she is a member of the church.

In December of 2008, Jon was sent to Afghanistan.

At one point he got an emergency call from soldiers in contact with an enemy position. They needed emergency extracting to get wounded out of the situation.
The soldiers didn't have coverage, and there wasn’t space to land Jon’s helicopter safely. Jon landed the helicopter between the enemy position and the soldiers so they could use the helicopter as cover while the wounded boarded.
As soon as he landed, the enemy began to approach. And Jon was helpless.
He asked for help on the radio. And who answered? The colonel, flying a strike eagle in the vicinity. He engaged the enemy long enough for Jon to escape with the wounded.

The man Jon was once sent to save was now sent to save him.

The Lord knows our needs. If you need a miracle, put your faith in action because He will not leave his disciplines hanging.
Colonel Johnson eventually joined the church, and the family’s entire fate is changed. They’re now sons and daughters of God. And it’s all because of that one call Jon had received.

Put action to your faith to bring salvation to those around you. To talk to Jon and discuss his story, contact eternalhensleys@gmail.com.

Donald Kelly 7/26/22 Donald Kelly 7/26/22

046 - I Left Church But God Didn't Leave Me

In today’s episode of Changing, Mylena Sutton joins Donald to discuss her experience separating from and ultimately returning to God. While she might’ve left Him, God never left her. And His grace allowed her to find her way back to Him and continue on her journey.

To Mylena, going to church as a child was like a family reunion.

While her family wasn’t conservative, she was still the first to attend college.
As she left to attend college, she left her family church and started attending a mega-church in Atlanta.
Her family was upset because they thought Mylena had an identity shift.
But Mylena liked it. She didn’t have to worry about everyone seeing her when she was vulnerable. Though it had nothing to do with her family, she enjoyed being there.
While she enjoyed church, part of her obedience to God was out of fear.

After moving to New Jersey in 2002, it took her two years to find a church she liked.

She was there for about five years when she noticed she felt disconnected from the sermons.
In one sermon, her pastor was preaching about what a woman needs to know about a man. She was so offended by the entire series that she left.
She reached out to some of the other women, and she asked if they also felt it was out of line. But they dismissed it, saying not to take it personally.

She decided that if she didn’t respect the pastor, what was the point of going to church?

A year went by, and her life was fine. She realized she needed to reframe the way she perceived God.
It led to a transition - she left the church and was terrified of God because he would be angry at her for leaving.
But she was okay. And that realization made her realize God wasn’t out to get her.
God’s plan for us is good. In that phase of her life, she wasn’t doing anything she thought she was supposed to do. But His grace was amazing.

Fast forward to 2008, she started her own business while working a traditional job.

She told God she wanted more time to focus on things important to her. The next day, she was fired.
While unfortunate, she would never have had the courage to quit on her own. She needed the push.
Despite having the business established, there was nothing behind it besides the concept and her determination for it to come to fruition.

Along this journey, she progressed from fearing God to finding his grace. Despite making many mistakes during her life, God’s grace has kept her moving forward. As a result, she now knows her relationship with the church and God are two different things. She can live her life without fear, because regardless of where she is in life, God is there with her. To contact Mylena, visit her website mylenasutton.com or her business’s website, voltagevista.com.

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