How do we commit to community as a part of looking more like Jesus? Y’all, I am so excited to share this conversation with you! Today’s guest is Joel Smallbone, one-half of the Australian Christian duo For King and Country.

Do you ever feel like you live as though only half of the Gospel is true? If the answer is yes, this conversation is for you.

Today’s guest is Pastor Joby Martin of Church of 1122 in Jacksonville, Florida. His book If The Tomb Is Empty talks all about why anything is possible because of the resurrection of Jesus. In our conversation, Joby breaks down why the resurrection is the entire foundation of our faith.

“Before we can get to what’s good about the cross, I think we have to deal rightly and honestly with the horror and the tragedy and the defeat of what the cross would’ve meant for the people of Israel.”

Y’all. This is one of the most helpful and educational conversations on Good Friday and I am so dang excited to share it with you. Dr. Joel Muddamalle serves as Director of Theology and Research at Proverbs 31 Ministries and works directly for Lysa TerKeurst.

“Us sharing stories of what Jesus has done is so powerful.”

The Happy Hour podcast is slowly becoming the official sponsor of The Smallbone Family! Today’s guest is Christian singer-songwriter, Rebecca St. James.

“Tears of joy and tears of sorrow, they all taste the same.”

What powerful words by today’s guest, Pastor John O. John O is the pastor of Cornerstone Church in Atlanta, and the author of We Go On. He also runs a coffee business called Portrait Coffee based out of the West End of Atlanta!

We’ve got such a fun episode today, friends. It’s all about Children’s books! I think one of the reasons why even adults love children’s books is because they are oftentimes packed with messages and reminders that we need as adults. Children’s books help us dream, but also help invite kids to deeper words and thoughts.

“The problem is when we take a good thing and start serving, and we make it about us.”

Friends, this conversation is loaded with truths that challenge us. Brittany Salmon is a professor, writer, and Bible teacher. She is super passionate about taking theology and applying it to everyday lives, and I value her words and perspective so much.

“God can only get all the Glory when I tell the whole story.”

Today’s guest is Ann Voskamp, my dear friend who is truly one of the most prolific writers I know. She is the author of several books including One Thousand Gifts and her newest book WayMaker, which I am confident will be one of my favorite reads of this year.

“The God of my yesterdays is working in my now, and the God of my now has already gone into my next.”

Praise God for that, friends! My guest today is author and founder of Coming Alive Ministries, Jennifer Hand! Her book My Yes Is On The Table is so inspiring and a reminder to come with our hands empty and simply say yes to God.

“God is over all of the transitions that we face. He has used all of the transitions that we see to bring about His purpose.”

I have been wanting to have Hunter Beless on the podcast for years, and she is also a long-time Happy Hour listener so this was all a huge win! Hunter is the founder and host of Journeywomen podcast and the author of a children’s book releasing so very soon “Read It, See It, Say It, Sing It: Knowing and Loving the Bible”.

Alright, y’all. Today is a different kind of Happy Hour episode. Welcome to “Tell Me About It!” The Happy Hour started as a way for me to talk about things we’re loving, things that matter, and just the kind of conversations you would have with a friend over dinner! I wanted to bring back that kind of conversation and since I’ve been absolutely obsessed with the Netflix show CHEER, I asked my friend Jackie Hill Perry to come on and chat about it with me!

“For those of us who follow Jesus, there is a specific calling for us to care about what’s going on in our world.”

What’s happening in Ukraine is so big, and at times can feel impossible to wrap our brains around. The last couple of weeks has felt heavy and difficult to know how to engage, how to demonstrate I care, and what to pray. I’ve invited my friend, Jenny Yang, onto the show for a special episode on how to learn, pray, and take action on this issue as believers.

“I still struggle, I still fail, I still get overly emotional and overreact…but grace is real. And how beautiful is that?”

It’s been way too long since Scarlet has been on the show and I’m so excited to have her back! Scarlet Hiltibidal is the author of Afraid of All the Things, the Anxious Bible Study, and her upcoming book, You’re the Worst Person in the World.

“The truth of the Gospel is that we belong to each other and that there are not people who are more reflective of the image of God than other people.” 

Let’s allow that statement to guide us through every interaction we have with others. Dominique Gilliard lives in Atlanta and serves as the director of racial righteousness and reconciliation

“We can miss out on such a beautiful, God-given life because we’re preparing for the worst.”

Okay, any enneagram 6’s relate?! Y’all, this is such an important topic and I’m thankful Nicole is here to talk about it! Nicole is a marriage and family therapist in Connecticut, and her newest book What If It’s Wonderful released yesterday.

“Fear often leads us to neglect before hate.”

This is one of those episodes that will likely make my top 2022 list. I met Catherine McNiel on a Women of Welcome trip to El Paso. She is an author, writer, editor, and speaker who wrestles with the creative, redemptive work of God in our ordinary lives, and truly living as Jesus commanded us to live.

“Even in the hurt and the mess, it’s actually what makes great friendships.”

My dear friend, Jennie Allen, hardly needs an introduction to The Happy Hour community but if you’re new around here, let me fill you in! Jennie Allen is the founder of IF:Gathering and author of so many great books, including her newest one Find Your People!

“Ask God to turn your fear into curiosity.” 

It’s been way too long since Trillia Newbell has been on The Happy Hour, but better late than never! Trillia Newbell is the author of several books including her newest children’s book The Big Wide Welcome.

“When you’re honest about how desperately you wish that God had acted differently in your story and in your loss, and yet still go back to Him, that is the ultimate expression of faith.”

Mattie Jackson Selecman is a podcaster and best-selling author of the book Lemons on Friday. Her father is Alan Jackson, so good storytelling has always been in her blood. T

“We really aren’t fighting anxiety. It’s a God-given gift that Satan has twisted.”

That is such a powerful way to look at anxiety and something a lot of us should write on a post-it note so we can always remember. My guest today is Shawn Johnson who serves as lead pastor of Red Rocks Church in Denver, Colorado, a community he and a small group of people started in 2005.