Episode 113 :: JL Gerhardt :: Stories of the Transforming Gift of God’s Love

Happy New Years Eve, y’all! I am thrilled to share my conversation with the absolutely fantastic  JL Gerhardt with you because it feels like a powerful word to walk into this new year with. JL is a writer, storyteller, and teacher who really loves the Lord and helping others fall in love with the Lord. She shares with me her story of learning about God’s love through stories, and experiencing the power of His faithfulness and learning to walk with Him in the dark, the weird, and the beautiful parts of life. One thing that I really treasure about JL is that she is unabashedly authentic and honest, even about the hard things. She sums up how she shares, and why she is willing to go so deep and wide with people in this way: “If I don’t tell them the truth about the pain, then they may not believe me about the Good News.” I just love that. 

Our conversation in this episode dives into practical ideas of how to really fall in love with God and encounter Him in a more powerful way in these coming days, how and why that could feel weird for people, and what it might actually look like in the life of a believer. We unpack what it means to look at scripture in various seasons of life and how it impacts our vision of God and the circumstances we are living in, and just how relatable the people of scripture are to us in broken and our mess, and in that we get to see the insane kindness and mercy of God.  JL also brings a really powerful word about the love of God and the Greatest Commandment, and how much we have to get the loving God and loving others thing in the proper order, or we’re pouring out from an empty and ill equipped cup.  

You guys are just going to love JL, her books, especially the new one Look to Love: A Better Way to Read the Bible, her work with her husband Justin on his podcast “Holy Ghost Stories” and I hope all of it points you to the heart of God, in His word, by His Spirit. As Paul shares in Ephesians, “And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,  and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:17-19)

No matter where this finds you, here at the end of the year, or the beginning of a new one: you matter, and your story matters. 

Connecting with JL:

Newest Book: Look to Love: A Better Way to Read the Bible

Facebook

Instagram

Newsletter (like seriously I REALLY love it)

Website 

Episode Sponsor: Hopefuel

Facebook 

Instagram

Link to shop

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References:

-Swallowed Up by JL Gerhardt

-The Body Keeps the Score

-Think Good: How to Get Rid of Anxiety, Guilt, Despair & the Like to Finally Find Peace of Mind by JL Gerhardt

-Crazy Love - Francis Chan 

-Sacred Romance: Drawing Closer to the Heart of God by Brent Curtis and John Eldridge
-Love Does by Bob Goff

-Big love for young Leo DiCaprio and “Romeo + Juliet”

-Brene Brown- empathy and listening to stories

-Her husband’s AMAZING- hands down my favorite podcast find this year- podcast Holy Ghost Stories with Justin Gerhardt

-Amanda Bible Williams

-”Holy Ghost Stories” Season 2, episode 10: The Giver and the Taker (the one JL wrote about Eve)

Scripture References:

Matthew 17:1-13- The transfiguration with Elijah and Moses 

1 Kings 19:1-18- Elijah in the cave wanting to die 

Exodus 17 (vs4) Exodus 32- (to name a couple) Moses freaking out “please do something with these people” 

Exodus 17:8-16- Moses can’t even hold his own arms up 

Numbers 20:1-13-Moses striking a stone that cost him the promise land

Numbers 27:12-23- Moses getting only a glimpse of the promised land 

He keeps His promises (tons of verses!)

Deuteronomy 31:6- He will never leave you or forsake you 

Ruth 1:16-17-He will be your God 

The book of Psalms 

Matthew 22:36-40, Matthew 22:37, Mark 12:30- The greatest command: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength

Acts 17:28, Colossians 1:17- God holds all things together, lives and moves and has its being

1 Peter 5:7- God cares about us

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18- Pray without ceasing 

1 Timothy 1:17- All glory and honor to God 

John 14:15- If you love me you will obey My commands 

Psalm 42:7- Deep calls to deep 

Acts 7:55-56,Romans 8:34,Ephesians 1:20,Colossians 3:1,Hebrews 1:3,Hebrews 8:1,Hebrews 10:12,Hebrews 12:2,1 Peter 3:22,Revelation 3:21,Matthew 22:44,Acts 2:33- Heaven is the place where He is

Revelation 21:4- Heaven is the place where there is no pain and no tears of pain 

1 Corinthians 13 - love of God 

Matthew 12:34, Matthew 12:39, Matthew 23:37-39, Luke 11:29, Luke 19:41-44- You wicked generation! Jesus callin’ people out because they knew better 

Matthew 6:21- Where your treasure is, your heart will be also 

Romans 12:2- Being transformed by the renewal of your mind 

2 Corinthians 4:18, Hebrews 12:2- Fix your eyes 

Psalm 27:13- What would have become of me if I had not believed I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living 

Ephesians 3:17-19

Connecting with Emily and Simply Stories Podcast:
Instagram (Em life // Podcast Life)
Facebook
Twitter
Blog 

*Intro and Outro music is from audionautix.com