A few years ago, a friend of ours found himself in a season where he started to notice something wasn’t quite right with his soul. Overwhelmed, empty, and depleted, he decided to do something about it. Today he shares with us, the practices he learned to get his soul, and his life back.

On today’s episode we’re very thrilled to welcome back to the show, for the third time, our good friend, the one and only Mr. John Eldredge! If you’re not familiar with John, he’s the founder of Ransomed Heart Ministries in Colorado Springs, well known Christian Speaker, and best selling author of books such as Wild at Heart, Waking the Dead, and his latest book, Get Your Life Back. Conversations with John are always so rich, full of wisdom, and leave us longing or more of God, and today is no exception.

John unpacks the power of simple practices such as getting outside, seeking beauty in our everyday lives, taking a daily one minute pause, and remembering who we love. This conversation is one to listen to again and again. May these practices help us create more space in our souls for more of life and more of God. Listen in.

For more episodes featuring John Eldredge, make sure to check out:
Ep. 45 | Make Space for Your Soul
Ep. 30 | Living a Life of Adventure

A few favorite quotes from today’s episode:

“If you can get into nature as a soulful practice, it is enormously healing.”

“Your soul is wonderfully small, and to be kind is to admit the limits of the capacity of your soul.”

“Your soul is the vessel that God fills. Your soul is the means by which you experience God, and when your soul is baked like a desert, you can’t receive the water He’s trying to bring.”

“There were things that you used to do that brought you life. . . go do them again. Make room for them, make them a priority again. Go get them back!”

“More of life is more of God.”

“God is in the things that you love.”

“We must empty ourselves of all that currently fills us so that we can be filled with God.” St. Augustine

Music featured in this episode:
Casey Darnell, Moments

Connect with us:
https://letsliveitwell.com
https://www.instagram.com/chrisgraebe/
https://www.instagram.com/jennigraebe/
https://www.instagram.com/letsliveitwell/

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

On today’s episode we’re chatting with the author of one of my very favorite books of 2019, How to Pray, by Pete Greig.

Pete is a best selling author, Senior Pastor of Emmaus Road Church in Guildford, England, and instigator of the 24-7Prayer movement which has reached more than half the nations on earth.

This book absolutely reignited my prayer life, it challenged and stretched me in new ways, and gave me a new perspective on the way I approach God in prayer. This is one I couldn’t stop sending to friends and quoting to my husband. So we were quite thrilled to sit across from Pete and have some rich conversation about prayer. Pete shares with us a simple, 4 step guide to approach God in prayer, the importance of being honest in our prayers, and the power of getting still in God’s presence.
Listen in.

*British Translation Guide :
“feeling sheepish” : feeling shame or embarrassment
“dodgy”: shady, untrustworthy, unreliable
“fry your noodles”: amaze you, blow your mind

A few favorite quotes from today’s episode:

Pray = Pause Rejoice Ask Yield

“Keep it Simple. Keep it Real. Keep it Up.”

“Your prayer life is at its best, not when you’re praying big, complex, gnarly prayers occasionally, but when you’re praying simple, little conversational prayers continually.”

“Be honest with God about how you’re really feeling. He couldn’t care less about your ‘religious self’, He wants you.”

“Jesus encourages us to approach God like little children.”

“The legacy of your life is your prayer life.”

“Who you become is determined by how you pray.
Ultimately, the transcript of your prayers become the script of your life.”

“What happens in the privacy of your alone time with God determines not just the outcome of your life, but the substance of your life.”

PETE’S LIFE CHANGING BOOK:
Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, John Mark Comer

PETE’S LIFE CHANGING HABIT:
“Spin the phone” at dinner time with family and friends. Whoever it lands on has to pray and gets to ask any question they’d like to everyone at the table.

PETE’S ADVICE TO THE YOUNGER YOU:
“I would say, 'Chill Out.'  I’ve always been a bit over intense, and my wife Sammy plumbs the depths of shallow. She's gloriously funny, and is such a blessing to me. She has taught me that intensity is not a gift of the Holy Spirit, joy is.

Music featured in this episode:
Casey Darnell, Moments

Connect with us:
https://letsliveitwell.com
https://www.instagram.com/chrisgraebe/
https://www.instagram.com/jennigraebe/
https://www.instagram.com/letsliveitwell/

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

On today’s episode we’re chatting with author, speaker, and COO of Messenger International, Addison Bevere about what it means to discover and live out of our true identity in Christ. We had such a wonderful conversation with Addison about his newest book, Saints: Becoming more than “Christians.” If you’re like us, and just the mention of the word Saint causes you to recoil just a bit, stick with us, you’ll be so refreshed as Addison unpacks the truth about our sacred identity as saints in Christ. Listen in.

A few favorite takeaways from today’s episode:

“Holiness is not a destination, it’s a journey.”

“The journey into holiness is really the journey into wholeness.

The journey of holiness is actually the journey of discovering what it means to be His.

“It’s a journey into seeing myself the way God sees me.”

“So much of our walk with Christ is unlearning assumptions that we had about ourselves, our world, and who we are in Him.”

“We live in the tension of being and becoming.”

“You are a saint… now become one.”

Music featured in this episode:
Casey Darnell, Moments

Connect with us:
https://letsliveitwell.com
https://www.instagram.com/chrisgraebe/
https://www.instagram.com/jennigraebe/
https://www.instagram.com/letsliveitwell/

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

So good to be back with you all! We hope you had a wonderful Holiday season with your families and that 2020 is off to a great start for you!  Chances are, you probably already have your goals set for the year and maybe you’re off and running with them.  Maybe you’ve picked a word for the year, and you’re leaning into it with all you’ve got.  Or maybe you’ve already given up on waking up early or going to the gym or staying off your screen.  But wherever this finds you on day 14 of the brand new year, we hope this episode will be a breath of fresh air and that it will encourage you to let go of the “try harder” mindset, striving for perfection and success and instead embrace a more gentle, kinder mindset.

Today were chatting with author and therapist, Aundi Kolber as she shares with us how to “try softer.” Aundi unpacks why it’s important to slow down long enough to listen to what our bodies and our emotions are trying to tell us, and how to stop ignoring our feelings and instead, start understanding and processing emotions in healthy ways.

This conversation was so rich and so helpful, and we hope you’ll be encouraged as you listen in.

Music featured in this episode:
Casey Darnell, Moments

Connect with us:
https://letsliveitwell.com
https://www.instagram.com/chrisgraebe/
https://www.instagram.com/jennigraebe/
https://www.instagram.com/letsliveitwell/

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

In this week’s final episode of 2019, we’re finishing the year off right as we revisit some of the most powerful responses of 2019 to every episode's closing question:

What advice would you give to the younger you?

In this episode you’ll hear life changing advice from: John Eldredge, Margaret Feinberg, John Mark Comer and more.

Now it’s your turn. What’s advice would you give to the younger you?

Lets us know: jenni@onelife.works or chris@onelife.works

Advice to the Younger You
2019

1. Find Spiritual Mothers & Fathers (John Eldredge|Ep.45)
2. Don’t Let Your Identity Rise & Fall on the Opinions of Others (Lysa Terkeurst|Ep.44)
3. Sabbath (John Mark Comer|Ep.65)
4. Stay Passionate, But Extend Grace (Mike Frost|Ep.46)
5. Red Flags Never Get Smaller (Emily P. Freeman|Ep.50)
6. Ruthlessly Eliminate Hurry From Your Life (Emily P. Freeman|Ep.50)
7. Let People Get to Know You (Kellye Fabian|Ep.53)
8. Pay Attention to Your Internal Life (Jan Peterson|Ep.54)
9. God is Strong at Your Breaking Point (Margaret Feinberg|Ep.55)
10. Chill Out (Don Pape|Ep.56)
11. Don’t Let Comparison Hold You Back (Sarah Dubbeldam|Ep.57)
12. Intimacy with the Lord is the Secret to Happiness (Stephen Kendrick|Ep.60)
13. Focus on Today (Chris Norton|Ep.61)
14. Intentionally Build Your Life Team (Dr. John Townsend|Ep.58)
15. Love Hard (Tricia Lott Williford|Ep.62)
16. Life Will Turn Out Better Than You Can Imagine (Gary Thomas|Ep.64)

PS. – If you're looking for MORE advice to the younger you, be sure to check out last year's “Best Of” episode right here.

Music featured in this episode:
Casey Darnell, Moments

Connect with us:
https://letsliveitwell.com
https://www.instagram.com/chrisgraebe/
https://www.instagram.com/jennigraebe/
https://www.instagram.com/letsliveitwell/

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

What's a habit that's changed your life? In this week’s episode we’re kicking off the Christmas season with our annual “Best of 2019: Life Changing Habits”  We're taking a stroll together down memory lane as we revisit some of the most powerful responses of 2019 to every episode's closing questions.

What’s a habit that’s changed your life?
What advice would you give to the younger you?

It’s always so powerful to hear the wisdom that pours out as our guests respond. In this episode you’ll hear life changing habits from: Lysa Terkeurst, Emily P. Freeman, Dr. John Townsend, Rebekah Lyons, Gary Thomas, Margaret Feinberg, and more.

Next week we'll hear from some of the top Christian leaders of our day as they answer, “What advice would you give to the younger you?”

Now it’s your turn. What’s a habit that’s changed your life?
Lets us know: jenni@onelife.works or chris@onelife.works

PS. – If you're looking for MORE life changing habits, be sure to check out last year's “Best Of” episode right here.

Music featured in this episode:
Casey Darnell, Moments

Connect with us:
https://letsliveitwell.com
https://www.instagram.com/chrisgraebe/
https://www.instagram.com/jennigraebe/
https://www.instagram.com/letsliveitwell/

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

What are the broken places of your story you long to see redeemed?

On today’s episode we had the incredible honor of chatting with our new friends and founders of WithYou Ministries, Eric and Kristin Hill.  Eric and Kristin share with us their journey of jumping out of the boat to follow Jesus into the unknown, trusting Him to lead them along the way and into a life of greater peace and rest in Him.   We talk about the courage it takes to take a huge risk, how to narrow the target of your calling, and the people of faith we become on the other side of surrender.

We also chat with The Hills about their latest project, The First Breakfast, following the journey of Jesus and Peter through calling, brokenness, and restoration.  We talk about how the relationship between Jesus and Peter is also a picture of the Father’s relationship with us, how the way Jesus continues to pursue Peter, even in his brokenness, and how time in the presence of Jesus is the most transforming force the world has ever known.

We hope this conversation will encourage and remind you that the same invitation for restoration Jesus offered to Peter is the same invitation extended to us today.

Listen in.

Links + Resources Mentioned:

The First Breakfast, Eric & Kristin Hill 

Go & Tell No One, Kristin Hill 

A Million Little Ways, Emily P. Freeman 

Messy Spirituality, Mike Yeconeli 

WithYou Ministries 

LIW Recommended Resources

Connect with Chris & Jenni:
https://letsliveitwell.com
https://www.instagram.com/chrisgraebe/
https://www.instagram.com/jennigraebe/
https://www.instagram.com/letsliveitwell/

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

On today’s episode we invited one of our very favorite entrepreneurial couples couples, Steve and Sarah Dubbeldam to join us for a conversation about believing in each other's dreams, and bringing those dreams to life.  Steve is the founder of Wilderness Collective, offering trip-of-a-lifetime adventure experiences with the intention of inspiring character development through exploration.(yes please!)  Sarah is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Darling Magazine, a quarterly publication that seeks to broaden the ideals of beauty in media by using all sizes of models and becoming the first magazine to not retouch women's bodies or skin in photos. Both Darling and Wilderness encourage men and women to discover their true identity and worth.

We chat with Steve and Sarah about how they learned to work together, take each other's dreams seriously, and begin to bring those dreams to life.  They share the vital rhythms they practice in their life and marriage while running two successful start ups that have kept them connected, balanced, and on the same team.  We were blown away by these two, they are wise beyond their years, and the incredible wisdom they share will inspire you to bring each other's dreams to life. Listen in.

Links + Resources Mentioned:

Wilderness Collective

Darling Media

Blue Like Jazz 

Tales of the Jazz Age

What Clients Love

Growth Hacker Marketing

LIW Recommended Resources

Connect with Chris & Jenni:
https://letsliveitwell.com
https://www.instagram.com/chrisgraebe/
https://www.instagram.com/jennigraebe/
https://www.instagram.com/letsliveitwell/

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

On today's episode, we're chatting with best selling author and Teaching Pastor at Bridgetown Church in Portand, OR, Pastor John Mark Comer.

So, if you’ve listened to the podcast for a while, you’ve heard us share from time to time how God’s had us on this journey over the last few years of moving from just a “Church on Sunday, smallgroup on Monday, daily quiet time” lifestyle to really learning and centering our lives around the ways of Jesus (the spiritual disciplines) with the goal of course to become more like Him.  And it's been wonderful to hear from so many of you who have been on a similar journey as well!

It’s crazy to say that I’ve been a Christian for most of my 38 years of life and am just now learning about incredible things like the Prayer of Examen, how to practice Sabbath, and the one that’s probably changed me the most personally, the practice of slowing down, or as Dallas Willard puts it, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry.

John Mark has just released his 4th book with this exact title, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, and we could not be more excited to chat with him about it today!  John Mark shares his journey of going from “successful” megachurch pastor, to hitting a wall of burnout and hurry sickness, to coming out on the other side, still loving and serving Jesus but now thankfully from a much healthier place emotionally and spiritually.

We talk with John Mark about what it looks like to move from just a “church on Sunday” lifestyle to truly centering our lives around the rhythms of Jesus in order to become more like Him.  John Mark unpacks the danger of living a hurried life, just how much it actually steals from us, and practical steps to move toward a slower more soulful way of living.

Take a deep breath. Let your heart slow down. Listen in.

Links + Resources Mentioned:

The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, John Mark Comer 

John Mark's Website 

Bridgetown Church 

Practicing the Way 

Spirit of the Disciplines, Dallas Willard 

The Life You've Always Wanted, John Ortberg

LIW Recommended Resources

Connect with Chris & Jenni:
https://letsliveitwell.com
https://www.instagram.com/chrisgraebe/
https://www.instagram.com/jennigraebe/
https://www.instagram.com/letsliveitwell/

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

On today’s episode we’re chatting with well known Bible Teacher and best selling author of over 20 books including Sacred Marriage and Sacred Pathways, Gary Thomas. As you’ll soon discover, Gary is one of the most wise and wonderful humans you could hope to encounter, and we enjoyed gleaning all the wisdom from him that we possibly could.

Gary shares with us how to identify the relationships in our lives that are stealing our joy, when to hang on, and when it’s time to walk away. We also talk about how to set healthy boundaries to protect our calling, how to love and serve the difficult people in our lives, and how to silence the toxic voices from within. Make sure you listen all the way to the very end when Gary shares the most encouraging advice to parents who are right in the thick of the chaos and beauty of family life.

We were so encouraged by our time with Gary, we know you will be too. Listen in.

Links + Resources Mentioned:

When to Walk Away 

Gary's Website 

Sacred Marriage 

Sacred Pathways

A Practical Treatise on Christian Perfection 

LIW Recommended Resources

Connect with Chris & Jenni:
https://letsliveitwell.com
https://www.instagram.com/chrisgraebe/
https://www.instagram.com/jennigraebe/
https://www.instagram.com/letsliveitwell/

Podcast: Play in new window | Download