Living the Grace Life

Training in Grace: From Trying to Formation with Kyle Waid | Ep. 85

What if spiritual growth isn’t about trying harder—but about training in grace? In this conversation with Kyle Waid, we explore the difference between effort-driven performance and grace-shaped formation. So often we find ourselves praying the same prayers, repeating the same patterns, and still feeling stuck. Trying harder leaves us frustrated. Grace invites us into a different way. Kyle Waid, Lead Pastor of New Circle Church in Lexington, KY, joins us to talk about spiritual formation, growth through seasons of change, and what it looks like to “put in the reps” of grace. Using the metaphor of marathon training, we discuss how setbacks, rhythms, inward journeys, and steady practices shape us over time. In our conversation, we explore: * The difference between trying harder and training for spiritual formation * Why grace is about process, not performance * How to respond to setbacks in growth * Taking the inward journey during seasons of change * Running your own race in faith * Practical rhythms that support training in grace If you’re weary of striving and longing for sustainable spiritual growth, this conversation offers encouragement and practical next steps. 💬  Grace Quotes from Kyle Waid: "You don't try to be Christlike—you train." "This is what pleases God—when you're dependent on Him and his grace to grace you in your weakness.” "The whole idea with grace is do what you can. Let God do what you can't."   Scriptures Mentioned: Matthew 5:1-12 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%204%3A16&version=NLT] – The Beatitudes Ephesians 2:8-10 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%202%3A8-10&version=NLT] – Grace is the gift of faith.  Luke 15:11-32 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2015%3A11-32&version=NLT] – Parable of the Lost Son(s) Resources Mentioned: 🌿  Henri Nouwen's The Return of the Prodigal Son [https://www.amazon.com/Return-Prodigal-Son-Story-Homecoming/dp/0385473079/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2FKT3B8OCD04Y&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.oFtEdr4a1zjZ4DpidEULkbh-AvJBKHXoYhC2yLogIAIFPNepBkPlkPKtghGYNBF7kFjxO6hPZ1GWcMddXm0BZT_dTWsfF2l3i8v_HkIcMm5GfEqZnXex546zNlctnvySrKx7SjyLUOPCt-iqYzWi-sx22RnMGShsGkG2kB3h3En_5PiN0dnyOfjE1Qm3nQwNExyNLeKblYhFas4rrjnNL3aDO6rHXi7SG6CaHakGSSk.220TISXExZE22nNyT5jQJ6QEwp-PZEAX6Yk2pW8eLZU&dib_tag=se&keywords=return+of+the+prodigal+son+nouwen&qid=1778685971&sprefix=return+of+the+prodigal+%2Caps%2C149&sr=8-1] 🎶  Kyle's go-to grace song Open the Eyes of My Heart, Lord [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibiMgN1JBIo&list=RDibiMgN1JBIo&start_radio=1]  Connect with Kyle Waid: Website: newcircle.church [https://newcircle.church/] Instagram: @newcircle.church [https://www.instagram.com/newcircle.church/] Facebook: @NewCircleChurch [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554133027991] Related Episodes: Ep. 50 Five Grace Takeaways that Still Stick with Jennifer Sakata [https://jennifersakata.com/ep-50-5-grace-takeaways-that-still-stick-season-one-recap] Ep. 72 Grace Behind Our Smiles with Joe and Tara Buchanan [https://jennifersakata.com/ep-72-grace-behind-our-smiles-joe-and-tara-buchanan] Ep. 61 Walking in Grace & Other People's Shoes with Neil Matthews [https://jennifersakata.com/ep-61-walking-in-grace-other-peoples-shoes-neil-matthews] Stay Connected with Jennifer Sakata: 🎁 My FREE gift to you: Prayers That Change Us [https://subscribepage.io/GraceLifePrayers] 📩 Subscribe to our newsletter [https://subscribepage.io/GraceLifePrayers] 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.   Website [https://jennifersakata.com/] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/JenniferSakata] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/JenniferSakata.Author/]

Grateful for COVID? with Evelyn Sherwood | Episode 84

In Grateful for COVID, Evelyn Sherwood shares how her COVID diagnosis led to the discovery of lung embolisms and ultimately cancer—an unexpected sequence that reshaped her understanding of grace. What began in fear became a testimony of gratitude, not because illness is good, but because it revealed something that needed to be treated. Her story invites us to reconsider what it means to be Grateful for COVID in light of God’s redemptive work. We explore how grace meets us in suffering and how lament can lead to deeper trust and peace. In this conversation, we discuss: * Evelyn's "Job season" and what it taught her about surrender * The distinction between grief and lament—and how both lead us to grace * Practical, everyday practices that nurture gratitude and peace * How gratitude can coexist with suffering * Why worship can grow in the middle of hard seasons  If you’re navigating illness, diagnosis, or an unexpected storm, this episode will equip and encourage you to experience grace in the messy middle. 💬  Grace Quotes from Evelyn Sherwood: "Hard is hard but God is good." "I [God] can do more in your surrender that you can do with all your striving.” "Gather gratitude like a bouquet and give it to Jesus."   Scriptures Mentioned: Hebrews 4:16 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%204%3A16&version=NLT] – Approach God with boldness to receive grace Resources Mentioned: 🌿  Evelyn's The Pocket Full of Hope Series  [https://evelynsherwood.com/books/] 🌿  Shop Evelyn's watercolors and other resources [https://shop.evelynsherwood.com/] 🌿  Soakstream [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUyMjXGpwWxISzMAZ7mZ73g] on YouTube 🌿 Dark Clouds, Deep Mercies [https://www.amazon.com/dp/1433561484/?bestFormat=true&k=dark%20clouds%20deep%20mercy&ref_=nb_sb_ss_w_scx-ent-bk-ww_k1_1_24_de&crid=FRNAL7D7VYR8&sprefix=Dark%20Clouds%20Deep%20Mercies] by Mark Vroegop 🎶  Evelyn's go-to grace song Goodness of God [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sE5kEnitqE&list=RD9sE5kEnitqE&start_radio=1] by Cece Winans + Always on Time [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1L6zv_ilzY&list=RDH1L6zv_ilzY&start_radio=1] by Elevation Worship Connect with Evelyn Sherwood: Website: evelynsherwood.com [https://evelynsherwood.com/] Instagram: @evelynshwerwoodauthor [https://www.instagram.com/evelynsherwoodauthor/] Facebook: @evelyn.sherwood [https://www.facebook.com/evelyn.sherwood] Related Episodes: Ep. 25 Divine Detour and Deepened Faith with Lori Ann Wood [https://jennifersakata.com/ep-25-divine-detour-and-deepened-faith-lori-ann-wood] Ep. 59 Chased by Grace, Marked by Love with Crystal Mayo [https://jennifersakata.com/ep-59-chased-by-grace-marked-by-love-crystal-mayo] Ep. 18 Sometimes I Forget with Julie Sunne [https://jennifersakata.com/ep-18-sometimes-i-forget-julie-sunne] Stay Connected with Jennifer Sakata: 🎁 My FREE gift to you: Prayers That Change Us [https://subscribepage.io/GraceLifePrayers] 📩 Subscribe to our newsletter [https://subscribepage.io/GraceLifePrayers] 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.   Website [https://jennifersakata.com/] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/JenniferSakata] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/JenniferSakata.Author/]

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 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2010%3A38-42&version=NLT]– The story of Martha and Mary Resources Mentioned: 🌿  Cara's book Pursuit of Holy Leisure [https://www.saltandgold.com.au/pages/book?view=book] 🌿  Cara's FREEBIES [https://cara-ray.com/resources/] and resources 🌿  Richard Foster's book The Celebration of Discipline [https://www.amazon.com/Celebration-Discipline-Special-Anniversary-Spiritual/dp/0062803883/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3GU8YVBW6I0NF&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.njZDFUCH3XD-t87npiS6wXp2QrxNSiot8ZoHcWq5n3_kNgCS94Xysnzg-8FhWc1Qw0ubG6_B3eDSbwaBg9TI_nFzo6H6lTraoerFHY-uKpWKQjpDleFwmSKwo2J44Dt8KvWZNPGiH3vovU_DVfGx0tq34MffSn17-0lUWKYpjonls6q1a0rm3-y5BY1Fv9huNFbYbkro512V7u9egLIXVd1mGnAGLpqJw7HXGW5Dn9E.r9NtZwMgoHtieGPFerZHqr9GJTo47jIJoEs_pqpTND8&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+celebration+of+discipline+by+richard+foster&qid=1777567073&sbo=RZvfv%2F%2FHxDF%2BO5021pAnSA%3D%3D&sprefix=the+celebration+of+discipline%2Caps%2C144&sr=8-1] 🎶  Cara's go-to grace song Goodness of God [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sE5kEnitqE&list=RD9sE5kEnitqE&start_radio=1] by Cece Winans Connect with Cara Ray: Website: cara-ray.com [https://cara-ray.com/] Instagram: @pursuingotiumsanctum [https://www.instagram.com/pursuingotiumsanctum/] Facebook: @pursuingotiumsanctum [https://www.facebook.com/pursuingotiumsanctum/] Related Episodes: Ep. 70 Grace in the Story of Ruth with Mariel Davenport [https://jennifersakata.com/ep-70-grace-in-the-story-of-ruth-mariel-davenport] Ep. 69 How to Love Your Morning with Jennifer Dukes Lee [https://jennifersakata.com/ep-69-how-to-love-your-morning-jennifer-dukes-lee] Ep. 52 Chasing Grace with Carol McLeod [https://jennifersakata.com/ep-52-chasing-grace-carol-mcleod] Stay Connected with Jennifer Sakata: 🎁 My FREE gift to you: Prayers That Change Us [https://subscribepage.io/GraceLifePrayers] 📩 Subscribe to our newsletter [https://subscribepage.io/GraceLifePrayers] 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.   Website [https://jennifersakata.com/] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/JenniferSakata] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/JenniferSakata.Author/]

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 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2013&version=NLT]– Jesus washes the disciples' feet and commands them to do likewise.   Resources Mentioned: 🌿  Jessica's book A King Washes Feet [https://www.saltandgold.com.au/pages/book?view=book] 🎶  Jessica's go-to grace song Center [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKSXhpAi3RE&list=RDZKSXhpAi3RE&start_radio=1] by Abbie Gamboa Connect with Jessica Claire Bond: Website: saltandgold.com.au [https://www.saltandgold.com.au/] Instagram: @saltandgoldcollection [https://www.instagram.com/saltandgoldcollection] Facebook: @saltandgoldcollection [https://www.facebook.com/saltandgoldcollection] Related Episodes: Ep. 36 Don't Hoard Your Healing with Nancy Manassero [https://jennifersakata.com/ep-36-dont-hoard-your-healing-nancy-manassero] Ep. 35 Where Grace Intersects Sexual Trauma with Nancy Manassero [https://jennifersakata.com/35-where-grace-intersects-with-sexual-trauma-nancy-manassero] Ep. 71 How to Live Deeply Loved with Bill and Kristi Gaultiere [https://jennifersakata.com/ep-71-how-to-live-deeply-loved-bill-kristi-gaultiere] Stay Connected with Jennifer Sakata: 🎁 My FREE gift to you: Prayers That Change Us [https://subscribepage.io/GraceLifePrayers] 📩 Subscribe to our newsletter [https://subscribepage.io/GraceLifePrayers] 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.   Website [https://jennifersakata.com/] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/JenniferSakata] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/JenniferSakata.Author/]

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 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2011&version=NLT]– The Great Hall of Faith Galatians 5:22-23 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians%205%3A22-23&version=NLT] – The Fruit of the Spirit   Resources Mentioned: 🌿  Shannon's FREE Printable - Pray the Promises [https://www.shannonpopkin.com/promises/] 🌿  Shannon's book Shaped by God's Promises [https://www.paigeallen.net/] 🎶  Shannon's go-to grace song I'll Wait for You [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8pCbtLeXzc&list=RDl8pCbtLeXzc&start_radio=1] by Shane and Shane Connect with Shannon Popkin: Website: shannonpopkin.com [https://www.shannonpopkin.com/] Instagram: @shannonpopkin [https://www.instagram.com/shannonpopkin] Facebook: @shanpopkin [https://www.facebook.com/shanpopkin] Related Episodes: Ep. 25 Divine Detour and Deepened Faith with Lori Ann Wood [https://jennifersakata.com/ep-25-divine-detour-and-deepened-faith-lori-ann-wood] Ep. 28 How to Find Hope in God's Promises | Hebrews 11:13 [https://jennifersakata.com/ep-28-how-to-find-hope-in-gods-promises-hebrews-1113] Ep. 42 What if Doubt is Part of Faith? with Niki Hardy [https://jennifersakata.com/ep-41-what-if-doubt-is-part-of-faith-niki-hardy] Stay Connected with Jennifer Sakata: 🎁 My FREE gift to you: Prayers That Change Us [https://subscribepage.io/GraceLifePrayers] 📩 Subscribe to our newsletter [https://subscribepage.io/GraceLifePrayers] 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 [https://jennifersakata.com/] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/JenniferSakata] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/JenniferSakata.Author/]