One of the most fulfilling aspects of our lives is the opportunity for connection. We were not designed to live life on our own, but today’s world makes it so easy to be self-focused instead of others-focused. John 13 tells us we should love one another as Christ loved us and “…by this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” When we ask God to show us places we can connect to others, we will begin to reap the many benefits of those bonds, and also find ways to bless others as well.
Country music trailblazer Jo Dee Messina is known for her chart-topping hits, but in the process of building her legendary career, she found that everything she’d built was crumbling, mostly because she’d tried to do it on her own. That’s when she found God (or actually, He found her), and she began to see the importance of connection with Him, which in turn led her to see her music as her connection point to the world. Founder of Canines for Christ Larry Randolph and author Jennifer Bleakley found ways to connect with their faith through their animal friends, and they share how help and hope is brought to the world through the gift of therapy dogs.
Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned:
Past interview: Walker Zimmerman
Upcoming interview: Jordan Davis
Samaritan’s Purse: https://sampur.se/44HesSt
American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizens certification
Interview Quotes:
“I think at the very end of myself is where in my spirit, in my soul, I sensed Jesus saying, ‘She's mine.’” - Jo Dee Messina
“For me to connect with the fans is more of a humanities thing, being able to have compassion and empathy for someone else's situation, which just happens to be the same as mine.” - Jo Dee Messina
“I was a hot mess. I built a kingdom on my own, I watched it crumble, and even at the very end of that—when everyone else was running away—[God] was running towards me.” - Jo Dee Messina
“Looking back, I can see how God planted seeds in my heart that day that would one day sprout
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