31: A Leap of Faith: From Dietician to Divine Calling

What's the Story
Written By Matt Edmundson
 

Today’s Guest: Christa Spaeth

Christa is not just a regular wife, mother of two, or a successful businesswoman. She's a woman ignited with a burning passion to walk in the rhythm of God's plan, each day. Back in 2022, she took a bold step, bidding goodbye to her long-standing career as a Registered Dietitian at a high-profile food manufacturing company. It wasn't an easy step, but it was a step of faith - one that led her closer to the purpose God had for her: encouraging others through Christ.

Here’s a summary of this week’s story:

  • Christa Spaeth, a former registered dietician, took a bold step in 2022 to leave her long-standing career at a high-profile food manufacturing company. She felt a divine calling to encourage others through Christ.

  • Christa shares the conversation she had with her husband when she felt God was telling her to quit her job and go into full-time ministry. It was a gradual process over two years, and while the final decision was abrupt, they both felt it was the right time.

  • Christa shares her core message: "God sees you. He knows you and he loves you." She emphasizes that many people don't realize how deeply God loves them and understands their struggles. This understanding has deepened for her over the last three years.

  • Christa talks about her journey of gaining confidence in sharing God's message. She used to cry after recording short clips for her ministry, but now she shares God's message more boldly.

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  • Matt: [00:00:00] Hello and welcome to What's the Story. We're an inquisitive bunch of hosts from the What's the Story team on a mission to uncover stories about faith and courage from everyday people. And to help us do just that, we get the privilege to chat with amazing guests. and delve into their faith journey, the hurdles they've overcome, and the life lessons they have learned along the way.

    Now, if you enjoy our podcast, don't forget to subscribe and sign up for our newsletter on our website, which is whatsthestorypodcast.com. It's your direct line to the latest episodes and detailed show notes, and they all get delivered straight to your inbox. And the best part? It's absolutely. Free. What's the story is brought to you by Crowd Church.

    We understand that stepping into a traditional church might not be everybody's cup of tea. And that's where Crowd Church steps in, [00:01:00] providing a digital sanctuary, a safe space to explore the Christian faith, where you can engage in meaningful conversations. rather than just simply spectating. So whether you are new to the Christian faith or are in search of a new church family, we invite you to visit us at www.

    crowd. church and if you've got any questions just drop us an email at hello at crowd. church. We're here to help and would genuinely love to connect with you. And now without further ado Let's meet your host and our very special guest for today.

    Matt and Christa: So today we are excited to introduce to you Christa Spaeth, the heart and soul behind [00:02:00] Christa Joy Ministries. It was on a typical day in 2022 when Christa, in the stillness of a little prayer cabin known as Whisper, felt a stirring call from God, prompting her to pen down a seven week devotional.

    called Powerful Whispers, and I have a copy, and it is wonderful, let me tell you. And from that moment, Christa's heart became tuned in to hear more of God's whispers, guiding her to a renewed sense of purpose to bring healing, comfort, and share the unfathomable. Love of Christ. Now, Christa is not just a regular wife, mother of two, or a successful businesswoman.

    Oh, no. She is ignited with a burning passion to walk in the rhythm of God's plan each and every day. Back in 2022, she took a bold step, bidding goodbye to her long standing career as a registered dietician at a high profile food manufacturing company. And it wasn't an easy step, let me tell you, but it was a step of faith, one that led her closer.[00:03:00]

    To the purpose God had for her, which is basically to encourage others through Christ. Christa, great to have you on the podcast. Thank you for joining me. How are you doing today? I'm so wonderful, Matt. Thank you for having me. Um, and sorry, like, Oh, a little frog in my throat, but I'm thrilled to be here today and, um, chat with you and, um, all your lovely listeners.

    Yeah, no, it's great to have you it is great to have you and it's funny Isn't it when your voice does that and it is that you you sort of been sat there and you can then your voice just goes Funny because you've been quiet. We were chatting before we hit the record button and Discussing whether or not, um, you know whether or not there's gonna be a few curveballs in the conversation that's about to happen But hopefully not now whereabouts in the world are you at the moment Christa?

    So, uh, I'm in Minnesota in the United States, so smack dab in the middle of the United States, the northern part. We have a lot of snow up here, but hey, it's the middle of summer right now. Beautiful, love [00:04:00] the sun. We have a lot of lakes here, so it is a pretty state. Yeah, yeah. It's, it's a very pretty part of the world, isn't it?

    But um, is it crazy heat for you at the moment like it is here in the UK? This week is pretty hot. I think it's in, I don't know, maybe the nineties every day this week. It's it's unusual for us. Yeah, it was same in England, but everyone's looking at the sky every day going, my goodness, what's going on here?

    Uh, now, uh, in 2022, I think it was said in the, in the bio, didn't it? Uh, it was when, uh, when you sort of stopped. your life as a registered dietitian and you decided to sort of go into what Christians like to call full time ministry. Um, and you started your, your ministry, but before we get into that, what was life like as a registered dietitian?

    I'm kind of curious to know what, what, what, what the day to day was because you were a registered dietitian for a while, right? Yes. Um, I was, I [00:05:00] had two different corporate jobs in my life, um, but for 24 years, I was at a large food manufacturing company. Really an unusual role for dietitians. I got to work in the test kitchen.

    So... You got to work in the? A test kitchen. Oh, a test kitchen, sorry. It's, you know, basically I got paid to eat. We, it really was a lovely job. I, um, I had a lovely team. There was chefs that worked in the kitchen and all sorts of culinary foodies. So my specialty was focusing on cheese. So I worked with K 12 schools around the country, and we developed recipes using yummy cheese, and it was delightful.

    Wow, that sounds almost like the ideal job, just cheese, just trying different cheeses from around the world, and different crackers and biscuits that you could do. So the [00:06:00] extra fun part is my counterparts worked with butter. And so I know this is bad, but I do have a big sweet tooth as a dietician . So they would make cookies at like nine o'clock in the morning and brownies, and it was, it was hard, you know?

    Yeah. To pass them up. So I didn't, I didn't usually pass 'em up either. , . I had to dig a nibble or two. Yeah. Why would you not? Right. When there's, uh, when there's that much on the plate, I mean, I I'm totally with you. So how long were you a dietician for? Uh, 26 years. Wow. I had a position, yes, as dietetics. I took the route of food service.

    So, for dietitians, half of the dietitians go in clinical and work in like clinics and hospitals and the other half of the dietitians go in food service. And food was my passion from the beginning, so it just made perfect sense to go down this route and Yeah. Um, I love to play in the kitchen. No doubt. I [00:07:00] like to play in my barbecue pit.

    I'm not a kitchen fan. I have an outdoor kitchen with a barbecue and I love prepping and cooking food in that. But inside, I don't know what it, I don't know what, it must be a mental thing. I'm just not a fan at all. Well, I do leave the grilling at home to my husband.

    Can someone explain to me how that works? Men just need fire, apparently, to cook. Gas is not enough, or electricity. No, we need fire. Uh, so... What was the, um, I just, I love the fact I'm talking to a dietician, so I'm just going to riff off this for a little minute, Christa, if that's okay. What are some of the most surprising things about food that you discovered as a dietician, um, that maybe we don't think about, certainly in the West, when it comes to our food?

    Oh, that's a big question. I don't even know how to answer that. What don't we, what don't we think about? I don't know what the rest of the world doesn't think about because I think about [00:08:00] food a lot. So, um, Well, how about this? I am finding that many people don't realize how easy it is to put a meal together.

    So, there's barriers. Like you're saying, you're like, you're really comfortable out at the grill. And not so much in the kitchen. So what I've been doing, so I have two boys, 18 and 22. My 22 year old is an amazing baker and is not afraid of getting dirty in the kitchen and makes amazing steaks and all sorts of lovely things.

    Whereas my younger son. Was always like, oh, you guys do the kitchen. I'll just eat. So now that he's going to be moving away, I'm like, okay, we need to build up some skills so you don't eat out for every meal or just have cheese quesadillas. So, showing him really how simple it is to put a [00:09:00] few ingredients together and voila, you have an amazing simple dish.

    Yeah. That tastes great. Yeah. I, and I, it's funny, isn't it? Because it's probably not until, uh, I'm, I've just turned 50, uh, and it probably wasn't until in my, I guess, thirties, mid thirties, early forties that I really started to get interested in grilling. Um, and so I managed to escape most of my life without really being interested in, in cooking.

    So, uh, I fully empathize with your younger son. Um, what's interesting to me actually is I'm, I'm actually at the time of recording, I'm prepping a talk, which we're going to do in the church on breaking bread together. This idea of a shared meal and, um, eating together as a family. Is one of those things we're doing less and less as a society, um, but has the most profound thing, is the most profound impact on our, on our relationships.

    And it seems to be very biblical. You know, Jesus seems to have a lot of meals with a lot of people. Um, and I've really, I've out of a, I've done a, [00:10:00] I do a lot of talks when you pastor a church, but this particular talk is probably one of the most interesting ones that I've done for a while, if I'm honest with you.

    And I dunno if it's, cause it's around food again. I love it. So interesting you mentioned that because my younger son, Who does tend to be more introverted like me, he actually said this last year, how much he appreciates that we have family dinner together. And he's realizing the older that he gets, how rare that is among his friend group.

    He said, like, they just go and sit and watch TV while they're eating or go in their bedroom and they're not even together. But he values like the conversation, like how was your day? Yeah, nothing super deep and philosophical, but just talking about life. Yeah. Yeah, it's interesting. It's interesting.

    There's a scientific study I've discovered here, Christa, uh, which tells me that, um, you are 30% less likely to get divorced if you sit down and have a [00:11:00] family meal around the table with no screen. So not in front of the TV, not with mobile phones at the table, 30% chance or 30% 30% reduction in the divorce rate, uh, which is quite an interesting step when you think about it.

    I mean, it's quite a significant number. That is significant. Wow. Fascinating. Yeah. I love that. Yeah. I love the fact, I love the fact your son's picked up on it as well. I just like, I just like sitting around talking. It's just, it's, it's wonderful, actually. It's wonderful. Yeah. And when it turned my eye, I was like, oh.

    I'm glad you noticed and you cared. I bet it did. I bet it did. Fantastic. So, um, I mean as much as I'd love to spend the whole time talking about food, I feel like we should probably move on a little bit. Um, so let's just give the audience a little bit of a backstory to yourself. What was your Christian journey?

    How did you become a Christian? Or were you sort of born a Christian? I do feel like I was born a Christian. Was raised in a Christian [00:12:00] home. Both of my parents went to Bible school. So talking about God, um, and Jesus was just part of our everyday life. I did give my heart to Jesus at the age of four. So very young.

    I was able to go to a, a small private Christian school all the way up till graduation. So I was very, um, immersed in my, my dad was in full time ministry and he had a lot of, his friends were missionaries around the world. So, um, Being, being a Christian was really part of all my upbringing. Mm. So you, you sort of, you, you grew up, uh, as a Christian, but then something happened, um, sort of around the COVID time from memory.

    Yes, that's so true. So it, um, it's kind of amazing to me and I am. Kind of shocked to say this [00:13:00] too, that, um, you know, being a Christian and being with Christians my whole entire life and not knowing until 2020 that God actually speaks to Christians, to every Christian, if you are willing to pause and listen, um, it was mind blowing.

    And I didn't I know that? I thought that pastors would hear from God, missionaries maybe, but like an ordinary person like me, I didn't. Know that as much as I memorized the Bible before I hadn't let it sink in to be that I am worthy To hear God and know him so much more than I had before. That's super powerful, isn't it?

    I mean to go that far in your Christian journey and to not know that It's quite an extraordinary thing, isn't it? To you know, you kind of go. Oh my goodness. Um you know sort of fundamental I suppose to a relationship is [00:14:00] communication isn't it and so that the It is fascinating and I do remember myself, you know, that sort of phase where you go actually no I can I can recognize when God's speaking It's not always the same way.

    There's like 25 different thousand ways. It seems that God likes to talk But I can recognize when the Holy Spirit is trying to say something. So what happened in 2022 then why what what was the event that caused this? Um, Damascus road experience for one's for better expression. So it was really in 2020 when the world was shut down that I ran after Jesus.

    Way more than I ever had before. So I didn't have a commute. That's 45 minutes that I saved in the morning So I decided to dedicate that time to Jesus and to praying and and reading the Bible Way more it was not a check the box. I [00:15:00] Tasked to do truly so much of it was like fear. Like what is going on?

    This is you know This is crazy stuff that's happening all around the world. So through my journey of 2020 I I continue to seek after like, okay, God, I know that there's more that you have for me. What is that? So I, not only did I read the Bible more, I intentionally joined small groups. I don't know if that's a term that's outside the United States.

    Like online Bible studies and I got to know. More people that were also hearing from God and had that wonderful community of other believers that were running after Jesus together and my faith grew hearing their testimonies and praying with them. And so throughout 2020 and 2021, God just started speaking to me in all sorts of new ways.

    Really, again, for the [00:16:00] first time that I had paid attention that that was him and not just, you know. Yeah, thinking it was me making things up in my head. So it was October of 2021 that the Lord woke me up in the middle of the night and he said to help the hurting it was so powerful My whole body was shaking.

    I knew it was from the Lord and I also knew that it was okay Now is my time to leave my corporate job. It was truly something that I Had desired for probably five years that I I wanted to do something more for God You know, my parents were both in ministry And so it was it just seemed like okay. I want to do more.

    So it was my heart's desire to do something else And I knew that was the right time and day, so that day, I gave my notice. Um, and gave two plus months notice. Hired my [00:17:00] replacement and, um, stepped out on my own in January of 2022 to start my full time ministry. But I didn't know what I was going to do when I left my job.

    I also just had this knowing I wasn't going to know until I left. So I was... It was a huge leap of faith and I was scared really my stomach was in knots going I hear God, right? This is crazy Doesn't make sense to the world, but I knew and it was the day after I left my job that I had peace Wonderful It is.

    I mean, there's a lot there, Christa, and, and, and let's, uh, dig into that a little bit because, um, a couple of things that you mentioned, one was, um, was this, the, the fact that you were scared. Had you misheard God? Had you heard God right? Um, because I think that's something that every Christian [00:18:00] struggles with.

    Right. It's something that we all go through is like, God, have I heard you right here? I feel like I'm taking a big risk or something is happening that is not quite in line with what I feel like you've told me. Um, so have I, am I crazy or did I hear right in the first place? So how did you, how did you wrestle with those questions and how do you still wrestle with them?

    I suppose. That's a great question. Did a lot of praying. Was wonderful that my husband is a Christian as well, and he hears from God in a different way than I do He also had this knowing like this was the right time so to have the support the physical support that he Believed in what I heard from God and of course what he heard from God was like, okay, yes, this is scary But it's the right thing to do.

    I leaned a lot on my girlfriends who were great prayer [00:19:00] supporters and And truly there was many many moments in those eight and a half weeks where I'm like, okay Maybe I should say I'm gonna stay. I mean it was scary. I I was the breadwinner so Um, extra big leap of faith, but, um, I continued to believe what I had heard and I had taken notes over two years of what I had heard God speaking to my heart.

    So I knew that I knew that I knew that this is what God wanted me to do. Yeah, and that's I think that's so wise in the sense of it this it doesn't sound like it was a rash decision or a Rush decision. I mean when you tell the story, it's like I heard God and then I quit my job But actually there's there's there's an intervening period there's a history here, which Which seems because you know quite often Christians myself included Uh, Christa, it has to be said, feel like we've heard God and we just [00:20:00] want to charge at a thousand miles an hour at what we've just heard.

    And actually, sometimes it's quite handy just to not do that. Um, and just spend a little bit of time weighing it up, praying, see what God says. Um, but I love the fact that you and your husband were committed to this together. You know, that, that's always a good sign. Um, I tend to think that if Sharon, my wife and I.

    aren't agreed on something, um, then, you know, that it, it, we, we have to get that agreement, I think, before stepping out, um, uh, in whatever format. And we've always managed to do that in our, in our marriage, you know, which has been, is, is, has been fantastic and helpful and wonderful that we managed to do that.

    Um, so what, what does, um, What was the conversation like with your husband then when you said to him, I just feel God's telling me to quit my job and go full time ministry, and especially if you are the breadwinner. I mean, how did that conversation go? So I had been prepping my husband. I really did know...

    Back [00:21:00] in January of 2020 that my time at my job was coming to an end. I still didn't know what I was gonna do. So, it was really, it was a conversation over the course of two years. So, he might not have been prepared, like, today's the day, like,

    so it wasn't a complete shock to him. He, uh, he had been along the journey. It, it was a little abrupt, but, uh, truly, uh, as we were praying together, he's like, okay, This, this is right. This is the right time. So how did you guys, how did you guys prepare? So for two years, you've kind of sensed what God was saying, which I think is, is, is an interesting time for preparation, isn't it?

    And, and, and, um, and, and seeing what God's saying there. So how did you guys prepare? I mean, both spiritually and practically, what were some of the things that you did?

    It [00:22:00] was even before two years, more than two years that we really were financially. Making different decisions. We were not truly for probably the first 15 years of our marriage We didn't necessarily keep track of how our finances were like everything's fine. There was no worries But when we decided to make strategic moves with our savings And not spending money on frivolous things I really believe that the Lord was faithful with how we were spending our money that, um, so we were set up for success that I wasn't going to have income.

    And so here we are a year and a half later that, um, God's blessed us in, in ways and we spend still spend differently and, and live simply. And [00:23:00] so. It works. It works. So part of your preparation then was obviously adjusting your finance, I mean it sounds like you'd been doing that for a while before. Um, cause, so obviously there's a financial preparation, um, and that again seems very wise Christa because again I know a bunch of people who just live at a hundred miles an hour, feel like God's called them to a mission field.

    They live up to a hundred miles an hour, you know. Even in the, so God calls them today and it's two years before they go. And so those two years, they're still living at a hundred miles an hour. They stop and they expect God to be able to just provide everything in an instant so they can carry on living at a hundred miles an hour.

    And I, I find quite often there's, sometimes it happens, but rarely, you know, and it's, it leads to more disappointment. Um, so you, you financially, you, uh, were prepared for that, um, changing career. What, what other preparations did you make?

    Well. I truly thought that I was going [00:24:00] to take another job and be an international dietitian. That was something that I had desired to do. So in my head, I truly thought I was going to leave in January and I was going to move maybe internationally. Now, my husband kept saying, not right away, but he wasn't all in with leaving fully.

    But, um, so. We were not thinking that we were, we weren't thinking that I wasn't going to have like another job. I didn't know in January of last year that I was going to start my own ministry. I, again, I thought I was going to work for another company and that maybe I'd work in the United States and, um, help with my nutrition information and, and work from afar until my husband retired.

    So, therefore, it... It was [00:25:00] the shock that, oh no, I'm not going to be leaving and doing this international nutrition. I'm actually going to ask God, what do you want me to do? And not, here's my desire. So that was the first time in my life that I laid down my plans. And like, okay. What do you want for today for this week for for this next month?

    And so that's when God started saying I want you to write and I thought okay I'll you know, I'll write my journal maybe a blog I had no idea that I was gonna write a book because that was not any I didn't know how to write I didn't feel like I ever was gonna be an author, but when God leads you to something He's gonna show you how to do it.

    Mm hmm. I find it fascinating because Um, I'm as you're talking, I'm reminded of the story of Abraham, where God says to Abraham, go and Abraham was like, all right, and he [00:26:00] goes, but he doesn't know where he's going. Uh, and he doesn't know what's going to happen on the journey. He just knows he needs to go.

    And, um, and that I think is probably the most scary place to be sometimes, you know, because you just don't know. And what I find fascinating here is that you then say, God, what, you know, what do you want me to do today? Let me just surrender all my plans to you. Did you find that? I'm imagining a mixture of both scary and freeing all at the same time.

    It was, but I still did have this thought of, okay, God, I'm going to write this book. I'm going to get it done really fast because you're, you've given me what you need me to write. And then I'm going to like be an international dietitian, right? I'm a little slow. And truly I had. Maybe about April of last year.

    I had applied for my dream job. It was a company that my whole family loved a ministry and We I was in talks with [00:27:00] them and I did not have any peace And I knew in that moment giving up what my what my dream job was of what I thought that I should do for God Once I said no I haven't looked for anything since.

    It's like, okay, I'm going to continue to seek what you want me to do today. And that, uh, it's not easy, but God is so faithful and he keeps bringing these people in my path. It's like, okay, I'm making the right decisions. I'm, I'm, I'm following God's path and I'm getting great confirmations from others.

    That's powerful. That's powerful stuff. So now you have been, um, in this ministry just over a year, uh, if my maths is correct, uh, which yeah, yeah, it's just, it's hard work maths, isn't it? Um, so, uh, so you've been in it just over a year. How, [00:28:00] how sort of where you are now, it seems to be not what you anticipated you'd be this time last year, right?

    Um, but so how is it all going? Um, a year into it. I mean, where are you at sort of emotionally, um, you know, spiritually where, where, where's life at for you right now? I was just reflecting on that this morning, this week in particular has been kind of off the charts, like, wow, God, this is so amazing. It would, today is my one year anniversary from actually being on social media.

    So it was kind of a little happy dance over here, but, um, so I have. Written two books already. Um, the second book hasn't been launched yet. I've started writing my third book and I'm going to be a podcaster, which launches next month and oh, congratulations, [00:29:00] all super scary stuff for me, um, as a very quiet introvert, I.

    I was actually fighting God, especially in the podcasting, like not sure about this God, because again, I'm, I'm so quiet. I just didn't feel like that was what I should be doing. But God kept prompting me and like, you have a unique voice, Christa, you need to. Share, um, you know, God's love to others in my unique way.

    So in this week, I had some wonderful articles that have been published in some magazines, which is just such a joy. Um, so it's just exciting week and then I get to be with you and, and speaking. So I'm thrilled. You're at the pinnacle of your week, no doubt, um, being on the podcast. Um, so I, the thing that I love here, Christa, as you're talking is, um, it seems like, uh, God has [00:30:00] taken you, uh, you know, uh, sort of, uh, I don't know if I'd use the word shy, but quiet, uh, introverted.

    Um, lady and said, right, now's the time to use your voice. And you're like, dude, I, what are you talking about? Because I, that's what extroverts do. I don't have this voice. And God's going, no, no, no, no, I want you to start talking. Um, and that phrase, you know, he, the, the sort of the wisdom of this world is the foolishness to God and vice versa and all that sort of stuff.

    And I, I find it's quite remarkable. And I find it's quite lovely, actually, that, um, here you are on a podcast. You're launching a podcast. You've written two books, almost on your third. Um, a self proclaimed introvert and, um, I imagine you're doing, uh, the rounds going on to various different people's podcasts, sort of stepping outside of your comfort zone.

    Um, slightly concerned about the questions that are going to come up from crazy people like me.

    But we're, but you're still doing it nonetheless, which I think is remarkable. So [00:31:00] tell me about, um, Whispers, Powerful Whispers, which was your first book. Tell us a little bit about the devotional. Yes, so this devotional was really downloaded to me by the Lord, and he wanted me to share with those that are Christians or even seekers of like, who is God, but to share the fact that God loves you.

    You, and he knows you, he chose you to be here in this earth at this time. And he wanted me to share just his peace. Um, and also this wonderful special whispers just to show each person how special they are to God. Fantastic. And you seem to have got some quite good reviews on Amazon. I don't know if you check the reviews on Amazon.

    Um, yeah, yeah, yeah. Uh, they're all very, very good reviews, uh, written by people, which is, is, is nice. [00:32:00] It is so nice and truly incredibly honored. I, not knowing anything about being an author and how hard it is. Like, I knew that God wanted me to do this, but actually, like, I have to go and promote this book.

    Yeah. Yeah. And be on podcast and talk about it. That, um, I didn't know that was part of the package deal, but yes, I'm so thankful that those that have read this devotional have been so impacted. And I love to get notes from people that reach out to me on social media and say that, um, The message in there resonates with them.

    And my favorite comments have been from these people who are like, wow, thank you. Now I know Jesus on a whole new, um, special intimate level, um, that I didn't know was possible before. And that just warms my heart. [00:33:00] And that is my heart, you know, really my heart's desire that people know God. so much more than they have before.

    Yeah, it's, it's great. It's wonderful, isn't it? And there's, I mean, I, you know, I, I run the church crowd church and we put a lot of time and energy into the stuff that goes out and we do it not because we get paid for it. In fact, none of us get paid for it, but that's a different story. But, um, we do it because like you, we just want, we want ourselves.

    to find a deeper relationship with Christ and we want others to sort of experience the joy and the wonderfulness of that. And, um, I think if you're outside the church, that can be a little bit hard to understand. Uh, but once you have a revelation or an encounter with God, it is, It is hard just to not do anything with that, right?

    You, you kind of like, well, no, this is, this is, this is Eden. This is the way it was meant to be. And so surely, uh, and so when God gives you that call to go and share that with [00:34:00] people, that actually becomes a reward in itself, isn't it? It's the fact that you, you get these stories of people who have connected with God from all over the world as a result of God working through you.

    And you're like, man, this is amazing. It is so amazing. And it's like little old quiet me here. God is using to impact people so greatly. And I am really honored that God chose me and thrilled that I listened to him and stepped forward into this crazy. Yes. That's fantastic. So Christa, let me ask you a question.

    I like to ask all my guests on the podcast. And that is if you had, uh, only one opportunity to preach one sermon. Based on what God has taught you so far in life. You could only write one more book with one message and that was it. What would it be?

    God, God sees you. He knows you and he loves you. [00:35:00] He wants you to know him today. That's powerful. Yeah, it's very short and simple. But why, why, why that message? Why is that resonated with you so much? I have found so many people that don't know that God loves them and knows them and really and sees them.

    Um, they feel... Really unseen and maybe they've had really tough struggles in this world And they're like, you know, why why God this, you know, you can't love me if I have these struggles, but Satan's in this world He's the reason there's awful struggles But God sees them and knows them and wants them to run towards him and find peace and comfort in him So would you say that this is something that you [00:36:00] have?

    Understood yourself more deeply the last couple of years or is this something that's resonated with you maybe your whole life? More so the last few years. Oh, I I knew that God loved me, but I didn't know To the extent that he loved me before, and how he, uh, understands all that I'm going through. I, I didn't spend time to sit and, and think about it.

    I just, again, was just, okay, I have my five minutes of devotional time, and that, that's not enough time to get to know what God thinks about me. And so, yes, the last three years, it's, um, It's been incredible. I'm usually sitting in this chair as I'm writing and listening to God, and I'm usually crying. It's like, wow, that is amazing God, um, overwhelmed with [00:37:00] his love and it's, it's so special and I want others to know, uh, that they can have, um, feel his love and his peace too.

    Wow. That's, uh, a great place to sort of, uh, bring that to. Tell me quickly, um, Krista, what's the next book that's due to come out? The next one is very different. It's going to be focused on mums. It is a journal. It's a guided prayer journal to help busy mums be able to spend just seven minutes a day and

    reading scriptures and journaling what they're hearing from God. Yeah, fantastic. Fantastic. So what's that? You know, it's really hard when you have young ones. Yeah. It is. I find a lot of the times it's seasons, isn't it? You go through seasons and so life is a very different season when you have young kids.[00:38:00]

    And you just have to remind yourself this is a season and at some point things will change, you know, my kids are now Two of the my three kids are at university And so life is in a very different place. It was when they were young and and I I just had to keep reminding myself Just you just need to get through do what you can now and then see see what happens, right?

    Christa, listen, if people want to find out more about you, find out more about the book, get a hold of the book, what's the best way for people to do that? Yes, well, I would love to connect with everyone. Um, one way is on my website where you can sign up for my newsletter. Um, I'm also on social media. So, Instagram and Facebook.

    I'm on Twitter once in a while. Um, so I'm at ChristaJoyMinistries on all of those platforms and... If you go to my website, you can sign up to receive a free five day journal. Um, I have two actually, a five day journal on having peace in the Lord, with the Lord, and joy in the Lord. [00:39:00] Oh, fantastic. And they're at christajoyministries.

    com? That's correct. Very good. That was a good guess on my part. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's fantastic. So you can get a hold of those free five day journals at christajoyministries. com. You can obviously also connect with Christa via the website or via social media links. As she said, Christa joy ministries, wherever you get your social media links from, but just probably try Instagram.

    One of the things I remember from our, uh, our earlier conversations, Christa, um, was that, um, you said that you spent hours preparing for a 42nd Instagram live and then spent three hours crying afterwards. Uh, and this was a huge challenge for you. Uh, how's that going in the Instagram sphere? So much better.

    I'm thrilled that I don't sit and cry for three hours after doing a little 40 second clip. Um, I can now go, I don't usually do lives, I do little clips that are [00:40:00] recorded, but I don't cry anymore. God, so I'm like, okay. I now know that... God's given me this message. So I'm, God's given me confidence to, to say what is on his heart and mind.

    And so I do it more boldly every day. Fantastic. Fantastic. Well, Christa, thank you so much for coming on to the What's the story podcast. It's been great to just hear your story and it's just lovely and I'm so grateful for what God's doing in your life. Um, thank you for sending me your book by the way, which I've enjoyed.

    It's been, it's been great. And um, I, yeah, happy goes well. You know with the second book and and and that sees all the plaudits it should get but um, keep going Uh would be my encouragement keep putting one foot in front of the other and see what god does But thank you for coming on to the podcast.

    Thank you for having me. I really appreciated chatting with you today. No problem Thank you.

    Matt: [00:41:00] And just like that we have reached the end of another fascinating conversation. Now remember to check out Crowd Church at www. crowd. church even if you might not see the point of church. You see, we are a digital church on a quest to discover how Jesus can help us live a more meaningful life. We are a community, a space to explore the Christian faith and a place where you can contribute and grow.

    And you are welcome at Crowd Church. Don't forget to subscribe to the What's The Story podcast on your favourite podcast app. Because we've got a treasure trove of inspiring stories coming your way, and we would basically hate for you to miss any of them. And just in case no one has told you yet today, remember, you are awesome.

    Yes, you are. Created awesome. It's just a burden you have to bear. What's the [00:42:00] Story is a production of Crowd Church. Our fantastic team, including Anna Kettle, Sadaf Beynon, and me, Matt Edmundson, uh, and Tanya Hutzilak, work behind the scenes tirelessly to bring you all these fabulous stories. Our theme song is a creative work of Josh Edmundson.

    And if you're interested in the transcript or show notes, head over to our website, whatsthestorypodcast. com. And whilst you're there, sign up for our free weekly newsletter to get all of this goodness delivered straight to your inbox. So that's it from all of us this week here at What's The Story. Thank you so much for joining us.

    Have a fantastic week wherever you are in the world. We'll catch you next time. Bye for now.

 
 

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