Choosing Joy: Navigating Faith and Life with Yvette Walker

03/08/24 • 69 min

“Joy is not a feeling, it’s faith.” - Yvette Walker

Episode Summary:

In this enlightening episode, JB and Yvette delve into the profound concept of joy and its intersection with faith, scripture, and perspective. Yvette, a devoted Christian and former journalist, shares her personal journey with faith, highlighting the importance of joy in spiritual growth and everyday life. From exploring Catholicism and overcoming stigmas to navigating faith conversations on social media, Yvette offers valuable insights on finding joy amidst life's challenges. Through engaging discussions on devotionals, the fruits of the spirit, and the role of faith in journalism, listeners are encouraged to deepen their relationship with God and embrace joy as a guiding principle. Additionally, Yvette shares resources and her free booklet, "5 Steps to Choose Joy," empowering individuals to discover joy in their own lives and strengthen their connection with Jesus.

Explore the transformative power of joy and faith!

In today's episode:

Exploring the Catholic faith
The stigmas around Catholicism.
The role of faith in starting a podcast.
Finding joy.
Representing faith in everyday life.
The importance of discipleship.
Navigating faith conversations on social media.
Engaging with skeptics and critics.
Understanding the magnitude of God.
Creativity in Bible study.
The role of devotionals in Christian life.
The intersection of faith and journalism.
Understanding the fruits of the spirit.

About Yvette Walker:

Yvette is an award-winning writer, a born communicator and interviewer. She is a Christian and has focused her recent media projects on giving God the glory. Yvette is a former journalist and a journalism educator. She is joyful, laughs easily, and she sees God in the everyday situation. She is married to Tim, who is white, and they are a good example of a modern interracial couple living in a world that is sometimes accepting, sometimes not. She can speak on finding a deeper relationship with God, on current events, ethical living, journalism, media literacy and multiculturalism.

Weekly Scripture:

John 15:5-8 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (6) If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. (7) If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. (8) This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, (23) gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Resources:

Did you know there is joy to be found – even now? Yvette has a FREE booklet to help you access that Joy. It's called 5 Steps to Choose Joy, and it will do just that.

We need to learn HOW to choose joy, HOW to find it, and WHERE to apply it in our own home.

"5 Steps to Choose Joy" will show you how and where to find the time and place to get into a deeper and richer relationship with Jesus, the author of Joy. Just go to Yvette’s website, positivelyjoy.com, and sign up to get your free booklet!

Connect with Yvette Walker:

https://positivelyjoy.com/

Connect with JB:

Audio and show notes by Premier Podcast Promotions

“Joy is not a feeling, it’s faith.” - Yvette Walker

Episode Summary:

Explore the transformative power of joy and faith!

In today's episode:

Exploring the Catholic faith
The stigmas around Catholicism.
The role of faith in starting a podcast.
Finding joy.
Representing faith in everyday life.
The importance of discipleship.
Navigating faith conversations on social media.
Engaging with skeptics and critics.
Understanding the magnitude of God.
Creativity in Bible study.
The role of devotionals in Christian life.
The intersection of faith and journalism.
Understanding the fruits of the spirit.

About Yvette Walker:

Weekly Scripture:

John 15:5-8 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (6) If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. (7) If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. (8) This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, (23) gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Resources:

Did you know there is joy to be found – even now? Yvette has a FREE booklet to help you access that Joy. It's called 5 Steps to Choose Joy, and it will do just that.

We need to learn HOW to choose joy, HOW to find it, and WHERE to apply it in our own home.

Connect with Yvette Walker:

https://positivelyjoy.com/

Connect with JB:

Audio and show notes by Premier Podcast Promotions

Previous Episode

Beyond Fear: Finding Peace in God Amidst Life's Storms

“When you’re trusting in God, it’s not something that you are going to have to ‘fake it till you make it’. He is going to make you lie down in green pastures when you are trusting Him” - JB

Episode Summary:

How can we weather life’s storms and find fulfillment?

This week, join JB as he delves into the timeless wisdom of Psalm 23, exploring the profound message of trust and peace God offers even amid life's toughest storms. As JB reflects on each verse, contemplate the deep significance of trusting in God's provision and guidance. From the assurance of lacking nothing to the comforting presence of the Shepherd, finding peace beyond understanding, and recognizing God's provision in the presence of enemies. Allow the timeless truths of Psalm 23 to anchor your heart and mind in the assurance of God's steadfast love and provision and guide you through life's storms with unwavering grace and peace.

In today's episode:

Finding a peace beyond understanding.
God gives us what we need, not always what we want.
Unwavering faith, and undiminished peace in the midst of life’s storms.
Lacking nothing when you trust God.
A shepherd’s care.
Trusting God through challenges and uncertain times.
Believing in God's provision in the presence of enemies.
Representing God's name.
Fearing no evil and finding true peace.

Weekly Scripture:

Psalm 23 (1) The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. (2)He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, (3)he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. (4) Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (5)You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. (6)Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Connect with JB:

Audio and show notes by Premier Podcast Promotions

Next Episode

The Path to Wisdom: a Journey of Faith and Reflection

“Self-deception is one of the biggest types of deception that can hold you back” - JB

Episode Summary:

How can we receive the wisdom of God?

In this week's monologue episode, JB delves deep into the faith journey and seeking wisdom as a Christ follower. JB explains why we must seek God’s wisdom through prayer and scripture and not rely on worldly wisdom. He emphasizes the need to have faith in the Word of God and not be deceived by false teachings. He also encourages listeners to pray for wisdom and be mindful of self-deception.

Find God’s wisdom through scripture and prayer today!

In today's episode:

Seek wisdom from God and have faith in His Word.
Beware of self-deception and pray for discernment.
Do not rely on worldly wisdom, but seek God's wisdom.
Believe and do not doubt when asking God for wisdom.
Questioning the Bible and finding faith in the word.
The need for wisdom and being mindful of self-deception.
God’s answer to those who seek wisdom.
Being faithful without doubt.

Weekly Scripture:

Romans 1:18-25 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, (19) since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. (20) For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. (21) For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. (22) Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools (23) and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles. (24) Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. (25) They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
1 Corinthians 1:26-31 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. (27) But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. (28) God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, (29) so that no one may boast before him. (30) It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. (31) Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”
James 1:5-8 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. (6) But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. (7) That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. (8) Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

Connect with JB:

Audio and show notes by Premier Podcast Promotions