That's Just What I Needed Podcast

On today’s show, I sit down with my favorite human, who is also my pastor, and my husband, JP Jones, to discuss the unique battles men face.  It’s no secret that women are often the spiritual leaders in the family. Have you ever wondered why? Today, JP unearths the struggles men experience, why men battle in these areas, and how the women in their lives can encourage them. It’s easy to forget that...

Title: How to Overcome Insecurity and Live with (Real) Confidence   On today’s show, I’m sharing one of my favorite messages I’ve ever given. Friends, this is one of those messages that will encourage and equip you, and you will want to pass it along to your teens, young adults, and even your friends!  On today’s show, I’m sharing one of my favorite messages I’ve ever given. Friends, this is one o...

Hey Friends! In today’s episode, I’m talking about FUN! You may be thinking, Why the topic of fun? I realized It doesn’t seem very “spiritual,” but, oh my goodness, our souls need it! My husband, JP, and I went through some family pictures, and I was struck by the fact that FUN creates memories of good times, laughter, and joy. We are not built for one crisis or serious situation after another. Th...

Hey Friend! We continue to read more and more about mental health, especially for the teen and young adult communities. This has become a hot topic, not just because of its importance but because of necessity. Over the last several years, mental health statistics for these groups have escalated. Even mentally and emotionally “normal” teens and young adults struggle in ways previous generations did...

  Hey Friends!  I’ve used the practice of journaling in my regular time with the Lord for years, but I’ve never really felt like a “journaler.” I guess you could call me a reluctant journaler–a kind of a non-journaler, journaler. Looking back on my Christian life, though, I’m struck by how profoundly journaling has deepened my walk with God, impacted my prayer life, and made scripture come to life...

Hey Friends!  Today is one of my favorite interviews I’ve done so far.  It’s poignant, helpful, and it's hopeful. You don’t want to miss one second of the episode. Seriously. It’s that good. In this episode, I’m talking about suicide and mental illness with my friend and author,  Julie Busler. Julie shares her experience with trauma and suffering mental illness and also helps us spot a loved one t...

Hey Friends!  During a recent conversation with my husband, JP, I had one of those out-of-body experiences; you know, the type where you actually listen to yourself as you speak. I’m ashamed to admit almost everything I said was negative! When did I become this way? How did I become this way? I wondered. Of course, we all have moments we complain (gas prices? the economy? politics?) but If the las...

Hey Friend! Are you a people-pleaser? Do you find it difficult to say no to requests from others? Then today’s episode is for you!  On the show today, I talk with my friend and NY Times Best-selling author, Karen Ehman, about how to say "no" while dealing with your people-pleasing tendencies. Karen shares how she reached a breaking point, what she learned when she began to say "no," and when it is...

Hey Friend!    If you are anything like me, you’ve wrestled with God. Most believers wrestle with God at some point in their life, but, sadly, it’s rarely something we talk about. Frankly, it makes us uncomfortable. This leaves too many of us racked with shame and ill-equipped to wrestle in a way that leaves us with a deeper relationship with God, not a defeated one.  So, on today’s show, I’m shar...

Hey Friend!    Recently, I sat in a group of women who shared prayer requests. It didn’t take long to notice a theme: we are TIRED. Some of us feel physically exhausted, some of us feel emotionally exhausted, and some of us feel spiritually exhausted. While the source of our exhaustion may vary,  the need to know what to do about our exhaustion is universal.    So, on today’s show, I share four th...

Hey Friend! Have you ever been in a situation where God brought someone into your life, and you knew you were supposed to say something about Christ but didn’t? Did you walk away feeling a little guilty, Did you walk away feeling a little guilty, wondering, why didn’t I say something?  Honestly, this has happened to me more times than I care to admit. In this week’s episode, my guest (and friend),...

Hey Friend! Summer is finally here. Yippee! But, have you ever noticed how less summer structure can easily morph into less spiritual committment? I sure have. This time of year our faith can either flounder or flourish. In today’s episode, I’m sharing three easy tips to help your faith grow exponentially this summer. I’m also sharing six inspiring biographies you’ll want to put on your summer rea...

Hey Friend!   Question: Do the events going on in our world, in your life, or in the lives of those you love sometimes weigh heavy on you?   I’m pretty sure I see you nodding.   When life feels weighty we need to know how to process our circumstances and our feelings. At least, I know I do! Today’s episode is a friend-to-friend chat where I share what God taught me on my walk this morning about ho...

Hey Friend! Today I’m excited to welcome my friend and author of five award-winning Bible studies, Jean E. Jones, on the show. Jean E. shares her journey of coming to Christ after being taught by her family that Jesus was not to be trusted. We explore the struggle with accepting God as your Father when you don’t have a great relationship with your own earthly father, and Jean E offers great insigh...

Hey Friend! One of the questions I get asked most frequently is, “how can I help my husband, son, brother, or father grow in his relationship with God?” In today’s episode, I am talking with pastor, author, and president of Every Man Ministries, Kenny Luck, about the mind of a man. Kenny gives us the inside scoop on what makes men lean away from doing good and lean away from God. He helps us under...

Hey Friend!   In today’s episode, we’re getting super-practical as we discuss how to manage other people’s difficult emotions. I’ll share the single most important tool necessary to deal with anyone’s (your kids, spouse, co-worker, etc.) frustration, disappointment, or anger. It’s not the only tool you need, but it is the secret tool you need to use first. I hope this episode equips you to have be...

Hey Friend! If you’re a mom (or hope to be someday), you want to pray for your kids in a way that will make a difference in who they become and how they live. Prayer plays an extraordinary role in the life of a mom. Sometimes we pray quick prayers over specific situations, but other times we have prayers we need to pray for their whole lives. In today’s episode, we’ll examine five essential prayer...

Hey Friend! Do you have a friend or loved one you hope would change, even just a bit? ? I know we all do. The question we tackle in today's episode is, “how can we talk about something that needs to change in a way that will help, not hurt?”     We take a look at Matthew 7:5, where Jesus teaches us about removing a speck from another person’s eye. To make things practical and fun, I share how  nee...

Hey Friend!   It seems like everyone I know has faced more decisions in the past two years than any time I can remember. Job decisions. The kids' education decisions. Relationship decisions. Financial decisions. The list goes on and on, right?    This episode is the 2nd part of a two-part series where we take a deep dive into the principles found in the Bible to help us determine God’s will. So, i...

Hey Friend! Not long ago I was having lunch with a girlfriend and our discussion turned to a tough decision she had to make. Though she wasn’t sure about what to do, she was sure she wanted to make a decision she wouldn’t later regret. She leaned across the table and wondered aloud, "How do I know if this is God's will for my life?"  That’s the question we all have, isn't it?  Well, that’s the que...

Hey Friend! If you struggle with anxiety or performance-based living, or know someone who does, (because, hello, 2022) you’re going to love this episode. On the show today, I’m joined by the amazing Michelle Lazurek. We sat down to talk about processing anxiety, surrendering our need to perform, and Michelle’s new book, I Surrender All…Sort Of! Michelle shares her struggle with anxiety, her journe...

Recently my daughters and I had a conversation about feeling significant. We concluded that no matter how old (or young) we are, we all want to live a life of significance. But, what does a life of significance look like, exactly? Is there any way we can be sure what we’re doing, day in and day out, is actually significant? In this episode, I share how I had to learn a new definition of significan...

Hey Friend! All I can say about today’s episode is, “WOW!”  Renee Swope joins us to talk about how you can be confident in your parenting journey, whether you’re a mom (or dad) who’s just starting out or you have grown kids. We tackle how to handle your child’s anxiety (oh my gosh…this is SO GOOD!), the importance of saying you’re sorry (and why it’s never too late), and how to mine for your child...

Hey Friends!  There has been so much talk lately on social media about friendships. Friendship can be a source of great happiness, but friendship can also be a source of heartache and hurt.  We are created for connection, but many women don’t have that one good, trusted friend. Did you know that more than 30% of women are more afraid of loneliness than of dying of cancer? Pretty mind-blowing, righ...

Hey Friends! On the show today, I’m joined by the fabulous Kelly Minter. We sit down to discuss how we sometimes compartmentalize our faith and why that doesn’t work, how spending time in God’s word brings us closer to God, and share tips on making prayer more meaningful, even when it’s hard. Kelly even shares the story of how my daughter ended up staying at her home in Nashville!   Kelly Minter i...