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Justin and Kristi Osmond: The Gift of Being Deaf and the Gift of Hearing

For the first two years of his life, Justin Osmond was totally unable to hear the music that made his dad and uncles famous. Born with 90 percent hearing loss, the son of Merrill Osmond initially resented his inability to hear but it has become something he has embraced and something his wife, Kristi, loves because it has made him who he is. After 12 years of intense speech and listening therapy, Justin is able to give voice to a community rarely heard from on a podcast. On this week’s episode, we talk with Justin and Kristi about how it’s by leaning into our challenges that we become who we were meant to be.

Heidi Swapp: 9 Easy Things Every Parent Can Do To Begin Preventing Suicide Now

Seven years ago, Heidi Swapp lost her 16-year-old son, Cory, to suicide. In the wake of Cory’s passing, Heidi endured devastating thoughts of her perceived failures as a mother. But instead of focusing on what she couldn’t change, Heidi determined to learn as much as she could and then share the things she wished she’d known with as many parents as would listen. One of the most important things she's learned is that suicide prevention begins long before we are ever concerned about someone we love. So on today's episode, she shares nine principles that she believes have the ability to make a critical difference.

How to Mourn with Those That Mourn with Lisa Valentine Clark

Getting comfortable being a support to others in their times of grief and pain isn’t always natural. Mourning with those that mourn and comforting those who need comfort means simply showing up, asking how they are doing, providing a listening ear, and even sometimes sitting with them in their silence. In this episode, we discuss how we can show up for others—both near and far—and comfort one another as we rely on God’s miracles.

Kathryn Davis: Parenting and Teaching Teenagers

Kathryn Davis, host of the new Magnify podcast, does not claim to be an expert on teenagers but she does have a few teenagers of her own and she does teach a lot more in her seminary classes each day. She has also been involved for years with the EFY and now FSY programs, and even worked with Stephen Covey to help implement and train the "7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens" into her high school curriculum. In short, while Kathryn may not consider herself an expert, she has definitely spent enough time with teenagers to speak to what they are like and why she absolutely loves them.

Brittany Jepsen: Making Our Lives a Tribute To Those Who Have Gone Before Us

The thread woven through Brittany Jepsen’s story tells of those who have gone before her. In casual conversation, Brittany talks not only of her parents and grandparents but other ancestors and how who they were has influenced who she is. She has built a business, The House That Lars Built, that helps others tap into their ability to create, something she grows emotional talking about, but at the root of it all is a desire to pay tribute to those who have made her who she is. On this week’s episode, Brittany teaches us about how a simple understanding of who we are and where we come from helps us turn our hearts to our fathers and mothers in normal and natural ways.

43: “I Will Turn Their Mourning into Joy” (Jeremiah 30–52, Lamentations)

We all have experienced wounds of some sort. These can be physical wounds, like those that come from falling off a bike, or emotional wounds, like those that occur when your feelings are hurt. Jeremiah and his people saw many kinds of wounds in their day, and the prophet lamented over them in his writing. But these scriptures are about more than mourning—Jeremiah 30–52 and the book of Lamentations also express sympathy for those with wounds of their own while promising that all will be healed through Christ.

Heather Vanboerum: Miracles in a Costco Parking Lot

Five days before Christmas last year, Heather Vanboerum was leaving Costco when a driver accidentally hit the gas rather than the brake, pinning her between two cars. Her life changed in an instant—but the miracles that followed, both big and small, are remarkable and on this week’s episode, Heather helps us see them all through her eyes.

31: "Thou Art Come … for Such a Time as This" (Esther)

Here’s a fun fact: did you know that the name Esther means star in Persian? And when you consider Esther’s story in the Old Testament, there’s obviously no coincidence that one of the greatest biblical heroines was given that name. In fact, as we study this incredible book of scripture this week, we’re going to see how brightly Esther shined in the midst of terrible adversity. Not only was she incredibly brave even when faced with death, but she also had an enduring faith in Jesus Christ that ultimately led to the salvation of an entire nation.

34: “I Will Declare What He Hath Done for My Soul” (Psalms 49–51; 61–66; 69–72; 77–78; 85–86)

Growing up, did you ever learn about the three Rs of education? They stand for three basic skills taught in school: reading, writing, and arithmetic—which is a little confusing as only one of those words actually starts with the letter “r.” But just as those three subjects are fundamental to education systems, there are six Rs that are fundamental to this week’s lesson. As we study Psalms chapters 49–51; 61–66; 69–72; 77–78; and 85–86, we’ll learn what those six Rs are and what they have to do with our relationship with Christ.

35: “Let Every Thing That Hath Breath Praise the Lord” (Psalms 102–103; 110; 116–119; 127–128; 135–139; 146–150)

We’ve talked a lot about trusting in the Lord this year. And in this week’s lesson of Psalms 102–103; 110; 116–119; 127–128; 135–139; 146–150, that trust is an important theme. To help us dive deeper into this topic, we invited Chad and Kymberly Wells to talk with us. The Wells' are the parents of Mason Wells, who was severely injured as a missionary in the 2016 Brussels attacks. Their perspective on those harrowing events is anchored in trusting the Lord even through days of great distress and heartache. Their story, along with these chapters in Psalms, will teach us what trust in the Lord can do in our darkest moments.