Joy & Olives!

Fear kills us quicker than war itself. But perfect love drives out all fear. 1 John 4:18 / special announcement: I am no longer going to upload video episodes on Spotify because the uploading takes sooooooo long. Head over to my YouTube Channel @joynolives to watch the video version of this episode!

It was looking like I would be a total failure of a pet owner until.... I realized Jesus heals animals, too. / "I am the Bread of Life. Whoever believes in me. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst....Everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:35 & 40

Around this time some years back, I fell in like with a guy! It ended hilariously (and horribly), but 11-11 still makes me smile because of it. / “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water I give them will never thirst. The water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water welling up to eternal life!” John 4:13-14

How can we be certain that the signs we're seeing are really pointing us in the right direction? / “The heart is deceitful above all things..." Jeremiah 17:9

The Joy & Olives! podcast turns 3... she's officially entering her toddler era, LOL. If you've stuck around for the last three years, I can't believe you're still here. I can't believe I'M still here. LOL. You mean a lot to me. Let's pray that this podcast survives to become a teenager one day, too. / What were you like as a teenager? "Nathanael said to Him, 'How do You know me?' Jesus answered and said to him, 'Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.'"

My grandma, aka Ah Ma, turned 90 last week! I went on a quest for the perfect balloons for her. / "God chose things.... counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important." 1 Corinthians 1:28

A missile fell about a 5-min drive away from our home today. Yet, Jesus placed us EXACTLY where we needed to be to avoid the epicenter of the missile's fall completely. / "You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day..." Psalm 91:5

In Singapore, I experienced big flying cockroaches. In Israel, I'm experiencing big flying ballistic missiles. What do they have in common? / "Only in this way could He set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of death." Hebrews 2:15

What's the no. 1 thing to pray before a big trip? UNITY. Especially if you're going to be with each other almost 24/7 for two weeks 😂 / "...that they may be one as We are one — I in them and You in Me — that they may be perfectly united, so that the world may know that You sent Me and have loved them just as You have loved Me." John 17:22-23

Some say “faith” is spelled R-I-S-K. But I disagree. To me, the greater risk lies in following my own plans instead of God’s, because He knows best. We might not understand His plan in the beginning, but eventually we’ll go Ohhhhhh, that’s why… 😂 / “But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

What are the chances of walking into a restroom and seeing a poster on the wall…with something you wrote from 10 years ago?!? Borderline impossible. I never cease to be amazed by the way God speaks. And for some reason, many times it happens to be in the restroom, LOL (see episodes 10 & 11 for context). / “Call to me, and I will answer you…” Jeremiah 33:3

At 20, I ran my first 10K. As I prep for my next race, I can’t help but recall how much help I needed to finish what I started. / “Finishing is better than starting; patience is better than pride.” Ecclesiastes 7:8

The first time I heard God’s voice, I asked Him about the stars. “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” / John 10:27

We all have people that we miss, especially over the holidays. What do we do with all those emotions? "He has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'" / Hebrews 13:5

We tend to be hardest on ourselves when we put on a few pounds! The way out is not a diet or crazy exercise regime. The answer is a whole lot simpler. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." / Psalm 111:10

For many years, wavy hair was my dream. When I finally got wavy hair, I did everything I could to get my straight & smooth hair back! What is the secret to glowing up PLUS finding contentment in the way we look? "Those who look to Him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed." / Psalm 34:5

In the last episode, I shared about becoming debt-free. But real freedom came one day in Lancaster, California, when I knew I was born again. “If anyone is in Christ, he or she is a new creation. The old things have passed away and the new has come!" / 2 Corinthians 5:17 Music Credit: You Are My All in All by Dennis L. Jernigan

I followed my dreams of attending USC but quickly realized I couldn't afford it. Then, someone gives my mom a call. This is Part 2 of the previous episode, ep. 19 Meeting God in His office. “No eye has seen, no ear has heard and no one’s heart has imagined all the things that God has prepared for those who love him.” / 1 Corinthians 2:9

One night, I dreamt that God called me into His office to ask me a question. "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." / Psalm 37:4 When was the last time you had a dream that made you cry?

Sherrilynn's mom makes her quit her job. Are her childhood dreams shattered? "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." / Jeremiah 29:11 Would you quit your job if your parent asked you to?

Meet Sherrilynn, a childhood friend who summited not one but TWO mountains last year. "I lift my eyes to the mountains - where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth." / Psalm 121:1 What's the next mountain on your trek list?

It's always been a dream of mine to win a contest like this! "How good and how pleasing it if when brothers dwell together in unity!" / Psalm 133:1 Music Credit: Yearning of the Heart by A’ST1.

My mom's dream of traveling to the Holy Land finally came true. "It is a land the Lord your God cares for; the eyes of the Lord your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end." / Deuteronomy 11:12 Is there a physical place where you enjoy connecting with God most?

Hear me sum up the last seven years of my life in one word and see if you relate. "There in the wilderness, you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.” / Deuteronomy 1:30 Where have you found joy in the last seven years of your life?

It was the kind of email that made my heart sink. "The Lord will perfect that which concerns you." / Psalm 138:8 Would you be willing to trust Jesus to work out an issue in your life that you can't solve?

A hot, humid, working-overtime kind of Sunday... with a surprise ending. "We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps." / Proverbs 16:9 When was the last time your schedule was thrown off, but it worked out for good?

I had to clean a public toilet on my 27th birthday. Music cred: What A Friend We Have in Jesus by The Worship Initiative, Shane & Shane, Hannah Hardin.

I felt like I nearly died on Thanksgiving Day. “O my dove....let me see your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.” / Song of Songs 2:14 Music Credit: Joy to the World (Joyful, Joyful) by Phil Wickham.

I moved 8,000 miles away from home, only to find that it's now in my backyard. "Now to Him Who can do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think" / Ephesians 3:20 Music Credit: God is Able by Hillsong Live.

This is what my grandpa saw before crossing to the other side. “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” / Luke 23:42-43 What feelings do you have when you think about heaven?

When someone holds your hand back, it's a sign of trust. "I am the Lord your God. I am holding your hand, so don't be afraid. I am here to help you." / Isaiah 41:13 (CEV) When was the last time you allowed yourself to be held by God?

God multiplied the clothes in my closet… because it’s what I needed. “And why worry about your clothing? ... If God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, He will certainly care for you." / Matthew 6:28-30 When was the last time God clothed you?

Last week, I met a woman at a train station. One conversation changed everything. "Love your neighbor as yourself." / Mark 12:31 When was the last time you befriended someone very different from yourself?

Nothing makes me happier than free books, especially when it was the exact one I had been looking for; kind of like finding a needle in a haystack. "The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him" / Exodus 15:2 When was the last time you found something you didn't expect?

20 years ago, my mom made a decision that still impacts me to this day. "For we walk by faith, not by sight." / 2 Corinthians 5:7 How do you think faith and joy are related?

My Ah Ma was my first friend, but our relationship wasn’t always smooth. "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." / Psalm 147:3 When was the last time a family relationship was restored?

First podcast episode ever! Here’s why I started and what I’m looking forward to.  “Who dares despise the day of small things....?" / Zechariah 4:10 When was the last time you started something new?

...because once upon a time, I couldn’t stand them 😂