In this unforgettable episode of Rooted, Josie and Simone sit down with Ruth Ann, an 84-year-old woman whose life story is woven with the unshakable power of prayer, radical forgiveness, and deep joy in the face of tragedy. From growing up in a Christian home during the 1940s to experiencing deep rebellion, grief, and loss—including being hit by a train just like her mother—Ruth Ann has seen God’s hand in every season. She shares how a foundation of daily prayer, Scripture, and God’s steadfast love helped her through devastating moments—like her mother’s sudden death, a broken marriage, and the painful loss of her daughter. Her words will make you laugh, cry, and pause in awe of God’s grace. If you’ve ever wondered what it means to finish the race with joy, this episode is a front-row seat to a life rooted in faith.

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• [01:00] — Holy jeans, humor, and growing up in the 1940s
• [03:00] — A Christian childhood marked by daily prayer
• [06:00] — Rebellion in high school, sneaking out, and early marriage at seventeen
• [08:00] — Tragic death of her mother in a train accident
• [10:00] — Becoming a young single mom, finding love again
• [14:00] — Struggling to forgive and learning to pray for enemies
• [17:00] — Her husband’s quiet transformation through prayer
• [18:00] — God’s protection during her own train accident
• [20:00] — Living each day with the mission to encourage someone
• [22:00] — How to start praying if you don’t know how
• [26:00] — Losing her husband and daughter—and still choosing joy
• [28:00] — Loving people without loving what they do
• [29:00] — Final encouragement: Stay rooted in God’s love and keep smiling

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1. "I thought I was going to see Jesus… and somehow I walked away from the train."
2. "Keep praying. You may not see it yet—but one day you will."
3. "I never stopped believing. Even through rebellion, grief, and loss—Jesus never left me."
4. "You don’t need long prayers. Just be consistent and keep talking to God."
5. "My mother’s prayers are why I’m still here."
6. "When you can’t forgive someone, start praying for them. The rest will come."
7. "Stay in the Word. That’s where the joy comes from."
8. "If anyone asks why I’m smiling—it’s because I have Jesus in my heart."

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• Psalm 91 – Ruth Ann often prays this chapter over others
• Scripture for prayer encouragement – "Call those things that be not as though they are" (Romans 4:17)
• Worship Prayer – "This is the day that the Lord has made…" (Psalm 118:24)
• Song Mentioned – Keep on Praying (artist not specified, but referenced by theme)

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In this compelling episode of Rooted, Josie and Symone sit down with Emily Cox, a psychology major at Bethel University, to hear her powerful story of redemption. Emily vulnerably shares how she grew up in a strong Christian home but was slowly pulled away by New Age practices like manifestation, crystals, and astrology—believing she could find fulfillment apart from Christ. Through her testimony, Emily describes the spiritual emptiness she experienced and the moment God lovingly drew her back to Himself. She explains how deception often comes disguised as "light" and how true peace, identity, and joy are found only in Jesus. If you’ve ever struggled with discerning truth or wondered how subtle lies can creep in, this episode will speak deeply to you. Emily's journey reminds us that no sin is bigger than the blood of Jesus and that God is always ready to welcome us home.

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• [00:00] — Introduction: Meet Emily Cox from Bethel University
• [04:00] — High school years: TikTok, Covid, and the slow pull into New Age practices
• [06:00] — Manifestation, crystals, and chasing counterfeit fruits of the Spirit
• [08:00] — Why New Age practices left her more anxious and empty
• [10:00] — The spiritual dangers of astrology and manifestation culture
• [15:00] — The turning point: Exposure, conviction, and the kindness of God
• [20:00] — Recognizing the power of the spiritual realm and the armor of God
• [22:00] — Building new community and confessing struggles for the first time
• [26:00] — Emily’s final encouragement: No sin is bigger than Jesus' blood

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1. "No sin is bigger than the blood of Jesus."
2. "The enemy counterfeits God's truth just enough to look appealing—but it's still a lie."
3. "Manifestation might promise fulfillment, but it leaves you more empty than before."
4. "Darkness only thrives in secrecy; freedom comes when we bring it into the light."
5. "I thought I could manifest joy, but true joy is a fruit of the Spirit."
6. "Even when I ran away, Jesus was waiting with open arms."
7. "Spiritual deception often enters through doors we think are harmless."
8. "We overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony."
9. "True love isn’t a feeling or a trend—it’s a person: Jesus."

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• Ephesians 6:12 — "Our struggle is not against flesh and blood..."
• Revelation 12:11 — "They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony."

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YouTube: https://youtube.com/rootedtoprosper

Support: https://bio.site/rootedtoprosper

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In this heart-opening episode of Rooted, Christian recording artist and storyteller Jason Gray joins Josie and Symone for a deeply personal conversation about vulnerability, forgiveness, and how God uses our brokenness. Jason shares about his childhood, the absence of his father, the painful journey through divorce, and how these experiences shaped his relationship with God—and his music. We talk about how his speech impediment became one of the most powerful tools of his ministry, the healing power of language, and how “bringing it all” to Jesus changes everything. This episode is packed with rich insights about grief, joy, songwriting, and learning to listen to the Holy Spirit in the present moment. Jason also gives us a sneak peek into his upcoming book and children’s project—and throws in a few laughs (prosthetic leg air violin, anyone?). Don’t miss this one!

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[00:00] — Intro to Jason Gray and connection with Josie and Symone

[03:00] — Devotional story: worship through our actions

[07:00] — Relationship with his earthly father

[15:00] — Learning to forgive through suffering and failure

[20:00] — Writing songs from pain, compassion, and healing

[27:00] — Healing language & learning to speak kindly to ourselves

[31:00] — Backstory of “Bring It All” and using weaknesses in ministry

[35:00] — Overcoming insecurity in early performances

[38:00] — Why people connect more with our weaknesses than our strengths

[41:00] — Writing music for every door: joy, grief, vulnerability

[50:00] — Lightning Round: favorite song, weirdest concert moment, hidden talent

[54:00] — Final encouragement: the Holy Spirit speaks in the now

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• “God doesn’t use me in spite of my weakness. He uses me because of it.”
• “The Holy Spirit only speaks in real time. You have to be present to hear Him.”
• “Wisdom is healed pain.”
• “Our worship has more to do with how we treat people than the songs we sing.”
• “If you bring your brokenness to God, He will make something beautiful out of it.”
• “Our language matters—what we say to ourselves shapes how we see God and others.”
• “Clichés become clichés because they are so true they can’t be ignored.”
• “People admire your strengths, but they connect to your weaknesses.”
• “Be rooted in the Holy Now—that’s where the Spirit speaks.”

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• Jason's SongsSongs Referenced: “The Wound is Where the Light Gets In” | “Bring It All” | “Celebrate” | “Good to Be Alive” | “Laugh Out Loud” | “Glory Days”
• Jason's Devotional Book-in-Progress
• Jason's Children’s Book: Sparrows
• People Mentioned: Frederick Buechner | Elizabeth Kübler-Ross | Craig Groeschel

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Support: https://bio.site/rootedtoprosper

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