Episode 26 -Stephanie is simply beyond herself with joy today, as she welcomes Jenny Cote. We are also celebrating SIX MONTHS of weekly Gospel Spice episodes this week! Yay! Go, God! 🙂

Now, Jenny Cote is many things--bestselling award-winning author, speaker, world traveler...  but it's a lot more personal than that for Stephanie: Jenny created the book series that have shaped Stephanie's kids and their faith, right up there with the Chronicles of Narnia, and the Lord of the Rings.

The Epic Order of the Seven, Jenny's series, invites kids aged 8 to 88 to dive in a universe of biblical truth and grace, a thundering roller coaster of adventure, that builds faith and trust in God through Christ. Can you tell Stephanie is a huge fan?!?!

If you have kids in elementary and early Middle-School years, this is absolutely totally the best books you'll gift them this year. If you don't, well, all Stephanie can say is, that she learned a lot for herself, by reading Jenny's books. Don't trust the cute book covers--these books are NOT just for kids!

In this episode, Stephanie and Jenny talk about how to grow our own faith, and that of those around us; they talk about finding your calling, and letting it catch fire in your life. They talk about epic tales, trust in God in the midst of crazy challenges, and His faithfulness through it all. 

 

Shownotes:

Jenny’s Webpage, where you can find all her books and her homeschooling and VBS curriculum, HIStory; here, you can order books that are "pawtographed" by the real Max and Liz!

Jenny’s Amazon page where you will also find all her books.

Pre-order the latest book in the series (releases April 19, 2020) right here!

Connect with Jennie on Social Media:

Facebook as Jenny L. Cote

Instagram @JennyL.Cote

You are invited to join us on the Gospel Spice Prayer Bible Study, titled "The heart behind prayer" starting September 20, 2025! Details and registration here: https://www.gospelspice.com/prayer 

There are a few things in our Christian life that we know we should do more, or at least better – and prayer just might top the list. Prayer is a mystery. Why would a conversation with a human have any influence on God’s eternal, sovereign plan? It defies logic, and beckons love. How can God, the Almighty Lord of Hosts, be this close, this personal? It defies understanding, and beckons involvement.

But, lack of time, inspiration, and discipline, combined with the ruthless tyranny of our busy lives, push prayer to the periphery, to the “one day I’ll get to it” pile. And yet, we can excel at what we endeavor to undertake. So, why isn’t prayer more of a spiritual priority? Could we develop a mindset around prayer that made it attractive, inspiring, even maybe delightful? What if we attuned our spiritual ears to listen to God, and our spiritual eyes to see His provision?

As an unassuming student, I’m going to humbly offer to share the little I have learned from others about the joy of prayer. I will give us theology, practical tips, and useful resources, sharing what works for me as we, together, learn to pray.

If you find prayer intimidating, or if your lack of prayer makes you feel guilty or “less than,” then this is the place for you! If you have been a student of prayer for many years, this is the place for you too! If you have breath in your lungs, then prayer can become one of the deepest joys of your day. Don’t miss out!

A PERSPECTIVE ABOUT PRAYER

To pray is to believe that God not only hears, but that He responds. It is to stand in the gap for a broken world, wielding the authority of Christ, empowered by the Spirit, and trusting in the goodness of the Father. The question is not whether prayer works, but whether we are willing to pray the kinds of prayers that invite God’s Kingdom into the darkest places of the earth—and of our own hearts.

We may never fully understand the mechanics of prayer, or how it intersects with God's sovereignty, but we are not called to understand everything. We are called to be faithful. And faithfulness means showing up—in prayer, in persistence, in expectation.

So today, let us pray not only for the comfort of our hearts, but for the transformation of the world. Let us take our place as image-bearers, co-laborers, and co-heirs. Let us believe that God is still listening—and still acting. Because He is.

There’s only one way to find out what might happen when we truly pray like this.

Let’s begin.

THE MINDSET BEHIND THIS COURSE

Before we begin, let me tell you the obvious: I don’t really know how to pray. I’m a humble student and absolute beginner at the holy endeavor that is prayer. So, this course isn’t really about what I’ve learned, or any wisdom I might have gathered. But, I’ve sat at the feet of many prayer warriors over the decades, through books and teachings.

So, I’ll share what I learned from them. Humility is going to be our primary heart posture! With each lesson, I will offer a few thoughts, practices, and ideas – with much humility, and not taking myself too seriously. I will also share her favorite books and resources about prayer. FInally, I will introduce you to some of the most influential prayer warriors of our history as the Body of Christ.

Most importantly, I will invite YOU to pray! Learning to pray comes from praying. Our humble ambition is to inspire you to pray, and to give you a few tips on how to do that. Then, it’s up to you! Prayer is a lifelong endeavor. Let’s make it delightful together!

So, let’s get started.

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