The Choosing Cheer Podcast

By Shane Stanford

Welcome to You Matter! In our inaugural episode, host Shane Stanford shares why “you matter” has been a key part of his ministry’s motto over the last 30 years. He shares his testimony relating to his medical struggles as a hemophiliac who contracted HIV & Hep C from a blood transfusion and how the challenges he has faced taught him the importance of making each day matter. Shane also shares a preview of the season ahead filled with guests from all walks of life sharing how THEY matter in the seasons, professions, and journeys they are in or on. We are so excited you are here, and we hope over the course of the season you will see how YOU matter too! Scripture References: Matthew 5:13-16 (New Living Translation) “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father." 1st Corinthians 15:58 (New Living Translation) "So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless."

By Nicolet Bell

It’s our final conversation of Season 1! In this week’s episode, Nicolet is continuing our conversation about John 16, especially when we are struggling with finding joy! She talks about the correlation between our relationship with the Holy Spirit and our Cheer. She encourages us that we can choose cheer in knowing that we do not walk alone in our struggle and on our quest to seek joy in this world, for Jesus has overcome and given us his spirit as our helper. John 16:33 “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”  

By Nicolet Bell

In this week’s conversation, Nicolet is joined by her friend Macy! Macy’s story is unique in that she experienced a traumatic scalp burn in high school that lead to permanent hair loss. Macy is absolutely beautiful on the inside and out, and shares about how this experience grew her relationship with the Lord, and challenged her meaning of beauty. She encourages us to remember that joy doesn’t always mean happiness, but contentment in the season you are in. Nicolet and Macy remind us that we can choose cheer in knowing that our worth and our beauty do not come from the standards set by the world, but from the reflection of Jesus in our hearts. John 16:33 “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”  

By Nicolet Bell

This week’s conversation is all about choosing cheer in the world of motherhood, specifically as a foster mother! Nicolet is joined by foster mom and advocate Loren Wilkerson, and they have a beautiful conversation about what it means to choose cheer in the midst of not knowing our tomorrows. Loren answered the call to foster care with such obedience at 24 as a single mom, and shares of the joys and lessons this season has brought her. Foster care often means navigating a myriad of relationships, relinquishing control, and loving without a promise of tomorrow. Sounds a lot like our relationship with Jesus, right? Loren and Nicolet remind us of how this, and other mother-figure roles beautifully mirrors the gospel. They remind us that we can choose cheer daily in remembering that no matter how much we love and want to hold on to our little ones, God loves and treasures them more than we could even imagine! John 16:33 “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

By Nicolet Bell

This week, Nicolet and her long-time friends and mentors are talking about parenting! Brian and Christy are parents to an almost 13-year-old and 11-year-old boys, and they bring so much wisdom and truth on biblical parenthood to this week’s conversation. They share their stories and experience with their kids asking hard questions and how to respond as Jesus when they get frustrated. They also share about how they keep joy flowing in their boys and in their home. Brian and Christy encourage parents by reminding us that we can choose cheer because Jesus is our biggest cheerleader in parenting! John 16:33 “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

By Nicolet Bell

This week’s conversation is all about grace. As Believers, we can choose cheer in the ultimate example we have for grace: Jesus! Nicolet leads us in a further discussion about what it means to choose cheer in showing that same grace to others even when we have been wronged. We know this can be a sensitive topic, and there are some of you listening who have had tragedies inflicted upon you by others that we can’t even begin to image. This episode is not meant to invalidate ANY feelings you might be experiencing, but instead encourage in moving towards grace and forgiveness. We’ve all experienced situations where a spirit of anger and unforgiveness can hinder our joy, but Nicolet reminds us that by responding as Jesus did with a spirit of undeserving Grace, we are able to find cheer through Him.   John 16:33 “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”  

By Nicolet Bell

This week’s conversation is about choosing cheer even when we are not feeling very cheerful. Sometimes it can feel like putting on clothes that just don’t fit right. This world gives us many reasons not to take on joy, but Nicolet encourages us to look to the who not what that supplies our cheer. Choosing cheer when we don’t feel like it doesn’t mean faking anything, but turning to Jesus for that true, supernatural joy. John 16:33 “Be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world.”

By Nicolet Bell

This week, Nicolet is joined by her friend and licensed professional counselor, Sarah Beth Walker! Today’s conversation is about choosing cheer in anxiety and this topic is so relevant. Did you know that 1 in 4 adults wrestle with anxiety? They have a beautiful discussion about what it looks like to walk with anxiety as a believer. Sarah Beth emphasizes that the shame we feel from struggling with anxiety does NOT come from God, and encourages us to seek that help and guidance that comes from counseling and therapy. She reminds us that we do not walk alone in our struggles, of the importance of taking care of our mental health, and provides practical applications and tools for dealing with anxiety daily.   John 16:33 “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” 

By Nicolet Bell

This week, Nicolet is joined again by her husband, Preston Bell! Today their conversation dives deeper into the theme verse for the show, John 16:33. Specifically, they have an in-depth discussion about the section “for I have overcome the world.” They talk about what we define as “the world,” and how impactful this part of the scripture truly is. They share about how this plays out in their own life, and encourage us that choosing cheer in this world is about an inward perspective shift that has ramifications in the rest of our life. John 16:33 “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

By Nicolet Bell

In this week’s episode, Nicolet is joined by her friends Timmy and Nicole Ruhnke! These two share their story of loss and grief and finding joy in a season of obedience and then confusion on what’s next. Timmy and Nicole remind us that joy isn’t a byproduct of our circumstances, but of the Holy Spirit, and that we shouldn’t feel guilty in our rejoicing through him. John 16:33 “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

By Nicolet Bell

In this week’s episode, Nicolet is joined by her friends Timmy and Nicole Ruhnke! These two share their story of loss and grief and finding joy in a season of obedience and then confusion on what’s next. Timmy and Nicole remind us that joy isn’t a byproduct of our circumstances, but of the Holy Spirit, and that we shouldn’t feel guilty in our rejoicing through him. John 16:33 “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

By Nicolet Bell

In this week’s episode, Nicolet is joined by her friends Anse and Courtney Rigby! These two share their family’s powerful story of choosing cheer each day amidst an unexpected diagnosis of Cri Du Chat for their daughter. They share the importance of being surrounded by community, and what it means to choose joy in a circumstance the world says otherwise. Courtney and Anse remind us that even in the brokenness of this world, the lord shows up and works through it all. John 16:33 “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” 

By Nicolet Bell

In this week’s episode, Nicolet is joined by her husband, Preston Bell! We get to know Nicolet better as the two share the sweet story of how they met, and how they choose cheer in their marriage each day. They encourage us by sharing that choosing cheer in our relationships comes from an outpour of joy that comes from Jesus. It’s through that extension that we are able to share that joy with others.   John 16:33 “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” 

By Nicolet Bell

In today’s episode, Nicolet is joined by friend and former teammate, Haleigh Mullens. Haleigh shares about her unique life as wife to NFL Minnesota Vikings QB, Nick Mullens. After living much of her life as a Mississippi girl, newlywed and married life brought about a new level of uncertainty as Haleigh and her family navigated this life of surrendering control to lean fully into God’s will. She reminds us to choose cheer in knowing that God is always faithful with his promises and placing us exactly where we are supposed to be. John 16:33 “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” 

By Nicolet Bell

Today Nicolet is joined by friend and extremely talented artist and business owner, Mary Kathryn Decker. On today’s episode, Mary Kathryn shares her captivating story of growing up with a life that looked perfect on the outside, but was disrupted by divorce and brokenness. She shares how seeking Jesus through his word in this dark time molded and shaped her into the woman she is today. She encourages us to “own your story” not living ashamed of things in the past, but confident of God’s work in and through it. MK and Nicolet both remind us that when we give God control during the seasons of disruption, he blesses us with immeasurably more. John 16:33 “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

by Nicolet Bell

If you were asked - Do you want more joy in your life? Your answer most likely wouldn’t be “nah, I’m good!” We all have a deep desire for joy that was placed there by God and designed for only him to fill. Jesus tells his disciples in John 16:33 to “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” This cheer, this joy is what we are after! Welcome to the Choosing Cheer podcast with your host, Nicolet Bell. Nicolet is a Wife, Mama, Bible Teacher, business owner and friend, who is seeking to find joy and cheer in Jesus in the small and big things in life. In this first introduction episode, spend a few minutes getting to know Nicolet, learning about what Choosing Cheer means, and why it can make a difference in your life.

Season 1 comes to an end with a conversation about change and transition. This first year of building the JourneyWise ministry included some twists and turns the team had to navigate along the way. Through some of those stories, Shane and Ronnie remind us we can always lean into the curves life throws by walking in relationship with Jesus.

The first 12 years of children’s lives are pivotal and parents for the most part are inundated with the “must-have” and “must-do” advice and information that bombards them. In today's episode, Shane and Ronnie discuss stories of Jesus’ early years and how scripture tells us of the challenges Mary and Joseph faced raising the Son of God. Imagine the heavy responsibility they felt trying to balance raising their earthly child (discipline) and preparing Him as God intended (the Messiah)! Listen in and hear a little of what comes after the nativity.

Becoming a parent for the first time is wonderful but there are moments of uncertainty as well. This week, Shane and Ronnie continue their conversation about the birth of Jesus. They share what they felt and their fears when their own children were born and compare what Mary and Joseph must have been feeling as they traveled to Bethlehem. The fear and burden of responsibility Joseph must have felt after Jesus’ birth was full of challenges similar to present day fathers. Listen in as our hosts share how they lean into God for guidance as fathers to their children.

The journey to the manger was far from ordinary for Mary and Joseph. Shane and Ronnie begin a series on the nativity and how our own journeys both differ and are similar to Jesus’ earthly parents. From the implications of their situation to the family of origin that shaped how they responded to God’s plan for His son’s arrival into the world, Mary and Joseph’s not so ordinary journey was remarkable in so many ways as we consider our own families and relationships during the time leading up to Christmas.

This week Shane explains the origin of the name JourneyWise and then he and Ronnie dive into why the journey is as important than the final destination. God has a plan for our journeys and it’s up to us to be open to direction He has for us. And - are you wondering what’s up with the mason jars? Listen through to the end for the first “Mason Jar Moment” take away.

This week Shane explains the origin of the name JourneyWise and then he and Ronnie dive into why the journey is as important than the final destination. God has a plan for our journeys and it’s up to us to be open to direction He has for us. And - are you wondering what’s up with the mason jars? Listen through to the end for the first “Mason Jar Moment” take away.

Season 1 Episode 4 This week’s conversation with Ronnie and Shane continues as Shane shares the journey that led him to becoming a minister. Leaning toward law school, Shane continued to hear God’s voice pulling him into full-time ministry. Listen in as he explains how he navigated the intersection of his desire to be a litigator and the Lord’s calling to pastor.

Season 1 Episode 3 We all love to hear stories of people’s journeys to a particular season of life, how they come to live in a particular place or choose careers. This week, Ronnie shares how he became to be a pediatrician. As with many of us, Ronnie’s path to medical school was not straight nor necessarily planned but as with everything, God had a plan and it is clear He was paving the way for Ronnie in his journey to becoming a doctor and then opening a clinic to treat children and adolescents with ADHD.

Season 1 Episode 2 Shane and Ronnie continue sharing stories along their journey as their relationship transitioned from patient/doctor to friends. On a day they agreed to meet and talk through some specific struggles, they realized God had placed the same verse on their hearts that very morning to share with each other - before they met. That wasn’t coincidence! Listen as they tell how that verse on that day answers the question “Why do bad things happen to good people?”. After the break, a new season of life brings new obstacles for Shane to navigate as he reaches the time he had to begin telling others of his HIV status, the start of his career as a pastor and wanting to have children. Ronnie’s role during that season as friend, providing guidance through life experience and sharing his faith reminds us that our relationship with Jesus will carry us through the imperfect life in which we live.

Hosted by Dr. Shane Stanford, M.Div & Dr. Ronnie Kent, MD

We are all on a Journey somewhere. Best friends for over 30 years, Author/Pastor Dr. Shane Stanford and Dr. Ronnie Kent invite you to listen in as they share stories and lessons and teach us what it means to be JourneyWISE through our relationship with Jesus Christ. Through His 30 year ministry, Jesus was the master navigator. Dr.’s Shane & Ronnie guide on using our faith to make every step and encounter matter along our own journey. They want to help others learn that knowing where we are going, how we are getting there and understanding the impact of everything we see along the way is the start to becoming WISE along the Way. Grab a mason jar of your favorite beverage, and join your new friends for the journey.