Episodes

Spencer graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Master’s Degree in Public Affairs and held senior positions in the Office of the Secretary at the Department of Labor and the Department of the Interior in Washington, D.C. He has been a consultant and speaker for almost 50 years serving both public and private leadership on multiple continents in the areas of strategic effectiveness and interpersonal relationships. He has four grown children and has walked the same path we have. Resou...

The centerpiece of every June 2 Prodigal Prayer Day is prayer for people as requested by someone who loves them. All we know about them is a first name. But, of course, God knows each one intimately. Is this effective? Oh yes! Coming together to pray helps us feel not alone on this journey, and Scripture assures us that He is there when His children come together to pray. It also encourages each one to hear the stories of others, and especially to hear stories of answered prayer and changed liv...

I have special guests today. At the age of 14, our prodigal went to a place for troubled teens at House of Hope here in Orlando. It was early in our long prodigal journey, but it was an important stop on that difficult road. As Josh has explained in Episode 50, he met Jesus at HOH, learned about rules and consequences, made friends, grew in many areas of his life. And he did well when he came home—for most of a year. Then he got back with old friends, and our real wilderness journey began. But e...

So, hopefully, you have practiced walking in the Spirit and giving thanks ,as we talked about last week, and are finding increasing joy in your life. So what do you do with this abundance of joy? You give it away! Huh? But I just got it. The funny thing is, the more joy you give to others, the more your joy will multiply. So I titled this episode Joy to the World. I really have only two recommendations for giving joy away. First to your prodigal, and also to everyone. Well, everyone you know, ...

I have a young grandgirl who is full of energy. She seems to be in endless motion, running from one activity to the next: trampoline, jungle gym, playing princess, pretending to shop, swimming, visiting the piglets, all with me in tow. Joy bubbles out of her. When this Jeedoo (my grandmother name) gets tired and requires a pause, my grand girl is wise enough to grant it if she wants me to keep playing a few minutes more. But sometimes, if I—or her mom or dad—choose not to cooperate with her des...

Joy, my friend and neighbor, always brings Joy into my life—she was aptly named. She told me God gave her a joyful surprise this morning. She had completely forgotten some avocado seeds she had planted. This morning, she was surprised by joy as she saw new avocado trees sprouting. I don’t think my reaction to the growing avocado trees would be joy, But joy is her normal response. She lives it out and spreads it around. When you love a prodigal, you may find joy is in scarce supply. Your surpri...

This week we are beginning the first of four devotional studies leading up to the June 2 Worldwide Prodigal Prayer Day. The theme is Joy in the Hard Journey. There will be more info on June 2 at the end of the podcast and in the Show Notes. My husband, Steve, has been a daily source of joy for me for more than 50 years, and especially for the 47 years of marriage. He loved me and served me and encouraged me so well. Such joy he added to my life! Six months ago, Steve left me. It was not his ch...

Once again our prodigal had aggravated me. My natural reaction was to raise my voice and assign a consequence. Instead, as he stormed out of the house, I went to his room, gathered his scattered dirty clothes and headed to the laundry room. Doing his laundry was his job, not mine. But today it was mine. And as I threw each shirt and shorts into the washer, I said, “My son, I bless you.” “Josh, I bless you.” I don’t know if he felt blessed, but it did wonders for me. Why did I do that? Resourc...

Sarah Nielsen is one of us. She had a long journey with a prodigal, and like us, she learned a great deal about living with and loving a wanderer. And about learning to trust God along the way. You will appreciate her stories and hearing about her book, Just Keep Going. We are giving away two copies of her book—check below for how to enter for the drawing. Resources: Enter to win a copy of Sarah’s book: https://judydouglass.com/bookgiveaway Sarah’s website: http://www.justkeepgoingparents.com...

It’s amazing to me that this is Episode 100. I had never even listened to a podcast when I was asked to do this one. But my team and my husband said, when I was reluctant, “You can’t turn down this great opportunity God has given you!!” So I said yes. And it has been such a privilege to travel with you on your prodigal wilderness journey, learning with you, hopefully helping and encouraging you. I have been so blessed as I did each podcast, as I was reminded of all that God had done in my life—...

I was asked at church yesterday what has helped me get through hard times. Of course, the Holy Spirit, prayer...and this one practice. This is a familiar message you have heard from me, but it has made all the difference: Give thanks in everything. Learning to say “thank You” to God has transformed my life. I believe it can do the same for you—even on the hardest days with your loved one. Resources: Gratitude Music: Brandon Lake https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuxzcJps6eo Gratitude: A Doxolo...

In kids’ sports there is often a “mercy rule.” If one team gets far ahead, the game is called. It seems only kind and fair to not embarrass or demoralize the kids who are losing so badly. In life it rarely works that way. There is no mercy rule, no rescue from your losses, your hurts, your failures. But in God’s Kingdom, Jesus instituted a Mercy Rule. Resources: Mercy Music: Mercy, Matt Redman https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuxzcJps6eo Join the Prayer for Prodigals community here: https://b...

Learning to live out God’s amazing mercy doesn’t happen overnight. Today we are going to look at two familiar stories in the Bible and see the journeys to mercy of Jonah and Joseph. God sent Jonah to Ninevah on a mission of mercy. But Jonah knew God was a merciful God. He was sure, if he preached and the people of Nineveh repented, God would spare them. Jonah did not want that, so he found a ship and headed to Tarshish. Resources: Mercy Music: Mercy Is a Song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2...

God’s love for His children—from long ago and for us—can be described with words like reckless, relentless, lavish, extravagant. Yet the children of Israel turned from him to other gods over and over. God wept many tears. And we who love a prodigal have loved, provided, encouraged, trained and taught, reprimanded and prayed. Over and over…and over again. Oh, the tears we have wept. How did God respond? And how does He ask us to respond? Resources: Mercy Music: New Every Morning https://www.y...

Today we are starting a new series—a very important topic because God has said it is so high on His list of what matters, in our loved ones’ lives and in our lives. I’m talking about mercy. We all want mercy, but we often find it challenging to give mercy. I think you will be surprised. Resources: Mercy Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fvww0_6GWYU Join the Prayer for Prodigals community here: https://bit.ly/3uyhSWQ Sign up for Judy’s monthly newsletter here: https://bit.ly/39TBlYt Purch...

Debbie Runyon, sister to our prodigal Josh, once asked me why I let him get away with so many things he did. I said, “I could be after Josh all day every day with all the choices he made. I decided to focus on the ones that would save his life.” In our honest and vulnerable conversation, Debbie shares from what she remembers when Josh first joined us as a foster child, some realities she learned, and a few lessons that have been helpful as she parents her five children. Resources: Listen to t...

As many of you know, my wonderful husband Steve moved to heaven four months ago. I am missing him terribly, but God and friends are helping me in so many ways. One of the best things about our 47 years of marriage was that I knew he loved me. He told me so at least once every day. He gave me lots of hugs. Every morning he made coffee and brought a cup to me—and kept it filled. And he and I both worked at loving our prodigal well. Though that wasn’t always easy or well-received, throughout the ...

I first got to know Tom and Dena Yohe on the June 2 Worldwide Prodigal Prayer Day. Their daughter was gone, living on the street. The long journey that ensued was so challenging, but has produced amazing good outcomes –in their family and in the many who have received help from their resources and support groups. Tom and Dena share their story, and how you can access the helps they have developed. Tom & Dena’s Resources: Website: https://hopeforhurtingparents.com/ Contact us: hope@HopeforHurt...

Today we wrap up our wilderness exploration—looking for treasured gifts, with two especially helpful gifts. I am a strong-willed, stubborn person. From the beginning. Just ask my family.When I came to Christ at age 15, I made a purposeful exchange: “God, I choose your way, not mine.” I thought it was settled. But, by the next day I discovered I would be making the choice—my way or God’s way?—every day, sometimes many times a day. Resources: I Still Want My Own Way: https://tinyurl.com/34vkjf...

I used to think I knew how to pray. Then this wilderness journey with my wandering son required desperate prayer. And I moved into a new dimension of what it meant to pray. Even now I realize I still know so little about praying. Prayer is a wonder I can barely comprehend. Sometimes I feel woefully inadequate and terribly ineffective—does anything happen when I pray? Resources: Free Ebook: https://judydouglass.com/prayersforyourwildernessjourney Join the Prayer for Prodigals community here: ht...

Is unconditional love possible? Parents learn this early. Even before a baby is born, they love her. And the moment they see her, they are head over heels in love. It’s a good thing. Because that baby demands everything and gives no love in return for quite a while. Fortunately they grow up and learn to love. Unfortunately, when they become teens, sometimes they break our hearts with words like, “Leave me alone! I hate you!!” or “You’re not my real mother!” Resources: Join the Prayer for Prod...

You don’t expect to find one of your best gifts ever when you are wandering through the wilderness. A walk in the wilderness might be lovely if you’re a nature lover and you keep your eyes open. You could discover some real gems: colorful creatures, spectacular plants, encounters with startling animals, an astounding array of colors and shapes underwater, hidden waterfalls. But a walk in the wilderness could also be frightening and full of surprises that turn out to be dangerous: snakes, spider...

You won't want to miss this week's episode!! I loved my conversation with Darryl Smith, a truly transformed prodigal--and I think you will too. Darryl fathered a child in high school, dealt drugs, was divorced and remarried, spent time in prison...and now serves Jesus. Darryl Lamar Smith was born and raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He graduated from Kirkman High School in 1983 and served in the U.S. Army for three years. God saved him in 1991. He was licensed to preach in 1992 and ordained in...

Life has been very challenging since my beloved moved to Heaven. But God has been so faithful. I hope you will listen and be encouraged--Loss comes in many forms. Resources: Giving Thanks Through Tears: https://tinyurl.com/y288bdxm Email judy@judydouglass.com to receive a copy of Enjoying Your Walk with God Enter the drawing for 3 winners to receive a copy of Steve’s Books: https://judydouglass.com/bookgiveaway Join the Prayer for Prodigals community here: https://bit.ly/3uyhSWQ Sign up for Ju...