What if the lack of peace or joy you’re feeling isn’t because you’re doing too little — but because you’re doing things God never asked you to carry?

In this Season 2 premiere of Witness the Wonder, Christina Smith is joined by John "JR" Rennie, founder of Brushfire Ministry and author of Divine Design, for an honest and hope-filled conversation about alignment, identity, and purpose.

JR shares how God used loss, waiting, and surrender to strip away false identity and reveal calling. Together, they explore how living in alignment with God’s design leads to clarity, peace, joy, and lasting fruit.

This episode covers:

• God stories behind calling and purpose
• Why alignment matters more than striving
• How humility and obedience shape spiritual growth
• Recognizing when you’re living out of alignment
• Finding joy even in difficult seasons

🔗 Free Spiritual Gifts Assessment — Brushfire Ministries
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To learn more about today’s guest or explore resources connected to this episode, visit ChristinaSmithOfficial.com.

New episodes of Witness the Wonder release weekly.

Subscribe and follow to hear more stories of how God is always at work in our lives.

Before you set goals for 2026, ask God this question: “What do You want my 2026 to look like?”

If you’re thinking about New Year’s resolutions for 2026, this Season 1 finale of Witness the Wonder will help you shift from pressure filled plans to God led vision.

In this episode, Christina Smith shares a Christian New Year’s message about inviting God into your planning process, then rewinds the top 5 audience favorite moments from Season 1.

We talk about:

• Jeremiah 29:11 and trusting God’s plans for hope and a future

• Habakkuk 2:2 and what it really means to write the vision and make it plain

• Why God led vision brings freedom instead of pressure

Then we count down the top 5 audience favorite stories from Season 1, powerful reminders that God gets the final say and that He is always at work in our story.

You’ll hear moments of:

• Redemption and surrender

• Jesus reaching people through dreams

• Loss and God’s nearness

• Obedience when outcomes are not immediate

• A jaw dropping testimony of being raised from the dead

Christina also shares her heart for 2026 and what God is stirring for the future of Witness the Wonder.

Season 2 begins next week.

Subscribe so you don’t miss what’s ahead.

To stay updated and hear about future Wonder Story Live events, visit ChristinaSmithOfficial.com and join the email list.

#witnessthewonder#witnessthewonder#christianpodcast#newyearsresolutions#faithbasedpodcast#2026#2026plans#2026resolutions#godstories#trustgod#christianencouragement#testimony#jeremiah2911#habakkuk22#godsplan#christianinspiration#faithjourney#godisworking#seasonfinale#MiracleStories

In this special Christmas Miracle episode of Witness the Wonder, host Christina Smith is joined by Anne Day and Angel Faulk to share real stories of how God showed up during some of their most difficult Christmas seasons.

Anne shares her journey through financial hardship, adoption uncertainty, and a life-altering medical diagnosis. In the middle of fear and unanswered questions, God provided in exact and unexpected ways through community, provision, and peace.

Angel shares a deeply personal Christmas miracle following the loss of her first child. In a moment she never asked for, God brought comfort and reassurance from heaven, reminding her that He sees every longing of the heart.

Christina also shares her own Christmas miracle. During a season of financial struggle, God provided through others and taught her the humility of receiving with gratitude when pride wanted to resist.

Together, these stories remind us that miracles do not always come the way we expect, but God is always present, always faithful, and always at work in our story.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Trusting God when the situation feels impossible

• God’s provision during financial uncertainty

• Adoption, fear, and faith colliding

• The power of community and answered prayer

• Comfort from heaven in seasons of loss

• Learning how to receive with humility when pride wants to resist

• Why gratitude opens the door to miracles

If you are believing for a Christmas miracle, whether it is provision, comfort, peace, or hope, this episode is for you.

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💛 SUPPORT THE PODCAST

If Witness the Wonder encourages you, consider supporting the show. Your support helps keep these stories of faith and hope going.

👉 ChristinaSmithOfficial.com/witness-the-wonder

🙏 MY PRAYER FOR YOU

God, for every listener longing for a miracle this Christmas,

I ask that You meet them right where they are.

Provide where there is lack.

Bring comfort where there is grief.

Give peace where fear has taken hold.

Remind them that You see them, You hear them, and You are near.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

🔗 CONNECT WITH CHRISTINA

Website: ChristinaSmithOfficial.com

Follow Witness the Wonder on YouTube and social media:
@WitnessTheWonder

⭐ God is always at work in your story.

Lisa Edmonds grew up a Southern Baptist preacher’s kid… but trauma at fifteen sent her down a dark path she never imagined. What began as hidden pain spiraled into cutting, alcohol and drug addiction, witchcraft, and a homosexual lifestyle. For decades, she ran from God —angry, numb, and convinced He had abandoned her.

But in 2024, everything changed.

After decades of darkness, Lisa surrendered — and Jesus met her in a supernatural encounter that broke every chain and rewrote her entire story.

In this powerful conversation, Lisa shares:• How trauma opened the door to addiction• How witchcraft gained influence in her life• What living a double life did to her identity• Her battle with self-harm and suicide• The moment Jesus physically intervened• Her deliverance, sobriety, and restored identity

If you need hope, freedom, or a reminder that no one is beyond God’s reach — this story is for you.

📖 If You Need a Bible

Lisa offered to send a free physical Bible to anyone who doesn’t have one. Email your mailing information to: WitnessTheWonder@outlook.com

💛 Support Witness the Wonder

If this episode encouraged you, would you consider supporting the podcast?Give here: ChristinaSmithOfficial.com/witness-the-wonder

🙌 A Prayer for You

Jesus, for every listener longing for freedom, I ask that You do for them what You did for Lisa. Break every chain of addiction, trauma, witchcraft, confusion, and bondage. Silence every lie of the enemy and fill them with Your peace, Your truth, and Your presence. Restore what was stolen and lead them into the freedom only You can give. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

✝️ Prayer to Receive Jesus

If you’re ready to surrender your life to Jesus like Lisa did, you can pray this right now:

“Jesus, I need You. I’m tired of doing life on my own. I believe You are the Son of God, that You died for my sins, and that You rose again. Today, I surrender everything to You; my past, my mistakes, my pain, and my whole life. Please forgive me, wash me clean, and make me new. I choose to follow You from this moment forward. Thank You for loving me, for saving me, and for never giving up on me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

🔗 Connect with Christina Smith

Website & Free Resources: ChristinaSmithOfficial.com

YouTube & Socials: @WitnessTheWonder

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⭐ And Remember: God is always at work in your story.

#ChristianTestimony#Deliverance#JesusSaves#SetFree#FreedomInChrist#WitchcraftTestimony#AddictionRecovery#WitnessTheWonder #HomosexualLifestyle #Homosexuality

When Deena hit her breaking point, she discovered something she never expected—God didn’t change her situation… He changed her instead.

In this powerful continuation of her story, Deena opens up about burnout, emotional exhaustion, surrender, identity, and the slow rebuilding process that transformed her from the inside out. Her honesty will speak to anyone walking through a season they didn’t expect or don’t feel strong enough to carry.“

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” — 2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV)

In this episode:

• The breaking point that led to transformation
• How stress and burnout impact the body and spirit
• Why masking pain leads to deeper exhaustion
• What surrender really looks like
• The story behind Specially Empowered Moms
• How God prepares us long before we realize it
• Encouragement for anyone walking through the unexpected

Connect with Deena:
speciallyempoweredmoms.com
YouTube & Socials: @speciallyempoweredmoms

Connect with Christina:

ChristinaSmithOfficial.com
YouTube & Socials: @WitnessTheWonder

💛 Support the Show

If this episode encouraged you, would you consider supporting the podcast?

You can give here: ChristinaSmithOfficial.com/witnessthewonder

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🙏 A Prayer for You

Lord, for every listener who feels overwhelmed, exhausted, or at the end of themselves, I ask that You meet them right where they are. Remind them that Your grace is enough, Your strength is made perfect in their weakness, and You are already at work in their story. Bring peace, clarity, and hope into every place that feels heavy.
Amen.

Thank you for listening and sharing — every subscription helps us spread hope to those who need it.

Remember: God is always at work in your story.

#WitnessTheWonder

#FaithStories #TrueStory

#ChristianPodcast #Parenting

#SpecialNeedsMom #Parenting Support

#DownSyndrome #inspirational #encouragement

#speciallyEmpoweredmoms

What do you do when the life you planned suddenly shifts?

In this powerful episode of Witness the Wonder, Christina Smith sits down with Deena Trocino, founder of SpeciallyEmpoweredMoms.com, who shares how a surprise pregnancy at 42 and a Down syndrome diagnosis at birth completely changed the trajectory of her life, her ministry, and her family.

From leading a thriving youth outreach to navigating unexpected grief, identity shifts, and a new calling she never saw coming—Deena’s story is honest, raw, and full of God’s faithfulness in the unexpected.

If your life feels “off script,” this episode will remind you:

God is still writing the story.

What We Talk About

• When your plans and God’s plans collide
• Running a youth center for at-risk teens for nearly 20 years
• The shock of pregnancy at 42
• The silent delivery room and the Down syndrome diagnosis
• Becoming an advocate overnight
• The hidden grief of losing the life you thought you’d have
• The toll on ministry, marriage, and her older children
• How God reoriented her identity and calling
• Encouragement for parents walking through difficult seasons

✨ Scripture

Romans 8:28 (ESV)

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good…”

🔔 Stay Connected

Website: ChristinaSmithOfficial.com

YouTube & Social: @witnessthewonder

Contact / Speaking Requests: Via ChristinaSmithOfficial.com

💛 Connect with Deena Trocino

YouTube & Socials:

@SpeciallyEmpoweredMoms

Website: SpeciallyEmpoweredMoms.com

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🙌 Support the Podcast

Visit ChristinaSmithOfficial.com for ways to support the show, find more resources, and join the community.

And remember…

God is always at work in your story.

In this special Thanksgiving episode of Witness the Wonder, we’re talking about altars of gratitude — the moments where we pause to remember what God has done. In Scripture, God’s people built altars as reminders of His faithfulness. They were altars built to mark the places where He met them, strengthened them, or carried them through.

Today, we don’t build stone altars anymore, but we still need reminders of what God has done so we can hold onto hope when life feels uncertain.

This is also my first solo episode of Witness the Wonder, and I’m grateful to share it with you. It feels meaningful that this moment is anchored in gratitude and remembering what God has done.

✨ In this episode, you’ll hear:

• What altars of gratitude are and why the Israelites built them

• How remembering strengthens your faith today

• The anonymous check taped to our door during a financial crisis

• How God met me personally through a small yellow-and-black bird

• How your Thanksgiving table can become a place of remembrance

• Why looking back helps you trust God for what’s ahead

• Why your story has power to inspire and encourage others

If you’re in a season where you need encouragement, hope, or reassurance that God is still working — this episode will help you remember the places He met you before so you can trust Him for what’s ahead.

📖 Scripture References

• Joshua 4 — Stones of remembrance

• 1 Samuel 7:12 — “Ebenezer: thus far the Lord has helped us”

• Genesis 28 — Jacob’s encounter at Bethel

• Isaiah 38 — Hezekiah’s prayer and God’s response

• Psalm 77:11 — “I will remember the deeds of the Lord”

❤️ Thanksgiving Blessing

As you gather with the people you love, may your home be filled with joy, peace, and reminders of how faithful God has been this year.

Happy Thanksgiving, friends — and remember, God is always at work in your story.

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If this podcast blesses you and you'd like to partner with the ministry, you can give here:

👉 ChristinaSmithOfficial.com/witnessthewonder

🎤 BOOK CHRISTINA TO SPEAK OR BE A GUEST

If you’d like me to speak at your event, church, women’s gathering, or be a guest on your podcast, you can connect with me here:
👉 ChristinaSmithOfficial.com (use the contact form)

📺 Subscribe for more God stories, testimonies, and conversations of faith:

All Streaming and Social Media Platforms: @witnessthewonder

⏱️ CHAPTERS

00:00 — Welcome + Thanksgiving Introduction

01:02 — Travel Reflections & Unexpected Ministry Moments

03:49 — What Are Altars of Gratitude?

06:10 — Biblical Examples of Altars

08:24 — Why We Need to Remember What God Has Done

08:33 — Birch Gold Sponsor (Ad #1)

09:49 — The Story Behind Isaiah 38

10:55 — The Anonymous Check on Our Door

15:54 — When the Story Didn’t Go How We Expected

18:54 — Birch Gold Sponsor (Ad #2)

19:10 — A Personal Encounter With God’s Love (The Tree & the Bird)

23:02 — What Altars Has God Built in Your Life?

24:50 — How to Create Modern-Day Altars

25:55 — A Thanksgiving Invitation for Your Family Table

27:50 — Final Blessing: You Are Loved, Seen & Not Alone

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Grief shows up in unexpected moments — a memory, a place, even something as simple as a family event… especially during the holidays.

In this Wonder Story Highlight, Heather O’Brien, host of the Heal with God Podcast, and I talk honestly about navigating grief, seasonal depression, and what it looks like to feel the emotion, process it, and keep moving forward without staying stuck.

For years, I avoided grieving. I stayed busy, took care of others, and pushed my own tears aside. But as loss kept piling up, I realized I couldn’t outrun it anymore — I had to grieve.

And in that journey, God met me with a closeness I didn’t even know to expect.

In this conversation, we explore:

• How grief shows up in everyday moments

• Why avoiding grief keeps you stuck

• What healthy grieving looks like

• How to take negative thoughts captive before they pull you deeper

• Why community matters when depression whispers “isolate”

• The surprising connection between helping others and emotional healing

• What the Bible actually says about comfort, mourning, and hope

If you're walking through grief or depression, this highlight is for you.

You’re not alone. There is hope.

✨ Watch full episodes on any streaming platform:

YouTube • Goodvue Network • FaithfulStream.com • Spotify • Apple Podcasts
Search: Witness the Wonder — Christina Smith

✨ CONNECT WITH HEATHER O’BRIEN

Prophetic Healing Workshop: https://heatherobrien.net/workshop

Podcast: Heal With God
Instagram: @healwithgodpodcast

✨ CONNECT WITH CHRISTINA SMITH

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@witnessthewonder

Instagram, Facebook, TikTok: @witnessthewonder

Website: https://www.ChristinaSmithOfficial.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/witnessthewonder

🤝 PARTNER WITH WITNESS THE WONDER

If this highlight encouraged you, would you consider supporting the show? Your shares, reviews, and financial gifts help keep these stories going.

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#grief #grieftips #griefsupport #depressionhelp #seasonaldepression #healingjourney #innerhealing #mentalhealthmatters #emotionalwellbeing #takeeverythoughtcaptive #choosingjoy #overcomingdepression #youarenotalone #healingispossible #holidaygrief #mindsetmatters #witnessTheWonder