Jonathan David & Melissa Helser Podcast

18 Inch Journey Men apps are still open! Apply here - http://18inchjourney.comIn this episode, Jonathan Helser and Jason Vallotton discuss overcoming anxiety with vulnerability. Jonathan shares about the breakthroughs he has found over the last 10 years learning to own where his heart really is, the gift of his tears and the power of in living in the paradox that in showing our weakness there is strength.Jason Vallotton is a pastor and counselor in Redding, CA. He is a longtime friend of Jonathan and Melissa who has substantially contributed to the 18 Inch Journey discipleship school and to the Cageless Birds community. Visit https://www.braveco.org for all of Jason's resources!Listen to the BraveCo Podcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BraveCo/featured Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/braveco-podcast/id1572203259 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7bj3alprsYm2RCMQBUcSA3?si=QO4bhHxETNSA6XkTD9dUrA// If you are interested in learning more about the Cageless Birds, please go to https://cagelessbirds.com We have also created resources for discipleship and tools for stewarding your life with the Lord at https://engagingcultivate.com If you’d like to be a part of what the Lord is doing through our ministry, go to https://www.cagelessbirds.com/donate Connect with Cageless Birds :Shop to support the Cageless Birds | https://shop.cagelessbirds.comFacebook | https://www.facebook.com/cagelessbirds/Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/cagelessbirds/

Jonathan and Melissa sit down for a conversation about the importance of building strong foundations with Jesus in order to withstand the inevitable storms of life. They each share personal stories from their lives as well as keys, practices, and questions that have helped them stay with God when life is hard. Whether your foundations are new, worn down, or cracked and broken, we hope this conversation inspires you to let the Master Builder come and do what only He can do: Secure, strengthen, and heal the support system of your life.This episode was inspired by the latest book release from the Cageless Birds: FOUNDATIONS 01. Foundations exists to help you establish a friendship with God strong enough to build your life on, whether you are in the beginning stages of your walk with the Lord, or you are needing to look back before moving forward. You can get a copy of the book at https://shop.cagelessbirds.com/products/foundations-01Learn more about the Cageless Birds at https://www.cagelessbirds.comLearn more about the 18 Inch Journey at https://www.18inchjourney.comIf you’d like to be a part of what the Lord is doing through our ministry, go to https://www.cagelessbirds.com/donateConnect with Cageless Birds:Shop to support the Cageless Birds | https://shop.cagelessbirds.comYoutube | https://www.youtube.com/@Cageless-BirdsFacebook | https://www.facebook.com/@cagelessbirdsInstagram | https://www.instagram.com/cagelessbirds/

This episode is a special conversation between Jonathan & Melissa Helser and Chris Miller. They dive into what it means to live in the full range of emotions during winter seasons. They talk about how “Sadness is required to truly experience Joy” and what it means to share our feelings with the close people around us as well as talking about practices to stay centered in hard seasons. We hope that this conversation gives you new tools for any season you are in and tools for engaging with the seasons your friends or family are in. This conversation was inspired by the release of our new album Sing Winter. We have created a nostalgic winter album to honor the hope and the tenderness of the season. May you cherish moments that become sacred memories, and may you feel deeply met as you unapologetically honor the reverence, sorrow, and joy of life. It is in embracing every part of life that we know we are truly alive. Our prayer is that your winter season will sing, and that you will feel enveloped in the hope that Jesus brings. Merry Christmas from the Cageless Birds 🕊️ Listen to Sing Winter Here: https://lnk.to/SingWinter To learn more about our ministry: www.cagelessbirds.com www.jonathanhelser.com www.18inchjourney.com

In this episode, Jonathan sits down with his longtime friend, Adam Cox. They reflect on their decades of friendship, and how Adam's passion for helping people encounter the unfailing love of God has impacted our community, and schools (The 18 Inch Journey). Adam's first book, "The God Story," (co-authored by Alain Emerson) is a compelling and creative retelling of the biblical story to help you move from familiar to fascinated. It is out now and available wherever books are sold! Get "The God Story" here: https://www.24-7prayer.com/resource/the-god-story/?utm_source=cagelessbirds&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=the-god-story If you'd like to learn more about our ministry, go to:  https://www.18inchjourney.com   https://cagelessbirds.com https://jonathanhelser.com 

This episode is a special conversation between Melissa Helser and Chris Miller. Melissa shares about her song, Beautiful Jesus, and a worship moment from the 2023 18 Inch Journey that was recently shared on the Cageless Birds YouTube channel. She reflects on the season of her life during which that song was first written as well as what it’s like to lead worship within the context of our discipleship schools. At the end of this podcast, we play the full worship moment that Melissa is referencing, so please stick around to the end and enjoy this song and spontaneous worship moment! You can also watch the moment on our YouTube channel at: https://youtu.be/ScIzMcvCdQc?si=FsjrZH3qqjji8EgZ To learn more about our ministry, go to www.jonathanhelser.com, www.18inchjourney.com, or www.cagelessbirds.com.

In our previous episode, Melissa taught from 2 Corinthians 9 on living generous lives without reluctance or compulsion. In this episode she opens up James 1, unpacking the way perseverance produces maturity in us, and how the discipline of the Lord brings us true wisdom and discernment as we walk with him. This message was originally recorded in 2022 at Bethel Music Worship School. Six years ago, we finished building the Art Barn, a space that become such a gift to our campus: the home of our video, design, and marketing departments, and a multi-purpose hub for so many things that happen in our schools, retreats, and summer camps.  Out of all that happens in this space, one of the most special things is the hours of worship we have poured out on Jesus in this place. It has truly become holy ground for our students to encounter the Lord. It has also become a sacred space for us to capture hours of worship on film that we have been able to share with people all over the world through YouTube and music streaming. Over these years we have been using a very basic audio system and it has been our dream to upgrade the sound and recording system. We are launching a campaign to raise $30,000 to upgrade all the audio in this space! If you are interested in partnering with us to reach this goal, we invite you to head to http://cagelessbirds.com/donate Thank you! To learn more about our ministry, go to www.jonathanhelser.com, www.18inchjourney.com, or www.cagelessbirds.com.  

We need the perspective of the Lord to overcome the lies that we face and realign us with the truth. In this episode, Jonathan teaches on living defined by the Father’s voice. He shares practical examples from his own life, and ends with a journaling exercise. This message was originally recorded in 2021 at Bethel Music Worship School. Our podcast is made possible by the generous support of people all over the world. If you were impacted by this episode, we’d like to invite you to partner with us to disciple a generation into wholehearted living! To support our non-profit ministry, head to http://cagelessbirds.com/donate. You can donate to the general fund, support one of our Cageless Birds staff, or sponsor a project. Thank you! To learn more about our ministry, go to www.jonathanhelser.com, www.18inchjourney.com, or www.cagelessbirds.com.

In this episode, Jonathan Helser and Jason Vallotton continue their conversation about living as powerful, healthy men. “Where are you?” This was the first question God asked in the Bible to Adam and Eve after they sinned and were hiding. It is so important for us all to grow in understanding our stories so that we can confess to God and others where we actually are and ask for help. This is where discipleship happens. Jason Vallotton is a pastor and counselor in Redding, CA. He is a longtime friend of Jonathan and Melissa who has made a significant impact on our community and our discipleship schools. (Learn more about Jason’s ministry and the BraveCo podcast here: https://braveco.org) To listen to the “Dates, Mates and Babies with the Vallottons” Podcast, click here. Our 18 Inch Journey discipleship school exists to close the gap between what we know about God in our heads and who we believe Him to be in our hearts. Our vision is to see sons and daughters who are yielded to Jesus, tending to their inner life, and thriving in their relationships. If you are interested in learning more about the 18 Inch Journey, head over to http://18inchjourney.com. We have created resources for discipleship and tools for stewarding your life with the Lord at https://engagingcultivate.com.  You can also watch this podcast on the Cageless Birds YouTube channel.  

This podcast episode continues the conversation between Melissa Helser, Justina Stevens, Jessie Miller & Phyllis Unkefer about living as rooted and empowered women in this day and age. This part of the conversation focuses on the work of being a powerful woman and what that work requires for the long haul of life. Through stories and examples from their own lives, they unpack what it means to walk in wholeness by growing in self-awareness and yielding to their neediness for the Lord. Our discipleship programs are centered around learning and receiving the rest and companionship that Jesus offers in everyday life. If you are interested in learning more about the Cageless Birds, please go to https://cagelessbirds.com! We have also created resources for discipleship and tools for stewarding your life with the Lord at https://engagingcultivate.com. You can also watch this podcast on the Cageless Birds YouTube channel HERE.  

In this podcast episode, Jonathan Helser dialogues with Chris Miller, Jake Stevens & John David Gravitt (three leaders in our community) about living as wholehearted men in this day and age. This conversation centers around personal stories from each of the men about learning to press pause in the race of life, and reaching out with these simple yet challenging words: "I need help".  **This month, applications are open for our 18 Inch Journey Phase One discipleship school! Applications are open until 2/1.**  Our discipleship programs are centered around learning and receiving the rest and companionship that Jesus offers in everyday life. If you are interested in learning more or applying to one of our discipleship programs, go to http://18inchjourney.com! If you know someone who would be interested in our school or retreats, please share this podcast with them! You can also watch this podcast on the Cageless Birds YouTube channel.

This is the second episode in a brand new three-part series.  Featuring Jonathan and Melissa with Chris Miller and Phyllis Unkefer, this conversation centers around staying with God in the tension of life. They unpack why we teach creative rhythms in our discipleship schools and how discovering God in the ordinary is possible. He desires to offer us true rest in the valleys and mountains of life. **This month, applications are open for our 18 Inch Journey Phase One discipleship school and Becoming Wholehearted Men’s Retreat! Note: Our Women’s Retreat application has closed.** Our discipleship programs are centered around learning and receiving the rest and companionship that Jesus offers in everyday life. If you are interested in learning more or applying to one of our discipleship programs, go to http://18inchjourney.com! If you know someone who would be interested in our school or retreats, please share this podcast with them! You can also watch this podcast on the Cageless Birds YouTube channel HERE.

In this podcast, Jonathan shares a message about the way that Mary, the mother of Jesus, courageously prayed and changed history. This prayer of Mary: “Let it be unto me according to your word” is a prayer we can say in just a breath—yet, it’s one of those prayers we could explore the rest of our lives. We never come to the end of discovering more of God. This message is from our Cageless Birds community night—our weekly gathering where we worship and fellowship together as a group of friends.  To listen to the “Cageless Birds” worship set that happened before Jonathan shared go to: https://youtu.be/YtX30Pzw0rs  The book Jonathan read from, “Walking on Water” by Madeleine L'Engle is one of our favorite books on faith and creativity. We highly recommend it.  Get it here: https://a.co/d/0FtVmOr