How It All Started
My name is Jason. I go professionally by J Dot (Long story). Though I very much knew that God walked beside me for as long as I can remember, it wasn't until May 13, 2021 that I truly understood God's love for me.
On that day, God called me home. I was greeted by The Great Cloud of Witnesses, with my grand parents, who were gone before I was born, and Jesus front and center. I can't tell the full story here. Check out the "God Sent Me Back" video on the bottom of this page to hear the full story.
That chapter of my story ends with Jesus touching my face saying, "There is still so much for you to do," and then sending me back. I was devastated. The journey since that moment has been filled with incredible highs, lows, pain and every emotion under the sun, but as 1 Corinthians 13:13 says, "the greatest of these is love" - God's love for me and mine for Him, His son Jesus and His Holy Spirit.
Having encountered Jesus through music, the overwhelming impact music has had on my life, my faith and my relationship with Jesus, God worked through me to create Heart Beat Radio. The goal is to share the moments in life when God uses music. Maybe it was a song that got you through a challenging season or helped you hold on for one more day. Maybe it was a sign or perhaps it planted a seed. Maybe it simply brought you joy or brought back fond memories. Maybe it even led you to Jesus. God uses music in many ways. We all have been impacted by music.
Throughout the first season, I really struggled to understand why God sent me back and His calling for Heart Beat Radio. I tried to walk away many times - despite thoroughly enjoying producing and hosting the show. God intervened and made it clear that I was to press on.
In November 2022, He thew me another curveball. I was diagnosed with Primary Progressive Aphasia. PPA is a rare form of dementia that attacks one's ability to talk, read, write and to communicate. Since my diagnosis, PPA has advanced and I now have significant cognitive impairment and, most recently, gross motor skills challenges. Best guess is that this all suggests that I have, maybe, 2-5 years before God calls me home permanently. With a 10 & 12-year-old, this is tough to swallow. HOWEVER, I have always thrived hitting the curve and I have always been an outlier! Through Christ, ALL things are possible!
In struggling with my speech and ability to think, reason and plan, grouped with the fact that I didn't have the reach, network or resources to fulfill God's calling for Heart Beat Radio, I again tried to walk away. And again God wouldn't let me. He made it clear that He had solutions and answers to all my concerns and problems. How was I supposed to host a radio show when I was losing my ability to communicate? He told me He had a plan for that too and to move forward with the show. So I did.
As for my concerns on getting Heart Beat Radio in front of more people and funding the project, in a two-hour period at Panera God poured God Said Live out of me. Only I spelled it God Sed Liv through my Aphasic brain. I went to correct the spelling and God stopped me telling me it was how He intended me to spell it. That it too is part of His plan and it would serve as an opportunity for me to tell my story. He showed me the future of God Sed Liv & Heart Beat Radio. I saw it successful and thriving. I saw these songs, stories and segments changing hearts, bringing people comfort, joy and peace. I saw it bring people to Christ. So, I changed the format to align with His vision and got to work on Season 2 of Heart Beat Radio.
I haven't even come close to moving Heart Beat Radio to where God intends it to be. The success of God Sed Liv plays a huge role in that. As I sit on the cusp of Season 3, struggling through the progressions in my disease, I am determined to listen to God as He continues to provide solutions to the obstacles in front of me. I won't lie. I am scared. My brain used to be my greatest asset. My confidence in my abilities are shaken having to navigate my new reality and identity, but I am leaning into God's love and His son Jesus to carry out this calling.
There is SO much more to this story and it is filled with miracle after miracle. It is truly book and movie worthy stuff. I would love to tell you everything and I am working on ways to do so. In the meantime, I get to share my story, my faith and love for Jesus through God Sed Liv.
(continued below)
God Sed Liv's mission is to help believers wear their faith openly and proudly so that they might be light for others. Each of our designs are the product of God unwilling to let me go. He pursued me, chased after me, brought me home and sent me back to finish what He started in me.
God speaks to me in many ways, but particularly through music. God spoke God Sed Liv into existence. The designs are His. He uses the creative gifts He gave me to bring them to life. Ironically, my creative side is fully intact. It is the only part of me that I recognize and feels like me.
Our hope is that God will use these designs to connect His people, serve as conversation starters about faith, share the love of Jesus, be part of a world-wide revival and, of course, help build the ministry of Heart Beat Radio.
Please join me and wearing your faith openly and proudly. Let the light God intended you to be shine for all to see.
Please feel free to reach out to me at jdot@godsedliv.com if you are interested in booking a speaking session for your organization, event or church. Or, of course, if you have any questions.
May God lead you in His love to those around you!
J Dot
