Insight for Living Canada - LifeTrac Podcast

Hebrews 9:22Washing up for dinner is something we all learn as children. But in spiritual terms, there's a banquet you're invited to, which requires more than just soap and water—it takes blood.

Luke 16:1-15Chuck Swindoll didn't own his first car. He spent so much time polishing it the car actually owned him! So often we get caught up in appearances and forget to enjoy ourselves.

Colossians 3:13When you forgive someone, you free yourself. Forgiveness takes you out of the bondage of bitterness and you literally take out the trash that's preventing you from enjoying all the blessings that God has in store for you.

Luke 15:11-32A hero is someone who is admired for his achievements, noble qualities, and courage. This definition isn't limited to dads—even if you've never heard it, moms and dads, you are your children's heroes.

1 Thessalonians 5:14Want some great advice for building a happy home? These four two-word one-liners will help you keep your family first.

Romans 12:4-8What are your priorities? It takes work to cultivate a family and make a happy home, but the long-term rewards are worth every effort.

1 Samuel 18:3-4Being a friend means being available, especially in times of crisis. You give the greatest comfort by simply being there and listening. Your caring presence can help start the healing process in a troubled person's life.

1 Samuel 20:4A sheltering tree is a great description of a friend. We all need friends who will stand by us, in good times and bad. Going it alone is not how we're wired.

Exodus 24:7The Bible is not something we worship, but the words are important. They're to be preserved, guarded, accepted, and—most importantly—obeyed.

Revelation 2:10Eternity isn't something we like to think about, but each of us will certainly enter it one day. The question is...where will we spend it?

Luke 18:15-17Parents, teach your child of his significance regardless of looks, abilities, or intelligence. Every child is entitled to grow up confident and secure.

1 Samuel 17:4Goliath was an enormous man. Measuring nine feet nine inches tall, he was, and still is, an intimidating presence. However, Goliath didn't intimidate David. The only giant he saw was God—he knew God would help him. What about the giants in your life? How do you handle them? Straight on like David, or do you avoid them, in the hopes someone else will fight them?

1 Kings 2:3-4When everyone is busy following major world events, God is watching the hillside—looking for faithful followers to fulfil His purposes. When we're faithful to the demanding tasks of life, the daily grind of life, that's when God can use us.

Matthew 13:44-52Some subjects are so profound not only can we not comprehend it, but also it becomes mind-boggling. It's impossible for us to understand an existence beyond time and space. For us to comprehend the glories of heaven, God adjusts His truth to communicate with our simple, limited minds.

Revelation 20:7-10Satan's aim is to destroy God's creation. But his strength is limited and his days are numbered. He's the ultimate loser. And he's a defeated foe. Just read the book of Revelation.

2 Samuel 23:1-7Last words are often great words. They clarify, solidify, prioritize, and summarize. That's why they're meaningful.

Hebrews 13:8Erosion is slow, silent, and subtle. That's why compromise can so quickly lead to erosion—it isn't always bad, but when we compromise on God's Word erosion beings to take place. And that leads to destruction.

1 Samuel 10:9-12It's one thing to be apathetic towards people. We're often indifferent to politics and social justice—trusting others to take care and do what's right. As serious as apathy is, apathy towards God is even more critical. When we open our hearts to God He replaces apathy with passion... and that's when our lives are changed.

Psalms 46:1What is it about human nature that just has to disobey the signs? We see the words “Do Not Touch” and we have this unexplainable urge to do the opposite. Obedience is not something that comes naturally to us—that's human nature. The good news is God gives us the power to overcome our sinful inclinations.

Ecclesiastes 3:1Life isn't black and white—there's a lot of grey. There are times to compromise, and times to stand firm. Where we go wrong is when we compromise our theology to accommodate our lifestyle.

Genesis 1:27Do you give a person the freedom to be completely different from you? Or must we all sound, look, and respond alike?

1 Peter 2:15-17Many who've accepted Christ are still enslaved to their former lives—they haven't allowed Christ to release them from their old habits and destructive lifestyles. But He's waiting to unlock the chains and grant a life of freedom.

James 4:13-15Have you ever had an experience when circumstances were completely out of your control and there was nothing you could do…except trust God? When that happens it's a good reminder that God is the potter and we are the clay.

2 Samuel 22:21Often those who are getting a little older think it is too late to do something significant. But that isn't true. It is never too late.

Leviticus 18:4-5Sometimes we seem inundated by laws and rules, but whether or not we like them they're usually there for a reason. The same goes for God's Word. He gives us laws for our protection and well-being. When we go against God's laws we find ourselves living with regret, disappointment, and heartache.

Ephesians 5:33Do you know what the basic needs of your spouse are? When needs aren't met it's easy for a relationship to find itself in a state of disrepair. Here are the five major needs of husbands and wives.

1 Peter 4:8-10Sometimes when things don't go our way we get upset. Changing our perspective on the situation may be all we need to calm down.

Proverbs 22:6You nurture when you cultivate your children and help them know who they are. It's a bit like cultivating bamboo. You put a lot of work in and don't see many results at first but perseverance pays off!

Hebrews 5:14There are few things cuter than the cluelessness of children. However, there are few things more tragic than an adult living a clueless life.

1 Corinthians 15:34Old habits are hard to break. Sometimes we do what is wrong inadvertently, but sometimes we know we've done wrong but because we've done it so long we don't stop—even though we hurt ourselves and sometimes others.

Ephesians 4:11-13We all have special gifts and abilities from God. While it's good to venture out of our comfort zones, here's a humorous illustration of why we shouldn't force people to go too far outside the area of their gifting.

Hebrews 5:13-14In the process of being nurtured, children learn the quality of their parents' love (security), the limits of their own liberty (maturity), and the characteristics of a healthy independence (purity).

1 Samuel 16:7Clothing may polish the image, but it doesn't polish the character. You've heard the statement “You never have a second chance to make a first impression,” but does how you dress have anything to do with the inside? How do you polish that?

Romans 13:13Ever heard of the cookie jar syndrome? It's when there is a set of beliefs very carefully in place but there isn't the behaviour to give it authenticity. Belief and behaviour always go hand-in-hand. And they go in that order.

Ephesians 6:4Your child needs you to help know who he is. Parents, spend more time affirming and encouraging your child for what he does right than for disciplining and correcting for what he does wrong. Children get security from their parents to know who they are, to like who they are, and to be who they are.

Titus 2:3-5Raising kids is neither an easy task nor for the faint-hearted. Here are a few humorous tests to determine if you're ready for kids. New parent? You're going to love this LifeTrac!

Romans 13:7There is more than one kind of stealing. Sometimes we have to confront one another but be careful of how you do this because you may be guilty of the same thing! Pay people what you owe them. If you don't, you are stealing—that's how it works!

1 Thessalonians 5:11When self-esteem is missing from our lives we erect defences, wear masks, or become clowns. But when we have self-esteem we are able to love, give of ourselves, and pull the best out of others.

Job 32:6-8Aging is inevitable. Before we know it, we're halfway through life. If you're going through a mid-life crisis, now is a good time to make some positive changes. Start by putting joy and laughter back into your life.

Matthew 19:4-6In your family you will discover clues revealing maturity happening in your children. Tell them so. Let them go. Here is Chuck Swindoll's story about his first car and how he learned a lesson in maturity and responsibility.

Genesis 2:23-24How old is your child going to have to be until you think you can let them go out into the world? Here are some rules for letting your children go.

Hebrews 12:5What do you do when you lose heart? We've all been there. You're so discouraged you just want to give up. One of the best cures for discouragement is a good laugh.

1 Timothy 3:4Want a confident family? Focus on building into each other a sense of worth and value. Chuck Swindoll shares one way his family builds into each other when words just aren't enough.

1 Thessalonians 3:8-13Adolescence is both an amazing and challenging time…for kids and parents! Here is some practical and realistic advice for getting through the years of change.

Romans 14:22Through this story of the rescue of two trapped whales, Chuck points out how eager we are to help in these situations, but how slow we are to set one another free from our own lists, inhibitions, restrictions, and expectations.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7Ever have a conflict of the wills between you and your child? Let's face it: it's easy to give kids mixed messages. We want to be consistent, but we aren't. We say we're going to do what we've planned to do, and then we don't. To learn to be consistent, listen to these four essentials to training up your children.

Hebrews 4:16These 12 important words from Chuck Swindoll are helpful for those who are in a transition time. These words, put into practice, will leave you more secure, self-confident, and not afraid to fly free.

Psalms 139:13Have you ever been told you're a marvel? Do you feel genuinely unique, and capable of whatever you dream of? You will never know how empowering your children with confidence and security will help them know and accept and be who they are.

Proverbs 28:26There's nothing like a hot blast of reality to blow us off the end of a limb of theory. We think we have it all put together and then we discover how much we still have to learn.

Proverbs 2:12One of the benefits of having a married partner in life is you have someone who will rescue you. Not to enable one another, but a genuine and wise rescue, where if you didn't have your partner to take you in another direction, you would deeply regret your actions.

Ephesians 6:4No one's upbringing was perfect, least of all Chuck Swindoll's. His childhood reminiscing has some good lessons for parents.