Legendary Faith with Alisa Massey | Christian Lifestyle Podcast

The Legendary Faith Podcast, hosted by Alisa Massey, presents episode 63 titled "Stop Listening to the Wrong Voices." Alisa encourages her listeners to have faith, find community, and avoid negative voices that lead them astray. She emphasizes the importance of pressing on and putting in the effort to move past opposition, and reminds listeners of the promises that God has given them. Alisa reads from 2 Peter 1:3-4 and 1 Peter 1:5-7 to reinforce these messages. She also advises her audience to listen to the right voices, including God and others who preach the Good News, and avoid worldly negativity and gossip. By doing so, listeners can find hope, peace, and a narrow path that leads them toward a better future. Key Points

SHOWNOTES: In this episode of the Legendary Faith podcast, Alisa Massey encourages listeners to have courage and believe in miracles again. Massey draws inspiration from Mark 6:30, where Jesus feeds 5000 and Mark 6:45, where Jesus walks on water, and the disciples forget the miracle he performed earlier.  Massey challenges listeners to examine their own hearts and overcome the distractions that keep them from receiving Jesus' miracle works. She emphasizes that Jesus still performs miracles in people's lives but sometimes, they are unable to receive them because their hearts are hardened. Massey encourages listeners to take courage despite their fears and doubts and remember that Jesus is always present. She concludes by urging listeners to serve others, especially when they are in pain, and believe that miracles are always possible. Key Points

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  The Legendary Faith Podcast's Episode 60 is about "Two Reasons Why You Should Never Give Up." The host shares her personal experience of giving up on life and turning to sin, but even though she chose to walk away from God, He did not give up on her. She encourages listeners to believe that they are set free through Jesus Christ and that they have a purpose. She invites listeners to accept Jesus Christ into their hearts and to surround themselves with positive and encouraging people. Tune in to learn more about why you should never give up and how it affects Christians. Key Points

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The Finding Hope Show episode 57 is about discovering and fulfilling your calling in life. The host discusses the difference between purpose and calling, with the latter being a specific mission from God. The host emphasizes the importance of knowing God to find one's true calling, as God has a purpose for each individual. The host shares their personal journey to discover their calling, which involved a transformation of their heart and redirecting their gifts. They also mention how some people may discover their calling later in life, as exemplified by Joyce Meyer who discovered her calling after her father was saved on his deathbed. The host encourages listeners to not worry about the twists and turns in life and to remain focused on knowing God, as this will lead them to their true calling.

In Episode 56 of the "Finding Hope Show," host Alisa Massey explores the concept of inner peace and what it takes to find it in a world that often seems to be out of place. She asks listeners to examine what is guiding their lives and to consider if temporary fixes like money, success, or fame can truly bring lasting happiness and joy. Instead, she encourages listeners to seek something more, like a relationship with Jesus Christ, which she claims can provide a hope that outlasts life's ups and downs. Alisa shares her own testimony of finding peace and hope through a relationship with Jesus, even in the face of sadness and hopelessness. She cites Philippians 4:6-7, which instructs readers to pray about everything and not worry, in order to experience God's peace, which transcends human understanding. Alisa concludes by reminding listeners of the hope of Christ and the reassurance that comes with it.  

  Ready to make an impact on others with your story of hope? Be encouraged that with God's plan, your hardship serves a greater purpose. Have a renewed sense of hope in this episode 55, God's Story Through Yours: How To Share Your Story To Help Others        Key Points

Welcome to episode 54 of the Finding Hope show, a Christian self-improvement challenge. Key points and takeaways from the episode: The importance of renewing our minds, renewing our habits and starting today, the importance of having God in our daily activities and the importance of trusting in the Word of God Welcome, everyone to the Finding Hope show, and welcome to episode 54. This is your Christian self-improvement challenge. Because yes, it is still a bright, beautiful new year, and we're going to renew our minds, renew our habits. And it starts today, there's always going to be hang ups in our lives, which is why we must have the mindset that we're going to start today, take the action, and keep going. And this includes me. I don't want to stay stuck either. And I realize the daily distractions that get in my way. And I also know that when we have community, and we make goals that we're we are more inspired to press on. I would love for you to join me on a self-improvement challenge. And I say Christian self-improvement challenge because I don't want to do this the way the world does it. No, I want to do it according to the Word of God with God. In my life, I don't want it to be merely about myself, because then we lose our purpose. All Things are Possible with God You know, but we know that with God, all things are possible. And God loves us and He wants the best for us. I want God in on my daily activities. I want him a part of my life all the time. You know, we have all kinds of self-help gurus, and then we have counselors. But who can you really trust? Who are you listening to? We know that when we look at the Bible, we can have affirmation, that things are always working for our benefit. We may not always like it. But we can trust God, we can trust what the Word of God says. I want you to challenge yourself every day. It can make commit yourself to growing internally, to becoming a better person. And sometimes this action is not always pretty. You know, I try to attempt a podcast on my car, which is easy. And I've done it. But yesterday, I tried to do a video podcast from my car, and it simply did not work would not upload. I just had to scratch that off the list. But then you see today I'm back at it. And, you know, I'm busy too and have a family.     Pushing Yourself to Achieve you goal   And so it's not always going to be glamorous. I'm not always going to be in tip top shape. Some days, I'm going to be tired or stressed. But I want to do something every day to push myself. And there will be days that you know, I don't want to get on camera, there may be days that you don't want to do that thing that you fear. But get it in your head right now that you're going to attempt to try and say every day, I want you to try this fearful thing. But at least at least do it. Get it done three to five days.   You may not make your goal every day. But get it in your mind that you're going to attempt it every day. If you want to get on camera for your business, that's not always easy. I hear you on that one. But I want you to get up. And I want you to try and have that in your mind. Okay, five days a week. But then something may get in your way. You know, maybe the kids are fighting in the morning, maybe you're fighting you and your husband or wife with whatever it may be. At least try every day. But then I want to see you achieve that thing at least three of the five days. Whatever it is you're pushing for. It's time to press play. It's time to move on.   Why you Need to be in the Best Shape    Because we aren't promised tomorrow, and You never know what season is going to be next. But you want to be in your best shape mentally, physically. And most of all, spiritually, we have so many seasons in life. When we get in our head that we're going to do our best no matter what there were prepared. When that season of life comes, that gets us down. You know, I, myself, was there recently, for a couple of years physically, you know, of course, it's like a roller coaster, right? All throughout this life, we have ups and downs, but sometimes something knocks us off our feet, we don't think we're going to get back up. But then you know, when you, when you do get back up, you see, you know, you're a different person, you have more trust, you have more faith, if you know who you're looking to. And that's why I want you to encourage you, I want to encourage you to look to the God of hope, because no matter what, no matter what season you're in, you can have hope that things will get better, as they did for me as they do for so many people. And that is why we have each other. And that is why we must challenge each other. Mistakes and all. We aim for progress, not perfection. Remember, we're in a broken world. But keep going. And spiritual, your spiritual life is so important.   Seek first the kingdom of God. Right? Just do it. If you seek God first, then all these things do come in, according to God's will, which is the better way, which is the way that we can't always see because we don't understand because we don't have the mind of God. No, we have a human mind right now we're in this human, broken world, and we do need a Savior. I need a Savior. I don't know about you. But constantly, I feel like these thoughts are coming at me trying to take me down. And it's like an effort. It takes a strong effort sometimes just to stay on top of them. We must renew our minds now. And one of the challenges that I need in my own life is to consistently you know, yes, I, I read the Bible, that's renewing our minds. But myself, I need a little bit more effort into it, because I still have these thoughts. Right. And so we have to get quiet. And remember to get still and turn off. The social media turned off these noises coming at us consistently. You know, and not all of them. Not all the people in our lives like at work, right? They may not always be pleasant to be around, but they are challenging us.   Get your Feet Firmly Rooted in Christ   We are to be the example in Christ. Get your feet firmly planted, rooted in Christ. And challenge yourself in this season, no matter where you're at. And if you are sick, and if you can't get up off your feet right now. Challenge yourself to have more faith. Challenge yourself mentally, that you're not going to give up. Because that's what I had to do. I was in that place where, you know, I had to cry out to God. And we should be thankful for this. But sometimes we don't cry out enough. We don't cry out in our everyday lives because things may be going pleasant for us. And so we don't think we meet God. But then when we're at a place where we can't get out of bed, oh, then yes. We do need God and thank God for His grace, thank God that he's there for us no matter what because he understands he understands that we need a Savior. And we live in this broken world with constant things shooting at us right? Challenge yourself right now in this moment with what you're going to start changing for the better. I want to thank you so much for listening today and I'm going to challenge my myself to make more podcast. You know sometimes I think everything must be glamorous and perfect. But sometimes you just you don't have to write everything out sometimes so organized you need a plan Yes, but sometimes you just got to go after it and take action. Say Holy Spirit leave, lead me and that is what I'm doing in the season, and I hope you will join me. If you find me on social message me, tell me what you're going to start doing new in the season, what you're going to challenge yourself with. Thank you for joining me. And remember that the best is yet to come Listen to The Finding Hope PODCAST here: https://alisamassey.com/podcast Libsyn classic page: https://alisamassey.libsyn.com ALISA MASSEY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/MasseyAlisa ALISA MASSEY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/masseyalisa/ ALISA MASSEY TIKTOK:www.tiktok.com/@alisamassey YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdCfQsfrfACevB5dHCUj-TQ    

It's not too late to have a happy ending! Be confident that God will transform your story for good.  Good morning. Today, let us be reminded that we are special and unique individuals chosen by God to do wonderful things in this world. We all have moments in our lives where we may feel stuck, lost, or even in the pit. It can be hard to see our mistakes and easy to fall into confusion and denial. However, there is hope for a better tomorrow. As a Christian, I have a conscience, which I like to call the Holy Spirit, that reminds me to turn to God when I need help to dig myself out of the pit. But it's important to note that we cannot keep doing the wrong thing and expect God to bail us out all the time. We need to be accountable for our actions and have the desire to do better. That is what we crave as Christians wanting to grow in our faith. If you find yourself not wanting to do better or get rid of your selfish ways, ask yourself why. Are you blinded by sin? Are you caught up in the ways of the world? It's easy in today's world to get caught up in selfishness and the latest trends, but we must remember that we are the trendsetters and we were created to do things differently. Choosing the narrow path can be difficult, as it's not a path that everyone travels. But it's a path that leads to a destination that you can be sure of, and it can be a way to ease the stress in your life. When we make mistakes, God can use them as examples for others. No matter what, your life can be a testimony to others and it's important to be aware of what we're doing wrong. Today, let us pray that the chains holding us back from our best life are broken in Jesus' name. I pray this for myself as well, as there are still things that I struggle with. But I am grateful for the challenges and trauma that I have faced, as they have enabled me to help others. Whatever it is that you're overcoming, know that God is using your story for the best. We can trust in Him, knowing that He is a good God. I am praying for you and rooting for you. Remember, the best is yet to come. Have a blessed week. Listen to The Finding Hope PODCAST here: https://alisamassey.com/podcast   Libsyn classic page: https://alisamassey.libsyn.com   ALISA MASSEY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/MasseyAlisa   ALISA MASSEY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/masseyalisa/   ALISA MASSEY TIKTOK: www.tiktok.com/@alisamassey   YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdCfQsfrfACevB5dHCUj-TQ   SHOWNOTES: https://alisamassey.com/finding-hope-through-faith-in-god/     

Find Purpose and Expect Greatness in the New Year: A Christian Perspective on Overcoming Distractions and Embracing Progress

Ready for a breakthrough? In this episode of the Christian podcast, we explore how living in the present empowers the Chosen for breakthrough. Learn about the importance of being mindful and staying in the moment, as well as some practical tips for doing so. God has great things in store for you when you live life to its fullest!   Listen to The Finding Hope PODCAST here: https://alisamassey.com/podcast   Libsyn classic page: https://alisamassey.libsyn.com   ALISA MASSEY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/MasseyAlisa   ALISA MASSEY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/masseyalisa/   ALISA MASSEY TIKTOK: www.tiktok.com/@alisamassey   YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdCfQsfrfACevB5dHCUj-TQ    

Want to be your best but don't feel your best? God has equipped you to do amazing work but you must do your part and start taking care of yourself. Be inspired to start feeling better again! Listen to The Finding Hope PODCAST here: https://alisamassey.com/podcast classic page: https://alisamassey.libsyn.com ALISA MASSEY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/MasseyAlisa ALISA MASSEY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/masseyalisa/ ALISA MASSEY TIKTOK: www.tiktok.com/@alisamassey ALISA MASSEY YOUTUBE:https://youtu.be/0pdTKydmgf0

Don't be the majority of people that give up before they reach their goal. Rise above and be the 1% that keeps going Listen to the Finding Hope PODCAST here:   Website: https://alisamassey.com/podcast   Libsyn classic page: https://alisamassey.libsyn.com   ALISA MASSEY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/MasseyAlisa   ALISA MASSEY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/masseyalisa/   ALISA MASSEY TIKTOK: www.tiktok.com/@alisamassey   YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdCfQsfrfACevB5dHCUj-TQ  

The way we do business is changing. If you're not up with the trends, you're sinking. We don't have to be a slave to the world but we can get ahead of the curve. Check how starting a podcast in 2023 is a great idea for your business! Listen to The FInding Hope PODCAST here: Website: https://alisamassey.com/podcast Libsyn classic page: https://alisamassey.libsyn.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdCfQsfrfACevB5dHCUj-TQ  

Are you struggling to let go? We all face times we feel like we can't go on. It's in those moments we need to find hope and let go. It's time to find hope again and let go of the things holding you back.   Listen to The Finding Hope PODCAST here: https://alisamassey.com/podcast   ALISA MASSEY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/MasseyAlisa   ALISA MASSEY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/masseyalisa/   YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdCfQsfrfACevB5dHCUj-TQ    

Have a setback? Don't let your setbacks keep you down. Instead, use them to thrust you forward. It's in the waiting that determines how well you rebound.    Listen to the Finding Hope PODCAST here: https://alisamassey.com/podcast   FINDING HOPE FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/MasseyAlisa   FINDING HOPE INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/masseyalisa/   YouTube Link:   

Think you've missed out on your dreams? Don't miss this episode. God's got a lot more planned for your life. Don't stay stuck, it's time for your comeback. Listen to the Legendary Faith PODCAST here: https://alisamassey.com/podcast   LEGENDARY FAITH FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/MasseyAlisa   LEGENDARY FAITH INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/masseyalisa/  

Have a setback? Don't let your setbacks keep you down. Instead, use them to thrust you forward. It's in the waiting that determines how well you rebound. Listen to the Finding Hope PODCAST here: https://alisamassey.com/podcast FINDING HOPE FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/MasseyAlisa FINDING HOPE INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/masseyalisa/

When we're young we don't think about our testimony but from the moment we're born our life can help others. God even has your name recorded in the Book of Life. How will your story end?

You don't have to be frazzled anymore by world events. The cool thing about being a Christian is that God's power within you enables you to be still and find calm in the chaos. 

What are you fighting for today? Remind yourself why you are fighting. God equipped you for victory. Stop beating yourself up in the battle and start thinking about your strategy.  Listen to the Legendary Faith PODCAST here: https://alisamassey.com/podcast LEGENDARY FAITH FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/MasseyAlisa LEGENDARY FAITH INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/masseyalisa/ YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdCfQsfrfACevB5dHCUj-TQ LEGENDARY FAITH SHOWNOTES:       

How do you beat the competition? There is so much competition in today's world but there is so much more in store for you than being consumed by others in a negative way. 

What is shaking up your world today? Be encouraged that no matter your trouble you can remain unshaken! Listen to the Legendary Faith PODCAST here: https://alisamassey.com/podcast LEGENDARY FAITH FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/MasseyAlisa LEGENDARY FAITH INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/masseyalisa/

Is it time to start again? There is always an ending to every season in life. Choose to start a new beginning dedicated to Christ and enjoy a fresh perspective so that you become unstoppable! Have you ever wondered if you'll have someone to sit with at the lunchroom? Have you ever felt like an outsider when a certain group excludes you? This episode will inspire you to stop feeling so insecure. Listen to the Legendary Faith PODCAST here: https://alisamassey.com/podcast LEGENDARY FAITH FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/MasseyAlisa LEGENDARY FAITH INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/masseyalisa/ YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/pySSCuGwXhI SHOWNOTES:https://alisamassey.com/2022/06/10/ep40-remain-unshaken/      

Have you ever wondered if you'll have someone to sit with at the lunchroom? Have you ever felt like an outsider when a certain group excludes you? This episode will inspire you to stop feeling so insecure. Listen to the Legendary Faith PODCAST here: https://alisamassey.com/podcast LEGENDARY FAITH FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/MasseyAlisa LEGENDARY FAITH INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/masseyalisa/ YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/rd5uAU9qBHg LEGENDARY FAITH SHOWNOTES: https://alisamassey.com/2022/05/06/ep38-the-underdogs-final-audio-2/      

Stop fueling your life with the wrong gas. It's time to fuel up with a source of fuel that will outlast the world. Don't ever worry about gas prices again!

Your never-ending story begins with you saying goodbye to your former self. It's now time for you to learn to write your new story with a happier ending! Listen to the Legendary Faith PODCAST here: https://alisamassey.com/podcast LEGENDARY FAITH FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/MasseyAlisa LEGENDARY FAITH INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/masseyalisa/ YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdCfQsfrfACevB5dHCUj-TQ

There is indeed a race in this thing called life. How are you going to run it and where will your finish line be? Listen to the Legendary Faith PODCAST here: https://alisamassey.com/podcast LEGENDARY FAITH FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/MasseyAlisa LEGENDARY FAITH INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/masseyalisa/ YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdCfQsfrfACevB5dHCUj-TQ LEGENDARY FAITH SHOWNOTES: https://alisamassey.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=258&action=edit      

It's easy to be faithful to everything but God. Rest assured if you can be faithful to God and honor Him many great things await your life today and in your future. 

In today's world, it's easy to arm ourselves with false hope. It's time to start being hopeful again and shake off the doubt. 

Been in a slump lately? This is not God's plan for you! Find out how to progress forward to reach that good plan God has for you. Listen to the Legendary Faith PODCAST here: https://alisamassey.com/podcast LEGENDARY FAITH FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/MasseyAlisa LEGENDARY FAITH INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/masseyalisa/ YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdCfQsfrfACevB5dHCUj-TQ     LEGENDARY FAITH SHOWNOTES: https://alisamassey.com/?p=153    

It's been 12 years since I felt like I was a dead woman walking addicted to alcohol and drugs. Now I'm redeemed and brought back to life.  Do you feel like death mentally, physically, or spiritually? Be encouraged to live again! LEGENDARY FAITH FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/MasseyAlisa LEGENDARY FAITH INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/masseyalisa/ YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdCfQsfrfACevB5dHCUj-TQ    

Happy New Year! Often with the new year, we get so overwhelmed with all the hype that the new wears off real fast and we're stuck again.  This year make a commitment to focus on progress and not perfection. Tune in for more! Listen to the Legendary Faith PODCAST here: https://alisamassey.com/podcast FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/MasseyAlisa  INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/masseyalisa/ YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdCfQsfrfACevB5dHCUj-TQ SHOWNOTES: https://alisamassey.com/2022/01/03/progress/

Thinking you're the odd one out? Great! Some of the greatest miracles and success stories were birthed from “uncommon people.” You are right where you're supposed to be so don't give up now.

Legendary Health is health that equips us to live our best life now! We can learn to build a life of health so that we can be the best version of ourselves as we build a legacy of faith. In this episode you will learn: 1. The different factors that affect our health. 2. The significance of building a legacy of health.   

What moment are you living for? Be inspired to live for more than just a moment in time. You are worth more than just a moment of recognition!

Change is inevitable but we choose to have a better attitude regarding necessary change. The one thing that's constant is change! 

When's the last time you were an encouragement to someone else? We desperately want encouragement in today's distraught world but we can choose to be part of the solution and give encouragement to others. Join me on this mini-episode and be inspired to give hope to others!

In the podcast you will learn: What "walking the narrow path" means. How to walk it. I was going to do a podcast on finding your purpose, but I want to first go over shifting your mindset to the “narrow path” because in order to walk in your purpose you need to first understand what it means to walk the narrow path because you have a choice to make. “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” - Matthew 7:13-14 NIV What is the road that leads to life? The road to eternity. What is the road that leads to destruction? The popular road or the “worldly road.” “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world-the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” 1 John 2:15-17 NIV We are trading temporary treasures for eternal rewards. I want the mansion but I will not focus on dwelling on the mansion. Instead, as a God-fearing Christian, I will choose to dwell on bearing fruit here in this world so that I may reap the rewards in heaven. By shifting my focus, I encounter joy along the way. “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Colossians 3:1-2 NIV What if you are not a God-fearing Christian? It's time to take a step of faith. Start knocking on God's door and see how your heart responds. The Bible says, “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” – Psalm 34:8 As we change our perspective to eternity our worldly desires will lesson. As long as we are still wrapped up in worldly things, partying all the time, cursing all the time, etc., we are not able to see past to the other side. We are blindly led. Like sheep to the slaughter. The road that leads to life is the narrow path. The more I live, the shorter life gets. I don't know about you, but I'm striving to get it right. I get tired of messing up. It's exhausting. Almost as exhausting as trying to get it right all the time. With Christ though I don't have to get it right all the time and I have the Holy Spirit to remind me that I don't want to live in my sin. As long as I have Christ I have the fuel to keep going and I will encounter resistance along the way because of the devil's need to kill, steal, and destroy. The more I come to know God, the more I'm prepared for battle. The narrow path is NOT the path of least resistance. Instead, it is filled with many walks through the valley. Ye though I walk THROUGH the valley of shadow and death. This is something pastors often say at a funeral, but we are doing the walking NOW. Our time to fear no evil is now. The LORD is My Shepherd …3He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for the sake of His name. 4Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.… We must remember we are walking THROUGH and not to an end." - Psalm 23: 3-5 However, if you choose to take the popular path, the path of least resistance you may not experience as many roadblocks along the way, but what happens when you have no choice but to stop? You are not prepared to deal with it! You are not conditioned. You have been coasting along with the crowd because it's comfortable. But when the end has come and there is nowhere to run you're in shock. What we need to do is evaluate the path we are walking. Is it a path that will lead to eternity or a path that leads to destruction?  We have a choice. How we've been conditioned will help us make a choice. High schoolers are often bombarded with temptations. If the teenager has not been conditioned on right and wrong or has been constantly bombarded with family issues they have a less likely chance of making the right choices. Jesus chose the narrow path. We would be wise to study the ways of Jesus so that we know how to handle the world. Jesus is our prime example. Not the world. Get your mindset on being a warrior. Warriors are conditioned and STRENGTHENED for battle. Warriors have much resistance, but they choose to fight. Warriors are also aware of the cause they are fighting for. You must become aware of what you are willing to fight for.  Are you willing to fight for your health? Are you willing to fight for your wayward child? Your freedom?  Recognize that this will not be an easy path. Anything worth fighting for will not be easy but it will be worth it. Jesus fought for you and me and it was definitely not easy. The Bible says that he wept tears of blood concerning his soon-to-be death.  Luke 22:44 says, "And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground." The result was worth it. The key though was WHO he was fighting for. He was fighting for us!!! HE had a reasonable cause and He thought we were worthy. It's time for you and me to believe that we are worthy and fight for our cause even when the world is against us. Whatever it is you are fighting for if we put God at the forefront our cause is ALWAYS worth it because when we do things God's way there is purpose and meaning because we are designed that way.  How do we know what our purpose is then? The road to get there is narrow and the path through the valley is where we learn about ourselves. We learn of the wonderful people that we were meant to be and once we begin to rise up out of the valley we discover the why and that on the other side of heaven there will never be an end, but an ongoing journey! If you would like to hear more about me simply go to alismassey.com and if you enjoyed this podcast there is much more to come. Kindly hit subscribe and also share with your friends. That's all for today. Remember the best is yet to come!

In this show you will learn: The meaning of faith. Why it's important to leave behind a legacy of Where your purpose comes from. How to start building a legacy of faith.           Welcome to today's episode. This is a podcast about leaving behind a legacy of faith because God created us for a faith-filled purpose that extends beyond ourselves. My last show was “Finding Hope in a Turbulent World.” I wanted to shift the focus to faith because once we learn about faith then we have so much hope for our everyday lives. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not yet seen. It's in the believing for things that we do not yet see that we are blessed. I don't physically see God, but I feel him in my heart. He created me and my acceptance of this brings peace, hope, joy, despite the pain of the world. Essentially, faith is believing before seeing. What is hope? Hope is believing in better things to come, and there are always better things to come with Christ, the perfecter of our faith. When we live life with purpose and meaning and you know who you truly belong to, you become a legend. You don't have to be fancy or have a million subscribers. I want you to learn to live like a legend God's way. Michael Hyatt in his book Living Forward says that “By the time we hit forty or fifty, we find ourselves disoriented, exhausted, and adrift. We're overworked, our health isn't great, and our relationships have deteriorated. Life doesn't look anything like what we previously imagined – and we have no idea how we've drifted so far off course.” So, he's saying we need a life plan for the strategy. Michael goes on to say that “The key message here is: Your vision of your legacy will guide the design of your Life Plan. “Approach reflecting on your legacy just as you'd approach booking a vacation; choose your destination first and then plan how to get there. Your legacy is your destination. Your Life Plan will be your means of getting there. To help you imagine your legacy, ask yourself what people would say about your life if you were to die today. Write your own eulogy. Be brutally honest about the highs and lows. This will reveal the areas of your life that are going well and the ones that need more attention. Reflect on who's at your funeral, too, and how they feel. What memories will people share? Are those memories rich and loving? Or do they fall a little flat? How does that make you feel? Is there anything you wish people were saying, but aren't? These reflections will reveal what's currently missing in your life. Once you've written your eulogy, create a list of Legacy Statements by identifying how you want the important groups of people in your life to remember you. These might include your family, friends, and work colleagues.” This is fair advice but when we do this we need to ensure that God is included in our eulogy. After all, hopefully, when you die you are good on meeting Him, and if you have built your faith you will have no regrets. None of our lives will have been perfect but if we have a relationship with Christ we are content with this. We can have peace and forgiveness.                                                                                                       It's not easy I know. I often don't feel like a legend. At least now I'm aware and I'm trying. Thinking back when I was living in sin I was not thinking about what people would say at my eulogy. If I would have done this I would be embarrassed. Therefore, I chose to live in denial. At least until my life got so bad that I actually faced the possibility of death. Today, I'm saying don't wait until you're on your deathbed. Take steps today to live a life you can be proud of. I want to see your legacy live on for all eternity! Earthly legends change, John Wayne is a lot different than Prince. But we are not of this world we belong to the Maker of the World. When we share about God and his son Jesus Christ we share a legacy that has no end. It can be nice to remember our heroes from the past. My dad enjoys watching old John Wayne movies. Sometimes I listen to “Little Red Corvette.” But then the song or the movie comes to an end. Then I go back to washing dishes or taking my kid to soccer practice. I recognize that some may call the late Prince a legend but truthfully it's what he sang and not who he was that made him legendary: he will not hold a legacy in my heart because I know the song and the song maker is temporary. I can't escape reality forever. Even if there is nothing ethically wrong with your legend the reality is we need to build upon a legacy that lasts. It starts with you and me. We need to trust in a legend that will never fail us and wants the best for us. This legend does not look to the best interest of himself but rather is very interested in us, His chosen people. “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” -1 Peter 2:9 I want to stress that our purpose doesn't come from the world, it comes from God.  I want you to start believing in the best for your life or believing again. I want you to believe that you are not your mistakes. I want you to join me in this faith journey. When we die we may be able to hand down possessions, but we can truly make an impact when we leave behind a legacy of faith. How can you live differently today so that you can make a greater impact tomorrow?  Comfortable is easy and we are inclined to stay there. But we can't get to where we're going being comfortable. Jesus was not comfortable on the cross. Yet what He did make a way for you and me so that we can have hope. Now we must believe and walk in this truth. This is your action plan to build your legacy. You see, generally, others know that we live in an imperfect world because, they, too, miss the mark, as did Adam and Eve. Imperfections are nothing new. In the beginning of time, Adam and Eve were so ashamed of theirs they thought they must hide behind a bush. They were naked and ashamed. Let's stop living a life that we're ashamed of. Perhaps, you did fight with your spouse the night before, but learn to live in such a way that people remember your willingness to forgive. Maybe you struggled with anger, but people remember you trying to resolve them. Choose today to start living a life full of purpose that you share with others even when you're gone. The best gift you can bring to others is to introduce them to Christ. The best gift we can give to ourselves is to discover our purpose in Christ. We can only learn our true purpose in life when we begin walking with Christ (more on this in our next episode). We must start living that life now so that we are able to share. To move forward in faith we must ask ourselves: Do you acknowledge that your imperfect? Are you willing to forgive yourself and look beyond yourself to something and someone much greater? I would love it if you joined me in striving to leave a legacy of faith. We know that when we die as the Bible says the things of this world will pass away, but we are striving for a legacy that will live on forever. In closing: Leaving a legacy of faith ensures that others will come closer to God as a result of what they learned from you. On your deathbed, it's not going to matter that your husband bought you that fancy new car. Maybe he'll get to drive it – but what's more important is where you're driving it to. You want to ensure that those you leave behind are driving with an eternal purpose that way they can join you in eternity We can't wait until we're dead to leave a legacy. We got to build it now. In this we find our identity and purpose. In this way, we can truly live. If we choose to put our identity in things we lose sight of who we really are. We can easily see how the love of money will dry us out. We keep searching for the next high, all the while knowing we can't take these things with us. If we live this way we will always be trading our car for something new. That's the cycle of the world, always searching for the next big thing. If we choose to put God first, we are the next big thing, both now and forever. Start living a life of faith now, not before it's too late. You are more than the possessions you leave behind. Some people leave no possessions yet are so rich in faith their story is treasured forever. Purposely choose to shift your focus. If your breathing it's not too late. A message of faith will plant a seed in others for them to grow and bloom. Begin planting today. Remember: Before you can plant you must have something to share, right? My question for you today, is what do you have that is worthy of sharing? If it's nothing you are proud of then start today improving your life. One step at a time I suggest building your faith, not because I think it sounds good but because from my own experience I have learned of God's grace and love. I once lived in darkness and hopelessness, but I prayed, and God heard me. Now I have a testimony and you do to. By building your faith and learning about God you will discover exactly what your testimony is. That's where I come in. I'm excited to help you build your faith so you can leave behind an endless legacy. Thank you for joining me today. If you would like to hear more about me you can go to alisamassey.com. and if you have a faith story to share contact me at contact@alisamassey.com. Our next episode will be about how to discover our purpose and walk in it. I spoke in this episode about how “we can only learn our true purpose in life when we begin walking with Christ,” therefore we must learn to walk the narrow path instead of what is always appealing to society.  

Pain and growing older like all challenges can make us better if we shift our focus. Turning 40 was my wake-up call with a load of new challenges. Be encouraged to overcome your current challenges! In this podcast you will learn: - How to react when challenges sneak up on us - Why we should never give up - Why we need to shift our focus Many people jokingly say that their 40's, 50's or 60's are “over the hill.”  We hold our expectations for each decade of life and often we are not satisfied where we're at. When we were 7, we wanted to be 16, when we were 16, we wanted to be 18, then 21, then 30, then suddenly whoa, you're not so sure about 40. You want it to stop. But it doesn't. I have to say 40 snuck up on me as life often does. I thought I was taking care of myself but then soon after turning 40 all hell broke loose. I still don't have all the answers, but I do know that I had to clean my side of the table. When we don't have the answers, we can rest assure that God does, and His answers are the best. Thankfully, I trust in God who cares about me. What has snuck up on you? What is currently challenging you into believing that you'll get through it. What is taking your peace? This sneaky thing is no surprise to God. The very thing that has snuck up on you is the very thing that will grow you. If you allow it to. As Steven Furtick says: “when you understand the nature of the battle you can understand the nature of the strategy.” We must understand what we're up against. Then we can more readily understand God's strategy. Then we are encouraged to not give up. In my deepest pain, I could have given up. Instead, I chose to react with faith and prayer and then I started doing my research. I started to take my health seriously and this meant to seriously start doing things that would not damage my body. Sometimes we must dig deeper if we are serious. You don't want to miss out on this upcoming podcast. The devil is serious about his pursuit of you. He would like you to believe that this is it. You might as well give up. Well, give up for what? If he wants you to give up there must be something worth having. Through this journey of physical pain, I have learned to not put my trust in doctors. There is sometimes a need for them but most often there are things that we can do to secure our own health. None of us are getting any younger but as they say, age is only a number, and we truly are what we eat. Just like we are who we choose to surround ourselves with. The Bible says to set our minds on the things above. In this way, we are prepared for life no matter what life throws at us. I don't want the alternative. In my past, I've been at a place where I put my trust in alcohol, and people and guess what?  These things and these people failed me. Before I turned 40, I may not have been drinking but I was taking my health for granted. I was making excuses to eat the cookie or the ice cream because I had a rough day or “you only live once” instead our attitude should be “I get to live this life therefore I will honor God with my body.” Turning 40 itself is not the challenge. The challenge is how I react. I can enjoy a cupcake or even 2 but I must do it with balance, and not make food or anything else an idol. When we don't have the answers as I did with my health issues we dig deeper in faith. Doctors and people do not always have the answers for us but regardless we know that God always has our best interest in mind, and this is what counts. We need to shift our focus We do not allow our age or our problems to define us. We do not allow social norms to define us. We allow God to define us. And no matter what tries to derail us we can be at peace because we know that the best is yet to come. How is the best yet to come when we are aging. We are losing our youth Psalm 103:5 says that God “satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.” I've heard many people say that they actually felt better in their later years than in their 20's. The opposite holds true as well. The older they get the more they age, and the worse their body feels. Oh, these aches and pains they say. So, what's the secret to those that say they feel better than ever? It's really no secret at all. They have stopped making excuses and started acting. They face their challenges. The action doesn't have to be perfect. In fact, it's often messy. So, 40 you may have tried to wreck my life but you are just another challenge that will make me better. I remember that any kind of wreckage is temporary. That there is always a miracle in the pain if I allow there to be one.  How do I allow there to be a lesson? I chose faith over fear and I take action, even though I don't feel good. I believe and not doubt like Jesus walking on water in Matthew 14:25-31. Pain and growing older have made me better. My awareness has once again come to life. What are you becoming more aware of in your challenge? What is your wake-up call?  If we are not aware that we are growing older, but our Faith is growing stronger then we want to give up. “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Colossians 3:1-2 That's it legends. I have indeed changed this podcast to Legendary Faith. Because I want to inspire you to live the faith-filler meaningful life that God has already planned for you. It's time to own it.    

Welcome everyone to the Finding Hope Show my name is Alisa Massey and my hope for you today is that you can experience the peace within you. For those that believe God has given each of you peace, we just have to believe it. Yes, in the pain, in the abuse, in the nights of crying yourself to sleep God can give you hope and peace to make it through.  I know this because He has helped me. Not only me but there are so many with overcoming stores. In our fears, we must seek these stories out and listen and learn. I must say that all the pain I have experienced in life came in seasons. I always came out of that painful season better and stronger. But also, I want to tell you the #1 one thing that stopped any kind of progress in getting better is feeding into my fear. That's why the devil loves to tease us with fear…because fear is paralyzing. We must starve our fears. We starve our fears by instead feeding the fear with the peace of God. In order to experience God's peace, we must get to know Him and trust Him. It is when we do this that we are feeding our minds and our souls with the good stuff. I can hugely contrast the peace I have now, no matter the circumstances, to the fear I once felt.  Even when you're a little scared you must take those thoughts captive. If you don't that's when your feeding the enemy's lies, aka “fear.” For example, I used to have panic attacks when I was younger. Now, of course, there is a certain way our bodies react to certain things but how we think about what scares us hugely will impact our response.  We know that how we grew up as well as who we spend our time with can affect our thinking. We also know that God is good and does not put bad thoughts into our heads period. Then, knowing that the enemy is out to destroy us and is for all things bad then doesn't it make sense that he would attack our mind with evil thoughts? In this way, the devil has us where he wants us, and we become afraid to step out into the good life God has planned for us.  When I had panic attacks I was afraid to step into a crowded room. Of course, we can all be afraid of something. But because my faith was not strong I never made progress. Instead, I kept feeding the fear and this in return from me deeper and deeper into despair.  Now that I've grown in faith, of course, it still gets a little scary stepping on a stage to speak, but now I choose to press on in faith and to pray. Truth is speaking is one of my strengths! So of course, the enemy of this world would want to make me especially scared of even people!   Friends, in my previous way of thinking I would have been sulking in my beer. Why? When I was in my addictive mindset I was distracted from the truth. God's truth that is. Instead, I chose to believe the lies that I would never change and that I was a complete failure.  As a result, I fed into fear, and fear fed into me. Remember that what we feed grows. It's important not to feed the fear. Fear is a choice just like faith is. The scary thoughts may come into our brains, but we do not have to believe them. What you feed grows so why not feed your soul the good stuff? Life is hard. Do you know what's harder? Feeding into the fears. What about you? Are you feeding the fear or are you learning to live in faith? It's much better to live a hope-filled life. But don't stop there. You got to act on it. Quit saying I'm trying to not be so fearful or I'm trying to stop thinking negative thoughts.  Stop “trying” and start “training.” We must actively choose hope and faith, and then we “train” like we're running to win. Yes, even in the middle of a pandemic. Come to think about it we as humans will each have a personal pandemic at some point in our lives so we should always be prepared to take it head-on.  “All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 26 So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. 27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.” - 1 Corinthians 9: 25-27 Think about the alternative. Shutting ourselves off to the rest of the world wishing we were out there living our best life. Living our best life in a pandemic may look a little different. Maybe we're not exposing ourselves to every concert that comes along. But instead, maybe we are choosing to love others more. For example, helping our elderly neighbor with groceries or writing our grandmother a letter. How have things changed for me? I actively started changing my life. I asked God for help but then I took action steps to overcome the fear of life itself. There were days I was fearful of getting out of bed, but I made a decision to choose faith over fear, and then I went to an A.A. meeting or I studied my Bible or prayed. It's never been easy, but it's always been worth it. Awareness of our fear helps us to recognize it but then reject it. This is how I want to help you with my podcast and this message. By recognizing things we need to change for the better. I still have fearful thoughts but then I quickly flip the script on them. For example, at the very beginning of this pandemic, I got a sinking feeling in my gut. Very quickly though I put fear in its place knowing that God has not given me a spirit of fear. If I don't know God I can't experience the peace that He offers. You may have seen the t-shirt “faith over fear. I actually have one. Not any civil person wants to walk around with a shirt that reads  “fed the fear!” How can we actively choose “faith over fear?” What if I do get sick from Covid? Well, what if you get sick from anything?  We don't know the future but. God does. What we can do is take care of ourselves. We do our part and let God do the rest. Think of the alternative. Feeding into your fears. When we take care of ourselves we inspire others for a positive change and if we do get sick from anything our bodies are more equipped to deal. These are things we already should be doing like taking care of ourselves but often we wait until we absolutely need our bodies to fight against a virus and we're weak. Or we may be in the best health of our lives and still get the cancer news or we may stumble, fall and break bones. Here, is where we need our strength spiritually and mentally. Trust me you don't want to be in a bad place mentally and get a bad medical report. But if we have hope and faith then we are more equipped to deal Now. If it is indeed our time to die know that God knows of the time of our death already. God gives us the grace to deal with each situation as they come. If we are choosing to feed the fear he can't give us the grace for that because we are listening to the wrong voice. Remember God Gives peace and a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7, For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid but gives us power, love, and self-discipline. Give it to God and stop worrying about it. Choose faith over fear and live each day trusting God in his good plans for us. Don't give the devil a foothold in your life, because he wants you to live in fear of everything so that we are blinded by the good life. It's time to take the blinders off and see the beautiful light we have been given. As I sign off today I want you to know that God does have a great life already planned for you. You just have to believe it. Especially, in the pain and the struggle trust God that this is a season and you are coming out of. I once again just went through a rough season and I am once again coming out better and stronger. Thank you for joining me today. Great news! I've got a whole year's worth of episodes planned out with more messages and weekly pep talks. This podcast is growing so much! I am hugely grateful and if you liked this podcast please hit subscribe and share with your friends. Have a blessed week and remember the best is yet to come!  

Jesus left the world with the gift of peace, but few people have peace in their frazzled lives as they worry and fret over life itself. Relying on the world leaves us dry every time as we find ourselves thirsting for more water. Choosing to treasure Christ more than worldly things will fill the gap that lies within us (Excerpt from Finding Hope in a Turbulent World by Alisa Massey).

You know it's funny I used to think my college years were wasted. I finished 3 degrees, the last physical or on-campus degree I completed was my communications degree. The last 2 degrees I completed my business and pastoral ministry degree were completed online. Now, so many courses are online. Some of us have been forced into this movement whether we like it not. At the time I finished my degrees online it was more convenient for me as well. At the time the world seems to devalue online degrees because it was not popular. That's what we do. We devalue what's not popular. I devalued myself for finishing online even though with 2 kids this was the more viable option for me. The truth is God wastes nothing. I should have never been worried about what other people thought. I should have valued the person God was making me into. And in that, there is always value. Dear friends, the biggest lesson I learned in my college years was the value of persistence. Just like persistence in class got me a bachelor's and master's degree, I also learned that persistence in anything gets me progress. First off, what do you think of when you think of persistence? For me, it means “to keep going: to not give up.” For many of us, we learn the value of persistence by living it. When we don't get what we want we learn that in order to get it or to even find what's best for us, we must keep going. We must persist. The technical definition says that persistence is “continuing to exist or endure over a prolonged period.” Indeed, persistence often involves a time-lapse. That's never fun. Let us just refer to Amazon, you and I want things now. We want prime delivery. But some of the best things in life do not come overnight. Or even within the week. Just think pregnancy: 9 long months, sometimes 7 or 8. In the end, when you see that bundle of joy it's worth it. Men: What about that shiny Ford F-150 Raptor? I'm sure that for most men that wasn't their first car.   What about that new, improved attitude? We know that didn't come overnight. But it would have never come at all if it wasn't for you persisting. And a better, improved you is always worth pressing on. Maybe you wrote a book or song you want to rise to the top of the charts? This could take a few short years or long ones, remember God is shaping you to handle all that success.  John, Jesus, Paul, Joseph, from the Bible all had to persist in order to achieve their goals. What were their goals? Their overall goal was to make disciples for Christ. For Jesus, His top goal was to save you and me from the pits of hell. Our salvation is God's goal for humanity, but He uses a number of means to achieve this overarching goal such as through your job, your family, and your God-given gifts. The question is are we persisting in our family, in our jobs, and with the gifts God gave us? Do we even know of God's plan? This is where it's easy to get stuck and give up. We get lost in our own selfish desires (hello, we are human), and we don't persist because we've lost our passion. When we strive to know God and learn and pray about his plan for our lives we can persist in the face of opposition because we have a purpose. And God's purpose for our lives is fulfilling and not easily snatched away unlike riches or fame. I mean look at the one-hit wonders you might have loved growing up. Perhaps, they are not as appealing as when we were we're growing up. I mean where is Punky Brewster now? Or Patrick Swayze in Dirty Dancing? Yes, even our celebrity crushes die or disappear.  Hopefully, through all the fame and endless shoe collections, they knew Jesus. No wonder the Bible says it is hard for the rich to enter heaven. “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.'” – Matthew 19:23-24 Mind you it does not say “all.” Yet Jesus does say it is difficult. Why? Think about a rich celebrity that lacks no material item. They claim to have it all, what are they persisting for? Perhaps, their next feature film. But what about when the film is over and the next one rises to the top. There is always the “next big thing.” But if you are persistent with God's plan for your life you will always be that next big thing. How do you know God's plan? Come to know God and accept Him, believe Him, repent, Then the Holy Spirit will come into your life and will guide you. Everything about you will want to persist to accomplish God's great plan that is fulfilling because God is the giver of peace. His peace will guide you and you will be passionate about the things that accomplish his good plan. How can we practice persistence?  By taking small measurable steps every day.  Don't devalue the importance of consistent action. You can't and shouldn't build Rome in a day. After all, you would be too tired to enjoy the view.  “In general, any form of exercise if pursued continuously will help train us in perseverance. Long-distance running is particularly good training in perseverance.” -Mao Zedong “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:1-3 I know that if I stop running for a few days I backslide. Jesus in his race never stopped, and He did that all for us. Running these days can be hard enough. I simply must keep going every day if I want progress. In one area of my life, I have seen major improvement because I have not given up and that is with strength training. Because I have not given up and persisted much of my fat has turned to muscle. One area of my life that I keep slacking on is my nutrition. I'm like 50/50. And I can't be 50/50 and make progress and achieve my goals of losing 20 pounds. Choosing to eat cake alongside my veggies overrides any progress. I must be clear on my goal and make small measurable steps each day to grow. If I had a “word” this year besides “different” it would be “keep going” or “persist.” What about you what do you need to keep going for? What do you need to start again that you've given up on? The time is now. Take this as your sign. God is revealing to you and me how if we are not persistent then nothing we are trying to achieve or that better person we are trying to be, will never occur. What's worse than slow progress is no progress at all. The enemy aggravates us with the seemingly small stuff in hopes that we will never achieve the Big Stuff. In order to get to the big stuff, we have to persist in small things. I say seemingly small things because things such as getting up early every day to write on that book or exercise for 30 minutes eventually add up to big progress if you do not give up. The rehab time, the counseling, the grueling practice for that sport you love, and all the veggies and you eat or breadless sandwiches all for the sake of better health and a slimmer waistline. You will overcome if you do not give up. The alternative? Each time you stop, you are that much farther behind. So please, keep going. When Jesus was fasting, what does the enemy do in Matthew 4:1-11? He tries to get Him to give up. Same as you and me. The devil wants us to give up. But if we know God has a plan for us. If we know the value of persistence, we will not give up. Knowing the enemy is here to destroy God's good plan, of course, he doesn't want us to achieve greatness because then all the glory goes to God. Persistence means continuing despite the difficulty. Most people at one point wanted to give up. Perhaps you had got stuck in traffic You had a fight with your spouse You suddenly have a problem child, You suddenly have a problem life You suddenly have a problem with the person riding your bumper These and many, many more obstacles all try our character and our patience and may influence our decision to give up. We must shake it off. Eventually, if we learn to see that there can be a better tomorrow, we can persist even with a better attitude. If we have difficulty getting out of bed in the morning how much more will we have difficulty achieving our dreams, our deepest desires? I know it's hard. What is also hard is starting over. So, get that but out of bed in the morning and try again. The special ingredient other than faith that helps us get over our troubles and achieve more than we could ever hope think or imagine is persistence. ‘Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” – Ephesians 3:20 God is a work within you, allow Him to work, and don't give up.

Compassion for COVID   Wear a mask they say No, don't wear a mask Stay home No, don't stay home Take a vaccine No, don't take a vaccine   I'm not giving justifications for any of these suggestions. We all have our reasons for believing what we believe.   We also know this is hard times for the entire world. We also know it's not the first time the world has experienced devastating trauma, nor will it be the last.   Speaking of trauma, the one thing that we want when experiencing trauma that so many people are lacking today is compassion.   Definition of compassion is:   “sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it.”   I don't know about you, but when I click on the news I do not see a lot of compassion. In fact, in order to see compassion, I have to be in charge of my environment, I have to live on purpose, ensuring that I'm around a positive support system and/or I'm not waiting on compassion to happen, but I am choosing to show compassion to others.   The biggest act of compassion in all humanity is how Jesus had compassion on you and me, taking the weight of our sin, and dying on the cross so that we could essentially have another shot.   16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.” - John 3:16-19   Jesus had compassion on us; as humans we chose to sin. Adam and Eve in the beginning of time, just like you and I have done at some point in our life, chose to disobey. But because of Jesus dying for our sins, we are not condemned, as long as you choose to believe and accept God. Light came into the world, yet many people today still choose darkness.    “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” - 2 Corinthians 1:3-4   You and I couldn't change COVID from coming but we can choose how to react to it. We can choose to be a light in the darkness.   As Christians we should have compassion on others, just as we were shown compassion.   Even if you aren't a Christian, what's the Golden Rule?   Do unto others as you'd have done to you. Christians: I know of a witch where in my community that has more compassion than some Christians I know. If a witch can have compassion, how much more should Christians? Are some Christians merely calling themselves as such just for the name's sake, or to “look” good? Or, if you're a Christian, are you at least trying to live as Jesus did?   Wouldn't you agree that the world is bad enough? Instead of adding more negativity, join me in choosing to be kind, and in doing this we take the edge off. Hey, it's like a win-win!   Showing compassion when we ourselves are struggling is easier said than done, right?   That's just it. It's not always easy, but it's still doable. We have to do the work.  Noting worthwhile is ever easy. If we can press through and believe that when we give, it will be given to us, then we will soon reap the benefits. And no, not all benefits are monetary. The best benefits are those that warm the heart. When you give, you are creating joy in your heart.   So how do we do it?   How can we better show compassion in the day of COVID? I'm going to give you 3 simple steps for a fresh start.   Top being political. Left, right, up, or down. Were all human, so stop treating other humans like animals and like everyone's the enemies. In a perfect world, we would all be working together toward peace. But we live in an imperfect world, so the least we can do is be the encouragement the world needs and then, maybe, others will follow suit.                         I confess I'm not all innocent here. I am guilty of reading the Facebook post full of drama to see what others are saying. That is, until I read something that turns my stomach and I snap out of it. I am reminded that reading filth is not doing anything good for me, or my mindset. As a result of reading filth, I may get angry or depressed and therefore have a lack of compassion for anyone.   Instead of being political, choose compassion. Like yourself, your opposer has a background and certain beliefs that enable them to think the way they do. Pray for them. If they are your enemy, remember that Jesus says to pray for our enemies. If God wants them to believe something different, then trust that God is working on them if you are praying for them. Instead of wasting time condemning others, we should use that time to improve grow closer to God, so that we can be more beneficial and, hopefully, more compassionate to others.   Make a goal to give more               Jesus says in Luke 6:38 to give and it will be given unto you.   38 “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”   33 “Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for    yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will             never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. “Luke 12:33-34   It's easy to get wrapped up in our own thinking. We are naturally   selfish people. In a way I'm kind of thankful for my selfishness             because I would not have known my need for a Savior. If you have lived a perfect life and don't know Christ you are in for a rude awakening because we do live in an imperfect world and the moment something big rattles your life, I hope and pray that you know God and that you choose to turn to Him.   Even though we are selfish we can be more like Jesus when we give and when we become more like Jesus we have peace. Giving gets our minds off ourselves and helps us to shift our focus onto helping others the way God intended. It is better to give than to receive. Giving helps to heal our minds and our hearts and today's world we could all use healing.                         Most of us have a hard time giving up something. Very often that thing we have a hard time giving up reveals what we treasure. I like shoes. I also love Jesus. I also feel bad when I have too many shoes, and not enough Jesus. This my friends, is because our hearts should not be destined to shoes. It's at this moment that I'm to reminded to give.               Jesus says:   19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Matthew 16:19-21   Giving doesn't always have to be money. You can give your time, you can give a compliment, you can write a letter of encouragement to someone or message them in messenger.   As our nation deals with a pandemic such as COVID we need to remember that people especially need encouragement and hope       right now. You are needed. You are essential. Today, think of a way in which you can give to someone in need. You shouldn't have to look far.   Lastly, and most importantly, to be more compassionate, spend more time with Jesus!   God is love. If we trust in the world it paints a grim picture of love. In order to experience more love, we must plug into the power source. God is the author of love. As we grown deeper in relationship with Him we learn how to love others. Our minds become more Christ-like and, as a result, we are happier, more compassionate people.   In today's world we are at a deficit. Currently, fear is taking over many people. There is much love in the world, but we must find it.   We must be aware of it. We must be plugged into it.   We can choose love over hate. Choose to be different. Choose the narrow path because on the wide path you get lost in the crowd.   What is the narrow path? God and his son Jesus. Choosing to follow Jesus may not be the most popular route but it is the best route.   13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew7:13-14   Have you ever taken the popular path before to find that it was short-lived? I have. In fact, it was so enticing that I went back to the wide path even though I knew the result would be temporary. Finally, I decided that it's not woth it. I finally decided that I want to reap eternal rewards. I don't want to live my life here on earth for rewards or recognition, that leaves a nasty taste in my mouth. Seeking eternal rewards is more satisfying for my soul because eternal rewards are rewards that last for a lifetime and Include living with Jesus in streets of Gold.   Wouldn't you agree that there are many people today living for a cheap thrill? I see many people get a kick out of hating and cutting down others.  Again, this shows the treasure of their heart.    In order to become more compassionate, loving human beings we must live on purpose. You must reach out to Jesus, open up a Bible and read his Word. Spend time in prayer and then the treasure of your heart will change, and you will bear good fruit.             Matthew 7:7-8: 7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will       be opened.”             Conclusion:   I must say it's been a rough season. But that's just it, it's a season. I have to read you a letter from high school. For me, as well, I've been sick, not with COVID, However, the devil attacks my voice a lot, I see it as he is trying to silence me.  However, the stress of everyday life sometimes is hard. But I always choose to pray, press on and do some good in the world because I refuse to stay stuck. That's' what the enemy wants, and God did not design us to become overwhelmed by the world but to show the world a better way. If you are experiencing a difficult time right now remember it is only a season.    “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Ecclesiastes 3:1   Here's my journal entry:   “I'll forever keep trying for happiness and searching for my dream and gaining courage. Focusing on God's will for me and my inner strength and using my gifts to determine who I am. And for other people to know. The last note I got from mom (which was last year sometime), read, ‘Dreams are what were made of and I'm working on yours.' I got to believe that's true and not forget those words. I can't give up on hope, not now, now ever. God won't let opportunity skip from my hands, nor will mom, although sometimes my hands start to get slippery. Ecclesiastes 9:11: Time and chance happen to everyone.”     I think God showed me that letter as a reminder that this is a season. We all go through different season, Sickness will be over soon and to never give up hope. When I am reminded of these things it helps me to get unstuck and that with Christ all things are possible. I know that all these things are but a flicker compared to what is to come.   I get to live forever in the place God has prepared for us that believe. I'm here to remind you that you have this same hope. And if you don't believe in God He is waiting on you today to accept him and believe him. To confess you sins because God forgives you. He sees you and loves you. But remember this. With God nothing can shake us.   Last, may we go over Ecclesiastes 3 that reminds us all of the seasons:   There is a time for everything,     and a season for every activity under the heavens: 2     a time to be born and a time to die,     a time to plant and a time to uproot, 3     a time to kill and a time to heal,     a time to tear down and a time to build, 4     a time to weep and a time to laugh,     a time to mourn and a time to dance, 5     a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,     a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, 6     a time to search and a time to give up,     a time to keep and a time to throw away, 7     a time to tear and a time to mend,     a time to be silent and a time to speak, 8     a time to love and a time to hate,     a time for war and a time for peace.   Thank you for joining me today. I pray you have a peaceful week full of joy. Make it a goal to help someone this week.   Next episode, we'll be talking about persistence. That was actually supposed to be this episode, but I felt it in my heart to first do a podcast concerning COVID.    Thanks again and remember, “don't give up because the best is yet to come!”

“I wished I lived a life true to myself and not what others expected of me” Essentialism by Greg McKeown  I want you to take a moment to close your in your 80s or 90s- or maybe your already there. Imagine you are having a conversation with your children, or niece or sister or brother. You think you've lived a great but now the pressure's on. What life lessons, if any, do you have to share with them? It is here it dawns on you that the most important thing your loved one needs to hear is not all that you've accomplished but how to not make the same mistakes you did. In other words, they need to know how to best make it through this life and God is using YOUR VOICE to help this person. This is your destiny. Don't get me wrong, your accomplishments are special and unique and worthy noting, but the key to helping others lies in the internal hope that you provide them. At the end of the day, this hope is what will give them accomplishment anyway. Are there any regrets in your life? What do you wish you would have done better? Ask yourself. Is living in my comfort zone worth living in regret? We know that anything great, was never achieved overnight. Instead, it takes trial and error, patience, and time. But it will not always be comfortable. Do we want comfortable or do we want progress? Have you achieved everything you want to achieve? Are you fulfilled on the inside? Are you learning from you mistakes. Are you happy? These are the things that will help us to live a fulfilled life, not free of problems, but free of regret. Because, hey, you tried, and you are learning and growing. God did not design us to have a miserable life. That is actually the enemy's objective. Most of the time the enemy does a good job because we allow him too. But God has a good plan if we allow Him to work. I have designed you for good works prepared in advance.” “For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 We were saved by grace-which is a gift from God- we were created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared for us to do. When you are living with regrets, you are not doing the good works God prepared for you to do…if you were you would be at peace. Living a regret-free life means doing the things that light your soul on fire. If what your “life” involves hurting others-the very act of hurting others means you are not within the will of God and you must find your soul and your identity in Christ before you find your purpose. But, if your intentions are good and you give credit to your Creator then you must live with intention. In my own life, of course I wished I didn't waste so many years doing stupid stuff…but If I died tomorrow I would have no regrets because Today I try to become a better person. So, do I regret drinking, and partying in my 20s? No. Why? Because that experiences were warning signs and I answered the call. I woke up. WE ALL DO STUPID STUFF. It's our ability to pick ourselves up and move…to change for the better..that will set us on the right course and live a life free of regrets. To live a life truly free of regrets we must discover who we are in Christ..the mistakes will come but as we come to know God we discover that we are not our mistakes but we are who God says we our…then we discover our God-given purpose, our perspective shifts. What about the man or woman that didn't know God and was fatally shot? Do you think that had regrets? We will never know because they are dead. This is what you and I have to get…all we have is today. Today to try. Today to shift our focus so that we have the chance for change so that when and if we make it to 80 we can tell of Christ instead of pondering on our mistakes. Job, Joseph, Paul ..all the greats in the Bible lived incredibly fulfilling…not easy…but fulfilling lives because they never quit when the going gets tough…they completed their calling and their lives are a testimony to the greatness of God. Which is the point of our lives… God wants us to live a life that is reflective of Him. And in that we find joy. What we have is today. You listening to my voice is your sign/motivation that today you can choose to learn from your past. – pick yourself up and intentionally choose to do the things that bring you joy.  I would have never known what brought me true joy until I discovered the things that were destroying me. I thought maybe drinking would bring me joy, I thought perhaps partying would bring me joy but all these things were short-lived and served as a cover-up for the better potential within me. Brainstorm- In what area do you need to grow? The easiest way to live a regret-free life is to a.) do the things that bring you joy,  b.) Live intentionally (we can't just drift through life or our purpose may pass us by), and c.) learn and move on from you mistakes. Where is your focus today? Are you focusing on worldly things? Or, is your focus on God. Because what we focus on will grow. So, if we are focusing on Facebook, negativity, or our bad emotions, the current crisis of the world- this will never be enough. Why? Because these things are not fulfilling and therefore we will certainly have regrets. ON THE OTHER HAND, what if you choose to focus on God who is good,  who knows your purpose. God who is for you and not against you? Scripture “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31 First off, if you don't know God please invite Him into your heart today. Then you will have The Holy Spirit to guide you in Truth… What's the Holy Spirit's purpose?? To guide you and direct your path…to ensure that you have NO REGRETS. WARNING: Expect for your mind to wonder because if you're doing something good for God-the enemy will always try and trip you up. Thankfully we have God who and His Holy Spirit that will direct us back on course. Remember God uses all things for the good and that means your current situation, that very thing you are wondering about. I must confess I stress about my purpose all the time – These horrible invading thoughts especially when I start to make progress. DO I GIVE IN TO THESE THOUGHTS..WELL. MAYBE I START TO ..BUT I QUICKLY RECOGNIZE THESE THOUGHTS DO NOT SERVE ME OR OTHERS FOR THE BETTER..SO I CAST THEM DOWN. But what's the alternative? I don't like the alternative. The alternative frustrates men and is non-fulfilling. My challenge for you today is to strive for something more. TO NOT JUST DO MORE, BUT TO BE MORE. Maybe you need to start a new project— WELL BEING MORE WOULD INVOLVE STARTING A NEW PROJECT BUT BELEIVING IN YOURSELF OR ASKING GOD FOR HELP. Because we know that nothing great was achieved overnight but we welcome slow progress rather than overnight success because we are seeking to find true everlasting fulfillment that can only come from the one True Source of Joy Jesus Christ.Whatever it is start today and every day take one small action at a time ---working to achieve more, becoming a better person. Speaking of slow progress, when we don't get what we want when we want it, it would be beneficial to us to be a master at persistence. Many of the great men and woman in the Bible need persistence and patience. It's no different today that many of us need persistence and patience. So in the next episode PERSISTANCE is the star of the show. That's it! I hope you enjoyed today's episode. See you next time!        

Life itself can cause anxiety without a pandemic. In this episode learn the steps to purposely help yourselves and then let God do the rest. The #1 cure for anxiety is God because God made you, knows everything about you and truly loves you like nothing in this world can.