Life is Hard, God is Good

Send us a textTW: abuse, s*xual assaultLusu grew up in a Christian household, going to church but didn't understand her “borrowed faith.”She had a tough relationship with her parents due to verbal and physical abuse growing up. For university, Lusu moved to a different country for school and was sexually assaulted. She was in a very rough mental space. She wasn't going to church anymore and didn't want to. Then a random guy invited her to church. She was hesitant at first, but eventually went to a church event that changed her life.Lusu rededicated her life to Jesus and was baptized in May 2019. After becoming a Christian, she still faces difficulties in life. And she has still has had trouble being fully obedient - feeling attached to the world, trying to have a full life outside of God. But God is faithful. Through His Word He reminded Lusu that with Him is life to the fullest. Even on bad days, they're not really that bad because she has the Lord.Also with having God, Lusu has experienced restoration and forgiveness - she now has a better relationship with father.She realized that God is working in the lives of people who hurt us. He's not just working in our own lives, but He's also working in the lives of those around us who might hurt us.Lusu's advice for people who aren't sure about Jesus: Reach out and find Him. Lusu also encourages us to pray for the global Church. As someone from Malawi, she talks about Malawian Christians - they don't have much money, but hold onto the Lord and are content.Thanks for listening!Resources:Luke 15:1-7 He leaves the 99 for the 1 lost sheepJeremiah 29:11 He has plans and a hope for usJohn 10:10 “A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.”Isaiah 55:6 “Seek the Lord while he may be found”Psalm 84:10 “Better a day in your courts than a thousand anywhere else.”

Hey friends!Thanks for listening! This is part 2 of Drew & Rachel answering your questions. Today's episode covers Christian community, Bible passages and worship songs that have helped us in our faith journey, and how to practically maintain purity & keep Christ at the center of dating relationships. Let's dive in together!Christian CommunityYouth Group MemoriesStaying in touch with friends when you graduateHow christian community benefits your Christian walkSpeaking truth in love when you need to be challenged“Mount Rushmore” of Bible PassagesDrew's:Romans 12:1-2 | living sacrifice1 Corinthians 6:18-20 | flee sexual immorality1 Peter 5:6-7 | humble yourself, He will lift you up. Cast your anxieties on Him, He cares for you.Deuteronomy 8:11-181 Samuel 8:7-8 | “They have not rejected you; they have rejected me as their king.”Rachel's:Romans 8 | flesh & the Spirit, adoption, hope, the Spirit interceding for us, nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our LordExodus 33 (& 34:5-7) | God's presence, God's characterHebrews 12 | running the race, discipline as God's children, Mount Sinai vs Mount ZionActs 17 | Bereans searching the Scriptures, Paul in AthensHonorable mentions: Numbers 23:19, Ezekiel 16, Ezekiel 36-37, 2 Corinthians 3-4, and so many Psalms and Isaiah passages Top 5 Christian SongsDrew:The Road, the Rocks, and the Weeds by John Mark McMillanBreathe by Ben WolvertonAll That Breathes by Andrew WordCome Thy Fount of Every Blessing by Robert RobinsonSon of Suffering by Maverick City WorshipHonorable Mentions: Forever YHWH by Elevation Worship, Gratitude / Worthy of It All / You're Worthy of My Praise by Maverick City WorshipRachel:Made for Jesus by John Mark PantanaIs He Worthy / Agnus Dei / We Fall Down by Maverick City WorshipThe Road, the Rocks, and the Weeds by John Mark McMillanRedeemer by Nicole C. MullenTouch Your Robe by Gable Price and FriendsHonorable Mentions: Mark Barlow, Isla Vista Worship, Rich MullinsKeeping Christ at the Center of Relationships:Maintaining purity practically with boundariesHow to keep Christ at the center in datingOther Resources:Sexual Sanity by David WhiteEphesians 5:3Please rate, write reviews, and share with your friends! You can follow us on instagram @lifeishardgodisgoodpodcast and join our Facebook group to stay in touch. May the LORD bless you and keep you!

Hey friends! Long time, no see!In this episode, my husband Drew & I talk about how God has been taking care of us through the massive transitions of moving back to the U.S. from Japan and being pregnant!We also answer the first couple of questions that you guys submitted, this time addressing how we saw God moving in Japan and memories we want to take back with us to the United States.We hope you enjoy the episode! Stay tuned for part two where we address how God has worked in our lives through community, scripture, and music. As well as relationships & purity.Have a great week! May the LORD bless you and keep you.

No matter what your past looks like, you are always just one call away from a new life.Trigger warning: su*cide, drugsKeith felt this hole in his heart from a young age. His parents divorced and Keith struggled with anger and depression. After going to rehab for suicidal thoughts, he attempted to fill the whole and numb the pain with anything and everything - drugs, marijuana, partying, cigarettes, alcohol, prescription pills. Keith dropped out of high school, was financially irresponsible, and got arrested a couple of times.Instead of just a hole in his heart, it took over his whole life so that Keith felt completely dead inside. The enemy wanted to take his life.BUT GOD encountered Keith through music. The songs spoke to his heart and he knew he needed Jesus. About his encounter with Jesus, Keith says: “It took the devil three months to get to the point where my soul felt dead, my spirit felt dead, and I wanted to kill myself. 30 seconds after I prayed, I felt the stress that I used to have on my shoulders lifted. I felt this fire of Jesus' love burning in my heart. I felt joy, I felt peace, I felt love. I felt like I was drowning in deep deep deep water and Jesus just pulled me out and just breathed the breath of life in me. I felt like at that moment that my spirit became alive, that I was reborn - I was regenerated like the Bible said. I felt at that split second as I called on the name of Jesus, He just came… I'm alive in Christ.”Because of encountering the love of Jesus, God has transformed Keith into a new creation. Compassion & forgivenessFinancial responsibilityWillingness to serveEvangelism & preachingSpeaking truth & lifeFeeling God's presenceI hope you are encouraged by Keith's story!Bible references from the episode: John 10:10, 2 Chronicles 16:9, Luke 19:40, Matthew 6:33, Ezekiel 36:26, Romans 3:4, Job 42, Romans 8:11, Philippians 4:19, Matthew 7:7-11, Psalm 2:4, Matthew 6:34, 2 Corinthians 10:5, Psalm 34:19, Hebrews 11:1, Isaiah 53:5, Ephesians 5:18If you like listening to the podcast, please rate, write reviews, and share with your friends!You can follow us on instagram @lifeishardgodisgoodpodcast or join our Facebook group!Have a great week! May the LORD bless you and keep you!

Yoji grew up in a family full of fighting, especially due to his father's love of women and alcohol. When he was eleven years old, Yoji's mother died of cancer. In his first year of middle school, his father's company went bankrupt so he ran away, leaving Yoji and his three siblings to take care of themselves, which was difficult both emotionally and financially. Yoji felt like he had nothing to live for and spent a lot of his time hanging out with friends.One day after hanging out late with his friends, Yoji couldn't go home because he didn't have his key, so he was wandering aimlessly around his town. A man invited him to a cafe to learn about Jesus. Yoji wasn't interested in Jesus, but the coffee sounded nice. It was Yoji's first time hearing about the Bible.That very same day Yoji became a Christian and was baptized!After that, he was refreshed and had peace. The circumstances in his life didn't change, but now he had peace.As he grew up, he wanted to become a pastor and prison chaplain, so Yoji went to Bible school which is also where he met his beautiful wife. They got married and now have three daughters and two sons.When he was 31, Yoji started a church in Kumamoto.About seven years ago is when the two boys joined their family through foster care and adoption and they are a blessing to the family. God has blessed Yoji's life in so many ways!Yoji encourages Christians to pray for Japan and to tell the Japanese people about Jesus. In Japan, there is only about 1% of the population that is Christian - and that 1% includes all denominations. Out of all the countries in the world, Japan is the 2nd least reached country for Christ.Japan is an economically rich country, but there are many broken families and children trying to build a good life for themselves. Let's pray for Japan and spread the Good News about Jesus!Romans 10:14-15 “How, then, can they call on Him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about Him? And how can they hear without a preacher? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.”Thank you Pastor Yoji for sharing your story! And thank you Drew for translating!If you like listening to the podcast, please rate, write reviews, and share with your friends!You can follow us on instagram @lifeishardgodisgoodpodcast or join our Facebook group!Have a great week! May the LORD bless you and keep you!

Kaz did not grow up in a Christian home, his family actually did ancestor worship. After getting trapped for 4 hours in the aftermath of an earthquake and being rescued, Kaz's life was changed. He made some Christian friends who invited him to church. It started out as Kaz's little secret, but then he finally invited his sister to join at Christmastime.They both ended up giving their lives to Jesus through a Bible study led by a construction worker who shared his testimony. When their mom found out that they became Christian, she was upset that they were not continuing the ancestor worship. But Kaz asked her about her reason for worshiping the ancestors and it made her think… then through both Kaz's mom and Kaz's dad having cancer at different points in life and hearing the gospel through their children and through friends, they had to decide for themselves. Listen to the episode for more!If you like listening to the podcast, please rate, write reviews, and share with your friends!You can follow us on instagram @lifeishardgodisgoodpodcast or join our Facebook group!Have a great week! May the LORD bless you and keep you!

I'm so excited for you to hear Mami's story of how she encountered Jesus.In Japan, only 1% of the population is Christian, so Mami had the rare & miraculous experience of growing up in the church. She knew about God, but it wasn't until later that she actually felt God's nearness and knew His love in her heart.With having Jesus in her life, God guides her life and she knows that He is with her.Many Japanese people are seeking happiness - so they work hard and try to build meaningful relationships, but there is still an emptiness... there are not many places in Japan to hear about God, but it is good to have an open heart to Jesus.Check out the episode to hear more!Thank you to Mami for sharing her story and thank you to Drew for translating!If you like listening to the podcast, please rate, write reviews, and share with your friends!You can follow us on instagram @lifeishardgodisgoodpodcast or join our Facebook group!Have a great week! May the LORD bless you and keep you!

I'm so excited to share Julie's story with you! The Lord has been so faithful to her from a young age. Originally, Julie was not interested in going to Japan at all, but God worked in her heart, and she ended up becoming a missionary in Japan! Through being a missionary in Japan, Julie shares some amazing stories of loss & forgiveness, falling in love & getting married, and trusting God's guidance through it all.Julie has known Jesus most of her life, and because of knowing Jesus:she trusts God to lead hershe prays for othersshe can feel His presence she loves to worship Himand much more!You will not want to miss this episode!

Hello friends! This week, our Bible study leader, Andrew, shares his story of how he encountered Jesus.Although he grew up in a family that attended church, Andrew tried to seek faith on his own and as a teenager, he ended up turning his back on God.He called himself an atheist and really wrestled with some tough questions:Does life have any meaning?What happens when we die?Is love real or just chemical reactions?Did God create the world?How can God be real if there is so much suffering?Through some “coincidences,” Andrew was able to wrestle with answers to those questions with a Christian friend. Not only did he find truth in God, but he discovered that “the God of the universe loves me, a broken sinner.”  After giving his life to Jesus, Jesus changed (& is still changing) Andrew over time…from being selfish to loving others from being a broken sinner to being saved & set freefrom searching for meaning to life making sensefrom being unsure about life after death to having hope in eternal lifeLooking at his life now, Andrew realizes that life is so much more than what he used to think: “it's not fate, it's not accidental, there's a beautiful story being written with my life - all the broken pieces are being put into this beautiful water and it's making something extremely beautiful, interesting out of something that was such a mess, out of such a messy person.” Without God, nothing makes sense. “We can't make sense of anything as humans on earth without God.”And the gospel is not just that Jesus died for our sins, but we have the hope of an eternal future with God for those who believe. “Christianity without the resurrection, is not Christianity… Jesus has made a way for us to live with Him for eternity.” Do you know Jesus personally? Not sure where to start? Feel free to send us a message on Facebook or Instagram @lifeishardGodisgoodpodcastThanks for listening to the Life is Hard, God is Good Podcast! Be sure to rate, write reviews, and share with your friends to help others find this encouragement!Have a great week!

Zoe is one of the most joyful people you will ever meet, but she wasn't always that way.Zoe first heard about God when her mom was bedridden with a spinal disease, and some Christians came to pray for her and she was healed.She discovered God's power and attended church & Christian activities, but she did not know God's love until she met some very loving Christians. Her relationship with God developed over time - learning how to pray, starting to enjoy reading God's word, hearing God's voice... She also noticed a difference in her relationships. Family that she once hated, Zoe now had empathy for them and she wanted to show them love.From a young age, Zoe believed that she was negative and gloomy, but a Christian lady spoke to her that her gift is JOY and that people would come to know Jesus through her JOY. Zoe believes the truth that she has JOY and shares that with everyone she meets.“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." Matthew 7:7-8

Taylor grew up knowing about God, but she felt like she had to be a good Christian girl because she was afraid of God and afraid of messing up.When she heard the story of the prodigal son in a new way, God worked in her heart and changed her life. For the first time, she met Jesus. Taylor realized how much Jesus loves her and wants not religious acts, but He wants a relationship with her. Even when going through some dark times, God provided for her in the form of supportive friendships and encouragement from reading God's word everyday.The beautiful thing is that He is always with us and we can talk to Him. Any questions or doubts, we can bring to Him. So if you aren't sure, just talk to Him.Jesus is pursuing you and wants a relationship with you. Bible Passages:Luke 15:11-32 | the story of the prodigal sonHebrews 4:12 | the word of God is living and activeJohn 1:43-51 | “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you,” Jesus answered.Hebrews 12:1-3 | running the race with our eyes set on Jesus

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!”Ola found God because she heard His voice. He spoke to her, and her life has never been the same.Through Him, she found freedom, forgiveness, and joy. God has worked through Ola in incredible ways all around the world. The same as He has done for Ola, He does for us: God opens doors and leads us in unexpected ways.It doesn't matter where you are or what circumstances you face, you can serve the Lord.If you're not sure about Jesus, just try talking to Him.Resources to check out:John 10:1-18Ezekiel 16The Blessing (Japan) by Kari Jobe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b74EymT_0GA

Trigger warning: s*xual assault, su*cideMy friend, no matter what you are going through right now, please know that you are not alone and that you are so loved.Even in the face of hardship, God is good. It seems that in the most dark, difficult times, God met Rosie. God protected his life, God gave him friends to encourage him at just the right time, and God helped him find a new home church.Rosie has the biggest heart for people. He invests himself in helping students grow. Because of what he has experienced, he makes a huge impact in the lives of those around him. I hope you will have a positive impact from listening to Rosie's story too.

Happy Easter! If you are in darkness, if you are stuck, if you feel hopeless - listen to this episode to hear 3 key encouragements for YOU! Spoiler alert: you cannot do it on your own, but you are not alone!We also go through the ABCs of God's attributes, which is a tool we can use to keep our eyes on Jesus.Have a great week! May the LORD bless you and keep you.

Hey all! Just wanted to share some updates from living in Japan for nearly 6 months now! Check out this episode to hear what I've been up to, brief updates from Drew, the hard parts of living in a foreign country, and some encouragement for you!I've been asked a lot what I'm doing in Japan. At first I felt like I had to explain or prove myself; it took a while for me to learn that my value is not in working. Thankfully, I've been reminded that my value is in being loved by God and loving others. Now I'd like to share some things I enjoy getting to do here in Japan:SAHW - Especially with adjusting to living in a new country, it's such a gift that Drew & I can work together to tackle life tasks. We moved here for his job, and I try to make his life a little easier by taking care of things at home such as cleaning, cooking (learning Japanese recipes), dishes, laundry, groceries, running errands. Volunteer - I get to teach English conversation classes to local seniors, and help teach English to children with a friend of ours & help with English Club at Drew's school!Study Japanese  - compared to Spanish, it is an extremely difficult language. I was actually reading online about how it is the most difficult language to learn going from English to Japanese. Did y'all know there are like 3 alphabets?? At first I did not enjoy studying Japanese, it was a chore, a duty. But now?? I do enjoy it and I'm slowly understanding more & more when I listen to people talk. It's exciting to grow in Japanese because I can use it to connect with people more!Church - services & activities. We love our church and it's been great getting connected to our local community. we came to our church the first Sunday that we were in Japan. It was also the church we found online when we found out that we were placed in Kumamoto (also cool fun fact is that our pastor who did premarital counseling and was our officiant - he's Japanese and his family came from Kumamoto). It's an international church with a service for families and a service for young adults. Often all 6 inhabited continents are represented at church gatherings. Services are held in Japanese and English. I got to dance at the Christmas services and we get to help in some small ways, including leading an English bible study.Podcast - I'm trying to keep up with the podcast lol. It's cool seeing goodness, truth, & beauty reach people even when they're in rough situations. I also love getting to interview people & hear/share their stories both here in Japan and through video calls to the US.Bible study - I get to lead a Bible study with some ladies from church and Drew & I are connected to an online Bible study with Christians all over Japan.Hula classes - I can't not be dancing! Hula is such a beautiful, peaceful style of dance. We've been learning a few pieces to perform which is so fun!So very thankful for this season of not having to work a regular job, but getting to learn & serve in other ways. Check out this episode to hear more!

Church hurts. Cancer. Family health crisis. Loss of parents. Loss of a friend. How can you find God in the midst of such hardships?Gené wrestled with the logic of Christianity until her world came crumbling with the decline of her mom's health. She gained faith in God and He miraculously healed her mom. With having God by her side, Gené knew she was not alone even when she later lost her dad, her mom, and her friend in a short amount of time.Gené shares: "I realized that God is God and I am human. And I cannot expect to understand everything about Him. And moreover, faith isn't about understanding Him. If I could understand and explain everything about God, there would be no need for any faith. Faith requires that you to step out without evidence, that you step out without proof. [It's like saying] 'I don't understand, I don't have answers, but I trust You anyway.'"

Check out this episode to hear how Jesus changed Isabelle's life. She grew up in a home with different religious views and was not sure what she believed for herself until a new friend offered to do a Bible study with her... After learning more about Jesus and how He truly died for our sins and rose to life again, Isabelle has been given new life and a fresh perspective through Him.

Dustin once lived a very different life. But then he encountered Jesus. After walking with the Lord and learning about His love & His word, he is now one of the most servant-hearted people you'll ever meet.Listen to hear how God transformed Dustin's life! Now it is hard to imagine what he was like before knowing Jesus.Thanks for listening!

Hey friends! Jesus has the power to change lives. Before knowing Him, we were once dead in our sins, but now because of Him, we are alive in Christ. The purpose of this podcast series is sharing stories of people who have been marked and changed by Jesus. They once lived one way, and now they have new life.“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17

Taking some time to reflect on the 2022 year (my word for the year was "peace"), and trusting God with the new 2023 year - step by step."Because of our God's merciful compassion,the dawn from on high will visit usto shine on those who live in darknessand the shadow of death,to guide our feet into the way of peace" (Luke 1:78-79)."Step by step You lead me, and I will follow You all of my days" (Sometimes by Step, Rich Mullins).Thanks for listening!

Often we do not want Jesus to be Lord of our lives because:we do not want someone else telling us what is right and wrongwe want to be in control of our own liveswe don't understand how a good God could allow evil to existBut when we see His heart, we see:A holy & worthy Lord who lives up to His own standards and helps us when we fall shortA compassionate Creator who shows us the best ways that are beneficial to usA sovereign Lord who is so good that He gives us the choice - thus allowing evil to exist if that is what we chooseWho is lord of your life? Jesus is the holy, worthy, compassionate, sovereign Lord - will you make Him Lord of your life?

A tale of three atheists who argued against God and instead found evidence for Jesus:1. C.S. Lewis | atheist turned Christian theologian who wrote many books:Mere ChristianityThe Problem of Pain2. Dr. Jay L Wile | atheist nuclear chemistry PhD turned Christian who shares science as evidence for creation:Science BlogApologia Science Textbooks3. Lee Strobel - atheist journalist turned Christian author:The Case for Christ (book & movie)Passion City Church Podcast - The Case for Christ

Jesus claimed to be God & man, claimed to die & raise to life again, and said some other really strange things... how do we know He's not a lunatic?Join us as we find answers in His word and in who He is is.

A lot of people think Jesus was a liar because of the things that He claimed while He was on earth. In this episode, we find what scripture says about His claims:1. He claimed to be God and man2. He claimed to fulfill scripture3. He claimed to die on the cross and raise to life4. He claimed that He is coming backThanks for joining us! 

With Christmas approaching, it's important to remember why we are celebrating and why we believe what we believe. Especially as conversations arise with your family over holiday meals, when co-workers ask about your faith, or your friends share their different beliefs. In this Advent series, we are exploring C.S. Lewis' argument that Jesus claiming to be both God and man either makes Him a Liar, a Lunatic, a Legend, or Lord. In addition to the 4 Ls, we are exploring how Jesus and Santa Claus are not the same. If both are always watching your behavior and reward by your behavior, how are Jesus and Santa Claus different? Check out this episode to find out!Thanks for listening! Stay tuned for upcoming episodes and feel free to join us on Instagram & Facebook! May the LORD bless you and keep you.

Let us give thanks! In this episode we explore the importance of thanksgiving and the impact it has on changing our lives!Also listen to the end of the episode to hear about the Christmas series starting next week!Thanks for joining and have a great week!

Should Christianity be categorized as a religion? What sets Christians apart from the rest of the world and other religions?Thanks for listening! Please join us on Instagram and Facebook; rate, write reviews, and share with your friends! We love to hear how God is speaking to you!Much love!

Faith is being sure of what you hope for and certain of what you do not see. Hebrews 11 is the “great faith” chapter that goes through examples in the Bible of people who had faith in our faithful God despite their seen circumstances.Faith is awesome - It's trusting in the invisible even when the visible circumstances don't make sense.However, we as believers also need ENDURANCE as we walk this life with Jesus or as we run this race.In light of those who have endured before us - fellow God-followers such as Abel, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses - we know that we can endure.In light of what Jesus Himself endured - living a sinless human life and dying on the cross and coming to life on the third day - we know that we can endure.Even when life is hard, we know He has endured - so we can endure.What do we endure though? As Christians, unfortunately sometimes we think having faith makes life easy. That is so far from the truth. We have Him as our Prince of Peace and the Almighty God can deliver us from slavery to sin, but we know that in this life we will face hardships. That's a promise.However, how often do we actually struggle against sin?Do we more often struggle with His discipline, forgetting that He is a good Father who loves us?Thanks for listening! You can find us on Instagram @lifeishardgodisgoodpodcast and join our Facebook group! Please share, rate, and write reviews - we love hearing how God is speaking to you! May the LORD bless you and keep you.

Hello friends! Join my husband and me as we talk about sharing the gospel!Why sharing the gospel is so importantWhat is hard about sharing & how to overcomeWays to share the gospel & adviceThanks for listening!

Do you believe that Jesus can really heal you? That He can forgive you?If you have been healed & forgiven, do you ever feel stuck? Or feel the urge to go back to your struggle?Check out this week's episode about healing & continuing!Thanks for listening!Scripture: Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭1‬-‭11, ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭61‬:‭1‬-‭9, ‭‭Luke‬ ‭4‬:‭16‬-‭21, ‭‭Luke‬ ‭18‬:‭35‬-‭43, Luke‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬-‭26‬, ‭‭Luke‬ ‭5‬:‭30‬-‭32‬, Numbers‬ ‭11‬:‭4‬-‭5, ‭‭Romans‬ ‭6‬:‭1‬-‭14, ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭17-4:18.P.S. The blog is coming soon - so excited for you to see it!

Change can be hard - change in work, relationships, life circumstances, moving, loss… but we have hope!1. Jesus knows change. He went from heaven to earth - so He can empathize with our changes.2. Jesus does not change. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever - so we can rely on Him when our circumstances change.3.  Jesus changes us. He heals and forgives - so we can let Him change our heats & minds to be more like Him.Stay tuned for part 2!

When Jesus was visiting Martha & Mary, Martha was all in a hustle - worried about serving well. She was controlling the food, distracted by what she was doing, and trying to be a good host.Here's what the passage says:“While they were traveling, He entered a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who also sat at the Lord's feet and was listening to what He said. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks, and she came up and asked, ‘Lord, don't You care that my sister has left me to serve alone? So tell her to give me a hand.' The Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried about and upset about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her.'” Luke 10:38-42Martha was doing all the right things - she invited Jesus into her home, was probably preparing food and working hard to serve the Lord, but it wasn't enough??Quite the contrary, she was doing too much. She was focused on all the little things and missing out on the one big important thing.“One thing is necessary.”Mary was chilling. Not helping, not serving, not striving to please. She was just sitting there. That has to be frustrating coming from Martha's perspective, but what does Jesus say?“Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her.”What Mary was doing is very countercultural to the fast-paced, efficiency-focused, Western U.S. world - “Mary… sat at the Lord's feet and was listening to what He said.”She sat & listened.When was the last time you did that?Not sat and watched a show, not sat and scrolled through social media, not sat and listened to music.When was the last time you sat and earnestly listened for the sound of His voice?Martha was too preoccupied to enjoy His presence.Mary was at peace in His presence.Are you preoccupied with everything around you?Or are you at peace in His presence?Philippians 4:6-7 “Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”When we hear His voice, all the other voices - the news, TikTok, your own negative thoughts - get drowned out.As my favorite hymn goes “and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”We must turn our focus away from all the little distracting tasks and remember the one most important thing: Him.John 10 tells us that Jesus is our shepherd and His sheep hear His voice. “He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out… The sheep follow Him because they know His voice” (John 10:3-4).Matthew 6:25-34 is a great passage that I continually turn to when I am worried. We do not need to worry about our bodies, clothes, food, the future. God is in control. He's a good God. He is faithful. We do not need to worry about these other things.“Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18“One thing is necessary.” What have you chosen?

Why are we moving to Japan? What are we doing there? How have we seen God providing in the midst of preparation? My husband Drew & I talk about our move in this episode - so listen & find out!

I had an idol of marriage.Engagement is so special because it's this idea of “already, but not yet.”You have your chosen person and you get to celebrate & plan your lives together.Engagement is where we are as believers - we have accepted His proposal of dying for us and rising up from the grave so that we can be with Him.If you have said YES to His proposal, we are just waiting on the wedding celebration when He returns and then we get to spend eternity with Him!We are the Bride of Christ.Weddings on earth are a reflection of how Christ loves the Church.Marriage on earth is a reflection of spending eternity in heaven with God.So I saw how engagement and marriage reflects God, and I wanted it so badly. I put engagement and marriage above God. After having two broken engagements, I was disappointed because my god of engagement & marriage failed.I was putting all my value, my life plans, my identity into my marital status.Marriage can glorify God, but it is not the end goal.The end goal is God, not that which glorifies Him.God healed my mind and soul.Not that I was given a replacement but I was reminded of my purpose.I was reminded of Who God is, and that He is always good.That He is my ultimate Good.That nothing else truly matters in this life.For the first time in my life, through lots of healing,I came to a place where I was okay if I never got married.Because God is my source of joyGod is my source of purposeGod is Who I am made for.

Faith is a word that is thrown around a lot in the Christian world, but what even is faith?Here's what Hebrews 11 tells us about FAITH:it is being sure of what you hope for and certain of what you do not seeby it is our ancestors won God's approvalwithout it, it is impossible to please GodToday we are diving into specificallyFaith in the unseen | 2 Cor 4:16-18Faith & action | James 2:14-26Faith in He Who is Greater | Hebrews 11, Matthew 8:23-27, Daniel 3

Hey there friends! Let me remind you how loved you are. Sometimes it is hard for us to accept, but I hope you can listen and let these words wash over you.Reasons you might think you are not loved:Bad things happen People hurt youThe most important question that God would ask you (according to Brennan Manning): Did you believe that I loved you? That I desired you? That I waited for you day after day? That I longed to hear the sound of your voice?The real Christians will answer "yes."Others will answer "no" (unfortunately many nominal Christians who sit in pews each Sunday).Important truth to remind you that God loves you:Isaiah 43:1-5Ephesians 2:6-101 John 4:16-19Psalm 103Even when life is hard, we can remember that:God is goodYou are lovedMore resources:Sermon: Loved by Father | Brennan Manning Song: Good & Loved | Travis Greene & Steffany Gretzinger

We are diving into Psalm 73 today!God is good - even in the good, even in the bad.Evil seems to win - it does not seem fair, we do not see the full picture, we need God's perspective.What is our response - How do you respond when you see evil win? How do you respond when you see others get what you want? Do you turn to God with your questions? Or leave Him out because He isn't giving you what you want?He is enough - He is with us, He holds us, He guides us.Is God your desire? He gives us over to our desires .Psalm 81:11-12"But my people did not listen to my voice;Israel did not obey me.So I gave them over to their stubborn heartsto follow their own plans."Psalm 37:4"Take delight in the Lord,and he will give you your heart's desires."Psalm 34:10"Young lions lack food and go hungry,but those who seek the Lordwill not lack any good thing."

Hey guys! It was so fun having my husband Drew on the podcast this week! We have a few fun things we are sharing this week:1. The story of how God brought us togetherHow we met, started dating, and got engaged.2. Our moving plansWe have a big announcement about moving overseas Lord-willing this fall!3. Q&A Session (questions from you guys!!!)What were the main things that made you decide to get married?What was your favorite part(s) of wedding day?Combating fears about:Marriage being a trapGrowing stagnant as a coupleLetting each other downWhat's been the hardest and best parts of being married?What have you learned about God through your relationship?Funniest story as newlyweds so far?Is a hot dog a sandwich?Thanks for joining us! Much love!

Hey friends! Life has been crazy busy & so good, and I'm thrilled to share a snapshot of the big things God's been doing in my life and what's coming up!Be sure to follow us on Instagram @lifeishardGodisgoodpodcast and join our Facebook group for more updates!Much love!

Let's abide in Him. The Father is the Gardener, Jesus is the Vine, we are the branches. We can bear fruit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control) only by remaining in Him. John 15:1-17Acts 17:24-28Colossians 1:16-17Galatians 5:22-23John 13:35

Hello my friends! The more we learn about creation, the more we can see Who our Creator & Lover is. Just as the rain comes from heaven to water the earth and does not return empty, God's Word always accomplishes what He desires. Let's dive into scripture to hear more about why rain is important and what it reveals about God's nature.He reveals His invisible qualities to us through the visible creation so we are without excuse. 

Some say they know the oceanBut they've only seen picturesSome say they have seen the ocean but have only driven past a beachSome say they have been to the ocean but have but merely dipped their toes in the foam of the wavesSome say they know the ocean but have barely touched itThe ocean is vast, how can anyone know it?The same with His loveIt is so vast, how can we know it?Some say they know His love but have merely heard it in church on SundaysThey have not dived in and been truly immersed and covered by His powerful wavesWe cannot fully understand the depths of the mysteries of His loveBut may we dive in and seek as much as we can

Why are we talking about grass? The Bible shows us more about God and ourselves through what His Word says about grass!We are His. We pass away like the grass. Here today and gone tomorrow. He is sovereign and everlasting. We can trust Him with our lives. He provides our every need. He gives us rest. We need not worry about tomorrow. He clothes the grass of the field, He will take care of us. Let us humble ourselves for we are but grass, and He is glorious and full of splendor. He is ours.What do you fear? It will pass away. His love will never pass away, and we cannot be separated from His love; we cannot be snatched out of His hand.Who do you fear? We are all but grass, what can mere mortals do to you? Fear the one who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Fear of man will prove to be a snare but those who trust in the Lord are kept safe.What are you worried about? He clothes the grass of the field, but when He made man in His image He said it was very good. He made us for Him and He gave Himself for us. He is all-powerful and sovereign. He's got you.Scripture references: Deuteronomy 32:2, 2 Samuel 23:2-4, 2 Kings 19:26, Isaiah 15:6, Isaiah 35:7, Mark 6:39-44, Matthew 6:30-34, Isaiah 40:6-8, Psalm 23:2, Isaiah 51:12-16

“Because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace”” ‭‭(Luke‬ ‭1:78-79)."I believe in Christianity as I believe that the Sun has risen, not only because I see it but because by it, I see everything else." - CS LewisGod is greater than the sunHe created the sun (Gen 1:14-19)He has sovereignty over the sun (Ps 74:16, Job 9:7, Joshua 10:13)The sun serves as a sign (Luke 23:45, Joel 3:15, Mark‬ ‭13:24-25, Acts‬ ‭2:20‬)Someday, we will not need the sun (Revelation 21:23)What does the sun reveal about God?HOLY | all-consuming fireUnique moral purity and perfectionif we get too close, burn up (unless we are covered by His blood & grace). Not because He's bad, but because He's so good."Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,    for his compassions never fail.They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:22-23)MERCY | Sun shines on the righteous and the wickedThe sun shines not because of the objects that receive the light but because the sun shines. "That you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous" (Matthew 5:45).Just as the sun softens some materials and hardens others, the same God softens some hearts and hardens others.FAITHFUL | sunrise & sunsetalways present even when we cannot see.SPLENDOR | radiant & shining glory“There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.” (‭‭Matthew‬ ‭17:2‬)Moses radiant after spending time on the mountain with God"And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit" (2 Corinthians 3:7-11, 18).What does that mean for us?Just as the moon reflects the light of the sun, may we reflect His light. “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:14-16).Our proximity to God is not based on Him. You cannot add cold, you can only lose heat. We experience winter not because the sun hides, but because the earth tilts on its axis away from the sun. God does not leave us. We drift. Our feelings can lead us to believe that He is not near, but nothing could be further from the truth. God's presence is not based on our feelings. You cannot add godlessness, you can only get further from the source of life.May we draw near to His holy, merciful, faithful presence full of splendor. May we reflect His light as we go out in the world

Why are we doing nature sessions?Romans 1:18-20 | "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse."Psalm 8, Romans 11:36Clouds & GloryCLOUDS | My favorite sunset I have ever seen was at my grandparents lakehouse. I was taking pictures to capture the beauty and my grandpa said, “Isn't it funny how you don't notice the clouds until the sun hits them?” Scientifically, clouds are visible water vapor. They are not fluffy chairs that we will lounge in when we're in heaven (at least I haven't found bible verses that say that, but who knows? There's a lot of mysteries about heaven).Let's look at scripture to see what His word says about clouds.Genesis 9:13Exodus 13:21-22Exodus 14:19-20Exodus 24:13-181 Kings 8:10-11 Acts 1:9Daniel 7:9-14Matthew 24:30Luke 21:27 Revelation 1:7 Matthew 17:51 Thessalonians 4:17What do clouds reveal about God?Old Testament: God's promise, God's presence, God's glorySide note: Not limited to clouds, He is in control of the clouds and the rain. Psalm 135:7, Psalm 147:8, Isaiah 5:6New Testament: how Jesus ascended, how He's coming back, the Father spoke to the SonYet to Come: He is coming back on the clouds, we will be caught up together in the clouds to meet the LordWhat does that mean for us?Awe | we can look at the clouds and be in awe of His glory in the sky that reflects His nature. Reminder of His presence that guides us.Awaiting | He is coming back on the clouds and we will be caught up with Him in the clouds. Hope in what is yet to come. He is coming soon!

Happy 2022 my friends! Check out this episode to hear God's graciousness even when I messed up my family's Christmas and get a sneak peak at our upcoming series! Have a great week(:

What's the worst thing that can happen? When I get really stressed, I start thinking about worst case scenarios and how things could happen and how they could get resolved.Hope in HardshipWhat's the worst that can happen?House burnt down, lose a child, get in a car accident, natural disaster, lose employment, get attacked, be rejected by a loved one. Is that the worst that can happen?The worst that can happen: separation from God, not hardshipRomans 8Good news: hardships come, God never leavesPs 119:71 “It was good for me to be afflicted so that I could learn your statutes.”Isaiah 3 & 4 where is the hope? Where is the hope when everything is taken away? judgment & punishment vs blessing & restorationGod is present in bothDoes not leave us when things are hard, even when we mess upHe disciplines those He loves, He does not leave us when we mess upJames 1:2-3Trials are actually good, trials teach us, trials point us to HimHas someone ever left your life? Someone who in theory should be in your life, but they are no longer here - whether by choice, by death, by circumstance. You are separated from them. They are not in your life. Your heart aches for them.We are not meant to be alone, but that does not take away that people do leave. That's not something we can control - circumstances and others choices. So it's important that we do not put so much weight in the presence of others.Instead, we want to rely on Him who never leaves. The real "never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down, never gonna run around and hurt you."He Stays / Never LeavesHis Presence - IsraelitesExodus 33:3, 14Moses pleaded for God to go with themHis presence went with them - He was their God and they were His peopleJesus came Matthew 1:23 “See the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel, which is translated ‘God with us.'”John 1:14 “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed His glory, the glory as the One and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”Jesus returned to heaven, seated at the right side of the throne of heaven, but He did not leave us. Matthew 28 "surely I am with you always"Holy Spirit dwells in usJohn 16Actsthe Holy Spirit dwells in us, we are the templeWE CANNOT BE SEPARATED FROM HIMRomans 8:38-39Psalm 139:1-10You cannot escape His love Ps 23:6 “Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the LORD as long as I live.”

1 John 4:10 "This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us."His love comes first. We respond.We could not make it to heaven,So He came to usto make a way for us to be with Him.His love is not demanding, but rather compelling.He invites us, welcomes us into His arms.Love is:Not us initiatingNot us achievingNot us impressing Love is:Him initiatingFrom the beginning of the world, He's had a plan - creation, fall, law, kings & prophets all pointing to the savior Jesus who came and is coming again.He reaches out to us first.Him achievingHis word does not return empty.He achieved perfection in life and perfection of sacrifice in death, and over achieved by resurrecting from death to life.Him impressing usHis holiness, beauty, glory.His love and compassion and graciousness.May our hearts be filled to the measure with His love.May our minds comprehend how vast His love is.May our spirits rejoice in His perfect love.He came to us who could not reach Him by our own actions.He is coming again, are you waiting with anticipation?

You were not made to go through this life alone."There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place." Deuteronomy 1:31Footprints in the Sand (Author Unknown): Last night I had a dream.  I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.  Across the sky flashed scenes from my life.  For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one belonged to me, the other to the Lord.    After the last scene of my life flashed before me, I looked back at the footprints in the sand.  I noticed that at many times along the path of my life, especially at the very lowest and saddest times, there was only one set of footprints.   This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it.  "Lord, you said  once I decided to follow you, You'd walk with me all the way.  But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life, there was only one set of footprints.  I don't understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me."   The Lord replied, "My son, my precious child, I love you and I would never leave you.  During your times of suffering, when you could see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you."God carries us, and we have each other to support and encourage.Resources: Matthew 11:28-20, Footprints in the Sand Poem, Deuteronomy 1:26-33, Numbers 11:10-17, 1 Corinthians 10:13, Psalm 34:18.

Winter has arrived in northwest Indiana.We had beautiful fall colors of vibrant yellow, rust orange, deep scarlet reds.Everyone seems to love fall - the pumpkin spice and sweaters, the football and bonfires. It's a beautiful time of gathering.Honestly, fall is not my favorite season. The weather in the midwest is all over the place - 30 degrees in the morning, maybe 80 degrees in the afternoon. It could rain tomorrow and be sunny at night. Sometimes we have all four seasons in the same week. It's unpredictable.But really in the fall - everything outside is in transition to death. The trees are losing their leaves and we lose the amount sunlight in a day.Recently though, we woke up to a blanket of snow.The dead red, brown, orange, and yellow leaves were covered in white.I knew that the leaves were there, but all I could see was pure snowflakes that fell from the sky to give us a fresh morning and the ground a fresh start.It was no longer a dead, messy ground, but a clean slate. A new beginning.The leaves could easily get swept up, tossed around. The snow laid firm on the ground.If you had not sent the ground before this morning, you would have not known there were dead leaves everywhere.My friends. Just as the fall is full of dead autumn leaves, we are dead on our own. Dead in sin. We lose. We fall into sin. Isaiah 64:6"All of us have become like one who is unclean,    and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags;we all shrivel up like a leaf,    and like the wind our sins sweep us away."We are dead in our sins.What will we do?We cannot do anything on our own - Isaiah 64:6 says our righteous acts are like filthy rags.We cannot cover ourselves.He is our covering: Isaiah 1:18"'Come now, let us settle the matter,'    says the Lord.'Though your sins are like scarlet,    they shall be as white as snow;though they are red as crimson,    they shall be like wool.'"He purifies us.He makes us white as snow.There is nothing like waking up in the morning and seeing all that is dead be covered in a blanket of fresh white.That's what He does for us.Just as the snow comes from the sky to cover the earth,Jesus came down from heaven and covered our dead and fallen selves.We may know that we were dead and messy, but the new reality is that we are covered by His righteousness, His perfect life, and flawless sacrifice.Wide to cover it all. Sometimes snow is really deep too.He covers our dead, so that He sees us as purified.CoveredPsalm 32:1 "Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered."Proverbs 10:12 "Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs."1 Peter 4:8 "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins."Dead in sin, fallen:Romans 6:11 "In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus."He clothes us in white:Revelation 19:6-8"Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:'Hallelujah!    For our Lord God Almighty reigns.Let us rejoice and be glad    and give him glory!For the wedding of the Lamb has come,    and his bride has made herself ready.Fine linen, bright and clean,    was given her to wear.'"He clothes us in white for the Great Wedding of the Lamb and the Body of Christ - all for His glory.

If you are in Christ, you are a new creation! The old is gone, the new is here.It is not easy to rid of the old ways; it is a process. To strip off what is comfortable is not pretty. However, the glory to come far surpasses the discomfort.Jesus too was stripped (on the cross) and now is seated at the right hand of God. The glory to come is greater than the temporary comfort of our earthly desires.We are first and foremost covered by Jesus' blood.Because of His sacrifice and forgiveness, we are set free from sin and can live for Him.We are called to take off our old ways. We were once hell-bound, so let's get rid of what belongs to our earthly nature.Instead, we are called to clothe ourselves with "compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience."These clothings are signs of an inward change of heart. They are not to earn salvation and they are not for show (for approval of others).Because of Christ, we can be transformed from the inside out and glorify God with our lives!Resources: 2 Corinthians 5:17, Colossians 3:5-15, Exodus 28, 1 Peter 2:9-10, Matthew 12:43-45, 1 Kings 21:27-29, Joel 2:12-13, Matthew 23:25-28, 1 John 4:18, Revelation 1:12-16