Unscripted conversations about navigating life's ups and downs and learning how to Thrive along the way.
David & Tom take a few minutes to wrap up the first season of the podcast and preview some things that are coming up in season 2. Feel free to reach out to David at davidhiggtx@gmail.com
Email David at davidhiggtx@gmail.com Encouraging Others- Learning to Mentor/Support Others in Their Journey with Jesus- The things we've covered in the previous Bonus Episodes have been intended to help us develop a THRIVING Journey with Jesus: Living Loved, Loving Others, Abide Daily, Spirit Walk, and Soul Care. As we learn to share with others this Journey we're making with Jesus, and learn to include them in that journey, we are learning to sow encouragement into their lives through our words and our interaction with them. Put another way…when we are maturing as “learners (disciples) of Jesus” (Mat 11:29) the overflow of the Life of Jesus in us will touch the lives of those around us. This can/will help them be drawn into or grow in their journey with Jesus too. Organic/Relational Discipleship is about sharing the dynamic life of Christ first, and information 2nd. Look for the opportunity to develop a Band of Brothers or Sisters who are learning to share life together, not just attend meetings together. (Mixed for a group or 1-on-1. Men with men women with women) Life in Christ is intended to be lived within the context of Community with others who are living Life in Christ too. I define Community as a group of individuals who are purposefully connected to support and encourage one another in life.
Contact David at davidhiggtx@gmail.com Soul Care- Learning to nurture and care for my Heart & Soul (The Spiritual/Emotional part of your life) Take care of your heart, for out of it flows the issues of life. (Prov 4:23) Caring for your soul begins with a growing intimacy with Father (Mk 1:35) Regular, Focused, meaningful engagement with the source of your life! All who are thirsty…Come to me and drink… (Jn 7:37-39) Out of your innermost being will flow rivers of Living Water...[this is the design of God for our inner being.] (Rivers of LW speaks of the Holy Spirit) Soul Care is NOT about enhancing your status/position before God or getting His attention! It's NOT about improving your knowledge of Scripture or Theology… It's not Bible Study, although it might involve the Bible… It's about learning to drink from His well. (Metaphor) It's about connecting with your Father and allowing that connection to nurture and refresh your Heart & Soul. It was Jesus' habit to do this regularly. It's about learning to Rest in Him. Finding your life in Him It's about finding my Joy in His Presence (Ps 16:11) You are doing this for the sake of your life, not for ministry to others. This is not about equipping…it's about our life!
If you have any questions or comments you can reach David at davidhiggtx@gmail.com This is the final episode where we discuss our thinking on learning to keep in step with the Holy Spirit and what that journey has looks like for us.
If you have any questions or comments you can reach David at davidhiggtx@gmail.com In this Bonus Episode, David & Tom share some personal experiences about their journeys of learning to keep in step with the Holy Spirit and how that journey continues today for both of them.
Spirit Walk- Learning to keep in step with the Holy Spirit- The tragic dichotomy of the Spirit and Truth camps- Yet Jesus referred to Holy Spirit as the Spirit of Truth. Worship Him in Spirit & Truth! If you believe you can have the Spirit without Truth, you misunderstand the nature of God and both Spirit and Truth. We must grow to the place where we learn to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. We must learn to embrace mystery because Holy Spirit is mysterious. The “Godhead” is mysterious! Everything God does in the world today is by the Holy Spirit, so if you want to be involved in what God is doing you will be involved with Holy Spirit Jesus grew up learning to walk in wisdom by the Holy Spirit in His life. (Lk 2:52) It's important that I go away so that the Spirit of Truth can come. He told his disciples that they would know Him because He had been with them (in Jesus) but He will be in you. (Jn 14:16-17) Every Believer has received the earnest deposit of His Spirit who resides within us! God is within us! NOW THERE'S A MYSTERY FOR YOU! My Sheep hear my voice...How? (Jn 10:27) How do we hear His voice? By the Spirit who resides within us speaking to us. (Jn 16) Learning to hear His (Jesus') voice means quieting your heart & mind and being open to hearing Him…through the Holy Spirit. It means learning to discern what is His voice from other voices. The Spirit kept Paul and his team from going several places and then Paul had a dream of a man asking for his help in a completely different place than they were thinking. Maturing means (among other things) learning to enjoy Him (Holy Spirit) as my constant companion…because that is who He is! Emmanuel: God is with us, always by the presence of His Holy Spirit.
Finding my identity and security in Christ is essential to Thriving in life! Abide Daily- Learning to find my Life's, Identity & Security in Christ • Abiding daily means living “in Him” every moment of every day. THIS IS THE REALITY OF OUR LIVES, EVEN IF WE ARE NOT AWARE OF IT. • In Him we live, and move, and have our being (Acts 17 Paul at Mars Hill) • Recognizing & receiving Him as your life (Col 3:4) • Recognizing and receiving Him as the source of your Identity (The phrase “in Christ” describes who we are all the time, even when we are not aware of it or don't feel like it is true.) • Recognizing & receiving Him as your Security (Ephesians 1) • Your relationship w/God is not based on your performance, but on His. (Gal 3 Starting by the Spirit will you now be completed by the flesh?) • Living with w/an open heart toward God means embracing a conscious awareness of our need for Him at all times and embracing Him as our source. • Accepting that we are completely accepted in Him = Resting in Him.
Dixie and Andy Gazak were busy raising their family and involved in music ministry, but things were not healthy beneath the surface. Eventually, those issues grew to the point that the marriage ended. Hear the story of how God got Dixie's attention and began to turn things around.
Loving others is often a challenging venture, especially when we think they are not very loveable. However, God calls us to love others, in the same way, He loves us. How can we do that? That is the point of the conversation in this Bonus Episode. The solution is simple, but not easy.
This episode is a follow-up discussion in response to some questions from listeners about two issues: the possibility of our disappointing God and how forgiven are we, from God's point of view. If you have any questions or comments, contact David Higginbotham at: davidhiggtx@gmail.com
Learning to live life as a person who is completely & fully loved, accepted, and forgiven by God will change your life. Living Loved- Learning to live as a person who is Completely & Fully Loved by God- You are Loved Completely: there is no part of you that God does not love. What about my failure, my brokenness, and my sin? You are NOT any of those things! YOUR PERFORMANCE DOES NOT DEFINE YOUR IDENTITY! You are the object of God's Love- Agape' (John 3:16) You are Loved Fully: there is no part of God that doesn't love you. There is no aspect of God that is separate from another. His Holiness, Mercy, and Love are not in conflict, they are expressions of His Love. You always have been loved this way (Rom 8:5 “while we were sinners”… He was writing to people who were alive when this happened. Paul was also alive when Jesus was crucified.) You always will be loved this way- (Rom 5:10 IF while we were enemies, we were reconciled…how much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life?) What about when I sin? What happens then? What happens in Heaven? What happens on earth? God has dealt with all sin, for all humans, for all time! (2 Cor 5: 17-19) In Him, we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Eph 1 & Col 1) This was completely accomplished by the Finished Work of Christ that first Resurrection weekend. Jesus' once-for-all sacrifice paid the penalty for all sins for all humans for all time. (Heb 10) You're as forgiven now as you will ever be! Will you receive His gift of Love & Forgiveness? THIS IS AN ISSUE OF IDENTITY, NOT PERFORMANCE! I am completely & fully loved, accepted, and forgiven…RIGHT NOW! Embracing this truth and defining your Identity by it will change your life! IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, CONTACT DAVID HIGGINBOTHAM AT davidhiggtx@gmail.com
Thriving in life is not something that happens accidentally, it's the result of having a focused engagement in one's relationship with God and learning to cooperate with Him. This series of Bonus Episodes will focus on 6 Key Elements that I believe are a part of that process. This episode gives an overview of those 6 Key Elements. They are: 1. Living Loved- Learning to live as a person who is completely and fully loved and accepted by God. 2. Loving Others- Learning to love others in the way God is loving me. 3. Abide Daily- Learning to find my life's Identity and my security in Christ 4. Spirit Walk- Learning how to keep in step with the Holy Spirit 5. Soul Care- Learning to nurture and care for my heart and soul. 6. Encouraging Others- Learning to mentor others as they journey with God IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, CONTACT DAVID HIGGINBOTHAM AT davidhiggtx@gmail.com
Tucker & Julie Wannamaker move their young family 3/4 of the way across the continent from Colorado Springs to Washington D.C. Can they learn to encounter the Grace, Mercy, Love & Peace of God along the way. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, CONTACT DAVID HIGGINBOTHAM AT davidhiggtx@gmail.com
Two old friends talk about how discovering God's Grace in their lives has helped them learn to THRIVE. David's conversation with long-time friend Jay Guerra involves a lot of laughter, yet digs beneath the surface of their journeys and gets vulnerable when sharing from their hearts. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, CONTACT DAVID HIGGINBOTHAM AT davidhiggtx@gmail.com
Steve Smith was at the end of his rope. Completely broken and devastated. His traditional religious background, mixed with a healthy dose of New Age philosophy, had not prepared him for the challenges he was facing. His story is compelling and life-affirming as we follow his journey from that place of emptiness to life, healing, and restoration in Jesus Christ. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, CONTACT DAVID HIGGINBOTHAM AT davidhiggtx@gmail.com
Tangee Bennett's world threatens to come crashing down around her when her husband's hidden addictions explode and refuse to stay hidden any longer. How will she be able to keep it together and protect her family? Will her marriage survive this unexpected disruption? Listen to this compelling story of Tangee Bennett's journey through these incredible life-altering circumstances as she discovers God's Grace, Mercy, Love, and Peace. Thanks for leaving a comment and a review with your podcast provider! IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, CONTACT DAVID HIGGINBOTHAM AT davidhiggtx@gmail.com
Lyle and Beth Forsberg faced a heartbreaking tragedy that was compounded by the reality that the justice they looked for was not going to happen. How does one respond when it seems clear that justice will not be served? What would you have done? IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, CONTACT DAVID HIGGINBOTHAM AT davidhiggtx@gmail.com
When you've moved your wife and kids 600 miles to be closer to family and the job you were promised evaporates, due to the COVID-19 shutdown, what do you do? Then the replacement job that you were able to secure shuts down as well. Tom faced both of these challenges in the past year and talks about the journey he has been on and how God has been with him along the way. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, CONTACT DAVID HIGGINBOTHAM AT davidhiggtx@gmail.com
What will life look like for Vickie Goodman, now that she is a widow raising a teenage son. After the tragic loss of her husband she must lean into her relationships with God, her family and church community, in order to find the strength and vision for the next season of her life. This is the first of several conversations I will have with Vickie about that journey.
What do you do when the addictions you've been keeping undercover for years will no longer stay hidden? How do you keep your head above water when your life comes crashing down around you? Dan Bennett walked through this journey and encountered God in a new and deeper way than he had ever known before. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, CONTACT DAVID HIGGINBOTHAM AT davidhiggtx@gmail.com
How do you respond when unexpected events change everything you've planned on?
This is a quick overview of The Learning To Thrive Podcast. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, CONTACT DAVID HIGGINBOTHAM AT davidhiggtx@gmail.com
Ann & John Gillette welcomed home their 3rd child, Hunter, and were soon confronted with the devastating news that Hunter had congenital heart problems. Hear Ann describe the journey their family took with Hunter and how they discovered the Grace, Mercy, Love & Peace of God along the way. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, CONTACT DAVID HIGGINBOTHAM AT davidhiggtx@gmail.com
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