Truth In Boots

Food. That word can either excite us or fill us with dread, depending on our perspective and relationship with it. Plus it seems like there are constantly changing standards for what’s healthy, what foods new you should try to work into your menu to be eating healthy, and what diets you should be following. On this episode, I’m chatting with my friend Kelsie who is a dietician. She’ll be answering the frequently asked questions about food, nutrition, dieting, and meal planning.Go to truthinboots.com for a full outline of the show content.Music: "Our Great Savior" copyright by Galkin Evangelistic Team. Arrangement copyright by Reba Snyder. Used with permission.

What does meditation look like? What does the Bible have to say about it? My guest Tiffany Deighton teaches us the scriptural method of meditation and shows us the vital importance of “marinating” in Scripture. This is part 2 of a two part episode because I just couldn’t bare to cut out anything she was teaching us!Go to truthinboots.com for a full outline of the show content.Music: "Our Great Savior" copyright by Galkin Evangelistic Team. Arrangement copyright by Reba Snyder. Used with permission.

We all know we should do it, but not many of us actually memorize scripture. My guest Tiffany Deighton addresses some of our excuses and then gets really specific teaching us proven methods to memorize that she has taught to others. This is part 1 of a two part episode because I just couldn’t bare to cut out anything she was teaching us!Go to truthinboots.com for a full outline of the show content.Music: "Our Great Savior" copyright by Galkin Evangelistic Team. Arrangement copyright by Reba Snyder. Used with permission.

In 2020, I read the bestselling book “Atomic Habits” by James Clear, which is definitely on my top reads list for the year. As I read through the book, I was giddy with the discovery of how many Scriptural truths were behind his suggestions for creating good habits. Since I know January is the time of year we set New Year’s resolutions (and frequently break them), I thought I’d kick off the new year by sharing some of the tidbits from this book and linking them to the Bible principles behind why they work.Go to truthinboots.com for a full outline of the show content.Music: "Our Great Savior" copyright by Galkin Evangelistic Team. Arrangement copyright by Reba Snyder. Used with permission.

Guests Jamie Charles and Andrea Crocker, sisters by birth and in Christ, chat about what God’s Word says about babies. Through scriptural examples, they demonstrate three truths about God’s intention for children that will highlight the reality that God uses the weak, even helpless infants, to quiet His enemies.Andrea and Jamie write their own blog at theologyhitshome.com.Go to truthinboots.com for a full outline of the show content.Music: "Our Great Savior" copyright by Galkin Evangelistic Team. Arrangement copyright by Reba Snyder. Used with permission.

"I wasn’t sure if I had meant it, wasn’t sure if I had enough faith, wasn’t sure if I could be sure." "If I have doubts, doesn’t that mean I don’t have enough faith?" These are the heartwrenching thoughts of fellow believers who have struggled with assurance of their salvation. Though I’ve never personally had that struggle, through their testimonies I’ve recognized that their fight is actually similar to other fights Christians have against their sin habits. Even if you’ve never struggled with this yourself, please listen in so that you know how to encourage your sisters in Christ and so that you can have even more confidence in your security in Christ Jesus our Lord.Go to truthinboots.com for a full outline of the show content.Music: "Our Great Savior" copyright by Galkin Evangelistic Team. Arrangement copyright by Reba Snyder. Used with permission.“He Will Hold Me Fast” copyright by Coffey Ministries. Used with permission.

Here you are. You’ve done yet again exactly what you said you wouldn’t do and now you feel helpless and hopeless, but the truth of Scripture reveals that God does not share that same view of you. I’ve had to deal over and over again with falling into a sin habit that I never wanted to go back, so I hope the truths in this episode will encourage you as God uses each one of your failures to bring you closer to Him.Go to truthinboots.com for a full outline of the show content.Music: "Our Great Savior" copyright by Galkin Evangelistic Team. Arrangement copyright by Reba Snyder. Used with permission.“He Will Hold Me Fast” copyright by Coffey Ministries. Used with permission.

Bible study can be intimidating if you haven’t made a practice of it before. It can bring thoughts of guilt because you know you should be doing it. Or maybe you feel like you’ve just hit a brick wall and don’t really “get anything out of it.” And then there is meditation - which is kind of an ethereal concept- and memorization - which you never think of doing. I’m here to encourage you to take the next step in one of these areas, no matter where you are.Go to truthinboots.com for a full outline of the show content.Music: "Our Great Savior" copyright by Galkin Evangelistic Team. Arrangement copyright by Reba Snyder. Used with permission.

Sometimes the best inspiration comes from a person’s example, so this episode will be looking for encouragement through Christ’s example of overcoming temptation. There are two narratives in the Bible which record in detail Christ’s struggles: the temptation in the wilderness and the agony in Gethsemane.Go to truthinboots.com for a full outline of the show content.Music: "Our Great Savior" copyright by Galkin Evangelistic Team. Arrangement copyright by Reba Snyder. Used with permission.

We can get frustrated with ourselves for not being able to kick a sin habit to the curb, but maybe that means we need to step back and get a new perspective, the right perspective. When you put on the glasses of scripture and see things how God sees them, things might just suddenly become clear to you on why you are having such a struggle. In this episode, I again will be speaking from my own experience with my own sin habit that God has given me victory over. Go to truthinboots.com for a full outline of the show content.Music: "Our Great Savior" copyright by Galkin Evangelistic Team. Arrangement copyright by Reba Snyder. Used with permission.

Many of us deal with plaguing sin. I’m talking about the temper that keeps flaring up, the anxiety that won’t let you sleep, the control that you think you need to have, the eating disorders, the drug problems. This sin will take a different form for each one of us, but we all feel the same dread and hopelessness each time were confronted with the same temptation. This series that I’m starting seeks to help you overcome your stubborn sin habit, and I want you to know that I will be speaking from my own experience. I’m right there with you. This episode will be laying the important foundation.Go to truthinboots.com for a full outline of the show content.Music: "Our Great Savior" copyright by Galkin Evangelistic Team. Arrangement copyright by Reba Snyder. Used with permission.

Tired of life? You might be tired of serving others, tired of working, tired of your energetic or whining kids, tired of fighting your sinful heart, and just physically tired. You might be ready for a vacation, a sabbatical, or even just one hour where someone else in this world isn't expecting something from you. You might even be ready to just give up in one of these areas altogether. This episode is here to encourage you. Jamie delves into the why behind our struggles and then reminds us what we're striving towards.Need some more encouragement to endure? I'm taking a break for a bit from putting out new episodes, but this fall I'll be putting out a series about how to overcome your stubborn sin-habits, the habits that you've tried kicking to the curb over and over again, but just can't seem to defeat.In the meantime, check out Episode 1 for teaching on how to grow your faith.Go to truthinboots.com for a full outline of the show content.Music: "Our Great Savior" copyright by Galkin Evangelistic Team. Arrangement copyright by Reba Snyder. Used with permission.

Faith is the basis of our salvation, but sometimes we find it hard to define and live out. In this episode, Jamie Charles takes us through what the foundation of our faith is, what faith looks like, and the results of living by faith. Faith is a process, a race, which we all must run. There will be skinned knees and dehydration, but the race is easier when we focus on what we're running for. Listen in to learn what that prize is!If you want to study along with us, then go to truthinboots.com for a reading plan and for a full outline of the show content.Music: "Our Great Savior" copyright by Galkin Evangelistic Team. Arrangement copyright by Reba Snyder. Used with permission.

The believers in the Old Testament- the Old Covenant- were required to make sacrifices, but us New Testament believers are not required to make a blood sacrifice. So what’s the difference between us? Did God change the way a person makes it to heaven? Did God have a plan which He then needed to adjust because us humans just couldn’t cut it? This episode is the pinnacle of this series in the book of Hebrews. Jamie takes us through how each point made in Hebrews has been building up to the wonderful truth of salvation through Christ’s blood sacrifice on the cross.If you want to study along with us, then go to truthinboots.com for a reading plan and for a full outline of the show content.Music: "Our Great Savior" copyright by Galkin Evangelistic Team. Arrangement copyright by Reba Snyder. Used with permission.

Meditation can be an elusive concept to grasp, but it’s really quite easy to do. In this continuation of the series in Hebrews, Jamie guides us through a passage where the writer meditates on what it means for Christ to be a high priest after the order of Melchizedek. This is a great illustration which teaches us how to move past the “milk” we limit ourselves to in Bible study and move onto sinking our teeth into some meat and chewing on each concept we come across.If you want to study along with us, then go to truthinboots.com for a reading plan and for a full outline of the show content.Music: "Our Great Savior" copyright by Galkin Evangelistic Team. Arrangement copyright by Reba Snyder. Used with permission.

Rest. An elusive ideal which 21st century Americans seem never to be able to achieve. God promises us rest, but what is required to obtain it? And what kind of rest is it? This episode is the continuation of Jamie Charles teaching us what she learned in her own personal study of the book of Hebrews in the New Testament. Jamie introduces the topic that Christ is better than Moses, but then spends significant time developing the extensive passage in Hebrews warning us not to be like Israel who could not enter into their rest.If you want to study along with us, then go to truthinboots.com for a reading plan and for a full outline of the show content.Music: "Our Great Savior" copyright by Galkin Evangelistic Team. Arrangement copyright by Reba Snyder. Used with permission.

“Christ is better than the angels…. Duh!” You might have the same first response Jamie did when she started her study of this passage. So what exactly are angels actually like? And why is this such a powerful point which causes the author of Hebrews to spend time on it? This episode is the continuation of Jamie Charles teaching us what she learned in her own personal study of the book of Hebrews in the New Testament.If you want to study along with us, then go to truthinboots.com for a reading plan and for a full outline of the show content.Music: "Our Great Savior" copyright by Galkin Evangelistic Team. Arrangement copyright by Reba Snyder. Used with permission.

Ever wondered just how to move past your annual reading plan and dig a bit deeper into God’s Word? Ever been confused or daunted by the book of Hebrews? This is the start to a 7 part series on the New Testament book of Hebrews taught by my friend Jamie Charles. In this episode, Jamie teaches us how to study the Bible in-depth and then she gives us a glimpse into the truths we’ll be learning in this study.If you want to study along with us, then go to truthinboots.com for a reading plan and for a full outline of the show content.Music: "Our Great Savior" copyright by Galkin Evangelistic Team. Arrangement copyright by Reba Snyder. Used with permission.

I can’t think of a better way to wrap up this series on God’s attributes in the light of our salvation than to read for you Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, a classic sermon by the Reverend Jonathan Edwards. He delivered it to his congregation in 1741 during a revival in the New England colonies, and its challenging words have stirred many a soul to accept God’s gift of salvation. What I want you to notice, though, is how important it is to understand who God is in order to fully understand each of Edwards’ points. It’s when you fully realize that you are but dust, when compared to the Almighty God, that you understand how amazing it is that God would choose to love us and die for us.Go to truthinboots.com for more encouraging podcasts.Music: "Our Great Savior" copyright by Galkin Evangelistic Team. Arrangement copyright by Reba Snyder. Used with permission.

God is love (1 John 4:8). Some might say that is all that needs to be said about God, but I contend that you cannot truly understand God’s love unless you first understand the rest of His person. This episode connects everything we’ve been studying about God with His love.Go to truthinboots.com for a full outline of the show content.Music: "Our Great Savior" copyright by Galkin Evangelistic Team. Arrangement copyright by Reba Snyder. Used with permission.

Is God really just? How can He punish a criminal and an upstanding citizen the same way? What exactly does it mean for God to be just? This podcast will answer these and more questions about God’s Justness.Go to truthinboots.com for a full outline of the show content.Music: "Our Great Savior" copyright by Galkin Evangelistic Team. Arrangement copyright by Reba Snyder. Used with permission.

God knows everything; He’s Omniscient. If God really does know everything, then why did He create the universe when He knew we would sin? What impact does should God’s Omniscience have on my daily Christian life? I’ll address these questions and more in this episode.Go to truthinboots.com for a full outline of the show content.Music: "Our Great Savior" copyright by Galkin Evangelistic Team. Arrangement copyright by Reba Snyder. Used with permission.

God’s holiness is so much more than just sinlessness. It is the essence of His very person, and is solid bedrock that the entire Bible’s teaching of sin and salvation rests upon. God’s holiness is why the Father forsake His Son on the cross, and holiness is also why we can have hope for our salvation.Music: "Our Great Savior" copyright by Galkin Evangelistic Team. Arrangement copyright by Reba Snyder. Used with permission.

God is powerful. It’s a fact that we Christians claim to know, but do we really understand it? Or maybe you question with everything you’ve done wrong, can God really save you? In this episode I discuss the doctrine of God’s Omnipotence and the encouragement that provides regarding our salvation.Music: "Our Great Savior" copyright by Galkin Evangelistic Team. Arrangement copyright by Reba Snyder. Used with permission.

It’s been said that there are only two things you can count on in life: death and taxes, but how true is that? Listen in to this podcast as I discuss the doctrine of God’s Immutability - His unchanging nature - and what implications that has for other doctrines including how secure our salvation is. We will answer the questions “is Christ's work complete” and “can I loose my salvation because of something I've done wrong?”Music: "Our Great Savior" copyright by Galkin Evangelistic Team. Arrangement copyright by Reba Snyder. Used with permission.

“The Bible has a ton of contradictions” is a common accusation, but just how much merit does the statement have? This last episode in the Reliability of the Bible series gets to the heart about why the Bible does not have errors in it.Music: "Our Great Savior" copyright by Galkin Evangelistic Team. Arrangement copyright by Reba Snyder. Used with permission.

This episode is for the mom of a special needs child as well as her friends who wish to support her. As with every difficulty we face in life, there are lies that crop up which hinder you from overcoming the challenge with grace and peace. Listen in while Hannah Black and I discuss several lies that moms of special needs children may be believing.Show NotesI’m undeserving of difficulty (i.e. God isn’t just)Comparing my child to typical/other Angelman Syndrome kids (i.e my life would be better if…)God does not have my child’s best interest at heart (i.e. God is not good)My child’s disorder is my fault (i.e. God is not in control)Music: "Our Great Savior" copyright by Galkin Evangelistic Team. Arrangement copyright by Reba Snyder. Used with permission.

You’ve got a friend or neighbor who has a child with special needs, but honestly, you just have no idea how to interact with her or her kid. What do you say? What do you do? What is her life like each day? In this episode I chat with my friend Hannah Black about her son Benjamin who has Angelman Syndrome. She shares her heart about some of the challenges that she, Benjamin, and her family face each day, and she shares some tips on just how you can be supportive of someone with a different needs child.Show NotesDefinition of Angelman SyndromeWhat Benjamin’s life is likeWhat life is like as a caregiverHow to relate to a caregiver and child with special needs ResourcesTo learn more about genetic therapies, cureangelman.orgFor for general info on AS, angelman.orgParenting or connecting with special needs: Heather Avis’ The Lucky Few,” “Scoot Over and Make Some Room” Andrew and Rachel Wilson’s The Life We Never Expected, Advocate like a Mother podcastMusic: "Our Great Savior" copyright by Galkin Evangelistic Team. Arrangement copyright by Reba Snyder. Used with permission.

There are dozens of different Bible versions available in English today. Are these each different Bibles teaching different truths? Why are there so many? This episode seeks to answer these questions as well as to give you the history behind Bible translation from the original languages into English.Visit truthinboots.com for the show notes and full bibliography.Music: "Our Great Savior" copyright by Galkin Evangelistic Team. Arrangement copyright by Reba Snyder. Used with permission.

A common hangup on believing that the Bible came from God is the accusation that men chose what writings to include. Was there a hidden agenda in excluding some writings and including others? Is there a magical list from God of what writings to include and what to exclude? In this podcast, I’ll give you the history and discuss the decisions behind how we got the collection of books we call the Bible.For the full show notes, go to truthinboots.comMusic: "Our Great Savior" copyright by Galkin Evangelistic Team. Arrangement copyright by Reba Snyder. Used with permission.

Non-believers love to tout archeology as reliable evidence that the Bible is full of errors, so the uninformed Christian just might start to question her own faith when confronted with this “evidence.” After all, there is real, solid proof in the ancient dirt, so how could it be argued with? Actually, many times their proof is the absence of something in the dirt, so they just haven’t dug in the correct 196.9 million square miles on earth yet. I just have to chuckle each time they make a new discovery that has them flabbergasted that the Bible actually had it right. In other cases, archeologists have misunderstood what they have discovered because they have started with erroneous information in the first place. I’d like to share with you just three examples of how archeology actually does support the Biblical account of history.Show NotesThe Hittites were a formidable kingdom with an army equivalent to Egypt (2 Kings 7:6) The Exodus Didn’t happen because the majority of the secular archeologists have their timeline wrong. If you correct the dating…You have a tomb for JosephPharaohs that agree with the Biblical accountAfter the Exodus and the destruction of Pharaoh's army, the invasion of the Hyksos. JerichoThere have been a handful of digs during the 1900s. Most of those digs came to the conclusion that the Bible’s account is false because they believe that Jericho was destroyed earlier than the Biblical Exodus, but their conclusion is wrong when the evidence is re-examined.Secular archeology mis-datedEvidence from the wallsEvidence from the grainMusic: "Our Great Savior" copyright by Galkin Evangelistic Team. Arrangement copyright by Reba Snyder. Used with permission.

For many of us, Bible study can sometimes seem formidable, dry, or just something you don’t have time for. For others, you know you should be studying God’s Word, but you have no idea where to begin. Joining me in this episode is my first guest, Christa Threlfall, who is the author of the blog Brown Sugar Toast and the book Come to Jesus. Listen in as Christa and I discuss the joy of Bible study including why it’s important and some practical how-tos. SHOW NOTESWhy is Bible study important?How do you respond to the statement "I'm just too busy to study the Bible"?What are some of the basics to how to study the Bible?What are some study methods and plans? What are some favorite study tools and resources?Resources:BooksWomen of the Word: How to Study the Bible with Both Our Hearts and Our Minds by Jen Wilkin ***** A must read for any women starting Bible study! ******Profiting from the Word by Arthur PinkIlluminated paperback Scriptures with blank pages for writingOnline ResourcesFree Bible Study from Jen WilkinBlogpost from Brown Sugar Toast “I Don’t Have Time to Be in God’s Word.”BlueLetterBible.org is a free online tool (or app) that includes many commentaries, concordances, Bible encyclopedias, and much more!e-sword free Bible Study software YouVersion free Bible app Music: "Our Great Savior" copyright by Galkin Evangelistic Team. Arrangement copyright by Reba Snyder. Used with permission.

Have you ever been stumped by the statement “The Bible never says that it is the word of God”? Or what about the statement “the Bible contains the word of God, but it all isn’t God’s word”? Listen in as I provide the Scripture on what the Scripture says about itself so that you are ready to give an answer for your faith in the reliability of God's Word.Show NotesThe scripture claims to be the word of GodGenesis 1 “God said” "Thus saith the Lord" 413 uses of that exact phrase per my search on Biblegateway.com219 times "the Lord said" 54 times “word of God”This count doesn't include pronoun substitutes other references to God speaking like "God hath spoken."The Bible doesn’t contain the Word of God; it is God’s Word.Scripture says so2 Peter 1:212 Timothy 3:16If Scripture is not all God’s Word, then who determines which part is? Your own logic is fallible as a human being, so how can you be certain your reasoning should be your final authority?The apostles quoted scripture as God’s word Acts 4:25Rom 1:22 Timothy 3:15 Jesus testified that the old testament was God’s true WordHe revered and obeyed itMatthew 5:17-18Mark 14:49Matthew 26:53-54Luke 18:31John 19:28He believed that events and people in the OT really happened/existedCreation Matthew 19:4-5Able - Luke 11:51Noah and the flood - Matthew 24:37-39Jonah and the Queen of Sheba - Matthew 12:39-42He quoted it as an authorityMatthew 4Luke 18:20God is TruthChrist said He believed it to be trueJohn 17:17John 10:35bGod cannot lieNumbers 23:19Titus 1:2Truth is described to be one of God's attributesDeut 32:4Psalm 31:5John 7:281 John 5:20God claims to speak truthPsalm 119:160Isaiah 45:19Go to the Truth In Boots resources page for a large- but by no means exhaustive- lists of verses about this topic. All of the above verses plainly state two things: the scriptures do claim to be from God, and the scriptures teach that God is, and speaks, truth. Ultimately, you have to decide if your final authority is the Word of God or your own reason. For Christ said, (John 14:6) “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”Bibliography:Livingston, David. “Jesus Christ on the Inerrancy of Scripture.” Ancient Days, www.davelivingston.com/JCreScripture.htm. “Take a Stand on Biblical Inerrancy.” Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, May 2014, billygraham.org/decision-magazine/may-2014/take-a-stand-on-biblical-inerrancy/. Packer, J. I. "Fundamentalism" and the Word of God: Some Evangelical Principles. Inter-Varsity, 1958.Resources:coldcasechristianity.comMusic: "Our Great Savior" copyright by Galkin Evangelistic Team. Arrangement copyright by Reba Snyder. Used with permission.

This episode provides you with the facts to defend your faith in the preservation and accuracy of the scriptures. You probably have been confronted by non-believers with statements like "the New Testament is full of 400,000 errors" or "your copy of Exodus is nothing like what Moses wrote over 3,000 years ago." Listen in as I give you an introductory knowledge to be able to give an answer for your faith in the reliability of God's Word.SHOW NOTESOLD TESTAMENT PRESERVATIONAncient Near East Scribal practicesRabbinic tradition for copying the Torah as described in the Talmud: Takes about 2,000 hours to write a TorahThe scribe must be an adult, male Jew who has undergone special training and certification.The parchment must be prepared from specified animal hides. No metal can be used in the making of a Torah because metal was used in warfare.The scribe may not write even one letter into a Torah Scroll by heart. Rather, he must have a second, kosher scroll opened before him at all times.The scribe must pronounce every word out loud before copying it from the correct text.A Torah Scroll is non-kosher if even a single letter is added or deleted.there isn’t sufficient white space surrounding a lettera single letter was so marred that it isn’t legible to a childthere isn’t enough space between two words or if one word can be mistaken for twoA Torah Scroll in which any mistake has been found, cannot be used, and must be fixed within 30 days, or buried so that it cannot be referenced.A Torah scroll that has deteriorated must be buried so that the damaged scroll cannot be used to create a new scroll and thus have the possibility of an error being transmitted.Dead sea scrollsIncludes portions of every single OT book except EstherInclude a complete text of Isaiah Dated to at approx 125 years before Christ95% in agreement to the next oldest version of Isaiah (1000 year difference) with most of the variations spelling or grammatical correctionsSome secular scholars state that the Dead Sea scrolls demonstrate that the OT was fluid until the time of Christ. I’m not a Hebrew scholar, but the conservative scholars demonstrate that the OT followed the Masoretic tradition and was not fluid. See the thesis link in the resources.NEW TESTAMENT PRESERVATIONThe earliest manuscripts Fragments of at least 11 manuscripts date to the second century.More complete manuscripts of entire books of the NT are available starting in the second and third centuries.The earliest copies of a book containing both the OT and NT are from about 450 AD.The abundance of manuscriptsThe are 25,000+ early manuscripts of various languages. About 5,600 of these are in Greek and about 10,000 are in Latin.Aristotle’s Poetics has only 5 manuscripts copied 1,400 years after the original.Homer’s poetry is the closest to the NT with less than 2,400 copies in various languages with the oldest manuscript over 400 years after he first wrote.Early church fathers quoted the NT extensively: more than a million quotes with an estimate of being able to recreate 95% of the NT from the quotes.The accuracy of manuscripts400,000 variants by the modern count.Most of the variants are simple grammar or spelling changes. There are only about 400-600 variants that can affect translation into another language.One scholar estimates that only 50 of these 400-600 are significant for consideration. There are over 138,000 words in the Greek NT, so those 50 variants make up less than 1% of our NT.Bibliography:“Accuracy

This episode is for the woman struggling with infertility as well as her friends who wish to support her. As with every trial we face in life, there are lies that crop up which hinder you from overcoming the trial with grace and peace. Listen in while I address several lies that women struggling with infertility may be believing and while I get really honest with you about a few of the lies that were personally hard for me to deal with.SHOW NOTES:I. ACKNOWLEDGE THE EMOTIONSGrief, guilt, anger, shame, etcOnly when you identify what you’re feeling, can you then determine why you’re feeling that way. Behind many of your feelings may be some lies that need to be addressed.II. COMBATING THE LIES Children are a requirement to be a good ChristianThere are two passages that I incorrectly felt shame from.Psalm 127:3-5 “ Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.”This verse states that children are a blessing from God. This verse does NOT state that He requires you to have children. Gen 1:28 “And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”Backup to verse 27. He is your Creator. He made you exactly as you are.God is sovereign over your ability to have children, so you are not disobedient if His perfect design for you is to not be able to have biological children.The whole purpose of my marriage was to have children.Genesis 2:18 “It is not good that the man should be alone.” The Bible does not state that the purpose of marriage is procreation.Yes, the Bible explicitly states that sex is only for a married couple, but you do not get married so you can have sex.God’s stated reason for creating Eve was companionship for Adam.Ephesians 5:22-33 “‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the Church.” (vs 31-32)God designed marriage to also be a picture of Christ’s relationship to the churchIt’s my fault or it’s my husband’s fault, biologically. Realign your abilities verses God’s character.God designed you and controls each aspect of your health.Psalm 139:13 “For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb”Deut 32:39 “See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand.”You have no control over your DNA or the course of your healthMatthew 6:27 “And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?”Proverbs 19:21 “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand”God is angry with me. Or I’ve sinned, so God is punishing me. Misused scripture:Psalm 84:11 "For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.”Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”Correct view of God:God is love. “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows

This episode is for the majority of women out there who do not struggle with infertility. It’s is more common than you’d think with 1 out of 8 married couples experiencing it, but they do so alone because their friends are not comfortable talking about it. Through this episode, I hope to break the ice on this sensitive subject giving you information to enable you to lovingly support your sisters, and brothers, in Christ as they struggle with the trial of infertility. SHOW NOTESI. WHAT INFERTILE COUPLES GO THROUGHShame from not living up to society’s - particularly their Christian friends’ - expectationsMonthly hope/loss cycleDaily pain from:A friend’s pregnancy announcementA friend’s baby showerThe social media torture through photosFriend’s complaints about their babies and kidsDeep GriefThey mourn the loss of the child for which they have been longing.The couple can’t publicly mourn the loss of children because no one knows, so they mourn in isolation without any of the normal prayer support from their church family. Many times women who have trouble getting pregnant also experience multiple miscarriages in their journeyInfertility treatments Definition: the couple has been trying for at least a year. Depending on their physician, the couple may be able to start treatments after one or two years of trying, but it’s possible the doctor may make them try for three years without medical intervention.First step is to identify the issue. The couple’s personal lives are literally put under a microscope.Treatments are started which cost extensive time, money, and emotional stress. These treatments will be repeated monthly.Treatments only work 25-50% of the time, depending on which problem the couple has.All these tests, drugs, and procedures add up to thousands of dollars which health insurance may or may not cover.II. HOW TO HELP YOUR FRIEND STRUGGLING WITH INFERTILITYWhat not to sayJust take it easy. What she hears: “this isn’t happening because you’re stressing over it” or “ignore science because then you’ll magically get pregnant.”So and so got pregnant after their infertility problems, so it will happen to you. No two couple’s infertility journey is the sameYou’re increasing her guilt because that couple fixed their problems, but she can’t.“I’m praying, so you’ll definitely get pregnant soon.” or “God will give you children in His timing.”You shouldn’t make those promises because God has not guaranteed that she’d have children.Christ prayed that He would not have to die on the cross, but God did not answer that prayer“How long have you been trying?” or “Have you tried this treatment/herb/practice?”My bedroom details are none of your business. Some women might volunteer what they’re comfortable with sharing, but don’t pry.Her doctor is aware of all medical treatments, drugs, and therapies. “You still have plenty of time”It will just serve as a reminder that it may take many years for her to get pregnant“Why don’t you just adopt?”You’re telling her to give up.Adoption is not an easy process, it’s expensive, and it has its own heartaches.Is there any chance/hope that you’ll be able to have kids?She won’t know the answer because fertility treatments work 25-50% of the time.Any jokes about the problemWould you crack jokes about someone struggling with cancer? It’s no laughing matter.What to say“That’s terrible” or “I’m so sorry.” React like you would if she miscarriedI’

In this podcast, I share my heart, my own experience, and God’s word on the subject of grief. This podcast is for the woman who is experiencing grief right now, it’s for the friend who knows someone that just lost a loved one, and it’s for you because loss is guaranteed to come to each of us in our lives. Since this podcast is a message each of us needs to hear, please share it so that your friends and family can be encouraged as well.SHOW NOTESLamentations 3Introduction: I came to this passage in Lamentations when dealing with my own grief from infertility and then a miscarriage, and I was amazed at how each verse seemed to depict so clearly exactly what I was feeling. Read vs 1-18 for yourself to see what Jeremiah was feeling about the loss of the people of Israel.The Biblical Pattern for grieving:Acknowledge You grief is real vs. 17Your incorrect thoughts vs. 3, 8, 15-16Jeremiah thinks God is “out for him”Jeremiah thinks God is intentionally ignoring his prayersJeremiah thinks God was the one that is responsible for his own emotional responseYour physical and emotional exhaustion from the grief vs.18 Your loss of hope vs. 18Maybe your loss of faithAppeal to God vs. 19-20Now that you’ve recognized all the problems, bring them all to God.Be honest:Ask whyTell God that you feel abandonedAdmit that you’re feeling punishedAdmit that you are starting to question His existenceGod already knows…. So don’t hold backSchool your mind: aka Self-counselWhat it is:Job did it. Job 1:21; 19:7-10,23-27David did it Psalm 13Vs. 21 Identify all your wrong/untrue thoughts and then correct them with truth. Dwell on the truths of God since they are the only things that can combat the grief and hopelessnessGod loves you vs. 22Psalm 136 God created the universe because He loves youHe lead Israel out of Egypt and into the promised land because He loves youJohn 3:16 From Israel a Savior was born to save you from your sins Rom 5:8God is in control vs.37-38Psalm 136 rehearses how God controlled history to bring Christ into the world.Joseph in Genesis 45:4-8God is trustworthy (faithful) vs. 23God loves me and controls my life, so I need to trust Him. What I am going through is somehow part of His perfect loving plan for me vs. 31-33God is enough vs. 24The Lord is your portion. A small part of an infinite God and His infinite love is my portion. I get to experience this loving, sovereign God and His perfect plan for me.Are you satisfied with God alone? Is He enough for you? Seek Him vs. 25You need to seek God and His goodnessPeace will only come when you truly, honestly, fervently seek Him. Isaiah 26:3Put this truth into boots: 1) Flood your thoughts with the Word of God since that is your only tool to combat the lies crowding your mind. 2) Seek out someone to walk with you in your grief: a spouse, a friend, a pastor, a Christian counselor.Music: "Our Great Savior" copyright by Galkin Evangelistic Team. Arrangement copyright by Reba Snyder. Used with permission.

We often consider the last 3 books in the Pentateuch as dry and laborious to get through. Listen in to my discovery of the inspiring content of Deuteronomy and how that impacts our lives.Part 4 in a 4 part series on the book of Deuteronomy covers why the Israelites needed to remember who their God is because that is the God that would give them the promised land.Click here to access the free Deuteronomy study guide.Music: "Our Great Savior" copyright by Galkin Evangelistic Team. Arrangement copyright by Reba Snyder. Used with permission.

We often consider the last 3 books in the Pentateuch as dry and laborious to get through. Listen in to my discovery of the inspiring content of Deuteronomy and how that impacts our lives.Part 3 in a 4 part series on the book of Deuteronomy covers thoughts on the commandments God gave and the motivation provided to keep those commandments. Let’s face it: we don’t like rules, and our natural inclination is to test limits and find excuses to not obey the rules. In this episode we delve into the reason God gave us a standard and some of the motivation He gave the Israelites to keep that standard.Opening music: "Our Great Savior" copyright by Galkin Evangelistic Team. Arrangement copyright by Reba Snyder. Used with permission.

Part 2 in a 4 part series on the book of Deuteronomy covers the main theme of the book: the importance of remembering.Opening music: "Our Great Savior" copyright by Galkin Evangelistic Team.Arrangement copyright by Reba Snyder. Used with permission.

We often consider the last 3 books in the Pentateuch as dry and laborious to get through. Listen in to my discovery of the inspiring content of Deuteronomy and how that impacts our lives.Part 1 in a 4 part series on the book of Deuteronomy covers the background and setting of the book.Opening music: "Our Great Savior" copyright by Galkin Evangelistic Team.Arrangement copyright by Reba Snyder. Used with permission.

Ever wonder how David had the faith to stand up to Goliath? Or Rahab the faith to hide the spies? In this episode we uncover the simple secret to living a life of faith. Scripture referenced: Heb 11 Gen 45:4-5, 8 Gen 50:24-25 Josh 1:5-11 Deut 31:1-6 Josh 2:8-11 1 Sam 17:37, 45-47 Dan 3:16-18 John 11:21-27 Rom 10:17 Psalm 119:9-16Opening music: "Our Great Savior" copyright by Galkin Evangelistic Team.Arrangement copyright by Reba Snyder. Used with permission.

I invite you to join me as we search the Scriptures together for the truth that we need to live life.