Podcasts about believing god

Sunday evening message from the pulpit of Falls Baptist Church

God isn’t looking for the strongest, the smartest, the most experienced, or the most qualified. None of the things we place such importance on are on God’s list of expectations of us. God asks for something specific from us … believe. Simply believe he will do what he says he will do. Believe he can do it through you and he can do it for you. We are so quick to dismiss ourselves. We’re so accustom to playing little and sitting it out. Experience has shown us if we will just sit and wait, someone else might step up and do it for us. But really, is that what God created you for? Did he create you to be the girl who never does anything hard? Did he create you to be the girl who watches others do what you should be doing? I think not! Your Creator expects you to believe his power is enough to overcome every single inadequacy you may have. Your Creator expects you to show up like you’re chosen, and count on divine providence to make things happen as you go. This whole laying low, hiding in dark corners, and playing little nonsense has got to stop. Your muscles are atrophying because you’re not using them. And let me tell you something, your faith is a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it gets. But lack of use causes it to wither and deteriorate. If you haven’t been showing up in the middle of circumstances that are beyond your own ability and putting yourself out there in the face of potential failure, then you’ve started to believe you never could. Your focus has become set on all you can’t do, rather than what GOD COULD DO through you. What could God do through you? Oh girl, you have no idea! But don’t you want to know! I totally want to know what God could do through an ordinary girl like me. I want to know what my life could become with a disciplined surrender to his promptings. Notice I said “disciplined surrender” to his promptings. I’ve discovered this journey of being led by the Holy Spirit is a daily act of discipline. It means I get up when I don’t want to get up. It means I show up no matter what. It means I believe there’s something greater guiding me than my feelings in the moment. It means I start small and humble and refuse to give up in the struggle, because eventually God will grow it to something greater. But he doesn’t grow great things out of our nothing. He doesn’t show up and use magic in our lives. Is that what you’ve been counting on? Magic. God, just make it happen. Do something big, while I do nothing. Nope. God uses seeds. Your disciplined surrender every day is a seed. If you don’t plant it by showing up when you don’t feel like showing up, then guess what … you forfeit the blessing of seeing what God could have done with your little. You dismiss yourself from growth. So, God will grow someone else. God will use someone else’s seed of disciplined surrender to create what you’ve been dreaming of, and you’ll sit there and watch it happen wondering why it couldn’t be you. Well, honey, maybe it couldn’t be you because you weren’t willing to believe to the point of action. Yes, that’s what we’re talking about today. Belief in God that makes us move. Believing so much that we can’t sit in inaction. Believing God is doing something so good, no one could make you sleep the day away. Believing God is guiding you so powerfully, that nothing could hold you back from taking the next step. Would God really choose someone like you for that? YES – You’re perfect for this! In the Old Testament, the Lord chose Gideon as his mighty warrior to rescue his people. But there was one little problem, Gideon was a very unlikely candidate for a warrior position. No one else would have chosen Gideon, but God did. And you need to know why. You need to know why God chose someone totally unlikely for great things, because you’ve been focusing on how unlikely you are while God has been trying to tell you YOU ARE CHOSEN. Judges 6: 11-16 “The angel of the Lord came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you,mighty warrior.” “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?' But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.” The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?” “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” The Lord answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.” Why would God choose the least person out of a family in the weakest clan to rise up as a warrior? Oh honey, don’t you remember what Jesus said in 2 Corinthians 12:9 “My power is made perfect in your weakness.” Gideon being a total unlikely warrior was God’s divine opportunity to show his power. So, Sister, all the reasons why you can’t … all the reasons why you’re not good enough … all the reasons why you dismiss yourself … those are the exact reasons God has chosen you. YOU ARE THE ONE HE WANTS because his power is made absolutely perfect in you. You can’t do this on your own, and you’re not supposed to. But you are supposed to do this with his power! Gideon began following God’s promptings with disciplined surrender. He did things that were hard for him to do. He did things that made absolutely no sense to him. He did things that would cause others to question. And with each act of disciplined surrender, God’s power was made perfect within him. This is how the least person in a family of the weakest clan became a mighty warrior. He actually BELIEVED what God said about him. And he believed it so much, he took action. And this is exactly where you are today. You’re at this place where God is speaking to you. He is telling you you are his beloved and chosen girl. He is telling you he created you for a purpose and he has great plans for you. He is telling you the deepest desires of your heart have been put there by him, written into your soul by your creator, as a guide to your destiny. Will you BELIEVE IT? Will you believe this could be true for you? Will you believe your weakness makes you a perfect candidate for God’s power? Will you believe it so much that you stop dismissing yourself? Will you believe it so much that you greet the feelings that tell you you don’t want to, and show up with disciplined surrender anyway? Will you believe it in the face of your most recent set back? Will you believe it when it looks totally unlikely? Will you believe it when you’re tired? Will you believe it when it doesn’t make sense? Will you believe it to the point of action? God has aligned things for you that your mind simply cannot even begin to fathom right now. It’s crazy perfect how God’s plans for your life will fulfill every dream you’ve ever had and bring purpose to every struggle you’ve ever lived through. Yip, God meant it when he said he will give you the desires of your heart. He meant it when he said he would take everything the enemy ever meant for harm and use it for good. Now, you get to choose whether you believe it. And if you choose to believe it, something will start shifting within you. That belief will stir up power and courage and strength you never knew possible. The warrior stuff inside of you will start showing up. And every day, through disciplined surrender pushing you through all the things you don’t feel like doing, you will discover you really are the one God has chosen! Your job today is to start believing it and start showing up for it. My whole world changed when I spent more time believing I could be the one God spoke through than dismissing myself from the calling. No more dismissing yourself. God is calling you. He’s calling you out of the corner where you’ve been hiding. Out of the rut where you’ve been stuck. Out of the comfort you’ve been clinging to. Out of the excuses you’ve been using. Believe it and see where your feet are guided next! Each act of your disciplined surrender invites God’s power to be made perfect within you. Follow Pamela on Instagram – https://instagram.com/headmamapamela Or Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pamela.crim Find out more about BIG Life – http://biglifehq.com

Saturday is review day on The Daily Promise. Every Saturday, we review the promises of the week so we can allow them to go deep into our hearts and lives. Here are the promises we covered this week. Psalm 37:39-40 - God Delivers You from Every Spiritual Battle.  1 Peter 5:4 – You Will Receive a Crown. James 4:8 - Draw Near to God. John 4:24- The Heart of Worship. Mark 9:23 – The Power of Believing God.

Today's Promise: Mark 9:23 Have you ever stopped to ask yourself, How strong is my faith? In this episode, we explore one of the most powerful promises Jesus ever made.   As we look at the story of the desperate father who brought his demon-possessed son to Jesus, we'll discover the difference between faith in ourselves and faith in the promises of God. Faith is more than positive thinking; it is a complete confidence that God will do what He has promised.   We'll also confront the question: Is unbelief limiting what God wants to do in our lives? Like the father who cried out, "Lord, help my unbelief," we all need God's help to grow in faith.   Join me as we learn how to trust God more deeply, pray with greater expectation, and move from praying little prayers to a little god to praying big prayers to our great God. Nothing is impossible when we put our faith in Christ.

Amy's first ministry is loving her husband, Rob, and nurturing faith in their seven children. With Rob, she founded Visionary Family Ministries to equip parents, encourage couples, and strengthen families in Christ. She holds an MA in Clinical Psychology from Wheaton College Graduate School and is a licensed clinical professional counselor. Amy also serves in her church's women's and worship ministries.

Amy's first ministry is loving her husband, Rob, and nurturing faith in their seven children. With Rob, she founded Visionary Family Ministries to equip parents, encourage couples, and strengthen families in Christ. She holds an MA in Clinical Psychology from Wheaton College Graduate School and is a licensed clinical professional counselor. Amy also serves in her church's women's and worship ministries.

Amy's first ministry is loving her husband, Rob, and nurturing faith in their seven children. With Rob, she founded Visionary Family Ministries to equip parents, encourage couples, and strengthen families in Christ. She holds an MA in Clinical Psychology from Wheaton College Graduate School and is a licensed clinical professional counselor. Amy also serves in her church's women's and worship ministries.

God not only gives harvest, He gives seed to the sower. In this faith-building message, Pastor Corey Erman teaches how believers can trust God to provide seed for generosity, expansion, and Kingdom impact. Learn how faith, obedience, and expectation position you to become a channel of blessing. “Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown…” - 2 Corinthians 9:10To support this ministry and help us reach the nations with revival visit RiverWPB.com or text GIVE and any amount to (855) 968-3708.

Believing God While WearyTeaching & Prayer with Overseer Azizah MorrisonContinuing the May focus, Anchored, this prayer gathering speaks directly to believers who are tired—but still holding on.Drawing from Romans 4:18–21, Isaiah 40:28–31, and Ezekiel 37, Overseer Azizah Morrison teaches on the tension of remaining faithful while mentally exhausted, emotionally strained, physically weary, and still waiting on the promises of God.This lesson acknowledges the quiet weariness many believers carry after years of praying, serving, interceding, and encouraging others while still standing in faith for their own breakthrough. Through the examples of Abraham and Ezekiel, listeners are reminded that weariness does not cancel promise, and dry places are not beyond the reach of God's breath.The accompanying prayer ministers strength to the weary, hope to the discouraged, and renewed faith to those who have quietly struggled under the weight of long seasons and delayed answers.This is a call to remain anchored in the faithfulness of God—even while weary.

Sermon preached by David Brame at GCC in Marblehead on May 24, 2026.

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Series: N/AService: SundayType: SermonSpeaker: E.R. Hall, Jr.Believe in God… But Also Believe GodIn Acts 27, the apostle Paul is on a ship in the middle of a violent storm. Everyone thinks they are going to die. But Paul stands and says:“Take heart… for I believe God, that it will be just as it was told me.” — Acts 27:25That statement is powerful.Paul did not merely believe in God. Paul believed God.And there is a difference.A lot of people believe in God. But believing God means trusting what He says enough to obey Him, rely on Him, and act on His word.Hebrews 11:6 says:“Without faith it is…

This message explores what it means to live out the prayer “Your will be done.” Through Scripture and personal reflection, it reveals how submitting to God's will begins with trusting His gentle and loving heart, grows through knowing His Word and ways, and is lived out by believing Him in faith-filled obedience. We are reminded that God's will is good, pleasing, and perfect, and that following Jesus is about relationship, not religion. The message concludes with an invitation to surrender fully to Christ and walk confidently in God's plan.

It's Brian's birthday — 49 years old and staring 50 in the face — and that milestone has him in a reflective mood. On this episode of The Common Good, Brian weaves together a handful of compelling threads: the challenging call to forgive even when bitterness feels justified, a sobering statistic about one-third of Americans currently experiencing an existential crisis, the Kentucky Derby's surprise winner and the life lesson it carries, and a powerful warning from the book of Judges about what happens when faith goes unguarded for just one generation. Brian also shares his personal take on capital punishment after listening to Malcolm Gladwell's Revisionist History, and closes with a devotional from Dr. Charles Stanley on what it actually means to walk wisely. A wide-ranging, honest, and deeply personal hour of radio.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Effective faith requires assurance ( a settled confidence) and conviction (an inner certainty), both of which Abraham had.  Believing God, he put feet to his faith and followed the Lord to Canaan.

Guest preacher Doug Warren joined us to deliver a comprehensive sermon based on the vivid and inspiring message of Hebrews 11:1-7.

Leviticus to Revelation; Studying Greek; Patterns in Hebrew; Untranslated Hebrew word aleph-tav; Spoken Hebrew; Sophistry; Tabernacle?; Calendars; Burning sheep?; Knowing how things work; Feeding society's needy; Offerings; "Chain of service"; Herding sheep; Society governing itself; Following Torah; Public/private religion; Misinterpreting the Old Testament; Human nature; Progressivism; Aleph-tav; Relationship of God and man + faith; Rulers; Taxation; Cain and Abel; Strange gods; Humility; Inspiration and faith via individuals; Freewill offerings only; Charity; Choice!; Sons of Aaron; Seed of Abraham; No exercising authority; Socialism; Tithing by choice; Minster responsibilities; Strange fire; Burnt offering; Forced offerings?; Abraham's faith; Human resources; Border walls; Returning to The Way of God; Forcing neighbors; Lack of faith that freewill offerings will work; Forgiveness; Cursing your children with debt; Child sacrifice; Abraham's struggles; Are you willing to free your neighbor?; Fasting from government benefits; Welfare snares; String delusion; Leviticus about social welfare system; Believing God is in the process; Covetousness = idolatry; Children of disobedience; Amos 5:23 Noise; Building a stone temple?; Oaths?; Righteousness?; Gathering as Christ commanded; Beware of public religion; Aleph-tav-kuf-mem?; Social welfare by civil powers - spoiled sacrifices; Victim mentality; Allowing you to judge others; Listening to the song of Moses and of the Lamb; Aleph-tav - trust in God; Sophistry of "eighth"; Revelation?; Freewill offerings; National debt = child sacrifice; Creating the table of the Lord; How does God want you to live?; Fat = substance/value; Lev 9:22 in the process of time; Bringing light; Nurturing your "spark"; Love of Christ; "Christ"; Healing our nation?; Not the eighth day - but the time coming to pass; shem-mem-yod-nun-yod; Making America great again; Becoming merchandise; Taking care of neighbor; No exercising authority; Lacking eyes to see; Repentance; Stop being covetous!

Waiting on God, trusting His timing, and holding onto hope in suffering are at the heart of When the Miracle Hasn’t Come Yet. Rooted in Romans 8:24–25 and the story of Lazarus in John 11, this devotional explores how God’s love remains constant—even when answers feel delayed. In seasons of pain, silence, or unanswered prayers, it’s easy to question where God is. Yet Scripture shows us that delay is not the absence of love. Jesus loved Mary, Martha, and Lazarus deeply—and still waited. That tension is where faith grows. Biblical hope isn’t pretending everything is fine; it’s trusting that God is still working when we can’t yet see the outcome. Even in the waiting, Jesus is still our resurrection and our life. The miracle may not have come yet—but His presence is already with us. Highlights God’s delay does not mean He is distant or uncaring Faith allows room for both belief and honest grief Biblical hope is anchored in what we cannot yet see Jesus is our hope now—not just when the miracle comes Waiting seasons are not wasted; they deepen our dependence on God God’s love and our suffering can coexist without contradiction You are not alone—God is present even in the silence Full Transcript Below: When the Miracle Hasn’t Come YetBy: Sarah Frazer Bible Reading:“For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” - Romans 8:24-25 If God loves me why am I suffering? I asked this question many years ago while sitting awake in bed at 2 AM. I was battling an intense time of depression and anxiety. Sleep would not come, even after begging God for relief. I had gotten so tired that I couldn’t rest. Tears rolled down my cheek. As I walked through the valley of depression, I began to search out why God would delay my healing. I wrestled with the question of how God could be loving but also allow suffering as well. Our passage for today speaks into this tension. “Now a man named Lazarus was sick… Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So… he stayed where he was two more days.” - John 11:5-6 Notice that it says Jesus loved them! It is evident in other scriptures that Jesus had a close relationship with all three siblings. Yet, when they needed him the most, Jesus delayed. If He loved them, why didn’t He hurry to heal Lazarus? For two days, Jesus didn’t move. So many of us feel like we are living in that “two-day delay.” We are loved, but we are still waiting. One night, while sitting in my bed, unable to fall asleep, I remember finally being honest with God. I told him that I was so depressed and asked Him why He didn’t take this pain away. Mary and Martha, in John 11, were also honest with Jesus. “‘Lord,’ Martha said to Jesus, ‘if you had been here, my brother would not have died.’” - John 11:21 There is belief here. She believed Jesus could have helped, but she also expressed her grief. How many of us shy away from both things when we are waiting for relief from our own suffering? Faith in God does not mean we can’t be disappointed. Jesus did not chide her for her honesty. Believing God’s promises and His power does not silence our sorrow. Although Jesus does resurrect Lazarus, Martha didn’t know this. You and I know that one day our new bodies will not suffer, and all tears will be wiped away. But that doesn’t mean we don’t live in unresolved circumstances now. “For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” - Romans 8:24-25 Biblical hope is not wishful thinking or denial. Mary and Martha did not deny the pain, nor did they have a vague belief in Jesus. Martha stood in her grief before she saw glory. Many of us do that too. Paul, in the book of Romans, encourages us to wait for what we cannot see and hope will come. Resurrection means that death does not win. Delay does not cancel love, and the grave does not get the final word. Often, we believe that God’s love means we will have immediate answers or instant healing. Instead, we find that God’s timeline and ours don’t always match. Jesus was the resurrection and the life before Lazarus walked out of the tomb. He is the resurrection for us, even if tears fall. “I am the resurrection and the life.” John 11:25 Notice what Jesus did not say: “I will perform a resurrection.” He said, “I am.” This is one of the many “I AM” statements found throughout the Gospel of John. In this moment, Jesus is declaring Himself God. Very soon after this moment, Jesus would face His own death, and then God would resurrect Jesus as well. Notice that the miracle came later. Jesus is still our hope, our savior, and our king, even if we find ourselves still inside the tomb. Depression is like a tomb for me. So many times I’ve suffered through seasons of extreme sorrow, feeling like I was dying. In those moments, I began to cling to Jesus. Nothing around me felt any different, but as I read scripture, especially this passage, I realize that Jesus sees my sorrow, loves me deeply, and was willing to die Himself so I could one day be free from pain and sorrow. The same Savior who sometimes allows suffering is the One who ultimately conquered it on the cross. So if you find yourself praying at 2 a.m., longing for relief, just remember that you are not forgotten. You may not see the miracle yet. But you are not waiting alone. Intersecting Faith & Life: Where does it feel like God is late in showing up for you? What prayer feels unanswered? What miracle are you waiting and hoping for? You are not abandoned in the delay. Love can coexist with waiting. Resurrection hope sustains sometimes before it resolves. Further Reading:Isaiah 30:18Lamentations 3:25-262 Corinthians 4:16-18Hebrews 11:13Revelation 21:4-5 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Believing God about his future and his presence allows us to accept God's invitations with living faith.

On this episode, we talk with Cristi Alexander, a TCK to South Africa. You'll hear her share about what she's learning about God and herself in seasons of change and disappointment. Cristi talks vulnerably and beautifully about living in the tension of knowing who God is while her circumstances might try to tell her otherwise. We always love talking with Cristi and we know you'll love being part of this conversation too!What questions do you have about this episode? How can we help support you or your TCK? We'd love to hear from you! Connect with us HERE. HOSTS: Michelle Ellis, John Michael Caldwell, Nicole CaldwellSONG: Sunscreen by Vic Davi CONNECT WITH US: Instagram | Facebook | Email UsCHAPTERS:0:00 - 1:17 | Introduction1:17 - 7:43 | Getting to Know Cristi7:43 - 16:33 | The Tension Between Going and Staying (and God's Grace in the Middle)16:33 - 22:58 | Dealing with Pain and Disappointment22:58 - 25:37 | Believing God is Good When it's Hard35:37 - 35:51 | Words of Comfort for Parents35:51 - 43:22 | A Prayer for Listeners in the Valley43:22 - 47:33 | MK Debate47:33 - 56:14 | ClosingSHOW NOTES:28:46, 40:13 | Psalm 23 - “Yahweh is my best friend and my shepherd. I always have more than enough. He offers a resting place for me in his luxurious love. His tracks take me to an oasis of peace near the quiet brook of bliss. That's where he restores and revives my life. He opens before me the right path and leads me along in his footsteps of righteousness so that I can bring honor to his name. Even when your path takes me through the valley of deepest darkness, fear will never conquer me, for you already have! Your authority is my strength and my peace. The comfort of your love takes away my fear. I'll never be lonely, for you are near. You become my delicious feast even when my enemies dare to fight. You anoint me with the fragrance of your Holy Spirit; you give me all I can drink of you until my cup overflows. So why would I fear the future? Only goodness and tender love pursue me all the days of my life. Then afterward, when my life is through, I'll return to your glorious presence to be forever with you!”KEY QUOTES:5:03 | “I've always known that the gift that that I was given as an MK was such a gift from God.”13:30 | “I'm learning that if I push and I long and I resent or fight the seasons that I'm in, all it does is just cause an ache in the heart.”19:05 | “This has been my season of, ‘who is God to me now in the seasons of disappointment and pain and loss and grief?;”20:38 | “My TCK experience was so good and I'm so grateful, but it also cost me a lot.”22:24 | “It is a gift to be able to stay and to wrestle through.”31:06 | “Intimacy with the Father is what is going to allow me intimacy with others.”32:03 | “I think a lot of times where the source of wounding is, God is so good and He's so redemptive that He wants to heal in that way too.”32:44 | “The tension is allowing myself to be honest with the Lord, allowing myself to be vulnerable with others and allowing the mess to be visible.”41:29 | “I know now more than ever before that the valley of darkness is real, but that God's goodness and presence and power is more real.”42:05 | “Lean in, He's got you.”Interested in partnering with John Michael & Nicole in prayer, one-time giving, or monthly giving? Do that HERE.COMMON TERMS:TCK - third culture kidMK - missionary kidLAC - Latin America Caribbean

Episode 109 Oh this episode is special! Today I am talking with my new friend who feels like an old friend, Leslie Harter-Berg, author of the brand new book You're So Strong: on Grief and Letting Go of My Favorite Compliment. Leslie is the daughter in law of a dear friend of mine, so I felt like I knew so much of her story. But reading Leslie's book allowed me to know her so much better. Her book is honest, raw, real, funny, tender, helpful and hopeful. And yes, it is a book on grief, widowhood and losing her husband suddenly at age 30.  Leslie's book is the kind of book you need to read whether the story is your own, or to prep you to walk through the story with someone else. We should all read this book! But before you do, listen to my conversation with Leslie. We laughed, I cried, I gushed and fangirled, and we got to the heart of things. Leslie is an absolute gem. I know you'll love this one!  Resources mentioned in this episode: Find Leslie's brand new book here Find Leslie on Instagram here Find Leslie's videos and help for widow and widowers here Find Leslie's website here Find Leslie's Substack here Find info about Greta's Walking Retreat in the Cotswolds here Find info about joining Greta's family in Italy here And pick up your copy of Greta's newest book, It's Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn right here Sign up for Morning MinuteThe Greta Eskridge Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

Pastor West explores the foundational story of Abram in Genesis 15 to distinguish between believing in God's existence and truly trusting His character. He describes a "predictable letdown" that often follows spiritual highs, noting that even great biblical figures experienced vulnerability and despair. By looking to the stars, Abram moved his focus from his own limitations to God's infinite power and sovereignty. This shift illustrates the core theological principle that righteousness is credited through faith rather than earned through human effort or perfect behavior. He concludes that the imputed righteousness of Christ is a gift received by those who believe God's promises despite their circumstances. Through this lens, believers are encouraged to find sufficiency in their relationship with the Creator when all other worldly securities fail.Support the showThanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook or Instagram more info colonialkc.org

In today's episode Jason sits down with Finu Iype, Co-Senior Pastor of Village Church in Surrey, British Columbia, to trace his story from an Indian family line marked by conversion and adoption into the family of God, to his early years preaching in small towns across Ontario, to eventually stepping into senior leadership at Village Church in Surrey. Along the way, Finu shares what he's learned about evangelism, the cost of calling, and the ways God builds His church beyond the influence of any one leader.Together, Finu and Jason explore:Finu's family story, his grandfather's conversion, the societal cost of following Jesus, and the gift of being “adopted” into a new spiritual family,How suffering formed his spirituality through personal illness and the loss of his younger brother,His early ministry years preaching in small-town Ontario and gathering churches to pray, disciple, and reach their communities,The Village Church story, including a prophetic word, a lunch invitation with Mark Clark, and a long discernment process,Leadership transition and resilience: what Village's continued growth says about the faithfulness of God, and the evangelistic opportunities provided by immigration to Canada. Finu's story invites us to live with courage, to hold loosely to our own visions for our lives, and to trust that God is often writing a better story than the one we would choose for ourselves.Show NotesVillage ChurchCity MeetupsThe Emerging Leaders LabPartnersContact John Wright at Generis for help cultivating a culture of generosity in your church.We couldn't do the work we do at The Pastorate without your generous support. We invite you to pray, share, and ⁠give⁠ towards seeding a hope-filled future for the Canadian church.

Reflection on Preaching and Unworthiness Feeling unworthy to preach, considering the great men who have preached before. Feeling like “the least of the least.” Finding strength in God’s presence and help. Acknowledging dependence on God, stating, “It has to be God in it or nothing good will come out of it.” Requesting prayers due to feeling unwell and facing spiritual opposition. Experiencing difficulties in studying due to various distractions. Finding peace through God’s assurance: “I’ve got you. We can do this.” Focusing on magnifying God through testimony. Sharing personal testimony as a way to magnify God. Experiencing blessings from God for this approach. Testimony of Past Struggles and Salvation Having a tough life and experiencing bad things. Being raised in church with a preacher father, but still making wrong choices. Acknowledging that upbringing doesn’t guarantee salvation. Recognizing personal responsibility for choices. Experiencing a difficult breakup 25 years ago and seeking to fill a void. Turning to drugs and alcohol, which provided temporary relief but worsened problems. Facing dangerous situations and engaging in harmful behaviors. Having guns pulled, being stabbed, and experiencing jail time. Acknowledging having done “about every bad thing you can do.” Experiencing a turning point about a year ago when God intervened. Overdosing on drugs and being revived multiple times. Feeling death approaching and hearing a voice offering a choice between God and goodbye. Promising to live for God if given another chance. Waking up in the hospital without withdrawal symptoms or cravings. Experiencing no withdrawal symptoms from heroin addiction. Having no desire to return to a former lifestyle. Being called to preach and share testimony. Seeking to share testimony in jail to prevent others from making similar mistakes. Expressing gratitude for God’s unwavering hold and protection. Believing that God maintains a “hedge of protection” even when one strays. Scripture Reading and Prayer Reading Proverbs 3:5-9 about trusting in the Lord, acknowledging Him, and honoring Him with substance. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thy own understanding.” “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” “Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of thine increase.” Offering a prayer for guidance and help in delivering God’s message. Feeling inadequate but acknowledging that “little is much when you’re in it, God.” Asking God to remove self and use Brother Dan to help others avoid a destructive path. Praying for God to anoint Brother Dan and use the message for His purpose. God’s Plan and Protection Reflecting on God’s goodness and protection even during times of sin. Recognizing God’s “shield of protection” during past sinful behavior. Believing God knew Brother Dan would return and live for Him. Emphasizing God’s plan for everyone and His ability to redirect those who stray. Referencing James 4:8: “Draw near to God and He’ll draw near to you. Submit yourselves to God and resist the devil and he’ll flee.” Highlighting the need for faith, trust, and reliance on God. Asserting that God is the answer to every problem, including drug addiction. Sharing personal experience as proof of God’s power to overcome addiction. Expressing gratitude for prayers offered during times of living in the world. Acknowledging the impact of prayers from family and others. Recognizing the importance of serving God fully and consistently. Feeling convicted about not always giving 100% to serving God. Emphasizing the need to serve God not only for oneself but also for loved ones and co-workers. Highlighting the importance of living a consistent Christian life. Recognizing that one may be the only “Bible” some people read. Promises of God and Personal Reliance Reading Psalm 91 about dwelling in God’s secret place and finding refuge. “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” “I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.” Trusting in God more and experiencing positive changes. Noting that things work out when relying on God, unlike when living for the devil. Describing the deceptive nature of worldly temptations. Drugs initially seem good but ultimately lead to destruction. Emphasizing that God sees the whole picture and desires what is best. Recognizing that God’s plan may differ from personal desires but is ultimately better. Acknowledging God’s deliverance from the snare of the fowler. Expressing gratitude for being delivered from the devil’s grip. Realizing that personal stubbornness and the devil’s influence contributed to past struggles. Taking responsibility for past choices and acknowledging the importance of staying near God. Stating, “God didn’t put me there. I put myself there.” Highlighting the importance of being a doer of the word, not just a hearer. Referencing Hebrews on the importance of acting on what is heard. Overcoming Temptation and Sin Recognizing the tendency to be mentally absent during church services. Acknowledging the struggle with the “old flesh” that resists participation. Finding prayer as an escape route from temptation. Believing that God provides a way out of temptation. Understanding that sin separates us from God. Referencing Isaiah 59:1-2 about iniquities separating us from God. Emphasizing the importance of repentance and forgiveness. Recognizing that living in sin leads to missed blessings. Expressing gratitude for the Holy Spirit’s guidance and conviction. Appreciating the conscience that helps in making good decisions. Finding protection under God’s wings and truth as a shield. “He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.” Letting God Work and the Assurance of Salvation Recognizing that we often hinder God’s work due to worldly desires. Prioritizing work over church and making excuses to avoid serving God. Highlighting God’s care, guidance, and protection. Acknowledging God’s role in making crooked places straight. Sharing personal experiences of God’s faithfulness and protection. Recalling near-death experiences where God intervened. Emphasizing the importance of prayer and righteous living for the salvation of loved ones. Recognizing the power of prayer and its impact on daily life. Understanding that trials grow faith. Comparing trials to working out muscles at the gym. Expressing gratitude for God’s sacrifice and the promise of heaven. Knowing that God created heaven for everyone, even sinners. Reiterating that God will do anything for our betterment if we trust and believe. Encouraging everyone to have the assurance of salvation. Inviting those without assurance to seek guidance. Expressing hope that something said will be helpful. Acknowledging the message may be scattered but trusting God’s word will accomplish its purpose. Offering encouragement to those struggling with addiction or having loved ones who are. Believing that the same God who delivered Brother Dan can deliver others. Urging the church to focus on serving God and living righteously. Emphasizing the importance of speaking boldly about God.

Believing God Can - Faith isn't denying reality but it's believing God is greater than it.

Privilege of Being in God’s House Gratitude for the freedom and presence of the Spirit of God. Many people would love to be in a place where the spirit of God is free. It is a privilege to be in God’s house. Romans Chapter 4 Reading of Romans 4:17-25 and verse 16. Focus on faith and grace. It is of faith that it might be by grace. The promise might be sure to all the seed. Not to that only which is of the law, but also which is of the faith of Abraham. Abraham: Father of Many Nations Abraham as the father of many nations, not just Israel. God told Abraham, “I’m going to make you a father of many nations.” All are children of Abraham through faith, not the law. Abraham pleased God through belief, not law-keeping. The law had yet to be given. Abraham came because he believed God. Abraham’s Faith God’s promise to Abraham to make him a father of many nations. Sarah was barren. Abraham didn’t have any children. Abraham believed God despite his age (100 years old) and Sarah’s age (90 years old). Abraham believed God. It was imputed to him for righteousness. Righteousness imputed to Abraham because of belief, not personal righteousness or worthiness. Not because Abraham was righteous. Not because Abraham deserved righteousness. Not because he was worthy of righteousness. But because he believed God. Importance of Faith Without faith, it is impossible to please God. God puts such a value on faith. When any soul will simply believe God in spite of all the circumstances, in spite of all the situations. God imputes righteousness to those who believe. Righteousness of Christ imputed at the moment of faith. We believed. Hope in a Hopeless World Hope is very important. The world has lost hope, even the lost. Wickedness abounds and it’s getting worse. Political changes have not brought righteousness. A lot of people thought when Trump got in office that somehow this country would turn around and get righteous. We’re no closer to God than we were two years ago. Evidence of lack of revival: no abandonment of sin, no church filling. If things were really getting right, brother, we’d see it in the church. It ain’t here. It’s growing more wicked every day. Encouragement to keep hope. Don’t let anything steal your hope. Advice to avoid negative influences: turn off TV and radio, open the Bible. Turn your TV off. Turn your radio off. And open up your Bible. Stop the influences of the devil. Hope as a Necessity Hope is absolutely necessary for the people of God. Despair and worry heard in voices of men at a gathering. There were some of them that were sharing before church, and some of them shared even after we had started. I could hear the despair in their voice. I could hear the worry and the concern. Concern is valid, but must be balanced with hope in God. Without a vision, you’ll perish. We cannot as the people of God in good faith talk about it without still having hope in God. Faith and hope are linked; faith precedes hope. If you’ve got faith hope’s right behind you. The more faith you have, the greater hope you’ll have as well. 1 Corinthians 13: faith, hope, and charity (love). Love is the greatest, but in good company with faith and hope. Now abideth these three. Faith, hope, and charity. But the greatest of these is charity. Need for hope in the church. We need to have hope in our heart tonight. We need to have a hope down in our soul. With God, anything can happen. When God’s involved, anything can happen. Believe God and let hope save each day. What we need to do is believe God and then let hope save us each and every day. Hope as Verb and Noun Hope is both an action (verb) and a thing (noun). Hope is both a verb and a noun. It is both an action and a thing. Like faith and love, hope is a real thing. Faith is an action, but faith is also a thing. Love is an action, but it is also a noun. It is a thing. Appreciation for people with hope who haven’t given up on God. I love to meet people that have got hope. I like to meet people that ain’t give up on God. They’ve not laid down on God. They’ve not quit believing in God. Hope leads to expecting God to move in unexpected ways. God’s going to do something that they ain’t expecting, that God’s going to move in a way they’ve never seen, that God’s going to come in and help them in a way that they can’t even understand or foresee. Hope should follow faith. If you’ve got faith, you ought to have some hope with you. Hope ought to follow your faith. Many Christians seem to lack hope. I see a lot of people that ain’t got much hope. I talk to Christian people, good Christian people. And when you talk to them, it seems like they don’t give up. They just throw it in the towel. Losing belief in God leads to hopelessness. When they quit believing in God, they quit believing God can do something. Focus on the present and the work to be done. I’m still breathing. I’ve still got a day ahead of me if God wakes me up and the sun shines again. We’ve got work to do. Need for hope to avoid emotional and spiritual backsliding. You’ll get so far down the ditch that you’ll end up backslidden emotionally and spiritually. You’ll get to the place where you sell out on faith and you sit down on God and suddenly, amen, everything that is wrong begins to come your way. Reaping hard things from sowing bad things. You’ll begin to reap hard things because you’ve sown bad things. Even without understanding God’s plan, hope is essential. Even though we cannot see what God is doing, we do not know what moment in time, what dispensation we’re in. What I can tell you is that we still need hope today. Abraham believed against hope. Abraham, who against hope, believed in hope. Hope is part of faith. Hope’s part of our faith. These three abideth, faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is hope. Believing Against Hope Abraham believed against hope (Romans 4:18). Every earthly argument or sense was not supporting what God was telling Abraham. Everything that God told Abraham, the worldly argument, the worldly sense, the worldly rationality, The worldly experience would tell Abraham that’s not going to happen. Worldly rationality says it’s impossible, but God can do anything. It cannot be. It is impossible. There’s no need to believe in that because that is not reality. It is not something that can occur. Believing God despite circumstances allows hope to flourish. When everything says it cannot be. It still can be. Believing in God Believing in hope means believing in God (verse 17). Before him whom he believed even God. Believing in God overrides worldly rationale and human experience. If you’re believing in God today, all bets are off as far as the world’s rationale. All bets are off is on human experience. God can change situations even when doctors say nothing can be done. You may have been to a thousand doctors and every one of them tell you, Nope, there is nothing that can be done. But brother, when you put it in God’s hands, it can change. Question of who to believe: doctors, lawyers, personal experience, or God. Do you believe the doctors? Do you believe the lawyer? Do you believe that person? Do you believe your experience, your own rationale, your own common sense? God can do anything, including wondrous miracles. All of those things are nothing to my God. Because God can do anything. God acts when humans cannot. God did it because you couldn’t do it. God did it because nobody else could do it. God did it to show you He could do it. Believing in God despite terrible circumstances. There are circumstances in my life that are terrible, and I have no idea how this is going to turn out. Anything is possible with prayer and belief. If you’ll keep praying and you’ll keep believing, friend, anything is possible. God’s timing differs from human timing; patience is needed. God’s timing ain’t your timing. So just be patient. Human solutions to God problems don’t work. His wife said, I’ve come up with a human solution to a God problem. What you need is not a human solution, but you need the God solution. Trusting God with all your heart leads to directed steps. If I trust in Him with all my heart and lean not to my own understanding but in all my ways acknowledge Him that He will direct my steps. God fixes what humans cannot. You’re liable to find out He fixes what can’t be fixed by humans. God’s Abilities Believing in God who is able to do all things. Abraham believed in any help because he was believing, number one, in God who is able to do all things. Believing in God who can quicken the dead. He was believing that God was able to quicken the dead. This God had power to raise someone up from the dead. Believing in God who calls things that are not as though they were. When God talks about something that has not happened, he’s speaking to it as if it will happen because he will make it happen. God will speak it as if it has already happened. Need for More Faith Need for more faith. I need more faith. I need to believe God for more than what I’m believing. Trusting God for things that are impossible for humans. When you trust God and believe Him for things that you can’t fix, you can’t do. Daily choice to believe God or the world. Every day when you get up, you’re going to have to make a choice. Am I going to believe God today or am I going to believe the world? Believing God leads to the birth of hope. If you believe God, friend, hope is born again right in your soul. Abraham’s Strength in Faith Abraham was not weak in faith. Abraham was strong in the faith. Abraham believed God when asked to sacrifice Isaac. Take your only son Isaac up there and offer him up as a sacrifice unto me. Abraham believed God would provide a sacrifice. God will provide himself a lamb for the sacrifice. Abraham believed God could raise Isaac from the dead. He believed in his heart that if God allowed him to take that boy, that he’d raise him from the dead. Overcoming Weakness in Faith Problem of weakness in faith. I think that’s part of our problem today. Faith can move mountains (Matthew 21:21). If we had faith we’d say to the mountain be you moved and cast into the sea and it would be. Abraham’s example of not considering his own body as dead. Being not weak in the faith, he considered not his own body, now need. Not letting the mind dictate faith. Abraham did not let his mind dictate what God was saying, whether it be possible or impossible. Not staggering at the promise of God through unbelief. He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in the faith, giving glory to God. Being fully persuaded that God could perform what He promised. Being fully persuaded what he had promised, he was also able to perform. Value of Hope Faith, hope, and charity (love) are all important. These three things abide. Faith, hope, and charity. The greatest of these is charity. Need for hope. You need a lot of hope, by the way. Wake up with enough faith to produce hope for the day. You need to wake up in the morning with enough faith to produce more hope so that you have hope to do you all day long. Losing hope leads to stopping. The minute you run out of hope, the minute you sit down. The minute you quit working for God, the minute we quit living for God and serving God and reading and studying and seeking God, when you lose hope, you just stop. Hope is essential for survival, like for prisoners of war. The main thing that those prisoners of war in Vietnam needed, the main thing they needed was hope that they’d get out. Hope can lift one out of pits, depression, and hurt. It’ll lift you up out of that pit that you’re in, that depression that you’re in, that hurt that you’re feeling. Hope is powerful and can save. Hope will save you. It’s that powerful. Hope from the Scriptures Hope comes from the Scriptures (Romans 15:4). Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning. That we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Faith comes from hearing the Word of God. Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Increased faith leads to bold hope. As your faith is increased, brother, hope becomes bold within yourself. Need for hope at all times, not just in church. You don’t need it on Wednesday and Sunday. You need hope on Thursday morning. You need some good hope on Friday morning. The world should see hope in Christians. Reckon why they’d ever ask you about Christ if when they see or hear you, all they see is somebody that has no hope. The lost are the most hopeless. If there’s anybody hopeless, It’s the lost. Without hope in Christ, life is miserable (1 Corinthians 15:19). If I had hope in this life only in Christ, I’d be of all men most miserable. God of Hope The Word of God gives hope and sustains belief. The Word of God was meant to give us hope because it gives us faith. Hope keeps serving and fighting and helping and it’ll sustain you. God is the God of hope (Romans 15:13). Now the God of hope, fill you with all joy and peace and believing. Prayer for God to fill with joy, peace, and belief. I pray that He fill you with all joy and peace and believing. Abounding in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost. That ye may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost. Supercharged Hope The Holy Ghost supercharges hope. The Holy Ghost then gets into hope. It gets supercharged at that point. Hope begins to do unexpected things. Suddenly hope begins to do things you didn’t know hope could do. The power of the Holy Ghost brings action. When you get the power of the Holy Ghost into something, you better get out of its way. Because it’s fixing to do something. Hopelessness leads to despair. So many people have got their head down, which infers to me they’ve lost hope, which means they’re not believing God. Christians should never be hopeless. You’re never hopeless. Simple faith in Christ produces supercharged hope. That simple faith in Christ produces a supercharged hope that has power to lift you up out of depression, lift you up out of the pit, lift you up out of that hard place. God can do what no one else can do. God can do what no one else can do. Hope as an Anchor Hebrews 6:18-19: hope as a strong consolation. By two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation. Lay hold upon the hope set before us. Who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us. Hope is both an action and a thing. Hope is both a verb and a noun. Hope is an action and a thing. Hope is the answer and a supercharged power. Out there in front of you is hope. Out there in front of you is the answer, the hope that you need. You’ll experience hope as a thing. A supercharged. Holy Spirit-filled thing. A power unlike anything else on the earth. Hope changes perspective. Give somebody real hope. Their perspective changes on every circumstance. Loss of hope leads to despair and suicide. If you take their hope away, you know what they do these days? They try to kill themselves. Need to exercise faith to increase hope. You better keep working on hope. Hope will rescue and save. Hope’s going to rescue you. Hope’s going to save you. Hope as an anchor of the soul (Hebrews 6:19). Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul. Hope leads to Christ’s presence. Hope will lead you into His presence. Need to be at the feet of the One who can do all things. The one thing you need, more than anything else, is to be at the feet of the One who can do all things. Hope takes one to Christ. Your hope took you there. Hopelessness leads to quitting. You take a person that’s hopeless and you know what they want to do? They want to quit. Hope leads to seeking Jesus. Somebody that’s filled with hope is going to find themselves at the feet of Jesus one more time. Hope is supercharged by the Holy Ghost. Hope is supercharged of the Holy Ghost. Hope is brought by the Scriptures. It is brought to us by the Scriptures. Hope is a refuge and a sure anchor. God has said it before us that we might lay hold upon it as a refuge. It is a sure and steadfast anchor of our… Hope leads into the presence of Christ. It takes me into the presence of Christ. Creation’s Groaning and Hope’s Saving Power All creation groans (Romans 8:22). We know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. Everyone experiences problems. Every one of you have got problems. Choice to believe God and have hope or go farther down. They can either believe God. In that moment, they can either believe God and watch hope be born and supercharged powerfully enter into their life and lift them out of that circumstance or they will go farther down. Saved by hope (Romans 8:24). For we are saved by hope. Hope saves like a life preserver. Like a life preserver, when I’m going under it, Hope saves me. Hope lifts one up when feeling overwhelmed. When it feels like you’re just so far down that you ain’t going to come up again, and suddenly you feel like something grabbed a hold of you and just hit you right back down. That was hope. Hope replaces negative emotions with positive ones. A smile replaced the frame. And confidence the worry. And boldness the fear. Hope is always available in Christ. In Christ, there is always hope. Hope rescues and lifts up. Hope, it didn’t rescue you. It didn’t lift you up out of that where you said it didn’t pull you right back up to hope it saved you. Waiting with Patience Hope is born of faith. Hope is born of faith. When there is no faith, there is no hope. More faith leads to more hope. The more faith you have, the more hope is born. Hope lifts above the world’s troubles. Hope will save you. Hope will lift you above the waves of this world and the wretchedness we live in and the groaning and the pain. Hope is for things not seen (Romans 8:24-25). Hope that is seen is not hope. If we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Patience is needed while waiting for God’s promise. If we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Hope sustains while waiting. That hope will be what sustains you as you wait for it. Hope is an anchor of the soul. Hope will hold you. As an anchor of the soul. Hope leads closer to God. That hope is taking you right into him. Hope leads into the holiest of holies. It’s walking you closer and closer to him. Until it goes right inside, within the veil, behind the curtain, to the holies of holies. God does what no one else can do. God did something that nobody else could do. Patience allows hope to work until God fulfills His promise. With patience while hope did its work in sustaining and saving day after day moment after moment until finally God does what God said he’d do. Once the promise is seen, there is no more need for hope. Once you see it, you no longer have to hope for it no more. Faith, hope, and charity (love) are essential. Faith, hope, and charity. These three. Gratitude for hope. Thank God for Hope. Believing and carrying on despite uncertainty. You just keep carrying on. And you keep believing. Hope it keeps up. God’s plan is good. What a good plan He came up with, honey. Use faith, hope, and love. You’ve got them. Use them. Invitation to be filled with hope. I’d like to see you leave here filled with hope. Filled with hope. Let God save and help. Let him save you tonight. Let him help you.

We all want to know we are accepted and loved for who we truly are.Joshua MacLeod discusses the challenge of finding purpose, shares stories of awkward obedience, and examines how God's joy provides freedom and direction. You are invited into a journey of learning to listen, slowing down, and choosing practical steps toward wholeness.Regardless of your past or doubts, you can find belonging, replace shame with acceptance, and realize that God communicates with those seeking something genuine.Scriptures ReferencedPsalm 16:11, 23:1, 25:11-14; Proverbs 9:10; Isaiah 62:3-5; Jeremiah 29:13-15; John 10:14-17, 14:15; Romans 8:12-17; 1 John 2:16Key InsightsGod's delight in you does not depend on your perfection. He calls you to relationship, not just activity.Real belonging starts by hearing God's voice for yourself, not just through others.It is normal to struggle with doubt, distraction, or thinking you are “unqualified.” God meets you there with love and not condemnation.Slowing down, turning off distractions, and honest prayer are simple, life-changing ways to grow closer to God.Obedience may feel awkward or risky.Believing God delights in you dismantles fear and shame, freeing you to live out your true identity and serve purposefully.Community grows as we confess, pray for one another, and refuse to pretend.https://springhouse.captivate.fm/episode/identity-over-activity Subscribe & Follow the PodcastDownload our appOur WebsiteOnline Tithes & OfferingsJoin our LivestreamGathering TimesSundays, 9:00 AMSundays, 11:00 AMThursdays, 6:00 PM Contact InfoSpringhouse Church14119 Old Nashville HighwaySmyrna TN 37167615-459-3421 CCLI License 2070006

Send us a textIn this heartfelt conversation, Patricia Holbrook welcomes Brendt Blanks, author, content creator, and former marriage and family therapist, to share her powerful journey from counseling in hospitals to building a thriving faith-based lifestyle brand ("She Gave It A Go") and publishing her new devotional book, "Listen Closer." The episode dives into navigating grief, finding purpose in pain, and reframing negative thoughts with the truth of God's Word.Key Topics Covered:- Navigating seasons of loss, grief, and family challenges- The story behind "She Gave It A Go" and how a simple phrase and leap of faith led to a new career- The importance of making meaning from pain- Reframing negative thought patterns using practical, biblical techniques- Examples from motherhood and daily life about changing your mindset- How "Listen Closer" helps women identify and replace 31 common lies with God's truth- The power of speaking and meditating on Scripture over your circumstances- Overcoming fear, anxiety, and self-doubt in the pursuit of your calling- Encouragement for listeners to take bold steps of faith ("Give it a go!")Guest Bio:Brendt Blanks spent 17 years as a licensed marriage and family therapist before launching "She Gave It A Go," a home and faith-focused lifestyle brand with a major online following. Her experiences through personal hardship, professional burnout, and spiritual growth led her to write "Listen Closer," a devotional helping women fight the lies of the world with God's truths.Connect and Learn More:Visit Brendt's website: SheGaveItAGo.comEnter the book giveaway via Patricia's show notes: https://kingsumo.com/g/1rjew93/listen-closer-believing-gods-truth-over-the-worlds-lies-by-brendt-blanksPurchase "Listen Closer:” https://amzn.to/4pVFzTKSubscribe, like, and comment to share how God's truth has helped you reframe your own thoughts and challenges.Tag someone who needs encouragement to “give it a go” in their faith journey!Support the showClick on the link above to support us and help keep this show going!Click on the links to connect with Patricia on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube

Find the accompanying PowerPointHere. Believing God, by Donnie V. Rader. 1/25/2026 Sunday AM Sermon.

In our Catechism readings today, Fr. Mike reflects on the motives of credibility for believing in God. We learn that God offers us signs and proofs that show us that he truly is who he says he is. Fr. Mike also clarifies the difference between doubting the Faith and struggling with it. He assures us that wrestling with faith is a normal human experience. Today's readings are Catechism paragraphs 156-162. This episode has been found to be in conformity with the Catechism by the Institute on the Catechism, under the Subcommittee on the Catechism, USCCB. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/ciy Please note: The Catechism of the Catholic Church contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Fr. Mike continues reflecting on the meaning of faith and how it works in our lives. We learn that faith is a grace from God, a supernatural virtue that is not contrary to human freedom or reason. Fr. Mike reminds us that to have faith is not just to believe in God, but to believe God and everything he says. Today's readings are Catechism paragraphs 150-155. This episode has been found to be in conformity with the Catechism by the Institute on the Catechism, under the Subcommittee on the Catechism, USCCB. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/ciy Please note: The Catechism of the Catholic Church contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

How to Start Believing God for Something. When you first begin exercising your faith, you don't want to start with something life-threatening. Discover how you want to begin exercising your faith on this episode of Fight To Win with Pastor Kurt Owen.Tactical Tip: Many of our videos contain a short section we call Tactical Tips. Most offer ways to improve personal safety and security.Request the Free Offer: https://www.fighttowin.tvLearn More, Register for Events & Donate:https://www.kurtowen.com/***UPDATED TEXT TO GIVE INFORMATION***Text GIVEKOM to 44321Prefer to Watch the Video?https://youtu.be/1ia9wVPhH8oBecome a supporter of this podcasthttps://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fight-to-win-tv-with-kurt-owen--5638799/support.

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Show NotesKeywords: faith, trust, spiritual growth, God's promises, self-care, community support, reflection, affirmation, overcoming obstacles, Christian livingSummary: In this episode, Ms. G discusses the importance of walking by faith rather than by sight. She emphasizes the need for spiritual trust in God, especially during challenging times. The message encourages listeners to reflect on their faith, understand the difference between faith and sight, and recognize the key elements of trusting God. Ms. G also highlights the significance of self-care through spiritual practices and community support.TakeawaysWalking by faith means trusting God beyond your understanding.Faith requires action, even in uncertainty.Believing God's word is more important than feelings.Faith opens your eyes to possibilities, not limitations.Releasing control is essential in walking by faith.Walking by faith involves choosing belief over fear.Faith is rooted in God's character and promises.Self-care includes deepening your relationship with God.Encouraging others strengthens your own faith.Every step of faith leads to God's promises.Walking by Faith: A Spiritual JourneyTrusting God in Uncertain Times"Faith opens your spiritual vision.""Walking by faith is not always easy.""Self-care is digging into your word."

It has been written… "I have learned to use the word “impossible” with the greatest caution.”Pastor Ray shares his Christmas message from his current series “Lessons For Life—From Heroes of the Faith” titled, Joseph & Mary…Believing God for Miracles.

God works through seed, time, and trust, not shortcuts or instant results. This message reveals how hope, generosity, and faith are planted in seed form, reminding us that God brings growth as we steward what He places in our hands. Through Scripture, we see that hope is not fragile, faith precedes understanding, and God develops strong, lasting lives when we choose to believe, sow, and walk forward with confidence in His promises.CHAPTERS:00:00:00:00 – Welcome and service introduction00:01:41:12 – Believing God for a miraculous life00:02:03:00 – The oak tree and acorn analogy00:03:16:00 – Seed is meant to be sown, not eaten00:04:24:17 – God withholds no good thing00:05:22:18 – Prosperity leads to generosity00:06:27:17 – Seed produces 30, 60, 100-fold00:07:32:04 – Faith first, understanding later00:08:07:00 – Managing seed and guarding the soil00:08:28:16 – The importance of church and community00:10:49:01 – Sowing seed and watching what happens00:12:09:21 – Faithfulness leads to eating the good of the land00:14:03:01 – Christmas season and the need for hope00:16:28:19 – God sends His Word and brings healing00:18:08:06 – Isaiah: a great light in darkness00:19:49:13 – Hope is God's answer to hopelessness00:21:34:11 – Hope arrived as a baby00:22:18:01 – Jesus came as an acorn, not an oak00:23:26:12 – Faith doesn't follow logic00:29:20:01 – Rejoicing in heaven when one repents00:33:09:13 – Romans 15:13 explained00:35:08:08 – Hope is secure, not fragile00:36:56:20 – Looking forward with confidence00:38:40:21 – Why the kids building matters00:39:29:21 – Happy, healthy, and whole00:40:59:20 – Invitation to salvation00:44:34:13 – Salvation prayer00:45:12:19 – Service closing

Do you dare to ask more of God, or are you afraid to sound selfish? Hey, fam! In this bonus episode I'm dropping bombs on why settling for 'just enough' is not your design! We're talking about that word 'more'—not the greedy kind, but the abundance God literally wired inside you! Share your abundance mindset shift with me @biancajuarezofficial. Love you, B RESOURCES/LINKS Takeaways Asking for more from God is not selfish. We are designed and destined with desire. God wants us to believe Him for more. Desire can be hijacked by trauma and past experiences. The danger of desire lies in greed, not in wanting more of God. God's nature is to provide abundantly for His children. We should not settle for complacency in our spiritual lives. Desire should be directed towards God, not selfish pursuits. We are called to awaken to the more that God has for us. Living in abundance requires action and faith. ⋇ Bianca's book Grit Don't Quit: Developing Resilience And Faith When Giving Up Isn't An Option. https://amzn.to/3MO74OC  ⋇ The Grit Don't Quit Bible Study is now available. https://www.biancajuaerzofficial.com/gdq  ⋇ So grateful to our sponsors! Antique Candle Co. - Visit antiquecandleco.com and use the code “WGT” for 20% off your next order. https://tinyurl.com/WGTAntiqueCandle Omaha Steaks - https://tinyurl.com/RONOmahaSteaks Mercy Ships - https://tinyurl.com/RONMercyShips ⋇ Subscribe to We're Going There on your favorite podcast app so you don't miss out on any of the great topics and conversations. Don't forget to leave a loving review! Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/were-going-there-with-bianca-juarez-olthoff/id1529509063?uo=4  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6RpqUTDQWWKDHt1yLQlMKW ⋇ Visit biancajuarezofficial.com/resources to learn more about books and other resources from Bianca. https://www.biancaolthoff.com/resources  ⋇ Want to stay connected, join the community today. https://www.biancajuarezofficial.com/  ⋇ WGT email: podcast@inthenameoflove.org ⋇ Youtube: https://youtu.be/knGQ1v6Z9z4  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when your circumstances contradict what God says? You feel forgotten but He says you're favored. The promise seems impossible but He says it's coming. Maybe you've lost the wonder to believe He is a mighty God who does the impossible.NEXT STEPSHave you made the decision to follow Jesus? You might be wondering what's next for you. We want to help! Check out these resources to ​​discover what saying yes to Jesus means: https://www.life.church/yesCelebrate Christmas at Life.ChurchIn a world that can feel dark, uncertain, and heavy, there's a peace that changes everything. His name is Jesus. We invite you to spend the Christmas season at Life.Church. Come as you are, bring your friends, and get ready to be filled with the peace that only Jesus can bring. Find out more about Christmas at Life.Church: https://www.life.church/christmas/ABOUT THIS MESSAGEYou might be feeling a lot of things this Christmas season—and not all of them joyful. Maybe you're struggling with loneliness or wondering if anyone really sees you. Jesus came to meet you right where you're at and be exactly what you need. Let's discover who Jesus is and what that can mean for us in our new series.The Gift: An Advent Devotional: https://finds.life.church/advent-devotional/7 Powerful Names of Jesus in the Bible: http://go2.lc/jesus-namesThe Christmas Story Bible Plan: https://go2.lc/christmas25ABOUT LIFE.CHURCHWherever you are in life, you have a purpose. Life.Church wants to help you find your next step. Our hope is that your journey will include joining us at a Life.Church location throughout the United States or globally online at https://www.live.life.churchFind locations, videos, and more info about us at https://www.life.church or download the Life.Church app at https://www.life.church/appFIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIAFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/life.churchInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/life.churchTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lifechurchYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@life.churchCONNECT WITH PASTOR CRAIG GROESCHELYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/craiggroeschelFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/craiggroeschelInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/craiggroeschelTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@craiggroeschelLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/35447748/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What happens when your circumstances contradict what God says? You feel forgotten but He says you're favored. The promise seems impossible but He says it's coming. Maybe you've lost the wonder to believe He is a mighty God who does the impossible.

In this message, Pastor John Carter invites us to step into the story of Emmanuel—God with Us, a message that reminds us that the God who created the world stepped into it to rescue, restore, and dwell with His people. Discover how Christ not only came near but now lives within believers, empowering us to rise, shine, and walk in the light He brings. This series invites you to see your life through the hope of God's presence—past, present, and forever.

In this message, Pastor John Carter invites us to step into the story of Emmanuel—God with Us, a message that reminds us that the God who created the world stepped into it to rescue, restore, and dwell with His people. Discover how Christ not only came near but now lives within believers, empowering us to rise, shine, and walk in the light He brings. This series invites you to see your life through the hope of God's presence—past, present, and forever.

From Cleveland, TN, Dr. Jim Van Gelderen reflects on the powerful chain of faith that has stretched through his family for generations. Drawing from 2 Timothy 1:5, he traces how his grandmother's prayer life and his father's obedience shaped his own walk with God. In this heartfelt episode, you'll be reminded that your faith didn't start with you—and it doesn't have to end with you. Be inspired to keep the chain unbroken and pass on a living, unfeigned faith to those who come after you.Topics DiscussedHow God used Dr. Jim's grandmother's prayer life to shape his family's storyHis father's defining moment of obedience and courageThe meaning and power of “unfeigned faith” in 2 Timothy 1:5The generational nature of spiritual influenceFighting unbelief and choosing to trust GodHow your faith today can influence lives you'll never meetKey TakeawaysFaith is a living chain—someone's faith brought you here; your faith will carry others forward.Gratitude honors those who came before you; obedience builds for those who come after.Every battle with unbelief is a chance to keep the chain of faith strong.You can be the link that connects another soul to the God of miracles. If you've been encouraged by this podcast, please take the time to give us a five-star rating and write a brief review. That would help tremendously in getting the word out and raising the visibility of the Thee Generation for others. For more faith inspiring resources and information about joining Thee Generation, please visit theegeneration.org.

When the trauma of life feels too heavy to bear, where else can we go but to Jesus? He alone understands the depth of our wounds and the weight of the sins committed against us. This week, Jolie Nabigondo returns to share the extraordinary story of how Christ met her in the aftermath of unthinkable suffering. After surviving the horrors of the Congolese genocide, Jolie's faith was pushed to its breaking point, but God's healing power proved stronger than her pain. Through surrender and forgiveness, He transformed her trauma into a testimony of freedom and redemption. Now serving in refugee resourcing, Jolie works alongside people from the very tribe that once sought to destroy her. Her ability to love her former enemies is a triumph of the gospel, a powerful reminder that nothing is too hard for God (Jeremiah 32:17) and nothing is impossible with Him (Luke 1:37). You will be deeply inspired by this conversation about healing, forgiveness, and the unstoppable grace of Jesus.   Connect with Jolie: https://brand.site/HumuraCareCenter Books mentioned:   How Dare the Sun Rise: Memoirs of a War Child by Sandra Uwiringiyimana (Author), Abigail Pesta (Author) Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust by  Immaculée Ilibagiza (Author), Steve Erwin (Contributor)   To inquire about counseling, email Louise at Louise@louisesedgwick.com.

Jonah 3:1-5 - This message challenges believers to move beyond merely believing in God to truly believing God — trusting His Word, nature, and promises.

Jonah 3:1-5 - This message challenges believers to move beyond merely believing in God to truly believing God — trusting His Word, nature, and promises.

Ever feel stuck in decision overload—second-guessing every choice, lying awake with racing thoughts, or wondering if you've already missed God's plan for your life? You're not alone, friend. In this episode of the Choose 2 Think Inspirational Podcast, we're unpacking the affirmation “God will guide me.”I'll share some of my own stories of how God showed up in both the little things (like picture frames!) and the big transitions (like remarriage and buying a home). We'll talk about why His guidance is steady, why it comes step by step (not all at once), and how it brings peace right here in the present moment.And because you know I love weaving faith with brain science, I'll explain what's happening in your brain when anxious thought-loops take over—and how truth and trust in God can literally rewire your neural pathways.By the end, you'll feel encouraged to take that next baby step, breathe a little deeper, and rest in God's steady hand.✨ What you'll take away:God's guidance isn't random—it's steady and personal.Neuroscience shows your brain can rewire toward peace.Replacing anxious thoughts with truth strengthens your mind.You don't need the whole map—just the next step.Peace is available right here, right now.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Quiz on Decision Making03:17 Understanding God's Guidance06:31 Neuroscience and Faith: Rewiring the Mind09:18Three Truths About God's Guidance12:05 God's Guidance is Steady16:13 Step-by-Step Guidance19:55 Finding Peace in the Present Moment24:06 Personal Stories of Guidance28:06 Recap and Final Thoughts