Podcasts about bitterness

Follow your desires. This episode we cover the power of Somatic frameworks in helping move us toward a soul-led life, one where you honor your true desires. Sign-up for my course Self-Coaching with Somatics: https://www.bringsoul.life/pages/anisabenitez/somaticscourseBook a Clarity Call: https://www.bringsoul.life/portal/anisabenitez/sessions/6c19894d-9d4b-4541-9f7a-b4f192267a43Join the LIBERATE Community: https://www.bringsoul.life/portal/anisabenitez/Somatic Coaching: anisabenitez.com/coachingFollow me on…YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@anisabenitez⁠⁠Substack: https://substack.com/@anisabenitezInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/anisabenitezTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@anisabenitezListen to the podcast…Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3o4HTSBzZHmYUwLzDCE46KApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/liberate/id1502449035

Since bitterness is rooted in pride, a healthy dose of humility islikely the best antidote.

In the final part of The Happy Life, we look at Jonah and discover that sometimes the greatest thing standing between us and the joy God has for us isn't our circumstances; it's the “shade” we've created ourselves. Bitterness, resentment, unforgiveness, judgment, pride, and the need to be right can feel like protection, but eventually they begin to blind and restrict us. Jonah watched an entire city turn toward God, yet he was too consumed with anger to celebrate what God was doing. This message challenges us to examine what we're holding onto, step out of our own shade, release what has kept us stuck, and choose the light, grace, restoration, and joy God is offering.

Life Transformations with Michael Hart Aired: September 28, 2026 on CHRI Radio 99.1FM in Ottawa, Canada. For questions or to schedule an appointment with Elim Counselling Services, call 1-877-544-ELIM(3546) or email mhart@elimcounsellingministry.com. Visit elimcounsellingministry.com for more information. For more CHRI shows, visit chri.ca

At Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Charleston, SC, Rev. Sam Joyner continued his sermon series The Story of Ruth.

berni m janssen, a text artist, performer, Creative Director and facilitator, has been making art for more than 40 years, both independently and in collaboration with musicians, performers, writers, composers and visual artists from diverse communities.  She has been an artsworker, artist-in-residence, workshop facilitator and mentor. Her work appears in books, anthologies, magazines and online, and has been performed on radio and at festivals around the world. James Hullick, CEO and Director of Hullick Studios and JOLT Arts, has described her as "one of the great Australian performance text artists". She lives in Dja Dja Wurrung Country in the Central Highlands of Victoria. ENA was created for the JOLT 2022 Artistic Program and has had three seasons of liveperformance, including at the 2023 Sonic Poetry Festival. This broadcast features a live recording of the first half of Movement 1 ENA, Speak Bitterness, recorded at JOLTED Artspace in October 2022.Drawing on women's experiences across decades, ENA uses poetic assemblage to explore the past, the ways it continues to shape the present, and the patterns that remain to be challenged. It tells the stories of a generation of women, bringing together text, soundscape, performance and recorded material in what has been described as a  "sonic romp". ENA is available as a text art book, drawing  on the traditions of poetry and spoken word art forms. The text is narrated by the character ENA, a feminist looking back on her life as a young activist before contemplating her place in the world as an older creative thinker. It can be purchased here:  https://hullickstudios.com/product/ena-berni-m-janssen-book/To hear berni m janssen discuss her work, including ENA, listen to this interview broadcast on Spoken Word on Thursday, 25 January 2024: https://www.3cr.org.au/spoken-word/episode/berni-m-janssen-poetry-feminism-and-radicalismThe second half of Movement 1 of ENA, Speak Bitterness will be broadcast in October 2026.For copyright reasons, a podcast of this radio perofrmance of ENA, Speak Bitterness is not available. Photo by Vicki JonesProduced by Tina Giannoukos 

Bitterness may begin with what someone did to you, but if left unchecked, it can become the chain that keeps you bound. There is freedom in forgiveness, and you don't have to carry it anymore.

A grudge may start with hurt, but when it is fed, it can grow into bitterness, anger and destruction. In Mark 6, Herodias allowed resentment against John the Baptist to grow until it produced a desire for revenge. Download our new Apps below: EC App - iOS: https://apps.apple.com/za/app/empower-church/id6775955900 Empower Church EC App - Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=za.co.empowerapp EBI App - iOS: https://apps.apple.com/za/app/empower-bible-institute/id6775867966 Empower Bible Institute EBI App - Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=za.co.empowerschool.ebi 1. THE DANGER OF HOLDING A GRUDGE Herodias “nursed a grudge.” Bitterness that is continually fed eventually affects our peace, our decisions and the people around us. A bitter root never stays small. 2. GOD CALLS US TO LET IT GO God commands us not to seek revenge or carry grudges. We cannot control what people do to us, but we can choose what we allow to remain in our hearts. 3. WE ALL NEED GRACE Before looking at what someone else has done, we must remember our own need for mercy. Sin brings death, but through Christ we are offered forgiveness, restoration and life. 4. JESUS CAN CLEAN WHAT HAS BECOME UNCLEAN The man with leprosy came to Jesus needing cleansing. Jesus touched him and said: “I am willing. Be clean.” In the same way, Jesus can cleanse a heart that has become contaminated by bitterness, anger and resentment. 5. FORGIVE BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN The unmerciful servant received forgiveness for a massive debt but refused to forgive someone else. Grace received must become grace given. Forgiveness does not mean the hurt was acceptable. It means we refuse to remain imprisoned by it. Do not allow yesterday's hurt to become today's bitterness. Do not allow someone else's actions to determine the condition of your heart. Release the grudge. Receive His grace. Forgive as Christ forgave you. #forgiveness #empowerchurch #resentment #hurt #grace #desire #grudges #cleansing #anger #revenge #restoration #offense

Life Transformations with Michael Hart Aired: September 21, 2026 on CHRI Radio 99.1FM in Ottawa, Canada. For questions or to schedule an appointment with Elim Counselling Services, call 1-877-544-ELIM(3546) or email mhart@elimcounsellingministry.com. Visit elimcounsellingministry.com for more information. For more CHRI shows, visit chri.ca

Monday • September 21-UPDATE Hebrews 12:15 “Looking diligently lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you.” A root is hidden before its fruit becomes visible. Bitterness works the same way. It can live beneath the surface for a long time before it begins affecting our relationships, our peace, our decisions, and even our view of God. Forgiveness is preventative as much as it is restorative. It helps us deal with wounds before they become identities. What we refuse to release today can become something our future has to fight tomorrow. May today's declaration remind you to pay attention to the roots growing in your heart. May God reveal hidden bitterness and give you the courage to pull up what no longer belongs in your life. Join us weekday mornings at 6AM PST as we pray, process, and prepare to live from victory—not for victory.

Conflict is inevitable in any community, including the church. What matters is not whether we get hurt, but what we choose to do when we do. Bitterness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. Forgiveness is not about letting someone off the hook. It is about releasing yourself. Jesus gives us a clear, step-by-step process in Matthew 18 for handling conflict with humility and grace. Forgiveness is not optional for Christians. It is a command rooted in the same mercy God has extended to each of us. The good news is that reconciliation restores the power of agreement and opens the door for God's presence to move freely among us.

At Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Charleston, SC, our "caretaker" pastor Rev. Sam Joyner continued his sermon series The Story of Ruth.

20.09.26 am | Alan Parkinson | Forgiveness or Bitterness | Mat 18 v 21-35 by CFM

This week we are replaying episode 74, with Amy Wyant. She vulnerably shares parts of her story that aren't always easy to talk about—childhood trauma, bitterness she has had to learn to overcome, the disappointment and heartbreak of miscarriage, and seasons of change in her business and personal life.Her story is a beautiful reminder that our joy doesn't have to be dependent on our circumstances. Even when life doesn't look the way we hoped or imagined, we can choose to surrender, allow God to heal the places that hurt, and find our source of joy in Him. If you've walked through disappointment, loss, hurt, or a season of change, this episode will encourage you that God can bring beauty, healing, and joy from even the hardest places.To grab your own copy of Bishop Holmes' 52 Day Fast Book, call the FPCNLR Bookstore at 501-758-3090 and mention that you heard about it on the Unashamedly You podcast. Watch this episode on YouTube:Find us on:Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/3PsvMJDiw0TlUzSv3yLCJw?si=ibijuFF_SiuHgya6fTzNvA&utm_source=copy-linkApple:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unashamedly-you-with-jamie-herndon/id1654108373Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/unashamedly.you?utm_source=qrSubscribe: unashamedlyyou.comContact us:  unashamedlyyou.com/contact-4Go be Unashamedly You!

The Mirror #RTTBROS #NightLight #faith #trust #discipleshipThe Mirror of CrisisProverbs 4:23 says, "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." We tend to think of crisis as the gym where our character muscles are built. We look at the storms in our lives, the job loss, the sickness, the family conflict, and we think, “This is what's making me strong. This is what's shaping me.”But I've learned, sometimes the hard way, that crisis doesn't develop character in us. It reveals the character that is already there.Think about a mirror. If you wipe a dirty mirror, you don't create a reflection; you just clear away the dirt so you can see what was always standing there. Crisis is that clearing. It strips away the distractions, the busy schedules, and the polite masks we wear. When the pressure comes, you don't suddenly become patient, kind, or brave if you haven't practiced it. You simply act out of whatever is already rooted in your heart.If you are quick to anger, the crisis will show you how quick you are to blame. If you are trusting, the crisis will show you your reliance on God. If you are selfish, the crisis will expose your fear.This is actually good news, because it means we can't wait for the storm to start training. We have to train in the quiet.Proverbs 4:23 says, "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life."Notice it doesn't say, "Keep thy heart when trouble comes." It says keep it now. In the quiet moments. When the coffee is hot, the house is still, and there is no emergency. That is when we do the work. That is when we purpose in our hearts who we need to be.We develop integrity when no one is watching. We develop patience when the traffic isn't heavy. We develop generosity when our wallets aren't tight. We develop faith when the sun is shining.You don't build a house during a hurricane. You build it, day by day, in the calm weather, so that when the winds howl, the foundation holds.So tonight, before you sleep, ask yourself: If a crisis came tomorrow, what would it reveal about my heart? Do I want it to reveal fear, or faith? Bitterness, or grace?Purpose it now. In the quiet. Decide who you are, and what you will do, long before the storm arrives. Because when it does, you won't be making it up. You'll just be showing what you've already built.Lord, help me to build my character in the quiet moments of today. Let my heart be so full of Your grace and truth that when the crisis comes, it simply reveals Your work in me. Amen.https://linktr.ee/rttbros#BibleWisdomDaily #ChristianWisdom #PracticalBiblicalWisdom #Prayer #Trust #RTTBROS #Nightlight

CheckoutThe God Centered Concept Academy Training Community to learn what growth in Christ isTUVU CommunitiesCheck out this link to view Kingdom Cross Roads on TV.https://jesussaid.tv/?affiliate=tswright_gccTo get a copy of our new book "Embracing the Truth" or to have TS Wright speak at your event or conference or if you simply want spiritual or life coaching or just a consultation visit:www.tswrightspeaks.comVisit our website to learn more about The God Centered Concept. The God Centered Concept is designed to bring real discipleship and spreading the Gospel to help spark the Great Harvest, a revival in this generation.www.godcenteredconcept.comKingdom Cross Roads Podcast is a part of The God Centered Concept.What happens when unforgiveness takes root in the heart?In this powerful return appearance on Kingdom Cross Roads Podcast, T.S. Wright welcomes Beatty Carmichael, author of The Prayer of Freedom, for a biblical discussion about unforgiveness, bitterness, judgment, healing, and spiritual freedom.Drawing from Matthew 18 and the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant, Beatty explains why he believes forgiveness is not simply an emotional choice but an important spiritual principle with real consequences in the life of a believer.Beatty shares several personal testimonies from his ministry involving people who experienced dramatic changes after choosing to forgive those who had hurt them. He discusses accounts involving chronic pain, rheumatoid arthritis, neuropathy, impaired vision, anxiety, and other persistent struggles, connecting these experiences to his understanding of biblical forgiveness, repentance, and prayer.The conversation also examines the danger of judging others. Beatty points to Jesus' teaching about judgment and discusses how bitterness, unforgiveness, and negative judgments can become intertwined.In This Episode, You'll Hear About:Why unforgiveness can become a major spiritual hindranceJesus' teaching on forgiveness in Matthew 18The Parable of the Unmerciful ServantThe relationship between bitterness, unforgiveness, and judgmentBeatty's personal testimonies of prayer and healingWhy repentance is central to Beatty's Prayer of Freedom teachingThe importance of forgiving others from the heartHow judgments against others can remain unresolved for yearsBiblical passages Beatty connects with repentance, sickness, and prayerHow believers can pursue greater spiritual freedom through obedience to God's WordScriptures DiscussedMatthew 18 — Forgiveness and the Parable of the Unmerciful ServantMatthew 7:1–5 — Judgment and the speck and the logDeuteronomy 28:58–61 — Disobedience and its consequencesJames 5:14–16 — Prayer, confession, forgiveness, and healingAbout Beatty CarmichaelBeatty Carmichael is the author of The Prayer of Freedom, a book centered on biblical principles of repentance, forgiveness, prayer, and spiritual freedom. Through his teaching and ministry, Beatty encourages believers to examine unresolved spiritual issues and apply biblical principles to areas of bondage, pain, and personal struggle.Learn more about Beatty and The Prayer of Freedom at:ThePrayerOfFreedom.comCALL TO ACTIONIs there someone you still need to forgive?Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart for unforgiveness, bitterness, or judgment that you may still be carrying. Choose forgiveness, return to the Word of God, and pursue the freedom Christ has provided.Then share this episode with someone who needs encouragement to forgive, heal, and move forward.Subscribe to Kingdom Cross Roads Podcast, share this episode, and join us as we proclaim the Word of God, equip the Body of Christ, and prepare for the Great Harvest.Go forth in total surrender to the One who owns and reigns over all creation—and let the Great Harvest begin!KEYWORDS / TAGSBeatty Carmichael, The Prayer of Freedom, unforgiveness, forgiveness, bitterness, biblical forgiveness, Christian healing, spiritual healing, prayer for healing, spiritual freedom, Christian deliverance, repentance, judgment, judging others, Matthew 18, unmerciful servant, James 5, healing prayer, Holy Spirit, gifts of the Spirit, Christian podcast, Kingdom Cross Roads Podcast, T.S. Wright, Christian discipleship, biblical teaching, freedom in Christ, overcoming bitterness, forgiveness and healing, power of forgiveness, prayer ministry, Christian testimony, biblical repentance, Great Harvest

The doctor looked at Daniel Ritchie's father and asked if they should let him go. Daniel was born without arms, a disability two ultrasounds missed, and he came into the world not breathing and not moving. His dad didn't need a second opinion. Less than two minutes later, Daniel was kicking and screaming. But surviving the delivery room wasn't the hard part. By 13, Daniel hated his life. Bitterness turned into isolation, isolation into depression, and depression into wanting out. Then a friend invited him to a church lock-in he only went to because it sounded like chaos — and a youth pastor spent an hour walking a hostile 15-year-old through the book of Romans. In this conversation with Jeremy Stalnecker, Daniel talks about identity, contentment, and why the modifier we put in front of "Christian" quietly runs our lives. "I'm not an armless Christian," he says. "Christ is the most important part of who I am. The armless piece is just the refining aspect in the story." ABOUT DANIEL RITCHIE Daniel Ritchie is an author and speaker who has spent eight years traveling full-time, sharing his story with churches, conferences, and organizations across the country. danielritchie.com Hit Subscribe, share this episode with your community, and drop a comment on what landed hardest for you. Want more reinforcement? Subscribe to our newsletter, The Forward Edge, to go beyond the podcast and dig deeper into these topics and more: https://marchordie.substack.com! Join us daily for encouragement and biblical truth with the Mighty Oaks Daily Devotional, you can sign up for reminders: https://mightyoaksprograms.org/daily-devotional or text JOIN to (832) 333-8794 Follow March or Die:https://instagram.com/MarchOrDie https://Facebook.com/MarchOrDieShow https://TikTok.com/March_or_Die Follow Jeremy:https://instagram.com/jeremystalnecker https://jeremystalnecker.com Follow Sean:https://instagram.com/seantopgunkennard https://youtube.com/@SeanTopGunKennard Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Tosin is joined by Shaun Harris and Holly Nessling for a very internet-tested episode of Netflix vs. Cinema, weighing what is worth your money at the movies versus at home.In this episode, Tosin, Shaun Harris, and Holly Nessling discuss The Death of Robin Hood, a grim, muddy, blood-soaked take on the Robin Hood legend starring Hugh Jackman.Shaun explains that The Death of Robin Hood was one of his cinema watches and says it was much better seen on the big screen, even though it is slow in places.Tosin highlights how the film strips away the myth, showing Robin Hood as an older, violent man haunted by the consequences of his past.Holly says the film was not what she expected from the trailers, but she appreciated its use of light, color, and its realism about the violence behind the legend.The panel agrees The Death of Robin Hood is not for everyone, but all three rate it highly, with Holly and Tosin on 4 stars and Shaun on 3.5 stars.In this episode, the group also discusses House of the Dragon season 3, focusing on queenship, power, bad decisions, and the brutal consequences of ruling in Westeros.Holly notes that House of the Dragon is a strong adaptation of Fire and Blood, while Shaun and Holly both point out that almost nobody in the show is actually likable.Shaun then reviews Booze, Bitterness and Butlins, a documentary about The Sweet and frontman Brian Connolly, covering the band's glam rock success, Connolly's decline after a violent attack, and the later Butlins gigs.Holly briefly covers the latest Insidious film, describing it as a standard entry in the series: jump scares up front, then a more familiar supernatural chase through the further.The episode closes with the weekly verdict: streaming edges out cinema by a tiny margin, with the hosts noting that this was one of their most internet-afflicted recordings yet.“The peasants are revolted.”“If you can handle somebody's jaw being ripped off by somebody else, then you'll be fine.”“The muddiest film since the first Predator.”Timestamps00:00 - Welcome to Netflix vs. Cinema and the week's mission00:22 - Introducing Tosin, Shaun, Holly, and the missing Sharon03:13 - Shaun's cinema watch: The Death of Robin Hood06:35 - Shaun's home viewing roundup and Piranha 3DD07:45 - Holly's cinema watches and Bookish at home08:52 - Setting up The Death of Robin Hood09:21 - Hugh Jackman's older, darker Robin Hood10:47 - A Robin Hood haunted by revenge and consequence11:56 - Little John, Bill Skarsgård, and the film's vague setting13:24 - Why the action is brutal instead of heroic15:01 - First reactions: why the movie works on the big screen16:59 - Slow pacing, bleak tone, and the final rating debate18:15 - Holly's take on the film's realism and gore20:06 - Final scores for The Death of Robin Hood21:07 - House of the Dragon season 3 begins22:41 - Power, bad decisions, and the cost of ruling23:31 - The cast and the standout performance of Egon24:52 - Nobody in the show is especially redeeming25:18 - Holly on Fire and Blood and the adaptation26:30 - Final scores for House of the Dragon27:15 - Holly's summary of the latest Insidious film28:13 - Jump scares, the further, and the film's two halves29:09 - Why Insidious is perfectly adequate but forgettable30:10 - Final score for Insidious32:27 - Shaun's documentary pick: Booze, Bitterness and Butlins33:10 - The Sweet, glam rock, and their early hits34:26 - Brian Connolly's assault and its aftermath35:42 - The Butlins gigs and the band name confusion36:49 - Why the documentary mattered to Shaun personally40:06 - Final score for Booze, Bitterness and Butlins41:26 - Cinema vs. streaming: the weekly verdict43:33 - Streaming wins by a narrow margin44:13 - Final recommendation on The Death of Robin Hood45:25 - Muddiest films ever and a brief tangent46:02 - Listener prompts and closing shoutouts46:20 - Goodbye, plus one last internet delay jokeNotable quotes

Folk music is known to be the music of the people, but it can sound vastly different from region to region. There are also songs that take inspiration from folk music but fall under a different genre altogether. For American singer-songwriter Mike Doughty, who is a founding member of the cult 90s band Soul Coughing, the art of storytelling found a home in alternative rock music. As for the Argentine recording artist and educator Sofia Rei, using electronics to blur the lines between traditional South American, Caribbean, and contemporary dance music is a natural practice. On this episode of Soundcheck, you get to hear both of their live performances and stories, recorded at WNYC studios.Mike Doughty's Setlist: 1.White Lexus 2.Mr. Bitterness 3.Light Will Keep Your Heart Beating in the Future Sofia Rei's Setlist: 1.El Mundo Es Redondo 2.Si Una Cae 3.Marciana Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This sermon centers on the critical link between forgiveness and a healthy spiritual life, especially in the context of prayer. Drawing from Hebrews 12 and Jesus' teachings in Matthew 6, the message emphasizes that effective prayer is deeply connected to our willingness to forgive others. The Lord's Prayer is highlighted as a model that ties together God's forgiveness and our need to extend forgiveness ourselves. A key theme that emerged is that unforgiveness acts as a barrier, not only affecting relationships with others but also hindering closeness with God and the power of prayer. The discussion explored the destructive nature of harboring bitterness, referencing both scriptural passages and practical wisdom—unforgiveness is compared to "drinking poison and expecting the other person to die." Bitterness, left unchecked, is said to rob believers of joy, peace, and spiritual vitality. Several points were raised, including the recognition that forgiveness is challenging and often a process rather than a one-time act. The sermon calls for honesty about pain and acknowledges the difficulty of forgiving deep wounds, calling upon the support of prayer, church community, and God's healing grace. Ultimately, the message is that forgiveness is not about excusing wrongdoing but about trusting Jesus with our pain and freeing ourselves from bitterness. The congregation is invited to pause, reflect, and seek God's help in forgiving, thereby removing barriers to prayer and deepening their relationship with God.

Please join us this for Week Three of our sermon series, Stung by the Tongue. The goal this week will be to Bind Bitterness. When we experience great pain and disappointment, there is something within us that pulls us within ourselves. When we should be reaching out, we climb inside. Join us this week as we discuss how to continue to reach out.  We hope this message encouraged you today! If it did, please subscribe to never miss a message. To learn more about Roswell United Methodist Church, access additional resources, and stay connected throughout the week, visit https://rumc.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @RoswellUMC for the latest sermons, ministry updates, and upcoming events.

How often do you look at something another Christian did and think, “How can somebody who claims to follow Jesus act like that?” Maybe it was hypocrisy. Bitterness. Revenge. Abuse of power. Often, one of the hardest things about Christianity isn’t Jesus’ teachings. It’s Christians who act nothing like Him. We believe Jesus changes people, right? Yes! We believe He gives us new hearts, teaches us to love our enemies, forgive people who hurt us, pursue holiness, and increasingly become more like Him. So why can people who belong to a righteous King still behave so unrighteously? If I gave everyone a piece of paper and asked you to write one name down of someone like that, who would you write? But don’t get too comfortable thinking that question is only about everybody else. What about your own actions? How often do you have to ask, “How can I genuinely love Jesus and still sometimes think, speak, react, hold grudges, seek control, and treat people in ways that look nothing like Jesus?” Today’s story shows us just how deep that problem really goes. David is finally king. The right king is on the throne. But something is terribly wrong inside his kingdom. And what God shows us through this sad, violent story reveals what each of us still desperately needs from our King.

Welcome to Be Bold for Jesus MinistriesOur mission is to equip believers to live boldly for Christ with discernment, obedience, and unwavering trust in God, especially during seasons of waiting, uncertainty, and unanswered questions. Led by Lee Arnold and Jaclyn Arnold, Be Bold for Jesus Ministries teaches God's Word with clarity and conviction, helping believers trust God's timing even when His plan isn't yet visible.Today's Message“When God Says, ‘NOT YET'”What Is God Doing While You Wait?Lee Arnold Live Scripture: Esther 5:1-14Have you ever known exactly what God wanted you to do, yet felt like the timing wasn't right?Esther found herself in precisely that situation.After three days of fasting and prayer, Esther courageously walked into the king's court, risking her life to save her people. She had prepared. She had prayed. She had committed herself fully to God's purpose.The king extended the golden scepter.The door was open.The opportunity had arrived.Yet surprisingly, Esther didn't immediately make her request. Twice the king asked what she wanted. Twice Esther waited.Why?Because sometimes faith means moving forward.And sometimes faith means waiting for God's perfect timing.What Esther couldn't see was that while she was waiting, God was working behind the scenes, arranging circumstances that would change everything.Key Takeaways• Faith requires both courage and patience • Obedience means trusting God's timing, not just His direction • While you are waiting, God is working • God's silence does not mean God's absence • Wisdom knows the difference between waiting and fear • Bitterness can blind us to God's blessings • Pride prepares its own destruction • Humility invites God's favor • We are responsible for obedience, not outcomes • God is always working behind the scenes, even when we cannot see itToday's ReminderEsther couldn't control the king.She couldn't control the scepter.She couldn't control the outcome.She could only control her obedience.Sometimes that's exactly where God calls us to live.There comes a point when you've prayed.You've prepared.You've sought wise counsel.You've searched the Scriptures.And then you simply trust God with what only He can do.But there's another challenge:Sometimes God says, "Not yet."And waiting can be just as difficult as stepping out in faith.The danger is assuming that because we don't see movement, nothing is happening.But Esther chapter 5 reminds us:While You Are Waiting, God Is Working.Esther couldn't see what God was preparing.Mordecai couldn't see it.Haman certainly couldn't see it.But God was arranging every detail perfectly.Three Powerful Lessons from Esther 51. Courage Takes the First StepEsther entered the king's court despite the risk.Faith does what God asks us to do and trusts God with the results.2. While You Are Waiting, God Is WorkingSometimes God's answer is not "No."Sometimes it's simply:"Not yet."God's timing is often accomplishing things we cannot see.3. Pride and Bitterness Are DangerousHaman had wealth, power, influence, and privilege.Yet one man robbed him of all his joy.Bitterness magnified the one thing wrong in his life until he lost sight of everything that was right.Questions for Reflection• Is God calling me to GO, but I've been calling fear "patience"? • Is God calling me to WAIT, but I'm trying to force my own timing? • Is there a "Mordecai" in my life that I'm allowing to steal my joy? • Have pride or bitterness taken root in my heart? • Am I trusting God's timing as much as I trust His promises?

"Pacific Northwest Coast IPA" might not be a thing, but it's a jumping off point for this week's panel discussion on IPA featuring three noted and award-winning brewers—Whitney Burnside of Grand Fir (Portland, Oregon), Chris Baum of Varietal (Sunnyside, Washington), and Ben Edmunds of Breakside (Portland and Milwaukie, Oregon)—recorded live at our Brewer's Retreat in Yakima, Washington. Through the conversation, the three discuss: differentiating American and West Coast IPA building beers in dialogue with consumers driving signature notes with Centennial cryo, Comet, Cashmere, Audacia, and more lowering hop astringency without sacrificing bitterness using contrasting lots for different expression within the same hop variety the impact of lager yeast on bitterness expression avoiding dry-thin-bitter beer And more. This episode is brought to you by: G&D Chillers G&D now offers the Elite 290 Micro-series with 5H chillers—bringing even more flexibility to our propane-powered lineup. In fact, we're building one right now for Red Clover Ale in partnership with Efficiency Vermont. It runs on a natural refrigerant with near-zero global warming potential (GWP)—projected to deliver around 10 percent more efficiency than A2L refrigerant systems. That's smart sustainability backed by proven engineering and trusted performance. With 24/7 support and remote monitoring, your cold side stays dialed in—day or night. Explore the Elite 290 Micro-series and more at gdchillers.com/podcast. Berkeley Yeast Here's a brewer's nightmare. It's the night before packaging. You walk into the brewery, straight to the tank. You pull a sample to do a forced diacetyl test, and you wait for it in silence. Something feels not quite right. You reach into the water bath and bring the flask to your nose … And it's a butter bomb. The logistics start running through your head. Do we hold the tank? We have accounts waiting. How many days until it clears? And then you wake up and remember that you use Berkeley Yeast's FRESH™ Chico. It's got ALDC inside every cell, so diacetyl can't even form in the first place. Through primary. Through dry hopping and hop creep. Diacetyl stays ultra-low. So you don't have to add ALDC or wait for diacetyl to clean up. And most importantly, you don't have to wake up in a cold sweat, worrying about scary stories like these. FRESH™ Chico is now available in dried bricks for as low as $88 at berkeleyyeast.com. PakTech This episode is sponsored by PakTech—delivering craft-beer multipacking you can trust. Our handles are made from 100 percent recycled plastic and are fully recyclable, helping breweries close the loop and advance the circular economy. With a minimalist design, durable functionality you can rely on, and custom color matching, our carriers help brands stand out while staying sustainable. Trusted by craft brewers nationwide, we offer a smarter, sustainable way to carry your beer. To learn more, visit paktech-opi.com. Indie Hops Oregon hop country is heaven to world-class lager varieties, and Indie Hops is proud to have introduced Oregon's newest lager hop, Lórien, in 2022. Lórien is in a growing list of beers that have found their way to the podium and—more importantly—into the hearts of lager lovers across the country. Discover Indie Hops Lórien. (Side effects may include rampant festivity, sales bumps, and exceeded expectations.) Indie Hops—Life Is Short. Let's Make It Flavorful. Midea 50/50 Flex This podcast is sponsored by the Midea 50/50 flex—the industry's first dual-compartment three-way convertible freezer. The 50/50 Flex is designed to flex with your life. It can convert to all fridge, all freezer, or half and half with just the touch of a button. Plus, with its reversible doors and adjustable storage compartments, you can stay organized no matter your food-storage needs. The 50/50 Flex is also designed to maintain a stable temperature even in non-climate-controlled spaces. So it's perfect for your garage, man cave, or wherever you need a little more space. Maybe use all 20 cubic feet as a beer fridge! Check out Midea.com/us/ for more information on how to take your beer storage to the next level. ADM Today's episode is brought to you by ADM.Are you ready to shake up the beverage world? ADM is passionate about helping you craft your next breakthrough. From cutting edge natural ingredients like hops to advanced technologies, ADM brings together science and creativity to elevate taste, quality, and recipe design. Whether you're developing a beer innovation or a bold new flavor experience, ADM is your trusted partner in innovation. Let's create something extraordinary—because the future of beer and brewing starts with inspired ideas and exceptional expertise. ADM is where nature meets precision! Learn more at adm.com/alcohol

Tuesday evening message from the 2026 New Life Meetings at Falls Baptist Church

Are you bitter—or better? Someone may have genuinely hurt you. The wrong may have been real. The debt may still feel unpaid. But the question isn't only what happened to you—it's what is taking root within you because of how you are thinking about what happened. Hebrews 12:15 warns us to make sure that "no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and defiling many." In this episode of Monday Mindset Reset, Dr. Denise Pass begins the September series, Getting to the Roots of Offense, by examining the first root: bitterness. Bitterness rarely announces itself. Instead, it can sound like: "They owe me." "They don't deserve forgiveness." "If I let this go, they'll get away with it." But those thoughts can become fertile soil where bitterness grows. In this episode, you'll discover: Why being hurt is not the same thing as being bitter What Scripture means by a "root of bitterness" How the thoughts we rehearse can give bitterness room to grow Why forgiveness acknowledges a real debt rather than pretending the wrong never happened The difference between forgiveness, reconciliation, trust, boundaries, justice, and vengeance How Cain illustrates the danger of allowing an internal response to take root Why the Gospel—not denial—is the answer to bitterness How to replace bitter thinking with the grace you have received in Christ Bitterness Says...Grace Says... Bitterness says: "They owe me." Grace says: "Remember what you have been forgiven." Bitterness says: "If I let this go, they get away with it." Grace says: "God sees, God knows, and God judges justly." Bitterness says: "Keep remembering what they did." Grace says: "Remember what Christ has done." Forgiveness does not mean the offense didn't matter. It doesn't eliminate appropriate boundaries, automatically restore trust, or mean justice should not be pursued. A soft heart does not require weak boundaries. The Gospel gives us another way. We can acknowledge the wrong while releasing our personal demand for vengeance and entrusting ourselves to the One who judges justly. This Week's Mindset Reset Do a little root inspection: What offense am I still rehearsing? What debt am I still trying to collect? What am I believing because of what happened? Where does God's grace need to be applied? Then take one bitter thought and reframe it with the truth of the Gospel. You may not be able to change what happened, but through Christ, you don't have to let someone else's sin determine what grows in you. Mindset Minute

Ministers Rest | Sep 7, 2026 God's purpose is not to mature isolated individuals but to bring an entire people into their inheritance together, forming a corporate priesthood in which every believer shares responsibility for the life, growth, preservation, and maturity of the body. Priesthood under the new covenant is not reserved for a special class of ministers; all believers are called to become a kingdom of priests, to behold the glory of Christ, to be transformed into His image, and to grow together into the unity of the faith and the fullness of His stature. Because God's intention is corporate, no one should be treated as expendable, forgotten, or left behind. Believers must therefore learn to watch diligently over one another, pray for one another, strengthen one another, and guard against anything that can cause others to fall short of grace. Bitterness, hidden wounds, division, resentment, competition, selfish ambition, and unforgiveness are especially dangerous because they do not merely affect individuals; they can defile many and hinder the entire body from entering what God has prepared. The inheritance of God is received in an atmosphere of joy, love, peace, unity, and genuine brotherhood. Where brethren dwell together in unity, the anointing flows, blessing is commanded, life is released, and the presence of God becomes manifest. Unity must therefore become more than gathering in the same place. It must become a way of life in which believers cherish one another, celebrate one another, honour one another, forgive one another, give to one another, lay down their lives for one another, and deliberately become their brothers' and sisters' keepers. This is part of learning the true meaning of life, because life does not consist in the abundance of possessions, personal achievements, or the protection of private interests. The highest way to live is to become filled with Christ, to pursue His kingdom, to seek His glory, to carry the cross daily, and to relinquish anything that would destroy peace, love, and fellowship with the body. Material possessions should never possess the heart so strongly that they become more valuable than relationships, obedience, generosity, or the purposes of God. Spiritual maturity therefore involves learning how to die to self continually so that Christ may increasingly be expressed through the believer. This corporate calling is rooted in the continuity of God's covenant purpose. God entered covenant with Abraham with a purpose that extended beyond Abraham himself to his descendants and ultimately to the nations. The covenant continued through Isaac, Jacob, and Israel, and was repeatedly reaffirmed as generations changed. Israel was called not merely to produce individual priests but to become a priestly nation. God has always worked according to times and seasons, and spiritual discernment requires believers to recognize when He is drawing His people together for particular purposes. Even prophetic pictures such as the New Jerusalem should be read with spiritual understanding: the city descending from heaven as a bride points beyond architecture to a people prepared for God, carrying His glory and becoming His dwelling place. God is building a people who become His city, His habitation, His priesthood, and His corporate expression upon the earth. For this reason, ministry must recover its true purpose. Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers are not primarily entertainers, celebrities, event organizers, or motivational personalities; their responsibility is to receive the bread of God and faithfully distribute it to His people so that the saints can grow into maturity. When ministers lose sight of this responsibility, gatherings can become occupied with entertainment, novelty, and activities designed merely to hold people's attention. The goal of ministry, however, is to feed, equip, build, and prepare the saints until Christ is formed in them. Spiritual gatherings should consequently be approached with seriousness, hunger, participation, sacrifice, generosity, and shared responsibility. Showing up matters, praying matters, serving matters, giving matters, caring for those in need matters, and contributing to the welfare of the community matters because the kingdom is a commonwealth rather than a collection of disconnected individuals. God is seeking a people who will not merely receive revelation individually but will enter together, behold Christ together, change together, serve together, bear one another's burdens, preserve one another's inheritance, and become one in Him. The ultimate goal is a mature corporate people in whom the fullness of Christ can dwell and through whom His kingdom, glory, love, righteousness, priesthood, and dominion can be visibly expressed on the earth.

Healthy relationships don't just happen, they're formed. In this message, we discover what it looks like to build healthy relationships by choosing "effort over ego, forgiveness over offense, and mission over me." Relationships will get difficult. People will disappoint us. Conflict will happen. But what matters is how we respond when love gets hard. Because "different doesn't have to mean divided ", and unity isn't just about getting along, it's part of our witness for Jesus. Join us Sundays at 9AM or 11AM! Like, Comment, and Subscribe for more messages on faith, discipleship, and following Jesus in everyday life.—If you accepted Christ, we'd love to meet you. Click the link below and introduce yourself to us so we can help you along your journey of faith!https://www.skybreakchurch.com/salvation/

Healthy relationships don't just happen, they're formed. In this message, we discover what it looks like to build healthy relationships by choosing "effort over ego, forgiveness over offense, and mission over me." Relationships will get difficult. People will disappoint us. Conflict will happen. But what matters is how we respond when love gets hard. Because "different doesn't have to mean divided ", and unity isn't just about getting along, it's part of our witness for Jesus. Join us Sundays at 9AM or 11AM! Like, Comment, and Subscribe for more messages on faith, discipleship, and following Jesus in everyday life.—If you accepted Christ, we'd love to meet you. Click the link below and introduce yourself to us so we can help you along your journey of faith!https://www.skybreakchurch.com/salvation/

Long-term relationships are a core component of human happiness. But relationships are hard and can easily fall apart. So this Sunday we'll look at the single most important thing we can do to cultivate life-long relationships. This is the sixth installment in our sermon series on how to build beautiful relationships the Jesus way.

Connect With ChazNeb Aynu was the top producer at his corporate bonding firm when he was let go. He had planned to start Kingdom Bonding in five years, at 35. Instead, he started it the same month. He moved in with his sister. He put his apartment on Airbnb. He put his car in a rental program. He walked places in the rain. His budget was under $100 a month. He worked 70 to 80 hours a week.In year one, Kingdom Bonding became one of the few minority-owned bonding-only agencies in the country. And Neb's contractors became something closer to family.In this conversation with Chaz Wolfe, Neb breaks down what bonding actually is and why it is the key to contractor success with government and large commercial contracts, how he built courage through David Goggins, forgiveness, and faith to turn the worst moment of his career into his biggest opportunity, and why he believes the real cause of America's wealth gap is not what most people think.Key Takeaways:Bonding is an insurance product for contractors doing work with federal, state, local, or general contractors. Without it, you cannot get the contract. Most contractors in the minority construction community do not know how to get bonded. That is the gap Neb is closing.Getting fired as the top producer taught Neb one thing: it was not about his work or his clients. It was about the box. Some people are not built for the box. Going all in on your own business becomes obvious when every other door closes.Neb prayed one prayer: close every single door so it is obvious I have to start Kingdom. God answered it. Every recruiter offered him insults. He incorporated May 13th.You cannot suppress pain as a man. You have to feel it, and then do something with it. Every time Neb felt bad, he worked harder. He channeled the frustration into the business until forgiveness replaced bitterness in November.Never Finished by David Goggins changed his headset from victim to victor. He listened to it the same month he incorporated. The timing was not a coincidence.Bitterness eats the person holding it. Forgiveness is not for the other person. It is for you. Neb had to go through a full forgiveness chapter to get his health and sanity back after the intensity of year one.The one decision that drove early success: give without expecting anything back. Neb creates weekly newsletters, weekly content, and weekly posts. He connects contractors who cannot benefit him personally. He educates the community for free. The relationships came back as clients and as brothers.The wealth gap is a mindset problem first and a knowledge gap second. Communities stuck in a scarcity mindset do not know what they do not know. Neb's mission is to teach minority contractors exactly how to get bonded, win federal contracts, and build real wealth, then watch them go back and teach the next person.Entrepreneurship is not an ethnicity thing. It is a mindset thing. But the stats show that the scarcity mindset is disproportionately concentrated in certain communities. Fixing that requires specific knowledge being delivered to specific people consistently.Serve people and connect them to each other, even when you get nothing out of it. Business is people to people to people. That is how growth happens.If you are a contractor business owner doing $1M+ and you feel stuck in the day-to-day, we built GTK for you.Through peer mastermind and 1:1 coaching, we help you:increase profitinstall real systemsbuild a team that runs the businessget your time backVisit www.gatheringthekings.com for information on how to apply.Connect with Chaz Wolfe (Host):WebsiteFacebookInstagramLinkedInYouTubeProfit Starts with Better Books!Clean books. Clear reports. Monthly bookkeeping built by business owners, for business owners.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showLike what you heard? Share this episode with a friend and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! Join the conversation by visiting GatheringTheKings.com and apply to connect with other high-performing entrepreneurs and their families.

This is message 6 in the series Jonah Jonah 2:10:3:3 God's mercy gives His servants opportunities to return to obedience after failure, but a second chance should never be treated casually. The Lord may forgive, restore, and renew His call without changing what He originally commanded. yet outward obedience alone is not enough. God desires more than compliance produced by consequences. He desires a heart that willingly submits to His authority. Don't forget to download our app for more from the Riverview Baptist Church. http://onelink.to/rbcapp Find more at https://riverviewbc.com/ Donate through Pushpay https://pushpay.com/pay/riverviewbc

Send me a Text Message!This is a hard one. Matthew 18:23-35 is a hard story, but it contains a liberating truth that our hearts need to hear. Jesus says it's our choice. When someone offends, hurts, or betrays us, will we build a prison of bitterness or live in God's overflow of grace?It's our choice...

Are past hurts and emotional scar tissue holding you back from running the spiritual race God has marked out for you? Join Pastor Dawn Jackson this weekend as she shares a powerful message on uprooting bitterness and allowing Jesus to bring deep, true healing to your soul!Did you decide to follow Jesus after listening to this? Let us help you get started on your journey at https://oneandall.church/jesus Join our global online community https://discord.gg/vvrwf6N Sign up to receive weekly content from ONE&ALL straight to your inbox | http://bit.ly/oneandallemailAsk us a question! Email media@oneandall.church

What does it look like to forgive when the hurt runs deep, and how can we keep walking in forgiveness when painful feelings return? Through Jesus' teaching in Matthew 18 and the remarkable testimony of Corrie ten Boom, we see that forgiveness is not merely an emotion but an act of faith and obedience empowered by the Holy Spirit. As we remember how freely God has forgiven us for Christ's sake, we can forgive those who have wounded us, and trust God with the healing process. Forgiveness may happen in a moment while healing takes time, but as forgiven people, we are called to forgive—believing that Christ can free our hearts from bitterness and lead us into His peace, love, and freedom.

The conversation addresses the heated reaction from the Boston Red Sox radio broadcast regarding Jazz Chisholm Jr.'s decision to steal bases during a late-inning lead. They reveal that Aaron Boone actually attempted to coordinate with the Red Sox bench before the steals occurred, contradicting the narrative of poor sportsmanship. Additionally, the discussion pivots to the New York Giants' recent roster moves involving draft picks Evan Neal and Jalen Hyatt. 01:00 - Red Sox Broadcast Controversy 03:38 - WEEI Radio Reaction 07:16 - Aaron Boone's Warning 14:16 - Jalen Brunson's Birthday 16:41 - Giants Roster Cuts

This episode teaches how to break strongholds by renewing the mind, rejecting old patterns, and refusing to give the enemy any access point. Pastors Paul and Matthew emphasize that strongholds are mental fortresses built from lies, ideologies, trauma, and wrong thinking, not demons themselves. Satan's strategy is to blind minds and mute believers, keeping them from speaking God's Word—the very weapon that destroys deception.They explain that freedom comes through truth, discipline, and personal responsibility. Believers must stop blaming external forces and instead use Scripture to renew their minds (Romans 12:2), put off old behaviors (Ephesians 4:22–24), and shut every door that gives Satan a “place” (Ephesians 4:26–27). Bitterness is highlighted as a dangerous “root” that grows into a full stronghold if not cut off by God's Word.The episode ends with encouragement: abiding in Scripture and prayer gives believers the strength to overcome any stronghold and live in Christlike freedom.

Ministers Rest | Aug 31, 2026 Understand that God is not merely calling you to become an individually successful Christian; He is forming a people through whom His kingdom can become visible on the earth. The kingdom cannot be properly expressed through a people who remain divided, suspicious of one another, imprisoned within competing identities, and unable to walk together in love. Unity is therefore not a secondary Christian subject to be considered alongside countless other topics. It lies at the heart of God's purpose for His people. A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand, and if the prayer remains, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” then you must also understand that the manifestation of that kingdom requires a people who are learning to become one. Maturity is revealed when you can walk in love, forgive offenses, bear with people who are different from you, recognize Christ in another believer, and remain in fellowship even when complete agreement has not been reached. Love is not an optional virtue added to spiritual maturity; love is one of its clearest expressions. If knowing God does not increasingly enlarge your capacity to love His people, then something about your knowledge of Him remains incomplete. Ask God, therefore, to remove every veil that prevents you from seeing Christ clearly. Religious traditions, doctrinal systems, cultural assumptions, personal wounds, pride, bitterness, ambition, denominational loyalties, and inherited prejudices can become lenses through which you interpret both God and other believers. When those lenses become stronger than your vision of Christ, they produce division. The answer is not ignorance of Scripture or indifference toward truth, but a deeper revelation of Jesus. As you behold Him, allow everything that does not glorify Him to lose its power over you. Guard your heart especially against bitterness. Bitterness is not a private wound that affects only you; it can become a root that defiles many. Offense, disappointment, betrayal, theological conflict, ministry rivalry, or unresolved relational pain can quietly reshape the way you see the body of Christ. If bitterness is allowed to remain, you may eventually justify separation, suspicion, accusation, and hostility while believing that you are defending righteousness. Deal with offenses quickly. Forgive. Pray for one another. Remember also that salvation brought you into covenant. You were not redeemed merely to escape hell, improve your circumstances, or secure a personal future in heaven. You were brought into relationship with God and simultaneously joined to a covenant people. Be careful, therefore, with the light you receive from Scripture. Genuine light can become an instrument of darkness when it is used to divide the body. God may reveal something powerful to you. You may discover an important truth that has been neglected by others. You may be correct. But correctness does not give you permission to turn revelation into a wall. Light belongs to the whole body. Share what you have received humbly. Feed others with it. Allow people time to see. Know when to speak and when to remain quiet. Become someone who gathers rather than scatters. There is no meaningful neutrality in this matter. Your attitudes, words, doctrines, relationships, and ministry practices are either helping people move toward fellowship in Christ or encouraging further fragmentation. Ask yourself continually: Does the way I teach make believers love Christ and one another more? Does the revelation I carry build the whole body or merely strengthen my own camp? Am I producing peacemakers or recruiting people into another rivalry? Can people encounter me and become freer to love believers beyond their group? Finally, see yourself as a giver of life. Whatever you receive from God—truth, revelation, resources, grace, understanding, books, teaching, spiritual strength, hospitality, or experience—receive it with the intention of carrying it into your sphere of influence. Do not collect revelation merely to become knowledgeable. Read, study, test everything by Scripture, understand it clearly, embody it, and then give life to others through it. God desires a people who go from strength to strength and grace to grace together, where the weak are strengthened, the wounded are restored, the bitter are healed, strangers become brothers, differences cease to become walls, and Jesus becomes greater than every category. The kingdom becomes visible when the people of the King begin living like one people. Therefore, look beyond the walls, refuse unnecessary divisions, forgive quickly, feed generously, walk humbly, study carefully, love deeply, gather deliberately, and keep Jesus at the center. Let your life become an answer to the prayer: **“Your kingdom come; Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Ministers Rest | Aug 31, 2026 Understand that God is not merely calling you to become an individually successful Christian; He is forming a people through whom His kingdom can become visible on the earth. The kingdom cannot be properly expressed through a people who remain divided, suspicious of one another, imprisoned within competing identities, and unable to walk together in love. Unity is therefore not a secondary Christian subject to be considered alongside countless other topics. It lies at the heart of God's purpose for His people. A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand, and if the prayer remains, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” then you must also understand that the manifestation of that kingdom requires a people who are learning to become one. Maturity is revealed when you can walk in love, forgive offenses, bear with people who are different from you, recognize Christ in another believer, and remain in fellowship even when complete agreement has not been reached. Love is not an optional virtue added to spiritual maturity; love is one of its clearest expressions. If knowing God does not increasingly enlarge your capacity to love His people, then something about your knowledge of Him remains incomplete. Ask God, therefore, to remove every veil that prevents you from seeing Christ clearly. Religious traditions, doctrinal systems, cultural assumptions, personal wounds, pride, bitterness, ambition, denominational loyalties, and inherited prejudices can become lenses through which you interpret both God and other believers. When those lenses become stronger than your vision of Christ, they produce division. The answer is not ignorance of Scripture or indifference toward truth, but a deeper revelation of Jesus. As you behold Him, allow everything that does not glorify Him to lose its power over you. Guard your heart especially against bitterness. Bitterness is not a private wound that affects only you; it can become a root that defiles many. Offense, disappointment, betrayal, theological conflict, ministry rivalry, or unresolved relational pain can quietly reshape the way you see the body of Christ. If bitterness is allowed to remain, you may eventually justify separation, suspicion, accusation, and hostility while believing that you are defending righteousness. Deal with offenses quickly. Forgive. Pray for one another. Remember also that salvation brought you into covenant. You were not redeemed merely to escape hell, improve your circumstances, or secure a personal future in heaven. You were brought into relationship with God and simultaneously joined to a covenant people. Be careful, therefore, with the light you receive from Scripture. Genuine light can become an instrument of darkness when it is used to divide the body. God may reveal something powerful to you. You may discover an important truth that has been neglected by others. You may be correct. But correctness does not give you permission to turn revelation into a wall. Light belongs to the whole body. Share what you have received humbly. Feed others with it. Allow people time to see. Know when to speak and when to remain quiet. Become someone who gathers rather than scatters. There is no meaningful neutrality in this matter. Your attitudes, words, doctrines, relationships, and ministry practices are either helping people move toward fellowship in Christ or encouraging further fragmentation. Ask yourself continually: Does the way I teach make believers love Christ and one another more? Does the revelation I carry build the whole body or merely strengthen my own camp? Am I producing peacemakers or recruiting people into another rivalry? Can people encounter me and become freer to love believers beyond their group? Finally, see yourself as a giver of life. Whatever you receive from God—truth, revelation, resources, grace, understanding, books, teaching, spiritual strength, hospitality, or experience—receive it with the intention of carrying it into your sphere of influence. Do not collect revelation merely to become knowledgeable. Read, study, test everything by Scripture, understand it clearly, embody it, and then give life to others through it. God desires a people who go from strength to strength and grace to grace together, where the weak are strengthened, the wounded are restored, the bitter are healed, strangers become brothers, differences cease to become walls, and Jesus becomes greater than every category. The kingdom becomes visible when the people of the King begin living like one people. Therefore, look beyond the walls, refuse unnecessary divisions, forgive quickly, feed generously, walk humbly, study carefully, love deeply, gather deliberately, and keep Jesus at the center. Let your life become an answer to the prayer: **“Your kingdom come; Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Bitterness doesn't usually announce itself. It grows quietly, often dressed up in the language of boundaries, self-protection, or just being realistic about people. But what happens when it's already taken root — and what if some of the things we think are helping are actually keeping us stuck? In this episode of Continuing the Conversation, host Kelly McSpearin and Lead Pastor Craig Smith dig into what guarding your heart actually requires — and it's more than just clearing out the bad stuff. Craig walks through why loving God and loving people isn't just a spiritual posture; it's an act of guarding your heart by keeping it full. They also get honest about why echo chambers — from social media algorithms to therapy that only validates — can quietly deepen bitterness without us noticing. Craig shares a personal story about being called out by his own team, and why his first reaction wasn't defensiveness but gratitude. That kind of accountability doesn't come from a program — it comes from friendships built over years where the truth can actually land.

Forgiveness is one of the hardest things a person can do, yet the Bible is clear that it is not optional for followers of Jesus. The pain we carry is often proportional to how close we were to the person who hurt us, and that closeness makes letting go feel nearly impossible. Jesus uses the parable of the unforgiving servant in Matthew 18 to show that those who have been forgiven an enormous debt by God are called to extend that same grace to others. Forgiveness does not mean pretending the hurt never happened or allowing someone back into your life who caused you harm. It means naming the full weight of what was taken from you and then choosing to release the debt anyway. Bitterness allows someone to hurt you every single day. Forgiveness ends that.

Why won't God trust you with more? What if the answer has nothing to do with your effort — and everything to do with your direction? Most of us are chasing an upgrade: a better house, a better title, a better version of our lives. But for Korey Miller, blessing has never come from chasing it. It's come from a lifetime of making his life about others — and watching how God responds. In this episode, Preston sits down with good friend Korey Miller to unpack a supernaturally selfless story, from keeping every employee on payroll when COVID shut down his industry because God said "wait for me," to becoming a father to a village when life didn't hand him the family he pictured. What emerges is a roadmap — the connection between how you care for others and how much God is willing to trust you with. In this episode: * The Roadmap to Blessing: Why supernatural care for others is the path to God's favor. * "Wait for Me": The decision that made no business sense — and became the biggest season in Korey's company history. * Bitterness as Fuel: Why winning out of bitterness means staying bitter to win, and what Korey burned instead. * Direct vs. Harsh: The mentors who never sugarcoated it, and why real growth requires people who tell you the truth. * Raised by a Village: How the boy a village poured into became a man who raises one — and what that means for everyone. God wants to trust you with more. But if it's all about you, you're always going to be stuck with less. This conversation is about what happens when you finally make it about them.    

Hey look! A moth!(To avoid spoilers, content warnings are listed at the end of this episode description).The bonus story that goes with this episode is ‘A Stitch in Time', and is available for Hallowoods patrons on the show's Patreon, along with behind-the-scenes, exclusive merchandise, and more! Because the show runs without ads or sponsors, we rely on support from fans to guarantee the survival of this LGBTQ+ horror podcast.Hello From The Hallowoods is written and produced by William A. Wellman, a queer horror author. You can visit their website for more information! The transcript for this episode is available on the Hello From The Hallowoods Website. Click here to read!You can also find Hello From The Hallowoods on social media! The show is on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @thehallowoods. If you'd like to connect with other fans of the show, there's even a fan-run Discord Server!Music for this episode was used under license from Artlist.com. The soundtracks featured were: ‘Rhea', by Yehezkel Raz,‘Morning Sunbeams', by Yehezkel Raz,‘The Creation of All Things', by Doug Kaufman,‘There's a Place for Me', by Roie Shpigler,‘Flight', by Semo,‘Soulane', by Shahead Mostafafar,‘Oval Window', by Yehezkel Raz,‘Birds of the War', by Shahead Mostafafar,‘The Bitterness of a Bitter Life', by Benja,‘A New Film', by Yehezkel Raz,‘The Light Within', by Ziv Moran,‘Lumen Vale', by Marko Maksimovic,‘Currents', by Ardie Son,‘Tides of Change', by Kashido,‘The Creation of All Things', by Doug Kaufman,‘Rhea', by Yehezkel Raz Content warnings for this episode include: Burning bodies, religious violence, animal death (victims of Greater Ghostmoth caterpillars, Mr. Friendly, many hundreds of Barkbeetles, Dogsmell as usual, Shank as usual), body horrorWe're promoting Season 2 of The Gospel of Haven, arriving July 31st! Tune in anywhere you listen to podcasts, or at https://daisymcnamara.com/#gospelofhaven! Shank vs. Diggory hoodie is now available on merch shop!https://store.dftba.com/products/shank-and-diggory-hoodie

Life will hurt you. People will disappoint you. Some wounds cut so deep that bitterness feels justified. But bitterness never heals—it only hardens. Through the remarkable story of Joseph, Pastor Jeff shares practical biblical wisdom for trusting God when you've been wronged, waiting on His justice, and finding freedom from the resentment that can steal your joy. Learn how to keep your heart soft when life gets hard.

Do you ever take the time to reflect on all that Jesus Christ has done for you? He not only died for you, but He guides you and fulfills promises from His Word.   Have you moved Jesus from the throne in your life? Do you depend on your power to survive each day? Do you become bitter at Jesus for the many disappointments you face in life?   This episode will encourage you to put Christ at the proper place in your life as you surrender your hurts and disappointments to Him.   Help Champion Marriage Restoration   How can we pray for you?   Follow on Instagram - @rejoicemarriageministries   Follow on Facebook - @rejoicemarriageministries   Every day, you can receive encouragement straight to your inbox through our Fight for Your Marriage Devotional and find free resources and prayers to pray over your marriage. To take advantage of these resources and others, visit https://rejoiceministries.org   We appreciate your feedback. If this episode touches you, please leave us a five-star rating and review, helping us reach new listeners with hope for their marriage. You can also subscribe to our show on YouTube, Spotify or iTunes.

we have to be mindful it's not baking for loo long.