Podcasts about cultivate

https://www.plannedgivingaccelerated.com/my-book  The episode features planned-giving consultant Tony Martignetti discussing his book, Planned Giving Accelerated. His central message is that legacy fundraising isn't reserved for universities, hospitals, or large nonprofits—small and midsized organizations can launch a practical program in one week. The three-step approach: Identify your strongest prospects. Prioritize loyal, long-term donors with whom someone at the nonprofit has a genuine relationship. Consistency matters more than wealth: someone who has donated $5 annually for 20 years may be a better prospect than an occasional major donor. Start exclusively with gifts in wills. Bequests are familiar, simple, and cost donors nothing during their lifetimes. More complicated vehicles can wait until the program matures. Cultivate and ask. Begin personal conversations with the best prospects. Martignetti recommends asking directly but naturally: “Would you consider including us in your will?” Key insights: Planned giving is a conversation about life, not death. The focus should be the longevity of the organization's work and its future impact in the community. Loyalty predicts potential better than gift size. Nonprofits shouldn't restrict planned-giving outreach to wealthy or major donors. Start with donors around age 55–60 or older. Younger donors can participate later, but older, established supporters are more likely to retain the organization in their estate plans. Don't lead with tax benefits. Most modest donors will receive little or no estate-tax advantage; they give because they care about the mission. Technical questions should be referred to the donor's attorney or financial adviser. Bequests are usually unrestricted. Martignetti encourages nonprofits to place as much as practical into an endowment while balancing immediate operating needs. Specific restrictions and naming opportunities are exceptions. Discuss programs, buildings, or required gift amounts only when donors want a more tangible legacy. Monthly donors can become strong prospects, although the initial launch should remain tightly focused on the most established relationships. Donor-advised funds require succession planning. Donors should designate successor advisers or charitable beneficiaries so the remaining money doesn't simply default to the sponsoring organization. Meetings can be informal. Martignetti likes meals because their natural pacing creates room for conversation, but fundraisers should meet wherever both parties feel comfortable. The episode also discusses Martignetti's deliberately humorous, anti-academic style and a seemingly unrelated chapter documenting the 2025 “GoFundMe chaos week.” In that episode, GoFundMe created roughly 1.2 million unapproved nonprofit donation pages. Nonprofit professionals organized on LinkedIn, pressured the company to respond, and helped bring wider regulatory attention to “shadow donation pages.” Overall, the takeaway is simple: planned giving does not require a complex campaign, special website, tax expertise, or wealthy donor base. It begins when a nonprofit identifies a loyal supporter and opens an honest conversation about sustaining its mission beyond the donor's lifetime.

I hope this quote from Reese Witherspoon helps you create your own happiness.   Join the FREE Facebook group for The Michael Brian Show at https://www.facebook.com/groups/themichaelbrianshow   Follow Mike on Facebook Instagram & X  

TWPC D4S1 | SEPTEMBER 13, 2026 | THE BIRTH-PANGS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT PRIESTS You are being called into a priesthood that begins not with public ministry, spiritual gifts, titles, or spectacular experiences, but with a deep and sustained hunger for God that draws you continually into His presence until His Word, nature, burden, and ways are formed within you. The gospel of the Kingdom is meant to prevail over darkness, transform territories, establish God's will on earth, and raise a people who know their spiritual identity and can carry His purposes without being corrupted by prosperity, popularity, opposition, suffering, or the approval of men; therefore, you must remain with God long enough to receive not merely information but the message He intends you to embody. The tabernacle, the feasts, the priesthood, Eden, and the experiences of people such as Moses, Abraham, Daniel, David, Jeremiah, and Paul reveal one continuing divine intention: God is building a people into His image and likeness. Every stage of the tabernacle illustrates progressive encounter and transformation—laying down the flesh, washing and renewing the mind, receiving illumination by the Spirit, feeding on the bread and wine of God's life, carrying His burden in intercession, and ultimately coming into the place of His presence and authority. The priesthood after the order of Melchizedek is therefore an organic priesthood of intimate fellowship with God, sustained by believing, eating, digesting, and embodying His Word until what is already true of you in Christ becomes increasingly expressed through your mind, character, conduct, obedience, authority, and even your mortal life; this complete transformation is described as God's life replacing everything within you that carries the imprint of the world and forming His own likeness in you. Spiritual gifts alone are not proof of maturity, because gifts may continue functioning where intimacy, obedience, and consecration are deficient; what God seeks is the person themselves as the sacrifice—a broken, surrendered, obedient life that values His presence above comfort, prestige, wealth, pleasure, and self-preservation. Like Moses choosing the reproach of God above the treasures of Egypt, preparation for divine assignment requires removing idols, worldly entanglements, sinful patterns, distractions, and competing pleasures while increasing prayer, fasting, meditation in Scripture, obedience, and fellowship with God whenever He calls you deeper. You cannot confront spiritual resistance merely because God has given you an assignment; you must allow Him to prepare you for what the assignment will require, because authority without formation leaves you vulnerable to intimidation and failure. The pattern is first inward judgment and then outward authority: allow the Word of God to destroy Egypt within you before expecting to confront Egypt around you; fulfill obedience before attempting to avenge disobedience; let God remove what is contrary to His nature in you before you attempt to uproot darkness in nations, communities, families, or institutions. This is why the bread and wine associated with Melchizedek point to something far deeper than ceremony: they represent feeding upon Christ until His life becomes your life, His righteousness becomes your nature, His burden becomes your burden, and His authority can safely operate through you. Such intimacy with God is beautiful toward those who belong to Him but hostile toward everything opposed to His will, so genuine priesthood inevitably carries a warfare dimension; the priestly garments become the armor of God, intercession becomes participation in God's government, and a person who has learned to stand before God can eventually stand before powers, systems, territories, and nations without fear. Yet none of this can be manufactured by ambition or human confidence—the foundation is hunger. Cultivate the kind of hunger that made Moses prolong every encounter with God, that made Paul count everything else as loss for the excellency of knowing Christ, and that refuses to settle for memories of former encounters when God appears silent. When spiritual dryness comes, do not withdraw; increase your pursuit, deepen your consecration, search the Scriptures more earnestly, pray more intentionally, remove whatever dulls your appetite, and continue seeking until the presence and nature of God become your deepest necessity. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, because they will be filled; and as that hunger matures, you become a living altar, a living stone, a holy priest who comes before God and a royal priest who comes forth from Him—carrying His presence, revealing His character, exercising His authority, interceding for His people, confronting darkness, and participating in the manifestation of His Kingdom on the earth.

What if the very habits you believe are making you stronger are actually keeping your nervous system trapped in stress, disconnecting you from your intuition, and preventing you from becoming who you really are? In this deeply personal conversation, Darin sits down with holistic health and movement practitioner, coach, former international fashion model, and new father Jules Horn. After years of pushing his body through grueling workouts, rigid routines, and relentless physical discipline, Jules began questioning whether the modern obsession with hustle, extreme fitness, and constant optimization was actually another socially acceptable form of escape. Together, Darin and Jules explore the difference between working out and working in: constantly spending energy versus learning how to cultivate it. Jules explains how marriage and fatherhood have forced him to reconsider routines that once defined his identity and ask a radically different question: instead of seeing how much his body can endure, how can he create enough energy, presence, and inner peace to give more to the people he loves? The conversation moves far beyond physical fitness into childhood programming, nervous system regulation, addiction, grief, self-love, spirituality, stillness, and the extraordinary difficulty modern humans have simply sitting with themselves. Jules shares how revisiting childhood experiences from a regulated state helped him recognize that much of what we experience in the present is being filtered through memories and emotional programs created years or even decades earlier. Ultimately, this episode challenges one of the dominant messages of modern culture: that becoming better requires doing more. Jules argues that some of the greatest transformations may come from doing less, listening more deeply, cultivating self-love, regulating the nervous system, and realizing that the "inner wealth" we're constantly searching for outside ourselves may already be within us. What You'll Learn Why extreme fitness and hustle culture can become socially acceptable forms of escape The difference between discipline and control Why Jules traded constant physical breakdown for energy cultivation How marriage and fatherhood completely changed his relationship with fitness and routine Why addiction can move from drugs or alcohol into exercise, work, food, or self-improvement How childhood experiences can continue programming our choices decades later Why regulating the nervous system can help us confront unresolved emotional patterns How silence, breathwork, and doing nothing can become powerful tools for self-awareness Why cultivating self-love may allow you to become more present for everyone around you How to stop searching outside yourself and begin developing genuine "inner wealth" Chapters 00:00:03 – Welcome to SuperLife 00:00:32 – Sponsor: Alkemis 00:03:24 – Introducing Jules Horn 00:04:50 – Outwitting the Devil and the systems that keep people trapped 00:06:43 – Fear, control, and how populations become easier to influence 00:07:50 – Free thinking, vision, and purpose as the antidote 00:08:46 – Setting your direction when the world throws obstacles at you 00:09:38 – The traffic lesson: surrendering what you cannot control 00:10:02 – Jules realizes his morning routine has become another prison 00:11:03 – The dangerous line between discipline and control 00:11:57 – Why meaningful creation requires boring consistency 00:13:18 – Fasting, energy cultivation, and questioning conventional wisdom 00:14:13 – Is the human body really designed to be pushed this hard? 00:14:58 – When fitness becomes obsession and escape 00:15:19 – Fatherhood changes Jules' definition of what matters 00:16:00 – Why Jules' body started resisting extreme workouts 00:16:34 – Qigong, Tai Chi, and cultivating rather than spending energy 00:18:03 – Does constantly pushing yourself make you easier to control? 00:18:55 – The insanity of modern hustle culture 00:19:17 – How to cultivate more energy than you expend 00:20:12 – The inner peace Darin sees developing in Jules 00:20:41 – Why everyone you meet can become a mirror 00:22:22 – The question everyone should ask before exercising 00:22:45 – When addiction simply changes its disguise 00:23:27 – Sponsor: Shakeology 00:25:15 – Why the pattern matters more than the substance 00:25:37 – Love, fear, and learning to sit with yourself 00:26:49 – The boxes we're placed inside from childhood 00:28:01 – How early labels can prevent us from reaching our potential 00:28:24 – Wake up, grow up, and clean up emotionally 00:28:54 – Jules revisits a terrifying childhood memory 00:29:35 – Are you experiencing today through the lens of your past? 00:30:33 – Why so many of our choices may be driven by old programming 00:31:37 – The incredibly simple thing almost nobody wants to do 00:32:50 – How unresolved childhood pain can shape adult behavior 00:33:32 – Stop fighting the past and start facing it 00:35:35 – Turning problems into opportunities to create something better 00:35:53 – Why freedom requires taking 100% responsibility 00:36:25 – Grief, death, surrender, and our desire for control 00:38:23 – How tiny daily choices change the trajectory of your life 00:38:47 – Jules' process for regulating the nervous system 00:39:11 – Using breathwork to revisit childhood memories 00:39:53 – Speaking to your inner child from the present moment 00:41:00 – Releasing the emotional baggage you've carried for decades 00:41:55 – Disrupting subconscious automation 00:42:40 – Darin's own journey through pain and unresolved trauma 00:43:43 – The ten-second challenge almost nobody will do 00:44:16 – Turn off your phone and reclaim your attention 00:44:49 – Are you outsourcing your mind to apps and AI? 00:45:29 – Where your energy goes when you wake up reacting to the world 00:45:57 – Why we've become addicted to noise 00:46:38 – What happens when you finally experience emotional lightness 00:47:21 – When healing itself becomes another obsession 00:47:48 – Self-love as the foundation for changing your inner environment 00:48:47 – Becoming a better human for the people around you 00:49:14 – Working in instead of constantly working out 00:50:26 – The ego screams while intuition whispers 00:51:24 – Learning to hear the quiet voice that actually guides you 00:52:37 – Why taking care of yourself allows you to contribute more 00:53:21 – Don't ignore the small fractures in your relationships 00:53:49 – Your stress cup versus your self-love cup 00:54:41 – What if your life was 80% rest-and-digest? 00:55:37 – Why external solutions can't fix an internal problem 00:56:31 – Your body may already be telling you to stop 00:57:18 – Why the simplest practices can produce the biggest changes 00:58:04 – Sovereignty begins with recognizing that you have a choice 00:59:09 – Awareness is what makes choice possible 00:59:29 – Why people spend thousands to avoid something that's free 01:00:16 – What happens when you ignore your body's signals for decades 01:00:58 – The noise that keeps you from hearing the whisper 01:01:20 – What becomes possible when you finally start listening 01:02:01 – The truth behind the "overnight success" 01:02:26 – Five minutes of breathing can change your state 01:03:14 – Stop feeding everything that's wrong with the world 01:03:47 – Self-love as the starting point for helping others 01:04:39 – Presence, nature, sunshine, silence, and the basics we've forgotten 01:05:36 – Darin feels his own energy shift during the conversation 01:06:09 – Why there is no single perfect path for everyone 01:07:38 – Moving beyond health as a purely physical pursuit 01:08:20 – Everything you're looking for outside may actually be within 01:08:46 – Living with an open heart and a clear mind 01:09:28 – Fatherhood teaches Jules that slowing down can be the practice 01:10:21 – Life itself is the practice 01:10:47 – Your path cannot be found outside yourself 01:11:09 – From telling people how to live to leading by example 01:11:34 – The inner wealth successful people are actually searching for 01:11:58 – What happens when you genuinely want to serve others 01:12:34 – Moving from trust into knowing 01:12:59 – The gut instinct almost nobody listens to 01:13:18 – Why difficulty gives meaning to the good 01:13:38 – Closing thoughts Thank You to Our Sponsors Alkemis: Go to AlkemisPaint.com and use code DARIN10 for 10% off your order. Shakeology: Get 15% off with code DARINO1BODI at Shakeology.com. Join the Superlife Community Get Darin's deeper wellness breakdowns — beyond social media restrictions: Weekly voice notes Ingredient deep dives Wellness challenges Energy + consciousness tools Community accountability Extended episodes Join for $7.49/month → https://patreon.com/darinolien Find More from Jules Horn Website: mindfulmovemend.com Instagram: @jules_horn Connect with Darin Olien: Website: darinolien.com Instagram: @darinolien Book: Fatal Conveniences Platform & Products: superlife.com New Show: Roadmap to Happiness Key Takeaway "We have been conditioned to believe that becoming better means doing more, pushing harder, training longer, waking up earlier, achieving more, and constantly searching outside ourselves for the next answer. But eventually you have to ask whether all that movement is actually growth or whether you're simply running from yourself. The deeper work is quieter. Regulate your nervous system. Sit still. Breathe. Listen. Face the memories and patterns you've been carrying. Cultivate enough love and energy within yourself that you actually have something left to give to the people you love. Your path doesn't come from another workout, another device, another guru, or another voice screaming for your attention. The real work begins when everything gets quiet enough for you to finally hear what's already inside you."

Send us Fan MailThe movies that stay with us don't just entertain us. They can challenge the way we think about our lives, our choices, and the legacy we're leaving behind. In this Evolve Movie Club recap, Emilia and Bianca reflect on Only the Brave and the conversations it sparked around courage, grief, responsibility, and what it means to become a better ancestor.In this episode, we unpack ecological grief, climate anxiety, seventh generation thinking, and the impact our everyday decisions can have far beyond our own lifetime. We also explore how meaning and purpose can become an antidote to nihilism, why small choices matter, and how becoming more conscious of the future can change the way we live today.Here's a related episode that builds on today's conversation: #510 | How to Cultivate a Conscious Leader's Mindset: -https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/510-how-to-cultivate-a-conscious-leaders-mindset/id1511831621?i=1000771122618 Learn more about: 

This message was developed alongside the resource: "The Fight to Flourish: Engaging in the Struggle to Cultivate the Life You Were Born to Live" by Jennie Lusko. A tremendous resource we recommend diving into!

#363: In two years, Marina Middleton went from a first-time Create & Cultivate attendee to co-owner and CEO of the company. Now, three years into running it, she's sharing the honest truth about what it looks like to be on the other side of a major quantum leap.Marina joins me to talk about the moment she realized she'd lost her spark, and what she did to get it back. If you've ever felt like you have to choose between the career you're building and building a family, or you struggle with tying your work to your worth, this one is for you.This episode is an honest conversation about reclaiming your ambition without sacrificing the people you love, or running yourself into the ground.We talk about:The DM that turned Marina into co-owner and CEO of Create & CultivateHow to separate your worth from your workWhy ambition isn't something to be ashamed of, and how to reclaim itHow to get your spark back after a period of burnoutCutting out frenemies and building real boundaries (plus her checklist that went viral)Episode Links:Related Episode: How to Start Angel Investing with Jaclyn Johnson https://open.spotify.com/episode/664zbiSkUF9AGIyigNt6Yg?si=iUN_FVZFQ8uNplFY58MD6QFollow Marina on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marinaamiddleton/Follow Create & Cultivate on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/createcultivate/Check out the Create & Cultivate Festival in LA on September 19 and 20: https://www.createcultivate.com/festivalSponsors:Cotton: Cotton is The Fabric of Our Lives. Learn more at https://www.thefabricofourlives.comIM8: Get a free welcome kit, five free travel packs and 10% off your order at https://www.IM8health.com/lucky code LUCKYRula: Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance. Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts who specialize in you at https://www.rula.com/lucky #rulapodLadder: Remove the guesswork with Ladder and get a real coach telling you exactly what to do for every workout. If you have an iPhone, head to https://www.ladder.fit/lucky to take a quick quiz and find your perfect ladder plan. Use my link and get a free 7-day trial and $10 off your first month if you join.OSEA: Go to https://www.oseamalibu.com and get 10% off your first order with code LUCKY.Dae: Just for She's So Lucky listeners, visit https://www.daehair.com and use code LUCKY at checkout for 20% off your first purchase.Connect with Les:Ready to apply what you hear? Subscribe to the She's So Lucky Newsletter to get weekly episode guides and journal prompts: https://shessolucky.kit.com/newsletterSubscribe to The Lucky Playbook on Substack: https://lesalfred.substack.com/Follow Les on IG @lesalfredFollow She's So Lucky on IG @shessoluckypodFollow Les on TikTok @theluckylesFollow She's So Lucky on TikTokVisit our website at shessoluckypodcast.comThis episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.Produced by Dear Media. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

BIO: Tony Martignetti is the author of the upcoming book, Planned Giving Accelerated. He's been helping small- and mid-size US nonprofits launch Planned Giving fundraising programs since 1997. Tony is a lawyer, but he doesn't write or talk like one. He weaves in his background in stand-up comedy and improv to make Planned Giving easy, accessible, and affordable.STORY: Tony returns with a different kind of investment story: how he spent eight months writing Planned Giving Accelerated, a book designed to help small and mid-sized nonprofits launch a legacy giving program in as little as one week.LEARNING: The best fundraising asset most small nonprofits already have is their most loyal, longest-tenured donors, and putting it to work costs nothing but a conversation. "Planned giving is not a conversation about death. It's about life, the longevity and sustainability of your nonprofit's work."Tony Martignetti Tony Martignetti is the author of the upcoming book, Planned Giving Accelerated. He's been helping small- and mid-size US nonprofits launch Planned Giving fundraising programs since 1997. Tony is a lawyer, but he doesn't write or talk like one. He weaves in his background in stand-up comedy and improv to make Planned Giving easy, accessible, and affordable.Tony joins the podcast for the second time. In his first appearance, Ep820: A Flattering Binder and $13,500 Down the Drain, he shared how a $13,500 bet on a flashy Manhattan PR agency taught him to check his ego. This time he returns with the opposite kind of story: a low-cost, three-step system that has helped nonprofits raise nine figures without spending a dollar on PR.What is planned giving, and why does it matter?Planned giving fundraising is the practice of securing long-term gifts made through a donor's estate or retirement plan, rather than a check written today. Tony's new book focuses specifically on the simplest and most common form: a bequest, meaning a gift left through a nonprofit inside a supporter's will.For a nonprofit, these gifts function like seeds planted years or even decades before they mature. Since most bequest donors are in their 60s or 70s when they name a charity in their will, the gift itself may not arrive for another 20 to 30 years. That time horizon is exactly why Tony sees planned giving as the foundation of real organizational sustainability—feeding an endowment a nonprofit can grow indefinitely, rather than a one-time cash infusion that gets spent immediately.The missed opportunity hiding in your donor listTony points out that most nonprofits miss donor opportunities because they don't ask. They already have everything they need to start a legacy giving program and simply never ask. Tony's three-step framework, which he calls the Martignetti Three-Step, One-Week Planned Giving Launch, laid out in the first three chapters of his book, is designed to get an organization from zero to a live planned giving program within a week:Step one: Identify your top prospects by analyzing donors who have shown consistent giving over at least 10 years, regardless of gift size, to ensure targeted outreach.Step two: Start with the simplest planned gift there is, a bequest written into a will, rather than a more complex vehicle.Step three: Cultivate and solicit those prospects directly by initiating a personalized, values-based conversation about legacy, making the donor comfortable and engaged.Tony's point is that a nonprofit does not need a press release, a webpage, or a campaign to say it has launched planned giving. It needs one honest, genuine conversation with the right donor. Have that conversation, and the program is live.Furthermore, he explains, the size of the gift matters less than its consistency. When a donor has given $5 each year for 20 years, it shows a strong emotional connection to the cause and makes them a better prospect for planned giving than a single large donation made one year ago.Why the conversation isn't about deathA common excuse Tony often receives is that conversations about planned giving make people feel uncomfortable or even morbid, because bequests are paid out only after a donor dies. However, according to Tony, this is not a conversation about death but about leaving a long-term impact that a donor has already been experiencing.Planned giving, Tony believes, is different from immediate, urgent appeals based on scarce funds and the need to pay employees' salaries soon. When the conversation starts by mentioning how important it is to keep the nonprofit from running out of money, that is an unsustainable way to fundraise. A nonprofit with enough stability to plan decades in advance is better placed to have a successful planned giving conversation.The data behind love and moneyTony cites research from Russell James, a professor at Texas Tech University who has spent decades studying the psychology and economics of bequest giving using quantitative methods rather than anecdotes. One striking finding Tony references is that, on average, about 75% of people who add a nonprofit to their will increase their annual giving to that same organization afterward.This seems to be an emotional factor, not a financial one at all. Once a donor decides to include a cause in their will alongside family members such as spouses, kids, or grandchildren, they feel an even stronger bond with that cause, and that bond shows up in daily donations as well. This finding clearly counters the fears many fundraisers have about planned giving and the idea that donors might consider their bequest their final donation and give nothing else annually.Actionable adviceFirst, create your own donor database and filter for longevity rather than monetary contribution, because donors who have been contributing for 15 to 20 years can qualify for planned giving.When you approach that donor, frame the conversation around the future and sustainability of the work they already support, rather than your organization's current financial needs.If you're a nonprofit under five years old or without individual donors yet, focus first on building that base.No. 1 goal for the next 12 monthsTony's number one goal for the next 12 months is to get Planned Giving Accelerated into the hands of 2,000 small and mid-sized nonprofits within a year of launch, with the hope that even half of them implement the three-step framework and successfully launch a planned giving program. Connect with Tony MartignettiLinkedInYouTubePodcastAndrew's booksHow to Start Building Your Wealth Investing in the Stock MarketMy Worst Investment Ever9 Valuation Mistakes and How to Avoid ThemTransform Your Business with Dr.Deming's 14 PointsAndrew's online programsValuation Master ClassHow to Start Building Your Wealth Investing in the Stock MarketFinance Made Ridiculously SimpleFVMR Investing: Quantamental Investing Across the WorldBecome a Great Presenter and Increase Your InfluenceTransform Your Business with Dr. Deming's 14 Points

There is a war going on inside every one of us. Paul names it plainly in Galatians 5: the flesh and the Spirit want opposite things, and starting to follow Jesus doesn't make that battle disappear.In Part 11 of our Set Free series, Pastor Kelli Ferguson walks through the conflict, the works of the flesh, and the fruit the Holy Spirit grows in a life lived close to Jesus - then shows what it actually looks like to keep in step with Him, one moment-by-moment choice at a time."Fruit is the character of your life being shaped by the nearness of Christ."IN THIS MESSAGE00:00 Welcome and Galatians 5:16-2603:37 The conflict: flesh vs. Spirit06:55 The works of the flesh09:33 Religious sins10:55 Relational sins11:58 Social sins15:37 The fruit of the Spirit16:17 Fruit reveals the tree22:56 1. Keep in step with the Spirit25:44 2. Cultivate the soil27:44 3. Stay connected to the vine32:01 Response and prayerSCRIPTUREGalatians 5:16-26, Romans 7:15-17, Ephesians 5:15-18, Romans 8:28, 2 Timothy 1:7, Matthew 13, John 15:4-5Preached by Pastor Kelli Ferguson at Calvary Church on September 6, 2026.Watch this message: https://youtu.be/uUIlzgm3XccCalvary Church8234 Woodsboro Pike, Walkersville, MD 21793Plan a visit: https://calvarymd.comPrayer request: https://www.calvarymd.com/form/prayer-request-formMade a decision to follow Jesus? https://www.calvarymd.com/salvationGive: https://calvarylifegroups.churchcenter.com/giving

We all desire to live forever. We look for eternal life through science and technology, through religion and good works, and through various ideas about what happens after death. But how do we actually take hold of eternal life?Jesus gives us a startling answer: “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.” What does Jesus mean by this shocking statement? Is he talking about physically eating his body and drinking his blood? And if not, what does it mean to “feed on Christ”?In this sermon, we consider what Jesus does not mean, what he does mean, and how we are called to feed upon Christ by faith. Eternal life is found not merely in knowing about Christ, but in being united to Christ by faith and continually drawing our life and nourishment from him.Sermon Outline1. What Jesus Does Not MeanJesus is not commanding us to physically eat his body and drink his blood. His language points to a spiritual reality rather than a literal, physical act.2. What Jesus Does MeanTo eat and drink Christ means to receive and rest upon Christ by faith. Through faith, we are united to Christ, receiving all the benefits of salvation and finding our life in him.“Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” — John 6:543. How Do We Do It?We feed upon Christ by faith.Repent and believe in Jesus.Cultivate an appetite for Christ.Feed regularly on God's Word through private, family, and public worship.Seek solid biblical teaching that strengthens and matures our faith.Grow in our delight in Christ.The Lord's Supper then gives us a visible sign and seal of this spiritual reality: Christ is spiritually present with his people, strengthening our faith as we receive the sacrament.Study QuestionsUnderstanding the TextWhat does Jesus say is necessary for us to have eternal life? (John 6:53–54)Why would Jesus' words about eating his flesh and drinking his blood have been so shocking to his original audience?What did the crowd misunderstand about Jesus' words?Why should we understand Jesus' language about eating and drinking spiritually rather than physically?How does John 6:35 help us understand what Jesus means by “eating” and “drinking” him?What does it mean to receive and rest upon Christ by faith?Union with ChristWhat does it mean for a Christian to be “united to Christ”?How does Galatians 2:20 describe the Christian's relationship with Christ?What does Colossians 3:3–4 mean when it says, “Christ who is your life”?How is being united to Christ different from simply believing facts about Jesus?Feeding on ChristWhat is the difference between believing that food can nourish you and actually eating it? How does this help explain faith?Why is spiritual appetite important in the Christian life?What are some “holy habits” that help cultivate our appetite for Christ?How do Scripture, prayer, worship, and the life of the church nourish our faith?What does it mean to pursue a healthy spiritual diet?Why do we need solid biblical teaching as we grow in Christian maturity?ApplicationAre you trusting in Christ himself for eternal life, or are you trusting in something else—good works, religious activity, or simply knowing about Christianity?What might be weakening your appetite for Christ?What is one practical way you could feed more regularly on God's Word this week?Are you merely going through Christian habits, or are you growing in delight in Christ?What does it look like for you to continually “feed on Christ” throughout an ordinary week?For Reflection“Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!” — Psalm 34:8Christ is not merely someone we know about. Christ is our life. How would your life change if you increasingly lived as though that were true?

Author Joy Pullmann, executive editor of The Federalist, joins Trending with Timmerie. Episode Guide Why we all need to stop being transgender (2:07) Why you should read to your kids & a classic book list for children (22:33) Cultivate your relationships (42:07) Resources mentioned: Western Culture Isn't Feminized, It's Transgender: https://thefederalist.com/2025/10/20/western-culture-isnt-feminized-its-transgender/ Annie Oakley (1935 film) Classic Books For Young Children – Age 3-9 https://payhip.com/b/R1JL 300 Classic Books for Ages 9 to Adult https://payhip.com/b/ZT5Wd Saint George and the Dragon: https://www.amazon.com/Saint-George-Dragon-Margaret-Hodges/dp/0780703138/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0 Ox-Cart Man by Donald Hall: https://www.amazon.com/Ox-Cart-Man-Donald-Hall/dp/0140504419

Those of us who played organized sports in school may remember a time when the race or game was not going well, and we just wanted to give up. For many of us, it was the shouts from the sidelines that kept us going. We could hear the coach shouting, “Keep going—you can do it!”In the same way the coach keeps the team going, Christ keeps us going and guides us home. We just have to learn to turn everything in our lives over to Him. In this message, Jill explains how we can learn to let God “coach” us and find contentment in every circumstance. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1141/29?v=20251111

To improve lives and create a God-honoring community can, in itself, be an act of worship unto God.

Discover the power of daily prayer for receiving God's provision. Cultivate unwavering trust in His faithfulness, even when circumstances are uncertain. Embrace peace through faith. #DailyPrayer #Faith #GodsProvision #TrustInGod #SpiritualGrowth

This episode isn't really about kissing—it's about the small, repeated moments of connection that create the culture of a marriage. Small moments of connection can have a surprisingly powerful impact on the quality of a marriage. In this episode of The Intimate Marriage Podcast, Alexandra Stockwell, MD explores the research behind kissing your spouse before leaving for work and reveals why she believes the kiss itself isn't actually what makes the difference. Instead, it's the culture of connection, attention, and affection that makes these small rituals so meaningful. Alexandra shares simple ways to build more moments of intimacy into everyday life, from saying good morning and greeting your spouse when you come home to making time for connection before bed. Because over time, these seemingly small moments become the nourishment that keeps emotional connection, intimacy, and passion alive.Resources Mentioned:Research on kissing and marital connection referenced in the episodeConnect With Alexandra Stockwell, MD:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get your copy of “Uncompromising Intimacy” by Alexandra Stockwell, MD here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/2ymI3Hl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Download the first chapter of Dr. Alexandra's bestselling book, “Uncompromising Intimacy,” here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.alexandrastockwell.com/book⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Cultivate your intimacy skills (without compromise) in Aligned & Hot Marriage, Alexandra's proven method for smart couples ready to love more fully:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.alignedhotmarriage.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join Alexandra's email list to stay connected. She shares inspiring stories, her latest insights, and opportunities to learn with her:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.alexandrastockwell.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Practical, Biblical advice if you are looking for a partner.The Bible, which begins and ends with a wedding, reveals the unique importance which God Himself attaches to marriage.2Support the show

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Choices Grow: How to Cultivate a Life of Intentional DecisionsEvery decision we make today shapes our tomorrow. In this episode, we'll explore the transformative insights from the book "Choices Grow" and how we can plant the right seeds for a fulfilling life. Join me as we delve into the importance of self-awareness, healing, and nurturing our emotional gardens.Understanding the Seeds We PlantEvery choice we make is a seed that eventually leads to a harvest. It's crucial to recognize that we don't simply wake up one day with peace, confidence, or healthy relationships. Instead, we must cultivate these qualities intentionally. We will discuss how small choices can lead to significant lifestyle changes, such as forgiveness and consistency, and the impact of these decisions on our emotional well-being. The Power of ForgivenessForgiveness may seem like a simple act, but it holds the potential to change our lives dramatically. When we choose to forgive, we liberate ourselves from the burdens of resentment and bitterness. This choice not only affects our emotional health but also our relationships. Let's explore how adopting a forgiving mindset can lead to a more harmonious life.Nurturing Our Emotional GardensJust like a garden, our emotional health requires attention and care. We must actively tend to the weeds that threaten to choke our growth. We will discuss the importance of recognizing and addressing negative patterns, such as avoidance and inconsistency, that can hinder our progress. Weeding Out Negative PatternsIdentifying and addressing the weeds in our emotional gardens is essential for growth. We will cover strategies for recognizing old patterns that no longer serve us and for replacing them with healthier habits. By actively weeding out negativity, we create space for new, positive experiences.To connect with G'Ade:https://linktr.ee/theunfilteredbygade

What does it really mean to persevere—and why is perseverance so essential to the Catholic life?In Episode 59 of From the Rooftop, Monsignor Patrick Winslow and Father Matthew Kauth reflect on the relationship between fortitude, endurance, hope, and the Christian vocation. Beginning with St. Augustine's observations about the struggle between the mind, body, and will, the conversation moves from physical endurance to one of the great realities of the spiritual life: holiness is often less about extraordinary moments than about simply remaining faithful over the long haul.Drawing on St. Thomas Aquinas, St. John of the Cross, the witness of Christians who endured persecution, and the lives of the saints, they explore why fortitude is not merely the courage to attack a difficulty, but the strength to endure suffering without surrendering what is good. As one religious sister memorably told Father Kauth: “There's never a difficulty with vocations. There's always a difficulty with perseverance.”The conversation then turns to the theological virtue of hope—and how the promises revealed by God can transform the way Catholics experience suffering in the present. Christian hope does not require knowing exactly how the future will unfold. It means allowing what we know by faith—death, judgment, eternity, and the promises of God—to give meaning and direction to the present moment.But supernatural hope does not make ordinary life irrelevant. Monsignor Winslow and Father Kauth make the case for something Catholics can sometimes overlook: natural hopes matter too. Learn a language. Read the books you have always wanted to read. Paint. Exercise. Build something. Cultivate a skill. Pursue something worthwhile and learn to endure the difficulty required to achieve it. These ordinary pursuits can train us in perseverance and dispose us to live the supernatural life more faithfully.In a culture increasingly tempted by comfort, distraction, discouragement, and despair, this episode offers a deeply Catholic reminder: the Christian life is not an escape from life—it is the grace to live it fully, faithfully, and with our eyes fixed on eternity.And perhaps the great paradox is this: those who believe most deeply in Heaven are often the ones who accomplish the most on earth.In this episode:St. Augustine on the body, will, and interior struggleWhy perseverance is essential to every vocationSt. Thomas Aquinas on fortitude and enduranceSt. John of the Cross and suffering on the way to sanctityThe connection between hope and perseveranceHow eternal realities reshape present sufferingWhy Catholics should cultivate natural hopes and worthwhile ambitionsHow ordinary goals can strengthen the spiritual lifeWhy faith should energize rather than diminish a truly human lifeWhat the saints teach us about building, creating, laboring, and enduringFrom the Rooftop is a TAN Books podcast featuring conversations with Monsignor Patrick Winslow and Father Matthew Kauth on the Catholic Faith, the spiritual life, culture, virtue, and the world as seen from the rooftop of the Church.For updates about new episodes, special guests, and exclusive deals for From the Rooftop listeners, sign up at http://RooftopPodcast.com. And for more great ways to deepen your faith, check out all the spiritual resources available at http://TANBooks.com.

The Lord Is Preparing the Ground for HarvestThe Lord is preparing His people for harvest, but preparation requires cultivation. In this episode, I share a timely word about resisting distraction, developing deeper hunger for God, and allowing the Holy Spirit to break up the fallow ground of our hearts. This is a season to press into prayer, obedience, holiness, and the presence of God. The process may be uncomfortable, but God is preparing you to receive and produce what He has promised.Subscribe to the Podcast⤵️Follow me on Instagram:

This week, Noah Reagan continues our Cultivate series by encouraging us that faith plants before it sees, trusts where to plant, and looks toward a harvest bigger than itself as we step into what God has prepared for us.(https://slocity.church/groupguides) - Click here for group guides for this series(https://slocity.church/im-new) - Click here to fill out a connect card if you're new(https://slocity.church/events) - Click here to jump into events at SLO City(https://subsplash.com/slocitychurch/app) - Click here to download the app and stay connected(https://slocity.church/give) - We dream of being a generous church that trusts God fully and makes a difference. If God has put it on your heart to give, click the link above.

The Path of SurrenderWhat does it really mean to surrender?To many people, surrender sounds like defeat—giving up control, becoming passive, or allowing someone else to dictate your life.But the Bhagavad-gita presents something very different.At the conclusion of His teachings to Arjuna, Krishna gives perhaps His most famous and far-reaching instruction:“Abandon all varieties of dharma and simply surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.”But surrender doesn't mean running away from life.Arjuna surrendered—and then acted.The change was not simply in what he did, but in why he did it and whom he was living for.This brings us to the culmination of the Bhagavad-gita's teaching.We begin by understanding:I am not this temporary body or mind. I am an eternal spiritual being.We learn that action is unavoidable, but that selfishly motivated action binds us. We learn that the restless mind can become either our friend or our enemy. And we discover that spiritual realization ultimately means awakening our forgotten relationship with Krishna.Then comes the question:How do we actually live this understanding?The answer is śaraṇāgati—the path of surrender.Accept what nourishes our spiritual life.Reject what obstructs it.Trust in Krishna's protection.Depend upon Him as our maintainer.Offer ourselves in His service.Cultivate genuine humility.This isn't passive surrender. It is an active reorientation of our life away from:“How can everything serve me?” toward: “How can my life become an offering?”It is a conscious change in the center of your life:From “What can I get?”to “What can I give?”From living primarily for ourselves to making our work, relationships, abilities and daily activities an offering to the Supreme.And this is where the Bhagavad-gita moves from philosophy to practice.Hearing. Chanting. Remembering Krishna. Serving. Seeking spiritual association. Offering our work and daily activities. Cultivating humility. Learning to live for something greater than ourselves.Ultimately, Krishna does not force Arjuna to accept any of it. After giving His instruction, He tells Arjuna to consider what he has heard—and then freely choose what he will do.Because genuine love requires freedom.The Bhagavad-gita begins with a man who doesn't know what to do.It ends with a man who knows who he is, whom he belongs to, and what he wants to live for.Perhaps that is what it really means to have a guide for life.Chapters 00:00:00 Spiritual Identity, Action, and the Foundation of Gita Practice ‎ 00:04:06 Krishna's Final Teaching: Change the Purpose of Action ‎ 00:08:35 Saranagati: Surrender as Taking Refuge‎ 00:11:36 The Six Practices of Surrender ‎ 00:20:00 Active Devotion Through Sadhana Bhakti ‎ 00:22:52 Association, Social Pressure, and Spiritual Community ‎ 00:27:10 A Daily Example of Sadhana and the Value of Service ‎ 00:34:02 Free Will, Gratitude, and Humble Chanting ‎#BhagavadGita #GuideForLife #Krishna #Surrender #Saranagati #BhaktiYoga #SpiritualWisdom #SpiritualLife #SelfRealization

Everyday moments are what shape your life; you can sail through them on autopilot, or you can make small, purposeful choices that fill you with beauty and grace. Ruth Chou Simons shares from her book "This Moment Matters: 100 Ways to Cultivate a Grace-Laced Life." Learn to cooperate with God to cultivate the intentional life you long for, in the simple choices you make every day. Check out Susie's podcast God Impressions on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts! Faith Radio podcasts are made possible by your support. Give now: click here

True accomplishment belongs not to the naturally brilliant, but to those who refuse to quit, cultivating excellence through steady perseverance and doing all things with all their might.

In this episode, we dive into what it truly means to receive God's favor in your career, why you should never be afraid to ask God for the "huge" things, and how to find genuine joy in your daily work. Grounded in Ecclesiastes 2:24–25 and Ecclesiastes 3:12–13, 22, we break down how your labor and your ability to enjoy it is a direct gift from God.In This Episode, We Cover: Ask for the "Huge" Things: Recognizing unexpected favor in everyday moments and boldly bringing your career desires to God. The Power of Purposeful Collaboration: Why there is undeniable strength and impact in numbers. 4 Practices to Realign Your Career with Your Calling:1. Shift from Organization to Assignment: Viewing your employer as a vehicle for your mission.2. Conduct a Joy & Fruit Audit: Identifying what tasks bring you true fulfillment.3. Trace the Ripple Effect: Connecting daily tasks to the bigger picture and end impact.4. Cultivate an Abundant Portion Mindset: Breaking free from scarcity and leading with servant leadership.

Happiness has very little to do with your circumstances. Thank you for listening to Encourage-Mint. If you've been refreshed, don't forget to subscribe, Leave a review on iTunes, and share a little Encourage-Mint with someone you love. Encourage-Mint is a podcast from Family Radio. These moments are just a taste of what you can hear every day. Listen at FamilyRadio.org or find more encouragement on the Family Radio app.  Get daily Scripture and encouragement by following Family Radio on your favorite social media platforms:FacebookInstagram Twitter

Are you building a business, or just a job?Thrivers, in our latest Women Thriving in Business mini-episode, we tackled the essential question: How do you build the business you actually want, rather than just creating a glorified job?Our expert panel broke down the transition from startup to sustainable enterprise. Here are the key takeaways from the conversation:Operational Excellence is Your FoundationAlicia Butler Pierre reminded us that documenting your "order to delivery" process is non-negotiable. True operational success isn't just about the final product; it's about the seamless customer experience happening behind the scenes. Nicole added a critical hiring trigger: if you are bogged down by admin, payroll, or vendor management, you're losing money. To scale, you must delegate these non-revenue-generating tasks so your energy remains focused on what actually brings in income.Build with the Exit in MindMichelle Seiler-Tucker challenged us to embrace "AIM" (Always Innovate and Market) to avoid complacency. She urged entrepreneurs to stop building a job and start building a sellable asset from day one. Using her "GPS Exit Model," she stressed that you need a clear destination, a current valuation, and a realistic timeline to build a business that attracts buyers.Cultivate a Lifelong MindsetEntrepreneurship is, at its core, about answering questions and solving problems for others better than anyone else. Our guests highlighted that success requires a strong support system, including backup plans for your family and finances—and the humility to ask for help. Fenyx Blue reminded us that entrepreneurship is a practice of lifelong learning. Don't be afraid to reach out to successful leaders for guidance; stay curious, keep learning, and keep innovating.Ready to take action? Listen to the full episode to hear these incredible women share the specific steps to build your dream business.Connect with guests featured in this mini episode:The Hidden Blueprint: How to Engineer Your Business for Success | Alicia Butler PierrePlanning, Partnership, and Purpose | Fenyx BlueBuilding a Legacy: Scaling a Business for a Greater Purpose | Tasha JonesThe EXIT RICH Way to Build Your Business | Michelle Seiler-TuckerBuild a Team to  Change and Scale Your Business |  Nicole GrinnellKeep Thriving!About the Show:Women Thriving in Business features candid unscripted conversations with entrepreneurs, business experts, authors, and academics aimed at contributing to business success. This weekly show provides interviews with business leaders who have built, grown, and are thriving in business. Nikki A. Rogers, host of the show, also discusses achievements, lessons learned, and advice for aspiring business owners to develop the mindset, strategies, and connections necessary to thrive in business. Whether you are just starting or you have been in business for decades, WTiB offers inspiration, strategies, and resources to help you THRIVE in business.About the Host:Nikki is a strategist and transformation coach who believes life is too short not to do what you love. She is passionate about helping entrepreneurs build sustainable companies and supports business leaders in developing the mindset, strategy, and connections to create thriving businesses and build legacy wealth.Nikki is the CEO of The Bladen Group and an alumna of North Carolina A&T State University and UNC-Chapel Hill.

What happens when the drive that has helped you accomplish so much becomes the very thing that exhausts you? For many high-achieving women, achievement has been rewarded for most of their lives. Get the grade. Earn the promotion. Reach the goal. Build the business. Keep moving forward. But over time, it can become easy to confuse what we accomplish with who we are. In this episode of the Moving Forward Podcast, 4word President & CEO Melissa Harrison talks with bestselling author, artist, and entrepreneur Ruth Chou Simons about how to pursue meaningful work and God-given dreams without allowing striving, perfectionism, or achievement to define us. Ruth is the founder of GraceLaced and the author of several books, including When Strivings Cease, Now and Not Yet, and her newest book, This Moment Matters: 100 Ways to Cultivate a Grace-Laced Life. Drawing from nearly two decades of writing, creating, building a business, raising six sons, and serving alongside her husband in ministry, Ruth reflects on why the seemingly ordinary moments of our lives matter more than we often realize. The conversation explores the tension between healthy ambition and striving. Ruth shares why metrics, milestones, and goals can be useful without becoming measures of our worth—and why our identity has to be grounded in Christ before we pursue the things the world may use to validate us. Ruth also talks about learning to stay present instead of constantly living for the next milestone. She shares practical rhythms that help her remain grounded in busy seasons and explains why gratitude can help shift our attention from everything we have not yet achieved to what God has already done. The conversation also traces the unexpected beginnings of GraceLaced. What eventually became a thriving creative business began during nap time, when Ruth pulled out watercolors while her young sons read nearby. She practiced her craft, shared what she was creating, gave her work away, and faithfully stewarded opportunities long before she knew where they would lead. Ruth also reflects on visibility in an age of social media and why the most meaningful parts of our lives need to be lived before they become content. For Ruth, creative work has to flow from a real life that is being experienced, not from the pressure to constantly produce. And in the final part of the conversation, Ruth speaks directly to the woman who wants to grow, lead, create, and move forward but is tired of feeling as though everything depends on her. Her encouragement is simple: stop trying to carry the entire journey at once. Look at what God has already placed in your hands, choose one small thing, and faithfully begin there.   In this episode, we get into: Your identity is not your achievement. Your worth was never meant to rise and fall with what you accomplish. Moving forward doesn't have to mean striving. Pursue what's next without letting exhaustion or perfectionism lead. Start with one small, faithful step. Steward what God has given you today instead of being overwhelmed by the whole path.   You'll also hear about: Why our "someday" is made up of thousands of ordinary moments Learning to enjoy the journey instead of constantly waiting for the next milestone The difference between healthy ambition and striving in your own strength How to recognize when a good desire has become too important Separating your identity from promotions, metrics, income, and visible success Why gratitude can help quiet the pressure to reach the next level Creating sustainable rhythms during busy seasons How GraceLaced began during nap time with watercolors and a blog Learning to welcome the limitations God allows Why meaningful "soul work" needs to be lived before it is shared Practicing visibility without allowing an audience to become your validation Starting with what God has already placed in your hands Ruth's upcoming appearance at the BOLDLY Conference in Dallas    About Ruth Chou Simons Ruth Chou Simons is a bestselling author, artist, entrepreneur, and founder of GraceLaced, where she creates books, artwork, and resources designed to help people look to Jesus and find God's grace in everyday life. What began nearly two decades ago as a personal blog called GraceLaced grew out of Ruth's desire to practice writing, create art, and pay attention to the ways God's grace was woven through ordinary life. Over the years, that small beginning developed into a creative business and ministry reaching readers around the world. Ruth is also the mother of six sons and has built GraceLaced alongside a full life of family, ministry, creativity, and entrepreneurship. Her books include When Strivings Cease, Now and Not Yet, and her newest release, This Moment Matters: 100 Ways to Cultivate a Grace-Laced Life. In October, Ruth will join 4word in Dallas as a keynote speaker at the BOLDLY Conference. Learn more about Ruth: ruthchousimons.com   About Melissa Harrison Melissa Harrison is a journalist, nonprofit leader, and President & CEO of 4word. She is passionate about helping women integrate faith, leadership, and purpose in the workplace. As host of the Moving Forward Podcast, Melissa brings a storyteller's perspective to honest conversations about work, calling, growth, and the courage to keep moving forward.

Tony Martignetti joins Sherry Quam Taylor to discuss his upcoming book, Planned Giving Accelerated, and the transformative potential of planned giving for small to mid-sized nonprofits. Tony's book (that features a contribution from Sherry herself!) aims to empower smaller organizations, making planned giving accessible and straightforward.Tony believes that planned giving can be a powerful way to secure the future of your organization, Tony emphasizing that planned giving is ultimately about life and sustainability.What You Will Discover:✔️ Planned Giving is not a conversation about death. It's an opportunity to preserve the life and longevity of your work in your community✔️ Identify Your Top Prospects. Focus on your loyal, long-standing donors who have shown commitment over the years✔️ Engage in Conversations. Shift the narrative from reactive fundraising to proactive relationship building, making the planned giving conversation feel more natural✔️ Cultivate and Solicit. Base your asks on the foundation of trust you've built with your top prospects——————————————Tony Martignetti is the evangelist for Planned Giving. In September, he publishes his book, Planned Giving Accelerated, to help small- and mid-size nonprofits launch, by making Planned Giving fundraising easy, accessible and affordable. The book waitlist is at PlannedGivingAccelerated.com. He started as a front-line Planned Giving fundraiser in 1997 and kicked off his consulting in 2003. Tony is a lawyer, but he doesn't talk like one. Instead, he weaves in his stand-up comedy and improv past, to bring Planned Giving within reach for small- and mid-size nonprofits. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonymartignetti/Website: PlannedGivingAccelerated.com----Welcome to the Business Behind Fundraising podcast, where you'll discover how to raise the kind of money your big vision requires without adding more events, appeals, or grant applications. Learn how to stop blocking overall revenue growth and start attracting investment-level donors with Sherry Quam Taylor.Sherry Quam Taylor's unique approach and success combine her background of scaling businesses with her decade-long experience advising nonprofit leadership teams. With out-of-the-box principles and a myth-busting methodology, proven results, and an ability to see solutions to revenue problems that others overlook, her clients regularly add 7-figures of revenue to their bottom line.If you need a true partner to show you how to fully finance your entire mission, both programs, AND overhead, year after year… You're in the right place!#nonprofits #podcast

About The Mindset Meditation: Our guided visualizations, morning affirmations, and deep sleep stories are designed to help you release stress, find inner peace, and start your day with purpose.How to prepare for this session: Detox your mind and heart of the thoughts and emotions that no longer serve you. Find a quiet, comfortable space. Close your eyes, take a few slow, deep breaths, and begin focusing on relaxing every inch of your body.Start by wiggling and relaxing your toes.Rotate your ankles and relax your feet.Slowly work your way up your body, releasing the tension in your calves, your shoulders, and your mind. Within minutes, you will feel as if you are floating. Detach, let go, and give yourself permission to feel at peace.Connect with our Community:Instagram: https://instagram.com/themindsetmeditationpodcast?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=YouTube: https://bit.ly/2RnSdjSPlease share this episode with a family member or friend who might need a moment of peace today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Your content is your marketing. Your story is your strategy. Your community is your connection. In this episode Katrina Julia breaks down the Creator CMO role — strategy, structure, systems.Full Episode Description:Hey Bestie. Welcome back to Creator Bestie.This is part 2 of the Creator C-Suite Series.In the last episode we covered Creator CEO — the vision, the strategy, the shift from Creator to CEO.Creator CMO. Chief Marketing Officer. You.In this episode I am breaking down exactly what it means to operate as your own CMO — the strategy, the structure, the systems, and the tools that turn content into a marketing machine that works even when you are not.In This Episode:→ Why your marketing is your mission AND your machine→ Your story as your competitive advantage — the thing no one can replicate→ The Creator CMO framework — Connect. Create. Cultivate.→ Why email has 42x more ROI than social media — and what to do about it→ Create once. Distribute everywhere. — the full repurposing system→ How I save 300+ hours a month with AI and automation→ The full Creator CMO tool stack — Claude, Opus AI, Restream, Apollo.io, Kajabi, Stanstore→ Why I would start with Stanstore if I was starting over today→ Automated email funnels — what to set up from day one→ Special project time — the 2-hour block that keeps you ahead of the curve→ Batching your CMO time — brand pitches, filming, email, engagement→ Creator School - the school I wish existed when I started as a Creator (so I chose to #CREATEIT)Resources:

A gentle meditation to quiet self-criticism and nurture a more compassionate relationship with yourself. Through mindful breathing, reflection, and encouraging inner dialogue, you'll practice meeting yourself with patience, understanding, and kindness.  Join me for Live Meditations, Courses, and more on the free Insight Timer app.Join the Waitlist for the Online 12 Week Meditation Teacher Training.Fill out the interest form here so we can hop on a phone call and have a heart to heart to see if this training is for you!

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Pentecost XIII

By Mario Seiglie - The Bible is a gift from God which convicts one to the truth. But it is sealed from understanding to those without God's other gift, His Spirit. In Part 1 of this series of eight comparisons, we look at the first four comparisons with scriptural references in how God's Word, the Bible is a

Do you feel your partner truly respects you? Do you truly respect them? What does having a deep respect for your partner look like in a relationship? In this episode of The Love Lab Podcast, Kevin Anthony speaks with relationship coach Olivier Bessaignet about what having deep respect in your relationship is, how and why it gets lost, and how to build it again. Olivier even tackles controversial subjects such as women don't need men and men don't need women. To Find Out More About Olivier And His Book, Click The Links Below: https://olivierbessaignet.com/ https://backtoloveandrespect.com/

The world of careers and education is changing at lightening speed! What can you do to help your child be ready for a new era of work, opportunities, and school decisions? Margot Machol Bisnow has interviewed 70 entrepreneurs and joins AllMomDoes host Julie Lyles Carr to reveal what they all have in common...and it has a lot to do with their moms!Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4wXrHfR Key Topics:The importance of entrepreneurial qualities like grit, resilience, and curiosityHow parents can support their children's passions and talentsThe impact of AI and technological change on future careersThe role of family beliefs and encouragement in shaping entrepreneurial mindsetExamples of young entrepreneurs and their childhood influencesThe shift from traditional career paths to entrepreneurial and gig economy modelsSound Bites:"Building something wonderful is its own reward""Encourage your kids to believe in themselves""Ask, could I do something differently?"Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Parenting for the Future00:59 Guest Introduction: Margot Machol Bisnow02:05 Why Parenting Needs to Evolve with the Economy03:00 Historical Perspective on Generational Career Changes03:49 Margot's Inspiration from Her Son's Entrepreneurial Circle04:45 The Power of Belief and Encouragement in Kids05:37 Supporting Kids' Passions and Talents06:43 The Role of Grit, Focus, and Resilience07:18 The Shift from STEM to Entrepreneurial Skills08:35 Preparing Kids for Jobs That Don't Exist Yet09:28 Traits of Successful Entrepreneurs10:23 How to Cultivate an Entrepreneurial Mindset11:31 Lessons from Diverse Entrepreneurial Backgrounds12:15 Supporting Passion Outside Traditional Education13:23 The Myth of Guarantees in Career Paths14:16 The Value of Curiosity and Asking 'What If'15:15 Adapting Education to a Rapidly Changing World16:17 Soft Skills and Their Growing Importance17:06 The Myth of Corporate Guarantees18:12 The Cost and Value of College Education19:03 The Power of Nonlinear Career Paths19:51 Encouraging Kids to Explore and Pivot21:06 Honest Conversations About Success and Failure22:00 Examples of Kids Turning Passions into Careers22:56 Resilience in the Face of Setbacks23:43 Instilling Entrepreneurial Spirit in Everyday Life24:37 Practical Tips for Parents to Foster Creativity25:33 The Importance of Asking 'Could I Do Differently?'26:27 Real-Life Examples of Entrepreneurial Curiosity27:33 Supporting Kids in Unconventional Careers28:35 Where to Find More Resources and Books29:43 Final Encouragement for Parents30:26 Closing Remarks and Next StepsKeywords: parenting, entrepreneurship, future of work, education, resilience, kids, career, AI, innovation

Earlier this week, I saw a post on threads by Marina Middleton (co-owner of Create & Cultivate) talking about how she lost her spark and the overwhelming number of messages from people feeling the same. And it made me realize that while the internet is on fire right now with stories of highly ambitious women experiencing founder burnout, career reinvention and business pivots--taking sabbaticals, feeling like they've lost their spark and wondering what they actually want to do next.  After what feels like two years of burnout, a challenging pregnancy that made me question absolutely everything about work, and a postpartum experience that has surprisingly brought me back to life... I realized...holy shit. I think I got my spark back.

This episode was originally released in October 2024 as part of Season 4 of Cultivate. During the summer, we release "re-runs" of some past discussions you may have missed to hold our listeners over until the new season drops this October!Our guest is Dr. Walt Mueller of the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding. In this episode, Walt brings his experience and expertise to a discussion on how Christian parents can connect with and guide their kids in truth and light through a complicated, anxiety-ridden culture. Together with our host Ty Fischer, they cover things like:Stress and anxiety in our kidsHanding technologyCommon mistakes well-meaning parents can makeKeeping the conversation lines open with your kidsAnd more.This discussion gives parents insight on the major cultural forces influencing today's kids and providing practical, hope-filled, Biblical perspectives on how to guide our kids through the noise that surrounds them and keep them pointed to Christ.For more information on Walt's ministry, visit cpyu.org.

Owen Strachan: You Can't Outwork Anxiety | Coach Me Up with Jimmy Dykes & Chris BurkeYou can't grind your way out of anxiety. That's the message from Dr. Owen Strachan — theologian, author, and Director of One Gospel — as Jimmy and Chris open year five of the podcast with a conversation that hits everybody, believer or not.Owen's new book, A Call to Cultivate, digs into why anxiety has skyrocketed in a world that promised technology would make life easier. He unpacks the "hamster wheel" we all step onto when we're afraid, why men so rarely admit they feel it, and the practical habits that actually move the needle instead of just making you busier.Jimmy asks the question a lot of high performers are afraid to ask out loud: can we outwork anxiety? Chris brings it to the field — what he learned about worst-case scenarios after getting to the big leagues, and why he doesn't actually want his kids' games to go perfectly. And Owen gets brutally honest about being a dad: he can't remove a single weed from his daughter's path, and pretending otherwise is the problem.Also in this one: growing up 5'7" in Maine, Stephen King buying his high school basketball team's uniforms, the "divine Wi-Fi," and the 32-minutes-of-heck defense he coached last season in Louisville.Owen's book, A Call to Cultivate: Overcome Anxiety by Thriving Where God Plants You:https://www.amazon.com/Call-Cultivate-Overcome-Anxiety-Thriving/dp/1510786597Listen to Owen's podcast, Grace & Truth:https://salempodcastnetwork.com/podcasts/grace-truth-with-owen-strachanAs always, we thank our title sponsor https://onecountry.com for making this podcast possible — catch every episode on the OneCountry app — and https://konexial.com for their continued support of the show.COACH ME UP TEAMhttps://onecountry.comhttps://konexial.comFollow us on Twitter:https://twitter.com/CoachJimmyDykeshttps://twitter.com/ChrisBurke02•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Hosted by Jimmy Dykes and Chris BurkeProduced by Jared Mark Fincher — https://jaredmarkfincher.comAll audio is subject to copyright 2026 Jimmy Dykes Inc.Contact us at coachmeuppodcast@gmail.com

In this episode of Referrals Done Right, Scott Grates sits down with Alex Canavan, founder of the CNY Women's Network and host of Cultivate. Alex shares the unconventional path that took her from bridal makeup to building a growing professional community. Along the way she learned the value of showing up before you feel ready and letting people see the journey as it unfolds.Scott and Alex dive into personal branding, authentic networking, and what it takes to build a true community. Alex explains why genuine curiosity has been one of her greatest relationship building tools. She also shares how becoming the connector can open doors without making every interaction feel transactional. The conversation is a reminder that meaningful relationships begin when you focus less on what you can get and more on making others feel seen.In This Episode:• Why Alex believes readiness is a myth and action builds confidence.• How showing your progression can strengthen your personal brand.• The difference between building a real community and traditional networking.• Why becoming the connector can transform the way you build relationships.• How curiosity and better questions help people feel genuinely seen.---Alex Canavan's Links:Website - https://www.cnywomensnetwork.comLinkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexcanavanInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/alexcanavan.co/TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@alexcanavan.coSubstack - https://alexcanavanco.substack.com/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@CultivateWithAlexCanavanSpotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/23RixpKg8eXPROY42uFLvT?si=120a0a1f03024e10&nd=1&dlsi=0c2480fe73724589---Scott Grates' Links:Referrals Done Right - https://www.referralsdoneright.orgReferrals Done Right FB Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/296359076662332Scott Grates Website - https://www.scottgrates.comLove Living Local  - https://www.instagram.com/lovelivinglocal315Scott's FB - https://www.facebook.com/scott.grates.1Scott's - https://www.instagram.com/scottgratesTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@scott.grates

Text: Proverbs 18:24, Proverbs 17:17, Proverbs 13:20…Speaker: David BartosikDate: August 16, 2026Big Idea: Meaningful JESUS-saturated friendships don't happen accidentally; they arecultivated intentionally because God designed us to experience the joy of Jesus,together.Give the Gift of Presence (proximity).Drop the Water Line (trust).Consistency Multiplied over Time (usually over food).Invest Before You Need Them (slow down). WATCH ONLINE How Do I Cultivate Relationships in a Lonely World? David Bartosik

On this week's episode, the girls sit down with powerhouse entrepreneur, Jaclyn Johnson, founder of Create & Cultivate and Cherub, to talk money, investing, and building a business from the ground up. She gets into selling Create & Cultivate for $22 million and ultimately buying it back, plus the investing questions we all want answered: How much money do you actually need to start investing? Where should you put it? What even is angel investing? And how do you go from having an idea to actually becoming a founder? Jaclyn breaks it all down and shares the wins, roadblocks, and lessons she's learned along the way! To Follow Jaclyn: Instagram: @JaclynrJohnson  Follow us! Hunter: https://www.instagram.com/huntermcgrady Michaela: https://www.instagram.com/michaelamcgrady Subscribe to Patreon for exclusive episodes and content: https://www.patreon.com/Themodelcitizenpodcast

Discover entrepreneurship, innovation, business growth, scaling, and intellectual property strategies from successful founders and industry leaders. Richard Gearhart and Elizabeth Gearhart, co-hosts of the Passage to Profit Show interview Dima Negodjuk from Negodjuk AI, Delphine Le Grand from Protocole and Business Coach Drea Lynn, Author of Smart Quit. What happens when AI becomes your workforce? Dima Negodjuk, Founder of Negodjuk AI, reveals how entrepreneurs can use AI agents to automate customer service, invoicing, marketing, sales, and other repetitive business tasks—helping businesses operate 24/7 and scale without constantly adding employees. Dima also shares how he built his own AI call center, created a digital AI clone, uses virtual “boards of directors” to make business decisions, and went from being a non-technical entrepreneur to building AI-powered businesses. Discover practical AI automation strategies, the future of work, and why entrepreneurs who start using AI now may have a powerful competitive advantage. Read more at: https://negodiuk.ai/ GLP-1 medications like Ozempic have sparked worldwide interest in peptides—but that's only the beginning. Delphine Le Grand, Co-founder of Protocole, explains what peptides are, how they may support recovery, weight management, sleep, cognitive performance, healthy aging, and regenerative wellness, and why personalized treatment is essential. Learn why working with knowledgeable clinicians matters, how peptide therapy differs from supplements and traditional medications, and what the future of personalized health could look like as peptide research continues to expand. Read more at: https://theprotocole.com/ Thinking about leaving your corporate job to become an entrepreneur? Drea Lynn, Founder of The Smart Shift System, Keynote Speaker, Business Coach, Author of Smart Quit, and Certified EOS Implementer, shares the lessons she learned after leaving a successful six-figure career only to find herself six figures in debt before rebuilding an even stronger business. In this episode, she explains why aspiring entrepreneurs need more than passion—they need preparation, the right network, strategic timing, and an owner's mindset. Learn how to know if you're truly ready to start a business, avoid common startup mistakes, build resilience through failure, and create a successful transition from employee to entrepreneur without launching in panic. Read more at: https://www.drealynn.co/ and at: https://www.howtosmartquit.com/ Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur, startup founder, inventor, or small business owner, the Passage to Profit Show is a leading podcast for insights on entrepreneurship, innovation, intellectual property and business strategy. Hosted by Richard Gearhart and Elizabeth Gearhart, the show features industry leaders, investors, and founders who share real-world lessons on scaling companies, protecting ideas, building generational wealth, and navigating today's evolving business landscape. Visit https://passagetoprofitshow.com/ for the latest episodes, expert interviews, and resources designed to help you grow, protect, and profit from your ideas. Chapters (00:00:00) - Seeking Clutter Awareness Week(00:02:26) - The Weirdest Food You Ever Eat(00:04:05) - In the Elevator With Dima Nagoyuk and Delph(00:05:06) - The One Decision That Changed the Direction of Your Business(00:07:41) - What was the decision that changed the trajectory of your business?(00:09:44) - Dima Ngojuk on AI and Jobs(00:16:24) - I Heart my Clone(00:17:43) - AI Agents(00:20:09) - AI Agents(00:22:03) - Car Shield: Before a Breakdown(00:23:07) - Better Health Insurance for You(00:24:07) - How to Automate a Complex Task with AI(00:27:03) - Dima Ngodyuk(00:29:18) - Know your pain first-hand(00:30:16) - Ukraine's restrictions on people leaving the country(00:31:33) - AI Expert Dima Ngodyuk on Starting a Business in New(00:33:00) - Real AI Uses in the Law Firm(00:38:35) - Divorce Debt Relief Hotline(00:40:34) - Can You Own The Sound of Your Own Voice?(00:45:01) - Peptides: What Do They Do For You?(00:50:42) - GLP1s and Side Effects(00:53:31) - Many medicines help with sleep(00:54:11) - GlP1s for Weight Loss(00:57:15) - How to Smart-Quit Your Career(00:59:07) - What Would I Do Different If I Had Quit My Job to Start(01:05:38) - How to Cultivate an Owner Mindset(01:07:08) - Can Each Person Be an Entrepreneur?(01:09:16) - What Made You Start Your Business?(01:09:44) - How to Win at Entrepreneurial Challenges(01:10:58) - The Shield: Protect Your Car and Wallet(01:12:32) - Noah Fleischman on Personal Finance(01:13:46) - Six Secrets of the Entrepreneurial Mind(01:17:24) - Passage to Profit

Using Jesus' Parable of the Four Soils in Matthew 13, Pastor Mike Kai explores the powerful connection between our spiritual lives and what is happening within our minds. Just as the same seed produces dramatically different results depending on the condition of the soil, the Word of God can produce very different results in our lives depending on the condition of our hearts and minds. Speaker: Pastor Mike Kai

Using Jesus' Parable of the Four Soils in Matthew 13, Pastor Mike Kai explores the powerful connection between our spiritual lives and what is happening within our minds. Just as the same seed produces dramatically different results depending on the condition of the soil, the Word of God can produce very different results in our lives depending on the condition of our hearts and minds. Speaker: Pastor Mike Kai

In this episode, I sit down with Julie Wilson from Women Doing Well to discuss how biblical generosity begins with the heart, not your bank account. We explore why waiting until you're financially successful to give is a myth, how God transforms a scarcity mindset into one of abundance, and what it truly means to steward everything He's entrusted to us. Julie also shares insights from groundbreaking research on Christian women and generosity, revealing how women are increasingly shaping Kingdom impact through their influence, leadership, and faithful stewardship. If you're a Christian entrepreneur who wants to build a business with open hands and an eternal perspective, this conversation will both encourage and challenge you. __________________________________________________________

Bestselling author, speaker, and artist Ruth Chou Simons discusses her new book, This Moment Matters: 100 Ways to Cultivate a Grace-Laced Life. Ruth opens up about balancing a busy household of six sons, navigating seasons of family crisis, and reclaiming lost time from screen addiction and doomscrolling.  Shannon and Ruth also share practical tips on incorporating scripture into daily routines, celebrating life's small wins, and recognizing God's presence beyond Sunday service.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#961. Jaclyn Johnson has built businesses, sold them, bought them back, started over, and learned that success doesn't always look the way you think it will.This week, Jaclyn joins Kaitlyn for a refreshingly honest conversation about the highs and lows behind building Create & Cultivate, what it actually felt like to sell the company she poured everything into, and why buying it back became one of the biggest full-circle moments of her career. She opens up about navigating burnout, a breast cancer diagnosis that shifted her perspective, moving back to New York, and the lessons she's learned through every major pivot along the way.Plus, Kaitlyn puts Jaclyn's investor instincts to the test in a game of Invest or Pass, pitching everything from startup ideas to some of the biggest brands we all know as Jaclyn reveals what she'd invest in, what she'd pass on, and why.Whether you've followed Jaclyn for years or this is your first introduction, this conversation goes far beyond business. It's about reinvention, resilience, taking risks, and finding the courage to bet on yourself—no matter what chapter you're in.If you're LOVING this podcast, please follow and leave a rating and review below! PLUS, FOLLOW OUR PODCAST INSTAGRAM HERE!Thank you to our Sponsors! Check out these AMAZING deals!Nutrafol: For a limited time, Nutrafol is offering our listeners $10 off your first month's subscription and free shipping when you visit nutrafol.com promo code VINE.Apartments.com: The place to find a place!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.