Podcasts about dedicate

TODAY'S LESSONThe most dangerous woman in your city isn't the influencer with the most followers; it's the intercessor with a burdened heart and a Bible that falls open by memory. Prayer is not religious furniture—it's a war table. It's where strategies are revealed, assignments are resisted, and Heaven's authority is brought to bear on earthly chaos. When a woman prays over her home, hell loses jurisdiction. When she prays over her husband, discouragement loses its grip. When she prays over her children, identity confusion gets confronted by the voice of God.James says, “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (James 5:16). Power—because prayer plugs your weakness into God's omnipotence. As it is working—because prayer is not a one-and-done wish; it's a persistent labor that keeps knocking until doors open, keeps seeking until wisdom is found, keeps asking until the heavens thunder, “Now.” Prayer recalibrates your emotions, reorders your priorities, and reorients your family to the presence of the Lord.Let's be real: the enemy's favorite strategy is to keep you too busy to pray. Busy women can build schedules; praying women build altars. And altars change lineages. Build one in your home—time, place, pattern. Dedicate a chair. Put a blanket there. Tape promises to the wall. Let your kids catch you praying. When storms come—and they will—your home will already be aligned to the voice that calms waves with a sentence.This is not about eloquence; it's about agreement. Agree with God's Word. Agree with the Spirit's prompting. Agree with Jesus' intercession, because He is praying for you right now. Step into that stream and add your amen.

TODAY'S LESSONThe most dangerous woman in your city isn't the influencer with the most followers; it's the intercessor with a burdened heart and a Bible that falls open by memory. Prayer is not religious furniture—it's a war table. It's where strategies are revealed, assignments are resisted, and Heaven's authority is brought to bear on earthly chaos. When a woman prays over her home, hell loses jurisdiction. When she prays over her husband, discouragement loses its grip. When she prays over her children, identity confusion gets confronted by the voice of God.James says, “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (James 5:16). Power—because prayer plugs your weakness into God's omnipotence. As it is working—because prayer is not a one-and-done wish; it's a persistent labor that keeps knocking until doors open, keeps seeking until wisdom is found, keeps asking until the heavens thunder, “Now.” Prayer recalibrates your emotions, reorders your priorities, and reorients your family to the presence of the Lord.Let's be real: the enemy's favorite strategy is to keep you too busy to pray. Busy women can build schedules; praying women build altars. And altars change lineages. Build one in your home—time, place, pattern. Dedicate a chair. Put a blanket there. Tape promises to the wall. Let your kids catch you praying. When storms come—and they will—your home will already be aligned to the voice that calms waves with a sentence.This is not about eloquence; it's about agreement. Agree with God's Word. Agree with the Spirit's prompting. Agree with Jesus' intercession, because He is praying for you right now. Step into that stream and add your amen.

814 They Attempted Again To Seize Him, But He Escaped Their Clutches, A Guided Christian Meditation on John 10:39-42 with the Recenter With Christ app The purpose of this podcast is to help you find more peace in  and connect with the true source of peace, Jesus Christ.  Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization.  You can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tense or unrelaxing.  If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes.   Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation:   Breathe and direct your thoughts to connecting with God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate,  deflate. Scripture for Meditation NET 39 Then they attempted again to seize him, but he escaped their clutches. 40 Jesus went back across the Jordan River again to the place where John had been baptizing at an earlier time, and he stayed there. 41 Many came to him and began to say, “John performed no miraculous sign, but everything John said about this man was true!” 42 And many believed in Jesus there. RSV 39 Again they tried to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands. 40 He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John at first baptized, and there he remained. 41 And many came to him; and they said, “John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.” 42 And many believed in him there. Reflection on Scripture: Imagine the ridiculous idea. A group of  religious policemen go try and arrest the creator of everything on the earth they walked. When I read this I am overwhelmed by the irony of it all. Jesus on many occasions escaped capture. He would not go until his time came. Even when he was finally captured he did so knowingly. He even told Judas to betray him  quickly. For us to assume that we can dictate God's plans is such a spiritually immature and damaging mindset.  Yet we are not above this mindset. We like to think we control our world. We like to feel empowered. In some ways this is something God has created within us. Our Godly drive to improve the world around us is good. If we are not careful we can get captured by the idea that we can bend God to our will. Equally unhelpful is that God wants to help us to do whatever we want. God wants our development and perfection and only he knows what it is.  With that said I do believe God wants us to learn to pursue good autonomously. Also I think he wants to empower us to engage with Him regarding our plans. I think this is drastically different than us being a law unto ourself and pursuing our own selfish desires and claiming it is what God wants. I believe that God wants us to reach out to him and plead for discernment regarding our lives. The goal should always be for us to seek God's will not to bend God's will to our own. I want you to ponder   Meditation of Prayer: Pray as directed by the Spirit. Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him. Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm: I invite you to sit in silence feeling patient for your own faults and trials. Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life: This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast Final Question: If you consider the invitation and command to persevere in the faith, what change in your life does that bring to your mind?  FIND ME ON: Download my free app: Recenter with Christ Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email: jared@christianmeditationpodcast.com Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast Twitter - @ChristianMedPod

Romans 6:15-23 confronts us with a profound truth: we will serve someone or something, whether we acknowledge it or not. This passage challenges the dangerous notion that grace gives us license to continue in sin, asking the piercing question: are we to sin because we're under grace rather than law? The answer rings clear—absolutely not. We're presented with only two masters: sin leading to death, or obedience leading to righteousness. There's no third option, no middle ground where we can blend worldly living with Christian faith. The transformation that comes through Christ isn't an addition to our existing life—it's a complete metamorphosis. We see this illustrated through the story of Elisha, who burned his oxen and plows, eliminating any possibility of retreat to his former life. Similarly, Jesus' disciples left their nets, their boats, and even their father immediately when called. This radical commitment stands in stark contrast to the lukewarm Christianity described in Revelation 3, where the church of Laodicea was neither hot nor cold, prompting Christ to say He would spit them from His mouth. The parable of the sower reminds us that only one in four who hear the word will produce lasting fruit. The question we must wrestle with is this: which soil are we? Are we clinging to escape plans and old relationships that keep us tethered to our former slavery, or are we willing to take that first step of obedience, trusting God will reveal the next?### Sermon Notes**Scripture**: Romans 6:15-23**Introduction**: - Rick, a pastor at Hope Church, continues the study of Romans, focusing on Romans 6. - Reminder that they preach through books of the Bible, emphasizing the importance of scripture-based preaching.**Key Points**:1. **Understanding Sin and Grace**:  - The question Paul raises: Are we to sin because we are under grace, not the law?  - Emphasis on morality within the law and grace.2. **Analogy of Slavery**:  - Paul uses the analogy of being slaves to sin versus slaves to righteousness.  - Bob Dylan's illustration: "You gotta serve somebody."3. **Transformation through Salvation**:  - Christianity is not just an addition but a transformation of life.  - The old self versus the new self: Embrace becoming a slave to righteousness.4. **Challenges in Christian Walk**:  - Temptation to mix worldly views and new belief systems with Christianity.  - Importance of separating from past sinful lifestyles and friendships.5. **Practical Illustrations**:  - Rick's personal testimony about radical change after accepting Christ.  - Importance of cutting off past connections that hinder spiritual growth.6. **Reasons for Struggling with Sin**:  - Continually resurrecting old sinful behaviors.  - Lack of suffering or commitment in serving God wholeheartedly.  - Not eliminating the past life entirely.7. **Biblical References to Commitment**:  - Examples of Elisha burning his plow and the disciples leaving everything to follow Jesus.  - The rich young ruler's story: Heart's attachment to possessions.8. **Fruit of Righteousness**:  - Encouragement to analyze life for spiritual fruit.  - Belonging entirely to Christ results in sanctification and eternal life.**Practical Applications**:1. **Cut Ties with Sin**:   - Identify and remove old habits and relationships that hinder spiritual growth.2. **Embrace Transformation**:   - Acknowledge that faith in Christ leads to a completely changed life, not just an addition to current beliefs.3. **Serve with Zeal**:   - Dedicate the same energy formerly given to sin towards serving God.4. **Evaluate Your Life**:   - Regularly assess if your life reflects the fruit of righteousness or if it's still tied to the old self.5. **Take Steps of Faith**:   - Listen for God's direction and take incremental steps towards fulfilling His call.**Discussion Questions**:1. How does understanding that we are under grace, not the law, change your perspective on sin and righteousness?2. What are some steps you can take to ensure you're living as a "slave to righteousness" rather than a slave to sin?3. Are there aspects of your past life that you are still holding onto, and how can you fully commit them to God?4. How has your commitment to Christ transformed your everyday life and decisions?5. Discuss a time when taking a small step of faith led to a significant spiritual victory or growth in your life.

Last week, I talked about how to boost your influence as a UX leader by focusing on the right activities and building your reputation. This week, I want to explore something closely related. How do you actually shift your organization's culture to be more user-centered?I know that sounds like a lot of work. And yes, there is effort involved. But if you've been applying what we've covered in previous lessons, you've likely done much of the groundwork already. Plus, culture hacking can be surprisingly fun.Four approaches to culture hackingThere are four main techniques you can use to embed UX into your organization's DNA:Engagement and collaboration. You're probably doing this already in your day-to-day work. The goal is to amp it up and bring more people into the UX conversation.Education and awareness. We've talked about this extensively in earlier lessons. It's about helping colleagues understand what UX is and why it matters.Feedback and iteration. Creating systems that give people ongoing visibility into how users experience your products.Celebration and reinforcement. Recognizing and highlighting UX wins to build momentum.Let me walk through each of these with some practical examples you can try.Engagement and collaborationThis is about bringing people together and getting them excited about user experience. A few tactics that work well:Hackathons. Organize events where diverse teams collaborate on user-centered solutions. The emphasis should be on creativity and fun. Let people dream up great experiences without getting bogged down in compliance issues or technical limitations.UX champions. Find people across your organization who already care about user experience. There will be more than you think. Create a space where they can come together, whether in Teams or Slack, to share experiences and frustrations. Share educational materials with them. Invest in these people so they become UX ambassadors across the organization.Inclusive workshops. Consider traditional workshops but expand who you invite. Include people from legal or compliance teams. The more you engage with them, the more they'll understand what you do. And the more willing they'll be to adapt their way of working to support better user experiences.Education and awarenessHere are some techniques for building UX awareness that go beyond standard training:Storytelling sessions. Run lunch-and-learns where you get people together for 20 to 30 minutes. But instead of presenting UX best practices, ask people to share terrible user experiences they've encountered. Not from your company, obviously. People love sharing their frustrations. It builds empathy for what users go through.Gamification. Introduce game-like elements to incentivize stakeholders. I once created a leaderboard ranking different departments based on their ability to deliver outstanding experiences. Instead of boring monthly analytics reports filled with vanity metrics, we showed UX performance metrics that sparked healthy competition between teams.Empathy training. Create exercises to help stakeholders put themselves in users' positions. This might involve completing user tasks themselves, viewing pages for limited time periods to simulate scanning behavior, or sitting in on user testing sessions.Culture hack days. Dedicate time for teams to discuss how to create a more user-centric organization. Ask them directly what needs to change and encourage brainstorming sessions.Feedback and iterationVisual management tools. Use dashboards or leaderboards to display user feedback and UX project metrics. Keep UX goals visible and actionable.For example, in one organization where I worked, we updated the content management system with a new, user-centric information architecture. To help content creators adapt, we created a dashboard showing their responsible pages alongside user feedback. We included a simple poll asking users if they found each page useful. We provided tips for improvement right there in the dashboard. It created a continuous feedback loop that kept people engaged with how users experienced their content.Celebration and reinforcementIt's important to build up your colleagues and acknowledge success. Celebrate user milestones and project successes related to UX improvements. When you celebrate, focus on the product owner and team rather than individual contributions. Highlight the techniques they used and the results they achieved. Try to attach financial value when you can.Consider implementing recognition programs. Annual awards for the most user-centric people or teams can work well. It might seem cheesy, but it generates genuine excitement around user experience.Finally, maintain regular check-ins with product owners and stakeholders. Hold discussions about UX best practices, share updates, and celebrate progress to sustain momentum and enthusiasm.Outie's AsideIf you're a freelancer or agency working with clients, culture hacking looks a bit different. You can't restructure their organization or set up internal champion networks. But you can plant seeds.Try running a single culture hack day as part of your engagement. Frame it as a workshop where you facilitate discussion about barriers to great user experiences. You're not telling them what to change. You're helping them identify it themselves.Another approach is to create mini feedback loops within your project scope. If you're redesigning a section of their site, set up a simple dashboard showing before-and-after user feedback. When stakeholders see real user reactions to improvements, it often sparks wider conversations about user-centered culture. You're modeling what ongoing UX practice could look like.The key is showing, not telling. Demonstrate the value through contained examples they can then scale internally.Marketing UX internallyThese four techniques give you a solid foundation for culture hacking. But there's one thread running through all of this. The need to actively market and promote user experience across your organization.Next week, I'll explore specific tactics to proactively market UX design within your organization. Because sometimes being good at UX isn't enough. You need to be good at talking about it too.

In this episode of the Scotland Grows Show, host M.T. O'Donnell welcomes Dr. Anna Florence from the National Trust for Scotland to unravel the massive PLANTS Project, a three-year botanical deep dive that's reshaping how Scotland's most treasured gardens are protected, understood, and shared.   Discover how an ambitious team travelled Scotland's length and breadth to record 86,000 living plants, revealing treasures hiding in plain sight, from critically endangered rhododendron species to a unique apple tree with an unmatched genetic fingerprint.   This episode shines a light on the exciting challenges of plant heritage conservation for the National Trust for Scotland, and why keeping accurate, living records matters for generations to come.  -------------------------------------------- The Scotland Grows Show is the podcast which celebrates everything that is good in Scottish gardening, as we join gardeners around the country to find out what grows well where they are, and pick up tips and stories along the way. Be sure to sign up to our mailing list so we can let you know when new episodes are published. Scotland Grows Magazine celebrates Scottish gardening, and drops into your inbox 6 times a year. If you would like to receive a copy, just follow this LINK. You can follow Scotland Grows on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, we'd love to have your company there! And of course, you can always find your share of gardening goodness on our website at scotlandgrowsmagazine.com. -------------------------------------------- This series of the Scotland Grows Show is sponsored by Dedicate a Tree, a special opportunity from the National Trust for Scotland to help breathe new life into Scotland's woodlands. You can dedicate a tree from £7.50 and choose from three planting projects happening across places in the care of the National Trust for Scotland. They'll send you a certificate and information leaflet, as well as regular updates about the progress of your chosen woodland project, and your tree dedication can be shared on their virtual woodland.   Whether you dedicate a tree for yourself or for a loved one, in celebration or in memory, you'll help nurture and protect Scotland's wonderful woodlands for generations to come.  Dedicate a tree today at nts.org.uk/trees  

MBN was on the road north, Wednesday, October 1st, as University of Michigan Health-Sparrow - Clinton dedicated an angel sculpture. A bronze sculpture of an angel – symbolizing hope, healing and compassion – was unveiled in the healing garden of University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Clinton. The statue, a gift from donor Larry Kremer, reflects UM Health-Sparrow Clinton's mission to serve as a comforting presence for patients and families. The handcrafted bronze statue was created over a nine-month period and installed on its permanent pedestal in the healing garden. Angels are universal symbols representing guardianship and compassion, mirroring UM Health-Sparrow Clinton's commitment to advancing health care for all patients. The event included brief remarks by hospital, foundation, and family members along with the opportunity to view the sculpture following its unveiling. This took place at UM Health-Sparrow Clinton, 805 S. Oakland St., St. Johns Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025, at 11 a.m.. » Visit MBN website: www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com/ » Subscribe to MBN's YouTube: www.youtube.com/@MichiganbusinessnetworkMBN » Like MBN: www.facebook.com/mibiznetwork » Follow MBN: twitter.com/MIBizNetwork/ » MBN Instagram: www.instagram.com/mibiznetwork/

“Dedicate yourself to a core set of values. Without them, you will never lead effectively.” — Ken Chenault In this inspiring episode of The Journey, host Larry Robinson sits down with Mack Weaver, a proud son of North Memphis, lifelong leader, deacon, and now CEO of Memphis in May. From growing up in a single-parent home to leading one of Memphis' most celebrated cultural institutions, Mack's story is a masterclass in perseverance, discipline, and faith. In this powerful and heartfelt conversation, Mack shares:   How football and faith taught him to never give up — “You can't burn me out.” The prayer that changed his life during his first year at South Carolina State What it means to grow up in North Memphis and never forget your roots Lessons on leadership, listening, and finding strength through humility Why smiling, even through the struggle, can change everything How family, faith, and community shaped his path to success From being a college athlete to becoming a community advocate, church leader, and CEO, Mack reminds us that grit and grace go hand in hand. His message is simple yet profound: “There's only one you. Be the best you that you can be. Control yourself, control your emotions and just smile.”  

 “Dedicate yourself to a core set of values. Without them, you'll never lead effectively.” — Ken Chenault In this powerful episode of The Journey, host Larry Robinson sits down with Richard Fisher, artist, mentor, faith leader, and lifelong Scoutmaster, whose story bridges faith, creativity, and perseverance. Born on the South Side of Chicago and shaped in St. Louis, Richard's life is a portrait of resilience and reflection. From his early days exploring the Chicago Art Institute with his mother to his 30+ years of leadership with the Boy Scouts of America, he's spent his life inspiring others to believe, create, and serve. In this heartfelt conversation, you'll discover: The power of faith and what it means to be a true “son of a bishop” How his mother's love of art planted the seed for his creative journey Lessons learned from his father about manhood, responsibility, and perseverance His powerful experiences leading youth across America through Scouting The mistakes that shaped his wisdom and the grace that helped him grow Why his life mantra is simple but profound: “Love everybody like God loves you.” Richard's journey reminds us that life is not about perfection — it's about purpose, progress, and prayer.  

If approved, Proposition 4 would generate $20 billion dedicated to state water projects over the next twenty years and up to $1B of sales tax revenue going into the Texas Water Fund every year starting in 2027.

812 Is It Not Written In Your Law ‘I Have Said You Are Gods'?, A Guided Christian Meditation on John 10:34-38 with the Recenter With Christ app The purpose of this podcast is to help you find more peace in  and connect with the true source of peace, Jesus Christ.  Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization.  You can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tense or unrelaxing.  If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes.   Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation:   Breathe and direct your thoughts to connecting with God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate,  deflate. Scripture for Meditation NIV  34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods”'? 35 If he called them ‘gods,' to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside— 36 what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God's Son'? 37 Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. 38 But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.” KJV 34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? 35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; 36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? 37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. 38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him. Reflection on Scripture: In some ways this feels like a challenge to our understanding. It seems wrong that Jesus said this. In defense of the accusations of blasphemy Jesus said the scriptures said ye are gods. I have seen a lot of commentary about this point and I don't mean to dig into deep meaning but Jesus' words are always important. Let's not miss an incredibly important idea. We are not holy. The natural human condition is not holy. To say humans are gods would be wrong and miss the point. What is it that makes men and women holy? It is the holy name of Jesus Christ. Just as there are no saintly people, the thing that makes someone a saint is the name of Jesus Christ. If we have taken upon us the name of Jesus then we can become holy.  Roman's says we are children, and as a result are heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. Our suffering does not make us holy. Our struggles in life do not clean us from sin and spiritually transform us. But through the suffering of Jesus does transform us. The suffering Jesus experienced on the cross is what makes us holy. That is what makes us join heirs.  We should trust in Jesus who has promised us all the Father has. We don't need to fear the accusations the people laid on Him. He said He is the Son of God. We can trust that. Jesus did not claim any authority that He did not deserve. You can believe the works He did. The healings of lepers, and healing the blind were attested to by so many witnesses. The greatest work of all was His atoning sacrifice. Trust that work. Trust that Jesus is allowed to offer you what He has offered which is salvation, forgiveness, healing, and eventually completion. Through His works you become holy. Meditation of Prayer: Pray as directed by the Spirit. Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him. Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm: I invite you to sit in silence feeling patient for your own faults and trials. Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life: This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast Final Question: If you consider the invitation and command to persevere in the faith, what change in your life does that bring to your mind?  FIND ME ON: Download my free app: Recenter with Christ Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email: jared@christianmeditationpodcast.com Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast Twitter - @ChristianMedPod

A nova Diretriz de Valvopatias da ESC 2025 chegou e consolidou uma virada histórica: as abordagens transcateter finalmente ganharam protagonismo.No episódio #198 do DozeCast, Mateus Prata e Diandro Mota recebem o Dr. Vitor Emer para revisar de forma crítica e prática o que muda na conduta das valvopatias mais prevalentes — e o que você precisa ajustar na sua tomada de decisão.

“Getting your hands dirty in a compost heap - there's not a lot that's better than that in my mind.”   Head Gardener Callum Halstead shares the secrets from Cambo Gardens' Festival of Compost, practical advice for composting at home, and lessons learned from a challenging Scottish summer to inspire resilient, beautiful gardens all year round.   Callum's expert advice will make you to look at soil, mulch, and biodiversity in new ways. Plus, find out what makes Cambo's season-long plantings and National Snowdrop Collection a must-see, even in the heart of winter.   If you want fresh ideas for your garden, this episode is a treasure trove you won't want to miss! -------------------------------------------- The Scotland Grows Show is the podcast which celebrates everything that is good in Scottish gardening, as we join gardeners around the country to find out what grows well where they are, and pick up tips and stories along the way. Be sure to sign up to our mailing list so we can let you know when new episodes are published. Scotland Grows Magazine celebrates Scottish gardening, and drops into your inbox 6 times a year. If you would like to receive a copy, just follow this LINK. You can follow Scotland Grows on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, we'd love to have your company there! And of course, you can always find your share of gardening goodness on our website at scotlandgrowsmagazine.com. -------------------------------------------- This series of the Scotland Grows Show is sponsored by Dedicate a Tree, a special opportunity from the National Trust for Scotland to help breathe new life into Scotland's woodlands. You can dedicate a tree from £7.50 and choose from three planting projects happening across places in the care of the National Trust for Scotland. They'll send you a certificate and information leaflet, as well as regular updates about the progress of your chosen woodland project, and your tree dedication can be shared on their virtual woodland.   Whether you dedicate a tree for yourself or for a loved one, in celebration or in memory, you'll help nurture and protect Scotland's wonderful woodlands for generations to come.  Dedicate a tree today at nts.org.uk/trees

In this Episode: This podcast episode of the "Achieve Results Now podcast" focuses on the importance of cultivating peace and stability not as an end goal, but as a crucial mindset for effective achievers and leaders. The hosts, Mark Cardone and Theron Feidt, dispel the misconception that one cannot be both highly successful and peaceful, arguing that peace enhances leadership and achievement. The goal is to provide listeners with actionable steps to increase their mental "margin" and handle unexpected daily events without losing their stability. Core Theme: Peace as a Tool for Achievement The hosts stress that peaceful people are more effective leaders because their stability builds trust. They view peace not as an "on/off switch," but as a dial that can be adjusted. Establishing a peaceful mindset helps listeners be more effective and happier, enabling them to deal with the unexpected rather than constantly being in a "reaction zone." 3 Action Steps for Living with More Peace 1. Establish a No-Reaction Zone in the Morning Own your morning: Dedicate the first part of your day (ideally an hour but start with 15–30 minutes) to yourself before engaging with external demands. Avoid immediate stress: Do not check email, text messages, or social media during this time. Focus on fulfillment and direction: Use the time for positive activities like: Reviewing and physically rewriting your top goals. Practicing gratitude. Taking a quick walk to get fresh air and sunlight. Build in flexibility: Avoid creating an "end-to-end" morning schedule that easily crumbles. View this time as flexible and enjoyable, not as another stressful "to-do" item. 2. Implement the Pause and Ask Rule This step is about creating space between a trigger and your response to maintain control over your emotional state. Take a quick breath and pause when hit with an external challenge (e.g., traffic, an inconsiderate person, an employee with a problem). Ask yourself critical questions: "Is this worth my peace?" and "Is this worth me getting upset about?" Recognize the difference between intention and action: Many issues are due to thoughtlessness, not malicious intent. Choose your response: By pausing, you prevent your ego from taking control, allowing you to choose a peaceful, measured response rather than reacting automatically, especially in trivial matters like traffic or minor arguments. 3. Schedule Unscheduled Time This is a time management technique to create vital "margin" in your day, preventing you from constantly rushing. Build buffer time into your schedule: If a task or commute takes 15 minutes, schedule 30 minutes. Actively block out time: Use your calendar to schedule these buffers as "run over time," "catch up time," or "flex time." Use the time wisely: If the time isn't needed for recovery, plan to use it for constructive, peaceful activities like reading a book, listening to educational content, or tackling a task for the next day. This prevents you from defaulting to social media scrolling and further enhances your peace.     ARN Suggested Reading: Blessings In the Bullshit: A Guided Journal for Finding the BEST In Every Day – by Mark Cardone & Theron Feidt https://www.amazon.com/Blessings-Bullshit-Guided-Journal-Finding/dp/B09FP35ZXX/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=blessings+in+the+bullshit&qid=1632233840&sr=8-1 Full List of Recommended Books: https://www.achieveresultsnow.com/readers-are-leaders Questions? 1.   Do you have a question you want answered in a future podcast? 2.   Go to www.AchieveResultsNow.com to submit. Connect with Us: Get access to some of the great resources that we use at: www.AchieveResultsNow.com/success-store www.AchieveResultsNow.com www.facebook.com/achieveresultsnow www.twitter.com/nowachieve Thank you for listening to the Achieve Results NOW! Podcast.  The podcast that gives you immediate actions you can take to start seeing life shifting results NOW!

810 For Which Of Those Works Do You Stone Me, A Guided Christian Meditation on John 10:31-33 with the Recenter With Christ app The purpose of this podcast is to help you find more peace in  and connect with the true source of peace, Jesus Christ.  Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization.  You can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tense or unrelaxing.  If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes.   Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation:   Breathe and direct your thoughts to connecting with God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate,  deflate. Scripture for Meditation ESV 31 The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” 33 The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.” NABRE 31 The Jews again picked up rocks to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of these are you trying to stone me?” 33 The Jews answered him, “We are not stoning you for a good work but for blasphemy. You, a man, are making yourself God.” Reflection on Scripture: Just previous to this, as we covered last week, Jesus had just claimed to be one with the Father. According to the law of Moses this was a clear example of Blasphemy which would be punished with stoning to death. The Jews then picked up rocks to throw at him to kill him. What an intense moment full of aggression. Instead of Jesus clarifying the faulty accusation of these people answered indirectly. He did not correct them that it was not actually blasphemy if He is one with the Father. He responds about His works. He declared the good works he did and redirected the punishment of blasphemy as though his works would offset blasphemy. He then corrected that it wasn't the works for which they wanted to kill him but because he made himself God. The Irony is that Jesus was the only person who could equate Himself with God. Jesus standing before them was God. So in a direct sense it was not blasphemy. Jesus was making a statement about the intent of His works. They were meant to be a sign that He was the promised Messiah and the Son of God. They said something wrong. You are a man and are making yourself God. If It is blasphemy for someone who is not God to call themselves God it seems like an equally great sin for the people to tell Jesus he was not God, when He was. Some sort of reverse blasphemy. The takeaway for us is that Jesus is who He claimed to be. He showed His power through His works that were witnessed by so many people and he chose to show those miracles and also to use those works as a demonstration that He was. Jesus didn't need the people to believe Him but He wanted to give them enough of a demonstration to be a testimony and witness.  Jesus is our saviour and He has the power to save. Everything that he said was true and came true. Most important of all is that He is one with the Father and also something super crucial for us is the Jesus loves us enough to prepare a plan to save us and offer that salvation to us. Embrace the love of Jesus and submit and trust your eternal future to His grace. Meditation of Prayer: Pray as directed by the Spirit. Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him. Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm: I invite you to sit in silence feeling patient for your own faults and trials. Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life: This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast Final Question: If you consider the invitation and command to persevere in the faith, what change in your life does that bring to your mind?  FIND ME ON: Download my free app: Recenter with Christ Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email: jared@christianmeditationpodcast.com Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast Twitter - @ChristianMedPod    

It is high time we spoke more on the Scotland Grows Show about the legacy the great Scottish plant hunters left on our shores, through the most intrepid and life-threatening plant-hunting expeditions.   Acclaimed writer Ann Lindsay has uncovered the stories of the Scottish plant hunters who shaped the nation's gardens and in this episode, we'll look at the legacies of famous explorers like David Douglas, Francis Masson, and Robert Fortune, and the remarkable plants from Douglas firs, lupins, pelargoniums, Californian poppies, camassia, and phlox - and so many more - that transformed our landscape and filled our gardens with beauty.    Whether you're a garden enthusiast or just love a great story, Ann shares captivating tales of exploration, peril, resilience, and the courage of those who brought them across continents, giving us a deeper appreciation for the blooms we enjoy today, in a tribute to the plant hunters whose spirit still grows in Scotland's soil.   Find out more about Ann's work HERE. -------------------------------------------- The Scotland Grows Show is the podcast which celebrates everything that is good in Scottish gardening, as we join gardeners around the country to find out what grows well where they are, and pick up tips and stories along the way. Be sure to sign up to our mailing list so we can let you know when new episodes are published. Scotland Grows Magazine celebrates Scottish gardening, and drops into your inbox 6 times a year. If you would like to receive a copy, just follow this LINK. You can follow Scotland Grows on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, we'd love to have your company there! And of course, you can always find your share of gardening goodness on our website at scotlandgrowsmagazine.com. -------------------------------------------- This series of the Scotland Grows Show is sponsored by Dedicate a Tree, a special opportunity from the National Trust for Scotland to help breathe new life into Scotland's woodlands. You can dedicate a tree from £7.50 and choose from three planting projects happening across places in the care of the National Trust for Scotland. They'll send you a certificate and information leaflet, as well as regular updates about the progress of your chosen woodland project, and your tree dedication can be shared on their virtual woodland.   Whether you dedicate a tree for yourself or for a loved one, in celebration or in memory, you'll help nurture and protect Scotland's wonderful woodlands for generations to come.  Dedicate a tree today at nts.org.uk/trees

Drivetime with DeRusha is LIVE from Grand Casino Arena in downtown St. Paul today. Jason and Dan begin today's conversation with the topic of shifting demographics and rising costs/taxes within our community. Jason references an article featured in the Star Tribune and the dichotomy between our society's growth mindset and cutting costs. Callers weigh in with their thoughts. Lindsey gives her take on why people aren't having babies. A field trip across the river with Tracy Pearlman Jason is then joined by Tracy Pearlman (Director of Communications and Marketing for Grand Casino Arena) to talk about new food day at Grand Casino Arena. They roll through some of the new food offerings for upcoming Minnesota Wild games this season. They also wade into the AI conversation and how they utilize it in their everyday lives a

808 No One Is Able To Snatch Them Out Of The Father's Hand, A Guided Christian Meditation on John 10:26-30 with the Recenter With Christ app The purpose of this podcast is to help you find more peace in  and connect with the true source of peace, Jesus Christ.  Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization.  You can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tense or unrelaxing.  If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes.   Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation:   Breathe and direct your thoughts to connecting with God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate,  deflate. Scripture for Meditation NASB 26 But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep. 27 My sheep listen to My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one.” KJV 26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. 30 I and my Father are one. Reflection on Scripture: Many things came to mind reading this passage. It has so much meaning. It deals with questions that have been questioned in Christianity for a huge amount of time. Its also a bit nerve wrecking. If we are not God's sheep it seems there is no hope for us. With that said what is the distinguishing factor on wether we are His sheep? That we hear His voice and follow Him. Yet with that said it seems to miss an incredibly important element of Grace if we feel that we save ourselves through our choice of following God. That feels off. The only reason we are even able to be considered His sheep is because the Father gave the Son us as sheep. When I sat pondering what devotional message we could pull out of this, perhaps the best thing that we could focus on is gratitude.  What profound gratitude we should feel to the loving God we have who offers redemption. I am so very grateful for that! When you ponder the offer that He gives it should fill you with gratitude. He offers eternal salvation and forgiveness from a profound grace in the face of our moral failure. Whatever fear you feel for not being considered one of God's speed, you should feel equally encouraged by the profound Love that God offers. In that gratitude embrace faith in Jesus. Not a faith that he arbitrarily goes around saving people, but a faith that what He says will happen. That faith is us hearing His voice.  Nobody will be able to pluck you out of His hand. There is no secret angry Father God behind the scenes who wants to destroy you but Jesus makes that God reluctantly forgive you. There is one perspective of God, one where you are loved and he wants you to live forever in heaven. Reject fear and move toward a kind of faith that aligns with believing in Jesus but also believing him enough do follow what He says.  Meditation of Prayer: Pray as directed by the Spirit. Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him. Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm: I invite you to sit in silence feeling patient for your own faults and trials. Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life: This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast Final Question: If you consider the invitation and command to persevere in the faith, what change in your life does that bring to your mind?  FIND ME ON: Download my free app: Recenter with Christ Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email: jared@christianmeditationpodcast.com Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast Twitter - @ChristianMedPod  

This weekend our youth pastor continues with our new series called GROW.All music streamed, performed or played and video clips are covered under our license agreements. Christian Copyright Licensing International (CCLI), Church Video License (CVLI) 20672963 and Streaming License 20672990

 Get ready for God to do a new thing in your life!  Continue to have hope for new things in our lives.  Do not fear your capacity being stretched.  Regarding capacity, you want to temper any distractions that take you out of God's presence. Dedicate specific time to the Lord to center your mind and heart on His Will. Be spiritually attentive. Focus wholeheartedly on the Word – it will help you stay prioritized.

 Get ready for God to do a new thing in your life!  Continue to have hope for new things in our lives.  Do not fear your capacity being stretched.  Regarding capacity, you want to temper any distractions that take you out of God's presence. Dedicate specific time to the Lord to center your mind and heart on His Will. Be spiritually attentive. Focus wholeheartedly on the Word – it will help you stay prioritized.

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804 A Demon Cannon Cause The Blind to See, A Guided Christian Meditation on John 10:19-21 with the Recenter With Christ app The purpose of this podcast is to help you find more peace in  and connect with the true source of peace, Jesus Christ.  Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization.  You can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tense or unrelaxing.  If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes.   Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation:   Breathe and direct your thoughts to connecting with God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate,  deflate. Scripture for Meditation NET 19 Another sharp division took place among the Jewish people because of these words. 20 Many of them were saying, “He is possessed by a demon and has lost his mind! Why do you listen to him?” 21 Others said, “These are not the words of someone possessed by a demon. A demon cannot cause the blind to see, can it?” NASB 19 Dissension occurred again among the Jews because of these words. 20 Many of them were saying, “He has a demon and is insane. Why do you listen to Him?” 21 Others were saying, “These are not the words of one who is demon-possessed. A demon cannot open the eyes of those who are blind, can it?” Reflection on Scripture: When Jesus made audacious claims about his role and about his power, he was accused of being possessed by a demon. This was meant to be an accusation that would make his comments illegitimate. This was an attack on his divinity by accusing him of being part of the opposition. This was among the most extreme inaccuracies in the history of inaccuracies, to accuse God of being possessed by the Devil. This is not just a claim that was meant to be over the top, it was meant to discredit the true works of Jesus Christ. The logical and principled teachings of Jesus were compared to the confused evil theological ramblings of a demon.  Another thing that makes this so impactful is because evil does exist. Each of us must grapple with forces of evil acting in the world. We encounter ideas inspired by evil in public discourse and societal perspectives. It would be unsafe to assume that evil is metaphoric or that the devil doesn't really exist. It is oft repeated that the Devil tries to convince us he does not exist. But he does exist. Just as God inspires our minds with the still small voice of His spirit of peace, the enemy will whisper words of destruction, self hatred, temptation to sin and many other evil whisperings. The chatter of your mind that discourages you does not come from God. With that said it is not necessary we live in fear of that. It is a reality of the world that Satan has existed the whole time, even in moments when we feel the peace of God the devil has existed. When we feel the joys of love of family, or the joy in Grace, the feeling of victory in the Lord, the devil existed then too. When Jesus healed and performed miracles, the devil existed then too. We cannot turn down the level of the darkness, but we can look to the light and the darkness will vanish. The whisperings of the evil one are always a lie, just as they were in this scripture. Jesus is the source of true light and will always win in the long run. If we turn to the light, the darkness must flee and eventually be destroyed. Meditation of Prayer: Pray as directed by the Spirit. Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him. Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm: I invite you to sit in silence feeling patient for your own faults and trials. Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life: This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast Final Question: If you consider the invitation and command to persevere in the faith, what change in your life does that bring to your mind?  FIND ME ON: Download my free app: Recenter with Christ Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email: jared@christianmeditationpodcast.com Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast Twitter - @ChristianMedPod

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The Inner Image: How Your Self-Perception Creates Your RealityHello friend,Have you ever wondered why two people can experience the same situation so differently? Or why some seem to attract abundance while others struggle despite similar efforts?"The inner image shapes the outer world. What we truly believe about ourselves is everything."This truth has been whispering to us through the ages, though we've often been too distracted to hear it. The reality we experience isn't happening to us—it's unfolding through us.The universe responds not to what we say we want, but to who we believe ourselves to be.And a our belief that we are open to receive.Think about an area in your life where you feel stuck. Now, ask yourself:

In this episode, Ryan Steuer of Magnify Learning details a five-year implementation plan for launching a Project-Based Learning (PBL) movement in a large district, specifically focusing on 13 middle schools. While the example is niche, the process is designed to be customizable and scalable for districts of any size. The episode emphasizes the importance of systematic, structural change, starting with district leadership, and leveraging the "innovation curve" to ensure widespread adoption and sustainability. Key Takeaways & Implementation Steps: Magnify Learning & PBL Networks Magnify Learning has over a decade of experience in PBL, stemming from a grassroots collaboration among educators. We are launching free PBL Networks in October to provide a safe space for educators to process ideas, collaborate, and share best practices across different PBL niches (e.g., PBL and CTE, PBL and STEM, PBL and Maker Spaces, PBL and SEL, PBL and UDL). Find more at pblnetworks.com. Collaboration is key: You should never do PBL alone. Foundation: District Leadership & Goals The implementation must start with district leadership, not a top-down mandate. Involve both secondary and elementary leaders from the outset to align mindsets and processes. Clearly define the goals of PBL for the district and individual middle schools, aligning them with the district's mission, vision, and "profile of a graduate". District leaders must model student-centered practices; principal meetings should be collaborative, not "sit and get". If district leadership isn't ready to collaborate, the initiative needs to pause and address that foundational work. Building the District PBL Team & Plan Establish a district PBL design team of 6-10 central office members. Dedicate two-day design sessions to develop the comprehensive 5-year implementation plan. Go "beyond the why" to articulate the district's collective purpose for this work. Leveraging the Innovation Curve Identify innovators: Map all 13 middle schools onto an innovation curve to identify which are "innovators," "early majority," and "late majority". This is crucial for guiding the timeline. Focus on "crossing the chasm": The biggest challenge is bridging the gap between early adopters/innovators and the early majority. This is why a 5-year plan is essential. Define roles for innovators: The initial 1-2 innovator schools will implement PBL first, transparently, and are tasked with creating resources (like group contracts, planning forms) for subsequent cohorts. This empowers them and provides tangible tools for others. Customized Implementation: While the process is systematic, each school's implementation will be customized based on their readiness (e.g., starting with a specific grade level, subject, or wall-to-wall). The "best way" is what the school's leadership and teachers are most ready for. Planned Supports & Training (Before Launch) Leadership Training: Innovator school leaders will receive training similar to the central office team, focusing on creating school-level leadership teams, structures, and processes for PBL sustainability. Teacher Training: Multi-day training, including coaching, to build a PBL mindset and culture, not just mechanics. This includes: Leadership: Design Days, Deeper Practice, Sustainability Days (over 3 years). Teachers: PBL Jump Start (theoretical unit creation), PBL Advanced (reflection, curriculum mapping), and PBL Certification (by end of Year 3 for sustainability). Pre-planning is paramount: All training, coaching, and support pathways must be planned out before the official launch to avoid "shooting from the hip" and to assure the early/late majority there's a clear plan. The 5-Year Implementation Timeline (Example for 13 Middle Schools): Year 1: District: Share vision and 5-year timeline with building leaders, have 1-on-1 conversations with innovators. Explain the "why" behind the phased approach. Cohort 1 (Innovators - e.g., 2 schools): Establish school leadership teams, build 3-year building-level plans, launch initial PBL units, and make work public through "exposes" (showcases) to invite other schools. Staff attends a PBL "jump start" over the summer. Year 2: District: Form a PBL advisory team, identify "bright spots," train principals on key leadership needs, and begin reviewing administrator evaluations and aspiring leadership pathways to align with PBL. Cohort 1: Leadership teams conduct "roses, buds, thorns" reflections, addressing teacher needs (e.g., schedule, PD, evaluations). Teachers continue public showcases and create district-wide tools (rubrics, contracts). Teachers attend "PBL Advanced" over the summer. Cohort 2 (Early Majority - e.g., 8 schools): Begin with leadership team design days and teacher "jump start" training, then implement and showcase work. Year 3: District: Invest in the PBL advisory team, train principals on evolving needs, continually share the vision, and introduce refined administrative evaluations and aspiring leadership pathways. Cohort 1: Leadership teams focus on "sustainability days" to ensure processes outlive individuals. Teachers collect data, share artifacts, publicize work through news and district channels, and achieve PBL Certification over the summer to train new hires. Cohort 2: In their second year of implementation. Cohort 3 (Late Majority - e.g., 3 schools): Begin with leadership team design days and teacher "jump start" training, having observed 10 other schools and gained insights. Year 4: District: Plan for sustaining the work beyond year five, including establishing PBL district coaches (ideally two for mentorship and continuity). Cohort 1: Lead and collaborate with other schools. Cohort 2: In their final year, getting PBL certified. Cohort 3: In their second year (PBL Advanced). Year 5 (Final Year of Initial Rollout): District: Administrative evaluations and aspiring leadership pathways are fully established. New "normals" are in place. All Middle Schools: Every middle school has a leadership team and PBL certified teachers, ensuring sustainable structures and processes. Schedules, evaluations, and PLCs are synergistic with PBL. Leaders: Continuously invest in their people and lead, rather than just manage. Community Partners: Integrated as a normal part of school, helping shape the school's positive narrative. Outcome: Middle schools become models of innovation, inspiring PBL adoption in elementary and high schools. Overarching Philosophy of Change "Go slow to go fast": Rushing implementation leads to foundational problems. Innovation starts at the top and must be modeled. Leaders must "cross the chasm" by meeting the early majority on their terms, providing clear plans and supports. This is a long game to fundamentally change mindsets, structures, and redefine educational norms, ultimately growing people and systems to achieve desired outcomes for learners. It is challenging but doable and totally worth it. Resources and links: pblnetworks.com

802 There Will Be One Fold, and One Shepherd, A Guided Christian Meditation on John 10:16-18 with the Recenter With Christ app The purpose of this podcast is to help you find more peace in  and connect with the true source of peace, Jesus Christ.  Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization.  You can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tense or unrelaxing.  If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes.   Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation:   Breathe and direct your thoughts to connecting with God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate,  deflate. Scripture for Meditation KJV 16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. 17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. ESV 16 I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again. This command I have received from my Father.” Reflection on Scripture: In a world filled with so much conflict and warring theologies, philosophies and ideologies, it is crucial to remember that Jesus declared there is one fold of God. There is only one Shepherd. He gathers His sheep. If there is any message that is needed by the world it is the words of Jesus. The world becomes more challenging as more people abandon what Jesus said, and turn their trust to other things to form their personal ethics. In the absence of the word of God as the direction humans are left to cling to whatever floating driftwood of values they find in society. Many people grasp to ideas they hear and allow those ideas to form how they see themselves. Earthly ideologies replace heavenly theologies. The truth is though that there is one Shepherd that decides what your identity is. The perspective of the world does not change that. The philosophies of the world cannot provide a better foundation for how people should exist with each other than to know we are all the same sheep. We are all lost without our Shepherd. That Shepherd is master of life and death. Jesus descended from Heaven to gather his flock. He taught powerful truths about how to live and what He expects of us. He taught us how to trust and how to seek God's spirit. He chose to lay down His own life in the great culmination of His earthly ministry. He gave His life. He laid it down. Nobody could take it from Him. God allowed for the people to crucify Him. God allows for people to make evil choices but never stops calling for people to leave their sin. He sent his Apostles into all the world to preach the gospel because there are other sheep yet we are all to be part of one flock and all this was God's plan from the beginning. You are meant to be united with all God's children. Our highest priority should be to live the way Jesus would have us live, even when we exist in the world. Do not allow the sin of the world to discourage you. God will be victorious. God's purposes will be worked even through the incorrect choices we all make on earth. Trust in the Lord and he will lead you to His heart. Meditation of Prayer: Pray as directed by the Spirit. Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him. Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm: I invite you to sit in silence feeling patient for your own faults and trials. Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life: This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast Final Question: If you consider the invitation and command to persevere in the faith, what change in your life does that bring to your mind?  FIND ME ON: Download my free app: Recenter with Christ Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email: jared@christianmeditationpodcast.com Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast Twitter - @ChristianMedPod  

MDJ Script/ Top Stories for September 10th Publish Date:  September 10th    Commercial: From the BG Ad Group Studio, Welcome to the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast.    Today is Wednesday, September 10th and Happy Birthday to Roger Maris I’m Keith Ippolito and here are the stories Cobb is talking about, presented by Times Journal Cobb Habitat Interfaith Coalition dedicate 25th home Austell officials call for greater oversight after Labor Day show goes largely unnoticed Investigation underway after Waffle House brawl in east Cobb All of this and more is coming up on the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast, and if you are looking for community news, we encourage you to listen and subscribe!  BREAK: INGLES 9 STORY 1: Cobb Habitat Interfaith Coalition dedicate 25th home  On Sept. 7, the Cobb Interfaith Habitat Coalition handed over the keys to their 25th Habitat house—a future home for D, a Cobb County public servant, and his family. D works long hours as a Project Utility Manager for Cobb DOT, keeping the county’s infrastructure running smoothly. But despite his steady job, he and his wife, Dreika, have struggled to find affordable housing in the very community he serves. Their current rental? Cramped, water-damaged, and unsafe. But now, with Habitat’s help, they’re building a home—a real home—with space for their kids to play and a future that feels secure. STORY 2: Austell officials call for greater oversight after Labor Day show goes largely unnoticed An Austell city-sponsored Labor Day celebration fizzled, leaving residents and officials frustrated and pointing fingers. Councilwoman Meredith Adams said she didn’t even know about the event until she heard music from her house. “Less than 200 people showed up,” she said, despite the city spending $7,500 on fireworks. The Austell Business Association, which organized the event, struggled with volunteers and promotion. Residents like Claudette Parker demanded better communication. Mayor Ollie Clemons promised more oversight moving forward. STORY 3: Investigation underway after Waffle House brawl in east Cobb Cobb Police are on the hunt for a group of teens who turned an east Cobb Waffle House into chaos early Sunday morning. It all went down around 1:58 a.m. at the Sandy Plains Road location. Witnesses say the teens were asked to leave multiple times but refused—then things got ugly. Plates were knocked off counters, and some of the teens jumped over the counter into the kitchen. One staff member was put in a headlock and hit repeatedly. A video of the fight surfaced online, sparking rumors the teens were local high school students, though police haven’t confirmed any connection. The investigation is ongoing. We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.799.6810 for more info.  We’ll be right back. Break: COBB MAKE A WISH STORY 4: Former Smyrna mayor's granddaughter seriously injured by falling branch Former Smyrna Mayor Max Bacon’s 12-year-old granddaughter, Claudia, was seriously injured over the weekend when a tree branch fell on her during the Paulding Meadows Arts Festival. A sudden storm brought the branch down, striking Claudia in the head. “It was a huge tree, and she’s just a small girl,” reads a GoFundMe set up for her recovery. She suffered a fractured skull, a bruised lung, and a broken rib, and required a blood transfusion. Claudia faces a long recovery ahead. STORY 5: After 41 years, Cobb authorities identify Mableton woman as 1984 homicide victim After 41 long years, Cobb Police have finally given a name to the young woman found near the Chattahoochee River in 1984: Veronica Jane Miller. Miller, just 20 at the time, was identified through groundbreaking genetic genealogy work by Othram Labs. A DNA match with a half-sister and family testimony confirmed it. Her partially clothed remains were discovered in May 1984, but for decades, her identity—and her story—remained a mystery. Metal pins in her ankle, facial reconstruction surgery, and a life cut short. Now, her family knows. But her case, ruled a homicide, is far from closed. Anyone with information is urged to come forward. Break: STORY 6: Cobb Veterans Memorial Foundation vows to keep 'promises made'  The Cobb Veterans Memorial Foundation isn’t giving up. Despite setbacks, they’re determined to raise the $1 million still needed to break ground on the long-promised memorial, according to a letter from President Donna Rowe. Last month, the Cobb Commission rejected a proposal to reallocate $1 million in SPLOST funds to the project, citing an agreement that the foundation would primarily fundraise. Rowe pushed back, saying the foundation has exceeded its fundraising goals, averaging $34,000 a month. STORY 7: Renowned AI expert Kathy Pham speaks at Kennesaw State’s inaugural Presidential Lecture Series event  Kennesaw State kicked off its Presidential Lecture Series on Sept. 8 with a bang—computer scientist and entrepreneur Kathy Pham took the stage to talk about artificial intelligence, a field where KSU is quickly making waves. Pham, VP of AI at Workday and a lecturer at Harvard’s Kennedy School, spoke to a packed house on “AI Across Boundaries: The Only Way Forward.” Her message? AI isn’t just about tech—it’s about collaboration. Industry, academia, government, and advocacy all need to work together to shape its future. KSU’s commitment to AI? Impressive. From launching a master’s program to groundbreaking research—like non-invasive blood sugar monitors and pest protection for crops—the university is diving headfirst into the AI revolution. We’ll have closing comments after this. Break: TRUCK A PALOOZA Signoff-   Thanks again for hanging out with us on today’s Marietta Daily Journal Podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast, the Marietta Daily Journal, or the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties. Read more about all our stories and get other great content at www.mdjonline.com Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Giving you important news about our community and telling great stories are what we do. Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or your Google Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 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Sponsored by Mark and Tammy Friedman and family in memory of the 1st yartzeit of their father Marshall Friedman, Mutyah Yechezkel ben Shimon.

800 I Know My Own, A Guided Christian Meditation on John 10:13-15 with the Recenter With Christ app The purpose of this podcast is to help you find more peace in  and connect with the true source of peace, Jesus Christ.  Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization.  You can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tense or unrelaxing.  If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes.   Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation:   Breathe and direct your thoughts to connecting with God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate,  deflate. Scripture for Meditation NIV 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. NET 13 Because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep, he runs away. 14 “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. NASB 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and does not care about the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and I know My own, and My own know Me, 15 just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. Reflection on Scripture: God knows you. God knows you as God the father knows the Son. Although you struggle to understand yourself, your God perfectly knows you. Do you know Him? What are signs in your life that you know Him? When you know someone it is often because you spend a lot of time with them. You spend time thinking about them. You spend time sharing interests. You spend time thinking about what they think about. You spend time wondering what they like and prefer. When I first started dating my wife I became very interested in the things that she found interesting. Her personality became a puzzle I tried to unlock. I would spend time just looking at her and wondering what she was thinking. Do we do the same with God? Do we love God as much as we love someone we begin to date?  After two decades of being happily married to my wife she is so much more known to me now, and yet, she still says things that surprise and delight me. We are often thinking similar things and we know each other's likes and dislikes. We finish each other's sentences and we often start singing the same song at the same time, in the same key. Yet with all that said, there is no way our limited human understanding can predict everything. In some ways we will always remain a mystery to each other. But we are not a mystery to the Lord. You are perfectly known by at least one being in the universe. And with all of God's knowledge and wisdom, with all his perfect awareness of your weakness and sin, He in wisdom, chose to love you. He chose to be your shepherd. God does not make errors. His decision to love you is not an error.  His decision to help you is not an error. He does not run when times get tough. When you encounter struggles God is not fearful and does not run away. He remains by your side and as long as you are willing to look to Him, you will find Him because He is your shepherd. I invite you to ponder on the Character of a God who has created such a complex earth, has set down irrefutable law, and yet has chosen to love you. Ponder on God now. Think of Him and get to know him.   Meditation of Prayer: Pray as directed by the Spirit. Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him. Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm: I invite you to sit in silence feeling patient for your own faults and trials. Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life: This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast Final Question: If you consider the invitation and command to persevere in the faith, what change in your life does that bring to your mind?  FIND ME ON: Download my free app: Recenter with Christ Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email: jared@christianmeditationpodcast.com Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast Twitter - @ChristianMedPod

SEO Services Edition: Is SEO "Dead" in 2025? Who Knows? (Case Studies, Testimonials, and Ultimate Guide with Favour Obasi-Ike) | Get exclusive SEO newsletters in your inbox.Favour Obasi-Ike presents an engaging and conversational discussion that emphatically argues for the continued relevance of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) in 2025 and beyond, directly refuting the idea that SEO is "dead."Favour Obasi-Ike, joined by other marketing professionals (with a guest LIVE! audio testimonial), highlights that SEO is foundational for online visibility across various platforms, including traditional search engines and AI-driven systems like ChatGPT. The dialogue stresses the importance of consistent content creation, strategic updates, and a holistic approach to online presence, emphasizing that SEO is not merely about keywords but about understanding user intent and providing valuable, well-structured information.Favour Obasi-Ike illustrates these points with practical examples and case studies, demonstrating how effective SEO can significantly boost website traffic, lead generation, and overall business growth by ensuring content is discoverable and impactful. The discussion ultimately positions SEO as a continuous, essential investment that underpins all successful digital marketing efforts.Next Steps for Digital Marketing + SEO Services:>> ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Need SEO Services? Book a Complimentary SEO Discovery Call with Favour Obasi-Ike⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠>> Need more information? Visit our Work and PLAY Entertainment website to learn about our digital marketing services.FAQs about the Is SEO "Dead" in 2025? Who Knows? Episode:1. Is SEO dead in 2025?No, SEO is not dead in 2025; in fact, it's more vital than ever. The perception that SEO might be obsolete often stems from a misunderstanding of what it truly encompasses. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is fundamentally about being discoverable online. With 8.2 billion people in the world and 1.1 billion websites, and an astounding 8 to 16 billion daily searches on Google alone (with 15% being new searches every day), the act of searching for information is constant and growing.The conversation clarifies that "SEO" isn't limited to traditional search engines like Google. Platforms such as ChatGPT, Google, Reddit, TikTok, LinkedIn, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube all function as "search engines" where content needs to be optimized to be found. Therefore, anything you do to increase your visibility on these platforms is a form of SEO. The speaker emphasizes that fancy new terms like GEO, AEO, AIO, or SXO are just "cosmetics" for the same underlying principle: making your content discoverable. The core idea is that if you're not focusing on SEO, you're missing out on crucial opportunities for people to find your website and business.2. How has AI impacted SEO, and does it replace traditional SEO efforts?AI does not replace traditional SEO; instead, it exposes and adds structure to it. AI tools and platforms like ChatGPT, Alexa, Siri, Grock, Deepseek, Meta AI, Cloud, Perplexity, and Gemini rely on information from existing traditional platforms and servers. This means that to be found by AI search engines, your content first needs to be optimized and present on these traditional sources (like Google, Bing, Yandex, etc.).The speaker highlights that AI search engines respond based on information given from a "source." If you are not optimizing your original content and website (the "source"), you cannot become a "resource" for AI. AI is looking for well-structured, authoritative content with clear brand citations and links. Having duplicate profiles or unverified business claims on platforms like LinkedIn, for example, can negatively impact how AI (and traditional search engines) perceive your online presence, making it harder for your business to be recognized and recommended. Essentially, AI leverages and amplifies the importance of a robust, well-optimized online foundation.3. What are the key elements for a strong online presence in 2025, beyond just keywords?In 2025, a strong online presence moves beyond solely focusing on keywords to prioritizing conversations, user experience, and a holistic, structured approach to content. Key elements include:Content with Purpose: Focus on "who are you talking to? Who are you serving? Why are you showing up?" Your content should address specific questions and needs, aiming for positive, neutral, or negative sentiment analysis from AI.Continuous Optimization: SEO is not a one-time fix. Websites and content need regular updates. Blogs, for instance, have a *24-month cycle*, meaning consistent updates are crucial to maintain visibility. The "last modified" timestamp is vital for algorithms.Structured Content: Turn unstructured content (like a simple blog post) into structured articles with headings, internal/external links, embedded scripts, iframes, tables, infographics, FAQs, quotes, images, alt text, and schema (microdata/rich snippets). This makes it more digestible for both humans and search engines.Platform Integration & Tokenization: Your website should be connected to all relevant online platforms (Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, podcasts, etc.). When a page is updated, it gets "tokenized" (duplicated) across various search engines and platforms (Google, Yahoo, DuckDuckGo, Brave, Bing, ChatGPT). This ensures wide distribution and recognition.Google Search Console: This is paramount. Connecting your website to Google Search Console is the "internet service provider of Google" and allows you to track impressions, clicks, and positions, providing crucial data on your marketing efforts.E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness): Google's guideline emphasizes providing the best user experience. This means creating a well-structured, intentional, and high-quality online presence that builds trust and authority.4. Why is continuous content creation and updating crucial for SEO?Continuous content creation and updating are crucial because SEO is an ongoing process, not a one-time task. Websites need "oil changes" and "tire alignments" through new articles, blogs, and updates to remain healthy and high-performing for algorithms.Key reasons include:Content Decay: Blogs have a *24-month active cycle*. If content isn't updated within three years, its chances of sustaining visibility become slim, even with good initial content. The "last modified" timestamp on your content signals freshness and relevance to search engines.Algorithm Recognition: Search engines and AI prioritize active, recent, and updated information. Consistent updates help algorithms recognize your website as a continuously relevant and valuable source, leading to better rankings.Meeting Evolving Search Needs: Search volumes and user needs change with seasons, holidays, and emerging trends. Regularly updated content allows your business to align with these evolving search patterns.Increased Impressions and Authority: Consistently producing and updating 52 pieces of content a year can significantly boost your website's impressions and domain authority. This demonstrates expertise and a sustained commitment to providing value.Audience Retention: A continuous flow of valuable, updated content helps build an "attention map"that fosters a "retention curve," keeping your audience engaged and returning.5. How can businesses leverage diverse online platforms for SEO, and what's the role of podcasting?Businesses should leverage diverse online platforms by connecting their website as a central hub to all their social media, content, and directory listings. This creates a structured pathway for discovery and builds authority. The speaker emphasizes that platforms like LinkedIn, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Reddit are all search engines in their own right.Podcasting is highlighted as an exceptionally powerful tool for several reasons:Know, Like, and Trust Factor: Podcasting is described as the fastest way for someone to "know, like, and trust" you, as it allows for a deeper, more personal connection through voice.Authoritative Content: Like blogs and books, podcasts have an author, contributing to your overall "dominant authority online."Wide Distribution and Citation: Podcasts are distributed across *30-40+ stations* (Spotify, Apple, Pandora, iHeart, Podcast Addict, Alexa), each acting as a resource. When AI (like ChatGPT) or other search engines cite a podcast link, it directly mentions your content and business.Content Repurposing: Turning podcast episodes into topical blogs (show notes with hypertext links) auto-indexes your content through servers, further increasing visibility across traditional and AI search engines.Organic Lead Generation: Podcasting can organically attract clients without needing paid ads. As demonstrated by a client who gained clients from Google and ChatGPT after starting a podcast, it builds authority that leads to organic discovery and trust.Niche-Based Search: Podcasting allows for highly niche-based content, meaning if you show up consistently, algorithms will rank and refer you to people specifically looking for your expertise.By integrating podcasts with other platforms (website, social media, email lists) and consistently producing valuable content, businesses can significantly expand their reach and establish strong online authority.6. What is the significance of "tokenization" and the "last modified" date for online content?"Tokenization" refers to the process where, every time you update or "last modify" a page on your website, that page is essentially duplicated or recognized as an individual entity that can be shown on various web platforms and search engines. For example, if your website is updated, that updated content can then appear on Google, Yahoo, DuckDuckGo, Brave, Bing, and even AI platforms like ChatGPT.The "last modified" date is a crucial signal to algorithms. Just like your phone updates its software regularly, your website content needs consistent updates. If a blog post, for instance, was published in 2022 and hasn't been updated by September 2025, the algorithm recognizes this lack of recent activity. While it might still appear online if there's no competition, its chances of sustaining visibility are slim. A recent "last modified" date indicates to search engines that the content is fresh, relevant, and actively maintained, increasing its likelihood of being found and ranked. This continuous "tokenization" of updated content across the web amplifies your digital footprint and authority.7. What is the speaker's definition of "future" and how does it relate to SEO?The speaker defines "future" based on its Latin origin, "futurist," meaning "to grow or become," and its dictionary definition as "the time or a period of time following the moment of speaking or writing; time regarded as still to come."This definition directly relates to SEO by emphasizing that every piece of content you create – whether speaking on a podcast or writing a blog post – is an act of "speaking or writing into the future." It's a proactive planning project where your current efforts manifest over time. Just as one plans to build a house with a blueprint, SEO involves strategic planning and consistent execution. Answering questions in the form of web links or podcast episodes serves as a long-term investment. The way you answer one question can lead to several more, creating a continuous flow of engagement and discovery. By actively creating content now, businesses are building an online presence that will continually attract users in the "time still to come," ensuring sustained growth and visibility.8. What essential steps should a business take to start or improve its SEO strategy, especially when seeking professional help?To effectively start or improve an SEO strategy, especially when seeking professional help, a business should take several essential steps:Establish a Foundational Online Presence: The absolute first step is to have a website, or at minimum, a domain name. A website acts as the "anchor" for your business online. Without one, you lack a central hub for discoverability and tracking.Connect to Google Search Console: This is non-negotiable. Google Search Console is the "internet service provider of Google" and allows you to track critical data like impressions, clicks, and positions, which are vital for understanding and proving SEO effectiveness.Define Goals and Strategy: Before engaging with an expert, have a clear understanding of your business goals. If you don't have an SEO strategy, bring your business plan, and a professional can help build one from there. This includes understanding who you are talking to, who you are serving, and why you are showing up.Understand Investment Levels: Be prepared for an investment. While specific figures are mentioned (starting around *$1,500/quarter*), the key is to recognize that SEO is a continuous investment, not a one-time expense, and it offers long-term gains.Prioritize Content Creation for Search Engines (and then humans): As advised, "write everything for search engines, not for you." Focus on creating content that aligns with how algorithms discover and present information. This indirectly means writing for humans as well, as search engines aim to serve relevant and valuable content to users.Embrace Multi-Platform Content: Create diverse content forms (blogs, podcasts, videos, social media posts) that answer common questions people are asking. Distribute this content across relevant platforms, ensuring interconnections (e.g., website links in podcast show notes).Be Intentional and Consistent: SEO requires active, consistent effort. Dedicate time weekly (e.g., 45 minutes a day for 45 days) or invest in professional management to consistently update and optimize your online presence. This consistency builds authority and ensures you're actively engaging with algorithms.Prepare for a Consultation: When booking a call with an SEO expert, be ready to discuss your website, business plan, and specific goals. 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776 I Am The Door, A Guided Christian Meditation on John 10:7-9 with the Recenter With Christ app The purpose of this podcast is to help you find more peace in  and connect with the true source of peace, Jesus Christ.  Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization.  u can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tensing or unrelaxing.  If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes.   Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation:   Breathe and direct your thoughts to connecting with God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate,  deflate. Scripture for Meditation NET 7 So Jesus said again, “I tell you the solemn truth, I am the door for the sheep. 8 All who came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters through me, he will be saved, and will come in and go out, and find pasture. NASB 7 So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All those who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. Reflection on Scripture: From time to time I have seen videos of farm animals being groomed or cared for. They often have the animal secured and bound up with machinery as they do their work because the animal does not understand what is happening and is frightened. Even though the caretakers have only the best intentions and the animal will be far better off for the experience, even if there is some pain involved. The animal does not understand the long term intentions of the people caring for him or her. In that moment, all they want is to be unbound and free to run away from the hoof clipping or whatever else is happening.  They lose all sight of what they truly want in a long term sense. These animals surely have some sort of desire to be reunited with their animal family and to be able to once again enjoy the green grass and sunlight they normally get exposed to. In that moment they would throw that all away if it wasn't for a wise caretaker that allows for their momentary concerns to exist because that caretaker knows what is in their best interest.  So it is with us. In an eternal sense we have no idea what we truely want. We think about the things on earth that we want and we are like a cow caught up being groomed. We want nothing more than to escape what we see as the worst thing possible. What we don't realize is that there are things that are far worse than that. We also dont realize the path necessary to get us to those things that we truly want eternally. In this scripture Jesus declares to us that He is the Way. Jesus is the method whereby we get what we truly want deeply and longingly although we have limited ability to understand it. Jesus knows what we most want, even when we can't see it. He knows how to give it to us. If we come unto Him and trust Him as our shepherd, then we will be able to receive the finest pastures available. He is a good God and will guide us to a beautiful existence we cannot now comprehend. Unfortunately at times it requires that we are in situations we don't want here on earth. So the invitation stands. Trust Him as our shepherd. Trust that God knows what he is doing as he allows the struggles of life to challenge and try you because he knows what you will become, through Him.  Meditation of Prayer: Pray as directed by the Spirit. Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him. Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm: I invite you to sit in silence feeling patient for your own faults and trials. Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life: This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast Final Question: If you consider the invitation and command to persevere in the faith, what change in your life does that bring to your mind?  FIND ME ON: Download my free app: Recenter with Christ Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email: jared@christianmeditationpodcast.com Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast Twitter - @ChristianMedPod  

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Dhancon Resroches spent 5 years in door-to-door sales before making the switch to wholesaling, closing his very first deal in January 2020. Fast forward to just 4 months into 2021, and he's already earned $158,000—all while running his business virtually. His journey proves that committing at least 20 hours a week to real estate entrepreneurship can lead to big wins.In this episode, Dhancon breaks down his strong work ethic—how he keeps his energy high during cold calls, handles conversations with property owners, and approaches negotiations. He also walks us through one of his deals, sharing strategies that helped him succeed. Wanna be like Dhancon? Join the TTP Training Program today! ---------Show notes:(0:48) Beginning of today's episode(1:21) Dedicate 20hrs a week in your business(6:59) How does he stay focused and keep on hunting for opportunities?(10:30) You can scale anywhere that you want to(12:29) On staying consistent and being partnered with someone with the same level of consistency(20:11) A deal breakdown (and who is his support system in the business) (31:50) Why doing cold-calls by yourself works!----------Resources:Tony RobbinsDocuSignZillowMojo DialerDeal Machine (Code: TTP)IndeedDhancon on FacebookTo speak with Brent or one of our other expert coaches call (281) 835-4201 or schedule your free discovery call here to learn about our mentorship programs and become part of the TribeGo to Wholesalingincgroup.com to become part of one of the fastest growing Facebook communities in the Wholesaling space. Get all of your burning Wholesaling questions answered, gain access to JV partnerships, and connect with other "success minded" Rhinos in the community.It's 100% free to join. The opportunities in this community are endless, what are you waiting for?

Daily Boost Podcast Show Notes Stop Working on Your Life (Do This Instead) August 21, 2025 | Episode - 5164 Host: Scott Smith Episode Description Scott shares wisdom from an unexpected roadside conversation during his North Carolina motorcycle trip. When a young rider asked for life advice, Scott delivered three game-changing insights that'll flip your perspective on personal growth. This episode tackles the biggest mistake people make when trying to improve their lives. You'll discover why working harder isn't the answer and how focusing on less actually gets you more of what you want. Featured Story During a motorcycle stop in North Carolina, a 25-year-old rider approached Scott with a simple question: "I'm working on my life. Do you have any advice?" What followed was an impromptu coaching session that revealed three powerful principles for real transformation. Scott's response surprised the young man and challenged everything he thought he knew about self-improvement. The conversation covered why most people stay stuck and the counterintuitive approach that actually works. Important Points Stop working on your life and start working on yourself—you are both the problem and the solution. Embrace doing what you love even when you hate parts of the process, because meaningful achievements require effort. Apply the 80/20 principle by eliminating busy work to focus on the 20% that truly moves your life forward. Memorable Quotes "You are the biggest roadblock you've ever known. You can't block me anywhere near as good as I can block me." "Everything you want external to you, internal to you, everything you want around you comes when you start working on yourself." "More is on the other side of less. It's impossible for you to get everything you want at the same time." Scott's Three-Step Approach Get specific about what you want instead of asking generic questions that get generic answers. Dedicate time daily to working on yourself through learning, reading, meditation, or reflection. Eliminate 80% of your current busy activities to focus on the 20% that truly serves your goals. Connect With Me Search for The Daily Boost on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Email: support@motivationtomove.com Main Website: https://motivationtomove.com YouTube https://youtube.com/dailyboostpodcast Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/motivationtomove Facebook Group: https://dailyboostpodcast.com/facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

774 A Stranger They Will Not Follow, A Guided Christian Meditation on John 10:1-3 with the Recenter With Christ app The purpose of this podcast is to help you find more peace in  and connect with the true source of peace, Jesus Christ.  Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization.  u can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tensing or unrelaxing.  If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes.   Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation:   Breathe and direct your thoughts to connecting with God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate,  deflate. Scripture for Meditation NABRE 3 When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice. 5 But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers.” 6 Although Jesus used this figure of speech, they did not realize what he was trying to tell them. KJV 4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. 6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. Reflection on Scripture: As we know, Jesus is the shepherd. We are the crazy sheep. Those who respond to the shepherd are the sheep of the shepherd. We hear the voice of that shepherd and respond. This analogy works if we look deeper also. From the perspective of the sheep they choose to trust the master. They choose to overcome their fear and respond to His words of calm. They think that it is a natural thing for them to be loved and protected. Of course they don't need to worry too greatly for predators because predators don't ever overcome them. The sheep that have put their trust in the shepherd may even think themselves quite clever.  Yet at the end of the day it is the wisdom of the shepherd that taught the sheep. The sheep would not have anyone to trust if it wasnt for the wisdom of the Shepherd. The shepherd has patience and has given protection. All the things that the sheep have learned to assume is just the normal way of things, are actually the agency of the shepherd. The decision of the shepherd is what makes the relationship meaningful. If the shepherd was uncaring or unreliable then the sheep would not trust that person.  The sheep do not trust a stranger because there is nothing trustworthy for them to see. The only reason we can even try and follow God's commands is because he is powerful enough to create a universe, he was wise enough to create a law and then a new law that would bless us, and ultimately he had the love enough to help us overcome our failures. It is the wisdom and agency of the shepherd that makes it even possible for the sheep to listen. The sheep would not even be alive without the shepherd.   Meditation of Prayer: Pray as directed by the Spirit. Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him. Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm: I invite you to sit in silence feeling patient for your own faults and trials. Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life: This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast Final Question: If you consider the invitation and command to persevere in the faith, what change in your life does that bring to your mind?  FIND ME ON: Download my free app: Recenter with Christ Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email: jared@christianmeditationpodcast.com Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast Twitter - @ChristianMedPod

772 He Calls For All His Own Sheep By Name, A Guided Christian Meditation on John 10:1-3 with the Recenter With Christ app The purpose of this podcast is to help you find more peace in  and connect with the true source of peace, Jesus Christ.  Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization. Get into a place where you can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tensing or unrelaxing.  If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes.   Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation:   Breathe and direct your thoughts to connecting with God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate,  deflate. Scripture for Meditation NIV 1 Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. RSV Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber; 2 but he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens; the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. Reflection on Scripture: One thing we can get caught up in while doing devotional reading is the idea that we need a profound and unique insight in order to make a devotional meaningful. I know I have encountered many clever and nifty thoughts reading devotionals. Although this can be fun, none of that should take us away from the simplest idea that is the central core of the gospel of Jesus Christ. An all knowing loving God, chose to love you before you were even created. In that love he also created a method by which we can learn and grow and be redeemed.  The life mission of Jesus Christ is the outpouring of that love and it is offered to you. We are his sheep. He is both the shepherd and also the gate by which we come in and out. He is the way but he also shows us the way. There is a door specifically designed for us sheep. A door and a path that if we use, we will find safety. We can complicate it but ultimately there is no important message that can ease our burden than that. Anything you are facing in this world is a temporary challenge. God does not shout down answers at us from heaven but has shown us the way to live through the example of Jesus' life. He shows us how to overcome challenge with love and patience. He shows us strength in the face of overwhelming odds. He shows us that good will always win over evil.  If you are listening to scripture and responding to it then you are following the good Shepheard. I encourage you to continue in that walk. The path he has laid out will guide us to victory and safety. He is your loving savior and will never leave you or forsake you.  Meditation of Prayer: Pray as directed by the Spirit. Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him. Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm: I invite you to sit in silence feeling patient for your own faults and trials. Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life: This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast Final Question: If you consider the invitation and command to persevere in the faith, what change in your life does that bring to your mind?  FIND ME ON: Download my free app: Recenter with Christ Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email: jared@christianmeditationpodcast.com Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast Twitter - @ChristianMedPod  

770 You Became an Example to All the Believers, A Guided Christian Meditation on 1 Thessalonians 1:7-10 with the Recenter With Christ app The purpose of this podcast is to help you find more peace in  and connect with the true source of peace, Jesus Christ.  Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization. Get into a place where you can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tensing or unrelaxing.  If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes.   Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation:   Breathe and direct your thoughts to connecting with God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate,  deflate. Scripture for Meditation 1 Thessalonians 1:4-6 NET 7 As a result you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8 For from you the message of the Lord has echoed forth not just in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place reports of your faith in God have spread, so that we do not need to say anything. 9 For people everywhere report how you welcomed us and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus our deliverer from the coming wrath. RSV 7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedo′nia and in Acha′ia. 8 For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedo′nia and Acha′ia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. 9 For they themselves report concerning us what a welcome we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. Reflection on Scripture: What does it mean to become an imitator of Jesus Christ? When I was out driving today I saw a sign for a church that said they were a friendly church. Many people point to the acceptance of jesus Christ and claim that he would reach out to all and be friendly. I have heard other Christians resist this notion claiming that Jesus was not nice and that is just us reading our modern sensibilities into scripture and that Jesus holds people accountable and prefers confrontation with the Word to bring people to truth.  Since we are trying to be like Jesus and as Paul says here, to be an imitator of Jesus, it is far from a philosophical point to wonder how Jesus would approach sinners.  Jesus had an amazing ability to make sinners both feel challenged but also loved. I think a characterization that demands we choose between Jesus accepting sinners, and permitting sin is a quite limited perspective that does not align with Jesus' actions in life. He wanted people to depart from activities that would cause them to be less like Him. Things that God calls sins do not become meaningless just because Jesus is willing to forgive us for them.  I think it is a fundamentally important point that as we turn from our sin and try and reject the idolatry of the word, that this is one of the ways this scripture points to us following the example. Equally important is what it says in the verses we covered in the last episode, that we be filled with the Joy of the Holy Spirit. I believe that as we live in that joy it will pour out of our lives and help others to feel loved, but hopefully to aspire to the kind of relationship with God that feeds this joy. This week I was talking with someone who had engaged in something that they saw as a grievous sin. Both he and I agreed that it was a poor choice but due to the way I engaged with him, he felt completely loved but also completely convicted of that sin. He committed to bring it to God and return his heart to the Lord. I think this is an example of the kind of balance we can make between departing from sin but also rejoicing in the spirit. Above all the greatest invitation is for us to place our trust on the Son who was raised to heaven and will deliver us from the wrath to come. Let us ponder how we are doing with our goals to emulate this kind of loving faith  Meditation of Prayer: Pray as directed by the Spirit. Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him. Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm: I invite you to sit in silence feeling patient for your own faults and trials. Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life: This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast Final Question: If you consider the invitation and command to persevere in the faith, what change in your life does that bring to your mind?  FIND ME ON: Download my free app: Recenter with Christ Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email: jared@christianmeditationpodcast.com Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast Twitter - @ChristianMedPod

There have been attempts since time immemorial in this world to try to find abundance. It never happens, ever, not even for one second. But if you're able to connect for one second to the spiritual stratum, you'll immediately feel it for yourself. It's who you are. We don't belong to the temporary world. We belong to the eternal world, and the sages and the Bhagavad Gītā have given us this path. It's very simple. It's not easy, but it's simple, and it's highly recommended. So, what you're all doing here—this is just what the sages were doing 5,000 years ago at Naimiṣāraṇya: sitting in a room together and discussing these points. This is real spiritual practice that you're doing. And then, just take what you can of it and apply it. The more you apply it in your life, the more you'll feel abundant, satisfied, and grateful. I'll end by saying, Oṁ Tat Sat. The scripture recommends it in the Bhagavad Gītā. Do you know that one? Repeat after me: Oṁ Tat Sat. It means, "Whatever you just did, you dedicate it to God." But try to dedicate it ahead of time too, because there's a story of Gopāl Ban. My spiritual master taught us this. He said, "Gopāl Ban was a rascal." All his friends told him, 'Listen, Gopāl Ban, you never give anything to God. Why? Why are you such a miser?'" So, Gopāl Ban was in his field and he was carrying a big basket of grains back to his house, and a big gust of wind came and blew the grains way up in the air, scattering everywhere. He goes, "I offer that to God!" So, Oṁ Tat Sat doesn't mean that. Dedicate whatever you're doing to the supreme and then intentionally keep your consciousness absorbed in Bhagavān through chanting the mahāmantra, and every part of your life will feel complete and abundance will be abundant. ------------------------------------------------------------ To connect with His Grace Vaiśeṣika Dāsa, please visit https://www.fanthespark.com/next-steps/ask-vaisesika-dasa/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Add to your wisdom literature collection: https://iskconsv.com/book-store/ https://www.bbtacademic.com/books/ https://thefourquestionsbook.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Join us live on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FanTheSpark/ Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sound-bhakti/id1132423868 For the latest videos, subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@FanTheSpark For the latest in SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/fan-the-spark ------------------------------------------------------------ #spiritualawakening #soul #spiritualexperience #spiritualpurposeoflife #spiritualgrowthlessons #secretsofspirituality #vaisesikaprabhu #vaisesikadasa #vaisesikaprabhulectures #spirituality #bhaktiyoga #krishna #spiritualpurposeoflife #krishnaspirituality #spiritualusachannel #whybhaktiisimportant #whyspiritualityisimportant #vaisesika #spiritualconnection #thepowerofspiritualstudy #selfrealization #spirituallectures #spiritualstudy #spiritualquestions #spiritualquestionsanswered #trendingspiritualtopics #fanthespark #spiritualpowerofmeditation #spiritualteachersonyoutube #spiritualhabits #spiritualclarity #bhagavadgita #srimadbhagavatam #spiritualbeings #kttvg #keepthetranscendentalvibrationgoing #spiritualpurpose

Today, Eric highlights the transformative impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) across various industries, particularly construction and landscaping. He recounts experiences from a technology conference, mentioning conversations with successful contractors who are embracing AI to streamline operations and enhance efficiency, rather than simply replacing human labor. While acknowledging skepticism from some regarding AI's ability to replicate human empathy or relationships in customer service, the speaker passionately argues that ignoring AI will lead to being left behind by competitors. He stresses the importance of adopting a proactive mindset towards integrating AI into business processes, suggesting even dedicated daily time to explore its applications, and illustrates this with examples like AI-powered reporting tools and the rapid evolution of autonomous machinery. Ultimately, Eric's central theme is the inevitable and rapid progression of AI, and he is urging businesses to adapt and leverage this technology to foster growth and improve customer interactions. Key Takeaways: Actively engage with new technologies like AI to streamline your business operations and sales processes, or risk being left behind by competitors. Attend industry conferences and events to connect with top professionals, learn emerging trends, and gain invaluable insights. Prioritize developing strong human connections and empathetic communication with your customers, as AI cannot fully replicate genuine personal relationships. Dedicate regular time, even starting small, to explore and implement AI technologies to improve your business and daily life. Maintain an open and adaptive mindset towards rapidly advancing technologies, understanding that historical skepticism often gives way to widespread adoption.

We do need more servant leaders on our tiny planet. Human beings who are givers, not takers. Who value contribution above self-glorification. Losing yourself in the service of others is a beautiful formula for becoming happier as we navigate these uncertain times.Starting today — find a crusade. Detect a mighty mission that will consume you, taking your mind and heart off of the messiness that's all around us.Because to lead is to serve. And to help is to prosper.This is what my latest book The Wealth Money Can't Buy is all about. Real wealth versus fake success. True winning versus spending your life climbing a mountain, only to find out at the end that it was the wrong one. You can order it now by clicking here.FOLLOW ROBIN SHARMA:InstagramFacebookTwitterYouTube

768 Our Gospel Did Not Come To You In Word Only, A Guided Christian Meditation on 1 Thessalonians 1:4-6 with the Recenter With Christ app The purpose of this podcast is to help you find more peace in  and connect with the true source of peace, Jesus Christ.  Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization. Get into a place where you can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tensing or unrelaxing.  If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes.   Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation:   Breathe and direct your thoughts to connecting with God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate,  deflate. Scripture for Meditation 1 Thessalonians 1:4-6 NIV 4 For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. 6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. ESV 4 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. 6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, Meditation on Scripture: You are beloved and chosen of God. Raw intellect is not the complete package in terms of faith. How is it that a testimony of God grows and develops? Is it expressly because a person acquires the right facts? I would suggest that knowledge is an element of faith but it is far from the most important. It is more important to experience God's spirit. Sometimes we can say that we understand that then we live as though it is true.Through that spirit we receive faith. Through that spirit we are transformed. I think this means that it is important for us to focus on welcoming the Gospel and that Spirit into our heart. I certainly don't claim that our effort dictates the activity of God's spirit but if we look past God speaking to our hearts we miss much of what he would say to us individually. As God speaks to our heart, this becomes the foundation of our faith.  So I think it is incredibly important that we prioritize our focus on the way God's spirit speaks to us. A couple days ago I was praying for someone I love. I was praying that they could experience peace. In my heart I felt the answer from the Lord is that this was the phase of life they were in. I then had this distinct answer that any words of comfort would need to come from me. This inspired me to try and be even more thoughtful about my answers to this person. I certainly don't think this sets any systemic theology. In some ways the objective truth of this inspiration doesn't matter, it blessed my life, and as a result blessed the life of the person I was praying for. I think for me, this represented a connection with God's spirit. The still small voice. It is both subtle but also power.  So in moments of meditation focus on listening to the Spirit of God. Also in moments of prayer and quiet that don't quite ascend to the depth of what we would call mediation, focus on listening also. It is not by words only that God through the gospel came to you and continues to transform your life.  Meditation of Prayer: Pray as directed by the Spirit. Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him. Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm: I invite you to sit in silence feeling patient for your own faults and trials. Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life: This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast Final Question: If you consider the invitation and command to persevere in the faith, what change in your life does that bring to your mind?  FIND ME ON: Download my free app: Recenter with Christ Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email: jared@christianmeditationpodcast.com Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast Twitter - @ChristianMedPod

In this inspirational and deeply motivational episode, Reginald D sits down with former NFL Super Bowl Champion Tony Hills. Tony shares his raw and powerful inspirational journey from the streets of Alief, Texas to the world's biggest football stage—and beyond. More than just a motivational speech, this episode is a masterclass in purpose, legacy, financial transformation, and spiritual growth.Tony opens up about growing up with a single mother, overcoming a paralyzing injury before college, and how his faith and resilience carried him from pain to purpose. Now a financial strategist and founder of Stat Financial, Tony empowers professional athletes and entrepreneurs to build wealth that outlasts the spotlight.Tony Hills is not only a financial strategist, he's also an author and founder of STATT Financial, where he helps athletes and high performers build lasting financial legacies beyond their careers. After nearly a decade in the NFL, Tony transitioned into the world of wealth strategy—specializing in life insurance, annuities, and alternative investments to create long-term passive income and reduce tax liability.On this episode, we talk legacy-building, purpose-driven wealth strategies, life after the game, identity shifts, and how your greatest gifts are often bigger than the platforms you stand on. If you're navigating a life transition—whether after success, career change, or personal reinvention—this is the motivational episode you've been waiting for.What You'll Gain from This Episode:Motivational mindset tools to rediscover your identity beyond titles or performance.Financial wisdom from a pro who teaches athletes how to create generational wealth through life insurance, annuities, and values-based investing.A powerful purpose framework developed by Tony - his 4 Tenets of Purpose: (Discover, Design, Dedicate, Deploy) to help you walk in your calling and activate your next season of life. It will equip you to take clear, purpose-driven steps toward your next chapter.Press play now and let Tony Hills challenge your mindset, ignite your purpose, and inspire you to build a legacy bigger than any game or career.Tony's contact info:Tony Hills's Website: https://www.tonyhills.comConnext with Tony to schedule your financial strategy session https://calendly.com/stattfsSTATT Financial is at the forefront of excellence in financial services, specializing in life insurance and annuities. Our expertise lies in crafting customized solutions tailored tSend us a textSupport the showFor daily motivation and inspiration, subscribe and follow Real Talk With Reginald D on social media:Instagram: realtalkwithreginaldd TikTok: @realtalkregd Youtube: @realtalkwithreginald Facebook: realtalkwithreginaldd Twitter Real Talk With Reginald D (@realtalkRegD) / TwitterWebsite: Real Talk With Reginald D https://www.realtalkwithreginaldd.com Real Talk With Reginald D - Merchandise

766 We Remember Before Our God, A Guided Christian Meditation on 1 Thessalonians 1:1-3 with the Recenter With Christ app The purpose of this podcast is to help you find more peace in  and connect with the true source of peace, Jesus Christ.  Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization. Get into a place where you can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tensing or unrelaxing.  If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes.   Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation:   Breathe and direct your thoughts to connecting with God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate,  deflate. Scripture for Meditation 1 Thessalonians 1 NIV 1 Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you. 2 We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. 3 We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. NASB 1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace. 2 We always give thanks to God for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers; 3 constantly keeping in mind your work of faith and labor of love and perseverance of hope [b]in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father, Meditation on Scripture: As I have mentioned in the past, my mom experiences a degenerative memory that is progressively worsening over time. I'm visiting with her this week. I've been thinking a lot about memory. How much of who we are is generated through memory and Where do memories reside? Some people may say the brain but does that mean if our spirit leaves our body we lose all our memories? It seems that a scriptural understanding of memory suggests that memory is maintained even when we are disembodied, as a result memory is not a human phenomenon.   I love the phrase here in this scripture, to remember before God the work of faith. Our actions in life are objectively seen by God and imperfectly remembered by us. There is a power in our attempts to remember. A powerful way to stay connected to the Lord is to constantly hold Him in our rememberance, to reflect on God's grave and love toward us.  As I was talking with my loved one I was realizing that without memory we cannot live for the future or the past, but only for the moment. We can actively choose faith in this current moment regardless of how imperfect our human memory is.  Meditation of Prayer: Pray as directed by the Spirit. Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him. Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm: I invite you to sit in silence feeling patient for your own faults and trials. Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life: This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast Final Question: If you consider the invitation and command to persevere in the faith, what change in your life does that bring to your mind?  FIND ME ON: Download my free app: Recenter with Christ Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email: jared@christianmeditationpodcast.com Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast Twitter - @ChristianMedPod