Podcasts about father god

Feeling stretched thin—even in your walk with God? Pouring out in every direction but rarely pausing to be poured into? This episode offers a gentle pause and a fresh perspective, exploring how Jesus practiced spiritual self-care—and why that matters for your daily life right now. These aren't just ancient stories, they're modern invitations to step into rhythms of grace, peace, and restoration. Jesus didn't just serve and heal. He rested, withdrew, and nurtured His relationship with Father God. And that same invitation is open today.Keep listening for three ways Jesus cared for His soul, and how those same rhythms can restore joy, calm, and clarity in a world that constantly pulls on every side. Rest isn't lazy, it's divine. Self-care isn't selfish, it's sacrosanct. And the quiet places? That's where God is already waiting to meet you with open arms.Recipes Mentioned in the EpisodeWatermelon Salad with FetaScriptures ReferencedMark 1:35Luke 22:15Matthew 4:4John 10:302 Corinthians 5:21Want to savor more goodness?I'm so excited you're here! Let's make the most of it with these special opportunities:Join the P31Virtues Community: If you're ready to find balance, peace, and a little extra inspiration each week, come together with women who understand the beauty of living a multifaceted life. Plus, get the weekly recipe delivered straight to your inbox! Find the support you need to thrive at ⁠⁠community.p31virtues.com⁠.Rest without guilt: Get Thriving in Grace and unlock the power of rest for your spirit, soul, and body. Take the next step: Apply for Divine Balance Coaching and get your personalized action plan to live and serve from overflow. Let's Connect:Email: ⁠hello@p31virtues.com⁠Note: The show notes may contain affiliate links. If you click on one and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my work!

Every child learns what is right, how to live well through the careful and kind guidance from a parent or parent model in their life. The truth about our Father God is that He has the same purpose, models the perfect role as parent with us as well. As His children we are subject to His guidance, His leading, His discipline - "for God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him." God guides us, directing our steps so we will pattern our decisions by what He knows is best for our development and maturity.Daylight Meditations is a daily podcast from CFO North America. Please visit CFONorthAmerica.org to learn more about our retreats, and online courses. If you are encouraged by this time of meditation, please consider supporting us.Contributors: Michelle DeChant, Adam Maddock, and Phil Reaser

In this week's episode, Dennis Jernigan shares the story behind his song, "Live the Adventure", from the album "The Chronicles of Bren: Captured – Songs for the Journey". That mp3 is available at https://www.thechroniclesofbren.com/store/captured-songs-for-the-journey-album/ The lyrics can be found below. You can join Dennis and the people of All In All Church for live-stream worship on the first Wednesday evening of each month. Just go to https://www.facebook.com/therealdennisjernigan at 7 PM CST. Mark it in your calendar. Worship with All in All Church - First Wednesday of each month. Daily Devotions for Kingdom Seekers, Vol. 3 is available at https://www.amazon.com/Daily-Devotions-Kingdom-Seekers-Vol-ebook/dp/B081K8TZLX Check out my Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/DennisJernigan and read through the various tiers of support and discover the myriad of benefits you will receive based on the level of support you choose. If you're willing, go ahead and sign up! You will find the show notes and lyrics below: Welcome to The Dennis Jernigan Podcast. The purpose of this podcast is to help you find healing for your wounds; find hope in your despair; find intimacy in your loneliness; find refuge from the storms of life; Basically, to help you find a deeper walk with Jesus. There is one thing I know after having lived all these years: God wastes nothing. Not our sorrows. Not our wounds. Not even our failures. Hi. I am your host, Dennis Jernigan. Today's podcast is gonna be a bit different from most of my podcasts. This is the story behind the final installment of the music from my fantasy book series, The Chronicles of Bren: Book One: Captured. The collection of songs is called “Captured: Songs for the Journey.”  This week's episode is the story behind the last song in the series. That song is called, “Live the Adventure.” “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” Helen Keller I love that quote. It almost captures my heart for this series of books. Almost. I have adapted a  personal version that has influenced the writing of these stories of and from the land of Bren. “Life is either a grand, daring adventure or it is nothing at all.” Dennis Jernigan My love of writing and my love of hearing great stories of people who have overcome impossible circumstances has led me to write…in spite of whether those writings are ever considered great or not. The reason I wrote The Chronicles of Bren series and The Bairns of Bren series is simple. I wanted to leave a legacy for my children and grandchildren for generations to come. As a part of that legacy, I endeavored to write stories which depict the realities of life. Life is not easy. Life is full of sorrow. Life brings times of wounding of both body and soul. Life brings times of disappointment and even betrayal.  My goal is to leave my family a legacy that explains how life, even with its many hurtful episodes, is meant to be lived with joy. And just how does one do that? I personally believe that if one sees life and its circumstances - both good and bad - from the Lord's point of view, insurmountable mountains become molehills. Impassable rivers become rites of passage. Unbearable grief becomes an opportunity to receive comfort. Fear is replaced with love. Rather than being something to somehow endure, life becomes the most grand adventure because a life lived with the Lord ever-present at one's side sands away the bitterness of life revealing a many-faceted treasure of great worth.  Forgiveness and humility replace bitterness with the heroic heart of a benevolent conqueror. My desire, as a dad and granddad, is that my heirs would come to see themselves as overcomers. I believe Almighty God created the human imagination as a means of revealing His nature to mankind and as a means of helping the human mind understand and begin to unravel the wonderful mystery of Who God is. The gift of imagination has helped me see how even things that are meant to hurt me can be seen from a different point of view - and perspective is everything. Why write in the fantasy genre? Simple. God used fantasy to rescue my heart and mind when I was just a young boy. I felt trapped in what I now call stinkin' thinkin' concerning my identity. I felt I was being held captive in my own mind but God did something amazing during my boyhood that carried me through to the day He set me free.  From the time I was a little boy and all the way into my marriage and adult life, God has used fantasy, mythology, and imagination to rescue and save me. Just a quick case in point. When I was a boy, I felt constantly bullied and that my father could not possibly love me and that there was no escape and no one to rescue me…but each night as I fell  asleep, I was suddenly on the USS Enterprise. My dad was none other than Captain James Tiberius Kirk and my mother was Doris Day. Each dream I was captured by aliens and just as they were about to end me, my dad, Captain Kirk, would materialize and blast them with his phaser, not set to stun but set to destroy. My mom was always there singing Que sera, sera. Whatever will be, will be…Just a cool memory of how my mother used to comfort me. I believe the Lord used that recurring dream to keep me hanging on…to make me feel someone or something good was pursuing me. When it dawned on me that this was the case, I began to understand the role of imagination in the way I viewed the world and the massive creativity and divine order God set in motion by His own imagination. What does any of that have to do with living the adventure? A simple example from my own life. When I was about 30 years old, I asked myself this question: When you get to the age of 65, what is something that you would look back on and regret not even having tried? For me that was writing and recording music and authoring books. In college I was not allowed to major in song writing because they told me they saw no potential in me. I nearly gave it all up…but something deep inside of me kept nudging me to step out and see life as a grand adventure…so I did. And Father God has seen fit to spread my music literally all over the world. I also wanted a large family, but many told me we needed to wait until we had enough money to start a family before we should even consider it. If I had taken that advice I would not have had the privilege of raising 9 of the most amazing men and women I know of on this planet. I worked hard to provide for my family, but set aside personal time to be with them a lot, and I also carved out time to write each and every day. But had I not dared to believe what the Lord was putting in my heart, I never would have taken one step toward any of my dreams.  Even if you're 65, it's not too late to begin living out the adventure of things you have dreamed of doing. If you're breathing, there is hope…and if you take that first step in the journey, your adventure has begun. What is your heart telling you right now?  [Pro 13:12 NIV] 12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. SONG [Joel 2:28 NIV] 28 "And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.” I certainly enjoyed writing the three book series, The Chronicles of Bren. They honestly helped me get a better grip on Father God's point of view of my life. My hope is that you would discover joy and solace within the pages of the books and the melodies of the songs. May they serve as uplifting companions, guiding you to encounter Jesus even amidst life's toughest trials.  Thank you for tuning in to The Dennis Jernigan Podcast. For more about my journey, music, and more, visit dennisjernigan.com. Connect with me on Facebook and Instagram, and explore my music on various streaming platforms. If you're keen on joining my team, consider becoming a Patron at patreon.com/dennisjernigan. Your support means the world to me! The book "Captured" is now available on Amazon in paperback, ebook, and audiobook versions. Once you have finished reading captured, I invite you to read the next two books in the series. Book Two is called “Sacrifice” and Book Three is called “Generations”. All are available on Amazon.  Soon, I hope to introduce you to the songs from book 2, but that will be at sometime in the near future. In the meantime, I encourage you to delve into "Captured" and then enjoy the songs inspired by its characters, all available for FREE. Simply head to https://www.thechroniclesofbren.com/store/captured-songs-for-the-journey-album/ to download the complete collection at no cost. Thank you once more for being a part of today's podcast. Remember, you are deeply loved by God and by me. Dare to see life as a grand adventure - in spite of your circumstances - and dare to live that adventure with fullness of joy. Now go and be who your heavenly Father says you are. Live The Adventure WORDS & MUSIC Dennis Jernigan October 2012 Verse Life is best lived with a sense of adventure! You can wonder what flying is like Or you can take to the sky! Life is the best lived in wonder and splendor! Even when you're knocked down Just get back up and dare to believe! Chorus Live the adventure!  Conquer the wind! To the ends of the earth And right back again! Live the adventure!  Dare but to dream! Around every corner new sights to be seen! But you'll never fly if you never try To conquer the wind! Live the adventure!  Dare to believe Knowing he cannot fly Who won't spread his wings! Live the adventure!  Knight, take your horse! Ride to the horizon, Eyes fixed on the course! But you'll never see what you don't believe! And you'll never live what you never dare to be! Verse  Life is best lived with a sense of pure wonder!  Even storms that we face can be seen From a new point of view! Life is best lived with a sense of pure wonder! Dare to see far beyond What most human eyes dare to conceive! Chorus Live the adventure!  Conquer the wind! To the ends of the earth And right back again! Live the adventure!  Dare but to dream! Around every corner new sights to be seen! But you'll never fly if you never try To conquer the wind! Live the adventure!  Dare to believe Knowing he cannot fly Who won't spread his wings! Live the adventure!  Knight, take your horse! Ride to the horizon, Eyes fixed on the course! But you'll never see what you don't believe! And you'll never live what you never dare to be! Chorus Live the adventure!  Conquer the wind! To the ends of the earth And right back again! Live the adventure!  Dare but to dream! Around every corner new sights to be seen! But you'll never fly if you never try To conquer the wind! Live the adventure!  Dare to believe Knowing he cannot fly Who won't spread his wings! Live the adventure!  Knight, take your horse! Ride to the horizon, Eyes fixed on the course! But you'll never see what you don't believe! And you'll never live what you never dare to be! You, dare to be!

The truth about our Father God is that He has freed us from the lies that say we are not worthy of love, that we are not good enough, that we are failures, so don't try anymore. Regardless of your physical condition, your emotional state of mind, or what you have been told - the absolute truth is - in Jesus, you are free. Choose to believe the truth. God so loved you that He gave His only Son for your freedom. No longer are you a slave to this world. You are free indeed.Daylight Meditations is a daily podcast from CFO North America. Please visit CFONorthAmerica.org to learn more about our retreats, and online courses. If you are encouraged by this time of meditation, please consider supporting us.Contributors: Michelle DeChant, Adam Maddock, and Phil Reaser

Self-pity wants to draw comfort, value and help from others instead of going to Father God for these things. You can choose to follow Jesus out of a life of slavery to self-pity and into the freedom of reliance on God.

In this week's episode, Dennis Jernigan shares the story behind his song, "Battleground", from the album "The Chronicles of Bren: Captured – Songs for the Journey". That mp3 is available at https://www.thechroniclesofbren.com/store/captured-songs-for-the-journey-album/ The lyrics can be found below. You can join Dennis and the people of All In All Church for live-stream worship on the first Wednesday evening of each month. Just go to https://www.facebook.com/therealdennisjernigan at 7 PM CST. Mark it in your calendar. Worship with All in All Church - First Wednesday of each month. Daily Devotions for Kingdom Seekers, Vol. 3 is available at https://www.amazon.com/Daily-Devotions-Kingdom-Seekers-Vol-ebook/dp/B081K8TZLX Check out my Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/DennisJernigan and read through the various tiers of support and discover the myriad of benefits you will receive based on the level of support you choose. If you're willing, go ahead and sign up! You will find the show notes and lyrics below: Welcome to The Dennis Jernigan Podcast. The purpose of this podcast is to help you find healing for your wounds; find hope in your despair; find intimacy in your loneliness; find refuge from the storms of life; Basically, to help you find a deeper walk with Jesus. There is one thing I know after having lived all these years: God wastes nothing. Not our sorrows. Not our wounds. Not even our failures. Hi. I am your host, Dennis Jernigan, and I am so excited about the final two installments of the music from my fantasy book series, The Chronicles of Bren: Book One: Captured. The collection of songs is called “Captured: Songs for the Journey.”  This week's episode is the story behind the next to last song in the series called, “Battleground.” The story behind this song is really quite simple. This is classic darkness versus the light; good versus evil; truth versus lies; the understanding that true love involves the laying down of life. There came a point in my life on November 7, 1981 where I had to do it decide if Jesus Christ was real; if he thought that I was worth dying for; if I thought he was worth dying for; if he truly loved me or not.  I came to the irrefutable conclusion that he thought I was worth dying for; that he thought I was worth fighting for; that he, indeed, had paid for my life and my sin-debt by the shedding of his own blood. In the process, he had gone to battle on my behalf and conquered Satan, hell and its demons, giving me a brand new identity and a brand new start on life in the process. God was no longer a distant, unknowable force of the universe. He was now alive and well and living in my heart, giving me a brand new purpose and a brand new perspective on living out my life in joy. I have now been granted a forever relationship with God who created all that is good. What I soon discovered was just because the enemy had been defeated did not mean that I no longer had to fight for my freedom. I discovered the true battleground of my life was not some thing I could see with flesh and blood. The true Battleground of my life is my mind; the thoughts I think; the perspective through which I run my thoughts. The enemy's only option was to try and trip me up through his deception and lies about who I am.  I learned that God had equipped me, as a believer in and follower of Jesus Christ, with the full armor of God and that my greatest weapon against the lies of the enemy is the truth of God's Word. My battle-sword! As I begin to recognize the lies of the enemy, I soon learned the key to renewing my mind. As soon as the lie was revealed to me, I picked up my sword, the Word of God, and replaced that lie with the truth of God's Word. I have since discovered that the enemy does not stop lying to me, so I must be vigilant by putting on the Word of God each and every day of my existence. In fact, I have learned the best thing to do regarding the enemy is to run towards the battle and not away from it. Having read the end of the book, I know who wins. Now you know the story behind the song, ‘Battleground”, let's all pick up our swords and take it to whatever dark lies the enemy has spoken against our minds over the next few minutes. The Truth of God's Word is clear: we are more than conquerors! We are sons and daughters of the Most High God! SONG [Rom 8:37-39 NASB20] 37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. I certainly enjoyed writing the three book series, the chronicles of Bren. They honestly helped me get a better grip on Father God's point of view of my life. My hope is that you would discover joy and solace within the pages of the books and the melodies of the songs. May they serve as uplifting companions, guiding you to encounter Jesus even amidst life's toughest trials.  We only have one song left to go in this series which has gone by so quickly for me. Be sure and listen to next weeks episode because I think he will enjoy it thoroughly and that it will minister to your soul in someway. Thank you for tuning in to The Dennis Jernigan Podcast. For more about my journey, music, and more, visit dennisjernigan.com. Connect with me on Facebook and Instagram, and explore my music on various streaming platforms. If you're keen on joining my team, consider becoming a Patron at patreon.com/dennisjernigan. Your support means the world to me! The book "Captured" is now available on Amazon in paperback, ebook, and audiobook versions. Once you have finished reading captured, I invite you to read the next two books in the series. Book Two is called “Sacrifice” and Book Three is called “Generations”. All are available on Amazon.  Soon, I hope to introduce you to the songs from book 2, but that will be at sometime in the near future. In the meantime, I encourage you to delve into "Captured" and then enjoy the songs inspired by its characters, all available for FREE. Simply head to https://www.thechroniclesofbren.com/store/captured-songs-for-the-journey-album/ to download the complete collection at no cost. Thank you once more for being a part of today's podcast. Remember, you are deeply loved by God and by me. Be quick to humble yourself when pride raises its ugly head and be quick to seek forgiveness when you have wounded another. Now, I challenge you to rise as the warrior for God's kingdom you are called to be today. Cast off the enemy's lies, embrace the truth of your identity in the Lord, and go forth as the cherished son or daughter of your Heavenly Father. Battleground Words & Music
Dennis Jernigan ©2015 Dennis Jernigan Verse Standing on the battleground Faced with life or death Faced with ‘Will I run away?' Or “Give my very best?' Standing on the battleground Faced with destiny This could be the difference Between victory or defeat! Face to the fight! Fight for what is right! Conquering the night! Swords lifted high! Son, this is war! Better be sure What you fight for Is worth dying for! Chorus Fight for what is right! Keep truth on your side! Love lays down its life! Willing to die! Verse Facing down the enemy Facing down your fear Look ahead to victory And keep your vision clear Facing down the enemy Warrior, stand your ground You will have the victory This freedom comes with life laid down Face to the fight! Fight for what is right! Conquering the night! Swords lifted high! Son, this is war! Better be sure What you fight for Is worth dying for! Chorus Fight for what is right! Keep truth on your side! Love lays down its life! Willing to die! Bridge Put on the armor! Prepare for war! This is a cause worth dying for! Put on the armor! Prepare for war! This is a cause worth dying for! Put on the armor! Prepare for war! This is a cause worth dying for! Chorus Fight for what is right! Keep truth on your side! Love lays down its life! Willing to die!  

Join us for a heartfelt conversation with special guest Craig Stephens, Territorial Envoy for the Salvation Army, as we dive into the question: Who is the Father? With decades of ministry experience, Craig shares insight into the heart of God—a Father revealed through Jesus. As Matthew 22:37-40 reminds us, the greatest commandments are to love God and love others. And in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, we see that love is patient, kind, and unfailing. If you’ve seen Jesus, you’ve seen the Father. If you’ve seen love, you’ve seen God. Don’t miss this inspiring look into the nature of Father God! For more information go to c3tuggerah.org.au

Tribes usually think a lot of themselves, exclusive groups are sometimes arrogant. Even whole nations can be this way. In the 19th century, several European countries felt they were the descendants of the first people in the world.  With religion, this can be infinitely worse with Christianity. Critics often say the exclusive nature of it is just unfair. They cite the Christian view that the only way to be reconciled to God is through Jesus Christ, and say that's degrading to people of other faiths, or those with no faith. Other worldviews claim to have truth and a few claim a superior view of the world, but none are quite like the Christian faith. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” All meaning all. That's the meaning of the verse. And this is offensive to a lot of people. Christianity, though, doesn't force itself on anyone, at least not in the modern world. It's been said that the Holy Spirit is a gentleman, meaning He won't force a person to yield to God. Instead, God offers grace to all who want it. Paul made it clear in particular that in order to be born again, one must believe in Jesus Christ. And rather than see this as exclusive, maybe we should change our perspective just a little and see how inclusive it really is. Many religions claim truth—but not absolute truth. Along with that, many believe all religions lead to God, but the totality of scripture tells us clearly that it is in Jesus that we find the truth, and satisfy the longing in our souls. In John 8:31–32, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. And then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” So you see, far from being a hateful, dominant view, the Christian faith shows people everywhere how to be free from sin. Not a workspace religion, but one that makes the very most of God's grace. And that is true truth. Let's pray. Father God, your Word is truth. In it, we discover who we are and what our relationship with you can be. Thank you that you haven't left us in the dark about our world, and the world beyond. In Jesus' name, amen.  Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

The only perfect parent is our Father God. When we allow God to be our primary parent, we're free to love and honor our earthly parents, no matter what our story looks like.

Humans have limited understanding of our world and the world beyond; not that we're unintelligent—far from it. The Bible makes it clear that God gave man a sound mind, and from the beginning, people were capable of accomplishing amazing things. The construction of the great pyramids, modern scientific advances, and our knowledge of the cosmos is a testament to how much humans can know and achieve. We're even capable of presenting truth in various ways through art, teaching, and moral agendas, but man's abilities are finite. There is One, though, that claims all truth: the person Jesus Christ. John 1:17 says, “For the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” In other words, man has been capable over time of building structure and order in society. Around the time of Moses and the 10 Commandments and the laws that govern the Israelites, other cultures were doing somewhat similar things. The Code of Hammurabi, a set of Babylonian laws, helped create a functioning society, and in 1254, the Magna Carta, a set of English laws that was the forerunner of the Declaration of Independence, brought England out of the Dark ages. Yet the Bible is very clear that ultimate truth, the sum of all reality, is found only in Jesus Christ. It is in Him that we unlock the mystery of who we are as individuals. He knows each of us, and invites us into relationship with him. People all over the world follow their own set of rules. It's often said that truth is true if it's true for you, meaning of course that each of us has the right to follow his or her own reasoning. For example, to a person who frees himself from moral constraints, love can mean many things.  In 2 John 1:6 we read, “And this is love, that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you've heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.” Do you see the difference? We can tell ourselves anything; that love, for example, can have many definitions, but God tells us in His Word that true love is being obedient to our Creator. In the end, the world is full of philosophies and opinions of men. Some see truth differently, but only in the Bible do we find true truth. For Jesus Christ is the ultimate truth. Let's pray. Father God, the world can be a dangerous place. Help us to continue relying on you and as our ultimate source of truth so that we can make the best for us and our families. Your Word is our guide, Jesus' name, amen.  Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

Luke 15:11-24 - In this sermon we start a 4-part teaching series on parenting called "Bearing the Image as Fathers & Mothers." We begin with a consideration of the fundamental task of parenting: Spirit-empowered embodiment of the compassionate and gracious heart of our Father God toward our children—children both literal and spiritual. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 1 of our series "Bearing the Image as Fathers and Mothers"]

Dave Brisbin 5.11.25 Our English words patriarchal and paternal descend from the Latin word pater, father. We know about patriarchy—society organized around male domination, often to the point of excluding women—but paternalism is restricting the freedom and autonomy of others under the guise of protecting their own welfare. The US started out patriarchal but not paternal. We didn't allow women to vote until 1920 but also didn't collect income tax until 1913, generally leaving people to fend for themselves for better or worse. Today, we're thankfully much less patriarchal, but much more paternal. On Mother's Day, this is something to consider, because the church also been shamefully patriarchal, reflecting the culture around it. But since scripture does appear to portray God as male, is God patriarchal and/or paternal? We may wish God to be more paternal, happy to give up freedom for better risk control…but patriarchal? Male? Though we won't find Mother God in the scriptures, the Hebrew mind couldn't conceive of father without mother. In their very language, father meant “strong house” and mother, “strong water,” the glue that held the family together. There could not be one without the other. God was seen as father in creating the heavens and earth around us, but the Hebrew words for spirit, kingdom, wisdom, presence, were all feminine—spirit was “she” and kingdom was “queendom.” There was no God short of the full spectrum of attributes we see between father and mother, and the wisdom, compassion, intuition, devotion of God is portrayed over and over in both testaments as a God in labor, giving birth, nursing, comforting, caressing. Jesus always led with mother first, breaking ritual and social barriers in order to establish compassionate relationship before he ever instructed paternally. Father may symbolize strength, but without Mother, there is no reason to be strong. Scripture shows us a necessary and complementary balance, but more essentially, that we will never know Father God until we first experience God as Mother. All of God. God is an eternal oscillation between mother and father, a paradox we can never resolve.

Dave Brisbin 5.11.25 Our English words patriarchal and paternal descend from the Latin word pater, father. We know about patriarchy—society organized around male domination, often to the point of excluding women—but paternalism is restricting the freedom and autonomy of others under the guise of protecting their own welfare. The US started out patriarchal but not paternal. We didn't allow women to vote until 1920 but also didn't collect income tax until 1913, generally leaving people to fend for themselves for better or worse. Today, we're thankfully much less patriarchal, but much more paternal. On Mother's Day, this is something to consider, because the church also been shamefully patriarchal, reflecting the culture around it. But since scripture does appear to portray God as male, is God patriarchal and/or paternal? We may wish God to be more paternal, happy to give up freedom for better risk control…but patriarchal? Male? Though we won't find Mother God in the scriptures, the Hebrew mind couldn't conceive of father without mother. In their very language, father meant “strong house” and mother, “strong water,” the glue that held the family together. There could not be one without the other. God was seen as father in creating the heavens and earth around us, but the Hebrew words for spirit, kingdom, wisdom, presence, were all feminine—spirit was “she” and kingdom was “queendom.” There was no God short of the full spectrum of attributes we see between father and mother, and the wisdom, compassion, intuition, devotion of God is portrayed over and over in both testaments as a God in labor, giving birth, nursing, comforting, caressing. Jesus always led with mother first, breaking ritual and social barriers in order to establish compassionate relationship before he ever instructed paternally. Father may symbolize strength, but without Mother, there is no reason to be strong. Scripture shows us a necessary and complementary balance, but more essentially, that we will never know Father God until we first experience God as Mother. All of God. God is an eternal oscillation between mother and father, a paradox we can never resolve.

A CHILDS FAITH ENTERS THE KINGDOM  I've been talking lately about principalities and powers of darkness and the angelic rebellions in the heavens that Jesus overcame for us on the cross. But aligned with that there is the wonderful ministry of the angels who obediently serve God the Father by serving us as his children. God delights to see his children protected and cared for at as early an age as possible. The Bible says that God has assigned angels to help them on this journey of the inner life of their souls, as Jesus said to his disciples, Matthew 18:10 “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. I don't yet fully understand how that works but I think a lot happens that we don't realise is happening.  Our heavenly Father never ceases to see us as his children, but we may cease to honour and know him as our Father. Growing older is not always growing wiser and the reality of having to become mature and independent is a hugely significant responsibility. Fortunately, God allows us to go through our foolishness and our failures and to relearn and to get back on track, and Jesus had to admonish his disciples on one occasion about having to do some of this relearning. It occurred at the same time that he told his disciples to never despise the little children whom they regarded as a nuisance. The little children were playfully enjoying being around Jesus, but the disciples said that they were getting in the way of them getting the most out the serious things Jesus was teaching them. He then taught them the most important and serious thing that they needed to know and relearn – that they had to become like little children. At that time some parents in the crowd had brought their children to Jesus for him to bless them Matthew 19:13 Then little children were brought to Him that He might lay His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for their simplicity and joy and trust express the kingdom of heaven.” And He laid His hands on them... Luke adds deeper meaning to this story and quotes Jesus saying ‘Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter into it.” (Luke 18:15).  I want to speak today about a child's faith that was immortalised in Scripture – the child's name was Isaac. God had told Abraham and his wife Sarah, who was well past childbearing age that they were going to have a child, and that through that child Abraham would bring blessing upon all the families in the earth (Genesis 18:10). That finally came to pass miraculously, and they were greatly blessed. But then God told Abraham to sacrifice this promised child Isaac on an altar at a place called Mount Moriah. The Bible says that Abraham obeyed God and that his faith was accounted to him as righteous. That means that his faith put the desires of his heart in alignment with the desire of God's heart. We are encouraged to learn from the faith of Abraham, who walked up the hill with his son Isaac to offer him to the lord as a blood sacrifice. But something needs to be said about the extraordinary faith and obedience that was shown by the child Isaac who walked up the hill to be sacrificed. As they walked up the hill in the story in Genesis Isaac says to his father ‘look there is the wood and here is the fire but where is the lamb for sacrifice. And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together. Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. Isaac with a ‘Yes Dad' in his heart prepared to become that sacrifice on the altar under the knife saying,  Then an angel enters the picture and calls Abraham to put the knife away – that reflects the words of Jesus about angels always seeing the face of the Father for his children.  And the story goes on in Genesis to say ‘Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in some bushes by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. And Abraham called the name of the place The-LORD-Will-Provide' (Jehovah Jireh - Genesis 22). Isaac as a child had just as much faith and hope in that resurrection as Abraham, and Jesus knew and undertsood that same child-like faith and trust for himself. Isaac as the son of Abraham obeyed his father and Jesus as the Son of God obeyed his Heavenly Father. Jesus understood what Isaac felt when he himself was on the cross committing himself as a sacrifice to his Father for our sakes as his brothers and sisters and knowing he would be resurrected.  The Bible says about Abraham's faith for Isaac that Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death"(Hebrews 11:19). This means that Abraham's faith in God's power to bring Isaac back, even if he were to die, was strong enough to fulfill God's promise of blessing all the families of the earth through his son Isaac. This was the first evidence of resurrection life put into action in the Bible. This was not only extraordinary faith and obedience – it was an extraordinary hope - Abraham, hoping against hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations (Romans 4:17). Abraham faith and Isaac faith is all about the resurrection faith of trusting Father God through the difficulties of life with a ‘hoping against hope' that our ‘Yes Dad' in all things brings God's good will and Heavenly life on earth for our lives. There would have been no resurrection life faith for Abraham to pass on to us if he had not been willing to offer his son Isaac to God on Mount Moriah. And there would have been no resurrection life faith for Isaac to experience if he had not trusted his father, Abraham. There would have been no resurrection life from the dead for Jesus to give to us if he had not offered his life to his Father for our sakes on the cross. And Jesus wanted his disciples to understand what he meant when he said that unless they received the Kingdom of God with that trusting childlike faith, they would not fully enter into the Kingdom in the power of his resurrection. That resurrection only be experienced by us through his death on the cross. Jesus had told them earlier that he was going to be killed and be raised on the third day. The disciples of Jesus did not want him to die on a cross and Peter was speaking for all of them when he admonished Jesus at that time, saying  ‘No Jesus, that is not going to happen to you', and Jesus said ‘get behind me Satan, you don't understand the things of God, only the things of man'. Even though the sacrifices of Abraham and Isaac and Jesus were momentous acts of faith and hope Jesus wanted the disciples to know that no matter what the scale of sacrifice was, their ‘yes Dad' to God's will in times of difficulty would always supernaturally bring God's will in Heaven upon the earth. ‘Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven' is not just a noble phrase from the Lord's prayer, it is a true statement of faith and hope from a child of God who expects to see the most difficult of situations turn into an expression of God being glorified, or on display, in their everyday lives. Jesus wants us to experience a life of full spiritual satisfaction as a child of God by seeing ourselves as his brother or sister and being cared for by a loving Father in Heaven. There is a life of childlike faith in most children that trusts that mum and dad are sorting out all of the important things in life for them and fixing everything that gets broken and life works out better when you do what you are told, and life goes on and you presume that you are going to live forever, and most of that thinking changes when we become adults. When we look at a cross, we see a vertical beam crossed by a Horizontal beam. The vertical beam is the will of God coming from heaven down into the earth, and the horizontal beam is the will of humanity that crosses the will of God. Where the point of crossing occurs is where our will obeys God's will – that is the place of our ‘yes Dad'. And that point is where the heart of Jesus would have been located when he hung on that cross. That sacrificial act of obedience took his Divinity and humanity into his resurrection glory in Heaven and it included all of us. When we believe in what he has done for us and receive the Spirit of his resurrected life into our hearts we begin to share not only that crossing point of sacrificial obedience with his heart, but we share the resurrection life that lifts us above the earthbound tyranny of the ways of this world.  Jesus knew what he was talking about to the disciples when he spoke about becoming as little children in order to enter the kingdom life of God here in the earth. An obedient child of God who has a ‘yes Dad' to God in their heart will hear their Heavenly Father saying to them. ‘For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, and when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the LORD', (Jeremiah 29.11) Amen  

In this new series, Phil Mason introduces the spiritual warfare paradigm through the lens of King David and his role as warrior-king, appointed and anointed by God to lead Israel into battle.Every battle David won built up his personal testimony of God's loyal love [hesed]. He never lost a battle in all his time as king. David was a hesed warrior, and he is the template for every New Covenant son and daughter.The loyal love of Father God motivates and compels us to take our place on the battlefield and stand as hesed warriors, anointed to fight the Lord's battles, not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities and powers that cause widespread human destruction. There is a great paradox. Love leads us into war. If you want to be commissioned as a hesed warrior and discover the battles the Lord wants you to fight, this podcast is for you.

Global Warming or God's Warning? What the Bible Says About the End!For more information visit Pastorvlad.orgChapters0:00 - Intro1:36 - When the interest in climate change began in America3:11 - Three views on the climate change5:58 - 1. We are caretakers of the earth, but we are not to worship it6:35 - Three main views on the environment according to Scott Rae7:40 - 2. Worship the Creator God, not the creation10:10 - 3. Human life is valued above animal and plant life13:20 - 4. Our view on end times shouldn't encourage the destruction of the earth14:16 - 5. Technology and cities are not evil14:46 - 6. Humans will be held accountable for what they do to the earth15:43 - 7. Father God will remake all that humans and devils have wickedly harmed, damaged, and destroyed16:50 - Final thoughts 

In this week's episode, Dennis Jernigan shares the story behind his song, "Chiroptera", from the album "The Chronicles of Bren: Captured – Songs for the Journey". That mp3 is available at https://www.thechroniclesofbren.com/store/captured-songs-for-the-journey-album/ The lyrics can be found below. You can join Dennis and the people of All In All Church for live-stream worship on the first Wednesday evening of each month. Just go to https://www.facebook.com/therealdennisjernigan at 7 PM CST. Mark it in your calendar. Worship with All in All Church - First Wednesday of each month. Daily Devotions for Kingdom Seekers, Vol. 3 is available at https://www.amazon.com/Daily-Devotions-Kingdom-Seekers-Vol-ebook/dp/B081K8TZLX Check out my Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/DennisJernigan and read through the various tiers of support and discover the myriad of benefits you will receive based on the level of support you choose. If you're willing, go ahead and sign up! You will find the show notes and lyrics below: Welcome to The Dennis Jernigan Podcast, where we journey together toward healing, hope, intimacy, and refuge, ultimately fostering a deeper connection with Jesus. Through the years, I've learned one thing for certain: God doesn't waste a single moment. He redeems our sorrows, our wounds, and even our failures. Hey there, I'm your host, Dennis Jernigan, and I'm thrilled about the upcoming episodes on the podcast, diving into a topic I'm truly passionate about. For some time now, I've been unraveling the tales behind songs inspired by a fantasy book series I crafted for my children and grandchildren. However, in my excitement (I'll blame it on my forgetfulness due to Parkinson's), I overlooked sharing the core reason behind these stories—to paint an allegorical representation of salvation in Christ and a Christ-centered worldview. The Chronicles of Bren subtly weave in images of Jesus and the discovery of one's identity in Him. But wait, there's more! I've penned not just one, but two book series. The initial trilogy, The Chronicles of Bren, sets the stage for the adventures that follow in the upcoming fourth book of The Bairns of Bren series. In this second series, my grandchildren take the reins as heroes, leading us on an exhilarating journey. Stay tuned for updates on the release of book 4 in this captivating saga. You're accustomed to my tales behind worshipful, comforting, and ministerial songs straight from the heart of Father God. However, the song I'm unveiling today draws inspiration from a trilogy of fantasy novels I penned for my beloved children and grandchildren back in 2015. The first installment, Captured (Book 1 in The Chronicles of Bren Trilogy), sets the stage for this enchanting journey. You might wonder, "Why would a worship leader and songwriter delve into the realm of fantasy literature?” I won't divulge all the intricacies that led me to craft fantasy novels. To catch up on the full story, tune in to the podcasts starting from the episode "Riding the Wind" up to today's episode. This week's featured song, "Creatures," born around 2015 or 2016, delves into the eerie depths of the spiritual realm. Some creatures embody goodness, while others embody malevolence. Through this song, I aimed to impart the lesson of discernment to my young ones, urging them to trust their instincts and remain wary, as the adversary often disguises himself as an angel of light. I hope to instill in my grandchildren a sense of vigilance, for the enemy prowls like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may deceive with his falsehoods. Last week I shared the story behind the song “Creatures”. This week I am sharing the story behind a song about a specific creature called “Chiroptera”. "Chiroptera" is the name of the order of the only mammal capable of true flight, the bat. The name is influenced by the hand-like wings of bats, which are formed from four elongated "fingers" covered by a cutaneous membrane.  In the book, “Captured”, the Chiroptera are giant bats...yet their facial features are those of men (albeit with pointy ‘bat' ears and sharp ‘bat' teeth) and instead of claws extending from mid-wing they had actual fingers, though with long claw-like fingernails extending in a menacing fashion. On the ground they make bird-like hops. Those who hover in the air above hold large stones in their hands, ready to wield great destruction on any whose head they are dropped upon. In the story, they are meant to represent opportunists. Sometimes they are good. Sometimes they are enemies. Their attitude just depends on what is most advantageous to them in their agenda. They are meant to be and depict yet another reality of living life in the real world. The leader of the Chiroptera in “Captured” is called Falling Rocks and the story behind that name was inspired by a story my mother used to tell my children when they were small. When my children were young, my mother told them many stories. One of those stories was about a little Native American boy called Falling Rocks. This story began when my mom and dad took my nephew and niece on a trip to Utah. Being very young at the time, my niece and nephew asked why there were so many signs that said ‘Watch For Falling Rocks' along the mountainside roads. My mom came up with this story: there is a little lost boy named Falling Rocks and his mother has placed those signs there so she can get the public to help her find her little lost son. Not but a few minutes after she came up with this story meant to entertain the children than a little Native American boy in full Native American dress was standing on the roadside. My niece burst into tears and asked her grandparents to stop and help him. My mom told the children that she would stop at the next rest area and call the boy's mother. The children were beside themselves in panic over helping this boy. At the next stop, my mom made a ‘phone call' to the boy's mother, relieving the children of this great burden to help Falling Rocks. As my children heard the story from my mother, the legend only grew! To this day, whenever we see a sign warning of ‘Falling Rocks' we all laugh and enjoy the memory all over again! I had to use the name Falling Rocks for a character in my book. It seemed appropriate to call the leader of the mountainous dwelling creatures, the Chiroptera, Falling Rocks. SONG [1Pe 5:8 NIV] 8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. I firmly believe that the enemy's roar, embodied by Satan, is merely a facade of lies—a cacophony intended to instill fear and lure us into temptation. Like a lion without teeth, his power over us is solely through deception. Let's not forget that crucial truth. I trust that this series of songs on my podcast hasn't been too overwhelming for you. These narratives offer me a unique insight into the hearts of my grandchildren. Many of them are reaching an age where they grasp the allegorical essence and its profound significance, and for that, I am truly grateful. May you discover joy and solace within the pages of the books and the melodies of the songs. They serve as uplifting - and, I'll admit, sometimes scary - companions, guiding you to encounter Jesus even amidst life's toughest trials. Thank you for tuning in to The Dennis Jernigan Podcast. For more about my journey, music, and more, visit dennisjernigan.com. Connect with me on Facebook and Instagram, and explore my music on various streaming platforms. If you're keen on joining my team, consider becoming a Patron at patreon.com/dennisjernigan. Your support means the world to me! The book "Captured" is now available on Amazon in paperback, ebook, and audiobook versions. I encourage you to delve into "Captured" and then enjoy the songs inspired by its characters, all available for FREE. Simply head to https://www.thechroniclesofbren.com/store/captured-songs-for-the-journey-album/ to download the complete collection at no cost. Thank you once more for being a part of today's podcast. Remember, you are deeply loved by God and by me. Now, I challenge you to rise as the warrior for God's kingdom you are called to be today. Cast off the enemy's lies, embrace the truth of your identity in the Lord, and go forth as the cherished son or daughter of your Heavenly Father. Chiroptera! WORDS & MUSIC
Dennis Jernigan ©Dennis Jernigan 2015 Verse Wings like a bat Face half human  Talons like a bird of prey Making their abode in the heights of the mountains Hunt by night Sleep by day Chorus Chiroptera! Chiroptera! Shadow in the sky overhead! Chiroptera! Chiroptera! See them coming, hope they're well fed! Like a cloud in the sky on a moonless night You're never really sure if you've seen one! Like a storm in the night You better hope it passes by ‘Cause you're always better off If you never meet one! Chiroptera! Chiroptera! Phantom of the air on high! Chiroptera! Chiroptera! Better hope they just pass by! Verse Preying through the night on owls and fairies Any creature small and weak Waiting in the shadows  For their unsuspecting victims Sinking in their jagged teeth Chorus Chiroptera! Chiroptera! Shadow in the sky overhead! Chiroptera! Chiroptera! See them coming, hope they're well fed! Like a cloud in the sky on a moonless night You're never really sure if you've seen one! Like a storm in the night You better hope it passes by ‘Cause you're always better off If you never meet one! Chiroptera! Chiroptera! Phantom of the air on high! Chiroptera! Chiroptera! Better hope they just pass by!  

In today's conversation, we're going to pick up where we left off last year in our Thru the Bible series with the 3rd king of Israel—the wisest man to ever live (until Jesus, of course), the son of David and the one who finally built the temple—Solomon. We'll see how the feeling of inadequacy at the onset of a new calling tends to result in a beautiful humility and holy understanding of our need for God—and that when we need wisdom, all we have to do is ask for it. We'll see the gracious, loving, abundant heart of our Father God, who delights to not only meet our needs, but also to give us abundantly more than we can ask or imagine. We'll look in awe at how the presence of God showed up at the dedication of the temple, and we'll marvel at the reality that we now get to experience that same presence living within us—and that our truest identity is found in that presence. So, pull up a chair at our table, and let's dive into the conversation.

I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Monday morning, the 28th of April, 2025, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We go straight to the Book of Isaiah 63:9:”In His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bore them and carried them all the days of old.” Then we go to Hebrews 13:5, where the Lord says:”I will never leave you or forsake you.” He says, ”I'll never let you down, never walk off and leave you.” I want to read a little story to you that you know very well, but I think it's worth listening to again because maybe I'm talking to somebody who says, “Lord, where are you? You promised me, Lord, You promised me that You would never leave me, You would never forsake me, but I am going through my deepest time of testing and I need Your help.” It is called Footprints In The Sand:“One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Scenes from my life flashed across the sky. In each, I noticed footprints in the sand, sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there was only one.During the low periods of my life I could see only one set of footprints, so I said, ‘Lord, You promised me that You would walk with me always. Why then when I have needed You the most, You have not been there for me?The Lord replied, “The times when you have seen only one set of footprints, my child, is when I carried You."Father God,I want to pray for my dear friend listening to this message that they will realise that today you have promised us that You will carry us on Your shoulders when we can't walk any longer, and You will strengthen us and You will ensure that we get to our destination which is ultimately to be with You in Heaven, forever and ever, amen.God bless you and have a wonderful day,Goodbye.

Pastor Ernest picks back up after Easter on our MYSTERIES REVEALED series and focused in on the access we have in our relationship with our Father God.Higher Definition Church - OnlineIf you are checking us out for the first time today, let us know by clicking here: https://form.church/Jtcj7ioByHG7f4Ct2kKr If you need prayer, click here: https://app.textinchurch.com/connect-cards/SYtprYv4ArNgqbMsdo8M If you would like to support HD Church financially you can give through Cashapp to $higherdefchurch or online through our website by clicking here: https://higherdefinition.tithelysetup.com/give ....#hdchurch #lifeinHD #onlinechurch #church #churchonline #jacksonville #duval #faith #hope #love

In this message, Billy Humphrey continues the Father Heart of God series by diving into what the Father God is really like!If you want to stay connected with us, you can follow us on Instagram @gatekeepersatl, or to find out more about us in depth, visit gatecityatl.com/gatekeepers!

DIVINE SUPPLY God's Supply System God has a supply system that provides for His people (Psalm 104:1-28, Genesis 1:29-30, Exodus 16:11).   God's Roles   As a Father: God provides for His children. As a King: God rules and provides for His kingdom. As a Creator: God provides for His creation. As a Deity: God is the ultimate provider. Examples of God's Supply Adam: God provided for Adam in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 1:29-30). The Israelites: God provided for the Israelites in the wilderness (Exodus 16:11, Nehemiah 9:20, Psalm 78:29). His Prophets: God provided for His prophets, such as Elijah (1 Kings 17:1, 2 Kings 4:42).  

God's power is especially evident in his mercy.  There are no sins that he can't forgive and his mercy waits upon the smallest opening of repentance and sorrow for sin.  Receiving God's mercy is also the result of being merciful ourselves.  Forgiving others is a condition for being forgiven.  Our own forgiveness and mercy make us like our Father God: constant in love and invincible in goodness. Thanks for listening and supporting Come Away By Yourselves.  Please rate and review the podcast wherever you listen.  Good reviews help spread the show.   https://comeawaybyyourselves.com

 Please note that the 1st part is in English, and the 2nd part is in Malayalam starting at 13:55  mark.  In the Old Testament God points towards the coming of the Savior, Jesus Christ.  All the messages of Father God are revealed in the Old Testament through different prophets.  The New Testament reveals the fulfillment of the prophesies in the Old Testament.  No one in the world other than Jesus has a special kind of birth, death, resurrection and ascension to heaven.  No one else in the world has ever done several miracles, forgiven sins, and given the promise  to come back to get us to heaven.  God has revealed to us everything about His Son, Jesus, through different prophets  centuries before Jesus came down to the earth.   Prophesies about twelve areas of the life of Jesus are discussed. My name... Cicilysunny@gmail.com

When I was growing up, Ihad a father who was a very committed follower of Jesus, but was also verystrict, and honestly, I had a fear of him and his punishments. If I got caughtdoing something bad, I dreaded coming home and facing my dad. I knew that hewas going to meet me with a belt or paddle in his hand and that he would bevery angry at me for disgracing him. I got many whippings that I deserved. (Bythe way, my brother Mark got a whole lot more.) This picture of my fathergrowing up made it tremendously hard for me as a young believer, because foryears I pictured our Father God in the same way.  It was this parable ofthe prodigal son, that eventually gave me a better picture of God's heart andlove toward us as a believer who had willfully strayed away from fellowship withHim. The prodigal son had squandered his inheritance, lived recklessly, and hitrock bottom. Yet, when he finally decided to return home, his father didn'twait for him to clean himself up or earn his way back. The father had been patientlylooking and waiting for him to come home, he saw him from a distance, ran tohim, and embraced him with love and forgiveness before the son could evenfinish his confession.  This is a stunningimage of God's grace. The father's actions break all cultural norms, older menin that time didn't run, especially not to meet a disgraced son. But thisfather runs because his love is unstoppable. He doesn't just forgive; herestores. The robe, the ring, the sandals, and the feast aren't just gifts, they'resymbols of the father's full acceptance, sonship, and celebration. The son camehome expecting rejection or, at best, servitude. Instead, he was met with mercythat transformed him from “lost” to “found,” from “dead” to “alive.”  This is God's heart forevery one of us. No matter how far we've strayed, no matter the weight of ourshame, God is watching, waiting, and ready to run to us the moment we turntoward Him. His grace doesn't demand perfection; it demands only our return. Andwhen we come, He doesn't just forgive—He restores us to our place as Hisbeloved children, clothing us in His righteousness and celebrating our return.  But this story alsochallenges us to reflect: Are we living in the fullness of the Father'sembrace? Or are we still carrying the weight of guilt, believing we're unworthyof His love? And, just as importantly, are we extending this same grace toothers, welcoming them as the Father welcomes us?Today, let this story sink deep into your heart. If you feel far from God—maybebecause of sin, doubt, or shame—know that He is watching for you, ready to runto you with open arms. You don't need to earn His love; you only need to turntoward Him. Take a moment to confess anything that's keeping you distant andtrust that His grace is enough to restore you.  And if you've alreadyexperienced His forgiveness, ask yourself: How can I reflect the Father's heartto others? Is there someone in your life who needs grace, forgiveness, or areminder that they're loved? God calls us to be His ambassadors, showing thesame compassion and celebration for others that He shows us. Today, if you havestrayed from fellowship with the Father, come home to God. Spend time inprayer, confessing any areas where you've wandered and receiving Hisforgiveness. Let go of any shame and embrace your identity as His belovedchild. Also, take the time to extend grace to someone else. Identify one personwho needs encouragement, forgiveness, or love. Reach out to them with a kindword, a gesture of reconciliation, or an invitation to experience God's lovethrough your actions. Prayer: Father, thankYou for running to us with Your love and grace. Forgive us for the times we'vewandered, and help us to rest in Your embrace. Give us courage to return to Youfully and to share Your heart with others.

In this week's episode, Dennis Jernigan shares the story behind his song, "Creatures", from the album "The Chronicles of Bren: Captured – Songs for the Journey". That mp3 is available at https://www.thechroniclesofbren.com/store/captured-songs-for-the-journey-album/ The lyrics can be found below. You can join Dennis and the people of All In All Church for live-stream worship on the first Wednesday evening of each month. Just go to https://www.facebook.com/therealdennisjernigan at 7 PM CST. Mark it in your calendar. Worship with All in All Church - First Wednesday of each month. Daily Devotions for Kingdom Seekers, Vol. 3 is available at https://www.amazon.com/Daily-Devotions-Kingdom-Seekers-Vol-ebook/dp/B081K8TZLX Check out my Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/DennisJernigan and read through the various tiers of support and discover the myriad of benefits you will receive based on the level of support you choose. If you're willing, go ahead and sign up! You will find the show notes and lyrics below:  Welcome to The Dennis Jernigan Podcast. The purpose of this podcast is to help you find healing for your wounds; find hope in your despair; find intimacy in your loneliness; find refuge from the storms of life; Basically, to help you find a deeper walk with Jesus. There is one thing I know after having lived all these years: God wastes nothing. Not our sorrows. Not our wounds. Not even our failures.  Hi. I am your host, Dennis Jernigan, and I am so excited about the next few weeks of the Dennis Jernigan podcast because I absolutely love the subject matter that we're covering. I really do.  For the past few weeks I have been sharing the stories behind songs inspired by a fantasy book series I wrote for my children and grandchildren…but something I have forgotten to tell you (I will blame my forgetfulness on the Parkinson's) is that the underlying reason I wrote these stories was to paint an allegorical picture of what it means to come to Christ for salvation and how to view the word from Christ's point of view. I wrote the books in such a way that people would not be deterred from reading the books if they felt they had overtly religious undertones. You will be able to find pictures of Jesus and discovering none's identity in Christ painted throughout The Chronicles of Bren.  And there's one more thing to tell you. I have actually written 2 series of books. The first series is called The Chronicles of Bren Trilogy and the second series (which is about to have its 4th book completed) called The Bairns of Bren. This second series features my grandchildren as the heroes of the stories and it has become quite a wild ride. I'll let you know when book 4 in that series is available.  You are used to hearing me share the stories behind songs of worship and praise; songs of ministry; songs of comfort; songs from Father God's heart to ours…but the song I am sharing today was inspired by a 3-book series of fantasy novels I wrote for my children and grandchildren way back in 2015. The first book in this three-book series is called Captured (Book 1 in The Chronicles of Bren Trilogy). You may be asking yourself, “Why would a worship leader and song receiver write  series of books and songs about a fantasy world?”  I won't share everything that has led me to the writing of fantasy novels. You can simply listen to the podcasts from the episode called “Riding the Wind” all the way up to today's episode in order to catch up.   This week's song, “Creatures”, was received sometime in 2015 0r 2016 is a very scary song and was intended to paint a picture of the evil that is at work in the spiritual realm. Some of the creatures are good. Some are evil. My goal was to teach my children and grandchildren to walk in discernment and to trust their consciences and to remember that the enemy sometimes presents himself as an angel of light.  My desire is that my grandchildren would learn to be vigilant because the enemy goes about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour with his lies. I'll just mention a few of the lyrics that are meant to instill that vigilance.  Better watch out.  Better watch out When you pass through Forest or valley Whatever you do Better watch out Better watch  Whatever you do Better be watching  But who's watching who?  Following is a list of the creatures found in Bren. Ogres, Werewolves, Terrebithians (a race of men who live under the ground), Hawken (Hawk people who are faifthul to Bren), Wolfen (wolf people who are faithful to Bren), and Treesant (faithful, yet cautious of Bren). Swine rats, demons, unicorns (always good), dragons (fifty fifty chance of being good), fiends (never a good thing), Witches (never good), warlocks (never good).   Captured is a tale as old as time. Day at war with night. I painted a saga of peril and balanced it with faith, because I want my grandchildren to know life is not always easy but it always best lived by walking in faith with Jesus Christ. In this story The Founders represent the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Let me highlight a couple of the creatures to give you some insight as to why I created them. Sylvan – Treesants – These people of the forest – tree spirits, if you will – were inspired by my love for the woods. On our farm, we have acres and acres of forest. In fact, my sons and I have cut trails through the forest and have built a campground in those woods. The campground sits atop a small hill we have dubbed Stirling Mountain after the famous battle of Stirling depicted in the movie about William Wallace, Braveheart.  As a teenager studying vocational agriculture, I actually spent time studying trees and was tested on identifying various species native to Oklahoma. Throughout the history of fantasy and mythological writings there have been depictions of tree spirits. I had to include my own version in this story. The Treesants – Sylvan in particular – represent the mystery of life and the joy of trying to unravel the mystery…which Leonolis never does. But I don't think he will ever stop trying. After all, isn't that where the fun is? Swine Rats – This particular creature was conjured up in my mind by the various wild animals I have experienced throughout my life – especially when growing up in the country. We often see coyotes and deer and bobcats and skunks and woodchucks and raccoons and squirrels and possums. When I was a boy in FFA, I had show animals. I bought my first pig to show at livestock shows when I was a freshman in high school. The pig was purchased from a friend who lived ten miles away. After getting the pig home and placed in the enclosure I had prepared for her, she promptly escaped! I searched for a couple of weeks to no avail. After a futile period of searching, I gave up. A week after my search ended I receive a call from the friend I had bought the pig from. He told me the pig had come back to his birthplace! As I secured the enclosure and went to once again bring my pig home, I could not help but imagine what she had endured and all she might have gone through just to make it those weeks alone in her incredible journey. All of that helped inspire the swine rats. I combined rats with a pig just because rats personify dirty, rotten, scoundrels, soaked in evil to me!  My grandchildren love to scare me and I love to scare them when it is apprpriate. I do not want them to walk in fear but learn to discern when fear comes it can serve as a warning to be alert and to get themselves out of harm's way if necessary. This is meant to be a scary song and is meant to remind us to walk in the light but walk prepared to stand against the darkness with the light of Jesus Christ. SONG [1Pe 5:8 NIV] 8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  I believe the roar of the enemy, Satan, is simply lies…noise meant to cause fear and to lead to temptation. I also believe he is like a lion who, though he makes a lot of noise, has no teeth because his only power over us is deception. It would do us all good to remember that.  I hope this series of songs on my podcast has not been too off-putting for you. These stories truly do give me an inside track to the hearts of my grand children. Many of them are getting old enough now to understand the allegory and the meaning behind it and for that I am grateful.  I hope you find joy and encouragement as you read the books and listen to the songs. They really are refreshing ways to help you find Jesus even through the most difficult times of life.  Thanks for tuning in to The Dennis Jernigan Podcast. For more about me, my story, or my music, visit dennisjernigan.com. You can also catch me on Facebook and Instagram, and find my music on most major streaming services. And hey, if you really want to be a part of my team, you can even become a Patron over at Patreon.com/dennisjernigan. I'd love to have you on board!   The book “Captured” is available at Amazon in paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats. I encourage you to read the book “Captured” and then listen to or download the songs inspired by each of the main characters for FREE. Just go to https://www.thechroniclesofbren.com/store/captured-songs-for-the-journey-album/ and download the entire collection for FREE.  Thanks again for being part of today's podcast. Remember, God loves you, and so do I. Now, I challenge you to rise up and be the warrior for the kingdom God has called to to be today. And I urge you to put off the lies of the enemy and put on the truth of who the Lord says you are and then go and BE who your Heavenly Father says you are… Creatures WORDS & MUSIC Dennis Jernigan ©2016 DennisJernigan Verse Ogres and werewolves and Terrebithians Hawken and Wolfen and Treesant Myriad creatures inhabiting Bren Some of the dark - Some of Light Swine rats and demons, a unicorn or two Dragons and various fiends Myriad creatures inhabiting Bren Some of the Day - Some of night Chorus Better watch out! Better watch out when you pass through! Forest or a valley - whatever you do! Better watch out! Better watch whatever you do! Better be watching But who's watching who? Verse Witches and warlocks and men of every race With just a thin veil in between them Darkness has no place to go in the Light But always they're hiding its face! Chorus So you better watch out! Better watch out when you pass through! Forest or a valley - whatever you do! Better watch out! Better watch whatever you do! Better be watching But who's watching who? Better be watching But who's watching who? Bridge Tale as old as time Day at war with night Tale as old as time Day at war with Light Chorus So you better watch out! Better watch out when you pass through! Forest or a valley - whatever you do! Better watch out! Better watch whatever you do! Better be watching But who's watching who? Better be watching But who's watching who?

Send us a textI have prayed and will continue praying for those who have given me throughout the years. However, last week God began to minister to my spirit that many of you have done for me what Cornelius in Acts 10 did for the poor and needy. Throughout the years with my sons, grandchildren and even now as I'm in my golden years there are those who continually give to me because God, not me, makes them aware of my needs or just lays it on their hearts to give to me and this ministry. I have never, ever had to beg or ask. For each of you who have poured out into my life, into the lives of my children and even my grandchildren as I raised them, I pray that your prayers and giving to the poor will always be remembered by God. I pray that He will bless you, keep you, watch over you and provide you with divine health, joy, peace and prosperity. For those who have given not only to me but to others who are in need may your prayers and giving be remembered by God as He remembered the prayers and giving of Cornelius. May your prayers be heard and answered, immediately, suddenly and without hesitation. May your prayers always line up with the word and will of our Father so that He may be glorified and that He will unhesitantly bless you and your families all the days of your lives. May the answers to your petitions be met and given according to Ephesians 3:20 in the Amplified Version; Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us, I ask this on your behalf of our Father God in the name of His Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen and Amen! To hear more of what our Father is speaking to us in this week's message click on the buzzsprout.com link or go to your favorite podcast app and look for This Is the Voice of the Prophet. Then look for the title, MANIPULATION OR SOUND DOCTRINE? WHICH ARE YOU GETTING WHEN IT COMES TO GIVING? PART 2Support the show

In this week's episode, Dennis Jernigan shares the story behind his song, "Jidgel! Jidgel!", from the album "The Chronicles of Bren: Captured – Songs for the Journey". That mp3 is available at https://www.thechroniclesofbren.com/store/captured-songs-for-the-journey-album/ The lyrics can be found below. You can join Dennis and the people of All In All Church for live-stream worship on the first Wednesday evening of each month. Just go to https://www.facebook.com/therealdennisjernigan at 7 PM CST. Mark it in your calendar. Worship with All in All Church - First Wednesday of each month. Daily Devotions for Kingdom Seekers, Vol. 3 is available at https://www.amazon.com/Daily-Devotions-Kingdom-Seekers-Vol-ebook/dp/B081K8TZLX Check out my Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/DennisJernigan and read through the various tiers of support and discover the myriad of benefits you will receive based on the level of support you choose. If you're willing, go ahead and sign up! You will find the show notes and lyrics below:    Welcome to The Dennis Jernigan Podcast. The purpose of this podcast is to help you find healing for your wounds; find hope in your despair; find intimacy in your loneliness; find refuge from the storms of life; Basically, to help you find a deeper walk with Jesus. There is one thing I know after having lived all these years: God wastes nothing. Not our sorrows. Not our wounds. Not even our failures.  Hi. I am your host, Dennis Jernigan, and I am so excited about the next few weeks of the Dennis Jernigan podcast because I absolutely love the subject matter that we're covering.   For the past few weeks I have been sharing the stories behind songs inspired by  fantasy book series I wrote for my children and grandchildren. You are used to hearing me share the stories behind songs of worship and praise; songs of ministry; songs of comfort; songs from Father God's heart to ours…but the song I am sharing today was inspired by a 3-book series of fantasy novels I wrote for my children and grandchildren way back in 2015. The first book in this three-book series is called Captured (Book 1 in The Chronicles of Bren Trilogy). You may be asking yourself, “Why would a worship leader and song receiver write  series of books and songs about a fantasy world?”  I won't share everything that has led me to the writing of fantasy novels. You can simply listen to the podcasts from “Riding the Wind' to today's episode in order to catch up. That being said, I will share a brief story that may give you insight into the reason I would create a fantasy world.  For many years, from my early childhood and even well into my early adult years, I felt rejected by most people and had a deep desire to know my father's love for me. I had already believed the lie of the enemy, deeming myself unlovable. Each night as I went to bed, I would dream of being a little boy on the starship enterprise and my dad was Captain James Tiberius Kirk. My mother was Doris Day and she was always singing Que sera sera, whatever will be will be. Each night in those dreams, I found myself captured by aliens, placed in captivity, and being readied for execution. Just as I was about to be destroyed, my dad, Captain Kirk, would materialize with his weapon, his phaser, set not on stun but on destroy. Every night I was rescued in those dreams and I woke up right at the moment of rescue. As I have looked back now, I can see how creatively God engineered those dreams to paint a picture of what he had already done for me by the work of the cross. He used fantasy through my dreams to paint a picture of his great love for me. I truly believe that with all my heart. And that is the reason I am sharing these songs from my fantasy books.  The song I am sharing on this week's episode is called “Jidgel! Jidgel!”, a song I wrote for the book “Captured (Book 1 in the The Chronicles of Bren Trilogy). “Captured” is my life story written in allegory as a legacy to my children and grandchildren. As I wrote the books, I envisioned what it might sound like if Disney ever made a movie based on these books. I completed the songs for the first two books but never got around to writing songs for book three. That book is about my vision for my 9 children…and their real-life stories are still being written. They will need to write their own songs.  This week's song, “Jidgel! Jidjel!”, was received sometime in 2015 0r 2016 and was intended to infuse a bit of humor in the story as well as to paint a picture of taking ownership of our own feelings and attitudes and points of view, that regardless of our circumstances, we can choose joy. In the land of Bren, there is a place known as The Forbidden Swamp. It is massive and almost impassable, yet due to circumstances, our protagonist, Leonolis, needs to find a way through The Forbidden Swamp. He is led to a feisty old man, named Jidgel to seek a way through.   The name for this character was invented by one of my sons when he was just a boy. My son is one of the most creative people I know. One of  his funniest ideas was the way he spoke about what he would call his one-day children. He told me that when he had a son he would call him Jidgel! I never forgot that and decided that this character's name had to be Jidgel. Jidgel represents self-reliance and personal responsibility…and also a beacon of wisdom. Jidgel lives alone and fends for himself in the swamp, daring to live where others fear to tread. As a result, he sees through the trappings of government and superficiality of mankind and evokes a sense of accepting people just because of who they are and not for what they can do for him. Leonolis trusts him quickly once he discerns the wisdom coming from this feisty little man.  Jidgel was one of my favorite characters to write.  He is very curmudgeonly and bluntly honest and has no fear of what others may think or say of him. Leonolis asks Jidjel to show him the way through the swamp and the keeper of the swamp, as Jidgel is known, challenges him to walk in wisdom. His purpose is to challenge young men and women, to not hold others responsible for their feelings or their attitudes or for their lots in life. He challenges them to hold themselves responsible and to walk as one who is responsible. He believes it is weakness to  blame others for your misfortunes. He challenges Lronolis to learn to make something beautiful even out of his misfortunes just as Jidgel saw beauty in a place most others in the Kingdom avoided. I absolutely love this song. Sorry you're about to get a song stuck in your head for a few hours, but it's just fun to say and sing the name Jidgel… SONG Jidgel showed reverence to the boy, Leonolis, but was very honest with him. Though Jidgel was not a constant character throughout the three book series, he is one of my favorites simply because he loved Leonolis enough to be honest with him. His character could have written these words from Pro 3:11-26 NIV 11 My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, 12 because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. 13 Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, 14 for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. 16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. 17 Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed. 19 By wisdom the LORD laid the earth's foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place; 20 by his knowledge the watery depths were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew. 21 My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion; 22 they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. 23 Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble. 24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. 25 Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, 26 for the LORD will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared.  I hope you find joy and encouragement as you read the books and listen to the songs. They really are refreshing ways to help you find Jesus even through the most difficult times of life. And besides, laughter does good like a medicine. Just try saying the name Jidgel without at least smiling a bit!    Thanks for tuning in to The Dennis Jernigan Podcast. For more about me, my story, or my music, visit dennisjernigan.com. You can also catch me on Facebook and Instagram, and find my music on most major streaming services. And hey, if you really want to be a part of my team, you can even become a Patron over at Patreon.com/dennisjernigan. I'd love to have you on board!   The book “Captured” is available at Amazon in paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats. I encourage you to read the book “Captured” and then listen to or download the songs inspired by each of the main characters for FREE. Just go to https://www.thechroniclesofbren.com/store/captured-songs-for-the-journey-album/ and download the entire collection for FREE.  Thanks again for being part of today's podcast. Remember, God loves you, and so do I. Now, I challenge you to rise up and be the warrior for the kingdom God has called to to be today. And I urge you to put off the lies of the enemy and put on the truth of who the Lord says you are and then go and BE who your Heavenly Father says you are… Jidgel! Jidjel! Verse  Man of the swamp Man of the fen Man of the water and reed Man of his word Man among men Meeter of shelter and need Chorus Jidgel! Jidjel! Curmudgeon short and stout Jidgel! Jidjel! What is life about? Lack-it-y loo! Didgeridoo! Tell me what life is about to you Lolly-go-lie! Lolly-go-loo! Show me the way to get through Verse  Eater of fish Drinker of wine Shorter than average men Taller in heart Taller in mind Defender of Truth, you're his friend Chorus Jidgel! Jidjel! Curmudgeon short and stout Jidgel! Jidjel! What is life about? Lack-it-y loo! Didgeridoo! Tell me what life is about to you Lolly-go-lie! Lolly-go-loo! Show me the way to get through Bridge I can go around  But I'd rather go through I think that's what you would do Tell me what I know  That I know to be true Show me the way to get through Chorus Jidgel! Jidjel! Curmudgeon short and stout Jidgel! Jidjel! What is life about? Lack-it-y loo! Didgeridoo! Tell me what life is about to you Lolly-go-lie! Lolly-go-loo! Show me the way to get through Show me the way to get through Show me the way to get through 

No one has ever been able to replicate human life, not in a lab or even theoretically. Humans are capable of much, but creating life is not on the list. And that's one of many reasons that God is so amazing. Think about this the next time you have an insurmountable problem: Jesus' physical body died on the cross. He was buried in a stone tomb, and three days later, God raised Him from the dead. And this is the one thing that gave the apostles their boldness in sharing the Gospel, a dangerous thing for a Roman subject. They saw Jesus after His resurrection, and knew that no one could separate them from an all-powerful God. Revelation 19:16 says, “On His robe and on His thigh, He has this name written: King of Kings and Lord of Lords.” Remember that for God—no miracle is too big or too small. He raised Jesus from the dead to complete His mission for all of us. Because He lives, your future is bright. Let's pray. Father God, in seasons of stress, it's a great comfort to know that you control everything and that nothing is too big for you. We want to share this Good News with the world. In Jesus' name, amen. Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

 John 8:12-428:29 – Jesus said, “And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do these things that are pleasing to Him.” എന്നെ അയച്ചവൻ എന്നോടുകൂടെ ഉണ്ടു; ഞാൻ എല്ലായ്പോഴുംഅവന്നു പ്രസാദമുള്ളതു ചെയ്യുന്നതുകൊണ്ടു അവൻ എന്നെ ഏകനായി വിട്ടിട്ടില്ല ” എന്നു പറഞ്ഞു. Please note that the 1st part is in English, and the 2nd part is in Malayalam starting at 14:20 mark.All people other than atheists believe in God.  The only person in the world who has revealed God with authority  is Jesus Christ because He is the only Son of God.   Lots of people believe in God without knowing who He is.  If they have known that Jesus is speaking about the same God, they would have loved Jesus.  People who love Jesus do so because they believe in God and know about Him through Jesus.  Because of the ignorance of people, they love religions more than God, call different gods, worship idols and ignore Jesus who is the Savior of the world and who dedicated His life for the redemption of each and every one of us. It is the desire of Father God and Jesus to bring everyone in the world to heaven.  The spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, is still in our midst to guide, help and heal us.   My name... Cicilysunny@gmail.com

As humans, we compartmentalize, don't we? By that we mean, it is in our nature to rank priorities, then even lose sight of some of them. This can often lead us to confusion about which direction we're supposed to go.This confusion can even extend to faith itself. We wonder, “When am I supposed to pray, and when am I supposed to act on faith?”Psalm 34:1 says, “I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.”When we get the Word deep in our hearts, we always have a ready answer for our personal questions. This sweet psalm tells us that we are to always remember the great gifts Father God bestows on us. His greatness is ever before us and in this way, we can worship Him all the time, no matter what we are doing.Learn to bless the Lord and praise Him as you do your job, as you fellowship with others, even as you engage with people who don't believe as you do. They need to see the love of Christ shining through you.Let's pray.Lord, we bless you and praise you with our words. Thank you, Father, for never ever forgetting us. In Jesus' name, amen. Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

Many Christians wrestle with doubt, but who wants to admit that their foundational beliefs are not so firm? Not long ago, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, openly admitted that he's questioned if God is real. When the head of the Church of England says something like that, it makes news.But something interesting came from Welby's honesty. He revealed his humanity. It turns out that the Archbishop lost a baby girl in a car accident many years ago, and when he was a teenager, he had to take care of his alcoholic father. He's human with human difficulties. We are human, and we struggle sometimes.  Can we be honest? While a lifetime of doubt is dangerous, periods of doubt simply mark one as being human, but faith can help us overcome doubt.In the Bible, we read in Hebrews 11:1, “Now, faith is the subject of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11 continues with many examples of faith in action, and at its core, the Christian faith means we believe God sent Jesus Christ to pay the penalty for our sins on the cross, and that God raised Him from the dead. While mountaintop faith is exciting, and it makes us feel good, no one experiences that all the time. Sometimes it's difficult to believe certain things in the Bible. Sometimes we don't feel faith in our lives.It's important to remember that simply expressing doubt can lead to healing and a more faithful future. If you're a struggling believer or a questioning skeptic, this subject is one of the most important you'll ever wrestle with. Stay tuned.Let's pray. Father God, often we push down thoughts that are painful or uncomfortable. We don't have to do that with you, Lord. Even doubts about our faith are conversations that we can start with you, and we're grateful for that. In Jesus' name, amen. Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” — Mark 9:7 From the cloud on the mount of transfiguration, God said, “This is my Son.” Here God identifies Jesus so that his disciples will have no doubt about his identity. This is God's Son, whom God sent to earth for a purpose. And that purpose was about to become clearer in the coming weeks. Jesus' mission would soon lead to his death and resurrection for us all. “Whom I love.” God's feeling for his Son is also clear. God didn't send his Son to earth on some deadly mission because he didn't care about him. God loved his Son with every part of his being. This was a selfless act by a loving Father who hurt deeply because of what was about to happen. “Listen to him!” This command was directed at Jesus' disciples who were with him that day, and it is directed at you and me today. Jesus told his disciples why he had come and what he was about to do, but they didn't always listen or understand. It was very important, though, that they understand! Only when they understood what Jesus was doing could they share it with everyone else they came into contact with—as he would command them to do later (Matthew 28:18-20). Similarly, only when we listen can we fulfill God's commands as well. So as we read God's Word, let's listen to what Jesus is saying! Father God, thank you for loving Jesus and for sending him to us. Help us to listen to him faithfully each day. Amen.

259. God Speaks to His Kids . . . Here's How with Chris Allen   **Transcription Below**   “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27 NIV   Questions and Topics We Discuss: How can we actually disciple our children to listen to God and recognize when they are hearing from the Holy Spirit as well? You've stated, "If you want to hear him, cultivate wonder." Will you elaborate? What are some follow up questions we can ask our kids to actually put this into practice?   Chris Allen is married to Rachael and they have three kids. Chris has a masters degree in spiritual formation from Richmont Graduate University and he is a trained spiritual director. Previously Chris was a pastor in full time ministry for many years, but he is also a technology entrepreneur and is currently working in the technology group at Chick-fil-A.    Other Episode Mentioned from The Savvy Sauce:   231 Stories Series: Faith Building Miracles with Dave Pridemore   Thank You to Our Sponsor:  Sam Leman Eureka   Connect with The Savvy Sauce on Facebook or Instagram or Our Website   Please help us out by sharing this episode with a friend, leaving a 5-star rating and review, and subscribing to this podcast!   Gospel Scripture: (all NIV)   Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”   Romans 3:24 “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”   Romans 3:25 (a) “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.”    Hebrews 9:22 (b) “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”    Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”    Romans 5:11 “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”    John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”   Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”    Luke 15:10 says “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”   Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”   Ephesians 1:13–14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession- to the praise of his glory.”   Ephesians 1:15–23 “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”   Ephesians 2:8–10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God‘s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“   Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.“   Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”   **Transcription**   Music: (0:00 – 0:09)   Laura Dugger: (0:10 - 1:36) Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, where we have practical chats for intentional living. I'm your host, Laura Duggar, and I'm so glad you're here.    The principles of honesty and integrity that Sam Leman founded his business on continue today, over 55 years later, at Sam Leman Chevrolet Eureka.   Owned and operated by the Birchie family, Sam Leman and Eureka appreciates the support they've received from their customers all over Central Illinois and beyond. Visit them today at samlemanchevy.com.    Chris Allen is my guest today.   He has a master's degree in spiritual formation from Richmond Graduate University, and he's also a trained spiritual director. Previously, Chris was in full-time ministry as a pastor for many years, but he's also a technology entrepreneur, and currently he's working in the technology group at Chick-fil-A. Chris and my husband, Mark, actually go way back, so I've also invited Mark to come along with me today to interview Chris as we ask him more about cultivating wonder in our children and helping them to understand how to hear from God so that they can enjoy a conversational relationship with the Lord.   Here's our chat. Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, Mark, and Chris.   Mark Dugger: (1:38 - 1:39) Hey, thanks. Great to be here.    Chris Allen: (1:39 – 1:41) Yeah, it's great to be here.   Laura Dugger: (1:42 - 1:48) Well, I just want to start off and have both of you just take us back to how you two initially met.   Chris Allen: (1:49 - 2:20) Oh, gosh, that's dangerous, Laura. Are you sure you want to do that? Well, Mark and I met in, I think it was fourth grade. But I've kind of known for not having the best memory, so I could have that off.   Maybe Mark will correct me, but yeah, starting somewhere in maybe sixth grade, we started kind of being pretty close and spent a lot, a lot of years together through middle school and high school and into adulthood, so it's been a while. Yeah, Mark?   Mark Dugger: (2:20 - 2:32) I'm pretty sure we were in the nursery together at church growing up, so clearly you meant more to me than I meant to you. I think is what it's coming down to, but that's okay.   Chris Allen: (2:33 - 2:38) I know that's been a theme in our relationship, but you are very important to me, Mark.   Mark Dugger: (2:39 - 2:58) No, I just remember a mutual friend of ours moved away, and I think that was the catalyst for us starting to hang out. You lived right behind him. I would go to his house all the time, and then when he moved away, that was kind of the catalyst for us to start hanging out, and then I feel like we were pretty much inseparable from then on.   Chris Allen: (2:59 - 3:07) See, it's always good to have at least someone who remembers, but I do know that you're important to me today.   Mark Dugger: (3:08 - 3:10) Well, thank you, Chris.   Laura Dugger: (3:11 - 3:34) Well, and it's been awesome just to hear the stories of growing up together and being close through all the years, but you guys also had so many unique opportunities. As I hear how both of you had a faith at a reasonably young age, so I'd love to hear from both of you, what were some of your experiences through those formative years that grew your faith?   Chris Allen: (3:39 - 5:27) Yeah. Looking back on those years is kind of interesting for me. I became captivated by Jesus around the age of 13, and it really kind of consumed my time, at least mostly, and not because I needed to or had to.   It was I wanted to. In our church community, mostly our youth group, just kind of became honestly where I spent most of my time. Mark and I kind of experienced that together. So, I think we had a lot of time there.   We had a really tight-knit community. And then the other big thing was pretty early, we both kind of got invited into participating in God's work in different ways. We would lead things at our youth group.   We started leading things. Other youth groups started having us come in, and we had a worship band, and we would facilitate study and some teaching. But looking back at that, I'm like, oh my gosh, I can't believe they let me lead anything.   And so, it really, for me, illuminates how God has chosen to work in our lives. He invites us to participate in His kingdom. There is no qualification for that.   It's just as we are. And then He uses our participation not only to create fruit, like others are impacted by it, but He also shapes us in the process. And so, I think that's always true.   It's true today of all of us, but I can see it a little bit more clearly when I look back at that season. Yeah.   Mark Dugger: (5:29 - 6:20) Well, Chris, you glossed over the fact about talking about the praise band that we were part of and how I was really the core being the manager, aka sound manager. It was awful. I was literally there with no musical inclination whatsoever, and I was only there by association because you guys were awesome musicians, leading worship in incredible ways.   And I was the tagalong who we would do sound checks, and you would be like, “hey, Mark, can you turn up the left monitor? No, no, no, no, not that one. The other monitor. No, wait, no. You know what? I'm just going to come back and just do it for you.”   And so really, I was the glue that held everyone together. You didn't really talk about that part.   Chris Allen: (6:21 - 6:51) Yeah. I'm so glad you brought it up, Mark. Yeah, there was a lot of trips running from the stage to the soundboard to do the thing I was trying to get Mark to do.   But no, Mark, you were incredibly supportive in those years. All that was accurate, except for the amazing musician part. We maybe could say that about him, but for me, I think I knew just enough to maybe get through the song.   Mark Dugger: (6:52 - 8:45) Well, I was going to say, in all seriousness, there was one particular retreat I remember specifically, and you let me do the closing message at the very end, and it was going to be on the Prodigal Son. And I remember being like, this is one of those cool experiences that's still surreal to me that came in. I felt like I was kind of the closing deal. And so, I remember there being a lot of pride involved in that.   And I remember hearing about the Prodigal Son and knowing that story really well. And I came in just thinking, all right, I'm just going to just bring it and it's going to be amazing. And all of these kids are going to come and know the Lord.   And I remember even in my arrogance and pride, God still shined through. And I remember getting off that stage when I was about to walk off. I remember just, I even like forgot my words at one point and walked off the stage.   And it was absolutely, I felt embarrassed, and I felt like I had just failed God through my pride and arrogance. And then all of a sudden, you came in and kind of rescued this amazing moment and really closed out that message. And I'll just never forget how shaping that was for me, that seeing even in spite of arrogance and pride and fault and sin of my own, that God can still use those things for His good.   And I just remember that being such a shaping moment for me. And really just, I think it further grew our friendship just to see, you just kind of pick me up in that way and answer God's call and have the courage just to kind of lead through it there. So, I just remember that being just a profound moment in my faith and growth.   Chris Allen: (8:47 - 9:01) Yeah. Well, that's a great example of just the kinds of things we got to experience at that age. And I think it was really formative for both of us to get to do that in middle school and high school years.   Laura Dugger: (9:03 - 9:28) And I've just gotten to know this over the years, hearing all of these stories of the two of you and Adam Johnson, who was part of the band. And it's incredible to be so close in friendship still, all three of you, and now they're awesome wives. And so, switching gears though, from the past now, Chris, can you catch us up on your current life stage with your family as well?   Chris Allen: (9:29 - 10:34) Well, the biggest news is we just got a new pup. I don't know if you can hear him barking in the background, but Walt is our newest member. He's a little Shih poos.   So, he is a fluffy monster, which is wonderful when you're petting him, not so great when you have to pay for the grooming. But it's actually, it's been really good. We've talked about getting a dog for a lot of years, and our kids are just at the perfect season to soak it up.   So, we have three kids, 11, 9, and 6 (Ryan, Ramsey and Harvey) and my wife, Rachel. We are coming up on 16 years of marriage here this fall. So yeah, that's the season we're in.   We're having a lot of fun. It's like, you know, people keep telling me like, you're in the golden years. And I feel like we're actually experiencing it and enjoying it for the most part.   Of course, there's always, always the things. But yes, that's where we are.   Mark Dugger: (10:35 - 11:23) So, I want to go back here recently. We were on a drive down to Atlanta, and our kids love their phone conversations with Uncle Chris on the way down. And I just remember one specific instance where we were talking to you and asking you about this experience you had to, you were asked to lead a retreat for Ryan's school.   And we were just blown away by what you were learning, what you were experiencing, and then especially how you talked about growing in faith and really building a life of relationship with God and your kids. So, do you mind kind of just sharing us a little synopsis of that talk and what that looked like?   Chris Allen: (11:25 - 19:12) Yes, I'd be happy to. But first, I feel like the audience should know that most of my calls with your girls in the van are Uncle Chris trying to sell them a pizza or order a pizza with random things on it or making up like random songs or being a random character. So, it's mostly joking conversation.   And I'm not actually their uncle. We've just given me that title because we're close. But yeah, that's most of our conversations.   But yeah, I got invited to be the speaker at the fifth-grade retreat for my son's class. So, it was like a three-day retreat for their grade at his school. And as I was wrestling with like, okay, well, what, you know, what am I going to share?   I don't do that sort of thing that often. So, I'm usually excited when I get the opportunity to, but was just kind of sorting out, all right, what, like, God, what do you want to share with them? And this thought, actually, I should say, this was planned way in advance, and like, like, six to eight months in advance.   And it was kind of like in the back of my mind for a lot of months. And I had nothing like I had no clarity about what I was gonna talk about. And of course, you know, as you get closer and closer, you know, it starts to like, be a little bit more on your mind.   But I kept coming back to this thought of like, no, like, you know, God will bring clarity when he's ready. And trying to hold on to that thought. And then as we got like two weeks out, this thought just came, it was like, what if they began a conversational life with God at fifth grade?   Like, I've been working on this project that's kind of about how to help adults develop a conversational life with God. And before this moment, like I had not put these two opportunities together. But once that thought came, like, it just lit me up.   Because obviously, I have three kids that are kind of in that stage. And, you know, we're constantly pursuing them spiritually and trying to help them explore who God is. But that's not necessarily easy.   And obviously, trying to help them develop their own life with God, which is not easy, you know, they're kids, and they see things differently. And so for me, it was like, wow, what if they started now? You know, for adults, I think it's really hard.   Like prayer can mean a lot of things. I think most adults feel like prayer or conversation with God is somewhat hard. It's something they struggle with, typically something they want more of, but maybe don't feel super successful in.   So, the thought was, you know if you start in fifth grade, what would that change? Um, so I kind of went on a journey of trying to think about how could I help them? How could I help them explore this?   How could I help them start a conversational life with God? And that that kind of ended up being, you know, what the series of talks that I gave throughout the retreat were. So, my second thing was around like, if you want to hear him, you've got to cultivate wonder, which I'll come back to in just a second.   And then my third thing is, was teaching them to pay attention to their thought life, which we can dive into more. But the wonder piece, it may not be obvious, like why wonder, you know, why is that important? Um, so let me just speak to that for a second.   So, uh, the way I like to think about wonder is if you've ever been snorkeling in like the ocean, ideally in really clear water, uh, there's this moment, like, right. So, like you go out on a boat, you get to the spot where you're going to snorkel, you've got all your gear, you get in the water. And there's this moment where you're, you're about to go underwater, but before you do your head's still above the water, right.   And in this moment, you're like so close to beginning to see this whole new world that's underneath the water. Uh, but for this moment, your eyeline is above the water and you're really like, that's all you see. Like you really, you really can't, like, if you look down, you just see kind of like this fuzzy picture, right.   This distorted kind of water picture. Uh, but you can see for miles and miles across the top of the water, you see the sky, like there's so much above the water that you can see. Right.   And then you put your goggles on, and you drop your head down like six inches. And all of a sudden there's this whole other world, uh, that you really didn't have access to before that moment, right. You couldn't really see what was going on down there until you put your head under the water.   Uh, but then all of a sudden you start to see, you know, depths of the ocean. Uh, you know, reefs, all these, you know, different colors, all these different fish, wildlife, you know. Um, and then the same is kind of true when you're underwater. Like if you go underwater and look up, you can like see a vague color of the sky, but it's kind of all distorted.   So, I like this analogy because it kind of, it's like you almost have like two totally separate kingdoms, right? Like the underwater world and the above water world, they are right next to each other. There is this point at which they touch, but they operate so differently.   Like, you know, everything underwater is different, right? You can't breathe, like oxygen is different. Uh, you know, uh, the way you move is different.   You got to swim, you can't walk. Like the way things work underwater is different than how they work out of water. And I think the kingdom of God in the kingdom of earth is kind of similar.   Like there is a threshold at which they touch, but they, they operate so differently. Like the kingdom of God is just different. It's different than what we know in the kingdom of earth.   So essentially, uh, I kind of see like all of life is us, you know, trying to, or working towards participating with God in the kingdom. His kingdom, uh, while we are operating here on earth and the kingdom of earth. Um, and so wonder for me is, is like the goggles, uh, that help us move back and forth between kingdom of earth and kingdom of God. Uh, like when you put the goggles on, you know, you can, you can open your eyes underwater depending on the water, uh, but you can see so much better with, with goggles.   And so, um, wonder for me is like, is the vehicle that helps me move towards the kingdom of God. So, um, I'll, I'll, I'll share more about kind of like how I talked with the kids about that, but God speaks to his kids. If you want to hear them cultivate wonder.   And then lastly, pay attention to your thoughts. Uh, so that's, that's kind of what we talked about.   Laura Dugger: (19:14 - 21:09) And now a brief message from our sponsor. Sam Leman Chevrolet Eureka has been owned and operated by the Birchie family for over 25 years. A lot has changed in the car business since Sam and Steven's grandfather, Sam Leman opened his first Chevrolet dealership over 55 years ago.   If you visit their dealership today, though, you'll find that not everything has changed. They still operate their dealership like their grandfather did with honesty and integrity. Sam and Steven understand that you have many different choices in where you buy or service your vehicle.   This is why they do everything they can to make the car buying process as easy and hassle-free as possible. They are thankful for the many lasting friendships that began with a simple welcome to Sam Leman's. Their customers keep coming back because they experienced something different.   I've known Sam and Steven and their wives my entire life and I can vouch for their character and integrity, which makes it easy to highly recommend you to check them out today. Your car buying process doesn't have to be something you dread. So come see for yourself at Sam Leman Chevrolet and Eureka.   Sam and Steven would love to see you and they appreciate your business. Learn more at their website, samlemanchevy.com or visit them on Facebook by searching for Sam Leman Eureka. You can also call them at 309-467-2351.   Thanks for your sponsorship.    Well, and I love all of those. So let's just slow it down and kind of go through all three, beginning with that first statement that you make that God speaks to his kids.   And from previous conversations, I know that Mark and I agree with you on that, but not everybody does. Even those who are in the faith community may not agree that God is still speaking to his children. And so, what would you say is the basis for your belief on that?   Chris Allen: (21:11 - 23:18) Yeah, that's a big question. Well, you know, I think, I think it's pretty clear in scripture. Like, you know, we have in John 10 where he says, “I'm the good shepherd.   I know my sheep and my sheep will know, they'll know my voice. They listen to me.” Like, and if you read that section, it's not only that, like, he speaks, it's that like, it almost sounds like it's easy.   Like the sheep don't have to work to know who their master is like, or the shepherd is like, they know his voice. you know, like when the shepherd calls, the sheep can instantly know if it's his voice or not. you know, quick, funny story. I wasn't planning on telling you, but my wife is an identical twin. And when we first started dating her and her twin shared a phone, a cell phone.   So we're in college, we start dating. I would call my girlfriend, not knowing if she was going to answer the phone or if her sister was going to answer the phone. And I had to know, just based on the tone of their voice, which one it was could get in big trouble if I get this wrong.   Right. So, you know, I learned, I learned her voice. Right.   And the same is true, obviously, with like our kids, like they can tell the difference between your voice and some other parents voice. Right. Did you always get it right?   Did I always get it right? There was a few times where it was a little hard. Usually a lot of times, like there was context clues, you know, like just by the way they would talk to me, but sometimes like Rebecca would answer and just say like, “Hey, and you know.” it's like, that's all I got to work with is a “Hey, you know”?   And, you know, I wasn't quite sure for a moment. So, I would ask a question to get more talking going, and then I would figure out who this was. So, yeah.   Mark Dugger: (23:19 - 23:21) That's good. Sorry, I derailed you there.   Laura Dugger: (23:22 - 23:44) I'll bring us back because I think that's so profound, even how you said context clues. So, I'll bring it back. You were talking first, John 10:14.   “I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep know me”. And then also a few verses later in 27, where he says, “my sheep listen to my voice. I know them and they follow me.”   Chris Allen: (23:47 - 25:06) Yeah, I think. And then I think also like Jesus modeled this throughout his whole life. Like we would, you know, I and the Father are one, He would often retreat for time with the Father.   He seemed very clear on what the Father was saying. I mean, I realized there's a divinity gap between looking at how Jesus operated and maybe how we are. But then He also says, “like, it's better for Me to leave because I'm going to send my Helper, the Holy Spirit.”   And I think we see in that language, an even more intimate relationship. Like Jesus is in, like God is in us, you know? So, I don't think like when I study scripture, I don't think God intended for it to be hard for us to hear Him.   Which is why, you know, I'm interested in this topic. And as a lot of people that I interact, do struggle with that, and I struggle with that in my own life. I don't want to just accept that, you know?   So that's kind of what motivates me in this topic. It gets me excited to talk about it.   Mark Dugger: (25:09 - 25:12) That's cool. You have something else you wanted to say?   Chris Allen: (25:13 - 31:40) Well, I was kind of going back to the retreat. So, I think, you know, one of the biggest hurdles when I was in with the kids, as well as I think with us, even as adults, is first just acknowledging that we don't notice everything. Like there's things happening around us that we just simply don't notice.   If you're like me, like I feel like I'm fairly observant. And I do notice a lot of things. And I typically kind of feel like I'm right about things, you know, or I feel like my take is kind of on point.   It can be hard to admit this, but the reality is like there's so much happening around us that we actually don't notice. So, when I was talking to the kids, this was like the first thing that I tried to establish. So, I had this opening slide that said, if you're reading this, put your finger on your nose.   And so, as I come up to talk, I mean, I'm just introducing myself for the first time. Hey, everyone, I'm so glad to be here. My name is Chris. Mr. Chris, you know, and I'm starting to talk to them, you know, leading into our time together. The whole time behind me is this slide. If you're reading this, put your finger on your nose. And so, as I'm talking, you know, certain kids started putting their finger on their nose, but as I went on for like five or 10 minutes, right.   And in the end, you know, maybe a third of them had their finger on their nose. And so, I was like, you know, the first thing I want to establish with us together is an idea that there's things happening around you that you do not notice. And to convince you that that is true.   I want you to look around and notice your friends who have their finger on their nose. And the reason is because of the slide behind me that you haven't noticed yet. Right.   And so, it was a really fun way just to help them go like, oh, interesting. I guess I don't notice everything. And then we kind of moved to this idea of taking on a posture of curiosity.   And so, I was like, I want you to imagine that we or I was like, does anybody know a name of a famous detective? You know, they're shouting out names and stuff. So, we landed on Sherlock Holmes.   OK, well, Sherlock Holmes was here in the room with us, and he was trying to solve a mystery. What do you think he would do? And, you know, hands start going up.   He'd look for clues. Like, yeah, that's right. He'd look around.   You know, he's trying to figure out clues to solve the mystery. Right. And so, cultivating this posture of curiosity of like, OK, if things are happening around me that I don't notice.   And I want to notice them, like, what would that look like? I've got to start getting curious about my life, about the things that are already in it. And why are they there?   And so that's really kind of at the root of this idea of cultivating wonder is looking at your life and the things that are already in it and wondering about them. I'll give you an example. Our oldest, Ryan, is going into middle school, a transition which there's been a little bit of energy about in our house.   But near the end of fifth grade, Ryan was a little bit unsure what school he wanted to go to. He wasn't sure if he wanted the school that they are in which goes K through 12. So, he had the option of staying there.   But he also had the option of potentially moving to a different school. And he had some friends that are going to move. And that was kind of a catalyst for a lot of the conversation.   So, for a lot of that time, you know, just to be transparent, there was a lot of worry and anxiety as we were trying to discern, like, which school should he go to? And, you know, you've got layers that you've got my take on, you've got Rachel's take on it, you've got Ryan's take on it, right? And all of course, his parents, like, you know, we don't want to just make a call and force him, you know. We really want him to be bought in.   And at the same time, we have a sense of what we think. And so for a while, we were just kind of doing what I call wandering. Wwe were just wandering around within this topic, like, you know, Rachel would feel anxious about certain things, I would feel certain things, you know, Ryan's feeling certain things. And we're just kind of ping ponging around, wandering around.   And then one day, it finally started to shift towards wonder for me. And it was just like, you know, I wonder what God is up to in Ryan's life. Like, I wonder what God has in mind for Ryan, as he's moving into middle school.   I wonder which environment might be best for him, you know, to shape him in this next season. And instead of like latching on to the pieces that we're maybe concerned about and obsessing about those or thinking about those, just moving towards wonder, even though it doesn't solve anything, it doesn't change anything, like the situation is still the same. But it begins to change how I hold that thing.   And before I know it, I am interacting with my Father God about this thing that I was just worried about. And so, it's like this transformation of taking the, because here's the thing, this thing is already happening in my life. I'm already spending energy on it.   Like, why not let it be the catalyst for how I'm going to interact with God? And so cultivating wonder, curiosity, why is this happening? What is God up to?   As I mentioned already, for me, it's kind of been the gateway for me to put on goggles and to begin to see more of why things might be happening. Or what God's up to and just hold them differently than I was previously.   Mark Dugger: (31:40 - 31:55) So, I love this topic and thinking about it. How can we then disciple our children to listen to God and know for themselves, like, and recognize when they're actually hearing from the Holy Spirit?   Chris Allen: (31:56 - 39:42) Yeah. Yeah. Well, I think, I don't think there's a perfect formula.   I think it's something we just cultivate. Some of that's going to depend on the individual. I think each child's going to be a little bit different, but I think this idea of starting to notice things is a key one and just helping them think about or acknowledge that they're not going to see everything.   Another little tool that I use with the students was those magic eye things. I don't know if you remember this from our childhood, but they had books and posters with these pictures of, like, when you look at it from a distance, it's just like a lot of little random things or like a confusing drawing at most. But if you look at it a certain way, right, you start to see this picture within the picture.   Right. And so, we used that. It was awesome.   We had like a contest to see who could see it first and they got prizes and stuff. But you know, it's basically like we have to fix our eyes. Right.   We have to learn how to see the unseen, essentially, in the same way. I mean, those posters are actually a little tricky for a lot of people. Like if you don't see it, you don't see it.   Like, you know, you have to learn a certain like once you get the hang of it and you position yourself in relationship to it just right. Right. You can start to see like the horse or whatever jump off the page.   But, you know, learning to see what is unseen is not easy. But here's the really, really cool part that I think is really important for kids. It's like God made them for this.   And, you know, not just kids like us to like God made us for this. Your mind is already doing the things that is needed for this. And so, at the retreat to help them like understand what I mean by this, I basically wanted to show them all the things that they already know that they never learned.   And you may not know what I mean by that, but basically we played this game where I had all these logos from different famous brands. But I intentionally chose brands that were like adult brands, like insurance, Allstate, you know, State Farm. And so, we had their slogans or their logos in some cases, and they had to guess what it was.   They knew them all. And it's like, you know, I would make jokes, of course, in between they get off. They got Allstate.   And I'm like, I would go up to the kids who guessed it right. I'd be like, so tell me, do you have auto insurance with Allstate? Or is it home insurance?   What is what's your coverage amount? You know, what is your policy like? Just to drive home the point, it's like, you know, they're not a customer.   There's no reason they should know who Allstate is. But they are watching TV, they're driving around, they're doing different things in life. And of course, they have absorbed, their mind has learned what Allstate is without them even trying, right.   And so, your mind is doing a lot of this work already. It's already noticing everything around you. It's already learning and processing all this information.   Dallas Willard talks about kind of the role of the mind. A lot of times, we think of the mind as a generator of thoughts. And this is a pretty big position or adjustment that I think is important.   But instead of viewing the mind as a generator of thoughts, viewing it more as a processor of thoughts. Because reality is like, you didn't make up Allstate, you didn't make up the brand, the kid didn't make up the brand. You just processed it, you know, and that's what your mind is doing with most information.   And so when we start to view the mind as a processor, you now have a category for okay, there's all these other things that are basically submitting things to our minds. And you know, that's all the things we've been talking about, right? That's billboards, that's TV, that's us, like we're submitting thoughts to our kids' minds.   But you know, everything they read, everything they look, everything around them is constantly submitting thoughts to their minds. And their mind is just processing away. But it does it all automatically, like that's what the mind was made for.   So, for me, the kind of good news in all this, even though I think some of these thoughts can sound kind of foreign, or maybe hard to go figure out, it really is how we were designed. Like it's, you know, God designed our minds to interact with him. He designed our minds to be able to recognize thoughts that are coming from him.   So, when we shift the mind to a processor, really, that point is just about learning to notice those thoughts, okay, as they come in, right? And as you start to notice them, you can notice, you know, kind of the nature of them or the characteristic of them. And God, the thoughts that God might be presenting to your mind versus the thoughts that other sources might be presenting to your mind, over time starts to become clearer and clearer and clearer.   So maybe just like a practical example would be that, like, sometimes when we're processing things with our kids, if they're feeling a certain way, I might ask them, like, hey, what are you thinking about this? Or what's the most, like, what's the last thought you had about this? And it's like, oh, I'm worried, you know, I was thinking about, you know, my buddy, how he won't like this thing, you know. And it's like, oh, okay, that's why you don't want to go, you know, to that place, because your buddy doesn't like it. You know, it's like, but oftentimes, I will go to the, I'll go to thoughts, and ask them about their thoughts, what's the most recent thought to understand what emotions might be happening now. But I think even just talking about thoughts as a thing, right?   Like, what thought did you have, is really helpful to start, because a lot of times, I think the default is we kind of like assume we are our thoughts, we are one with our thoughts. And this can get really dangerous. I think, especially for young men, but really for all of us, because we have a lot of thoughts that are not honoring to God or to each other, right?   And so, if those are me, then that says a lot about who I am, right? So separating ourselves from our thoughts, positioning the mind as the processor of thoughts, not only gives room for the idea that God is presenting thoughts to our minds, but it also gives room for the idea that the enemy or the world or these other things are presenting thoughts to our minds. So just because we might have that thought doesn't mean it's us, which is a big thing as well.   Laura Dugger: (39:43 - 40:52) I love that because, okay, so going back to that first point, so God speaks to His children, and I think it's helpful for me just to have that articulated. That has been my experience, that one of the ways God speaks to me is through my thoughts, and so sharing that with our children as well. And something, when I'm verbally processing then later, if I'm wondering and I'm questioning, where did this thought come from?   Where did this originate? Mark's question to me will always be, whose voice is that? And I think it's another way of what you're saying, because it could be culture, it could be God, it could be the enemy's voice, and that it is through our thoughts.   But then if we are now, you've recommended also thinking about what our thoughts are. So, thinking about our thinking and pursuing that listening stance. So that kind of leads into the next point where you share that you say, if you want to hear Him, cultivate wonder.   So, can you just elaborate on that?   Chris Allen: (40:55 - 45:09) Yes. So well, let me also mention, so I mentioned Dallas Willard, he has like a quote that I really love around this. And I'll just go ahead and say it for those that might be thinking it, like, did you really present all this to kids?   Yes, I did. I wrestled so much going into this with like, this is too much, like it's too deep, it's too much content. I almost changed a lot of the talk, like literally like five minutes before it.   But I kind of landed on this, you know what, and there was a lot of adults in the room, it wasn't aimed at them, but it was just like, my job is to just throw it out there. And like, if one kid just grabs onto something, you know, so yes, I did. I did give this to kids, but I realized it's a lot.   So, but Willard says, he says, generally, it is much more important to cultivate the quiet inward space of a constant listening than to always be approaching God for specific direction. And he goes on to say, in the still small voice of God, we are given a message that bears the stamp of his personality quite clearly. And in a way, we will learn to recognize it.   How the message comes, this is kind of the biggest part right here: how the message comes is diminished almost to the vanishing point, taking the form of thoughts that are our thoughts, though these thoughts are not from us. And so, when I first read this, it was like, oh my gosh, like, I think I've experienced that. But he is putting words to something I, you know, maybe hadn't fully acknowledged that like, this, this is God speaking to me, you know. So, I think a lot of times we, we write off our thoughts as just like, oh, it's just my lunch, you know, or whatever. But I, I really believe, and Willard, you know, believes that one of the primary ways that God speaks to his people, and when we say children, I don't mean children in this case, not like the age of someone, but anyone, um, any person, like, this is a, at least a huge part of how God speaks to them is, is through their thought life.   And so, for me, like, as I, as I've started to walk in this, and, um, take, pay more attention to my thoughts, and then actually, like, hold them like, okay, well, what if this was God speaking? You know, it's, it's changed my personal interaction with God, um, for sure. So, I think for most people, if you're not already practicing this, it can feel inaccessible.   It can feel hard. It's like, oh my gosh, like, are you telling me that I have, like, I have to change everything. Like, I have to start recognizing all my, like, if you're not already doing that, um, and I think that's where cultivate wonder comes in. Is moving towards just a posture of curiosity, moving towards a posture of wonder, of, um, when you start to notice a thought, like, just hold it out there.   It's like, oh, that's interesting. I just had that thought. Hmm.   And you just think about it. You just wonder about it, right? You don't really have to do anything.   Like in the beginning of this, you don't have to do anything with it. Like, just look at it, hold it, name it, and just wonder about it. Like, I think that is the first step.   And so, I think there's little ways we can help our kids with that, right? Just as we're helping them process things, as we're talking through things, um, we can call out what we think we hear them say, you know, and just say, Hey, it sounds like you had this thought. Is that right?   You know? Um, and just the way we, you know, they can pick things up quickly. So, the way that we teach them to process what they're thinking about, um, is a huge gift to them.   If we can help them name their thoughts and hold them out.   Laura Dugger: (45:09 - 47:07) When was the first time you listened to an episode of The Savvy Sauce? How did you hear about our podcast? Did a friend share it with you?   Will you be willing to be that friend now and text five other friends or post on your socials, anything about The Savvy Sauce that you love? If you share your favorite episodes, that is how we continue to expand our reach and get the good news of Jesus Christ in more ears across the world. So, we need your help.   Another way to help us grow is to leave a five-star review on Apple podcasts. Each of these suggestions will cost you less than a minute, but it will be a great benefit to us. Thank you so much for being willing to be generous with your time and share. We appreciate you.    Well, and just want to speak to some of this as well. So, when you were sharing about children, meaning more than actual age children, I was thinking back.   Our oldest daughter, Selah was baptized a couple of years ago and a scripture that was really meaningful to her in that process as she was writing out her testimony and just pondering the work that God had done in her life. She really was impacted by a verse I'd love to read because that's another sure way that God does speak to us is through the word of God. So, the Bible, that's always a way that we can hear from Him.   But this verse is John 8:47, and it says, “Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”   Chris Allen: (47:07 - 50:09) Well,  I think the emphasis that I would point out on that is that it's not that God is not speaking.   It's the reason you don't hear. So, I believe God's pursuing people even that aren't following Him. And even in our case, I think God pursues us even in our disobedience.   But what shifts is our ability to hear. And so, it's like we're tuning in, and that invitation exists for, I think, for all people. It's the opportunity to just tune in more to what God is up to, what He's saying, just by looking at what He's already doing in your life, what's already happening.   Just look around, pay attention, start to notice, start to name it. And like I was saying, if this feels overwhelming, which I think it definitely can, the beautiful thing is we were made for this. Our mind was made to work this way.   It's how God designed it. And one of the final ways that I pushed this across the finish line with the kids was the final logo that I had was Nike. And of course, not only did every kid in the room know the answer to what the brand was, half of them were wearing it.   But if you look back in your life, and this is what I had them do. It's like there's some moment in your life where you were not aware of Nike. You probably were already wearing it, the toddler walking around in it or something. It's all around you.   It's everywhere. Everybody else is wearing it too. You've seen tons of ads and advertisements.   It's everywhere. Yet there was some moment where you didn't know what it was. If you saw the logo, you'd be like, I don't know what that is.   And then at some point you cross this threshold where it's like all of a sudden you learn like, oh, that's Nike. And so, if you could pinpoint that moment in a kid's life, it's like in that moment, you go from like, I don't know, to like, Nike. Well, Nike didn't all of a sudden exist in that moment.   It was no more present than it was before. It was always around you. It was always active.   It was always everywhere. The only thing that changed in that moment is you became aware of it. And that's how I like to think about like what God is up to in our lives.   He is active. He's all over it. He is in your every day and every situation that we're in.   And He is inviting us to participate with Him, to notice Him, to talk with Him about it and to interact with Him through those things. But we just have to become aware of Him. And for me, I think wonder is the thing that helps me shift in that direction, just cultivating wonder.   Mark Dugger: (50:11 - 50:31) That's awesome. So you talked about with your kids, asking them and follow up questions about their thoughts. But is there any other practical ways you think about bringing this to life with our kids to help them kind of shape some of this line of thinking?   Chris Allen: (50:34 - 52:38) Yeah, that's a great question. I mean, the other kind of analogy that I've used with my kids as well is where's Waldo? So, my spiritual director, Jeannie Hoover, who's amazing, who lives in Illinois as well, she actually was the one who used this analogy in our conversations first.   But you know, where's Waldo's fun? You get the book or the posters and you're looking for Waldo, right? But you have no chance of finding him.   First, you can't find Waldo unless one, you believe he exists. Two, you know what he looks like. And three, you look for him.   And so that's kind of the starting point. I think an easy starting point with kids, plus you can use the Waldo book and they love it. But they have to believe God exists.   They have to know what He looks like, and they got to start looking for Him. Obviously, we can play a very tangible role in helping them kind of learn what He looks like and helping them look for Him. I think one easy way is like, you know, some kind of daily routine, as maybe you're putting them to bed or debriefing the day.   Or you might ask a simple question like, you know, did you notice God anywhere today? Or was there anything that happened in your life today, you know, where you noticed God? Or you can also go, I think a lot of times we can find Him in the things that we're struggling with.   So, is there anything that happened today that hurt you or didn't sit well with you? But as you help them process that, right, you're kind of looking for where is God in the story? What is he up to?   And helping them connect those dots.   Mark Dugger: (52:40 - 52:41) Oh, go ahead.   Laura Dugger: (52:41 - 52:44) Oh, you go first. I wonder if we're on the same thought.   Mark Dugger: (52:44 - 54:00) I was thinking, I was recently, this is helpful for me personally, but I was recently frustrated about a day or something that happened recently. And I was just, you know, going through the iterations of why this thing caused me frustration. And, you know, it caused me to take out frustration on others that were around me and impacted others.   And then my friend was just casually kind of listening to me and just said, what do you think God's calling you to do in the midst of this? And it was just such a simple yet profound question that I hadn't even considered. Like I wasn't even thinking about God being active and involved in this frustration that was going on in my life because I was so consumed by it.   But yet when I take that moment, I think him asking that question to me, helped me step back out kind of that 10,000 foot view and just say, huh, what, where is God right now in this process? And what is he potentially trying to show me in the midst of this frustration? And I think that's something that our kids can really understand too.   They can really grasp onto that concept. So, I think that's been a helpful one for me.   Laura Dugger: (54:00 - 54:58) You're both stirring all these ideas because I also think something that Mark's started recently on a Sunday on Sabbath, he loves to go around the table with our kids. And the youngest is five, as you know, Chris, and he'll ask all of us, where did you see God at work in your life this week? And they are able from a young age to think back on their life.   And I think that God does manifest himself to them. But then whether this is a question then for children or adults or everyone, even a conversation that Mark and I have had with you and Rachel before, where when you're going back to something that's happened in the past, asking yourself of that situation, if I go back to that scene in my mind, where was Jesus within that? And that's a pretty profound experience, I would say as well.   Chris Allen: (54:59 - 56:56) Yeah. Well, I think another something that I would encourage people to think about is this is not something that we have to figure out. That's really God's role is to teach us how to do this.   I think throughout scripture, the posture of curiosity or wonder is encouraged. Just ask, just seek, just knock. And you will find it.   The door will be open to you. And so, I don't think God asks us to figure out how to hear His voice or figure out how He speaks. I think if we come with just a posture of curiosity, which honestly, even that alone takes a little bit of work on our side, right?   But if we just cultivate some curiosity about what he's up to, my experience has been that you will start to notice. If you just focus on noticing and being curious, you will start to notice Him. I think sometimes we focus on the outcome.   We think the intimacy, like if I could hear God well, if I had a conversational life with God, I would experience intimacy with Him, right? But I think the truer thing is that a lot of the intimacy is in the learning. It's in the process.   We just show up, we just cultivate curiosity. And as God teaches us, a lot of the intimacy comes out of the teaching. Like, oh my gosh, that was God.   I just saw Him in a way I hadn't before. And so I think hopefully it takes some of the pressure off and allows us just to start to look for Him.   Mark Dugger: (56:57 - 57:13) Yeah. This conversation, I think, has been so helpful just to begin the process of thinking about this. Is there anything else that you want to add or help this message stick or bring home deep within us?   Chris Allen: (57:16 - 58:07) I think I would just say, if you're someone who maybe is not sure that God is speaking, I would just challenge you to pretend that He is. Just try it. Just start looking around, start noticing, and just see what happens.   In my experience, God is fully capable of making Himself known to us. If we just take a step in his direction with curiosity or wonder, He will reveal himself to you. He'll start showing you things.   And it's not constant, right? But over time, your faith will grow that He is speaking, that He does speak, and it will start to transform how you interact with Him.   Laura Dugger: (58:10 - 58:31) I love it. And I'm going to kind of summarize. Okay, so God speaks to his kids.   We get to participate and cultivate wonder. And a practical thing was to pay attention to our thoughts. With all of this too, Chris, you've alluded to a project.   Do you want to share any more information about that?   Chris Allen: (58:31 - 59:54) Oh, man. Yeah. So yeah, I've been working on a book for about a year and a half now with my spiritual director, Jamie, who I mentioned, really for adults about wonder.   I think we activate and use wonder a lot as kids, especially when we were kids. I think kids are better, more naturally jumping into wonder. The pool of life for adults is away from wonder.   It's towards the other side of the brain. It's towards be productive, be on time, be on task, get it done. And the more we fill our lives up with things, which as you all, like in this season that we're in, life is very busy, wonder just so easily gets squeezed out.   And so the project I've been working on is really aimed at helping adults cultivate wonder in their life again, specifically around how they interact with God, which probably no surprise at this point in the conversation. But yeah, it's so exciting. I mean, we're down the road, things are starting to solidify, and we got a good bit of work left to do, but I'm really excited about what that will be.   Laura Dugger: (59:55 - 1:00:15) Well, then we look forward to a part two of this conversation when that's further along. We'd love to have you back, but you are already familiar that we are called The Savvy Sauce because savvy is synonymous with practical knowledge. And so as my final question for you today, Chris, what is your Savvy Sauce?   Chris Allen: (1:00:16 - 1:00:57) Oh man, well, I think I might be a broken record on this one. So it's probably a summary statement here, but if wonder is our goggles into the kingdom, the question is how can we put them on more? And so, my encouragement is to leverage the things that are already happening in your life to help you cultivate wonder.   And obviously that's what the book is about. So hopefully maybe I can help some people do that more in specific ways once that's out, but that would be my Savvy Sauce.   Laura Dugger: (1:00:58 - 1:01:38) Love it. Well, I think Mark can share as well, but from the two of us, we just love you and Rachel, and Ryan, Ramsey and Harvey. And Mark and I are so grateful you have profoundly impacted us.   Just the friendship with you guys has been incredible. And also spiritually, we've learned so much from you and hopefully sharpened one another. And I appreciate the impact that the two of you have had on each other spiritually as well.   And I get to enjoy sweet fruit from your amazing and godly friendship. So, thank you for all you shared today. Thank you for your friendship.   And thank you for being our guest.   Chris Allen: (1:01:40 - 1:01:42) You're very welcome. Thanks for having me on.   Mark Dugger: (1:01:43 - 1:03:04) Yeah, I was just gonna say thanks. You know, friendship is pretty rare. And it's pretty remarkable just to think about all we've been through together.   But yet, Laura summarized it so well, but you've had such a profound impact on me, even in those years, you know, picking me up in high school ministry when we were doing those, those kinds of things together. And then we shared a mentor with Dave Pridemore, who's actually been a previous guest here on The Savvy Sauce. And just learning more about who we are in Christ.   And you've always been an encouragement to me. And that's just been such a blessing in my life. Just to know that there's always that constant friendship.   And no matter what goes on, no matter how, you know, being states apart, you know, sometimes we're not always talking all the time, but it's always nice to know that you, it's always the same. It's like we picked up right where we left off. And I think that's, that's deeper than just the friendship, but it's the bond that we have in Christ.   And that's, you know, you've challenged me in this way, just to think about wonder, this isn't something that comes to me naturally. And so I'm just very thankful for this conversation. And then just to be able to share some of the things that we've talked about privately, but be able to share with this audience today.   So thanks for doing that.   Chris Allen: (1:03:05 - 1:03:06) Absolutely.   Laura Dugger: (1:03:07 - 1:06:50) One more thing before you go. Have you heard the term gospel before?   It simply means good news. And I want to share the best news with you. But it starts with the bad news.   Every single one of us were born sinners, but Christ desires to rescue us from our sin, which is something we cannot do for ourselves. This means there is absolutely no chance we can make it to heaven on our own. So, for you and for me, it means we deserve death and we can never pay back the sacrifice we owe to be saved.   We need a savior. But God loved us so much, he made a way for his only son to willingly die in our place as the perfect substitute. This gives us hope of life forever in right relationship with him.   That is good news. Jesus lived the perfect life we could never live and died in our place for our sin. This was God's plan to make a way to reconcile with us so that God can look at us and see Jesus.   We can be covered and justified through the work Jesus finished if we choose to receive what He has done for us. Romans 10:9 says, “That if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” So, would you pray with me now?   Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus to take our place. I pray someone today right now is touched and chooses to turn their life over to you. Will you clearly guide them and help them take their next step in faith to declare you as Lord of their life?   We trust you to work and change lives now for eternity. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.   If you prayed that prayer, you are declaring him for me, so me for him. You get the opportunity to live your life for him. And at this podcast, we're called The Savvy Sauce for a reason.   We want to give you practical tools to implement the knowledge you have learned. So, you ready to get started? First, tell someone.   Say it out loud. Get a Bible. The first day I made this decision, my parents took me to Barnes & Noble and let me choose my own Bible.   I selected the Quest NIV Bible and I love it. You can start by reading the book of John. Also, get connected locally, which just means tell someone who's a part of a church in your community that you made a decision to follow Christ.   I'm assuming they will be thrilled to talk with you about further steps, such as going to church and getting connected to other believers to encourage you. We want to celebrate with you too, so feel free to leave a comment for us here if you did make a decision to follow Christ. We also have show notes included where you can read scripture that describes this process.   And finally, be encouraged. Luke 15:10 says, “In the same way I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” The heavens are praising with you for your decision today.   And if you've already received this good news, I pray you have someone to share it with. You are loved and I look forward to meeting you here next time.

In this week's episode, Dennis Jernigan shares the story behind his song, "Fairies", from the album "The Chronicles of Bren: Captured – Songs for the Journey". That mp3 is available at https://www.thechroniclesofbren.com/store/captured-songs-for-the-journey-album/ The lyrics can be found below. You can join Dennis and the people of All In All Church for live-stream worship on the first Wednesday evening of each month. Just go to https://www.facebook.com/therealdennisjernigan at 7 PM CST. Mark it in your calendar. Worship with All in All Church - First Wednesday of each month. Daily Devotions for Kingdom Seekers, Vol. 3 is available at https://www.amazon.com/Daily-Devotions-Kingdom-Seekers-Vol-ebook/dp/B081K8TZLX Check out my Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/DennisJernigan and read through the various tiers of support and discover the myriad of benefits you will receive based on the level of support you choose. If you're willing, go ahead and sign up! You will find the show notes and lyrics below: Welcome to The Dennis Jernigan Podcast. The purpose of this podcast is to help you find healing for your wounds; find hope in your despair; find intimacy in your loneliness; find refuge from the storms of life; Basically, to help you find a deeper walk with Jesus. There is one thing I know after having lived all these years: God wastes nothing. Not our sorrows. Not our wounds. Not even our failures. Hi. I am your host, Dennis Jernigan, and I am so excited about the next few weeks of the Dennis Jernigan podcast because I absolutely love the subject matter that we're covering.   For the past few weeks I have been sharing the stories behind songs inspired by  fantasy book series I wrote for my children and grandchildren. You are used to hearing me share the stories behind songs of worship and praise; songs of ministry; songs of comfort; songs from Father God's heart to ours…but the song I am sharing today was inspired by a 3-book series of fantasy novels I wrote for my children and grandchildren way back in 2015. You may be asking yourself, “Why would a worship leader and song receiver write  series of books and songs about a fantasy world?” I will not take the time to share all I shared the first few weeks of this series. You'll just need to listen and catch up  by  beginning with the episode titled “Riding the Wind” through this week's podcast. That will catch you up as to why I am sharing these songs. The utter reality is that the Lord used fantasy and myth to lead me to utter and  unwavering faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, He really did.   The song I am sharing on this week's episode is called “Fairies”, a song I wrote for the book “Captured (Book 1 in the The Chronicles of Bren Trilogy). “Captured” is my life story written in allegory as a legacy to my children and grandchildren. As I wrote the books, I envisioned what it might sound like if Disney ever made a movie based on these books. I completed the songs for the first two books but never got around to writing songs for book three. That book is about my vision for my 9 children…and their real-life stories are still being written. They will need to write their own songs. This week's song, “Fairies”, was received sometime in 2015 0r 2016 and was intended to infuse a bit of humor in the story. In the land of Bren, fairies are servants of the kingdom and are known to help guide people to where they need to be. In book one, Captured, the main fairy is named Rania.   Rania is a good yet mischievous fairy. Rania was was inspired by my daughter Raina. As a little girl, we actually called her Velociraina, after the velociraptors from the movie Jurassic Park because of her sneaky, mischievous way of dealing with her younger brothers! Raina is so beautiful and so loving and such a servant it was easy to see her as a fairy, flitting around guiding people to where they need to be. Her relationship with her older sister, Galen, inspired the relationship between the Hawken girl, Galenna, and the fairy, Rania. There is no deep spiritual truth I was trying to convey through this character. I just wanted to have a little fun so I created a character who liked to have little fun. The song was written to describe this character and was fun to sing. I wanted the music of the entire album to have a bit of Celtic or Medieval flavor to it because I think it fits the story well and gives a sense of wonder to the saga. Here's something I never imagined saying: Enjoy my song about fairies!   SONG   Proverbs 17:22 NIV says, 22 A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.   I hope you do not mind me taking this detour along the way of the journey through my music through the years. These songs were truly a joy to write and the fact that knowing my grandchildren and great-grandchildren will one day listen to them brings my heart so much joy it's hard to explain. It just does.   If you have not already done so, I encourage you to read the trilogy, The Chronicles of Bren and that you would listen to the music with a completely different attitude and point of you. I just want to give every opportunity for my grandchildren and great-grandchildren for generations to come to know there is a creator who is Savior and Redeemer and that these stories might, in some small way, lead them to that understanding.   That being said, I have some great news about the music from my fantasy series. You can listen to and even download the entire album for book one absolutely for free. It is called “Captured - Songs For the Journey” and it can be found on the website www.thechroniclesofbren.com. I encourage you to read the book “Captured” and then listen to the songs inspired by each of the main characters. This album is meant to encourage young men to look past their shortcomings and failures and the lies of the enemy and see and be  who Father God says they are. Thanks for tuning in to The Dennis Jernigan Podcast. For more about me, my story, or my music, visit dennisjernigan.com. You can also catch me on Facebook and Instagram, and find my music on most major streaming services. And hey, if you really want to be a part of my team, you can even become a Patron over at Patreon.com/dennisjernigan. I'd love to have you on board!  The book “Captured” is available at Amazon in paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats. I encourage you to read the book “Captured” and then listen to the songs inspired by each of the main characters. Thanks again for being part of today's podcast. Remember, God loves you, and so do I. Now, I challenge you to rise up and be the warrior for the kingdom God has called to to be today. And I urge you to put off the lies of the enemy and put on the truth of who the Lord says you are and then go and BE who your Heavenly Father says you are…   Fairies WWORDS & MUSIC Dennis Jernigan ©2015 Verse Fairies tend to vary  And can have quite an attitude Some can be quite merry Some can practice less than gratitude Mischievous and magical And more than a mystery Bringing good from tragical And leaving quite a history Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Who can tame a fairy? Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! This will never be! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Who can claim a fairy! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! When catch what can't be seen! Chorus Oh! Oh! Lucky if I see one! Oh! Oh! Fairy! Fairy! Fay! Oh! Oh! Lucky if I meet one! What a simply wonderful day! Verse Flitting through the forest In the grand land of Make Believe Or are the things we hope exist A part of true reality? Something there to guide me I the grand land of In Between Between the realm of what I see And What I think that I can dream Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Who can tame a fairy? Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! This will never be! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Who can claim a fairy! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! When catch what can't be seen! Chorus Oh! Oh! Lucky if I see one! Oh! Oh! Fairy! Fairy! Fay! Oh! Oh! Lucky if I meet one! What a simply wonderful day!                    

What are the mechanics of holiness...how does it work...where does it come from...is it simply morality, or possibly something more? Take some time with Pastor Dave to explore and celebrate the other-worldly nature of divine holiness! May you pursue the holiness of your Father God in how you resemble and reflect Him to the world!

The King's Covenant You were and are in the heart of the Father. From the moment of creation, God desires to be in fellowship with you. Remember the garden? He walks in the cool of day with His creation. He loves us so much that He set a part of Himself to become a sacrifice and a part of Himself to be our constant companion, guide, and comforter. We have ended the walks in the garden, not Father God. Father God invited us back into that same level of fellowship that Adam had with Him in the beginning. Christ paid a price, a Kingly Covenant, for us to be reconciled to the Father. Reconciled meaning reinstated and restored to that relationship Father had with us at the beginning. See you Sunday, P. Ralph John 17: 25-26, “O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You, and these have known that You sent Me. And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

Today's meditation will help us stand taller as we are reminded of the true reality of where we belong and to whom we belong. The Message translates Paul's letter to the Colossians with this amazing picture of our purpose – that of being kept taut because we are tied tightly by hope of our future in heaven. Our destination is home with our Father God. We can be confident in this and in Him.Daylight Meditations is a daily podcast from CFO North America. Please visit CFONorthAmerica.org to learn more about our retreats, and online courses. If you are encouraged by this time of meditation, please consider supporting us.Contributors: Michelle DeChant, Adam Maddock, and Phil Reaser

What does it mean that the Lord is our righteousness? What do the names of God mean practically for us? Why are Christians so sure they're going to heaven? Rabbi Schneider shares in today's episode of Discovering the Jewish Jesus that Jesus stands in your place so that you are accepted by Father God. Our sins are transferred into Jesus because He died on the cross in our place. Our righteousness is not based on how good we've been, but on the fact that Jesus stands in our place. We will be rewarded for the good we have done, but we cannot be righteous on our own. Learn why Paul opens all his letters in the Bible with, "Grace and peace to you from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ". Watch and learn how to express and practice God's covenant names in your prayers, be aware and pay attention to God's provision in your life, believe God to bring healing to you here and now, God is transforming you. Be encouraged today and trust that God will do and be what He said.   Visit our website at DiscoveringTheJewishJesus.com

Some of the greatest stories of believers down through time have involved those who really studied God's Word. These people have gone before us to show us the way. From Charles Spurgeon to a missionary mother in China, daily study of the Word, and prayer, prepared them to mentor entire generations.Proverbs 27:17 says, “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.”We also read in Romans 10 that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. We have to do it, so that others know how. And remember, there is no substitute for spending time in God's Word.In order to properly train an apprentice, you need to obviously be prepared and adept. Anything less leads to weak faith, or no faith at all. This is what the Great Commission, sharing the Gospel, has always been about: Duplicating disciples. Grounding your own faith in the Bible, and then imparting that to others. That is the essence of true iron sharpening iron.Let's pray.Father God, keep us about your work by daily reminding us to spend time with You in Your Word. In Jesus' name, amen. Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

Sweat was pouring off Peter as he moved to protect Jesus. As Roman soldiers held the one who had been labeled a heretic, Peter drew a sword and cut off a soldier's ear. And he was stunned when Jesus told him to put the sword away. You see, Jesus knew infinitely more than Peter or anyone else. He knew the end from the beginning, and He knew He had an agenda to see through to the end. Peter couldn't see that, and impulsively He moved to change the facts on the ground.And that's so typical of us as humans. The authentic Christian wants to do something to fix things or change the world. The theologian Francis Schaeffer wrote a whole book titled How Should We Then Live on the role of a Christian in the modern world. And there are arguments over whether America is still a Christian nation, or whether postmodernism has won the day.But what does the Bible say about being a witness in the world? Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Notice it doesn't say engage. We're in fact told not to become like the world in all its anti-God stuff. Yet we also know one of the last things Jesus said to His disciples before He ascended into heaven was that we should go into all the world and make disciples. The Apostle Paul made an interesting observation in 1 Corinthians 9. He said that he was free from conformity to the world. It had nothing he coveted. But that he chose to be a servant to all, so that his example might win some to Christ. In Hebrews 13, we're told to practice hospitality. And this echoes many Old Testament passages, too. The idea is a believer is to be an example of what life with God looks like in hopes it will draw unbelievers. And this must be done with sincerity, though. Especially in our jaded modern culture. First Corinthians 10 tells us whatever we do, do it for the glory of God alone.To sum up, the Bible tells us to absolutely live in this world and be appealing to people. But to do all this while holding onto our convictions. Balancing being a Gospel witness, while also being seen as personable, is the approach for our modern world. Let's pray.Father God, you've given us direction for all that we do. Help us to continually have a burden for the lost and to always remember we're to be salt and light for a hurting world. It's in Jesus' name we pray, amen. Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

Do you ever feel stuck in life, either in your career, your family, or even your emotions? Are there people who have wounded you that you cannot forgive? Believe it or not, there are people that we may have chosen to forgive at some point, but the anger, bitterness, and trauma still feel very real. There is hope because our Father God wants us to walk in wholeness and healing in all things, including forgiveness. Listen as Tiffany Jo Baker talks with Anne Wooten on the subject of forgiveness and moving forward in all that God has for you.Listen in for:How it's possible to unknowingly harbor unforgiveness in your heartWhy unforgiveness can block your ability to move on in lifeThe reasons forgiveness is a journey and not a one-time eventFavorite Quotes:"We can receive validation from people, it's only temporary, but God is eternal." - Anne Wooten"Anything unforgiven is going to eat you alive spiritually." - Anne Wooten"Forgiveness is not a one-and-done event; it's a journey." - Tiffany Jo BakerFavorite Scriptures:Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven." - Matthew 18: 21-22"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." - Matthew 3:23For more information about all the things Anne Wooten is doing, please visit her website: annewooten.com*If you're looking for perfectly polished people or podcasts, this isn't for you. We're real people, with real good information, and a really great God.*Want timely words, resources and episodes delivered right to your inbox to help you fuel and fulfill your faith journey? Simply subscribe today at https://www.tiffanyjobaker.com/subscribe (don't worry, you won't get spam or excessive emails)Don't miss the next My Full Life + Faith Leaps Podcast episode as we continue to help you GET FREE, LIVE FULL & THANK GOD! You can watch My Full Life + Faith Leaps Podcast on YouTube and https://www.tiffanyjobaker.com/myfulllife-and-faithleaps or listen in on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player. Subscribe to never miss an episode, leave a quick review and share with a friend! Ratings and reviews are like high-fives and “go-girl's” on podcast players. Helping you refresh and refocus so you can do all the things you are called and created to do, my 31 Day Devotional “Soul-Care for Go-Getters” is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and my website shop here. (https://www.tiffanyjobaker.com/go-getters-devo)As a 3x Surrogate, Speaker, Soul-Care and Success Coach and Holy Spirit-led Strategist, I uplift the soul and success of women like you who are walking out your WHY, so you can birth your God-given dreams at home, online, and in the real world. Find me, @TiffanyJoBaker, on Instagram , Facebook and https://www.tiffanyjobaker.com. I would love to connect with you there!

Bishop Paul continues his series on the lavish love of our Father God. When we ruin our life, such love waits for us as we cannot conceive, else we would not try to scheme our way back into grace. Yet our Father in heaven is watching with reckless love, running to receive us, sufficient to restore the broken relationship. Just like the lost son, we can come home from the far country. Again and again, we can come home.

Who is God? Why should we learn the covenant names of the Lord? Rabbi Schneider shares how the names of God help us to understand God's nature, how we cooperation with the grace of God to bear fruit, and that the Lord waits for us to say yes to Him to release power in our lives. Biblically the word Shalom imbues wholeness, completeness, and restoration. Father God has entered into a covenant of complete peace through Jesus with His people; spirit, soul, mind, and body. If you want more peace, you must deny your flesh and feed your spirit with the love of God. When you sow from the spirit, you will reap from the Spirit love, joy, and peace.   Visit our website at DiscoveringTheJewishJesus.com

Feeling pulled in a million directions? You're not alone, friend. But what if true peace isn't found in doing more—but in receiving the rest that Father God has already given you? In this episode of Faith Food Fellowship, we're exploring the beautiful invitation to abide in His presence and embrace rest as a form of spiritual self-care. Writer and speaker Hannah Rowen Fry joins me for a heartfelt conversation. Together, we dive into what it means to abide, why rest isn't something you earn but a gift you receive, and how stepping away from the pressure of constantly doing more can transform your daily life. If you've ever felt overwhelmed or struggled to balance life's demands, this conversation is for you. Tune in and discover how to create a rhythm of rest!Hannah Rowen Fry is a writer and speaker passionate about helping people live out their God-purpose. Through her thoughtful reflections on Scripture, she encourages the overwhelmed to slow down, choose simplicity, and experience greater joy in the present moment. You can connect with Hannah and explore more of her work at www.hannahrowenfry.com.Get the Guide to Abide here!Recipes Mentioned in the EpisodeDense Bean SaladScriptures ReferencedJohn 15:4Romans 8:1Exodus 20:8-11Want to savor more goodness?I'm so excited you're here! Let's make the most of it with these special opportunities:Join the P31Virtues Community: If you're ready to find balance, peace, and a little extra inspiration each week, come together with women who understand the beauty of living a multifaceted life. Plus, get the weekly recipe delivered straight to your inbox! Find the support you need to thrive at ⁠⁠community.p31virtues.com⁠.Put Your Faith into Action Daily: Experience the harmony and satisfaction you deserve. Grab your copy of ⁠Cultivate Calm: The Weekly Devotional Study For Multifaceted Christian Women⁠ and start embracing a life of peace and balance.Elevate Your Well-Being: Access the ⁠Journey to Holistic Wellness Bundle⁠ for lifetime access to wisdom from 30 experts, including Shanna Pyzer's Break the Habit of Overeating. Start your holistic health transformation ⁠now⁠!Let's Connect:Email: ⁠hello@p31virtues.com⁠Note: The show notes may contain affiliate links. If you click on one and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my work!

Georgian Banov was born in communist Bulgaria. As a teenager, he was a founding member of the first official rock 'n roll band in the country. Seeking freedom, he risked his life by escaping through the Iron Curtain and was mightily saved after coming to the United States. Georgian and his wife Winnie are the founding leaders of Global Celebration; they are a radical team bringing joy and freedom all over the world. They were part of the core team who wrote and produced the famous children's albums Music Machine and Bullfrogs & Butterflies, which sold more than 3.5 million copies worldwide. Georgian also led the popular '80s Christian band Silverwind. Their teaching and their ministry are full of God's loving, joyful presence, bringing miracles and changing lives. Today they are dedicated to training ministry students and leaders, rescuing and caring for trafficked children, helping marginalized impoverished communities and hosting evangelistic missionary events and conferences. Georgian's Links: www.globalcelebration.com www.gcssm.org Join our Group Mentorship Program: ► Royal Hybrids Understand The Truth About Your Purpose: ► Watch My FREE Purpose= IAM Training   Book A Free Discovery Call with Me ► iamjosephwilson.com ✅ Subscribe to FUSE LIFE on YouTube Follow us on social media ✅  Facebook   +   Instagram ►Purchase my Bestselling book "The NO B.S. GUIDE TO THE ABUNDANT LIFE" on Amazon NOW!  

In this week's episode, Dennis Jernigan shares the story behind his song, "Ollieman's Song", from the album "The Chronicles of Bren: Captured – Songs for the Journey". That mp3 is available at https://www.thechroniclesofbren.com/store/captured-songs-for-the-journey-album/ The lyrics can be found below. You can join Dennis and the people of All In All Church for live-stream worship on the first Wednesday evening of each month. Just go to https://www.facebook.com/therealdennisjernigan at 7 PM CST. Mark it in your calendar. Worship with All in All Church - First Wednesday of each month. Daily Devotions for Kingdom Seekers, Vol. 3 is available at https://www.amazon.com/Daily-Devotions-Kingdom-Seekers-Vol-ebook/dp/B081K8TZLX Check out my Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/DennisJernigan and read through the various tiers of support and discover the myriad of benefits you will receive based on the level of support you choose. If you're willing, go ahead and sign up! Welcome to The Dennis Jernigan Podcast, where we aim to offer you a fresh perspective on life.  Life, as we all know, is a precious gift intertwined with moments of pain - be it physical, emotional, mental, or relational. Let's face it, life's journey can feel like a bumpy ride with its fair share of sorrow and suffering. Sometimes, it just doesn't seem fair, right? But here, we keep it real. Our mission is to guide you towards healing for your wounds, hope in despair, intimacy in loneliness, and shelter from life's storms - ultimately leading you to a deeper connection with Jesus. Through all my years, one truth stands firm: God doesn't waste a thing - not our sorrows, not our wounds, not even our failures. Hello, I'm your host, Dennis Jernigan, thrilled yet slightly nervous to unveil today's song and, what I think is, its fascinating backstory. As I mentioned last week, my apprehension stems from the fact that while you're accustomed to hearing me share worship, ministry, and comforting songs inspired by Father God, today's song has a different origin. It draws inspiration from a trilogy of fantasy novels I penned for my children and grandchildren back in 2015. You might be wondering, "Why would a worship leader delve into the realm of fantasy?" To get the full scoop, tune in to the podcast episode titled "Song of Arolis." Intriguingly, the Lord used fantasy and myth to deepen my unwavering faith in Jesus Christ.  The featured song in this week's episode is "Ollieman's Song," originally crafted for the book "Captured" from The Chronicles of Bren Trilogy. "Captured" serves as my life story, narrated allegorically as a legacy for my descendants. While penning the books, I couldn't help but imagine how they would translate into a Disney movie. I managed to compose songs for the first two books but never quite got around to creating tunes for the final installment. That third book delves into my aspirations for my nine children, whose real-life tales are still unfolding - they will ultimately script their own melodies.  Before we delve further, I have fantastic news to share. You can access and even download the entire album dedicated to book one, "Captured - Songs For the Journey," completely free of charge at www.thechroniclesofbren.com. I urge you to immerse yourself in the "Captured" book before delving into the songs inspired by its key characters. This album aims to empower young men to rise above their setbacks, failures, and the deceitful whispers of the enemy, enabling them to embrace their true identity in God.  Today's spotlight is on "Ollieman's Song," a creation that found its way to me back in 2015 or 2016.In The Chronicles of Bren series, a prominent figure is a wise old owl named Ollieman. Wondering why? Well, during my childhood, our family owned an old  barn, crafted by my grandfather in the 1930s and 1940s, boasting a magnificent hay loft. Every year, like clockwork, this barn played host to majestic barn owls. Each spring, a new generation of owlets would hatch, fiercely guarded by their mother who would not tolerate any intrusion, warning us with menacing hisses if we dared to peek into their nest! Those owls became a recurring dream of mine, a reminder of the wonder of having our very own owl neighbors!  In the tale of "Captured," the owl symbolizes unwavering friendship and embodies true wisdom. Opting for an owl was a deliberate choice, considering the bird's reputation for wisdom in the western world, attributed to its distinct features like large, front-facing eyes, noiseless flight, and nocturnal activities. Owls seem to communicate only when essential, mirroring the sentiment of Proverbs 7:28 NKJV, which suggests that even a fool can appear wise by choosing silence and discernment. I aim to leave a legacy of wisdom for my family, recognizing the allure of petty self-centeredness. Genuine wisdom stems from adopting a positive outlook, akin to an owl soaring above, navigating darkness with clarity. It's crucial for us to commit to seeking true wisdom throughout our lives, fostering personal growth. If you notice a rhyme scheme in Ollie's dialogue, that's just my inner songwriter shining through.  In "Captured," I delve into my early longing for meaningful companionship, rooted in the desire to be truly understood. This quest led me to discover that connection in Jesus. "Ollieman's Song" exudes a cheerful vibe that might linger in your mind throughout the day - consider yourself warned if it becomes an earworm. Embrace it, enjoy it, and let the melody uplift your spirits. SONG God's Word explains love and friendship to  us in John 15:13 NKJV 13 which says "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.”  Ollieman the owl serves as a poignant representation of Jesus, encouraging us to gain a divine perspective on life's challenges. By aligning ourselves with God's vantage point, we unlock the pathway to genuine wisdom. May this insight guide you not only today but in the days that follow.   Before I say goodbye, let me share a few ways to keep up with me. I appreciate your presence on The Dennis Jernigan Podcast more than you know and I want you to know that.  For more on my journey, music, and updates, explore dennisjernigan.com. Connect with me on Facebook and Instagram, and discover my music on various streaming platforms. If you're eager to join my team, consider becoming a Patron at patreon.com/dennisjernigan - your support is truly valued!  To obtain an mp3 of this week's track, "Ollieman's Song" from the book "Captured: The Chronicles of Bren Trilogy: Book 1," visit www.thechroniclesofbren.com for a complimentary listen or free download.  I think the songs will prove to be very helpful as you read and take part in the journey found in the boo, “Captured”.  "Captured" is also accessible on Amazon in paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats. I recommend delving into the book before immersing yourself in the character-inspired songs.   Thank you once again for being part of today's podcast. Always remember, you are cherished by God and by me. Embrace the challenge to rise up as a wise warrior for the kingdom today and dare befriending someone who may need a friend today…and while you're at it, go and be who your Heavenly Father says you are. Ollieman's Song WORDS & MUSIC Dennis Jernigan 2015 Verse Who? Who? Who is a friend like you? Who? Who? Who would dare defend like you? Who can ride the wind Faithful to the end like you? Who? Who? Who is so wise like you? Who? Who? Who can see through lies like you? Who would give his life Flying through the night like you? Chorus Ollieman, fly High into the sky! Lead me through the night With your all-seeing eye! I will follow you wherever you lead! Ollieman, soar! There is always more! Lead me to the wisdom  That's worth dying for! I will follow you wherever you lead! You're a friend indeed! Verse Who? Who? Who has a friend like mine? Who? Who? Who above the clouds can fly! Faithful through the trials! Faithful through the miles like you! Who? Who? Who wise and oh, so bold! Who? Who? Whose heart is pure as gold? Who could be a friend Faithful to the end like you? Chorus Ollieman, fly High into the sky! Lead me through the night With your all-seeing eye! I will follow you wherever you lead! Ollieman, soar! There is always more! Lead me to the wisdom  That's worth dying for! I will follow you wherever you lead! You're a friend indeed! Bridge I have never met Anybody yet Who is really quite like you! Singing out in rhyme At the perfect time Like you do! I have never heard Any other bird Who is really quite like you! Always quite astute! I get quite a hoot Out of knowing you! Chorus So, Ollieman, fly High into the sky! Lead me through the night With your all-seeing eye! I will follow you wherever you lead! Ollieman, soar! There is always more! Lead me to the wisdom  That's worth dying for! I will follow you wherever you lead! You're a friend indeed! Yes, you're a friend indeed! You're a friend indeed!