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A person's demeanor is their outward behavior, attitude, or manner. A godly marriage requires both husbands and wives to have a calm demeanor. Spouses are commanded to treat their spouse gently and avoid being harsh or quarrelsome. Marriage will inevitably bring disagreements and difficult moments, but spiritual maturity is demonstrated by how we respond to them. To live out marriage God's way, both spouses must learn to control their emotions and maintain a peaceful demeanor even when conflict arises. __________ Proverbs 21:9 NLT, 1 Timothy 3:11 NLT, Proverbs 19:14 NKJV, Colossians 3:19 NLT, and 1 Timothy 3:3 NLT __________ Partner with Us: https://churchforentrepreneurs.com/partner Connect with Us: https://churchforentrepreneurs.com __________
Peace and Joy: Special Patreon Release with Kay Wyma “So, as God's own chosen people, who are holy [set apart, sanctified for His purpose] and well-beloved [by God Himself], put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience [which has the power to endure whatever injustice or unpleasantness comes, with good temper];” Colossians 3:12 AMP *Transcription Below* Questions We Discuss: Will you elaborate on this concept of a Soul30? What were your favorite stories from this adventure? How has this peace project changed the way you will live life from this point forward? Kay Wyma is a mom, blogger, podcaster, and author of four books in which she has tackled, with candor and humor, some of the troubling societal issues that impact us all. Kay's writings have led her to appearances on TODAY, CNN, Hallmark's Home & Family, and more. Before staying at home with her kids, she held positions at the White House and Bank of America. She lives in Dallas, Texas, with her husband and five kids. Connect with Kay at kaywyma.com or on Instagram @kaywyma. At The Savvy Sauce, we will only recommend resources we believe in! We also want you to be aware: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. The Peace Project Thank You to Our Sponsors: Chick-fil-A East Peoria and The Savvy Sauce Charities (and donate online here) Connect with The Savvy Sauce on Facebook or Instagram or Our Website 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: (0:09 - 2:47) Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, where we have practical chats for intentional living. I'm your host, Laura Dugger, and I'm so glad you're here. I want to say a huge thank you to today's sponsors for this episode, Chick-fil-A East Peoria, and Savvy Sauce Charities. If this is your first time here, welcome! You may be wondering what it means to have a special Patreon release, so here's the scoop. Patreon was a platform we used to generate financial support for The Savvy Sauce, and we expressed our thanks to those paying patrons by giving them a bonus episode every month. But in 2024, we transitioned away from Patreon when we became a non-profit called the Savvy Sauce Charities. The podcast is part of this non-profit, which exists to resource loved ones to inspire growth and intimacy with God and others. So, people used to pay to support us through Patreon, but now they can just donate directly to our non-profit. We spend thousands of dollars each year to record and produce these episodes, and we do pray that they're beneficial and that God sees fit to use them to be transformational in your life. If that is the case, if you have ever benefited from an episode of The Savvy Sauce, would you consider showing your gratitude through your financial generosity? Any amount is greatly appreciated. In fact, if every listener gave only $1 per month, it would completely offset our costs. We have all the details on our website, thesavvysauce.com, but feel free to also reach out to our team anytime if you want to partner together. Our email address is info@thesavvysauce.com. And now I'm pleased to share this episode with you that used to only be available to paying patrons. Kay Wyma is my returning guest today. She is vibrant, and her curiosity sometimes leads to experiments in her life. Her most recent experiment turned into a book, and now she's going to let us in on three areas of focus that added peace and joy to her life. This process is based on Scripture and validated in science. Here's our chat. Welcome back to The Savvy Sauce, Kay. Kay Wyma: (2:48 - 2:52) Thank you so much for having me. You're really sweet to put up with me again. Laura Dugger: (2:53 - 3:07) Well, it was a delight last time, and I'm excited for today as well. And I'm so fascinated by your history of different careers and roles you've had. So, will you tell us a little bit more about all that you've experienced professionally? Kay Wyma: (3:08 - 5:44) Oh my gosh, it's so funny, Laura, because people will read the bio as they could for any of us that are in our mid-50s, and I'm sitting there going, I'm exhausted listening to that. But the deal is that they didn't happen all at the same time, but I just had a really great opportunity to do some interesting stuff. And one of them, especially in my 20s, I got to work in the George Herbert Walker Bush, so 41 White House, and I was a lead advance for the vice president. And so, I pretty much got to travel all over the country and a lot of very interesting places in the world during that period. And it was a blast. I got to set up the trips as they would go traveling to these places with the Secret Service and White House Communications. And it just was an amazing way, an opportunity to get to see the world. And then I went on to graduate school and got an MBA and ended up somehow in an international investment banking role, which is laughable because I cannot even help my children with fifth grade math. So, I don't know who that person was that did that. But I used to be able to do things that way. I can't anymore. And then I had kids, which was such a blessing. I'd met my husband at graduate school when we got married after I'd finished my stint in the White House and had kids right off the bat. And during that time, I really did try to piggyback. That was back in the day when women were allowed to job share, and I just couldn't do it. The more kids that came, the harder it was. And so I stayed at home with my kids, started a couple of businesses here and there, and then found myself in the world of writing. And I didn't plan on it. I kind of say I was an accidental writer, but I don't think anything is really an accident. It's not something that I was educated to do. However, I loved it. And I look back now and look at the great education that I had gotten and honestly how much I loved writing even as a child. I just didn't know that was something that you could do because back in that day there were, and I'm not that old, but there really were careers that were careers that you sort of went to that made sense from a sensible banking father. It's like, here are your choices for a degree plan. And so, I love how just even gravitating towards what you're gifting a purpose is, which we talked about before, it's just those things are in you, and it's fun to see how they will come out and how fun that it can even come out in a way where it's your vocation. And so here I sit as a writer, crazy. Laura Dugger: (5:44 - 6:00) Which is so great to hear the journey because you would think the math and the different skills required for international banking and then to become a successful author, that's so interesting. And this is so random and I could be wrong. Were your parents ever on Focus on the Family? Kay Wyma: (6:01 - 6:54) Well, they could have been. I have the greatest parents. I really do. They're so kind and they're just really terrific people. And so, they became friends, like they're friends with Dr. Dobson. And so, I don't know if they were. That's another really gift they gave us. You just do it in front of you and you don't really make a big deal about anything. And I love that. Everybody puts their pants on the same way, which is one thing I loved even about working at the White House because some of the stuff can look so glamorous and go. But the truth is, we're all just people. And the Lord has put in certain people's paths, things to do that could look really amazing and spectacular. But the amazing and spectacular is around you every single day, even if it might not have something. And for my kids would be like that have a million followers or that has gone viral. But they are there. I'm very blessed, Laura, with very nice parents. Laura Dugger: (6:55 - 7:03) Well, you've mentioned before that you battled an eating disorder growing up. Do you feel comfortable sharing a little bit more about that journey? Kay Wyma: (7:04 - 8:39) Absolutely. So, I definitely battled that. And again, I have a wonderful family that I grew up in, a home that I grew up in. But I also grew up in an environment where performance was a big deal, which it is today, too. So many kids are struggling with that. Oh, my gosh, so terribly. And whatever you're struggling with, because it could be for me, it was performance. And the way that I learned, the way that I coped with it was through eating and not eating. And a lot of just getting rid of the food that I had eaten. And there just came a day when I was in college that thankfully the Lord, the Lord just showed me one night that this is not a good thing. So, I actually left that semester of college to get help. And it changed my life. I was telling one of the girls yesterday, my girls, how grateful I am for that because I had never really understood or even contemplated the concept of grace. I just didn't know that was something I'd heard it, but I didn't know what it was. And I didn't know a whole lot about my worth having been declared by God and my identity having been determined by him. And I will say at 55, I know a lot more about it than I did even then at 19 or 20, but it was going through that journey, asking for help, stopping what was hurting me and reaching for truth that put me on a road to actually learn a lot of just what it means when he says it is for freedom that I have set you free. Laura Dugger: (8:40 - 9:00) And the reason that I bring up the eating disorder is from a previous podcast. I can't remember which one, but elsewhere I'd heard you say that you stay away from the whole 30 diet, but you were intrigued one day to instead try a soul 30. So, will you share that story with us too? Kay Wyma: (9:01 - 14:47) I will. And I do, I have to tell you, I, since, since I was 20, I've steered clear of scales and I really do steer clear of diets for me because they don't do good things in my head. And so, one thing that I learned through all of that was that you, you can't change an environment. Often you can't change the environment that you're in, but you can change the way you operate within the environment. Biggest lesson that I learned through all of that, like, please hear that. It was so life altering as I stood going, I can't change this environment, but I can change how I interact with it. Okay. And so, the whole 30, I do find intriguing, you know, because people, if you're going to do something physically, like to make your diet better, a lot of people do that. And so, for 30 days, they, they exit a ton out of their diet. I don't know everything about it because I am a big chicken. And I think they, if, if I was going to do it, the thing that would be the killer for me is not being able to have cream in your coffee. You know, it's like, that's a deal breaker for me right there. But the soul 30 it all started one morning. Again, I think I told you on the last one that like, even the experiment with the putting the stuff, like helping the kids with independence started with my rotten attitude. Well, this started with the rotten attitude too. And we aren't always doing experiments in our house, but I just had this bad attitude one morning as I'd come home from carpool. I had women coming over to my house. I leave a Bible study that meets on Tuesdays. And I was just going to the refrigerator to get milk out to be able to serve coffee. And there were two jugs of milk in our fridge. I pull the first one out and it's empty. And I'm like, what? And the second one, I pull it out. It's empty too. Like maybe a drop in it. And quite frankly, I could have put it back going, well, there's a drop of milk in it, but I don't know why people do that. Like in our house, it could be the same with a cereal box. Like you pull the box out, there's nothing in it. And I'm like, just throw it away. Like, please. And so I was frustrated. I get out into my car to go to the grocery store. And as I drive back out into the street, this big black pickup truck, literally like road routes its way into my face. And I was sort of like, really? And, and I didn't have a choice, but to back down because he was not going to let me go. And so as I started to back up, I looked up and I got to see this beautiful sun like peeking through this cloudy sky. And, and it was so beautiful. I was like, what am I doing? Like why am I in a crabby mood or frustrated by this? I'm in an air-conditioned car on my way to a grocery store where there are refrigerated items and there are people, somebody actually might say hello. Okay. Cause I go in there all the time and I was sort of like; everything is not bad. And I started to breathe. And I didn't realize in that moment that I was, I was being thankful. Like I just, it just happened. And, and in that I really was breathing. And I like felt better inside of me. I back up and let the guy go legitimately, which again, I did not realize it in the moment, but it was an act of kindness. And I felt even better. And when he drove by, I looked in his window and I was sitting there going, I have, it was a human being first of all. And I recognize that. And just for a moment, I was like, I have no idea what's going on in his day. He could be raced into the hospital. He could be late for work. He could just, you know, be a jerky person and, and life as long as a jerky person. And, and I just was, I wasn't over spiritualizing or anything, but I prayed for him. I was like, please let whatever's going on in his day be okay. Because if he's that intense, something is not great. And I drove to the grocery store, and I physically felt so good. It was like, like I had been given a joke Cola or something like I, Or some vitamin that was just a blast of energy. And it lasted. By the time ladies got over, I was like, you're gonna believe what happened this morning. It was so weird. And I told them about it the next week they came back and one of the ladies said, can you tell me again? What that story? And I was like, what story? And the lady next to her goes, Oh, I've been doing it. And I was like, doing what? And she goes, your thing. I was like, what is my thing? And she said, Oh, the thankfulness, kindness, and compassion. And as we talked about it again, I was sitting there going, is that something because it had deeply impacted this person that was trying it even for a week. And I really sat there going, okay, we would do a whole 30 for a physical diet. Something in these practices is impacting the soul. And I was like, what if we tried a soul 30 and for 30 days, proactively practiced thankfulness, kindness, and mercy, because that's what compassion is a part of mercy. What would happen? And so it was sort of like, let's do it. And these very sweet friends were willing to try as were my kids. And so instead of like pulling something away, which is what a fast is that goes with a whole 30, we sort of switched it to this unbelievable soul feast that came with doing these things. It was unbelievable. The joy that came into everyone's life when they started doing this stuff. I mean, it was amazing. And so as I tracked it, I really did track it because I like to know why it was sort of like, why is this happening? What's going on? What is in these things that actually can impact your life at such a deep, deep level to where joy is invited in and peace. Laura Dugger: (14:49 - 15:00) And so, like you said, you focus on thankfulness, kindness, and mercy in this most recent book, The Peace Project, but will you define and give examples of each of those? Kay Wyma: (15:01 - 19:08) Yes. And I think that is such a great way to start because it's like, okay, what, what is it even on the soul 30? I was like, here's what you do. Okay. Here is what thankfulness says, because I went to look like, if I'm going to ask, please do these things, here's what they are. So, thankfulness is calling out things for which to be grateful. And for our family, for my kids, I was like, please let it not be the same thing every day. Although now a year and a half out, what difference does it make? It could be the same thing every day. But for them, I was like, don't let it be the same thing. And it can be more than one thing, because the thing with thankfulness, when you start it, it's like, it may take a little effort to go, what do I have to be thankful for? Especially in a situation that's unsettling, which is kind of like when that car drove up on me, that was an unsettling moment. I was being forced down. And there's so much going on in that conversation that isn't spoken, which I think is important to call out in these things. So even as he's barreling up on me, it makes me feel unseen. It makes me feel like there's no, even though it's not spoken, that action brings with it. What thankfulness does is it instantly, it's like a wake up, like it's a focus shift. And so, and it tends to be looking up in some way, and it gets your eyes off of whatever the situation is. And it allows for truth to come in, which is where thankfulness goes, especially in the unsettling. Cause you can say, as I didn't mean to, but I did even in that moment, I am in an air-conditioned car. It is Texas in the summer, for goodness sake, that is a gift. And it's worth calling out. And there's always something for which to be grateful. So that's what thankfulness is. Kindness is seeing and loving others. And let me tell you something, loving yourself too, because I've learned through this. We are harder on ourselves than we are on anybody else. So seeing and loving others and yourself in deed or action, this component is so significant because you're taking it. Thankfulness is in your thoughts. So you're walking through in your thoughts and you're doing these things. And kindness is where you're going that extra step. And you're actually putting action on it so that even in your mind, because I learned a lot about neural pathways and how our minds can be transformed by this, which is sort of where we started. If your physical health can be impacted by a diet, can my thought health be impacted by doing things that are good for it? And so kindness takes it from the thought to the action. And so even in that, you know, letting that car go, that is so small. And so kindness doesn't have to be moving a mountain. It can be tiny little things. I've watched my neighbor one morning picking up newspapers and putting them on everybody's porch. And no one was seeing her do that. I accidentally did. And she even told me that day, you know, it's the small things because it is because when that person opens the door, the neighbor opens their door, they know that someone thought of them that day. Like it gives them, whether it's spoken or not, they get a sense of worth by going, I must matter. Somebody cared enough to put my newspaper on my front porch. Tiny, tiny things, as well as big things can be an act of kindness. And then mercy, that's the showstopper. And it is a challenge and it is beautiful. And the definition of mercy is compassion or forgiveness shown towards someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm. And again, including ourselves. And so as I started to peel back the layers on mercy, there's more and there's more and there's more. And another one of my favorite definitions of it was from a Jesuit priest whose name is James Keenan. And he called mercy the willingness to enter into someone else's chaos, which I actually found to be the most powerful because willingness plays a central role in this whole process because it actually is centered on our significance having been settled by the Lord. Laura Dugger: (19:09 - 19:17) What surprising discoveries did you make as you deliberately practiced each of these attitudes? And like you said, you partnered them with action steps. Kay Wyma: (19:18 - 21:54) Yeah, so I think for everybody, we just did a book club just finished last week, even here. And one of the gals said that she has been struggling terribly with anxiety and worry that stemmed a lot. They moved to Florida before the pandemic. And so, she was living in a new place, basically holed up in her house for a year and a half. And those things of worry and anxiety and fear had crept in and had become, you know, on repeat in her mind. And so just because she had signed up for the book club, came with a friend and she didn't really buy any of it because it doesn't matter whether you buy it or not because these things are not for me. Like that's the number one thing. They aren't mine. These really are woven within the greatest commandment. You know, love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind is thankfulness. Your eyes are not on yourself. And love others as you love yourself. And he's not talking about a narcissistic love. He's like genuine caring for others and yourself. There's so much power in that, which includes kindness and mercy. And so, she simply started doing the thankfulness. She was like, I don't know what the others are, but I know I can track being thankful. I can find a way to be thankful. And she came back after the first week and couldn't believe what it had done to her. Just in practicing thankfulness, which we know through science that there are benefits that occur in your brain just by doing that simple act. And it's clearly proven. You can just Google even the amount of thankfulness journals because it's so good for us. And if you write it down and look at it and see, you're using all these senses. And when you add the kindness and the mercy to it, it's so deeply impactful. And so, I think the thing that probably surprised me the most is how consistent the piece is and how your neural pathways actually can change. You can actually have your superhighway and your thought process, because we have those ruts in our brain that are highly traveled paths that our thoughts go to. And they tend actually to be along the lines of anxiety or fear or worry, because that's been a part of your life since you were a little kid. And to be able to somehow transition those highest traveled pathways to something that involves kindness and mercy and thankfulness is so significant because your instant reaction is going to a place of peace instead of a place of anxiety. It's like where science meets scripture. Laura Dugger: (21:54 - 27:25) It's so beautiful. And now a brief message from our sponsor. Did you know you can go to college tuition-free just by being a team member at Chick-fil-A East Peoria? Yes, you heard that right. Free college education. All Chick-fil-A East Peoria team members in good standing are immediately eligible for a free college education through Point University. Point University is a fully accredited private Christian college located in West Point, Georgia. This online self-paced program includes 13 associates degrees, 17 bachelor's degrees, and two master's programs, including an MBA. College courses are fully transferable both in and out of this program. 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Additionally, with our new website, we now have a donate button. There are processing fees that we cover for these donations, but we wanted to offer listeners a seamless way to share their finances with us when we share our content with them. So just visit thesavvysauce.com and find the donate page under the tab support. Another way to find it is simply type in donate to the search bar on our website and just click the first picture shown. We are all about sharing around here, sharing resources, sharing joy, and sharing the good news about Jesus Christ. We ask that you also will share by sharing financially, sharing The Savvy Sauce podcast episodes, and sharing a five-star rating and review. You can also share any of our social media posts on Instagram or Facebook. We are grateful for all of it, and we just love partnering together with you. Now, back to the show. You've already shared one piece of scripture that was impactful. Were there any other passages that especially seemed to come to life during this project? Kay Wyma: (27:26 - 29:11) Oh, yes, and they continue to, Laura, as is always the case with scripture. You know, it really is like, wow. But I love the take your thoughts captive and make them obedient to me, which can sound like it's something that I do, you know, that I'm going to have to make my thoughts obedient to him, but it's really the Lord's power that does that. And it's like these things, you know, I think we talked before about, he isn't doing something to us by saying do these things, it's for us. And it's because when you do these things, naturally it is going to set you free. And so, I love that. I love in Isaiah where it says, “He will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast in him.” And so when you feel that unsettledness, in that unsettledness, we can go to the places of worry or fear or anxiety, but what if in the unsettledness you can go to the one who says, I see you, who says you are known, who says you are a masterpiece, who says you belong because I chose you, who says, “I see you, you are mine.” And then go to those beautiful verses, even in Isaiah where he says, “you'll go through the water and they will not rise up over you and you will go through the fire, yet you will not be burned.” That's the truth because the one who says it is the one who protects us through all those things. And in the willingness aspect of this, it goes to this place where you're trusting what you can't see. And that is the one who has said these things over us to the point where I'm acting on it in places that can feel very scary. And leaning into his safety actually proves his safety over and over and over and over. And I think that's why the piece comes in. Laura Dugger: (29:12 - 29:17) Kay, you're such a great storyteller. So, do you have any favorite stories from this adventure? Kay Wyma: (29:18 - 33:55) There's a couple. So, it's like these practices rehumanize what so much around us has been dehumanizing because people aren't objects. People really matter. We like to compartmentalize everybody based on so many things, our race, our religion, the color of our hair, our vocation. I mean, you name it. And so, it kind of dehumanizes in that. And now we have this cancel culture, which is so weird. Like you could cancel a human being. And so, the rehumanizing comes in all of these practices. And it's so powerful. So, we were even on our way to the grocery store. There was a person that needed to get over a couple of lanes. And so, I'm with one of my daughters and I was like, let's let that person over. And so, as we did, she crossed over in front of us and made it all the way over three more lanes to go right. I mean, she really was in the wrong place. And my daughter looks at me and said, I'm so glad we did that. And I was like, why? And she said, because if someone had done that for me, it would have made me feel like I was seen and that I had worth. And so, I've never, like that sticks in my head constantly. To be seen and to have worth is what we all need. And the tiniest little things can do that for us. And so at that grocery store where we were going, a lady honked at me in the parking lot. Like I was walking and she just like blared on her horn, scared the living daylights out of me. And I was like, oh my gosh. But again, in that moment, I was like, wait a second. I can either have that, I'm either gonna fire up and be mad or I'm gonna be like, oh, I really am not seen. Either way, I'm going in a bad path or I can choose willingly to go, no. She's probably stressed out because she's not used to driving or maybe I scared her. She didn't see me. I don't know. And just reacts that way. And so, in that moment, I'm like letting it go, seeing her as a human being going in the grocery store. And so, I go in, do my shopping. It's super packed in there. I go to the deli line, get my number, stand and wait and stand and wait. And as I'm waiting, who shows up next to me but the lady that honked at me, which if I hadn't let it go in the parking lot, I would have been like, oh, there's that lady in my head. But I wasn't. I was like, oh my gosh, there she is. And the guy calls my number and I feel her next to me and hear her sigh like, oh my gosh. And I look at her and she had forgotten to get her number. And the line was so long. And I was sitting there going, you know what? I've got margin in my day. And I took my number and handed it to her so happily. And she did what we all do. She refused it because kindness is risky. You may be rejected, okay? But again, if you're going into it willingly in the willingness that's based on your settled significance, that kind of rejection doesn't hurt because you're not rejected by the one who has called you by name. Not to over-spiritualize it. But in that moment, I'm like, okay, no worries. But the deli guy is watching the whole thing. And so, I go to hand him the number and he looks at me and he serves her. And it was, I just can't even tell you how beautiful it was because she accepted it from him. I left because I was like, I don't want her feeling weird. I'm out of here and came back later. And it was so tiny and so beautiful. And it was like the greatest things of humanity were right there at the deli line in the grocery store. And I could tell you others, like even at the checkout, not on this occasion, but another one. Like what the checkers did to give grace to a woman who was so mean to them. And for them, like these two people to look at each other and go, man, she must be having a hard day and err on that. I mean, people are amazing. And it's like, dare we walk alongside each other? Dare we reach for the good? Dare we like just sink into the beauty of all that comes with things like your significance being eternally determined so that we can actually live in the freedom that surrounds you. All these opportunities that are around you every single day to be able to see the people and to treat the people next to you like human beings. It's really freeing and it's so beautiful. And it's a path paved with shalom peace. And it's amazing. Laura Dugger: (33:56 - 34:22) Okay, that story is so touching. And I think it's because it's so apparent that that was the Holy Spirit and Jesus in you being Jesus to someone else. Because in scripture, we do see that it's God's kindness that leads us to repentance. And I just wonder what the other side of the story is. Your act of willing obedience and kindness. I wonder how that impacted her in a positive way. Kay Wyma: (34:23 - 35:31) I don't know, but Laura, the coolest part is that I don't need to know. Like this is, again, through these things, that whole part exits. Like it doesn't matter at all. It's like that so much of the unseen is none of, I'll sit there and go, I can't believe he gave me something in that. Because the thing about any of these, when you give them out, it doesn't work like the world's economy where giving is actually a depletion. In God's economy, when you give, you're actually being filled. And so, it's like with a full tank, you walk away going, why did you allow me to be a part of that? Like, why would you have let me do that? Because I can't believe what you gave me through all of that. It's so amazing. Gosh, it just increases your capacity to trust exponentially. And so you have these little things like thankfulness that primes the pump. It's like, well, I'm going to get it going. And then the kindness. And then to be able to go to these places of mercy that involve very, very deep concepts like compassion, like forgiveness, like grace, like letting go of bitterness. These are aspects of God. They are not from us. It's like an invitation to experience God. Laura Dugger: (35:31 - 35:38) What are some other ways that this peace project has changed the way that you live your life from this point forward? Kay Wyma: (35:39 - 37:30) You know, almost with a spirit of expectancy and wonder and being able to see so many things that you haven't seen before. It's like it goes from black and white to technicolor. When I was in college, I actually had the opportunity to travel into West Berlin. This was a long time ago before the wall came down because there was the wall between East Berlin and West Berlin. But in order to get to West Berlin, you had to travel through East Germany. And it was so strange because literally on the train and everyone says this that did that back in those days, it was like you would go from colors to black and white. Like it was gray. They're literally the landscaped was gray. And then you would go from that gray into West Berlin that was like all colors and crazy and vibrant. And that's what I feel like this does. It takes the gray and it makes it, the colors just come out spectacularly. And I think it is because you're choosing to not just believe, but you're acting on the belief which changes something which because you can't do that on your own strength. And so you're getting to experience this very mysterious aspect of God where he says, come to me, I will give you peace. I will give you joy. And I'm going to add that during this period, we probably lived through some of the hardest stuff that we have ever lived through in our life, just with very old past hurt that came and revisited in an extreme way. And it's amazing to me how full our days were on some of the hardest days we've ever experienced simply because these practices allowed us to look beyond and to live in peace and joy that paved even the hardest path. Laura Dugger: (37:31 - 37:52) Well, I think that points to our good God, even in his timing that he invited you into this and you were willing to step in. And like you've said, it wasn't just something he did to you, but he offered this for you. And even through a hard time, that was such a gift. Kay Wyma: (37:53 - 39:32) Yeah, which I could never have known that we would even be living that hard time when we started doing this. And it was definitely something that was given to us because I wasn't looking for it. Again, like I said, I had a rotten attitude when all this started and yet he met me there. Somebody said to me, how brilliant that you did this. Like, you know, you did thankfulness, then kindness, then mercy. And I was like, I did not do this. Like, I didn't make this up. This is what literally happened that morning. And for whatever reason, our curiosity was piqued and it was piqued enough to go, hey, you want to try? And what would happen? And this, the book is the story of us trying and it really is a 30-day experiment where I go through the 30 days of like us doing it as a group and even include the group with these alongside call outs to where even the ladies that were doing it with us. And it was ladies just because it's a ladies Bible study. It doesn't mean that it's a woman thing or a guy, you know, not a guy thing. The consistency of, I can't believe how this has set me free. I didn't know I was entering into these places like this. I can't believe how healthy my mind is. You know, and again, people, if you have any issues with depression or that are deep that you need to get help, get help, please. You know, there is help out there. There are people that are gifted to be able to walk alongside us through very, very challenging situations which we were getting help along the way too. These practices will invite peace into your day on any day. I mean, just try it. Of course, I would love for people to get the book, but more than anything, just try it. I mean, these things are for you as much as they are for me. Laura Dugger: (39:33 - 39:39) And if someone is willing to give it a try, what suggestions do you have for them? Kay Wyma: (39:39 - 41:53) Yeah, it's so funny because I think when we hear like, oh, I have to do something for 30 days. I don't know about you, but I'm like, I can't add one more thing to my plate. And then I'm like 30 days. So, the first thing is just do it. Like just try it. And this is not something that you are going to have to give up anything or that it's going to be some burden or that you're gonna be trudging through just a hard journey. It will instantly be a gift to you. That's it. I still struggle with my rotten attitude going, no, it's really stubbornness that I'll go, oh, I'm not doing it. And then I'll think, what is wrong with you? You really know how great this is. When the Lord was asked, what would you say is the greatest commandment? He instantly said, love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind and love others as yourself for these sum up all the law and the prophets. That's a pretty big deal. And so why? Because it's so good for you because it gets our eyes off ourselves because it puts into action our effort to believe that what he says is true. The belief, I love you. I see you. I know you. You're safe. I'm provided for you. It's so powerful. I know that to be true. One of the gals that was in our book club has an eight-year-old daughter that hilariously picked this book up because her mother was reading it. And she called it Kay's Peace Project. She does not know me. She was going into a soccer camp, you know, and it's hot. A little girl that's her friend was being mean to her every day. And so by the last day she was getting out of the car. And that week, you know, she didn't want to get out because she didn't want to deal with this friend of hers that was being mean to her. As she was getting out on Friday, she turned to her mom as she got out of the car and she said, you know, I picked up Kay's Peace Project last night. She had landed on a day about mercy. And she said, I read about mysterious mercy. And she said, it made me realize that something may be going on in her friend's life that she doesn't know. And so, she said, I've decided that that's probably why she's being mean to me. And so, I really want to be nice to her today because I don't know what it is that's going on in her life. Eight years old. Laura Dugger: (41:54 - 42:07) Wow. And that is so powerful. How it has the power to work in all of us. And so, if somebody wants to grab their own copy of The Peace Project or if they want to find you online, Kay, where would you direct them? Kay Wyma: (42:08 - 42:49) Well, to KayWyma.com or I do love Instagram, but I'm just telling you, it's set your expectations low, people. Because it is, anything I've got is for whoever would like to participate in it or alongside because I do love living life together. And I would love for anybody to join along in that on those platforms or even through the books. And it's just such a privilege. And I just can't thank you enough for having me on and for your listeners even giving me a few moments to even hear whatever is the Lord has put on my heart today. And please share what's on your hearts with the people that are next to you, too. It's worth it. Laura Dugger: (42:50 - 43:04) Well, it's been a joy to host you. And you probably remember from last time, we are called The Savvy Sauce because savvy is synonymous with practical knowledge. And so, as my final question for you today, Kay, what is your savvy sauce? Kay Wyma: (43:05 - 43:57) Okay. So, for this project is settled significance. And it is the idea to live in your settled significance. You don't have to get significance from anything around you even though the world would tell you that we need to like in whatever capacity is is like ask the question, where am I thinking I have to do this in order to be okay? Because that's this if then equation of the world. If you do this, then blah, blah, blah, blah. Settled significant operates off God's economy that says, because then, because I have declared you righteous, you are seen, you are known, you are whole, you are loved, you are enough, you belong. And to be able to live in those things, we fight for that right now. We really do. And we try to call out those things that are telling us otherwise. Laura Dugger: (43:58 - 44:15) Well, Kay, thank you for fighting the good fight of faith and for sharing these practical ways to live out these biblical themes that really have eternal value of thankfulness and kindness and mercy. It has been a joy to host you as my guest. Kay Wyma: (44:15 - 44:23) Oh, my gosh. You're so nice to host me. Thank you so much. And thank you for what you do. You're a huge encouragement to people every day. So, thank you. Laura Dugger: (44:23 - 47:39) Thanks, Kay. 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's 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, 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're 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 and 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.
"Getting help and offering it up are not mutually exclusive." ~ Pat MilleaDoes "offering it up" mean you're not allowed to also go to the doctor, take medication, or see a therapist?Is it possible to chase suffering in a way that's actually about proving something to yourself instead of uniting yourself to Christ?Where's the line between the grit that gets you through a hard season and the grit that's quietly eroding you?In episode 108 of This Whole Life, Pat and Kenna Millea take on a phrase most Catholics have heard their whole lives but rarely stop to unpack: offering it up. Rather than presenting a tidy answer, they treat this episode as a genuine exploration, working through scripture, papal writing, and their own uncertainty to figure out what this phrase actually means and where it can go wrong.They start with Colossians 1:24 and the concept of redemptive suffering, the idea that our suffering, when united to Christ's, takes on a meaning it wouldn't have on its own. From there they turn to Pope John Paul II's Salvifici Doloris and Pope Benedict XVI's Spe Salvi to wrestle with a harder question: is it ever unholy to try to reduce your own suffering, or is chasing pain itself, without love, its own kind of distortion?The conversation gets especially honest around the danger of over-suffering, the belief that if you're not in constant discomfort you're somehow failing spiritually, and the very real ways this thinking can keep people stuck in bad jobs, unhealthy relationships, or situations they have every reason to leave. They land on a distinction they return to throughout the episode: getting help and offering it up are not mutually exclusive.This episode is for anyone who has felt guilty for wanting relief, or anyone who has used the phrase "offer it up" without fully knowing what they meant by it.Chapters:(00:31) - Welcome, Summer Confessions Game, and Highs and Hards(22:31) - Defining Offering It Up: Redemptive Suffering and Colossians 1:24(31:19) - Salvifici Doloris: Does Suffering Have to Be Sought to Be Redemptive?(35:23) - Is Suffering Automatically Holy? The Line Between Grit and Denial(46:04) - The Danger of Over-Suffering and When It Becomes Unhealthy(50:30) - Getting Help and Offering It Up Are Not Mutually Exclusive(1:02:03) - Challenge by Choice and Closing PrayerLinks and Resources:Salvifici Doloris, Pope John Paul II - https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_letters/1984/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_11021984_salvifici-doloris.htmlSpe Salvi, Pope Benedict XVI - https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20071130_spe-salvi.htmlSupport the showThank you for listening, and a very special thank you to our community of supporters!Join our email list and never miss an episode or an eventVisit us online at thiswholelifepodcast.com, and send us an email with your thoughts, questions, or ideas.Follow us on Instagram & FacebookInterested in more faith-filled mental health resources? Check out the Martin Center for IntegrationMusic: "You're Not Alone" by Marie Miller. Used with permission.
Because we have been raised to new life with Christ, the patterns of our old life no longer have to rule us. Pastor Shawn McGill highlights the call in Colossians 3 to put sin to death and shares three practical ways to confront it: expose it, starve it, and ask the Holy Spirit for help.If you've just made the decision for Christ, we want to celebrate with you! Let us know here! Scripture References:Colossians, chapter 3, verses 1–3Colossians, chapter 3, verses 5–9Galatians, chapter 2, verse 20Romans, chapter 6, verses 11–13Romans, chapter 8, verse 131 John, chapter 1, verses 8–9
This week we are continuing a new series going through Paul's letter to the church in Colossae, the book of Colossians. This young gospel community was faithful and receptive to the gospel, but was tempted to adopt aspects of other religions and world philosophies and combine them with the teachings of Jesus… a temptation remarkably similar to the ones we face today. In this letter, Paul exhorts the church to walk faithfully in the ways of Christ, and Christ alone. In the seventh message of the series, Associate Adult Ministries Pastor Blake Stophlet teaches out of Colossians 4:2-6. We'd love to connect with you! Fill out our online connect card here: https://summitspokane.churchcenter.com For more resources and info on upcoming events visit our website, https://summitchurchnw.com
You can be a Christian and stay at the surface, not recognizing that all the fullness of God dwells in Christ. But learning about Christ in His relation to the Father, to His creation, and to the church helps us to understand what He should mean to all Christians, and why He is supreme. Colossians 1:18-19 VF-2271 Watch, Listen and Learn 24x7 at PastorMelissaScott.com Pastor Melissa Scott teaches from Faith Center in Glendale. Call 1-800-338-3030 24x7 to leave a message for Pastor Scott. You may make reservations to attend a live service, leave a prayer request or make a commitment. Pastor Scott appreciates messages and reads them often during live broadcasts. Follow @Pastor_Scott on Twitter and visit her official Facebook page @Pastor.M.Scott. Download Pastor Scott's "Understand the Bible" app for iPhone, iPad and iPod at the Apple App Store and for Android devices in the Google Store. Pastor Scott can also be seen 24x7 on Roku and Amazon Fire on the "Understand the Bible?" channel. ©2026 Pastor Melissa Scott, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved
In the closing verses of Colossians, Paul introduces us to ordinary people whose lives show us the kinds of people God uses. This message challenges us to be dependable, transformed by grace, committed to prayer, willing to sacrifice, faithful with what God has given us, and determined to finish well.The question is simple: Do you want to be used by God? Faithfulness begins by treasuring Christ above everything else and placing our lives, gifts, resources, and opportunities in His hands.
Jesus commands us to make disciples. Therefore we must become disciples, as defined in the Bible, of Jesus. The story of the Acts 2:42 church gives us a beautiful picture of disciples of Jesus living In community together. Paul's letter to the Colossians shows us the way to live a full and abundant life as a disciple of Jesus Christ.
Pastor Jordan Boyce is preaching on Discerning Right Decisions.
We challenge the way we instinctively treat God's kingdom as a far-off heaven instead of a present reality that reshapes Monday through Saturday. We trace how Scripture moves us from awe and sorrow to active joy, so we fully serve God and fully experience his presence as the aroma of Christ. • the “More Than Saved” focus on assurance and why uncertainty limits Christian life • the question behind kingdom hope and why our minds default to heaven later • Colossians 1 and the finished reality of being delivered and transferred into the kingdom • partnering with God through fully serving and fully experiencing him • Romans 12 and the meaning of a living sacrifice as acceptance, presence, and aroma • the torn curtain, access to God, and believers as God's temple • sanctification as Spirit-driven change in mind, will, emotions, words, and body • Nehemiah 8 worship that ends with joy, generosity, and strength • gifts in the body and being willing instead of trying to be a “99” If you want to learn more about the MidTree story or connect with us, go to our website HERE or text us at 812-MID-TREE.
In Part 11 of UnRivaled, we explore Colossians 4:2-4 and discover what it means to keep moving forward with Jesus, even after disappointment, failure, or spiritual setbacks. Paul calls us to continue earnestly in prayer, remain spiritually vigilant, and cultivate a life of thanksgiving—not simply for what God does, but for who God is. Through the picture of a basketball coach calling “Next Play!”, we're reminded that grace doesn't leave us stuck in yesterday; it gets us back in the game and keeps us moving in the direction of Jesus. We also look at Paul's powerful request for prayer that God would open doors for the Gospel, reminding us that our greatest opportunities are divinely orchestrated and that some things only God can do. Take a nap, get back up, and continue on with Jesus—there's still a next play. ______________________________________________________________________________________ NEW HERE? We'd love to connect with you. Text "NEW" to 323-405-3232 SERMON NOTES: www.bible.com/organizations/f223…-a8fc-3297da42c26a - Or Text: "SERMON" To: 323-405-3232 CONNECT WITH US: Hopeland Website: www.hopelandla.com Hopeland Podcast: @steinbot-519314947 Hopeland YouTube: www.youtube.com/@hopelandchurch Hopeland Facebook: @hopelandla Hopeland Instagram: @hopeland.church To support this ministry and help us continue to reach people with the gospel click here: hopelandla.com/give or Text "Donate" to 323-405-3232. Or, choose a giving option here: - Venmo: @Hopeland-Church - CashApp: $HopelandChurch - Zelle: shawn@hopelandla.com - Tithely: https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=93965a22-e50f-4069-977a-7804a3827e05
“Take control of what I say, O Lord, and guard my lips.” (Psalm 141:3 NLT) It’s been said that God gave us one mouth and two ears for a reason: He wants us to listen more and to speak less. Think of how often we jump to conclusions or pass judgment in a situation. The writer of Proverbs warned, “Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish” (Proverbs 18:13 NLT). Nevertheless, when we hear something damaging about another person, our first instinct is to conclude immediately that the person is guilty as charged. And instead of saying, “Let’s go to that person and find out the truth,” we start to spread the news as if it were fact. In the old days when you went to a doctor, he would ask you to stick out your tongue. Then he would pull out a tongue depressor and tell you to say, “Ahhh.” Why? Because the tongue can be an indicator of what’s going on inside you. By observing your tongue, a doctor could tell what was wrong with the rest of you. The principle applies in a spiritual sense as well. Our tongue—or, more specifically, our words—are the table of contents to our lives. What we say gives away who or what we really are. That’s why David wrote, “Take control of what I say, O Lord, and guard my lips” (Psalm 141:3 NLT). In essence, he was saying, “Lord, set a watch over my mouth. I can’t stop other people from speaking evil about me, but I will not do the same to them. I will not be guilty of it, Lord. But I need your help. I can’t do this in my own strength.” Keep in mind that David faced off against a lion, a bear, the murderous King Saul, and a host of other enemies. He stepped onto a battlefield with the warrior giant Goliath with no fear and barely a second thought. Yet he knew what he was up against with the tongue. We need to follow his lead. We can accomplish some important work with our words. The apostle Paul wrote, “Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone” (Colossians 4:5–6 NLT). He also wrote, “Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them” (Ephesians 4:29 NLT). And the writer of Proverbs advised, “Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit” (Proverbs 15:4 NLT). But we can’t do those things on our own. Like David, we must pray that the Lord will set a guard over our mouths and keep a watch over the door of our lips. Reflection question: In what areas do you need the Lord to help you guard your lips? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
You wonder why when the minister comes to call on you, dear friend, he says, "let us pray". Do you think that's just a formality? You think that's the only thing he knows what to do? No, it's far more than that. The essence of comfort is found in God.Thank you for listening to Walk With The King Weekend Edition! To help support this podcast, please visit walkwiththeking.org/donate and select "Podcast" from the dropdown menu.To hear more from Bob Cook, you can find Walk With The King on Facebook or Instagram.
Christian reflects on inherited ideas about salvation and the questions that arose when his beliefs didn't match his life. The guys explore justification, sanctification, and glorification, and why salvation is more than simply getting into heaven. They also challenge caricatures of opposing traditions and consider how Catholics and Protestants can find common ground despite theological differences. In this episode: Philippians 2:1–5; Colossians 2:13–15; 1 Corinthians 15:1–2; 1 Peter 2:5, 9; John 6:51; Genesis 1:28; 1 Thessalonians 4:3, 7; Romans 6:19; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2; Hebrews 10:26–29; John 16; Philippians 2:10–11 Today's conversation is about Lesson 8 of Theology 101: The Western Theological Tradition taught by various Hillsdale Professors. Take the course with us at no cost to you! More about Theology 101: Examine the great questions of Western theology from the ancient Hebrews through today. The gift of speech, or reason, given by God to man, enables us to think about God and to worship Him. This free online course pursues this purpose by examining the nature of God as revealed in the Bible, exploring the great theological questions and controversies of the early Christian church, studying the history of the Reformation and Counter-Reformation, and much more. We invite you to join us and explore the nature of the relationship between God and man, and how a proper understanding of this relationship can lead to a free and happy life. Sign up at http://unashamedforhillsdale.com/ Check out At Home with Phil Robertson, nearly 800 episodes of Phil's unfiltered wisdom, humor, and biblical truth, available for free for the first time! Get it on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, and anywhere you listen to podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/at-home-with-phil-robertson/id1835224621 Listen to Not Yet Now with Zach Dasher on Apple, Spotify, iHeart, or anywhere you get podcasts. Chapters 00:00 Martin Luther's Three Powers of Faith 07:36 How Indulgences Became an Economy of Sin 12:03 Why the Reformation Finally Boiled Over 15:32 Justification vs. Sanctification 19:04 Al's Works-Based View of Salvation 24:28 The Three Ps of Salvation 29:11 Can You Be Saved Without Changing? 34:26 Why Sin Changes the Way You See Truth 38:54 What Glorification Will Actually Be Like 43:20 Catholics, Protestants & Common Ground 47:08 The Council of Unashamed - Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Money is never just about money, and work is never just about a paycheck. Scripture teaches that God owns everything, gives us the ability to earn, and calls us to work with integrity because ultimately, we serve Christ. Howard Dayton, Founder of Compass Financial Ministry and author of Business God's Way, says those truths should shape not only how Christians manage money, but how we earn it in the first place. Remember Who You're Really Working For The foundation of biblical earning begins with recognizing that God owns everything and that He is ultimately the One we serve. Colossians 3:23-24 says: “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men… You are serving the Lord Christ.” That applies whether you own a business, work for a large company, serve in ministry, or earn a paycheck somewhere in between. Your employer may sign the check, but your work is ultimately an act of service to Christ. Even the ability to earn is a gift from God. Deuteronomy 8:18 reminds us: “You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth.” That perspective guards against pride when things go well. Our abilities, opportunities, creativity, and strength are all resources God has entrusted to us. Let Integrity Define Your Work If we represent Christ in the workplace, honesty should characterize everything we do. For business owners, that means treating customers, employees, vendors, and even competitors with integrity. For employees, it means giving an honest day's work, using company resources responsibly, and refusing to take what does not belong to us—even when no one would notice. Jesus said in Matthew 5:16: “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Our conduct at work can either reinforce or undermine the faith we profess. Biblical integrity means doing what is right because we belong to Christ, not simply because honesty is good for business. Plan Wisely Without Presuming on Tomorrow Running a business or managing a career requires planning. Scripture affirms the value of order and thoughtful preparation. 1 Corinthians 14:40 says, “All things should be done decently and in order.” While the immediate context concerns worship in the church, the broader principle reminds us that order and intentionality have value. At the same time, good planning should never become confidence that we control the future. James 4:13-14 warns those who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit,” reminding them, “You do not know what tomorrow will bring.” Christians should plan carefully while holding those plans with open hands. We prepare responsibly, but we remain dependent on God. Make Generosity Part of the Business Plan Many biblical principles such as honesty, diligence, and planning are also recognized as sound business practices. Generosity, however, can run against the world's instinct to accumulate and protect as much as possible. Proverbs 11:24-25 says: “One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.” This is not a promise that generous people will always become materially wealthy. Scripture does not teach us to give in order to get more. Instead, generosity reflects trust in God and loosens money's grip on our hearts. For a business owner, generosity might mean giving a portion of profits, caring intentionally for employees, supporting ministry, or finding creative ways to use the company's resources to serve others. Some Christian business leaders have gone even further. Entrepreneurs such as Alan Barnhart and Stanley Tam structured their businesses around extraordinary generosity, viewing their companies not simply as vehicles for personal wealth but as resources entrusted to them for God's purposes. The form generosity takes will look different for every person and every business. The important question is whether we are willing to ask God how the resources He has entrusted to us can bless others. Work as a Steward Earning money God's way begins with a different definition of success. The goal is not merely to maximize income or grow a business. It is to faithfully steward the abilities, opportunities, relationships, and resources God provides. We work diligently because we serve Christ. We act honestly because we represent Him. We plan wisely while remembering that tomorrow belongs to God. And we hold what we earn with open hands so that generosity can become a natural expression of faithful stewardship. When we understand that God is both the Owner and our ultimate Employer, work becomes more than a way to make a living. It becomes another opportunity to honor Him with what He has entrusted to us. On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions: I'd like to help my daughter buy a home by financing part of the purchase myself. Can we structure a private family mortgage using the applicable federal rate, and how should we handle the interest, paperwork, and tax reporting? I'm behind on filing my taxes and have been quoted more than $600 for preparation. I also run a nonprofit ministry and would like to keep costs down. Where can I find affordable or free tax-preparation help, and could a Certified Kingdom Advisor® (CKA®) assist? I received a Schedule K-1 from an investment held inside my IRA. How should I handle that for tax purposes? My husband and I are dairy farmers with operating and capital lines of credit around 8.5%. We're considering using money from his Roth IRA to pay down the debt. At age 60, would there be taxes or penalties, and is that a wise move? Resources Mentioned: Faithful Steward: FaithFi's Quarterly Magazine (Become a FaithFi Partner) Business God's Way by Howard Dayton IRS Free File | AARP Foundation Tax-Aide | IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program FaithFi Field Guide: How Much Money is Enough? Our Ultimate Treasure: A 21-Day Journey to Faithful Stewardship by Rob West Wisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on Money Look At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and Anxiety Rich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich Fool Find a Certified Kingdom Advisor® (CKA) FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every weekday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God's resources. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
The purpose of the church is to spread the message of the gospel and to make learners. We have a record of the disciples proclaiming that message first to Jerusalem, then to Judaea and Samaria, and then to the world. Those who heard it would then go back to their homelands and tell what they heard. Colossians 1:18 VF-2270 Watch, Listen and Learn 24x7 at PastorMelissaScott.com Pastor Melissa Scott teaches from Faith Center in Glendale. Call 1-800-338-3030 24x7 to leave a message for Pastor Scott. You may make reservations to attend a live service, leave a prayer request or make a commitment. Pastor Scott appreciates messages and reads them often during live broadcasts. Follow @Pastor_Scott on Twitter and visit her official Facebook page @Pastor.M.Scott. Download Pastor Scott's "Understand the Bible" app for iPhone, iPad and iPod at the Apple App Store and for Android devices in the Google Store. Pastor Scott can also be seen 24x7 on Roku and Amazon Fire on the "Understand the Bible?" channel. ©2026 Pastor Melissa Scott, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved
What if the enemy's most effective weapon isn't power at all — it's intimidation, and your worship is the very thing that takes all the heat out of him? Graham opens the Standing Firm arc of The Overcoming Life with Paul's charge to be strong in the Lord, sharing an unforgettable warfare dream where the Holy Spirit says "put your shields down" and starts singing — because "he's lost every major battle he's ever fought against us." Discover why the enemy only wins the battles where he can intimidate, and why "your intimacy is the most intimidating thing about you." Graham lands on majesty: if you're in Christ, you're in all the majesty He projects, and your inheritance includes the surpassing greatness of His power.Key Scriptures:- Ephesians 6:10-13. "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm."- Romans 12:2. "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."- 1 Corinthians 2:16. "For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ."- Colossians 1:11. "Strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously."- 1 Corinthians 2:14. "But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised."Want to explore more?
For the Good of the Public brings you news and weekly conversations at the intersection of faith and civic life. Monday through Thursday, The Morning Five starts your day off with scripture and prayer, as we also catch up on the news together. Throughout the year, we air limited series on Fridays to dive deeper into conversations with civic leaders, thinkers, and public servants reimagining public life for the good of the public. Today's host was Michael Wear. Thanks for listening to The Morning Five! Please subscribe to and rate The Morning Five on your favorite podcast platform. Learn more about the work of the Center for Christianity and Public Life at www.ccpubliclife.org. Today's scripture: Colossians 3:1-10 (ESV) News sources: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/26/technology/meta-settlement-social-media-addiction-lawsuit.html https://www.wsj.com/health/pharma/fda-approves-drug-for-pancreatic-cancer-in-incredible-moment-for-deadly-disease-28638f15?mod=hp_lead_pos1 https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/08/26/trumps-endorsement-helps-darline-graham-win-south-carolina/ https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/25/arts/music/dolly-parton-dead.html?eafs_enabled=false https://www.christianitytoday.com/2026/08/dolly-parton-always-love-you-music-self-respect/ Join the conversation and follow us at: Instagram: @michaelwear, @ccpubliclife Twitter: @MichaelRWear, @ccpubliclife and check out @tsfnetwork Music by: King Sis #politics #faith #prayer #scripture #news #tech #Meta #safety #FDA #cancer #health #DarlineGraham #SouthCarolina #Senate #elections #DollyParton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Not every job is a calling you picked — and for a lot of working moms, that's exactly the point. In this episode, we talk honestly about what it looks like to show up faithfully in work you didn't choose, why that counts as ministry, and how to find real joy even when you don't want to be there. This one is especially for the moms working because they have to, not because it was ever really a choice — and for anyone who's felt like they don't quite belong in the stay-at-home-mom world or the career-mom world. You're not alone in that in-between space. In this episode, we cover: Why not loving your job doesn't mean your faith is weak What Joseph's story in Genesis teaches us about faithfulness in seasons we didn't choose The difference between happiness and joy — and why you can be honest about hating your job and still carry joy A word for moms who feel like they don't have "their people" One simple thing to carry with you this week, no plan required Scripture referenced: Genesis 39–41 (Joseph in Potiphar's house and prison) Colossians 3:23 Need extra support? This community offers Christian life coaching and biblical counseling through Faith Led Ministries. Find those resources, plus the Faith Led Working Moms Facebook group, at faithledministries.com. Continue Growing with Faith Led Ministries If today's episode encouraged you, I'd love to invite you to continue growing with us at FaithLedMinistries.com. There you'll find: Biblical encouragement for everyday life More podcast episodes for overwhelmed Christian working moms Free resources to strengthen your faith Biblical counseling Christian life coaching The Faithfully Balanced course designed to help working Christian moms move from overwhelm to intentional, faith-filled living Our mission is to help you know Christ, apply God's Word, and walk faithfully through every season of life through biblical encouragement, practical strategies, and biblical counseling principles. Email: Lindsay@faithledministries.com Website: www.faithledministries.com Instagram: @faithledworkingmoms Facebook Community: Faith Led Working Moms Community
Christ is the head of the church, and this church exists for His purposes, not to be what people think it should be. It exists to make learners who will grow in Christ and build up the body of the church. VF-2269 Colossians 1:17-18 Watch, Listen and Learn 24x7 at PastorMelissaScott.com Pastor Melissa Scott teaches from Faith Center in Glendale. Call 1-800-338-3030 24x7 to leave a message for Pastor Scott. You may make reservations to attend a live service, leave a prayer request or make a commitment. Pastor Scott appreciates messages and reads them often during live broadcasts. Follow @Pastor_Scott on Twitter and visit her official Facebook page @Pastor.M.Scott. Download Pastor Scott's "Understand the Bible" app for iPhone, iPad and iPod at the Apple App Store and for Android devices in the Google Store. Pastor Scott can also be seen 24x7 on Roku and Amazon Fire on the "Understand the Bible?" channel. ©2026 Pastor Melissa Scott, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved
Culture keeps moving the goalposts on what “Christian” is supposed to mean, and it leaves a lot of people stuck in the middle. We want a faith that's real, durable, and recognizable when it costs something, not a label that only works when life is easy. That's why we're starting a new sermon series through the Book of James, the New Testament's wisdom literature that reads like a field guide for practical Christian living.We talk through why James fits right after Colossians and Jonah: first, we lift high who Christ is, then we go to war with sin, and then we learn what obedience looks like on Monday morning. James was written to believers scattered by persecution, and that context brings weight to familiar lines like “consider it all joy.” We unpack trials, endurance, patience, and the slow process of sanctification that can't be microwaved into maturity.From there, James gets painfully specific: how our words shape our direction, why “faith without works is dead” is a mirror for hypocrisy, and how godly wisdom shows up in conflict. We also hit James 2 and the danger of partiality, especially when churches start operating like businesses and people get treated differently based on status, money, or platform.If you want biblical wisdom, discipleship that holds up under pressure, and a clearer picture of what real faith looks like in everyday life, press play. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review with the biggest takeaway you're planning to live out.Send us Fan MailSupport the show
We are far too quick to focus on what to do instead of who we are, and prone to believing lies about Gods identity as well as our own. Brian McCormack walks us through 4 simple questions to bring us into clarity, and more joy than we thought possible. Colossians 1:12-20 For more information about Breakaway, check out www.breakaway.org and follow us on social media @breakawaymin If Breakaway has impacted your life and you want to generously give back, visit www.breakaway.org/give
In the book of Colossians, Paul makes it clear that Jesus is not just a character in God's story; he's the author of the story. He's before all things. He's above all things. He's first in all things. In light of who Jesus is, Pastor J.D. asks one simple but revolutionary question: Is Jesus just important to you, or is he truly first in your life?
Continuing the excursion on angels, it is clear that there are many references to angels through the Scriptures. The elect, un-fallen angels that remain holy and dedicated to God carry out His will, deliver messages, and give guidance and help to humans as His representatives. The evil, fallen angels report to the god of this world, satan, and bring twisted messages designed to derail us from the path of faith. It is important to recognize the reality of these two forces at work, and to put on the whole armor of God to defend and protect ourselves against these opposing, unseen forces. Colossians 1:16 VF-2268 Watch, Listen and Learn 24x7 at PastorMelissaScott.com Pastor Melissa Scott teaches from Faith Center in Glendale. Call 1-800-338-3030 24x7 to leave a message for Pastor Scott. You may make reservations to attend a live service, leave a prayer request or make a commitment. Pastor Scott appreciates messages and reads them often during live broadcasts. Follow @Pastor_Scott on Twitter and visit her official Facebook page @Pastor.M.Scott. Download Pastor Scott's "Understand the Bible" app for iPhone, iPad and iPod at the Apple App Store and for Android devices in the Google Store. Pastor Scott can also be seen 24x7 on Roku and Amazon Fire on the "Understand the Bible?" channel. ©2026 Pastor Melissa Scott, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved
What did Jesus mean when He declared that “the gates of hell shall not prevail” against His church?In this episode of The Based Boomer Podcast, Mike D’Virgilio challenges the idea that Christians should expect the church to remain permanently on the defensive. Gates are defensive structures—and Christ’s promise in Matthew 16 presents a church advancing against the kingdom of darkness, not hiding from it.Drawing from Matthew 12 and 16, Colossians 1, Ephesians 1, and Revelation 20, Mike examines Christ’s victory over Satan through His death, resurrection, and ascension. The strong man has been bound, Christ reigns, and His people have been commissioned to carry the gospel into the world.The question isn’t whether the gates of hell will overcome Christ’s church. Jesus has already told us they won’t. The question is whether Christians actually believe His promise.
Have you heard it or said it? Maybe your body image issues are "your thorn in the flesh." It sounds comforting, but is it actually true? In this episode, we take a close look at what Paul's thorn in 2 Corinthians 12 actually was — and wasn't — and see how body image issues are different than the situation Paul discusses there. We'll also talk about how recognizing that your body image issues aren't your "thorn in the flesh" may be some of the most hopeful news you get, because then there's a cure for them. And, it's all found in scripture! Key Scripture references: 2 Corinthians 12:7–10 (the thorn in the flesh) Colossians 3:5 ("greed, which is idolatry") Colossians 3:9–10 (put off the old self, put on the new) Romans 6:14 (sin shall not be your master) 1 John 1:9 (confession and cleansing) 2 Corinthians 5:17 (new creation) Discussion questions for listeners / community: Have you ever described your body image struggle as "your thorn"? How did that framing shape whether you expected it to change? Try praying both prayers from this episode — the confession prayer and the contentment prayer. Which one actually named what's true for you? What would it look like this week to bring one specific piece of body-image idolatry into the light through honest confession? Timestamped Guide to Episode 00:00 Exploring body image and faith 03:38 Addressing body image issues 09:41 Biblical thorns and grace 12:21 Idols in Modern Christian Culture 16:32 Understanding body image issues 19:00 Inviting women to join workshop 22:16 Admitting struggles and seeking help 27:39 Choosing the right prayer 28:45 Dealing with aging and grace A note: This episode distinguishes disordered body worship (idolatry) from genuine physical affliction (illness, disability, medical conditions). Listeners walking through the latter should be pointed toward lament and grace, not confession — this episode is specifically addressing the worship-pattern many of us have around appearance and worth. Links: Heather's best-selling Christian books on body image, aging, and comparison: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/books-for-christian-women-body-image Join us on the next 40-Day Journey in September. Learn more here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/40-day-challenge Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Have you ever seen bright colors dancing across the night sky? What causes auroras, or the “Northern Lights”? Discover how God's brilliant design of Earth's atmosphere protects us from solar wind while creating a dazzling light show for us to marvel at.Here's our trail map:What Is Solar Wind?How Does Solar Wind Make the Auroras?Why Are Auroras Different Colors?How Can God Bring Beauty From Life's Storms?Download this lesson's free coloring sheet: https://thenaturaltheologyproject.com/what-is-the-aurora-borealis/Related Lessons to listen to next:How Hot Is the Sun? Lesson 112: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/a8b48d2c-aa2c-46d9-a224-3c34a07fc1ff/What Is Earth's Atmosphere For? https://player.captivate.fm/episode/be61b270-5a47-4fd0-ae15-d140867738aa/What Is Light? Lesson 109: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/4eb19e42-31c5-4143-8e42-a5a0eb63daed/Eryn's Books:Where Wonder Leads: An Adventure in God's Wild and Wonderful World: https://thenaturaltheologyproject.com/wonderMade to Marvel: 52 Family Devotions Exploring the Wild Wonders of God's Creation: https://thenaturaltheologyproject.com/marvelThe Nature of Rest: What the Bible and Creation Teach Us About Sabbath Living: https://www.amazon.com/Nature-Rest-Creation-Sabbath-Living/dp/0825448891Rooted in Wonder: Nurturing Your Family's Faith Through God's Creation: https://www.amazon.com/Rooted-Wonder-Nurturing-Familys-Creation/dp/0825447615936 Pennies: Discovering the Joy of Intentional Parenting: https://www.amazon.com/936-Pennies-Discovering-Intentional-Parenting/dp/0764219782Episode Links:Try CTCMath FREE and get half off: https://payments.ctcmath.com/purchase/homeschool-discount?tr_id=NPTBig Book of Earth & Sky (with chart): https://www.masterbooks.com/big-book-of-earth-sky-panelGod's Design for Heaven & Earth Set: https://www.masterbooks.com/gods-design-for-heaven-earth-set-mb-editionAstronomy books from a Biblical worldview: https://www.masterbooks.com/apologetics/astronomyBooks, curriculum, and resources by Master Books: https://www.masterbooks.com/Nat Theo Club Bonus Video: https://thenaturaltheologyproject.com/memberExplore Bible-based nature study with Nat Theo curriculum: https://thenaturaltheologyproject.com/clubFree Aurora Coloring Sheet: https://thenaturaltheologyproject.com/what-is-the-aurora-borealis/Ask your nature question: https://thenaturaltheologyproject.com/askScriptures Referenced in This Episode:“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” Psalm 19:1 (NIV)“The Lord is good, giving protection in times of trouble. He knows who trusts in him.” Nahum 1:7 (NCV)“The men were amazed and said, ‘What kind of man is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!'” Matthew 8:27 (NCV)“For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” Colossians 1:16-17 (NIV)“We have small troubles for a while now, but they are helping us gain an eternal glory that is much greater than the troubles.” 2 Corinthians 4:17 (NCV) Terms Learned in This Episode:Solar Wind: A steady stream of tiny charged particles flowing out from the sun into space.Particle: A tiny piece of matter.Coronal Mass Ejection (CME): A huge burst of gas and charged particles that blasts away from the sun into space.Magnetosphere: The region around Earth where Earth's magnetic field reaches into space and helps protect our planet.Auroras: Colorful lights that glow in the sky near Earth's poles.Aurora Borealis: Auroras that happen near the north pole and can be seen from areas in the northern hemisphere.Aurora Australis: Auroras that happen near the south pole and can be seen from areas in the southern hemisphere.Aurora Ribboning: When an aurora forms long, wavy bands of light that look like glowing ribbons or curtains in the sky.This podcast episode contains paid advertisements.
For the Good of the Public brings you news and weekly conversations at the intersection of faith and civic life. Monday through Thursday, The Morning Five starts your day off with scripture and prayer, as we also catch up on the news together. Throughout the year, we air limited series on Fridays to dive deeper into conversations with civic leaders, thinkers, and public servants reimagining public life for the good of the public. Today's host was Michael Wear. Thanks for listening to The Morning Five! Please subscribe to and rate The Morning Five on your favorite podcast platform. Learn more about the work of the Center for Christianity and Public Life at www.ccpubliclife.org. Today's scripture: Colossians 1:21-28 (ESV) News sources: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/24/us/politics/supreme-court-trump-mail-ballots.html https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2026/08/24/trump-administration-proposes-103000-fee-h-1b-visas-after-legal-setback/ https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/23/us/politics/jeffries-kushner-private-meeting.html?eafs_enabled=false Join the conversation and follow us at: Instagram: @michaelwear, @ccpubliclife Twitter: @MichaelRWear, @ccpubliclife and check out @tsfnetwork Music by: King Sis #politics #faith #prayer #scripture #news #SupremeCourt #elections #politics #H1Bs #immigration #tech #economy #HouseDemocrats #Congress #JaredKushner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Patience isn't something we naturally have — it's something we're told to "put on," according to Colossians 3:12. New episode by Nicolet Bell on what it actually looks like to extend to our kids the same patience God has shown us. LINKS: Freebie: Drive Time Conversations Fruit of the Spirit Download How to Pray God's Word for Your Children Follow Everyday Prayers @millionprayingmoms Get today's devotion and prayer in written form to keep for future use! Support the ministry with your $5 monthly gift through Patreon. How Praying Produces Patience by Nicolet Bell Reference: 2 Peter 3:8-9 Prayer: Father, help me to be patient as I wait to see how You are working in my life. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Today we speak on Psalm 91 and the "secret place," explaining how the cross of Jesus is the door into being "hidden with Christ in God." Using insights from Derek Prince, Colossians, and Hebrews, he encourages listeners to draw near to the throne of grace, receive mercy in times of need, and find practical rest and protection in Christ.
As background to the teaching Paul had to do to counter the false doctrine of angel worship, we can look to the Scriptures, especially the Pentateuch, to make sure we understand the nature and role of angels. There are different categories of sometimes seen and sometimes unseen created beings who carry out assignments from God, and some references to "the angel of the Lord" are actually a manifestation of God Himself. Ultimately, whether they are good or evil angels, they are not to be worshiped: we are to be followers of Christ. Colossians 1:16 VF-2267 Watch, Listen and Learn 24x7 at PastorMelissaScott.com Pastor Melissa Scott teaches from Faith Center in Glendale. Call 1-800-338-3030 24x7 to leave a message for Pastor Scott. You may make reservations to attend a live service, leave a prayer request or make a commitment. Pastor Scott appreciates messages and reads them often during live broadcasts. Follow @Pastor_Scott on Twitter and visit her official Facebook page @Pastor.M.Scott. Download Pastor Scott's "Understand the Bible" app for iPhone, iPad and iPod at the Apple App Store and for Android devices in the Google Store. Pastor Scott can also be seen 24x7 on Roku and Amazon Fire on the "Understand the Bible?" channel. ©2026 Pastor Melissa Scott, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved
What happens when religious activity takes the place of Christ? In Colossians 2:16-23, Paul warns believers against empty forms of religion that may appear spiritual but cannot truly transform the heart. Whether through legalism, false spirituality, or man-made rules, anything that draws our focus away from Christ ultimately leaves us empty. Jesus is not simply part of the Christian life—He is enough. Join us as we continue our verse-by-verse study through the book of Colossians in our series, Christ Above All.
CheckoutThe God Centered Concept Academy Training Community to learn what growth in Christ isTUVU CommunitiesCheck out this link to view Kingdom Cross Roads on TV.https://jesussaid.tv/?affiliate=tswright_gccTo get a copy of our new book "Embracing the Truth" or to have TS Wright speak at your event or conference or if you simply want spiritual or life coaching or just a consultation visit:www.tswrightspeaks.comVisit our website to learn more about The God Centered Concept. The God Centered Concept is designed to bring real discipleship and spreading the Gospel to help spark the Great Harvest, a revival in this generation.www.godcenteredconcept.comKingdom Cross Roads Podcast is a part of The God Centered Concept.How should Christians share the Gospel in a world that may not understand—or even agree with—the Christian faith?In this episode of Kingdom Cross Roads Podcast, host T. S. Wright welcomes back Rev. Stu Woods for a message from Colossians 4:2–18 about living as faithful witnesses for Jesus Christ.Rev. Stu begins with Paul's instruction to “devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Prayer is not meant to be an occasional religious exercise. It is regular communication with our Heavenly Father—bringing Him our concerns, hopes, needs, struggles, and thanksgiving.The message then turns to Paul's remarkable perspective while imprisoned. Instead of focusing primarily on his difficult circumstances, Paul asked believers to pray that God would open a door for the Gospel and enable him to proclaim Christ clearly.That same calling remains before believers today.Rev. Stu challenges Christians to examine how they speak and behave toward those outside the faith. Our words and actions can either help someone move toward Christ or become an unnecessary obstacle.Drawing from Colossians 4:5–6, he emphasizes:Be devoted to prayer.Remain watchful and thankful.Pray for God to open doors for the Gospel.Make the most of every opportunity.Treat those outside the faith with wisdom, kindness, and respect.Let your conversations be full of grace and “seasoned with salt.”Listen before answering.Grow in your knowledge of Scripture.Share your personal testimony and connect it to God's Word.Remember that believers plant and water seeds, but God gives the growth.One memorable challenge from the episode is the idea that there are “five Gospels”—Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and you—because for many unbelievers, the life of a Christian may be the first testimony about Jesus they closely examine.Rev. Stu calls this approach “gospel kindness”: speaking truth without abandoning grace, treating people with dignity, and allowing the character of Christ to be visible through our lives.The episode concludes with the reminder that Christians are called to faithfully sow and water the seed of God's Word while trusting the Holy Spirit with the results. Scriptures DiscussedColossians 4:2–18 Matthew 5:43–48 Luke 7:47 1 Corinthians 3:6–7Keywords / TagsKingdom Cross Roads Podcast, Kingdom Crossroads Podcast, Rev Stu Woods, Reverend Stu Woods, TS Wright, T S Wright, Colossians 4, Colossians 4 2-18, sharing the Gospel, share the Gospel, Christian evangelism, Christian witness, Gospel message, Gospel kindness, devoted to prayer, power of prayer, Christian prayer, thankful prayer, Christian gratitude, seasoned with salt, conversation full of grace, witnessing for Jesus, sharing Jesus, spreading the Gospel, Great Commission, Christian discipleship, biblical teaching, Bible study, New Testament teaching, Apostle Paul, Paul in prison, Christian living, Christian encouragement, faith in Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ, salvation through Jesus, Holy Spirit, evangelism training, reaching unbelievers, reaching the lost, Christian testimony, biblical evangelism, Kingdom of God, Christian podcast, Bible podcast, Jesus Said TVCall to ActionWho has God placed in your life who needs to experience the grace and truth of Jesus Christ?This week, devote yourself to prayer. Ask God to open a door for the Gospel, give you wisdom to recognize the opportunity, and help your words be full of grace and seasoned with salt.Then be willing to step through that door.If this message encouraged you, follow and subscribe to Kingdom Cross Roads Podcast, share this episode with someone who needs to hear it, and help us spread the Gospel around the world.
Erick, Daniel, and Brian finish Colossians by discussing vocation, work, prayer, and gracious speech, with a close look at Paul's words to bondservants and masters. They also reflect on the faithfulness of Tychicus, Onesimus, Epaphras, Luke, and the rest of Paul's closing greetings as a picture of the church as a real family in Christ. Have a listen. More from 1517: Support the work at 1517 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education New Books from 1517 Publishing: The Turk at the Door by Adam Francisco Luther and the Lion: A Narnian Catechism by Samuel Schuldheisz By Water and the Word by Brian Thomas Being Family by Dr. Scott Keith More from the hosts: Daniel Emery Price Erick Sorenson Follow 1517: Instagram X/Twitter Facebook
What if the pressure to hold everything together is one of the very things keeping you overwhelmed? In this Best Of episode, I'm revisiting a conversation about the exhausting pressure to get everything right, keep everyone happy, and make sure life turns out the way we think it should. We'll talk about the hidden beliefs behind our need for control, why our value isn't determined by how well we perform, and how to find peace even when you don't know what the outcome will be. Most importantly, we'll look at the freeing truth of Colossians 1:17: Jesus is the One who holds all things together. You were never meant to carry the weight of holding your family, your future, your relationships, or your entire life together on your own. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN [00:00] The Hidden Pressure Behind Trying to Hold It All Together [05:00] How the Need for Control Fuels Emotional Overwhelm [08:00] Jesus Is the One Who Holds All Things Together [11:00] When Doing Everything Right Still Doesn't Give You the Outcome You Want [14:00] Why Your Ability to Carry More Doesn't Determine Your Value [17:00] Finding Peace Without Knowing What Happens Next [20:00] What Actually Belongs to You—and What Belongs to God [23:00] Releasing the Pressure to Make Everything Perfect RESOURCES: Emotional Overwhelm Reset System If overwhelm is keeping you stuck, the Emotional Overwhelm Reset System will teach you exactly what to do in those moments when your emotions feel too big to process. You'll learn a simple, repeatable framework to regulate overwhelm so you can respond with greater clarity, emotional confidence, and peace. Learn more: AliciaMichelle.com/overwhelm RELATED EPISODES: Ep 374: 5 Types of Emotional Overwhelm—Which Are You Experiencing? Ep 373: What Is Emotional Regulation (And Why It's More Than Calming Yourself Down) Ep 372: Why Managing Overwhelm Is Where Emotional Healing Begins Send us Fan Mail
Patience is the fruit of the Spirit, not the fruit of our own effort or our kids' good behavior.
This week we are continuing a new series going through Paul's letter to the church in Colossae, the book of Colossians. This young gospel community was faithful and receptive to the gospel, but was tempted to adopt aspects of other religions and world philosophies and combine them with the teachings of Jesus… a temptation remarkably similar to the ones we face today. In this letter, Paul exhorts the church to walk faithfully in the ways of Christ, and Christ alone. In the sixth message of the series, Guest Speaker Lee Coate teaches out of Colossians 3:12-17. We'd love to connect with you! Fill out our online connect card here: https://summitspokane.churchcenter.com For more resources and info on upcoming events visit our website, https://summitchurchnw.com
Digging into the original language in Colossians 1:16, we see Christ is the basis for creation, He is the instrument of creation, and the purpose of creation goes back to Him. He could not have been created if He was the Creator, which puts Him above all angels. We are part of the creation, and God's plan for us is to praise Him. Colossians 1:16 VF-2266 Watch, Listen and Learn 24x7 at PastorMelissaScott.com Pastor Melissa Scott teaches from Faith Center in Glendale. Call 1-800-338-3030 24x7 to leave a message for Pastor Scott. You may make reservations to attend a live service, leave a prayer request or make a commitment. Pastor Scott appreciates messages and reads them often during live broadcasts. Follow @Pastor_Scott on Twitter and visit her official Facebook page @Pastor.M.Scott. Download Pastor Scott's "Understand the Bible" app for iPhone, iPad and iPod at the Apple App Store and for Android devices in the Google Store. Pastor Scott can also be seen 24x7 on Roku and Amazon Fire on the "Understand the Bible?" channel. ©2026 Pastor Melissa Scott, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved
Hosts Kyle Reno and Bill Elliff unpack Paul's prayer in Colossians 1:9–12, showing how Spirit-led intercession equips believers to know God's will, walk worthy of Christ, bear fruit, and grow in understanding. This episode offers practical encouragement to pray persistently - for children, friends, and communities - and challenges listeners to pray with faith and expectancy. Please let us know how the OneCry Podcast has impacted your own story by emailing us at info@onecry.com You can find many more downloadable revival resources and join the movement at www.onecry.com
What is my purpose? How do I know if I am actually living the life God created me to live? In Part 1 of In His Image, Pastor Josh Hersey goes back to Genesis 1 to uncover the biblical foundation of our purpose: we were created in the image of God to know Him, become like Him, and reflect Him to the world around us. Instead of building our identity around happiness, success, career, possessions, feelings, or the expectations of other people, Scripture gives us something much deeper and more lasting. Through Genesis 1:26–27, Colossians 3:1–10, John 10:10, and 2 Corinthians 3:16–18, this message explores what it means to be made in the image of God, how the enemy distorts our identity through lies and false definitions of purpose, what it means to find our true life in Christ, and how the Holy Spirit is transforming believers to become more and more like Jesus. The service concludes with a powerful story about a “plus one,” salvation, and public baptisms celebrating people who have put their old life behind them and are walking in new life with Christ. If you have ever asked, “What is God's purpose for my life?” “Who am I in Christ?” “What does it mean to be created in God's image?” or “How do I find my identity in Jesus?” this message is for you. New here or made a decision to follow Jesus today? We would love to connect with you. Fill out our digital connection card: https://churchontherock.net/connect-card
If you've ever obeyed God in your career and still felt like you “failed” because the offer didn't come through, you're not alone. Day five of 31 Days of Obedience goes straight to the place where pressure hits hard: the marketplace. I'm talking about your job, your business, your clients, your coworkers, your income goals and the quiet anxiety that shows up when you're doing the right thing but not getting the result you expected.I ground our time in Colossians 3:23, because it resets the entire motive of our work: do it as though you're working for the Lord rather than for people. From there, we unpack a main idea that can change how you show up Monday morning: work becomes worship when done in obedience and excellence unto God. The marketplace is not outside of God's care or God's influence, it's one of the primary places He forms your trust, your character, and your witness.I also share a real moment from a conversation about job applications that weren't turning into callbacks and the question God pressed on my heart: What is success? When we let Romans 12:2 challenge the world's timeline and metrics, we can embrace a kingdom definition of success that's both simple and freeing: I did what God said. Our only job is to obey, the outcome is on God, and even a no or a not yet can be protection, mercy, and providence.You'll leave with a reflective question to journal and a practical obedience step you can practice immediately at work: be impeccable with your words and always do your best. If this encouraged you, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more women can find it. What's one area of your work life where you need to release the outcome to God today?
Have you ever wondered what the story of the gospel is and what it means for you? In this message, Pastor Scott preached from Colossians 1:15-20, and he explained the gospel story in four movements: (1) Creation, (2) Fall, (3) Redemption, and (4) Restoration. We were also reminded that the gospel is not just the first step to get into the Christian life, but it is the Christian life! As Christians, we don't move on from the gospel, but continue to live in Christ's resurrection life and be ambassadors of Christ as we wait from Him to restore all things. Check out this message to learn more!
Was Jesus incorrect when He was sharing the Parable of the Mustard Seed that is recorded in Matthew 13:31-32? He claims that the mustard seed is the smallest of all the seeds and that it will grow into a tree that is larger than all the plants. But though the seed is indeed quite small, it will only grow to a tree about eight feet tall. Is this an error in the Bible? Or is there a reasonable explanation as to why Jesus said this? Tune in to find out! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------DONATE: https://evidence4faith.org/give/WEBSITE: https://evidence4faith.org/NEWSLETTER: http://eepurl.com/hpazV5BOOKINGS: https://evidence4faith.org/bookings/CONTACT: Evidence 4 Faith, 349 Knights Ave Kewaskum WI 53040 , info@evidence4faith.orgMy goal is that their hearts, having been knit together in love, may be encouraged, and that they may have all the riches that assurance brings in their understanding of the knowledge of the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. - Colossians 2:2-3CREDITS: Developed & Hosted by Michael Lane. Produced & Edited by Michaela Vorwerk. Graphics & Publication by Michaela Vorwerk. Additional Art, Film, & Photography Credits: Stock media “Memories” provided by mv_production / Pond5 | Logo Stinger: Unsplash.com: Leinstravelier, Logan Moreno Gutierrez, Meggyn Pomerieau, Jaredd Craig, NASA, NOASS, USGS, Sam Carter, Junior REIS, Luka Vovk, Calvin Craig, Mario La Pergola, Timothy Eberly, Priscilla Du Preez, Ismael Paramo, Tingey Injury Law Firm, Dan Cristian Pădureț, Jakob Owens | Wikimedia: Darmouth University Public Domain, Kelvinsong CC0 | Stock media “A stately Story (Stiner02)” provided by lynnepublishing / Pond5
Rawrr! Prayer is good, right? But what happens when someone makes it against the law to pray?!?! Find out in this great episode!Prayer is talking to GodDaniel would continuously talk to God through prayer. Even when he was threatened to be thrown into the lion's den, Daniel would continue to pray to God.Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.– Colossians 4:2Daniel 2, Daniel 6Daniel and the Lion's DenDaniel was a very good, faithful man, who always obeyed God. He would pray to God consistently, three times a day. Daniel had a very close relationship to God due to how often he would talk to God through prayer and because of his unshakable faith. God also gave Daniel an incredible gift—Daniel was able to interpret dreams. This gift led Daniel to successfully interpreted King Nebuchadnezzar's dream. The king then gave Daniel a high up position in the kingdom and gave him many gifts. Because Daniel was so smart, other wise men in the kingdom were very jealous. Their jealousy led them to convince King Darius to make a new law—that the people were only allowed to pray to the king. If people chose not to obey this law, they would be thrown in the lion's den. These jealous men knew that Daniel would never obey this law since he would pray to God several times a day.Daniel continued to pray in his room, even when he had heard about this new law. After the jealous men saw him do this, they told King Darius. This made King very upset because he cared for Daniel and tried to get him out of trouble, but knew there was no way around it. Before throwing him in the den, King Darius told Daniel “Your God, to whom you are so loyal, is going to get you out of this.” The next morning, King Darius went to check on Daniel and heard Daniel say “My God sent his angel to shut the lion's mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have wronged you, Your majesty.” Daniel had not been harmed! They both knew that Daniel was protected because he had completely trusted God and had faith in Him. Daniel had a great amount of love for the Lord. Daniel also had a deep and personal connection to God because he would intentionally talk to God all the time through prayer. Regardless of the situation he was facing, he would make time to pray. Sometimes, we can get so caught up in our daily routine, that we neglect to prioritize our quiet time with God. But the truth is, God wants to hear from us—He wants us to talk to Him because of His love for each and every one of us.I can talk to God. Questions to think about:1. Why did Daniel continue to pray, even when he knew his life would be threatened?2. Why did Daniel have such a close relationship with God?3. How can I remember to talk to God on a daily basis?
In DTWOL... Identity* we dive into... who are you... and who possesses the authority to answer that question? In a world constantly assigning labels, encouraging self-definition, and telling us to look within; Identity* dives beneath what can be seen on the surface to examine what the only true God says is true about humanity—and about those who are in Christ. From what was true FORMERLY, to the life-changing intervention of BUT GOD, we discover that biblical identity is not something we manufacture, achieve, or earn; it begins with the Creator and, for the disciple, is made new in Jesus Christ. And when the only true God changes what is happening under the skin, new desires, new affections, and a new direction increasingly become evident in the way His disciples walk, talk, and live. So perhaps the question isn't merely, “Who am I?”—but something considerably deeper: “Whose am I?”God's Word: Key Verses: Genesis 1:26–27; Ephesians 2:1–5; Colossians 1:13–14; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ezekiel 36:26–27; Additional Scripture references are woven throughout the Godcast and can be gleaned from the full transcript. Amen? Email: walkingtheway3@gmail.com
In Part 10 of UnRivaled, we explore what happens when the Kingdom of God permeates every area of our lives—not just our spiritual lives, but our work, relationships, decisions, and everyday routines. Through Jesus' picture of leaven in Luke 13 and Paul's teaching in Colossians 3–4, we discover that God's work in us is often quiet and gradual, yet relentless, transforming us from the inside out. Paul challenges us to see our work as worship, reject compartmentalized Christianity, and allow Christ's lordship to shape how we treat people and conduct ourselves in the marketplace. The call is simple but challenging: withhold nothing from God, follow Him fully, and let His Kingdom transform every part of your life. ______________________________________________________________________________________ NEW HERE? We'd love to connect with you. Text "NEW" to 323-405-3232 SERMON NOTES: www.bible.com/organizations/f223…-a8fc-3297da42c26a - Or Text: "SERMON" To: 323-405-3232 CONNECT WITH US: Hopeland Website: www.hopelandla.com Hopeland Podcast: @steinbot-519314947 Hopeland YouTube: www.youtube.com/@hopelandchurch Hopeland Facebook: @hopelandla Hopeland Instagram: @hopeland.church To support this ministry and help us continue to reach people with the gospel click here: hopelandla.com/give or Text "Donate" to 323-405-3232. Or, choose a giving option here: - Venmo: @Hopeland-Church - CashApp: $HopelandChurch - Zelle: shawn@hopelandla.com - Tithely: https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=93965a22-e50f-4069-977a-7804a3827e05
Now, how do I go about approaching this matter of gracious speech, the kind of words that depict to others the fact that I've been to Calvary? Weekend broadcast #243Thank you for listening to Walk With The King Weekend Edition! To help support this podcast, please visit walkwiththeking.org/donate and select "Podcast" from the dropdown menu.To hear more from Bob Cook, you can find Walk With The King on Facebook or Instagram.
Studying the use of the Greek word prototokos, being translated "firstborn" in Colossians 1:15, we see that it is impossible to conclude that Jesus is a created being. Rather, He is the first of His kind, firstborn of all creation to be raised up from the dead. He set the pattern for those who follow Him by faith, which means we will follow after Him in that same way! Colossians 1:15-16 VF-2265 Watch, Listen and Learn 24x7 at PastorMelissaScott.com Pastor Melissa Scott teaches from Faith Center in Glendale. Call 1-800-338-3030 24x7 to leave a message for Pastor Scott. You may make reservations to attend a live service, leave a prayer request or make a commitment. Pastor Scott appreciates messages and reads them often during live broadcasts. Follow @Pastor_Scott on Twitter and visit her official Facebook page @Pastor.M.Scott. Download Pastor Scott's "Understand the Bible" app for iPhone, iPad and iPod at the Apple App Store and for Android devices in the Google Store. Pastor Scott can also be seen 24x7 on Roku and Amazon Fire on the "Understand the Bible?" channel. ©2026 Pastor Melissa Scott, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved
In this message from Colossians 4:2–6 and other selected passages, David Platt points to the goodness of God's design for sexuality and gender.Explore more content from Radical.
You got a brand new identity in Christ. But are you still wearing the old clothes? Most of us know that something changed when we came to faith. What we're less sure about is what that means for how we actually live — what we put on, what we take off, and what we've let quietly stay in the closet because it still fits a little too comfortably. In episode two of our series A Life Unleashed, Christine Caine opens Colossians 3 and does what Paul does: gets practical. In this episode, Christine Caine uses the extended metaphor of a spiritual wardrobe to unpack one of the most practical passages in the New Testament. Since we have been raised with Christ, Paul says, there are clothes we used to wear that simply should not fit us anymore, and there is a brand new wardrobe hanging in the closet that most of us haven't fully tried on yet. Christine is honest about what her old wardrobe looked like before Christ and what it meant to discover that those clothes were slowly destroying her life. She makes the case that getting dressed spiritually doesn't happen by accident any more than getting dressed physically does. It takes intentionality, daily decision, and a clear sense of who you are representing. The takeaway that will stay with you: the sin you won't kill will end up killing something else (your relationships, your peace, your witness) and through the power of the Holy Spirit, you have the agency to choose differently every single day. ✨ If you've ever asked questions like… ✅ I'm a Christian but I still struggle with the same things, is something wrong with me? ✅ How do I actually change my behavior? Is it willpower, or is there something deeper going on? ✅ What does it mean to put off the old self and put on the new self — practically? ✅ Why does setting my mind on things above actually matter for how I live down here? ✅ How do I stop being complacent about the things in my life that I know aren't right? ✅ Does how I live as a Christian actually affect people around me who don't believe? ✅ What does God's wardrobe for me actually look like, and how do I start wearing it? …then this is your episode.