Podcasts about Good Day

On the 2pm hour of today's show, Chuck & Chernoff looked at their Top Story of the day and reflected on a Good Day, with audio from Shams Charania and Kendrick Perkins.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the 2pm hour of today's show, Chuck & Chernoff looked at their Top Story of the day and reflected on a Good Day, with audio from Bill Simmons and Malika Andrews.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Summary: The inner critic can be a constant and discouraging presence, stealing our joy and hindering us from walking in the confidence God intends for us. It often disguises itself as self-improvement or humility, but in reality, it holds us back from embracing our identity in Christ. In today’s episode, we’ll uncover the sources of this voice, explore how Scripture equips us to combat it, and learn practical, biblically-based strategies to replace self-condemnation with God’s truth. Quotables from the episode: The inner critic is that internal voice that condemns, shames, or reminds us of our shortcomings. It whispers lies like, “You’re not good enough,” “You’ll never succeed,” or “Who do you think you are?” Often, this voice feels louder in moments of vulnerability, failure, or self-doubt. Scripture reminds us that Satan is the accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10). His goal is to steal, kill, and destroy our confidence and joy (John 10:10). He plants seeds of doubt and discouragement, hoping we’ll lose sight of God’s truth about our identity. The enemy’s accusations often feel like they’re coming from within, making it harder to recognize their origin. Our sinful nature and brokenness often give rise to self-condemnation. Past experiences, such as critical words from others, failures, or unmet expectations, can leave scars that fuel the inner critic. We may strive for perfection, believing the lie that we’re only worthy if we meet certain standards. This striving often leads to exhaustion and deeper feelings of inadequacy. The world bombards us with messages that we must perform, achieve, or conform to be loved or valuable. Social media, advertisements, and cultural expectations paint a picture of perfection that is impossible to attain. When we fall short, the inner critic seizes the opportunity to amplify our insecurities and remind us of our perceived failures. For some, the inner critic’s voice mimics the critical or harsh words spoken by authority figures in their lives, such as parents, teachers, or peers. Over time, these external voices become internalized, shaping how we see ourselves and respond to challenges. Even well-meaning criticism can leave an imprint if it’s not tempered with grace and encouragement. The inner critic is not God’s voice. In fact, His voice always aligns with truth, hope, and encouragement. It’s important to identify and challenge thoughts that contradict God’s truth. Taking every thought captive means actively rejecting lies and replacing them with God’s promises. God’s voice always aligns with His character—He speaks love, encouragement, and restoration. While the inner critic seeks to tear us down, God’s Word builds us up and reminds us of our identity in Christ. By meditating on Scripture, we can discern the difference between the voice of the inner critic and the voice of our loving Father. His truth gives us the strength to silence the lies and walk confidently in His grace. God’s voice brings peace, conviction (not condemnation), and hope. He calls us to see ourselves as He does—fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). Become aware of when the inner critic is speaking. Pause and ask, “Is this thought true, or is it a lie?” If it doesn’t align with Scripture, it’s not from God. Journaling your thoughts can help you identify patterns of self-criticism and pinpoint recurring lies that need to be addressed. Counter every negative thought with God’s Word. For example, if the thought says, “I’m a failure,” remind yourself of Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Create a list of Bible verses that speak to your identity in Christ, and keep them handy for moments of doubt. A grateful heart leaves little room for self-criticism. Start each day by thanking God for His blessings and affirming the ways He’s working in your life. When you focus on God’s goodness, it shifts your perspective and quiets the critical voice. Surround yourself with people who speak life and encouragement. Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Healthy, godly relationships provide support, accountability, and reminders of your worth in Christ. Be intentional about building connections with those who uplift you. Ask God to help you distinguish His voice from the lies of the enemy. James 1:5 assures us that He gives wisdom generously to those who ask. Pray for clarity and ask the Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts and words. Instead of agreeing with the critic, declare the truth of who you are in Christ. Say things like, “I am chosen,” “I am loved,” and “I am forgiven.” Speaking these affirmations aloud helps to reinforce them in your mind and heart. Whether it’s critical people, social media, or unhelpful comparisons, protect your mind by setting healthy boundaries. Consider a social media detox or limiting time spent with individuals who are overly critical or draining. Silencing your inner critic is not a one-time fix; it’s a daily practice of renewing your mind and grounding yourself in God’s truth. Remember, the voice of the inner critic is a liar. God’s voice is the only one that matters, and His voice speaks love, grace, and purpose over you. Scripture References: Romans 8:1, which declares, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:10 reminds us, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” James 3:9-10 “With the tongue, we praise our Lord and Father, and with it, we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness... My brothers and sisters, this should not be.” Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” 2 Corinthians 10:5 “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” Psalm 139:14 “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Recommended Resources: Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner AWSA 2024 Golden Scroll Christian Living Book of the Year and the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Christian Living and Non-Fiction categories YouVersion 5-Day Devotional Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, AWSA Member of the Year, winner of the AWSA 2023 Inspirational Gift Book of the Year Award, the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Devotional category, the 2023 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in four categories, and the Christian Literary Awards Henri Award for Devotionals YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 1 YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 2 Revive & Thrive Women’s Online Conference Revive & Thrive Summit 2 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 1 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 2 Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the AWSA 2020 Best Christian Living Book First Place, the first place winner for the Best Christian Living Book, the 2020 Carolina Christian Writer’s Conference Contest winner for nonfiction, and winner of the 2021 Christian Literary Award’s Reader’s Choice Award in all four categories for which it was nominated (Non-Fiction Victorious Living, Christian Living Day By Day, Inspirational Breaking Free and Testimonial Justified by Grace categories.) YouVersion Bible Reading Plan for Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Henri and Reader’s Choice Award Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader’s Choice Award Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host: For more hope, stay connected with Dr. Bengtson at: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Bryce Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

On the 2pm hour of today's show, Chuck & Chernoff looked at their Top Story of the day and reflected on a Good Day, with audio from Bill Simmons and Malika Andrews.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the 2pm hour of today's show, Chuck & Chernoff took a look at their Top Story of the day and realized why it was a Good Day, with a special call from Bruce Hagen.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the 2pm hour of today's show, Chuck & Chernoff broke down their Top Story of the day and looked back on a Good Day, with audio from Stephen A. Smith, Kirk Cousins from Netflix's new season of "Quarterback", and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the 2pm hour of today's show, Chuck and Heath (in for Matt Chernoff) discussed whether the recent surge of Brian Snitker criticism is valid and remembered why it was a Good Day, with audio 680's very own Cellini & Dimino talking to Chris Sale.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the 2pm hour of today's show, Chuck and Heath (in for Matt Chernoff) discussed whether the recent surge of Brian Snitker criticism is valid and remembered why it was a Good Day, with audio 680's very own Cellini & Dimino talking to Chris Sale.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the 2pm hour of today's show, Chuck & Chernoff discussed their Top Story of the day and looked back on a Good Day, with audio from some salty Mets fans like Sal Licata and Frank the Tank.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We must transform enough of our population from passive observers, head down, dragging their feet and complaining under their breath into active participants in their nation.  Head up, chest out, marching confidently forward with a determined intention to fight and endure. Morale and the will to fight is everything. Without it, no advantage or support will be enough. We don't need everyone - we just need enough. Which one would you prefer to be remembered as ?

In the 2pm hour of today's show, Chuck & Chernoff discussed their Top Story of the day and looked back on a Good Day, with audio from some salty Mets fans like Sal Licata and Frank the Tank.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Summary: In this week’s episode, I’m talking with Dawn Ward, who shares her painful story of being a mother to two sons who have struggled with addiction. Dawn shares how God has used those wounds, healed them, and given her purpose in her pain to encourage us that God never wastes our pain. Quotables from the episode: I was a Christian and I thought that if I took my children church and taught them the Bible and did all the things according to God's word then those evil elements of the world would somehow not get to our family, but that didn't prove to be true. When I tried to outrun old wounds from my childhood, these old pains and things that had hurt me so much came back to haunt me when my son became involved with the wrong friends and the wrong movies and troublesome behaviors. Both of my sons struggled with addiction and I faced intense guilt and self-blame and shame because at that point I thought it was my fault. I remember crying out to God, “I thought that I was doing better in my relationship with you. I thought I had more faith. I thought I trusted you. And now I'm just in a big pool of my own tears.” And that is so often what happens when we hear messages in childhood that are not always based in truth. Earlier in my life, in my career, my faith, or things that God was tugging at my heart to do, I was reluctant to step out and be bold and do those things because I didn't feel adequate. I didn't feel like I would be able to do it. And I look back on opportunities that God put in front of me, and I told myself I couldn't do them. There came a breaking point where I realized I have to figure this out, because if I don’t figure out how God sees me and the things that he’s given me responsibility for and that he trusts me to be a wife and to be a mother, but yet I’m not trusting myself to do it with his help. I needed to trust God to begin to reveal lies and the thought patterns that were holding me back and affecting all my relationships. One day my husband confronted me and said, “You are going to worry yourself to death.” And I told him he had permission to write that on my tombstone, “She worried herself to death.” But I heard the Lord say to me, “No, it’s going to say she trusted God.” That was an aha moment for me when I realized that every choice that I made moving forward, I needed to ask, “Do I trust you, Lord? Even though this doesn’t make sense. Even though I can’t understand why it’s going this way.” So, I wrote a book hoping maybe other moms wouldn’t have to go through as much pain and all of the hard lessons I had to go through. It’s really about getting our relationship back with the Lord and having our faith in him that can withstand these storms and helping us to trust him in the process of those difficult and painful things that we have no control over. That’s the same thing with us with these wounds. If we don’t allow God to heal them the way that he wants to heal them. Most of us wouldn’t sign up for half the stuff that we end up having to go through in our life. But the beautiful thing is that when we turn it over to God and we trust God through it, he can bring something beautiful out of those painful wounds. Another benefit that comes from that is our relationship with our children and our loved ones, whether they’re in a good place or not, it becomes healthier just because we become healthier and stronger and we’re healing. I look back and sometimes truthfully wish I didn’t have to bear this trial, or that my children didn’t have to bear their trial. But I can see that God has cultivated trust and faith and hope through his grace into my life. And I’m so grateful for that because I don’t think I could have really healed from some of the things I went through as a child without him working through the process of this healing with me as an adult. God is not finished writing your story, or your child’s story. He loves you very much. If we can imagine how much we love our child and to imagine that God loves them that much more, and he loves us too. When we look at our God and what he is capable of and realize that his eye is on that one little lost sheep that’s wandering, that gives us hope. Recommended Resources: Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner AWSA 2024 Golden Scroll Christian Living Book of the Year and the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Christian Living and Non-Fiction categories YouVersion 5-Day Devotional Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, AWSA Member of the Year, winner of the AWSA 2023 Inspirational Gift Book of the Year Award, the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Devotional category, the 2023 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in four categories, and the Christian Literary Awards Henri Award for Devotionals YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 1 YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 2 Revive & Thrive Women’s Online Conference Revive & Thrive Summit 2 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 1 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 2 Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the AWSA 2020 Best Christian Living Book First Place, the first place winner for the Best Christian Living Book, the 2020 Carolina Christian Writer’s Conference Contest winner for nonfiction, and winner of the 2021 Christian Literary Award’s Reader’s Choice Award in all four categories for which it was nominated (Non-Fiction Victorious Living, Christian Living Day By Day, Inspirational Breaking Free and Testimonial Justified by Grace categories.) YouVersion Bible Reading Plan for Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Henri and Reader’s Choice Award Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader’s Choice Award Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host and Guest: Connect with Dawn Ward: Website / Facebook / Instagram For more hope, stay connected with Dr. Bengtson at: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple Guest: Dawn Ward is a speaker, writer, and biblical life coach. She is the founder of The Faith to Flourish, a ministry equipping women to live transformed lives through inspiring teaching, mentoring, and biblical resources. Dawn also offers support and encouragement to women with addicted loved ones. She is married to Steve and mom to three adult children. Her book, From Guilt to Grace: Hope and Healing for Christian Moms of Addicted Children is scheduled for release in September 2024. Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Bryce Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In the 2pm hour of today's show, the Chuck & Chernoff discussed their Top Story of the day and remembered why it was a Good Day, with audio from Ben Ingram, Frank the Tank, and moreSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the 2pm hour of today's show, the guys broke down their Top Story of the Day and looked back on a Good Day, including audio from Barstool Sports "Frank the Tank."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

特別編 ゲストハウス「GOOD DAY！」 後編ゲスト▷ OLD FACTORY BOOKS 助野彰昭さん今回のゲストはOLD FACTORY BOOKS／ゲストハウス GOOD DAY！ 助野彰昭さんです。ゲストハウスGOOD DAY！開業のため、現在クラウドファンディングに挑戦中のテル君応援企画です。クラウドファンディングページはOLD FACTORY BOOKS or GOOD DAYの Instagramのプロフィールのリンクから見られます。収録にはそうげん堂／アーティストの中田耕平さんも参加してくれました！どうぞお聴きください

During the 2pm hour of today's show Chuck & Chernoff presented the audience with their Top Story of the Day before explaining why today is a Good Day with audio from Lavar Ball, Kendrick Perkins and Chris Mad Dog Russo. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the 2pm hour of Chuck & Chernoff, the guys gave the audience a top story before explaining why today was a Good Day with audio from Casey Kasum, Caitlin Clark, Lou Williams.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This Week on America's Podcast: We slam you harder than a metal riff with the one and only Metal Mike Tyler! Together, we dive headfirst into Metal Church's The Dark — is it a thrash classic that'll make your head bang or a total meltdown waiting to happen? Spoiler: no spoilers here… we like to keep you guessing (and slightly confused). Tracks of the Week: Marc rocks out to “Good Day in Hell” by The Eagles — because who doesn't want a sunny trip to the underworld? Mooger shreds with “Practice What You Preach” by Testament — sermon style, but with guitars. Metal Mike brings the doom with “Never Known Peace” by Doomsday — perfect for when your existential crisis hits hard. And we close out with Jerry jamming “The Nile Song” by Pink Floyd — because nothing says metal like psychedelic chaos. Tune in, turn it up, and remember: get in the pit and try to love someone! Like, subscribe, share, and shower us with love — because this podcast loves you more than your grandma loves bingo night.

During the 2pm hour of today's show Chuck & Chernoff presented the audience with their Top Story of the Day before explaining why today is a Good Day with audio from Stephen A. Smith and Coach Orgeron. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Summary: If you’ve ever struggled with relating to God as Father—maybe you’ve been hurt by an earthly father or a church leader and carry a misunderstanding of God’s heart for you-- then this episode is for you. Rev. Jessica Van Roekel and I talk about Relating to God as Father and Understanding God’s Love When Earthly Fathers Fail. Relating to God as Father is vital for a proper understanding and close relationship with the Lord. We can lose sight of who God is when we forget that he is not like us. We are made in his image, not the other way around. Fatherhood is an important aspect of God’s character and when we can relate to God as father it can transform our life. Quotables from the episode: Knowing God as my Father has brought so much comfort to my life. I know many of our listeners and viewers carry deep wounds, and my prayer is that today’s conversation will bring encouragement and hope. Relating to God as Father is essential to experience his comfort and blessings of being his sons and daughters. He gives us mercy, love, forgiveness, compassion, faithfulness, and goodness. When we reject God’s fatherhood, we struggle to experience the comfort he offers to us. Earthly fathers are an imperfect and flawed example, but God is a perfect Father. He always has the best intentions for his children, and he always has the ability to carry them out. Jesus taught that “Father” was the way to address God. “Father” was Jesus’ favorite term for addressing God. In the synoptic Gospels, we count Jesus referencing God as Father approximately sixty-five times and in the book of John, we see it over one hundred times. Because of Jesus’ use of this metaphor, the rest of the New Testament emphasizes the Fatherhood of God. In Paul’s letters, God is described as “Father” over forty times. For Paul, God’s fatherhood is based on the redemption and reconciliation he has made available to everyone through faith in Jesus Christ. There are a lot of misconceptions about the Fatherhood of God that can keep people from relating to him as Father. Let’s take a moment to address some of them. One of the biggest challenges is being hurt by people—fathers or father figures. One of the reasons is we are such sensory beings. We feel so deeply the wounds of betrayal and if we compare God to mankind, there’s no way we could trust him with our heart. But humanity is made in the image of God, not God in humanity’s image. We are a reflection of parts of God. But then sin entered the world and shattered the reflection. It’s like we all have a shattered mirror in our chest, and we can’t see other people clearly or ourselves clearly. This skewed vision impacts how we see God. But his “mirror’ is intact. He is the perfect reflection of a perfect Father because he is our Father. Ephesians 1:5 comforts us, “God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.” Another challenge to relating to God as Father is when we misunderstand his discipline. But discipline is an important part of growing and living for him. It not only rebukes and corrects, but it also trains us and guides us. Discipline assures us we are God’s children; Discipline is evidence he loves us and has concern for us to not be condemned by the world, but so we can share in his holiness. It sounds like there are three responses to relating to God as Father through discipline. One response is to shrug it off where we refuse to take it seriously or despise it. The other is to be over-sensitive and withdraw emotionally. These two will cause us to reject God as father. But the one who receives God’s discipline as an act of love will draw closer to God’s Father heart for us. I think it starts with trusting God. God delights in protecting the weak, disadvantaged, oppressed, hurting, and lonely—especially when we trust him. If you feel alone in the world, you can ask God, as your Father in heaven, to put you under his special care. And sometimes, we need to consider how deep our honor and respect for his power, judgment, and intolerance of evil. When we cultivate a deep honor and respect for him, God liberates and motivates us to avoid evil, obey God’s word, and to live with a continual awareness of God’s mercy and nearness. To those who revere him, he gives mercy, love, forgiveness, fatherly compassion, faithfulness, and goodness. The final step we want to share today is to ask the Holy Spirit to create the feeling of filial love that causes us to know God as Father. I love Galatians 4:6, “And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’” Because we are now God’s children, we have a new “guardian.” We can be free from religious rules or the devastating impact of human failures. Abba is Aramaic for Father and expresses the depth of intimacy, warmth, and confidence by which the Holy Spirit helps us relate to and cry out to God as Father. When we refer to and relate to God as Father, we demonstrate the transforming work of the Holy Spirit in our life. Relating to God as Father has nothing to do with how poorly you’ve been treated but has everything to do with placing your entire trust in God’s love for you. You have the freedom and the right to approach our heavenly Father with the confidence that you will be accepted, welcomed, and loved. Scripture References: Ephesians 1:5 comforts us, “God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.” Hebrews 12:6-10 states, “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives. It is for discipline that you must endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” Psalm 68:5-6 reminds us, “Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation. God settles the solitary in a home; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.” Psalm 103:13 teaches us, “as a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.” Galatians 4:6, “And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’” Recommended Resources: Reframing Rejection: How Looking Through a Different Lens Changes Everything By Jessica Van Roekel Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner AWSA 2024 Golden Scroll Christian Living Book of the Year and the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Christian Living and Non-Fiction categories YouVersion 5-Day Devotional Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, AWSA Member of the Year, winner of the AWSA 2023 Inspirational Gift Book of the Year Award, the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Devotional category, the 2023 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in four categories, and the Christian Literary Awards Henri Award for Devotionals YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 1 YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 2 Revive & Thrive Women’s Online Conference Revive & Thrive Summit 2 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 1 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 2 Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the AWSA 2020 Best Christian Living Book First Place, the first place winner for the Best Christian Living Book, the 2020 Carolina Christian Writer’s Conference Contest winner for nonfiction, and winner of the 2021 Christian Literary Award’s Reader’s Choice Award in all four categories for which it was nominated (Non-Fiction Victorious Living, Christian Living Day By Day, Inspirational Breaking Free and Testimonial Justified by Grace categories.) YouVersion Bible Reading Plan for Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Henri and Reader’s Choice Award Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader’s Choice Award Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host and Guest: Connect with Jessica Van Roekel: Website / Instagram / Facebook For more hope, stay connected with Dr. Bengtson at: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple Co-Host: Jessica Van Roekel is a worship leader, speaker, and writer who believes that through Jesus, personal histories don’t need to define the present or determine the future. She inspires, encourages, and equips others to look at life through the lenses of hope, trust, and God’s transforming grace. Jessica lives in rural Iowa surrounded by wide open spaces which remind her of God’s expansive love. She loves fun earrings, good coffee, and connecting with others. Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Bryce Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

During the 2pm hour of today's show Chuck & Chernoff presented the audience with their Top Story of the Day while also playing and reacting to audio clips from Colin Cowherd and Chris "Mad Dog" Russo. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A little performance art, a couple of classic Los Angeles locations, happy birthday to my mom, a unforgettable glowing suitcase, a classic Los Angeles evangelist, our imperfect memories, a Matthew Perry moment, one (and I mean one) moment of insight from Trump, a mea culpa to Jai Courtney, Paul Dano still sucks, and c'mon and join our convoy. Stuff mentioned: Nadya Tolokonnikova POLICE STATE (WAREHOUSE at the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA, 152 N Central Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012 https://www.moca.org/program/nadya-tolokonnikova-police-state), Bradbury Building (304 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013), Double Indemnity (1945), Chinatown (1974), Wolf (1994), Blade Runner (1982), Newhart (1982-1990), Angels Flight Railway (351 S Hill St, Los Angeles, CA 90013), Hill Street Blues (1981-1987), Criss Cross (1949), Kiss Me Deadly (1955), Generation X "Kiss Me Deadly" (1981), Generation X Kiss Me Deadly (1981), Pulp Fiction (1994), Repo Man (1984), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), Highway Patrolman (1991), La La Land (2016), Perry Mason (2020-2023), Orphan Black (2013-2017), Angelus Temple (1100 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026),  Claire Hoffman Sister, Sinner: The Miraculous Life and Mysterious Disappearance of Aimee Semple McPherson (2025), Pavement Slanted and Enchanted (1992), Matt Bai The Unbearable lightness of Elon Musk (The Washington Post, June 1, 2025 https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/06/01/musk-doge-defeat-washington-bureaucracy), A Good Day to Die Hard (2013), Terminator Genisys (2015), Die Hard (1988), Dangerous Animals (2025), The Loved Ones (2009), The Devil's Candy (2015), Dead Calm (1989), and C.W. McCall "Convoy" (1975).

It's a Good Day for a GREAT DAY!!!! We had DJ Taz, Poe, Reena, Gary join Shonda and Eric on the call-in panel along with a good group in the live chatroom this morning. With all the options out there for creators to use to help create, produce and develop their individual projects out there via music, books and podcasts DJ Taz and Shonda discussed some options. Topics after that bounced around for a GREAT show!! Check out all the additional shows from The Old Man's Podcast and TOMPodcast on Mixcloud coming out during the week. We got Music, Throwback Shows, Rewind Interviews all for you to listen to! Turn OFF the News and Have an AWESOME Week! Later Gators!! The Old Man's Podcast is a Two Time Award Winning Podcast: “Overlord Indie Podcast Award Winner - Live Podcaster of the Year 2023/2024 – The Old Man's Podcast” “Listed on FeedSpot's TOP 100 Family Friendly Podcasts” https://blog.feedspot.com/family_friendly_podcasts/.   *Get everything you need to start your own successful podcast on Podbean here: https://www.podbean.com/tomspodcastPBFree *Visit our webpage where you can catch up on Current / Past Episodes: www.theoldmanspodcast.com     *Contact us at: theoldmanspodcast@gmail.com     Checkout and Follow the Writings of Shonda Sinclair here: Roaming the Road (of Life):https://www.shondasinclair.com/   *TOMPodcast Music Shows: https://www.mixcloud.com/TOMPodcast/  

During the 2pm hour of today's show Chuck & Heath talked about the struggling Braves before explaining why today is a Good Day with audio from Brian Snitker and Mark DeRosa. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today was a really good day. I was able to get a lot of blackjack in with some good success. I was also able to make some good money playing slots as well. Long day but worth it.

During the 2pm hour of today's show Chuck & Chernoff presented the audience with their Top Story of the Day before explaining why today is a Good Day with cuts from Mike Vick, Bijan Robinson & SVP and Haliburton. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Summary: In this episode, guest Tammy Kennington shares the deep wounds she experienced as a survivor of childhood sexual trauma—and the heartbreak of watching someone she loves endure the same pain. Through her journey, she shares how God met her in the midst of that suffering, redeemed even her most painful experiences, and gave her sacred scars as beauty for her ashes. Quotables from the episode: My story of wounding is two sides of the same coin, first as a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and then seeing someone I dearly love experiencing the same sort of thing. I’ve really had to kneel at God’s feet, seek Him, and heal physically, emotionally, relationally, and spiritually. My wounds trapped me in grief, fear, and confusion; not so much my own trauma, but the vicarious trauma of the individual that I love so much. Fear held me captive. I thought I would not ever experience freedom again or ever experience any of the Lord’s peace because it just seemed so out of reach. Anywhere I turned, it felt like tentacles twisted around my marriage, my family, my personal life and it attempted to destroy all beauty. The painful wounds I experienced emotionally and relationally were also replicated physically. After I found out about the horrendous suffering my loved one had endured, I found out that I was suffering from fibromyalgia and scleroderma. It took years for those to be diagnosed but God has done an amazing work in my life through all of it. When we go through a painful event, even emotionally, relationally, or spiritually, our body will react to that pain and stress, and create physical health conditions that also often contribute to physical pain. I’m trying to give people permission to acknowledge the pain, but then to step forward to deal with it in a safe healing environment. Because when we don’t, our body will hold onto it, and we will experience physical symptoms at some point. Without healing, wounds rot, they fester, and they go deeper. I’m a testimony to God’s power. I no longer live with fear, with flashbacks, suicidality, or disassociation. And because the Lord healed me, of those burdens, I knew he could heal me of the autoimmune disorder I was dealing with, if he wanted to. It was a long seven-year process. But now I’m coming up on the one year anniversary of not having any fibromyalgia flareups, and I’m going back to full time work in the fall. God has restored me emotionally, spiritually, and physically as a testimony of his goodness. We know that there are times when God doesn’t heal this side of heaven. But those who know Christ will be healed ultimately in Heaven. Even if we are walking through a painful journey now and he doesn’t heal us here, we can count on him because we know he will give us the strength that we need. Scripture tells us that he will provide for all of our needs, and that his grace is abundant. He is a God of mercy, and he is able. If you are in that situation now where you are praying for physical, emotional, relational, or spiritual healing keep praying. Keep pursuing God. Keep praying. God has not always healed areas that I have most wanted healed, he still may but he has not yet, but there are other areas that he knew, in his infinite wisdom, were more important for him to address with me. So I continue to press in for healing, but I trust God’s timing and his perfect plan. God does redeem our pain. Our most painful experiences when we place them at his feet and surrender them to him can be used for good whether or not the enemy intended them for evil. What flipped the switch for me was when I realized that if I denied my faith, if I allowed my anger and bitterness to boil under the surface, then I would have given Satan the ultimate victory because he would have stolen the most beautiful thing in my life: my relationship with my Lord and Savior. I refused to give him that pleasure. Trauma occurred out of my control, but my response did not. You decided that your faith in God was stronger and more important than the enemy having victory over your life. God can work in and through the most hurtful experiences in our lives, and he can bring us to a place of restoration. Scripture References: Genesis 50:20 NIV “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” Philippians 4:19 NIV “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” Psalm 147:3 NIV “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Recommended Resources: Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner AWSA 2024 Golden Scroll Christian Living Book of the Year and the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Christian Living and Non-Fiction categories YouVersion 5-Day Devotional Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, AWSA Member of the Year, winner of the AWSA 2023 Inspirational Gift Book of the Year Award, the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Devotional category, the 2023 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in four categories, and the Christian Literary Awards Henri Award for Devotionals YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 1 YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 2 Revive & Thrive Women’s Online Conference Revive & Thrive Summit 2 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 1 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 2 Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the AWSA 2020 Best Christian Living Book First Place, the first place winner for the Best Christian Living Book, the 2020 Carolina Christian Writer’s Conference Contest winner for nonfiction, and winner of the 2021 Christian Literary Award’s Reader’s Choice Award in all four categories for which it was nominated (Non-Fiction Victorious Living, Christian Living Day By Day, Inspirational Breaking Free and Testimonial Justified by Grace categories.) YouVersion Bible Reading Plan for Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Henri and Reader’s Choice Award Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader’s Choice Award Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host and Guest: Connect with Tammy Kennington: Connect with Tammy at https://tammykennington.substack.com/ or learn more about her at https://tammykennington.com/. For more hope, stay connected with Dr. Bengtson at: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple Guest: Tammy Kennington is an author, educator, speaker, and life coach familiar with the impact of trauma, mental health issues, and parenting in the hard places. She strives to lead women from hardship to hope and share Christ’s love with the young and young at heart. Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Bryce Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

7 casinos, 3 blackjack sessions, a few burgers, some cash and a nice drive. A beautiful double deck. Razor thin cut (1 card left).

Unlock a deeper understanding of envy as we are guided through its dual nature with wisdom and insight. Discover how envy can be both a destructive force and a catalyst for personal growth. By reflecting on biblical stories like the serpent's jealousy and Cain's murder of Abel, we illustrate the perilous path envy can lead us down. However, he also sheds light on the other side of the coin, where healthy competition in Torah study and good deeds transforms envy into a powerful motivator for self-improvement and spiritual advancement.The conversation progresses into the realm of good deeds, focusing on the power of charity and the intentions behind it. We are reassured that even when acts of kindness are performed with self-serving motives, they remain valuable contributions to the world. As we engage more in these acts, we may find our intentions shifting towards genuine altruism, creating a ripple effect of generosity and compassion. Join us for an inspiring discussion on how redirecting envy and embracing good deeds can lead to profound personal and spiritual growth, ultimately enhancing our ability to contribute positively to the world._____________This series on Orchos Tzadikim/Ways of the Righteous is produced in partnership with Hachzek.Join the revolution of daily Mussar study at hachzek.com.We are using the Treasure of Life edition of the Orchos Tzadikkim (Published by Feldheim)Recorded from a live audience presentation in the TORCH Centre - Levin Family Studios (B) in Houston, Texas on February 3, 2025.Released as Podcast on June 4, 2025_____________DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!_____________SUBSCRIBE and LISTEN to other podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe:NEW!! Prayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at https://www.TORCHpodcasts.com_____________EMAIL your questions, comments, and feedback: awolbe@torchweb.orgPlease visit www.torchweb.org to see a full listing of our outreach and educational resources available in the Greater Houston area!_____________#Contentment, #Envy, #Jealousy, #Serpent, #Cain, #Abel, #Growth, #Wisdom, #Giving ★ Support this podcast ★

Unlock a deeper understanding of envy as we are guided through its dual nature with wisdom and insight. Discover how envy can be both a destructive force and a catalyst for personal growth. By reflecting on biblical stories like the serpent's jealousy and Cain's murder of Abel, we illustrate the perilous path envy can lead us down. However, he also sheds light on the other side of the coin, where healthy competition in Torah study and good deeds transforms envy into a powerful motivator for self-improvement and spiritual advancement.The conversation progresses into the realm of good deeds, focusing on the power of charity and the intentions behind it. We are reassured that even when acts of kindness are performed with self-serving motives, they remain valuable contributions to the world. As we engage more in these acts, we may find our intentions shifting towards genuine altruism, creating a ripple effect of generosity and compassion. Join us for an inspiring discussion on how redirecting envy and embracing good deeds can lead to profound personal and spiritual growth, ultimately enhancing our ability to contribute positively to the world._____________This series on Orchos Tzadikim/Ways of the Righteous is produced in partnership with Hachzek.Join the revolution of daily Mussar study at hachzek.com.We are using the Treasure of Life edition of the Orchos Tzadikkim (Published by Feldheim)Recorded from a live audience presentation in the TORCH Centre - Levin Family Studios (B) in Houston, Texas on February 3, 2025.Released as Podcast on June 4, 2025_____________DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!_____________SUBSCRIBE and LISTEN to other podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe:NEW!! Prayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at https://www.TORCHpodcasts.com_____________EMAIL your questions, comments, and feedback: awolbe@torchweb.orgPlease visit www.torchweb.org to see a full listing of our outreach and educational resources available in the Greater Houston area!_____________#Contentment, #Envy, #Jealousy, #Serpent, #Cain, #Abel, #Growth, #Wisdom, #Giving ★ Support this podcast ★

Show Open Wednesday 6/4/25

During the 2pm hour of today's show Chuck & Chernoff presented the audience with their Top Story of the Day before explaining why today is a Good Day with cuts from Sal Licata, Tom Brady & Charles Barkley. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The crew basks in the glow of a Knicks playoff elimination // Wiggy is humbled by the fan presence and adulation at the road shows // The News With Courtney: Whistle blowers and senior pranks gone wrong //

Join us this week as we invite actor Jai Courtney (Suicide Squad) and director & writer Sean Bryne (The Loved Ones) onto The Filmmakers Podcast to chat about their latest feature film Dangerous Animals which is out in cinemas on the 6th June! Giles Alderson sits and has a great natter with Jai Courtney about acting on the sea, why he takes parts, filming in Australia, what he looks for in a director and shooting Dangerous Animals. Then he talks to director Sean Bryne about genre filmmaking, action, stunts. How he made his debut The Loved Ones. Issues on set and overcoming obstacles as an indie filmmaker and the importance of prep and storyboarding. Jai Courtney's breakthrough came with the role of Varro in the Starz historical drama series "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" and he quickly followed that up with roles in Tom Cruise's "Jack Reacher" and Jack McClane Jr., in "A Good Day to Die Hard" with Bruce Willis. He played Eric Coulter in the "Divergent" film series (2014-2016) and portrayed Kyle Reese in "Terminator Genisys" (2015), and in Stuart Gatt's Catching Dust. One of his most recognizable roles came in 2016 when he joined the DC Extended Universe as Captain Boomerang in David Ayer's "Suicide Squad," a role he reprised with critical acclaim in James Gunn's "The Suicide Squad" (2021). Sean Byrne first gained international acclaim with his 2009 debut feature, "The Loved Ones." The darkly comedic horror film captivated audiences and critics alike, winning the People's Choice Award in the Midnight Madness category at the Toronto International Film Festival. He followed up with "The Devil's Candy" in 2015, a heavy metal-infused horror film. DANGEROUS ANIMALS is in CINEMAS on the 6th JUNE! OTHER LINKS DIRTY BOY Premiere at Raindance tickets https://raindance.eventive.org/schedule/dirty-boy-68234eda5e47ea122831f7f4 FOOD FOR THOUGHT documentary out NOW | Watch it HERE. A documentary exploring the rapid growth and uptake of the vegan lifestyle around the world. - And if you enjoyed the film, please take a moment to share & rate it on your favourite platforms. Every review & every comment helps us share the film's important message with more people. Your support makes a difference! PODCAST MERCH Get your very own Tees, Hoodies, onset water bottles, mugs and more MERCH. https://my-store-11604768.creator-spring.com/   COURSES Want to learn how to finish your film? Take our POST PRODUCTION COURSE https://cuttingroom.info/post-production-demystified/   PATREON Big thank you to: Serena Gardner Mark Hammett Lee Hutchings Marli J Monroe Karen Newman Want your name in the show notes or some great bonus material on film-making? Join our Patreon for bonus episodes, industry survival guides, and feedback on your film projects!   SUPPORT THE PODCAST Check out our full episode archive on how to make films at TheFilmmakersPodcast.com   CREDITS The Filmmakers Podcast is written, edited and produced by Giles Alderson @gilesalderson Logo and Banner Art by Lois Creative  Theme Music by John J. Harvey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

During the 2pm hour of today's show Chuck & Chernoff presented the audience with their Top Story of the Day before explaining why today is a Good Day with audio from Bill Simmons, Charles Barkley and Shaq from "NBA on TNT." See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

During the 2pm hour of today's show Chuck & Chernoff presented the audience with their Top Story of the Day before explaining why today is a Good Day with audio from Steve Wyche, Shaq and Mad Dog. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Summary: Today, we're exploring a topic that feels counterintuitive but profoundly transformative: "How to Rekindle Your First Love.” Together with Pastor Jessica Van Roekel, we’ll examine why this is important, how it helps us live our lives in Christ, the warning signs of losing it and how to get back to it. We’ll offer biblical wisdom, personal stories, and practical insights to help you embrace joy as a choice, a fruit of the Spirit, and a testament to God’s faithfulness. Quotables from the episode: Search for identity and purpose can only be found in our personal relationship with God. We cannot chase Dr. Michelle’s experience with God, my experience with God, or your pastor’s experience with God. We gather corporately for worship services, but the rest of the week, we “gather” with God as an individual. We must seek our own revelation of his love for us, who we are IN him and TO him. Life confuses, distracts, or points us to look at the world or church leaders for insight into ourselves. Ultimately, Christ reveals himself and will return to set things right. No more broken hearts or tears. All hope will be fulfilled. All promises will be kept. The book of Revelation uses imagery to describe the end of time, but the letters to the churches at the beginning of the book are easy to understand. Christ’s purpose for the letters are to challenge, encourage, warn, and build up believers and churches throughout history. The letter’s values for us today includes: a revelation of what Christ loves and values along with what he hates and condemns. They also give us a clear statement about consequences for disobedience and spiritual neglect along with rewards for spiritual alertness, diligence, and faithfulness to Christ. They also provide the standard for any individual or church to judge their true spiritual condition and provide an example of Satan’s methods for attacking and working against the church or individual Christian. The Christians in Ephesus were complimented for: toil, patient endurance, separateness from evil, pursuers of truth, bearing up for the Lord’s sake, not grown weary. They were criticized for losing their first love. The first love is defined as: commitment to the original love, truth, purity, and power of Jesus and his original revelation. Our first love protects and helps us live the way Jesus calls us to. Our first love protects us because it helps us avoid sin, prevents us from running after false teaching, and helps us not forsake Jesus. But the consequences of losing our first love means we forget about loving the hurting, loving our fellow siblings in Christ, and about our own lost, wretched nature before we gave our life to Christ and his Lordship. We can lose our first love through spiritual distraction, loneliness, weariness, focusing more on the battle rather than our Victor, listening to other voices, and allowing religious actions to replace relationship. But God gives us warning signs. Let’s go through the warning signs: delight in something/something else more than God; lacking of longing for prayer and Bible reading; don’t think about God throughout the day; claim to “be human” to excuse behaviors/attitudes; and lack of cheerful giving or service. There’s more: treating other Christians with more judgment than kindness, view Christ’s commands as restrictions to happiness, striving for mankind’s acclaim, allowing fears to control decisions to share the Good News of Christ, refuse to give up an activity that displeases God, complacent to sinful attitudes around you, and unwillingness to forgive. To rekindle our first love, we choose to remember God’s love, his faithfulness and our initial love for him. We can remember what he saved us from and how we were before we welcomed him into our lives. The second way to rekindle our first love is to REPENT. Jesus, our High Priest, stands ready to forgive us if we would turn and come to him. We need to admit we’ve lost it, stop ignoring the warning signs and bring our “spiritual” care into the “mechanic” for service. He stands waiting for us and we don’t need to be ashamed or put undue pressure on ourselves. The third step is to RETURN. Return to where you lost it. Don’t try to be a mile ahead of where you use to be. Go back and begin again with renewed love for God. Don’t beat yourself up for letting your love for God grow cool. Remember you’re not alone, remember God is for you and loves you. Repent and return. Scripture References: Revelation 2:1-5 To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. Jeremiah 29:13 “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” 1 John 4:19 “we love him because he first loved us.” Luke 7:36-50 Hebrews 4:12-16 “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Jesus the Great High Priest Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” 1 Timothy 1:6 “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God.” Jude 20-21 “But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life,” Recommended Resources: Reframing Rejection: How Looking Through a Different Lens Changes Everything By Jessica Van Roekel Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner AWSA 2024 Golden Scroll Christian Living Book of the Year and the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Christian Living and Non-Fiction categories YouVersion 5-Day Devotional Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, AWSA Member of the Year, winner of the AWSA 2023 Inspirational Gift Book of the Year Award, the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Devotional category, the 2023 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in four categories, and the Christian Literary Awards Henri Award for Devotionals YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 1 YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 2 Revive & Thrive Women’s Online Conference Revive & Thrive Summit 2 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 1 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 2 Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the AWSA 2020 Best Christian Living Book First Place, the first place winner for the Best Christian Living Book, the 2020 Carolina Christian Writer’s Conference Contest winner for nonfiction, and winner of the 2021 Christian Literary Award’s Reader’s Choice Award in all four categories for which it was nominated (Non-Fiction Victorious Living, Christian Living Day By Day, Inspirational Breaking Free and Testimonial Justified by Grace categories.) YouVersion Bible Reading Plan for Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Henri and Reader’s Choice Award Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader’s Choice Award Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host and Guest: Connect with Jessica Van Roekel: Website / Instagram / Facebook For more hope, stay connected with Dr. Bengtson at: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple Co-Host: Jessica Van Roekel is a worship leader, speaker, and writer who believes that through Jesus, personal histories don’t need to define the present or determine the future. She inspires, encourages, and equips others to look at life through the lenses of hope, trust, and God’s transforming grace. Jessica lives in rural Iowa surrounded by wide open spaces which remind her of God’s expansive love. She loves fun earrings, good coffee, and connecting with others. Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Bryce Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

During the 2pm hour of today's show Chuck & Chernoff presented the audience with their Top Story of the Day before explaining why today is a Good Day with audio from The People's Lawyer. The guys also played a clip from Julio Jones too! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

During the 2pm hour of today's show Chuck & Chernoff presented the audience with their Top Story of the Day before explaining why today is a Good Day with audio from Kenny Smith, Roddy White and Greg Sankey. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Day everyone! On this weeks podcast we have a special treat. This Chef came to work for me back in 2004 - 2005, when I was working as the CDC at C Restaurant. He was and is a very talented and hardworking cook and Chef. I am happy to introduce you to my friend Antonio Martin of Haven Restaurant and Stevens Cocktail Corner, both in Langley BC. Listen as we delve into his past and heritage, his love of good scotch and fast motorcycles. But mainly his passion for friends, family and his extended community. Antonio is a proud Filipino, he loves his community and absolutely loves sharing it with people and especially other cooks. This was highlighted last summer at COOKSCAMP 2024 where the Filipino Community and its food were highlighted in the first nights cultural meal. He along with some of the best Chefs in the community deliver a meal that will go down in COOKSCAMP history as the one to top. A 250 person Boodle Fight. If you don't know what that means, I highly suggest getting yourself invited to one or at least look it up. I hope you enjoy our chat. As always please feel free to DM me with comments and suggestions on who I should talk with next. Send us your feedback

How would you like to be celebrated?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

During the 2pm hour of today's show Chuck & Chernoff presented the audience with their Top Story of the Day before explaining why today is a Good Day with audio from Shaq, Mad Dog & Stephen A. Smith. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

During the 2pm hour of today's show Chuck & Chernoff presented the audience with their Top Story of the Day before explaining why today is a Good Day with audio from Mad Dog, Stephen A. Smith & Shaq. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grabs your clubs, we're cracking NA beers and putting up bogeys! Alex and Stephen try a wholesome foursome of NA beers from Resident Culture Brewing, Fieldwork Brewing Co., Burial Beer Co., and Golden Road Brewing. Alex reveals he knows nothing about the world of fine art. In the Beer News, PH1 lands in the hands of John Laffler at Off Color Brewing which is very exciting news if you were old enough to drive a car when 9/11 happened, Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout will make their 10oz bottle debut this year, and Campari enters the RTD NA cocktail game.  To get involved with the  "Life" International Barleywine Collab, click the link for info about the recipe, BSG discount, and links to help raise awareness of colon cancer.  If you'd like to make a direct donation to help support Alex, head over to his GoFundMe.  For more info about colon cancer and to help support the fight against it check out the Colon Cancer Foundation.  Head to our Patreon for weekly exclusive content. Get the Malt Couture Officially Licensed T-shirt. Follow DontDrinkBeer on Instagram and Twitter.

Episode Summary: This month is Mental Health Awareness Month, and I want to take some time to talk about something that is so important but often misunderstood—mental health, especially in the context of our faith. For too long, mental health struggles have been shrouded in stigma—especially in Christian circles. Maybe you’ve heard things like: “You just need to pray more.” “If you had more faith, you wouldn’t struggle.” “Christians shouldn’t be anxious or depressed.” Have you ever heard these statements? Maybe you’ve even said them yourself at some point. The problem is, these kinds of messages aren’t biblical, and they can actually do more harm than good. So today, we’re going to break the stigma surrounding mental health in the church. We’ll talk about: What the Bible really says about mental health Why struggling with mental health doesn’t mean you lack faith How we as believers can better support those who are hurting I pray that today’s episode will encourage you and help bring light to a topic that desperately needs to be discussed. Quotables from the episode: Some people believe that if we’re struggling emotionally, we must be failing spiritually. But that’s just not true. The Bible is full of stories of faithful men and women who wrestled with deep emotional pain: David, a man after God’s own heart, poured out his despair in the Psalms. He wrote in Psalm 42:5 (NIV), "Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God." Elijah, a mighty prophet, was so overwhelmed with despair that he asked God to take his life (1 Kings 19:4). Job, a righteous man, suffered so much that he wished he had never been born (Job 3:11). Even Jesus Himself experienced deep sorrow. Isaiah 53:3 calls Him "a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief." The presence of mental and emotional struggles does not mean we lack faith. It means we are human. God doesn’t dismiss our struggles—He meets us in them. Psalm 34:18 says, "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." If you’re struggling today, I want you to hear this: God sees you. He cares. And He does not condemn you for your pain. Can God heal? Absolutely.Does God answer prayer? Without a doubt.But does struggling with mental health mean you’re failing as a Christian? Not at all. Think about physical health. If someone has diabetes, do we tell them, “Just pray more, and your blood sugar will be fine”? Of course not! We encourage them to seek medical treatment, eat well, and take care of their body—all while trusting God for healing. The same applies to mental health. Anxiety, depression, and other struggles are not signs of spiritual weakness. They are real, complex conditions that can be caused by many factors—biology, trauma, stress, spiritual warfare, and more. Seeking help—whether through counseling, medication, or other means—doesn’t mean you lack faith. It means you are taking wise steps toward healing. James 1:5 tells us, "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." Wisdom includes knowing when we need help—and being humble enough to receive it. If you’re struggling, please know this: Your pain does not disqualify your faith. Your struggles do not define you. God is not disappointed in you—He is with you in the struggle. So, how can we, as the body of Christ, do better in supporting those who are struggling with mental health? 1. Stop the Stigma Let’s be careful with our words. Let’s stop shaming people for their struggles. Often, people can figure out what to DO for someone, but they often stumble over what to SAY. In my private practice, and through my own personal struggles, I’ve found this to be a huge stumbling block. There are definitely things NOT to say: “It’s all in your head.” “Snap out of it.” “Pull yourself up by your bootstraps.”(All of these things convey a lack of sensitivity to the pain they are experiencing. You’d never say these things to someone who has cancer, and depression is just as much a medical diagnosis.) “This too shall pass.”(That is true, but it doesn’t make someone struggling with depression feel any better. Even a tornado passes, but it leaves damage and devastation in its wake.) “What doesn’t kill you will make you stronger.”(First of all, many with depression consider suicide, so it’s never a good idea to joke about dying. Secondly, most with depression don’t care about getting stronger, they just want to survive.) “Others are worse off than you.”(Isn’t this true for everyone? But saying that doesn’t even acknowledge the pain the person with depression is in. And why is their pain any less valid?) “I know how you feel.”(If you’ve never struggled with depression, you don’t know how they feel. Even if you have experienced depression, the situation and symptoms and complicating factors may be entirely different. It’s better not to even try to compare.) Helpful things TO say: “I love you.”The person with depression often can’t love themselves much less believe that others love them. They need to hear this now more than ever, even if they don’t believe it. “I’m here for you.”Someone struggling with depression feels so alone. They need to know that others care enough to be present with them in their pain, rather than trying to fix it. “You are important to me.”When struggling with depression, self-esteem is often at risk. They feel all alone and need the assurance that their standing in your eyes and your life doesn’t change just because of the depression. “I’m sorry you’re hurting.”While I do not recommend saying you know how someone feels, I do suggest you offer kindness, compassion, and concern for their pain. “Is there something I can do for you?”Often, our actions speak louder than words. When you offer to help, you enter into their pain. They may not know how you can help, but by asking the question, you open up the opportunity for dialogue. “You may not believe this now, but you won’t always feel this way.”When one is struggling with depression, the whole world looks black, and the future seems to offer only more of the same. It can be helpful to encourage them that this is a season, and they won’t always be in this place. “What might help you feel better?”This can help them start to think pro-actively about things that help, and can clue you in on how you can support them. For example, if they mention that they always feel better after a walk, offer to walk with them. “What might be making your depression worse?”This can help them step back and take a look at things they need to change (e.g. sleeping too late in the morning may leave them feeling lethargic and sluggish all day, so setting an alarm to get up earlier might combat that), and can also help you better know how to support and pray for them. “We will get through this together.”Depression can leave one feeling incredibly lonely, isolated, and as if no one cares or understands. This simple statement conveys support. You aren’t trying to change them or solve the problem, just be present.Remember, someone else’s experience with depression isn’t your fault and you can’t “fix it” for them-only God can do that. But you can support. Say nothing.Words get us into trouble so often, when really, just being present often conveys much greater support than having the perfect thing to say or advice to try to make things better. 2. Encourage Professional Help God has gifted counselors, therapists, and doctors with wisdom to help. Seeking help is not a lack of faith—it’s an act of wisdom. 3. Offer Practical Support Mental health struggles can be isolating. A simple text, meal, or kind word can mean the world to someone who’s struggling. While we can be prone to feel helpless to help someone with depression, particularly if we have never experienced it ourselves, there are some practical things we can do to help: Enter into their experience with them and be present. Offer to make a doctor’s appointment for them, and offer to go with them. Make plans with them. Even if they decline, keep offering. Ask how you can pray for them, and pray with them. Remain encouraging and positive. Meet tangible needs (i.e. car pool, pick up grocery items, run errands). Be willing to just sit and be with them. Convey there is hope. Pray With and For Them Prayer is powerful. Instead of saying “Just pray more,” Pray with and for them. But let’s not use it as a substitutefor real support. Let’s walk alongside those who are hurting. Galatians 6:2 says, "Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." Let’s be a community that lifts each other up, rather than tearing each other down. Friend, if you are struggling today, I want you to know: You are not alone. Your mental health matters. Your pain does not define you. And God has not abandoned you. If you need help, please don’t suffer in silence. Reach out to a trusted friend, pastor, counselor, or doctor. You are worthy of support and healing. And if you know someone who is struggling, I encourage you to be the hands and feet of Jesus to them. Let’s break the stigma. Let’s create a church culture where it’s okay to not be okay—because that’s where healing begins. Scripture References: Psalm 42:5 (NIV), "Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God." Psalm 34:18 says, "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." James 1:5 tells us, "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." Galatians 6:2 says, "Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." Recommended Resources: Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner AWSA 2024 Golden Scroll Christian Living Book of the Year and the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Christian Living and Non-Fiction categories YouVersion 5-Day Devotional Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, AWSA Member of the Year, winner of the AWSA 2023 Inspirational Gift Book of the Year Award, the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Devotional category, the 2023 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in four categories, and the Christian Literary Awards Henri Award for Devotionals YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 1 YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 2 Revive & Thrive Women’s Online Conference Revive & Thrive Summit 2 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 1 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 2 Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the AWSA 2020 Best Christian Living Book First Place, the first place winner for the Best Christian Living Book, the 2020 Carolina Christian Writer’s Conference Contest winner for nonfiction, and winner of the 2021 Christian Literary Award’s Reader’s Choice Award in all four categories for which it was nominated (Non-Fiction Victorious Living, Christian Living Day By Day, Inspirational Breaking Free and Testimonial Justified by Grace categories.) YouVersion Bible Reading Plan for Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Henri and Reader’s Choice Award Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader’s Choice Award Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host: For more hope, stay connected with Dr. Bengtson at: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Bryce Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

During the 2pm hour of today's show the guys presented the audience with their Top Story of the Day before explaining why Today is a Good Day with audio from Charles Barkley, Champ Bailey and Tyrese Haliburton. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Summary: In this episode of Your Hope-Filled Perspective, Rhonda Stoppe shares her Sacred Scar Story of finding hope in the midst of postpartum depression and hormonal imbalance. What began as a season of silent suffering—marked by deep shame, emotional exhaustion, and the sense that no one understood—eventually led her to the help she desperately needed. Now, Rhonda offers encouragement and truth to women facing similar struggles, reminding them they’re not alone and that healing begins when we bring our pain into the light. Quotables from the episode: Living in that one-bedroom house, without electricity, with three children I was so overwhelmed. It wasn’t depression exactly, but I was completely overwhelmed. I was lying in my kids’ bunkbed with the door closing, weeping, when my husband came home and found me like that. He asked what was wrong with me, and I didn’t know. It was just too hard. It was a very dark season for me. I didn’t know that it was post-partum depression—I just knew I was frail, and I was fragile. Slowly, that post-partum turned into PMS/PMD. I remember not being the mom I wanted to be. Two weeks out of the month I wasn’t myself, and then two weeks out of the month I was myself. We lived behind a locked gate on a ranch, so I could hide. So whenever I wasn’t myself, and I couldn’t live my life “out there,” I just stayed home within the locked gate. Imagine if you’re a werewolf, and imagine if every full moon, you were going to turn into a werewolf and you couldn’t stop it, you couldn’t stop that werewolf from taking over your body, and the only hope you had was if someone would lock you in a cage until the full moon passed so you didn’t eat your young. That is what my experience was like with PMS. Before I experienced it, I had said to my mom and to my sister who struggled with it, “Oh come on, you’re just using that as an excuse to hurt people with your words.” Now, I knew enough to not hurt people with my words. Instead, I would pull back. During those times the only fruit of the spirit that I seemed to have was self-control, and I could keep hurtful words from coming out of my mouth that I couldn’t take back. I told my husband that the best way he could help me was to let me pull away in my bedroom, while he played with the kids, and let me just get through it. I would be in my room with my Bible open in my lap, reading, praying and asking God to help me. I felt so ashamed because I knew the Lord and I had the Holy Spirit in me. What happens with a hormonal imbalance is a real medical condition that occurs and can play itself out in a way that you can be very sinful in how you let yourself respond to it. I felt shame, I felt alone, I felt lonely, I felt like no one else was going through what I was going through. I think it’s silent suffering that we often go through as Christian women because it feels so shameful when we have the Holy Spirit but we don’t know why we cannot get a handle on this. What makes it so hard is that we are so ashamed about it, so we don’t want to talk about it because we don’t know anyone else who is going through it so we think we are alone, so then the message we hear is “what’s wrong with ME?” That just brings on more guilt, shame, remorse, regret, fear, and isolation. The isolation is about the worse thing we can do. We need to talk about it so that people know they’re not alone. The enemy convinced me I was all alone, nobody understands, and I was going to have to figure this all out on my own. I ultimately found help when I went to an endocrinologist who specialized in hormonal disorders. She gave me medication that balanced out my hormonal levels throughout the month. My sacred scars came out of this experience because now I can comfort others with what has comforted me. Whenever I share my story, women are desperate to talk to me because they feel so alone and don’t think anyone can understand the struggle, and for some, it’s ruining their marriages. The whole essence of the book Sacred Scars is that God didn’t cause our pain and suffering, but He will use it for good. Even now, my husband, Steve, who is a pastor, can help other men whose wives are going through it, because Steve went through it with me and can understand. Initially, in my pride, I didn’t want others to know about my frailty, but if God can use my frailty to help someone else, who am I to not let Him use my sacred scars to help someone else who’s desperate to know they aren’t alone. Don’t try to find someone to blame for how you’re feeling right now. Recognize what is going on in your body. It’s no one’s fault; you don’t have to find someone to blame for why you’re sad or why you’re mad or why you’re triggered. It’s a hormonal fluctuation and you need to decide how to take care of you and not assign blame or fault for why you feel this way. There is hope and there is help. Find a medical professional who specializes in hormonal imbalances. Don’t give up. Find someone you can trust who you can talk to about it. Isolating yourself makes it worse. Don’t give up and don’t suffer silently. Satan keeps our secrets and makes us feel shame, so when we share it, it disarms his hold on us. Find a safe person to share this with. You need to be careful who you share this with because some people haven’t earned your trust or the right to hear those intimate personal details. Recommended Resources: How to Deal with Hormonal Imbalances That Affect Your Marriage Real-Life Romance: Inspiring Stories to Help You Believe in True Love by Rhonda Stoppe Moms Raising Sons to be Men by Rhonda Stoppe If My Husband Would Change, I’d Be Happy: And Other Myths Women Believe by Rhonda Stoppe The Marriage Mentor: Becoming the Couple You Long to Be by Rhonda Stoppe A Christian Woman’s Guide to Great Sex in Marriage by Rhonda Stoppe Text NOREGRETS to 55444 to access the free video “God uses ordinary people” Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner AWSA 2024 Golden Scroll Christian Living Book of the Year and the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Christian Living and Non-Fiction categories YouVersion 5-Day Devotional Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, AWSA Member of the Year, winner of the AWSA 2023 Inspirational Gift Book of the Year Award, the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Devotional category, the 2023 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in four categories, and the Christian Literary Awards Henri Award for Devotionals YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 1 YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 2 Revive & Thrive Women’s Online Conference Revive & Thrive Summit 2 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 1 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 2 Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the AWSA 2020 Best Christian Living Book First Place, the first place winner for the Best Christian Living Book, the 2020 Carolina Christian Writer’s Conference Contest winner for nonfiction, and winner of the 2021 Christian Literary Award’s Reader’s Choice Award in all four categories for which it was nominated (Non-Fiction Victorious Living, Christian Living Day By Day, Inspirational Breaking Free and Testimonial Justified by Grace categories.) YouVersion Bible Reading Plan for Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Henri and Reader’s Choice Award Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader’s Choice Award Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host and Guest: Connect with Rhonda Stoppe: Website / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter / LinkedIn / Pinterest For more hope, stay connected with Dr. Bengtson at: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple Guest: Rhonda Stoppe is the Best-Selling Author of 7 books. For more than 30 years Rhonda has helped thousands of women build no regrets lives! Rhonda is a highly sought after Speaker and a popular voice in the Christian Living Community. Rhonda ministers alongside her husband Steve, who for 20 years has pastored First Baptist Church of Patterson, California. They live out their own Real Life Romance writing books and speaking at their No Regrets Marriage Conferences, but their favorite ministry is their family. They have four grown children and 10 grandchildren. To learn more about Rhonda’s speaking topics, watch her teaching and to book Rhonda for your next event visit: NoRegretsWoman.com Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Bryce Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

A Simple Prayer for a good dayBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/warfare-prayers-the-morning-prayer-podcast--5866282/support.

Episode Summary: In this episode of Your Hope-Filled Perspective, we continue our Sacred Scar Story Series, where we talk with individuals who have experienced deep pain, but have also seen God bring healing and redemption. My guest, Phylis Mantelli, shares her journey of growing up with a narcissistic, alcoholic mother in a chaotic and abusive environment—facing stress, shame, and secrets from an early age. Despite a childhood marked by dysfunction, trauma, and loss, Phyllis eventually chose to pursue healing and break the cycle of generational pain in her own family. Through honest reflection, deep faith, and intentional work, she now helps other women confront their own “mother wounds” and embrace the truth that God can transform even our most painful stories into something sacred. You’ll be encouraged by her transparency, wisdom, and hope-filled perspective. Quotables from the episode: Some of your hardest stories become the very thing that you are able to help others through if you can find healing for yourself. I was raised by a dysfunctional, alcoholic, narcissistic mom and everyday was living on the edge of stress, and shame, and secrets. My mom kidnapped us, my dad came home to an empty house with no family. It took him three and a half months to find us. At eight years old, we moved in with my mother’s boyfriend, my sister’s father, and started a whole new life. Imagine being plucked out of your childhood and everything you’ve known and you’re just supposed to start a new school the next day like nothing is going on. My mom had violence in her relationships our entire lives, so we witnessed violence growing up—we were physically and verbally abused. Growing up, being told to be strong and not tell anyone about it, I didn’t realize it until many years later that I’m actually a very highly sensitive person but because I was taught to be tough, I became a really strong coverer of all kinds of wounds. So I had a lot of rage but I didn’t even realize that’s what it was. With secrets, you think that you’re the only person going through things. There was so much shame attached to that that I never shared my story with anyone. After 61 years, I was finally able to grieve my story. And I realized that I’m not alone and there are many other women who have gone through similar things and I want to learn how to help them. Through trial and error, and being able to say the words, “I’m sorry” and “tell me more,” I was able to deep conversations with my daughters and break off that generational dysfunction. It takes work, and that’s the kind of thing I love to do in my ministry, by helping other women get to that place. I became a Christian at 35, and I realized that my life is worthy. I am loved because I am a child of God and He has always had his hand on me. I felt God through all the trials in my life and even in the things I did wrong. I didn’t love myself…I wanted someone to love me, and now I know that God does. I needed to say “no more” for looking for outside sources to love me. I had to love myself and I spent a lot of time on the floor crying out to God. It’s not about the stuff you do. It’s about the heart of where you are. God hears you and loves you. You don’t have to do X, Y, Z to earn his love. You have to look back over your history and realize someone has been carrying you even through all the muck, and that means they love you. Shame sounds like, “If they find out your secrets, they are never going to like you and they are going to fun from you.” When you hold onto secrets, it’s like a little gift inside your body that is so tight that it’s ready to explode, and that’s a gift Satan wants you to not open up because he knows that once you open it up and let it out, no matter what, it holds no power over you anymore. Tell your story to safe people. Secrets have to come out. You cannot get to a place of peace until healing takes place in your body. Satan likes to tell us all the things we aren’t, but God loves to tell us all the things we are. Nothing will separate us from his love. If you really want to heal, you have to start doing things differently. You can’t keep doing things the same way and expect a different result—it’s likely not going to happen. We have to choose to pursue our healing. God isn’t going to force it on us. Every family is different so don’t do the comparison thing and think “I want to be like that family over there.” Do what works for you. Where you are and what works for your family and brings your family peace and comfort may not look like others. God is giving you God-kisses in the most gentle of ways and we have to open our eyes to see it even in the midst of great struggle. Scripture References: Psalm 91:11 “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” Recommended Resources: Unmothered: Life With a Mom Who Couldn’t Love Me by Phylis Mantelli Dysfunctional Mother Daughter Relationships: Hope for Breaking the Cycle—Episode 108 Healing Dysfunctional Relationships Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner AWSA 2024 Golden Scroll Christian Living Book of the Year and the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Christian Living and Non-Fiction categories YouVersion 5-Day Devotional Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, AWSA Member of the Year, winner of the AWSA 2023 Inspirational Gift Book of the Year Award, the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Devotional category, the 2023 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in four categories, and the Christian Literary Awards Henri Award for Devotionals YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 1 YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 2 Revive & Thrive Women’s Online Conference Revive & Thrive Summit 2 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 1 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 2 Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the AWSA 2020 Best Christian Living Book First Place, the first place winner for the Best Christian Living Book, the 2020 Carolina Christian Writer’s Conference Contest winner for nonfiction, and winner of the 2021 Christian Literary Award’s Reader’s Choice Award in all four categories for which it was nominated (Non-Fiction Victorious Living, Christian Living Day By Day, Inspirational Breaking Free and Testimonial Justified by Grace categories.) YouVersion Bible Reading Plan for Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Henri and Reader’s Choice Award Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader’s Choice Award Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host and Guest: Connect with Phylis Mantelli: Podcast / Website / Instagram / YouTube / Facebook For more hope, stay connected with Dr. Bengtson at: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple Guest: Phylis Mantelli is the author of the book “Unmothered” Life with a Mom Who Couldn’t Love Me. She is an inspirational speaker at churches, retreats, conventions, Celebrate Recovery groups, and rotary groups. She is the host of the Unmothered Podcast. She is currently writing her 2nd book on lessons of how to break generational dysfunction. She loves helping and coaching women reach their full God-given potential despite their trauma-filled past. www.phylismantelli.com Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Bryce Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

On this week's episode Melanie and I recap our weekend travels: she and Caroline flew to Birmingham while I was driving to Baton Rouge, and then on Saturday we all met up in Auburn.  We got to watch a baseball game, we got to hang out with a real-live Auburn legend, we got to celebrate our friend Ella's birthday, and we even got to take a boat ride. We also talk through some San Antonio live show ticket into, and it's my turn for Five Favorites. Hope you enjoy!  - Join Us on Patreon - Our Amazon Shop - San Antonio Live Show (10/23/25) tickets go on sale for Patreon members on Wednesday, April 30th at 9AM central! Tickets go on sale for all other listeners on Thursday, May 1st at 9AM central, so be sure to check our social media for the link. There will be a public post on our Patreon as well. Show Notes: - Emily Henry's new book, Great Big Beautiful Life - Helen in Birmingham - The Graduate Auburn - Frank Thomas - FT35 peach vodka - Lucy's in Auburn - Lake Martin - Chris Lemonis out as MSU baseball coach - our Patreon episode with Annie B. Jones - Annie's new book, Ordinary Time - Land's End swim skirt and tulip tankini top - Good Day cover-up shorts - Dieux Instant Angel moisturizer - Supergoop Protectint SPF 50  - Schwartz Bros. croissant loaf   Sponsors: - ZocDoc - use this link to find a doctor - Thrive Causemetics - use this link for 20% off your first order - Maya Chia - use code BIGBOO at checkout for 15% off - Dwell - use this link for 25% off