Podcast appearances and mentions of Lewis B Smedes

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:18-19   Imagine carrying a heavy load on your shoulders, a weight that hinders every step you take. Many people carry this burden unknowingly; it's the weight of unforgiveness. Like trying to sail with an anchor lodged in the seabed, holding onto past grievances against others—or yourself—can stall your progress through life. When you choose forgiveness, however, you unlock the chains tightly around your heart. This liberation is not just spiritual but emotional and physical. It allows you to journey towards peace and happiness with new vigor.   Consider the parable of The Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18:21-35), where Jesus taught about the importance of offering mercy just as we receive it. When Peter asked how many times he should forgive someone who sins against him—seven times?—Jesus replied, Not seven times, but seventy-seven times. This story implores us to embrace forgiveness endlessly because it echoes God's infinite grace for humanity. Though initially challenging, this act sows seeds for future blessings.   2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”   Renowned author Lewis B. Smedes once said, To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you. Indeed, forgiving does not erase memory or ignore justice; it alters our relationship with past pain so that we are no longer defined by it. Ephesians 4:31-32 advises shedding bitterness and malice while embracing kindness and compassion through forgiving one another as Christ forgave us. With such teachings guiding us, we find strength even in moments of vulnerability.   Forgiveness is an empowering gift within everyone's grasp. When embraced sincerely from deep within one's heart, it can lead to personal transformation and growth beyond imagination. As Colossians 3:13 reminds us to bear with each other and forgive grievances as God forgives us—let's embark upon a liberating journey where love prevails above hurtful memories—and open ourselves wholly towards brighter tomorrows filled with hope and renewal. Amen. Romans 8:1 says, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”   Prayer for the Day! Oh Lord, help me to forgive myself as You have forgiven me. Teach me to let go of the past and to embrace the new creation I am in Christ. Remind me that I am not defined by my mistakes but by Your love and grace. In Jesus' name. Amen. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pastor-divineo/support

"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." Ephesians 4:32  Unleashing the Power of Forgiveness is an incredible journey that transforms lives. When we let go of past hurts, God's power manifests in astonishing ways, bringing healing and freedom. Forgiving those who have wronged us doesn't mean forgetting what happened; it means releasing their hold on our hearts and minds. As Ephesians 4:32 reminds us to forgive. This simple act of forgiveness invites peace into our lives, allowing us to move forward with a renewed spirit. Consider the story of Joseph from the Bible. Despite being sold into slavery by his own brothers, Joseph chose to forgive them when he rose to power in Egypt. His choice reunited his family and saved an entire nation from famine. Joseph's journey exemplifies the profound impact of forgiveness—how it paves the way for reconciliation and Divine intervention. Just like Joseph, we too can experience God's transformative work through the power of forgiveness. Luke 6:27 says, "But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, A powerful quote by Lewis B. Smedes states, "To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you." Holding onto grudges does more harm to ourselves than to those who hurt us. It binds us emotionally and spiritually, while true freedom lies in forgiveness. By releasing bitterness and embracing love and compassion instead, we allow God's grace to flow freely within us. Matthew 6:14-15 says, "For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." These verses emphasize that forgiveness isn't just a gift we give others; it's essential for our spiritual well-being. Embrace forgiveness today and watch how it unleashes God's boundless power in your life. Amen. Proverbs 10:12 says, "Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses." Amen. Prayer for the day! Oh Lord, help me to embrace forgiveness in my heart. Just as a gardener tends to his garden, removing the weeds that threaten to choke the blooms, teach me to cast away resentment and bitterness. Let your healing rain wash over me, softening my spirit and nurturing seeds of grace. Help me see others through your eyes, with compassion rather than condemnation. Fill my soul with your peace. In Jesus' name. Amen --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pastor-divineo/support

“To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.” — Lewis B Smedes

“To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and then to find out the prisoner was you.” This quote by Lewis B. Smedes is far truer than some people can imagine. For those who have held on to unforgiveness for many years, the side-effects of it are toxic. Releasing unforgiveness and learning to embrace forgiveness of others and ourselves takes work but it's a labor of love when you realize that you're setting yourself free from the prison of resentment and anger. “Forgiving in the midst of pain” is the topic of the latest episode of The Woman Inspired Podcast. In this episode we talk about the difficulty in forgiving wrong-doing on a major scale. Sharing true-life stories of amazing forgiveness, we discuss what the Bible says about it and why we need to pay attention to the effects that holding on to unforgiveness has on our lives. To tune in, go to https://womaninspired.org/podcasts OR search for The Woman Inspired Podcast in your favorite podcast app. Thanks for tuning in to The Woman Inspired Podcast. Don't forget to like, share, follow! For more info about this podcast go to womaninspired.com To connect with Karen on social media: Instagram https://www.instagram.com/1womaninspired/?hl=en LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/womaninspired Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AWomanInspired To check out Karen's latest book best-selling book, “Woman Let Go –Release the grip of unforgiveness” go to: https://www.amazon.com/Woman-Let-Go-Unforgiveness-Inspired-ebook/dp/B0CJ9VGMXG #forgiveness #womanletgo #thewomaninspiredseries #karenmccracken #releasethegrip #christianauthor #womaninspired #thewomaninspiredpodcast #christianspeaker #christianpodcasts

This week the guys sit down with Jeff Crosby to talk about meeting God in the longings of our heart.Jeff Crosby is the president and CEO of ECPA, the trade association of Christian publishing, and has spent nearly four decades working in the world of words as a bookseller, publisher, and author. His writing has appeared in numerous magazines and journals including CRUX, Conversations Journal, Books & Culture, Urban Faith, and Living Lutheran. He is the editor and compiler of "Days of Grace Through the Year" (a collection of writings by Lewis B. Smedes) and the author of "The Language of the Soul." He lives in the western suburbs of Chicago. You can find more at JeffreyCrosby.net.Pick up The Language of the Soul. 

Join Premium! Ready for an ad-free meditation experience? Join Premium now and get every episode from ALL of our podcasts completely ad-free now! Just a few clicks makes it easy for you to listen on your favorite podcast player.  Become a PREMIUM member today by going to --> https://WomensMeditationNetwork.com/premium Book your FREE 30 Minute Clarity Call with Jody now!  https://jody.as.me/womensmeditationnetworkclaritysession What is a Clarity Call? This is the first step to giving you the IMMEDIATE relief you crave and will help you to become "unstuck" as you walk the path towards a life of happiness, inner peace and fulfillment. During this call, we're going to explore your ideal life and vision for living the life that you desire. We'll talk about some of the challenges that are getting in your way, and I'll provide you with some practical tools to help you close the gap from where you are now, to your desired destination. Lewis B. Smedes said, “to forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.”  PAUSE (5 SEC)... So allow yourself to relax, And fall into calm.  PAUSE (10 SEC)... See if you can bring to mind, Anyone in your life, Who you'd like to forgive.  PAUSE (10 SEC)... Just be here, Floating in this moment with them, Safe, And open. PAUSE (20 SEC)... I forgive others and release them with love.  PAUSE (10 SEC)… I forgive others and release them with love.  PAUSE (10 SEC)… I forgive others and release them with love.  LONG PAUSE (4 MINS)… I forgive others and release them with love.  PAUSE (30 SEC)... Namaste, Beautiful

"Forgiving does not erase the bitter past. A healed memory is not a deleted memory. Instead, forgiving what we cannot forget creates a new way to remember. We change the memory of our past into a hope for our future."-Lewis B. Smedes (1921-2002) #forgiveness #forgivenessjourney #forgive #forgivenessisfreedom --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cherie-hardy/message

"Forgiving does not erase the bitter past. A healed memory is not a deleted memory. Instead, forgiving what we cannot forget creates a new way to remember. We change the memory of our past into a hope for our future."-Lewis B. Smedes (1921-2002) #forgiveness #forgivenessjourney #forgive #forgivenessisfreedom --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cherie-hardy/message

"Forgiveness is setting a prisoner free and realizing the prisoner was you." What do you think about this quote from Lewis B. Smedes? We have lots of fun in this episode, maybe more than usual because of all the weird things Lucas says. But mostly, we talk about forgiveness. Join the conversation! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/secondbreakfastwithlandp/support

We carry these desires, our deepest longings, with us. It's part of what it means to be human, and they are drivers in our lives whether or not we acknowledge them. — Jeff Crosby SHOW NOTES Today's guest is Jeff Crosby, the author of the new book (releases May 23, 2023) Language of the Soul. For over fifteen years, Jeff has been searching for a language of the soul--a way to articulate our deepest longings. Through the years he gathered clues from within global music styles, from different cultures, from his own Christian tradition and its sacred texts--and from deep within himself. Jeff explores the ways in which God meets us in our deepest longings of the heart – our longing for home, friendship, forgiveness, spiritual transformation, and more – not by satisfying our every desire but by granting us what we genuinely need. SPECIAL GUEST JEFF CROSBY Jeff Crosby is the president and CEO of ECPA, the trade association of Christian publishing, and has spent nearly four decades working in the world of words as a bookseller, publisher, and author. His writing has appeared in numerous magazines and journals including CRUX, Conversations Journal, Books & Culture, Urban Faith, and Living Lutheran. He is the editor and compiler of "Days of Grace Through the Year" (a collection of writings by Lewis B. Smedes) and the author of The Language of the Soul, which is released May 23, 2023. Crosby earned an undergraduate degree in journalism and a master's degree in leadership development, where his area of special emphasis was creating mentoring cultures in organizations.  He has been married to Cindy Crosby, a writer, educator, and naturalist, for more than 40 years, and has two grown children and six grandchildren.  You can find more at JeffreyCrosby.net.   MENTIONED IN PODCAST The Language of the Soul: Meeting God in the Longings of our Heart by Jeff Crosby Jeff's Website   MUSIC USED IN PODCAST Music Break at 52:25 - Always With Me (Song for Anxiety) - IAMSON SUPPORT THE PODCAST Please consider a gift to support our ministry. We have a few ways to make it easy for you: Use our Donation Page on our Website Donate using our new App Send by mail (Potter's Inn, PO Box 35, Divide, Colorado 80814 - make sure you make note that your gift is for the podcast)     FIND US ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM Facebook Soul Care Conversations Group Page Potter's Inn Main FB Page Instagram CONTACT US podcast@pottersinn.com INTERESTED IN MORE SOUL CARE RESOURCES? Check out our recommended reading, books on spiritual growth, and our soul care blog. Want to experience soul care in person? Learn more about our soul care intensives and retreats. 

Join Premium! Ready for an ad-free meditation experience? Join Premium now and get every episode from ALL of our podcasts completely ad-free now! Just a few clicks makes it easy for you to listen on your favorite podcast player.  Become a PREMIUM member today by going to --> https://WomensMeditationNetwork.com/premium Lewis B. Smedes said, “to forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.”  So allow yourself to relax, And fall into calm.  See if you can bring to mind, Anyone in your life, Who you'd like to forgive.  Just be here, Floating in this moment with them, Safe, And open. I forgive others and release them with love.  JOURNAL PROMPTS: Who did you imagine forgiving?  How do you feel after releasing them with love?   

================================================== ==SUSCRIBETEhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNpffyr-7_zP1x1lS89ByaQ?sub_confirmation=1================================================== == DEVOCIÓN MATUTINA PARA ADULTOS 2022“NUESTRO MARAVILLOSO DIOS”Narrado por: Roberto NavarroDesde: Chiapas, MéxicoUna cortesía de DR'Ministries y Canaan Seventh-Day Adventist Church 11 DE OCTUBRE«¿QUÉ ES ESTO QUE SIENTO?»«Venid a mi todos los que están trabajados y cargados, y yo os haré descansar», Mateo 11:28¿CUÁL ES LA DIFERENCIA ENTRE SENTIR CULPA y sentir vergüenza?Nunca me había detenido a pensar detenidamente en este asunto hasta que leí lo que acerca de este tema escribe Lewis Smedes, conocido autor cristiano.Cuenta Smedes que un día, sin saber por qué, se sintió culpable. Trató de saber la causa, pero no recordaba haber hecho nada malo. Entonces le contó a su buen amigo Neil Warren lo que le estaba pasando. Sin pensarlo mucho, Neil le dijo que su problema no era un sentimiento de culpa, sino de vergüenza. Dice Smedes que al momento no entendió lo que su amigo quiso decirle, pero poco después comprendió sus palabras. Sucedió cuando él visitó a su madre en el hospital. En un momento de la visita él la escuchó decir que se sintió muy feliz porque el Señor la había perdonado. Luego ella agregó:-Oh, Lewis, sabes que ha sido una gran pecadora.¿Una gran pecadora? La declaración de su madre lo sorprendió. Toda su vida esa mujer había luchado sola, limpiando casas, para poder criar a cinco niños. ¿Por qué decía semejante cosa? Entonces Lewis grabó las palabras de Neil Warren, y pensó: «Lo que mi madre está sintiendo no es culpa, sino vergüenza». Toda su vida su madre había creído que no era suficientemente buena, ni como madre, ni como cristiana. «El sentimiento de no ser suficientemente buena era para ella lo mismo que ser mala», escribió Smedes. *¿Cuál es, entonces, la diferencia entre la culpa y la vergüenza? Según Smedes, la culpa es producto de lo malo que hacemos. La vergüenza, en cambio, tiene que ver con la clase de personas que somos. Es el resultado de creer que no estamos a la altura de lo que se espera de nosotros, que no somos suficientemente buenos. **La buena noticia es que, tanto para la culpa como para el sentimiento de vergüenza, hay «bálsamo en Galaad». Además de que la preciosa sangre de Jesucristo provee el remedio perfecto para tu culpa de pecado (ver 1 Juan 1:9), su maravillosa gracia te asegura que no tienes que esperar ser bueno para ir a él. ¿No es esto, precisamente, lo que dice nuestro texto de hoy? «Venid a mí todos los que están trabajados y cargados, y yo os haré descansar».En otras palabras, ¡Ve a Jesús tal como estás! Llévale ahora mismo todo lo que aflige tu corazón. Si acudes a él, su promesa es que no te echará fuera. Bendito Jesús, en este momento vengo a ti tal como soy, confiando en que no me rechazarás. Ayúdame a creer que tu sangre preciosa limpia todos mis pecados, y que por tu gracia estoy completo en ti.* Lewis B. Smedes, Shane' y Grace. Sanando la Vergüenza, No Nos Merecemos, Harper San Francisco, 1993, pp. 3-4. **Ibídem. páginas 10

To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you. - Lewis B. Smedes. In E35 we learned three rules to prevent future emotional scars. But what about past emotional scars? Let's explore how to remove old hurts, grudges, grievances and resentments. The results will be new life and new vitality and a new found peace of mind and happiness. Old emotional scars can't be doctored or medicated. They have to be cut out and completely eradicated. Forgiveness is the way to do this. Therapeutic forgiveness is like surgery. It cuts out, eradicates, cancels and makes the wrong as if it never happened. Anyone can forgive if they are willing. We find it difficult to forgive only because we like our sense of condemnation. We get a perverse and morbid enjoyment out of nursing our wounds. It's important to forgive yourself as well as others. Remorse and regret are attempts to emotionally live in the past Emotions are used correctly and appropriately when they help us respond or react appropriately to some reality in our present environment. You make mistakes. Mistakes don't make YOU. TAGS: IBGR, IBGR Network, Donna Kunde, Londina Cruz, emotional scars, heal emotional scars, how to heal emotional scars, healing the emotional scars, self forgiveness, what is forgiveness, forgiveness meditation, forgiveness, steps to forgiveness, power of forgiveness.

In this episode we talk about the vital importance of forgiving others.I referenced an episode that I uploaded about the Gospel. That was episode number 24 (entitled "The Gospel").Here is the quote from Lewis B. Smedes that I read: "To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you."Scriptures used:Matthew 18:15-352 Kings 4:1-7Romans 3:23Romans 6:23Ephesians 2:8-92 Corinthians 5:21Ephesians 4:30-32Luke 7:36-501 John 4:7-20Matthew 22:34-40Romans 8:1Hebrews 12:5-13John 3:16Luke 23:34Romans 12:19Matthew 6:14-15Psalm 66:18Mark 11:20-25John 14:131 John 5:14-15James 4:3**CORRECTIONS/CLARIFICATIONS**I said that a talent was a unit of measurement. It would've probably been more helpful and accurate to refer to it as a monetary unit instead of a unit of measurement (although I suppose it does "measure" an amount of money so to speak).I used the word "exorbitant" to describe the king's generosity and compassion. Perhaps "extreme" would have been a better word. Sometimes exorbitant can have a negative connotation about it, which is most certainly not what I was implying. I was only referring to the king's mercy in positive terms.When reading Matthew 18:34, I said, "...until he should pay off all his debt." I accidentally added the word "off". The verse actually says, "...until he should pay all his debt."I read Matthew 18:33 as, "And should you not have had mercy...". It's actually "And should not you have had mercy..." It was just a slight word order change that didn't affect the meaning in any way.As always, feel free to email any questions or comments to ijustwanttotalkabout@gmail.com!Take care!

“To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.” - Lewis B. Smedes

SHOW NOTES:   In Podcast Episode 161, “Who Does the Pursuit of Revenge Harm?” Kim discusses the pain inflicted when someone chooses to pursue revenge. When has your life been impacted by the pursuit of revenge, either by yourself or by another? How did this affect you? In what ways does the hatred inside harm the holder and others?   The primary scripture texts for this episode are 2 Samuel 3:22-30 with 30 as the focal verse.   30 So Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner because Abner had killed their brother Asahel at the battle of Gibeon.   ADDITIONAL VERSES, etc.:   Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord. (Romans 12:19)   The problem with revenge is that it never evens the score. It ties both the injured and the injurer to an escalator of pain. Both are stuck on the escalator as long as parity is demanded, and the escalator never stops. (Lewis B. Smedes)   “Abbe Faria: Here is your final lesson – do not commit the crime for which you now serve the sentence. God said, “Vengeance is mine.”    Edmond Dantes: I don't believe in God.    Abbe Faria: It doesn't matter. He believes in you.” (from the Count of Monte Cristo movie 2002)   7 People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, 8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. 10 And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! 11 Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? 12 Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can't draw fresh water from a salty spring. (James 3:7-12) Weekly Assignment Feature:    How has your life been impacted by someone's pursuit of revenge?    Additional Resources:   For more on the Overcast podcast app, go to https://overcast.fm/ I WANT TO BEGIN A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST.    RESOURCES USED FOR BOOK OF 1 & 2 Samuel PODCASTS: “The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: The Complete Old Testament OT in One Volume” “The Tony Evans Bible Commentary: Advancing God's Kingdom Agenda” “Life Application Study Bible” “The Swindoll Study Bible: NLT” by Charles R. Swindoll Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Samuel (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) by J. D. Greear, Heath A. Thomas “The Baker Illustrated Bible Background Commentary” by J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays (Editors) "Encouraging Others in Loving Jesus" Facebook Group:   Our Facebook Group is devoted to providing a place for us to encourage each other through all the seasons of life. Follow the provided link to request admittance into “Encouraging Others in Loving Jesus”—https://www.facebook.com/groups/encouragingothersinlovingjesus/ Feel free to invite others who will be good encouragers and/or need encouragement to follow Jesus.   This podcast is hosted by Kim Smith, a small town Country Girl who left her comfort zone to follow Jesus in a big City World. Now, she wants to use God's Word and lessons from her faith journey to encourage others in loving Jesus.   In each episode, Kim will share insights regarding a portion of God's Word and challenge listeners to apply the lessons to their daily lives.   If you want to grow in your faith and learn how to encourage others in loving Jesus, subscribe and commit to prayerfully listening each week.    Remember, “It's Always a Trust & Obey Kinda Day!”   If you have questions or comments or would like to learn more about how to follow Jesus, please email Kim at EncouragingOthersinLovingJesus@gmail.com.   National Suicide Prevention Lifeline   1-800-273-8255   https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/   Reference: Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Tyndale House Publishers. Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Wheaton, Ill: Tyndale House Publishers, 2004.   Podcast recorded through Zencastr and edited through GarageBand. The soundtrack was created in GarageBand by Kim Smith.   The HIDDEN Episodes:  If you can't access episodes 1-50 on your podcast app (the podcast was then entitled "A Country Girl in a City World - Loving Jesus"), you can get all content at my Podbean site at https://acountrygirlinacityworldlovingjesus.podbean.com/

Chapter 18: The Long Haul1. Lewis B. Smedes, Caring and Commitment (San Francisco: Harper &Row, 1989), 51.2. Ben Johnson, "Greyfriars Bobby," Historic UK, www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofScotland/Greyfriars-Bobby/.3. Chap Clark, Hurt 2.0: Inside the World of Today's Teenagers (GrandRapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2011), 66.4. Matthew 28:20, ESV.

This week's episode features Rev. David Hughes and focuses on Genesis 45:3-11, 15. Meditation: “To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that prisoner was you.”  Lewis B. Smedes

This episode we do a deep dive into forgiving others, taking up God's mantle, and living a life free from sin. Matthew 7:7“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you".- Lewis B. Smedes

Welcome to the series, Passage to Wisdom, where John Ortberg shares thoughts from books that have been deeply influential in his life. This week, John is looking at the book 'My God and I', a moving spiritual memoir from the pen of Lewis B. Smedes — renowned Christian author, beloved professor, keen theologian and ethicist, extraordinary human being. Today's topic: God's presence Verses: Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. Psalm 139:7-12 https://www.bible.com/bible/111/PSA.139.NIV Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel BecomeNew.Me and say hello in the comments. Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/becomenew.me For daily alerts, text the word BECOME to the number 56525 Invite a friend by sharing the link: BecomeNew.Me #becomenew #johnortberg #devotional #whereisGod #God #presence #Jesus

Welcome to the series, Passage to Wisdom, where John Ortberg shares thoughts from books that have been deeply influential in his life. This week, John is looking at the book 'My God and I', a moving spiritual memoir from the pen of Lewis B. Smedes — renowned Christian author, beloved professor, keen theologian and ethicist, extraordinary human being. Today's topic: Gratitude Verses: 'Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.' Colossians 3:13-17 https://www.bible.com/bible/111/COL.3.NIV Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel BecomeNew.Me and say hello in the comments. For daily alerts, text the word BECOME to the number 56525 Invite a friend by sharing the link: BecomeNew.Me #becomenew #johnortberg #devotional #goodness #God #thankful #gratitude

May is Mental Health Awareness month so this week we decided to interview 2 authors whose new memoirs deal with their mental health issues and the addictions that resulted from those issues. There is hardly a family who hasn't been touched in some way by mental illness. For so many years, mental illness in all its forms--anxiety, depression, suicide or bipolar disorder--were kept under wraps which made the sufferers and their loved ones feel even more isolated. But recently, memoirs about messy lives, dysfunctional families, and the realities of finding help have become increasingly popular and can be a powerful tool for the author to help themselves in addition to their readers. Our guests Jaydee Graham and Vitale Buford chat with us about the power of the messy memoir. In part 1 of this week's show, Jaydee talks to us about her book The Soul Grind: Fighting for Light Amongst the Trenches, an account of her struggles with alcohol and drugs in her teenage years. In part 2 Vitale Buford talks to us about her 2020 memoir, Addicted to Perfect, in which she describes her 10-year addiction to the prescription drug Adderall, a drug often prescribed for people with ADHD. For those who abuse it, it can cause euphoria and the feeling of having superhuman amounts of energy. In Vitale's case, she used Adderall because she felt it gave her the energy to be able to be “perfect.” Book Mentioned in this Episode: 1- The Soul Grind : Fighting for Light Amongst the Trenches by Jaydee Graham 2- Addicted to Perfect: A Journey Out of the Grips of Adderall by Vitale Buford 3- Make Your Mess a Memoir by Anna David 4- A New Pair of Glasses by Chuck C. 5- Co-Dependent No More by Melody Beattie 6- The Art of Forgiving by Lewis B. Smedes 7- The Gentle Path Through the Twelve Steps: The Classic Guide for All People in the Process of Recovery by Patrick Carnes 8- Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert 9- Books by Glennan Doyle 10- The Benefits of Being an Octopus by Ann Braden 11- Harry's Trees by Jon Cohen 12- Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness by Susannah Cahalan 13- Reasons Not to Die by Matt Haig 14- A Beautiful Mind by Sylvia Nasar 15- Wild by Cheryl Strayed 16 - Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight by Alexandra Fuller        

May is Mental Health Awareness month so we decided to interview 2 authors whose new memoirs deal with their mental health issues and the addictions that resulted from those issues. There is hardly a family who hasn’t been touched in some way by mental illness. For so many years, mental illness in all its forms--anxiety, depression, suicide or bipolar disorder--were kept under wraps which made the sufferers and their loved ones feel even more isolated. But recently, memoirs about messy lives, dysfunctional families, and the realities of finding help have become increasingly popular and can be a powerful tool for the author to help themselves in addition to their readers. Our guests Jaydee Graham and Vitale Buford chat with us about the power of the messy memoir. In part 1 of this week’s show, Jaydee talks to us about her book The Soul Grind: Fighting for Light Amongst the Trenches, an account of her struggles with alcohol and drugs in her teenage years. In part 2 Vitale Buford talks to us about her 2020 memoir, Addicted to Perfect, in which she describes her 10-year addiction to the prescription drug Adderall, a drug often prescribed for people with ADHD. For those who abuse it, it can cause euphoria and the feeling of having superhuman amounts of energy. In Vitale’s case, she used Adderall because she felt it gave her the energy to be able to be “perfect.” Book Mentioned in this Episode: 1- The Soul Grind : Fighting for Light Amongst the Trenches by Jaydee Graham 2- Addicted to Perfect: A Journey Out of the Grips of Adderall by Vitale Buford 3- Make Your Mess a Memoir by Anna David 4- A New Pair of Glasses by Chuck C. 5- Co-Dependent No More by Melody Beattie 6- The Art of Forgiving by Lewis B. Smedes 7- The Gentle Path Through the Twelve Steps: The Classic Guide for All People in the Process of Recovery by Patrick Carnes 8- Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert 9- Books by Glennan Doyle 10- The Benefits of Being an Octopus by Ann Braden 11- Harry's Trees by Jon Cohen 12- Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness by Susannah Cahalan 13- Reasons Not to Die by Matt Haig 14- A Beautiful Mind by Sylvia Nasar 15- Wild by Cheryl Strayed 16 - Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight by Alexandra Fuller

"To forgive is to set a prisoner free and to discover that the prisoner was you" Lewis B. Smedes --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/michele-rucker/support

“ To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and discover that the prisoner was you.” - Lewis B. Smedes   Who do you need to forgive today?  I encourage you to pray about it and pray for the ones you need to forgive.  It isn’t easy, we are human and this doesn’t come natural. Forgiveness isn’t about forgetting what has happened, it is about freeing yourself from the bondage.

“To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.” — Lewis B. Smedes Forgiveness does not erase the past, but looks upon it with compassion. To withhold forgiveness keeps alive emotions of hurt, anger and blame which discolour your perception of life. To forgive, avoid ruminating on thoughts of being wronged. Rather, trust the power of forgiveness to heal the hurt and pain. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/drmalaikaspeaks/support

July 1, 2018 “Love may be simple. Life is complicated.” Lewis B. Smedes I wonder if it is getting more difficult to have intelligent, respectful, helpful conversations about the complexing issues of our lives. We're tempted to move quickly into defensive, protective postures and corners. The impact is felt in our work, politics, driving, families, schools, dating, social media, and friendships. The letter of 1 Peter leads us into a journey of love where the barriers of “different” and “other” melt away into community, unity, help, and compassion. Love may be a simple action, but it takes intense, intentional, persistent work. Peter says it this way, “Love one another deeply, from the heart.” Let's get after this deep love, described in 1 Peter 1:22-2:3. Grace and peace, Bill

How can two best friends become sworn enemies? This is the question posed by Philip Alley as he commences today's message. The answer lies in the matter of offence taken by one or both parties. Philip goes on to describe the progression of offence. A careless word or unmet expectation, if nursed and rehearsed long enough, becomes a garbage dump of fire in the heart – a living hell, says Philip. Satan's agenda is destruction, his strategy division, and a common tactic is offence. From the Scriptures, Philip exhorts the listeners to settle matters quickly, while still together so that the plan of the enemy is deterred. Philip describes the place and purpose of boundaries in our lives as well as the instruction of 2 Corinthians 10:15 – take every thought captive so that the offense is not driven down deep to become a festering wound. Our perfect example, of course, is Jesus, who refused to let offence take hold in His heart. Philip concludes with a quote from Lewis B Smedes. “To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was me”.

Jack Nicholson “I love discourse. I'm dying to have my mind changed. I'm probably the only liberal who read Treason, by Ann Coulter. I want to know, you understand? I like listening to everybody. This to me is the elixir of life.” How much do you enjoy a disagreement? I’ll admit, it’s not my first choice for the way to spend an afternoon. An argument can raise blood pressure and cause the loss of lifelong friends. Not very funny.Have you ever wondered why some people always seem to end up arguing? I really believe the number one reason is fear. The fearful person is the one who attempts to shout you down instead of letting you get a word out, even after you were courteous enough to listen to their views. This person is so afraid of contamination from another idea, that even allowing it to be expressed will taint them with an element of doubt that could alter their life forever. Scary! This is no more true than when discussing religious or political issues. The beliefs of  religion and politics are ingrained in us from birth many times, and we are fearful to hear opposition because it could change the fundamental structure of life we have come to know. Our foundations have been resting on this information for all our lives, and any change could make the whole structure unstable, leaving us adrift with no anchor in the sea of ideas. Allow me to look at this from another angle. If all we do is accept the ideas our parents have given us to believe, are they really our own ideas at all? I am not advocating discarding everything Mom and Dad ever said, but the only way to ever know what YOU really believe is to have your preconceived notions tested in the crucible of opposition. Now you don’t have to go and debate it all the time with every person you know who was given a different set of values. Here are the basic steps to solidify your own beliefs: 1.Get over your fear of listening to ALL ideas. Everyone has an honest reason for what you consider heresy. Overcome your fear of contamination. Just close your mouth and listen. 2.Honestly evaluate other points of view. If you are totally convinced of the rightness your position, there should be no problem evaluating the enemy’s idea without that sense of panic you are accustomed to.3. If you find your ideas can’t stand up, do what scientists do: gather more data for both your position and the other view to test them further. 4. If you come to the inescapable conclusion that some alteration of your original dogma needs to be effected, DO IT and move on! None of us are perfect. We all need adjustment. If you can do this self evaluation within your own mind without huge arguments, my hat is off to you. Just be honest with yourself. One final thought from Senator Edward Kennedy:“The Constitution does not just protect those whose views we share; it also protects those with whose views we disagree.” The Unofficial Jack Nicholson Websitehttp://www.jack-nicholson.info/ ---------------------------------------------------- Taylor Swift “There is a strength in letting bygones be bygones.” Anybody can hold a grudge. It is a very simple and lazy thing to do. On the other hand, It takes enormous strength to let go of ego and pride to forgive someone who has truly wronged you. The smallest child can throw a tantrum when they don’t get their way. Sometimes a sibling or friend will do something wrong, and let you take the fall for it. Many feel that a long term grudge and vendetta to get even is not only reasonable in cases like this, but it is required to make sure a message is sent to the world that you are not one to be trifled with. This is the same kind of message like putting the head of a criminal on a pike outside a medieval castle. Sure, kings threw tantrums too. They had tremendous power and controlled armies to punish those who offended them. The general attitude is that such kings and the similarly behaving toddlers need to learn to forgive and not create such a scene. We like to put ourselves on a pedestal, thinking we are better. But are we? Are we forgiving others for the slights we suffer from them? Probably nine times out of ten the imagined slight was completely unnoticed by the offender. We are quick to attribute malicious intent to them when they ran over you, not thinking of you at all, and not realizing you had been affected. The old saying comes to mind, “To err is human, to forgive is divine.” It is very easy to give offence to others, but your character really shows when you can, as Ms. Swift says, “let bygones be bygones”.Lewis B. Smedes: “To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.” Taylor Swift on Facebook ----------------------------------------------------------My mother, June Gibson Holbrook has been tirelessly promoting my show on social media. Now that I mention it, she’s always been there for me. Thanks, Mom!! Let us know what you think of the show.To leave feedback, email me at feedback@daggersofthemind.com. If you would prefer to leave a voice mail, call 304-460-5760.Also, at daggersofthemind.com you can subscribe for free using iTunes, Stitcher, TuneIn, and even email!