Podcasts about ministries

I don't like to perform a wedding unless I can first have several premarital counseling sessions with the couple. I remember when I told my youngest son (he was very young at that time) that I was going to be performing a wedding ceremony for one of the women on our staff. But the way I said it was this: "Hey, guess what? I'm going to be marrying Margaret." He burst into tears. He said, "What about Mommy?" So I've cleaned up my vocabulary a little bit, but I won't perform a wedding unless I can first counsel that couple. I'll tell you why. You need to get some of the stars out of their eyes. "I love him!" "I love her!" Well, that's great, but most pre-married couples need an emotional optometrist who can help them take a little more honest look at this person that they really do love. So I try to give them some emotional glasses to see who is really there. I think those sessions are a "must" and in fact I even give some tests to show the differences in expectations and in their perceptions of each other. Why? Well, because of the truth of three time-tested words, "Love is (fill in the blank) blind." No it isn't! Not really. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Love Has X-Ray Vision." Our word for today from the Word of God comes from Philippians 1:9-10. This is a great prayer here! In fact, I think it's a prayer we ought to just pray right out of scripture on behalf of some people we care about. Here it is: "And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight." It doesn't sound like love is blind there, does it? "And I want to pray this so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ." Now, the word that's used here is agape love. Of the several Greek words that could be used, this is the one for divine love; it's the highest form. He says, "I pray that your agape will abound more and more." And he said that agape love is insightful. It's not just blindly accepting of everything. This applies to all your relationships, not just romantic relationships. Then he gives here some solid guidelines for all the important choices that you are making at this stage of your life. He says that this knowledgeable love will make you able to discern. It really means to test. Test what? Well, I want you to have the kind of love, God is saying here, that's able to check out what is best. The Greek word that's used here is one that literally means to carry through. What's worth carrying through life? I want you to be able to discern that. It's often translated "more valuable" in the Bible. When you put it together it seems to say this, "Authentic love checks out every choice and chooses what's really worth the most." That kind of thinking settled it for my oldest son one day when he was trying to spend all of his allowance on junk food at the store. But he didn't, and when he left he said, "Dad, I decided I'd spend on what lasts." That's what this is talking about. Some people have us believe that love is this syrupy, naive, acceptance of everyone and everything. But actually, that was pretty tough, because it keeps asking, "What's really best in this situation? What will last?" Not, "What's more comfortable, what's more fun, what's more acceptable, or what's more materially profitable?" No, what's more eternally valuable? You can have that discernment in your daily choices the same way the first-century believers did. You've got to pray for it. Ask for it often. Like Superman, you can have x-ray vision, but to see the things that are really valuable. God can give you powerful inner eyes when you open up to His discerning love. When you have love, God's way, it's not blind - it has x-ray vision.

It's the year 386 and we are in Antioch. Tensions are rising along with political corruption and taxation. Early church father John Chrysostom (aka "Golden-Mouth") isn't having it. He's about to deliver a sermon so fire that prison gates are going to be swung wide open. Join us in our year's final episode as Summer tells the story of one of the most famous sermons in all of church history! The post The Sermon That Set the Prisoners Free appeared first on Sheologians.

Caller Questions & Discussion: Marc discusses what it looks like for a parent to let go by offering their children freedom, and he gives the example of Jesus going missing when he was a child in Jerusalem. A few months ago, I realized I'm a covert narcissist, my family had me admitted to a mental health facility, and I threatened suicide; what do I do now? If I receive a blessing from God, but then turn around and don't accept the blessing; do you have any insight into that? I'm a single mom in love with a man in meth recovery, and I struggle with anxious attachment; what can I do? My bipolar nephew and his pregnant wife moved in with my stepmother and me; since it's her house, am I supposed to stand up for her?

I don't get sick very often, but that one year I did pick up the special flu bug of the year. Which, of course, meant my wife soon followed suit. We believed in sharing everything. Then our friend, Janice, got a similar flu - sick for four or five days. Then her husband got it - sick for four or five days. Then their lucky daughter took her turn - sick for four or five days. Their teenage son was the only one who didn't get it. His mom said he was the one walking around the house with a can of Lysol all the time! You can almost count on it - when one person is infected with a germ, it's probably going to end up infecting the people closest to them. I'm Ron Hutchcraft, and I want to have A Word With You today about "The Cure for Family Germs." Every family has them - those germs that get passed around the family. And they're not all the kind you go to a doctor for. The most virulent, most damaging family infections of all come from moral germs, spiritual germs, some of which have infected generations or are in the process right now of being passed on to yet another generation. One writer tells about his friend, George, and the angry explosions he had with his wife - angry words which unfortunately his little son could sometimes hear down the hall in his room. There was one particularly bitter argument where George yelled to his wife, "I don't need you. I don't want you, and I can't stand you!" A few weeks later, George was awakened by sounds down the hall from his bedroom. They were coming from his little boy's room. George tiptoed down there and he stood and listened in horror as his son was angrily telling a stuffed animal of his, "I don't need you. I don't want you. I can't stand you!" That's how the family diseases are transmitted from one generation to the next. There are those weaknesses that scarred our parents' lives, probably their parents' lives, and who knows how many other generations! Tragically, we tend to carry that baggage into our lives and then infect another generation with them. We seem to be unable to stop the things in us that hurt most the people we love most: that anger, that selfishness, the criticism, the abuse, the addictions, the negativity. But there's wonderful news about our family infections in our word for today from the Word of God in 1 Peter 1:18-19. Listen. God says, "You were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, with the precious blood of Christ." Translation: there is a connection between my hurtful weakness and what Jesus Christ did when He died on the cross. If I open myself up to the love and the power of Jesus Christ, the disease can stop in this generation! I can be in the Bible's word "redeemed" from it. The central disease we all have that poisons our closest relationships is the disease of me - a disease the Bible calls sin. That's just a life you run instead of God running it, and it can only be conquered by the One who died to pay the death penalty for all our sinning, and that's Jesus. When you put your total trust in Him to be your "Savior" from all your sin, He enters your life. He unleashes His power which raised Him from the dead to start changing you from the inside out. The Bible says, "If anyone is in Christ, he's a new creation. The old has gone. A new life has begun." If you're ready to finally be forgiven, if you're ready to finally be free, then you're ready to begin a relationship with Jesus Christ. What you do is you say to Him, "Jesus, I'm pinning all my hope on you because you died for me. I am yours beginning today." That's a new beginning for you and for your family. I'd love to share with you more how you can be sure you belong to Him and what this relationship can do for you at our website. And it's got a name that's appropriate - ANewStory.com. That's what it's about - a new story for you. The spiritual infections in your family - haven't they done enough damage? And the Man who died for you is willing to begin His miracle healing of your past, your present, and your future. Think what it could mean to you and to those you love, "It stops here - in this generation! Because Jesus is running things now!"

Let the Word burn on the inside of you…like a Supernatural Fire! 16 dead anddozens injured at a Jewish Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach, Australia;Brown University is covering up the investigation into the tragic shooting that took2 lives; a little rant from yours truly; European Christians are rising up; and silverand gold have shattered all-time highs again!New episodes are released every Monday. Subscribe so you don't miss an episode, and leave us a rating on your podcast platform of choice. For more info or to support Burning Bush Ministries, visit our website at burningbushministries.tv.Follow us on social media:x.com/edifypodcastFacebook.com/edifypodcast Product Spotlight:Nashville Gold And Coin:https://nashvillegoldandcoin.com/Dr. Rhonda's Ultimate Daily Detoxifier:https://doctorrhonda.myshopify.com/discount/BURNINGBUSH?redirect=%2Fproducts%2Fultimate-daily-detoxifierUse promo code Edify!Dr. Rhonda's Ultimate Immune Booster:https://doctorrhonda.myshopify.com/products/bpuibooster?_pos=2&_psq=ultim&_ss=e&_v=1.0Use promo code Edify!My Pillow:https://www.mypillow.com/?cq_src=google_ads&cq_cmp=6481386640&cq_term=my%20pillow&cq_med=&cq_plac=&cq_net=g&cq_plt=gp&gclid=CjwKCAjwue6hBhBVEiwA9YTx8D1g59gXEUjFegHoWVjHHx6V_dwQUAQpc2fT4fQqsK93A1s2W-XT-RoCeLsQAvD_BwEUse promo code B66

A Reason For Hope with Pastor Scott Richards! Sharing the Word one question of the heart at a time. Tags: Syrian Rebels, Generations, and Moses' Sin

Caller Questions & Discussion: Dr. Sheri explains cognitive dissonance and why it is essential to take steps to protect and ground yourself after a spouse has betrayed you. Many people wonder how men and women can survive in a world with OnlyFans and AI girlfriends, and New Life LIVE radio hosts discuss strategies for maintaining healthy relationships. January sees a rise in breakups as many couples postpone ending relationships until after the holidays, and the radio hosts explain why this trend occurs. What should I do after confessing my infidelity to my husband? How can I heal my marriage and make things right? How can you support someone who is struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts? And what can they do themselves?

If you live in a place like Florida for example, this word probably doesn't mean much to you - winter, cold, or furnace. See, during the summer you don't give your furnace a thought, but in the winter up north it makes life bearable. That's why when we lived in New Jersey I was not a very happy camper when I woke up and felt a very cold nose coming out of the covers. (No, I didn't sleep with a dog...it was my nose!) And I felt a cold floor under my feet where there was no carpet. And then I would peek out the window and see a very low temperature out there. Now, my first stop was the furnace downstairs. If it wasn't working I knew what to do. I called our family doctor. You say, "What? You don't call..." No, that's right, I didn't call the doctor. I called our neighbors and told them the furnace wasn't working. You say, "Wait a minute, what good does that do?" No, I called the newspaper delivery boy and said, "My furnace isn't working!" I called the post office and said, "Hey, can you fix my furnace?" You say, "Ron, none of those calls will help. Call the furnace man!" I did. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Tell the Person Who Can Fix It." Our word for today from the Word of God comes from Matthew 5. We begin at verse 23. Jesus said, "If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember your brother has something against you, leave your gift..." He says forget the religious stuff. Don't do your spiritual thing. No, "leave your gift in front of the altar. First (in other words, before you do your thing with God), go and be reconciled to your brother, then come and offer your gift." There's a parallel passage in Matthew 18:15 - "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over." It talks about involving other people from the church if that doesn't work. But the pattern is the same in both cases - go straight to the person. Now, we're not talking about a furnace here, but we're talking about a relationship that's not working. And Jesus addresses one of these dark corners of human nature. We've got this tendency to talk to everyone about the problem we have with this person except the person we have the problem with. And that sin divides families, it divides friends, it divides churches, it divides ministries, and maybe you are in the middle of one of those poisonous situations right now. Jesus says there's only one way to go when you have a problem with another person - straight to that person. We'd rather gripe to other people, we'd rather gather support for our side, get sympathy, form some power block of people who agree with us, and give the Devil an open door he can drive a truck through. The irony is that none of those other people can fix what's wrong. The problem you've got is with this person. Now, we know it would be dumb to tell the letter carrier about our cold furnace, or the garbage man. Wouldn't that make you ask, "Hey, do you just want to gripe or do you want a solution?" Then why do we go to all the wrong people when there's a break in a relationship or some hurt? Going to the person involved is the only way it can really be fixed. You can be a relationship radical if you'll covenant to go direct in a world that would rather gossip and backstab. You can be an agent of real love and real peace if you always stay away from the back room, the back-biting, and you speak directly to that other person. That other person? They may respond or they may not respond, but you have done the only thing Jesus can bless, and you can sleep well tonight. So, whether it's a furnace, a family member or a friend, tell the person who can fix it.

Reason For Hope with Pastor Scott Richards! Sharing the Word one question of the heart at a time. Tags: Evidence for Jesus Part 1

Caller Questions & Discussion: Chris shares that he struggles to cry, but every Christmas Eve he gets the gift of tears. Let your tears teach you what is most important and most hopeful in life. Chris also shares that our emotions are a muscle; if his sad muscles get strengthened, then his resiliency for sadness increases. If you live your life to avoid loss, you will also avoid life. What are one or two ways to start trusting God when trusting anyone is difficult or feels impossible? I'm in a new church, and they've said you shouldn't really be in the presence of the opposite sex; how do I not let that throw me off spiritually?

It was a Kleenex moment that Christmas season, for sure. Like the first Christmas, there was a newborn baby involved, but no manger. How about a Jumbotron screen at an Anaheim Ducks hockey game, of all places? Sergeant First Class Robert Vandenberg had been gone for ten months. He'd never seen his newborn son. He was far away in Afghanistan when little Travis was born. So all eyes were on the big screen when he appeared suddenly to - at least in this small way - be "home" for Christmas. Skype from Romania. That's how his wife, and his one-year-old son, little Travis would make a connection this Christmas season. But with thousands watching this touching reunion by screen, the technology Grinch suddenly showed up. There was barely time for "hellos" before the sergeant started disappearing in a spasm of static. Sadly, his wife handed the microphone back to a team rep. At that very moment, Sergeant Vandenberg walked down the steps of the arena and right into the arms of his wife! Then he picked up his new son and held him up in front of him - looking in his eyes for the very first time. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Coming Home for Christmas." I don't know if they sell Kleenex at the stadium concession stands, but if they do, you can bet they sold out that night. I confess I reached for some when I saw it on TV. I think one of the reasons it touched me is that I saw something else in that moving reunion. I saw the first Christmas. I saw myself. Christmas - when a God we thought was so far away came down to where we are. To hold us close. In fact, the ancient prophecy of the coming Messiah predicted it. And it's our word for today from the Word of God recorded in Matthew 1:23, "'A virgin shall be with child and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, 'God with us.'" Not just God projected on the screen of some church or religion. But God right here. God up close. Too often, though, He has seemed far away hasn't He? Like there's a lot of distance between me and the God I really need. It turns out that distance is not just a feeling. It's real. But it's not God's fault. It's mine. Let's face it, I've wanted to believe in God, but I also want to run my own life. In essence, occupying the driver's seat in my life - a life He gave me. We have, in the words of the Bible, "left God's path to follow our own" (Isaiah 53:6 NLT) and at great cost. Isaiah 59:2 says, "Your sins have cut you off from God." Actually, I knew that. I think we can all feel the distance. But then...Christmas. As Linus so eloquently quoted to Charlie Brown, "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:11 KJVA). In that stable in Bethlehem, God stepped out of eternity and into time. So He could step into my life and your life and change it forever. Not God as a fuzzy image. Not God far away. God with us. With me. In my home. In my office. In the doctor's office. In my grief. In my loneliness. In my pain. In "the valley of the shadow of death" (Psalm 23:4 KJVA). But it would come at great expense to Jesus, because 33 years later, the hands of the Bethlehem baby would be nailed to a Roman cross. And today, this one who loved you enough to die for you, who came that Christmas for you and me is reaching out and saying, "On this Christmas day, would you give yourself to Me?" He's been waiting a long time. He's ready now for you to come. You can tell it by the tug you feel in your heart. That won't always be there. So, right now while you can, say, "Jesus, I'm Yours." Go to our website today if you want more information because there you'll see how to be sure you've begun this relationship on this Christmas day. It's ANewStory.com. See, Jesus came in Bethlehem to go to a cross so God could be your Father. And so you could be, forever, a child in His arms.

A Reason For Hope with Pastor Scott Richards! Sharing the Word one question of the heart at a time. Tags: Iran, Pope Francis, and The Nails of the Cross

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Caller Questions & Discussion: Dr. Alice invites us to turn off our screens to put time and attention into our family. How do I cope with going no contact with my elderly parents for the second time? Their words aren't life-giving. I've been married for two years, and my wife is separated from me because my anxiety is stopping me from living life. Do I tell my teen kids that their mom is a narcissist so they can learn to cope? I struggled with marijuana addiction my whole life until I gave my life to Jesus!

It was the biggest night of the year in a little town called Cornwall. It was the night of the annual Christmas pageant. Since there are no nearby malls or cities to compete with, the pageant is pretty much packed out every year. It's an especially big deal for the children in town. They get to try out for the roles in the Christmas story, and everybody wants a part. Which leads us to the problem of Harold. See, Harold wanted to be in the play, too, but he was...well, he was kind of a slow and simple kid. The directors were ambivalent, I mean, they knew Harold would be crushed if he didn't have a part, but they were afraid he might mess up the town's magic moment if he did. Finally, they decided to cast Harold as the innkeeper - the one who turns Mary and Joseph away the night Jesus is to be born. He only has one line: "I'm sorry, we have no room." Well, no one could imagine what that one line was going to do to everyone's Christmas. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "The Christmas Invitation." The night of the pageant the church was packed, as usual. I mean, the set was in place, and there was an entire wall with scenes of Bethlehem painted on it, including the door of the inn where Harold would greet - and then turn away - the young Jewish travelers. Backstage, the angels were playing Frisbee with their halos, and the shepherds were waiting 'till the last minute to put on their annually laundered bathrobes, and Harold was being personally coached by the nervous directors. "Now remember, Harold, when Joseph says, 'Do you have a room for the night?' you say...you say..." Hesitantly, Harold said, "I'm sorry. We... We have no room." The directors looked at each other somewhat hopefully. They'd done all they could. Well, the Christmas story unfolded according to plan - angels singing, Joseph's dream, the trip to Bethlehem. Finally, Joseph and Mary arrived at the door of the Bethlehem Inn, looking appropriately tired, discussing whether the baby might come tonight. Joseph knocked on the inn door. Backstage, the directors were just out of sight, coaching Harold to open the door now. And wouldn't you know it - the door was stuck! The whole set shook; Harold tried to get that door open. When he finally did, Joseph asked his question on cue: "Do you have a room for the night?" Harold froze. From backstage, a loud whisper: "I'm sorry. We have no room." And Harold mumbled, "I'm sorry. We have no room." And, with a little coaching, he shut the door. Well, the directors heaved a sigh of relief - prematurely. As Mary and Joseph disappeared into the night, the set suddenly started shaking again, and the door opened. Harold was back! And then, in an unrehearsed moment that folks would never forget, Harold went running after the young couple, shouting as loud as he could, "Wait! Wait! You can have my room!" I think little Harold may have understood the real issue of Christmas better than anyone there that night. How can you leave Jesus outside? You have to make room for Jesus. And that may be the issue for you this Christmas season. What will you do with this Son of God who came to earth to find you? This One who trades a throne room for a stable, angel praise for human mockery, this Creator who gives Himself on a cross? The Bible gives us the only appropriate response in Galatians 2:20, our word for today from the Word of God: "The life I now live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me." You look at what Jesus did to pay for your sin on that cross, and you say those life-changing words - "For me." Jesus is at your door this Christmas. Maybe He's been knocking for a long time and maybe He won't keep knocking much longer. All your life - even in the events of the last few months - it's been to prepare you for this crossroads moment with Jesus your Savior. I'd love to help you cross over as the Bible says, "from death to life" belonging to Jesus. Our website is there for that purpose - ANewStory.com. Don't leave Him outside any longer. Open the door this Christmas season. "Jesus, I cannot keep You out any longer. Come on in. You can have my room. You can have my life."

This week, Hunter Warner, our Director of Ministries, talked about how Advent makes space for both joy and sorrow. As we wait for the arrival of Christ, we're reminded that God is present in every season, holding both together in the hope of Jesus.   Want to watch a version of this message? Check out our live broadcast archive at www.declarationchurch.net/live.

A Reason For Hope with Pastor Scott Richards! Sharing the Word one question of the heart at a time. Tags:

Christmas is the story of Love stepping toward us — yet for many of us, love is still the place where our deepest questions live. Why is it hard to give? Why is it even harder to receive? And what does Advent have to do with it?In this final Advent episode, Kaley Olson, Wendy Blight, and Ellen Adkins explore what Scripture reveals about the human heart — and why Jesus came to transform it from the inside out. You'll get a freeing look at why hostility toward God shows up in all of us, how the Holy Spirit enables a new kind of love we could never muster on our own, and a tender invitation to receive the love God is offering right now.With biblical teaching, honest reflection, and a prayer for anyone longing for a fresh start with God, this episode reminds us: His love isn't distant or conditional. It's personal, present … and it's meant for you.You'll learn:Why Scripture says our natural hearts resist God — and how Advent reveals Jesus' plan to transform them.What God's steadfast love looks like throughout the Bible and why we often struggle to receive it.How the Holy Spirit enables us to love God and others in ways we cannot on our own.A simple prayer and practical steps for beginning or renewing a relationship with Jesus this Christmas.Resources From This Episode:Join us for Advent in the First 5 app!Download the free app, and spend five minutes each day studying God's Word with women around the world.Go deeper with our brand-new Advent study guide, More Than a Manger.Experience the Christmas story with fresh eyes through rich biblical teaching and meaningful daily reflections.Help more women access biblical Truth this season.Your generosity fuels everything we do — from free podcasts to devotions to study resources.[Give to Proverbs 31 Ministries today.]Click here to download a transcript of this episodeWant More on This Topic? Listen to “The Secret to Really Loving Your Neighbor” with Jada Edwards on The Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast.

Caller Questions & Discussion: Staying home and being isolated at Christmas? JJ shares what you can do to have joyful holidays. Should I reach out to the other grandmother of my grandson? Her son and my daughter used to date, and their young son is not living with my daughter. My son was raised by my mother as my brother, and he wants to stay with me at Christmas; should I let him? My young teen is being bullied for not using social media—how can I help? What should I do if I've been taking asthma medication that gives me suicidal thoughts?

It was Christmas Eve, and the Hutchcraft family was acting out the Christmas story. Our daughter was Mary, with a towel draped over her head. Our oldest son was Joseph, bathrobe and all. Our then two-year-old son was the closest we could come to a baby, so he was in the giant laundry basket. I was, of course, an angel dressed in a white sheet, sitting celestially on the back of the couch. And my wife - well, she wanted to be a sheep. So she was crawling around the living room floor with our sheepskin rug draped over her, doing her very best "baaa's." And the doorbell rang! It was two teenage girls from our youth group. Their folks were home getting drunk, and they were wondering if they could come to our house for a little sanity. When they came in, our Christmas players were in full gear, "baaa" and all. The door was open and we invited them right into our Christmas. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "The Open Door at the Manger." It was only appropriate that we should say to anyone who came to our door on Christmas Eve, "Come on in." After all, that's what God did when His Son was born that first Christmas. He threw open the door and said, "Come on in" no matter what you're like. He might be saying that to you this very day. Anybody's welcome to come on in and join God's family. How do we know? Well, for one thing, look at who got the first invitation to "come on in." Shepherds. These guys were considered the lowest of the low-lifes. They were unfit to even be allowed in God's temple. So of all the people God could invite to the first Christmas party, who does He ask to come? Shepherds. It says so in Luke 2, beginning with verse 8, in our Christmas word for today from the Word of God. "There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them..." The angel made this startling announcement: "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." So Jesus begins His life on earth by welcoming in people that most would say are definitely "not His type." Maybe that's how you feel; you're not the religious type. Maybe you, like the shepherds, have experienced your share of closed doors, rejection, condemnation, and plenty of loneliness. It could be you've done a lot of things, and made a lot of mistakes, just looking for love and acceptance. And you know you've done a lot of wrong things. But that's the very kind of people Jesus came for! The people who miss Jesus and miss heaven are the people who think they've got it all together, who are very religious and very good and they think not really in need of a Savior who died on the cross for their sins. But just like He did for those shepherds, whether you were born in church or never been in church in your life, Jesus is throwing open the door to His family and to His heaven and He's saying, "Come on in. I died. I rose again so you and I can be together forever." The greatest mistake you could ever make would be if you missed what Jesus died to give you. Can you think of a better time to throw open the door of your life to Jesus than Christmastime - the time He left heaven to come here to rescue you? He's waiting for you to reach out to Him and put your total trust in what He did for you on the cross - whatever you've done. This isn't about what you've done. It's about what He's done on the cross for you. Right where you are, at this very special time, why don't you tell Him, "Jesus, I'm Yours from this day on." Your life will never be the same. I would love to help you right now make that new beginning of making the Savior your Savior this Christmas season. I just invite you to go to our website and there you can find for yourself how to be sure you've begun this relationship with Jesus. The website is ANewStory.com. And as we celebrate the day Jesus was born, you can celebrate the day you get born into His family. Go to sleep tonight with Christ in your heart with His peace in your soul. From Him, and from our team here - Merry Christmas!

A Reason For Hope with Pastor Scott Richards! Sharing the Word one question of the heart at a time. Tags: Christmas

Have you ever wondered if animals just ~know~ things? This week Joy tells us unbelievable true stories of creatures that just knew. Bring tissues. The post Tales of Dominion appeared first on Sheologians.

Caller Questions & Discussion: Marc shares about family dynamics and why it is so hard to be an adult when we go home for the holidays. I have full guardianship of my wife with severe depression and she refuses treatment; how do I cope with feeling stuck after trying everything? What should I do when my marriage has no intimacy and my wife refuses counseling? How can I heal from being estranged from my son and grandchildren for over ten years, even after long-term therapy? What is the difference between Understanding Your Attachment Style by Marc Cameron and How We Love by Milan and Kay Yerkovich?

Check out St. George's Episcopal Church, Nashville, TN (https://www.stgeorgesnashville.org/), where Sarah serves as Priest Associate for Women's Ministries.

Visiting people who are in the hospital - I'm guessing that's not your favorite thing to do. A lot of times it's hard to know what to say to the person; especially if their condition is serious. But there are some visits where it's easy to think of things to say - like when you're visiting a new mom or a new baby. All you have to say is, "Aww, she's beautiful!" "Oh, he looks so smart; so alert" or "That's the cutest baby I've ever seen!" See, you're supposed to say these things even if the baby still looks all red and bald and wrinkled. But that first Christmas...well, one of the first people to see Mary's baby did not follow the usual script. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Strange Words For a Christmas Mom." Following the Jewish custom, Mary and Joseph brought their baby boy to the temple to be circumcised, just eight days after that first Christmas. God had someone waiting for them there - an old man named Simeon who had been told by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he had seen the One he called "the Lord's Christ." He actually held the baby in his arms and praised God for sending Him. But then came those strange words for a new mom. In Simeon's words we find the shadow of great pain for Mary but great hope for you and me. In Luke 2:34-35, our word for today from the Word of God, "Simeon...said to Mary, His mother: 'This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel...the thoughts of many will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul, too.'" That's not exactly what a new mom wants to hear. But eight days into Jesus' life on earth, Simeon is foreshadowing the end of Jesus' life. The Bible tells us that 33 years later "near the cross stood His mother" (John 19:25). And surely, as Mary saw her boy nailed to a cross and pierced by a soldier's spear, that sword Simeon spoke of must have pierced her soul. So as we sing our "sleep in heavenly peace" and "joy to the world" carols, let's not miss the shadow looming over the manger. It's the shadow of a cross. But that cross was not some tragic twist of fate. It was the plan of a God who loves you so very much. It was His plan to give you and me a chance to go to heaven instead of hell; to enjoy the relationship with God we were made for but we've missed because we're running our own lives. And if there had been any other way to erase your sin from God's book and pay for your sin, believe me, God would have done it. But all your goodness, and your religion, and your Christianity can't pay sin's death penalty. Someone had to die to pay for it, and Someone did - the Son of God. The writer of the classic carol, "What Child Is This" expressed it powerfully: "Nails, spear shall pierce Him through, the cross be borne for me, for you; hail, hail, the Word made flesh, the Babe, the son of Mary." So you've had your Christmases, you've celebrated Jesus' coming. Have you ever had your Good Friday where you stand at the foot of that cross and say the two words that are the difference between heaven and hell, "For me, Jesus. And I'm giving me to You." That's the only way you can receive the gift of eternal life that He died to give you. Have you known about Jesus all your life but maybe missed that step? If you've never done that, let this be your Jesus-day. You'll have a lot more to celebrate than just Jesus' coming to earth. This season you'll celebrate His coming into your life. If that's what you want, tell Him right now, "Jesus, I want to belong to You. I am taking for myself what You died for on the cross." What a new beginning this will be for you. A lot of people have found help in beginning that relationship at our website. And I want to invite you to check it out this very day. It's ANewStory.com. It wasn't just Mary's heart that was pierced on that awful day on Skull Hill. We can only imagine the anguish in God the Father's heart, watching His Son be broken for you. So you can be sure that God will never forget what you do with His Son.

This Christmas season, remember it is all about….My King!New episodes are released every Monday. Subscribe so you don't miss an episode, and leave us a rating on your podcast platform of choice. For more info or to support Burning Bush Ministries, visit our website at burningbushministries.tv.Follow us on social media:x.com/edifypodcastFacebook.com/edifypodcast Product Spotlight:Nashville Gold And Coin:https://nashvillegoldandcoin.com/Dr. Rhonda's Ultimate Daily Detoxifier:https://doctorrhonda.myshopify.com/discount/BURNINGBUSH?redirect=%2Fproducts%2Fultimate-daily-detoxifierUse promo code Edify!Dr. Rhonda's Ultimate Immune Booster:https://doctorrhonda.myshopify.com/products/bpuibooster?_pos=2&_psq=ultim&_ss=e&_v=1.0Use promo code Edify!My Pillow:https://www.mypillow.com/?cq_src=google_ads&cq_cmp=6481386640&cq_term=my%20pillow&cq_med=&cq_plac=&cq_net=g&cq_plt=gp&gclid=CjwKCAjwue6hBhBVEiwA9YTx8D1g59gXEUjFegHoWVjHHx6V_dwQUAQpc2fT4fQqsK93A1s2W-XT-RoCeLsQAvD_BwEUse promo code B66

Send us a textMeet Steve Rotermund, an inspiring author, speaker, and a vibrant tapestry of life experiences! As a devoted father of seven, Steve's journey has been marked by the peaks and valleys of love and faith—showcasing the power of resilience and transformation. For 13 years, Steve has faced the challenges of codependency while partnering with a spouse battling addiction, all while serving as a pastor and church leader. His path took a significant turn when he walked away from God, only to find his way back, reigniting his faith in a profound new way.  Now, Steve is on a mission to help others discover their true identities in Christ through recovery and coaching. He has passionately developed a Christ-Centered 12 Step Recovery Community, guiding individuals towards healing and transformation by embracing their identity in Christ.Steve's Website:  https://www.walkrightministries.com/Contact US:  Rumble/ YouTube/ IG: @powerofmanpodcastEmail: powerofmanpodcast@gmail.com.Twitter: @rorypaquetteLooking to help Like-Minded Fathers and Husbands?  Would you like to be a guest on our podcast?   Message me!You are worth it!  Believe it!

Was Guitar Legend RANDY RHOADS an Occult SACRIFICE? We welcome back Pastors Eric and Justin from Sound the Shofar Messianic Ministries, as they present a theory about the tragic death of guitar legend, Randy Rhoads. Find the pastors on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/123168699032724Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/missing-persons-mysteries--5624803/support.

It's time to reinvent yourself… but how?The Bible teaches us that the month of December is prophetically unique—a divine time to dedicate, realign, and consecrate our lives to JESUS.In this message, we reflect on the spiritual significance of this season and how Hanukkah points us to the true Light: JESUS, the One who brings renewal, purpose, and transformation to our lives.This is a call to return to Him, to surrender our hearts, and to begin again in His presence.✨ A new season begins when we choose Jesus. ✨

HIGH RANKING Ex-Warlock Exposes the Demonic RealmJohn Ramirez is an evangelist and author who once served as a high-ranking warlock in New York City. For over 25 years, he practiced deep occultism, communicating with demons and leading others in dark spiritual practices.But after a powerful encounter where Jesus Christ pulled him out of hell, John's life was completely transformed. Today, he travels the world teaching believers how to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, break demonic strongholds, and live in victory over the enemy.His story is a powerful reminder that no one is too far gone for God's grace.Find John's books, ecourses and more here: https://johnramirez.orgChapters0:00 - Intro1:43 - You don't sell your soul to the devil, you sell your allegiance 3:41 - When did you sell yourself to the devil and what kind of ceremonies did you perform?4:27 - What kind of environment were you raised in spiritually?9:50 - You often talk about “demon church” - what actually happened there?15:50 - Did you ever personally meet Satan?19:04 - What was the craziest ceremony that was performed on you? 24:22 - How long did you operate as a high ranking warlock? 28:00 - How do demons use money, power, and fear to control people?32:25 - Did you ever succeed in witchcraft against "part-time" Christians?37:46 - How does the devil gain legal rights through contracts and covenants?41:08 - How did you spot weak Christians?42:55 -  You've said witches copy almost everything the church does — fasting, tongues, even laying hands... can you unpack that?44:50 - What's your warning to Christians who mix new-age practices or “manifesting” with faith?46:46 - Story of John's physical death and encounter with Jesus1:00:25 - How did your life change the moment after you gave your life to God?1:05:07 - Did your mother eventually become a Christian? 1:07:04 - What was it like being discipled under the ministry of David Wilkerson?1:12:47 - Has spiritual warfare in your life ever stopped since you converted? 1:15:46 - How does the enemy attack bloodlines and generational covenants?1:18:35 - Did your life get immediately better after following Jesus?1:23:11 - What are your personal non-negotiables — the habits that keep your spirit sharp?1:28:58 - Prayer for those battling fear, addiction, or demonic oppression1:30:55 - Final thoughts 1:32:08 - OutroFor more information visit Pastorvlad.org

Welcome to Episode 134 of The Perfectionist's Guide to Mothering! Today I have the privilege of chatting with Rachel Marie Kang. Rachel is a New York native, born and raised just outside New York City. A writer and poet, Rachel writes in poignant prose on themes of culture, art, faith, and loss. Her writing has been featured in Christianity Today, Proverbs 31 Ministries, and Hallmark. Rachel is author of Let There Be Art and The Matter of Little Losses. She lives in the New York metro with her husband and two sons.Some of the resources we mention in this episode include: Rachel's (in)courage article, "The Spiritual Practice of Pondering"Let There Be ArtThe Matter of Little LossesYou can connect with Rachel via:Her Website: https://www.rachelmariekang.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelmariekangFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/rachelmariekangAs always, you can connect with me via:My website: ⁠⁠andreafortenberry.com⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠@andreafortenberry⁠⁠⁠⁠Pre-order my book, Two-Minute Timeouts for New Moms*⁠⁠*Affiliate Link

A Reason For Hope with Pastor Scott Richards! Sharing the Word one question of the heart at a time. Tags:

Caller Questions & Discussion: Dr. Jill shares that asking where God is in your circumstance may not be a question; it may be a protest because you want it to be different (from Dr. John Townsend's book Where Is God?). After getting sober, my young adult son has ignored me, even after he had a baby. Should I pursue a relationship with my half-sisters? My stepfather sexually abused me, and they believe him instead of me. What's the next step for moving forward with my life after my husband left to move to another state? What advice would you give your younger self just starting in counseling? I'm completing my Licensed Professional Counselor requirements this year.

One of the amusing sides of Christmas is people shopping in departments they never otherwise shop in - generally clueless. Let me give you an example that I can relate to - men shopping in the ladies clothing department. Oh, we're a mess. Now, if you need a good laugh; you're feeling a little down, you ought to go to the ladies garment department somewhere; especially the more personal the item is, the funnier it is to watch men shopping. They're slightly embarrassed, generally incompetent at what they're doing, and it's very important if you're going to go shopping for a woman during the Christmas season that you get the woman's size: your wife, your mother, your sister, your girlfriend, or whatever. And you trust that the tags are right, of course, on the size. You know that a small had better be a small, because you don't know anything. A large had better be a large. Now, you want to know how to sow some confusion and have some fun? (Don't anybody do this, please.) Imagine if someone snuck into that store late one night and just changed the tags around. Well, people would make a lot of wrong choices, all because the sizes were wrong. Now, that doesn't happen to clothes, but it does happen to people, and it takes the Christmas Story to straighten out small and large. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "How Christmas Rightsizes the World." Our word for today from the Word of God is found in Luke 1:52-53. Mary is pregnant; she's carrying the baby Jesus, and we get a little idea of the insight God has given her as she prays this prayer, what is often called The Magnificat. She says, "God has brought down rulers from their thrones, but He has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things, but He has sent the rich away empty." You know, Mary has the right sizes on the right people. She has the smalls on the small, and the bigs on the big. You see, the world would call these the big people - those people who are called rulers and rich. But she says, "the rulers have been brought down. The rich have been sent away empty." God's heroes - the people the world calls small. They're identified as the humble, who He lifts up, and the hungry, who He fills up. You see, what is a big deal to men is a little deal to God - big deal like money, gifts, title, fame. That's a little deal to God. Conversely, what's a little deal to men: "You don't have much money. You don't have much influence. Not many people know you. You're average." See, that's a big deal to God. You hear people say all the time, "Well, I'm just a... I'm just a student. I'm just a mother. I'm just a secretary. I'm just a helper. I'm just a Sunday school teacher. I'm just a laborer. It's just a small church. It's just a little class. I'm just a choir member." With God, there are no "just a's," not in God's value system. Bethlehem, we're told, was "little among the villages, but out of you (little village) will come the Prince," Mary, the peasant but the Mother of God's Son. Shepherds, the outcasts of their society, the first evangelists. I wonder if you have the two qualifications for God's heroes: humble, which means you are totally depending on the Lord, and hungry, restless to know and serve Him more. God likes to make folks like that big for Him - the humble and the hungry. Remember to give attention to the people others ignore. They're the big people to God - children, the poor, the powerless. Oh, by the way, don't ever call yourself "just a..." again. God does His biggest things through the smallest instruments. Call big what God calls big. Make sure you've got the right size.

Finding Joy in the Midst of Struggles: A Journey Through Advent Join us as we discuss the importance of joy during the Advent season, even amidst struggles and uncertainties. This episode includes important announcements for our Journey Christmas party and upcoming services. Explore the biblical context of joy, how it transcends circumstances, and how we can experience it despite challenges. Learn about the significance of hope, the role of joy in overcoming fears, and practical steps to recognize and ask for joy in our lives. Don't miss this uplifting and insightful message, culminating in a celebration of God's presence and love. 00:00 Welcome and Announcements 00:14 Journey Christmas Party Details 01:40 Upcoming Services and Events 02:20 Introduction to Advent Series 02:40 The Human Experience of Hope and Disappointment 03:42 Historical Context of the Christmas Story 06:24 The Shepherds and the Roman Empire 10:10 Understanding Joy in the Midst of Fear 19:50 Joy Rooted in Hope 23:30 Introduction to Paul's Importance 24:26 Paul's Message to the Thessalonians 26:31 Joy in the Midst of Suffering 28:15 The Gift of Joy 30:23 Finding Joy in Everyday Life 34:49 Celebrating Life's Joys 38:15 The Strength of Joy 41:30 Concluding Thoughts on Joy

A Reason For Hope with Pastor Scott Richards! Sharing the Word one question of the heart at a time. Tags:

In this bonus Q&A episode, Lysa TerKeurst, Dr. Joel Muddamalle, and Counselor Jim Cress respond to voice memos sent in by Therapy & Theology listeners.In This Episode, You'll Learn How To:Navigate conflicting narratives and opinions from others.Respond to someone whose actions and words don't align.Make peace with your desire for clarity and closure as you move forward from a past relationship.Links and Resources We'll Mention in This Episode:Get your copy of Surviving an Unwanted Divorce by Lysa TerKeurst, Dr. Joel Muddamalle, and Jim Cress.The Therapy & Theology podcast is brought to you by Proverbs 31 Ministries. Give today to partner with Proverbs 31 Ministries and help more women encounter the Truth of God's Word. Have a question for Lysa, Jim, or Joel? Leave us a message, and it could be answered on one of our future podcast episodes! Start here.Be notified as soon as new Therapy & Theology episodes are available! Enter your email address here to subscribe and stay connected.Click here to download a transcript of this episode.Go Deeper:Listen to "Moving Through the Impact of Trauma."Listen to "Mile Markers of Healing."Watch "You've Been Through So Much — Now Let God Use It."

Caller Questions & Discussion: Dr. Jill explains how to cope with road rage and retail rage using the Golden Rule from Matthew 7:12 and Luke 6:31. Why have I always had a problem with kissing on the mouth, even after 60yrs of marriage? What should I do if my gay son’s partner is pressuring him to get married, and he asked me if I'd go to their wedding? How can I deal with bitterness? Many of my friends are either dating or married and I'm almost 30yo and single. What can I do to fix myself to stop getting into relationships with women I need to fix?

Every day the people who broadcast the news to us have to decide what's going to be big news and what's going to be little news. The big news they talk about first. And the little news may not get mentioned at all. Unfortunately, there are often disasters that occur every day, and they may or may not be big news. Most disasters produce casualties, but casualties are sort of little news. That means people just got hurt. Then there are fatalities. And when there are fatalities, well, sadly, that makes it big news - somebody was killed. The fatality factor seems to propel news to page one. The story of Christmas has a casualty in it, a fatality and a champion. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "The Christmas Knockout." Now, I know you thought this was about Christmas and it is. But we're suddenly going to be in the Garden of Eden for a minute with our word for today from the Word of God which is in Genesis 3:15. The great tragedy; perhaps the greatest tragedy of history has just taken place as Adam and Eve have chosen to disobey God. Sin has entered a perfect world, and God is already talking about the solution. He speaks to the serpent, who is the Devil, and says, "I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and hers. He (that's her offspring) will crush your head and you (that's the serpent) will strike his heel." Did you know that Christmas began in the Garden of Eden? The answer for sin began at the moment sin entered the world. Because God says here there will come a man ultimately descended from Adam and Eve - from the very people who perpetrated sin in the world - a man will come who will crush the serpent. Notice the verbs here. It says the serpent, Satan, will strike the heel of the Messiah who will come. Satan's going to be able to hurt the Redeemer. That happened at the cross. But it was canceled three days later when Jesus Christ walked out of His grave. But notice what the Redeemer is going to do to the serpent - crush his head. That's the difference between a casualty and a fatality. When the Redeemer comes, Satan will receive a death blow He says. You need to know that the Devil, for all of his interference in your life right now, is a dead man. Colossians 2:15 says "Christ disarmed the powers and the authorities, and made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross." If you're in Christ, if you belong to Jesus, the most the Devil can do is to wound you. You may be a casualty, but thank God you will never be a fatality. Satan tried over and over again to wipe out the Messianic line - the family from which Jesus would come. And then he tried to wipe out all the babies that were the age of baby Jesus. It didn't work. He's beaten! Why would you ever let the Devil or his people beat you or intimidate you? God has entered human history in person. Everywhere Jesus went the forces of darkness surrendered. Everywhere Jesus goes now through your life, those forces of darkness still must surrender. So, Christmas isn't just a warm and fuzzy little story about a baby in a stable and a star. In the battle for human lives, in the battle you're facing today, Christmas is God's knockout punch.

The Truth About Motorcycle Ministries: Protocols, Conduct & Religious MC DifferencesToday on Black Dragon Biker TV, we're taking a clear, honest look at a topic that continues to generate debate across the biker set: Motorcycle Ministries (MMs) — what they are, what they are not, and why confusion around their conduct is creating tension on the road.Motorcycle Ministries exist for a specific purpose: outreach, service, and spiritual support within the biker community. With that calling comes higher expectations, not exemptions.Yet many in the MC world are asking legitimate questions:Why do some MMs appear to bypass traditional protocol?Why do they sometimes receive “passes” that other clubs do not?And why does the on-the-road behavior of some ministries look no different from outlaw or dominant clubs?These questions aren't attacks — they're calls for clarity and accountability.⚖️ What We're Breaking DownThe true purpose and mission of Motorcycle MinistriesThe protocols and expectations placed on MMs by the broader biker communityWhy behavior on the set matters more than the name on the backHow perception is shaped when ministries party, patch issues, or ignore standardsWhy religious identity should never be used to avoid scrutiny✝️ Motorcycle Ministries vs. Religious MCsThere is a clear and important difference between:Motorcycle Ministries (MMs), andChristian or religious-based Motorcycle ClubsWe'll explain:How their structures differWhy expectations differAnd how misunderstanding these roles damages both

Caller Questions & Discussion: Dr. Jim explains that other people's choices do not define you, so instead of overthinking their actions, focus on loving them where they are. Why am I avoiding travel to see my children and grandchildren? Is it selfishness, or could fatigue, allergies, or other issues be holding me back? After nearly 40yrs of marriage, I've fallen out of love with my husband. He hasn't worked for years and much of our savings is gone. I'm a pastor and was demoted after my church conference questioned the money my church brought in; how do I process this? After electroconvulsive therapy for depression and bipolar disorder, I feel disconnected from my adult sons.

I was speeding along the Interstate - legally speeding of course - and this van passed me. He pulled into the right lane and then he seemed to be maintaining a pretty consistent speed. For many miles, I ended up traveling behind him. I noticed there was something unusual about this van - it had a plastic bubble that was mounted just above the roof. I had some ideas of why it might be there, especially in light of the words printed on the side of the van. It gave the name of a large express mail delivery service, followed by these words, "Critical Care Van." Later, actually a law enforcement friend of mine confirmed my theory of what that vehicle was actually carrying - parts. Body parts needed for transplants that can save lives. And the bubble on top? My friend said that's a strobe light that actually turns traffic lights green as the van approaches them! Wonder how I could get one of those for me? I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Green Lights on the Rescue Road." The driver of that Critical Care Van is, of course, on an important mission and he needs green lights all the way. So do we, if we're carrying out a mission that's been given to us by our Lord. See, He's got assignments for all of us who belong to Him. He's got assignments for you. Maybe you're living out His assignment right now, or maybe you're holding back on saying "yes" to an assignment He's trying to give you. In either case, there's something decisive that you need to know. When you're on a mission for Jesus, He's the One who turns the lights green as you go. He actually promised. 1 Thessalonians 5:24, our word for today from the Word of God, is one of the places where He made that promise. It simply says, "The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it." That's it! When Jesus prompts you to do something for Him, He isn't about to leave you stranded somewhere in the middle of His mission and in the middle of His will. You can't see how it's going to get done, how it's ever going to come together. He says, "I got you into this, I'll see that it gets done!" Where's the money going to come from? His problem. If it's God's will, it's God's bill. Where are the people you need going to come from? He's already getting them ready for you and you ready for them. How are you going to get over the huge obstacles that are in the way? The God who parts Red Seas is going to make the way for you. How can you possibly do this thing when you are so flawed, so inadequate, so ordinary? Since when is this about what you can do? With God's assignment always comes God's enabling! Look, Jesus might be summoning you right now to undertake some work for Him. It may be here, it may be thousands of miles from here. Maybe He's summoning you to touch some lives for Him, maybe a few in your immediate world, or maybe more people than you could ever imagine. But many times, all we see are the red lights ahead. So we resist our Master's call and we miss His amazing will. Your Lord has promised to turn those red lights green - not before you move out for Him, but as you're moving out for Him. Just like that Critical Care Van, you're carrying something that lives depend on - the Good News of Jesus Christ. There are people that He is depending on you to tell, so they can be rescued from an eternity without God and without hope. Don't let those red lights keep you sitting in the parking lot. Now start driving toward that mission God has given you, and leave those green lights to Him!

Joy sounds simple at Christmastime … until life brings loss, disappointment, or unanswered prayers. In this Advent episode, Wendy Blight joins Kaley Olson and Ellen Adkins to share how Jesus brings joy — not to replace suffering but right in the middle of it. Through Wendy's honest personal story and a biblical look at joy throughout Scripture, you'll discover how true joy isn't rooted in circumstances — it's rooted in the presence of Jesus who meets us, sustains us, and carries us through things we never asked for.A powerful message for anyone who's wondering how joy is possible in a season that feels anything but joyful.You'll learn:Why biblical joy is more than a feeling — it's something God gifts us through His Spirit.How joy grows in seasons of pain, unanswered prayer, or physical and emotional suffering.Why lament isn't the opposite of joy — it's often the doorway to it.Practical ways to shift your gaze from your circumstances to Christ.What Scripture teaches about a future joy that no loss or sorrow can take away.Resources From This Episode:Join us for Advent in the First 5 app!Download the free app, and spend five minutes each day studying God's Word with women around the world.Go deeper with our brand-new Advent study guide, More Than a Manger.Experience the Christmas story with fresh eyes through rich biblical teaching and meaningful daily reflections.Help more women access biblical Truth this season.Your generosity fuels everything we do — from free podcasts to devotions to study resources.[Give to Proverbs 31 Ministries today.]Click here to download a transcript of this episodeWant More on This Topic? Listen to this Therapy & Theology episode titled “How Can I Trust God When I Don't Understand What He Allows?”

Caller Questions & Discussion: Becky discusses how many of us struggle during the holidays and reminds us that even in a hard season, God is with us. Thank you for praying for my family member, who was struggling with addiction but is now experiencing the holidays sober for the first time! As a single grandmother, how can I talk to my adult children about feeling abandoned during Christmas, even when some of them live nearby? I've been friends with a man for a year, but our relationship has had many ups and downs; should I talk to him about my feelings? How can I set healthy boundaries with my 26-year-old son? He has oppositional disorder and only contacts me to ask for money.

In a world filled with confusion, Joel Muddamalle, Director of Theology and Research at Proverbs 31 Ministries, calls us back to the authority of Scripture as our source of clarity and stability. When God's Word becomes our foundation, it grounds our hope and helps us truly know Jesus on His terms.

There are certain occupations where I think you need a particularly strong self image. For example, I would think a dentist needs a strong self image. I mean, he's a professional, he's helping people, but it's just hard to have so many people dreading what you do. Or in the world of sports, like a baseball umpire? Everybody thinks they can see better than the umpire can. You can tell because they keep yelling, "Hey, are you blind?" Because they don't agree with your call. Everybody thinks they have a higher IQ than you do. They keep commenting on the intelligence of an umpire negatively just because they don't agree with him. But you couldn't have baseball without the umpires. I mean, can you imagine the players trying to agree on whether a guy was safe or out at second? That would end the game right there. Or how about letting the fans decide? Man, there would be chaos without the umpire. So, let's say there's a dramatic play at home plate. The winning run is sliding into home plate as the ball is thrown to the catcher, there's a cloud of dust, there are thousands of voices giving their opinion whether the runner was safe or not, but there's only one voice that matters. The umpire settles it. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Your Own Personal Umpire." Our word for today from the Word of God comes from Colossians 3:15 where God says, "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace." Notice here it says that "the peace of Christ should rule in your hearts." Now, that word in the original language of the New Testament means to be the judge; the one who awards the prize. In essence, "Let the peace of Christ be the umpire in your heart." In other words, the peace of God is your own personal umpire. As you make each day's choices, you need some way to decide what should be safe and what should be out. Well, that's the peace of Christ. You've got a lot of choices. You've got right or wrong choices, and some of them are not covered by a specific rule in the Bible. You've got to decide which way to go in a lot of situations; which option is the one God wants. Well, the Bible says, "Let the peace of Christ decide." Let it be the umpire. Now, this peace comes as you continue to bring a choice to God. You come to Him with a blank piece of paper and you say, "God, you know what I'd like, but I'm not going to give you a contract to sign. This is my blank piece of paper. What do you want?" And as you pray it through, I think you'll find that one way you're supposed to go. One road feels right most of the time when you're praying about it when it's just you and Jesus - as you pray about it over and over again. Now, I'm not talking about rushed prayer here. You've got to have time to let Him put His thoughts into your heart. But as you get off your knees and start to go through your day, the peace of Christ is going to be challenged by a lot of other voices - like the umpire and all those people in the stands. I mean as soon as you get with other people, God's will starts to seem a little less clear than it did when you were just with Him. There are all these other voices, but you've got to focus on the one voice that decides it. How can you tune your peace meter so you can hear and receive the peace of Christ? Well, the next verse says, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly." So you need to have some increased time in God's Word. You need to memorize some verses. You need to read whenever you can, looking for a personal word from the Lord. The more you get full of God's Word, the more God has to work with in giving you His personal guidance. His peace and His Word always go together. Human umpires? Well, they're right some of the time. God's umpire is right all the time. Why don't you offer your choices to the Lord and ask for His peace as the confirming signal in your heart, that sense that you've had a divine "OK" or a divine "forget it"? God's peace is His wonderful way of calling "Safe!" or "Out!" on the calls you have to make. And you'll always win if you go along with God's personal umpire.

After we enlighten you regarding wildly underrated Christmas movies, we discuss the Christmas season, expectations, parenting during the holidays, and running low on emotional gas. Join us! The post Can You Take a Wonderful Season Like Christmas & Turn it into a Problem? appeared first on Sheologians.

Caller Questions & More: Marc explains that codependency is the belief, “I need you to be okay so that I can be okay.” My husband wants me to apologize for accusing him of having an affair because of a text I saw. Should I confront him or let it go? What's the best way to balance being a pastor with attending all the sporting events my five sons and twelve grandkids want me to go to? I'm almost 84 and have struggled with long-term depression, especially after my husband of nearly 64 years passed away. I feel like my prayers are awkward by myself, and I'd like to pray with my husband; any thoughts on how we can change that?

What's next for Husband Material? In this episode, you'll hear the exciting new vision for how we want to help the next generation of young men and couples change their brains, heal their hearts, and save their relationships. Here's how you can be part of it:Pray: husbandmaterial.com/prayGive: husbandmaterial.com/giveSupport the showTake the Husband Material Journey... Step 1: Listen to this podcast or watch on YouTube Step 2: Join the private Husband Material Community Step 3: Take the free mini-course: How To Outgrow Porn Step 4: Try the all-in-one program: Husband Material Academy Thanks for listening!