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1 Timothy 4:8 NIV “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”   *Transcription Below*   Brian Smith, author of The Christian Athlete: Glorifying God in Sports, is a staff member with Athletes in Action and a cross-country coach at Lowell High School. A former collegiate runner at Wake Forest University, he earned a BA in Communications and Journalism before completing his MA in Theology and Sports Studies at Baylor University's Truett Theological Seminary. Brian lives in Lowell, MI with his wife and three children. You can find him on Twitter @BrianSmithAIA.   Ed Uszynski is an author, speaker, and sports minister with over three decades' experience discipling college and professional athletes. With a heart for reconciliation and justice, he also works as a racial literacy consultant and marriage conference speaker, blending Biblical wisdom with practical living in the midst of complex cultural realities. He has two theological degrees from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and a PhD in American Culture Studies from Bowling Green State University. He and his wife Amy have four children and live in Xenia, Ohio.   The Christian Athlete Website   Thank You to Our Sponsor:  Sam Leman Eureka   Questions and Topics We Cover: What is one of kids' greatest game day complaints?  Is it true that young athletic success is a predictor of adult athletic success? What are a few tips for instilling a heart of gratitude in our young athlete, rather than entitlement?   Related Savvy Sauce Episode: 230 Intentional Parenting in All The Stages with Dr. Rob Rienow   Connect with The Savvy Sauce on Facebook or Instagram or Our Website   Gospel Scripture: (all NIV) Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”   Romans 3:24 “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”   Romans 3:25 (a) “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.”    Hebrews 9:22 (b) “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”    Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”    Romans 5:11 “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”    John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”   Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”    Luke 15:10 says “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”   Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”   Ephesians 1:13–14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession- to the praise of his glory.”   Ephesians 1:15–23 “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”   Ephesians 2:8–10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God‘s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“   Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.“   Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”   *Transcription*   Music: (0:00 – 0:11)   Laura Dugger: (0:12 - 1:51) Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, where we have practical chats for intentional living. I'm your host, Laura Dugger, and I'm so glad you're here.   The principles of honesty and integrity that Sam Leman founded his business on continue today, over 55 years later, at Sam Leman Chevrolet Eureka.   Owned and operated by the Bertschi family, Sam Leman and Eureka appreciates the support they've received from their customers all over Central Illinois and beyond. Visit them today at lemangm.com.   Brian Smith and Ed Uszynski are my guests for today.   They are co-authors of this recent amazing book entitled, A Way Game, A Christian Parents Guide to Navigating Youth Sports. And from the very beginning, I was captivated, even with one of the endorsements from Matt Martens, who's the president and CEO of Awana, and he summed it up this way, A Way Game provides a much needed perspective shift on one of the most sacred idols in our culture, youth sports. So, Brian and Ed are all for youth sports, and yet you're going to hear there's a different way to approach it than what we've been trained in culture.   And they're going to share some wonderful and very practical insights. I can't wait to share this with you. Here's our chat. Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, Ed and Brian.   Ed Uszynski & Brian Smith: (1:51 - 1:54) Thanks for having us, Laura. Yeah, good to be here, Laura.   Laura Dugger: (1:54 - 2:04) So, excited about this chat. And will the two of you just start us off by sharing your family's stage of life and your involvement in sports?   Brian Smith: (2:05 - 3:29) Yeah, there could be a lot on the back end of that question. I'll start with sports, then get into family. I've been involved in sports my entire life, played every sport imaginable growing up, got cut from just about every single sport my freshman year of high school, ended up running track and cross country because it was the only sports that you could not get cut from at my high school.   And I ended up being pretty good at it by the time I was a senior, won some state championships, ended up getting a scholarship to run at Wake Forest University. So, I did that for four years right out of college. I coached a little bit collegiately.   Soon after that, I joined staff with a sports ministry called Athletes in Action that Ed and I have a combined 50 years with Athletes in Action. And really, that's been my life ever since. I've been ministering to college and pro athletes, discipling them, helping them figure out what does that actually look like to integrate faith in sport.   Even today, I live in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I coach high school cross country while I'm still on staff with Athletes in Action. I have a middle school Bible study that I run on Wednesday mornings.   Been married to my wife, who I actually met in high school. She was a distance runner too, and she ran at Wisconsin. So, we've been married for 20 years.   We have three kids, a high schooler, a middle schooler, and an elementary schooler who are all involved in sport at some level, some way, shape, or form.   Laura Dugger: (3:30 - 3:34) Wow, that's incredible. Thank you, Brian. And Ed, what about you?   Ed Uszynski: (3:34 - 5:04) Well, my story is very parallel to Brian's, just different sports and some different numbers. Just tack on 15 years. Yeah, I was a basketball player.   Grew up on the west side of Cleveland with a high school football coach. My dad was, but I was a basketball player. I played at high levels all the way through my 20s, got to play overseas.   I mean, this was a long time ago, but I got everything I could out of that sport. And as soon as I graduated from college, though, I started to work with that Athletes in Action ministry that Brian mentioned. So, I've been working with college and professional athletes for 34 years now.   And same, coached at different levels, have four kids. Amy and I have been married for 26 years. We have four kids, three are in college, and one's in ninth grade, who has a game this afternoon, actually.   So, we've just been going to games and have been involved in going to sports stuff for the last 20 years with our kids. And really what happened with Brian, and I is that we looked up a decade ago and realized this youth sports thing was a fast train that was moving in directions that we weren't used to ourselves, even though we've been around sports our whole life. It's like, there's something different happening now.   And then thinking about it as Christians, like, how do we do this well as Christ followers? We don't want to separate from it. We don't want to just go for the ride. How do we do this as Christian people? And that's what got us talking about it and eventually led to this book.   Laura Dugger: (5:05 - 5:23) Well, the book was easy to read and incredible. And I'd like to start there where you begin, even where you go back before going forward. So, when you're looking back, what are the factors at play that changed youth sports over time?   Ed Uszynski: (5:26 - 6:17) Well, I'll say this and then Brian, maybe you jump in and throw a couple of them out there. I mean, youth sports is a $40 billion industry today, which is wild to think about. It's four times how much money gets spent on the NFL, which is just staggering.   I can't even hardly believe that that's true, but it is. And it's really just in the last 20 years that that's happened. I mean, 50 years ago, you couldn't have had the youth sport industrial complex, as we refer to it.   You couldn't have had it. There were a bunch of things that had to happen culturally, as is true with any new movement or any paradigm shift that happens in culture. You've got to have certain things be true all at the same time that make it possible.   So, Brian, what were a couple of those? Again, I'll throw it over to you. There's six of them that we talk about in the book. And I think it's really fascinating because I'm a history guy.   Brian Smith: (6:18 - 8:40) Yeah. And we can obviously double click on any of these, Laura, that you want to, but we talk about how the college admissions process became an avenue where youth sports parents saw, man, if we can get our kids involved in some extracurriculars and kind of tag on high level athlete to their resume, it actually helps with the college admissions process. And so even the idea of college scholarships became an opportunity for youth sports parents to get their kids involved.   And then, yeah, maybe sports can actually get them into college. We talk about the economic shifts that happen, the rise of safetyism and helicopter parenting. ESPN was a massive one in 1979.   This thing called ESPN starts, and we get 24-7 coverage of sports, which they started exploring even early on. What does it look like to give coverage to something like Little League World Series and saw that it didn't really matter how young the sport was, it's going to draw a national audience. And so, we've almost been discipled by ESPN really over the last 50 years with this consistent coverage.   We talk about the rise of the sports complex. This one to me is like the most fascinating out of all of them. In 1997, Disney decided to try to get more people to come to their parks.   They built a sports complex, just a massive sports complex. The idea was, are the older kids getting sick of the Buzz Lightyear ride and the Disney princesses? So, let's build a sports complex and maybe it'll be something else that will draw this older crowd too.   And what happened was, I mean, a lot of people started coming to it, but kind of the stake in the ground game changer was when 9-11 hit. In the months and years after that, they saw a lot less people go to their parks, but population actually doubled going to the sports complex, which is wild to think that people were afraid to go to theme parks for a vacation, but they were willing to travel across state lines to play sports at the Disney complex. So other cities and municipalities took notice of that.   Today, there's over 30,000 sports complexes like Disney's, which again, this is all adding to the system of the youth sports industrial complex. Did I miss any, Ed?   Ed Uszynski: (8:41 - 10:47) Well, no, and that's good. And the reason why we even put all that on the table, again, everybody kind of intuitively knows if you're involved, you know, something's not right. But I think it's important to say this is not normal what's happening.   It's a new normal that's been manufactured by a bunch of cultural trends, by a bunch of entrepreneurs that are doing what entrepreneurs do, and they're taking advantage of the moment, and they are generating lots of money around it. So, it should be encouraging. If it's not normal, that means actually there's a counter way of going about this.   There really can be reformation. But when all this money gets involved, the two biggest consequences that come out of that is our kids start getting treated like commodities, which they are, and we could talk the whole time even just about what that means. But maybe even more importantly, or what comes out of that is that beyond their physical development, most coaches and clubs are not paying any attention to their emotional development, their psychological development, their spiritual development, all the different aspects of what it means to be human that, frankly, used to be paid quite a bit more attention to in youth leagues when I was growing up.   I'm 58 now, so I was playing in the 70s and the 80s. And it used to be expected, at least at some level, even among non-Christian people, that you would take those aspects of a kid's life seriously. And now those just aren't prioritized.   And so, what do we do about that? Again, that's kind of our whole point is, well, as Christian people, we're really supposed to be our kid's first discipler anyways. And part of that role and part of taking on that identity is that we would be asking, what is God trying to do in the wholeness of their life, the entirety of their life, even in the context of sports?   So again, I don't want to get ahead of myself here, but that's why we're trying to poke into that to say, oh, we could actually make change. We may not change the whole system. In fact, we won't. Most of us won't be expected to do that, but we can make significant change in our corner of the bleachers and what happens with our kids.   Laura Dugger: (10:48 - 11:05) That's good. And just like you said, to double-click on a few places, first of all, real quick, the 30,000 number, I remember that shocking me in the book, but I'm forgetting now, is that worldwide, the amount of sports complexes or is that just in America?   Brian Smith: (11:05 - 11:06) That's domestically in the US.   Laura Dugger: (11:07 - 11:52) Yeah. That is staggering. And then one other piece, all of this history was new to me as you brought it all together, but it was also fascinated.   This is from page 32. I'll just read your quote. The American youth sports ball began rolling when a British movement fusing spiritual development with physical activity made its way across the Atlantic Ocean at the turn of the last century.   And Ed, that's kind of what you were touching on, that they were mixing, I'm sure, spiritual, psychological discipleship, physical. Can you elaborate more on what was happening and where it originated? Because we've come very far from our origins.   Ed Uszynski: (11:53 - 13:18) Yeah. And there's been a bunch of really great books written about this topic called muscular Christianity. This idea, like you just said, Laura, of wedding physical activity through sports with our spiritual development and expecting and anticipating that somebody that was taking care of their body and that was engaging in sport activity, that was the closest thing to godliness.   That opened up the door for you to also be developing spiritually. And there was an expectation that both of those are going on at the same time. A bunch of criticism about that movement, but it was taken seriously.   The YMCA is actually a huge byproduct of the muscular Christianity movement. The Young Men's Christian Association created space for sports and for athletic activity to take place under the banner of you're also going to grow spiritually as you're doing this. So again, that was a hundred years ago.   And that's not really what AAU stands for today. The different clubs and leagues that we get involved in just don't talk that way anymore. Of course, culture just in general has shifted away from sort of a Judeo-Christian ethic guiding a North Star for us.   Even if we're not Christian people, that used to be more of a North Star. That's gone now. And so, it really is not expected in sports anymore.   Brian Smith: (13:18 - 13:55) And what we're saying is we cannot expect organizations to own that process for our kids. We can't outsource the discipleship of our kids to the youth sports industrial complex or the YMCA or the AAU. It really does start with us as Christian parents to be the primary discipler of our kids.   And there is a way to take what's happening on the field or the court or the pool and turn it into really amazing discipleship opportunities. But it means, and Ed is starting to tease this out, it means we need to change our perspective as parents when we sit in the bleachers or on the sidelines of what we're looking for and even the conversations we have with our kids on the back end.   Laura Dugger: (13:57 - 15:29) And now a brief message from our sponsor.   Sam Leman Chevrolet Eureka has been owned and operated by the Bertschi family for over 25 years. A lot has changed in the car business since Sam and Stephen's grandfather, Sam Leman, opened his first Chevrolet dealership over 55 years ago.   If you visit their dealership today though, you'll find that not everything has changed. They still operate their dealership like their grandfather did, with honesty and integrity. Sam and Stephen understand that you have many different choices in where you buy or service your vehicle.   This is why they do everything they can to make the car buying process as easy and hassle-free as possible. They are thankful for the many lasting friendships that began with a simple welcome to Sam Leman's. Their customers keep coming back because they experience something different.   I've known Sam and Stephen and their wives my entire life and I can vouch for their character and integrity, which makes it easy to highly recommend you check them out today. Your car buying process doesn't have to be something you dread, so come see for yourself at Sam Leman Chevrolet in Eureka. Sam and Stephen would love to see you and they appreciate your business.   Learn more at their website, LemanEureka.com or visit them on Facebook by searching for Sam Leman Eureka. You can also call them on 309-467-2351. Thanks for your sponsorship.   Laura Dugger: (15:30 - 15:31) And I want to continue getting into more of those practicals. Do you want to give us just a taste or an example or story of what that might look like?   Brian Smith: (15:32 - 16:54) We keep saying, we keep talking about the importance of the car ride home that it's tempting for us and not us broadly in the U.S., tempting for us, Ed and I, as people who have done this for 50 plus years and who should know better, it's tempting for us as discipled by an ESPN over analyzing everything culture and want to talk about sports to get in the car ride home with our kids and all we want to talk about is how game went, what they did right, what they did wrong, what they could fix next time.   Maybe instead of passing to Tim, they should take the shot next time because they're wide open. They just hit three in a row. So, and what our kids need from us in those moments is less coaching, less criticizing, less critiquing, and they just need us to connect with them.   The stats on kids quitting youth sports is crazy right now. Its 70 percent are quitting before the age of 13, in large part because it's not fun, and a lot of kids are attaching this idea of it not being fun to the car ride home with their parents who, let's say this too, most of us are well-intentioned parents. We're not trying to screw our kids up.   We want what's best for our kids, but the data and the research and the lived experience continues to tell us what our kids need from us is just to take a deep breath, connect with them, less coaching. Ed keeps saying less coaching, more slurpees.   Laura Dugger: (16:55 - 17:07) I like that. And that ties in. Is it called the peak-end principle that you discovered why kids are resisting that critique on the way home?   Brian Smith: (17:07 - 18:17) Yeah, absolutely. The peak-end rule in psychology is known as this: we, just as humans in general, not just kids, we largely remember things in our lives based on the peak moment of that event, but also how the event ends. And so, the peak moment in sport can be anything from something that goes really well, like they scored a goal or made a basket or something that did not go well, just like a massive event that took place that they're going to remember.   But then it's also married to how that event ends. So, if you think for kids, how does every youth sport experience end? It ends with the car ride home.   So, if they're experiencing the car ride home as I did not live up to mom and dad's standards, or there's fear getting into the car because they don't know what their parents are going to say, how are they remembering the totality of their youth sport experience? It is, I didn't, I didn't measure up. I wasn't enough.   It felt like sports was a place that I needed to perform for my parents or my coach. And I always feel a little bit short. We want to help parents see like there's a different path forward that can be more joyful for you, but hopefully more joyful for your kid as well.   Ed Uszynski: (18:17 - 21:37) Well, and, and I'll just, let me keep going with that, Brian. I thought you really articulated all that so well. I can just imagine a parent maybe thinking, was there never a time to correct?   Is there never a time to give input? And we would say, well, of course there, there is, they need far less of it from us than we think they need when it comes to their sport. And again, we can talk about that.   They need far less of that from us. They need us to be their parents, not to be their coaches. Even if we are their coach, they need us to be more their parents.   But there is a time to do it. We're just saying the car ride home is the worst time to do it. And that's usually the time that most of us, you know, we've got two hours of stuff to download with them.   And that's just, it's not a good time. But the other thing that Brian and I keep talking about is how about, what if we had some different metrics that we were even trying to measure? So, most of the time our metrics have to do with their performance.   Like what, what are we grading them on? Again, depending on what the sport is, there's these different things that we're looking for to say, how you did today is based on whether you did this or you didn't do that and whatnot. And we're saying as parents, and again, starting with us, we needed some other metrics that were actually more concerned about what was going on in their soul.   So again, I'm sure we'll talk more about this, but the virtues, how did love show up in the way they competed today? Where that usually is tied to them noticing somebody else. Do I, am I even asking them any questions about that?   Are they experiencing peace in the midst of all this chaos and anxiety that shows up at every game? How do we teach them to experience peace? How do they become other-centered instead of just self-centered all the time in a culture, a sport culture that's teaching them to always be the center of attention and try to be?   So, we just have needed to exchange some of what we had on that performance list, like tamper that down a little bit and maybe expand the list of categories that we're looking for that actually will matter when they're 25. And we keep saying this, our goal is that they'd come home for Thanksgiving when they're 25. And so, we need to stay relationally connected to them and how we act on the car ride home day after day after day after day, year after year is doing something to our relationship.   But we also are recognizing that it's really not going to matter whether Trey finishes with his left hand at the game today when he's 25, it's not going to matter. It's not going to matter probably a year from now, but how he goes through the handshake line after the game and the way he addresses other people, and whether or not he's learning to submit to authority, whether or not he's learning to embrace other people's humanity. Yes, even in the context of sports, that's really going to matter when he's 25.   It's going to matter when he's married. Those are the things that will matter. And we say that as people who are older and have been involved in ministry and have worked with college athletes and see what happens in their lives even after they're finished, and they have no idea who they are anymore.   And this thing that's dominated their life has not actually prepared them well to do life. And that's a problem that we say, let's start changing that when they're six and not hope they're figuring it out when they're 22.   Laura Dugger: (21:38 - 22:11) I love that because that's such a theme throughout those virtues that you talked about, but discipleship and sports are a tool or a way that we can disciple our kids. I also love that you give various questions throughout the book and even quick phrases. So to close that conversation on the car ride home, if we say, okay, that's what I've been coaching the whole way home, what is a question we could ask our child afterwards and a statement we could say and leave it at that and do it a better way?   Brian Smith: (22:12 - 23:56) The question I have consistently asked my kids after learning that I've been doing this the wrong way for a long time, I tweet my question to they get in the car and I say, is there anything that happened today from the game that you want to talk about? And it's frustrating to me because 99% of the time they say, no, can we listen to the radio? And we listen to the radio, or they play a on my phone, but I'm respecting their desire that they're done with what just happened and they're ready to move on to the next thing, even though I really want to talk about what just happened.   And then the statement that I want to make sure that I'm consistently saying that they're hearing is I love you and I'm proud of you. So, game didn't go well. Yeah, you did play well today.   That's okay. Hey, I love you and I'm proud of you. Game went well today.   Awesome. Great job. Hey, I love you and I'm proud of you.   So I want that to be the consistent theme that they're hearing for me, which is hopefully going to help them better understand the gospel later in life, that as they get older and older, hopefully they'll begin to realize it seemed like the way that my mom and dad interacted with me when I was performing in sport, but their love was not attached to my performance. That seems really similar to what I'm learning more and more that Jesus does for me, that I'm trying to do all these things that are good. But from what I'm understanding about the gospel, it seems like Jesus loves me in spite of what I do.   He loves me just because He's connected to me, that God loves me because I'm a son or daughter, not because I'm performing as a son or a daughter. So, in a very real way, I really am hoping that I'm giving a good teaser for my kids now for when they fully experience the gospel as they go through the life.   Ed Uszynski: (23:56 - 24:47) Another really good connecting question. I love how you said all that, Brian, is if they don't want to talk about the game, is it okay, did you have fun today? And they can only go in one of two directions.   No. Well, tell me about that. Why not?   And it opens up the door to talk about, well, because I didn't get to play or because something bad happened. And again, tell me more about that. Tell me more about that.   Or they say, yes, great. What happened that was fun? And it creates a very different conversation in the car.   And it opens up, again, relational possibilities that go way beyond, why do you keep passing it when you should be shooting it? Wow. And just all the different ways that that comes out of us, depending on sport, depending on their age.   But those are great questions. Go ahead, Brian.   Brian Smith: (24:47 - 25:41) I just asked my son this morning. He's a freshman. His wrestling season is almost done.   And I just asked, like, what has been most fun for you in wrestling this year? And his first thing was, I feel like I'm learning a lot. And that's really fun for me, which he's on a really good team.   He's had a lot of success. He's made a lot of good friends. But even that gave me a window into his characters.   My son enjoys and I knew this is true about him. But my son enjoys learning, which means he enjoys the process of getting better and better and better, which can happen in school, it can happen doing stuff in the yard, it can it can also happen in sport. But for me to remember moving forward, yeah, he he's probably going to have a different metric for what's fun in sport than I often do for him.   Yeah, like I wanted to learn. I want him to win though, too. He's happy with learning right now.   So, I need to be happy with that for him.   Ed Uszynski: (25:41 - 26:34) If I can say this, too, again, I don't want to be vulnerable on your behalf. But then knowing this, he's lost a lot this year to really good kids. Yeah.   And so much of the learning has been in the context of losing. So, you as a dad, actually, you could be crushing him because of those losses and what he needs to do to fix that and what he needs to do so that that doesn't happen again. And it's like he's already committed to learning.   How do you just how do you celebrate the loss? Like he took the risk to try something new in this movie. He tried to survive an extra period.   That's a process when and it's we just need to get better at that. Like you genuinely can celebrate that. That's not just a that's not like a participation trophy.   It's acknowledging now, do you're taking you're taking the right steps that are actually making you a winner, even if you don't have more points at the end of the game right now.   Laura Dugger: (26:34 - 26:54) Yeah. Yeah. And that long term win that you're talking about, even with character and you've talked about fun and asking them about fun.   Is it true that that's the main reason kids are dropping out of sports at such a rapid rate before age 13 is that it's just not fun anymore?   Ed Uszynski: (26:55 - 28:58) Yeah. Yeah. And why is it not fun?   And again, this is where Brian and I are always getting in each other's business. And we know that this conversation gets in all of our business as adults. But why is it not fun?   It's not fun because of the coaches and it's not fun because of the parents. We are creating stress. We are creating again collectively because we're all in different places on the on the spectrum on this in terms of what we're actually doing when we show up at games.   But if you even just go to any soccer game and you be quiet and just listen to what's happening and everybody's shouting and screaming things and there's contradictory messages being sent and there's angst at every turn and there's an incredible celebration because this eight year old was able to get the ball to go across the line for another goal. And what that's doing inside the kids is it is creating a not fun atmosphere. Let's just say it like that.   That's a not fun atmosphere when you're eight, when you're 10, when you're trying to figure out how to make your body work. You're trying to learn the game that you're unfamiliar with and you're trying to do what this coach is telling you to do. And you're also trying to do what all the parents are telling you what to do.   And if it's a team sport, you're trying to interact and play with other kids who are all in that same state of disarray, which is very stressful and frustrating. And we're just adding to it. So instead of removing it, instead of playing a role that says, we're going to keep diffusing that stress.   And again, I'll speak for myself. Too often, I have been the one that's actually adding to it. And so, kids are just like, why would I do this?   Why would I want to get in that car again with you? It's not fun. This is a game.   And so, there's a million other things that I can do with my time where I don't have everybody yelling at me and I don't have to listen to you correct me for two hours.   Laura Dugger: (29:00 - 29:21) Well, and one other thing that surprised me, maybe why kids are dropping out, you share on page 47, a quote that research reveals a strange correlation. The more we spend, the less our kids actually enjoy their sport. So, did you have any more insight into that?   Brian Smith: (29:21 - 30:50) Yeah, this was a real study that was done at Utah State. Researchers found that the more money parents are spending, again, let's say well-intentioned parents, the more we're spending in sports, the less our kids are enjoying. And the more they have dug into it, they're finding, and intuitively it makes sense.   If you buy your kid a $600 baseball bat, what's the expectation that they're supposed to do with this really expensive bat? When they swing, they better hit the ball, and they better get on base. If we're going to buy you this expensive of a bat, you can't just have process goals with it.   You better swing and hit it. And that's causing stress for kids. If you travel across state lines and you go to Disney to play at their sports complex, you're not there for vacation.   You're there to perform. So even if parents are saying we're trying to have fun, kids know when you're traveling and you're getting all this good equipment and you're on the elite team and you're receiving the best of the best stuff, they know it comes with some sort of an expectation. College athletes can barely handle that type of pressure and expectations, but we've placed this professional on youth sports from fifth five-year-olds to 15-year-olds, and it's just crushing them.   It's crushing them. Again, college athletes and professional athletes can barely handle it. They need mental health coaches for sports, but we're expecting that our five-year-olds can handle it, and they can't.   Ed Uszynski: (30:51 - 31:19) And they may not even be able to articulate it. So that's the other thing. They may not be able to identify what's actually going on inside and put it into words.   So again, that's why we're trying to sound the alarm for ourselves and for others who are listening, because we can do it different. Again, just to even keep spinning it back in an encouraging direction, we can do this different. We can change this this week in our corner of the bleachers.   We can start over again.   Laura Dugger: (31:21 - 31:48) Absolutely and make a difference. And before we talk about even more of the pros with sports, I think it's also necessary to reflect and maybe even grieve a few things. So, what would you say are some things families are missing out on when they choose youth sports to overfill their calendar, that that's all that they make time for?   What do you think they're missing out on?   Brian Smith: (31:51 - 33:16) Yeah, I think a couple that come to mind are family dinners are a big one. That's big for us in the Smith house, is just having the ability after a long day to sit at the dinner table together, to eat food together, and to process the day and be with one another. But when my kids' practice goes late, it means we're either eating almost towards bedtime or we're eating in different shifts.   And so that's something that we grieve. I think for me, when my schedule is full, I'm tempted to adopt the mindset that what's happening on the wrestling mat or on the track matters more than it actually does. And it robs me of the ability to just take a deep breath and smile and enjoy watching my kids play sports.   That without an intervention or a pregame devotional in the car for myself, I risk sitting in the stands or being on the sidelines, being stressed out and putting pressure on myself and pressure on my kids and gossiping about why the coach didn't put this kid into the people next to me, instead of just enjoying the gift that is sports and watching my kid try and succeed and try and fail. That is a gift available to me as a dad to watch my kid do that. But the busyness often robs me of that perspective.   Ed Uszynski: (33:17 - 36:06) Well, and the busyness robs, again, if you're married, that busyness eventually wears away at your relationship. And it's not just sports. I mean, busyness, we can fill our schedule, overfill our schedules with any number of things.   We can overfill our schedules with church stuff to a point where it becomes detrimental to our relationship. If we don't set boundaries so that we're making sure we're doing what we need to do to be face-to-face and to be going to areas beneath the surface with each other in our relationship and being able to do that with our kids as well, eventually there's negative consequences to that. It may not happen right away, but I've definitely experienced that.   We've experienced that in our home where it's easy to maybe chase one kid around for a while, but what happens when you add three into the mix and you haven't really done a time budget or paid attention to the fact that when we sign up for all these things, you get a month into it and you realize, oh, we have to be in different places at the same time. So, we're not even watching stuff together anymore. We're just running.   I can endure anything for a season, but what youth sports wants now in every sport from the youngest ages is that it becomes a year-round commitment. So, you're not even signing up to play a season anymore. You're signing up for a year in most cases because after the games, then they're going to have training.   They're going to have this other thing going on. And so again, can we say, well, we'll play the actual season, but then we're not going to do the additional training over these next three months. Again, we want to give parents' permission that you can say no to that.   Well, we paid for it. Well, it's okay. If you want your kid to be on that team and you like this club or whatever, then you pay the money and you just say, we're going to sit those three months out and we're going to use those three months actually to have people over our house for dinner.   Again, whatever's on the list, Laura, that you said about being more holistic and not letting sport operate like an idol in our life where it's taken on, it's washed out everything else in our life. We can get back in control of that by just saying no a little bit. You can go to church on Sunday.   Even if there's tournament games going on on Sunday, you can go to the coach early and say, hey, we just, in our family, we just don't want to be available before 12. Are you okay with that? And most of the time coaches will be.   The kid might have to sit extra maybe for not being, whatever. Okay. That's not going to be the end of the world that they had to sit out an extra game or had to sit out a half because they weren't available on Sunday morning.   It might actually make a huge difference that they weren't at church for two and a half years in the most formative time of their life.   Laura Dugger: (36:07 - 37:36) And a lot of times the way of wisdom includes reflection, getting alone with the Lord and asking, have we overstuffed our schedule this conversation today? Let's talk specifically with youth sports. Is that trumping everything else?   Because what if we're putting it in a place it was never intended to be as an idol where we sacrifice hospitality or discipleship or community or even just a more biblical way of life? I think we have to bring wisdom into the conversation for what you've mentioned. Whether it's worth it, if they're even enjoying it, how much we're spending on it, and do we have the budget to allocate our finances that way and evaluating the time just to see and make sure that it's rightly ordered.   Did you know you could receive a free email with monthly encouragement, practical tips, and plenty of questions to ask to take your conversation a level deeper, whether that's in parenting or on date nights? Make sure you access all of this at thesavvysauce.com by clicking the button that says join our email list so that you can follow the prompts and begin receiving these emails at the beginning of each month. Enjoy!   But if we flip that to if youth sports are rightly ordered, then what are some things that we can celebrate or reasons that you would want families to give this a try?   Brian Smith: (37:37 - 40:09) The massive positive that we keep coming back to is we have a front row seat to see our kids go through every possible emotion in sport, the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. And then if we have the right perspective, we are armed with awesome opportunities and awesome information that we're seeing. We get to see what our kids are really good at.   We get to see their character gaps. And then we get to be the ones who, again, who are their primary response, primary disciplers. It really goes back to like, are we trusting youth sports for too little in our kids' lives?   Like many of us are trusting that our investment is going to get them a spot on a team, or maybe they get an opportunity in high school, maybe in college. And what we're saying is, yeah, that maybe. And that's not a bad end goal.   But if that's everything that you're investing into youth sports, it's not enough. Like what you have available to you every single day is to ask your kid if they showed somebody else's dignity on the field. You don't know if your kid's going to hit a home run today.   That may not be available to them their entire life. What's available to them every single day is to ask a question to their teammate, to see somebody and show dignity to them. And that's really, it's like, it's almost the opportunity of a lifetime for us as parents who, when our kids get home from school, we really don't know what happened most of the day.   We asked them how it went and we get the one-word answer. In sports, we don't have to guess. We get to see everything that happens.   And again, if we are actually trusting youth sports for discipleship investment, that's a good ROI. That's a good return on our investment. But we need a consistent intervention almost daily to say, no, this is why they're in sports.   Yes, I want to see them get better. I want to see them have fun, but Holy Spirit, would you help me see things today that I normally don't see? Holy Spirit, would you put them in circumstances and relationships today and in the season that's going to help them look more and more like Jesus by the time the season's done?   Holy Spirit, would you convict me in the moment when I am being a little too mouthy and saying things that I shouldn't? Would you help me to repent? And God, in those moments where I'm actually doing wrong on behalf of my kid, would you help me to humble myself and apologize to them?   And God, would you repair our relationship that way? So again, all of these options are available just because our kid's shooting a ball or they're on the field with somebody else tackling other people. We're trusting youth sports for too little.   Ed Uszynski: (40:10 - 41:10) That's all big boy and big girl stuff. It just is. I don't normally naturally do any of that.   I have to be coached into that. I have to be discipled myself. I have to work through my own issues, my own baggage, my own fears about the future, my own idolatrous holding onto this imagined future that I have for my kid, irrespective of what God may or may not want.   I've got my own resentment. I've got my own regrets from the past. I wish things had gone differently for me, so I'm going to make sure they go different for you when it comes to sports.   And it's hard to look in the mirror and admit that I have anger issues. I mean, youth sports create a great opportunity for me to get up all my pent-up frustration from the day. We've given ourselves permission to do that, in most cases, to just yell and yell at refs and gripe about coaches and yell at kids.   Brian Smith: (41:10 - 41:31) Because that's what we do at the TV, right? When our favorite team is playing, we've conditioned ourselves to say, awful call, that was terrible. Then we get on social media and we complain about it.   We are discipling ourselves to this is how it's normative to respond within the context of sports. Then we carry all that baggage to our six-year-old soccer game.   Laura Dugger: (41:33 - 42:02) Well, I love how you keep pointing it back toward character and discipleship. You clearly state throughout the book, sports don't develop character, people do. But could you maybe elaborate on that a little bit more and share more now that we've listed pros and cons, you still list a completely different way that we can meaningfully participate while also pushing back?   Brian Smith: (42:04 - 43:49) I'll start with the first part, and then you can answer the second. We use the handshake line as a great example of why character needs to be taught to our kids. If you just watch a normal handshake line left without coaching, the kids are going through it, especially the ones who lose with their head down, they have limp hands, there's no eye contact, and they're mumbling good game, good game.   Sometimes they don't even say it, they'll say GG stands for good game. They don't just learn character by going through the handshake line. If anything, that's going through it like that without any sort of intervention or coaching, that's malforming their character.   That's teaching them when things don't go well, that it's okay for them not to be a big boy or a big girl and look somebody in the eye and congratulate them. What needs to happen? An adult needs to step in and say, hey, as we go through the handshake line, whether you win or lose, here's how we do it with class.   We shake somebody's hand, we look them in the eye, and we say good game. Even if in those moments we don't actually mean it, we still show them dignity and honor. And then when we're done going through the handshake line, guess what we're going to do?   We're going to run down the refs who are trying to get in their car and get out of here, and we're going to give them a high five and say, thank you so much for reffing today. That stuff needs to be taught. Our kids don't just come out of the womb knowing how to do that.   We have to teach them how to do it. Sometimes good coaches will do that, but the more and more we get sucked up into the sports industrial complex, we're getting well-intentioned coaches, but we're getting coaches who care more about the big W, the win, than the character formation stuff that happens.   Ed Uszynski: (43:49 - 45:27) They need to keep hearing it over and over again. I have a ninth grade Bible study in my house the other day with athletes and a whole bunch of my son's basketball team. Exactly what Brian just said, I actually was like, wow, I've got them here.   There was a big blow up at a game the other day, and we wound up talking about it. I said, I'm going to take this opportunity actually to say what Brian just said. When you go through a handshake line, this is how you go through it.   I watched what happened in the game a couple days later. Basically, they did the exact opposite of what I told them to do, and they lost. It was just what Brian said.   They went through limp handed. They didn't look anybody in the face, and they weren't even saying anything. I just chuckled to myself, and you know how this is as a parent.   They may or may not do it. Of course, those aren't my kids. I have more stewardship over my child, who actually, he is doing what I've asked him to do because I've re-emphasized it across time now.   It's not a failure because they didn't do what I said. Again, the pouty side of me wants to be like, forget it. I'm just not even going to try anymore.   It's like, no, they're kids. That was the first time they've heard that. They're going to do what their patterns have, the muscle memory that's been created by their patterns, just like we do as adults.   The next time I have a chance to bring that up again, I'm not going to shame them. I'm just going to go over it again with them. Here's how we do it.   It's super hard to do this, guys, when you just want to be violent with people or you want to cry. You got to pull yourself together. That's what big men do.   That's what big women do in life. They pull themselves together in those moments and do the right thing.   Brian Smith: (45:28 - 46:01) You don't know whether the fifth time you say it is going to stick or the 50th time. Your responsibility as the Christ-following parent is to do it the sixth time and the seventh time and the seventh time and trust that God is going to take those moments and do what he does. We're ultimately not responsible for our kids' behavior.   We're responsible for pointing them in the right direction, and then hopefully, yeah, the Holy Spirit steps in and transforms and changes and convicts in those moments, but it might take some time.   Ed Uszynski: (46:02 - 47:47) Tom Bilyeu So that's how you push back, Laura. You were asking that. How do we push back without being just completely involved in it or going for the same ride that everybody else is going for?   There's just little moments like that scattered throughout. Literally, every day that my kids are involved in youth sports, the car ride over, what happens on the way home, how we talk about it, what happens during the game and what we wind up talking about out of that, the side conversations that happen that just get brought up apart from games of how we interact with people and so-and-so looks like they're struggling. What do you know about that?   That's how we push back, that in our corner of the bleachers, oh, how we interact with other parents. We haven't even talked about that yet, that I can take an interest in more than just my own kid in the bleachers and spend way more energy actually in cheering for other kids and just trying to give them confidence and spend way less time trying to direct that at my own child who knows that I'm there. In fact, my side kid has said he doesn't want to hear my voice during the game.   It distracts him. He's like, I'd much rather that you cheer for other people. It's like, okay.   Having questions ready for other parents during timeouts and as you sit there for hours together, what do you talk about? Well, I could be the one that actually initiates substantive conversations over time with them and asks them about what's going on in different parts of their life. And in having done that, people want to talk.   They want a safe place actually to share what's going on in their So let me be the sports minister. Let me take on that identity and actually care about other people.   Laura Dugger: (47:49 - 49:47) I love that. Even that practical idea of just coming to each game, maybe with a different question, ready to open up those conversations. And I'll share a quick story as well.   Our two oldest daughters recently just gave cheerleading a try at a local Christian school that allows homeschool kids to participate. And this is an overt way that somebody chooses the different way. So, it's the coach of the basketball team.   His name is Cole. And at the end of every game, we saw him consistently throughout this season when it was a home game, whether their team won or lost, he would ask them, okay, shut off the scoreboard. It's all blank.   He gathers both teams. As soon as the game is over teams, cheerleaders, the stands stay filled with all the parents. And he says, this is not our identity.   The world and Satan, our enemy, who's very real. He wants us to put our identity here, but it's not here. You made us better tonight by the way that you played and you were able to shine Jesus.   And we're going to go a step further and we're going to do what we call attaways. So, he's like, all right, boys, you open it up. And his team is trained.   They say to the other team, Hey, number 23, what's your name? I loved how you pushed me so much harder tonight and says, my name's Ben. And so, their Attaway is, Hey, Ben.   And everybody goes, Hey, Ben. Yeah, Ben. Yeah, Ben Attaway.   And everybody just erupts in clapping. And the other team is always blown away and they are just grinning, whether they just lost. So, the boys go through that for a while and then they open it up to the other team and they start sharing Attaways.   And then they open it up to the crowd and the parents are able to say, I see the way you modeled Jesus by being selfless with the ball or whatever it is. So, Cole said that his college coach did that many years ago and he's passed that on. And I love that's one way to redeem the game.   Ed Uszynski: (49:47 - 51:39) Wow. Beautiful. Beautiful.   Yeah. That's amazing. And, you know, I, so Brian and I talk about this too.   And I coached at a Christian school. So, we, we think that it's really important if you're going to play sports and you're going to be a Christian coach that you actually take the game seriously. And that we actually are here to compete and we are here to try to win.   There's nothing wrong with that. And we're going to pursue excellence when we show up with our bodies, and we train for this sport and we're going to try to win. Cause I think sometimes we end up kind of going all or nothing, especially within our Christian circles.   We're uncomfortable with that. And it's like, yes, do that. And on the backside of that to do what that coach did is amazing.   It's that, that is, that is exactly what we're saying. We're also going to try to form our souls in the midst of this. We're going to try to win on the scoreboard.   Okay. The game's over, we lost, we won, whatever. There's more going on here than just that. And can we access that together? And again, that's so rare. Probably everybody listening has never even heard of anything like what you just said.   It would be amazing if a bunch of people did, but that's what we're saying. Let's do more of that. Let's find ways to have more of those conversations in our sphere of influence.   Maybe we're not the coach, but we can do that in our car. We can do that when we're at dinners with the other, with other players and other team, you know, we, we can do that. We can take that kind of initiative.   If we have those categories in our mind, instead of just being frustrated that my kid didn't get to play as much tonight. And I'm that bugs me. It's like, okay, it can bug you.   And now I gotta, I gotta be a big boy and get more out of this than just being frustrated that he or she didn't get to play as much. It's hard.   Laura Dugger: (51:40 - 52:11) Absolutely. Well, and like you guys are doing having Bible studies outside of the, the team that you can instill values in that way and share scripture that they're memorizing to go out there with excellence for the Lord. So, I love all of that.   And I've got just a few quick questions, just kind of for perspective. I want to draw out something from the book. Is it true that young athletic success predicts adult athletic success?   Brian Smith: (52:13 - 53:51) It is not true. This is, this is not a hot take. This is researched back more and more research they're doing on this.   And they're finding that there's not a direct correlation between a young elite athlete and them continuing that up into the right trajectory and being an elite athlete later in life in large part, because when puberty hits, like everything is a game changer. So, this is, I found this fascinating and this is probably going to be new to you too. This just came out today.   At the time we're doing this podcast, the winter Olympics is going on in Norway. It's just like, they're killing it. Nor Norway's youth sports system.   This is wild. They give participation trophies for all the kids. They don't keep score until 13 years old.   They don't do any national travel competitions, no posting youth sports results online. So, there's no online presence of youth sport results. And their country motto is joy of sport for all.   And they're, they're killing it right now in the Olympics. So, like, that's not to say, like you got to follow their model and then you're going to win all these gold medals, but it is, there is something to just let the kids have fun. And the longer they play sport, because it's fun, the better opportunity you're actually going to have to see them blossom and develop some of these God-given gifts that they might have.   Don't expect it to come out before they're 13. Even if it does, there's no guarantee that it's going to continue on until they're 23. Just let them have fun.   Ed Uszynski: (53:52 - 55:55) Brian, we, Brian and I got to speak at a church the other day about this topic. And there was a couple that came up afterwards and they asked the question of what, so when do you think we should let our kids play organized sports or structured sports? And so again, Brian and I are careful.   Like I, there's no, there's no one size fits all answer to that. We would suggest as late as possible, wait as long as possible. Because once you start doing structured sport where there's a coach and you have to be at practices and the games are structured and there's reps, it just cuts away all the possibility they have to just play and just to go up to the YMCA and just play for three hours at whatever it is that they like to do.   And they said, well, it's encouraging to hear that they said, because we, we actually are way more into just developing their bodies physically. And so, we do dance with them, and we do rock climbing and they were kind of outdoorsy people, and they just started listing off all these things they do because we want them to become strong in their bodies, and learn to love activity like that. And I just thought, again, that's, that probably would cause a lot of people to freak out to hear that, that they have eight, nine-year-olds that aren't on teams yet.   They're just, they're training their bodies to appreciate physicality and to become coordinated and to, you know, to get better at movement. And it's like, what sport is that not going to be super helpful in five years from now, even when they're 12, 13 years old. And now they really do want to play one sport, and they do want to be on a team.   They're going to be way ahead of the kids actually that just sat on benches or stood in the outfield, you know, day after day after day at practices. Again, that's maybe hard to hear, but maybe there's some adjustments that need to be made again; to give ourselves permission to say, we don't have to get on that train right now. You don't have to, your kid's not going to be behind.   They actually could be ahead. If you do the kinds of things we just talked about.   Laura Dugger: (55:56 - 56:11) I love that. And even that example with what it looks like played out with Norway and also, do you have any other quick tips just for instilling and cultivating a heart of gratitude and youth sports rather than entitlement?   Brian Smith: (56:13 - 57:33) I'm a high school cross country and track coach, and I have kids on my team who want to get faster at running, but instead of running, they want to lift weights and they want to do plier metrics. So, there's, yes, there's a spot for that. But the way you get better at running is to run.   You got to run more miles and more miles. And I think gratitude is similar. That gratitude, part of it is a, it's a feeling, but it's also a muscle that we can flex even if we don't feel it.   And so, I would encourage parents who are trying to instill gratitude into their kids to give them practical things like, hey, after practice, just go shake your coach's hand or give them a fist bump and tell them, thanks for practice today, coach. That that's a disciplined way to practice gratitude that will hopefully build the muscle where they're, they're using it later in life. After a game, I taught my kids this when they were young and they still do it today.   Go shake a ref's hand. I mentioned this earlier, just a really, really practical way to show thankfulness and gratitude to somebody who really doesn't get a whole lot of gratitude pointed at them during a game or after a game. If anything, they have people chasing them through the parking lot for other reasons.   I want my kids to be chasing them down to give them a fist bump or a high five. And so, gratitude is something that we can just practice practically. And hopefully the discipline practice will lead to a delight and actually doing it.   Ed Uszynski: (57:34 - 59:39) And how do we cultivate an inner posture? Cause I tend to be a cup half empty type person. I'm a, I'm a whiner by nature and a continuous improvement.   There's always something wrong. And I'm, it's easy for me to find those things just as a person. I'm not even saying that as a dad or a coach or anything.   And it's been super helpful to me in the last decade, even to just like, I can choose to shift that. There, there is, there's a list of things that are broke, but there is always a list of things that are good. There's always something good here to be found.   And even as I've tried to like, again, tip the scales more in that direction, I can keep pushing that out of my kids. So, so this, you know, my ninth-grade son tends to just like, he doesn't like a whole bunch of what's going on in basketball right now. So, I keep asking him if he's having fun.   He says, no, like, why not? Or like, who did, why did you not have fun today? So, it's just the same thing every day.   I'm like, okay, who did you enjoy even being with today? Nobody. And I'm like, dude, I don't believe that actually.   I just, I don't believe that. There was somebody that you had some moment with today that you enjoyed, or you wouldn't want to keep going back up there because, and he does. So, give me a name.   Okay. Lenny. What happened with Lenny that was fun? And I make him name it. Like I'm, I'm, I'm trying to coach him through it. And sure enough, he does have some sentences of what was fun today.   And it's like, good, let's, let's at least hold onto that in the midst of all the other stuff that's not right. Let's choose to see the thing that was good and that you enjoyed and that we could be thankful for. Not everybody got to have that today.   Again, I have to have my, I have to be the parent. I have to be the discipler. I have to be in, you know, in charge of my own soul that wants to be negative all the time and say, nope, we're going to, we're going to choose gratitude today because the Bible tells us to do that.   There's something about that posture that opens the door for the gospel to be expressed through us. So, let's practice.   Laura Dugger: (59:40 - 59:50) Well said, and there's so much we could continue learning from both of you. Where can we go after this chat to learn more from each one of you?   Brian Smith: (59:52 - 1:00:14) Yeah, we do a lot of our writing online at thechristianathlete.com. And so, if you go there, you can see articles that are specifically written for parents, for coaches, for athletes, all around this idea of what does it look like to integrate faith and sport together? So, the

From “In the Beginning” to Amen // Leviticus…Real or Not? The Blue Dye Decree: No man shall dye his garment blue. Blue is a sacred color and reserved for garments of the High Priest.The Rash Quarantine: If you have a persistent skin rash or an "itch" that looks suspicious, you are legally required to go to the priest. He will lock you in a house for seven days to see if the rash gets better and then if you can return to society. The Grape Law: If you are harvesting your vineyard and drop a grape, you are legally forbidden from picking it up. You must leave it for the poor and the alien. The Grasshopper Rule: If a grasshopper or cricket falls or jumps into a pot you must break the pot because it will be considered unclean forever.  The Right Foot First Stipulation: When entering the Tabernacle, a man shall lead with his right foot; for the left is the side of weakness, and the right is the side of the Lord's strength. The Standing Ovation Statute: You are commanded to stand up whenever an elderly person enters the room as a sign of respect and fear of God. The Holy Kiss Directive: Always greet one another with a holy kiss. The Mixed-Fiber Ban: You are prohibited from wearing clothing woven from two different types of thread. GleaningLeviticus 19:9-10 (NIV)“When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the Lord your God.”                                        The Year of Jubilee – The Great Reset                                                          Leviticus 25:8-34 Leviticus 25:23-24 (NIV)“The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine and you reside in my land as foreigners and strangers. Throughout the land that you hold as a possession, you must provide for the redemption of the land.”                                   Leviticus 25:35-36 (NIV)“If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and are unable to support themselves among you, help them as you would a foreigner and stranger, so they can continue to live among you. Do not take interest or any profit from them, but fear your God, so that they may continue to live among you.”                                   "The Church is the Church only when it exists for others...not dominating but helping and serving. It must tell men of every calling, what it means to live for Christ - to exist for others."-      Dietrich Bonhoeffer (Letters and Papers from Prison)  “At the first onset of the disease, unbelievers pushed the sufferers away and fled from their dearest, throwing them into roads before they were dead…they treated unburied corpses as dirt, hoping to avert the spread of the disease.”-      Bishop Dionysius of Alexandria, 260 AD “But Christian doctrine provided a prescription for action. While many were running for their lives, Christians were risking their own, taking care of the sick and those in need. In short, the core values of Christianity, love and charity, were acted upon by the believers of the day.”-      Rodney Starck Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)“For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” John 10:10 (NIV)“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

From “In the Beginning” to Amen // Gifted by the Spirit of God for WorkBezalel and Oholiab Exodus 31:2-3 (NLT)“Look, I have specifically chosen Bezalel son of Uri, grandson of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. I have filled him with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability, and expertise in all kinds of crafts.” 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 (NIV)“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.” Romans 11:29 (AMP)“For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable [for He does not withdraw what He has given, nor does He change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call].” James 1:17 (NIV)“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow.” Ephesians 2:8-10 (NIV)“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”  Do What's in Your Heart to Do and Do It to the Best of Your Ability

“Truly I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” John 14:12-14 CSBJesus is speaking to his disciples after the Passover Feast - the last supper - and he's telling them he's leaving but they can't follow him yet. Thomas says, “We don't know where you are going? How can we know the way?” John 14:5Jesus, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. If you know me, you will also know my father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” John 14:6Jesus, “The words I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who lives in me does His works. Believe me that I am in the father and the father is in me. Otherwise, believe because of the works themselves.” John 14:10-11“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”Philippians 2:5-8(ESV)All that Jesus did, God did through him. Jesus is telling us that we have access to the Father through Him, and in Him we can do greater works than even Jesus did. Do you feel qualified? God Qualifies the Called“God does not call the qualified. He qualifies the called.” Mark Batterson, The Circle Maker: Praying Circles Around Your Biggest Dreams and Greatest FearsWe see this throughout scripture. Here are just a few examples: Joseph - A despised younger brother sold into slavery then imprisoned. Genesis 37, 39 God helps him interpret dreams - saves his family and Egypt from a famine. Gen. 39, 41Moses - Not eloquent, slow of speech and tongue - killed someone Exodus 4:10-12 2:1-12 God calls him to lead the people out of Egypt. Exodus 3:10-12David - A shepherd boy and the youngest son. 1 Samuel 16:11 God gives him strength and courage to kill a giant - becomes King 1 Samuel 17:45-47The First Disciples - Fishermen, a tax collector, other unspecified jobs - Matt. 3:18-21 Jesus calls them to be fishers of men. Matthew 4:19 Jesus commissions them to make disciples of all nations. Matt. 28:16-20 Jesus sends them to preach, to have authority to cast out demons. Mark 3:14-15Saul/Paul - Persecuted early Christians and tried to destroy the church Gal. 1:13 Preaches that Jesus is the Son of God and spreads the gospel to gentiles Acts 9:20 Romans 3:23 NIV “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” God Qualified Peter to do the Miraculous Fisherman turned disciple - Matt. 4:18-20Walked on water - Matt. 14:28-31Renamed Peter (Rock) from Simon - John 1:42 Matt. 16:18Confesses Jesus is the Messiah - Matt. 16:18Rebuked Jesus and was corrected - Matt. 16:21-23 Saw Jesus Transfigured - Matt. 17:1-5Cut off the servant's ear - John 18:10Denied knowing Jesus 3 times - Matt. 26:69–75, Mark 14:66–72, Luke 22:55–62, and John 18:15-27Restored by Jesus (Feed my sheep) - John 21:15-19-------------------------------- Preached at Pentecost- first sermon - 3,000 people come to believe - Acts 2 Healed a lame man - Acts 3:1-10Preached in Solomon's Colonnade - second sermon - 5,000 believe - Acts 3:11- Acts 4:4Arrested and testified about Jesus before the Sanhedrin - Acts 4:1-22 Judgment resulting in death of Ananias and Sapphira - Acts 5:1-10Healed the sick and those with “unclean spirits” - Acts 5:12-16Arrested, put on trial and flogged - Acts 5:17-42Healed a paralyzed man, Aeneas - Acts 9:32-35Raised Tabitha (Dorcas) from the dead - Acts 9:36-43Received a vision, then defended the gospel being for Gentiles too- Acts 10 - Acts 11:18 Imprisoned again then rescued by an angel - Acts 12:1-18 Writes 1 & 2 Peter Crucified around 66 yrs. OldNotes From Time Before Jesus Ascended: During his time as a disciple of Jesus, Peter saw many miracles and experienced some directly - walking on water - coin in the fish's mouth - mother-in-law healed. Disciples were given authority to heal and cast out demons. Matt. 10, Luke 9Reasonable to think Peter had done miracles while Jesus was alive too. The specific miracles Peter does begin in Acts, after the resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Notes About Peter's Specific Miracles First sermon: after the Holy Spirit descended upon them and they started speaking in different tongues. Some sneered and tried to say they were drunk. Peter spoke up and and rebuke them and gave his first sermon. Takes a lot to speak in front of a large group. Jerry Sinfield joke: people would rather be the one in the coffin than giving the eulogy. 3,000 people were baptized after his message! Healed a lame man: A man who couldn't walk since birth was carried to the temple so he could beg as people came by. Peter and John walked by and he asked them for money. Peter said, “I don't have silver or gold but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk! Then, taking him by the right hand he raised him up, and at once his feet and ankles became strong.” Acts 3:6-7 Peter was doing as Jesus did! BY FAITH: Acts 3:16 Peter tells the people, “By faith in his name, his name has made this man strong…” Judgment resulting in death of Ananias and Sapphira: Acts 5:1-10Ananias and his wife Sapphira sold some property but decided to keep some for themselves. Shows Peter had supernatural knowledge of the actual amount Ananias and Sapphira sold their property for. When Ananias came in and lied to the Holy Spirit he died. After Sapphira came in and lied about the amount too, Peter prophesied she would die too. Healed the sick and those with “unclean spirits”: Acts 5:12-16Many signs and wonders were being done among the people through the hands of the apostles. They were all together in Solomon's Colonnade. 13 No one else dared to join them, but the people spoke well of them. 14 Believers were added to the Lord in increasing numbers—multitudes of both men and women. 15 As a result, they would carry the sick out into the streets and lay them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on some of them. 16 In addition, a multitude came together from the towns surrounding Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.Healing Aeneas a paralyzed and bedridden man of 8 years.Acts 9:34 “Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed, and immediately he got up.” Raised Tabitha (Dorcas) from the dead! Dorcas was a disciple - a follower of Jesus She became sick and diedTwo other disciples went and got Peter who was in a nearby town.He sent everyone out of the room. He knelt, prayed and told her to get up! Peter went from being a fisherman to a fisher of men! Jesus called Peter and Peter followed him until the day Peter died around 66 years old. God Calls Us to Follow Him And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19 "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me" Luke 9:23, Matthew 16:24 "Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" John 8:12 "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me" John 10:27 "If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also" John 12:26 Notes: Peter started off as a fisherman. He was called to follow Jesus and he did.Through walking and talking with Jesus and watching and listening, Peter learned who Jesus was. After 3 years, it didn't stop him from making mistakes. Called out many times He kept believing and learning and growing. He kept followingAfter Jesus ascended into Heaven and the disciples were in the upper room, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and then Peter started to lead.Do as Jesus did! Matthew 28:19-20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember I am with you always to the end of the age.” We've been commissioned to go out into the world to do miraculous things. Leading people into the fullness of forgiveness and redemption and who they are called to be in Christ is no less than miraculous! Jesus dying, defeating death, and redeeming us from our sins is a miracle! The fullness of that miracle won't fully be realized until we die but there is nothing more miraculous than being made clean and living with our creator. God Equips Us With different gifts Romans 12:6-8 Prophesying, Serving, Teaching, Encouraging, Giving, Leading, Showing Mercy“We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully”Through the Holy Spirit 1 Corinthians 12:7-11A message of wisdom, a message of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, miraculous powers, prophecy, distinguishing between spirits, speaking in tongues, interpreting tongues“Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.”Through the grace given to us through Jesus 2 Timothy 1:9-10“…not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace….”“He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”With qualities that keep us from being unfruitful 2 Peter 1:3-8 Faith, Goodness, Self-Control, Endurance, Godliness, Brotherly Affection, Love“His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 By these he has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, 6 knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, 7 godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”John 15:1-8 Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. Those who remain in him will produce much fruit, because we can do nothing without him. Romans 8:11 “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you.”If the Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you - (Romans 8:11) then you don't have to do this in your own strength. You have the strength of God with you. No matter how strong you are on your own, you are not strong enough without the power of God living inside you. He's given us everything we need to live for Him! God is calling you to follow Him! As you step out in faith and obedience, he equips you with what you need and qualifies you for what he calls you to do. Acts 4:13 NIV - When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

Send us your feedback — we're listening“Psalm 91:5 — Jesus, Strengthen My Thoughts and Hold Me Steady as the Day Begins” Psalm 91:5 (NIV): “You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day.” 2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV): “For the Spirit God gave us… power, love and a sound mind.” Ao vivo de Londres, Inglaterra para Brasília (Brasil) • Coimbra (Portugal) • Huambo (Angola) • Beira (Moçambique) • Santiago (Chile) Live from London, England to Brasília, Coimbra, Huambo, Beira, Santiago início do dia • pressões emocionais • clareza mental • força espiritual start of day • emotional pressure • mental clarity • spiritual strength Jesus, as this morning unfolds and the first responsibilities of the day begin to rise, I bring my thoughts to You before anything else has the chance to shape them. The pressure of the day can arrive quickly, sometimes before a person has even left the house. Across Brazil, Portugal, Angola, Mozambique, Chile, the United States, India, and every place where people wake to tasks that feel larger than their strength, minds begin to race and hearts search for stability. Yet You speak a word that softens all of it: You have given us a sound mind, steadied by Your Spirit, strengthened in Your peace. Jesus, steady me now. Silence the voices that push me into worry before the day has truly begun. Where fear tries to settle into my thinking, replace it with quiet courage. Where doubts whisper that I cannot handle what is ahead, remind me that I do not face this day alone. Guide my thoughts into clarity, so that decisions are not made from panic but from the calm that comes from being held in Your presence. Let Your love anchor me so firmly that the arrows of stress, expectation, and pressure lose their power to shake me. As the hours unfold, walk with me into each moment. Strengthen my mind so I don't crumble under what feels overwhelming. Lift my spirit so I rise above discouragement. Surround my emotions with the gentleness of Your peace. Help me breathe in the truth that You go with me, before me, and around me, shaping my steps and steadying my heart. Jesus, hold me steady as this day begins, and let Your Spirit lead me through every challenge with strength and grace. manhã oração, clareza mental, Psalm 91 devotional, força espiritual, ansiedade matinal, Jesus sustains, esperança Brasil, clarity prayer, spiritual steadiness, Portuguese Christian devotional Brazil morning devotional, Psalm 91 prayer, 2 Timothy 1:7 encouragement, sound mind prayer, emotional pressuSupport the showFor more inspiring content, visit RBChristianRadio.net — your home for daily devotionals, global prayer, and biblical encouragement for every season of life. We invite you to connect with our dedicated prayer hub at DailyPrayer.uk — a place where believers from every nation unite in prayer around the clock. If you need prayer, or would like to leave a request, this is the place to come. Our mission is simple: to pray with you, to stand with you, and to keep the power of prayer at the centre of everyday life. Your support through DailyPrayer.uk helps us continue sharing the gospel and covering the nations in prayer. You can also discover our ministry services and life celebrations at LifeCelebrant.net — serving families with faith, dignity, and hope. If this devotional blesses you, please consider supporting our listener-funded mission by buying us a coffee through RBChristianRadio.net. Every prayer, every gift, and every share helps us keep broadcasting God's Word to the world.

Philippians 2:5 (NIV) “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:”Rely is the PROVING ground for trust in a marriage—and thePREREQUISITE for commitment in dating.Someone else CANNOT complete you. ONLY Jesus can.Colossians 2:8–10 (NLT) “Don't let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.”The more you turn to Jesus to meet your DEEPEST NEEDS, the more capable you'll be to meet your spouse's ACTUAL NEEDS.Genesis 2:18 (NIV) “The Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.'”DATING:Be careful not to RUSH too quickly to RELY on someone before you KNOW and TRUST them.If you don't HEAL from your past, it's really hard to have HEALTH in your future.How do you know, while dating, if you can rely on someone in marriage?Watch carefully the other person's RECIPROCITY (GIVE/TAKE).What you experience in dating is the CEILING for marriage.Matthew 19:5 (NIV) “‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.'”“Woman without her man is nothing.”“Woman, without her, man is nothing.”“Woman without her man, is nothing.”MARRIED:DISTANCE between spouses is where SATAN likes to set up shop.In your marriage, you will always make BETTER decisions TOGETHER than you do apart.Proverbs 15:22 (NIV) “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”Romans 12:4-5 Just as there are many parts to our bodies, so it is with Christ's body. We are all parts of it, and it takes every one of us to make it complete, for we each have different work to do. So we belong to each other, and each needs all the others.You cannot live the LIFE God wants for you if you live it INDEPENDENT of others.Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NLT) “A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.”

Send us your feedback — we're listening“Psalm 91:11 — Jesus, Surround My Steps With Your Quiet Protection” Psalm 91:11 (NIV): “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” Hebrews 1:14 (NIV): “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” Live from London, England with Reverend Ben Cooper Brazil • Canada • India • Portugal • South Africa Jesus, as evening settles across Brazil, Canada, India, Portugal, and South Africa, Your words bring a calm assurance that never fades. Psalm 91 speaks softly yet powerfully: You guard my steps, You surround my path, and You steady my heart when the day's pressures linger. Senhor Jesus, fica comigo esta noite. Many carry concerns about safety, wellbeing, travel, family, and the unknown, yet Your care does not depend on circumstance. You watch over Your people with a steady presence that brings comfort. Hebrews 1:14 reminds me that Your help is practical, gentle, and always near. You know how the mind can wander into worry, how the heart can tighten when evening comes, and how memories or pressures can rise without warning. Jesus, quiet these places within me. Bring a sense of reassurance that is peaceful and grounded. Let Your protection guide my steps, calm my thoughts, and give rest to the parts of life that feel stretched. Senhor, guarda o meu caminho, dá-me tranquilidade. Around the world at this hour, many search for comfort from the unexpected: travel concerns, long drives home, emotional weight from the day, or simply the feeling of being unsure about what tomorrow might bring. Your promise reaches every corner of these needs. You steady the anxious heart. You calm internal storms. You bring gentle clarity when life feels unsettled. Jesus, help me trust that I am held securely. Let Your peace rest over my home, my family, and my thoughts. Lead me safely into the night, knowing You walk every step with me. Psalm 91:11 prayer, Hebrews 1:14 devotional, evening protection prayer, Portuguese Christian comfort, Brazil faith message, Canada spiritual encouragement, India evening prayer, Portugal reassurance devotional, South Africa hope message, global spiritual stability Psalm 91:11, Hebrews 1:14, protection, peace, Jesus, devotional, Portuguese, India, USA, reassurance, eveningSupport the showFor more inspiring content, visit RBChristianRadio.net — your home for daily devotionals, global prayer, and biblical encouragement for every season of life. We invite you to connect with our dedicated prayer hub at DailyPrayer.uk — a place where believers from every nation unite in prayer around the clock. If you need prayer, or would like to leave a request, this is the place to come. Our mission is simple: to pray with you, to stand with you, and to keep the power of prayer at the centre of everyday life. Your support through DailyPrayer.uk helps us continue sharing the gospel and covering the nations in prayer. You can also discover our ministry services and life celebrations at LifeCelebrant.net — serving families with faith, dignity, and hope. If this devotional blesses you, please consider supporting our listener-funded mission by buying us a coffee through RBChristianRadio.net. Every prayer, every gift, and every share helps us keep broadcasting God's Word to the world.

Send us your feedback — we're listening“Joshua 1:7 — Jesus, Strengthen My Thoughts as the Night Closes In” Live from London, England with Reverend Ben Cooper • Singapore • Brazil • Kenya • Ireland • Sri Lanka Joshua 1:7 (NIV): “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.” 2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV): “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” As night draws near, Jesus, many around the world feel their thoughts becoming unsettled. In the quiet of the evening, distractions fall away and deeper concerns rise to the surface. Across India, families finish the last tasks of the day and seek peace before the night settles. In the United States, many reflect on what was accomplished and what remains unresolved. Among Portuguese-speaking believers, the words força and coragem move through the heart with gentle reassurance, reminding them that o Senhor está comigo in every late-evening moment. Let this prayer reach each one with calm strength. Joshua was called to courage because the journey ahead required steady focus. Tonight, steady our own minds. Guard our thoughts from drifting into fear. Bring calm to any inner unease. Fill us with the self-discipline that comes from Your Spirit, shaping our decisions and guiding our emotions toward clarity. Strengthen the places within us that feel tired from the day. For those who end this day carrying invisible burdens, give relief. For those whose thoughts feel too loud, bring quiet peace. For those facing uncertainty tomorrow, shine gentle reassurance into their hearts. Let every listener sense Your nearness in the slowing of the evening, knowing You walk with them through each detail of life. Jesus, help us end this day with confidence, not confusion; with courage, not fear. Settle our inner world with Your presence and allow sleep to come with restful ease. Joshua 1:7 prayer, 2 Timothy 1:7 peace, evening mind calm, devotional for thoughts, Portuguese coragem força, India Christian prayer, USA faith evening, global 8pm devotional, courage at night Joshua 1, evening prayer, strength, devotional, Jesus courage, 8pm prayer, Portuguese Christian, India Christian, calm mindSupport the showFor more inspiring content, visit RBChristianRadio.net — your home for daily devotionals, global prayer, and biblical encouragement for every season of life. We invite you to connect with our dedicated prayer hub at DailyPrayer.uk — a place where believers from every nation unite in prayer around the clock. If you need prayer, or would like to leave a request, this is the place to come. Our mission is simple: to pray with you, to stand with you, and to keep the power of prayer at the centre of everyday life. Your support through DailyPrayer.uk helps us continue sharing the gospel and covering the nations in prayer. You can also discover our ministry services and life celebrations at LifeCelebrant.net — serving families with faith, dignity, and hope. If this devotional blesses you, please consider supporting our listener-funded mission by buying us a coffee through RBChristianRadio.net. Every prayer, every gift, and every share helps us keep broadcasting God's Word to the world.

Send us your feedback — we're listeningPsalm 23:3 — Jesus, Guide My Decisions and Steady My Steps Today Live from London, England • Norway • India • Brazil • South Africa • New Zealand daily direction, midday clarity, Psalm 23 guidance, Psalm 91 protection, Portuguese indexed, global devotional steadying Psalm 23:3 (NIV): “He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name's sake.” Psalm 91:11 (NIV): “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” Jesus, as midday arrives across Norway, India, Brazil, South Africa, and New Zealand, many hearts pause to regain clarity and strength. The morning may have introduced decisions, unexpected pressures, or emotional weight, yet Psalm 23 reminds us that You guide us along right paths with steady and gentle care. Psalm 91 assures us that You surround every step with Your protection. In these midday hours, where focus can fade and concerns can rise, bring calm direction to every listener across the world and within Portuguese-speaking communities. Where uncertainty tries to pull the mind in many directions, bring a clear and peaceful centre. Where choices feel heavy, guide with wisdom that aligns with Your purpose. Let Your presence be the steadying hand that lifts emotional strain and strengthens inner confidence. Anchor each listener in the assurance that they do not walk alone. Guide their steps through conversations, responsibilities, and decisions still ahead today. Guard the heart from pressure and the mind from overwhelm. Let this prayer become a turning point, a moment where peace replaces tension and clarity replaces confusion. Jesus, let Your restoring power refresh the soul at midday. Bring light to decisions that need discernment. Surround workplaces, homes, and journeys with the covering of Psalm 91. Strengthen each listener with renewed focus, calm energy, and steady hope. Lead them forward with confidence that Your guidance is present in every step they take. Psalm 23 guidance prayer, Psalm 91 protection, midday strength, Jesus steady my steps, Norway India Brazil South Africa New Zealand prayer, Portuguese devotional indexing, global daily prayer, emotional clarity, devotional uplift, spiritual focusPsalm 23, Psalm 91, guidance, decision-making, Jesus, midday prayer, protection, peace, hope, strengthSupport the showFor more inspiring content, visit RBChristianRadio.net — your home for daily devotionals, global prayer, and biblical encouragement for every season of life. We invite you to connect with our dedicated prayer hub at DailyPrayer.uk — a place where believers from every nation unite in prayer around the clock. If you need prayer, or would like to leave a request, this is the place to come. Our mission is simple: to pray with you, to stand with you, and to keep the power of prayer at the centre of everyday life. Your support through DailyPrayer.uk helps us continue sharing the gospel and covering the nations in prayer. You can also discover our ministry services and life celebrations at LifeCelebrant.net — serving families with faith, dignity, and hope. If this devotional blesses you, please consider supporting our listener-funded mission by buying us a coffee through RBChristianRadio.net. Every prayer, every gift, and every share helps us keep broadcasting God's Word to the world.

We're so glad you are here! Thanks for checking out Sunday's message!-- SUNDAY'S NOTES --If we are content to have Jesus at the edges of our lives, we are in danger of missing having Him there at all.Psalm 103:2 NIV Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits.One key to keeping Jesus at the center is remembering that every truly good thing in my life has been because of Him.Psalm 119:89-96 NIVYour word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures.Your laws endure to this day, for all things serve you.If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have preserved my life.Save me, for I am yours; I have sought out your precepts.The wicked are waiting to destroy me, but I will ponder your statutes.To all perfection I see a limit, but your commands are boundless.John 6:67 TPT So Jesus said to his twelve, “And you—do you also want to leave?”John 6:68 TPT Peter spoke up and said, “But Lord, where would we go? No one but you gives us the revelation of eternal life. Hebrews 4:12 NIV For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. God's Word and His commands are perfect, powerful, and life-preserving.Matthew 22:37 NIV Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' Isaiah26:3 ESVYou keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Jesus died to have relationship with you. He isn't holding back from you now!These need to come up one at a time as I am talking about them, until all 3 are up there:WorshipThe WordListening Centered on ChristWouldn't it be niceTo not have to live here and there?But how can we liveIn the peace that he givesAnd the love that he asks us to share?I'll focus on himThat's the way to winThe battle that goes on in my mindI'll remember his deedsHow he's filled all my needsInstead of continuing to whineGod's word is so trueHe has great plans for youAnd for me and for those that we loveSo let's look to JesusWho's sworn never to leave usAnd live our lives with our eyes fixed aboveJesus wants to be at the center of your life because he knows that's where he can change everything!-------------------------------------------------Download the 828 Church app!To view our latest e-newsletter, the Midweek Momentum, and subscribe to our weekly updates, go here! https://linktr.ee/828church

We're so glad you are here! Thanks for checking out Sunday's message!-- SUNDAY'S NOTES --If we are content to have Jesus at the edges of our lives, we are in danger of missing having Him there at all.Psalm 103:2 NIV Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits.One key to keeping Jesus at the center is remembering that every truly good thing in my life has been because of Him.Psalm 119:89-96 NIVYour word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures.Your laws endure to this day, for all things serve you.If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have preserved my life.Save me, for I am yours; I have sought out your precepts.The wicked are waiting to destroy me, but I will ponder your statutes.To all perfection I see a limit, but your commands are boundless.John 6:67 TPT So Jesus said to his twelve, “And you—do you also want to leave?”John 6:68 TPT Peter spoke up and said, “But Lord, where would we go? No one but you gives us the revelation of eternal life. Hebrews 4:12 NIV For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. God's Word and His commands are perfect, powerful, and life-preserving.Matthew 22:37 NIV Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' Isaiah26:3 ESVYou keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Jesus died to have relationship with you. He isn't holding back from you now!These need to come up one at a time as I am talking about them, until all 3 are up there:WorshipThe WordListening Centered on ChristWouldn't it be niceTo not have to live here and there?But how can we liveIn the peace that he givesAnd the love that he asks us to share?I'll focus on himThat's the way to winThe battle that goes on in my mindI'll remember his deedsHow he's filled all my needsInstead of continuing to whineGod's word is so trueHe has great plans for youAnd for me and for those that we loveSo let's look to JesusWho's sworn never to leave usAnd live our lives with our eyes fixed aboveJesus wants to be at the center of your life because he knows that's where he can change everything!-------------------------------------------------Download the 828 Church app!To view our latest e-newsletter, the Midweek Momentum, and subscribe to our weekly updates, go here! https://linktr.ee/828church

Send us your feedback — we're listening2 Timothy 1:7 — Jesus, Break the Fear That Follows Me Into the Evening Live from London, England — Ireland • Brazil • Kenya • Denmark • India evening anxiety, emotional fatigue, sense of dread, intrusive thoughts, daily prayer, spiritual stability 2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV): “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” Psalm 91:5 (NIV): “You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day.” Jesus, as evening settles and the body slows, many minds do the opposite. Thoughts speed up, worries reignite, and fears that were quiet in the afternoon begin to speak loudly again. But You, Lord, step into the evening with authority. You remind us that the Holy Spirit does not bring timidity—He brings power, love, and a sound, steady mind. You break the cycle of dread that waits for the night and You speak calm into the places where fear has tried to take root. Holy Spirit, breathe strength into tired hearts. Where emotional fatigue has drained resolve, restore inner courage. Guard the mind from intrusive thoughts that arrive when the world becomes quiet. Let Your presence settle like warm oil over every restless place. Replace dread with peace, heaviness with hope, trembling with stability. Let Your power—Your real, present power—stand between every listener and the fear that tries to follow them into the evening. Yahweh, Shepherd and Defender, steady every person who feels vulnerable as daylight fades. Speak comfort over those who are weary from battles no one sees. Let Psalm 91 rise like a shield: You will not fear the terror of night. Let the Lion of Judah roar truth over every anxious heart, driving back darkness, breaking intimidation, and re-establishing peace. Remind Your people that fear does not have the final word—Jesus does. Bring rest where tension sits in the chest. Bring clarity where confusion stirs. Bring assurance where uncertainty presses. Let this evening become a place of divine reset—holy, quiet, safe, watched over, and filled with Your presence. DECLARATION: Jesus breaks the fear that follows me. The Holy Spirit strengthens me. Yahweh protects me. The Lion of Judah guards my evening, and my mind is steady and free. evening fear prayer, Jesus calm my mind, night anxiety Christian prayer, Holy Spirit peace, Psalm 91 comfort, daily devotional prayer, overcome dreadSupport the showFor more inspiring content, visit RBChristianRadio.net — your home for daily devotionals, global prayer, and biblical encouragement for every season of life. We invite you to connect with our dedicated prayer hub at DailyPrayer.uk — a place where believers from every nation unite in prayer around the clock. If you need prayer, or would like to leave a request, this is the place to come. Our mission is simple: to pray with you, to stand with you, and to keep the power of prayer at the centre of everyday life. Your support through DailyPrayer.uk helps us continue sharing the gospel and covering the nations in prayer. You can also discover our ministry services and life celebrations at LifeCelebrant.net — serving families with faith, dignity, and hope. If this devotional blesses you, please consider supporting our listener-funded mission by buying us a coffee through RBChristianRadio.net. Every prayer, every gift, and every share helps us keep broadcasting God's Word to the world.

Send us your feedback — we're listening2 Timothy 4:17 — JESUS, BREAK THE FEAR THAT FOLLOWS ME INTO THE EVENING Ireland • Brazil • Kenya • Denmark • India evening fear prayer, Jesus protect my mind tonight, daily devotional prayer, breakthrough against fear, emotional fatigue prayer, Holy Spirit strength 2 Timothy 4:17 (NIV): “But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength…” Psalm 27:5 (NIV): “For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling…” Jesus, as evening arrives, the world slows down but the inner battles often rise. Many across nations feel a heaviness that settles between sunset and nightfall—fear of what tomorrow holds, emotional fatigue from carrying too much, and a quiet tension that whispers uncertainty. Tonight, Jesus, stand at our side and break the fear that tries to follow us home. You are the One who strengthens hearts that tremble. Holy Spirit, move through every anxious thought. Lift the weight that has pressed on the soul throughout the day. Bring peace into tight chests, restless minds, and overwhelmed emotions. Calm the inner storms that no one else sees. Where fear has created tension, let Your presence release it. Where dread has grown silently, cut it off completely. Let the Lion of Judah roar over every fear that rises in the shadows, declaring courage, strength, and victory. Yahweh, You are the God who shelters Your people. Cover every home, family, workplace, journey, and quiet evening moment with divine protection. Guard those who feel emotionally drained. Strengthen those who feel worn down and unsure. Give clarity where confusion disrupted decisions. Give hope where discouragement grew throughout the day. Let Your presence be a shield and a sanctuary, steadying every heart seeking this daily prayer for courage and breakthrough. Jesus, break the fear that follows into the evening. Replace panic with peace, pressure with calm, and anxiety with trust. Turn this daily devotional into a refuge—an encounter where fear loses its voice and Your authority rises. Let every person praying this tonight know deeply: You stand beside them, You strengthen them, and You keep them safe. Jesus stands with me. The Holy Spirit strengthens me. Yahweh protects me. The Lion of Judah breaks every fear that tries to follow me. evening prayer against fear, Jesus protect me tonight, daily devotional prayer, Holy Spirit strength, overcoming anxiety with God, Christian breakthrough prayerSupport the showFor more inspiring content, visit RBChristianRadio.net — your home for daily devotionals, global prayer, and biblical encouragement for every season of life. We invite you to connect with our dedicated prayer hub at DailyPrayer.uk — a place where believers from every nation unite in prayer around the clock. If you need prayer, or would like to leave a request, this is the place to come. Our mission is simple: to pray with you, to stand with you, and to keep the power of prayer at the centre of everyday life. Your support through DailyPrayer.uk helps us continue sharing the gospel and covering the nations in prayer. You can also discover our ministry services and life celebrations at LifeCelebrant.net — serving families with faith, dignity, and hope. If this devotional blesses you, please consider supporting our listener-funded mission by buying us a coffee through RBChristianRadio.net. Every prayer, every gift, and every share helps us keep broadcasting God's Word to the world.

Send us your feedback — we're listening2 Timothy 1:7 — Holy Spirit, Quiet My Thoughts and Guard My Mind Tonight New York • London • Sydney • Lagos • Jerusalem — Holy Spirit peace, night mental battles, emotional pressure, mind protection, calm in the night 2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV): “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”Psalm 55:22 (NIV): “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.” At 3 a.m., the mind often becomes a storm. Thoughts race faster than rest can settle. Small concerns feel enormous, old worries resurface, future fears grow larger, and sleep becomes distant. This prayer meets that fragile hour with confidence, because the Holy Spirit is not overwhelmed by mental pressure, emotional heaviness, or the weight of spiralling thoughts. 2 Timothy 1:7 reminds us that fear is never the voice of God. The Holy Spirit brings power to overcome mental turbulence, love to settle the heart, and a sound mind that stands firm when emotions feel unpredictable. Psalm 55:22 strengthens the foundation by revealing that God sustains those who hand Him their burdens. Together these scriptures create a place of internal rest where anxious thoughts lose their authority. Tonight we pray for every person who feels trapped inside their own mind, every heart experiencing internal noise, every soul carrying pressure, worry, or mental fatigue. We lift those facing deadlines, uncertainty, emotional exhaustion, restlessness, hidden fears, decisions that feel overwhelming, intrusive thoughts that refuse to quieten, and spiritual pressure that intensifies in the early hours. Holy Spirit, enter this moment with clarity and peace. Guard the mind from what tries to dominate. Silence the internal storms. Bring rest where there is tension, slow the pace of thinking, lift the weight of overanalysis, and restore a calm rhythm to the heart. Let the mind settle under Your covering, the emotions stabilise in Your presence, and the night become a place of peace instead of battle. Let Your power strengthen every weary thought. Let Your love soothe every anxious place. Let Your presence become a shield over the mind. Where fear rises, replace it with courage. Where the imagination builds worst-case futures, fill the heart with trust. Where pressure tightens, loosen the grip and restore balance. The Holy Spirit is present, steady, and attentive. Tonight the mind comes under His protection.Support the showFor more inspiring content, visit RBChristianRadio.net — your home for daily devotionals, global prayer, and biblical encouragement for every season of life. We invite you to connect with our dedicated prayer hub at DailyPrayer.uk — a place where believers from every nation unite in prayer around the clock. If you need prayer, or would like to leave a request, this is the place to come. Our mission is simple: to pray with you, to stand with you, and to keep the power of prayer at the centre of everyday life. Your support through DailyPrayer.uk helps us continue sharing the gospel and covering the nations in prayer. You can also discover our ministry services and life celebrations at LifeCelebrant.net — serving families with faith, dignity, and hope. If this devotional blesses you, please consider supporting our listener-funded mission by buying us a coffee through RBChristianRadio.net. Every prayer, every gift, and every share helps us keep broadcasting God's Word to the world.

Send us your feedback — we're listening2 Timothy 1:7 — Holy Spirit, Quiet My Thoughts and Guard My Mind When Anxiety Rises in the NightFrom New York to Accra, Berlin, Mumbai, Auckland, and Los Angeles, this 3AM prayer reaches those battling spiralling thoughts, mental storms, pressure from all sides, and the deep fear that the night will not break. 2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV): “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. Psalm 94:19 (NIV): “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.” Holy Spirit, in these early hours when the world is quiet but my thoughts are loud, come close and steady me. You see the mental battles that rise without warning, the way fear tightens my chest, the spiralling thoughts that run in circles, the pressure that feels too heavy, and the exhaustion that settles deep in my bones. And these are exactly the cries being typed across the world right now—prayer for anxiety at night, Holy Spirit calm my thoughts, I can't stop overthinking, prayer for mental peace, Jesus help me breathe, night panic prayer, spiritual pressure at night, prayer when my mind won't switch off, fear of tomorrow prayer, protection from intrusive thoughts. Holy Spirit, calm the storm inside me. Bring Your power where fear tries to weaken me. Bring Your love where anxiety tightens its grip. Bring Your self-discipline where my thoughts spin without rest. Let Your presence wash through my mind like light breaking into a dark room. Let Your peace sit over my chest like a holy weight that steadies my breathing. Let Your voice silence every lie, every fear, every whisper of despair. Strengthen my inner world tonight. Guard my mind from fear, confusion, torment, and anything that tries to steal my peace. Let Your truth anchor me. Let Your presence surround me. Let Your comfort carry me. Let Your power lift me. Let Your love hold me. Let Your discipline steady me. And let Your peace reign over every part of me—mind, emotions, body, and spirit. I declare tonight that the Holy Spirit is my peace, my strength, my clarity, my defender, my comfort, my shield, my stabiliser, my wisdom, my breath, and my anchor in the night. Holy Spirit night prayer, anxiety at 3am, Jesus calm my thoughts, spiritual pressure prayer, intrusive thoughts at night, global Christian devotional, mental peace prayerSupport the showFor more inspiring content, visit RBChristianRadio.net — your home for daily devotionals, global prayer, and biblical encouragement for every season of life. We invite you to connect with our dedicated prayer hub at DailyPrayer.uk — a place where believers from every nation unite in prayer around the clock. If you need prayer, or would like to leave a request, this is the place to come. Our mission is simple: to pray with you, to stand with you, and to keep the power of prayer at the centre of everyday life. Your support through DailyPrayer.uk helps us continue sharing the gospel and covering the nations in prayer. You can also discover our ministry services and life celebrations at LifeCelebrant.net — serving families with faith, dignity, and hope. If this devotional blesses you, please consider supporting our listener-funded mission by buying us a coffee through RBChristianRadio.net. Every prayer, every gift, and every share helps us keep broadcasting God's Word to the world.

This is Christian Meditation for A Bigger Life – a time for you to relax your body and refocus your mind to experience the reality of God's presence. I'm Dave Cover. I want to help you with Christian meditation where you can break through all the distractions and experience God's presence through biblically guided imagination.  Acts 17:28 NIV “For in him we live and move and have our being,” Ephesians 3:16-17 NIV “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” Who can you share this podcast with? If you found this episode helpful, consider sharing it on social media or texting it to a friend you think might benefit from it. Follow Dave Cover on X (Twitter) @davecover Follow A Bigger Life on X @ABiggerLifePod Our audio engineer is Matthew Matlack. This podcast is a ministry of The Crossing, a church in Columbia, Missouri, a college town where the flagship campus of the University of Missouri is located.

This is Christian Meditation for A Bigger Life – a time for you to relax your body and refocus your mind to experience the reality of God's presence. I'm Dave Cover. I want to help you with Christian meditation where you can break through all the distractions and experience God's presence through biblically guided imagination.  Acts 17:28 NIV “For in him we live and move and have our being,” Ephesians 3:16-17 NIV “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” Who can you share this podcast with? If you found this episode helpful, consider sharing it on social media or texting it to a friend you think might benefit from it. Follow Dave Cover on X (Twitter) @davecover Follow A Bigger Life on X @ABiggerLifePod Our audio engineer is Matthew Matlack. This podcast is a ministry of The Crossing, a church in Columbia, Missouri, a college town where the flagship campus of the University of Missouri is located.

Today we get LOUD for the 100th time on the LTWL podcast. I started this channel 3 years ago as a way to break down the walls of beauty standards, create a space for inspiring conversations with beauty founders and creators, and leave viewers with more positive outlooks. I've thought about quitting many times. So why am I celebrating today? I am celebrating because I kept showing up for the dream and passion I had. Regardless that I haven't seen "success" in terms of numbers because I have gained success in the conversations had and continuing to get LOUD. This is just the start - so if you knew you were guaranteed success after many many failures, what would you try? Shop real skin. real results: https://nine2fiveskin.com/ Scripture Mentioned: Galatians 6:9 (NIV) “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Proverbs 24:16 (NIV) “For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.” Zechariah 4:10 (NIV) “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.” Audio versions: Catch LTWL on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/loudtalk-with-lavi/id1664975601 Catch LTWL on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3lXkBxqJOYzwu3g15fCmCM?si=e33b945687874d0f&nd=1 For Podcast highlights and updates follow: LTWL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loudtalkwithlavi/?hl=en LTWL TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@loudtalkwithlavi?lang=en More Lavi: Lavinia Rusanda YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LaviniaRusanda/videos Lavinia Rusanda TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@laviniarusanda?lang=en Lavinia Rusanda on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laviniarusanda/?hl=en Join Content Creator and engineering and business student Lavinia Rusanda as she uncovers the secrets of the beauty industry, breaks down the walls of beauty standards, and teaches you to learn self-love and become confident in your skin while bringing awareness to acne and real unfiltered skin.

This is Christian Meditation for A Bigger Life – a time for you to relax your body and refocus your mind to experience the reality of God's presence. I'm Dave Cover. I want to help you with Christian meditation where you can break through all the distractions and experience God's presence through biblically guided imagination.  Psalm 46:10 NIV He says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” Hebrews 4:16 CSB “Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.” Acts 17:28 NIV “For in him we live and move and have our being.” Who can you share this podcast with? If you found this episode helpful, consider sharing it on social media or texting it to a friend you think might benefit from it. Follow Dave Cover on X (Twitter) @davecover Follow A Bigger Life on X @ABiggerLifePod Our audio engineer is Matthew Matlack. This podcast is a ministry of The Crossing, a church in Columbia, Missouri, a college town where the flagship campus of the University of Missouri is located. 

This is Christian Meditation for A Bigger Life – a time for you to relax your body and refocus your mind to experience the reality of God's presence. I'm Dave Cover. I want to help you with Christian meditation where you can break through all the distractions and experience God's presence through biblically guided imagination.  Psalm 46:10 NIV He says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” Hebrews 4:16 CSB “Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.” Acts 17:28 NIV “For in him we live and move and have our being.” Who can you share this podcast with? If you found this episode helpful, consider sharing it on social media or texting it to a friend you think might benefit from it. Follow Dave Cover on X (Twitter) @davecover Follow A Bigger Life on X @ABiggerLifePod Our audio engineer is Matthew Matlack. This podcast is a ministry of The Crossing, a church in Columbia, Missouri, a college town where the flagship campus of the University of Missouri is located. 

Recorded live, this special Advent gathering invites listeners into the Story of stories through teaching, live worship, and guided prayer. Through music, reflection, and a holy encounter, Stasi leads us through a journey into waiting, longing, and the faithful Presence of Jesus, who came for us and is coming still.…..SHOW NOTES:…..RESOURCESWorship set on Spotify: ⁠https://wahe.art/491LuQO⁠Our deep gratitude to our incredible singers for their stunning performance at the gathering! Thank you to Amy Dale, Dani Bovee, and Laura Werner.Randy Gill – Mary's song (“The Magnificat”): ⁠https://youtu.be/Fayk8ygaN18⁠Watch the unedited live stream: https://wildatheart.org/events/women-advent-2025-livestreamFilm Scene Referenced: The Shawshank RedemptionFor more on the three levels of hope: Casual hope, crucial hope, and ultimate hope, read All Things New: Heaven, Earth, and the Restoration of Everything You Love by John Eldredge ⁠https://amzn.to/3v7mwz2⁠…..VERSES: Proverbs 13:12 (NIV) – Hope deferred makes the heart sick.Matthew 11:28 (NIV) – Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.Psalm 42:5 (NIV) – Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.Psalm 42:1 (NIV) – As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.Psalm 71:14 (NIV) – For me, I will always have hope. I will praise you more and more.1 Peter 1:3-4 (NIV) – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled and unfading, kept in heaven for you.Isaiah 25:1 (NIV) – Lord, you are my God. I will exalt you and praise your name for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago.Genesis 3:15 (NIV) – I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.Galatians 4:4 (NIV) – But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law.Luke 1:28-38 (NIV) – The Annunciation passage (quoted in full)Luke 1:46-55 (NIV) – The Magnificat (Mary's song)Romans 8:38-39 (NIV) – For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.Psalm 62:5-6 (NIV) – Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) – For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.…..Don't Miss Out on the Next Episode—Subscribe for FreeSubscribe using your favorite podcast app:YouTube: ⁠https://wahe.art/4h8DelL⁠Spotify Podcasts – ⁠https://spoti.fi/42SsOip⁠Apple Podcasts – ⁠https://apple.co/42E0oZ1⁠ Google Podcasts – ⁠http://wahe.art/3M81kxL⁠Amazon Music & Audible – ⁠https://amzn.to/3M9u6hJ⁠

The David Alliance TDAGiantSlayer@gmail.com Garth Heckman Expectations Craig Randall drives a garbage truck in Peabody, Massachusetts. in a garbage container one day, he noticed a Wendy's soft drink cup bearing a contest sticker. Having won a chicken sandwich the week before, Randall checked it, hoping for some french fries or a soft drink. Instead, he peeled a sticker worth $200,000 toward the construction of a new home, reports U.S. News and World Report (11/6/95). What we get out of life depends a lot on what we look for. Are we more likely to see each experience as trash or a potential treasure?     Maybe you've played this game before… Look around and find everything green. Now close your eyes and tell me what is blue. **What are you looking for?     Puppy watching is a life of expectation… is he going to chew my chair, poop on my chair, pee on my chair, jump from my chair… every move he makes is a move of expectation on my part.      Christmas is a time of EXPECTATION  Children expecting… waiting… knowing there will be presents under the tree. I used to get up Christmas morning at 4am!      **have you lost that loving feeling… of expectation       FAITH, HOPE, EXPECTATION Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Faith… you have faith that in the future you will get married and have a family. YOU GET MARRIED: You now hope to have a baby. YOU GET PREGNANT: you are expecting.        There are signs/evidence you are pregnant. **Living in a state of signs… building expectation.  Eager Anticipation of the Future Romans 8:19 (NIV): "For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.” FULLY REDEEMED. *(This highlights the intense, longing nature of the anticipation for the final redemption.)   Earnest expectation--A single word in the Greek, and a very striking one. It means, literally, a straining forward with outstretched head, just as we might imagine the crowds outside a race-course straining over the ropes to catch a sight of the runners; an eager, intent expectation. The same word is used once again in the New Testament (Philippians 1:20).   God expects us to expect!  Matthew 7:7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! 12 Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.   Expectation creates participation… Expectation creates participation in Gods plan Jesus reveals a principle here: If we truly expect God to act for us, we must be willing to let Him act through us.   If I claim to trust God for provision, favor, and breakthrough, but refuse to be a vessel of those same things to others, then I am not operating in expectation—I am operating in self-interest.   If my faith stops at “God, do for me,” but never reaches “God, flow through me,” then I am not trusting God—I am trusting my own control. Real faith doesn't just ask; it allows.   Option 4: Illustrative and Relational The Golden Rule is not just about behavior—it's about belief. If I expect God to respond when I call, I must also be willing to respond when He calls on me. Faith that only receives but never releases isn't faith at all—it's spiritual entitlement. But when I allow God to use me for others, I demonstrate that I truly trust Him to take care of me.     Expectation without participation in Gods plan is not faith.   **Remember whatever you look for you see, you find- and you can enter into - expectation is looking through Gods spirit.     VERSE 12 “For This Is the Law and the Prophets” This is massive. Jesus is saying: The entire Old Testament ethical vision Every command about justice, mercy, love, and holiness …can be summed up in this one relational principle. In other words: If you get this right, you are living out the heart of God's law. This aligns with Jesus' later words: “Love the Lord your God… and love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matt. 22:37–40)

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalms 90:12 NIV “ For the average man you've got about 4000 weeks of life.”- Dr Jerry Rabalais, U of L professor of school of medicine 29,000 days. 4,000 weeks. 960 months. That's the average for the man that lives to be 80 years old. We're not guaranteed tomorrow, but most men will live to be at or around 80 years old. What purpose are you living for and how do you reach a life of fulfillment and number of our days from a biblical perspective? On this week show, university of Louisville medical professor, Dr. Jerry Rabalais talks with Kurt and Chad about how to live with purpose and longevity in mind. More than just how's your blood pressure, what are the things that contribute to a man living a long and fulfilling life? Topics include: -How impactful loneliness is in a person longevity -The relationship between longevity and close relationships -A 30 year Harvard study that can be summed up in 3 words. (It's something that Jesus taught 2000 years ago.) (This is a repeat episode - enjoy!)

[Isaiah 9:1] Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory.Darkness doesn't always mean __________________.God does some of His best work in the ________________.[Isaiah 9:2 NIV] The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.Faith isn't denying the __________________, it's declaring the __________________.[Isaiah 9:6 NIV] For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.God's Light rarely arrives the way we __________________, but always in the way we __________________.[Daniel 8:13-14] Then I heard two holy ones talking to each other. One of them asked, "How long will the events of this vision last? How long will the rebellion that causes desecration stop the daily sacrifices? How long will the Temple and heaven's army be trampled on?" [14] The other replied, "It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the Temple will be made right again."[John 8:12] Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, "I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life."The Light that came into the world still _________________, still breaks through, and still __________________.[John 1:4-5 NIV] In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. [5] The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.Darkness doesn't _________________ a ________________ against the light![2 Corinthians 4:6-7] For God, who said, "Let there be light in the darkness," has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. [7] We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.

Gratitude Week 4 // Gratitude is a Choice Gratitude is a Choice Gratitude is a Disposition Romans 1:20-22 (NIV)“For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools.” 2 Corinthians 4:4, 6-11, 16-18 (NIV)“The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God… For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,' made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God's glory displayed in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted but not abandoned; struck down but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body… Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So, we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” Gratitude Doesn't Depend on Circumstances, but it Determines How We See Circumstances… Psalm 136 (NIV)Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.His love endures forever.Give thanks to the God of gods.His love endures forever.Give thanks to the Lord of lords:His love endures forever.to him who alone does great wonders,His love endures forever.who by his understanding made the heavens,His love endures forever.who spread out the earth upon the waters,His love endures forever.who made the great lights—His love endures forever. the sun to govern the day,His love endures forever.the moon and stars to govern the night;His love endures forever.to him who struck down the firstborn of EgyptHis love endures forever.and brought Israel out from among themHis love endures forever.with a mighty hand and outstretched arm;His love endures forever.to him who divided the Red Sea[a] asunderHis love endures forever.and brought Israel through the midst of it,His love endures forever.but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;His love endures forever.to him who led his people through the wilderness;His love endures forever.to him who struck down great kings,His love endures forever.and killed mighty kings—His love endures forever.Sihon king of the AmoritesHis love endures forever.and Og king of Bashan—His love endures forever.and gave their land as an inheritance,His love endures forever.an inheritance to his servant Israel.His love endures forever.He remembered us in our low estateHis love endures forever.and freed us from our enemies.His love endures forever.He gives food to every creature.His love endures forever.Give thanks to the God of heaven.His love endures forever. It Starts as a Practice, that Becomes a Discipline, that Becomes a Lifestyle. 

Who do you go to when life glitches? In this message, Lead Pastor, Jamie Nunnally continues our Holy Spirit series with instructions on how to engage with God's tech support.Ephesians 5:10 NLT Carefully determine what pleases the Lord.The Bible gives general truth for everyone, but it doesn't always answer specific situations. The great news: Christians have 24/7 tech support. The Bible gives the instructions; the Spirit gives the directions. The Bible brings the truth; the Spirit brings the troubleshooting.Romans 6:14 NIV For sin shall no longer be your master...How can we stop sinning if we don't follow the law? The Bible gives us the solution:Galatians 5:16–17 ESV Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh...The key is walking in the Spirit.Galatians 5:25 ESV If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Walking with someone means matching their pace and following their lead.The 5 steps of walking in the Spirit1. Pause.Psalm 46:10 NLT Pausing is a spiritual reboot—turning your will off and on again. Stillness reboots your awareness of God. If you don't pause, your flesh will hit "send" before the Spirit can speak.2. Listen.God speaks to your spirit. His voice often sounds like your thoughts but from a different source. If you're expecting thunder, you'll miss the whisper. We hear Him through spontaneous, persistent thoughts.John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice... Recognition comes through repetition. You don't need a louder God; you need fewer voices.3. Analyze.1 Thessalonians 5:19–21 ESV Ask: "Does this align with Scripture?" The Bible is the truth anchor. Don't test God's voice with feelings; test your feelings with God's Word. The Spirit always agrees with the Bible He wrote. Ask: "Is this what the Spirit wants or what I want?" "Does this reflect Jesus?" If the voice you hear always agrees with you, it's probably you.4. Implement.Hearing from God changes nothing until you obey. If you want God to speak more, obey what He already said.James 1:22 NLT Revelation without application becomes spiritual constipation. If the Spirit can't tell you "no," He's not your Lord—He's your mascot.5. Debrief.You won't always get it right, so process the results.Psalm 139:23–24 ESV Search me, O God...Reflection turns mistakes into maturity and lessons into lifestyle. You grow not by always getting it right but by always returning to the Teacher. Processing with God's people is essential too.ClosingHow would your life be different if you had been walking in the Spirit the whole time? You can't change yesterday, but you can start today. You have Heavenly tech support anytime, anywhere. Learn to listen and use it.Are you walking in the Spirit?

[Colossians 1:16a NIV] For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible....[Proverbs 25:2 ESV] It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.[1 Corinthians 3:18-20 NIV] Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. [19] For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”; [20] and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”[Romans 1:20 NIV] For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.As science progresses, more and more of the evidence points to a wise and intelligent being who created all things.[Proverbs 18:15 NIV] The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.” –[Job 12:7-10 NIV] “But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; [8] or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. [9] Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? [10] In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.God designed all things with purpose and for purpose.There are no accidents in God's creation.God is not a God of blind indifference who just set things in motion. He is a God with a plan for every creature under heaven.[Psalm 104:24 NET] How many living things you have made, O Lord! You have exhibited great skill in making all of them; the earth is full of the living things you have made.The very hairs of your head were ordained by God, the color of your skin, the way you look, the interests or gifts that God gave you.[Luke 12:6-7 NIV] Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. [7] Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.[Matthew 6:26 ESV] Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?[Luke 12:24 ESV] Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds![John 1:1-5 ESV] “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] He was in the beginning with God. [3] All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. [4] In him was life, and the life was the light of men. [5] The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

[Mark 5.25 KJV] And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years. Sometimes your issue becomes so big that it consumes your ________________. [Mark 5.26] She had suffered a great deal from many doctors, and over the years she had spent everything she had to pay them, but she had gotten no better. In fact, she had gotten worse. Eventually your issue can _______________ you. There are some issues in life that you _____________ ______________ on your own. Faith starts at the beginning of _______________ ___________________. [Mark 5.27-34] She had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him through the crowd and touched his robe. [28] For she thought to herself, “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.” [29] Immediately the bleeding stopped, and she could feel in her body that she had been healed of her terrible condition. [30] Jesus realized at once that healing power had gone out from him, so he turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my robe?” [31] His disciples said to him, “Look at this crowd pressing around you. How can you ask, ‘Who touched me?'” [32] But he kept on looking around to see who had done it. [33] Then the frightened woman, trembling at the realization of what had happened to her, came and fell to her knees in front of him and told him what she had done. [34] And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over.” My ____________ plus Jesus' _____________ can make a miracle. You're not going to get the _____________ you need if you don't bring it to Jesus. [Proverbs 3:5-6] Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek His will in all you do and He will show you which path to take. Hebrews 4:16 so let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Live a life of __________ not ___________. [Hebrews 4:15a NIV] For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses,

Spiritual heaviness can feel like it hits from every direction—global tragedies, personal struggles, and the weight of a world that seems to groan louder each day. Ephesians 6:10-11 reminds us that we’re not powerless in these seasons. God equips us with spiritual armor, giving us strength to stand firm, fight wisely, and remain grounded in His truth even when darkness feels overwhelming. Highlights Spiritual battles are real, but God never asks us to face them alone. The Holy Spirit empowers believers with strength, discernment, and courage. God’s armor—truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and His Word—protects us against the enemy’s schemes. Darkness may appear loud, but God’s authority is final, and His victory is already secured. Preparing daily with Scripture helps us resist defeat and stay rooted in truth. The enemy’s tactics are predictable, but God’s power in us is greater. Remembering God’s past faithfulness helps anchor us when the present feels heavy. Gift Inspiration: Crosswalk's Holiday Gift Guide Looking for a meaningful way to celebrate the season? Check out our Holiday Gift Guide—from beautifully illustrated Bibles and devotionals to novels, greeting cards, and picture books, there’s something for everyone on your list. Wrap up stories for loved ones, tuck a book into your own nightstand, and join us in celebrating the wonder of giving this Christmas! Full Transcript Below: God’s Armor for the Spiritually Heavy Seasons By: Laura Bailey Bible Reading: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” - Ephesians 6:10-11 NIV For the past few weeks, I have felt a spiritual heaviness, both personally and as if I am carrying the weight of the world. Perhaps you can relate? In the middle of you trying to figure out how to pay for your child’s braces, another school shooting pops up on your news feed, and it's more than you can handle. A friend sharing about a difficult diagnosis on the heels of learning about a public assassination is overwhelming. The tension in your church is growing due to differences in direction, coupled with the continued polarization of society, leaving your soul weary. There is so much despair, desperation, and depravity all around us, yet as believers, we don’t have to live defeated. Paul, in his letter to the church of Ephesus, reminds them of the spiritual battle that wages all around them. However, they are not alone in the battle; they have the power of the Holy Spirit, who is alive and active in the lives of believers. Scripture is clear; it’s not a question of whether we will encounter spiritual attacks, but when we do, we must be prepared. So suit up, brothers and sisters in Christ, put on the whole armor of God as you stand firm in your faith, rooted in God’s Word, strengthened by the Lord’s power. Join me as we enter the battle each day, knowing that we don’t fight against the flesh, but against the powers of darkness, the prince of this world (Ephesians 6:12). May we cling to the truth that while it may feel that the darkness is winning, God is on the throne and one day, He will come again. Darkness will be defeated once and for all! “Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” - Ephesians 6:13-17 NIV Heavenly Father, we bow before You, and we humbly ask that You equip us for battle. We know, Lord, that there is a spiritual battle that wages all around us. We want to be prepared so that we don’t fall victim to the enemy’s attacks. While he is the prince of the power of the air ( 2 Corinthians 4:4), he is a created being, and You are the creator ( Genesis 1:1). Satan’s power is limited, and he is under your authority. We don’t have to be fearful, but we must be watchful, for the enemy prowls around like a lion, looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). Our adversary’s tactics are not unique, and his mission is simple: “to kill, steal, and destroy” ( John 10:10) God’s creation. As Your Children, we don’t fight alone! You’ve given us a Helper (John 14:26), the Holy Spirit, who teaches and reminds us of Your Truths. Let us feel Your presence, as we buckle the belt of Truth around us, holding up our faith, and giving us the secure confidence and support of the Scriptures. Let us stand firm, as we proclaim the Truth of the gospel, shielding the enemy’s attacks on the righteous. We arm ourselves with the shield of faith and securely fasten the helmet of salvation, protecting our minds and thoughts from the evil one. Lord, grant us perseverance and steadfastness in our studying, meditation, and application of Your Holy Word. Lastly, Lord, when we feel overwhelmed and are tempted to believe that all hope is lost, grant us the power of remembrance. Fill our hearts and minds with biblical Truth, guide us to recall all the ways You have been faithful in our lives, and may we rest securely that You will keep Your future promises. You are securely on the throne, with Jesus at Your Right hand, to You be the glory, and honor! In Jesus’ Name, Amen. Intersecting Faith & Life: Many of us are familiar with Ephesians 6:10-17, yet we suffer from spiritual amnesia. When we are under attack, we begin to feel defeated, instead of remembering that we are more than conquerors (Romans 8:31-39). Take some time today and write out Ephesians 6:10-17, and place these verses somewhere as a daily reminder to put on the whole armor of God. Further Reading:Romans 8:31-39 A Spiritual Warfare Prayer Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Refresh!A Fresh Perspective: “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” Proverbs 11:25Sowing and reaping in the spiritual realm: “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” (Galatian 6:7-10, NIV)Acts of the Flesh vs. Fruit of the Spirit The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:19-23, NIV)Watch out! Possible seed contamination!“I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” (Romans 7:15, NIV) The Sower influences the size of the crop but God gives the growth and ultimately controls the size of the crop.Good news: “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” (2 Corinthians 9:6, NIV)Bad news: “They sow to the wind and reap the whirlwind,” (Hosea 8:7, NIV)Where do I start? Visit the tables in the Great Room to learn more about current opportunities.Visit gatewayfranklin.com to learn about and sign up for information about upcoming events.Contact Georgetta at georgetta@gatewayfranklin.com. THE EXCEPTION:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (Romans 3:23, NIV)23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23, NIV) "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21, NIV)

“Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1‬:‭26‬-‭28‬ ‭NIV‬‬ “For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬ “Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.” ‭‭John‬ ‭9‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Most people think of October 31st as Halloween—but it’s also Reformation Day, a cornerstone of Christian history that forever changed how believers understand salvation. Rooted in Romans 5:1–2, this devotional reminds us that faith—not works—justifies us before God. Martin Luther’s courage to challenge corruption in the church reignited the truth of salvation by grace alone through faith alone, and his bold stand still calls us to live out the Gospel with conviction today. Highlights Reformation Day commemorates October 31, 1517, when Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the Wittenberg church door. Luther’s actions reclaimed the biblical truth that salvation comes by grace through faith, not by works or wealth. His translation of the Bible into German gave ordinary people access to God’s Word for the first time. Today, over 700 languages have Scripture translations—a legacy of the Reformation’s impact. Believers are called to guard against modern distortions of the Gospel, like prosperity or works-based teachings. Living out Reformation truths means boldly proclaiming salvation through Christ alone and standing firm in sound doctrine. Join the Conversation How can you live out the truths of the Reformation in your daily faith walk? Share your reflections and gratitude for the freedom we have in Christ. Tag @LifeAudioNetwork and use #ReformationFaith #GraceAlone #FaithInChrist to join the conversation.

Built Different Pt. 7 | October 26, 2025Pastor Wes MorrisMark 5:2-20 (NIV) When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain.Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him.Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs.” He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned.When the people came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind.As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man begged to go with him. Jesus said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you and how he has had mercy on you.”So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.√  HE LABELS YOU BY YOUR BROKENNESS.The enemy calls you by your past. God calls you by your name.√  HE TRIES TO MAKE YOU COMFORTABLE IN THE DARK. John 8:12 (NIV) I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.√  HE CONVINCES YOU NOTHING WILL EVER CHANGE.John 10:10 (NIV) The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.BUILT DIFFERENT: BUILT FOR A BETTER STORYI. LEAVE THE TOMBS BEHIND.Ephesians 5:14 (NIV) Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.II. SEE YOURSELF THE WAY GOD SEES YOU.Judges 6:11–12 (NIV) The angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”II Corinthians 5:17 (ESV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.III. STEP INTO YOUR PURPOSE.Mark 5:19 (NIV) “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you…”Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Text: Romans 12:1-8; variousTheme: While on earth, Jesus did some pretty amazing things. Now, as the “Body of Christ” the church is called on to move and work, love and extend grace on His behalf. God has a way of giving us different skills in order to work together to accomplish this mission. This week we want you to see how YOU can be a part of God's plan.Memory Verse: Romans 12:4-5 (NIV) “For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”Message Notes: https://www.bible.com/events/49509894

Key Scriptures •Ephesians 2:8–9 (NIV)“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”→ This is the cornerstone text showing salvation is grace-based, not works-based. •Romans 3:23–24“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”→ No one measures up by deeds; justification is by grace. •Titus 3:4–5“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.”→ Our salvation rests in His mercy, not our moral report card. •John 3:16–17“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”→ Eternal life is a matter of faith in Christ, not tallying deeds. •Galatians 2:16“…a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.”→ Works of law cannot save—faith alone in Christ justifies.Follow Jessicas YouTube:https://youtube.com/ ⁨@OperationPTC⁩  Follow my Patreonhttps://patreon.com/mikeglover

Built Different Pt. 2 | September 21, 2025II Corinthians 10:3-5 (NIV) For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.√  WE FIGHT THE WRONG ENEMY. Ephesians 6:12 (NIV) For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.John 10:10 (NIV) The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy…√  WE FIGHT WITH THE WRONG WEAPONS.I Samuel 17:45 (NIV) You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty.√  WE FIGHT FOR THE WRONG VICTORY.Matthew 16:24-26 (NLT) Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?BUILT FOR THE BATTLEI. PICK UP OUR SPIRITUAL WEAPONS.Ephesians 6:10-11 (NIV) Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.Truth (Belt) - We hold our life together with the truth of God's Word.Righteousness (Breastplate) - Right living guards our heart.Peace (Shoes) - We walk steady with the peace of Christ.Faith (Shield) - Combat the enemy's lies through our trust in God.Salvation (Helmet) - Protect your mind with your identity in Christ.Word of God (Sword) - Fight back with Scripture.Prayer - Stay connected to God's power in the battle.II. RENEW OUR MINDS DAILY.II Corinthians 10:5 (NIV) ...we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.Colossians 3:2 (NIV) Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.III. RELY ON THE HOLY SPIRIT'S POWER.Galatians 5:22-25 (NLT) But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's leading in every part of our lives.Group Discussion Questions + PracticeOpening QuestionShare about a time when you felt like you were in a battle - maybe at work, in your family, or even in your mind. How did you try to fight that battle?Part 1– The Battles We FaceWe fight the wrong enemy (Ephesians 6:12)Why do we often view people as the enemy instead of recognizing the real spiritual battle behind the scenes?How might seeing the “true enemy” change the way you respond to conflict in your life right now?We fight with the wrong weapons (1 Samuel 17:45)What “worldly weapons” are easy for you to pick up when life gets hard (anger, control, avoidance, etc.)?We fight for the wrong victory (Matthew 16:24–26)Jesus warned that it's possible to “gain the whole world but lose your soul.” What might a “shallow victory” look like in your life?How can we shift our focus from temporary wins to eternal victories?

In the conclusion of this two-part series, Stasi and Lisa Beck explore how to discover our irreplaceable roles in God's story. They reflect on how God often reveals our calling in everyday moments, from the themes in our lives to the desires of our hearts. With honesty, humor, and a powerful prayer of blessing, they inspire us to cast off comparison, stand in our belovedness, and embrace the unique way God has designed us. Friends, your life matters, and your desire to play an important and significant role is God-given. You are irreplaceable.…..SHOW NOTES:…..If you haven't listened to Part 1, you can do so here: YouTube: https://wahe.art/4mDZ2rnWild at Heart App:  https://wahe.art/4n8fcJfVERSES: Acts 9:18 (NIV) – Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized.Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) – For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.…..RESOURCESCaptivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul by John and Stasi Eldredge   https://wahe.art/3L9tLMcCaptivating Retreats – Multi-day retreats led by the Wild at Heart team, designed to help women encounter God and rediscover their irreplaceable role in His story. Find a Captivating Retreat near you: https://wahe.art/48LnpNF…..Don't Miss Out on the Next Episode—Subscribe for FreeSubscribe using your favorite podcast app:YouTube: https://wahe.art/4jFlAXuSpotify Podcasts – https://spoti.fi/42SsOipApple Podcasts – https://apple.co/42E0oZ1 Google Podcasts – http://wahe.art/3M81kxLAmazon Music & Audible – https://amzn.to/3M9u6hJ

This is Christian Meditation for A Bigger Life – a time for you to relax your body and refocus your mind to experience the reality of God's presence. I'm Dave Cover. I want to help you with Christian meditation where you can break through all the distractions and experience God's presence through biblically guided imagination.  Acts 17:25 NIV “He himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.” Acts 17:28 NIV “For in him we live and move and have our being.” Colossians 1:16-17 NIV “...All things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” The Jesus Prayer “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” The earliest attested references to a form of the Jesus Prayer appear in a letter traditionally attributed to John Chrysostom (AD 407). In a “Letter to an Abbot,” John Chrysostom makes mention of using "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy" (and also the plural variant "…have mercy on us") as a form of unceasing prayer. Who can you share this podcast with? If you found this episode helpful, consider sharing it on social media or texting it to a friend you think might benefit from it. Follow Dave Cover on X (Twitter) @davecover Follow A Bigger Life on X @ABiggerLifePod Our audio engineer is Matthew Matlack. This podcast is a ministry of The Crossing, a church in Columbia, Missouri, a college town where the flagship campus of the University of Missouri is located. 

This is Christian Meditation for A Bigger Life – a time for you to relax your body and refocus your mind to experience the reality of God's presence. I'm Dave Cover. I want to help you with Christian meditation where you can break through all the distractions and experience God's presence through biblically guided imagination.  Acts 17:25 NIV “He himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.” Acts 17:28 NIV “For in him we live and move and have our being.” Colossians 1:16-17 NIV “...All things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” The Jesus Prayer “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” The earliest attested references to a form of the Jesus Prayer appear in a letter traditionally attributed to John Chrysostom (AD 407). In a “Letter to an Abbot,” John Chrysostom makes mention of using "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy" (and also the plural variant "…have mercy on us") as a form of unceasing prayer. Who can you share this podcast with? If you found this episode helpful, consider sharing it on social media or texting it to a friend you think might benefit from it. Follow Dave Cover on X (Twitter) @davecover Follow A Bigger Life on X @ABiggerLifePod Our audio engineer is Matthew Matlack. This podcast is a ministry of The Crossing, a church in Columbia, Missouri, a college town where the flagship campus of the University of Missouri is located. 

In part one of this two-part series, Stasi is joined by her friend Lisa Beck of the Wild at Heart women's team to reflect on a core desire of every woman's heart: to play her irreplaceable role in God's epic story. Through tender stories of hidden impact and lasting influence, they remind us that each of us is significant and that all our offerings, large and small, carry eternal value. We hope this episode helps you see how deeply you matter and recognize with fresh wonder and hope your irreplaceable role in God's kingdom.…..SHOW NOTES:…..VERSES: Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) – For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.Matthew 18:3 (NIV) – And he said: ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.'Mark 12:31 (NIV) – The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these.…..RESOURCESCaptivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul by John and Stasi Eldredge ⁠https://wahe.art/3L9tLMc⁠Captivating Retreats – Multi-day retreats led by the Wild at Heart team, designed to help women encounter God and rediscover their irreplaceable role in His story. Find a Captivating Retreat near you: ⁠https://wahe.art/48LnpNF⁠…..Don't Miss Out on the Next Episode—Subscribe for FreeSubscribe using your favorite podcast app:YouTube: ⁠https://wahe.art/4jFlAXu⁠Spotify Podcasts – ⁠https://spoti.fi/42SsOip⁠Apple Podcasts – ⁠https://apple.co/42E0oZ1⁠ Google Podcasts – ⁠http://wahe.art/3M81kxL⁠Amazon Music & Audible – ⁠https://amzn.to/3M9u6hJ⁠

This is Christian Meditation for A Bigger Life – a time for you to relax your body and refocus your mind to experience the reality of God's presence. I'm Dave Cover. I want to help you with Christian meditation where you can break through all the distractions and experience God's presence through biblically guided imagination.  Acts 17:25 NIV “He himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.” Acts 17:28 NIV “For in him we live and move and have our being.” Colossians 1:16-17 NIV “...All things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” Who can you share this podcast with? If you found this episode helpful, consider sharing it on social media or texting it to a friend you think might benefit from it. Follow Dave Cover on X (Twitter) @davecover Follow A Bigger Life on X @ABiggerLifePod Our audio engineer is Matthew Matlack. This podcast is a ministry of The Crossing, a church in Columbia, Missouri, a college town where the flagship campus of the University of Missouri is located. 

This is Christian Meditation for A Bigger Life – a time for you to relax your body and refocus your mind to experience the reality of God's presence. I'm Dave Cover. I want to help you with Christian meditation where you can break through all the distractions and experience God's presence through biblically guided imagination.  Acts 17:25 NIV “He himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.” Acts 17:28 NIV “For in him we live and move and have our being.” Colossians 1:16-17 NIV “...All things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” Who can you share this podcast with? If you found this episode helpful, consider sharing it on social media or texting it to a friend you think might benefit from it. Follow Dave Cover on X (Twitter) @davecover Follow A Bigger Life on X @ABiggerLifePod Our audio engineer is Matthew Matlack. This podcast is a ministry of The Crossing, a church in Columbia, Missouri, a college town where the flagship campus of the University of Missouri is located. 

Student Takeover Sunday  Speaker: Pastor Ken Primeau August 31, 2025 Ephesians 2:10 NIV “For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

What does it mean to embody Christ, to be the living expression of his love in the world? In this inspiring episode, Stasi invites listeners to embrace our God-given design as image-bearers who carry his presence into our everyday moments. Through Scripture, story, and gentle guidance, Stasi shares how we reflect Jesus not by striving, but by receiving his love, blessing our lives, and living surrendered. Dear one, you matter, and your life reveals the heart of God.…..SHOW NOTES:…..VERSES: Ephesians 1:18–19 (NIV) – I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.2 Corinthians 5:20 (NIV) – We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.John 14:12 (NIV) – Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.Romans 12:1 (NIV) – Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.1 John 1:9 (NIV) – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.Romans 8:1 (NIV) – Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) – For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.John 13:35 (NIV) – By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV) – And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.Philippians 2:13 (NIV) – For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.John 3:16 (NIV) – For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.……..RESOURCES"Apocalypse People: The discipleship movement that will probably change the world" by Blaine Eldredge   ⁠https://wahe.art/4n7GhgC⁠The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: How to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in the Chaos of the Modern World by John Mark Comer  ⁠https://bit.ly/4ne2jOX⁠Practicing the Way: Be with Jesus. Become like him. Do as he did. by John Mark Comer  ⁠https://bit.ly/4jZThCi⁠Poem – Indwelt by A.S. Wilson:Not merely in the words you say,Not only in your deeds confessed,But in the most unconscious wayIs Christ expressed.Is it a beatific smile,A holy light upon your brow;Oh no, I felt His Presence whileYou laughed just now.For me ‘twas not the truth you taughtTo you so clear, to me still dimBut when you came to me you broughtA sense of Him.And from your eyes He beckons me,And from your heart His love is shed,Til I lose sight of you and seeThe Christ instead.…..Don't Miss Out on the Next Episode—Subscribe for FreeSubscribe using your favorite podcast app:YouTube: ⁠https://wahe.art/4jFlAXu⁠Spotify Podcasts – ⁠https://spoti.fi/42SsOip⁠Apple Podcasts – ⁠https://apple.co/42E0oZ1⁠ Google Podcasts – ⁠http://wahe.art/3M81kxL⁠Amazon Music & Audible – ⁠https://amzn.to/3M9u6hJ

This is Christian Meditation for A Bigger Life – a time for you to relax your body and refocus your mind to experience the reality of God's presence. I'm Dave Cover. I want to help you with Christian meditation where you can break through all the distractions and experience God's presence through biblically guided imagination.  *Note: We will release just one episode per week on Tuesdays during the summer. Acts 17:25 NIV “He himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.” Acts 17:28 NIV “For in him we live and move and have our being.” Romans 11:33-36 NIV 33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! 34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?”  35 “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?”  36 For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. Who can you share this podcast with? If you found this episode helpful, consider sharing it on social media or texting it to a friend you think might benefit from it. Follow Dave Cover on X (Twitter) @davecover Follow A Bigger Life on X @ABiggerLifePod Our audio engineer is Matthew Matlack. This podcast is a ministry of The Crossing, a church in Columbia, Missouri, a college town where the flagship campus of the University of Missouri is located. 

This is Christian Meditation for A Bigger Life – a time for you to relax your body and refocus your mind to experience the reality of God's presence. I'm Dave Cover. I want to help you with Christian meditation where you can break through all the distractions and experience God's presence through biblically guided imagination.  *Note: We will release just one episode per week on Tuesdays during the summer. Acts 17:25 NIV “He himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.” Acts 17:28 NIV “For in him we live and move and have our being.” Romans 11:33-36 NIV 33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! 34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?”  35 “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?”  36 For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. Who can you share this podcast with? If you found this episode helpful, consider sharing it on social media or texting it to a friend you think might benefit from it. Follow Dave Cover on X (Twitter) @davecover Follow A Bigger Life on X @ABiggerLifePod Our audio engineer is Matthew Matlack. This podcast is a ministry of The Crossing, a church in Columbia, Missouri, a college town where the flagship campus of the University of Missouri is located. 

Transformed By Love // “Love Is” How can we, as a church and as individuals, live in our community in a way that reflects the grace and kindness of Jesus? But What Is the Love of God? Ephesians 3:14-19 (ESV)“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Agape - noun used 18x = benevolence, goodwill, flowing from God's charter. Agapáo - verb used 28x = The proof of love. Love Is + Love Does God is Love What is the Love of God Like? His Love Appears First 1 John 4:19 (ESV)“We love because he first loved us.” His Love Cannot be Earned 1 John 4:9-10 (NLT)“God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.” Romans 8:38-39 (ESV)“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” “The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.” - Timothy Keller His Love is Proven by the Cross Romans 5:6,8 (ESV)“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly… but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” John 3:16-17 (NIV)“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.” His love is revealed by the Holy Spirit Galatians 1:11-12 (ESV)“For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached is not man's gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 3:14-19 (ESV)“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” “Holy Spirit, Give Me a Revelation of Your Love, I Need It!” 

WHEN HEAVEN CALLSSunday, July 27, 2025Pastor Wes Morris Isaiah 6:1-8 (NLT) It was in the year King Uzziah died that I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple.Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. They were calling out to each other, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”Their voices shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke. Then I said, “It's all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. He touched my lips with it and said, “See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven.”Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.”√ GOD'S CALL DOESN'T BEGIN WITH AN ASSIGNMENT - IT BEGINS WITH AN ENCOUNTER. Isaiah 6:1 (NLT) ...I saw the Lord.√ THE CLOSER WE GET TO GOD, THE MORE CLEARLY WE SEE OUR NEED FOR GRACE. Isaiah 6:5 (NIV) “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips...”Luke 5:8 (NIV) When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” You are more sinful than you ever dared believe, and yet more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than you ever dared hope.-Tim Keller√ GRACE DOESN'T JUST COVER OUR PAST - IT CALLS US INTO OUR FUTURE.Isaiah 6:8 (NLT) Then I heard the Lord asking, “Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.”WHEN HEAVEN CALLSThe place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet.- Frederick BuechnerI. START WITH SURRENDER.Romans 12:1-2 (MSG) So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it.II. STRETCH OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE. II Corinthians 5:14-15 (TLB) He died for all so that all who live—having received eternal life from him—might live no longer for themselves, to please themselves, but to spend their lives pleasing Christ who died and rose again for them.What makes me feel most alive?What problems or people do I feel drawn to help? (What breaks my heart?)How could God use me to make a difference?III. SAY YES TO THE CALL.Isaiah 6:8 (NLT) Then I heard the Lord asking, “Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.”Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.To learn more about Bay Chapel or to visit us in person, check out baychapel.com

Top Ten from 2024: #2 Escape from Modern Day Sex Slavery with Rachel Timothy   *DISCLAIMER* This episode includes thematic material and may be triggering. It is only intended for mature audiences and those who are not triggered by graphic sexual content.   **Transcription of original episode**  229. Escape from Modern Day Sex Slavery with Rachel Timothy   Ephesians 5:8-14 (NIV) For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light  (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)  and find out what pleases the Lord.  Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.  It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.  But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.  This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”   Rachel Timothy was only nine years old when she was first approached by a perpetrator who was known to her as a teacher and coach. In her books, she goes into detail of the process of being groomed and how the evil of what was happening to her in the dark remained unseen by everyone around her. She describes how she coped for so many years by blocking out the memories only to have them resurface when she was an adult with a family of her own. Rachel had no idea that when she would pursue justice it would end up putting her right back in the world of trafficking. It wasn't until her church family saw the signs and believed what she was saying that she was able to start the process of finding freedom. Rachel shows her faith and love of God during the highs and lows of her journey and she prays for each person who reads her story. That their eyes will be opened and their actions will lead us toward ending sex trafficking in our world.   Stop Suffering Website   Rachel's Books: Open Blind Eyes Reflecting Ownership Reflecting Ownership Workbook   Questions and Topics We Discuss: Will you share your story with us? Will you close the loop on an update to today? How can we recognize signs of trafficking in our children and in our community?    Thank You to Our Sponsor: The Homeschool Printing Company   Connect with The Savvy Sauce on Facebook, Instagram or Our Website.   Please help us out by sharing this episode with a friend, leaving a 5-star rating and review, and subscribing to this podcast!   Gospel Scripture: (all NIV)   Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”   Romans 3:24 “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”   Romans 3:25 (a) “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.”    Hebrews 9:22 (b) “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”    Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”    Romans 5:11 “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”    John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”   Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”    Luke 15:10 says “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”   Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”   Ephesians 1:13–14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession- to the praise of his glory.”   Ephesians 1:15–23 “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”   Ephesians 2:8–10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God‘s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“   Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.“   Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”