Podcasts about philippians

Some weeks the news makes it impossible to look away. This is one of those weeks. Mia sets aside her pre-recorded episodes to talk about what happens to our hearts when we watch society celebrate something that is clearly evil, and what we are actually supposed to do about it.   This is not a hot take. It is not an opinion episode. It is an honest conversation about staying tender when everything around you is pushing you toward a hard, cold heart, and about why prayer is the real battleground when the comment section feels like the only option. Mia talks about guarding what you let into your spirit, why children and mothers are under such heavy attack right now, and how to stay on mission when the world feels like it is unraveling. The episode closes with a full prayer over babies, over children, and over mothers who are struggling in the dark. If you have been carrying grief, anger, or numbness this week, this one is for you.   Timestamps Time Topic 00:01 Welcome, and why this episode replaced the ones already recorded 00:54 What moments like this reveal about our collective moral compass 01:22 The Bible told us this was coming: evil called good, people loving themselves 02:18 Why this is not an opinion episode 02:47 Protecting those who cannot defend themselves 03:12 Philippians 4:8 and guarding what you scroll past 03:39 Knowing your limits: why Mia will not go down certain rabbit holes 04:36 Staying sensitive to evil without being consumed by it 05:06 When society celebrates evil, and how God still uses it to draw people in 06:18 Why people run toward God after seeing evil 06:49 Pray for the children. Pray for the mothers. 07:18 The real danger for believers: a hardened heart 08:17 Those sweet lives are with Jesus, and there is still a way home 08:45 Becoming your own moral compass 09:11 How a culture of self spills over into how we treat children 10:40 The movement of agreement is more alarming than the act 11:35 Why we cannot argue anyone into seeing it, but we can pray 12:04 Why the enemy targets the smallest and purest among us 13:00 The response is not more hate. The response is prayer. 13:29 If you are on the other side of this, here is the invitation 14:23 You cannot hold the Holy Spirit and celebrate evil at the same time 14:52 Praying over mothers, and what to do about intrusive voices 16:14 Righteous anger, and where to aim it 17:14 What Mia does not claim to know, and what she does know 17:40 There is always a way out, and we still get to choose 18:38 Nobody is too far gone 19:32 How a hardened heart quietly kills your prayer life 20:02 Leading well from whatever platform you have 21:00 Gather your people and pray 22:27 Fight in prayer instead of fighting in the comments 22:56 Full prayer over babies, children, and mothers 25:19 Closing encouragement and what is coming next   Scriptures Referenced Quoted directly Philippians 4:8 (03:12) - Whatever is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable, think on these things. Mia's filter for what she lets into her feed and her spirit.   Referenced and paraphrased throughout Isaiah 5:20 (01:22, 22:27) - Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 (01:22, 08:45) - In the last days people will be lovers of themselves, proud, without natural affection. John 10:10 (03:39, 12:04, 26:17) - The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. Jesus came so we could have life, and have it abundantly. Romans 3:23 (13:29) - All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 6:23 (13:29) - The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (13:55) - Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (17:40) - God is faithful. He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear, but will provide a way out. Romans 10:13 (19:02) - Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. 1 Kings 19:11-12 (19:02) - The still small voice. James 4:7 (14:52, 16:14) - Submit to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Philippians 2:9-11 (15:22) - At the name of Jesus every knee will bow. Ephesians 6:12 (13:00, 19:32) - Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces in the heavenly realms. Philippians 4:6-7 (24:21) - The peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Luke 12:7 (26:17) - Even the hairs on your head are numbered. Psalm 139:13-16 (26:17) - You knit me together in my mother's womb. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. You are not a mistake.   Call to Action Summary 1. Guard your heart and your feed. Do not consume every piece of evil available to you. You cannot unsee what you see, and a spirit worn down by images of harm is not a spirit ready to do what God called you to do. Use Philippians 4:8 as a filter.   2. Refuse the hardened heart. The temptation right now is to go cold, write off society, and stop caring. That is the loss. A soft heart is what keeps you praying, and a hardened heart is what quietly ends your prayer life.   3. Go to battle in prayer, not in the comment section. Pray protection over babies and children, in the womb and out of it. Pray over mothers, including mothers who are pregnant, overwhelmed, or walking through postpartum depression. Pray that they hear God's voice instead of the enemy's. If you know a mother in that place, tell her to call on the name of Jesus, and pray over her yourself.   4. If you are far from God, come back. Nobody is too far gone. Open your Bible. Get into a church. Read what God says about how He feels about children, and about you. It is not too late to get right with Him. Gather your people. Whatever your circle is, family, team, small group, business, bring them together and pray over the children and the mothers out loud.  

The Bible reveals one of the characteristics that is most damaging to our relationship with God and others is pride. Yet, most of us don't readily confess pride as a struggle. Perhaps it's because pride is subtle, and it's difficult to see in ourselves.Main Points:1. Pride is often described as the silent enemy of the soul, lurking in the shadows and hindering our relationship with God. It can be challenging to recognize pride within ourselves, because it doesn't always reveal itself in overt ways.2. Pride blinds us to our faults and weaknesses. When pride lurks within us, we become defensive and resistant to feedback or correction. Instead of humbly acknowledging our shortcomings, we may find ourselves justifying our actions or blaming others. Pride convinces us that we are always right.3. So how do we combat pride and cultivate humility in our lives? The answer lies in following the example of Jesus Christ, who humbled Himself and became obedient to the will of God.Today's Scripture Verses:Proverbs 12:15 - "The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.”Psalm 139:23 - “Search me, O God, and know my heart.”Jeremiah 17:9 - “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it?”Philippians 2:3-4 -  "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."    Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

The parable of the workers in the vineyard raises an uncomfortable question: what if God's grace isn't fair?On this episode of Sermon Brainwave, Karoline Lewis, Cody Sanders, and Matt Skinner dig into Matthew 20:1-16 and explore why this story about a generous landowner makes us so angry. They unpack fairness, retributive justice, and what it means to see as God sees. The conversation also covers Jonah's fury at God's mercy, Exodus 16 and the daily bread that sustains a hungry people, Psalm 145's unsearchable greatness, and the opening chapter of Philippians. Preachers will find fresh angles on prophetic preaching, grace that offends our sense of power, and the four-week journey into Philippians that begins this week.

Pastor Bryan shares the second half of a lesson from Philippians 1. Dr. Chapell highlights how as believers, our joy is not a result of or dependent upon our circumstances. We can find abounding joy in knowing that the Grace of God covers us. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1286/29?v=20251111

Philippians 1:6

In this episode of Hardcore Christianity, host Brother Mike—counselor at the Arizona Deliverance Center in Phoenix—examines the tragic case of Lindsay Clancy, analyzing the progression from postpartum depression to postpartum psychosis through both clinical and spiritual lenses. Key Takeaways Case Overview: Reviews the tragic events involving former labor and delivery nurse Lindsay Clancy, including her medical treatment, trial status, severe physical injuries, and search for psychiatric help. Psychiatric and Clinical Factors: Discusses the failure of numerous psychotropic medications to alleviate severe insomnia, paranoia, debilitating anxiety, and intrusive thoughts associated with postpartum psychosis and undiagnosed bipolar disorder. Spiritual Warfare Perspective: Frames extreme mental health crises and intrusive suicidal or homicidal thoughts as spiritual attacks involving evil entities operating within human consciousness. Exegesis of 2 Corinthians 4:4: Analyzes the Greek noun noēma (νοήματα)—often translated as "minds" or "thoughts"—arguing that demonic forces actively target human thought patterns to induce hopelessness and destruction. Scripture & Reference Links 2 Corinthians 4:4: Satan blinding the minds/thoughts of individuals. 2 Corinthians 10:5: Taking every thought (noēma) captive to the obedience of Christ. Philippians 4:7: The peace of God guarding hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Support the show: https://hardcorechristianity.com/donations/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most things in life are learned and according to scripture that includes contentment. So that means you can do something about your happiness instead of settling and just going through life with no joy. It begins by asking God where you lack contentment? Discontentment is usually at the root of unhappiness. Today, we help you learn contentment. Philippians 4:11-12

“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy.” (Philippians 1:3–4) The letter to the Philippian church stands as... More...

Season 6 Day 3: What Would a Day With Jesus Look Like? (Philippians 4:5)   In Season 6, Day 3 of Rewire Your Brain: The Peace & Positivity Podcast, host Liz Bagwell continues the Philippians 4 series with the next phrase in verse 5: "The Lord is at hand." Looking at this promise through the lens of God's nearness in space, Liz guides listeners through an imaginative gratitude challenge — picturing an entire day spent physically alongside Jesus, from waking up to falling asleep. Today's prompts include Micro and Macro Gratitudes, Affirmations, a guided Meditation with Jesus through Philippians 4:4-9, and an action step for actually scheduling time this week to feel His presence.   What You'll Learn: What "the Lord is at hand" means in the original Greek, and why God's nearness matters for anxious thoughts A guided imagination exercise: what a full day spent physically with Jesus might look like How picturing God's nearness can reshape day-to-day anxiety and stress A guided Meditation with Jesus through Philippians 4:4-9 A practical action step for scheduling real time this week to feel God's presence   Chapters:  00:00 Introduction and Liz's Healing Journey 01:18 The Power of Daily Spiritual Practices 02:08 Neuroscience and Hebb's Law in Healing 03:36 Daily Prompts for Gratitude and Reflection 07:09 Practicing Gratitude and Prayer 11:07 Affirmations Guided by Jesus 12:54 Meditation on Philippians 4:4-9 15:20 Reflection and Connecting with God 16:32 Closing Prayer and Final Thoughts   Scripture Referenced: Philippians 4:5 (Philippians 4:4-9 read in full during the meditation)   Links & Resources: Hear Liz's full story and the science of neuroplasticity: Season 3, Episode 1 (https://podcasts.apple.com/bm/podcast/s3e1-christian-prayers-and-meditations-for/id1683576689?i=1000671699080) or Season 4, Episode 1 (https://podcasts.apple.com/bm/podcast/season-4-day-1-of-christian-prayers-and/id1683576689?i=1000697728428) Links to PDFs: Patreon Substack Join the email list for weekly encouragement, first access to new resources, and a free gift when you sign up: https://divinerx.myflodesk.com/uv87x847ln   Need more in-depth brain-rewiring steps? Check out the Divine Rewire Course: https://elizabeth-bagwell.mykajabi.com/cotton-sales-page   Loved this episode? Follow the show and leave a quick rating in your podcast app — it helps this podcast reach someone else who needs it today.   Tags: Christian podcast, faith-based mental health, anxiety podcast, depression podcast, PTSD, OCD, neuroplasticity, Hebb's Law, God's presence, gratitude practice, Philippians 4:5, Bible study, prayer, Rewire Your Brain podcast, Liz Bagwell  

The devil is not after your bank account. He is after your thought life. Here is how to take every thought captive and answer it with the Word. FREE DAILY DEVOTIONALS A short word from the Word in your inbox every morning. Free, and you can start today. https://increaseministries.com/start-here JOIN THE INCREASE ACADEMY Live morning calls, the 12 month discipleship path, and a community of believers growing together. https://increaseacademy.com KINGDOM LAUNCHPAD You know you're called. This is where you finally get started. https://www.skool.com/kingdom-launchpad-6884 MY BOOKS Short, practical reads on faith, identity, and increase. Most you can finish in one sitting. https://increaseministries.com/books LISTEN ON SPOTIFY Take the teaching with you. Every message on audio. https://open.spotify.com/show/5qwNtJ3M2ZQOnrTzXhMqZI SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE New teaching every week. Hit subscribe so you don't miss it. https://www.youtube.com/@TravisPeters/videos GIVE Your giving puts this teaching in front of believers who need it. https://increaseministries.com/give ABOUT THIS TEACHING Most believers never stop to think about what they are thinking about. That is exactly what the enemy is counting on. If he can dominate your thought life with fear, worry, and what if it doesn't work, he does not have to do anything else. Your beliefs follow your thoughts, your words follow your beliefs, and your actions follow your words. He gets the outcome he wanted without ever touching your circumstances. In this teaching we walk through 2 Corinthians 10:5 and Romans 12:2 in the New Living Translation, then open Matthew 6:25-34, John 14:26-27, and John 16:33 in the Amplified. Jesus gave a direct instruction: stop being worried and anxious saying what will we eat, what will we drink, how are we going to make it. That is a command, which means you have the ability to carry it out. You have power, love, and a sound and well disciplined mind, and you can answer every fear thought the same way Jesus answered Satan. It is written. Taught live on the morning call inside the Increase Academy, where we get in the Word together before the day starts. WHAT YOU WILL LEARN - Why your dominating thoughts set the direction of your life - How one negative thought stair steps into a full spiral - How to catch a thought and make it obey Christ - The scriptures that shut down fear about money, health, and the future - Why healing is always God's will, and what Mark 6 actually says - What Jesus meant by take no thought saying - How to answer what if it doesn't work with what if it does CHAPTERS 0:00 Welcome and good morning 1:00 The devil just wants to control your thought life 3:21 Take every thought captive and renew your mind 4:58 The basketball injury and the 45 second spiral 7:05 Do not be ignorant of his devices, answer with the Word 10:04 The woman who wanted to lay hands on her brother 13:47 Is it always God's will to heal 20:14 How Jesus shut Satan down, it is written 22:56 Matthew 6, stop being worried and anxious 27:22 John 14 and John 16:33, His peace and courage when trouble comes 36:11 Closing prayer SCRIPTURES REFERENCED 2 Corinthians 10:5 Romans 12:2 (New Living Translation) Mark 4 Philippians 4:19 1 Peter 2:24 2 Timothy 1:7 (Amplified) Acts 10:38 Mark 6:5-6 2 Corinthians 9:8 Matthew 6:25-34 (Amplified) John 14:12 John 14:26-27 (Amplified) John 16:33 (Amplified) 1 Corinthians 2:16 James 1:5 Philippians 4:8 If this teaching helped you, like the video and leave a comment with what stood out to you. It helps more believers find it. Stay strong. I'm in your corner. Trav #TakeEveryThoughtCaptive #2Corinthians105 #RenewYourMind #Romans122 #ThoughtLife #ChristianMindset #OvercomingFear #2Timothy17 #Matthew633 #IncreaseMinistries

Brian reflects on a season of family transitions, then moves through a series of short devotional and cultural topics: Wendell Berry’s legacy, a take on old fashioned baby names, a critique of Anne Hathaway’s abortion comments, and a look at JD Vance’s candid comments about doubt. The episode also includes a sermon style reading of the Samaritan woman at the well and a meditation on Philippians 2 and the biblical view of the body.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As God gave blessings and curses to the members of the Old Covenant, God has given even greater and far more stunning blessings and curses to the members of the New Covenant. What are the blessings and curses of the New Covenant? This episode answers this super-important question to encourage the listener in the infinitely generous and merciful New Covenant grace of God. Scripture referenced: Exodus 19:1-20, Exodus 20:1-21, Exodus 24:1-8, Deuteronomy 28:1-68, Psalm 23:6, Isaiah 53:1-12, Isaiah 61:10, Jeremiah 31:31-34, Ezekiel 36:22-27, Matthew 5:14-16, Matthew 6:19-33, Matthew 26:36-42, Luke 22:39-44, John 3:1-18, John 10:27-30, John 17:1-5, Romans 3:20-26, Romans 8:1-8, 1 Corinthians 1:18, 1 Corinthians 15:35-58, 2 Corinthians 5:5, 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, Galatians 3:13, Galatians 3:26, Ephesians 1:3-14, Ephesians 2:1-5, Ephesians 3:3-12, Philippians 1:6, Philippians 2:12-13, Colossians 1:13-14, 24-29, Colossians 2:1-3, Colossians 3:1-4, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 1 Peter 2:9-10, Hebrews 2:10-18, Hebrews 5:7-8, Hebrews 12:5-11

Pastor Bryan shares a lesson from Philippians 1. Dr. Chapell shares about the abounding joy that comes from a unity of heart inside the church and a unity with Christ. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1286/29?v=20251111

  How do you grow a company without losing your culture, your mission, your faith—or the people you're called to serve? In this episode of the Profitable Christian Business Podcast, Doug Greathouse sits down with Kenny Wyatt, CEO of Pushpay, for a practical conversation about faith-driven leadership, company culture, customer focus, stewardship, innovation, goal setting, and sustainable growth. Kenny describes one of his foundational leadership principles as: "Humility as an operating system." For Kenny, servant leadership isn't the opposite of high performance. Leaders can set ambitious goals, hold people accountable, make difficult personnel decisions, and build high-performing teams while still leading with humility, love, and purpose. Kenny also makes a strong case that CEOs and founders cannot allow growth to disconnect them from the customer. He argues that leaders need to spend significant time with their ideal customer profile, listening closely enough to recognize when the company is beginning to drift from its mission. In this episode: What fly fishing taught Kenny about adaptability, instinct, and leadership Why culture matters even when you're a company of one Why Kenny hires for mission and values before skill What Pushpay does and how it serves churches How Pushpay evaluates AI and emerging technology Why your ideal customer profile should guide innovation Why CEOs can't outsource their relationship with customers How to recognize when a high-growth company is drifting How to create and use a customer advisory board Why in-person customer conversations still matter Kenny's Philippians 2 approach to servant leadership What "humility as an operating system" looks like in practice How to hold people accountable without abandoning grace How to handle difficult firing decisions with dignity Why stewardship includes time, talent, and treasure How to identify your company's stewardship metric How faith shapes Kenny's approach as CEO Why your leadership team matters so much A radically different approach to annual goal setting Why Kenny believes you should rebuild the business every single year Why leadership retreats create better thinking Why Christian entrepreneurs need to keep prayer in the driver's seat Kenny closes the conversation with a deceptively simple challenge for every Christian business leader: How's your prayer life? Because sustainable growth isn't simply about better technology, smarter goals, or stronger systems. It's about becoming the kind of leader capable of stewarding the growth God has entrusted to you. Connect with Kenny Wyatt & Pushpay Pushpay: Pushpay Nurture: Nurture Stop Drifting. Start Executing. Knowing what matters isn't enough. The Goal Getting App helps entrepreneurs turn clarity into a focused 90-day plan, identify the needle-moving actions that actually create progress, and consistently execute. Start Your Next 90 Days with Goal Getting

This week we talk Dinners, Churches in Parks, Elders Retreats, and of course, Philippians 3:!-4:1. Our main topic was how we should rejoice and stand firm as Christians, and how both things are accomplished by setting our eyes on Jesus.

The Messenger of the {New} Covenant {Jesus} Is Coming – Is He Coming to Purify You or to Judge You? MESSAGE SUMMARY: The people, in God's Judgment articulated in Malachi 3:5, are the people of God. These people are not the unbelievers; these are the people that say they are following God. Malachi 3:5, articulates those transgressions, including the absence of a “fear of the lord”, in which God: “will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the LORD of hosts.” To this end, Paul reminds us again in Romans 2:4-5 of a pathway to or away from God's Judgment: “Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.". Additionally, in Proverbs 1:7 we find that the “fear of the Lord” provides us with “wisdom”. On the other hand and in the absence of our “fear of the Lord”, Proverbs 1:7 tells us that we are “foolish”: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”. The messenger of the Covenant is coming – He is coming to either purify you or to judge you.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Father, I confess that when difficulties and trials come into my life, large or small, I mostly grumble and complain. I realize the trials James talks about are not necessarily “walls,” but they are difficult to bear, nonetheless. Fill me with such a vision of a transformed life, O God, that I might actually consider it “pure joy” when you bring trials my way. I believe, Lord. Help my unbelief. In Jesus' name, amen.     Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 94). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that, because I am in Jesus Christ, Nothing compares with knowing Jesus (Philippians 2:14). “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”. (Philippians 4:14). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Exodus 19:5-6; Romans 11:25-32; Mark 14:22-25; Psalms 67b:13-24. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon:  “Is Your Life's Focus on Jesus the Narrow Door and the Only Door to Your Eternal Life?”, at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

This recording was created with pauses so that you can listen and then repeat while walking, driving, working around the home, etc. The passages that are covered are: Colossians 1:15-18 John 1:1-5, 12, 14 Philippians 2:6-11

In Week 2 of Overcoming Anxiety, Pastor Randy continues the conversation by asking an important question: What are we doing with the warning lights? Using the Challenger disaster as a picture of what happens when warning signs become normal, this message explores how stress, fear, and anxiety can sometimes signal that something in us needs attention. From there, Philippians 4 shows us a better response: recognize what we're carrying, release our need for control, remember that the Lord is near, and bring our requests honestly before God through prayer, petition, and thanksgiving. The goal isn't to deny what we feel or pretend everything is fine. It's to learn how to bring what we're carrying into the presence of God and allow His peace to guard our hearts and minds. What warning light have we gotten so used to that we stopped paying attention to it?   From Sunday 08.30.26

This week, David Burke returns as we begin Paul's letter to the Philippians and explore the historical and contextual background of this letter.    Text: Acts 16, Philippians (generally) 

Philippians 4:10-20

Rector's Forum from 8/30/2026 at Church of Our Saviour in Jacksonville, FL.

Okay you guys, I have THOUGHTS on this one.

What does it look like to make your faith your own when you're still figuring out who you are?This week, Kristi sits down with 17-year-old Ryleigh Oestriecher for a conversation about faith, friendship, suffering, and growing up Catholic in a culture that often makes it easier to simply fit in.Ryleigh shares openly about the health struggles that began early in high school—and the anger and questions she brought to God because of them. She talks about the experience at Steubenville that helped her recognize that Jesus had never left her, the importance of surrounding herself with friends who bring her closer to God, and what she's learning as she prepares for life after high school.But what we love most about Ryleigh's story is that she doesn't pretend to have it all figured out. She's still learning, still growing, and still choosing her faith—and she wants other young people to know they don't have to walk that journey alone.In this episode:• Being angry with God when life doesn't make sense• Finding friends who bring you closer to God• Social media and the pressure to fit in• Making your faith your own as you grow up• Why Ryleigh hopes to bring Christ into her future career• The message she wants other young people to hear• The deeply personal story behind Philippians 4:13We hope you find something in Ryleigh's story that makes you say, “Amen!” Support the show

Fear about the future can make us question whether God will provide what we need. Financial uncertainty, unanswered prayers, changing circumstances, and long seasons of waiting can make fear louder than faith. But 2 Peter 1:3 reminds us that God’s divine power has already given us everything we need for life and godliness. That doesn't mean we will always know how our needs will be met or when the answer will come. It means we can trust the God who knows what we need before we do. Jesus points us to the birds of the air as a reminder of God's care and provision. When we focus on fear, we can lose sight of the ways God has already been faithful. But when we intentionally remember His goodness, practice gratitude, and focus our minds on what is true, our perspective begins to change. God may provide through unexpected circumstances, generous people, simple acts of kindness, or opportunities to become an answer to someone else's prayer. Whatever today holds, we can trust that God has equipped us for what He has called us to face. Highlights What 2 Peter 1:3 means when it says God has given us everything we need for “life and godliness” How fear about finances and the future can become louder than our faith Why remembering God's past faithfulness can help quiet anxiety What Jesus teaches about God's provision through the birds of the air How gratitude and focusing on God's truth can change our perspective The unexpected ways God may provide for our practical and spiritual needs How simple acts of obedience and kindness can become part of God's provision for someone else Want more encouragement throughout your week? Subscribe to The Good Word, LifeAudio’s free weekly newsletter. Sign up at LifeAudio.com/thegoodword Do you want to listen ad-free? When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! Sign Up Today! Full Transcript Below: Equipped for Today: What "Life and Godliness" Really Means By Hannah Benson Bible Reading:“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence” (2 Peter 1:3 ESV). It’s so easy to fall into the trap of fear, isn’t it? To focus on the limited knowledge we can see rather than the truth of what God says. I often find myself guilty of this. There are times when faith is louder than fear, yes, but there are other times when fear gets louder than my faith. What are you afraid of? Finances, or lack thereof, or the future? The list could go on and on. I’ve been thinking a lot about God’s provision recently, inspired by a much-needed conversation with a good friend. As someone who works in the creative industry, income can ebb and flow and sometimes be inconsistent, and it’s easy to let the fear of the financial future get louder than my faith. And that fear hits even closer to home right now as I watch my family navigate a similar season. You see, my dad was laid off from his job late last year, and no matter how many doors he’s knocked on, as I write this, nothing yet has come through. We know God will provide and that He’s never failed us, but as the days continue with seemingly no answers in sight, sometimes, we wrestle with fear. Dwelling on fear, as easy as it can be to fall into that trap sometimes, is quite unhealthy. Whatever we dwell on and choose to think about will naturally affect what we believe and how we live. This means if we choose to fix our eyes on things above, then that will naturally affect what we believe about God, ourselves, and the circumstances we find ourselves in. I had a moment recently where fear threatened to consume me. I’m talking about anxiety physically gripping my heart, even though at church the previous day we’d talked about the importance of believing God’s truth over the lies in our heads. Yes, the timing was quite “convenient.” There’s a reason Scripture reminds us to focus on: “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Philippians 4:8 ESV). Instead of worrying God won’t provide, why not reflect on what He has done in our lives already? It’s good to remember and recount what the Lord has done. When I chose gratitude and to remember His goodness instead of fear, my anxiety began to ease. The truth is, God always provides for everything we need. Often it comes at what we call “the last minute,” but it is certainly never too late. I love what Peter reminds us of in this passage here. God has granted us everything we need for life and godliness. In addition to caring for our spiritual needs, God cares about our material needs as well. When it comes to the practical side, what do we need for life? In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus tells the disciples not to worry about what they will eat, wear, or drink. And in verse 26 (ESV), he says: “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?” Let that soak in. If God cares for the birds of the air and provides everything they need, how much more will He provide for His children? Intersecting Faith & Life: Look around you. Do you have food to eat? Clothes on your back? Maybe you don’t know how you’ll pay the bills this month, but maybe you’re not supposed to know right now. I heard a story once about a man who needed money for his little son’s birthday party, but he and his wife didn’t even have that. They didn’t know what to do, but they wanted to bless him. While out on a walk, the Lord led him to the exact amount of money he needed to bless his little boy. When you need it, God will provide it. Sometimes, He’ll provide through a family that gives eggs from their farm to yours all summer. Or who invites you over and offers to pray over you. Or maybe God will use the kindness of a friend who introduced my dad to leadership at the company he works for, in hopes it may open a door for a job. Or what about my friend who took 2 hours out of his day to point me to the Lord and be a listening ear when I didn’t even realize how much I needed it? Sometimes, it’s simple things. Sometimes, we get to be that person for someone else, not realizing how a simple act of obedience can truly bless someone’s day and be what we didn’t even realize they needed. Other times, the Lord allows us to be on the receiving end of His goodness through His children. Pray with me: Dear Father God, please help me to trust that You will give me everything I need for life and godliness. You care about the sparrows and lilies of the field, so how much more do you care for me and provide for me? Thank You for Your provision in my life. In Jesus’s Name, Amen. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This message from 8/23/26 is based on Philippians 4:6-7 and is #33 in the study through that epistle. Gowens emphasizes the priority of prayer as both the remedy for anxiety and the conduit for subjective peace.

Pastor Bryan shares the second half of a lesson from Philippians 1. Dr. Chapell investigates the joy that comes with being clothed in the righteousness of Christ Jesus. Despite our pain and weakness, we can find hope and joy in Him. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1286/29?v=20251111

Preaching from Jonah 3, Pastor Jared Richard opens with a striking observation — the greatest miracle in the book of Jonah may not be the great fish at all, but the repentance of Nineveh, one of the most wicked cities in the ancient world. Drawing on the deliberate literary parallels between Jonah 1 and Jonah 3, Pastor Jared shows that God's second call to Jonah is more than a plot device. It is a picture of mercy — the same mercy God has extended to all of His people, and the very reason we go to the lost. Just as God gave Jonah another chance to rise in obedience, He has given us, through new birth in Christ, not just a second chance but the Spirit-empowered ability to take advantage of it. From there, Pastor Jared turns to what we trust in as we go — the Word of God. He points out that from Jonah 3:5 forward, Jonah himself virtually disappears from the narrative, and it is the Word that does the work. Even with a divided heart, Jonah spoke what God gave him to say, and God used it mightily. Drawing on Philippians 1:15-18, Pastor Jared reminds the church that the mission of God does not depend on our eloquence, our apologetic skill, or even the perfect condition of our hearts — it depends on the faithful declaration of God's Word and trust in the power of His Spirit. Finally, the repentance of Nineveh — believing God, humbling themselves, crying out to Him, and turning from their evil ways — gives the church a clear and compelling picture of what Biblical repentance looks like. And because we carry a greater message than Jonah ever did, the incarnate Word of God Himself in the Lord Jesus Christ, we go with even greater confidence and an even greater promise to offer the lost. WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU! Take a moment to fill out our digital connection card here: https://www.bayleaf.org/connect We hope you enjoy this programming and please let us know if there is anything we can do to be of service to you. ONE CHURCH. TWO LOCATIONS. ONE MISSION. Bay Leaf at Falls Lake: 12200 Bayleaf Church Road, Raleigh, North Carolina 27614 Bay Leaf at 540: 10921 Leesville Rd, Raleigh, NC 27613 SERVICE TIMES Come join us on Sundays at Bay Leaf at Falls Lake (8:30 AM or 11:00 AM) or at Bay Leaf at 540 (10:00 AM) CONTACT www.bayleaf.org (919) 847-4477 #BayLeafLife #Worship #Inspiration

This message illustrates that only Christ can lift us out of the pit of sin, death, and condemnation— religion, good works, and self-effort cannot save. Using his own life as an example in Philippians 3, the Apostle Paul lists his impressive religious credentials but declares he counted them all as loss and “dung” for the excellency of knowing Christ, and having no confidence in the flesh. True believers are complete and can rejoice in Christ through His death and resurrection, worshipping God in spirit and receiving His righteousness by faith alone. https://bereanbiblesociety.org/tbg-episode/190-losing-religion-to-find-salvation/ Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/NRh1EIG81MY Buy episode on DVD: https://store.bereanbiblesociety.org/shop/dvd-transformed-by-grace-single-episode-1-dvd-151-200/?attribute_pa_episode=190-losing-religion-to-find-salvation Buy series on DVD: https://store.bereanbiblesociety.org/shop/dvd-transformed-by-grace-series-saved-and-secure/

One question keeps cutting through the noise for us: what do you want the most? Not the answer you know you're supposed to give, but the one your life proves through what you cling to, defend, and keep making room for. If you've felt spiritually distracted, emotionally full, or like you can't quite experience God's presence the way you want, this conversation brings it back to something deeper than behavior. It brings it back to desire.In this final episode of the "TRASH IT!" conversation collection, we talk about how “holy housekeeping” is more than cleaning up habits. It's spiritual decluttering for the heart: noticing what we take in, what we repeat, what we carry, and the narratives we keep believing. We reflect on Philippians 3:7-8, where Paul calls everything else garbage compared to knowing Christ, and we explore why this isn't about forced sacrifice or earning approval. It's about making space to see God clearly so everything else can find its proper place or be released.We also lean on Psalm 27:4 and the idea of a "one thing" life. Choosing Jesus as our central desire doesn't make everything easier, but it makes everything clearer, because we stop crowding our vision with what we have to justify, compromise for, or keep pulling back out of the trash. We close with the reminder that Seek Him leads to Speak Him, creating room not only for God, but for the people He's entrusted to us. The conversation guide that goes along with this episode is found in the Family Disciple Me app!______________________The Family Disciple Me ministry exists to catalyze devotion driven discipleship in our homes and around the world. We believe that discipleship starts with a conversation, and FDM provides free, easily-accessible, biblical resources to encourage these meaningful conversations  along life's way. Sign up through our website to be "the first to know" about upcoming releases and resources (including the FDM App - coming soon!!!) You can also follow Family Disciple Me on social media.  Family Disciple Me  is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit ministry, and all donations are tax deductible. More information, blogs, statement of faith and contact info can be found at familydiscipleme.org 

Today we continue our sermon series "What if...? Reimagining Church for a New & Changing World." Pastor Vance shares a sermon "Church as a Community of Mentors" referencing scripture Philippians 4:8-9.While you worship online, we invite you to fill out a connection card. This card is not only a way for us to connect with you but also an opportunity for you to share any prayer requests you may have: firstchurchorlando.org/connection-cardGiving: firstchurchorlando.org/give-nowMissed a past service? Check out our YouTube Channel for past services or you can find our Podcast wherever you podcast from.Like and Subscribe for more First Church content.Want to know more about First Church? Visit our website at firstchurchorlando.org

Join the 3 of 7 team as they discuss the book of Philippians. ► Sign Up For The Mountain Mama Farms Classic Trail Race → SIGN UP NOW!    ► Check Out Our Partners Barbell Apparel Use code “Chadd” for a FREE pair of shorts with any purchase of $99+ → SHOP BARBELL APPAREL Bare Performance Nutrition Use code “3of7” for 10% OFF → SHOP BPN   ► Support the Podcast → JOIN PATREON → TRAIN WITH US → SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER → VISIT OUR WEBSITE → SHOP OUR STORE NUFF SAID.

Paul wrote his letter to the Philippians while under arrest in Rome, expecting to be executed by his enemies. He had every reason to ruminate on injustice, catastrophize about his future, and let fear steal whatever remained of his peace. Instead, he gave us one of Scripture's most practical and powerful tools: Philippians 4:8. Eight categories of thought to intentionally redirect our minds toward — what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. This is not denial of the hard things. It is an active, deliberate exercise of free will that redirects the mind away from what is toxic and toward what is life-giving. Paul began the same letter by declaring that to live is Christ and to die is gain. He had already settled his future with God, and that settled foundation is what made the redirecting of thoughts not just possible but natural. The same is available to us. When the mind locks down under the weight of unpleasant burdens, we can make the same choice Paul made in prison. And as he promises in the verse that follows, the God of peace will be with us. Today's Bible Verse "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things."— Philippians 4:8, NIV Ponder Today You can change your own mind — and that is a gift from God. The brain He gave you is not only capable of absorbing the world around you. It is capable of making active decisions about what to focus on. Philippians 4:8 is an invitation to exercise that capacity deliberately. Paul wrote this from prison, expecting death. His circumstances were not improved by verse 8. His mind was. That distinction matters enormously. Choosing our thoughts wisely does not change our situation — it changes how we move through it. The eight categories in Philippians 4:8 are a practical tool for redirecting a locked-down mind. What is true? What is noble? What is right? What is pure? What is lovely? What is admirable? What is excellent? What deserves praise? Walking through these questions is a form of active, faith-filled meditation. Redirecting thoughts is not the same as ignoring hard realities. Paul acknowledged that anger, fear, and the desire for revenge are real. He simply refused to let them set up permanent residence. Choosing what we think about is an act of resistance against what would otherwise consume us. The God of peace follows the practice of thinking wisely. Philippians 4:9 makes a direct promise: when we put these things into practice, the God of peace will be with us. The presence of peace is not automatic. It follows the discipline of directed thought. A Prayer for You Today Dear God, my mind gets filled up fast these days. It sometimes feels like a jumble of deadlines, bad news, unsavory media, and fears about my future. Thank You for reminding me in Philippians 4:8 that this mind You gave me can not only absorb but also make active decisions. I can choose what I focus on, and I am so grateful You gave me eight ideas to replace fear, anger, and worry. Please empower me to clear my head today. Move me to make time in my schedule to purposely choose what I want to think about. And keep showing me lovely, pure, noble, and praiseworthy things so I can follow the path of peace You desire for me. In Your holy name, Amen. Want More? Sign up for our free newsletter, The Good Word, for weekly biblical wisdom and encouragement delivered right to your inbox. Join our community today: https://www.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Peace and Joy: Special Patreon Release with Kay Wyma   “So, as God's own chosen people, who are holy [set apart, sanctified for His purpose] and well-beloved [by God Himself], put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience [which has the power to endure whatever injustice or unpleasantness comes, with good temper];” ‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:12‬ ‭AMP‬‬   *Transcription Below*   Questions We Discuss: Will you elaborate on this concept of a Soul30? What were your favorite stories from this adventure? How has this peace project changed the way you will live life from this point forward?   Kay Wyma is a mom, blogger, podcaster, and author of four books in which she has tackled, with candor and humor, some of the troubling societal issues that impact us all. Kay's writings have led her to appearances on TODAY, CNN, Hallmark's Home & Family, and more. Before staying at home with her kids, she held positions at the White House and Bank of America. She lives in Dallas, Texas, with her husband and five kids. Connect with Kay at kaywyma.com or on Instagram @kaywyma.   At The Savvy Sauce, we will only recommend resources we believe in! We also want you to be aware: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.   The Peace Project   Thank You to Our Sponsors: Chick-fil-A East Peoria and The Savvy Sauce Charities (and donate online here)   Connect with The Savvy Sauce on Facebook or Instagram or Our Website   Gospel Scripture: (all NIV) Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”   Romans 3:24 “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”   Romans 3:25 (a) “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.”   Hebrews 9:22 (b) “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”   Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”   Romans 5:11 “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”   John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”   Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”   Luke 15:10 says “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”   Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”   Ephesians 1:13–14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession- to the praise of his glory.”   Ephesians 1:15–23 “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”   Ephesians 2:8–10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God‘s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“   Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.“   Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”   *Transcription*   Music: (0:00 – 0:09)   Laura Dugger: (0:09 - 2:47) Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, where we have practical chats for intentional living. I'm your host, Laura Dugger, and I'm so glad you're here.   I want to say a huge thank you to today's sponsors for this episode, Chick-fil-A East Peoria, and Savvy Sauce Charities.   If this is your first time here, welcome! You may be wondering what it means to have a special Patreon release, so here's the scoop. Patreon was a platform we used to generate financial support for The Savvy Sauce, and we expressed our thanks to those paying patrons by giving them a bonus episode every month.   But in 2024, we transitioned away from Patreon when we became a non-profit called the Savvy Sauce Charities. The podcast is part of this non-profit, which exists to resource loved ones to inspire growth and intimacy with God and others. So, people used to pay to support us through Patreon, but now they can just donate directly to our non-profit.   We spend thousands of dollars each year to record and produce these episodes, and we do pray that they're beneficial and that God sees fit to use them to be transformational in your life. If that is the case, if you have ever benefited from an episode of The Savvy Sauce, would you consider showing your gratitude through your financial generosity? Any amount is greatly appreciated.   In fact, if every listener gave only $1 per month, it would completely offset our costs. We have all the details on our website, thesavvysauce.com, but feel free to also reach out to our team anytime if you want to partner together. Our email address is info@thesavvysauce.com.   And now I'm pleased to share this episode with you that used to only be available to paying patrons. Kay Wyma is my returning guest today. She is vibrant, and her curiosity sometimes leads to experiments in her life. Her most recent experiment turned into a book, and now she's going to let us in on three areas of focus that added peace and joy to her life. This process is based on Scripture and validated in science. Here's our chat.   Welcome back to The Savvy Sauce, Kay.   Kay Wyma: (2:48 - 2:52) Thank you so much for having me. You're really sweet to put up with me again.   Laura Dugger: (2:53 - 3:07) Well, it was a delight last time, and I'm excited for today as well. And I'm so fascinated by your history of different careers and roles you've had. So, will you tell us a little bit more about all that you've experienced professionally?   Kay Wyma: (3:08 - 5:44) Oh my gosh, it's so funny, Laura, because people will read the bio as they could for any of us that are in our mid-50s, and I'm sitting there going, I'm exhausted listening to that. But the deal is that they didn't happen all at the same time, but I just had a really great opportunity to do some interesting stuff. And one of them, especially in my 20s, I got to work in the George Herbert Walker Bush, so 41 White House, and I was a lead advance for the vice president.   And so, I pretty much got to travel all over the country and a lot of very interesting places in the world during that period. And it was a blast. I got to set up the trips as they would go traveling to these places with the Secret Service and White House Communications. And it just was an amazing way, an opportunity to get to see the world. And then I went on to graduate school and got an MBA and ended up somehow in an international investment banking role, which is laughable because I cannot even help my children with fifth grade math. So, I don't know who that person was that did that.   But I used to be able to do things that way. I can't anymore. And then I had kids, which was such a blessing. I'd met my husband at graduate school when we got married after I'd finished my stint in the White House and had kids right off the bat. And during that time, I really did try to piggyback. That was back in the day when women were allowed to job share, and I just couldn't do it. The more kids that came, the harder it was. And so I stayed at home with my kids, started a couple of businesses here and there, and then found myself in the world of writing. And I didn't plan on it. I kind of say I was an accidental writer, but I don't think anything is really an accident. It's not something that I was educated to do. However, I loved it.   And I look back now and look at the great education that I had gotten and honestly how much I loved writing even as a child. I just didn't know that was something that you could do because back in that day there were, and I'm not that old, but there really were careers that were careers that you sort of went to that made sense from a sensible banking father. It's like, here are your choices for a degree plan. And so, I love how just even gravitating towards what you're gifting a purpose is, which we talked about before, it's just those things are in you, and it's fun to see how they will come out and how fun that it can even come out in a way where it's your vocation. And so here I sit as a writer, crazy.   Laura Dugger: (5:44 - 6:00) Which is so great to hear the journey because you would think the math and the different skills required for international banking and then to become a successful author, that's so interesting. And this is so random and I could be wrong. Were your parents ever on Focus on the Family?   Kay Wyma: (6:01 - 6:54) Well, they could have been. I have the greatest parents. I really do. They're so kind and they're just really terrific people. And so, they became friends, like they're friends with Dr. Dobson. And so, I don't know if they were. That's another really gift they gave us. You just do it in front of you and you don't really make a big deal about anything. And I love that. Everybody puts their pants on the same way, which is one thing I loved even about working at the White House because some of the stuff can look so glamorous and go. But the truth is, we're all just people. And the Lord has put in certain people's paths, things to do that could look really amazing and spectacular. But the amazing and spectacular is around you every single day, even if it might not have something. And for my kids would be like that have a million followers or that has gone viral. But they are there. I'm very blessed, Laura, with very nice parents.   Laura Dugger: (6:55 - 7:03) Well, you've mentioned before that you battled an eating disorder growing up. Do you feel comfortable sharing a little bit more about that journey?   Kay Wyma: (7:04 - 8:39) Absolutely. So, I definitely battled that. And again, I have a wonderful family that I grew up in, a home that I grew up in. But I also grew up in an environment where performance was a big deal, which it is today, too. So many kids are struggling with that. Oh, my gosh, so terribly. And whatever you're struggling with, because it could be for me, it was performance. And the way that I learned, the way that I coped with it was through eating and not eating. And a lot of just getting rid of the food that I had eaten.   And there just came a day when I was in college that thankfully the Lord, the Lord just showed me one night that this is not a good thing. So, I actually left that semester of college to get help. And it changed my life. I was telling one of the girls yesterday, my girls, how grateful I am for that because I had never really understood or even contemplated the concept of grace. I just didn't know that was something I'd heard it, but I didn't know what it was. And I didn't know a whole lot about my worth having been declared by God and my identity having been determined by him. And I will say at 55, I know a lot more about it than I did even then at 19 or 20, but it was going through that journey, asking for help, stopping what was hurting me and reaching for truth that put me on a road to actually learn a lot of just what it means when he says it is for freedom that I have set you free.   Laura Dugger: (8:40 - 9:00) And the reason that I bring up the eating disorder is from a previous podcast. I can't remember which one, but elsewhere I'd heard you say that you stay away from the whole 30 diet, but you were intrigued one day to instead try a soul 30. So, will you share that story with us too?   Kay Wyma: (9:01 - 14:47) I will. And I do, I have to tell you, I, since, since I was 20, I've steered clear of scales and I really do steer clear of diets for me because they don't do good things in my head. And so, one thing that I learned through all of that was that you, you can't change an environment. Often you can't change the environment that you're in, but you can change the way you operate within the environment. Biggest lesson that I learned through all of that, like, please hear that. It was so life altering as I stood going, I can't change this environment, but I can change how I interact with it.   Okay. And so, the whole 30, I do find intriguing, you know, because people, if you're going to do something physically, like to make your diet better, a lot of people do that. And so, for 30 days, they, they exit a ton out of their diet. I don't know everything about it because I am a big chicken. And I think they, if, if I was going to do it, the thing that would be the killer for me is not being able to have cream in your coffee. You know, it's like, that's a deal breaker for me right there.   But the soul 30 it all started one morning. Again, I think I told you on the last one that like, even the experiment with the putting the stuff, like helping the kids with independence started with my rotten attitude. Well, this started with the rotten attitude too. And we aren't always doing experiments in our house, but I just had this bad attitude one morning as I'd come home from carpool. I had women coming over to my house. I leave a Bible study that meets on Tuesdays. And I was just going to the refrigerator to get milk out to be able to serve coffee. And there were two jugs of milk in our fridge. I pull the first one out and it's empty. And I'm like, what? And the second one, I pull it out. It's empty too. Like maybe a drop in it. And quite frankly, I could have put it back going, well, there's a drop of milk in it, but I don't know why people do that. Like in our house, it could be the same with a cereal box. Like you pull the box out, there's nothing in it. And I'm like, just throw it away. Like, please.   And so I was frustrated. I get out into my car to go to the grocery store. And as I drive back out into the street, this big black pickup truck, literally like road routes its way into my face. And I was sort of like, really? And, and I didn't have a choice, but to back down because he was not going to let me go. And so as I started to back up, I looked up and I got to see this beautiful sun like peeking through this cloudy sky. And, and it was so beautiful. I was like, what am I doing? Like why am I in a crabby mood or frustrated by this? I'm in an air-conditioned car on my way to a grocery store where there are refrigerated items and there are people, somebody actually might say hello. Okay. Cause I go in there all the time and I was sort of like; everything is not bad.   And I started to breathe. And I didn't realize in that moment that I was, I was being thankful. Like I just, it just happened. And, and in that I really was breathing. And I like felt better inside of me. I back up and let the guy go legitimately, which again, I did not realize it in the moment, but it was an act of kindness. And I felt even better. And when he drove by, I looked in his window and I was sitting there going, I have, it was a human being first of all. And I recognize that. And just for a moment, I was like, I have no idea what's going on in his day. He could be raced into the hospital. He could be late for work. He could just, you know, be a jerky person and, and life as long as a jerky person. And, and I just was, I wasn't over spiritualizing or anything, but I prayed for him. I was like, please let whatever's going on in his day be okay. Because if he's that intense, something is not great.   And I drove to the grocery store, and I physically felt so good. It was like, like I had been given a joke Cola or something like I, Or some vitamin that was just a blast of energy. And it lasted. By the time ladies got over, I was like, you're gonna believe what happened this morning. It was so weird. And I told them about it the next week they came back and one of the ladies said, can you tell me again? What that story? And I was like, what story? And the lady next to her goes, Oh, I've been doing it. And I was like, doing what? And she goes, your thing. I was like, what is my thing? And she said, Oh, the thankfulness, kindness, and compassion. And as we talked about it again, I was sitting there going, is that something because it had deeply impacted this person that was trying it even for a week.   And I really sat there going, okay, we would do a whole 30 for a physical diet. Something in these practices is impacting the soul. And I was like, what if we tried a soul 30 and for 30 days, proactively practiced thankfulness, kindness, and mercy, because that's what compassion is a part of mercy. What would happen? And so it was sort of like, let's do it. And these very sweet friends were willing to try as were my kids. And so instead of like pulling something away, which is what a fast is that goes with a whole 30, we sort of switched it to this unbelievable soul feast that came with doing these things. It was unbelievable. The joy that came into everyone's life when they started doing this stuff. I mean, it was amazing. And so as I tracked it, I really did track it because I like to know why it was sort of like, why is this happening? What's going on? What is in these things that actually can impact your life at such a deep, deep level to where joy is invited in and peace.   Laura Dugger: (14:49 - 15:00) And so, like you said, you focus on thankfulness, kindness, and mercy in this most recent book, The Peace Project, but will you define and give examples of each of those?   Kay Wyma: (15:01 - 19:08) Yes. And I think that is such a great way to start because it's like, okay, what, what is it even on the soul 30? I was like, here's what you do. Okay. Here is what thankfulness says, because I went to look like, if I'm going to ask, please do these things, here's what they are. So, thankfulness is calling out things for which to be grateful. And for our family, for my kids, I was like, please let it not be the same thing every day. Although now a year and a half out, what difference does it make? It could be the same thing every day. But for them, I was like, don't let it be the same thing. And it can be more than one thing, because the thing with thankfulness, when you start it, it's like, it may take a little effort to go, what do I have to be thankful for? Especially in a situation that's unsettling, which is kind of like when that car drove up on me, that was an unsettling moment.   I was being forced down. And there's so much going on in that conversation that isn't spoken, which I think is important to call out in these things. So even as he's barreling up on me, it makes me feel unseen. It makes me feel like there's no, even though it's not spoken, that action brings with it. What thankfulness does is it instantly, it's like a wake up, like it's a focus shift. And so, and it tends to be looking up in some way, and it gets your eyes off of whatever the situation is. And it allows for truth to come in, which is where thankfulness goes, especially in the unsettling. Cause you can say, as I didn't mean to, but I did even in that moment, I am in an air-conditioned car. It is Texas in the summer, for goodness sake, that is a gift. And it's worth calling out. And there's always something for which to be grateful. So that's what thankfulness is.   Kindness is seeing and loving others. And let me tell you something, loving yourself too, because I've learned through this. We are harder on ourselves than we are on anybody else. So seeing and loving others and yourself in deed or action, this component is so significant because you're taking it. Thankfulness is in your thoughts. So you're walking through in your thoughts and you're doing these things. And kindness is where you're going that extra step. And you're actually putting action on it so that even in your mind, because I learned a lot about neural pathways and how our minds can be transformed by this, which is sort of where we started. If your physical health can be impacted by a diet, can my thought health be impacted by doing things that are good for it? And so kindness takes it from the thought to the action. And so even in that, you know, letting that car go, that is so small. And so kindness doesn't have to be moving a mountain. It can be tiny little things.   I've watched my neighbor one morning picking up newspapers and putting them on everybody's porch. And no one was seeing her do that. I accidentally did. And she even told me that day, you know, it's the small things because it is because when that person opens the door, the neighbor opens their door, they know that someone thought of them that day. Like it gives them, whether it's spoken or not, they get a sense of worth by going, I must matter. Somebody cared enough to put my newspaper on my front porch. Tiny, tiny things, as well as big things can be an act of kindness.   And then mercy, that's the showstopper. And it is a challenge and it is beautiful. And the definition of mercy is compassion or forgiveness shown towards someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm. And again, including ourselves. And so as I started to peel back the layers on mercy, there's more and there's more and there's more. And another one of my favorite definitions of it was from a Jesuit priest whose name is James Keenan. And he called mercy the willingness to enter into someone else's chaos, which I actually found to be the most powerful because willingness plays a central role in this whole process because it actually is centered on our significance having been settled by the Lord.   Laura Dugger: (19:09 - 19:17) What surprising discoveries did you make as you deliberately practiced each of these attitudes? And like you said, you partnered them with action steps.   Kay Wyma: (19:18 - 21:54) Yeah, so I think for everybody, we just did a book club just finished last week, even here. And one of the gals said that she has been struggling terribly with anxiety and worry that stemmed a lot. They moved to Florida before the pandemic. And so, she was living in a new place, basically holed up in her house for a year and a half. And those things of worry and anxiety and fear had crept in and had become, you know, on repeat in her mind. And so just because she had signed up for the book club, came with a friend and she didn't really buy any of it because it doesn't matter whether you buy it or not because these things are not for me. Like that's the number one thing. They aren't mine. These really are woven within the greatest commandment. You know, love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind is thankfulness. Your eyes are not on yourself. And love others as you love yourself. And he's not talking about a narcissistic love. He's like genuine caring for others and yourself. There's so much power in that, which includes kindness and mercy.   And so, she simply started doing the thankfulness. She was like, I don't know what the others are, but I know I can track being thankful. I can find a way to be thankful. And she came back after the first week and couldn't believe what it had done to her. Just in practicing thankfulness, which we know through science that there are benefits that occur in your brain just by doing that simple act. And it's clearly proven. You can just Google even the amount of thankfulness journals because it's so good for us. And if you write it down and look at it and see, you're using all these senses. And when you add the kindness and the mercy to it, it's so deeply impactful.   And so, I think the thing that probably surprised me the most is how consistent the piece is and how your neural pathways actually can change. You can actually have your superhighway and your thought process, because we have those ruts in our brain that are highly traveled paths that our thoughts go to. And they tend actually to be along the lines of anxiety or fear or worry, because that's been a part of your life since you were a little kid. And to be able to somehow transition those highest traveled pathways to something that involves kindness and mercy and thankfulness is so significant because your instant reaction is going to a place of peace instead of a place of anxiety. It's like where science meets scripture.   Laura Dugger: (21:54 - 27:25) It's so beautiful. And now a brief message from our sponsor.   Did you know you can go to college tuition-free just by being a team member at Chick-fil-A East Peoria? Yes, you heard that right. Free college education. All Chick-fil-A East Peoria team members in good standing are immediately eligible for a free college education through Point University. Point University is a fully accredited private Christian college located in West Point, Georgia. This online self-paced program includes 13 associates degrees, 17 bachelor's degrees, and two master's programs, including an MBA. 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And I say this is reaching the nations because The Savvy Sauce podcast is downloaded in all 50 United States as well as over 100 countries around the world. Your financial support also supports practical needs such as aiding our team to continue producing helpful content that is practical and uplifting and always pointing to Jesus.   Your financial support, furthermore, will help us continue to expand our reach and secure future projects we have planned for this ministry. If your ears are hearing this message right now, I am specifically asking you to give. We are so grateful for any amount, and our team will continue to seek to be good stewards of the gifts offered to us.   So, if you want to write a check or set up an ongoing payment with your bank that delivers a check to us each month, this is the most beneficial way to give because no percentages are taken out for processing fees. You can make your check out to: Savvy Sauce Charities, P.O. Box 101, Roanoke, Illinois 61561. Additionally, with our new website, we now have a donate  button. There are processing fees that we cover for these donations, but we wanted to offer listeners a seamless way to share their finances with us when we share our content with them. So just visit thesavvysauce.com and find the donate page under the tab support. Another way to find it is simply type in donate to the search bar on our website and just click the first picture shown.   We are all about sharing around here, sharing resources, sharing joy, and sharing the good news about Jesus Christ. We ask that you also will share by sharing financially, sharing The Savvy Sauce podcast episodes, and sharing a five-star rating and review. You can also share any of our social media posts on Instagram or Facebook. We are grateful for all of it, and we just love partnering together with you. Now, back to the show.   You've already shared one piece of scripture that was impactful. Were there any other passages that especially seemed to come to life during this project?   Kay Wyma: (27:26 - 29:11) Oh, yes, and they continue to, Laura, as is always the case with scripture. You know, it really is like, wow. But I love the take your thoughts captive and make them obedient to me, which can sound like it's something that I do, you know, that I'm going to have to make my thoughts obedient to him, but it's really the Lord's power that does that. And it's like these things, you know, I think we talked before about, he isn't doing something to us by saying do these things, it's for us. And it's because when you do these things, naturally it is going to set you free. And so, I love that.   I love in Isaiah where it says, “He will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast in him.” And so when you feel that unsettledness, in that unsettledness, we can go to the places of worry or fear or anxiety, but what if in the unsettledness you can go to the one who says, I see you, who says you are known, who says you are a masterpiece, who says you belong because I chose you, who says, “I see you, you are mine.” And then go to those beautiful verses, even in Isaiah where he says, “you'll go through the water and they will not rise up over you and you will go through the fire, yet you will not be burned.” That's the truth because the one who says it is the one who protects us through all those things. And in the willingness aspect of this, it goes to this place where you're trusting what you can't see. And that is the one who has said these things over us to the point where I'm acting on it in places that can feel very scary. And leaning into his safety actually proves his safety over and over and over and over. And I think that's why the piece comes in.   Laura Dugger: (29:12 - 29:17) Kay, you're such a great storyteller. So, do you have any favorite stories from this adventure?   Kay Wyma: (29:18 - 33:55) There's a couple. So, it's like these practices rehumanize what so much around us has been dehumanizing because people aren't objects. People really matter. We like to compartmentalize everybody based on so many things, our race, our religion, the color of our hair, our vocation. I mean, you name it. And so, it kind of dehumanizes in that. And now we have this cancel culture, which is so weird. Like you could cancel a human being. And so, the rehumanizing comes in all of these practices. And it's so powerful.   So, we were even on our way to the grocery store. There was a person that needed to get over a couple of lanes. And so, I'm with one of my daughters and I was like, let's let that person over. And so, as we did, she crossed over in front of us and made it all the way over three more lanes to go right. I mean, she really was in the wrong place. And my daughter looks at me and said, I'm so glad we did that. And I was like, why? And she said, because if someone had done that for me, it would have made me feel like I was seen and that I had worth. And so, I've never, like that sticks in my head constantly. To be seen and to have worth is what we all need. And the tiniest little things can do that for us.   And so at that grocery store where we were going, a lady honked at me in the parking lot. Like I was walking and she just like blared on her horn, scared the living daylights out of me. And I was like, oh my gosh. But again, in that moment, I was like, wait a second. I can either have that, I'm either gonna fire up and be mad or I'm gonna be like, oh, I really am not seen. Either way, I'm going in a bad path or I can choose willingly to go, no. She's probably stressed out because she's not used to driving or maybe I scared her. She didn't see me. I don't know. And just reacts that way. And so, in that moment, I'm like letting it go, seeing her as a human being going in the grocery store.   And so, I go in, do my shopping. It's super packed in there. I go to the deli line, get my number, stand and wait and stand and wait. And as I'm waiting, who shows up next to me but the lady that honked at me, which if I hadn't let it go in the parking lot, I would have been like, oh, there's that lady in my head. But I wasn't. I was like, oh my gosh, there she is. And the guy calls my number and I feel her next to me and hear her sigh like, oh my gosh. And I look at her and she had forgotten to get her number. And the line was so long. And I was sitting there going, you know what? I've got margin in my day. And I took my number and handed it to her so happily. And she did what we all do. She refused it because kindness is risky. You may be rejected, okay? But again, if you're going into it willingly in the willingness that's based on your settled significance, that kind of rejection doesn't hurt because you're not rejected by the one who has called you by name. Not to over-spiritualize it.   But in that moment, I'm like, okay, no worries. But the deli guy is watching the whole thing. And so, I go to hand him the number and he looks at me and he serves her. And it was, I just can't even tell you how beautiful it was because she accepted it from him. I left because I was like, I don't want her feeling weird. I'm out of here and came back later. And it was so tiny and so beautiful. And it was like the greatest things of humanity were right there at the deli line in the grocery store. And I could tell you others, like even at the checkout, not on this occasion, but another one. Like what the checkers did to give grace to a woman who was so mean to them. And for them, like these two people to look at each other and go, man, she must be having a hard day and err on that. I mean, people are amazing. And it's like, dare we walk alongside each other? Dare we reach for the good? Dare we like just sink into the beauty of all that comes with things like your significance being eternally determined so that we can actually live in the freedom that surrounds you. All these opportunities that are around you every single day to be able to see the people and to treat the people next to you like human beings. It's really freeing and it's so beautiful. And it's a path paved with shalom peace. And it's amazing.   Laura Dugger: (33:56 - 34:22) Okay, that story is so touching. And I think it's because it's so apparent that that was the Holy Spirit and Jesus in you being Jesus to someone else. Because in scripture, we do see that it's God's kindness that leads us to repentance. And I just wonder what the other side of the story is. Your act of willing obedience and kindness. I wonder how that impacted her in a positive way.   Kay Wyma: (34:23 - 35:31) I don't know, but Laura, the coolest part is that I don't need to know. Like this is, again, through these things, that whole part exits. Like it doesn't matter at all. It's like that so much of the unseen is none of, I'll sit there and go, I can't believe he gave me something in that. Because the thing about any of these, when you give them out, it doesn't work like the world's economy where giving is actually a depletion. In God's economy, when you give, you're actually being filled. And so, it's like with a full tank, you walk away going, why did you allow me to be a part of that? Like, why would you have let me do that? Because I can't believe what you gave me through all of that. It's so amazing. Gosh, it just increases your capacity to trust exponentially. And so you have these little things like thankfulness that primes the pump. It's like, well, I'm going to get it going. And then the kindness. And then to be able to go to these places of mercy that involve very, very deep concepts like compassion, like forgiveness, like grace, like letting go of bitterness. These are aspects of God. They are not from us. It's like an invitation to experience God.   Laura Dugger: (35:31 - 35:38) What are some other ways that this peace project has changed the way that you live your life from this point forward?   Kay Wyma: (35:39 - 37:30) You know, almost with a spirit of expectancy and wonder and being able to see so many things that you haven't seen before. It's like it goes from black and white to technicolor. When I was in college, I actually had the opportunity to travel into West Berlin. This was a long time ago before the wall came down because there was the wall between East Berlin and West Berlin. But in order to get to West Berlin, you had to travel through East Germany. And it was so strange because literally on the train and everyone says this that did that back in those days, it was like you would go from colors to black and white. Like it was gray. They're literally the landscaped was gray. And then you would go from that gray into West Berlin that was like all colors and crazy and vibrant.   And that's what I feel like this does. It takes the gray and it makes it, the colors just come out spectacularly. And I think it is because you're choosing to not just believe, but you're acting on the belief which changes something which because you can't do that on your own strength. And so you're getting to experience this very mysterious aspect of God where he says, come to me, I will give you peace. I will give you joy. And I'm going to add that during this period, we probably lived through some of the hardest stuff that we have ever lived through in our life, just with very old past hurt that came and revisited in an extreme way. And it's amazing to me how full our days were on some of the hardest days we've ever experienced simply because these practices allowed us to look beyond and to live in peace and joy that paved even the hardest path.   Laura Dugger: (37:31 - 37:52) Well, I think that points to our good God, even in his timing that he invited you into this and you were willing to step in. And like you've said, it wasn't just something he did to you, but he offered this for you. And even through a hard time, that was such a gift.   Kay Wyma: (37:53 - 39:32) Yeah, which I could never have known that we would even be living that hard time when we started doing this. And it was definitely something that was given to us because I wasn't looking for it. Again, like I said, I had a rotten attitude when all this started and yet he met me there. Somebody said to me, how brilliant that you did this. Like, you know, you did thankfulness, then kindness, then mercy. And I was like, I did not do this. Like, I didn't make this up. This is what literally happened that morning. And for whatever reason, our curiosity was piqued and it was piqued enough to go, hey, you want to try? And what would happen?   And this, the book is the story of us trying and it really is a 30-day experiment where I go through the 30 days of like us doing it as a group and even include the group with these alongside call outs to where even the ladies that were doing it with us. And it was ladies just because it's a ladies Bible study. It doesn't mean that it's a woman thing or a guy, you know, not a guy thing. The consistency of, I can't believe how this has set me free. I didn't know I was entering into these places like this. I can't believe how healthy my mind is. You know, and again, people, if you have any issues with depression or that are deep that you need to get help, get help, please. You know, there is help out there. There are people that are gifted to be able to walk alongside us through very, very challenging situations which we were getting help along the way too. These practices will invite peace into your day on any day. I mean, just try it. Of course, I would love for people to get the book, but more than anything, just try it. I mean, these things are for you as much as they are for me.   Laura Dugger: (39:33 - 39:39) And if someone is willing to give it a try, what suggestions do you have for them?   Kay Wyma: (39:39 - 41:53) Yeah, it's so funny because I think when we hear like, oh, I have to do something for 30 days. I don't know about you, but I'm like, I can't add one more thing to my plate. And then I'm like 30 days. So, the first thing is just do it. Like just try it. And this is not something that you are going to have to give up anything or that it's going to be some burden or that you're gonna be trudging through just a hard journey. It will instantly be a gift to you. That's it. I still struggle with my rotten attitude going, no, it's really stubbornness that I'll go, oh, I'm not doing it. And then I'll think, what is wrong with you? You really know how great this is.   When the Lord was asked, what would you say is the greatest commandment? He instantly said, love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind and love others as yourself for these sum up all the law and the prophets. That's a pretty big deal. And so why? Because it's so good for you because it gets our eyes off ourselves because it puts into action our effort to believe that what he says is true. The belief, I love you. I see you. I know you. You're safe. I'm provided for you. It's so powerful. I know that to be true.   One of the gals that was in our book club has an eight-year-old daughter that hilariously picked this book up because her mother was reading it. And she called it Kay's Peace Project. She does not know me. She was going into a soccer camp, you know, and it's hot. A little girl that's her friend was being mean to her every day. And so by the last day she was getting out of the car. And that week, you know, she didn't want to get out because she didn't want to deal with this friend of hers that was being mean to her. As she was getting out on Friday, she turned to her mom as she got out of the car and she said, you know, I picked up Kay's Peace Project last night. She had landed on a day about mercy. And she said, I read about mysterious mercy. And she said, it made me realize that something may be going on in her friend's life that she doesn't know. And so, she said, I've decided that that's probably why she's being mean to me. And so, I really want to be nice to her today because I don't know what it is that's going on in her life. Eight years old.   Laura Dugger: (41:54 - 42:07) Wow. And that is so powerful. How it has the power to work in all of us. And so, if somebody wants to grab their own copy of The Peace Project or if they want to find you online, Kay, where would you direct them?   Kay Wyma: (42:08 - 42:49) Well, to KayWyma.com or I do love Instagram, but I'm just telling you, it's set your expectations low, people. Because it is, anything I've got is for whoever would like to participate in it or alongside because I do love living life together. And I would love for anybody to join along in that on those platforms or even through the books. And it's just such a privilege. And I just can't thank you enough for having me on and for your listeners even giving me a few moments to even hear whatever is the Lord has put on my heart today. And please share what's on your hearts with the people that are next to you, too. It's worth it.   Laura Dugger: (42:50 - 43:04) Well, it's been a joy to host you. And you probably remember from last time, we are called The Savvy Sauce because savvy is synonymous with practical knowledge. And so, as my final question for you today, Kay, what is your savvy sauce?   Kay Wyma: (43:05 - 43:57) Okay. So, for this project is settled significance. And it is the idea to live in your settled significance. You don't have to get significance from anything around you even though the world would tell you that we need to like in whatever capacity is is like ask the question, where am I thinking I have to do this in order to be okay? Because that's this if then equation of the world. If you do this, then blah, blah, blah, blah. Settled significant operates off God's economy that says, because then, because I have declared you righteous, you are seen, you are known, you are whole, you are loved, you are enough, you belong. And to be able to live in those things, we fight for that right now. We really do. And we try to call out those things that are telling us otherwise.   Laura Dugger: (43:58 - 44:15) Well, Kay, thank you for fighting the good fight of faith and for sharing these practical ways to live out these biblical themes that really have eternal value of thankfulness and kindness and mercy. It has been a joy to host you as my guest.   Kay Wyma: (44:15 - 44:23) Oh, my gosh. You're so nice to host me. Thank you so much. And thank you for what you do. You're a huge encouragement to people every day. So, thank you.   Laura Dugger: (44:23 - 47:39) Thanks, Kay. One more thing before you go, have you heard the term gospel before? It simply means good news. And I want to share the best news with you, but it starts with the bad news.   Every single one of us were born sinners, but Christ desires to rescue us from our sin, which is something we cannot do for ourselves. This means there's absolutely no chance we can make it to heaven on our own. So, for you and for me, it means we deserve death, and we can never pay back the sacrifice we owe to be saved.   We need a savior, but God loved us so much. He made a way for his only son to willingly die in our place as the perfect substitute. This gives us hope of life forever in right relationship with him.   That is good news. Jesus lived the perfect life. We could never live and died in our place for our sin.   This was God's plan to make a way to reconcile with us so that God can look at us and see Jesus. We can be covered and justified through the work Jesus finished. If we choose to receive what he has done for us, Romans 10:9 says, “that if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”   So, you pray with me now. Heavenly father, thank you for sending Jesus to take our place. I pray someone today right now is touched and chooses to turn their life over to you.   Will you clearly guide them and help them take their next step in faith to declare you as Lord of their life? We trust you to work and change lives now for eternity. In Jesus name we pray.   Amen. If you prayed that prayer, you are declaring him for me. So, me for him, you get the opportunity to live your life for him.   And at this podcast, we're called The Savvy Sauce for a reason. We want to give you practical tools to implement the knowledge you have learned. So, you're ready to get started.   First, tell someone, say it out loud, get a Bible. The first day I made this decision, my parents took me to Barnes and Noble and let me choose my own Bible. I selected the Quest NIV Bible and I love it.   You can start by reading the book of John. Also get connected locally, which just means tell someone who's a part of a church in your community that you made a decision to follow Christ. I'm assuming they will be thrilled to talk with you about further steps such as going to church and getting connected to other believers to encourage you.   We want to celebrate with you too. So, feel free to leave a comment for us here. If you did make a decision to follow Christ, we also have show notes included where you can read scripture that describes this process.   And finally, be encouraged. Luke 15:10 says, “in the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” The heavens are praising with you for your decision today.   And if you've already received this good news, I pray you have someone to share it with. You are loved and I look forward to meeting you here next time.

Is it ever okay for a parent to worry about their child? In this episode of Marked by Grace, Pastor Heath Lambert tackles a question every parent faces: how to be genuinely concerned for a child without crossing into sinful anxiety — and what Scripture says about the difference.0:00 — Question: Is excessive worry permissible when it's about your kid?2:01 — Philippians 4:6: "Do not be anxious about anything"3:03 — Philippians 2:20: Timothy's "genuine concern" — the same Greek word, translated differently5:24 — Three ways to stay in concern instead of anxiety: pray6:04 — Trust the Lord7:18 — Seek to be productive

"When it was time..."The Book of Genesis Series - In The Beginning, God https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FD-EKLAyvI&list=PLrgvg1IJfGEoNskcuggMJPDwYu1n9alpmPastor Nate ClarkeAugust 23, 2026Virginia's proposed Constitutional amendments on Abortion & Marriage - How to VOTE BIBLICALLY: https://youtu.be/Y8z8xTFsOn8How should Christians respond to wickedness in the world? https://youtu.be/2OJUIM9YRwASERMON NOTES:- Genesis 41:1-9- Genesis 41:14-16- Genesis 41:25-27- Genesis 41:33-36- Genesis 41:41-57- When it was time...- When it was time, Joseph was prepared- Genesis 41:16- Genesis 41:33-36- Genesis 41:48-49- 2 Timothy 4:2- Promotion isn't just a reward, it's a increase of responsibility- When it was time, Joseph changed his garment- Genesis 41:14- Genesis 41:42- The four garments of Joseph:     - Coat of many colors: Favor, identity      - Garment in Potiphar's house: character, integrity     - Garment in prison: faithfulness in suffering, quiet and hidden     - Fine linen: Authority, exaltation - Philippians 2:8-9- Isaiah 61:10- When it was time, Joseph was healed- Genesis 41:50-51- Philippians 3:13-14- Isaiah 43:18-19- Genesis 41:52- John 15:5- 1 Peter 5:10-11- Psalm 126:5-6- God's plan for redemption is moving forward unhindered.      - the details of the plan     - the timing of the plan     - the people of the plan- Proverbs 21:1- Genesis 41:57Oasis Church exists to Worship God, Equip the believers, and Reach the lost.We are led by Pastor Nate Clarke and are located in Mechanicsville outside Richmond in Central Virginia.STAY CONNECTEDInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/oasischurchva/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OasisChurchRVA/Website: https://oasischurch.online

"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." [Philippians 1:21] This fall we walk through Paul's letter to the church in Philippi. Lead Pastor Caleb Click Preaching August 30th, 2026 Oak Mountain Presbyterian Church Birmingham, AL

Try Minno Free for 7 DaysWant to make a change in what your kids are consuming? Get a free 7-day trial of Minno using my promo code >>> RAD.CLICK HERE______When your autistic child suddenly starts using extreme language, explosive phrases, or emotional scripts that seem to come out of nowhere, there's a question worth asking before assuming the behavior itself is the whole problem:Where did they learn it?In our house, we discovered Graham wasn't just watching characters—he was learning from them. He was borrowing their words, tone, and emotional responses and applying those scripts to real-life situations. That realization eventually led us to make significant changes to what he was consuming.But something surprising happened: Graham didn't stop scripting when we changed his media. His scripts changed.In this episode, we're talking about why Christian parents raising autistic disciples need to pay attention not only to how much screen time our kids have, but to what is filling that time. We'll talk about scripting and echolalia, how media can provide language for emotions, what happened when we changed Graham's content, and why his tendency to retain and repeat language has actually become an incredible avenue for discipleship.You'll also walk away with a practical way to evaluate your child's media this week:Listen → Trace → Evaluate → Replace → ObserveListen for repeated phrases or emotional responses. Trace where they may have learned them. Evaluate the content—not simply for whether it's “appropriate,” but for what it teaches about anger, fear, conflict, authority, and relationships. Replace unhelpful inputs with better ones rather than simply removing screens. Then observe what begins showing up in everyday life.Because Romans 12:2's call to be “transformed by the renewing of your mind” applies to our families too. What repeatedly occupies our attention matters.The goal isn't to eliminate an autistic way of learning. If our kids are going to script, we have an opportunity to give them truth worth scripting.Scripture referenced: Romans 12:2; Proverbs 4:23; Luke 6:45; Philippians 4:8; Deuteronomy 6:6–7; Psalm 1One question to take with you: If my child is going to carry scripts into the world, what scripts am I helping put there?

Listen in as Pastor Matt brings a daily scripture, encouragement and prayer just for you. Today's fresh catch comes from Philippians 4:19.

Philippians 4:10-20 To support this ministry and help us continue to transform lives around the world, please visit: https://bit.ly/3ufMJavYou're listening to Bishop Darlingston Johnson, senior pastor at Harvest Intercontinental Church, Olney, MD. Learn more about Harvesters-Olney at www.harvestersolney.org

Philippians 4:10-20 To support this ministry and help us continue to transform lives around the world, please visit: https://bit.ly/3ufMJavYou're listening to Bishop Darlingston Johnson, senior pastor at Harvest Intercontinental Church, Olney, MD. Learn more about Harvesters-Olney at www.harvestersolney.org

You can have a full life with work, kids, a packed calendar—and still feel completely alone. If you've ever wondered why you feel like you don't belong, even in a room full of people, this message is for you.dIn this message from our series You Belong Here, Maggie walks through Philippians 2 to answer a question a lot of us are quietly carrying: where do I actually belong? The answer isn't another thing to add to your schedule. It's the surprising truth that because of Jesus, we belong with each other—and that God, as Psalm 68 puts it, sets the lonely in families. It's an honest look at why real community is so hard to find, what humility has to do with it, and how belonging starts before you have anything figured out.Support the show

Guided Question Do I truly know Jesus and experience His presence in my life, or am I simply trying to live by Christian rules without experiencing the new birth He came to give? Summary This episode explores Matthew 1:18–25 and the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ. Dr. Robert Lewis emphasizes that Jesus' birth is unique not simply because a baby was born, but because God Himself entered humanity. Matthew presents Jesus as both the Son of David, with a legitimate claim to the throne, and the divine Son of God, conceived by the Holy Spirit. The story begins with Mary and Joseph, whose response to God's extraordinary plan demonstrates remarkable submission. Mary does not understand how God's promise will be fulfilled, yet she responds, “Be it done to me according to thy word.” Joseph likewise obeys God despite the personal shame and potential consequences of taking Mary as his wife. Their lives demonstrate that God's greatest works are often entrusted to people who are humble and willing to submit to His truth. Dr. Lewis then emphasizes the importance of believing the virgin birth as a literal work of the Holy Spirit. He argues that Christianity cannot be separated from biblical revelation: religion without revelation leaves people with nothing more than subjective beliefs and human imagination. The sermon then turns to the name Emmanuel—“God with us.” Jesus did not merely come to point people toward God or give them a better moral code. He came to make a relationship with God possible. He is not merely a teacher of truth; He is the truth, and He calls people not simply to follow His teachings but to receive Him. Finally, Dr. Lewis explains that the birth of Jesus points toward an even greater miracle: the new birth. Jesus was born so that people could be spiritually reborn. Christianity is therefore not merely about keeping rules, attending church, or proving ourselves worthy before God. It is about receiving Christ, being forgiven of sin, and experiencing His presence within us. The message closes with a personal invitation to respond to Christ. Just as Mary and Joseph submitted themselves to God's Word without fully understanding what He was doing, listeners are challenged to surrender themselves to Christ, receive Him, and experience the new life He came to give. Outline 1. The Uniqueness of Jesus' Birth Matthew introduces Jesus' birth as an extraordinary beginning. Jesus is both the Son of David and the divine Son of God. His conception by the Holy Spirit makes His birth unlike any other. 2. Mary and Joseph: Submission to God Mary faces an impossible and potentially shameful situation. She responds with trust and submission to God's Word. Joseph obeys despite the personal cost and public consequences. Their humility makes them examples of responsive faith. 3. The Virgin Birth and Biblical Revelation Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit. The virgin birth is presented as a foundational truth of Christianity. Faith must be grounded in God's revelation rather than personal preference or imagination. 4. Jesus Came to Save from Sin Israel expected the Messiah to deliver them from Roman oppression. Jesus came to address the deeper problem: humanity's bondage to sin. True deliverance begins when we stop focusing on everyone else's problems and allow Christ to deal with our own sin. 5. Emmanuel: God With Us Isaiah's prophecy points forward to Jesus. Jesus is the greater fulfillment of “Emmanuel.” He does not merely point the way to God—He makes relationship with God possible. 6. The Greater Miracle: The New Birth Jesus' birth prepares the way for our spiritual rebirth. Christianity is more than morality, religious activity, or following rules. We must receive Christ and experience His indwelling presence. Jesus was born so that we might be born again. Key Takeaways God works through humble people who are willing to submit to His Word. Faith does not require us to understand everything before we obey. Jesus came to deliver us from sin, not merely from difficult circumstances. Jesus is Emmanuel—God with us. Christianity is about a relationship with Christ, not merely religious rules or moral behavior. The miracle of Jesus' birth points to the greater miracle of the new birth. Receiving Christ means surrendering ourselves to Him and trusting His promise to transform our lives. Scripture References Matthew 1:18–25 — Jesus is conceived by the Holy Spirit and born to Mary. Luke 1:26–38 — Mary receives God's announcement and submits to His Word. Isaiah 7:10–16 — The sign of Emmanuel points to a greater future fulfillment. Philippians 2:5–8 — Christ humbles Himself and takes on human form. Hebrews 1:1–3 — God speaks fully through His Son. John 3:1–8 — Jesus teaches the necessity of being born again. Matthew 1:21 — Jesus comes to save His people from their sins. Matthew 1:23 — Jesus is Emmanuel, “God with us.” Recorded 12.19.82

Pastor Bryan shares a lesson from Philippians 1. Dr. Chapell highlights the words of Paul and the joy found in partnering with fellow believers in the church. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1286/29?v=20251111

Philippians 4:6-7

#13 — Slaying Selfishness ● 2 Timothy 3:2 — “For men shall be lovers of their own selves...” Statement: “We were created to worship God, love people, and use things. But selfishness reverses it—we ignore God, love things, and use people.” 1. Nabal Had Great Possessions 1 Samuel 25:2 Emphasize: “the man was very great.” Deuteronomy 8:18 2. Nabal's Hard Personality 1 Samuel 25:3 Emphasize: “the man was churlish and evil in his doings.” 3. Nabal Refused a Reasonable Plea (reference 1 Samuel 25:4–11) Contrast with Jesus: ● Visual: Jesus teaching the Sermon on the Mount. “Give to every man that asketh of thee...” — Luke 6:30 ● 1 John 3:17 ● Acts 20:35 4. Nabal Endangered His People (reference 1 Samuel 25:12–22) verse 13: ● David tells his men, “Gird ye on every man his sword.” James 4:1–2 Statement: “When self is on the throne, Christ is on the cross. But when Christ is on the throne, self is on the cross.” 5. God Dealt With Nabal's Pride (ref 1 Samuel 25:36–38) ● Verse 36-38 ● 1 Timothy 6:7 — “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.” ● Mark 8:35 Five Practices That Defeat Selfishness 1. Look Beyond Yourself Philippians 2:4 2. Listen to the Needs of Others Philippians 2:4 James 1:19 3. Let Go of Your Rights Philippians 2:5–6 Mark 10:45 4. Love Through Sacrificial Service Philippians 2:7–8 John 15:13 ● Underline: “that a man lay down his life for his friends.” 5. Live With the Mind of Christ Philippians 2:5 ● “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 2:9 ● “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him...” 2 Corinthians 8:9 Statement: “There is no life so empty as a self-centered life, and there is no life so full as a Christ-centered life.” John 3:30 ● “He must increase, but I must decrease.” 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 ● Emphasize: ○ “Ye are not your own.” ○ “For ye are bought with a price.”

We keep imagining that contentment is waiting at the next raise, the next milestone, or the moment life finally settles down. The trouble is that “enough” keeps moving. In Philippians 4:11-19, Paul writes about learning contentment while thanking a church for its generosity. Rich explains why that connection matters: generosity is a practice that loosens greed's grip and teaches our hearts to trust Jesus in seasons of both plenty and need. This message also returns Philippians 4:13 to its context. The verse does not mean we will always win. It means Christ gives us strength when we do and when we don't.   Speaker: Rich Greene Message: Jesus Is Enough Date: August 30, 2026   Scripture: Philippians 4:11-19; Matthew 6:19-21 Next steps, prayer, and connection: https://bit.ly/m/lifechurchia Website: https://www.lifechurchnow.org/ Give: https://www.lifechurchnow.org/give  

Welcome to In the Word with Malcolm Webber.The great cry of Paul in Philippians 3 is, “I want to know Christ!” This is the cry of every believer. But how do we grow in union with Christ in a practical way? And how can we help others to grow?Malcolm outlines four powerful ways that God forms and transforms our lives, in the first part of his message on Philippians 3:10-11, “Stop Drifting and Start Growing.”Related Resources from LeaderSource* Book: True Giving: A Brief Exposition of Philippians* Book: To Enjoy Him Forever* Audio Teaching: Doing Well in the Fire* A Learning Design for Turning to Jesus in Suffering* For More Teaching on Common Errors: Malcolm's Musings This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leadersource.substack.com

What is your one thing?In this episode of the Stress Less series, Alex preaches Philippians 3:13 and Lokelani joins for the Q&A after the amen. Paul wasn't scattered. He was a runner with his eyes on one finish line. Most of our stress doesn't come from having too little. It comes from carrying things God never asked us to carry.We look at where “one thing” shows up in Scripture (Luke 10:42, Mark 10:21, John 9:25, Psalm 27:4), what Jesus' one thing was, and how to find yours.FREE STUDY GUIDE: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jpDsiLG0XZi9jchdd1RoIt_FEtYM-lB6/view?usp=sharingSupport the ministry: https://amenpodcast.com/donateAmen Podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/amen-podcast/id1437840199 Amen Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/55g6BqsNLWNPWz7TuQ1QBK?si=uj86K1L8TiOJjmmFiZ7MdwAmen YouTube: https://youtube.com/@amenpodcast?si=uVsPlTyabiGI6TG4 House Church 808 YouTube: https://youtube.com/@housechurch808?si=54HXOpoLpDQHZW5mHouse Church Podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/house-church-with-alex-wilson/id1871396334 House Church Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0RejGA2t3jPTJyUabUBnH8?si=BHTBhCDLQeWI2tTtFi2OTwhousechurchkauai.comGo out and be the church.

After Hurricane Helene’s floodwaters nearly destroyed his small North Carolina town in 2024, a pastor noticed an inspiring pattern. As he struggled to answer the persistent question, “What do you need?” donations kept showing up exactly when he needed them. Phone chargers? Out of the blue, a man drove up with a generator, creating a charging station at the church. Drinking water? Suddenly, pallets of water bottles arrived. Coincidence? The Bible points us to God, not mere happenstance. “My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). The promise might seem empty to a town nearly demolished by a thirty-foot wall of raging water. But Paul, who was in prison when he offered this encouragement, was no stranger to hardship. Paul was writing to the church in Philippi to thank them for badly needed financial gifts. Except for them, he’d been neglected (v. 15). But God used them to meet his needs. So, His words shined a bright light on God who provided the “riches of His glory” found in Christ Jesus our Savior, in whom we have “every spiritual blessing” (Ephesians 1:3). Joy, peace, truth, salvation are among the needs He richly provides. In kindness as well, He’ll provide a drink of water too, if that’s what we need. What a loving, generous God.

Deity wrapped itself in humanity not to create religion but to build relationship. In this message, Pastor James unpacks what it means to have the mind of Christ, revealing how Jesus made Himself approachable, humble, and relatable.ABOUT THIS SERMONIn this powerful message, Pastor James takes us into Philippians 2 to explore the mind of Christ. Though fully divine, Jesus chose humility and came in human form not just to save us but to walk with us through weakness, pain, and need. Pastor James shows how Jesus did not come to start a religion but to invite us into deep relationship. He reminds us that while we often seek God's power, God is after our hearts. This message calls us to reflect Christ's humility in our own lives and invites us into a relationship that is not based on what God does but on who He is. If you have ever wondered whether God really understands your struggles, this sermon will bring clarity, comfort, and renewed faith.KEY VERSES Philippians 2:5-11 Romans 12:2 Hebrews 4:15-16 1 Timothy 3:16 John 1:1,14