Podcasts about philippians

In our pursuit of greatness in God's eyes, we tend to imagine following Jesus into ever-increasing, upward levels of maturity. In this program, Chip poses the fascinating premise that we actually follow Jesus, descending into greatness.The quest for greatness = UNIVERSAL!How do we measure greatness?Power = Who and what we controlPossessions = What and how much we ownPosition = Our rank in the pecking orderPrestige = Who and how many “look up” to usProductivity = What and how much we accomplishHow do we obtain greatness?Two pathways to greatness:ASCENDINGDESCENDINGTrue greatness defined = Philippians 2:3-4How do you experience true greatness?One word = HUMILITYHumility is the channel through which the supernatural power of God's love flows to heal our deepest hurts and restore our most important relationships.Following Jesus into greatness - How to be authentically humble:Humility flows from a specific “mindset”. -Philippians 2:5We achieve true greatness when we embrace Christ's “mindset” toward power and possessions. -Philippians 2:6We become truly great when we embrace Christ's “mindset” toward position and prestige. -Philippians 2:7We become truly great when we embrace Christ's “mindset” toward productivity. -Philippians 2:8We experience the REWARD of true greatness when we follow Christ's example of servanthood. -Philippians 2:9-11Conclusion: God wants you to be great!The acid test of greatness = LOVEThe road to greatness = HUMILITYThe opportunity for greatness = SERVINGBroadcast ResourceDownload MP3Message NotesAdditional Resource MentionsI Choose Love BookConnect888-333-6003WebsiteChip Ingram AppInstagramFacebookTwitterPartner With UsDonate Online888-333-6003

Financial stress has a way of getting into everything—your sleep, your conversations, your sense of security, and even your peace with God. This devotional opens with an honest picture many people recognize: the cost of living rising, unexpected expenses piling up, and the uneasy feeling that no matter how hard you work or how carefully you plan, you’re still barely getting by. When budgets are tight and debt feels heavy, anxiety can hit fast with a single thought: How are we going to recover from this? What makes the situation even more discouraging is when you’ve tried to do the “right” things—avoiding unnecessary spending, saving where you can, and giving faithfully—yet still feel trapped. The devotional doesn’t shame that struggle. Instead, it reminds us that Scripture takes money seriously and speaks to it often, because finances reveal what we trust, what we fear, and what we serve. Philippians 4:19 offers a steady anchor: God promises to meet our needs according to His riches in Christ. That doesn’t mean believers are guaranteed wealth or a problem-free financial life. But it does mean we are not abandoned. God’s provision is real, and He invites us to live with open hands—using money as a tool rather than a master, practicing generosity with joy, and seeking wisdom to steward what He has entrusted to us. In seasons where money is tight, the devotional encourages a posture shift: from panic to prayer, from striving alone to seeking God’s discernment. Faithfulness isn’t just about giving; it’s about honoring God in the way we save, spend, plan, and respond under pressure. When we ask God to show us where to adjust, to build healthier habits, and to trust His care, we begin to experience His guidance and peace—often one practical step at a time. Main Takeaways Financial pressure can stir fear, but God invites us to bring that anxiety to Him. God doesn’t promise prosperity, but He does promise faithful provision for our needs. Scripture calls believers to steward money wisely, not be mastered by it. Generosity and gratitude are part of trusting God, even in uncertain seasons. Asking God for wisdom can lead to practical changes that reduce stress and honor Him. Today’s Bible Verse And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:19 Your Daily Prayer Here is a brief excerpt from today’s prayer: “Show us areas where we can improve… Grant us ways to foster healthy habits with our income… as we give, save, and spend wisely.” You can listen to the full prayer here, or read the prayer and devotional at the links below. Want More? Relevant Links & Resources Looking for more daily encouragement and faith-filled content? LifeAudio – Daily devotionals, Christian podcasts, and biblical encouragement at LifeAudio.com Crosswalk – Prayer, faith, and Christian living resources at Crosswalk.com This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. If you are struggling with debt call Trinity today. Trinity's counselors have the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | https://trinitycredit.orgTrinityCredit – Call us at 1-800-793-8548. Whether we're helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments, Trinity has the knowledge and resources to make a difference. https://trinitycredit.org Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

A new MP3 sermon from Christ Presbyterian Church is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Carmen Christi | Philippians 2:5-11 | Dr James White Speaker: Dr. James White Broadcaster: Christ Presbyterian Church Event: Sunday Service Date: 2/1/2026 Bible: Philippians 2:5-11 Length: 37 min.

Overthinking is a quiet struggle many Christian leaders face. It often shows up as excessive analysis, fear of failure, and a deep desire to control outcomes—all of which slowly drain peace and undermine trust in God's sovereignty. In this episode, we examine what the Bible actually says about overthinking and why Scripture consistently calls leaders to trust God rather than rely on their own understanding. Overthinking is not simply “thinking too much”—it is often a form of under-trusting God, where anxiety replaces confidence in His guidance and timing. Rooted in biblical truth, this episode reframes overthinking as a spiritual issue of trust, peace, and surrender, and offers practical, scriptural steps for leading intentionally without mental exhaustion or fear-driven striving. Key Biblical Perspectives on the Overthinking Leader: Overthinking vs. Trust: Overthinking often reflects a desire to control outcomes rather than rely on God's direction and sovereignty. A Threat to Peace: Excessive thinking fueled by fear and anxiety robs leaders of peace and mirrors biblical definitions of worry rather than wise planning. Spiritual Warfare: Scripture reveals the mind as a battlefield, where anxious and fearful thoughts can distract, discourage, and exhaust leaders. The Command to Trust: God calls leaders to trust Him fully rather than lean on personal understanding, promising guidance and direction. Stillness Before God: Biblical stillness is an act of surrender—releasing control and trusting God's timing and power rather than forcing outcomes. What the Bible Says About Overthinking: 1 Peter 5:7 – Casting all anxiety on God because He cares deeply for His people Proverbs 3:5–6 – Trusting the Lord instead of relying on personal understanding Philippians 4:6–7 – Replacing worry with prayer to experience the peace of God Matthew 6:25–34 – Jesus' warning against worrying about the future and His call to trust God's provision 1 Corinthians 14:20 – Encouragement toward mature, purposeful thinking rather than anxious or obsessive thought patterns Practical Biblical Steps for Leaders: Shift Focus: Replace anxious thoughts by meditating on what is true, honorable, right, and pure (Philippians 4:8) Delegate Control to God: Intentionally surrender outcomes, timelines, and results to God Turn Overthinking into Prayer: Transform mental “what ifs” into active prayer and trust This episode is an invitation for Christian women leaders to stop striving for control and start leading with clarity, peace, and intentional trust in God's plan. Leadership rooted in faith does not require mental exhaustion—it requires surrender.   Invitation:  If you are a Christian woman who wants to lead with clarity, confidence, and biblical alignment, I invite you to sign up for the Confident Leader Workshop, a 3 session experience designed to help women lead intentionally and stay rooted in God's plan. Click here to sign up.   Your Next Step If this episode resonates and you're craving deeper clarity, confidence, and intentional growth, I would love to walk alongside you.

In this episode, Pastor Cindy delves into the book of Nehemiah, drawing parallels between Nehemiah's journey and the challenges we face today. She explores the significance of prayer and fasting in overcoming obstacles, the importance of interceding for the body of Christ, and the power of aligning our thoughts with God's will. Pastor Cindy emphasizes the need for vigilance and trust in God's plan, encouraging us to stand firm against the enemy through prayer and faith. Reflecting on scriptures from 1 Peter and Mark, she highlights the model of servitude exemplified by Jesus and the call to serve others with humility. Tune in for a message of hope, perseverance, and divine purpose.                   Scripture references: Philippians 3:14, 1 Corinthians 1:12, 1 Peter 5:8–11, Nehemiah 1:3–11, Nehemiah 4:10, 13–18, Nehemiah 6:15, Mark 10:43–45     Order your copy of Cindy's new book, FROM VISION TO VICTORY: 7 STEPS TO BUILDING TEAMS, CULTURE AND GOALS FOR SUCCESS Check out Cindy's TV show, CINDY STEWART LIVE. You can register for the 6-week, self paced e-course at COMPELLED TO CHANGE.  Please email Cindy with any questions or comments to cindy@cindy-stewart.com. She'd love to hear from you.  Pastor Cindy's Website  Pastor Cindy's Facebook  Pastor Cindy's Instagram Gathering Website  Gathering Facebook   Check out the other shows from KB PODCASTS: THE KINGDOM BRINGER PODCAST with Darin Eubanks Super-Natural Living with Beth Packard KINGDOM MASTER MIND PODCAST with Ann McDonald   Podcast music from HOOKSOUNDS.COM

Did you know God wants you to be great? What does it take to be great in God's eyes? That's the topic in this message, as Chip continues his study of Philippians, Chapter 2. It's actually pretty simple - but it's not easy. Two words: Love serves.The quest for greatness = UNIVERSAL!How do we measure greatness?Power = Who and what we controlPossessions = What and how much we ownPosition = Our rank in the pecking orderPrestige = Who and how many “look up” to usProductivity = What and how much we accomplishHow do we obtain greatness?Two pathways to greatness:ASCENDINGDESCENDINGTrue greatness defined = Philippians 2:3-4How do you experience true greatness?One word = HUMILITYHumility is the channel through which the supernatural power of God's love flows to heal our deepest hurts and restore our most important relationships.Following Jesus into greatness - How to be authentically humble:Humility flows from a specific “mindset”. -Philippians 2:5We achieve true greatness when we embrace Christ's “mindset” toward power and possessions. -Philippians 2:6We become truly great when we embrace Christ's “mindset” toward position and prestige. -Philippians 2:7We become truly great when we embrace Christ's “mindset” toward productivity. -Philippians 2:8We experience the REWARD of true greatness when we follow Christ's example of servanthood. -Philippians 2:9-11Conclusion: God wants you to be great!The acid test of greatness = LOVEThe road to greatness = HUMILITYThe opportunity for greatness = SERVINGBroadcast ResourceDownload MP3Message NotesAdditional Resource MentionsI Choose Love BookConnect888-333-6003WebsiteChip Ingram AppInstagramFacebookTwitterPartner With UsDonate Online888-333-6003

In this program, Chip reveals five ways we typically measure greatness. But as with any scale, we always want to know whether the scale is accurate. From Philippians, Chapter 2, Chip explains how true greatness is achieved.The quest for greatness = UNIVERSAL!How do we measure greatness?Power = Who and what we controlPossessions = What and how much we ownPosition = Our rank in the pecking orderPrestige = Who and how many “look up” to usProductivity = What and how much we accomplishHow do we obtain greatness?Two pathways to greatness:ASCENDINGDESCENDINGTrue greatness defined = Philippians 2:3-4How do you experience true greatness?One word = HUMILITYHumility is the channel through which the supernatural power of God's love flows to heal our deepest hurts and restore our most important relationships.Following Jesus into greatness - How to be authentically humble:Humility flows from a specific “mindset”. -Philippians 2:5We achieve true greatness when we embrace Christ's “mindset” toward power and possessions. -Philippians 2:6We become truly great when we embrace Christ's “mindset” toward position and prestige. -Philippians 2:7We become truly great when we embrace Christ's “mindset” toward productivity. -Philippians 2:8We experience the REWARD of true greatness when we follow Christ's example of servanthood. -Philippians 2:9-11Conclusion: God wants you to be great!The acid test of greatness = LOVEThe road to greatness = HUMILITYThe opportunity for greatness = SERVINGBroadcast ResourceDownload MP3Message NotesAdditional Resource MentionsI Choose Love BookConnect888-333-6003WebsiteChip Ingram AppInstagramFacebookTwitterPartner With UsDonate Online888-333-6003

What does it look like to put someone else's needs before your own?In today's episode, Richelle Alessi invites us to reflect on the real meaning of selflessness. As we learn from Philippians 2, we'll discover together how humility can transform our relationships. Whether its in your marriage, your friendships, or your family. Through her story of searching for a new home, Richelle Alessi shares how God gently reminded her to consider her husband's dreams as much as her own, opening our eyes to the blessings that come when we let go of selfish ambition.Join us as we lean into this lesson, praying as a community for the grace to place others first and embody the selfless love Christ modeled for us. Let's seek God's guidance together in our devotion today.Tap HERE to send us a text! BECOME A FOUNDING "MY MORNING DEVOTIONAL" MEMBERIf you enjoy your 5 minute daily dose of heaven, we would appreciate your support, and we have a fun way for you to partner with the MMD community! We've launched our "Buy Me a Coffee" membership where you can buy us a latte, OR become a founding member and get monthly bonus video episodes! To donate, go to mymorningdevo.co/join! Support the showNEW VIDEO EPISODES! You can watch our new video episodes on YouTube! Watch Our Video Devotionals NEW TO MY MORNING DEVOTIONAL? We're so glad you're here! We're the Alessis, a ministry family working together in a church in Miami, FL, and we're so blessed to partner with the My Morning Devotional community and continue the great work done by the show's creator and our friend, Alison Delamota. We pray our personal reflections and devotions will empower you to grow your faith in God, and that you'll join us every morning in prayer! HELP US GROW THE MMD COMMUNITY Subscribe to the show on this app Share this with a friend Join our newsletter Follow Us on ⁠Instagram⁠ and ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠Leave a review Support Our Friends and Family Connect with the original host of MMD Alison Delamota Follow our family's podcast The Family Business with The Alessis

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com    What if our prayers were simply admissions rather than confessions…  What do I mean? Most people pray begging God… telling him what he already knows, asking for things he already said he would provide. We are confessing our doubts to him rather than praying simple confessions… that is what the word of God already says about a situation… we confess what Gods word says.    1. The Core "Postures" of Prayer These are the different intents or "heart-settings" mentioned throughout scripture: Petition (Supplication): Simply asking for what you need. From the "daily bread" in the Lord's Prayer to Paul's instruction in Philippians 4:6 to "let your requests be made known to God." Intercession: Praying on behalf of others. Abraham interceding for Sodom or Paul praying for the early churches are classic examples. Thanksgiving: Shifting the focus from what you want to what you have. The Bible often pairs this with petition—gratitude is the "atmosphere" in which prayer should happen. Lament: A raw, honest cry to God in pain or frustration. About a third of the Psalms are laments, showing that God welcomes our "unfiltered" emotions. Adoration & Praise: Prayer focused entirely on God's character rather than your own needs.

In this program, Chip gives us three specific action steps for becoming a more loving person. The conclusion comes down to a single sentence, a single attitude, that'll change everything about how you love others. Don't miss it.Introduction: “What's going on?”One of God's greatest joys is to see His children LOVE EACH OTHER.A prayer that only you can answer -John 17Paul commands what Jesus prayed -Philippians 2:1-2Structure of passage:The context Conflict without - Philippians 1:29-30Conflict within -Philippians 4:2The commandLive in authentic, Christ-empowered unity -Philippians 2:1-2The structure If you have any encouragement in Christ,If any comfort from His love.If any fellowship with the Spirit,If any tenderness and compassion… - Philippians 2:1Then make my joy complete by…Being of the same mindMaintaining the same loveUnited in spiritIntent on one purpose. -Philippians 2:2The Platinum Rule:“Do unto others as God has already done unto you.”How to become a more loving person:Choose to declare war on SELFISHNESS -Philippians 2:3Attack the root of the problem… PRIDE -Philippians 2:3Choose to PRACTICE HUMILITY daily by putting others' needs and interests ahead of your own -Philippians 2:4Broadcast ResourceDownload MP3Message NotesAdditional Resource MentionsI Choose Love BookConnect888-333-6003WebsiteChip Ingram AppInstagramFacebookTwitterPartner With UsDonate Online888-333-6003

If you’ve prayed for peace but still feel anxious, overwhelmed, or discouraged, you’re not alone—and you’re not failing spiritually. In this episode of Faith Over Fear, Jennifer Slattery is joined by Jamie Hampton, co-host of the Praying Christian Women podcast, for a compassionate and honest conversation about anxiety, prayer, and God’s peace. Jamie shares a season of debilitating anxiety and what that taught her. Together, she and Jennifer explore what Scripture—especially Philippians 4—really teaches about anxiety, why peace is often a process rather than an instant fix, and how God meets us in our physical, emotional, and spiritual realities. This conversation is for anyone who loves God but feels confused, exhausted, or ashamed by persistent anxiety—and longs for a gentler, grace-filled way forward. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why anxiety is rarely just spiritual—and why that matters What Philippians 4 does not mean about “being anxious” How praise and prayer can calm both the heart and nervous system Why honest, unfiltered prayer leads to deeper freedom Practical ways to interrupt anxious spirals with compassion How God’s peace grows through presence, not pressure Scriptures Referenced: Philippians 4:4–9 1 Peter 5:7 Download this episode's free companion guide HERE. Resource Referenced: She Prays Like a Girl: Discover the Joy and Power of Praying Like You (and no one else!) Featured Guest: Jamie Hampton, Christian author and co-host of the Praying Christian Women podcast, shares vulnerably from her own journey through anxiety and healing. Encouragement for Listeners: If prayer hasn’t taken your anxiety away, that doesn’t mean God is distant or disappointed or that your prayer practice isn't helping. God gradually cultivates peace in your soul as you walk with Him. Reflective Questions: When anxiety rises, what assumptions do I tend to make about myself or my faith? Are there physical, emotional, or situational factors contributing to my anxiety that I may have overlooked? What does it feel like to hear that God’s peace is often a process rather than an instant result? When prayer feels difficult, what gentle ways might help me orient my heart toward God? Are there fears or questions I’ve been hesitant to bring honestly to God? What might it look like to release those to Him? Which one small practice from this episode—praise, journaling, or honest prayer—feels most accessible to try this week? Connect with Jamie Hampton: On her and her cohosts website On Instagram On Facebook On Amazon Find Jennifer Slattery: On her website Instagram Facebook Amazon Subscribe to her free newsletter Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Elder Gowens' 1/18/26 sermon is based on Philippians 2:5-11. In the context of Paul's ethical call to spiritual unity, the apostle cites the example of Christ's radical humiliation as the model for Christian humility. This rich Christological passage embodies the very heart of the Gospel message. This is message #12 in the exposition of Philippians.

Chip begins this series, from the book of Philippians, Chapter 2, by telling us Christ's command for us to love one another means we are to live in authentic, Christ-empowered unity. The question is - how? Join Chip as he embarks on the journey to answer that question.Introduction: “What's going on?”One of God's greatest joys is to see His children LOVE EACH OTHER.A prayer that only you can answer -John 17Paul commands what Jesus prayed -Philippians 2:1-2Structure of passage:The context Conflict without - Philippians 1:29-30Conflict within -Philippians 4:2The commandLive in authentic, Christ-empowered unity -Philippians 2:1-2The structure If you have any encouragement in Christ,If any comfort from His love.If any fellowship with the Spirit,If any tenderness and compassion… - Philippians 2:1Then make my joy complete by…Being of the same mindMaintaining the same loveUnited in spiritIntent on one purpose. -Philippians 2:2The Platinum Rule:“Do unto others as God has already done unto you.”How to become a more loving person:Choose to declare war on SELFISHNESS -Philippians 2:3Attack the root of the problem… PRIDE -Philippians 2:3Choose to PRACTICE HUMILITY daily by putting others' needs and interests ahead of your own -Philippians 2:4Broadcast ResourceDownload MP3Message NotesAdditional Resource MentionsI Choose Love BookConnect888-333-6003WebsiteChip Ingram AppInstagramFacebookTwitterPartner With UsDonate Online888-333-6003

Most of us can quote the golden rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. In this message, Chip explains what he calls the Platinum Rule: Do unto others as God has already done unto you. It's step one in the process of how we choose love.Introduction: “What's going on?”One of God's greatest joys is to see His children LOVE EACH OTHER.A prayer that only you can answer -John 17Paul commands what Jesus prayed -Philippians 2:1-2Structure of passage:The contextConflict without - Philippians 1:29-30Conflict within -Philippians 4:2The commandLive in authentic, Christ-empowered unity -Philippians 2:1-2The structureIf you have any encouragement in Christ,If any comfort from His love.If any fellowship with the Spirit,If any tenderness and compassion… - Philippians 2:1Then make my joy complete by…Being of the same mindMaintaining the same loveUnited in spiritIntent on one purpose. -Philippians 2:2The Platinum Rule:“Do unto others as God has already done unto you.”How to become a more loving person:Choose to declare war on SELFISHNESS -Philippians 2:3Attack the root of the problem… PRIDE -Philippians 2:3Choose to PRACTICE HUMILITY daily by putting others' needs and interests ahead of your own -Philippians 2:4Broadcast ResourceDownload MP3Message NotesAdditional Resource MentionsI Choose Love BookConnect888-333-6003WebsiteChip Ingram AppInstagramFacebookTwitterPartner With UsDonate Online888-333-6003

Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” This is one of the most memorized and quoted scriptures. Empowering, motivating, reassuring … yes … and it's a call to action. Notice it doesn't say, “I can do all things through Christ who does it for me.” Unfortunately, many times we […]

Near our home is a famous garden where we often take walks with a young boy our family cares for. His favorite area is the Children’s Garden, which has a small door large enough for him to run through but small enough to force me to crouch. He laughs as I drop to my knees and wiggle through the small opening to chase him. The small garden gate reminds me of Jesus’ object lesson in Matthew 18 where Jesus calls a little child to His side to explain the type of person who will enter the kingdom of heaven (v. 2). It was a bold example, for in Christ’s day to be a child was to be inconsequential and overlooked. Unlike today, their opinions and desires didn’t matter. Jesus uses this description to highlight our human tendency to be noticed and seek power and influence. Of course, Jesus wasn’t asking His disciples to become children again, but rather pointing to the traits that mark those who serve him. The biggest marker is humility—the person who “takes the lowly position” (v. 4) and serves others. The small garden door is a reminder that humility doesn’t come naturally to us. Believers in Jesus, however, are to be this way. We’re to follow our Savior, who modeled this way of living by making “himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant” (Philippians 2:6).

282. Family Sabbath: Pause and Delight with Eryn Lynum   Mark 2:27 NIV “Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”   *Transcription Below*   Eryn Lynum is a certified Master Naturalist, Bible teacher, national speaker, and author. Eryn lives in Northern Colorado with her husband, Grayson, and their four children, whom they homeschool—mainly in the great outdoors. Eryn has has been featured on FamilyLife Today, Proverbs 31 Ministries, Christian Parenting, MOPS International, Bible Gateway, Her View From Home, and For Every Mom. Every opportunity she gets, she is out exploring God's creation with her family and sharing the adventures. To learn more about Eryn, visit ErynLynum.com.   Eryn's Books Eryn's Free Resources Mentioned Nat Theo Podcast   Topics and Questions We Cover: What can this look like to daily align our activities with our deepest values? What do people actually do on this day of rest and what do you recommend for families? Are there any other practical benefits we're missing out on if we neglect rest?   Thank You to Our Sponsor: Leman Property Management Company   Related Savvy Sauce Episodes: 81 Rest with Doctor, Author, and Speaker, Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith 99 Sabbath Rest with Sandy Feit 175 Practicing Sabbath with Shireen Eldridge   Connect with The Savvy Sauce on Facebook, 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: (0:11 - 1:34) 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.   Leman Property Management Company has the apartment you will be able to call home, with over 1,700 apartment units available in Central Illinois. Visit them today at lemanproperties.com or connect with them on Facebook.   Eryn Lynum is my wonderful guest for today, and she's the author of this beautiful book, The Nature of Rest. We're going to discuss all things related to rest, ways that we can prepare for it, how we can enjoy and delight in it, what good gifts God has for us with rest, and then how to reflect well on the rhythms in our life, and so much more.   Here's our chat. Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, Eryn.   Eryn Lynum: (1:34 - 4:03) Thank you. Thanks so much for having me.   Laura Dugger: Well, I'd love for you to start us off by sharing your personal journey and tell why you are so uniquely qualified to teach and write about rest, as stress can literally kill you.   Eryn Lynum: Yeah, that's correct. So, when I was 14 years old, I was diagnosed with a potentially fatal autoimmune disorder. And kind of the context of that season, I was preparing to go overseas for the first time on a missions trip. So, I was going to be in Africa for two months. And so, before you go do something like that, you have to go to the doctor and get a checkup and vaccine recommendations, all the things. And so, my parents took me in.   Again, I was 14 at the time, and we had no reason to believe that there was anything wrong. There were no red flags. Besides, I had been a little tired, a little dizzy once in a while, but really, we just thought, okay, well, I'm growing up, my body's changing. But when the nurse took my blood pressure that day, it was 56 over 48, which is deathly low.   And so, immediately, that's a red flag. And I undergo more testing and hospital visits and seeing specialists. And they diagnosed me with something called Addison's disease. And Addison's disease, it's where your adrenal glands no longer function. So, maybe you've heard of adrenal fatigue, where someone is so taxed out that their adrenal glands can't keep up because they're meant to produce cortisol, which is our stress hormone. Well, Addison's disease is the worst-case scenario where you can't come back from it, barring a miracle. Like, my adrenal glands don't work, and they haven't for over 20 years now.   And so, you know, this system that God has given us meant to cope with stress, and it's that fight-or-flight response. At that young age, I no longer had that. And so, stress became quite literally deadly to me. And at that point, my parents, they began coaching me in biblical stress management, so identifying stressors in my life.   You know, when your shoulders start creeping up, and you can feel that tension in your neck, and knowing that those are signs that, okay, you need to step back, you need to calm yourself. Like the Psalms talk about, “I have calmed and quieted my soul,” and to bring everything to the Lord and cast all your anxieties upon Him. And this is really where I can see, in my life, I developed a very consistent prayer pattern in my life where just all day long, like conversing with the Lord.   And so, that's been a big part of this. But yeah, that's really what began leading me into this deeply restful lifestyle was out of necessity. But really what I've seen since then is God designed all of us to live and thrive through rest. Like this is His original design.   Laura Dugger: (4:04 - 4:27) I love that so much. And you articulate this so well in your book. But before I ever encountered you, I had never heard of the term master naturalist before. So, if you want to share anything about that, it would be great. And as a master naturalist, where do you see these rhythms of rest in nature?   Eryn Lynum: (4:28 - 6:54) So, a master naturalist, it's really a fancy term for nature teacher. And I pursued this because my degree and my passion are in biblical theology. And I've always been passionate about rightly handling God's word of truth from 2 Timothy 2:15.   And I began to see as my own family, my husband and I, we have three boys and a daughter, and now they're 14 down to seven. But when they were younger and we started spending more time outdoors, I started to see, okay, God has given us so many visuals and materials in nature with which we can teach about Him. Coming from Romans 1:20, that His invisible attributes, those things we can't see about God, are clearly perceived through what He has made. And I saw that also Jesus in the gospels, He used nature all the time to teach.   And God throughout scripture, like it's not just Genesis 1, nature narratives are strong throughout scripture. And so, I thought if God and Jesus use this methodology to teach, then certainly we can. And so, that's why I went through this training and taught, teach with this method is because, you know, the more we understand these materials, the more we see of God and the more we can communicate about Him.   And so, I was working as a master naturalist in our city and teaching my own programs. And I started to incorporate it more and more into my book and then later on in my podcast. And at the same time, God was leading my family into celebrating Sabbath. We had come into this season where we were just exhausted, like running businesses and raising and homeschooling kids, like all of us, no matter our circumstances, face this very real human existence of fatigue. And so, we came to a place where rest was no longer optional. It was critical and vital.   And so, I'm living in these two realms of learning about nature while I'm learning about scripture. And then God is bringing us into deep rest. So, I started to ask the question, where do we see rest in scripture? And I found that it is everywhere. The roots of rest run deep and wide throughout scripture. And also asking, where do we see rest in creation in nature? And it's also everywhere there that God designed all these cycles and these rhythms and all of his plants and creatures, even the ones that we think of as so frenetic and busy that God designed them to thrive through rest.   Laura Dugger: (6:55 - 7:04) And will you give a specific example then of something in nature as it's so apparent that it's designed for rest?   Eryn Lynum: (7:04 - 8:28) Definitely. Let's focus on one of those ones that we often think of as really busy, the hummingbird. I opened the book with the analogy of a hummingbird because when you think about a hummingbird, what do you picture in your mind?   Laura Dugger: (7:17 - 7:19) Busy, constant movement in and out.   Eryn Lynum: (7:20 - 8:28) Yeah, exactly. Like they have to visit between 1,000 and 2,000 flowers every day to get all the nectar that they need. And so, they are always like here and there in the next place. And they look like this little thing just zipping through the air and you can't even see their wings beating because they can be up to 70 times a second. It's this blur of motion. And we think about that little hummingbird, and we can sometimes feel like that little hummingbird just zipping from one thing to the next, thinking there's no time to stop.   But the hummingbird does stop. It has a very strategic method of rest called torpor. And torpor is kind of like a mini hibernation where the little bird is going to go into this deep state of rest. It lowers its body temperature by around 50 degrees and becomes completely unresponsive. And this is a regular thing that the hummingbird does, and it enables it to continue its God-given, good, busy, fruitful work. So, it's this picture of, you know, busyness is not bad. God created us for fruitful work, but it's all meant to be sustained through deep, rhythmic, intentional rest.   Laura Dugger: (8:28 - 9:06) I mean, immediately that makes me think of the weeks, even that I'm most productive, I've probably prioritized my sleep the best of it. And if I get great sleep, even if it's extra hours, that doesn't take away from the rest of the day. That probably makes my time even multiplied.   Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. And I love, you point out so many times how God just clearly designed his creation to enjoy this gift of rest. So, you mentioned some of the nature parts. What about some of the foundational scriptural truths on this topic?   Eryn Lynum: (9:07 - 11:52) Yeah, well, of course, where's the first place that we get the idea of rest in the scripture? Yeah, exactly. So, God completes his work of creation and then he rests and he didn't need to rest. Isaiah 40:28 tells us that he, the creator of the world does not grow weary or tired.   I believe that one reason, and I talk about a couple of them in the book, but I believe that one main reason God rested was to stop and delight. That word Sabbath, it comes from the Hebrew word Shabbat, which can mean to both stop and delight. Like think about God finishing his creative work, bringing, bringing everything from nothing. Ex nihilo is that theological term, everything from nothing. Creating not only the animals and the plants, but the textures and the math and the shapes and the like everything he needed to make these things. And I imagine he just wanted to stop and enjoy it. I can even picture him going through creation and listening to the birds and taking in the colors and the shapes of the clouds.   What a beautiful reminder to us, because I know for myself, I'm so prone to just run from one thing to the next, like check it off the list. What's next? But here God is modeling for us. Stop delight, praise him for what he just allowed us to accomplish, to create, to do before rushing on to the next thing.   And so, we get that first mentioned there at creation, but then think about when Sabbath was actually established, there's a framework, there's a structure it's Exodus 16. And the context here is the Israelites. They're doing what they do. They're wandering and grumbling. They're hangry and God shows mercy to them in the form of quail and manna, but he has very specific instructions for them. He says for six days, you shall gather it, but not on the seventh day. Don't go out. It is a solemn day, a Holy Sabbath to the Lord.   That's the first mention of Sabbath, that word in scripture, but consider the Israelites. They had no context for what God was calling them to do. Surely they could think back to the creation story. Okay. God worked and then rested, but they had very little idea of what he was asking them to do. This was an act of faith. God was saying, stop gathering, trust me.   And this is so hard for us because like we are so prone to gather, gather, gather, do produce work more out of this scarcity mindset. But this picture is showing God is a God of abundance and his math works. When we trust him to be the provider, not ourselves. And we take that risk on rest. He provides abundantly through it.   Laura Dugger: (11:53 - 12:05) Absolutely. And within this gift then of rest, how can rest actually reorder and re-energize our lives?   Eryn Lynum: (12:05 - 14:03) I love this question because throughout the book, we talk a lot about reordering and creating margins. So, we can rest and reprioritizing. You know, it's so interesting when we look at the creation narrative, where we get that first mention of rest, because it's backwards to what we normally think.   Think about this. God created for six days and then he rested. Adam, the first human was created on that sixth day. So, Adam's first full day was a day of arrest, dedicated to rest. And in this, we see that God worked and then rested. But we, humanity, we were always meant to begin from rest.   And you see that even in the Hebrew tradition of a day, their day begins at evening. Their day doesn't start with, let's get up and get to work. Their day starts with, let me go to rest to get ready for the work. So, first we have to reorder our concept of rest, not see it as a reward. Oh, I'm going to work, work, work, get all the things done so that maybe I can rest this weekend or on vacation, or when the kids are out of the house or in retirement, that's backwards to the biblical framework. We are meant to begin from rest.   So, starting there. And as we do that, my family has found after sabbathing for three and a half years now, everything else kind of falls into place. And that happens when you operate by God's design. You know, rest allows us to tend to the most important things. Those deep values, whether like that should be of course, faith and family. So, getting clear on your values is really important. Like what is most important to your family faith? Maybe it's community generosity. Maybe it's physical health, mental health, all these things do better. And we have more time to tend to them when we first make room and space for rest.   Laura Dugger: (14:04 - 16:28) And now a brief message from our sponsor.    With over 1,700 apartment units available throughout Pekin, Peoria, Peoria Heights, Morton and Washington. And with every price range covered, you will have plenty of options when you rent through Leman Property Management Company.   They have townhomes, duplexes, studios, and garden style options located in many areas throughout Pekin. And make sure you check out their newest offering, the McKinley located in Pekin is a new construction addition to their platinum collection featuring nine foot ceilings, large spacious layouts, beautiful finishes, such as courts, countertops, and garages. You won't want to miss this outstanding new property in Peoria, a historic downtown location and apartments adjacent to OSF Medical Center provide excellent choices.   Check out their brand new luxury property in Peoria Heights, overlooking the boutique shops and fine dining on prospect. And in Morton, they offer a variety of apartment homes with garages, a hot downtown location, and now a brand new high-end complex near Idlewood Park. If you want to become part of their team, contact them about open office positions.   They're also hiring in their maintenance department. So, we invite you to find out why so many people have chosen to make a career with them. Check them out on Facebook today or email their friendly staff at leasing@lemanprops.com. You can also stop by their website at lemanproperties.com, check them out and find your place to call home today.   It never ceases to amaze me how God's economy and his math are just different. Sometimes upside down from ours, but I feel like when you're speaking, it reminds me of Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.” So, if we actually obey, I think there are so many blessings that we can enjoy from this gift of rest. So, you're talking about our values. Then what can this look like to daily align our activities with our deepest values?   Eryn Lynum: (16:30 - 18:30) Yes, this is an ongoing practice because the enemy is always trying to distract us from what is most important. And that word there is key distract. And so, first we have to learn to identify those distractions, the things that are pulling us away from what is most important, but you know, getting to those core values and on my website, I have, my husband and I developed a family values guide that helps you step by step to really figure out what are our deepest values.   So, that's erinlynum.com/values. But really what it is, is this practice of getting clear on God's best for, for us and for our families and for those around us and, and making sure that we are aligning and realigning because it's going to get out of alignment, those values with God's agenda. You know, a lot of days I just start my day with a restful pause.   I call them in the book, Selah pauses. And I am quite literally, I am sitting before the Lord, my eyes closed and my hands just up in this posture of surrender and receiving. And I will say, Lord, I am surrendering my own agenda, my own expectations for this day. And I want to receive your power, your presence, your peace. And then throughout the day, just taking those checks.   Like I practice these daily Selah pauses and moments of rest because think about Selah in the Psalms. It can mean to pause, to contemplate, to redirect. And we need to do that often because as a day goes on, I think we lose energy and focus. You know, at the beginning of the day, we might feel really like focused. And this is what I'm getting done today. And that can waver like that can wane out as the day goes on. And so, constantly just checking back in.   Okay, Lord, what is it you have for me to do today? And how do I tend to those most important things? But you have to take that restful pause to be able to do that.   Laura Dugger: (18:31 - 18:46) That's good reminder. Okay. So, to check back in with the Lord and then can you give another example of one family and what their value is and how they live that out in their daily life. And maybe even what requires us to say no to.   Eryn Lynum: (18:47 - 20:15) Ooh, that's a fantastic question. Hmm. Can it be for my own family or do you want me to give them love it from your own family?   Okay. I was asked this question recently. Someone asked me, how do you make time to be outside as a family? One of our core family values is to be out exploring in God's creation. And this has been harder in different seasons. And we have two middle schoolers now, you know, we are, we have a lot going on.   And so, it can very quickly happen where at the end of the day, we're like, wow, we really didn't spend much time outdoors today, but how we prioritize this is you do have to say no to other things. So, we're a homeschooling family. And just as an example, it can be very tempting to feel like, am I doing enough? Am I teaching them enough? We need to check off all these boxes and get the lessons done. And it's constantly surrendering that and realizing, you know, I know that our value of being outdoors is important to God. I know that he is meeting my children there. He is meeting me there. He is giving us rest and rejuvenation there.   So, trusting with that, again, going back to the Israelites, stop gathering, stop checking off all the boxes, stop trying to provide and meet your own expectations. And instead stay super focused on what God has called you to and ruthlessly get rid of the rest, anything that's keeping you from that.   Laura Dugger: (20:16 - 20:36) I love that personal example. Thank you for sharing. And how can we also in our own families or in our own life, how can we distinguish which activities are vital for the abundant life in Christ that he offers so that we don't settle for less?   Eryn Lynum: (20:38 - 22:46) I love that you bring up that, that term, the abundant life. In John 10:10, that Christ came, that we might have life and life abundantly overflowing to the fullest, like brimming over is what that word means. And that scripture also says the enemy comes to steal and kill and destroy.   And I believe that one of the enemy's biggest schemes and methods for that is to send us into hurry and hustle mode. And he does that through distraction and discontent. And so, so much of this is pressing back against distraction and discontent and getting back to how God created us to thrive.   And again, I believe that that is through this, this gift of rest. You know, you talk about, you asked about settling for less. The enemy is going to put a million things in our life that would cause us to want to settle for less.   Let me give you an example of him trying to distract us. There was a recent weekend where we were coming up on the weekend, and I had several friends reach out and ask about me doing these things like these different opportunities coming our way. Like, do you want to do this? Do you want to do this? And each of them were for on Saturday and that's usually when our family Sabbaths. And so, I had this tension because these were good things.   It's hard to say no to a good thing, but I kept feeling again and again, the Lord saying, no, rest with your family, rest with your family. And it was so sweet because come Saturday morning, I was out on our back deck sipping coffee with my husband for hours, having incredible conversations, reading great books. The kids are playing in the yard.   Several times I caught myself thinking, I almost said no to this by saying yes to other things. And again, they were good things. This life is full of good things, but God's rest is one of the best things for our families. So, it's learning to be okay with saying no to those good things. So, you can say yes to that better thing.   Laura Dugger: (22:48 - 23:17) Examples are so helpful. And that requires a level of discernment and going to the Lord to ask him, but I'm wondering if you even have a system in place for how you discern that, or is it a gut piece that you follow or any practical ways that each of us can discern what's the right kind of busy that's good. And what's the wrong kind of busy and the things that we want to say no to.   Eryn Lynum: (23:18 - 25:05) Yeah. Going back to, again, busy is not bad. God created us for fruitful work, but I think, you know, when we are following Christ and God's spirit is within us, he's going to give us that sense of this is the right kind of busy.   This is the wrong kind of busy. And practically, you know, if it has any notion of distraction, like if you're doing this thing to just distract you or to procrastinate on better things, if it has a note of busyness, you know, some people will be like, well, some people, the enemy makes us want to think that sitting on our phones can be restful because you're not technically doing much of anything, but that distraction is stealing God's true gift of rest for us.   And so, you know, our family, as we practice Sabbath throughout the week, I know that come Saturday, we have a full day of rest. And sometimes it's tempting to add a little work into there, to let it seep out of those edges of the work week and kind of into our Sabbath. And as you practice this more and more and begin just ruthlessly protecting that time, whether it's a full day, whether you start with a half day, God is going to make you more sensitive to those things. Because sometimes I'll like work it out in my mind, like, oh, this isn't work. And really like it's definitely, it's definitely trying to serve my work during the work week.   And God is saying, no, like step away from that and allow me to refresh and rejuvenate your spirit so that when you go back to the work, you do so much more powerfully energized, restful, and ready to do that work to the very best of your ability with God's power.   Laura Dugger: (25:07 - 25:36) That reminds me of a previous guest I'll link to. He did two episodes, but Jeff Henderson just said he's a pastor too. And he said, sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is take a nap.   I would agree on that, which you've kind of been sharing a little glimpses of your family's experience with Sabbath, but let's just zero in on Sabbath and I'll just try and go through a series of questions. But first what's the importance of Sabbath?   Eryn Lynum: (25:37 - 26:55) Well, first God commands it. Like if God commanded it, then surely it's important, but that can also sometimes cause us to get a little legalistic about it. What is it? What isn't it? Well, it is meant to be a gift, meant to be a blessing. It's meant to empower us and what God created us for and calls us to.   And so, keeping that just center, this is meant to be a gift, but we see it all throughout scripture, the importance of rest and rest in God's design. It's celebration. Like it's not idleness. It's not doing nothing. Although sometimes like that's the most beneficial way that we can rest. Like you talked about a nap.   I love a good nap on Sabbath, but also it can be energizing activities, inspiring activities. I also love a good long walk on Sabbath. Sometimes I love cooking with fresh ingredients and working on a meal during Sabbath because I don't get much opportunity to do that during the week. Sometimes I love going out and working in the garden because that's life giving and I don't have time to do that throughout the week. And so, getting back to this concept, this idea of Sabbath and rest are celebratory. Like when we do it well as a family, it feels like a mini vacation every week.   Laura Dugger: (26:56 - 27:15) Ooh, I love that. My husband said that before about date night and I connect with that, that it's a little mini reprieve, a mini vacation each week. But then that leads me to the question because I bet so many people share their Sabbath activities with you. What do families actually do on this day of rest?   Eryn Lynum: (27:16 - 31:46) Yeah, that's a great question. And first I'll say that it should look different from family to family. We are all in unique seasons. We have different stories, different scenarios. Again, if you can't start with the full day, now I strongly believe strive and work toward that full day. That's God's design.   And we've seen the most blessing from that. But if you have to start smaller with a half day with four hours, start there. So, it's going to look different. If you have newborns, like a newborn child, it's going to look different and that's okay. No going into it, that it's going to be messy. Hebrews says strive toward rest, work toward rest. It's so counter-cultural. We have to work toward it. So, just going in, knowing these things is very helpful.   It's also going to grow, adapt, and change throughout the seasons. Our family has seen that. But a typical Sabbath for our family right now is we follow the traditional Friday evening to Saturday evening for the most part. Some people ask me, why not Sunday? Isn't Sunday the Sabbath? Well, for us, Sunday is set aside for church community and fellowship and corporate worship. And that's so life-giving to our souls. But by the time I get home from church and I'm making lunch for the family, like I'm not rested physically. So, we needed a separate day set aside for rest.   And so, Friday afternoon, we start preparing where we're going to band together and just pick up the house, get it ready, wash all the dishes and just start preparing our hearts, our minds, our bodies, our home for rest. And then we start Friday evening with communion as a family, just breaking bread and celebrating what Christ did on our behalf. And again, that, that idea of celebrate, and this marks it as special. Okay. We're heading into Sabbath. Some families will like light a white candle for Sabbath, just really marking it. And then we have, we toast to the week. So, we'll pour sparkling juice and just toast and say, “Hey, what did we see God do this week?” Like going back to that idea of stop and delight, we are setting a hard stop to the week. We are delighting. What did we see God do? What did he help us overcome? What can we thank Him for from this past week? And then we'll do an easy dinner. Think tacos, take and bake pizza spaghetti.   We use paperware, which is a bit controversial since I work as a master naturalist, but it has been an easy button for Sabbath that I'm not worried about like dishes piling up on the counter. And then we'll, we'll wrap it up with a sweet treat like ice cream and then our kids go to bed, or they'll listen to audio books. Audio books have been massive for our Sabbath because they're screen-free because we do put away all screens and work like devices on Sabbath, but they can listen to good books.   And my husband and I, we read, like people ask me, when do you find time to read? You don't find time to read. You have to make time to read. And for us, that's on the Sabbath mostly. And then Saturday we sleep in, we get up pretty early during the week and the kids just know like you don't wake mom and dad on the Sabbath. Like that's their day to sleep in.   Again, if you have a newborn or young children, that's gonna look different and that's okay. But for us, that's the season that we're in and our kids, they'll make themselves first breakfast and then eventually we'll get up and we'll join them for a second breakfast or some Sabbath. I don't want to cook at all. And so, it's just take and forage. And you know, I usually have a grocery delivery the day before or go to the grocery store and make sure we just have a ton of good stuff in the house. So, no one's, you know, everyone has what they need.   Then the rest of the day, it is just a day of delight. Reading books, playing games, being out in creation, visiting with neighbors, having great conversations together. Sabbath is this space where you get to do all those things during the week that you're like, oh, I wish I had time for that and you just don't get to them. Like recently my daughter during the week, she really wanted me, she's seven. She wanted me to sit down and watercolor paint with her, which I love doing, but it was a really busy week. And I just didn't have the space.   And so, I told her like, “Hey, I would love to do that. Can we do that on Sabbath?” And she was so happy with that answer. And come that Sabbath a few days later, she remembered, she came up to me. She's like, mom, it's time to paint. And she got all the supplies, and we went and sat outside at our picnic table and painted for the afternoon.   You know, Sabbath does so much for me as a mom to remove that guilt of the things I don't feel like I have time for because I know, and my kids know, Sabbath is coming and that's our day to be together and do those things.   Laura Dugger: (31:47 - 31:57) Hmm. Okay. That makes me curious. Then to how much of a vote does everyone in the family get for what Sabbath will look like?   Eryn Lynum: (31:57 - 34:02) Oh, that is a great question. No one's ever phrased it to me like that before. I love that. What we found that's been important to keep in mind is that we all individually find different things, restful and inspiring. I'll give you an example. One Sabbath, my husband, especially in the spring, he loves to work in the yard on Sabbath because he spends most of his week. He runs a construction company on the computer or on the phone. And so, in the spring, he wants to be out in the yard and trimming his fruit trees and just working with God's creation. And so, one Sabbath he comes and he has like the clippers in his hand and he's like, “Hey, let's go work on the yard.”   And I was like, that's great. You do that. I'm going to go read my book in the hammock. And I fell asleep for two hours while he worked on the yard. And so, a lot of this is being okay that yes, a lot of it's going to be together. Like I talked about, we did, we do communion together and we do meals together. And a lot of times we'll be out on a hike together. That's a favorite Sabbath activity. But a lot of times we're also doing separate activities.   The kids are enjoying their books or their audio books or their painting or their, uh, visiting the neighbor kids. And my husband and I are reading books on the back deck. And so, it's okay that there's going to be some together time and some separate time, you know, just being flexible with it. Like our first year of Sabbath, we went, we had to go like hardcore. We had to learn to stay. I think about in the book, I talk about the word abide meno in the Greek and it can mean to stay, to dwell, to remain.   So, we've spent our first year of Sabbath, not getting in the car. We stayed home and learned to just be home together. And after that year, we started to miss our time. We live in Colorado, missing our time hiking in the mountains. And so, we changed it. We said, okay, well, toward the end of Sabbath Saturday afternoon, Saturday evening, let's go hike or let's go have a picnic in the wilderness. And just being open to that, that God's going to change you as a family and change you individually. And just growing up in a Sabbath practice together.   Laura Dugger: (34:03 - 34:20) I like the freedom that you're communicating there. And then when you mentioned the neighborhood kids, it makes me curious. Do you encourage community for some of those who recharge with other people? Would you recommend Sabbath thing with others or just keeping it your family?   Eryn Lynum: (34:21 - 36:16) Absolutely. We love inviting others into Sabbath. And it actually started with, we started our Sabbath practice. It was so sweet because God convinced us to do this. And then our first Sabbath was on January 1st. That happened to be the first Saturday that we did it. So, it was like this fresh start. And right around that time, we had moved to a new neighborhood. And our neighbors near us are Messianic Jews.   And they follow Shabbat, the traditional Shabbat. And they invited us into that. It was the sweetest evening, and they have children, young children, like we do. So, like there's chaos and there's mess. And then there's sweet times of singing together and scripture reading. And they follow it much more the traditional method than our family has.   But it was so sweet to be invited into that and to get a picture for how to invite others into this rest. And so, absolutely, we encourage, especially our kids having friends over. And we do usually ask parents, hey, can you drop them off? And then we can bring them back maybe like later that day toward the end of our Sabbath. Or if you want to come pick them up. Because again, we like to just stay home if we can.   But our kids are to the point now too where they can ride their bikes over to friends' houses. And we're fine with that. They might not be home on Sabbath once in a while. It's not a regular thing. But they're getting fed. And we know that the people they're with are people who share our values, people that we do life together.   We love having bonfires in the backyard on Sabbath. Now one thing I have to be careful of is I don't want to invite people over and feel like I need to host or clean up first. And so, for one, we don't have full families over a whole lot on Sabbath because I just don't want any sort of self-induced, self-imposed pressure.   But sometimes it's so much fun to just be like, hey, let's go meet at a park and have a picnic dinner. Or let's have a family over and do a bonfire. Just making sure that you're keeping it really, really simple if you are going to incorporate community.   Laura Dugger: (36:17 - 37:54) Guess what? We are no longer an audio-only podcast. We now have video included as well. If you want to view the conversation each week, make sure you watch our videos. We're on YouTube, and you can access videos or find answers to any of your other questions about the podcast when you visit thesavvysauce.com.   Some of these things, like you said, “They do require forethought where you have the groceries coming or certain things in place. And I think you even refer to it as a sacred striving.” So, it's important for us to learn more about that. And here's a quick story.   I just remember we've moved states quite a few times in marriage. But when I was a young mom, there was a mom in the next season of life, and she had more kids than we did. And we went to church together, and she was just like, “Oh, we learned about Sabbath. That's not a thing for moms with multiples.” And I always wrestled with that, and I love her. She's a wonderful person. Maybe she's even changed her stance on that, so it's not to speak ill of her. But I do think that we can struggle with that because that's not an actual truth. I do think that's a message from the enemy.   So, I guess this is a two-part question. How do we protect ourselves from buying into a storyline that is not true that may hold us back from Sabbath? And then also, what is kind of the both and? It's both restful, and it requires a lot of work up front to make this a reality.   Eryn Lynum: (37:55 - 41:19) It does, and knowing that, that it is going to take work, but God's going to bless it. Think about Isaiah 55:10-11, that says, “Just like the rain and the snow go forth and produce life and bring forth life from the land, so my work goes out and does not return void or empty. It produces that which I sent it out for.”.   That is true for Sabbath and rest because, again, we find it all throughout scripture. So, know that it's going to take hard work, but God will not allow it to return void. He will bless our efforts as we step into His design that He created us for.   I talk about in the book a few ways that you have to prepare mentally, physically, and spiritually. So, mentally, for me, I have to just totally remove anything mentally that's going to distract me from rest. So, I own a business, and so a lot of my work is on the computer and on the phone. I will answer, so this is like Friday, I'll answer any lingering emails, those ones that are going to be on my mind if I don't get to them. And then I put an away message on my email. So, if anyone emails me on our Sabbath, it sends an automatic reply that says, hey, thanks for your message. My family's resting. It has a little blurb in there about Sabbath. I'll get back to you in the new week.   That gives me permission to not even look at my email. In fact, people expect that I'm not looking at my email if I'm keeping my word. And so, this has just freed me up mentally to step away, and then I literally put my laptop in my closet.   With my phone, I set it to a Sabbath mode, and you can create these different focus modes if you have a smartphone, so that I can only receive messages from my mom in case of emergency. And our people, our friends, they all know this now. Like, oh, I'm not going to hear back from Erin because it's Saturday for the most part.   And so, these little things that you might just need to mentally prepare yourself. And then physically, that goes back to preparing our home. So, this is not a deep clean that we do prior to Sabbath. It's just tending to the things that are going to distract me if we don't get to them beforehand. So, again, washing all the dishes and having the kitchen clean, vacuuming. Like, that's like just a hack to make the house feel clean is I feel like it's clean if it's vacuumed.   So, just these little things, and then physically also doing that grocery order. And I have a free Sabbath guide on my website, erinlynum.com/family-sabbath. And it walks you through creating your Sabbath grocery list so that every week you have what you need in the house. These little things that truly make it, Sabbath easier and more successful.   And then preparing spiritually, going into this, like a lot of times I'll know, okay, I'm going to study this on Sabbath. For our first year, I just had like this stack of books on Sabbath that I would work through on our Sabbath. Right now, I am parked in Genesis 1 and have been for weeks. And so, just preparing spiritually, you know, this is a time of communion with our creator, with our heavenly father. And so, just having an idea of, you know, this is how I want to spend time delighting in God on the Sabbath.   That might be a long walk. That might be time in the word or time of worship but making sure that that is a keystone part of your Sabbath practice.   Laura Dugger: (41:20 - 41:45) And, you know, it really is possible. I just think so many of us celebrate holidays and we do the same thing where we plan, prepare, prioritize ahead of time so that we can delight in that day. And what a gift to get to do that weekly. So, with all of these amazing benefits, why do we still resist God's design for rest?   Eryn Lynum: (41:46 - 43:00) Because we live in a fallen world, broken by sin, and the enemy wants to do everything he can to keep us from this. This is God's design and our faith, and our souls and our families flourish in this design. And so, the enemy is going to do whatever he can to keep us from it.   He's going to insert fear. He's going to insert distraction. He's going to insert doubt. You know, when we started this practice coming up to it, I was thinking, there's no way, like how are we going to get everything done in one last day a week, all these doubts. And yet what we found so quickly is that as we took this step of faith, we quickly became so much more productive and effective and creative during the work week, because we were starting from rest and following God's design.   We resist this because it is counter-cultural. Everything in society is set up against us doing this and succeeding in this. So, again, going and knowing that our war is not against flesh and blood. It is against the powers of the spheres, like things unseen. The enemy is against us, but God is on our side. And as we step into his design, he's going to make much of it.   Laura Dugger: (43:01 - 43:12) Okay. So, if we are convinced and we want to give this a try, what is a practical first step to just obeying this and receiving this gift of rest?   Eryn Lynum: (43:13 - 45:23) Yeah, super practical here. Two first steps. The first is to set a day and time. Now you're not committing to this forever. And again, if you, if a big hesitancy here is I can't do a full day. Okay. Work and pray toward that but start smaller. If it's four hours on a Wednesday, guard that time. Ruthlessly guard it. Don't let anything be written on the schedule besides that.   So, set a day in time and then write two lists. This is going back to the idea of stop and delight, right? Your stop list. These are things that send you into hurry and hustle mode, things that are related to normal work, things that feel heavy. Some of them are so important.   Again, our work is important, but this is going to be things like devices, media, regular work, answering emails, phone calls. It might be driving in traffic. It might be spending money. Write down those things that feel heavy. That's your stop list. The things you're not going to entertain on that day or that time.   And then write your delight list. This might be hard at first because what I've found with myself, with many of us is that we forget what we delight in but causes that childlike sense of play and wonder. This is learning to be human again, coming back to those things.   So, it might be playing music or listening to music, working with fresh ingredients, reading a good book, writing by hand, watercolor painting, going for a walk. What we find is that a lot of people who spend time during the week in front of a computer want to be outdoors on the Sabbath, but people who run a landscaping company might want to be inside with a great book. So, just writing down those things that are, again, those things that you think during the week, oh, I really wish I could get to that.   Only we don't. Those are your delight list. So, now you have a day and a time. You know what you're not going to do, what you're setting aside, even physically, that should probably most definitely be your phone. Stick it in a drawer. I have my Sabbath drawer where I put my phone, and then you know what you're going to do and spend that day on.   Laura Dugger: (45:24 - 45:47) That's so good. And for those who have been listening for a while, they could even put their phone in their RO box, and I could link to that episode as well with Joey Odom. That's incredible about where our phone could be in its right place.   But Eryn, are there any other practical benefits that we might be missing out on that you've seen as a result of this Sabbath rest?   Eryn Lynum: (45:48 - 49:44) One of my favorite benefits is how it unlocks our creativity. Whether you work in a career or position that you consider creative or not, God designed all of us to be creative, to produce. And so, what I have found is that my work, my work is very in that creative sphere, writing books, creating podcast lessons for children.   It's very creative work. And I've found that Sabbath is this day where God gives my mind rest. It's so incredible thinking about how he wired our brains to thrive through rest, and science points to that that a restful mind is better at problem-solving, connecting ideas, remembering details.   And so, as my mind is allowed to rest on Sabbath, and I'm out on a walk in nature, or I'm reading a good book, or I'm writing by hand, when it comes time to sit down at the computer Monday morning, I am ready. I am flowing with ideas. They are there.   And I'll give you an example. This one isn't from Sabbath. It's from one of my daily rest rhythms that I call Selah Pause, and that's a walk in the morning. And this might be a little controversial, but this is not an easy stroll. I have my rucking pack on, and I'm trekking up a hill, which is not physically restful, of course, but it's mentally restful for me. I love it.   And so, it was in January, so it's frigid out, and everything's covered in snow, and I'm in all my snow gear, and I'm trudging up this hill. And at the time, I was dealing with a problem in my podcast where it was a good problem. We had spent the month teaching about God's designs in the human body. So, we had taught kids about God's designs in cells and DNA and the heart and the brain, but I didn't want to just let this series end. I wanted to wrap it up in some powerful way, and I didn't know how. So, I could have stayed home that morning and hashed this out and been at the computer, and how should I end this thing?   Instead, I went on this walk, and God just dropped this idea in my mind. And it was this idea. He said, ask the kids how they are wonderfully made. And that was the top. The theme was wonderfully made. And so, I put it out there to my email list. When I got back from that walk, I said, hey, I would love to hear how you kids believe you are wonderfully made by the creator. And I opened up this little voice mailbox on our website, and I didn't know if anyone would respond. And then I'm like, what if they don't? And then I don't know what to do because I said I'm going to do this thing.   I tell you, message after message came in from children from ages. I think it was three or four up to 14 from all over the world. And I was weeping as I edited that episode. I had planned to add something at the beginning and the end to build out this episode. I didn't do that because it was, I believe it's 22 minutes straight of children saying, this is my name.   I'm five years old. I live in England and I'm wonderfully made because God made me to read well or God made me fast. Or one little boy shared, he said, I know I'm wonderfully made because my mama lost a baby before me. And I'm here and I'm wonderfully made. And I'm weeping.   And this idea that God gave me, I would have missed it if I hadn't taken that pause to be out in his creation walking that day. And so, that's a very roundabout way to get back to your question of what are the other benefits? We hear from God when we make time for rest. And if we keep just rushing and hurrying, I'm concerned that we are walking by so many opportunities to hear from his spirit and to let him unlock that potential within us.   Laura Dugger: (49:45 - 50:22) Oh, I love that. And I'm even reminded of one other thing that you write in your book that today, one way we can practically experience his original design of rest is by stepping outside. And you're full of tips and ideas like that, but I so appreciate those stories.   So, you've equipped us with this foundation of rest and ways that we can prepare for it, how we can enjoy and delight in it. And so now, Eryn, how can we reflect well on our rhythms of work and rest?   Eryn Lynum: (50:25 - 53:19) So, much of this is reflection. So, much of this is stopping to consider where God is at work in our lives, where we need to recalibrate, where we need to realign, where we need to step back into his pace because we're trying to run ahead of him. And one way that we can see it, you know, like you might ask the question, am I at rest? Even me sometimes on Sabbath, I'm like, am I doing this right? Like, is this actually restful? Is this what I'm supposed to be doing?   I think we can answer that question by the fruit in our lives, the fruit inside of us that God is producing and the fruit that we are producing. So, one thing I kind of sum up the book on is this question of, are you growing in truth and love? Because the enemy, when he gets us away from God's rest and into hustle, into distraction and hurry, we are not fully experiencing God.   And so, our levels of experiencing his love and offering it to others is going to suffer. Our experience of hearing his truth and living that truth out in our lives is going to suffer. And so, the opposite is true that as we live at rest, this whole concept of abide, that is living at rest, not just these rest practices, but living at rest in God's restful presence, we are going to be producing more love and more truth.   So, that's like a key visual. And then I love on that idea of abide. We spent a whole week on abide in the book and, you know, John chapter 15 being the abide passage. And what we see there is there's these 11 mentions of that word abide. And they all refer to us abiding in Christ, Christ abiding in us, God's word abiding in us. So, all this connectivity between Christ and God and us and his word.   But then it's, I think it's verse 16. There's a different mention of meno, abide. And it says that he wants us to go out and produce fruit that abides. So, this is different. It relates to our fruit and that word abide. Yes, it can mean dwell, remain, stay, but it can also mean continue and endure.   God created us to produce fruit and fruit that endures. Doesn't rot, doesn't fade, but continues into eternity. So, we can look at, okay, am I personally in my spirit? Am I growing in truth and love? Because God's spirit actually has the space to minister to me when I rest. And is that rest directly affecting the fruit of my life?   These are key things that we can look at and ask to see. Are we truly living from God's rest?   Laura Dugger: (53:19 - 53:53) I love questions so much. And that's so good to reflect then on the fruit that's being produced. And a mentor many years ago said, you never reap what you sow in the same season. So, that's a great place to even begin just reflecting. What did we do in the past season and what fruit are we reaping now? And where do we want to go then from here?   And one place we could go from here after this chat is to follow you. And you've mentioned your podcast. Do you want to elaborate on all the places that you're available?   Eryn Lynum: (53:54 - 55:03) Yes, thank you. So, the new book, The Nature of Rest is available wherever you get your books, along with my second book, Rooted in Wonder: Nurturing Your Family's Faith Through God's Creation. And that's all about taking our kids or grandkids, the next generation outside and reconnecting the dots between creation and creator. Really returning nature study and time outdoors to its proper place as theology and the study of God.   So, those are available anywhere, including Amazon or my website, which is my name, erynlynum.com. And then my podcast is Nat Theo, short for Natural Theology. It's nature lessons rooted in the Bible. It's a podcast for kids and families where we dive deep into science and all the design and intelligence we see in creatures and plants. And we tie it all back to biblical truth so that our kids are learning science and theology at the same time.   And that's available on any podcast platform, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, right on my website, erinlynum.com, as well as YouTube. We actually provide visuals so you can watch what you're learning about as well.   Laura Dugger: (55:04 - 55:22) So, incredible. We will add links to that in the show notes for today's episode. And Eryn, you may already be familiar. We're called The Savvy Sauce because savvy is synonymous with practical knowledge. And so, as my final question for you today, what is your savvy sauce?   Eryn Lynum: (55:24 - 56:34) I love this question. And this is one that actually I was like, oh, I'm not asked this much. I'm going to have to really think deeply on this one.   It's get outside every day. That seems so simple, even though it's not really simple in practicality. But one thing I've learned through rest and through time outdoors is that 10 minutes matters. Like if you think I don't have time for this, but you have a 10 minute slot, go for a walk and see how God just communes with your spirit. Even in the dead of winter, if you live somewhere cold, like if it's safe to do so. For me, I had to buy like the best pair of snow pants I could find because I used to really dislike the winter. And I would just become like really down in those winter months.   And so, God just convinced me, don't go outside every single day if it's for 10 minutes. And then pretty often he just extends that. Like I think I'm going out for 10 minutes. And sure enough, I'm like playing with my kids outside. It's much longer.   But yeah, as best as you can, just prioritize that. If you have to do it first thing in the morning to make sure it happens, go for a walk and watch the sunrise. And God is going to minister to your soul through his creation.   Laura Dugger: (56:35 - 56:54) Amen. Amen. That is so good.   And this conversation has been so rich. Eryn, it is just very clear you have filled up on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you have just poured out goodness and love and truth for all of us, all over all of us today. So, thank you for all that you shared. And thank you for being my guest.   Eryn Lynum: (56:55 - 57:03) Thank you. Thank you so much for that encouragement. That means a whole lot to me. So, thank you. And for the opportunity for a great conversation.   Laura Dugger: (57:03 - 1:03:10) I really enjoyed it.    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.

Are you having a difficult time with anxious thoughts? Sometimes it feels like the more we fight these thoughts, the worse they get. But you don't have to fight alone. God's word and the power of prayer can provide great relief when you feel overwhelmed with worry and anxiety. In today's episode, let's pray Philippians 4:6–7 together to break the stronghold of anxiety so we can live free of worry. Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: Prayer is powerful, but it's not the only tool God provides to heal and help our anxious thoughts. If your battle with anxiety becomes too much, please seek help. Find resources to help here. Download Christina's Free 5-Day Prayer Guide to help you put into practice the powerful habit of prayer. Take the Prayer Personality Quiz to learn how you best hear from God and communicate with Him: https://www.prayquiz.com.CONNECT WITH CHRISTINA:Go to her site, www.belovedwomen.org, and study the Bible with her in the Beloved Women app available in the Apple and Google Play stores, where she invites busy women to fill up on God's love and truth through online Bible study, practical Christian living, and authentic womanhood. https://www.belovedwomen.org/join/ Scripture from ESV. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Have you ever stepped into a leadership role and immediately wondered if you were really qualified to be there? If you've ever felt like a fraud, struggled with insecurity, or questioned whether God truly chose you, this episode is for you. In this conversation, we're talking about what it means to lead with confidence even when you don't feel qualified. As Christian women, we often believe the lie that leadership requires perfection, experience, or complete clarity—but God's Word tells a very different story. In this episode, you'll be reminded that your leadership calling is rooted in God's purpose, not your performance. We'll walk through powerful biblical truths that help you overcome feelings of inadequacy, silence imposter syndrome, and step into intentional, faith-filled leadership. In this episode, we cover: Why you are God's handiwork, created for good works He prepared in advance (Ephesians 2:10) How God's grace is sufficient and His power is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9) What it means to be called and chosen by God, not because of your merits but His purpose (2 Timothy 1:9, 1 Peter 2:9) Why true competence and ability come from God, not self-confidence alone (2 Corinthians 3:5–6) How shifting your focus from yourself to Christ brings peace and clarity (Isaiah 26:3) Why God values growth over perfection in your leadership journey (Philippians 1:6) How to take your thoughts captive and replace lies with biblical truth when imposter syndrome shows up If you feel called to more but keep second-guessing yourself, this episode will help you stop shrinking back and start leading with confidence—rooted in truth, anchored in Scripture, and aligned with God's plan. I have a Handout for you to Print. Enter your email info, find the email and click confirm and there you go. This resource and more for you! Click HERE  

Pastor Caleb Cole closes the Rhythms series with “Disordered Desire (Physical Health),” a message about honoring God with our bodies. Teaching from 1 Timothy 4, Philippians 3, Romans 12, and 1 Corinthians 9, he explains how sin distorts desire and how healthy rhythms of movement, rest, and self-control support spiritual growth. This episode calls believers to glorify God with their whole lives.Click here to view the episode transcript. (00:00) - Closing the Rhythms series (02:00) - Why physical health matters spiritually (04:30) - Training for godliness is primary (06:05) - When physical health makes faith harder (08:05) - Physical health is rhythm, not effort (11:00) - The real problem: disordered desire (13:55) - We were made to work, not be lazy (17:15) - Discipline your body (1 Corinthians 9) (19:40) - Fitness as worship vs idolatry (22:00) - You were called to rest (28:50) - Food, fasting, and self-control (33:55) - Honor God with your body & salvation invitation

At the last night of summer camp as a teenager, I felt conspicuous as I stood alone in a group of campers. When one of them mocked me, I felt hurt. I ran back to my tent, pretending to sleep when the group leader checked on me. The next morning I avoided her attempt to talk about it. She later wrote to me, helping me understand that God truly cared for me. She quoted from the apostle Paul: we can be “confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6). I felt like the apostle’s words were directed right to me. Paul wrote to the church at Philippi, which he’d planted over a decade earlier, to encourage them to root their love for God and each other “in knowledge and depth of insight” (v. 9). God would carry on His work in and through them as He filled them “with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ” (v. 11). At the time I didn’t understand the original context, but I started to comprehend that my identity as one loved by God came from knowing and accepting the love of Jesus. God desires that we receive His love and that it would abound in us more and more. As He fills us with His joy and peace, we’ll grow in the knowledge not only of Him but of His good work in us.

Have you ever thought about heaven and wanted to go there sooner than later? Paul wrote in Philippians 1:21, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” He didn't have a “death wish” with dark thoughts of wanting to escape this world; he simply longed for heaven and was ready to go whenever God called him home. Sometimes the weight of this world can cause our heavy hearts to long for our eternal reward. Find out more about heaven in today's study with Pastor Gary Hamrick.

Paul wasn't timid in his faith or shy about the truth. Though we shouldn't be brash, we should be bold. This week, we'll look at Paul's own boldness while also cultivating a greater sense of personal boldness in telling others about Jesus. Philippians 1:20-30 Speaker: Carl Kuhl

Dr Clark continues the series Have This Mind on the book of Philippians.  This episode of the Heidelcast is sponsored by the Heidelberg Reformation Association. You love the Heidelcast and the Heidelblog. You share it with friends, with members of your church, and others but have you stopped to think what would happen if it all disappeared? The truth is that we depend on your support. If you don't make the coffer clink, the HRA will simply sink. Won't you help us keep it going? The HRA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All your gifts are tax deductible. Use the donate link on this page or mail a check to Heidelberg Reformation Association, 1637 E Valley Parkway #391, Escondido CA 92027. All the Episodes of the Heidelcast Subscribe to the Heidelcast! Browse the Heidelshop! On X @Heidelcast On Insta & Facebook @Heidelcast Subscribe in Apple Podcast Subscribe directly via RSS Call The Heidelphone via Voice Memo On Your Phone The Heidelcast is available wherever podcasts are found including Spotify. Call or text the Heidelphone anytime at (760) 618-1563. Leave a message or email us a voice memo from your phone and we may use it in a future podcast. Record it and email it to heidelcast@heidelblog.net. If you benefit from the Heidelcast please leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts so that others can find it. Please do not forget to make the coffer clink (see the donate button below). SHOW NOTES How To Subscribe To Heidelmedia The Heidelblog Resource Page Heidelmedia Resources The Ecumenical Creeds The Reformed Confessions The Heidelberg Catechism The Heidelberg Catechism: A Historical, Theological, and Pastoral Commentary (Lexham Academic) Recovering the Reformed Confession (P&R Publishing, 2008) Why I Am A Christian What Must A Christian Believe? Heidelblog Contributors Support Heidelmedia: use the donate button or send a check to: Heidelberg Reformation Association 1637 E. Valley Parkway #391 Escondido CA 92027 USA The HRA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization

We begin with a Bible study in Philippians 1:3–5, sharing how gratitude is a powerful spiritual and emotional calibrator in our lives. I talk about how thanksgiving helped Paul in the midst of hardship, how gratitude gently redirects us out of rumination and negativity, and how appreciation for others can fuel our prayer life and […]

We spend so much of our lives trying to prove we matter through what we achieve, build, or maintain. In Philippians 3, Paul explains why even the best résumé cannot give us life and why true joy comes from being found in Christ instead. Join us as we celebrate this shift of the old identity dying and receiving a new one by grace.Catch the sermon on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or bridge.tv/sermons.To support this ministry and help us continue our God given mission, click here: http://bit.ly/2NZkdrC Support the show

Jessi Marcus The Way: Week 4, The Path Philippians 1:2-6, Hebrews 5:11-13, Philippians 1:21-24, Romans 8:15-17, Ephesians 5:8-10, 15-16, Galatians 1:10, John 15:15 website: jacobswellchurch.org facebook: jacobswellkc twitter: @jacobswell

Philippians 4:19My God will fully supply whatever you need, in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.(NAB Translation)****PATREON: For downloadable and printable PDFs of each scripture verse, support us on Patreon at Patreon.com/JackieandBobby at the $5/month level!***“Memorize Scripture” Book NOW AVAILABLE!Get 10% off!Link to Order:https://avemariapress.com/?ref=JACKIE10PROMO CODE: JACKIE10

Sunday Sermon from the books of 1 Thessalonians, Philippians, and 1 Peter from John Bourgeois on February 1, 2026. Our hope for you is that you will know, love, and follow Jesus Christ -- leading to personal transformation, intimate community, and a life of radical mission. You are always welcome to join us for worship at West End Community Church.For more info, please visit the WECC website at westendcc.org

Presented by Lauren Stibgen The Oxford language dictionary defines evangelism as the spreading of the Christian gospel by public preaching or personal witness.[1] It is also defined as zealous advocacy of a cause. Merriam-webster.com defines evangelism as a winning or revival of personal commitments to Christ, and it's also defined as militant or crusading zeal.[2] An evangelist is, therefore, someone who spreads the gospel by preaching or personal witness, winning personal commitments to Christ—and, I would add, with zeal! There are three ways to consider evangelism: proclamation, incarnational/relational, and apologetic/intellectual. Proclamation evangelism is the preaching mentioned above. It is a direct telling of the gospel to others. You probably will not be deploying this tactic at work, unless you are a preacher! Incarnational/relational evangelism is the living it out—building relationships and sharing your faith at work, with a bit of apologetic/intellectual evangelism as well. Meaning, you will need to be able to explain why you are living it out. One of the most relevant definitions of evangelism I have read is this working definition presented by the Theology of Work project that says, “Evangelism is the organic process of intentionally engaging individuals in their spiritual journey, joining the Holy Spirit, watching for where he is already at work to help these individuals take one step closer to God and a new life in Christ, becoming the unique reflection of the image of Christ as the resurrected, glorified persons God intended.”[3] This punctuates that evangelism is focused on the individual, and not some large group of people. We certainly come across many individuals during our workday! But why evangelize? Isn't this for the well-trained and professionals? And, surely, we shouldn't do this at work—or should we? Studies show 90% of church going people who come to Christ as adults do so because of a relationship with one or more Christians outside of the four walls of the church. With many of these adults going to work, this makes our workplace evangelism key to God's plan for salvation! Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you (Matthew 28:19-20). Earlier in Matthew 9:37-38 Jesus tells his disciples, the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. I want to remind you the disciples were not some well-studied priests of the time. And remember, Jesus was a humble carpenter before he began his ministry. God did not call the qualified, he qualified the called! Thinking about the disciples as fishermen and a tax collector and Jesus as a carpenter, helps me to feel more qualified in my calling to be an evangelist at work! Our purpose here at The Christian Working Woman is to encourage, equip, and empower Christians in the workplace to love Christ more, to live their daily lives by biblical principles, and to go to their jobs as ambassadors for Jesus Christ. Rooted in the verse from 2 Corinthians 5:20, which tells us we are Christ's ambassadors, we are here in ministry to help you grow as workplace evangelists. Clearly the word evangelism is rooted in our faith as followers of Jesus Christ. Are you zealous about it yet? Many women I encounter don't feel like they can share their faith at work. Whether it is feeling unqualified to share the gospel or simply fearing it will not be welcomed, there are more perceived obstacles than there are perceived open doors for Jesus at work. This is one of the reasons I like the working definition from the Theology of Work project mentioned earlier. The definition helps us frame the process of evangelism at work rather than simply telling us, “Hey, go proclaim Christ at work!” Evangelism is an organic process, specifically meaning it happens naturally. We don't need to get all worked up and plan it all out. Consider the examples we have in the Bible. First Jesus. Notice how he shared his good news with others. His evangelism was incarnational and relational in every way with a touch of apologetic wisdom! Even though I am sure Jesus divinely knew who he would encounter, he wasn't on a direct quest to find them, except for the disciples. They came to him. He encountered the woman at the well when he was thirsty, and he encountered the bleeding woman as he was going to heal another's child. Think about the healing of the demon possessed man when the evil spirits were cast into the pigs. This man was in Jesus's path as he arrived from crossing the sea. Think about the leper needing healing. He was also in Jesus's path. Finally, the criminal on the cross at the crucifixion. Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:42-43). Now, I am not saying Jesus wasn't a preacher evangelist. We absolutely see Jesus speaking to great crowds and in the synagogue, but it happened organically. Evangelism at work can happen organically throughout the course of your day. It can be in a breakroom, or after a meeting. It could be grabbing a cup of coffee with a colleague you want to know better. If we pay attention to the example of Jesus, we also see he is intentional in how he engages each one of the people in his path. He engages individuals! Each one had a need, even before they knew they needed Jesus. Whether it was healing, food, or even a friend, Jesus met people where they were at. Being intentionally engaging with others was the next part of the definition I mentioned earlier. The Word is clear in Matthew 18:12. What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off (Matthew 18:12)? How can you intentionally engage with others? How can you help with the search for the one? Before you share the gospel with someone, have you ever considered what you know about them? Jesus had a clear advantage in being all knowing, so we will need to be good listeners and good at asking questions! In James 1:19, the word tells us to be quick to listen and slow to speak. Listen to colleagues when they talk about what they did over the weekend or even after work. Listen when they talk about family, favorite hobbies, or holiday plans! Next, discern if you can come alongside them in any way. Again, thinking of Jesus. How are you serving those around you? …not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others (Philippians 2:4). How can you extend intentional kindness to someone? Is it an encouraging word or an expression of gratitude? Is it bringing someone a cup of coffee, or lunch? Perhaps it is simply the act of listening itself. These organic and intentional engagements can build trust and a connection to start naturally sharing about your faith when it fits into the conversation, of course making sure it isn't making the other person feel uncomfortable. Has someone expressed a feeling like sadness, anger, concern, or fear? Maybe you can relate and mention how your faith has helped you in a similar situation. Ultimately, you will need to be prepared to make a defense if anyone asks you for a reason for the hope you have. 1 Peter 3:15 tells us to do this with gentleness and respect. I would encourage you to make a list of ways God has helped you. This way, examples will be top of mind if this ever comes up! As you are deploying this organic and intentional evangelism, be encouraged! You are not expected to evangelize alone. Jesus has given to us the power of the Holy Spirit to help guide every situation. The early church was filled with evangelists just like you and me! Acts 1:8 promised they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them. And they would be Jesus's witnesses in Jerusalem and in all of Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth. Do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say (Luke 12: 11-12). It is less about the perfect words and more about the ability to be a witness of Jesus through your life. How are people seeing the incarnational and relational Jesus through you? Paul reminds us of this. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20). Allow Christ to work through you! You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden (Matthew 5:14). And remember you are not solely responsible for saving anyone! No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day (John 6:44). Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). You are merely the ambassador representative, a laborer in the harvest. While you may be a very important part of God's plan for someone's salvation, you simply are just that—one part. Paul beautifully states this. By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:10-11). Jesus is the foundation of everything. Every interaction, every way you “build” into an individual's faith journey. Remember the statistic I spoke about as we stated our time today? 90% of adults making a decision for Christ are doing so because of interactions outside of the Church! Back to evangelizing at work. As you intentionally engage with others through the help of the Holy Spirt, take time to discern where God is working. Does someone show extra interest in your conversations about reading the Bible or joining a Bible study you are part of? Are they asking questions about why you are different when things seem to all be chaos around at work? These can be the promptings of the Holy Spirit drawing someone closer to Jesus! At your job, help people keep taking steps closer to God. Thinking of a builder placing one piece of a house at a time, place something simple each day and return. Perhaps you will be able to celebrate with someone that turns to a new life in Christ! Consider yourself and evangelist today! Pray about who will come organically into your path, intentionally engage them and lean in to how the Holy Spirit can move through you! [1] evangelism, n. meanings, etymology and more | Oxford English Dictionary. (2023). Oed.com. https://doi.org/10.1093//OED//6381426726 [2] Definition of EVANGELISM. (n.d.). Www.merriam-Webster.com. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/evangelism [3] Work, T. of. (2018). Evangelism – Sharing the Gospel at Work (Overview). Theology of Work. https://www.theologyofwork.org/key-topics/evangelism-sharing-the-gospel-at-work-overview

Psalm 122 Psalm 130 Philippians 2:6-11 2 Peter 1:19-21 Prayer Requests to psp@sqpn.com

The Philippian jailer fell down before Silas and the Apostle Paul and asked, "What must I do to be saved?" They replied, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved." Many people today ask the same question, and God's reply is the same as well. Have you responded to God's call like the Philippian jailer did and come to the Lord Jesus Christ in repentance and faith? Find out more on Dr. Barnhouse and the Bible. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/791/29?v=20251111

The book of Philippians has often been called "the Epistle of Joy." In it, the apostle Paul reminds believers that they are citizens of heaven—and that heaven is their true home. In the first message of his series on Philippians, "Your True Citizenship," Pastor Bayless encourages you that God has determined your boundaries here on earth for a purpose. You'll discover why obedience and God's timing matter in your life today. And you'll learn how love must be guided by wisdom and discernment so your relationships can truly flourish. Find out how to live as a citizen of heaven while here on earth in this encouraging message!

Should I expect to have an easy life following Jesus? Being a Christian does not mean comfort or ease, as culture would define it. Brian Delamont, Executive Vice President of TeachBeyond, unpacks Scriptural truths about blessing, contentment, and abundance from a Kingdom perspective. Deuteronomy 28 Psalm 136 Matthew 20:18-19 John 16:32-33 "When we face difficulties, when life is not easy, the Father is with us." "Life is not easy. There will be trouble. [...] However, take heart! I have overcome the world." "You don't give to get." Malachi 3:10 2 Corinthians 9:7-9 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 Genesis 2:15 "Being in God's creation and working it, taking care of what God had given, is part of God's original good plan for humanity. It's not an easy life; it's a good and meaningful life!" Genesis 3:16-19, 23 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 "God knows that an easy life isn't in our best interest [...] but an abundant life is in our best interest. It's His blessing, His presence, and His Kingdom." "Jesus does say that we will have trouble, but He is also with us in the trouble, so that's how we can take heart - because He has overcome, He is greater, He is kinder than whatever discomfort we are facing."  Philippians 4:10-13 "It's not easy all the time, and we know it won't be, yet God is able to care for you, to bless you and to be with you, even when it's tremendously difficult." Join us for TeachBeyond's 40 Days of Prayer: https://teachbeyond.org/40days January Reflection: Am I longing for ease or what God really has for me? What's changing our lives: Keane: Durham-opoly Heather: Great conversations and interviews with applicants Brian: Taking more time to breathe and reflecting on Scripture during TeachBeyond's 40 Days of Prayer Weekly Spotlight: School Leadership Positions We'd love to hear from you! podcast@teachbeyond.org Podcast Website: https://teachbeyond.org/podcast Learn about TeachBeyond: https://teachbeyond.org/

What if you're already sitting on more blessings than you realize? After weeks of talking about sin and negative programming, Dr. Alex Lloyd and Harry bring the good news: God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit have given you gifts that completely tidal wave your struggles. This isn't feel-good fluff—this is a comprehensive, scripture-backed catalog of what you actually receive from the Trinity. WHAT YOU'LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE: - The complete list of gifts from God the Father (presence, power, glory, light, love, grace, and more) - What Jesus specifically gives you that the Father doesn't (His way, truth, life, righteousness, peace) - The unique blessings only the Holy Spirit provides (comfort, perfect counsel, fruit of the Spirit, power) - Why you receive love, peace, and grace from all three—and why that matters - What "glory" actually means in Old vs. New Testament (Harry's word study insights) - Why guilt and shame DON'T come from God (even when you've sinned) - The experiential difference between natural living and living in these gifts - How Harry's life transformed over 2-3 years by intentionally pursuing these blessings KEY TOPICS COVERED: God's Presence Everywhere - Psalm 139: "Where can I go that you're not there?" Supernatural Power vs. Natural Strength - Ephesians 3 The "Weight" of God's Glory That Fills the Earth Miraculous Light That Cleanses and Heals The New Heart and New Spirit Promise - Ezekiel 36:26-27 Being Made a New Creation - 2 Corinthians 5:17 Seated with Christ in Heaven's Throne Room - Ephesians 2:6 Jesus as Both Your Judge AND Defense Attorney The Mind of Christ and Being His Bride His Righteousness Imputed to You (How God judges you righteous even when you remember sinning) Love Beyond Knowledge - Ephesians 3:17-19 Peace That Passes Understanding Holy Spirit's Perfect Counsel for Your Specific Moment Fruit of the Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Kindness, Goodness, Faith, Humility, Self-Control The Same Power That Raised Jesus From the Dead Working in You Life and Health to Your Mortal Body - Romans 8:11 Unlimited Forgiveness (70 times 7) Propitiation: Jesus Takes Your Place The All-Encompassing Grace of God POWERFUL QUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE: "Love is God in motion." - Harry Lloyd "Would you rather have unconditional love from one person or two or three? You're getting it from all three persons of the Trinity." - Dr. Alex Lloyd "The experiential difference between this and what you might call the natural way of living... it is amazing how the trend of my life has been consistently upwards in the ways that really matter most." - Harry Lloyd "Guilt and shame don't come from God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit—at least not if you're committed to them in your life." - Dr. Alex Lloyd WORD STUDY INSIGHTS (from Harry): Glory (Old Testament): Refers to a substance of glory Glory (New Testament): God's definition of what value is, how it's structured, where it comes from—the hierarchy behind every kind of value Light: The physical manifestation of God's glory or presence Love: "God in motion"—the mechanism that underlies everything Grace: Literally means "unearned favor" IMPORTANT CLARIFICATIONS: - This doesn't mean life becomes problem-free—there is no path without pain, suffering, and sin on this earth - God won't take away your free will, even at 99 years old - These gifts lead to "lesser and lesser" problems over time, not elimination - Based on God's will for your specific situation (He sometimes uses health problems as "bumper guards") - You shouldn't accept this on Dr. Alex and Harry's say-so—Harry seriously studied atheism and apologetics before committing PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Dr. Alex suggests focusing on what God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit DO rather than dwelling on sin, guilt, shame, and selfishness. Consider writing down these gift lists and reviewing them regularly to shift your focus from the negative to the abundant blessings you already have. REFERENCED SCRIPTURE: Psalm 139:7-10 | Isaiah 6:3 | Ephesians 3:20 | 2 Corinthians 12:9 | Ezekiel 36:26-27 | Jeremiah 17:9 | 2 Corinthians 5:17 | Ephesians 2:6 | John 14:6 | John 1:1, 4, 14 | 1 Corinthians 2:16 | Ephesians 5:31-32 | 2 Corinthians 5:21 | Ephesians 3:17-19 | John 14:27 | Philippians 4:7 | Matthew 28:18 | 1 John 2:1 | Hebrews 7:25 | John 14:16-17, 26 | John 16:13 | Galatians 5:22-23 | Romans 8:11 | Acts 1:8 | Isaiah 53:5 | 1 Peter 2:24 | Matthew 18:21-22 | 1 John 1:9 | 1 John 2:2 | Matthew 19:26 | Romans 6:16-18 | Revelation 1 and 4 REFERENCED BOOK: Hinds' Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard - "If you ever understand grace, Satan's just lost in your life. He can't beat grace."

Hello sisters

As the Robertsons begin wrapping up their first full duck season without Phil, they reflect on legacy, hard work, and the faith that shaped their family. Phyllis joins the conversation to look back on Phil's later years, the weight of the words “I never knew,” and the healing that followed Phil's honesty instead of silence. The guys and Phyllis discuss trauma, forgiveness, and how truth spoken even late in life can still bring restoration.  To hear Phyllis's story from the beginning, watch her first Unashamed appearances in episodes 95 and 96 here:  https://youtu.be/9n4Ab6mL9W0?si=YD9337YYIr5_AC6n https://youtu.be/kA4BCl5mhbY?si=MJgoQOfNB0EXjkwk And pre-order her book I Never Knew at https://ineverknewbook.com  In this episode: Hebrews 12, verse 11; Romans 12, verse 2; 2 Corinthians 5, verse 17; Philippians 3, verse 13 “Unashamed” Episode 1258 is sponsored by: https://ruffgreens.com — Get a FREE Jumpstart Trial Bag for your dog today when you use promo code Unashamed! http://unashamedforhillsdale.com/ — Sign up now for free, and join the Unashamed hosts every Friday for Unashamed Academy Powered by Hillsdale College Check out At Home with Phil Robertson, nearly 800 episodes of Phil's unfiltered wisdom, humor, and biblical truth, available for free for the first time! Get it on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, and anywhere you listen to podcasts! https://open.spotify.com/show/3LY8eJ4ZBZHmsImGoDNK2l Listen to Not Yet Now with Zach Dasher on Apple, Spotify, iHeart, or anywhere you get podcasts. Chapters: 00:00 Opening the first duck season without Phil 03:42 Remembering Phil's work ethic & love of the hunt 08:27 Living off the land & the values Phil passed down 13:41 Why hard work formed the Robertson family worldview 18:02 Phyllis is sharing her story with the world 23:55 How the letter, the photo, & faith connected the dots 29:48 “I never knew” — the moment Phil met his daughter 34:55 Trauma, forgiveness, & healing later in life 41:10 Telling the truth unlocks restoration 46:20 Phil gets the last word — Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many wives have heard that men think about sex nearly all the time. But do they? We tackle this important question, because it influences what we think about men, sexuality, and challenges in our marriage. Sponsor Through story-centered counseling and coaching for individuals and couples, Aldrich Ministries helps you move beyond surface solutions into real healing and lasting change. Check them out! From the Bible Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. Romans 8:5 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22–24 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 Resources Sexual Morality by C.S. Lewis Doodle (BBC Talk 14) - reading and visual representation of Mere Christianity chapter that talks about sexual starvation or gluttony Study Debunks Stereotype That Men Think About Sex All Day Long Should You Be Reading My Blog? - Hot, Holy & Humorous Episode 104: How Often Should You Have Sex? How Often Do Men Think About The Roman Empire? A Lot, According To New TikTok Trend The Higher Desire Wife by J. Parker Masterclass: Sexual Desire Differences Thanks for joining us at the virtual kitchen table for another great chat! We'd love for you to join our inner circle by supporting us on Patreon. You can contribute to our wonderful ministry while getting some fun perks for yourself! Check it out here: https://patreon.com/ForChristianWives If you could, leave a rating and/or review so that others can find the show. Please also check out our website and webinars at forchristianwives.com. And visit our individual ministry pages for more resources as well: Strong Wives - Bonny Burns Honeycomb & Spice - Chris Taylor Hot, Holy & Humorous - J. Parker 

It's amazing what a difference two words can make. For example if you're a teenager, your life can change dramatically when you hear just two words, "You're grounded!" Or if you're working, "You're fired." Or those two words that changed my life forever. You know what those two words were? "I do." It's amazing what two words can do. Now, if you're in a down time right now, there are two words that can make all the difference to you. And then there are two words you may not feel like saying at all. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Two Words That Lighten the Load." Our word for today from the Word of God, 1 Thessalonians 5:18. For those of us who are wondering what God's will is right now, here it is. "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." Paul says here that the giving of thanks in all circumstances is really tied to our destiny in being in the center of God's will. I think that the suggestion here is that two of the most powerful words we can speak are "Thank you." Or more precisely, "Thank God." We all know that we like to be thanked, and we all know how it feels to do a lot for someone and never get a thank you. Right? Of course God is an expert in that field. But when you say, "Thank God," that's when I think it does more for you than it does for Him, especially if you're in a time in your life when you don't feel like saying thanks, because the specific present circumstances aren't very pleasant. There are a few benefits, I think, that come from saying those two powerful words, "Thank God!" First of all - contentment. Even in the midst of an ugly situation like Paul being in prison, you can find contentment by saying the words, "Thank you." Paul certainly knew about that when he wrote the book of Philippians 4. Remember what he said? "The peace of God that passes all understanding will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus." He had experience to write that. And then he says in verse 6, "In everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Say, "Thank God" and a marvelous sense of contentment will come over you, even in one of life's prisons. The secret of contentment in a crummy situation - a terrible situation - is to focus on the Lord - the good things that He has been doing in the middle of the bad. It means focusing on what you have, not what you don't have. Thank God! The second thing that it does is you don't need to be noticed. See, pride gets stamped out at the gate when you give credit where credit is due and is properly given to God right away. "God, I know this was You. Thank You." When you start to take the glory for what God has done, stop. Send it up to God, "Thank God." Don't let your ego start to inflate. The third benefit of thanking God is confidence. Because, you see, the same God who blessed your life in the past, who brought you through other things in the past, is going to meet you today. Look at His track record. Look at His history. The same God who I just thanked for moving a mountain yesterday, He is going to move mountains again for you. He'll do it all again! He's done it all these years for all His people. He's the same yesterday. He's the same today. He's the same forever. He's going to meet your needs today. Rejoicing is really the habit of looking for God at work and acknowledging it when you see it. Thanking God is sort of like putting sweetener in a bitter drink. Negative thoughts are just going to make the drink that much more bitter. A thankful heart, a joyful heart, a heart that believes that God has said, "I know the plans I have for you. They are for good and not for evil; to give you a future and a hope." In the midst of this small dot in your life, look at the big picture and say, "Thank You, Lord."

Jesus in Numbers: Our Faithful Guide, Healer, and Victor | Pastor Verna DeHartIn this message from the Jesus Revealed in Every Book of the Bible series, Pastor Verna DeHart reveals how the book of Numbers points us directly to Jesus the One who leads us through the wilderness, heals us when we look to Him, and gives us victory over every giant.Through the story of the bronze serpent, this teaching shows how faith is released when we shift our focus from pain and fear to God's provision. Just as Israel was healed by looking up, we are healed, delivered, and saved by looking to Christ and trusting the finished work of the cross.This episode highlights: Jesus as our Shepherd and Guide God's patience and mercy in seasons of struggle The spiritual danger of complaining and the power of repentance Why healing flows when faith is activated by focus How Jesus makes us more than conquerors Battle Seed Promise:“My God will liberally supply your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 4:19 (AMPC)

Welcome to the Podcast of Southwest Bible Fellowship in Tempe, Arizona. WHO ARE WE? • We are a group of people who are committed to living the grace life as set forth by the apostle of the Gentiles, the Apostle Paul. • We come together to study our Bibles, and yes, we believe we have God's perfect Word in the King James Bible. It and it alone is our final authority in all matters of faith and practice! • We do not come together and study our Bibles for the intent of being smarter than others. We understand that knowledge for the sake of knowledge is purely vain and serves no Godly purpose. • We do come together and study our Bibles for the intent of knowing our Lord Jesus Christ and the power of His resurrection. (Philippians 3:10) • We do come together and study our Bibles to understand that we have been crucified with Christ; nevertheless we live; yet not us, but Christ liveth in us: and the life which we now live in the flesh, we live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved us and gave himself for us. (Galatians 2:20) • We do come together and study our Bibles to understand that because Jesus Christ shed His blood for us and we should not live for ourselves but for Him, who died for us and rose again. (2 Cor. 5:15) • We do not claim to have attained to these lofty goals, but we press toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:14) You can donate to this ministry through www.butnow.org and the PayPal button on the homepage.

To become a follower of Jesus, visit: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/MeetJesus (NOT a Morning Mindset resource) ⇒ BECOME A MONTHLY PARTNER: (not tax-deductible) You can find out how to become a monthly partner including how to receive your "thank you" gift - our bonus podcast called "Digging Deeper." God t: https://mm-gfk-partners.supercast.com/ ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Philippians 4:6–7 - [6] do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. [7] And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (ESV) ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE MORNING MINDSET: (not tax-deductible) -- Become a monthly partner: https://mm-gfk-partners.supercast.com/ -- Support a daily episode: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/daily-sponsor/ -- Give one-time: https://give.cornerstone.cc/careygreen -- Venmo: @CareyNGreen ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FOREIGN LANGUAGE VERSIONS OF THIS PODCAST: SPANISH version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Spanish HINDI version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Hindi CHINESE version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Chinese  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ CONTACT: Carey@careygreen.com  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ THEME MUSIC: “King’s Trailer” – Creative Commons 0 | Provided by https://freepd.com/ ***All NON-ENGLISH versions of the Morning Mindset are translated using A.I. Dubbing and Translation tools from DubFormer.ai ***All NON-ENGLISH text content (descriptions and titles) are translated using the A.I. functionality of Google Translate.

It is not the will of God that we be alone or that we go through life isolated from others. He has created the church to be our spiritual family. It's here that we find fellowship, encouragement, support, and accountability. It's also here that we are able to offer these same gifts to others.Main Points:1. Sometimes the reason for such isolation is the pain we have experienced in the church. Maybe we felt ignored, neglected, or forgotten. Perhaps someone made a mistake and said something that was hurtful. Rather than experience this pain again, we put up barriers and choose to not engage with others.2. But I want you to see this is exactly what Satan wants. He wants you to be isolated from others because if you do, you'll also miss the blessings that come from being in community with others. You'll miss the encouragement and the support. You'll miss the fulfillment that comes with deep friendships. Others will miss the investment you could have made in their lives.3. If you want to be blessed you have to step out of your comfort zone. To experience the richness of friendship and support, you have to show up. To be a blessing to others you have to engage, take initiative, and be committed.Today's Scripture Verses:Genesis 2:18 - “The Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone…”John 8:44 - “…for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”Philippians 2:4 -  “Look out for one another's interests not just your own.”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

Philippians 2:12-13

Righteous men are more visible than ever, but many still feel unseen, unknown, and empty.In this episode of The Uncrowned, Joe Buttice unpacks why so many men who love God, hit the gym, show up for their families, and even go to church still carry a low‑grade ache they can't explain. You'll discover how righteousness in Christ is an identity, not a performance (2 Corinthians 5:21, Philippians 3:9), and why that shift is the difference between constantly proving yourself and finally living from a place of grounded sonship. We'll also dive into what the data actually says about the so‑called “male loneliness epidemic,” why men are quietly returning to church in record numbers, and why so many still lack the brotherhood and discipleship they were built for.If you're a man who's done “all the right things” and still feels spiritually underbuilt, this conversation will help you name the gap, root your confidence in Christ's righteousness, and take your next step toward real community and calling.If this episode hits you, share it with a brother, leave a review so more men can find it, and join the email list at The Uncrowned to go deeper with resources, challenges, and upcoming coaching opportunities.

In this episode of Right On Radio, host Jeff is joined by guest John for a wide-ranging live conversation that mixes scripture, current events, and spiritual commentary. The show opens with the Word on Word segment—comparing Philippians 4:6 and John 4:24—and explores the role of prayer, worship in spirit and truth, and the believer's response to fear and unrest. The hosts examine a controversial claim that recent ice storms and freezing events may be part of deliberate geoengineering and "weather warfare." They share local reports of power outages, generators, and personal stories from listeners affected by the storm, using those accounts to underscore themes of providence and faith in adversity. On geopolitics, the episode dives into Iran: reports of a decades-long drought allegedly tied to weather modification, Trump-era military posturing, the possibility of regime change, and the complex mix of opposition movements (including discussion of the Shah, Restart and democratic elements). John and Jeff also discuss Iran's cyber capabilities and the broader military implications of a U.S.-Iran confrontation. The show turns to domestic and transnational security issues—Palantir, the case of Jacob Peretti and ICE, interruptions to media feeds, Q-drop references, and claims about covert influence operations. They also play and react to clips alleging misuse of humanitarian funds (e.g., accusations involving Bono, USAID and Somalia), raising questions about charity, covert action, and media narratives. Listeners hear a critique of New Age and mindfulness trends (featuring a clip from researcher Greg Reese) contrasted with Christian teaching. The hosts discuss the psychology of distraction and the "default mode network," highlight the danger of an inward-focused "self" culture, and argue for scripture-centered identity and practices of prayerful presence over self-help approaches. Episode wrap-up includes practical notes—where to follow the hosts, a fundraising update, invitations to Telegram prayer meetings, and a reminder to love God, family, and neighbor. Expect a mix of theological reflection, geopolitical analysis, media critique, and on-the-ground listener reports in this hard-hitting, faith-centered episode. Want to Understand and Explain Everything Biblically?  Click Here: Decoding the Power of Three: Understand and Explain Everything or go to www.rightonu.com and click learn more.  Thank you for Listening to Right on Radio. Prayerfully consider supporting Right on Radio. Click Here for all links, Right on Community ROC, Podcast web links, Freebies, Products (healing mushrooms, EMP Protection) Social media, courses and more... https://linktr.ee/RightonRadio Live Right in the Real World! We talk God and Politics, Faith Based Broadcast News, views, Opinions and Attitudes We are Your News Now. Keep the Faith

Today is day 28 and we are in the section Concerning Holy Scripture on question 28. 28. What is the New Testament? The New Testament proclaims Jesus Christ's birth, life, ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension; the Church's early ministry; the teaching of the apostles; the revelation of Christ's eternal kingdom; and the promise of his return. (Luke 24:45–49; Acts 1:1–11; Philippians 2:5–11) Our prayer today is the Collect for the Second Sunday of Easter found on page 612 of the Book of Common Prayer (2019). If you would like to buy or download To Be a Christian, head to anglicanchurch.net/catechism. Produced by Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Madison, MS. Original music from Matthew Clark. Daily collects and Psalms are taken from Book of Common Prayer (2019), created by the Anglican Church in North America and published by the Anglican Liturgical Press. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Catechism readings are taken from To Be a Christian - An Anglican Catechism Approved Edition, copyright © 2020 by The Anglican Church in North America by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

To become a follower of Jesus, visit: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/MeetJesus (NOT a Morning Mindset resource) ⇒ Listen to our other podcasts: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Philippians 3:17–19 - Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. [18] For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. [19] Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. (ESV) ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE MORNING MINDSET: (not tax-deductible) -- Become a monthly partner: https://mm-gfk-partners.supercast.com/ -- Support a daily episode: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/daily-sponsor/ -- Give one-time: https://give.cornerstone.cc/careygreen -- Venmo: @CareyNGreen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FOREIGN LANGUAGE VERSIONS OF THIS PODCAST: SPANISH version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Spanish HINDI version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Hindi CHINESE version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Chinese  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ CONTACT: Carey@careygreen.com  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖~ THEME MUSIC: “King’s Trailer” – Creative Commons 0 | Provided by https://freepd.com/ ***All NON-ENGLISH versions of the Morning Mindset are translated using A.I. Dubbing and Translation tools from DubFormer.ai ***All NON-ENGLISH text content (descriptions and titles) are translated using the A.I. functionality of Google Translate.

How do I hear God's voice? What were the first followers of Jesus like? In this episode, pastor and author Kirk Freeman is back with Emma Dotter to discuss Acts 2:42-47 and how the Holy Spirit empowered the early church in their fellowship. They explore helpful ways to discern the Spirit's voice and unpack how this example of church gatherings and functions guide the way we do church today. // ADDITIONAL VERSES MENTIONED: Psalm 103: 1-22, 6; Acts 2: 4; John 14: 15, 21, 29; Romans 8; John 15: 9-11; 1 Peter 2: 23; Acts 1: 8; Philippians 4: 1; Romans 8: 17  // RESOURCES FOR FURTHER STUDY:  Watermark's doctrinal statement on the Holy Spirit: (https://www.watermark.org/about/full-doctrinal-statement) Threads: Weaving Discipleship into the Fabric of Your Life by Kirk Freeman (https://www.amazon.com/Threads-Weaving-disciple-making-fabric/dp/B0CNKXBMZN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2NO5MWLVB07S8&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ZVudhJOVXAMUTMHuv23neg.C3TzzhQ2E5uDMl6s3xyf1E7buSOBMJVB0KOpH8OwN1o&dib_tag=se&keywords=threads+kirk+freeman+book&qid=1766445136&sprefix=threads+kirk+%2Caps%2C150&sr=8-1) A Spirit-Led Church: Sermon series from Watermark Community Church (https://www.watermark.org/series/1471) Questions about the Holy Spirit? Visit GotQuestions: (https://www.gotquestions.org/who-Holy-Spirit.html) // RELATED JOIN THE JOURNEY EPISODES:  “S4:263 – Introduction to the book of Acts” (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...)  “S1:191 – What if my possession of the Spirit feels mundane?” (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/join-the-journey/id1600151923?i=1000580618106) // WHAT IS JOIN THE JOURNEY? Join The Journey is a realistic daily Bible reading plan that helps followers of Jesus at Watermark Community Church and beyond enjoy abiding in Jesus together. Join The Journey Jr. is designed to help parents guide their kids in Bible reading throughinteractive and age-specific lessons. In 2026, we're studying the book of Acts—one passage per week. For another year, teaching on Sunday will align with each week's passage. Then, for the next six days, we'll return to the same passage with fresh focus, exploring insights about who God is and how we can enjoy him more deeply. Monday through Saturday, we'll approach the same passage from a different perspective each day—whether observation, interpretation, prayer, or another spiritual practice—to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for God's Word. Then, watch or listen to the video podcast to tackle the week's toughest verses and discover key historical, theological, and practical insights. Daily Bible lessons for adults: https://jointhejourney.com Daily Bible lessons for parents and families: https://jointhejourney.com/jr Weekly Bible podcast for kids: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...  // MORE RESOURCES FROM JOIN THE JOURNEY:  Digital Bible study resources: https://jointhejourney.com/resources Previous years' print curriculum: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Waterma... Contact the Join The Journey team: jointhejourney@watermark.org  // CHAPTERS 

To become a follower of Jesus, visit: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/MeetJesus (NOT a Morning Mindset resource) ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ ⇒Check out all of Carey's books - for adults and kids, fiction and nonfiction : https://CareyGreen.com/books ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Philippians 2:1–4 - So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, [2] complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. [3] Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. [4] Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (ESV) ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE MORNING MINDSET: (not tax-deductible) -- Become a monthly partner: https://mm-gfk-partners.supercast.com/ -- Support a daily episode: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/daily-sponsor/ -- Give one-time: https://give.cornerstone.cc/careygreen -- Venmo: @CareyNGreen ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FOREIGN LANGUAGE VERSIONS OF THIS PODCAST: SPANISH version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Spanish HINDI version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Hindi CHINESE version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Chinese  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ CONTACT: Carey@careygreen.com  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ THEME MUSIC: “King’s Trailer” – Creative Commons 0 | Provided by https://freepd.com/ ***All NON-ENGLISH versions of the Morning Mindset are translated using A.I. Dubbing and Translation tools from DubFormer.ai ***All NON-ENGLISH text content (descriptions and titles) are translated using the A.I. functionality of Google Translate.