Podcasts about quotables

Episode Summary: When someone you love is living with PTSD, it can leave you feeling helpless, confused, and afraid of saying or doing the wrong thing. You want to help—but what if your well-intended words make things worse? In honor of PTSD Awareness Month, Rev. Jessica Van Roekel and I address the questions so many caregivers, spouses, friends, and family members quietly ask: How do I support someone with PTSD? What helps? What hurts? And how do I walk with them without losing myself? This conversation offers practical guidance, psychological insight, and biblical hope for anyone loving someone through trauma. On a recent episode of Your Hope-Filled Perspective, I offered an episode discussing Understanding PTSD: What it Is, What It Isn't, and How God Meets Us in the Aftermath of Trauma. We are continuing this important discussion with How to Help a Loved One Who Is Struggling with PTSD: What to Do and What Not to Do. Quotables from the Episode: PTSD is not a character issue or a lack of effort. It's a nervous system injury. What looks like withdrawal, irritability, or emotional distance is often the brain doing its best to keep a person safe. Change does not mean broken beyond repair. The brain is wounded, but it's also capable of healing. When we name trauma responses accurately, we reduce shame and increase compassion. PTSD behaviors are not about a lack of love. They're about a lack of felt safety. A regulated nervous system helps regulate another nervous system. You don't have to fix the trauma, but your calm, consistent presence communicates safety. Validation quiets the brain's alarm system and reduces emotional intensity. Trauma healing doesn't follow a timeline. It follows safety. Loving someone with PTSD is not about doing everything right. It's about doing your best with compassion. Scripture References: Romans 15:1 “We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.” Isaiah 42:3 “A bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench.” Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 “Two are better than one… If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.” Recommended Resources: Reframing Rejection: How Looking Through a Different Lens Changes Everything By Jessica Van Roekel Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host and Guest: Connect with Rev. Jessica Van Roekel: Website / Instagram / Facebook Connect with Dr. Bengtson: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple Co-Host: Jessica Van Roekel is a worship leader, speaker, and writer who believes that through Jesus, personal histories don’t need to define the present or determine the future. She inspires, encourages, and equips others to look at life through the lenses of hope, trust, and God’s transforming grace. Jessica lives in rural Iowa surrounded by wide open spaces which remind her of God’s expansive love. She loves fun earrings, good coffee, and connecting with others. Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Ashton Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Episode Summary: What if the reactions you’ve judged yourself for—your hypervigilance, emotional numbness, sudden panic, or exhaustion—aren’t signs of spiritual weakness or personal failure, but evidence of a brain that has been doing everything it can to keep you alive? Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, is one of the most misunderstood mental health conditions, especially within faith communities. Today on Your Hope-Filled Perspective, we are going to gently untangle what PTSD truly is, what it is not, and how God meets us not just in the trauma itself—but in the long, tender aftermath that follows. Today, in honor of PTSD Awareness Month, we’re going to talk about Understanding PTSD: What It Is, What It Isn’t, and How God Meets Us in the Aftermath of Trauma. Quotables from the episode: PTSD is not a failure of faith. It is the result of a nervous system that adapted to survive overwhelming circumstances." Your trauma responses are not moral failures. They are survival responses. The body remembers what the mind would rather forget. The same brain that learned to protect you can also learn safety again. God does not rush the healing He Himself designed to unfold gently. God is not disappointed by your symptoms. He is present in your healing. Scripture never teaches that faith erases biology. Your faith resides in your heart and mind, but trauma often lives in the body. And God cares about both. Healing from PTSD does not mean erasing your story. It means integrating it. Your trauma may have changed you, but it does not disqualify you. Scripture References: Lamentations 3:31–32 “For the Lord will not cast off forever… He will show compassion.” 2 Corinthians 4:16 “Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” Recommended Resources: Free Stress-Response Personality Assessment Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner AWSA 2024 Golden Scroll Christian Living Book of the Year and the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Christian Living and Non-Fiction categories YouVersion 5-Day Devotional Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, AWSA Member of the Year, winner of the AWSA 2023 Inspirational Gift Book of the Year Award, the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Devotional category, the 2023 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in four categories, and the Christian Literary Awards Henri Award for Devotionals YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 1 YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 2 Revive & Thrive Women’s Online Conference Revive & Thrive Summit 2 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 1 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 2 Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the AWSA 2020 Best Christian Living Book First Place, the first place winner for the Best Christian Living Book, the 2020 Carolina Christian Writer’s Conference Contest winner for nonfiction, and winner of the 2021 Christian Literary Award’s Reader’s Choice Award in all four categories for which it was nominated (Non-Fiction Victorious Living, Christian Living Day By Day, Inspirational Breaking Free and Testimonial Justified by Grace categories.) YouVersion Bible Reading Plan for Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Henri and Reader’s Choice Award Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader’s Choice Award Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host: For more hope, stay connected with Dr. Bengtson at: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Ashton Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Episode Summary: Have you ever felt like life knocked you down so hard you weren’t sure you’d ever get back up again? Today’s guest, Greg J. Horn, knows that kind of pain firsthand. After losing three close friends to suicide and experiencing the devastating collapse of his own business, marriage, and home—all within 24 hours—Greg was left at rock bottom. But God met him there. From that place of brokenness, a new ministry was born: Hope is Here. Today on Your Hope-Filled Perspective, Greg shares how to move from fear to hope, how gratitude can transform our outlook, and how we can live each day with a renewed sense of purpose. Quotables from the episode: I lost my business, my home, and my marriage in about a 24-hour period and I’ll say it, I was hopeless. Honestly, my faith in Jesus is what really kept me alive during that season.” Fear, we see it, but so many times it’s not real. Even though I did feel fearful, I could stay hopeful as I read God’s Word and didn’t give in to my feelings of fear. Biblical hope is when you say, ‘God, even though I don’t see You working, and I don’t feel You working, I’m going to trust You because You are my source of hope.’ I can tell you now on the other side of it, 20 years later, that all things do work together.” No matter how hopeless it may look, no matter how hopeless it may feel, God truly will use all of it for His glory. As I leaned into Jesus, He slowly but surely started healing the broken pieces of my heart and my mind. You have to choose to be resilient, but with Jesus’ help you can do that. Instead of asking why so much, say, ‘God, what do You want me to learn from this, and how can I be a blessing to other people through it?’ God, through this process, gave me an acronym when I started Hope Is Here, the word HOPE: H-Hold On --everything can change in 24 hours. I mean, something can change for the better. Yes, it can change for the worse, just like my situation did, but just to simply hold on. know God may show up in a way that'll just blow your mind and give you hope, even though things seem hopeless at the time. O-Open up to at least one person--So many times the enemy lies to it and just says, you know, this is hopeless, you're never going to climb out of this situation. And I'm thankful that I was able to open up the others and tell them when I was hopeless and having suicidal thoughts. And that was just amazing the difference that made. Once again, Jesus modeled that when he asked Peter, James, and John, hey man, I've got this overwhelming situation. P-shift your perspective and do something different/put yourself in a new environment E-Expect to see change Scripture References: Romans 15:13 (NIV) “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Psalm 27:7 "The Lord is my strength and my shield. My heart trusts in you, Lord, and I am helped." Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding but in all your ways acknowledge God and he will make your path straight.” Psalm 118:24 “"This is the day the Lord has made. I shall be glad and rejoice in it.” Galatians 6:9 “"Do not grow weary and doing good, for at the proper time you will reap a harvest if you do not give up." Proverbs 11:25 “Those who refresh others will be refreshed.” Lamentations 3:21–23 (NIV) “Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Recommended Resources: Recommended Resources: Hope is Here Today Radio Show and Podcast, WJMM 99.1FM 8:15am and 12:45pm daily Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host and Guest: Connect with Greg Horn: Website / Instagram / Facebook / YouTube / X Connect with Dr. Bengtson: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple Guest: Greg Horn is best known as an encourager, coach, motivator, and speaker. He speaks regularly to organizations, civic groups and churches on the topics of fear, gratitude, and hope. He also hosts the radio show and podcast, Hope is Here, that broadcasts daily, Monday through Friday on multiple radio stations in Central Kentucky. His ministry, Hope is Here, began in December 2017 from a holy discontent that was growing within in him after losing three friends to suicide. Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Ashton Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Episode Summary: Shame is one of the most powerful and painful emotions we experience, often leaving us feeling unworthy, unseen, and disconnected from God and others. But what if both neuroscience and Scripture revealed a pathway out of shame and into healing? In this hope-filled episode of Your Hope-Filled Perspective, I’m joined by cohost Jessica Van Roekel to unpack how shame affects the brain, body, and spirit and how God’s truth can rewire our thinking, renew our identity, and restore our relationships. If you’ve ever wrestled with feelings of not being enough, this conversation will offer both the science and biblical encouragement you need to break free from shame and embrace who God says you are. Quotables from the episode: Shame is a heavy burden that whispers lies about our worth and keeps us stuck in cycles of fear, hiding, and disconnection. Yet both science and Scripture point us toward freedom. God’s truth can rewire negative thought patterns, renew your sense of identity, and restore your relationship with Him and others. When shame is triggered, we don’t just feel bad—we literally lose access to clear thinking. That’s why people spiral, ruminate, and get stuck. The fascinating part is this: neuroscience shows that shame isn’t just an emotion—It affects our nervous system, our relationships, and even our physical health. Guilt and shame are very different. Guilt says, ‘I did something wrong.’ Shame says, ‘I am something wrong.’ Shame is the enemy’s weapon to distort our identity and keep us from God’s love and community. But notice what God did. He came looking for them. He clothed them. That’s a picture of His heart. He moves toward us in our shame. When shame whispers, ‘You’re not enough,’ the cross declares, ‘You are covered. You are loved. You are free.’ What’s beautiful is that neuroscience confirms what Scripture has always said—connection heals shame. Shame may be loud, but it is not your identity. Your mistakes, your past, your wounds—they don’t define you. God does. And He says you are chosen, beloved, forgiven, and free. Scripture References: Psalm 34:5 “Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. Isaiah 54:4 “Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated.” Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Zephaniah 3:17 “The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” Recommended Resources: Reframing Rejection: How Looking Through a Different Lens Changes Everything By Jessica Van Roekel Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host and Guest: Connect with Rev. Jessica Van Roekel: Website / Instagram / Facebook Connect with Dr. Bengtson: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple Co-Host: Jessica Van Roekel is a worship leader, speaker, and writer who believes that through Jesus, personal histories don’t need to define the present or determine the future. She inspires, encourages, and equips others to look at life through the lenses of hope, trust, and God’s transforming grace. Jessica lives in rural Iowa surrounded by wide open spaces which remind her of God’s expansive love. She loves fun earrings, good coffee, and connecting with others. Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Ashton Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In this master's class episode of the Smart Real Estate Coach Podcast, I sit down with Matt Miale for a conversation that is incredibly timely for anyone who has already proven they can hustle, grind, and generate income, but now wants to build something bigger without losing their life in the process. Matt has more than 20 years of experience, has lived through the crash, built a real estate business from the ground up, and now helps agents and team leaders do the hard but necessary work of moving from solopreneur to entrepreneur. And that shift is everything. Because making money on your own is one thing. Building a real business that runs with structure, people, and systems is a totally different game.     We get into what it really takes to scale, why most operators are the bottleneck in their own business, how to identify the work you should never be doing anymore, and why getting in the right room changes everything.    Matt also shares the painful lessons he learned from building a multifamily portfolio before the 2008 crash, how he unwound that mess without bankruptcy or foreclosure, and why learning, proximity, and structured leadership are the keys to long-term growth.    If you are stuck doing everything yourself, trying to grow past your own capacity, or ready to stop building a job and start building a company, this episode is a must-listen.   Key Talking Points of the Episode   00:00 Introduction 00:37 Who is Matt Miale?  01:41 From solopreneur to CEO 04:42 Breaking free from the corporate sales grind 06:27 How Matt got started in real estate investing 09:10 Lessons from surviving the 2008 housing market crash 11:19 What it was like to recover from financial setbacks 12:53 Creative Real Estate Financing: The 3-Paydays System 17:06 The importance of proximity and association in real estate 20:17 How identifying business bottlenecks will help you achieve growth 24:42 How to build a real estate team that scales 25:03 Finding your 10%: Focusing on your business strengths 27:44 The difference between handling "kitchen fires" vs. "dumpster fires" 28:35 Organizational structure and consulting for large teams 30:32 REI Blackbook   Quotables   "More often than not, you are the bottleneck to your own business's growth."   "There's always a room that you're trying to go find.:   "Do as much as you possibly can in your strength, in the thing that you're awesome at, and give away every other thing."   Links   Matt Miale https://www.instagram.com/mattmiale https://www.instagram.com/mattmialeteam/ https://mattmiale.com   3 Paydays® Live https://3paydayslive.com/podcast   Free Discovery Call https://smartrealestatecoachpodcast.com/discovery   3 Paydays® System Mastery Course - Use coupon code for 50% off https://smartrealestatecoach.com/qls Coupon code: pod   Apprentice Program 3PaydaysApprentice.com/Podcast    Masterclass https://smartrealestatecoach.com/masterspodcast   3 Paydays Books https://3paydaysbooks.com/podcast   Partners https://smartrealestatecoach.com/podcastresources

Episode Summary: If you’ve ever felt ambushed by intrusive thoughts, unwanted mental spirals, or the kind of anxious loops that hijack your peace, you’re not alone—and you’re not powerless. In this episode of Your Hope-Filled Perspective, we’re diving into the intersection of biblical truth and brain science, exploring how God designed your mind, why intrusive thoughts show up, and how to interrupt them with evidence-based strategies and Scripture-anchored truth. Whether you struggle with anxiety, guilt, catastrophizing, or “what-if” thinking, you’ll learn practical, hope-filled tools to renew your mind, reclaim your thought life, and experience the calm your soul has been craving. In honor of mental health awareness month, today we’re going to talk about How to Manage Intrusive Thoughts Through Biblical Truth & Brain Science. Quotables from the episode: You are not at the mercy of your mind. A thought is not a fact. A thought is not a sin. A thought is not your identity. A thought is not your destiny. The amygdala can’t tell the difference between a genuine threat, a hypothetical threat, or a lie masquerading as danger. Romans 12:2 isn’t metaphor, it’s biology: ‘Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.’ You can’t control the first thought, but you can control the next one. Intrusive thoughts thrive in internal chaos; they shrink in stillness. This is just a thought, not a truth, and not a command. You cannot ‘stop thinking’ your way out of intrusive thoughts; you must redirect them. When the body calms down, the amygdala shuts off, and intrusive thoughts lose their volume. You are not losing your mind. You are learning to renew it. Scripture References: Romans 12:2 “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” 2 Corinthians 10:5 “Take every thought captive.” Colossians 3:2 “Set your mind on things above.” Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God.” Philippians 4:8 “Whatever is true… think about such things.” Romans 8:6 “The mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace” Psalm 46:1 “God is my refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Romans 8:1 “There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 “My grace is sufficient for you.” 1 John 4:18 “Perfect love casts out fear.” Matthew 6:34 “Do not worry about tomorrow.” Philippians 1:6 “He who began a good work in you will carry it to completion.” Recommended Resources: Free Stress-Response Personality Assessment Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner AWSA 2024 Golden Scroll Christian Living Book of the Year and the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Christian Living and Non-Fiction categories YouVersion 5-Day Devotional Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, AWSA Member of the Year, winner of the AWSA 2023 Inspirational Gift Book of the Year Award, the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Devotional category, the 2023 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in four categories, and the Christian Literary Awards Henri Award for Devotionals YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 1 YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 2 Revive & Thrive Women’s Online Conference Revive & Thrive Summit 2 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 1 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 2 Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the AWSA 2020 Best Christian Living Book First Place, the first place winner for the Best Christian Living Book, the 2020 Carolina Christian Writer’s Conference Contest winner for nonfiction, and winner of the 2021 Christian Literary Award’s Reader’s Choice Award in all four categories for which it was nominated (Non-Fiction Victorious Living, Christian Living Day By Day, Inspirational Breaking Free and Testimonial Justified by Grace categories.) YouVersion Bible Reading Plan for Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Henri and Reader’s Choice Award Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader’s Choice Award Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host: For more hope, stay connected with Dr. Bengtson at: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Ashton Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Na verdade é mais um estudo de caso kierkegaardiano do que qualquer outra coisa. Tirando uma página de Renato Money Moicano, falo de como Botafogo e Sean Strickland — NÓS vencemos! — me ensinam a ter gratidão não pelos "grandes feitos" da vida mas pelos pequenos momentos de heroísmo. Reclamo de como reclamações foram desvirtuadas e como artistas choram muito sobre IA, enquanto a maioria deles já é pior em seu próprio ofício do que a inteligência artificial.

Episode Summary: In the chaos of life—when the bills pile up, when fear creeps in, or even when joy overflows—sometimes the words just don’t come. That’s where prayer steps in, grounding us in God’s presence and reminding us we’re never alone. On this episode of Your Hope-Filled Perspective, in honor of the National Day of Prayer, I’m talking with Tama Fortner, bestselling author of over sixty books, about her newest release Prayers for Each Moment. This powerful book offers heartfelt conversations with God for real-life situations, helping us move beyond scripted words into authentic, soul-deep connection. Whether you’re struggling to pray or simply longing for a deeper rhythm of communion with God, this conversation will meet you right where you are. Quotables from the episode: Prayer is one of the greatest gifts God has given us, yet for many of us, it can also feel like one of the hardest disciplines to practice consistently. Do we have the right words? Are we doing it "enough"? And how do we bring our real struggles and everyday moments before a holy God? Today’s guest, Tama Fortner, award-winning and bestselling author of Prayers for Each Moment: 100 Conversations with God About Real Life and Real Stuff, joins us to remind us that prayer isn’t about performance—it’s about relationship. Together we’ll explore how prayer can be both an invitation and a lifeline, and how it connects our everyday lives to God’s extraordinary love. I've also seen it play out in the lives of others and some of the comments and feedback that I've gotten is an uncomfortableness with prayer. We hear these beautiful public prayers in our churches, in different venues, and they're wonderful, and they're beautiful, and necessary, and needed, but they can also be a little bit intimidating. We get this notion that we have to have the right setting, the right words, that it has to be a certain structure, a certain time of day, and it doesn't. It doesn't. It just has to have a heart that's turned to God. I think that gets it in our way a lot. Prayer is a conversation, and we never want to minimize that we're talking to the God of all creation. We never want to make it an unholy space or lessen the holiness of his invitation, but we also don't have to be intimidated by it. We don't have to figure out exactly the right words. We don't have to have ourselves all cleaned up and perfected before we come to him. So, it's a willingness to reframe prayer as that conversation. And so, we're turning to him maybe with half form sentences in the middle of doing something else. I need God in every moment of my life. And the prayer without ceasing, something that I've come to realize reading some, some books like Brother Lawrence and then just some life experiences is that prayer may not always look like what we think it will look like. Maybe what we've been led or taught or grown up seeing it. It's not always head bowed, and eyes closed and stillness. Sometimes it's going for a walk. Sometimes it's a really quick prayer while you're on the run. But most of all, whether we use words or not in our prayers, it is a heart that's turned toward God, ready to listen, ready to be led. Isn't it wonderful that he is bending down his ear to listen whenever we approach him with a heart of prayer. And I love that we never get a busy signal. You know, I'm not a big one for talking on the telephone, but it can be frustrating when you need to get hold of someone, and you get that voicemail. And you have to wait for a response, but we never have to wait on that response from God, because he is always attentive to our prayers. I don't know what to pray. And I struggled, as you talked about earlier, with some doubts. But there are those verses where the man brings his son to Jesus, to heal, and Jesus says, "Do you believe?" And the man says, "I believe, but help my unbelief." Because even when we're struggling, even when we're doubting, even when we don't know what to pray, as long as we are taking those struggles and doubts to God, oh my goodness, His love and grace meets us in that moment. And our prayers don't always have to have words. God wants to hear from you. God wants to speak into your life. Take a moment, and I know you're busy, so, it doesn't even have to be a moment of stillness, but take a moment and have a conversation with him, and then take one more moment and let him have a conversation with you. Scripture References: Psalm 116:2 NIV “Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.” Romans 8:34 “Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.” Recommended Resources: Prayers for Each Moment by Tama Fortner Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host and Guest: Connect with Tama Fortner: Website / Instagram / Facebook / LinkedIn Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple Guest: Tama Fortner is an ECPA award-winning and bestselling author with more than sixty titles to her credit, including Everyday Joys Devotional and Simply Christmas. Tama has collaborated with some of the biggest names in Christian publishing to create inspirational books for all ages. But her greatest accomplishments happen in a happy little home on the outskirts of Nashville, Tennessee, where she lives with her family and two feisty little pups who are convinced, they’re people too. Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Ashton Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Episode Summary: Whether you’re battling chronic stress, emotional overload, burnout, or simply the pressures of everyday life, today we’re diving deep into Overcoming Stress with Scripture and Science. We’ll explore what stress does to your brain and body, how to recognize when it’s taking a toll, and—most importantly—God’s proven blueprint for peace, renewal, and rest. If you’ve been craving practical tools rooted in neuroscience and anchored in biblical truth, this episode will speak directly to your heart. Today’s episode is especially timely because April is Stress Awareness Month. And if there is one thing I’ve consistently seen in 30+ years as a neuropsychologist, it’s this: stress is universal, but suffering under it doesn’t have to be. Quotables from the episode: In recognition of stress awareness month, I want to remind you that stress doesn’t simply come from “big problems.” Science shows that your brain can interpret noise, clutter, constant notifications, unresolved emotions, lack of sleep, and even chronic busyness the same way it interprets danger. Chronic stress literally shrinks the brain regions involved in emotional regulation and clarity. But the good news? They can also be strengthened—God built neuroplasticity into your biology. Stress is not a spiritual failure. It’s a signal—an invitation—to lean into God’s design for restoration. God doesn’t offer stress management tips—He offers Himself. Peace isn’t a principle. Peace is a person. God created your brain and body with built-in “calm switches." This isn’t just spiritual—it’s neurological. Meditation strengthens the very brain networks stress weakens. “When your mind stays on Him, your brain rewires toward peace.” Replace Fear Thoughts with Scripture-Based Truth. Science calls this cognitive reframing. Scripture calls it taking thoughts captive (2 Corinthians 10:5). Neuroscience shows that short pauses throughout the day reduce cumulative stress load. Scripture calls this Selah—a holy pause. Stress may be a reality of life, but peace is the promise of God. Don’t just become aware of stress. Become aware of God—right in the middle of it. Scripture References: Psalm 94:19 “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.” Exodus 33:14 “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Isaiah 26:3 “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you.” Proverbs 12:25 “Anxiety in a person’s heart weighs it down, but a good word makes it glad.” Nahum 1:7 “The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him.” Recommended Resources: Free Stress-Response Personality Assessment Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner AWSA 2024 Golden Scroll Christian Living Book of the Year and the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Christian Living and Non-Fiction categories YouVersion 5-Day Devotional Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, AWSA Member of the Year, winner of the AWSA 2023 Inspirational Gift Book of the Year Award, the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Devotional category, the 2023 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in four categories, and the Christian Literary Awards Henri Award for Devotionals YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 1 YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 2 Revive & Thrive Women’s Online Conference Revive & Thrive Summit 2 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 1 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 2 Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the AWSA 2020 Best Christian Living Book First Place, the first place winner for the Best Christian Living Book, the 2020 Carolina Christian Writer’s Conference Contest winner for nonfiction, and winner of the 2021 Christian Literary Award’s Reader’s Choice Award in all four categories for which it was nominated (Non-Fiction Victorious Living, Christian Living Day By Day, Inspirational Breaking Free and Testimonial Justified by Grace categories.) YouVersion Bible Reading Plan for Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Henri and Reader’s Choice Award Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader’s Choice Award Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host: For more hope, stay connected with Dr. Bengtson at: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Ashton Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In this master's class episode of the Smart Real Estate Coach Podcast, I sit down with JP Fluellen for a real-world conversation on what it actually looks like to build a real estate business that works in today's market. JP brings more than two decades of experience as a real estate entrepreneur, investor, and managing broker, and we get into the stuff that matters right now: finding deals through everyday conversations, using AI to sharpen your scripts and solve problems faster, and staying focused on creative financing opportunities that still cash flow in a higher-rate environment.     JP shares how he got started buying rentals, why becoming a licensed agent was not the magic answer he thought it would be, and how a simple owner-finance fourplex deal changed his thinking around return on time. We also unpack why pre-foreclosure and creative deals are especially attractive right now, how AI can help investors structure offers and improve lead gen, and why the people who talk about real estate consistently are the ones who keep finding opportunities.    If you want to get better at spotting problems, solving them profitably, and using the tools available right now to create more momentum, this is a must-listen episode.   Key Talking Points of the Episode   00:00 Introduction 00:20 Who is JP Fluellen? 02:34 JP's background and journey into real estate 05:47 Discovering owner financing and solving problems 07:35 The easiest real estate conversation script 09:26 Using AI technology to simplify sales scripts 10:48 How AI can help change the flow of your conversations 13:57 Smart Real Estate Coach resources - The 3-Paydays System 16:45 Using Claude Code or Claude Co-Work for lead gen and outreach 18:02 Why guardrails matter so much when you're using AI 21:11 How AI can help structure creative real estate deals 23:42 The importance of human networking and AI limitations 25:30 The future in wholesaling and pre-foreclosures  27:54 How to get in touch with JP Fluellen 29:00 3 Paydays Live 2026   Quotables   "Money is like energy. You just have to figure out how to get it."   "You're not trying to put a deal together right there. All you're trying to do is figure out a problem."   "AI and AI agents are the future. And if you don't want to be replaced, then you need to get on board."   Links   JP Fluellen https://jpfluellen.com/ https://www.facebook.com/jfluellen https://www.instagram.com/jp_fluellen/   3 Paydays® Live https://3paydayslive.com/podcast   Free Discovery Call https://smartrealestatecoachpodcast.com/discovery   3 Paydays® System Mastery Course - Use coupon code for 50% off https://smartrealestatecoach.com/qls Coupon code: pod   Apprentice Program https://3paydaysapprentice.com Coupon code: Podcast   Masterclass https://smartrealestatecoach.com/masterspodcast   3 Paydays Books https://3paydaysbooks.com/podcast   Partners https://smartrealestatecoach.com/podcastresources

Episode Summary: Are you weary from constantly striving, juggling endless responsibilities, and living at a pace that leaves you burned out and exhausted? You’re not alone. In this episode of Your Hope-Filled Perspective, I’m joined by Dr. Portia Preston, a public health expert, two-time TEDx speaker, and author of Hustle, Flow, or Let It Go? Her compassionate, shame-free approach to wellness helps us release hustle culture and create sustainable wellness so we can live with greater balance, peace, and joy. Quotables from the episode: This chronic stress is when I lose connection with myself. That's really the best way I know. Where am I in relation to myself and the things that I value most? If I am being irritable in my relationships, something's off. Because these are people that I love. If you had asked me a decade ago about my experience with burnout, I would have pointed directly to my career. And always feeling like it was on me to provide because who else would do it? But it's only been in recent years when I've found that burnout extends to all facets of my life. Surrender isn't about what you can do. The to-do list narrows our perspective. It's asking us to show up as the person who does these things. So immediately we are taken out of connection with our reality and our capacity. And we've been conditioned to say, well, that's the way that it should be. So, if what I have today doesn't measure up to that, then I'm the problem. And I'm not saying the list is bad. There is a saying that says that we are human beings, not human doings. You were born with worth. That it was a part of you. And it's not something that can be taken away from you. God never designed us to go full speed all the time. And recognizing the rhythm of the seasons frees us to honor time of work and time of rest. Scripture References: Isaiah 30:15 (NLT) “This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: ‘Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength.’” Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NRSV) “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” Recommended Resources: Hustle, Flow, or Let It Go? A Guide to Shame-Free Wellness That Honors Your Reality and Gives You Life by Portia Preston, DrPH Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host and Guest: Connect with Dr. Portia Preston: Website / Instagram Connect with Dr. Bengtson: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple Guest: Dr. Portia Preston is a public health expert, two-time TEDx speaker, and founder of Empowered to Exhale. She holds degrees from Stanford, the University of Michigan, and UCLA, and currently serves as a faculty member at California State University, Fullerton. Through her groundbreaking work, Dr. Preston helps individuals and organizations create a culture of sustainable wellness and performance. Her new book, Hustle, Flow, or Let It Go?, offers a compassionate, shame-free roadmap to releasing hustle culture and embracing wellness that truly honors our unique realities. Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Ashton Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Episode Summary: Homelessness is often viewed only through the lens of what we see on the surface—tents on sidewalks, individuals holding signs, or people who seem lost in the crowd. Yet behind every face is a story marked by trauma, loss, survival, and a longing for dignity. Today we are pulling back the curtain to look deeper into the emotional, psychological, and spiritual factors that contribute to homelessness, and more importantly, the pathways that lead toward healing, restoration, and lasting hope. Our guest, Baron King, serves on the front lines, offering trauma-informed care, emotional support, and compassionate advocacy to individuals fighting their way out of crisis. You’ll hear what truly makes a difference, how healing begins, and how we can each play a role in restoring hope to those who feel forgotten. Whether you’ve experienced instability yourself or want to better understand how to support those who do, this conversation will open your heart and strengthen your faith in the God who sees, knows, and redeems every story. Quotables from the episode: Too often, homelessness is reduced to statistics, stereotypes, or oversimplified assumptions about personal choices. But for many individuals, homelessness is the culmination of unhealed trauma, mental health challenges, broken systems, and overwhelming life circumstances. Yet, every face is a story, sometimes marked by trauma, loss, survival, even a longing for dignity. To every complex problem, there's a simple answer and it's always wrong. It's rare that somebody presents themselves to our agency and the only reason that they are unsheltered or homeless is because of lack of housing. Perhaps they have physical or psychological disabilities or challenges. Perhaps they're a caregiver of somebody that's dependent and they lack some of these social safety nets that other people have and they don't have. So, it's usually very multifactorial. But I would propose that if any of us were unsheltered for 6, 8, 12 months, that we would be demonstrating signs and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and despondency. What I've realized is they can't sleep at night, and they come into our facility because they won't get assaulted and they can get sleep. I think one of the things that people really struggle with, and I think that most people probably wouldn't realize this, is a loss of identity. You know, dignity is the first thing people lose when they become homeless. No one, no one chooses to be unsheltered. No one chooses to be homeless. Scripture References: Isaiah 58:10 “If you spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.” Proverbs 19:17 “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.” Recommended Resources: Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host and Guest: Connect with Baron King: Website CHATT Foundation / Facebook / Instagram / Podcast Connect with Dr. Bengtson: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple Guest: Baron S King, LPC, NCC, is the current President and Chief Executive Officer of The CHATT Foundation, formerly the Chattanooga Community Kitchen, a non-profit corporation serving the homeless community in the greater Chattanooga region. Prior to that Mr. King served as the CEO of Liberty Ministries, Inc., a large non-profit serving men and women inside state and county prisons of Pennsylvania and those upon release in residential transition programs. Prior to that, Mr. King served as the Director of Health and Counseling services, Clinical Director, and Adjunct Professor of Psychology at Cairn University in southeastern PA. Mr. King holds a BS degree in Theology, a MS in Clinical Psychology, and has an extensive background in Organizational Leadership and Development. Mr. King is passionate about providing services and support to underserved people groups and providing pathways to self-sustainability. Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Ashton Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Episode Summary: If you’ve been doing “all the right things” but still feel depleted, disconnected, or out of balance, this episode is for you. In honor of World Health Day, Your Hope-Filled Perspective takes a compassionate look at whole-person health—addressing the deep connection between mental wellness, physical vitality, and spiritual nourishment. Through faith-based insight and practical application, you’ll be encouraged to move beyond survival mode and toward sustainable, Christ-centered well-being that honors how God designed you to live. Today we’re marking World Health Day by talking about something that sounds simple but is anything but—How to Care for Your Whole Self: Biblical and Brain-Based Health for Mind, Body, and Spirit. Quotables from the episode: We often try to fix one area of our lives in isolation. We focus on our spiritual life but ignore our emotional health. Or we tend to our bodies while our thought life runs unchecked. But God designed us as integrated beings, and when one area is suffering, the others are usually affected too. Some early mental and emotional signs include: Increased irritability or emotional numbness Difficulty concentrating or remembering Racing or repetitive negative thoughts Losing interest in things that once brought joy Feeling overwhelmed by decisions that used to feel manageable These aren’t character flaws—they’re signals from your nervous system. And spiritually, those same signals often show up as disconnection. You might notice prayer feels harder, Scripture feels flat, or you’re more reactive than reflective. Sometimes we label that as a “faith problem,” when it’s actually exhaustion or emotional overload. Or you find yourself pushing through fatigue, telling yourself, “I’ll rest later,” without realizing later never comes. Ignoring the body’s signals doesn’t make us more faithful—it often makes us more fragile. Spiritually, we often confuse endurance with faithfulness. We forget that Jesus regularly withdrew to rest, pray, and recalibrate. If the Son of God needed rhythms of restoration, so do we. When you notice the slide, the goal isn’t to fix everything—it’s to create safety and regulation. Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is eat a balanced meal, drink water, or get some sleep. Sleep deprivation alone increases anxiety, depression, and emotional reactivity. Caring for your body is not separate from caring for your soul. We don’t heal by striving—we heal by abiding. Whole health isn’t about doing more—it’s about listening better. To your body. To your mind. To the Spirit of God within you. Scripture References: 3 John 1:2 (NASB) “Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.” Proverbs 4:20–23 (CSB) “My son, pay attention to my words; listen closely to my sayings. Don’t lose sight of them; keep them within your heart, for they are life to those who find them, and health to one’s whole body. Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.” Recommended Resources: Reframing Rejection: How Looking Through a Different Lens Changes Everything By Jessica Van Roekel Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host and Guest: Connect with Rev. Jessica Van Roekel: Website / Instagram / Facebook Connect with Dr. Bengtson: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple Co-Host: Jessica Van Roekel is a worship leader, speaker, and writer who believes that through Jesus, personal histories don’t need to define the present or determine the future. She inspires, encourages, and equips others to look at life through the lenses of hope, trust, and God’s transforming grace. Jessica lives in rural Iowa surrounded by wide open spaces which remind her of God’s expansive love. She loves fun earrings, good coffee, and connecting with others. Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Ashton Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Episode Summary: Have you ever noticed how Easter morning feels light and bright? It’s not necessarily because the sunrise seems extra colorful or because the church lilies release their fragrance. It’s because something shifts inside us and whispers, “Hope is still alive.” This hope isn’t fragile and it doesn’t evaporate when bills pile up or when anxiety keeps you awake in the night or when the ache you prayed would be gone is still there. We’re talking about resurrection hope, the nitty gritty kind that Jesus bought for us the moment he walked out of the tomb. Easter has everything to do with the battles happening in our minds and emotions. Today, Rev. Jessica Van Roekel and I talk about the kind of hope that transforms us. It’s not pastel colored nor is it a once-a-year kind of hope, but an everyday hope. Quotables from the episode: Jesus didn’t just rise for the world; he rose for you. Resurrection isn’t only a historical and theological event. It’s a mental and emotional revolution. The power that resurrected a dead body is the same power God places in our inner world to bring back to life hope, peace, and joy when they feel gone. Yet Christians often live like Easter is a spiritual anniversary, not their present reality. Easter isn’t a bandage. It’s a breakthrough and it announces the defeat of our mental and emotional battles. Resurrection hope doesn’t promise me an easy life, but it does promise me God’s presence, which settles my anxious heart. That reminds me that resurrection hope means the darkness is not permanent. But the empty tomb is God’s megaphone saying, “Shame doesn’t get to define you.” Jesus didn’t walk out of that grave dragging your failures behind him. Every disappointment is just Friday and every breakthrough is Sunday. Easter is not a holiday we recognize once a year. It’s the reality we live in, and it transforms every inner battle, not by removing struggle, but by giving us a power greater than the struggle. Scripture References: Romans 8:11, NIV “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.” 2 Corinthians 12:10 “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” 2 Corinthians 2:3-5 reminds us, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.” Isaiah 43:19, “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Romans 8:11, “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.” Recommended Resources: Reframing Rejection: How Looking Through a Different Lens Changes Everything By Jessica Van Roekel Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host and Guest: Connect with Rev. Jessica Van Roekel: Website / Instagram / Facebook Connect with Dr. Bengtson: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple Co-Host: Jessica Van Roekel is a worship leader, speaker, and writer who believes that through Jesus, personal histories don’t need to define the present or determine the future. She inspires, encourages, and equips others to look at life through the lenses of hope, trust, and God’s transforming grace. Jessica lives in rural Iowa surrounded by wide open spaces which remind her of God’s expansive love. She loves fun earrings, good coffee, and connecting with others. Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Ashton Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Episode Summary: Have you ever wondered how you would respond if life completely unraveled in an instant? My guest today, Sheryl Ramstad, knows that reality all too well. After surviving a catastrophic plane crash with less than a 1% chance of survival, she could have easily given in to despair. Instead, she chose to rise—reclaiming her life, reinventing her future, and redefining what it means to live with purpose. From the ashes of tragedy, Sheryl’s story shines as a powerful testimony of resilience, grit, and the sustaining grace of God. Most of us will never experience the devastation of a plane crash, but all of us face moments when life feels shattered beyond repair. Today on Your Hope-Filled Perspective, I’m joined by Sheryl Ramstad—a woman who not only survived the unthinkable but has gone on to thrive. With perseverance, faith, and courage, she rebuilt her life, pursued new careers, climbed one of the world’s highest mountains, and continues to inspire others to press forward no matter the odds. Her journey is a living reminder that hope can rise from despair and that our greatest challenges can become the very places God’s strength shines brightest. Quotables from the episode: What would you do if your life changed in an instant, and nothing looked the way you thought it would? Sheryl survived a catastrophic plane crash with less than a 1% chance of survival, she could have easily given in to despair. I can only imagine doctors walking in and saying, you have less than a 1 % chance of survival. So, what role did faith and determination play in you beating those odds? It was everything, Michelle. My faith was what carried me through. When I was in the hospital, instead of asking “why me?”, I would ask “what next?” And the Lord always had an answer for me. And that became my future question that I'd always ask, what's next, Lord? I had been thinking that the hospital would be the end of my journey, but it wasn't. It was only the beginning. It was a years-long journey, seven major surgeries. I would give others the advice that it's when it's bigger than you when your recovery is bigger than you When your life is out of control, when you feel like you just don't have a place to turn, turn your attention to the Lord and read your Bible and ask for the Lord's help. Ask Him to walk beside you, surround yourself with people who are faithful, who can help you in those times of doubt, who can lift you up and encourage you. And that's what got me through. Sheryl, my listeners know that I've written a book "Sacred Scars," resting in God's promise that your past is not wasted, and your story begs the question, "Because you have lived with both the physical scars from the burns as well as emotional scars, how have you embraced your scars as part of your story rather than as setbacks?" I've, it's turned my life into one of purpose, Michelle. It's given me direction, I focused on service over survival, tried to encourage others, and that's been my goal. How did you hold onto your hope during that process? - Well, I knew I wasn't in it alone. I reached out to others, in particular people who I knew had faith, and would ask them, "What's next?" They wouldn't have the answers, but then I'd ask the Lord, and I'd see a path that made no sense to me at the time, but that I felt called to follow. And I can't explain that calling, Michelle other than to say it was a still small voice inside of me. I would give others the advice that it's when it's bigger than you when your recovery is bigger than you When your life is out of control, when you feel like you just don't have a place to turn, turn your attention to the Lord and read your Bible and ask for the Lord's help. Ask Him to walk beside you, surround yourself with people who are faithful, who can help you in those times of doubt, who can lift you up and encourage you. And that's what got me through. Scripture References: Jeremiah 32:27 “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?” Luke 18:27 “The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.” Recommended Resources: Living Life Full Throttle: Surviving, Serving, and Summiting by Sheryl Ramstad Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host and Guest: Connect with Sheryl Ramstad: Website Connect with Dr. Bengtson: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple Guest: Sheryl Ramstad is a burn survivor, former criminal trial attorney, and Minnesota Commissioner of Corrections who rebuilt her life after a devastating plane crash. Now a nurse practitioner with a doctorate in nursing, she brings a unique perspective to conversations about trauma, reinvention, and public service leadership. Above all, she treasures her role as a mother to three adult children, and grandmother to several littles. She resides in Minneapolis with her husband, Lee. Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Ashton Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Episode Summary: In a world that pulls our attention toward stress, exhaustion, and discouragement, many of us wonder how to cultivate joy on the days when life feels overwhelmingly heavy. What if joy is not something we wait for but something we intentionally build into our minds and our spirits even during difficult seasons. Rev. Jessica Van Roekel and I share how we can experience joy as a steady anchor rather than an unpredictable emotion, using both biblical truth and the latest neuroscience research to guide us. Quotables from the episode: Some days feel like a battle from the moment our feet hit the floor. Yet the Bible describes joy not as the absence of hardship but as a powerful spiritual resource that strengthens us from the inside out. We are talking about cultivating joy on difficult days. Not the easy days. Not the days when everything goes right. We are talking about the days when joy feels far away, and our circumstances feel like they are pressing in on every side. God never intended joy to be reserved only for ideal circumstances. One of the first things we need to understand is that joy and happiness are not the same. Happiness depends on what happens around us. Joy depends on the unchanging character of God within us. When we intentionally focus on what is true and life-giving the brain becomes better at recognizing hope even in hard situations. We can train our minds to recognize God’s presence and goodness even on difficult days. And most people do not realize that chronic stress suppresses the parts of the brain responsible for joy, connection, creativity, and problem solving. Joy is not built on our feelings. Joy is built on our confidence that God is in control even when life is not. Joy may begin as a flicker, not a blaze. Scripture References: James 1:2-4 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” Isaiah 26:3 “God will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are stayed on Him because they trust Him.” Psalm 94:18-19 “When I said, ‘My foot is slipping,’ your unfailing love, LORD, supported me. When anxiety was great within me your consolation brought me joy.” Zephaniah 3:17 “The Lord your God is with you. He is mighty to save. He takes great delight in you. He rejoices over you with singing.” Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him.” Recommended Resources: Reframing Rejection: How Looking Through a Different Lens Changes Everything By Jessica Van Roekel Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host and Guest: Connect with Rev. Jessica Van Roekel: Website / Instagram / Facebook Connect with Dr. Bengtson: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple Co-Host: Jessica Van Roekel is a worship leader, speaker, and writer who believes that through Jesus, personal histories don’t need to define the present or determine the future. She inspires, encourages, and equips others to look at life through the lenses of hope, trust, and God’s transforming grace. Jessica lives in rural Iowa surrounded by wide open spaces which remind her of God’s expansive love. She loves fun earrings, good coffee, and connecting with others. Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Ashton Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Episode Summary: What if you could go back 10 years? Have you ever wished you could go back ten years and whisper something life-changing to your younger self? In this week’s episode of Your Hope Filled Perspective podcast, in recognition of my birthday this week, we’re diving into the 10 powerful truths I wish I had known a decade ago—biblical insights, neuroscience-backed wisdom, and lessons God taught me through some of the hardest seasons of my life. If you have ever wrestled with self-doubt, carried the weight of other people's expectations, feared what others think, or wondered whether God was really working behind the scenes, this episode will speak straight to your heart we are going to talk about rest, resilience, purpose, identity, joy, boundaries, emotional freedom, and how God faithfully redeems every part of our story. If you want to encouragement, clarity, or a fresh start anchored in scripture and science you're in the right place. Quotables from the episode: Breathe. God is not disappointed in you. Rest is not a reward for finishing the work, it’s part of the process of work. Rest is not a luxury. Rest is obedience. Rest is not weakness. It’s worship. Hardship is never wasted. Trying to live for the approval of people rewires the brain to depend on external validation. You are already approved. Joy is not circumstantial. Joy is relational. Joy is the awareness of God’s presence with us. They’re not thinking about you nearly as much as you think they are. You don’t have to be the strong one all the time. Let others in. God was working all along. Silently. Slowly. Faithfully. Recommended Resources: Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner AWSA 2024 Golden Scroll Christian Living Book of the Year and the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Christian Living and Non-Fiction categories YouVersion 5-Day Devotional Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, AWSA Member of the Year, winner of the AWSA 2023 Inspirational Gift Book of the Year Award, the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Devotional category, the 2023 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in four categories, and the Christian Literary Awards Henri Award for Devotionals YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 1 YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 2 Revive & Thrive Women’s Online Conference Revive & Thrive Summit 2 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 1 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 2 Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the AWSA 2020 Best Christian Living Book First Place, the first place winner for the Best Christian Living Book, the 2020 Carolina Christian Writer’s Conference Contest winner for nonfiction, and winner of the 2021 Christian Literary Award’s Reader’s Choice Award in all four categories for which it was nominated (Non-Fiction Victorious Living, Christian Living Day By Day, Inspirational Breaking Free and Testimonial Justified by Grace categories.) YouVersion Bible Reading Plan for Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Henri and Reader’s Choice Award Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader’s Choice Award Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host: For more hope, stay connected with Dr. Bengtson at: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Ashton Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Episode Summary: Trials and crises are inevitable. Jesus warned us they would come. While we cannot choose the trials we face, we can choose how we respond to them and look at them as opportunities to grow and learn more about God. In this episode of Your Hope-Filled Perspective, I am joined by Lynne Rienstra, author of the inspiring book Sacred Refuge: Finding Unexpected Shelter in Your Crisis. Lynne shares how her personal life crisis became a gateway to discovering God’s indestructible shelter. Through her book, she introduces women to a sacred sisterhood that unites modern and biblical stories of overcoming fear, loss, debt, and loneliness. Together, we explore how God’s love and compassion provide a soul-safe refuge, even in the midst of the most difficult challenges. Quotables from the episode: When COVID hit and like a lot of people, I just kind of went under fear. And after a week of not sleeping well, not eating well, kind of like what's happening and what's coming, I said, "This is crazy. "I am a blood bought and beloved child of the living God. "I am not going to let the enemy have any more time in my headspace or my spirit. And it was a time to boot him out and say, “you're done. I will not live in fear.” The Bible actually says, do not fear 365 times, right? One for every day of the year. And that was over. And then I started realizing if I'm dealing with fear, maybe other women are dealing with fear and struggling to find this safe refuge in who God is for us. This is an invitation, as you mentioned, for women to come out of hiding, which is what fear, of course, puts us in, and into a soul -safe place that Jesus has built for us in the gospel. He is so good and so powerful he can actually use the worst of circumstances for our good, which is to draw us to himself and to make us more like Jesus. I've learned how to do this over the years, to identify his lies. And then because he's a liar and the father of lies, you flip them and you begin to hear in scripture and in the voice of the Lord, the truth. So, all three persons of the Trinity have something very specific to tell me about who I am. And that means that his Father's heart is delighted in us. That's the invitation to take off the masks. That's the freedom that Jesus has purchased for us. Crisis comes with a gift. It's the gift nobody wants. I've had seasons of my life as a Christian speaker, as a pastor's wife, as a leader, all those things, where I'm just like, you know, I just want to veg out. I just want to take three hours and binge something on Netflix, or I just want to eat that half thing, a half carton of ice cream, or I just, I want to check out. And I call those my other lovers, the things I go to apart from Jesus, who is our first love, Revelation tells us, right? - Yes. - When we turn to those other lovers over anything, overeating, over drinking, working, busy -ness can be another lover. Scripture References: Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Isaiah 61:10 “I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” Isaiah 49:16 “See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands…” Psalm 91:1-16 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, “You are my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Surely He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler, and from the deadly plague. He will cover you with His feathers; under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the calamity that destroys at noon. Though a thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, no harm will come near you. You will only see it with your eyes and witness the punishment of the wicked. Because you have made the LORD your dwelling—my refuge, the Most High—no evil will befall you, no plague will approach your tent. For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. They will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and cobra; you will trample the young lion and serpent. “Because he loves Me, I will deliver him; because he knows My name, I will protect him. When he calls out to Me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him My salvation.” Recommended Resources: Sacred Refuge: Finding Unexpected Shelter in Your Crisis by Lynne Rienstra Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host and Guest: Connect with Lynne Rienstra: Website / Instagram Connect with Dr. Bengtson: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple Guest: Lynne Rienstra serves Samaritan’s Purse as a regional director and has seen crises up close through her travels. She recently navigated her own crisis through cancer. Trained in English at Smith College, she also holds a certificate in Spiritual Formation. Along with her callings as pastor’s wife, women’s event speaker, and writer, Lynne finds joy in traveling, family and friends. Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Ashton Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Episode Summary: Caring for others is one of the most beautiful expressions of Christlike love, yet it can also be one of the most exhausting. Whether someone is caring for an aging parent, a chronically ill spouse, a child with special needs, or a friend struggling through a difficult diagnosis, caregivers often experience emotional fatigue, compassion overload, and spiritual depletion. In honor of National Caregiver’s Day, today on Your Hope-Filled Perspective we are shining a bright and honoring spotlight on caregivers who quietly pour out strength and tenderness day after day. If you are a caregiver who feels seen and unseen all at once, this conversation is for you. Quotables from the episode: In this episode we want to acknowledge the deep emotional and spiritual cost that comes with caregiving, whether it’s caring for children, spouses, parents or someone else. Many caregivers love fiercely yet carry silent burdens. They often neglect their own rest while tending to the needs of others. They juggle responsibilities, appointments, medications, medical decisions, financial pressures, and emotional strain until their own souls feel frayed. If that describes you, know that God sees every moment of sacrifice. He understands every tear cried in private. He knows how heavy this calling can feel. Whether you are in a short-term caregiving season or you have been carrying this responsibility for years, we want to help you find strength, rest, and spiritual renewal. Yet God created rest not as a luxury but as a divine necessity. He invites caregivers to receive the strength they need directly from His presence. Caregivers often do not realize how overwhelmed they are until they are already close to burnout. They believe they should be able to keep going. They think rest is selfish. They feel guilty for asking for help. But caregiving is not meant to be a one-person mission. Caregiver burnout does not happen overnight. It happens slowly and quietly, often while someone is trying to be strong for everyone else. God never intended caregiving to be an isolating burden. Galatians teaches us to carry one another’s burdens. That includes the weight of caregiving. Asking for help is not a failure. It is a biblical principle If you have begun feeling resentful or emotionally disconnected, that is a powerful signal that your soul is in need of restoration. You cannot pour out what has not been filled. I want caregivers to hear this truth. You are not responsible for outcomes. You are responsible to love well and to walk faithfully, but God holds the results. Scripture References: Isaiah 40:29 “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” Psalm 73:26 “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 18:28 “You, Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.” Jeremiah 31:25 “I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.” Recommended Resources: Free Caregiver Burnout Warning Sign Checklist Reframing Rejection: How Looking Through a Different Lens Changes Everything By Jessica Van Roekel Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host and Guest: Connect with Rev. Jessica Van Roekel: Website / Instagram / Facebook Connect with Dr. Bengtson: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple Co-Host: Jessica Van Roekel is a worship leader, speaker, and writer who believes that through Jesus, personal histories don’t need to define the present or determine the future. She inspires, encourages, and equips others to look at life through the lenses of hope, trust, and God’s transforming grace. Jessica lives in rural Iowa surrounded by wide open spaces which remind her of God’s expansive love. She loves fun earrings, good coffee, and connecting with others. Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Ashton Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Episode Summary: Does it ever seem like God loves other people more than he loves you? Maybe it looks like everything goes their way. Or their families are put together, not a prodigal in sight, and everyone enjoys each other. We, however, see our lives at a hot mess, unanswered prayers everywhere, and trouble after trouble. When we equate blessing and favor with love, we can begin to feel rejected and abandoned by God when we don’t feel blessed or favored by him. In this episode, my co-host, Rev. Jessica Van Roekel and I talk about Overcoming Rejection and Abandonment with God’s Love. Almost all of us carry rejection and abandonment because most of us have experienced someone walking away, excluding us, or making us feel like we don’t belong. Those wounds run deep. They are not just “hurt feelings.” They can shape how we see ourselves, how we relate to others, and how we imagine God sees us. Today we want to walk into the truth that Christ’s love actually heals these hurt places. Quotables from the episode: Rejection isn’t just a moment. It’s a story our hearts can start telling us, and often on repeat. It says, “See? You’re not enough.” “See? People always leave.” “See? You’re not worth choosing.” The rejection narrative comes from the oldest human experiences: a parent who wasn’t present, a spouse who checked out emotionally, a friend group that stopped inviting us, a church that didn’t know what to do with our pain. I’m not going to be everyone’s cup of tea and they’re not mine, my value or lack thereof in someone else’s eyes doesn’t determine my worth. Even those who know me the most, only know a small piece of me, but God knows me completely. It’s that time of year when love seems to be commercialized, but Christ’s love isn’t for sale. It’s offered freely… If you’ve ever felt unwanted, unseen, or left—Jesus understands. You are not alone. That’s why Romans 12:2 is so powerful. It says, “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Our minds are powerful and what we tell ourselves matters. Your brain listens to your thoughts. When you think something like “I can’t handle this” or “I am loved”, your brain treats that thought as important information. It begins to adjust your mood, your energy, and even your physical reactions based on what you’re saying to yourself. 5 practical ways Jesus Christ’s love heals the wounds from rejection and abandonment. We can’t heal what we hide. Every rejection writes a script in our minds. Healing doesn’t begin with convincing ourselves people won’t leave. Healing begins when we realize Jesus Christ’s love stays. Scripture References: Jeremiah 31:3 NIV “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness” John 6:38 “For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.” Isaiah 53:3 says, “He was despised and rejected by humanity by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.” Hebrews 13:5 “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Romans 12:2 “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” John 15:9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love” 1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” Ephesians 1:4 “In love, he destined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will” Isaiah 43:1b “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine” John 15:4 “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.” Recommended Resources: Reframing Rejection: How Looking Through a Different Lens Changes Everything By Jessica Van Roekel Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host and Guest: Connect with Rev. Jessica Van Roekel: Website / Instagram / Facebook Connect with Dr. Bengtson: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple Co-Host: Jessica Van Roekel is a worship leader, speaker, and writer who believes that through Jesus, personal histories don’t need to define the present or determine the future. She inspires, encourages, and equips others to look at life through the lenses of hope, trust, and God’s transforming grace. Jessica lives in rural Iowa surrounded by wide open spaces which remind her of God’s expansive love. She loves fun earrings, good coffee, and connecting with others. Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Ashton Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In this master's class episode of the Smart Real Estate Coach Podcast, I sit down with Ryan Barone, co-founder and CEO of RentRedi, an all-in-one landlord app built specifically for independent owners from 1-50+ units. RentRedi helps self-managing investors streamline rent collection, maintenance, leasing, renewals, and accounting so they can scale without graduating to a big, clunky property-management platform or living inside spreadsheets and text threads forever.   Ryan walks through how getting buried in paperwork as a first-time renter in NYC led him to build an app for tenants, then, after thousands of conversations with landlords, evolve it into a full platform managing over $30 billion in assets across all 50 states. We dig into the data on tenant retention and on-time payments, why a fast maintenance response and automated reminders move the needle on ROI, how RentRedi boosts on-time payments just by reporting rent to all three credit bureaus, and how their new built-in accounting and tax tools turn year-end chaos into one click.    If you own even one rental, or you're doing creative terms deals and still managing doors, this conversation will show you how to run your portfolio like a real business, without losing your mind.   Key Talking Points of the Episode   00:00 Introduction 01:14 Who is Ryan Barone? 02:37 RentRedi: All-in-one app for the full rental life cycle 04:40 Origin story: from frustrated renter to founder 05:43 The pivot: landlords wanted tools too 07:20 Bridging the "good landlord / good tenant" gap 10:17 The RentRedi demographic 11:33 Growing without changing systems 15:20 Studying $30B in assets to find what actually works 16:58 Hack #1: Fast maintenance response = longer tenure 19:15 Hack #2: Automate rent reminders, late fees & autopay 21:25 Built for our community too (from 1 deal to dozens) 22:00 Constantly evolving with the market (COVID, e-signing, etc.) 23:17 New integrated accounting & tax tools 24:40 Roadmap driven by customer chats   Quotables   "RentRedi is an all-in-one app that allows anybody to self-manage their rentals in a simpler, more affordable way and ultimately make them successful in doing so."   "Too often people get a bad rap of 'bad tenants' or 'bad landlords.' I think there's good people on both sides—they just don't have a good system in the middle."   "We've been able to boost on-time payments by 13% if we just report rent to the bureaus."   Links   RentRedi https://rentredi.com/   QLS 4.0 - Use coupon code for 50% off https://smartrealestatecoach.com/qls Coupon code: pod   Apprentice Program https://3paydaysapprentice.com Coupon code: Podcast   Masterclass https://smartrealestatecoach.com/masterspodcast   3 Paydays Books https://3paydaysbooks.com/podcast   Strategy Session https://smartrealestatecoach.com/actionpodcast   Partners https://smartrealestatecoach.com/podcastresources

Episode Summary: We all need to work a little harder at resting in contentment… realizing that sometimes marriage is a spectator sport. In a culture that encourages us to find our own happiness, fulfill self, give in to what brings us pleasure, lasting relationships must take a different approach. True selflessness is a reflection of God’s character. Although recent polls seem to indicate an equal divorce rate between Christians and non-believers, this is not exactly true. People who identify as Christians but rarely attend church have a 60% divorce rate while those who attend church regularly, just 38% have been divorced. It is easy to get caught up in the tyranny of the urgent and forget the very ingredients that build a healthy marriage. Join me with Nina Roesner as we discuss the role of unconditional respect in a healthy marriage. Quotables from the episode: Most people have heard the idea that women need love and men need respect, but in reality, don't we all need a combination of both? Yes. I think the Bible uses that language to communicate very specifically to husbands and wives about some very specific stuff. All relationships have challenges but the best ones surmount the hard times, allow these times to build the relationship instead of destroy it, and learn from one another. Do you respect yourself and others in your relationship through your communication? And I think we need to respect everybody and I think that's a loving thing to do. That's the key. It affects our communication and we can develop resentment, bitterness and unforgiveness over those little things that then stack up and they morph into a life of their own until one day the straw breaks and our spouses left going, "That was not a big deal. You could have just said put your cup in the dishwasher. But the truth is it's built up resentment over time because we don't communicate over the little things until they become a big thing. We do take things personally and it seems maybe I'm wrong but it just seems like over the past decade we're more quick to take offense over things that really don't need to be offended over all you have to do is turn to social media and see how quickly people are offended. If anyone had a right to be offended, it was Jesus. And yet he modeled for us good communication, forgiveness, love, and respect. The idea that men need respect is not just part of some formula but an aspect of the gender differences. Men are wired to protect and provide, and knowing they are appreciated is one of the primary ingredients in lasting marriages. When we get our identity from the Lord, then we're able to appreciate the strengths that God gave us and then bring forth those strengths in the relationship in a way that we weren't before. We are actually useful in that relationship in a way that deeply impacts everything. But so often we buy the lives of the culture and we go down these paths of thinking we're worthless or we're not valued and you know people treat us this way so it reinforces it or we're looking for that because if you have a belief like that you're gonna find it everywhere. But when we really have a solid identity in Christ and I don't pretend I'd be fully there, but I'm so much more there than I used to be. It doesn't matter what people say or do. On a biological level, God designed this so well, because your brain chemistry changes when you forgive. The other thing is, is it's a humbling activity that puts us in the proper alignment with the Lord because we don't have the right to harbor unforgiveness. We're not judge and jury over this other person, and by the way Christ already paid for that. So who do we think we are? Excuse me, the seat on the throne has been taken. get off, right? So, when we forgive, it's like the brain chemistry changes and we're able to then have a clean slate here. God uses pain in our lives to mold and shape us. Pain is the biblical path to growth. It’s not just the church itself that’s the key to a successful marriage; it’s all aspects of faith—prayer, Bible study, gratitude, God-awareness. It is easy to get caught up in the tyranny of the urgent and forget the very ingredients that build a healthy marriage. According to recent studies, being a committed, faithful believer makes a measurable difference in marriage. Recommended Resources: The Respect Dare: 40 Days to a Deeper Connection with God and Your Husband by Nina Roesner Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner AWSA 2024 Golden Scroll Christian Living Book of the Year and the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Christian Living and Non-Fiction categories Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, AWSA Member of the Year, winner of the AWSA 2023 Inspirational Gift Book of the Year Award, the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Devotional category, the 2023 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in four categories, and the Christian Literary Awards Henri Award for Devotionals Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the AWSA 2020 Best Christian Living Book First Place, the first place winner for the Best Christian Living Book, the 2020 Carolina Christian Writer’s Conference Contest winner for nonfiction, and winner of the 2021 Christian Literary Award’s Reader’s Choice Award in all four categories for which it was nominated (Non-Fiction Victorious Living, Christian Living Day By Day, Inspirational Breaking Free and Testimonial Justified by Grace categories.) Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Henri and Reader’s Choice Award Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader’s Choice Award Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host and Guest: Connect with Nina Roesner: Website / Facebook / Instagram For more hope, stay connected with Dr. Bengtson at: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple Guest: Nina Roesner is the author of The Respect Dare and With All Due Respect. She serves as the executive director of Greater Impact Ministries. She has more than 20 years in the communications and training industry and has coached church staffs, pastors, executives, and managers. She and her husband, and their three children, live near Cincinnati. Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Ashton Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Episode Summary: Today we are diving into a topic that affects millions of people who feel stretched too thin and overwhelmed by life. We are talking about real world tools for managing chronic stress and mental fatigue so you can regain clarity, rebuild your strength, and restore your hope. Chronic stress is not simply an inconvenience. It quietly infiltrates every area of life and disrupts sleep, relationships, thought patterns, mood, and even your sense of spiritual connection. Our goal today is to equip you with proven strategies that help you move from exhaustion to renewal so you can thrive again. When mental fatigue sets in and stress feels unending, many people assume that feeling overwhelmed is their new normal. But God offers a better way. You can experience renewed strength, restored clarity, and a calm mind even in the middle of challenging seasons. If you long for sustainable emotional wellness, Christ centered stress management tools, and practical ways to quiet your mind, this episode is for you. We want to help you step out of survival mode and experience the peace that God promises. Today we’re going to be talking about Tools for Managing Chronic Stress and Mental Fatigue. Quotables from the episode: Chronic stress affects the whole person. It impacts the body, mind, emotions, and even our sense of spiritual grounding. As a neuropsychologist, I see how the stress response system affects the brain. When people experience stress for long periods of time, the brain becomes over activated. Concentration decreases. Memory becomes foggy. Emotional regulation becomes harder. We feel more reactive and less resilient. The good news is that the brain is both adaptable and changeable. With consistent tools, we can retrain the mind and restore mental clarity. It is critical to remember that God did not design our bodies to live in chronic stress. Chronic stress is the type of ongoing stress that does not resolve quickly. It comes from situations that continue to require emotional or physical energy without enough recovery time. Chronic stress and mental fatigue are not signs of weakness. They are signs that your body and mind need care. With intentional tools and God’s help, your mind can heal, your body can recover, and your spirit can strengthen. Scripture References: Nahum 1:7 “The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him.” Recommended Resources: Reframing Rejection: How Looking Through a Different Lens Changes Everything By Jessica Van Roekel Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner AWSA 2024 Golden Scroll Christian Living Book of the Year and the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Christian Living and Non-Fiction categories Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, AWSA Member of the Year, winner of the AWSA 2023 Inspirational Gift Book of the Year Award, the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Devotional category, the 2023 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in four categories, and the Christian Literary Awards Henri Award for Devotionals Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the AWSA 2020 Best Christian Living Book First Place, the first place winner for the Best Christian Living Book, the 2020 Carolina Christian Writer’s Conference Contest winner for nonfiction, and winner of the 2021 Christian Literary Award’s Reader’s Choice Award in all four categories for which it was nominated (Non-Fiction Victorious Living, Christian Living Day By Day, Inspirational Breaking Free and Testimonial Justified by Grace categories.) Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Henri and Reader’s Choice Award Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader’s Choice Award Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host and Guest: Connect with Rev. Jessica Van Roekel: Website / Instagram / Facebook For more hope, stay connected with Dr. Bengtson at: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple Co-Host: Jessica Van Roekel is a worship leader, speaker, and writer who believes that through Jesus, personal histories don’t need to define the present or determine the future. She inspires, encourages, and equips others to look at life through the lenses of hope, trust, and God’s transforming grace. Jessica lives in rural Iowa surrounded by wide open spaces which remind her of God’s expansive love. She loves fun earrings, good coffee, and connecting with others. Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Ashton Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In this family cast episode of the Smart Real Estate Coach Podcast, I sit down again with Jessica Johnson, one of our Wicked Smart® Associates who's quietly stacking 3 Paydays® while juggling a full-time job, two young kids, and all of life's curveballs. Since her first appearance back in October 2024, Jessica's added multiple terms deals, navigated a unique mixed-use property, and even had her second baby, all while leaning heavily on our coaches and community to keep moving forward.     We talk about how she went from her first taken to stacking several more, the emotional reality of dealing with a challenging buyer who moved out, and why she now believes the only real failure is not trying. Jessica shares practical advice for moms in real estate, how she builds a schedule around naps and newborn chaos, what she took away from In The Trenches Bootcamp, and how she's using books, audiobooks, and our "26 in 26" challenge to rebuild her mindset.    If you're a working parent, a newer creative real estate investor, or someone who's tempted to quit when deals get messy, this conversation will show you what's possible when you stay in the game, rely on your coaches, and let the 3 Paydays® system work for you.   Key Talking Points of the Episode   00:00 Introduction 01:14 18-month journey: from first taken to multiple 3 Paydays 02:52 New baby, no "pause" on deals 03:42 Real talk for moms in real estate 04:45 Navigating Mom brain vs. Builder brain 06:18 Leaning hard on coaches (and why that matters) 09:13 Book a discovery call with Smart Real Estate Coach team 11:20 Takeaways from joining the In the Trenches Bootcamp in 2023 12:26 Unique deal update & two properties on the market 14:05 Next 18–24 months: quit the job, grow a team, be home with the kids 15:02 Turning struggles into future mentorship 16:10 Advice to new investors: the only way to fail is not to start 19:01 Perspective & peace in the middle of the mess 20:06 Audiobooks, commute time & the "26 in 26" challenge   Quotables   "If I'm not making deals, I'm not going to be able to be where I want to be with you in the future."   "The only way I can be a failure is if I don't try."   "If you don't go through struggles, you're not going to get real-life experience. And if you don't get the real-life experience, you're not going to be able to help others in the future."    Links   FREE Discovery Session https://smartrealestatecoachpodcast.com/discovery   Register for the 3 Paydays Live Event https://3paydayslive.com   QLS 4.0 - Use coupon code for 50% off https://smartrealestatecoach.com/qls Coupon code: pod   Apprentice Program https://3paydaysapprentice.com Coupon code: Podcast   Masterclass https://smartrealestatecoach.com/masterspodcast   3 Paydays Books https://3paydaysbooks.com/podcast   Strategy Session https://smartrealestatecoach.com/actionpodcast   Partners https://smartrealestatecoach.com/podcastresources

Episode Summary: In a world where constant notifications, curated feeds, and digital pressure shape how we see ourselves, many are left feeling more anxious, isolated, and distracted than ever. We long for a life that is full of deep connection with God, ourselves, and others. And yet we’ve become programmed to seek peace, contentment, and happiness from our phones. Deep down, we know this isn’t how we were created to live. As endless scrolling leaves us feeling anxious, depressed, distracted, ad alone, we realize our true needs can’t be met by turning to social media in every slow, mundane moment. If you feel like your digital life could use a reset, this episode is for you. Quotables from the episode: Social media can so easily steal our peace, distort our identity, and drain the joy God intends for us, especially when we are already struggling with anxiety, insecurity, or loneliness. That is why I am delighted to welcome Allie Marie Smith, author of Social Media Reset: A 30-Day Guided Journey to Unplug, Reconnect with God, and Reclaim Your Joy. Allie has spent years helping women cultivate mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness, and her newest book offers a practical and faith-filled path to break free from digital overwhelm and rediscover God’s voice above the noise. In a world where constant notifications, curated feeds, and digital pressure shape how we see ourselves, many are left feeling anxious, isolated, and distracted than ever. We long for a life that is full of deep connection with God, ourselves, and others. As endless scrolling leaves us feeling anxious, depressed, distracted, and alone, we realize our true needs can't be met by turning to digital media in every slow, mundane moment. If you feel like your digital life could use a reset, this is the episode for you. Romans 12. 2 summarizes what we're talking about today: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” It impacts each one of us on such a profound level, on a soul level, on a spiritual level, an emotional level, even in our brains and in our bodies. Scripture References: Romans 12:2 – “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” Isaiah 30:15 – “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength…” Recommended Resources: Social Media Reset: A 30-Day Guided Journey to Unplug, Reconnect with God, and Reclaim Your Joy by Allie Marie Smith Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner AWSA 2024 Golden Scroll Christian Living Book of the Year and the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Christian Living and Non-Fiction categories YouVersion 5-Day Devotional Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, AWSA Member of the Year, winner of the AWSA 2023 Inspirational Gift Book of the Year Award, the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Devotional category, the 2023 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in four categories, and the Christian Literary Awards Henri Award for Devotionals YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 1 YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 2 Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the AWSA 2020 Best Christian Living Book First Place, the first place winner for the Best Christian Living Book, the 2020 Carolina Christian Writer’s Conference Contest winner for nonfiction, and winner of the 2021 Christian Literary Award’s Reader’s Choice Award in all four categories for which it was nominated (Non-Fiction Victorious Living, Christian Living Day By Day, Inspirational Breaking Free and Testimonial Justified by Grace categories.) YouVersion Bible Reading Plan for Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Henri and Reader’s Choice Award Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader’s Choice Award Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host: Connect with Allie Marie Smith: Website / Facebook / Instagram For more hope, stay connected with Dr. Bengtson at: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple About Allie Marie Smith: Allie Marie Smith is an award-winning author, speaker, and life coach. She is also the founder and CEO of Wonderfully Made, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to helping girls and women know their God-given value and lead flourishing lives. She lives in Santa Barbara County, where she loves writing, playing with horses, surfing, and adventuring up and down the California coast. Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Ashton Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Episode Summary: Today we’re tackling a topic that hits many people hard each January: “Blue Monday.” You may have heard it called “the most depressing day of the year”: a day when motivation runs low, bills come due, and the sparkle of the holidays fades into the grayness of winter. But is “Blue Monday” real? Why do so many people feel down this time of year? And what can you do, spiritually, emotionally, and physically, to climb out of the slump and find renewed hope? If you’ve ever felt like the light of Christmas faded too fast or that you’re struggling to find joy in January, this episode is for you. In this episode, I share How to Beat the Blues: Finding Hope When “Blue Monday” Hits. We unpack where the idea of “Blue Monday” came from, what really contributes to winter sadness, how to recognize when it’s more than just a passing mood, and how God invites us to nurture our mind and soul even in the darkest season. Quotables from the episode: Every January, the search engines light up with people looking for answers about “Blue Monday.” Some call it the most depressing day of the year. But here’s the truth: God doesn’t mark any day on His calendar as hopeless. Even when science can explain some of the factors that make us feel low, Scripture reminds us in John 1:5 that “the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” So today, let’s uncover both the science and the Savior’s invitation to find peace, joy, and renewed perspective, no matter what your calendar says. Part 1: Where “Blue Monday” Came From The term “Blue Monday” actually originated not from a psychologist or neuroscientist, but from a marketing campaign in the early 2000s. A British travel company wanted to boost winter vacation sales and partnered with a psychologist to create a formula that supposedly calculated the “most depressing day of the year.” They based it on factors like weather, debt level, time since Christmas, failed New Year’s resolutions, and low motivation. The date usually lands on the third Monday in January. But here’s what’s interesting: the science behind it was never validated. It was largely pseudoscience; a catchy idea meant to sell trips to sunny places! Yet it resonated with people because, truthfully, many do feel a dip in mood this time of year. Why? There’s a real physiological and psychological basis for that. Shorter daylight hours disrupt our circadian rhythm and lower serotonin levels—our brain’s natural mood stabilizer. Colder temperatures mean less outdoor activity and fewer endorphins. Holiday aftermath leaves us financially stretched and emotionally fatigued. Unmet resolutions of ourselves or others stir up shame or disappointment. So while “Blue Monday” may not be an official scientific day, it does point to something many experience: what we might call the post-holiday blues or seasonal affective slump. Part 2: How to Identify It Let’s talk about how you can tell if what you’re feeling is just a short-term dip or something more concerning. Here are some common symptoms of the “Blue Monday” slump: Low motivation or energy Irritability or tearfulness Difficulty concentrating Changes in sleep or appetite Feeling disconnected or unproductive Hopeless thoughts like “What’s the point?” If you’ve noticed these for a few days after the holidays, you’re not alone. Our brains and bodies crave rhythm and light—and winter often disrupts both. But sometimes, what starts as a temporary funk can evolve into something more serious like Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) or Major Depression. Part 3: When to Seek Professional Help Seek professional help if: Your sadness lasts more than two weeks. You lose interest in things you usually enjoy. Your sleep or appetite drastically change. You feel worthless, helpless, or hopeless. You find yourself withdrawing from others. You experience thoughts of death or suicide. Those are not signs of weakness—they’re signals from your body and brain that you need care and support. Just as you’d seek medical help for persistent pain, it’s wise to seek mental health help for persistent sadness. As a neuropsychologist, I’ve seen firsthand that depression and anxiety are treatable. There are excellent therapies, medical interventions, and lifestyle approaches that can help. But the first step is reaching out. And as a believer, I want you to know this: needing help does not make you a failure of faith. God often works through professionals to bring healing. He created our minds and bodies with complexity, and He delights when we care for them wisely. Remember Elijah in 1 Kings 19? He was exhausted, afraid, and said, “It is enough; now, Lord, take my life.” God didn’t rebuke him. God fed him, let him rest, and then gently spoke truth to him. That’s a model of divine compassion toward our emotional distress. Part 4: How to Take Care of Yourself If you’re feeling those “Blue Monday” blues—or a longer winter sadness—here are practical, biblically grounded ways to care for your mind, body, and spirit. 1. Get More Light Exposure to sunlight—or a light therapy box—can boost serotonin and regulate your circadian rhythm. Genesis 1:3 says, “And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” Light was His first gift to creation, and it still brings life today. 2. Move Your Body Exercise increases endorphins and dopamine, improving both energy and outlook. You don’t need to run a marathon—start with a short walk or stretch. 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 reminds us our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. Caring for them is an act of worship. 3. Nurture Connection When we isolate, sadness grows louder. Reach out to a friend, attend a Bible study, or volunteer. Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 says, “Two are better than one… if either of them falls down, one can help the other up. 4. Adjust Your Expectations After the holidays, it’s easy to compare today’s ordinary moments to the excitement of December. Give yourself permission to slow down, to reset. The Bible gives us multiple examples of Jesus, the Son of God, taking time to rest. If He needed rest, why would we expect differently of ourselves? Matthew 11:28—“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”* 5. Feed Your Spirit Immerse yourself in Scripture, prayer, and worship music. Depression dims perspective, but God’s Word renews it. Psalm 42:11 “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him.” 6. Practice Gratitude Gratitude activates brain regions associated with joy and resilience. Even small blessings count—warm coffee, a friend’s text, a sunset. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 7. Set Rhythms of Rest Winter is nature’s reminder to rest. God Himself modeled rest on the seventh day—not from exhaustion, but completion. Rest refuels your mind and aligns your soul with His peace. Part 5: Reframing the Season Maybe this January feels heavy. Maybe you’re tired of gray skies or unmet resolutions. But let’s reframe it: What if winter isn’t a punishment, but an invitation? An invitation to slow down. To nurture your inner life. To rediscover hope not in circumstances, but in Christ Himself. Remember: no day is truly “blue” when it’s covered by God’s grace. He specializes in turning mourning into dancing, ashes into beauty, and despair into praise (Isaiah 61:3). The same God who paints the sunrise after the darkest night will bring light to your soul again. Friend, if you’re listening today and feeling the weight of winter, know this: you are not alone. God sees you. He is not disappointed by your sadness; He is near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18). There’s no shame in reaching for help—from Him, from loved ones, or from professionals. Healing doesn’t mean pretending everything is fine; it means letting God meet you in the reality of your pain. Scripture References: John 1:5 “the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” 1 Kings 19 “It is enough; now, Lord, take my life.” Genesis 1:3 says, “And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” Ecclesiastes 4:9–10, “Two are better than one… if either of them falls down, one can help the other up.” Matthew 11:28 “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Psalm 42:11 “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Isaiah 61:3 “and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.” Psalm 34:18 “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Recommended Resources: Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner AWSA 2024 Golden Scroll Christian Living Book of the Year and the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Christian Living and Non-Fiction categories YouVersion 5-Day Devotional Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, AWSA Member of the Year, winner of the AWSA 2023 Inspirational Gift Book of the Year Award, the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Devotional category, the 2023 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in four categories, and the Christian Literary Awards Henri Award for Devotionals YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 1 YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 2 Revive & Thrive Women’s Online Conference Revive & Thrive Summit 2 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 1 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 2 Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the AWSA 2020 Best Christian Living Book First Place, the first place winner for the Best Christian Living Book, the 2020 Carolina Christian Writer’s Conference Contest winner for nonfiction, and winner of the 2021 Christian Literary Award’s Reader’s Choice Award in all four categories for which it was nominated (Non-Fiction Victorious Living, Christian Living Day By Day, Inspirational Breaking Free and Testimonial Justified by Grace categories.) YouVersion Bible Reading Plan for Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Henri and Reader’s Choice Award Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader’s Choice Award Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host: For more hope, stay connected with Dr. Bengtson at: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Bryce Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Episode Summary: Emotional Exhaustion and holiday burnout are very real experiences. Today we’re going to be talking about the post-holiday aftermath that many of us feel for a myriad of reasons. We are going to cover expectations—unmet and unspoken; the subsequent disappointment which follows and the straight up exhaustion of making Christmas happen for our loved ones. If we don’t pause for a moment following the holidays, we rush headlong into the long winter months with unresolved sadness, which impacts our mental and emotional well-being, making those January blues stronger. Our goal today is to equip you with space to process what happened or didn’t happen, reminders that you are not alone, and practical hope-filled tools to apply to the post-holiday aftermath you may be experiencing. Quotables from the episode: The living room is scattered with wrapping paper, ornaments are askew on the tree, and a fine layer of dust covers everything. Family has wandered off to pursue individual pursuits and you’re sitting alone. You did it. You curated gifts based on personal interests and desires. You planned special meals and made the once-a-year Christmas treats. But now the exhaustion sets in. You wonder if your family appreciates your effort, and you question whether it’s worth it. Crawling into bed and skipping the big family get together later that day sounds great. Instead, you pull yourself up and put another foot in front of the other. “Do the next thing,” you whisper, but wonder if you actually can. Today we are talking about How to Heal from Emotional Burnout and Holiday Exhaustion. Emotional burnout and holiday exhaustion is a real experience that many of us deal with. It can start as early as October or November and lingers into January. I love the reminders in Psalm 46 to be still, but it can be so hard to do. But when I keep reading, I see that knowing God and bringing him glory helps me frame being still inside the comforting knowledge that God is with me through it all. It’s the “all” that trips us up during the holidays. How do we determine how much or how little to do? How do we manage our expectations within the framework of stillness wrapped in God’s presence? One of the contributing factors in emotional exhaustion and holiday burnout comes from a motive to serve others and to create a special experience for them. It’s a good and noble desire to do this. The gift of hospitality, even to our own families, is a special way to show them God’s love. That’s where my desire comes from: I want to show my family love by doing for them. But when we neglect the best thing, we find ourselves running through the holidays in our own strength, which creates emotional burnout and holiday exhaustion. I love the sisters, Mary and Martha, found in Luke 10:38-42. These two women show us how to both serve and be still. I’ve never liked how Martha is shown as wrong and Mary as right. If we take the time to read what Jesus said, we learn there is a good way and a better way. Martha had good motives in serving Jesus and the other guests. In the context of healing from holiday exhaustion and emotional burnout, the desire to create a beautiful holiday experience is a good desire. Martha’s mistake was her unspoken expectation that her sister should be helping her create this amazing experience for the Lord. However, Mary spent her time listening at the feet of Jesus. While it looked like she was doing nothing, she shows us how being still is an active response. Spending time with Jesus is a better desire. It changes us from the inside out. Let’s explore how to hold both the good and the better in the same space and time. I’ve always had mixed feelings when it comes to the account of Mary and Martha. I want to be a Mary, but I definitely relate to Martha’s personally as a get-it-done kind of person. I can’t tell you how often I hear “I don’t know how you do all you do!” And in transparency, for many years, I wore that as a badge of honor, until doing became my downfall. One thing that has always stood out to me in the account of these two sisters is when Scripture says But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. It’s not that what Martha was doing was bad…it just wasn’t the best thing. It’s so easy to set aside our private, personal time with Jesus during the crazy, busy holiday season, and embarrassingly, I have succumbed to that at times. But what you’re saying is that healing from emotional burnout and holiday exhaustion starts with being still with Jesus. It’s within the stillness with Jesus where we can be refreshed and guided for our next thing. We can ask the Holy Spirit to show us where we may have expectations that could lead to disappointment. I must continually remind myself that life is not a movie script, with perfectly plotted responses. There is no call for “Cut!” or “Go again.” Our family members deal with their own internal angsts, expectations, and disappointments, which clash with ours. If we start the day with Jesus and invite him into every part of our day, we can hold the good with the better and reveal both a Martha and a Mary side to our families and ourselves. Unmet expectations (of others and ourselves) can contribute to emotional exhaustion and holiday burnout. The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior, so we have to be intentional when we want to change course. Addressing expectations by making time with Jesus a priority during the holiday season is vital, but let’s turn our attention to some practical steps. One step we can do post-holiday is to ask our families what traditions or activities are important to them. We may be doing all the things, but maybe we don’t need too. Taking the time to talk about expectations, and adjusting them going forward both helps to heal, and create self-guards going forward. A second aspect that crucial for our healing from emotional exhaustion and holiday burnout is to Create space in your life to rest and recover. There’s no universal required day to take down the decorations and return the gift bags to their storage space. Lay on the couch post-Christmas and New Years. Turn off the lamps and turn on the Christmas lights. Take time to rejoice in Jesus coming to earth for you. Contemplate God with us. Be still and know he is God. Depending on how depleted, fatigued, or burned out you may feel, I would add to that to create a “recovery zone”. Pick a short window every day, even if only 10-20 minutes, where you intentionally do nothing that requires output. Instead, sit with a cozy drink, listen to calm music, step outside for a breath of fresh air. This sends your nervous system the message: “I am safe. I can rest.” The fourth suggestion we have for how to heal from emotional exhaustion and holiday burnout is where we can learn from Mary. I’d suggest a brief post-holiday evaluation can be very helpful by answering two questions. First, What wore you out? Second, What gave you life? Taking the time for a post-holiday evaluation helps heal from emotional burnout and holiday exhaustion because self-reflection helps our brain release what is internally keeping our mind in a state of stress, and is a way to prepare and protect your mental and emotional strength for the next year. This is where we realize where we may have lost sight of “God with us.” It’s easy to keep saying yes and to add more. Some years we have the capacity for a lot and other years we need to scale back. Three of my kids have birthdays in November, January, and February. Reserving energy for their births changed how I did Christmas, from the décor to the gifts to the food. And I discovered an important truth—it’s not so much what we do that makes Christmas special but the who. Who we are with and who we focus on. A fifth tip, which is really important, is to Replenish What Was Depleted. To do this, I would add a third question to the self-evaluation, and that is to ask yourself What did the holidays season drain the most? If it was sleep, commit to earlier nights for a week or two. If it was social energy, block out quiet evenings. If it was finances, enact a low-spend month or two. If it was emotions, journal what you carried and release it to God. We know that the level of emotional exhaustion or holiday burnout is different for everyone, and some years are worse than others, but with a shift in our perspective, a bit of self-reflection, communicating with our family, creating space to rest and recover, and intentionally replenishing what was depleted, we can experience healing from emotional burnout and holiday exhaustion. Scripture References: Psalm 46:11-12 “He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” Luke 10:38-42 “As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Recommended Resources: Reframing Rejection: How Looking Through a Different Lens Changes Everything By Jessica Van Roekel Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner AWSA 2024 Golden Scroll Christian Living Book of the Year and the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Christian Living and Non-Fiction categories YouVersion 5-Day Devotional Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, AWSA Member of the Year, winner of the AWSA 2023 Inspirational Gift Book of the Year Award, the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Devotional category, the 2023 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in four categories, and the Christian Literary Awards Henri Award for Devotionals YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 1 YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 2 Revive & Thrive Women’s Online Conference Revive & Thrive Summit 2 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 1 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 2 Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the AWSA 2020 Best Christian Living Book First Place, the first place winner for the Best Christian Living Book, the 2020 Carolina Christian Writer’s Conference Contest winner for nonfiction, and winner of the 2021 Christian Literary Award’s Reader’s Choice Award in all four categories for which it was nominated (Non-Fiction Victorious Living, Christian Living Day By Day, Inspirational Breaking Free and Testimonial Justified by Grace categories.) YouVersion Bible Reading Plan for Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Henri and Reader’s Choice Award Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader’s Choice Award Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host and Guest: Connect with Jessica Van Roekel: Website / Instagram / Facebook For more hope, stay connected with Dr. Bengtson at: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple Co-Host: Jessica Van Roekel is a worship leader, speaker, and writer who believes that through Jesus, personal histories don’t need to define the present or determine the future. She inspires, encourages, and equips others to look at life through the lenses of hope, trust, and God’s transforming grace. Jessica lives in rural Iowa surrounded by wide open spaces which remind her of God’s expansive love. She loves fun earrings, good coffee, and connecting with others. Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Bryce Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In this episode of the Smart Real Estate Coach Podcast, I'm bringing back a good friend of the community, Jim Oliver, one of the world's foremost authorities on Infinite Banking and the founder of CreateTailwind. Jim has 38 years in the financial trenches, 12 of those under the late R. Nelson Nash, the pioneer of the Infinite Banking Concept®. Together, we break down how to take back control from traditional banks, keep more of the interest you're giving away, and use properly structured whole life policies to fund cash-flowing real estate and businesses instead of Wall Street.     We talk about the big problems with indexed universal life (IUL) being sold as "infinite banking," why guarantees and design matter, and how to vet a real Infinite Banking coach. Jim then gives a simple, clear explanation of how banks actually make money off your deposits, how Infinite Banking makes you the depositor, bank owner, and borrower, and the three biggest mistakes people make when they start.    We finish with a powerful conversation about escaping the 9–5, changing your identity to "investor," and designing a 2026 vision where you stop exchanging time for money and your assets pay you instead.   Key Talking Points of the Episode   00:00 Introduction 01:49 What's new in the Infinite Banking world? 02:06 The IUL problem: when "infinite banking" gets bastardized 03:48 Whole life vs. universal life for Infinite Banking 04:12 Chasing short-term optics with low base / high PUAs 05:26 How to vet a real Infinite Banking mentor 08:22 How Infinite Banking really works 10:47 The problem with traditional banking 11:48 Why use a whole life policy as your "bank"? 12:50 How to reach Jim & what working with CreateTailwind looks like 13:58 3 biggest mistakes people make with Infinite Banking 16:17 Entrepreneurship and escaping the 9-5 grind 18:07 Identity & environment: two levers to pull for 2026 19:37 Observe, assist, lead, then teach 20:34 Media, markets & the danger of the herd   Quotables   "The problem is that we finance every single thing that we buy. We either pay interest to someone else or we give up interest that we could have earned somewhere else."   "Any time you have a nine to five, I don't care if you're making millions of dollars a year, you're in captivity."   "If you're in the herd, you're in the majority. You're wrong."   Links   CreateTailwind https://createtailwind.com   Breakaway Wealth https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-nWVcVpkLqnDXSdqejEqDxR20TpKfe7z&si=fCMS-e95ckyrQQGw   Jim Oliver jimoliver@createtailwind.com   NREIG https://smartrealestatecoach.com/nreig   QLS 4.0 - Use coupon code for 50% off https://smartrealestatecoach.com/qls Coupon code: pod   Apprentice Program https://3paydaysapprentice.com Coupon code: Podcast   Masterclass https://smartrealestatecoach.com/masterspodcast   3 Paydays Books https://3paydaysbooks.com/podcast   Strategy Session https://smartrealestatecoach.com/actionpodcast   Partners https://smartrealestatecoach.com/podcastresources

Episode Summary: Welcome to a brand-new year! If you’re like many, today might bring a mix of emotions. Excitement for a fresh start, anxiety over the unknown, or maybe even a lingering weight from the past. So many of us enter the new year feeling burdened by past mistakes, failures, or regrets. The enemy would love nothing more than to keep us stuck in shame, replaying the moments we wish we could erase. But here’s the truth: Our God is a God of redemption, of new beginnings, of fresh mercies every morning including this very one. Today, we talk about Trusting God's Redemption Over Your Past. We’ll explore what it means to step forward in faith instead of shame, to trust in God’s plans instead of our past, and to fully embrace the fresh start He offers us through His love and grace. Quotables from the episode: If stepping into this new year has felt more like stepping into a cloud of uncertainty, I want you to know that you are not alone. More importantly, you are not without hope. Today, we’re going to explore what God’s Word says about new beginnings and how we can release the past to walk confidently into His plans for our future. God is in the business of making things new. If you’re struggling to let go of past failures, hear this today—God is doing a new thing in your life. Will you embrace it? No matter what yesterday held, today is a new day, and His mercies are fresh and waiting for you. Practical Tip 1: Release What You Cannot Change Holding onto past regrets won’t change them. Take a moment to pray and surrender those memories to God, repenting where necessary and trusting Him to use even your mistakes for His glory. Practical Tip 2: Replace Shame with Truth The enemy often whispers lies of unworthiness and failure, but God calls you redeemed. Meditate on scriptures that remind you of your identity in Christ—because you are loved, valued, and renewed every day. Practical Tip 3: Set Your Eyes on the Future, Not the Past In Philippians 3:13-14, the apostle Paul encourages us, “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal...” Today, commit to focusing on God’s promises for your future. Each new day is a step toward the plans He has for you—plans filled with hope and purpose. Where there is uncertainty, seek God’s will for your future. Practical Tip 4: Surround Yourself with Encouragement Fellowship is key. The enemy would love to isolate you, but we were not created to be alone. Whether it’s through Christian friends, a church community, or inspirational books and podcasts, fill your life with voices that affirm your worth and point you toward God’s truth. When you're surrounded by encouragement, the journey to healing and new beginnings becomes much more manageable. Practical Tip 5: Start Each Day with a Fresh Perspective Begin every morning by thanking God for a new day and seeking His guidance. A short prayer or a moment of reflection can reset your mindset, reminding you that His mercies are new every day. Consider journaling your thoughts and prayers to track the fresh starts and breakthroughs God is bringing into your life. If you need a resource to start your day in God’s word, reflecting on His promises, I encourage you to pick up a copy of my book Today Is Going to Be a Good Day: 90 Promises From God to Start Your Day Off Right. Take a moment now to reflect on these steps. Ask yourself: What past burdens do I need to surrender? Which scriptures will I meditate on to replace shame with truth? Allow God to fill you with hope as you anticipate the new things He’s ready to do in your life. Friend, I don’t know what your past holds, but I do know this—God is bigger than your mistakes, greater than your failures, and ever faithful in His love. As you step into this new year, hold onto the promise that He is doing a new thing in your life. You no longer have to be weighed down by what was. Instead, embrace what is to come, knowing that God’s plans for you are filled with hope, purpose, and renewal. As you leave this episode, I encourage you to put these steps into practice. Tonight, reflect on the scriptures we discussed and commit to a fresh start tomorrow morning. Trust that each new day is a gift from God—a day filled with His mercy and love. Let’s pray together: “Lord, thank You for the promise of new beginnings. Help us to let go of the past and step boldly into the future You have planned. May we embrace Your truth over our shame, and may Your mercies renew us each morning. In Jesus’ name, Amen.” Scripture References: Isaiah 43:18-19: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Lamentations 3:22-23: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Recommended Resources: Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner AWSA 2024 Golden Scroll Christian Living Book of the Year and the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Christian Living and Non-Fiction categories YouVersion 5-Day Devotional Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, AWSA Member of the Year, winner of the AWSA 2023 Inspirational Gift Book of the Year Award, the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Devotional category, the 2023 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in four categories, and the Christian Literary Awards Henri Award for Devotionals YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 1 YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 2 Revive & Thrive Women’s Online Conference Revive & Thrive Summit 2 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 1 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 2 Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the AWSA 2020 Best Christian Living Book First Place, the first place winner for the Best Christian Living Book, the 2020 Carolina Christian Writer’s Conference Contest winner for nonfiction, and winner of the 2021 Christian Literary Award’s Reader’s Choice Award in all four categories for which it was nominated (Non-Fiction Victorious Living, Christian Living Day By Day, Inspirational Breaking Free and Testimonial Justified by Grace categories.) YouVersion Bible Reading Plan for Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Henri and Reader’s Choice Award Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader’s Choice Award Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host: For more hope, stay connected with Dr. Bengtson at: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Bryce Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Episode Summary: Christmas is often called the most wonderful time of the year, yet for many, it’s also one of the most exhausting. Between the holiday to-do lists, family obligations, and the weight of expectations - both our own and others’- this season can leave us physically weary, emotionally drained, and even spiritually depleted. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you are not alone. Today, we’re talking about how to release those expectations, embrace true rest in Christ, and find renewal in Him. If your soul feels weary, this conversation is especially for you. Today we’ll be talking about Hope for the Weary Soul. Quotables from the episode: It’s no surprise that Christmas can leave us feeling depleted. We put pressure on ourselves to create the perfect holiday - perfect gifts, perfect décor, perfect meals and table settings, and perfect gatherings. Social media only adds to this burden, making it seem like everyone else has it all together. But the truth is, exhaustion isn’t just about being physically tired. It’s about the weight we carry in our hearts - disappointment, grief, unmet expectations, and the struggle to meet everyone’s needs, often while neglecting our own. Jesus knew we would experience this. That’s why in Matthew 11:28, He says, Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. He invites us to exchange our striving for His peace. But that requires us to let go of what we were never meant to carry in the first place. If you’re feeling weary, I encourage you to take a moment and ask yourself: What am I holding onto that God never asked me to carry? Maybe it’s the expectation of making everyone happy. Maybe it’s guilt over what you can’t do. Maybe it’s the grief of a loved one who isn’t here this Christmas. Whatever it is, the first step toward rest is recognizing what is making us weary and laying it at Jesus’ feet. Christmas is a busy time with many annual traditions and expectations. Others have expectations of us, we have expectations of others, and we have expectations of ourselves. As a result, sadly, it’s a recipe for failure. Part of the problem with expectations is that it’s impossible to meet unvoiced expectations. Everyone’s picture of the holiday varies. Some celebrate with family on Christmas Eve, others celebrate on Christmas. Some families draw names for gifts and possibly set a monetary limit, while other families give gifts to everyone. Some families get up early while others sleep in late. There is as much variability to the who, what, when, and where of the celebration as there are people celebrating. So how do we actually release those expectations? It starts with shifting our perspective. The world tells us Christmas is about performance, about how much we do, how beautiful we make it, how much we give. But God’s Word tells us something different. Christmas is about receiving. Receiving the greatest gift of all, Jesus Christ. Martha was distracted by all the preparations, while Mary sat at Jesus’ feet, simply being with Him. And what did Jesus say? Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Does that ever sound like you? I’ve certainly been guilty. This season, instead of being like Martha - running from one thing to the next, trying to make everything perfect, and meet a list of unspoken expectations - what if we chose to be like Mary? What if we sat at His feet, even in the middle of the chaos, and let His presence be enough? One practical way to do this is by setting boundaries. Say no to the things that drain you. Say yes to the things that nourish your soul. You don’t have to attend every event, bake every cookie, or create a Pinterest-worthy Christmas. Choose rest. Choose Jesus. Releasing expectations is only part of the equation. True renewal comes when we replace striving with abiding. John 15:4 says, Abide in me, and I in you. When we stay connected to Jesus, He renews our strength. One way to abide in Him this Christmas is by spending time in His Word. Even if it’s just a few minutes a day, let Scripture be your source of renewal. Isaiah 40:31 reminds us, Those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint. When we take time to be with God, He refreshes our weary souls. Christmas isn’t about what we do. It’s about what’s already been done for us through Christ. No matter how much is on your plate, you don’t have to carry it alone. Jesus came to bring us peace, not pressure. So this Christmas, let’s step out of striving and into His rest. Prayer for the Weary Soul Heavenly Father, we come before You weary, but we know that You are our source of strength. Help us release the burdens we were never meant to carry and rest in Your perfect peace. Teach us to abide in You, to embrace Your presence above all else, and to find renewal in Your love. Thank You for the gift of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. In His name, we pray. Amen. Scripture References: Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Luke 10:38-42 tells the story of Mary and Martha. “Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.” But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” John 15:4 says, Abide in me, and I in you. Isaiah 40:31 reminds us, Those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint. Recommended Resources: Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner AWSA 2024 Golden Scroll Christian Living Book of the Year and the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Christian Living and Non-Fiction categories YouVersion 5-Day Devotional Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, AWSA Member of the Year, winner of the AWSA 2023 Inspirational Gift Book of the Year Award, the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Devotional category, the 2023 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in four categories, and the Christian Literary Awards Henri Award for Devotionals YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 1 YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 2 Revive & Thrive Women’s Online Conference Revive & Thrive Summit 2 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 1 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 2 Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the AWSA 2020 Best Christian Living Book First Place, the first place winner for the Best Christian Living Book, the 2020 Carolina Christian Writer’s Conference Contest winner for nonfiction, and winner of the 2021 Christian Literary Award’s Reader’s Choice Award in all four categories for which it was nominated (Non-Fiction Victorious Living, Christian Living Day By Day, Inspirational Breaking Free and Testimonial Justified by Grace categories.) YouVersion Bible Reading Plan for Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Henri and Reader’s Choice Award Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader’s Choice Award Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host: For more hope, stay connected with Dr. Bengtson at: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Bryce Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Episode Summary: Christians often think theology is only for scholars or the spiritually elite. But this simply isn’t true. While theology is, in one sense, an academic discipline, it can also be understood as the art of knowing our creator. God invites us to know him, as we are fully known by him. Theology goes beyond the study of the character of God, and into the art of knowing the One who already knows and intimately loves His believers. Flash Theology leads readers through thirty-one bite-size truths, highlighting key aspects of who God is and what that means for the reader. Theology is important for everyone, but if it’s too dense, it can be hard to digest. Today we’re going to talk about biblical literacy and why it’s important to learn who God is. Quotables from the episode: We all carry a theological bias. So, we all enter into a variety of conversations and our own circumstances within our life, carrying a bias towards who we think God is. And that is based on a whole bunch of different things, how we are raised, different things you hear over time, the media you consume, the church you attend, all these different facets of how we view God and the way we absorb information can help us view God biblically or not biblically at all. I believe the Westernized church and social media has created a self-help gospel that is void of God’s truth. That word is associated, as you already mentioned, is associated with academics and scholars. So, there is kind of hefty price tag to it, but theology is simply the study of God. So, then if you open up the Bible, you are studying the Christian God. So, everybody that opens up the Bible is a “theologian.” Now of course there are the academic theologians but I like to say we're all theologians and we should take ownership of that because that helps us realize it is a worthy pursuit to understand God and his text. We miss out on so much because we're leaving it to those that are called to lead us, right? We're saying, okay, which is good. We should trust our leaders, but we should also question if something actually biblically accurate? I love if I go to teach the Bible somewhere. I love when people do their digging afterwards and make sure that I actually taught the text properly. We should have a hunger and an understanding to pursue a depth of who God is, and that's not always going to be accurate in the different areas of consumption, like those 20 -second reels on social media that we come across. Through Genesis to Revelation, there's a line of scripture that's happening, and it is revealing Christ all throughout scripture, who Christ is, is being revealed. God knows us already, right? So it's really this question of do we embrace the fact that he fully knows us? Do we understand the depth of his love? And I can only imagine that it's a consistently, we're walking out understanding the depths of his love until we're face to face with Jesus. **So when we can embrace the truth that we are fully known by a God who loves us, by a God that is for us, by a God that knows the beginning from the end, it creates this stabilizing truth in our life that will carry us when our circumstances are out of control, when the world feels like it's mass chaos, when something comes at us, when we're not prepared, like there is a stabilizing truth that God is good, He is sovereign, He is my Savior (for those that declare Christ as their Lord and Savior.) And that stabilizing truth in itself is something that will help you continue to move forward until we are again face to face with Jesus. God has always fully known us. And when we can really start to accept that and receive that, I think that's when we really start to live in the abundant life that Jesus came to give. Who else loves us despite knowing our every fault? Nobody but God. I think that's really the stepping stone to walk into that abundant life that Jesus came to give. One of the biggest wrestling matches I’ve seen in ministry is people understanding God as Father. Sometimes we have to have this wrestling match with the Holy Spirit to be able to fully embrace the fullness of what that means to understand God as Father. So often our view of God as Father is directly impacted by our relationship with the parental figures that we're in our life. And the problem with that is that we're relating to a perfect God using a flawed metric. But the thing that has been most helpful in working with patients is helping them explore the fact that even if they were abandoned by their earthly father or their earthly father was not a kind person, God as father specifically chose us, made the loving choice that he wanted us to be a child. I remember I was driving around one day in Hollywood and it's just, it's such a fun city because almost everyone there is like dreamers. They moved to Hollywood because they have a big dream to pursue. So I'm driving around listening to worship music. Just I'm in love with the city and I felt this deep conviction from God where he was like, “you've been making this calling, you've been making this all about yourself.” And it was that like gut punch of like, oh gosh, I better pay attention. And what I felt him saying in my spirit was, "You've been making this all about you. This really has nothing to do with you. Do you trust that I can fill the spaces between you and this dream that I've called you to pursue?" So of course, I ugly cried, I repented. I said, "I'm so sorry, God." And I've tried to be faithful with what he's asked me to do. The enemy makes it all about us, because he doesn't want it to be all about God. I wonder how many people are listening today, who have felt the unction of God calling them into something and self-doubt has interfered. Friends, if that is you, if God is calling you into something, he's going to equip you. He's going to walk with you. He's going to train you. He's going to bring along mentors. He's going to provide the finances. Listen to Jenny's story. It's not all about you. It's about him. Dig in and also invite the Holy Spirit into your reading process because like I said, we can we can read and or listen to the text, but it's one thing to say, “Holy Spirit make this come alive and show me how to apply this to my life as well.” I love that last recommendation because when Jesus left, he said, “I'm going to send one to remind you of all truth.” He was talking about the Holy Spirit, but the Holy Spirit can't remind us of truth that we haven't already taken in. So, when you're reading the word, do just as Jenny says and invite the Holy Spirit to teach you truth. And those words are going to come alive off the page. When we understand the Gospel and who triune God really is, the end result is knowing and enjoying God more! Theology and getting to know God doesn’t have to be intimating or boring! Start where you are and learn to wrestle with God’s word. Don’t just read it, but make time to study it. It’s life-changing! Scripture References: Numbers 23:19 ESV God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Recommended Resources: Flash Theology: A Visual Guide to Knowing and Enjoying God More by Jenny Randle and Brayden Brookshier Courageous Creative by Jenny Randle Getting to Know God’s Voice: Discover the Holy Spirit in Your Everyday Life by Jenny Randle Dream Come True: A Practical Guide to Pursue the Adventures God Has for You by Jenny Randle Promises of God Chart, 8-week Study Guide, Flash Cards, and church presentation slides to supplement the book “Flash Theology” BibleProject.com Women of the Word by Jen Wilkin Seamless by Angie Smith Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner AWSA 2024 Golden Scroll Christian Living Book of the Year and the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Christian Living and Non-Fiction categories YouVersion 5-Day Devotional Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, AWSA Member of the Year, winner of the AWSA 2023 Inspirational Gift Book of the Year Award, the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Devotional category, the 2023 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in four categories, and the Christian Literary Awards Henri Award for Devotionals YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 1 YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 2 Revive & Thrive Women’s Online Conference Revive & Thrive Summit 2 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 1 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 2 Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the AWSA 2020 Best Christian Living Book First Place, the first place winner for the Best Christian Living Book, the 2020 Carolina Christian Writer’s Conference Contest winner for nonfiction, and winner of the 2021 Christian Literary Award’s Reader’s Choice Award in all four categories for which it was nominated (Non-Fiction Victorious Living, Christian Living Day By Day, Inspirational Breaking Free and Testimonial Justified by Grace categories.) YouVersion Bible Reading Plan for Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Henri and Reader’s Choice Award Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader’s Choice Award Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host and Guest: Connect with Jenny Randle: Website / Holy Spirit Ministry Center Website / Facebook / Instagram For more hope, stay connected with Dr. Bengtson at: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple About Guest Jenny Randle: Jenny Randle is an Emmy®-award-winning editor who went on a journey to discover what it really means to live on purpose. From a career in the heart of Hollywood to an academic theologian, communicator, and author, her creative ventures over the last twenty years have reached millions. Her search for meaning in life's everyday moments led her to create resources that merge profound gospel-centered truths with practical application. Since 2008, she has been in vocational ministry, creating discipleship tools and content for local churches and international ministries. She is the President of the Holy Spirit Ministry Center, an organization that helps people learn theology and live it out. Jenny is the author of Courageous Creative, Getting to Know God’s Voice, Dream Come True (Harvest House), Promised Presence (Esther Press), and the co-author of Flash Theology (David C Cook). With a Master's from Asbury Theological Seminary and ministry ordination, Jenny combines academic depth and authority to advocate for a deeper understanding of the Holy Spirit in the Church. Jenny teaches the Bible across denominational lines and has witnessed countless testimonies of God ministering personal transformation, healing, and revelation through these engagements. She’s contending for Holy Spirit renewal for the everyday Christ-follower. Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Bryce Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In this episode of the Smart Real Estate Coach Podcast, I'm finally pulling back the curtain on how we insure our own portfolio. For about 12 years, my family and I have insured all of our non-owner-occupied, investment properties through National Real Estate Insurance Group (NREIG), whether it's buy-and-hold rentals, multifamily, or creative subject-to deals.   I'm joined by Seth Markum, Executive VP of Sales at NREIG, with 20+ years in property and casualty insurance and a background in building one of the first national online commercial P&C agencies. We break down landlord insurance vs. homeowners insurance, why rental properties are treated as commercial exposure, and how NREIG structures real estate investor insurance across single-family, multifamily, short-term rentals, mobile homes, land, and creative strategies even if you're using multiple LLCs in multiple states.   Seth also walks you through their monthly reporting program, how one flexible policy can follow a property from occupied to vacant to renovation without gaps in coverage, and how they handle subject-to insurance the right way.   If you've ever wondered how to properly insure your rental properties and real estate investments, this episode will show you exactly what to ask for and how to get a proposal from NREIG.   Key Talking Points of the Episode: 00:00 Introduction 01:11 Who is Seth Markum? 03:19 Landlord vs. homeowner policies (and why homeowners "never works") 04:18 One company vs. multiple niches: why customization matters 05:08 No one-size-fits-all: mix forms, deductibles & locations 06:21 What makes NREIG different from other insurance companies 08:19 Why you don't want "agent Bob on the corner" for creative deals 09:01 Making insurance simple for real estate investors 10:02 Dealing with vacancies and fix and flips with NREIG 11:21 How to get a proposal from NREIG 13:10 The importance of understanding the kind of insurance you have   Quotables   "If you're not getting a customized policy… that may not be the scenario that you want to entertain."    "All phases of occupancy are contemplated on our single policy form."   "If you just want something that's going to be all encompassing, no matter what your strategy is, this is going to be the best solution for you."   Links   NREIG https://nreig.com/ sales@nreig.com   QLS 4.0 - Use coupon code for 50% off https://smartrealestatecoach.com/qls Coupon code: pod   Apprentice Program https://3paydaysapprentice.com Coupon code: Podcast   Masterclass https://smartrealestatecoach.com/masterspodcast   3 Paydays Books https://3paydaysbooks.com/podcast   Strategy Session https://smartrealestatecoach.com/actionpodcast   Partners https://smartrealestatecoach.com/podcastresources

Episode Summary: Have you ever noticed that sometimes the waiting feels almost better than the having? A child counting down the days until Christmas morning… the thrill of planning a vacation… even the little rush when you hear your phone buzz with a new message. That’s anticipation at work. But what if I told you that the very chemical in your brain that makes anticipation so powerful was actually designed by God to teach us something about Advent? Today we’re going to talk about dopamine, anticipation, and the kind of holy hope that not only prepares us for Christmas, but points us to the greater joy of Christ’s return. As we step into this Advent season, I want to share something that’s been on my heart—how anticipation affects our brain chemistry, our spiritual lives, and even the way we approach hope. Specifically, I want us to consider the beautiful connection between anticipation, dopamine, and Advent hope. Quotables from the episode: Did you know your brain starts celebrating before the party even begins? That’s right—long before you open the gift, taste the dessert, or hug the loved one, your brain is already releasing dopamine, the chemical of anticipation. But here’s the deeper truth: God wired us that way on purpose. Advent is the season where science and faith collide, inviting us to see how holy anticipation points our hearts beyond the moment to the eternal. In this episode of Your Hope Filled Perspective, you’ll learn how your brain chemistry mirrors the biblical call to wait with joyful hope. Anticipation is the act of looking forward to something. It’s more than just waiting—it’s waiting with expectancy. It’s that feeling when you know something is coming, and you start to prepare for it in your heart, in your mind, and sometimes even in your body. Think about a child waiting for Christmas morning. They might count down the days, peek under the tree, maybe even have trouble falling asleep on Christmas Eve. That’s anticipation. Anticipation can be both positive and negative. We can anticipate a joyful event—like a wedding, the birth of a child, or a holiday gathering—or we can anticipate something difficult, like a doctor’s appointment or a hard conversation. But here’s the key: anticipation changes the way we think, feel, and behave, even before the actual event takes place. Now let’s bring in a bit of brain science. You’ve probably heard of dopamine. It’s often referred to as the “feel-good chemical,” but that’s not entirely accurate. Dopamine isn’t about pleasure itself—it’s about anticipation of pleasure. When our brains release dopamine, it motivates us to pursue something. It’s tied to the reward system in our brains. For example, when you anticipate a delicious meal, your brain releases dopamine—not when you’re eating the food, but when you think about eating it. Dopamine helps us focus, motivates us to take action, and gives us energy to pursue what we expect will be rewarding. Here’s an example: Have you ever noticed that planning a vacation can be almost as enjoyable as the vacation itself? That’s because anticipation—through dopamine—creates joy, motivation, and excitement. Now here’s where it gets interesting. When we lack healthy anticipation—when we don’t have things to look forward to—dopamine levels can drop, leading to discouragement, low motivation, and even depression. But God, in His wisdom, created us with this system of anticipation for a reason. He designed our brains to look forward, to seek reward, to long for something beyond the present moment. Advent is a season of holy anticipation. For centuries, Christians have marked the four weeks before Christmas as a time of preparation, reflection, and expectation. We look back and remember the long anticipation of Israel waiting for the promised Messiah. And we look forward in anticipation of Christ’s second coming. Advent teaches us not to rush through waiting but to savor it, to sit in it, to let it shape our hearts. In the same way dopamine motivates us to move toward something good, Advent hope motivates us to move toward God’s promises. Think about Simeon and Anna in Luke chapter 2. They spent their lives anticipating the Messiah. The Holy Spirit had revealed to Simeon that he would not die before seeing the Lord’s Christ. Imagine the daily anticipation he must have lived with. And then one day, he held the baby Jesus in his arms and declared, “My eyes have seen your salvation.” That is the fulfillment of holy anticipation. And yet, we too live in anticipation. We celebrate Jesus’ birth, yes—but we also anticipate His return. That’s what Advent reminds us: we live between the “already” and the “not yet.” Jesus has come, and Jesus is coming again. Here’s the challenge. In our culture, anticipation often gets hijacked. We anticipate Amazon packages, text message replies, or the next social media notification. Those things give us little dopamine hits, but they don’t satisfy our souls. If we’re not careful, we can train our brains to anticipate the wrong things—things that don’t last, things that can’t fulfill us. But Advent invites us to retrain our anticipation. Instead of craving fleeting rewards, we can learn to anticipate eternal hope. So, let’s ask ourselves: What am I anticipating most right now? Is it something temporary, or is it something eternal? How can I align my anticipation with God’s promises? Romans 8:24–25 says, “For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” That’s the essence of anticipation: waiting with patience, grounded in hope. Let me suggest a few practical steps: Build rhythms of anticipation. Light an Advent candle each week. Read the Scriptures that point to Christ’s coming. These small practices create anticipation and remind your brain and your spirit of the greater hope to come. Practice gratitude in the waiting. Each time you feel anticipation rising—whether for a holiday gathering or even for your morning coffee—use it as a cue to thank God for something eternal. Gratitude shifts dopamine toward holy anticipation. Anchor your anticipation in God’s promises. Write down verses about Christ’s return. For example, John 14:3, where Jesus says, “I will come back and take you to be with me.” Let those promises fuel your waiting. Fast from empty anticipations. Maybe that means stepping back from constant scrolling or instant gratification. Fasting helps retrain our brains to anticipate what truly matters. Invite others into your anticipation. Just as Israel anticipated the Messiah together, we’re called to wait together. Share your Advent reflections with a friend or family member. Encourage one another with the hope of Christ’s return. When we put all this together, here’s what we see: Neuroscience shows us that anticipation releases dopamine, motivating us to move toward something good. Scripture shows us that God designed us to live in anticipation of His promises. Advent reminds us to direct our anticipation toward Christ—His birth, His presence in our lives today, and His return. When we align our brains’ natural anticipation system with God’s eternal hope, we experience deeper joy, stronger faith, and renewed strength to endure seasons of waiting. Friend, whatever you’re anticipating right now, I encourage you to lift it before the Lord. Maybe you’re anticipating something wonderful, or maybe you’re anticipating something hard. Either way, God meets us in our waiting. As we journey through Advent, let’s allow anticipation to become not a source of stress or distraction, but a holy reminder that our ultimate hope is in Christ. Would you pray with me? “Heavenly Father, thank You for designing our minds and our hearts to anticipate. Thank You for sending Jesus, the fulfillment of centuries of anticipation, and thank You for the promise that He will come again. Help us, Lord, to direct our anticipation toward what is eternal and true. Strengthen us in seasons of waiting and fill us with hope as we remember that You are faithful to every promise. In Jesus’ name, Amen.” As you move through this Advent season, may you live with holy anticipation—not just for the joys of Christmas, but for the greater joy of Christ’s return. Scripture References: Romans 8:24–25 (NIV)“For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” Recommended Resources: Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner AWSA 2024 Golden Scroll Christian Living Book of the Year and the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Christian Living and Non-Fiction categories YouVersion 5-Day Devotional Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, AWSA Member of the Year, winner of the AWSA 2023 Inspirational Gift Book of the Year Award, the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Devotional category, the 2023 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in four categories, and the Christian Literary Awards Henri Award for Devotionals YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 1 YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 2 Revive & Thrive Women’s Online Conference Revive & Thrive Summit 2 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 1 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 2 Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the AWSA 2020 Best Christian Living Book First Place, the first place winner for the Best Christian Living Book, the 2020 Carolina Christian Writer’s Conference Contest winner for nonfiction, and winner of the 2021 Christian Literary Award’s Reader’s Choice Award in all four categories for which it was nominated (Non-Fiction Victorious Living, Christian Living Day By Day, Inspirational Breaking Free and Testimonial Justified by Grace categories.) YouVersion Bible Reading Plan for Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Henri and Reader’s Choice Award Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader’s Choice Award Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host: For more hope, stay connected with Dr. Bengtson at: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Bryce Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Episode Summary: Christmas is often described as the most wonderful time of the year, but for many, it doesn’t feel that way. Whether because of grief, loneliness, financial strain, or painful memories, the holidays can intensify sadness instead of joy. Today on Your Hope-Filled Perspective, Jessica Van Roekel and I want to talk about what we call a ‘Blue Christmas.’ Together, we’ll explore why it’s important to give ourselves and others permission to grieve during the holiday season, how God meets us in our pain, and ways to navigate December with compassion and hope. Quotables from the episode: For some, Christmas brings laughter, lights, and loved ones. But for others, it’s a season that magnifies loss, heartache, or isolation. If you or someone you know is struggling this Christmas, you’re not alone. On today’s episode of Your Hope-Filled Perspective, Jessica Van Roekel and I will share how to give space for what we call a ‘Blue Christmas’—a time when we acknowledge that the holidays can be hard, while also discovering God’s gentle presence and the hope He offers, even in the midst of sorrow. I wanted to acknowledge that while Christmas is often referred to the most joyous time of year, it isn’t for everyone, and it’s important for us to acknowledge our thoughts and feelings, but simultaneously continue to put our hope in God. Often, Christmas is portrayed as magical, joyous, and full of peace. But for many, that’s simply not the reality. Grief, depression, loneliness, or broken family relationships can make Christmas feel heavy. And pretending everything is fine when it’s not only deepens the ache. God invites us to bring Him our honest emotions. Think about the Psalms—David poured out his sorrows, and yet found hope in God’s presence. Let’s name some reasons people might struggle at Christmas: Grief from losing a loved one. Family estrangement or broken relationships. Loneliness, especially for singles, widows, or those far from family. Financial hardship that makes gift-giving stressful. Mental health battles like depression or anxiety. Unmet expectations. Christmas can amplify those pains. Lights and carols may remind us of what we don’t have. But Jesus came into a world of darkness. Isaiah 9:2 says, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.” His presence is especially near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18). Sometimes we pressure ourselves to “put on a happy face.” But it’s okay to grieve at Christmas. Lament is part of worship. Jesus Himself wept (John 11:35). If the Son of God cried at loss, then tears are holy too. Giving yourself permission to be real is not a lack of faith. We can also set boundaries. Maybe we can’t attend every party. Maybe we create new traditions that feel gentler for our souls this year. Sometimes the best gift is presence, not presents. Just sitting with someone, listening, or sending a simple “thinking of you” note can mean the world. And don’t say, “You should be happy, it’s Christmas.” Instead, validate their feelings. Romans 12:15 says, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” Another practical tip—invite them into your traditions in small ways, without pressure. Even a quiet cup of cocoa together can bring comfort. At the heart of Christmas is Emmanuel—God with us. That truth doesn’t change, whether our Christmas is merry or blue. We can both acknowledge sorrow and cling to hope. One way is through Scripture meditation. Even reading Luke 2 slowly and remembering that Christ entered a broken, chaotic world can remind us we’re not alone. Some practical things that help: Create a memory box or light a candle in honor of a loved one. Simplify expectations. You don’t have to do all the traditions. Prioritize rest and self-care. Spend time with safe people who encourage your heart. And when emotions overwhelm, breathe a prayer like: “Lord, hold me in this moment.” God doesn’t require eloquence—He wants our honesty. Friend, if you’re facing a Blue Christmas, know this: You are not broken because you feel sorrow. God sees you, loves you, and promises to draw near. He is “Immanuel—God with us.” That’s the real miracle of Christmas. Whether your Christmas is filled with joy or tears, His presence is your anchor. Scripture References: Psalm 42:11 “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Put your hope in God…” Matthew 1:23 “They will call Him Immanuel, which means ‘God with us.’” Ecclesiastes 3:4 “a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance” Isaiah 9:2 “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.” Psalm 34:18 His presence is especially near to the brokenhearted. Romans 12:15 “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” Recommended Resources: Reframing Rejection: How Looking Through a Different Lens Changes Everything By Jessica Van Roekel Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner AWSA 2024 Golden Scroll Christian Living Book of the Year and the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Christian Living and Non-Fiction categories YouVersion 5-Day Devotional Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, AWSA Member of the Year, winner of the AWSA 2023 Inspirational Gift Book of the Year Award, the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Devotional category, the 2023 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in four categories, and the Christian Literary Awards Henri Award for Devotionals YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 1 YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 2 Revive & Thrive Women’s Online Conference Revive & Thrive Summit 2 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 1 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 2 Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the AWSA 2020 Best Christian Living Book First Place, the first place winner for the Best Christian Living Book, the 2020 Carolina Christian Writer’s Conference Contest winner for nonfiction, and winner of the 2021 Christian Literary Award’s Reader’s Choice Award in all four categories for which it was nominated (Non-Fiction Victorious Living, Christian Living Day By Day, Inspirational Breaking Free and Testimonial Justified by Grace categories.) YouVersion Bible Reading Plan for Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Henri and Reader’s Choice Award Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader’s Choice Award Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host and Guest: Connect with Jessica Van Roekel: Website / Instagram / Facebook For more hope, stay connected with Dr. Bengtson at: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple Co-Host: Jessica Van Roekel is a worship leader, speaker, and writer who believes that through Jesus, personal histories don’t need to define the present or determine the future. She inspires, encourages, and equips others to look at life through the lenses of hope, trust, and God’s transforming grace. Jessica lives in rural Iowa surrounded by wide open spaces which remind her of God’s expansive love. She loves fun earrings, good coffee, and connecting with others. Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Bryce Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Episode 2 of the Reel Yappers Podcast starring Audra and DJ! In this episode we break down some of our favorite quotes from impactful movies. Audra breaks down her top 3 movie quotes. We dip and dunk from the favs to just some joints that stand out to us but true to the tile we are definitely some Reel Yappers. DJ gets into his favorite quotes and some of these might be surprising to yall. Reach out to Dj and Audra and let them know what yall fav quotes are.

Episode Summary: While Norman Rockwall paints pictures of the holiday season as times of cheerful family togetherness, many feel unseen, especially during the holidays. Maybe you’re walking through this season feeling like no one really sees you. Maybe you’re single and longing for companionship, grieving the loss of a loved one, or feeling disconnected even in a crowd. The holidays can be a stark reminder of what we feel is missing in our lives. We see others celebrating with their families, opening presents, and engaging in joyful traditions, while we may feel forgotten or left behind. But even when the world seems to overlook you, God never does. Join me as we into a topic that touches so many hearts, especially during the holiday season: Finding Hope and Purpose When You Feel Invisible. Quotables from the episode: Loneliness isn’t just about being physically alone. It’s about feeling unseen, unheard, or unimportant. And during the holidays, this feeling can be magnified. We see families gathering, couples exchanging gifts, and social media flooded with highlight reels of happy moments—but what if you feel left out of that joy? There are many reasons why people feel overlooked during the holidays. Some have lost loved ones and feel their absence more acutely this time of year. Others may be estranged from family or struggling with difficult relationships. Some are facing financial hardship, making it hard to participate in the celebrations around them. Still, others feel overlooked in the workplace, in friendships, or even in ministry, wondering if what they do truly matters. Friend, just like He saw Hagar, He sees you too. No situation is too small or too big to escape His loving gaze. Maybe you feel invisible in your workplace, like your efforts go unnoticed. Maybe you feel unseen in your own family, where your needs seem to take a backseat to everyone else’s. Or maybe you’ve been crying out to God for an answer, and it feels like the heavens are silent. I want to assure you that God is not distant. He is near, and He sees every part of your heart. The enemy wants us to believe we are forgotten, but that’s a lie. The truth? God has always had His eye on you. God sees every detail of your life. He sees your silent tears and hears the prayers you can’t even put into words. He knows the longing in your heart and the dreams you’ve tucked away. You are not invisible to Him. I have to wonder if perhaps Jesus felt the same way when He asked His closest disciples to stay awake with Him in the garden, and yet they slept. Yet in that place He poured out His heart to His Heavenly Father. Throughout Scripture, we see God’s attentive love. Jesus noticed the outcasts—the woman at the well, the lepers, the woman with the issue of blood, the blind man begging on the roadside. He saw the ones society ignored, and He still does today. When you feel unseen, remember this: Jesus stops for the one. He stops for you. Even Jesus experienced feeling forsaken when He cried out on the cross, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?”(Matthew 27:46). But God had not abandoned Him, just as He will never abandon you. Even in our darkest moments, God is working behind the scenes. He is near, even when we don’t feel it. Anchor Yourself in God’s Word – Fill your mind with Scriptures that remind you of God’s deep love for you. Shift Your Focus – When we focus on what we lack, we feel emptier. But when we focus on God’s presence and His promises, our hearts find peace. Start by playing uplifting praise and worship music, then consider starting a gratitude journal, writing down ways God has shown up in your life, comforted you, or helped you feel seen. Reach Out – Sometimes, we isolate ourselves when we feel unseen. I encourage you to take a step—send a text, call a friend, or join a community where you can encourage others too. Spend Time in His Presence – God is enough. Sit with Him. Talk to Him. Let Him fill the spaces where you feel unseen. One of the beautiful ways we can reflect God’s love is by helping others feel seen. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 reminds us that God comforts us so we can comfort others. When we encourage others, God blesses us as well. Notice the unnoticed – Look for those who may feel left out and extend kindness to them. Speak life – A simple encouragement can make someone’s day. Be present – Sometimes, the greatest gift is simply being there for someone. God sees us, and He invites us to see others the way He does. My friend, if you feel invisible today, remember this: You are fully known and fully loved by the God who created the universe. God is the God who sees you, and He loves you deeply. Hold onto hope. Scripture References: Genesis 16:13 Hagar called God, El Roi, “The God Who Sees Me.” Psalm 139:1-3 “You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.” Matthew 27:46 “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” Isaiah 49:16 says, “See, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands.” Zephaniah 3:17 tells us, “The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” Proverbs 11:25 “Those who refresh others will be refreshed.” Recommended Resources: Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner AWSA 2024 Golden Scroll Christian Living Book of the Year and the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Christian Living and Non-Fiction categories YouVersion 5-Day Devotional Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, AWSA Member of the Year, winner of the AWSA 2023 Inspirational Gift Book of the Year Award, the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Devotional category, the 2023 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in four categories, and the Christian Literary Awards Henri Award for Devotionals YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 1 YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 2 Revive & Thrive Women’s Online Conference Revive & Thrive Summit 2 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 1 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 2 Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the AWSA 2020 Best Christian Living Book First Place, the first place winner for the Best Christian Living Book, the 2020 Carolina Christian Writer’s Conference Contest winner for nonfiction, and winner of the 2021 Christian Literary Award’s Reader’s Choice Award in all four categories for which it was nominated (Non-Fiction Victorious Living, Christian Living Day By Day, Inspirational Breaking Free and Testimonial Justified by Grace categories.) YouVersion Bible Reading Plan for Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Henri and Reader’s Choice Award Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader’s Choice Award Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host: For more hope, stay connected with Dr. Bengtson at: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Bryce Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

On this installment of Hip Hop Quotables, Burnz, Maxlo, and special guest Izzy Blast James dig deep into the art of lyricism, sharing and breaking down some of their favorite bars of all time.This time around, Maxlo brings it back to Jersey with a classic verse from Perth Amboy MC Milkbone, while Burnz revisits the legendary Lloyd Banks “Victory Freestyle.” Guest Izzy Blast James keeps the theme going, choosing another standout Lloyd Banks verse that shows why the Punchline King remains one of the most respected lyricists in hip hop.Tap in for sharp insights, lyrical dissection, and a celebration of the pen game at its highest level. This is Hip Hop Quotables Vol. 3 — where the bars do the talking.#HipHopQuotables #GAHHDcast #LloydBanks #Milkbone #IzzyBlastJames #HipHopPodcast #Bars #Lyricism #PunchlineKing #HipHopCulture #GreatAmericanHipHopDebate #RealHipHop #ClassicBars #ConnecticutHipHop #HipHopTalk #LyricBreakdown

Episode Summary: If you have ever been in a place where you just feel like you've hit rock bottom, I’m glad you’re here. Last week we talked to Julie Seals who was born with Spina Bifida, had her leg amputated, lost her father, became addicted to drugs, lost custody of her son, and ended up in Federal Prison for trafficking illegal drugs. But God was not done with Julie! This episode is part 2 of Julie’s story, and I promise you will be encouraged that God can turn your biggest messes into something beautiful! Quotables from the episode: I was sitting in prison sitting on the metal bunk bed and crying and I forgot that the night before I crossed the border I had cried out to God and said, "I'm done. I need you, come into my life and change everything." And all I was looking at were my current circumstances. And in comes this group of women doing prison ministry. And one of them looked at me crying on my bunk and she marched over and sat down on my bunk. And she said, "Did you know that Jesus loves you very much. And I said, "Not me!" And I'm crying. And she kept insisting that no matter what I did, no matter what had happened, that Jesus Christ loved me and that if I would repent of my sin and turn towards him and ask him to be my Lord and Savior, he would make me a brand new person. I felt hope rise in my heart as this woman was speaking. And that evening, as all the other inmates were off eating dinner, I stayed behind at my prison bunk and I got down on my knees on that cold hard cement prison floor and I was weeping and I asked Jesus Christ to become my lord and my savior and forgive me or everything I had done wrong, and I felt freedom. I literally, I felt chains, invisible chains break off my chest and tears of repentance turned into tears of freedom and joy. I thought I was going to do life in prison when I got up from that prayer but all of a sudden, I had this realization that I was a free woman on the inside and I had joy real joy for the first time in my life. All of a sudden, I had the Holy Spirit living in me and the joy of the Lord and the Holy Spirit was now going to take me through the challenging journey of dealing with my past and realizing oops, I made a whole bunch of mistakes that got me here. So now we move forward in strength and in power and in victory with hope. I read the Word every day, and I spoke the Word out loud every day over my life and circumstances. And as I did, my faith in God’s Word became unshakeable. The One who rescued me from addiction and darkness saw my great grief. And He loved me so much that when I was cut off from society, living in a razor-wire-enclosed cage, He gave me what can only be described as a miraculous message. Other inmates began to notice that one-legged lady who passionately loved Jesus was working hard to keep her heart pure. Those inmates came to me and started asking me about this Jesus that I loved so much. They were noticing that I was a new person, and even in federal prison, facing a life sentence, I had crazy, ridiculous joy. I smiled constantly. I laughed often. The joy on the inside of me was so infectious that everyone around me wanted some of it. I was hurting. My mom was gone. She was dead, I was like just desperate, broken, I didn't think anybody, there was nobody for me there. And as I looked at that computer screen, I didn't see a patent because on that computer screen were written different scriptures from the Psalms and encouraging things that talk about how God heals the brokenhearted. He binds up their wounds. He sees us. He saves our tears. I started screaming for the other ladies, the other inmates. I'm like, God's talking to me on my computer! I read this love letter from God, who saw me in this 40 acre cage prison and came to me in my moment of desperation to let me know he saw me. He loved me and he was right there beside me in my most broken place. It was God himself speaking to me, one little one-legged, ex -addict federal inmate inside of a federal prison locked away from society. That God who rescued me, gave me joy and saved my soul came to me in that dark moment to tell me and remind me that he loved me and that there was still hope for my future. At a time where you felt lost and unseen, you no longer had your mother or your father or anyone else around you. Right. God made sure that you knew that he saw you and he was with you. Friends, if that is not an encouragement to you, Julie has been sharing how the seemingly impossible happened time after time after time again, but her heart was surrendered. One of the things that drew me to you and your story is your perspective. You wrote in the book, life is so good. Now friends, what I want you to know is this was her perspective sitting in federal prison. “Life is so good. I had a great job. I had a new leg. I was clean and sober and healthy. For the first time in 17 years, it mattered not to me that I was on the wrong side of the razor wire fence. I was sober, happy, and even in prison, I was free." That's an incredible statement, that you could find freedom within the razor walls of prison. Forgiveness is like a chain around our neck or unforgiveness is and if we are able to let go and especially towards our self. You know, I had so much shame, I had so much guilt and at times it was tormenting and in those moments what I learned is that I needed to stop looking inward at myself and at what I had done. I had to stop looking in the rearview mirror at my past and simply look up to the Savior who forgave it all and washed me clean. I made up my mind I was going to replace my old stinking thinking with God's thinking and I was in my Bible probably up to five hours a day. It was like Jesus boot camp…I would get index cards and I would write the scripture on an index card and I was on the bottom metal bunk of a two, bunk, metal bunk bed. And I taped like wallpaper all the way around my bunk bed on the inner little ledge and every day at lunch I would not eat lunch I would come to my room sit on the bed and I would start at one place and I would go through every single card and read every single scripture out loud speaking it out loud over my life. I've been out of prison for 23 years and I've been married to my prison chaplain husband for 19 years. We are prison ministers, we're ordained ministers and 11 years ago my husband drove me to the Jacksonville, Florida International Airport and my son at the age of 20 years old got off a plane and came running to his mama arms wide, open, and full forgiveness. Not only is he saved, not only is he a Christian, but his moment of giving his life to Jesus happened exactly the way I prayed. When he told me about it, he said, "You're going to think this is weird, mom, but..." And it was exactly what I prayed. This is the favorite part of my story. And the part of my story that gives me probably the most joy. God delivered me from the pit of prison so that I could spend the rest of my life going back in. When I was in prison, I told God, I made him a promise, and I said, "If you let me out of here, I will spend the rest of my life going back in," and telling inmates who are hopeless, who think that they have messed up beyond repair, who think there is no way out of their situation that Jesus died to set the captive free and make them a new creation and that there is hope in him. And God let me do that. Scripture References: Psalm 18:16-19 “He reached down from heaven and rescued me; he drew me out of deep waters…He led me to a place of safety; he rescued me because he delights in me.” Isaiah 61:1 “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed.” Recommended Resources: All My Hope: A Prisoner No More by Julie Seals Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner AWSA 2024 Golden Scroll Christian Living Book of the Year and the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Christian Living and Non-Fiction categories YouVersion 5-Day Devotional Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, AWSA Member of the Year, winner of the AWSA 2023 Inspirational Gift Book of the Year Award, the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Devotional category, the 2023 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in four categories, and the Christian Literary Awards Henri Award for Devotionals YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 1 YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 2 Revive & Thrive Women’s Online Conference Revive & Thrive Summit 2 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 1 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 2 Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the AWSA 2020 Best Christian Living Book First Place, the first place winner for the Best Christian Living Book, the 2020 Carolina Christian Writer’s Conference Contest winner for nonfiction, and winner of the 2021 Christian Literary Award’s Reader’s Choice Award in all four categories for which it was nominated (Non-Fiction Victorious Living, Christian Living Day By Day, Inspirational Breaking Free and Testimonial Justified by Grace categories.) YouVersion Bible Reading Plan for Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Henri and Reader’s Choice Award Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader’s Choice Award Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host: Connect with Julie Seals: Website / Facebook / Instagram / YouTube For more hope, stay connected with Dr. Bengtson at: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple Guest: Julie Seals is an ordained minister and prison evangelist. Having left her life as a drug addict and dealer behind, Julie Seals is now a Hope Dealer as she inspires and challenges people from all walks of life to encounter, know, and live for Jesus. She co-founded Her Hope Recovery Ministry in 2022. Julie is married to prison chaplain, Mike Seals. Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Bryce Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Episode Summary: If you think your life is too far gone, or if you’ve made too many mistakes for God to redeem, you’re going to want to listen to today’s conversation: a Sacred Scar Story. Julie knew she could spend the rest of her life in prison if she were caught crossing the border with four pounds of methamphetamine duct-taped to her waist. But life had become so overwhelming, so painful, that she no longer cared if she lived or died. So, she crossed over the border. And with her arrest as a drug smuggler that day, her years of running from responsibility -and from God - came to an end. Through one miraculous event after another, God transformed Julie from drug dealer to Hope Dealer. In her book, All My Hope, Julie wrote “It takes courage to live beyond regrets, but the good news is that God wanted to take my mess and turn it into a miracle.” Join us on the podcast as we talk about Finding Hope After Addiction, Loss, and Imprisonment. Quotables from the episode: I want you to know that nothing you face is impossible with God. NOTHING. The blood of Jesus has never lost its power. God takes our mess and turns it into a message for the world. You see, what looked like a loss was really a game, because when my leg was amputated, it was one thing that did actually send me spiraling further into addiction. In that spiraling, I ended up at the foot of the cross in the arms of Jesus. And it was in that place where I was so done with the pain and the suffering and the dumb decisions and the addiction that I was so desperate, I cried out to God to become the center of my life, or I was going to lose everything. I had lost a leg; you would think that was a lot. But I was on the way to losing my very soul and my very self. You don't realize that you're stepping into a trap of the enemy that is going to consume you and steal your identity and your very soul. Sin is enticing because sin feels good for a moment. My first use of drugs took me on a journey straight to hell on earth. Addiction runs rampant in my family on both sides. And so that first line of meth, it just had me hooked. Addiction took me further than I ever wanted to go and made me someone I never wanted to be because I ended up liking the feeling that I got when I snorted that meth so much that I would do anything. I would tell any lie, I would deceive my parents, I would tiptoe into their bedroom at night and steal $50 bills out of my dad's wallet while he slept, I would do anything for that feeling. And then that feeling doesn't last forever. I would mix it with alcohol and try to get this euphoric feeling and it was like chasing my tail. And meanwhile, I'm slowly like becoming more and more depraved. Addiction made me lose all of any sense of morals that I may have had, even as a non -Christian, even as somebody who wasn't living for Jesus. I felt the presence of God there, and in that moment and I believed in God I knew he was real and I even understood that he could see me and I think it's that little seed of faith right the Bible says that we are all born with a measure of faith and so with that measure of faith I believed in God and he was chasing me and in that moment, I felt like God told me you can't have one foot with me and one foot in the world. Well, I didn't even have one foot with him yet. That voice made me stop and really think, “Okay, I'm living this way, But God is calling me to a life with him.” Nobody ever starts off using a substance thinking, “Oh I want to become an addict.” That's the grip that addiction has. It's like an invisible hand around your throat. There's only one thing that can break the grip of addiction, and that is the love and the power and the blood of Jesus. After I lost my leg to amputation, and I just was getting more and more into a world of darkness and desperation. I took my little boy, and I moved across the country because I thought that if I could get away from the things that or hard and start over in a new place, that everything would change. The only problem was I was still there, and I was my biggest problem, but I didn't know it yet. When you're in addiction, there's all those wrong people and you flock together. I went home from that doctor's appointment in Mexico and I fell on my knees in this home that overlooked the ocean. And it was in that moment of desperation that I see all this time I had thought I was a victim of life and circumstances. I felt sorry for myself and poor me, all this stuff happened to me. And in that moment when I was so broken, it was like the Holy Spirit himself descended into my living room and pulled the blinders off my eyes. I understood in this holy moment that I was not a victim. I was a sinner in need of a savior. I realized in this holy moment that I was not a victim of life, but a sad or addiction. I was a sinner in need of a savior. I fell to my knees after that appointment in my home overlooking the ocean and in my strung-out depraved desperation when I felt the Holy Spirit descend in the living room I cried out to God, and I said “I can't meet you halfway. I can't stop drinking. I can't stop doing drugs. I need you to become the center of my life or I'm going to be lost forever.” Other inmates began to notice that the one-legged lady who passionately loved Jesus was working hard to keep her heart pure. Those inmates came to me and started asking me about this Jesus whom I loved so much. The joy on the inside of me was so infectious that everyone around me wanted some of it. Even the correctional officers started asking me about my experience with Jesus! It takes courage to live beyond regrets, but the good news is that God wanted to take my mess and turn it into a miracle. You will also need to be courageous, because life on earth is hard. You will experience loneliness, loss, temptation, rejection, and attacks. But do not fear, for I will be with you! When we’re determined to not allow our faith and our dreams to be crushed by regret, grief, and sorrow, God will be able to use our grief and sorrow to make us strong and increase our faith in Him. I would leave you listener with the perspective that when you think you are at rock bottom that is the place where Jesus if you cry out to him will come sweeping in because it was in that prison that a prison ministry volunteer walked in and told me that Jesus Christ loved me, died for my sin, and would make me a new creation, and it was in that prison that I put my hope in Jesus and became free on the inside for the very first time in my life. Rock Bottom is the place where Jesus will come rushing in and change everything. Scripture References: 2 Corinthians 5:16-17 “So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” 1 Corinthians 13:33 “Bad company corrupts good character.” Recommended Resources: All My Hope: A Prisoner No More by Julie Seals Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner AWSA 2024 Golden Scroll Christian Living Book of the Year and the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Christian Living and Non-Fiction categories YouVersion 5-Day Devotional Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, AWSA Member of the Year, winner of the AWSA 2023 Inspirational Gift Book of the Year Award, the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Devotional category, the 2023 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in four categories, and the Christian Literary Awards Henri Award for Devotionals YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 1 YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 2 Revive & Thrive Women’s Online Conference Revive & Thrive Summit 2 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 1 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 2 Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the AWSA 2020 Best Christian Living Book First Place, the first place winner for the Best Christian Living Book, the 2020 Carolina Christian Writer’s Conference Contest winner for nonfiction, and winner of the 2021 Christian Literary Award’s Reader’s Choice Award in all four categories for which it was nominated (Non-Fiction Victorious Living, Christian Living Day By Day, Inspirational Breaking Free and Testimonial Justified by Grace categories.) YouVersion Bible Reading Plan for Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Henri and Reader’s Choice Award Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader’s Choice Award Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host: Connect with Julie Seals: Website / Facebook / Instagram / YouTube For more hope, stay connected with Dr. Bengtson at: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Bryce Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Episode Summary: In this episode of Your Hope-Filled Perspective, my co-host Rev. Jessica Van Roekel joins me to explore the heart issue behind grumbling and complaining and how it reflects a lack of trust in God’s provision and plan. Grumbling is self-focused and rooted in unmet expectations, comparison, stress, and a scarcity mindset, leading to drained joy, strained relationships, and a disconnection from God’s presence. In contrast, lament allows us to honestly share our pain with God while trusting His sovereignty. Together, we discuss practical ways to combat a grumbling spirit, such as focusing on blessings, practicing gratitude, and seeking accountability. By shifting our perspective from what we lack to what we have in Christ, we can experience renewed joy, peace, and a deeper dependence on God, even in life’s challenges. Join us for How God Views Grumbling and Complaining & How to Cultivate a Grateful Heart. Quotables from the episode: God has the standards but I sometimes like to superimpose my standards on it and so then I struggle with perfectionism which is really driven out of insecurity and fear of rejection and I find myself getting into this grumbling cycle. Sometimes when I'm in that cycle and then I choose gratitude, it feels a little fake. I don't know if I'm really truly genuine. And so I'm trying to understand that when God has called me to a new thing, it's going to feel a little not real at the moment or it's not going to feel as authentic because I'm starting a new habit. It's just like any time we try to establish a new habit. It takes time. It takes practice. It feels awkward at first and there are some personality types that lend themselves more quickly to grumbling and complaining and I think there are some personality types that lend themselves to always seeing the good in every situation and I want to be more like the latter than the former. God's heart for you is good he wants you to trust him he wants you to let the love for him flow from a heart of gratitude for what he's done. It is not just that grumbling reflects a lack of trust in God, but it really disdains him. And that's what really convicted me, is the fact that when I complain, I'm really disdaining God's work in my life because our circumstances flux from good to, they could be better, to I don't want to be here. Why am I here? And so when we then start complaining and grumbling against God, it really disdains the work that he's doing. There's a passage in Psalms that says that everything that touches our lives has to pass through his hands first. And when I, when I cut my hand, like a bowl like this, you know, there's, I think of God's hand being cupped. And I'm thinking, what is he actually also preventing from hitting my life? Because when we, when we cup our hands and water runs through them, there is a pool of water that stays in our hands. When we grumble and complain, it reminds me of when we give a gift to someone and they don't receive it with a heart of gratitude. How hurtful that can be when our heart is for them. Yet when we grumble and complain, it's like saying, "Yeah, that wasn't good enough, God. That's what I wanted." And who am I to tell God what to do? In fact, but we also have to give space for our heartaches too. Psalm 62:8 says to pour out your heart to God. To look at Lament at first glance, it could look like grumbling and complaining. It's a fine distinction. Grumbling and complaining come from a heart of, I deserve this. So, grumbling and complaining is very self -focused, but lament is approaching God honestly, sharing our pain but recognizing that he is sovereign and his will be done and it gives the essence of I don't like where I'm at but I trust that your way is best. Grumbling and complaining is self-driven with a heart that is not trusting God's sovereignty. Whereas lamenting is sharing our heartache. It's telling our heartache to God with a surrender to his sovereignty. It's almost as if grumbling and complaining is talking bad about God and lamenting is just talking to God, inviting him in to soothe our heart too. And then David has written so many wonderful songs where really it teaches us how to lament. He starts out with like, "Oh, my life is awful God. Why did you allow this to happen? You said you were faithful." And then in the next verse he's like, "But you are faithful God. I'm going to praise your name. I'm going to trust you. You're steadfast and merciful." God desires us to grow in trust and dependence on Him, even during challenging times. There are common reasons we fall into grumbling, like unmet expectations, comparison, stress, and focusing on what we lack rather than what we have. Grumbling and complaining is speaking against God and is forming idols out of what it is we want and/or think we deserve. A grumbling spirit can drain our joy, disconnect us from God’s presence, and even negatively impact our relationships with others. Focusing on blessings, even small ones, can reshape our perspective, making it easier to find peace and joy in God’s presence. Keep a journal or ask a friend to hold yourself accountable in a loving way. Maybe even wear a rubber band on your wrist and flick it every time you notice yourself complaining in order to increase our awareness of how habitual this really is. Practice replacing each complaint with something to be thankful for. This helps to shift from a scarcity mindset to one of abundance in God. Ask God for help in changing your hearts and to help you see His blessings more clearly each day. Scripture References: Philippians 2:14–15 "Do everything without grumbling or arguing…" 1 Corinthians 10:10 “And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Psalm 100:4 “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” Recommended Resources: Reframing Rejection: How Looking Through a Different Lens Changes Everything By Jessica Van Roekel Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner AWSA 2024 Golden Scroll Christian Living Book of the Year and the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Christian Living and Non-Fiction categories YouVersion 5-Day Devotional Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, AWSA Member of the Year, winner of the AWSA 2023 Inspirational Gift Book of the Year Award, the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Devotional category, the 2023 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in four categories, and the Christian Literary Awards Henri Award for Devotionals YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 1 YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 2 Revive & Thrive Women’s Online Conference Revive & Thrive Summit 2 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 1 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 2 Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the AWSA 2020 Best Christian Living Book First Place, the first place winner for the Best Christian Living Book, the 2020 Carolina Christian Writer’s Conference Contest winner for nonfiction, and winner of the 2021 Christian Literary Award’s Reader’s Choice Award in all four categories for which it was nominated (Non-Fiction Victorious Living, Christian Living Day By Day, Inspirational Breaking Free and Testimonial Justified by Grace categories.) YouVersion Bible Reading Plan for Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Henri and Reader’s Choice Award Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader’s Choice Award Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host and Guest: Connect with Jessica Van Roekel: Website / Instagram / Facebook For more hope, stay connected with Dr. Bengtson at: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple Co-Host: Jessica Van Roekel is a worship leader, speaker, and writer who believes that through Jesus, personal histories don’t need to define the present or determine the future. She inspires, encourages, and equips others to look at life through the lenses of hope, trust, and God’s transforming grace. Jessica lives in rural Iowa surrounded by wide open spaces which remind her of God’s expansive love. She loves fun earrings, good coffee, and connecting with others. Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Bryce Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Episode Summary: Have you ever found yourself saying yes when you really wanted to say no? Or have you ever felt overwhelmed and exhausted because you were trying to meet everyone else’s expectations? If so, you are not alone. In recognition of National Stress Awareness Day, today, we’re going to explore how to move from overwhelmed to overjoyed by learning to say no without feeling guilty. We’ll dive into Scripture, explore research on overcommitment, and I’ll share five practical ways to set God-honoring boundaries. Quotables from the episode: Many of us, especially as women, have been taught that saying yes is the godly thing to do. We associate busyness with productivity, and productivity with worth. But the truth is, constantly saying yes can leave us drained, distracted, and distant from God’s best for us. For many years, I said “Yes” every time something was asked of me because I believed it was the godly response. Until God impressed upon my heart that he never told me to do that much, and had I sought him for wisdom, He would have readily guided my path! That was totally on me, but God was so gentle in getting my attention. Psychologists have long studied the effects of people-pleasing and overcommitment. Research from the American Psychological Association shows that chronic overcommitment leads to stress, anxiety, and even depression. Emotionally, people-pleasers often struggle with self-worth, believing their value is tied to what they do for others rather than who they are in Christ. Chronic Overcommitment and Overwhelm Chronic overcommitment and overwhelm can take a serious toll on physical health, leading to conditions such as: Adrenal Fatigue & Hormonal Imbalance – Constant stress can dysregulate cortisol levels, leading to exhaustion, brain fog, and difficulty managing emotions. Cardiovascular Issues – Chronic stress increases blood pressure, heart rate, and inflammation, raising the risk of heart disease, hypertension, and stroke. Weakened Immune System – Prolonged stress suppresses immune function, making the body more susceptible to infections and slower to heal. Gastrointestinal Problems – Overwhelm can contribute to acid reflux, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), ulcers, and digestive issues. Chronic Pain & Inflammation – Stress triggers inflammation, which can exacerbate conditions like fibromyalgia, arthritis, and migraines. Sleep Disorders – Overcommitment often leads to insomnia, poor sleep quality, and chronic fatigue. Weight Gain or Loss – Stress-related eating patterns can lead to unhealthy weight fluctuations, metabolic dysfunction, and insulin resistance. Muscle Tension & Headaches – Persistent stress can cause tight muscles, tension headaches, and even TMJ (jaw pain from clenching). Burnout & Mental Fog – Long-term overwhelm can impair cognitive function, reducing focus, memory, and decision-making ability. Autoimmune Disorders – Chronic stress has been linked to the development or worsening of autoimmune diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis. Managing stress through rest, boundaries, and self-care isn’t just about mental well-being; it’s essential for physical health. Jesus himself set boundaries. In Luke 5:16, we read, “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” He didn’t heal every person or meet every need. He sought the Father’s will first. If Jesus set boundaries, then we should, too. Addressing the spiritual and scientific aspects of restoration To counteract the physical effects of chronic overcommitment and overwhelm, we must address both the spiritual and scientific aspects of restoration. Here’s how: Prioritizing Rest & Sabbath (Biblical & Scientific) Biblical Insight: God modeled rest in Genesis 2:2-3, and Jesus regularly withdrew to quiet places (Mark 6:31). Sabbath isn’t just a suggestion; it’s a command for our well-being (Exodus 20:8-10). Science: Rest lowers cortisol, improves immune function, and enhances brain health. Sleep is crucial for memory consolidation and physical repair. Application: Schedule intentional rest. Guard your Sabbath. Ensure 7-9 hours of sleep. Setting Boundaries to Prevent Overcommitment Biblical Insight: Even Jesus set boundaries—He didn’t heal everyone at once and took time alone with the Father (Luke 5:16). Proverbs 4:23 reminds us to guard our hearts, which includes protecting our time and energy. Science: Chronic stress leads to burnout, weakened immunity, and heart disease. Learning to say “no” prevents emotional and physical depletion. Application: Use discernment in commitments. Before saying “yes,” ask: Does this align with God’s will? Is this sustainable? Engaging in Mind-Body Renewal Biblical Insight: Romans 12:2 encourages us to renew our minds. Philippians 4:8 tells us to focus on what is pure and lovely. Science: Practices like deep breathing, exercise, and gratitude shift the brain out of stress mode, improving mental clarity and resilience. Application: Try breath prayers (e.g., inhale “Be still,” exhale “and know that I am God”; inhale “I trust you, God,” exhale “in all things.”). Move daily to reduce inflammation and boost mood. Nourishing the Body & Mind Biblical Insight: Daniel chose healthy foods and was stronger than those indulging in excess (Daniel 1:12-15). Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Science: Whole foods reduce inflammation, regulate blood sugar, and protect against stress-related illnesses. Application: Eat nutrient-dense foods, stay hydrated, and avoid excess caffeine or sugar that heightens stress responses. Seeking Community & Support Biblical Insight: Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 teaches that two are better than one. We weren’t designed to carry burdens alone (Galatians 6:2). Science: Social connection lowers stress hormones, strengthens immunity, and increases resilience. Application: Surround yourself with godly counsel. Delegate. Accept help. Community is part of God’s design for our well-being. Releasing Control & Trusting God Biblical Insight: Jesus said, “Come to me, all who are weary… and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Trusting God’s sovereignty brings peace (Isaiah 26:3). Science: Chronic stress stems from feeling out of control. Releasing worries to God reduces anxiety, lowers blood pressure, and improves mental health. Application: Regularly surrender your burdens to God. Journal prayers. Meditate on Scriptures about His faithfulness. By aligning our lives with God’s rhythms and applying scientific wisdom, we can reduce overwhelm and prevent burnout and experience lasting peace. Practical Tips for How to Set Healthy, God-Honoring Boundaries Recognize that “No” is a Complete Sentence You don’t need to over-explain or justify your decision. Jesus simply said “yes” or “no” (Matthew 5:37). When we recognize that saying no is a way to honor God’s best for us, we can do so with confidence. Pray Before You Commit Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. ”Before saying yes to anything, take a moment to pray and ask, Is this God’s best for me in this season? Set Priorities Based on God’s Calling Ephesians 2:10 tells us that we are created for good works that God prepared in advance for us. This means that we are not called to do everything—only what He has specifically prepared for us. Identify what God is calling you to do in this season and let that guide your commitments. Understand That Saying No Opens the Door for God’s Yes When we fill our schedules with obligations, we leave no room for the divine appointments God has for us. Saying no creates margin for God’s greater yes. Isaiah 30:21 says, “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’” Practice Saying No with Grace and Love You can say no in a way that honors both God and the other person. Here are a few ways: “Thank you for thinking of me, but I can’t commit to that right now.” “I appreciate the opportunity, but I need to focus on what God has called me to in this season.” “I’d love to help another time, but my plate is full right now.” Encouraging Scripture to Empower You: Learning to say no without feeling guilty Galatians 1:10 – “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Matthew 11:28-30 – Jesus calls us to rest in Him, not to take on every burden. Psalm 46:10 – “Be still, and know that I am God.” Sometimes, God’s best for us is rest. Ecclesiastes 3:1 – “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” We must discern what is right for this season. Colossians 3:23 – “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” Our commitments should be done with joy and purpose, not guilt. Scripture References: Luke 5:16 “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Galatians 1:10 “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus calls us to rest in Him, not to take on every burden. Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God.” Sometimes, God’s best for us is rest. Ecclesiastes 3:1 “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” We must discern what is right for this season. Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” Our commitments should be done with joy and purpose, not guilt. Saying no is not a rejection of others—it is a way of saying yes to what God has planned for you. You don’t have to live overwhelmed and exhausted. You can move from overcommitted to overjoyed by setting God-honoring boundaries. I encourage you this week to pray over your commitments. Ask God to show you where you need to say no so you can say yes to His best. If today’s episode resonated with you, share it with a friend who needs encouragement in this area. And as always, if you need more hope-filled encouragement, visit my website DrMichelleB.com or connect with me on social media. If you know someone who routinely falls prey to people-pleasing, or is feeling overwhelmed, please consider sharing this episode with them to offer a biblically-based hope-filled perspective. Recommended Resources: Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner AWSA 2024 Golden Scroll Christian Living Book of the Year and the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Christian Living and Non-Fiction categories YouVersion 5-Day Devotional Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, AWSA Member of the Year, winner of the AWSA 2023 Inspirational Gift Book of the Year Award, the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Devotional category, the 2023 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in four categories, and the Christian Literary Awards Henri Award for Devotionals YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 1 YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 2 Revive & Thrive Women’s Online Conference Revive & Thrive Summit 2 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 1 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 2 Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the AWSA 2020 Best Christian Living Book First Place, the first place winner for the Best Christian Living Book, the 2020 Carolina Christian Writer’s Conference Contest winner for nonfiction, and winner of the 2021 Christian Literary Award’s Reader’s Choice Award in all four categories for which it was nominated (Non-Fiction Victorious Living, Christian Living Day By Day, Inspirational Breaking Free and Testimonial Justified by Grace categories.) YouVersion Bible Reading Plan for Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Henri and Reader’s Choice Award Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader’s Choice Award Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host: For more hope, stay connected with Dr. Bengtson at: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Bryce Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Episode Summary: Community is a gift from God that reflects His nature and intention for us. Through meaningful relationships, we experience support, growth, and a deeper connection with Him. While cultivating community takes effort and intentionality, the blessings far outweigh the challenges. By leaning on biblical principles, embracing vulnerability, and taking actionable steps, we can foster relationships that uplift and transform us. Let’s take God’s invitation to heart and pursue community as a way to share His love, grace, and hope with others. Today, we’re diving into a topic that touches the heart of our daily lives: the importance of community. God created us for relationship, not just with Him, but with each other. In a world that often feels isolated and disconnected, it’s vital to rediscover the power of authentic, Christ-centered community. Together, we’ll unpack what the Bible says about community, why it’s essential for our spiritual, emotional, and mental well-being, and practical steps we can take to intentionally cultivate meaningful connections. My son, Bryce, joins me on the podcast to talk about The Power of Togetherness: Why Community Matters in Faith and Life. Quotables from the episode: Christ-centered community is, in all reality, exactly what it sounds like. It is a community striving together to edify and encourage one another to grow in their relationship to Christ individually. And it is that community that pushes each other to go towards Christ in the center. I think that community is very important in today's culture because we have grown very disconnected. Part of that free reign of access is the advent of social media, and it is very helpful to be able to connect with people one -on -one and being able to see people's life updates. But I think everyone is fully aware of the social media fact of you're only seeing the best. Community is very important because there is that lack and that prevalence of comparison that is leading people to feel isolated and like they aren't living up to what the dream is. I would say isolated and discontent because of that tendency towards comparison. And yet isn't it interesting that in a day and an age where things are supposedly more social, we see that loneliness is a huge epidemic. So, it's kind of ironic, if you will, that in this day of social media, people are feeling lonelier than ever. What role does the Bible place on the value of relationships within the Church and beyond? Oh, the Bible places an incredible amount of importance on relationships. You can just go throughout all of scripture and every single book there is an example. There is David and Jonathan. There's Ruth and Naomi. There is John and Jesus. Paul and Timothy. You can go on and on and on and give examples of all of these wonderful pairs of relationships and these groups. Jesus having the twelve disciples and David's mighty men. there is so much importance in the Bible on relationships because when God formed Adam in the garden, he made Adam in his own image and looked at it and looked at Adam and said "This isn't good for you to be alone." Even though you were made in my image, the best good that you could have out of all of creation, it wasn't good for him to be alone. When we have a heart that's focused on the fact that God wants us to have community. He wants us to share his love with other people. I think we have to get past worrying what other people are going to think. Self -consciousness often stems from some type of fear, fear of rejection, fear of not being understood, fear of being misconstrued with what you say. The importance of vulnerability is really saying, you're not alone in whatever this thing is. Being able to be vulnerable and say, I've been down this road, or even if I've not been down this road, but I'm willing to walk down it with you, is so critical of just opening the door of wherever this relationship goes, I want to go there alongside you. Forgiveness is a necessary component in any relationship. What a great example there is in Jesus. That's exactly what he does with our sin. We have to ask for forgiveness. And so, if we receive forgiveness from him, how much more should we give forgiveness to others? If we don't extend forgiveness, then that's just an opportunity for the enemy to come in and build up bitterness and resentment, which tears down relationships. So, if we prize relationship, we prize connection, relationship, we've got to include forgiveness as an aspect then, or we run the risk of losing out. Start with open-ended questions and the willingness to be silent, waiting for the other person to respond, then pull on the strings within the conversation. Scripture References: Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 – "Two are better than one... If either of them falls down, one can help the other up." Proverbs 27:17 – "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." Matthew 18:20 – "For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them." Hebrews 10:24-25 – "Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds... not giving up meeting together." 1 Thessalonians 5:11 – "Encourage one another and build each other up." Recommended Resources: Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner AWSA 2024 Golden Scroll Christian Living Book of the Year and the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Christian Living and Non-Fiction categories YouVersion 5-Day Devotional Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, AWSA Member of the Year, winner of the AWSA 2023 Inspirational Gift Book of the Year Award, the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Devotional category, the 2023 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in four categories, and the Christian Literary Awards Henri Award for Devotionals YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 1 YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 2 Revive & Thrive Women’s Online Conference Revive & Thrive Summit 2 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 1 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 2 Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the AWSA 2020 Best Christian Living Book First Place, the first place winner for the Best Christian Living Book, the 2020 Carolina Christian Writer’s Conference Contest winner for nonfiction, and winner of the 2021 Christian Literary Award’s Reader’s Choice Award in all four categories for which it was nominated (Non-Fiction Victorious Living, Christian Living Day By Day, Inspirational Breaking Free and Testimonial Justified by Grace categories.) YouVersion Bible Reading Plan for Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Henri and Reader’s Choice Award Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader’s Choice Award Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host: For more hope, stay connected with Dr. Bengtson at: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Bryce Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Episode Summary: In this episode, we’re diving into a topic that’s vital for our mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being: how to renew your mind. Have you ever felt stuck in a cycle of negative thoughts, worry, or defeat? You’re not alone. But the good news is that God’s Word provides us with clear guidance on transforming our thinking and experiencing peace, hope, and victory. In this episode, we’ll explore what the Bible says about renewing your mind, why it’s crucial for mental health, and practical steps you can take to align your thoughts with God’s truth. Let’s embark on this hope-filled journey together! In honor of National Train Your Brain Day, today we’re going to be talking about Breaking Free from Negative Thinking: Renewing Your Mind Through Scripture. Quotables from the episode: Romans 12:2 highlights the transformative power of aligning our thoughts with God’s will rather than the world’s patterns. Science shows that thought patterns are established through neural pathways in the brain. Repeated thoughts and behaviors strengthen these pathways, much like well-worn trails in a forest. This process, known as neuroplasticity, means the brain is constantly reshaping itself based on our experiences, emotions, and repeated patterns of thinking. We often believe things that aren't true because of cognitive biases and mental shortcuts our brains use to process information (like confirmation bias, negativity bias, emotional reasoning) While science describes how thought patterns are formed, Scripture offers a roadmap for transforming unhealthy or false beliefs through God’s truth, creating new neural pathways aligned with His Word. Renewing the mind is not a one-time event but a continual process of growth and surrender to God’s truth. Our emotions are the outward manifestations of the thoughts we believe. As such, our thoughts influence our emotions, decisions, and actions, shaping our overall mental health. From a scientific perspective, our thoughts matter because they influence our brain's structure, emotional health, and overall behavior. This scientific understanding underscores the importance of intentionally aligning our thoughts with truth. Scripture gives us the blueprint for this renewal, while science shows the profound impact it has on our mental and physical health. Research has demonstrated a connection between dwelling on negative or untrue thoughts and experiencing anxiety, depression, or hopelessness. In order to break free from destructive thought patterns, it’s important to replace lies with truth To recognize thoughts inconsistent with God’s Word, ask these questions: Does this thought align with Scripture? Is this thought producing fear, doubt, or condemnation? Does this thought reflect God’s character and promises? Replace these thoughts with Scripture. Gratitude shifts our focus from problems to God’s goodness and faithfulness. Accountability, encouragement, and prayer from fellow believers is important to ensure that we are surrounded by voices who will speak truth into our circumstances. Renewing the mind isn’t about striving in our own strength but relying on the Holy Spirit to guide, convict, and transform us. Renewing your mind is a powerful and transformative process that aligns your thoughts with God’s truth, bringing hope, peace, and clarity to your life. By identifying and replacing lies with Scripture, meditating on God’s Word, speaking His promises, cultivating gratitude, and seeking support from a godly community, you can break free from negative thought patterns and experience lasting mental health. Most importantly, remember that you’re not doing this alone. The Holy Spirit is your helper, leading you every step of the way. Let’s commit to this journey of renewal together and trust God to do a transformative work in our minds and hearts. Scripture References: Romans 12:2 commands: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Proverbs 23:7 says, “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” Job 3:25 “What I always feared has happened to me. What I dreaded has come true.” 2 Corinthians 10:5 “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” Psalm 1:2-3 encourages us to meditate on God’s law day and night, promising that we will be “like a tree planted by streams of water.” Proverbs 18:21 “The tongue has the power of life and death.” Psalm 139:14 “I am fearfully and wonderfully made” Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God… will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Proverbs 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” John 14:26 “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” Recommended Resources: Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner AWSA 2024 Golden Scroll Christian Living Book of the Year and the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Christian Living and Non-Fiction categories YouVersion 5-Day Devotional Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, AWSA Member of the Year, winner of the AWSA 2023 Inspirational Gift Book of the Year Award, the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Devotional category, the 2023 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in four categories, and the Christian Literary Awards Henri Award for Devotionals YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 1 YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 2 Revive & Thrive Women’s Online Conference Revive & Thrive Summit 2 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 1 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 2 Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the AWSA 2020 Best Christian Living Book First Place, the first place winner for the Best Christian Living Book, the 2020 Carolina Christian Writer’s Conference Contest winner for nonfiction, and winner of the 2021 Christian Literary Award’s Reader’s Choice Award in all four categories for which it was nominated (Non-Fiction Victorious Living, Christian Living Day By Day, Inspirational Breaking Free and Testimonial Justified by Grace categories.) YouVersion Bible Reading Plan for Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Henri and Reader’s Choice Award Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader’s Choice Award Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host: For more hope, stay connected with Dr. Bengtson at: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Bryce Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Episode Summary: In this episode of Your Hope-Filled Perspective, we sit down with Kenza Haddock, author of The Three Enemies of Your Mental Health: Gain Lasting Victory Over the Devil, the Flesh, and the World. Together, we explore the spiritual and emotional challenges that impact mental health and uncover the biblical strategies to overcome them. Kenza shares practical insights on identifying and defeating these "three enemies" - the devil, the flesh, and the world - through the power of God’s truth. Whether you’re battling anxiety, negative thought patterns, or the pressures of the world, this conversation will equip you with faith-filled tools to experience victory and lasting peace. Join us for an inspiring and hope-filled discussion on reclaiming your mental and spiritual well-being. Quotables from the episode: Today, we're going to be talking about conquering the three enemies of mental health. We’re attacked by the enemy on a daily basis. The key is to recognize the attack and fight back with the right weapons. I grew up in an Islamic household. And so just growing up, my understanding of the character of God was distorted. And so I grew up believing in a different God, but I thought he was the right God. I came to know the Lord is through a dream about Jesus. Growing up, I battled with my own depression. I battled with anxiety, but I didn't know that they were clinical depression and anxiety. It's like I was high functioning. I thought anxiety was the norm. It was normal for me to think something bad is about to happen. I had the symptoms of the clinical diagnosis. And it was about, I'd say, early 20s or so, when my depression just got worse and worse, to the point of suicidal ideations because I felt like I was, I had no hope. I decided to blaze my own trail. And I mean, I drove into astrology. I drove into chakras, reiki, everything you can think of. I tried to figure out my own purpose in life. And none of that brought me the peace that I remembered feeling when I had a dream about Jesus. What's incredible is God is so kind and so patient with us. You know, he didn't stop pursuing me. He didn't throw in the towel on me. He just kept pursuing and pursuing and he knew I was going to hit a dead end at some point and I did. I decided to give my life to Jesus and after I gave my life to Jesus and I moved to South Carolina and I just started my life from scratch. The Lord called me to the field of counseling. I had never thought I was going to become a counselor, but I felt the Holy Spirit for the first time, and I just felt this call toward the field. So I went back to school, finished my clinicals, and then I started treating brothers and sisters in the faith from both a clinical and a biblical perspective. I could not believe just how many patients I had who were self -professing believers, who struggled with the same ideas and the same issues and negative thoughts and oppressions that I struggled with as a Muslim. I noticed that even believers are not equipped to fight against spiritual forces of darkness. They're not. How did your family take it when you became a believer in Jesus Christ? – They didn't take it well. I had experienced persecution because of that. And the reason I moved to South Carolina is for safety reasons. I needed to start my life from scratch, but of course they found me and you know the Bible says count the cost Jesus said count the cost and for me the count the cost was my mother my father brother sisters my family was everything to me and I was raised with I pledged my allegiance to my family and so my allegiance would have been divided. When Jesus says that basically you have to put him before your mom and dad, it's not that you need to hate them, it's that you need to love him more. How does scripture reveal the roles of the devil, the flesh and the world as adversaries to mental health? What I have seen my practice is the devil will do anything possible to split our faith in Jesus. So even if it's 90% in Jesus and 10% in the object of our faith, that's splitting your faith in Jesus. We were made for relationships. When we spend time with the Lord, when we spend time with God, there is a chemical that gets released in our body and that chemical is serotonin that chemical combats depression just naturally okay now what happens is because we have the wrong perspective of God. We don't spend time with Him. We think the Bible is outdated. A lot of people think that. They have actually done a research out of Biola University where they claim that God is, they found that most people believe that God is mean, harsh, or distant. Those are the top three adjectives they use to describe God. And because of all of that, we run to self -medicate. And so, we self -medicate by watching too much Netflix, too much TV, right? We don't pay attention. For overcoming enemy number one, the devil, you have to renounce your dealings with the kingdom of darkness. There's no way around that. Now, number one, if you're not a believer, you have to give your life to Jesus. And I feel like I have to say this because I have had patients who came to see me and said, "Can you do it for me because you're a believer? Can we bypass Jesus?" No, we can't bypass Jesus. That's just not how it works. And the reason they say that is because they believe Jesus is a dictator and they have the wrong perspective about him. And so, they don't understand that he's a God who pursued them to the point of dying on the cross for them to satisfy the righteous requirement of sin so that they can have a relationship with Him. And so, number one, you have to have a relationship with Jesus. Psalm 139 that says, "Search me, O God, and know my heart. Test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that's offensive to you and lead me to the path of everlasting life." And just ask him to show you what in your life is taken priority or is not of him. And he will show you. It's a dangerous prayer, but he will show you. Don't ever think that God is condemning you because in Jesus there's no condemnation and God is not a man that he should lie. He doesn't lie to you. There's no condemnation. He may convict you if you're acting in a way that is incongruent to who you are in Jesus. But conviction says, "Hey, you should not have done that." Condemnation says, "Hey, you're a loser, you're this, you're that, and you'll never come back from it." There's a huge difference between the two. One, it redeems you. Because conviction is for the purpose of restoring our relationship with God. But condemnation serves to separate us. You know, when we feel guilty or condemned, we're embarrassed. And so, we separate ourselves from others and from God. So, there's a huge distinction between the two. The other area that the enemy gets a foothold besides lying to us is that very subtle did “God really say…? If he really loved you he would have X, Y, and Z.” It's that little word really that gets us to doubt what the Bible says about God. That's the oldest lie. It's the oldest lie. It dates back to Genesis and so what he does is he induces doubt. That's the cycle of enemy number one. He induces doubt and when he says “did God really tell you?” or “Does God really love you?” “Is God really looking out for you?” And he'll come to you, especially in times when you're desperate, then doubt leads to temptation and when you act on it and you don't receive God's forgiveness or you don't repent and receive God's forgiveness, it leads to shame and shame is going to lead to hiding. Unfortunately, we wear these masks and I call them defense mechanisms. Defense mechanisms are basically masks that we wear in order to keep God from, I mean, he's trying to heal us, but we try to push him away and keep him from healing the wounds that he's trying to heal. And these defense mechanisms that we employ, and I list all of them in the book, but most common ones are denial, like we deny that there's an issue with us, or there's repression, meaning we don't deny the problem, but we deny its effects on us. We act like, “Oh, no, everything is fine. Everything is okay.” Meanwhile, God wants us to bear our hearts to him. He wants us to surrender our wounds to him. Another practical way is ask the Lord to prioritize your life. It's a dangerous prayer and it's a dangerous request because he will prune who needs to be pruned. Yes, he will. Anything that doesn't bear fruit, he’s going cut off. So, it is a risky prayer, but what a fruitful prayer. Yes, because we were made for his purpose, and we were made to bear fruit. He made us for a specific purpose. And so many times, we just hit one dead end after another, after another, and we live a frustrated life, but really we can live a fruitful life if we just surrender to him and ask him, "Lord, I can't do it by myself. I need you to please just prioritize my life according to your will." And he will, because he wants to be part of every detail of our lives. For the longest time, I had a habit of just waking up and I just felt like I would wake up with anxiety. And believe it or not, so many people deal with this. They wake up and it's like, as soon as their feet hit the floor, like their heart is racing. And what I have found, something that I have found that has helped me so much. And if you want to start this tomorrow morning, and it has a clinical and a biblical basis is tomorrow morning, when you wake up, because it has helped me, instead of first thing is checking your phone, checking your email, because that's what I was doing, is first thing you do, start thanking the Lord God, spend 10 minutes, even if you have to wake up 10 minutes earlier, spend time thanking God for 10 minutes for everything He has done for you. You can find something, even if you are in the midst of despair, you can find something to thank God for. When we start thanking God, there's a chemical in our brain that gets released. It's called serotonin and it combats depression. That chemical floods your body, first thing in the morning, and so it decreases anxiety and it raises, it almost puts a shelter around your brain for any depressive thoughts. That's from a clinical perspective. From a biblical perspective, the Word of God says the Lord inhabits the praises of His people. When we're thanking God for everything He's doing for us and thanking and for who he is, God's presence, God is love and his presence comes and inhabits our praises. God is love and perfect love casts out fear. So, the spirit of fear has to flee when God's presence is there. No matter how many mistakes you have made in the past, no matter how bad you had messed up in the past, that God's grace covers you and there's no way that you could have outrun God. God's grace covers you and his mercy is new for you each and every morning and so remember that and remind yourself of that. God is not looking down on you with a magnifying glass. God loves you and he is just in love with you. And it's the enemy who brings those thoughts that accuse you. The war over your mind doesn’t have to be lost. Scripture References: Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 62:8 “Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.” Recommended Resources: The Three Enemies of Your Mental Health: Gain Lasting Victory Over the Devil, the Flesh, and the World by Kenza Haddock Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner AWSA 2024 Golden Scroll Christian Living Book of the Year and the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Christian Living and Non-Fiction categories YouVersion 5-Day Devotional Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, AWSA Member of the Year, winner of the AWSA 2023 Inspirational Gift Book of the Year Award, the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Devotional category, the 2023 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in four categories, and the Christian Literary Awards Henri Award for Devotionals YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 1 YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 2 Revive & Thrive Women’s Online Conference Revive & Thrive Summit 2 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 1 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 2 Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the AWSA 2020 Best Christian Living Book First Place, the first place winner for the Best Christian Living Book, the 2020 Carolina Christian Writer’s Conference Contest winner for nonfiction, and winner of the 2021 Christian Literary Award’s Reader’s Choice Award in all four categories for which it was nominated (Non-Fiction Victorious Living, Christian Living Day By Day, Inspirational Breaking Free and Testimonial Justified by Grace categories.) YouVersion Bible Reading Plan for Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Henri and Reader’s Choice Award Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader’s Choice Award Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host and Guest: Connect with Kenza Haddock: Website For more hope, stay connected with Dr. Bengtson at: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple Guest: Kenza Haddock is a licensed professional counselor with expertise in treating complex mental health conditions through both clinical and biblical methods. A former Muslim, she has spoken at conferences and churches and been featured in numerous media outlets regarding the intersection of Christianity and mental health counseling. Kenza and her husband own Oceanic Counseling Group LLC headquartered in South Carolina. Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Bryce Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Episode Summary: When we think of Christmas, we picture the manger scene, shepherds in the fields, angels singing, and a star guiding the way. But what if we’ve been missing one of the most important parts of the story all along? In her new book, The Spirit of Christmas, award-winning author Cynthia Ruchti invites us to rediscover the Holy Spirit’s presence woven throughout the Christmas narrative—from Genesis in the Garden of Eden to the cry of a baby in Bethlehem. This conversation will open your eyes to the power, presence, and promise of the Spirit of God in ways that may forever change how you experience Christmas. Quotables from the episode: Christmas often stirs our hearts with nostalgia—decorations, carols, and retelling the story of Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus. Yet, as beautiful as those traditions are, there’s more to the Christmas story than we typically notice. Before the babe was conceived, the Holy Spirit was already at work, setting the stage and preparing the hearts of the biblical characters we know and love. This season, let Him set the stage and prepare your heart too. In her book, The Spirit of Christmas, Cynthia Ruchti helps us uncover the often-overlooked role of the Holy Spirit in God’s plan of redemption, reminding us that the Spirit has been present from the beginning—guiding, comforting, and empowering. If you’ve ever longed to experience Christmas with fresh wonder and deeper meaning, this conversation will encourage you to see the season through new eyes. I have found it fascinating that over the course of my life and maybe others have been in the same boat, we might grow up understanding Jesus quite well, or, and we hear Jesus loves me from when we're newborns and aren't even aware, perhaps, of that. And then I personally had gone through some seasons of my life where I thought, "I think I understand Jesus pretty well. I'm getting a good handle on who is this Jesus. I'm not sure I'm as familiar with God the Father as I need to be." So, I had a season of my life that was in my early 20s where I dove in and thought, "I need to know you better, God, my Father," and took an approach as I looked at the Word and noticed that throughout the Old Testament, God described himself as a God of love, which I thought was a New Testament idea. I understood who he was as the majestic Creator, and I think probably it kept him a little distant from me because I saw just that. Then a relative of mine had a heart transplant and I took a fresh Bible, and I circled everywhere in the Bible where the word love or heart appeared because I wanted this person who wasn't close to the Lord at the time to know and understand that God has been talking about the subject of love for a very long time. He's all over the Bible, so page after page was filled with the circled or the little heart drawn around the word love or the word heart. Then there came a season in my life where I thought, "I think I better understand now. We will never fully understand, but I think I better understand. God the Father, God the Son. Do I really understand the Holy Spirit? I know he is. I believe what the Bible tells me about the Holy Spirit, but do I really understand his role or how the different roles of the Trinity make a complete God for us? So, I investigated that, and I watched for his presence, but not as deeply as I did after I was challenged to look for the Holy Spirit's presence in the Christmas story. There was an editor who challenged me with that at a writer's conference. I found it fascinating. I thought that would be a very interesting study. We assume, I think, in the back of our minds that maybe the Holy Spirit is that presence that comes upon Mary in that moment when she conceives Jesus, the baby Jesus, as an infant just minutes old. And then we're not sure where else he might actually show up in the Christmas story. So that was a challenge to me, and I thought it sounded fascinating, but I didn't take the invitation from that editor seriously until a couple of weeks later, when she wrote to me and said, "I want you to write that book." So, then I got very serious and started the deep dive research of where is he? And in some ways, it was kind of a where's Waldo of the Holy Spirit in the Christmas story. That's what began this adventure. And for me, it really did alter my view of how I approach Christmas now for many reasons. And that was one of the reasons that I wanted us to have this conversation because I don't think we're alone in that tendency to not really acknowledge the Holy Spirit as much as we acknowledge Jesus or God the Father. I grew up in a denomination that the only time the Holy Spirit got mentioned was when it was God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, period. So, I like that You took that editor up on the challenge to look for the Holy Spirit throughout the Christmas story. I wondered how far back I would have to trace to find the first evidence of the Holy Spirit and Christmas being linked together. And I realized it was in verse one. It was when the Spirit was hovering over the waters of a world that had yet to be created that was going to need a Redeemer. As we know, God has no beginning and no end, eternity past, eternity present farther than man can imagine. I realized that this in the formation with at creation, God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, at creation forming a world that they knew was going to need a Redeemer and that that Redeemer was going to be thousands of years away from that moment. I saw the person of the Holy Spirit caring about what was going to happen all those centuries later, even in the creation process. How does that first crime connect to Christmas? There would have been no reason for Jesus to come as a human being if there were any way that we as humans could have behaved ourselves without him. And it wasn't very long into that early beginning creation story before that was so evident that without Christ present, without the Holy spirit present within us. We were never going to be able to satisfy what needed to be satisfied and keep us in a place where we could walk daily, in essence, walking by the Spirit like it talks about in the New Testament. When I began to put the pieces together of this incredible depth of story, this depth of even the communion of the Father and the Son and the Spirit, we saw the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament present in brief moments leading up to when Jesus would be born and then later on as we take that story even farther to his death and his resurrection and his intentional promise, “Hang in there people it's not only okay that I go back to heaven it's better for you that I do because then the Holy Spirit can come, reside inside you, and help you operate out of a place of knowing exactly my heart, knowing what God my Father,” Jesus said, “wants of you, and what will help you to live a life that will allow you to pillow your head every night in peace, no matter what's going on in the rest of your life.” The other thing that I really appreciate about Jesus knowing our every need is when he reminds us that he's got to send the Holy Spirit to remind us of all truth. As a neuropsychologist, that's one of the areas that I love to focus on the most because I have a short memory, and I need those reminders. I love how the spirit of Christmas is our reminder of the gift of the spirit. I didn't grow up in a denomination that had an actual practice of Advent, of intentional preparation for Christmas season. I knew the word, Advent. I knew it was a good word. I knew it was a healthy word and lovely, but we just didn't have that particular practice. We oftentimes, even with Lent, that was another, it seemed like it was for a denomination that was more liturgical, let's say, in thought. But I think more and more these days, we're realizing that every heart needs to be prepared. Every heart needs to “prepare him room” as the one Christmas carol says. It’s actually for any day, but when we think about Christmas in particular, it is so easy to get caught up in all the to -dos and all the menus and all the party planning and all the some-things we're very happy to participate in, some things that just seem like one more chore. And it's kind of this wild cacophony of noise and tension, and there may be relationships that are especially challenged at Christmastime, there may be work -related things that are especially difficult at Christmastime. That is not at all what this is supposed to be about. But we early church members apparently understood that we need time to get our hearts ready for this such, such a holy, holy season. And the Holy Spirit is part of that. As we take a look at what was the Holy Spirit's role in the original story that began way back at creation, but was threaded throughout Scripture as He was present in speaking to Isaiah about a virgin shall conceive way back then. And it didn't say shall conceive in the next day or two. Again, thousands of years from that prophecy, but the Holy Spirit was inspiring that prophet Isaiah to speak of that. And as we look at it in the time period in which those words were spoken, there was chaos. There was political chaos. There was trouble on every hand. There was the son of a king who was now the king, and he was being a lousy king. And this interesting thing: I think he wanted to do the right thing. King Ahaz, I think, wanted to do the right thing. He heard from God, but he didn't trust that what he heard from God was enough. He needed to find other voices that he would listen to. He was getting influenced by all kinds of other people. And Isaiah was trying to bring him back to, "No, there is one God, and you can trust him." And as the Spirit was inspiring Isaiah to speak the words, he was saying to King Ahaz, "Ask God, ask him for a sign, and he'll tell you.” Ahaz didn't have that kind of relationship with God. So, he said, "Oh, I don't want to test God in any way." And through the Holy Spirit's words, through Isaiah, we hear, and if we set it in modern language, we might say, "I'll give you a sign. A virgin is going to conceive and bear a son." And then, and we know some of the rest of that wording. How interesting that in a chaotic world, with a king who wasn't paying attention to the right voices, not unlike the worlds we might be operating in: maybe our boss isn't listening to the right voice, but we have to respond to the boss. Maybe our family members are all chaotic and confused and worrying about where are we going to set Uncle Ralph this Christmas, because he's going to torture these family members even with just teasing. That's the very world that a savior was promised to that world, promised by the Holy Spirit. And it's the same with us now. When I started to study, what was the Holy Spirit's role? He often came to those in the biblical story, some of it in the New Testament now, he came to those who were fearful. They were in danger for their lives. And the Holy Spirit would come on the scene and bring peace or hope or comfort. He would bring guidance where there wasn't any guidance. He accompanied Mary on her journey to visit Elizabeth. Nobody else did. We're not told anybody else was there on that journey, which was a long journey for Mary, except the Holy Spirit, who had to have been whispering comfort and strength, and “you will get through this. I'm here for you. I am with you. I am always with you.” And then Mary and Elizabeth met one another and the baby in Elizabeth's womb knew the Savior was being carried by this woman who couldn't even feel kicks in her own body yet. It was too new, too soon. So, as I look at whether it's darkness or depression or anxiety or legitimate fear or relationship troubles, those scenes were the scenes where the Holy Spirit showed up in the Bible. Those are the scenes I need him to show up in my Christmas. He is there. I just may not have observed that he was there, is there, and was there in the original Christmas story too. The Spirit of Christmas reminds us and brings us back to that recognition that he always was there, and he is there today. To us, waiting often seems purposeless and painful, yet the cry of “how long?” appears throughout scripture. I think one of the things that is toughest about any waiting time is believing you are alone in the waiting. I think honestly, whether it's waiting for a diagnosis or it's waiting for the medicine to kick in, or it's waiting for family members to reconcile, or it's waiting for the job that we believe is out there somewhere that we haven't found yet, whatever the situation is, I believe that what intensifies that waiting experience and makes it full of tension in the natural is the belief that we're alone. Even if we have a loving spouse to share with or we have other family members or a good friend we can converse with, deep down in our soul, it's that misunderstanding that makes us believe that we are alone. And the Holy Spirit is saying, "Untrue. This is untrue. I am here in the waiting, and that's what will make everything change." Mary had a long wait after that moment when the angel said, "You will bear a Savior." She had waiting even from those early days of raising this little baby. Before Jesus' ultimate ministry began, there was another waiting time where she was by his side before the ultimate reason he came to earth was fulfilled. Mary got to witness much of that, even being at the foot of the cross as she watched that ultimate moment then that we relate to Easter but it's so much part of the Christmas story too. As we discover where the Holy Spirit is present, we mimic what he did or what he said. If we see him as comforter, who can we be a comforter for? If we see him as a provider, who can we be a provider for? One of the tips that was given in the book as an idea was, do you really need your Christmas meal more than you need to give your Christmas meal to a family that has none? Can I have turkey any time of the year? Absolutely I can. Would it be a better move for our family to take our meal and give it to someone who has none? I would be acting like the Holy Spirit did and like the heart of Jesus is to forego a need that I think is a need of my own to meet somebody else's need. I make a parallel of the idea of if I'm looking for the Holy Spirit, what I'm looking for is the kind of fruit that he provides: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self -control. So, if I'm going to give good gifts like the Holy Spirit gives, how can I be peace for someone who needs it? How can I be a presence? How can I be evidence of faithfulness? That might be in a visit to someone who is ignored or overlooked during the holiday. We think of those things as philanthropic sometimes or we think of them as just plain old kindness but on the other hand if we see it as the kind of thing the Holy Spirit does, then we realize this is far holier of an act than just a kind deed. When we look at it from that approach and we take that approach we're fueled to be able to and do it more and more and enjoy the process and not see it as an obligation. It has always bothered me the idea of anyone spending Christmas alone. When we discuss the idea of the Holy Spirit is always present, what a better way to show that presence and that love that Jesus came to offer us by reaching out to those who might be alone, who are wondering “where is God today? Does he even see me?” Those are the people who are the most grateful for the smallest of acts because they feel seen. And isn't that what we all want? It's such a gift to know that we are seen by the Holy Spirit. The day after Christmas we're often sitting in a pile of opened packages and empty boxes and toys that the batteries have run out already, and maybe disappointments for how we hoped it would go that it didn't. There are people who are taking ornaments out of the box and it might be baby's first Christmas. We may remember that special day and the ornament brings us pain because hanging it on the tree may be a reminder that that child is no longer here or is estranged from us. Someone will have a Christmas like that. We intentionally set up the devotional to be a short read, one a day, so that for day after day after day of December, including the day after Christmas, there's a reminder of places you might not have thought to look, until I wrote the book. And then we also include a list of helpful hints. We include a downloadable that has to do with how many of these different roles did the Holy Spirit play in this actual event? Part of the advice and the very practical advice is maybe do what I did and make it an actual adventure. Take time to intentionally watch for his presence or be his presence. Let his presence in you shine somehow throughout the holiday season. It can't help but change what your Christmas looks like. One of the outcomes of my own journey to take a better, stronger look at what is this all about is that it really helps us to understand where the meaning of Christmas is and where the meaning isn't. The meaning of Christmas isn't how many parties can I get on my calendar. The meaning is likely more in what can I remove and not lose anything but instead gain. I might gain time that I needed. I might gain a more peaceful attitude toward this season. I might see that some of the things I have worked so hard to do or thought they were so important to make Christmas perfect, aren’t that important. How can we make Christmas any more perfect? Something that God did, that God was all over and did. What we often call essential to Christmas, whether it's that meal or the certain decorations or the tradition that we had of cutting down our own tree or the special hot cocoa that grandma makes; If any of those things are removed from our traditions, is Christmas still going to happen? Absolutely. What's our heart going to be like if we miss the cocoa? Not much difference. What if we miss the Holy Spirit in Christmas? That will make a huge difference - For sure. The idea that the Trinity loved what they created together despite humanity's fall is so powerful. We are the ones He came to save. The Bible would call us Gentiles; we were not born into the original children of Israel. We all can trace our lineage way back to the beginning, but we weren't considered the original children of Israel to which much of the Bible was written. But we are the ones he came to save. There's a verse in Galatians that I don't have memorized yet, but I want to, where it talks about God sent the Son so that we could have the Holy Spirit. When I stumbled on that verse, I thought, He sent Jesus to save us, yes. Jesus had to come as a human, had to leave everything he knew that was so perfect and come into this imperfect world and tolerate us. So, I'm now just fascinated by that idea that God the Father sent the Son to save the world so that we could have the Holy Spirit. That makes the complete picture. And that makes the waiting easier. It makes the feelings of defeat easier. And it makes those times of joy richer. The Holy Spirit, like God the Father and Jesus the Son, is always true to Himself. But that truth shows up in his behavior, we might say, throughout the Christmas story. And it will always be related to something that is so completely positive, but also so completely meeting the needs of the human heart, which is the need for his presence, the need for his comfort, the need for his peace. Scripture References: Luke 1:49 “For the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is His name.” Recommended Resources: The Spirit of Christmas: Discovering His Presence Throughout the Advent Season by Cynthia Ruchti Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner AWSA 2024 Golden Scroll Christian Living Book of the Year and the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Christian Living and Non-Fiction categories YouVersion 5-Day Devotional Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, AWSA Member of the Year, winner of the AWSA 2023 Inspirational Gift Book of the Year Award, the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Devotional category, the 2023 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in four categories, and the Christian Literary Awards Henri Award for Devotionals YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 1 YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 2 Revive & Thrive Women’s Online Conference Revive & Thrive Summit 2 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 1 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 2 Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the AWSA 2020 Best Christian Living Book First Place, the first place winner for the Best Christian Living Book, the 2020 Carolina Christian Writer’s Conference Contest winner for nonfiction, and winner of the 2021 Christian Literary Award’s Reader’s Choice Award in all four categories for which it was nominated (Non-Fiction Victorious Living, Christian Living Day By Day, Inspirational Breaking Free and Testimonial Justified by Grace categories.) YouVersion Bible Reading Plan for Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Henri and Reader’s Choice Award Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader’s Choice Award Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host and Guest: Connect with Cynthia Ruchti: Website / Facebook / Instagram / X / LinkedIn For more hope, stay connected with Dr. Bengtson at: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple Guest: Cynthia Ruchti is an acclaimed writer and speaker. A former radio producer, she is a popular media guest and has been featured on numerous TV, radio, and online outlets. Her written work has received recognition with Publishers Weekly starred reviews, Christian Retailing's BEST Awards, Readers' Choice Awards, Reviewers' Choice Awards, The Carol Award, two Christy finalists, and more. Her tagline is, "I can't unravel. I'm hemmed in Hope." Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Bryce Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Dylan, Alex, and Dolan link up to discuss the following: Quotables from Sam Presti's press conference What stood out Did Presti say it or did someone else say it? What are you looking forward to at media day And more... Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episode Summary: In this episode of Your Hope-Filled Perspective, my guest Bill Derrick and I share how to navigate life’s unexpected challenges with faith and resilience. Drawing on powerful biblical principles, we discuss how to trust God in the midst of life’s storms and find restoration and hope when circumstances feel overwhelming. Our conversation dives into practical tools for facing adversity, embracing God’s peace, and emerging stronger through trials. If you’ve ever wondered how to hold on to faith when life takes an unexpected turn, this episode will inspire and equip you to trust God’s plan and find hope in the storm. Quotables from the episode: I was also learning about the curse of success. When you're very successful, you feel like you could do no wrong. And you feel like you've got all the answers. And I had to learn that neither one of those points were necessarily true. I also had to learn that, yes, I'm in control until I'm not, and now I'm not in control anymore. And last of all, I had to kind of learn that my priorities, because of success probably, had gotten out of whack. When somebody asks you, “what's your priorities?” You automatically say, "Well, that's easy. God, family, and business." I think during this time, my priorities of success now, not necessarily when things went bad, but when we were very successful, one might look at the priorities as being more like “business, business, business, and then God and family, because we were doing well.” Just stick with it because the storm will end. It may not end the way you want it, but it will end and there will be blessings that you will find because of the storm. From a practical standpoint, as leaders, when you do your planning, you plan for success. You don't necessarily plan for what happens if we fail? That's a hard thing to do as a business leader. From a faith standpoint, we're told in the Bible to build your house on a solid foundation so that when the storms come, we don't get washed away. So from that standpoint, I think that's how you can prepare: you go into these storms on the right foundation of faith and trust in God. I was realizing that God had just spent five or six years preparing me. I mean, you know, it sounds a little weird, but I was prepared. I said, we don't know what we were ready for, but we're ready for it and I don't know what the future holds but we're ready to move forward and because I knew that God was going to be there. I feel a calmness, a contentment, that brings me at peace with my situation. I am so grateful for a lot of things and I tell people don't be like me and have to get to the point where things start to be taken away from you for you to be grateful. Being grateful can change your life. First of all, don't ask the question, “where is God?” God is there. The first question we need to ask is, "Where am I?" And lean into God. He doesn't necessarily cause these things, but at the same time, He uses them for our benefit. And if we can just get our minds to that point to where we understand that and we can say, "All right, God, I'm along for the ride. I'm going to do what I can, but you're driving and I need to let you take me where you want me to go." Unexpected circumstances can upend our neatly planned life at any time. God is always there. The question is, do we trust Him enough to help us through the storm by His means and His way? I am amazed at how blind I was before the storm and how God was working in my life. No matter what your circumstances, no matter what your age, no matter what your physical or mental situation, no matter how tragic your experience – believe and trust in the Lord. We all have a choice to make when the storms of life assail us. We can blame God and get angry, or we can let Him take control and trust Him. When things are stripped from our life, it helps lead us back to where we can trust God for our future. The storms we face in life don’t always end the way we want nor when we want them, yet they are often unwanted gifts from God. When things are stripped from our life, it helps lead us back to where we can trust God for our future. Recommended Resources: Restored by the Storm: Navigating Through Life’s Unexpected Challenges by Bill Derrick Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner AWSA 2024 Golden Scroll Christian Living Book of the Year and the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Christian Living and Non-Fiction categories YouVersion 5-Day Devotional Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, AWSA Member of the Year, winner of the AWSA 2023 Inspirational Gift Book of the Year Award, the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Devotional category, the 2023 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in four categories, and the Christian Literary Awards Henri Award for Devotionals YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 1 YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 2 Revive & Thrive Women’s Online Conference Revive & Thrive Summit 2 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 1 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 2 Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the AWSA 2020 Best Christian Living Book First Place, the first place winner for the Best Christian Living Book, the 2020 Carolina Christian Writer’s Conference Contest winner for nonfiction, and winner of the 2021 Christian Literary Award’s Reader’s Choice Award in all four categories for which it was nominated (Non-Fiction Victorious Living, Christian Living Day By Day, Inspirational Breaking Free and Testimonial Justified by Grace categories.) YouVersion Bible Reading Plan for Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Henri and Reader’s Choice Award Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader’s Choice Award Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host and Guest: Connect with Bill Derrick: Website / Facebook / Instagram / LinkedIn / X For more hope, stay connected with Dr. Bengtson at: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple Guest: Bill Derrick holds a degree in engineering and an MBA. He helped lead his family construction business through a recession, rebuilt it, and watched it grow in both residential and commercial business. He is a cancer survivor who shares his journey. Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Bryce Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Episode Summary: Aging is not for the faint of heart. But weight gain, illness, and infirmity do not have to be a way of life in our older years. The Bible has much to say about energy, vitality, healthy living, and aging gracefully. Taking care of our bodies is not selfish: it’s critical. Scripture reminds us that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. If we don’t take care of our bodies, they won’t take care of us. What is it we need to know to age well? In honor of Women's Health & Fitness Day, we are thrilled to welcome Shemane Nugent, (wife of Ted Nugent) a fitness instructor with over forty-three years of experience, author of Abundantly Well, and a passionate advocate for aging gracefully. What if you could feel healthier and happier without giving up your favorite foods or spending hours at the gym? In this episode, Shemane will share her favorite tips for staying in shape, feeling energized, and embracing vitality in your forties, fifties, sixties, and beyond. Together, we’ll explore how simple daily choices can ignite passion and purpose, no matter your age. Quotables from the episode: Those things that bring us to our knees, I believe bring us closer to God. And there have been a lot of people who have been through so much worse than I have. When we are, you know, trying to navigate through the storm. You can read every self -help book, and I did, and you can call out to God, and I did, and sometimes it might not happen overnight but it brings us to our knees, I believe bring us closer to God. Regardless of what situation or circumstance you're in, God has a plan for you. I am an unlikely messenger. Being healthy is an inside job. We tend to second guess ourselves. Regardless of where they're at in their life, especially where they're at in their health journey, I want to be your cheerleader. I want to come alongside you and advocate for you because I know it's not easy. I do have 44 years of experience in the health and wellness industry. I've taught just about every Fitness modality from step to spinning. I trained with Johnny G the guy who created spinning to slide to body pump to of course Zumba has been my favorite. I trained and developed programs for Zumba, traveled all around the world, training instructors and teaching probably, I don't know, 100,000 people, 100,000 classes. I mean, just having the time of my life, but that doesn't matter if you don't have joy inside, if you don't find your purpose. The baggage that we all carry with us into adulthood, if you had to put a weight on something that happened to you, when you were a kid, you know, somebody said something terrible to you and you still think about that, think about how much, just put a 10 pounds, 20 pounds, think about carrying that baggage around all the time and what your life would be like if you could just let go of it. As soon as I know that I'm awake, I don't even open my eyes. I say a prayer of gratitude, thanking God for my health and my family's health. That is number one for me. I think it's that first couple of steps that are the hardest. Yes, today was cold. It was dreary. I didn't want to exercise, and I do exercise regularly. But so yesterday, I just made an agreement with myself, just go do it for five minutes. Yes, five minutes. And you know what? 35 minutes later, I was so glad that I attempted the five minutes because it's that getting started. And so, friends, listen to what Shemane is saying. Maybe you just need an accountability partner. Maybe you need to text back and forth and say, okay, I'm going to make myself walk today. Hold me accountable tomorrow. There's something about being accountable that creates that momentum. What role does your faith play in your approach to health and wellness? - It's everything. And especially the last, I would say five years, but 10 probably overall, I've done a deep dive into spiritual warfare, the devil comes to steal, kill, and destroy. What better way than to make you doubt yourself, to destroy your health, your family's health? I do have a chapter in this book about spiritual warfare, and for me, faith is everything. Faith is everything that helps me get through the day. God is with us and He's there with us at a right hand and he will walk us through the storm. And sometimes we think we put too much pressure on ourselves to be perfect. He knows that we're not. And I think he loves it when we admit that, when we repent, and we just move forward. Every day we are so blessed, to have another day to start again, try again. And I want to encourage people to do that as So, not be too hard on yourself. That's a good piece of grace -filled advice. When I talk to patients, when I talk to my audience about self-care, that includes self -compassion. Extending grace to ourselves, it's so much harder sometimes for us to extend grace to ourselves that we would extend to a friend. Plan ahead of time, so that when the time comes, you don’t have any excuses to make poor choices. Aging gracefully incorporates our thought life. If we were gentler and kinder to ourselves. I think we would also be gentler and kinder to others when we're tempted to criticize because we often criticize because we're feeling bad about ourselves. She meant if we would come back to what God says, God says we are fearfully and wonderfully made. God says we are the apple of His eye. God says He delights over us with singing. If that's not reason to celebrate us without the makeup and the fancy hair and the fancy clothes, I don't know what is because God looks at the heart. Any plan to age gracefully has to look at what's going on in our heart and what's going on in our thought life. 46:12. I remember just having a sliver of hope, just a tiny little bit of hope. Sometimes that's all we need to get through the day. Focus on the good things focus on the positive things focus on that that open not just opened door, not an open window, but just maybe the windows cracked a little bit. We've got to really count our blessings and be grateful for those things that we have. I think I learned this from my mother, she was very complimentary towards other people. And when I first see somebody, like my friend the other day, I saw her, I'm like, you look really good. Let's compliment each other. Let's start from a perspective of joy and providing other people. Scripture References: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” 1 Timothy 4: 4-5 “For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.” Recommended Resources: Abundantly Well: Bible-based Wisdom for Weight Loss, Increased Energy, and Vibrant Health by Shemane Nugent Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner AWSA 2024 Golden Scroll Christian Living Book of the Year and the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Christian Living and Non-Fiction categories YouVersion 5-Day Devotional Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, AWSA Member of the Year, winner of the AWSA 2023 Inspirational Gift Book of the Year Award, the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Devotional category, the 2023 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in four categories, and the Christian Literary Awards Henri Award for Devotionals YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 1 YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 2 Revive & Thrive Women’s Online Conference Revive & Thrive Summit 2 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 1 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 2 Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the AWSA 2020 Best Christian Living Book First Place, the first place winner for the Best Christian Living Book, the 2020 Carolina Christian Writer’s Conference Contest winner for nonfiction, and winner of the 2021 Christian Literary Award’s Reader’s Choice Award in all four categories for which it was nominated (Non-Fiction Victorious Living, Christian Living Day By Day, Inspirational Breaking Free and Testimonial Justified by Grace categories.) YouVersion Bible Reading Plan for Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Henri and Reader’s Choice Award Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader’s Choice Award Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host and Guest: Connect with Shemane Nugent: Website / Facebook / YouTube / Instagram / Podcast For more hope, stay connected with Dr. Bengtson at: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple Guest: Shemane Nugent, a bestselling author, has been an expert in the health and fitness industry for more than 40 years. She has been featured on VH1, MTV, CMT, Discovery, C-Span, Entertainment Tonight, Fox, and now hosts Faith & Freedom on Real America’s Voice network. After surviving a life-threatening illness caused by toxic mold, Shemane is dedicated to serving the Lord and helping others lean into abundant living. Shemane lives with her husband, rocker Ted Nugent, and their dogs in Texas. Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Bryce Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In this episode of The Smart Real Estate Coach Podcast, I sit down with Joe Fulvio of CAMA Plan, a leading firm in self-directed retirement accounts. Joe brings decades of experience in strategic marketing and distribution across multiple industries and now helps investors use self-directed IRAs and 401(k)s to unlock new opportunities.   We break down what “true self-direction” really means, how real estate behaves differently inside versus outside an IRA, and the mistakes investors need to avoid to stay compliant. Joe also shares real-world examples of unusual assets you can hold in a retirement account—from dump trucks to coffee plantations—and why due diligence is everything when you step outside traditional stocks and bonds.   If you're curious about using retirement funds to build long-term wealth, this conversation will open your eyes to strategies you can start using right now.   Key Talking Points of the Episode   00:00 Introduction 01:25 Meet Joe Fulvio: CAMA Plan's liaison for private equity, lending, and venture capital 02:45 What “true” self-directed investing is and why brokerages aren't offering it 04:08 Comparing real estate inside vs. outside an IRA 05:21 The rules around self-dealing and why you can't move your own properties into an IRA 06:12 Exotic assets: crypto, fine art through LLCs, coffee plantations, and international property 07:05 Using a checkbook LLC for flexibility in auctions and fast-moving deals 10:31 Common mistakes: lack of due diligence, mixing personal and IRA funds, and self-dealing 13:10 How CAMA Plan differs from competitors: 20 years of experience, accessibility, and responsiveness 14:30 Self-directed accounts as a “utility knife”: 20 creative ways to fund deals 15:30 How to reach Joe and CAMA Plan before or during the Wicked Smart live event   Quotables   “The list of things you can't invest in is about six items long. We handle everything else.”   “Self-direction means you're in control. You do the work, you do the due diligence.”   “You can control a lot of real estate inside an IRA with very little out of pocket.”   Links   CAMA Plan https://camaplan.com Joe Fulvio (215) 283-2868 engage@camaplan.com   QLS Live + QLS 4.0 at $199 smartrealestatecoach.com/qlspodcast    Just QLS 4.0 at ½ off smartrealestatecoach.com/qls  Coupon code: pod   Apprentice Program 3paydaysapprentice.com Coupon code: Podcast   Masterclass smartrealestatecoach.com/masterspodcast   Wicked Smart Books wickedsmartbooks.com/podcast   Strategy Session smartrealestatecoach.com/actionpodcast   Partners smartrealestatecoach.com/podcastresources

Episode Summary: If you’ve ever struggled with discouragement, and we all have because life is full of disappointment and disillusionment, then this episode is for you. In honor of National Day of Encouragement, my co-host, Rev. Jessica Van Roekel and I talk about How to Find Biblical Encouragement for Your Everyday Life. Discouragement can rob us of joy, peace, and a sense of purpose. Encouragement is more than a feeling - it’s a powerful tool to propel us toward hope and confidence even when life feels less than happy. Today we’re going to talk about how to find biblical encouragement for your everyday life. Quotables from the episode: In 2007, a group of young people at the National Leadership Forum at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas saw a lack of encouragement as one of the main obstacles that people face. While dedicating a day to encourage others is noble, we can experience encouragement every day when we turn to the Lord and receive his encouragement. The challenge to receive biblical encouragement is when we know God’s promises but don’t see him working. This topic is close to my heart because I’ve seen firsthand how knowing God, and his promises have encouraged me in the face of difficult and seemingly unchanging circumstances. I know many of our listeners and viewers struggle with discouragement, and my prayer is that today’s conversation will bring encouragement and hope. Knowing God’s names helps us learn to trust him. When we trust him, it’s easier to experience encouragement in our every day. Psalm 9:10 says, Those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you. Relationships are an area where we can experience extreme discouragement. Personality differences can create division. Unforgiveness leads to rifts. It can feel discouraging to desire a healing in a relationship, but every effort is rejected. We’ve talked about the temptation to judge God’s goodness based on humanity’s failures. If our in-person relationships are broken, and we don’t have a vibrant or growing relationship with God, we grow discouraged because we were made for relationship. Friend, if you’ve found yourself in a place of discouragement—especially when you're facing relationship struggles—you are not alone. As a neuropsychologist, I’ve seen how deeply our relationships impact not only our emotional well-being but also our brain health. God designed our brains for connection. We were created in His image, a God who is relational by nature, and He wired us for fellowship—with Him and with each other. When our relationships are strained, whether due to misunderstanding, unmet expectations, betrayal, or emotional distance, our brains register it as a threat. That triggers our stress response—what we often call “fight, flight, or freeze.” Over time, if that stress continues unchecked, it leads to anxiety, depression, trouble sleeping, and a foggy, overwhelmed mind. Our thought life becomes a battlefield, and discouragement sets in. But here's the hope: God doesn’t leave us to navigate this alone. He sees every tear, hears every unspoken word, and knows the condition of our hearts and minds. Psalm 34:18 reminds us, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Our healing begins when we bring both our brain health and our relational wounds to the Great Physician. Practical steps include tending to your thought life—taking every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:5), practicing forgiveness to unburden your heart, and choosing truth over lies. Sometimes that means setting healthy boundaries or seeking wise counsel. And always, it means leaning into the One who offers peace that transcends understanding. Your brain can heal. Your heart can mend. And your relationships can be restored—if not with others, then certainly with the Lord, who is the source of all true comfort and strength. Discouragement may visit, but it doesn’t have to take up permanent residence. Knowing God as Abba leads us to know God as a wonderful Father. (Galatians 4:6) He is the Alpha and Omega – Jesus was in the beginning as the Word of God and he is God’s final word for all eternity. (Revelation 21:6) As Adonai, we recognize his leadership in our life. He is our Lord and Ruler. (Ezekiel 16:8) El Chay, or Living God, reminds us that the entertainments, enticements, and other distractions are not worthy of worship. (Psalm 84:2) El Roi, The God Who Sees, encourages us with God’s mercy, grace, and comfort. We are not invisible to him. (Genesis 16:13) Jehovah-Jireh, The Lord our Provider, tells us God is our provider, and it is the same Hebrew word as Moriah, the region where God sent Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. God may ask us to give something up, and he gives us himself in return, and becomes all we need. (Romans 8:32) Jehovah-Nissi, The Lord Our Banner, paints the picture that we live under God’s banner. It was the name revealed when Moses erected an altar to commemorate the defeat of their enemies. It encourages us that we live under God’s victory. He goes before us and comes behind us to make us victors in life’s battles. (Exodus 17:15) The Lord Our Healer, or Jehovah-Rapha, encourages us because God heals our hearts in the here and now. (Exodus 15:26) The Lord is Peace, Jehovah-Shalom, our security, sufficiency, and serenity. (Judges 6:24) Jehovah-Tsuri, the Lord our Rock, helps us remember God is permanent, faithful, protective, a firm foundation, a hiding place and shelter. (Psalm 18:2) Knowing the names of God gives us insight into his character, which encourages us when we face different situations where we need to rely on a different aspect of God’s character. For example, if someone feels discouraged because of life’s chaos, remembering God is Jehovah Shalom encourages their heart because God is their serenity. God is a covenant making and covenant keeping God. The primary promise of the covenant is the Lord’s promise to “be God to you and to your offspring after you.” The goal of God’s covenant with humankind is to bring salvation, not just to one nation, but to the entire human race. This covenant was eventually fulfilled through Jesus Christ as his followers began to spread the good news about him throughout the world. God made a covenant with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, the Israelite nation, David, and finally the whole world through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Covenants, or promises, are conditional because they are based on the agreements of two parties. God cannot go back on his promises, but we can refuse the comfort of the promises when we fail to take God at his word and allow doubt to lead us to sin. Because of God’s covenants, we have promises like the promise of his presence. Isaiah 41:10 says, “Do not be afraid for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” (NLT) Deuteronomy 31:8, “‘Do not be afraid of discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.” (NLT) Isaiah 43:2, “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. Joshua 1:19, “This is my command – be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Those are wonderful reminders of God presence. I know I’ve needed to believe them by faith because sometimes what I see, and what I feel don’t match up with what I know to be true. I also cling to the promise of Victory found in: John 16:33, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” Exodus 14:14, “The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, “Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, persecutions, and troubles I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” Isaiah 40:29, “He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.” God promises to guide us: Psalm 32:8, “The Lord says, I will guide along the best pathway for your life. I will advise and watch over you. Psalm 37:23-24, “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand. Psalm 23:1-2, ‘The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. Not only does God promise us his presence, victory, and guidance, but he also promises rest, life, peace, and forgiveness: Rest: Matthew 11:28-29, “Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Life: John 3:16, “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” Peace: Isaiah 26:3, ‘You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you.” Forgiveness: 1 John 1:9, “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleans us from all wickedness.” Our faith grows when we plant our feet on God’s promises. (Psalm 34:18) He is close to the broken hearted and rescues those who are crushed in spirit. (2 Cor. 4:8-9) We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. (Isaiah 54:17) “No weapon that is formed against you will succeed; And you will condemn every tongue that accuses you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their vindication is from Me,” declares the LORD. I think it starts with looking at the end of Hebrews 11, knowing the stories of those who have gone before us, remembering the past so we can encourage ourselves in the present and build hope for the future. Hebrews 11 opens with this verse: Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. The next several verses list people who lived by faith and received what God promised and those who died without receiving things promised and yet, they are commended for having faith. It’s faith in the promise maker which matters. Looking at our circumstances for “proof” of God keeping his promises leads to disappointment. Remember, faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen. Sometimes, we need to cling to other’s people’s stories when our stories are littered with doubt and disappointment. One story which encourages me when I am feeling discouraged is Mary, Martha and Lazarus when Lazarus became ill and died. That story reminds me that things are not always as they seem, but God always has a plan and he sees the end from the beginning. he bible is full of encouragement and doesn’t sugarcoat the difficulties people of faith faced. If Job can lose his entire fortune, family and health and still remain faithful to God—believing him to faithful and true—then I can look beyond my circumstances and see that God is bigger than what’s right in front of me. I can take the magnifying glass off of the things in my life that discourage me and point my magnifying glass to the God who breathes stars and breath in my lungs. I am encouraged by Abraham, when he looked the impossibility of his reality (too old to have children) and yet remained believing that God would fulfill his promise. I’ve been in situations where I couldn’t see a way forward and following Abraham’s example encourages me so much. Knowing God intimately is a great first step toward experiencing biblical encouragement. Understanding his heart and loyalty toward us is key. Second, we can remember to look beyond what we see to what we know to be true. Sometimes feelings follow an act of faith. Take Hebrews 11 to heart. Recommended Resources: Reframing Rejection: How Looking Through a Different Lens Changes Everything By Jessica Van Roekel Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner AWSA 2024 Golden Scroll Christian Living Book of the Year and the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Christian Living and Non-Fiction categories YouVersion 5-Day Devotional Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, AWSA Member of the Year, winner of the AWSA 2023 Inspirational Gift Book of the Year Award, the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Devotional category, the 2023 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in four categories, and the Christian Literary Awards Henri Award for Devotionals YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 1 YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 2 Revive & Thrive Women’s Online Conference Revive & Thrive Summit 2 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 1 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 2 Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the AWSA 2020 Best Christian Living Book First Place, the first place winner for the Best Christian Living Book, the 2020 Carolina Christian Writer’s Conference Contest winner for nonfiction, and winner of the 2021 Christian Literary Award’s Reader’s Choice Award in all four categories for which it was nominated (Non-Fiction Victorious Living, Christian Living Day By Day, Inspirational Breaking Free and Testimonial Justified by Grace categories.) YouVersion Bible Reading Plan for Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Henri and Reader’s Choice Award Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader’s Choice Award Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host and Guest: Connect with Jessica Van Roekel: Website / Instagram / Facebook For more hope, stay connected with Dr. Bengtson at: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple Co-Host: Jessica Van Roekel is a worship leader, speaker, and writer who believes that through Jesus, personal histories don’t need to define the present or determine the future. She inspires, encourages, and equips others to look at life through the lenses of hope, trust, and God’s transforming grace. Jessica lives in rural Iowa surrounded by wide open spaces which remind her of God’s expansive love. She loves fun earrings, good coffee, and connecting with others. Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Bryce Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.