Podcasts about Savior

If there is any hope for eternity in the presence of God, we need a Redeemer, a Substitute, a Savior. Christ died and rose to be that hope.

This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear.

Good news! Eternal life is a free gift to all who will trust in Christ as Lord and Savior and supreme Treasure of their lives.

Today is day 78 and we are in the section on the Second Article of the Apostles' Creed on Jesus Christ the Son of God. Today we are on the twelfth line: “He will come again to judge the living and the dead”. 78. How should you live in anticipation of Jesus' return? I should anticipate with joy the return of Jesus my Savior and be ready to stand before him. His promise to return encourages me to be filled with the Holy Spirit, to live a holy life, and to share the hope of new life in Christ with others. (Deuteronomy 30:1–10; Matthew 25:13–30; 1 Thessalonians 5:4–11; Titus 2:11–14) We will conclude today with Prayer 109. For Watchfulness found on page 678 of the Book of Common Prayer (2019). If you would like to buy or download To Be a Christian, head to anglicanchurch.net/catechism. Produced by Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Madison, MS. Original music from Matthew Clark. Daily collects and Psalms are taken from Book of Common Prayer (2019), created by the Anglican Church in North America and published by the Anglican Liturgical Press. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Catechism readings are taken from To Be a Christian - An Anglican Catechism Approved Edition, copyright © 2020 by The Anglican Church in North America by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

May we embrace each day as our beloved Savior taught and exemplified, with a love for God and a love for our neighbor. Sean R. Dixon, Second Counselor in the Young Men General Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, delivered this devotional address on March 17, 2025. You can access the full talk here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Spirit Connection, we celebrate the life and legacy of Doug Addison. He passed peacefully as he headed home to be with his Savior and Best Friend, Jesus, on January 26, 2026. Tune in for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—A Lifetime of Giving: Prophetic Insight, Love and Laughter! Doug was a gifted prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher who equipped and encouraged thousands to step into their God-given destiny. He was a faithful servant of the Lord, a trusted friend, and a source of hope and encouragement to many. He will be deeply missed by all whose lives he touched and the countless people he impacted around the world. We are grateful for the incredible life he lived. Doug carried a heart for God and a passion to help others hear His voice, and that legacy continues on through every life he touched. While this loss is truly heartbreaking, we also find comfort in knowing that Doug is now fully restored—dancing on streets of gold in the presence of the Lord whom he loved so dearly. Watch Now Listen Now https://dougaddison.com/wp-content/themes/dougaddison/podcast/Podcast_180326-a-lifetime-of-giving-prophetic-insight-love-and-laughter-episode-423.mp3 Find Out: How a life lived for Jesus bears much fruit How laughter is good medicine How your life becomes a legacy for others to speak well of Links Mentioned in This Episode: Workshop: Understand Your Dreams and Visions! Become a Partner!The post A Lifetime of Giving: Prophetic Insight, Love and Laughter! [Episode 423] first appeared on Doug Addison.

This episode boldly confronts the spirit of playing small, challenging faith-driven leaders to examine not just their intentions, but the very seeds they're sowing in their leadership, relationships, and business ventures. Are you sowing sparingly, or with an abundance that reflects Kingdom purpose?With spiritual authority and raw vulnerability, Lovell Casiero invites you to consider what it truly means to surrender and sow with purpose, not just effort—because in God's economy, the seed determines the scale.Ready to trade comfort for calling? Tune in and let your faith be confronted and transformed."Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously." –2 Corinthians 9:6Episode Highlights:03:47 - Sometimes it looks like playing it safe when God wants you to expand. Withholding mentorship because no one helped you. Guarding your ideas instead of empowering your team. And giving God leftovers instead of the first fruits. I was raised in 4 generations of ministry. When you're sowing with God, whether you're sowing prayer, alms, or your time, you need to give God the first fruits.06:46 - That was a moment where I was like, wait a minute, this isn't about title. This isn't about money. This is about the people that I have impact on, the influence and the legacy that I am leaving behind. So I really started to think about that and I started to be more intentional in how I was investing in the teams that I was leading. 24:18 - So let me leave you with this: if you don't like what you're harvesting right now, don't curse the season. Check the seed. Perhaps you're not sowing the right seed. Perhaps you're not sowing in abundance. Perhaps you're not sowing generously. Perhaps you are holding back.Connect with Lovell CasieroLinkedInWebsiteFacebookInstagramYouTubeX

One thing is certain for us all in this world: we will die. It is inevitable. Eternity seems far away when we are young or when life gets busy, but when death invades our lives in a moment with the loss of loved ones, it seems closer than our next breath. False teaching may tell us that death is Satan's victory, but we who are in Christ rest encouraged by our Lord and Savior triumphing over death and securing the promise of eternal life with Him. Join me as we consider the eternal matter of death in light of Scripture and how we as believers can rejoice, even in great sorrow. My info:Website: http://www.lovesickscribe.comSubscribe to my blog here: http://eepurl.com/dfZ-uHInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovesickscribe/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lovesickscribeblog

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260318dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath. Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.” Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” So they were divided. John 9:13-16 A Rulebreaker The Third Commandment could not be clearer: “Remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it holy.” But to avoid all confusion, God went on to explain, “Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work” (Exodus 20:9-10). So, Jesus is a rulebreaker, right? He worked on the Sabbath! He made mud, put it on a blind man’s eyes, and told him to wash in the Pool of Siloam, all of which led to this man seeing for the first time in his life. Some of the Pharisees could not help but conclude, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” This wasn’t the first time Jesus had generated a heated debate by healing someone on the Sabbath. From the earliest days of his earthly ministry, Jesus was causing his opponents to have serious bouts of consternation as they tried to square Jesus’ claims of being the Son of God and the promised Messiah with his apparent refusal to obey God’s holy law. But was it a refusal? Hardly. It was a fulfillment! Jesus once explained, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27). His point was simple: of course, God wants us to honor him by resting from our labor at some point every week to hear and ponder his saving Word. But he also calls us to put his Word into practice by regularly demonstrating love for our neighbors in need. The Christian life is not an either/or proposition. It’s an everyday both/and way of life! Our Savior never overturns God’s Word. Instead, he fulfills it. Perfectly. Prayer: Jesus, empower me to be like you more and more every day. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

What we learn about the Savior as Joseph gives his brothers salvation as a gift.

Years ago I heard a friend tell about a scene from his childhood that he never forgot. My friend was around on that black day in 1929 that marked the beginning of the Great Depression. One of the great traumas of America's financial collapse, of course, was that many banks just went under almost overnight. Well, my friend literally remembered seeing a neighbor at the locked gates of his bank, and he was literally pounding his fists bloody on those gates, screaming at the top of his lungs, "Give me my money! Give me my money!" There was no money to give. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "The Danger of Being Religious." That desperate man, and millions like him, placed their security in an institution. An institution that sure seemed safe but that ultimately and suddenly failed them. A lot of church folks are making that mistake today. Did you know that? Placing their eternal security in their church; in believing its beliefs, attending its meetings, even taking church leadership. Sadly, none of that's enough to get your sins forgiven or to get you into God's heaven. Sometimes religious folks argue over which church is the right church. Well, in Jeremiah's time there was no argument. God's people were the Jews and their temple was God's self-declared house on earth. But even that wasn't enough. In our word for today from the Word of God, in Jeremiah 7, beginning with verse 10, God says, "You come and stand before Me in this house, which bears my Name, and you say 'We are safe'...'But I have been watching,' declares the Lord." God goes on to point out the sin in their lives - sin that no amount of "church" can make right. He goes on to describe His pending destruction of what God calls (listen to these words) "the temple you trust in." Boy, that's the danger of being religious. You tend to trust in your religiousness instead of in Christ. Christianity will never get anyone to heaven. Only Christ can get you there. Only Christ died to pay for the sin that disqualifies every one of us from going to heaven. Jesus established the Church to represent Him on earth, to do His work on earth. But church can be the most dangerous place in the world if that's where your trust is. Christianity is all about Jesus, but it can actually cause you to miss Jesus. It's called false security; feeling like you're okay with God because you speak the language, you agree with the teachings, and you've been around it all these years. Why, no one would even question that you have a relationship with Jesus - except Jesus. And He's the only One who matters. Could it be that somehow in the midst of a religion all about Jesus you've missed a personal relationship with Jesus even while you've been a good church person for a long time? Jesus described some active church folks to whom He will say on Judgment Day, "I never knew you" (Matthew 7:21-23). Somehow, they have never actually given themselves in total faith to the One who died to pay for their sins. There has to be that time when you say, "Jesus, some of those sins You died for were mine, and I have no hope of heaven except You and what You did on the cross for me. So beginning right now, Jesus, I'm yours." Have you taken that step? I would say that if you don't know, you probably haven't. If you've missed it, don't go another day without moving Christ from your head to your heart... from being a belief to being your own personal Savior. Tell Him today, "Jesus, I'm yours." Look, let me invite you to go to our website today. It's ANewStory.com. You can have the information there to nail down and be sure once and for all that you do belong to Him. The church you've trusted in, the religion you've trusted in, the goodness you've trusted in are inadequate substitutes for the real thing - putting your total trust in Jesus. Because, my friend, it's all about Jesus!

As we continue our study in the book of Matthew, Pastor Paul Gates guides us through Matthew 4:12-17. As Jesus steps into Galilee, He fulfills prophecy and brings light into darkness. We are reminded that this is our story too—God met us right where we were, He brought Light to our darkness, and He is the One who called us into something new.   Following Jesus does not mean the absence of hardship. Just as John the Baptist faced imprisonment, we are reminded that storms in life will come. Yet in the midst of fear and uncertainty, God gives us power, love, and a sound mind. Paul helps us learn how to shift our focus from "what if" to "even if," trusting that our Savior is greater than any storm we will face.   At the heart of Paul's message is a simple but bold call: repent and believe. This is not about striving but about responding to what God has already done. We are invited to live with purpose to share hope, love our neighbors, and trust that God can use even the smallest acts of faithfulness to impact eternity.

Savior, because of you, I will take heart. Keywords: Heart; healing; seen; faith; whole; discouraged; seen.  Scripture: Luke 8:48

In Mark 5, we meet a man named Jairus. He is a leader of the local synagogue desperate to save his young daughter, who is dying. Jesus meets the man's desperation with compassion by agreeing to go with Jairus. What transpires reveals three gifts that Jesus' presence offers to us. It also highlights Jesus' power over death. This story serves as a precursor to the Savior's own resurrection, and invites us to embrace the awe and wonder that we rightly feel in His presence. Key Verses: Mark 5:21-24; 35-43

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260317dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing. John 9:6-7 Even Jesus Uses Tools My wife will tell you. I’m not handy. Putting a tool in my hands can be a dangerous prospect, because I'm more likely to make the problem worse, not better. Tools are just not my thing. With some household projects, it might be wiser to give me a magic wand to wave than a hammer to swing, since the best chance for success would have to involve some miracle. Jesus doesn’t need tools to fix things. The Bible makes that abundantly clear. He’s God, so he can do what he wants and can fix every problem without lifting a finger or batting an eye. But here’s the thing: often, Jesus uses tools to accomplish his saving will. We see that truth plainly illustrated in John, chapter nine. When Jesus encountered a man born blind, he could have given him sight without saying a word or moving a muscle. But he didn’t. Instead, “he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes.” Then he said, “Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam.” What happened? John tells us that “the man went and washed, and came home seeing.” In other words, Jesus used tools—spit, mud, words, and washing—to accomplish the glorious task of giving sight to the blind. And he does the same for us! No, Jesus may never need to give or restore our physical sight to us. But he longs to bless us with the spiritual sight of saving faith and to sharpen it daily. But he doesn’t do either of those things without using tools. Instead, he uses the water of Holy Baptism and the wheat and wine of Holy Communion, combined with his powerful Word, to create and sustain faith in his people. He could have decided to do it differently, but he doesn't. He uses tools. Which means what? That he would have us use those same tools. Through them alone, Jesus gives saving sight to the blind! Prayer: Jesus, inspire me to use your Word and sacraments faithfully and to share your saving Word with others. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

What do you do when Jesus doesn't meet your expectations?In Week 1 of The King & His Cross, Pastor Chris walks through the moment Jesus entered Jerusalem and the crowd shouted “Hosanna!”… but misunderstood what He actually came to do.They wanted a King to fix their circumstances.Jesus came to transform their hearts.In this message, we unpack the difference between the salvation we expect and the salvation Jesus brings. Because while we often ask God to change what's around us, He's focused on changing what's within us.If you've ever felt disappointed, confused, or challenged by how God works in your life, this message will help you see Jesus more clearly and invite you to surrender to Him not just as Savior, but as King of your heart.The question isn't: Is Jesus King?The question is: Is He King of your heart?www.thejourneychurch.cc

Check out more church resources at www.joniradio.org! --------Thank you for listening! Your support of Joni and Friends helps make this show possible. Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Become part of the global movement today at www.joniandfriends.org. Find more encouragement on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.

Eliza R. Snow is perhaps the woman in our Relief Society history who we hear the most about, and for good reason. She was a writer, organizer, temple worker, and advocate for women. She was an accomplished teacher and encouraged fellow sisters to overcome fears of public speaking and to minister to each other and their communities. She was a force for good whose influence extends to us today. During this month where we celebrate the birthday of the Relief Society, we're learning how we can continue her legacy by standing for truth with bold faith, encouraging one another through our words and actions, and ministering and teaching as the Savior would.  Today's guest, Jenny Reeder, works for the Church History Department on historic sites. She has a PhD in American history from George Mason University and a Masters degree in editing documents. She's also a writer, and wrote First: The Life and Faith of Emma Smith and was head historian and editor of At the Pulpit: 185 Years of Discourses by Latter-day Saint Women. Most recently, she was head historian and editor of Rise Up and Speak: Selected Discourses of Eliza R. Snow. Notes: Local to Salt Lake City? Hear more from Jenny Reeder at this special event. Wednesday, March 18, at the downtown Salt Lake Deseret Book store, gather with historians from the Church History Department to discuss the bold teachings of Eliza R. Snow captured in the new book, Rise Up and Speak. Discover how this inspiring 19th-century leader helped found the Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary organizations—and learn why her call for Church members to speak up still resonates today. Stay for a Q&A and meet and greet. Click the link to claim your free ticket! Read the book! Rise Up and Speak: Selected Discourses of Eliza R. Snow.

In this compilation of short stories, kids learn that Jesus became our Substitute when He was punished for our sin. When we believe on Jesus and receive Him as our Savior, Jesus makes us God's children and we become righteous in Christ. In “Judge Spanky,” Alfalfa uses John 1:12, “But to all who believed Jesus and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God,” to prove that Darla is a child of God. In “Red Handit the Bandit,” Red uses 2 Corinthians 5:21 incorrectly to try to get away with breaking the law. “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” You must be born again by receiving Jesus as your Savior if you want to be made righteous! In “Not Guilty As Charged,” the Prosecuter (Satan) tries to convince The Judge (God) to sentence Stephen Samuel Sinner to hell because he sinned. However, the Defense Attorney (Jesus) steps in to remind everyone that Stephen has been born again by receiving Jesus as his Savior—and Jesus already took the punishment for Stephen's sin! “For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God's wonderful grace and His gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:15 #kids, #storiesforkids, #biblestoriesforkids, #faithbasedcontentforkids, #christiancontentforkids, #bedtimestoriesforkids, #biblelessonsforkids, #jesusforgivesmysin, #jesusmakesmerighteous, #jesusmysubstitute, #jesustookthepunishmentformysin, #jesusgivesmehispeace, #childrenofgod, #Bible, #fishbytesforkids, #fishbytes4kids, #ronandcarriewebb, #roncarriewebb

Titus 3:3-8 NIV “At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.”   *Transcription Below*   Hunter Beless is an author of several children's books including Read It, See It, Say It, Sing It! and Amy Carmichael: The Brown-Eyed Girl Who Learned to Pray. She is also a Bible teacher, co-author of Titus: Displaying the Gospel of Grace and the founder of Journeywomen Ministries, which empowers women to live out their faith through deep commitment to their local church. Hunter hosts the Journeywomen Podcast, sharing resources and insightful conversations with women of faith. She and her husband, Brooks, have four beautiful children, whom Hunter homeschools. You can find her on Instagram @hunterbeless, or at https://www.hunterbeless.com/books. Journeywomen Podcast   Thank You to Our Sponsor: The Sue Neihouser Team   Connect with The Savvy Sauce on Facebook or Instagram or Our Website   Please help us out by sharing this episode with a friend, leaving a 5-star rating and review, and subscribing to this podcast!   Questions and Topics We Cover: 1. What rhythms have been most profitable to you (spiritually, relationally, physically, and productively?)  2. In your own home, how have you intentionally helped your children know and love God through Scripture?  3. How is the Gospel useful for not only salvation, but also sanctification?   Similar Episodes from The Savvy Sauce: 16 Reflecting Jesus in Our Relationships with Rach Kincaid 57 Implementing Bite-Size Habits That Will Change Your Life with Author, Blogger, Podcaster, and Speaker, Kat Lee 150 Brain Science and Spiritual Abundance with Ken Baugh 166 Journey from Empty to Well Nourished Soul with Gretchen Saffles  207 Cultivating Character in Our Children with Cynthia Yanof Special Patreon Release Wholehearted Quiet Time with Naomi Vacaro 267 Apologetics with Ray Comfort 274 Holy Spirit Stories and Fruit and Ways to Identify His Guidance in Our Lives with Margaret Feinberg   Gospel Scripture: (all NIV) Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”   Romans 3:24 “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”   Romans 3:25 (a) “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.”   Hebrews 9:22 (b) “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”    Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”    Romans 5:11 “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”    John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”   Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”    Luke 15:10 says “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”   Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”   Ephesians 1:13–14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession- to the praise of his glory.”   Ephesians 1:15–23 “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”   Ephesians 2:8–10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God‘s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“   Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.“   Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”   *Transcription*   Music: (0:00 – 0:11)   Laura Dugger: (0:12 - 1:16) Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, where we have practical chats for intentional living. I'm your host, Laura Dugger, and I'm so glad you're here.   Thank you to the Sue Neihouser Team for sponsoring this episode. If you're looking to buy or sell a home this season, make sure you reach out to Sue at 309-229-8831. Sue would love to walk alongside you as you unlock new doors.   My guest for today is Hunter Beless, and you may recognize her as the founder of Journey Women Ministries. She's also a podcaster and an author of multiple books, including this recent one, Jesus Loves You More. Hunter is going to share today about all things discipleship.   Here's our chat. Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, Hunter.    Hunter Beless: (1:17 - 1:23) Thank you so, much for having me. I just love the concept of this show, and I'm excited to be here with you today.    Laura Dugger: (1:23 - 1:56) Well, I've been looking so, forward to getting to chat with you. You've been on my list for years, so, I'm thankful this worked out. And even, it may have been years ago, but I heard you publicly share that you had chosen to put your faith in Christ in elementary school, I believe. But then as you transitioned into high school, you were open about then choosing to pursue the ways of the world. So, will you just speak to that experience and talk to that teenage girl who's currently facing some similar temptations?    Hunter Beless: (1:56 - 6:39) Oh, that'd be such a privilege to get to speak to any young woman who is in a situation like this. I often think, like, if I would have just had one older friend who was encouraging me in the Lord, who would be willing to testify to God's grace in her life, and who would reach back and try and help me just to continue walking in the grace that he had extended to me through his son, like, I wonder if it would have gone differently for me, Laura. But, you know, the Lord did save me at a young age, and I lived fervently for him, loved God's word, even from a young age.    And I remember, like, seeing groups of people that I wanted to like me, and wanting so, desperately to be accepted by them. But knowing that when I opened the pages of scripture, the Holy Spirit brought conviction to my heart in a way that would not allow me to act in accordance with the things that these groups were doing, in order to be approved of by them. And so, I thought to myself, "Well, maybe I'll just stop reading my Bible so, much." This is about eighth or ninth grade. And, you know, then I won't feel a sense of conviction when it comes to, like, these behaviors that I know I need to, you know, adapt to, in order to be approved of by the people that I deemed, you know, significant. And so, I set my Bible aside.    And it's a really sad story. I mean, as I continued to spend time outside of God's word, I would still go to church with my family and things like that on Sunday mornings. But I just began to look less and less like a follower of Christ, and more and more like the world. And eventually, you know, I spent my entire duration of my high school years doing that. And I have to tell you; I just went back to my 20-year high school reunion. And there was a girl that I saw there. And she told me what a jerk I was in that season of my life. And it was such a wonderful thing to be reminded of what it looks like for me to not be walking in the Spirit, but to be walking in the flesh. And to really have to reckon with, that is what it looks like to be walking like the world.    And I just told her, I said, "You know what, you're completely right." I said, "I was." I was totally looking out for my good and not for the good of others. I was absolutely living for myself and not for the Lord. But by God's grace, when it came time for my senior year of high school, he allowed me to get to the end of myself. And you would have thought, like, looking back, I had the resume, I had the 4.0, I had the salutatorian status, I was the president of my high school senior class. You would have thought, this girl's crushing it. But I had never been more anxious, more depressed, more insecure, more selfish, obviously, as testified to by the girl that I just referenced, than I was in that season of my life.    And I remember I had a youth pastor who had just come into our church. And he said, "Hey," he said, "How's your time in the word looking?" And I said, "Well, I could either lie, or I could tell the truth." And I said, "You know, it's looking pretty, pretty bleak." And he said, "I just want to challenge you to get back in God's word." And at the same time, my dad had a tragic accident. It was a near death accident. And I was kind of reckoned with the brevity of life as a senior in high school. And I cried out to the Lord. And I said, "God, if you really are who you say you are, would you show me who you are through your word?"    And that sparked, Laura, this passion for God's word. And it allowed me then to see the difference in my own life, what it looks like for Hunter to be walking without listening to the voice of God, and what it looked like for Hunter to have her face in her Bible, and to seek to live by God's word. And I tell you what, I probably don't look nearly as impressive by the world's standards. But the joy and the peace, and really just the transformation that the Lord has accomplished in my life through his word, is something that I cannot stop testifying to. And I just cannot encourage women enough, like if you are wrestling with the flesh, to get into God's word, because God works by the power of the Holy Spirit through his word in the lives of his people. And so, that's why really this whole passion has just overtaken my life for God's word.    Laura Dugger: (6:40 - 6:59) Wow, that is incredible to hear that transformation, because God did it, and God can do it again. And God can do it for each one of us listening. But you are so passionate about discipling others. Can you first tell us, what were some of the significant ways that you've been discipled?    Hunter Beless: (7:00 - 10:07) Yeah, well, I went to college, and that was the first time that I had ever really had someone seeking to do spiritual good in my life, outside of my parents. And really, even with my parents, like, you know, sitting down intentionally studying the word, that wasn't a part of our family culture. And so, when I went to college, there was a girl, her name was Meredith. And I remember, she sat down, and she taught me how to read my Bible, for really the very first time. I remember being confronted with some of the truths of scripture, Laura, and I'm like, "That's in the Bible? That disrupts me. Like, I didn't know that, you know?" And so, it was such a wonderful time, just of really kind of being confronted with my own theological ideas from my, you know, lack of ability and time to really understand the message of the text, you know, and then to really reevaluate that and be conformed to the text and to allow it to conform me. So, Meredith had a significant influence in my life in how to study the Bible.    And then I had an older woman named Joyce, who at the time, I believe, was in her late 40s, maybe early 50s. And I just remember, Joyce found out that I began to memorize scripture. So, somewhere along the way, I realized, like, this book is so, significant that I need to start, you know, hiding scripture away in my heart. Some of that was just watching my own grandmother and seeing the way that the Lord had used scripture in her own life. And realizing, like, wow, if my grandmother has these truths hidden away in her heart for this season, and she had dementia, I need to start hiding scripture away in my heart, too. So, Joyce and I really, we started up a group on scripture memory.    And I'll never forget the first time I met her, she said, "Hey, I heard you're starting to memorize Ephesians." I never finished. But she said, "Let's hear it." And so, she just opened up her Bible. And I just started quoting Ephesians. And one of Joyce's coined phrases that at the time I didn't realize was actually scripture itself, she would hold the Bible out in front of me. And she would say, "Hunter, this is no empty word for you, but your very life." And she had so many phrases like that, that I didn't even realize at the time, because I was pretty biblically illiterate, that were the words of scripture themselves. That's Deuteronomy 32:47. And Joyce really embodied that message for me, that scripture is that man doesn't live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. And so, watching her just live with her face in her Bible, proverbially speaking, and seeking to meditate on its truths and live by those day in and day out really transformed who I am even today. And she gave me a picture of what I'd like to look like years down the road.    So, I've had various mentors, but those are some of the first. And the Lord definitely used them in significant ways to do spiritual good in my life.    Laura Dugger: (10:08 - 10:36) And I don't know what kind of life those women lead if they're in public or more private disciplines, but their faithfulness, you just see the impact how it ripples out to bless generations. And even you, Hunter, you're leading this incredible ministry, where you disciple others through helping women know and love God through his word. So, will you share how you ended up getting to do this awesome work that you get to do today?    Hunter Beless: (10:37 - 15:41) Oh, well, the beginnings of this, you would not have thought were awesome. And in fact, you and I were just chatting, and I still am recording out of my closet. And really, it's all just been an overflow of what the Lord has been doing in my own life. And I did feel like along the way, I just, I began to just love learning from older women. And I do think that's a biblical, like scriptural kind of practice. You look at Titus 2, you see the older women are to teach the younger women what is good. I was a younger woman who loved learning from older women. And so, I had this, over the years, this just long list of women who had invested in me who had, you know, testified to God's grace in their life, who had taught me the scriptures.    And when my husband Brooks and I were in the military, we found ourselves on post. And just due to the transiency of a military lifestyle, the churches around military installations tend to be a little bit tired, sometimes depleted, because people in the military are moving so, frequently. So, it's hard, right, to have continuity to see people through in their discipling process and all of that. And so, I really missed those mentors that I'd had from college, and the year after college, after coming into marriage. And so, I thought to myself, like, man, I want the other women. I was also interfacing with either believers or non-believers who really had never been discipled. And I thought, man, I just wish I could get you with Joyce, or I wish I could get you with Meredith. I wish I could connect you, you know, with X, Y, or Z woman from the past couple of years.    And so, I thought, I also simultaneously was listening to a lot of podcasts because I was super lonely. Just because, you know, moving into a new culture, and then my husband was gone at least 50% of the time for training or deployment. And so, I'd be walking along the military installation listening to like sermon audio, like John Piper or Timothy Keller or whatever. And I thought, man, I wish that there was a conversational podcast about theology for women that would just be more warm and kind of like what we're doing right now. And my husband was like, "Well, you should start it." And so, I just started with the women who had mentored me. If you go back to the very beginning of the podcast, it's truly like my college roommates. It's my mentors from Pine Cove Christian Camps where Brooks and I met.    And I think I just by God's grace, the podcasting network was so, small at the time. I remember Journey Women landed in the number two spot right behind Joel Osteen whenever the thing launched. And so, then from there, it just gave the podcast some notoriety, which is what then allowed, you know, some of the names that you would recognize to reach out and to say, "Hey, you know, could we come on the podcast?" And at the time, I had no knowledge of, you know, how to market people marketing books or any of that Bible studies, etc. And yeah, it was a really fun season, actually, because it was pre-COVID. And you know, people weren't used to doing a whole lot online. And so, had some really, really fun conversations. And along the way, the Lord has helped me to hone in more of a vision of what I'm doing. Because at first, it was just like, let's get in the closet and have like fun, intentional conversations that I could share with my girlfriends or with maybe the military spouse that I'm meeting on the playground that I may never see again, you know.    And then along the way, people started even wanting to donate to the podcast and different things like that. And I thought, I really need to have a clearer aim. And so, now, you know, over the past eight years, the Lord has given us this mission to help women know and love God through his word, to find their hope in the gospel and to invest deeply in their local churches as they go out on mission for the glory of God. And some of that came and Laura, I'm sure you face this from women really seeking out discipling online, and us realizing we can't disciple you. Like, we cannot come alongside you and help you to grow in godliness, you know, but we can do that via the interwebs. But the degree to which we're able to do that is super-duper limited. And so, what does it look like for us then to equip women so, that then they would be encouraged to seek out fellowship in the local church, and to be investing their time, energy and talents in the local church. And so, that's become kind of our resounding gong at Journey Women over the years, just because we really do believe that ministry happens best in the context of the local church. And that's something that the Lord has validated through seeing women reaching out online and realizing like, hey, we could never, you know, provide what they need. But God in his grace has given us the local body that is able to do that.    Laura Dugger: (15:42 - 19:08) So, well said, because this is a great place that we can meet people anytime what is most convenient for them with a podcast. But then also, so, that's great for sowing seeds. But there's nothing that replaces that embodied relationship. And it just makes me think of God that he created us that way. And he knew it because Jesus even being embodied, little baby sent to earth, so, nothing replaces that. And, Hunter, I just I love hearing about your public ministry and the way the Lord has blessed and grown it.    And now a brief message from our sponsor. With over 28 years of experience in real estate, Sue Neihouser of the Sue Neihouser Team is a RE/MAX agent of Central Illinois, and she loves to walk alongside her clients as they unlock new doors. For anyone local, I highly recommend you call Sue today at 309-229-8831. And you can ask her any real estate questions. Sue lives in Central Illinois and loves this community and all that it has to offer. When unlocking new doors with her clients, Sue works hard to gain a depth of understanding of their motivations and dreams and interests in buying and selling their home. And then she commits to extensive market research that will give them confidence in their decision. Sue truly cares for each of her clients and the relationship she forms with each family along the entire home buying or selling process. This was absolutely our experience when we worked with Sue and her team. The house that we desired at the time was actually not even on the market, but Sue had a connection and was able to ask those homeowners if they would be willing to sell. She was timely in her response as she walked us through this whole process, and she helped us sell our home with the right offer coming in hours after it was listed. We kept saying she's thought of everything. And Sue's continued generosity was astonishing. I remember one afternoon after we had settled into our new home, and she was knocking on the door dropping off a goodie bag for our family that came from the local bakery. Our daughters also loved getting to know Miss Sue as she assisted us in finding truly our dream home.    So, whether you're looking to buy a home for the first time, or looking to upgrade or downsize, or making the big decision to move to an assisted living from your home of many years, Sue will be there to help you navigate the big emotions and ensure the process is smooth and stress free, and that the new doors to be unlocked are ready and waiting for more memories to be made. So, call her today at 309-229-8831 or visit her website at sueneihouser.com. And that is sueneihouser.com. Thanks for your sponsorship.   I'd also love to hear a little bit more about your personal life. So, what does a day in the life look like for Hunter Beless?    Hunter Beless: (19:09 - 21:25) Well, I think if somebody joined me in a day in a life, in this season, Laura, I feel like I'm too busy. I have committed to too much. And so, what it looks like practically, it's going to be a lot of time running from this or that event and just trying to do the things that I committed to before or some of the other things that the Lord has allowed in my life came to fruition. But just leaning into him for the grace that I need moment by moment, you know, and trusting that he is the same and that he has provided all of the grace that I need. His grace is sufficient for me, you know, as I'm running errands and facing the temptation to feel anxious or overwhelmed that, you know, I think it's Luke 12, where it's talking about how I can't even add a moment, not even the smallest amount of time to my life by worrying. So, I'm just going to entrust all of this to the Lord.    So, for me, I wonder how many women are listening to this and that they can relate to this because I talked to various people who they don't have a podcast, but they don't have the same work as me, but they feel that same temptation towards anxiety and the feelings of overwhelms that we all face, you know, and yeah, I think my life probably looks a lot like many of y'all's. And for me, it's just the constant meditation on scripture and just rehearsing the truths of God's word that are never changing, even in the midst of my ever-changing and chaotic circumstances. So, it doesn't seem to change even if I do a better job, which I could have done, planning my schedule or, you know, prayerfully considering the commitments that I made, but just resting and knowing that he is unchanging and that he is ever-present and that he is all-knowing and that he has provided everything that I need and his son.    So, that is what it looks like. Every day looks different, but again, leaning into the truths of God's word, meditating on those truths, rehearsing those truths over and over, and resting in the grace that the gospel provides. That's the thing that never changes.    Laura Dugger: (21:27 - 22:06) And I love that overview because if we look from the outside, you're homeschooling, you run this ministry, you have a podcast, and you're cooking healthy recipes for your family, but I'm sure do you also have weekly patterns? Because to me, it's a stewardship issue. You've been faithful with little, it sounds like, so, he has given you the opportunity to be faithful in much, and it's a season of much where you've written books and produced all this content. So, do you have a system in place or rhythms throughout the week that have helped you live that full, abundant life?    Hunter Beless: (22:06 - 24:19) Yeah, that's a really good question. Obviously, the weekly rhythm that we always start with is worshiping with the saints on Sunday. I look forward to that like no other. And we are in a church that the Lord is just so, gracious to have provided a pastor who prioritizes the preaching of the word and who is consistently proclaiming the gospel from the pulpit. And so, Laura, on the weeks where I feel like I have been so, busy that I have not spent the time in God's word that I would desire, just the recognition that going to church on a Sunday is such a blessing to get to receive God's word. And so, there have been many times that I just show up and I'm just like, "Thank you, Lord." Thank you for the provision of your word. Thank you for the provision of the body of Christ. And so, Sundays are just like a non-negotiable for us. We go to church on Sundays. And then, you know, we have various things. My kids are actually homeschooled on two days out of the week or three days out of the week. And then, they go to school two days. So, we do like a university model is what it's called. And so, on the three days that they are home, I am full tilt homeschooling, doing everything home-related.    And in fact, I have had to learn that part of their education is also helping care for our home. And so, we really see it as a team effort to keep the home, like, tidy and running and functioning well, so that we can, you know, spend as much time in it as we do, like, with happy hearts. And then, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, I typically am in this closet working while the children are at school. Saturdays, we rest together as a family. We spend a lot of time outdoors. I also make bread regularly. And I think there's something liturgical for me about making bread. And, like, when everything else feels, like, a little bit chaotic and out of my control, the beauty of just doing a simple task like making bread to provide food for my family and nourishment is something that really brings me great joy. So, Saturdays are also bread-making days. And then, the week begins again. That is awesome.    Laura Dugger: (24:19 - 24:41) I love hearing that. And it makes me curious to go even a little bit further. I'll give you a few categories, but I'd love to hear what rhythms in these categories have been most profitable to you. So, when you think of it spiritually, physically, relationally, and just productively, how you stay creatively fresh.    Hunter Beless: (24:41 - 28:24) Yeah. You know, spiritually for me, and I'm a mother of, like, young children, right? So, my kids are ranging from age 11 to age 3. I would say we're still in a season in which sleep is a little bit unpredictable, particularly in those early waking hours. But I do my very best to try and get in God's Word first. And that is not because I want to check it off the list, but because I need the people in my home and beyond. So, really trying to just orient myself rightly to the truths of God's Word first thing is huge. I also do try to work out. So, that gets to the physical piece. I neglected working out for many years. I actually, hilariously, was a personal trainer when we were back in the military. And that was kind of my gig while Brooks was gone. And so, I know how to work out, and I enjoy working out. But with the children, it has been a difficult thing for me to prioritize. But just this last year, I got, this is the most, like, basic thing ever. I got a Peloton. I bought it secondhand off of Marketplace. And it has just been a wonderful way for me to sweat and exercise my body first thing in the morning without, you know, really requiring a whole lot. I don't have to leave the house. I don't have to go outside or anything, because Brooks does travel quite a bit still for work. And so, I try to ride the Peloton. Doesn't always happen. Happens less than it does, than I want for it to, but it does help.    And then, yeah, relationally is really, that's a really good question. I think one thing that the Lord has blessed me with, having lived a season of extreme transiency, right? So, we did eight years of military. And then, we did two years at, you know, university where Brooks got his MBA. And now, we're in our first, like, what we would call, like, a civilian kind of location, where he's got his first civilian job. We're almost 15 years deep into marriage now. And so, all of the friendships that I made along those eight years of moving almost annually. I think we moved, like, six or seven times in eight years. Yeah, just trying to maintain those relationships. I only have one or two from each duty station, but I love using Voxer or Voice Memo to keep in touch with people who have known me for, you know, a longer time. And that's just one thing that's really fun. I have to be careful not to let that overtake my time on my phone, but I do love to keep in touch with old friends. And they are some of the friends that the Lord has used just really to help me navigate the various challenges that we face, right, in life and relationally in marriage and all of that.    So, anyways, and relationally in marriage, Brooks and I were really just relishing in the friendship that God has given us with one another. I don't think it's been easy over the years, especially with all of the transiency and all of the deployments and all of the many moves that we've faced. But God has really just given us a true appreciation for one another. And to begin to see now, 15 years into marriage, that the differences that He has given each of us are a gift to help us be conformed into the image of His Son. So, that's some of it, spiritually, physically, relationally. Did I miss anything?    Laura Dugger: (28:25 - 28:32) Just even productively as you're creating content, how do you stay creatively inspired and fresh?    Hunter Beless: (28:33 - 30:55) Yeah, I love, my friend Gretchen Stoffels has a lot of wonderful things to say about this. She talks a lot about producing from the overflow and not the undertow. And that's ministered to me over the years. I find a lot of times when I am not creatively fresh, it's either because I'm overproducing or because I'm not honestly spending, most of what I do is all revolving around God's Word. So, it's like if I'm not spending time in God's Word and allowing myself to just be struck anew with truths from the text, then what do I have to share? So, that helps me too in knowing when am I overcommitted? Because if I don't have time then to be relishing in God's Word, not for the sake of producing something, but just like you said, just being struck and wonder by who God is, then I really need to reevaluate the commitments that I'm making and slow things down a bit. And so, that's kind of what has helped me to protect that time with the Lord so that then I would have something to offer others.    And I don't just think about it in terms of producing a podcast or writing a book or sending out a newsletter. I mean, honestly, even with the children, this has been something that I've been thinking about for the last six to eight months. If I want them to understand how God's Word informs all of life, then I need to be with my face in my Bible because who is it that they spend the most time with, right? All throughout their life. Like, it's me. And so, I get to then help them realize like, oh, here is how Scripture applies to all these different circumstances. But if I don't spend time in God's Word, then I've got nothing to give. And I have a friend who was a missionary actually in a remote country with the IMB. And I asked her, I said, "How did you ever evangelize with people in this remote context from this different religion and all of this?" And she said, "You know what, I just had to be so, filled up with God's Word that that's what came out." And I think about that all the time. So, when I'm feeling dry, I'm like, "Oop, oop, that's a good sign. I need to go back to God's Word."    Laura Dugger: (30:56 - 31:07) I love that. And let's go there then in your own home. How have you intentionally helped your children to know and to love God through Scripture?    Hunter Beless: (31:09 - 33:52) This is going to sound really selfish, but, you know, this whole endeavor, right, I've realized the significance of God's Word in my own life. And so, I'm constantly thinking, Laura, like, how am I going to get into God's Word? You know, like, that's, it sounds selfish. But if I really believe that I need God's Word for all of life, I'm going to have to figure out how am I going to get that in. And then it's wonderful because I get to bring the children along in that. So, maybe that's just like a fresh take on it, right? Because we're always thinking as mothers, like, how can we be investing in our children more heavily in all of these things? And I think those are good and right desires. Obviously, Deuteronomy speaks to that. You know, we're supposed to teach our children diligently the ways of the Lord. But I think it's just so refreshing when we come to the text as learners, as co-learners. And so, for me, I'm just always thinking, like, how can we learn together who God's Word is? How can we worship the Lord together in our home?    And then it helps me see those times, right, when you are offering instruction to the children, when you are being intentional about, you know, for us, we do, like, catechesis, for example, which is a series of questions and answers just to help disseminate doctrinal truths and help the children learn, like, here are, you know, foundational doctrine of the Christian faith. Then I'm not just like, "Okay, who is God? You know, God is the Spirit." I'm, like, thinking about the things that we're learning in a way where I also am seeking to learn as well. And I think that just gives a posture of humility, too. Like, as a parent, where it's not like, "You gotta learn your Bible verse this week, kid." You know, it's like, "We get to, we get to, look, we get to learn God's Word together, you know?" And then that helps them understand the joy of learning God's Word. And it also gives them a very real picture of a parent who's being transformed by the truths of God's Word. What better witness is there? And so, really, I've stopped seeing it as, "Hey, here's our time," you know, which we do have.    And practically, for us, a lot of that happens around the table because I've realized that, like, when children are well-fed, when they have something to do with their hands, they may be a little bit more prone to, like, have open ears, ready to hear, you know, instruction. But we do have those rhythms kind of in place, but I don't want it to be relegated to those rhythms. I want it to be all of life. I want us to understand it doesn't just mean we're gonna sit here over breakfast and do our Bible reading for the day. This is something that is really going with us through the day because we need it not just for this moment, but for all of life.    Laura Dugger: (33:53 - 35:38) You draw so much wisdom there, and I think especially that it's not an either-or, having that set-aside rhythm and time, or just hoping it'll be incorporated into all of life. But it's both.   I want to make sure that you're up to date with our latest news. We have a new website. You can visit thesavvysauce.com and see all of the latest updates. You may remember Francie Henrichsen from Episode 132, where we talked about pursuing our God-given dreams. She is the amazing businesswoman who has carefully designed a brand-new website for Savvy Sauce Charities, and we are thrilled with the final product, so, I hope you check it out. There you're going to find all of our podcasts, now with show notes and transcriptions listed, a scrapbook of various previous guests, and an easy place to join our email list to receive monthly encouragement and questions to ask your loved ones, so, that you can have your own practical chats for intentional living. You will also be able to access our donation button, or our mailing address, for sending checks that are tax-deductible, so, that you can support the work of Savvy Sauce Charities and help us continue to reach the nations with the good news of Jesus Christ. So, make sure you visit thesavvysauce.com today.   Even going back to the heart of this conversation of discipleship, Hunter, how do you think the local church, and especially older women in the community, can play a vital role in encouraging young people to love Scripture?    Hunter Beless: (35:40 - 39:34) You know, I love this question, and I just, I cannot overemphasize the value of older women who love God's Word in the church enough. You know, I think in the culture, we're hearing and seeing that, you know, it's not good to grow old. I mean, that's being perpetuated by all of the Instagram ads that we receive, and by seeing shiny faces that look like they haven't aged one bit. And I'm like, "No, God's Word says that women, older women in particular, have tremendous value in the family of God." And so, I think I want older women just to realize, like, we need you. And in fact, no one is exempt. No woman is exempt from the Titus 2 mandate to teach the younger women what is good. And how do we know what's good? Well, we know God alone is good. And because God is good, we know His Word is good. And if you don't have any clue, like how to reach back and invest in the next generation, I have great news for you. All you need is God's Word.    So, I mean, the littlest learners, the children in the community, I think they are the most gracious recipients of anybody in our community, you know, just when it comes to God's Word. And so, look for ways that you can encourage the younger people in your sphere of influence, in your local church, with God's Word. And often I think that just starts with maybe even meditating on one verse. You know, it can be that simple. Or for me, one way that I want to encourage, you know, the children in my life with God's Word is by identifying ways that I see God working in their lives and naming it. I mean, how encouraging would that be if an older saint in the church said, "Hey, you know, I don't know, my oldest daughter's name is Hadley. Hey, Hadley, like, I see God working in you. You are showing kindness, you know, to the other children in the church. Thank you so much for that. And I'm just praising God for the work he's doing in your life," you know.    But I think in order for them to do that, right, they have to be willing to be inconvenienced by being around the children. And we just had a sermon on this, a wonderful sermon from the book of Mark about Jesus saying, "Let the little children come to me." And so, I think just realizing that Jesus himself, right, he was unbothered. He delighted in the presence of children. So, I think in our older age, you know, especially after you have young kids and you've done all of your time, you know, investing in the next generation in that way, just realizing that there is value in serving in kids' ministry or children's ministry in the church and just getting around the children to be able to give yourself the opportunity to know them in a way where you can meet them with the truths of God's Word. It could also be just having younger families in your home. And I know that can be such an inconvenience. I mean, we're a hot mess. We are so chaotic. And I know, you know, you even have to consider the breakables. Like, you got to protect those, you know, when we come into the house. But figure out, like, what does hospitality look like where we can welcome in younger children, the families with younger children in the home, seek to encourage the parents. I mean, truly, Laura, what else are we doing here? Like, we have been given two things. We have been given the mission of evangelizing and discipling. And that message is the same.    At the heart of both of those things is the gospel. The gospel is for salvation and for sanctification. And so, if you're an older person in the church, keep meditating on the gospel. Keep, you know, seeking to disseminate the truths of the gospel to everybody around you. And remember, the littlest of these, I think, are the most eager learners. And it's such a great opportunity.    Laura Dugger: (39:36 - 39:52) Goodness, I love that. And as you say, disseminate these truths of the gospel for both salvation and sanctification. Can you even share clearly what is that gospel that applies to everyone?    Hunter Beless: (39:53 - 43:58) Oh, yes. I mean, this is the good news that I continually am rehearsing over and over and over again. I think for me, you know, I realized as a young child that the gospel was for salvation, right? That I love the Titus 3. You know, I just wrote this Bible study on Titus with Courtney Docter. If you don't have, like, a great comprehensive kind of gospel text that you've got in your back pocket, I think Titus 3:3-7 is a wonderful text to commit to memory. It says, "So, we are sinners." Romans 3:23. You know, we were created by God to glorify him. And yet, we have chosen to glorify ourselves. Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." So, we too were once foolish. I think it's easy to see that when you really think about your life. You know, like, even me testifying to my life in high school. We too were once foolish. There's no getting around that. But we too, let me see, where am I now? "But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us," "not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy," So, how does he save us? Well, he sent his son, Jesus. When did the kindness of God our Savior appear? Well, it appeared over 2,000 years ago. In a stable in Bethlehem. When, like you said, God sent his son to live a perfect life. And then he gave his life on the cross so, that we might have right relationship with God. He saved us. Not by works of righteousness, but according to his mercy, "By the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit."    So, when, and by the way, he rose from the grave. Let's see, is that in here? I don't know. But let's see. That one's not in this particular gospel text of Titus 3:3-7. But we know that from the gospels, right? That Jesus Christ died on the cross. And that he rose again three days later. Overcoming death. So, that we too might not have to experience eternal death. We get to experience eternal life. When we turn from our sin and trust in him. And that's when that washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit happens. We're filled with the spirit. He's poured out his spirit on us. Verses 6 and 7 says, "whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life." And so, I think part of what it looks like for us to live with that hope of eternal life. Is to constantly be reflecting upon who we were apart from Christ. Who we are in Christ. And who we will be when we one day see Christ again. Face to face. And so, that for me is what it looks like. Just to relish in the gospel. To remember the gospel.    Even when I was talking earlier, Laura, about feeling overwhelmed. The temptation for me then is to feel down on myself. And to wrestle with shame. Because I've over committed, right? But I'm rehearsing the truths of the gospel to myself in that moment. And saying, "Okay. Yes, could I have planned my schedule better? Yes, could I have done all these things? But you know what? I, by God's grace, get instead to rest in the grace that the gospel provides for me in this moment. Knowing that with all these various responsibilities, I am not going to be executing them perfectly. But he has perfectly accomplished my salvation on the cross. And so, I can rest in his son. Knowing that my salvation is not based on my perfect performance. But on the performance of Christ." And that then again helps me then to relish in the gospel. To remember the gospel, like I said, is not just for that moment of salvation or justification. When we're saved from our sins and made right with God. But it's also for every moment of every day. Because we need it all the time. At least I do.    Laura Dugger: (44:00 - 44:20) Yes, absolutely. And I think we can hear that or repeat that so, often. But I love how you unpack it. Because especially for those who have been saved. When they rely on the gospel for sanctification. Can you give any more examples of what that looks like? Specifically for sanctification after the salvation?    Hunter Beless: (44:21 - 46:35) Yeah. I think it's just coming to a greater understanding of our desperate need for Jesus. And then as we rely on him more wholly. I think we're conformed even more into the image of his son. Just after that gospel hymn in Titus 3. Verse 8 says, "The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works." So, what is sanctification? Well, sanctification is growing in godliness. Or said another way, it's growing in good works. Right? So, we're not saved because of our good works. We're saved by the gospel so, that then we can produce good works. By God's grace. That's the sanctification process. And so, how does that happen? Well, verse 8 tells us, "The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things." What does it want us to insist on? It wants us to insist then on the contents of the gospel from Titus 3:3-7. So, we need to, in order to grow in our ability to do good to others. What do we do? We insist on the gospel.    And how does that work? Well, when I am feeling, again, overbooked, overwhelmed. And somebody comes into my life that needs service. If I'm functioning by the world's wisdom, what am I going to say? "You know what? I just don't have the margin for that. I can't do that. I need to protect my time." But if I'm looking at the gospel, what do I see? Well, I see what Christ died for me. Was that act of service self-protective in any way? No. So, what does it look like for me then to lay down my life for the good of another? And that's how the gospel then informs our living in such a way that we begin to grow by God's grace, not by our own effort, in godliness. So, I think that's how the sanctification process kind of works itself out.    Laura Dugger: (46:35 - 46:54) Thank you so much for sharing that. And you've taught us already so, much in this time together. But you've also written a book recently for children. Can you tell us a little bit more about it and share the lasting truths that you want to impart to children who get to read or listen to your book?    Hunter Beless: (46:55 - 49:47) Yeah. I think it started for me with really thinking about what are those kinds of scriptural, biblical truths that I want to offer to the children in these everyday moments like we've been talking about. My son, I already shared, he's been struggling with sleep for the last year or so,. And he'll come tumbling down the stairs in the middle of the night. And my initial reaction to that is to want to say, "It's okay. Mommy's here." Right? And that's true. And I do think that offers some temporal comfort. And it is a good thing for a mother to be present in the time of a child's need. But thinking more deeply, I began to say, "Buddy, God is with you. You have no need to fear." And the reason for that is because I started thinking about, well, what if mommy wasn't here? What if I wasn't able to be here? And some of that came just from having lost my own father in the last few years to cancer spontaneously. And just thinking, like, what are the lasting truths that I then want to impart to my children when I'm no longer able to be present? So, it is true. It's comfort that mommy is here in your time of need. But also, even when mommy's not able to be here, remember, God is with you always.  And it's been such an encouragement for me then to even see him, like, on the playground and his little buddy will get hurt. And he'll turn and he'll tell his buddy, like, "It's okay. God's with you." You know what I'm thinking? "That's so, good. Like, this is the kind of stuff that I want to be just ingrained within the children so, that their initial reaction is, 'It's okay. God is with me.'" Similarly, the message that is repeated throughout the book is, "Jesus Loves You More". And that was really instigated from one of my children requesting for me to say over and over again this popular phrase that we've all heard, "I love you to the moon and back." And I started thinking, like, "Okay, that's true. I do. I love you to the moon and back. I love you to the, you know, mountaintop and to the ocean floor. I love you as far as the east is from the west. But there is one who loves you even more than I ever could. And in fact, when my love fails you, His never will." And so, I wanted to get that.    If there's one message that I want my kids to know, it's that. It's that Jesus loves them so, much that he went all the way to the cross at Calvary and gave his very life so, that they could be made right with God. So, that's the message that I hope kids will take away from the book. I do hope that it inspires parents to think about what are those lasting truths that they want to impart to their kids. And I hope it equips them then to be able to share what I believe as Christian parents is the most important message we could ever give.    Laura Dugger: (49:48 - 49:54) I just want to acknowledge too, I'm so, sorry for the sudden loss of your father in recent years.    Hunter Beless: (49:55 - 50:19) Well, thank you. Yeah, it's, you know, my kids were just saying as we were hiking this last weekend, they're like, "We miss puppy." But we're like, I'm at a point now where I did go through many years of grief, missing him, you know, all of this. But just relishing in the fact that he's in the presence of the Lord Jesus. And I am just so grateful because he's in a much better place. So, I'm looking forward to the day that I get to join him there. Amen.    Laura Dugger: (50:20 - 50:28) Well, Hunter, you've already given us so much, but where can we go to continue being discipled by you after this conversation?    Hunter Beless: (50:30 - 51:14) Well, if you like conversations like this, you know, I infrequently show up at Journey Women. We used to do a weekly show and then it turned to bi-weekly and now we're seasonal. But I do love having conversations just like this. And I hope that, you know, just as our conversation today, I hope it encourages women just to get together, like you said, with women in their local context to open up God's word. And just to go deeper, relationally, conversationally, to come together around the truths of God's word. You've asked such great questions, Laura. And I think take some of these questions and ask your friends and see where the Lord guides those conversations. I think that'll just be such a blessing. It's been a blessing to meet and chat with you today.    Laura Dugger: (51:15 - 51:32) Well, I've loved every minute. And you may already be familiar that we're called The Savvy Sauce because savvy is synonymous with practical knowledge or insight or discernment. And so, as my final question for you today, Hunter, what is your Savvy Sauce?    Hunter Beless: (51:34 - 52:28) Oh, you try to nail me down to something practical. It's funny, Laura, because I feel like I resist practical. And I'm not sure what it is about me that resists practical other than maybe sometimes I felt like bound in by people's practical advice. Does that make sense? And so, for me, here's my practical advice. My practical advice is to allow all of your practices or your practicals to be informed by the principles of the text. So, allow the principles of scripture to inform your practice. And that's not very practical, but I think the only practical way you can do that is to get your face in your Bible and to really seek to know and love God through his word. And then he will certainly help inform your practice.    Laura Dugger: (52:30 - 56:34) I think that's actually more practical than you realize. That is wonderful. And Hunter, your joy and your laugh are just contagious. And you're clearly gifted from the Lord as a clear, articulate communicator. And it blesses so, many people in so many generations because you are able to filter in the truth and then communicate it in a way that's able to be received. So, it's been so encouraging to sit under your teaching and be inspired to take this out and to hopefully begin in our home. But also, those good works, as we're called as older women, too. None of us are exempt, as you said. So, I've just thoroughly enjoyed being with you. Thank you for being my guest. Thank you so much for having me. It's been so fun.   One more thing before you go, have you heard the term gospel before? It simply means good news. And I want to share the best news with you, but it starts with the bad news.   Every single one of us were born sinners, but Christ desires to rescue us from our sin, which is something we cannot do for ourselves. This means there's absolutely no chance we can make it to heaven on our own. So, for you and for me, it means we deserve death, and we can never pay back the sacrifice we owe to be saved.   We need a savior, but God loved us so much. He made a way for his only son to willingly die in our place as the perfect substitute. This gives us hope of life forever in right relationship with him.   That is good news. Jesus lived the perfect life. We could never live and died in our place for our sin.   This was God's plan to make a way to reconcile with us so that God can look at us and see Jesus. We can be covered and justified through the work Jesus finished. If we choose to receive what he has done for us, Romans 10:9 says, “that if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”   So, you pray with me now. Heavenly father, thank you for sending Jesus to take our place. I pray someone today right now is touched and chooses to turn their life over to you.   Will you clearly guide them and help them take their next step in faith to declare you as Lord of their life? We trust you to work and change lives now for eternity. In Jesus name we pray.   Amen. If you prayed that prayer, you are declaring him for me. So, me for him, you get the opportunity to live your life for him.   And at this podcast, we're called The Savvy Sauce for a reason. We want to give you practical tools to implement the knowledge you have learned. So, you're ready to get started.   First, tell someone, say it out loud, get a Bible. The first day I made this decision, my parents took me to Barnes and Noble and let me choose my own Bible. I selected the Quest NIV Bible and I love it.   You can start by reading the book of John. Also get connected locally, which just means tell someone who's a part of a church in your community that you made a decision to follow Christ. I'm assuming they will be thrilled to talk with you about further steps such as going to church and getting connected to other believers to encourage you.   We want to celebrate with you too. So, feel free to leave a comment for us here. If you did make a decision to follow Christ, we also have show notes included where you can read scripture that describes this process.   And finally, be encouraged. Luke 15:10 says, “in the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” The heavens are praising with you for your decision today.   And if you've already received this good news, I pray you have someone to share it with. You are loved and I look forward to meeting you here next time.

I opened the refrigerator and there it was again - the pig! Yes, years ago someone bought it, put it in the refrigerator for a while and then it disappeared. I thought maybe he'd gone to the bacon factory, but then the pig was back. See, this pig was actually plastic, and whenever you would open the door, the plastic pig started oinking at you. It's annoying, but it does make you think about what you're about to do to yourself. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "The No Regrets Alarm." Our word for today from the Word of God - very familiar verses from Matthew 6, beginning at verse 9, "This then is how you should pray." And this is what we commonly call The Lord's Prayer of course. "Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one." How many times have you prayed that? That's an important prayer. We almost don't think about those words. "Lead me not into temptation; deliver me from evil." In other words, "Lord, help me see where the temptation is. Help me steer away from it. Keep me from anything that the Devil might be trying to get me to do." Well, how do you do that? That's through His Holy Spirit. In fact, Jesus said that the Holy Spirit, who He called the Comforter, would do that. He said it in John 16:8. He promises "that the Holy Spirit - the Comforter - when He is come, He will convict the world of sin." He also said in John 14:26 He will "bring to your remembrance all the things that I have taught you." In other words, the Holy Spirit's going to bring to mind how Jesus feels about this. The day you put your trust in Jesus as your Savior, God plants in your soul a sin alarm. Now somebody planted a gluttony alarm in our refrigerator; this noise that makes you stop and think before you reach for something. It was annoying, but the pig could keep you from doing something you would regret later; like how you'll feel when you step on the scale tomorrow. We do need some noise inside of us when we're about to reach for something we're going to later regret. And God delivers us from evil if we will listen to the inner alarms He triggers when we are about to sin. He says something like, "That's not the truth; don't lie. That's not pure; don't watch it. That's going to hurt; don't say it. That's going too far; don't do it." See, one alarm in us is what I call Scripture brakes. God brings to your mind a statement from the Word of God that keeps you from making a mistake if you listen. It's the brakes; step on the brakes. D. L. Moody said that "When you think sin you ought to think Scripture." That's why it's important to commit to memory verses that God can later use to warn you away from the edge. Psalm 119: "I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I will not sin against You." Now, another sin alarm is what I call shame warnings. See, many of us don't carry a sense of shame from the sins of the past, and God erased those from His books if you've brought those sins to Jesus. But sometimes the shame feelings are there a long time after God has forgiven us. And that's actually not all bad, because God can remind you of the damage that comes from saying yes to that temptation, using the shame warnings from the past. Listen to those. One other sin alarm that God uses when you're reaching for something that could hurt you is Spirit tremors. It's an uneasiness in your spirit that says, "This just isn't right." That's probably the stirring of the Holy Spirit. Listen to that inner warning. But respond immediately and put on the Scripture brakes, respond to the shame warnings, to the Spirit tremors before sin drowns them out and you grab a plateful of regrets. After a while, I have to admit I got immune to that pig warning in the fridge. I finally just put it away. Don't do that with the Holy Spirit alarm system inside you. Do not quench the Spirit, because He knows the price tag for what you are about to grab.

God did not create money, however, He had a lot to say about it. Why? Because as humans we can get caught in the whirlwind that is finances. Striving to obtain lots of wealth or struggling to provide for our family and the bills that stack up, it's all so stressful and time consuming. So, of course, God who cares for us and knows all, will want us to know how to work with our finances and how to become even more blessed in it! Keep listening for more.▶SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/c/SouthernHillsLV▶Do you know Jesus as your Savior? https://www.southernhillslv.com/the-gospel▶ DONATE: https://pushpay.com/g/southernhills?src=hpp&r=monthly▶ Visit Southern Hills: https://www.southernhillslv.com/▶ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/southernhillslv▶ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/southernhillslv/Pastor Josh Teis is the founder and senior pastor of Southern Hills Church in Las Vegas. He has a Masters Degree in Bible Exposition from Pensacola Theological Seminary, and he is a Master of Divinity with Liberty University. He coaches pastors in practical leadership and time management and is a nationally sought-after speaker.

Mama, Jesus overcame the grave! Join us on the podcast today and let's celebrate this amazing gift from our Savior!“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39✨ A Sweet Invitation for You, Mama ✨ Sweet sister, in 2026 the Lord is inviting us into something more: deeper connection, more growth, loving heart-to-heart community. Come go deeper with us inside the Radiant Mom Sisterhood.

11am Series: Words of the Cross (Easter 2026) Luke 23:24

In Luke 13:1–9, Jesus responds to tragedy by confronting a deeper issue in the human heart. Instead of comparing ourselves to others, Jesus calls every person to repentance—a returning to God that leads to life.In this message from our Lent series, we explore: • Why comparison blinds us to our own need for grace • How repentance is a daily return to God's mercy • Why sin is better understood as captivity rather than simply failure • How Jesus patiently cultivates our lives so we can bear fruitRepentance isn't about shame—it's about coming home. When we turn toward Jesus, we discover a Savior whose kindness leads us into freedom, healing, and lasting joy.

In John 13:1-17 we see that Our Lord Jesus humbled himself to serve and cleanse, and He calls us to serve others.

In this lecture, we explore a pivotal moment in the Gospel of Matthew, focusing on a request made by the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, to Jesus. She approaches Him, kneeling respectfully to ask for a favor: that her sons might sit beside Him in His kingdom. Jesus' response highlights the gravity of what she is asking, questioning whether they can endure the suffering He is about to face. Their confident affirmation reveals a youthful bravado, unaware of the true cost of discipleship Jesus outlines. Jesus informs them that while they will indeed suffer, the decision of who sits in positions of honor is for the Father alone to determine.The discussion shifts to the reaction of the other disciples, who are indignant upon hearing this request. Jesus seizes the moment to educate all His disciples about the nature of leadership and greatness. He contrasts worldly authority, where rulers exercise power over others, with the radical idea that true greatness in His community is found in servanthood. He explains that the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others, culminating in His ultimate sacrifice. This sets a new paradigm for understanding authority, shifting from a hierarchy of power to one defined by humility and service.The lecturer contextualizes this teaching within the historical backdrop of Jesus' time, referencing the world-renowned figures, particularly the Roman Caesars, whose exploits of power and dominance shaped societal norms. The lecture paints a vivid picture of figures like Julius Caesar and Augustus, who wielded unparalleled authority and established norms that celebrated ambition and self-aggrandizement. This historical lens helps illuminate the contrast Jesus is drawing; He is not merely offering a lesson in humility, but is proposing a revolutionary approach to what it means to lead and be great.As the lecture continues, the implications of Jesus' teaching resonate with contemporary society. The concept of humility, often viewed negatively in the ancient world, has arguably been transformed by the values espoused by Christ. Society today grapples with rising narcissism and self-promotion, raising critical questions about our aspirations and values. The speaker invites reflection on whether contemporary followers of Jesus truly desire a Savior who encourages selflessness or if they, too, succumb to the allure of power and prestige. The discourse delves deeper still, drawing connections between the desire for greatness and societal trends towards narcissism and incivility. The pervasive nature of self-promotion in today's culture prompts a call-to-action about what it means to embrace the path of servanthood in an age that often prioritizes individuality and ambition over community and support. This reflection leads to a powerful conclusion that aligns the teachings of Jesus with the heart of the Gospel: that true greatness is manifested in self-giving love and service to others.In the final moments of the lecture, attention turns to the communion table—a sacrament symbolizing Jesus' ultimate act of service. The act of partaking in communion is framed as a response to Jesus' selfless sacrifice, presenting it as a moment to not only express gratitude but also to renew one's commitment to live a life of service to others in light of His example. The lecture concludes with an invitation to embrace this countercultural vision of greatness, aspiring to mold our lives after the model of Christ who redefines authority through humility and love.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260316dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” John 9:1-3 The Way God Operates One of the greatest difficulties we have in understanding our Creator God is that we assume he operates the way we do. We are tempted to judge him and his actions based on our own faulty criteria of what’s right and wrong, good and bad. When we do that, he seems to come up short, and his ways remain mysterious. But God explains time and again in the Bible that he operates on an entirely different level. His forward-thinking plans and pursuits do not naturally square with our sinful human logic, which is bound by time and immediate self-gratification. He says through his prophet Isaiah, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9). No wonder his ways are mysterious to us! But he’s not the one to blame; we are. We’re broken; he’s not! We’re not alone in having to struggle with this intellectual and spiritual handicap. Jesus’ hand-picked disciples stumbled around as well, trying to understand why God does what he does and getting it wrong. For instance, they assumed that the man they encountered in today’s Bible reading had been born blind because either he or his parents had committed some terrible sin. But they were dead wrong. Jesus explained, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” Get that! God allows—even sends—painful suffering into our lives, and why? Because he hates us? No. So he can show us and others how powerful he is to save, now and forever. Prayer: Dear Jesus, help me to see how you graciously work all things for my good. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

This week, Pastor Jeff has a new Faith Question for us. He uses the idea of superhero rescues to help us see our deeper need for a true Savior—someone who can rescue us not just from danger, but from our own sin and make things right with God. Isaiah 53:11: "Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied… the righteous one, my servant, will make many to be counted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities."

Two Doors, One Savior #RTTBROS #Nightlight"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." — Matthew 11:28John Eldredge said something that stopped me cold when I first read it. He said, "You can't repent your way out of brokenness, and you can't heal your way out of sin."Now sit with that for just a moment, because that's a profound observation.We live in a world that has divided itself into two camps, and honestly, the church has sometimes followed right along. On one side you've got the therapeutic culture, the counselors and the healing retreats and the inner child work, all telling us that what we really need is to understand our wounds and process our pain. On the other side, you've got the repentance-first crowd, and I've spent time in that camp myself, telling people that if they'd just straighten up and get right with God, everything would fall into place.And here's the thing, both of those things matter. Repentance is real and necessary. Healing is real and necessary. But Eldredge is pointing out something we miss when we run to just one of those doors and slam the other one shut.A broken person who is genuinely trying to repent their way to wholeness will find themselves on a treadmill of self-condemnation, because repentance deals with sin, not wounds. And a sinful person who is trying to heal their way into right standing with God will find themselves on a different treadmill entirely, because therapy, as good as it can be, cannot atone for sin. That's not its job.What both the broken and the sinful need is the same thing. They need Jesus. All the way Jesus. Not a partial Jesus who only forgives, or a partial Jesus who only comforts. The whole Jesus, who said, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). He didn't say come to me if you're a sinner. He didn't say come to me if you're wounded. He said come to me if you are weary, and I will give you rest.I'm too soon old and too late smart, but I've learned this much sitting at bedsides and in hospital rooms and in conversations with people at the end of their rope: Jesus is both the Healer and the Savior, and He never runs out of either.So whatever door you've been standing in front of today, whether you feel the weight of your sin or the weight of your wounds, or maybe both at once, He's the answer on the other side of both of them.Let's pray: Lord Jesus, You are the one who forgives and the one who restores. Remind us today that we don't have to choose between coming to You as sinners or coming to You as sufferers. You receive us as we are and make us what we could never make ourselves. In Your name we pray, Amen.#Faith #Healing #Repentance #ChristianLiving #DailyDevotion #TrustGod #BiblicalWisdom #SpiritualGrowth #RTTBROS #NightlightBe sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe, it helps get the word out.https://linktr.ee/rttbros

A single dream changed everything.In the midst of heartbreak, rejection, and deep searching, Tessa Afshar encountered Jesus in a way she could not explain—and could not ignore. Raised in a Muslim home in the Middle East and shaped by a culture driven by achievement and performance, Tessa carried wounds of loss and abandonment that success could never heal. But in one unforgettable dream by the Sea of Galilee, she experienced the unmistakable love and authority of Christ—and discovered a faithful God who pursues before we even know we are being pursued.What followed was not a pain-free life, but a redeemed one.In this deeply honest conversation, Tessa shares how God restored her identity, healed the roots of rejection, walked her through burnout, and ultimately fulfilled the long-buried dream of becoming a writer—far beyond what she imagined possible.In this episode, you will:Be reminded that God's faithfulness reaches into your darkest seasons.Find hope if you are navigating loss, rejection, or unanswered questions.Learn how to anchor your identity in God's acceptance rather than performance.Gain insight into healing burnout and hidden wounds at their source.Be encouraged to trust that God is still restoring what feels lost.This is a story of grace that pursues, faithfulness that redeems, and a Savior who reveals Himself personally and powerfully.The God who met Tessa in a dream is the same faithful God who is writing your story today.Click here for SHOW NOTES!Want to help Widows and Orphans? Join our growing company of women meeting special needs of parentless children and nurturing their unique gifts so they can be ALL God has in mind for them! And help meet real needs of women who have given a lifetime of service to God! Support the Somebody Cares Widows and Orphan fund today! Learn more about the ministry at SomebodyCares.org, Read Jodie's BLOG at LivingYourFaith.netFOLLOW US ON:Facebook: @SomebodyCaresAmerica Youtube: SomebodyCaresAmerica Rumble: SomebodyCares X: _SomebodyCares.Instagram: SomebodyCaresAmericaLinkedIn: Somebody Cares America You can also receive periodic ministry updates or join our prayer team by signing up here!

Since Satan's doom is sure, and he knows it, we can always remind him of it when he tempts us to follow him.

How can sacred art help us feel closer to the Savior and more fully understand his Atonement? In this episode, professor of ancient scripture John Hilton III discusses his new book Behold the Lamb: A Visual Witness of the Savior's Final Hours, created with Anthony Sweat and J. Kirk Richards. The book gathers contemporary Latter-day Saint artwork depicting the final twelve hours of Christ's mortal life and invites deeper reflection on each piece through artist insights, artistic commentary, and cultural context. Professor Hilton explores why Latter-day Saints often favor images of Gethsemane and the Resurrection over those of the Crucifixion, how scripture emphasizes Christ's death as central to His Atonement, and how sacred art can help us "behold the Lamb of God…[who] was lifted up upon the cross and slain for the sins of the world" (1 Nephi 11: 32–33) with greater devotion. This episode offers a meaningful way to enrich your Easter season and deepen your discipleship.   Publications: Behold the Lamb: A Visual Witness of the Savior's Final Hours, co-authored with Anthony Sweat and J. Kirk Richards, Religious Studies Center (2026) Considering the Cross: How Calvary Connects Us with Christ, Deseret Books (2021) "The Loving Christ," in The Power of Christ's Deliverence, Religious Studies Center (2022) Highlighted artwork: A Place Called Gethsemane, Anthony Sweat Arms of Mercy, Anthony Sweat Judged of the World, Emilie Buck Lewis King of the Jews, Tyler Swain Advocate, Chad Winks Christ's Cross, Joseph Chu And Israel's Daughters Wept Around, Rose Datoc Dall Finisher of Our Faith, Eva Koleva Timothy How Beautiful upon the Mountain…, Maureen Merrell View His Death, Anthony Sweat Spear in His Side, J. Kirk Richards Descent From The Cross, Brian Kershisnik  Held, Kristin Alley Carver At Birth and Death, Esther Candari Nicodemus in the Tomb, Lester Yocum Click here to learn more about John Hilton III, here to learn more about Anthony Sweat, and here to learn more about J. Kirk Richards

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260315dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. Ephesians 5:8-11 Light in the Lord If you get up early to go outside and wait for the sunrise, you know what it’s like to sit in darkness. Until the light comes, you can’t see anything because the darkness hides things, obscures things, and makes things impossible to see. But then, just as you think the darkness couldn’t get any deeper, you finally see it. The horizon begins to brighten in the east, and dawn begins to break. The sun begins its ascent into the sky, and its light is now cast all around you. It’s a total transformation! Everything you couldn’t see before is now visible. In the Gospel of John, Jesus says, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). Just as the sun breaks the darkness of the earth when it rises in the east each morning, Jesus has also broken the spiritual darkness that once covered our world and our lives. Oh, what an impact this has on every single day of your life! In the darkness, you can’t see. But in the light, you can! In the darkness, you can’t function. But in the light, you can! Now, you can live as a child of the light. It’s a total transformation! “Fruitless deeds of darkness” aren’t a part of who you are anymore because “You are light in the Lord.” Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, you are the Light of the world, and you have made me light by bringing me into the light of your forgiveness, mercy, and love. Bless and keep me always as you give me the strength to now live like who I am by faith in you, my Savior. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Pastor Chad taught that the cross, once a symbol of shame and punishment in the Roman world, became the greatest symbol of hope because of Jesus. He explained that the real problem in the world is the evil and sin present in every human heart, which separates us from God. From the beginning of Scripture, God promised a coming Savior who would defeat evil and restore humanity. Jesus fulfilled that promise by living without sin and dying on the cross as our substitute, taking the punishment we deserved so we could be forgiven and reconciled to God. Through the cross, the barrier between God and humanity was removed, giving believers access to God and the transforming power of His Spirit.

Jesus encourages the believers in Philadelphia to continue going through the doors of ministry He has opened. Our text in this study is: Revelation 3:7-13 Pastor Gene Pensiero Subscribe on YouTube at: https://youtube.com/calvaryhanford Read the notes at: https://calvaryhanford.substack.com Find audio, video, and text of hundreds of other studies through the Bible at https://calvaryhanford.com/ Door-To-Door Savior […]

This powerful exploration of Isaiah 53 invites us into what scholars have called the golden passage of the Old Testament, the fifth gospel, written 700 years before the cross yet describing Christ's suffering with astonishing precision. We discover that the entire passage calls us to be astonished, to behold with wonder a Servant who would act wisely and be highly exalted, yet whose appearance would be marred beyond recognition. The central paradox confronts us immediately: God's powerful arm of deliverance doesn't come to smash enemies but gets smashed itself. From birth to death, Jesus defied expectations. He grew up like a tender shoot from dry ground, nothing impressive about his appearance, easily dismissed like a sucker growing beside a tree that we'd cut off without thought. Yet this rejection wasn't accidental but intentional. Christ became what we truly are, taking on the ugliness of our sin-marred image, that we might become what he is. The image of God in us has been distorted beyond recognition through our hatred, laziness, and base desires, yet God loved us too much to simply cut us off. Instead, he sent his Son to be rejected for us, to die the gruesome death we deserved, accomplishing the great exchange where our beastliness becomes his and his beauty becomes ours. This Lenten season challenges us to worship this astonishing Savior, to witness to the Beauty and the Beast story of our own redemption, and to walk in the humble way of Christ who emptied himself for our sake.

Jesus saves us from the greatest danger of all, eternal death. Pastor Lee continues our sermon series in John chapter 6.Welcome to Heights Baptist Church! Connect with us at heightschurch.org/connect

If your words have been like a leaky faucet—dripping quarrels and irritation—turn to God, ask forgiveness, and speak with wisdom and love. -------- Thank you for listening! Your support of Joni and Friends helps make this show possible.     Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Become part of the global movement today at www.joniandfriends.org   Find more encouragement on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.

In Week 1 of our “Last Words” series, we look at the first words Jesus spoke from the cross in Gospel of Luke 23:32–38: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”Pastor Tex begins with a personal story about his grandfather's final words. He reminds us that last words carry deep meaning and reveal what matters most. In the same way, the final words of Jesus reveal the very heart of God.At the cross we see two powerful truths:• The depth of human brokenness, humanity rejecting the very Savior sent to rescue us.• The depth of God's mercy, Jesus praying for forgiveness even while being crucified.This message explores how the cross exposes our need for forgiveness and shows that God's first response toward sinners is not judgment, but mercy. Through Jesus' sacrifice, the debt of our sin can be released and replaced with new life.Finally, we're challenged with a difficult but life-changing question: If Jesus has forgiven us, will we choose to forgive others?Forgiven people forgive. And learning to release the debts others owe us is part of following Jesus.

Send a textGUEST: CHRIS KATULKA, host, Friends of Israel Today RadioHostility or hatred of the Jews and Israel is an age-old scourge of mankind. And it always ends badly for those who get seduced into it.The Egyptian Pharaoh attempted to kill male Jewish babies, and his country was destroyed by God's plagues. Haman in Persia (modern-day Iran) plotted to exterminate all Jews in the kingdom, and he and his 10 sons were executed. In the 20th century, Hitler launched an attempt to annihilate the Jewish people. He died, and Germany lost World War II.There have been many more examples of enmity toward the Jews throughout history and yet the Jewish people continue to survive and even prosper.Anti-Israel, anti-Jewish hostility is inspired by Satan. How so? Satan is driven to thwart God's plan. So to exterminate the Jews before the coming of Jesus Christ, Himself a Jew, would be to foil God's promise of a Savior. To destroy Israel now would be to derail God's promise to save Israel and the return of Christ.Fundamentally, the lack of peace in the Middle East is about Israel's neighbors open hostility toward the Jewish people's presence. The Jews did not take back Israel through force of arms in 1948 but through declarations by Britain and the United Nations. No matter, the newly established State of Israel was attacked immediately by her Arab neighbors.This helps explain why Iran and its proxies across the Middle East, like Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, who although holding differing Islamic beliefs, are united by an unquenchable hatred and motive to destroy Israel.But it's not just the Middle East. The spiritual contagion of enmity toward the Jews and Israel has infected many in the West. The political and theological left, which are basically one and the same, are characterized by this. But what is troubling is that the political and theological right (i.e. conservatives) are succumbing as well. Notable influencers like Tucker Carlson, Candance Owens, and Nick Fuentes, along with many others, openly and loudly deride Israel and the Jews, asserting:The modern-day people in Israel aren't JewsThe Jews control America and the U.S. does Israel's bidding in the Middle EastThe Jews are the great corruptors in the world and seek global dominionIsrael is a genocidal oppressorEven if there was any truth to these defamations, none of it would cancel God's unbreakable promise: “God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be! … From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God's choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers; for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:1, 28-29).This weekend on The Christian Worldview, Chris Katulka, host of Friends of Israel Today radio program and Vice President of North American Ministries, joins us to discuss The Dark Spiritual Contagion of Anti-Israel, Anti-Jewish Enmity.Be sure to join us for this important topic that explains much of what is taking place in the world.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260314dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:6-8 Live Today in Confidence This isn’t an easy part of the Bible to read. It says some very uncomfortable things about us. Here, the apostle Paul describes us as “ungodly” and “sinners.” Those aren’t pleasant descriptors. But unfortunately, they are accurate. And, because of our ungodly ways and our sinful thoughts, words and actions, our Maker could have let us die in those sins and be separated from him forever. It is what we would have deserved. But instead, God chose to love us! Yes, in an amazing act of HIS will, he determined that he would come to this earth for you and me and all people, would live for us, would die for us. In an amazing act of his will, he determined to save us. In an amazing act of love, Christ came and died in our place. God has chosen to love us with the most amazing love ever. So, you can live today in confidence, knowing that God is on your side, knowing that God loves you dearly! Prayer: Assure me that you have chosen to love me, dear Savior. Fill me with peace because of it. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Today, Pastor Jack teaches that the personal discipline of the disciple starts by remembering our sinful state, and our need for our Savior. Our sins, in the magnitude of the Lord's sacrifice, creates within us a humble gratitude, and an unwavering loyalty.

To become a follower of Jesus, visit: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/MeetJesus (NOT a Morning Mindset resource) ⇒ Get a copy of the MM Companion Journal: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/journal ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: 2 Peter 3:1–3 - This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, [2] that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, [3] knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. (ESV) ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE MORNING MINDSET: (not tax-deductible) -- Become a monthly partner: https://mm-gfk-partners.supercast.com/ -- Support a daily episode: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/daily-sponsor/ -- Give one-time: https://give.cornerstone.cc/careygreen -- Venmo: @CareyNGreen ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FOREIGN LANGUAGE VERSIONS OF THIS PODCAST: SPANISH version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Spanish HINDI version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Hindi CHINESE version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Chinese  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ CONTACT: Carey@careygreen.com  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ THEME MUSIC: “King’s Trailer” – Creative Commons 0 | Provided by https://freepd.com/ ***All NON-ENGLISH versions of the Morning Mindset are translated using A.I. Dubbing and Translation tools from DubFormer.ai ***All NON-ENGLISH text content (descriptions and titles) are translated using the A.I. functionality of Google Translate.

We FINALLY know who the Prototype is but… what are his TRUE intentions? What is he really hiding from us? Game Theory host Tom is on the case!

Visit www.joniradio.org for more inspiration and encouragement! --------Thank you for listening! Your support of Joni and Friends helps make this show possible. Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Become part of the global movement today at www.joniandfriends.org. Find more encouragement on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.

→ Watch on YouTube → Detailed Show Notes → Timestamps: (00:00) A brief overview of these chapters.(08:03) Joseph acknowledges to his brothers that God was aware of his trials, and that ultimately they were for his good.(13:25) A comparison of God's fairness and mercy.(21:51) Judah offered himself in place of Benjamin for his father's sake.(26:41) The Savior can fix broken things.(29:25) Jacob adopts Ephraim and Manasseh as tribes of Israel.(38:34) A closer look at some complicated passages you may be wondering about.(41:54) How the Egyptian Book of the Dead may be related to the book of Genesis.(48:58) Jacob knew loss and what it was like to live in a world of chaos and sin.(54:19) Jacob confers patriarchal blessings upon each of his sons before he passes away.(1:02:13) The Bible and the Book of Mormon were destined to come together and bless the world. → For more of Bryce Dunford’s podcast classes, click here. → Enroll in Institute → YouTube → Apple Podcasts → Spotify → Amazon Music → Facebook The post Ep 363 | Genesis 42-50, Come Follow Me 2026 (March 16-22) appeared first on LDS Scripture Teachings.

Years ago, Maria Eckersley found herself needing the Savior more than ever. As her husband battled pancreatic cancer, Easter became more than a holiday—it became a lifeline of hope, hope in the promises of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Instead of creating a long list of activities or traditions, Maria created what she calls a "tradition of teaching." In this episode, Maria shares how intentionally focusing her family on the gift of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ transformed her home and her gratitude for Easter.    2:42- Origin of Testimony 6:13- Salt Lake Temple Open House Celebration 9:59- A Choice to Celebrating Easter 15:18- A Tradition of Teaching 20:13- What a Connection with the Lord Does 22:08- There's Always Water 25:08- The Promises If the Resurrection is True 29:15- The Duality in Easter 34:04- Easter Through the Lens of the Book of Mormon 37:33- What Does It Mean To Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ?    "I think there's a lot of that commercial side that we can set down when it comes to Easter. So for me, I guess I see Christmas as a season of giving and receiving in the Savior's way and when it comes to Easter, I see Easter focused on it's all about me receiving...it literally is just His divine gift that is given to all of us. It's a time for us to celebrate that gift, to appreciate it, maybe to emulate it but it's really all about receiving and I just think there's some tenderness in that."   Links: Teaching Easter by Maria Eckersley Elder Neal A. Maxwell- "The cavity which suffering carves into our souls will one day also be the receptacle of joy."