Podcasts about Spirit

Num 26:52-28:15, Luke 3:1-22, Ps 61:1-8, Pr 11:16-17

Num 26:52-28:15, Luke 3:1-22, Ps 61:1-8, Pr 11:16-17

Lent is often associated with giving something up for a short period of time—chocolate, social media, or another personal habit. While these practices can be helpful, the deeper purpose of Lent goes far beyond temporary sacrifice. It is an invitation to examine our hearts and allow God to reshape us. In John 15, Jesus describes Himself as the true vine and God the Father as the gardener. Every branch connected to the vine is carefully tended. Branches that do not bear fruit are removed, while fruitful branches are pruned so they can grow even stronger and produce more. Pruning is not comfortable. In gardening, it involves cutting away what is unnecessary so that the plant can flourish. Spiritually, pruning can look similar. God gently reveals attitudes, habits, or priorities that may be preventing us from growing closer to Him. Sometimes those things are obvious sins that need to be removed. Other times they may be distractions or patterns that slowly pull our focus away from Christ. Even good activities can become misplaced priorities if they keep us from remaining connected to the vine. Lent invites us to slow down and reflect. It encourages us to sit quietly before God and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal what needs to change. This season is not about earning God’s approval—it’s about allowing Him to shape our hearts so we can bear the fruit of His Spirit. As we remain connected to Christ, the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control begins to grow in our lives. These qualities are not produced through willpower alone but through our ongoing relationship with Jesus. When we allow God to prune our hearts, the result is not loss—it is deeper growth, greater freedom, and a life that reflects His character more clearly. Main Takeaways Lent invites believers to examine their hearts and spiritual habits. God, the gardener, prunes our lives so we can grow and bear more fruit. Spiritual pruning may involve removing sinful habits or unhealthy priorities. Remaining connected to Christ allows the fruit of the Spirit to grow in us. The goal of Lent is deeper transformation, not temporary sacrifice. Today’s Bible Verse “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” - John 15:1-4 (NIV) Your Daily Prayer Prayer excerpt for listeners: “Lord, help me remain connected to You and allow Your Spirit to shape my heart.” Listen to the full prayer here. To view the prayer in written format, visit the links below. Want More? Relevant Links & Resources Continue growing in faith and encouragement: LifeAudio.com – Christian podcasts and devotionals Crosswalk.com – Daily prayers, articles, and Bible study resources This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. If you are struggling with debt call Trinity today. Trinity's counselors have the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | https://trinitycredit.orgTrinityCredit – Call us at 1-800-793-8548. Whether we're helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments, Trinity has the knowledge and resources to make a difference. https://trinitycredit.org Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Could one small adjustment change the direction of your future? On Believer's Voice of Victory, Pastor George Pearsons and Dennis Burke share how “the Year of the Fix” is a call to reorder, realign and make Spirit-led course corrections. Learn how the Holy Spirit lovingly reveals what needs to shift so you can move forward stronger than ever. This episode will empower you to embrace change and accelerate into God's best.

Phil Robertson had a surprising way of settling arguments with his boys when they got into trouble, and the guys dig into a bigger conversation about why so many men today struggle to lead their families. Turning to Genesis, the guys examine the roles given to men and women—roles humanity has wrestled with since the beginning and that modern culture only seems to complicate further. Zach helps explain how believers can test the spirits and recognize truth through Scripture and the fruit of the Spirit. In this episode: 1 Thessalonians 5, verse 4; 1 John 3, verse 13; Revelation 3; Genesis 2, verses 15–17; 1 John 3, verse 18; Colossians 1; Matthew 18; 1 John 3, verses 19–21; 1 John 4, verses 1–6; 1 John 5, verse 9; Galatians 5, verses 19–24 “Unashamed” Episode 1291 is sponsored by: https://fastgrowingtrees.com — Get 20% your first purchase when using the code UNASHAMED at checkout. https://timtebow.com/tree-unashamed/ — Get your copy of If the Tree Could Speak by Tim Tebow on Amazon today! https://myphdweightloss.com — Find out how Al lost 80+ pounds. Schedule your one-on-one consultation today by visiting the website or calling 864-644-1900 and mention "AL" http://unashamedforhillsdale.com/ — Sign up now for free, and join the Unashamed hosts every Friday for Unashamed Academy Powered by Hillsdale College Check out At Home with Phil Robertson, nearly 800 episodes of Phil's unfiltered wisdom, humor, and biblical truth, available for free for the first time! Get it on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, and anywhere you listen to podcasts! https://open.spotify.com/show/3LY8eJ4ZBZHmsImGoDNK2l Listen to Not Yet Now with Zach Dasher on Apple, Spotify, iHeart, or anywhere you get podcasts. Chapters 00:00 Willie's Shockingly Exciting Birthday Gift 05:35 A Town Called “Surprise” 10:05 Getting Stuck in the Bathroom Line for a Reason 18:40 A Husband's Duty to Protect 27:45 Leadership, Blame, & Responsibility 36:00 The L-O-V-E Section 44:00 God Is Greater Than Our Hearts 49:00 How to Recognize Truth 54:00 The Spirit of Truth vs. the Spirit of Falsehood — Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Num 26:1-51, Luke 2:36-52, Ps 60:1-12, Pr 11:15

This week, I'm back with the team to talk about the importance of pausing to pray and seek God's direction as Christians, before we publicly respond to things online, or create content for public consumption that dishonors others.We're living in a time where everyone feels pressure to react quickly, share every opinion, and defend every point of view. But as believers, we are not called to move at the speed of society. We are called to move in step with the Spirit. And sometimes that means being quiet long enough to pray, examine our hearts, and ask whether what we're about to say is actually producing the kind of unity Jesus prayed for.If you've felt grieved by the division online within the Christian body, or even if you've been trusted with your own platform and wondered, “Do I need to respond to everything?” or “How do I stand firm without sowing division?” I pray this episode reminds you—not every moment needs your reaction, but every moment does require a thoughtful response in love.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to TIME WASTING! Your home for anything and EVERYTHING women's soccer. Ali Riley & Kelley O'Hara take you through a WILD NWSL Kickoff weekend that started with the Portland Thorns getting their revenge over the Spirit, and saw BOTH NWSL expansion teams earn their very first red cards in game one. We're getting REAL about the High Impact Player Rule (spoiler: we are NOT on board). PLUS we're ranking all of our favorite off season moves and just how those could impact the league this season. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:47 WILD Kickoff Weekend 03:02 Thorns get REVENGE Over Spirit 06:14 KC Comeback vs. Utah 07:79 Gotham Ruins Boston's Debut 10:21 Red Cards For ALL 13:12 Dash STUN Wave… 16:02 Angel City BLOWOUT Stars 19:40 Savy King RETURNS 21:13 Crystal Dunn's Impact 23:56 NWSL Retirements 28:14 The Trinity Rodman Rule 32:22 Players Want a Higher Salary Cap 33:40 Catarina Macario to Wave FC 35:53 Blind Ranking Offseason Moves 41:01 Last Minute NWSL Transfers 50:12 Alright, BET Just Women's Sports is the leading digital media platform dedicated exclusively to women's sports. In a world where women's sports have been historically underfunded and under-promoted, Just Women's Sports exists to shine a light on all the stories, athletes and moments that define and fuel the space. Through original podcasts, premium video programming, social media, editorial content, a newsletter, and exclusive merchandise and live events, Just Women's Sports is committed to making it both easy and fun to be a women's sports fan. Listen to Time Wasting here: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/time-wasting/id1522055041 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6RTMyWpdSBY9I4vO528qX3?si=4ffbdaf315814b19&nd=1&dlsi=8ead3e4fd463490d iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-time-wasting-68461888/ Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a6f36ad8-f5e2-4478-8650-3f6f8805810b/time-wasting Add us on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justwomenssports/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/justwsports Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@justwomenssports? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode, we're sharing a real-time update on what God is currently teaching us in our marriages. We're definitely not experts—we're just a couple girls in the first decade of marriage learning as we go. From navigating exhaustion and learning how to love our husbands in the small ways, to honoring their voices, creating space for each other to recharge, and keeping fun alive in the middle of busy family life—this conversation is honest, funny, and full of the little lessons shaping our relationships right now. We also talk about serving together, learning deeper dependence on our spouses in new seasons, and why prayer for your husband might be one of the most powerful things you can do in marriage. If you're married, dating, or dreaming about marriage someday, we hope this episode encourages you that growth in marriage often comes through the everyday moments. And truly—God is using it all. In This Episode [02:00] The Power of Small Moments of Appreciation [04:07] Learning Each Other's Love Languages [07:56] Letting Your Spouse's Voice Matter Most [14:40] Giving Your Spouse Freedom to Recharge [21:58] Why Serving Together Strengthens Marriage [25:00] Growing in Dependence on Each Other [28:00] Keeping Fun Alive in the Middle of Life's Logistics [31:05] When to Pause Arguments Instead of Pushing Through [34:30] Learning to Pray for Your Spouse Delight Ministries Looking for a Delight Chapter near you? Check out⁠⁠⁠ Delightministries.com⁠⁠⁠ to find one. If there's not one near you, and you want to help start one, ⁠⁠⁠let us know⁠⁠⁠! We would love to talk. ⁠⁠⁠ORDER OUR NEW STUDY!⁠⁠⁠⁠ This seven-week, verse-by-verse study through the book of Acts invites you to embrace the unpredictable, sometimes challenging adventure of Spirit-led living that characterized the early church. Thanks to Our Sponsors ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Winshape⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn more or submit your application today⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! ⁠ If you'd like to partner with For The Girl as a sponsor, fill out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Advertise With Us⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ form! Follow us!

Have you been waiting for something to shift in your life? On Believer's Voice of Victory, Pastor George Pearsons and Dennis Burke reveal how “the Year of the Fix” includes a supernatural shift in the wind of the Spirit. Through a compelling testimony and powerful teaching of the Scriptures, Dennis shows how speaking God's Word can move circumstances that seem unchangeable to create the Fix for you. Watch and discover how to release your faith and step into a Holy Spirit-driven breakthrough.

Psalms 1 & 2 E4 — The New Testament authors make both subtle and direct claims to Jesus' divinity, almost exclusively by referencing Israel's Scriptures. In Psalm 2, one of the most quoted passages from the Hebrew Bible, Yahweh responds to the conspiring, violent nations by installing a king (whom he calls his Son) in Israel. Jesus and the apostles frequently use Psalm 2 language to describe Jesus' divine identity and unique relationship to God the Father. In this episode, Jon and Tim explore these references in Jesus' baptism, transfiguration, and resurrection, while also considering how the Son of God shares his royal identity with his followers. FULL SHOW NOTES For chapter-by-chapter summaries, biblical words, referenced Scriptures, and reflection questions, check out the full show notes for this episode. CHAPTERS Recap and Setup for the New Testament (0:00-9:23) Psalm 2 in Jesus' Baptism (9:23-23:46) Psalm 2 in Jesus' Transfiguration (23:46-40:24) Psalm 2 in Acts and Romans (40:24-59:50) Psalm 2 in Revelation (59:50-1:15:05) PSALMS 1 & 2 BIBLEPROJECT TRANSLATION View our full translation of Psalms 1 & 2. REFERENCED RESOURCES The Birth of the Trinity: Jesus, God, and Spirit in New Testament and Early Christian Interpretations of the Old Testament by Matthew W. Bates Check out Tim's extensive collection of recommended books here. SHOW MUSIC “Spark” by Tesk “Jasmine” by King I Divine “Lounge” by Leavv & Nuncc “Filao” by Kissamilé BibleProject theme song by TENTS  SHOW CREDITS Production of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Tyler Bailey is our supervising engineer, who also edited today's episode and provided the sound design and mix. JB Witty writes the show notes. Our host and creative director is Jon Collins, and our lead scholar is Tim Mackie.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Num 24:1-25:18, Luke 2:1-35, Ps 59:1-17, Pr 11:14

Num 24:1-25:18, Luke 2:1-35, Ps 59:1-17, Pr 11:14

Are you tired of comparing your life to everyone else's highlight reel on social media? In this episode, Gabrielle Bernstein shares the spiritual solution to comparison anxiety and offers practical tools to help you break free from the cycle of judgment, jealousy, and self-doubt. You'll learn why the mind defaults to comparison, how this pattern keeps you stuck in fear, and how simple spiritual practices can ground you back in your own journey, restore your sense of self-love and worthiness, and help you see other people's success as inspiration rather than a trigger… So you can reclaim your peace, trust your timing, and open yourself up to the miracles meant for you.Join Gabrielle on her 2026 Time to Trust Tour! Get your ticket here https://gabbybernstein.com/events/Read Gabrielle's #1 NYT Bestselling books: Self Help: This Is Your Chance to Change Your Life. http://bit.ly/4j1asmA and Judgment Detox: Release the Beliefs that Hold You Back from Living a Better Life https://amzn.to/3eKZJNADownload the meditation from this episode for healing comparison here: https://bit.ly/47Dod7NIf you feel you need additional support, please consult this list of safety, recovery, and mental health resources.Disclaimer: This podcast is intended to educate, inspire, and support you on your personal journey towards inner peace. I am not a psychologist or a medical doctor and do not offer any professional health or medical advice. If you are suffering from any psychological or medical conditions, please seek help from a qualified health professional.SPONSORS:Right now, you can get up to $200 of Square hardware at square.com/go/gabbyProduced by Dear MediaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Do you ever wonder why you're not seeing more breakthrough? Today I ask a powerful question: Are you listening to the Spirit, or stuck in your head trying to figure things out? Jesus read people's thoughts—not with logic, but by the Spirit. And we're called to operate the same way. In this message, I break down Mark chapter one and show you how powerful preaching disrupts darkness, why religious people miss moves of God, and how you can become a new wineskin ready for the next outpouring.   Podcast Episode 2058: Are You Reasoning in Your Mind or Listening in Your Spirit? | don't miss this! Listen to more episodes of the Lance Wallnau Show at lancewallnau.com/podcast

What does it really mean to walk with God—not just for a season, but for a lifetime? No two people in Scripture walked with God identically, and the same is true for all of us. Sometimes, a stretch of miles when God seems gloriously obvious can be followed by months of wondering where he's gone. God has his own objectives for each season of our walks, and some of them will remain a mystery until we see his face.Join us as Beth unpacks this topic with English poet, singer-songwriter, Anglican priest and academic Malcolm Guite. You are in for a treat! Keep in mind, this interview is designed for use with the Walking with God Bible study, sold separately.Join New York Times bestselling author of All My Knotted-Up Life, Beth Moore, as she leads you on a five-week journey through Scripture to explore what walking with God looked like throughout the Biblical storyline.Includes six sessions, designed for both individuals and groups:Session 1: The Beginning of WalkingSession 2: The Law of WalkingSession 3: The Heart of WalkingSession 4: The Discipleship of WalkingSession 5: The Spirit of WalkingSession 6: Wrap-UpWhether you're just beginning your faith journey or have been walking with God for decades, this study will teach you to walk nearer and more attentively with God every day.You can purchase a copy of Beth's latest study and teaching videos here: https://www.tyndale.com/p/walking-with-god/9798400510175?srsltid=AfmBOoryh3lFbls3XNTVKmHR2p4DzOHIq6XV2Q5O4zNxHAO50OiRRJ18-----------------We would love to have you join us for a Living Proof Live Event! Beth always brings a fresh word. Check out our Events webpage to see Beth in-person (https://www.lproof.org/events).---------------Living Proof Ministries is dedicated to encouraging people to come to know and love Jesus Christ through the study of Scripture."For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any two-edged sword." –Hebrews 4:12---------------Connect with us:WEBSITE: https://www.lproof.org/YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRJmg8jt3mQ4DTELKDde4rQINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/livingproofministries/FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/LivingProofMinistriesWithBethMoore/TWITTER: https://twitter.com/BethMooreLPM

What does it really mean to walk with God—not just for a season, but for a lifetime? No two people in Scripture walked with God identically, and the same is true for all of us. Sometimes, a stretch of miles when God seems gloriously obvious can be followed by months of wondering where he's gone. God has his own objectives for each season of our walks, and some of them will remain a mystery until we see his face.Join us as Beth unpacks this topic with English poet, singer-songwriter, Anglican priest and academic Malcolm Guite. You are in for a treat! Keep in mind, this interview is designed for use with the Walking with God Bible study, sold separately.Join New York Times bestselling author of All My Knotted-Up Life, Beth Moore, as she leads you on a five-week journey through Scripture to explore what walking with God looked like throughout the Biblical storyline.Includes six sessions, designed for both individuals and groups:Session 1: The Beginning of WalkingSession 2: The Law of WalkingSession 3: The Heart of WalkingSession 4: The Discipleship of WalkingSession 5: The Spirit of WalkingSession 6: Wrap-UpWhether you're just beginning your faith journey or have been walking with God for decades, this study will teach you to walk nearer and more attentively with God every day.You can purchase a copy of Beth's latest study and teaching videos here: https://www.tyndale.com/p/walking-with-god/9798400510175?srsltid=AfmBOoryh3lFbls3XNTVKmHR2p4DzOHIq6XV2Q5O4zNxHAO50OiRRJ18-----------------We would love to have you join us for a Living Proof Live Event! Beth always brings a fresh word. Check out our Events webpage to see Beth in-person (https://www.lproof.org/events).---------------Living Proof Ministries is dedicated to encouraging people to come to know and love Jesus Christ through the study of Scripture."For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any two-edged sword." –Hebrews 4:12---------------Connect with us:WEBSITE: https://www.lproof.org/YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRJmg8jt3mQ4DTELKDde4rQINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/livingproofministries/FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/LivingProofMinistriesWithBethMoore/TWITTER: https://twitter.com/BethMooreLPM

Continuing on Hegel's Phenomenology, "Spirit" chapter, now up to sections 464-483, which are under the sub-headings "Ethical Action. Human and Divine Knowledge. Guilt and Destiny" and "Legal Status." After anticipating it in last episode, we get  Hegel's allegorical analysis of Antigone as a clash between two types of law that cooperate in a harmonious society. With this clash, both fail, leaving us with modernity where law is alienated from individuals. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Visit partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and tons of bonus discussion. Sponsors: Go to NerdWallet.com/PEL for trustworthy small business loans. Get a $1/month e-commerce trial at shopify.com/pel.  

Listen to the rest of this premium episode by subscribing at patreon.com/knowyourenemy. In this episode, we shift our attention from the Trump administration to the winner of the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate in Texas, state legislator and Presbyterian seminarian, James Talarico. Even before prevailing in that contest earlier this month, Talarico had been having something of a moment, appearing on Ezra Klein's podcast, being profiled by the New Yorker, and generating a wave of media coverage, much of it focused on Talarico's Christian faith, his criticisms of the religious right, and what it all might mean for his political prospects in a state that remains stubbornly red. We explore what we like and what we find frustrating about Talarico's attempt to mix religious rhetoric and populism; how he navigates the complexities of speaking the language of a particular religious tradition in an increasingly secular, pluralistic society; Dr. King, the Civil Rights Movement, and prophetic religion; the place of religion on the left, and how it differs from the religious right; Herbert McCabe and socialism; and more. Sources: "James Talarico's Beautiful Answer to Christian Nationalism," Ezra Klein Show, Jan 13, 2026 Matthew Sitman, "Whither the Religious Left?" New Republic, April 15, 2021 — "Against Moral Austerity: On the Need for a Christian Left," Dissent, Summer 2017 — "Finding the Words for Faith: Meet Christian Wiman, America's Most Important Christian Writer," The Dish, Sept 3, 2014 Bill McCormick, S.J., "Joe Biden Said Now Is The Time To Heal. But What If Americans Don't Want Reconciliation?" America, Nov 13, 2020 Vincent Lloyd, "Marcuse the Lover," Telos, Winter 2013 Alex Thompson, "Faith-forward Texas Senate Candidate Follows Porn Actors, Escorts on Instagram," Axios, Nov 8, 2025 Tad Friend, "James Talarico Puts His Faith in Texas Voters," New Yorker, Feb 23, 2026 Christian Wiman, My Bright Abyss: Meditations of a Modern Believer (2013) Joseph Bottum, An Anxious Age: The Post-Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of America (2014)

Paranormal in the NAVY, a Mother's Gift & Man in the WallEpisode 475 | March 16, 2026INFO & CONTACTWebsite: https://paranormalmysteriespodcast.comTell Your Story: https://paranormalmysteriespodcast.com/tell-your-storySUPPORT THE SHOWPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/paranormalmysteriesBuy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/paranormalPayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=MG24QCZBAWRRNFOLLOW & SUBSCRIBEYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ParanormalMysteriesPodcastPodcast Source: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/paranormal-mysteries--2321086

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!emersonk78@me.comExcel Still More Journal - AmazonNew GENESIS Daily Bible Devotional!Daily Bible Devotional Series - AmazonSponsors:  Spiritbuilding Publishers Website:  www.spiritbuilding.comTyler Cain, Senior Loan Officer, Statewide MortgageWebsites: https://statewidemortgage.com/https://tylercain.floify.com/Phone: 813-380-84878 Reasons God Won't Hear or Answer Prayer:1)        Unconfessed Sin (Ps. 66:18)2)        You Don't Actually Pray (James 4:2)3)        Doubt that God will Act (James 1:5-8)4)        Wrong Motives (James 4:3)5)        Unforgiveness to Others (Mark 11:25-26)6)        Ignoring Hurting People (Proverbs 21:13)7)        Being a Bad Husband (I Peter 3:7)8)        He's Got Something Better Planned! (II Cor. 12:7-10)When you pray, recognize the help of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:26-28).“Pray in the Spirit” Ephesians 6:18 – Utilize your relationship with the Spirit!He's in the house. Tear down the paper wall between you and welcome Him. 

Born from 1930s Japanese schoolyard whispers and now embedded in global horror culture, Aka Manto represents modern urban legend at its most psychologically visceral. This isn't ancient folklore passed down through centuries—it's a contemporary yokai that emerged from the anxieties of modern life, transforming the mundane vulnerability of a bathroom stall into a trap with no escape. When you answer the wrong question, there's no bargaining, no mercy, only the terrible realization that you've sealed your own fate. Aka Manto reminds us that new monsters are born every generation, shaped by our evolving fears—and sometimes, the most terrifying horrors aren't buried in forgotten forests, but waiting in the places we visit every single day.   freakyfolklore.com   carman-carrion.com   #AkaManto #JapaneseFolklore #FreakyFolklore #UrbanLegends #Yokai #BathroomHorror #ModernMyths #JapaneseUrbanLegends #SchoolHorror #RedCloak #ToshiDensetsu #JapaneseGhosts   EXPLORE MORE SPINE-CHILLING CONTENT: Freaky Folklore: https://www.eeriecast.com/podcasts/freaky-folklore Carman's Crypt (Original Horror): https://carmanscrypt.buzzsprout.com   Deadly Intent (True Crime): https://carmancarrion.buzzsprout.com Destination Terror: https://www.eeriecast.com/podcasts/destination-terror    SUPPORT THE SHOW: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/CarmanCarrion   Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/carmancarrion   CONNECT WITH CARMAN: Website: https://www.carman-carrion.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CarmanCarrion Twitter/X: https://x.com/CarmanCarrion   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carmancarrion/   SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW:   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0uiX155WEJnN7QVRfo3aQY   iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/freaky-folklore/id1550361184   Your support helps bring you more terrifying tales!   DISCOVER MORE HORROR: http://eeriecast.com/   https://www.carman-carrion.com/   Crypt Shop: https: //the-crypt-shop-2.myshopify.com/   MUSIC CREDITS:   Music and sound effects provided by: CO.AG, Myuu, Jinglepunks, Epidemic Sound, Kevin MacLeod, Dark Music, and Soundstripe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our Founding Pastor, Willie George, continues week eleven of our teaching series, Breakthrough. The Holy Spirit was given as our Helper, our divine guarantee, that God has placed within us. Through Him, we step into a life marked by wisdom, love, and supernatural might to do what God has called us to do. As we walk in the love of God, the power of God can freely work in and through us.   In this message, Pastor Willie explores the following Scriptures:   John 14:16 KJV 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;   2 Corinthians 1:21-22 NKJV 21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, 22 who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.   2 Timothy 1:6-7 KJV 6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. 7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.   Ephesians 1:15-17 KJV 15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, 16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; 17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him...   Proverbs 4:7 KJV 7 Wisdom is the principal thing...   Isaiah 37:3 ESV 3 "...children have come to the point of birth, and there is no strength to bring them forth."   Ephesians 3:14-16 KJV 14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;   Judges 13:25 NIV 25 and the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him while he was in Mahaneh Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.   Ephesians 3:16-19 KJV 16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.   Matthew 9:35-36 KJV 35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching... preaching..., and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. – Next Steps Looking to take a next step? We'd love to help you get connected.

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Deuteronomy 30-31, Psalm 40, 1 Corinthians 1 Click HERE to give! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on the Daily Radio Bible, a daily Bible‑in‑a‑year podcast with 20‑minute Scripture readings, Christ‑centered devotion, and guided prayer.This daily Bible reading and devotional invites you to live as a citizen of Jesus' kingdom, reconciled, renewed, and deeply loved. TODAY'S EPISODE: TODAY'S DEVOTION: TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose  through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen.   Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.   And now Lord,  make me an instrument of your peace.  Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon.  Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope.  Where there is darkness, light.  And where there is sadness,  Joy.  Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.  For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life.  Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ.  Amen.  OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

Lisa Carlin, McCall Zerboni, and Jen Beattie are with you to recap the exciting action from matchweek 1 of the NWSL! Which match was the highlight of the week? Washington Spirit vs. Portland Thorns kicked off the week, and the Thorns upset the Spirit! Emily Sams joins the show after the Angel City vs. Chicago Stars match. And the first edition of the Team of the Week! Did your favorite player make the cut? 00:00 - Attacking Third NWSL MD1 Takeaways 04:01 - Orlando Pride vs Seattle Reign review 07:59 - Angel City vs Chicago Stars review 15:22 - Chicago Stars assessment after one match 20:04 - Washington Spirit vs Portland Thorns review 23:56 - Emily Sams interview 33:43 - Around the NWSL grounds 36:54 - Croix Bethune debuts for KC Current 38:59 - Defending champs Gotham FC win in Boston 41:40 - Expansion sides Boston Legacy and Denver Summit in their NWSL debuts 49:21 - NWSL Best XI for Matchweek 1 To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Worry whispers lies about a future that hasn't even happened yet.In this message from the Unfollow Fear series, Pastor Bobby Chandler explains how worry quietly steals your peace, distracts you from what matters most, and keeps you trapped in fear.Jesus told His followers not to worry about tomorrow because our Heavenly Father already knows what we need. Instead of letting worry control our thoughts, the Bible teaches us to bring everything to God in prayer and trust Him with the future.If you've been struggling with anxiety, stress, or fear about what's ahead, this message will help you break free from the worry trap and experience the peace that only God can give.Key Scriptures:Luke 12:22-32Philippians 4:6-7Matthew 11:28—Subscribe for more messages from Authentic ChurchAuthenticChurch.comHickory, North CarolinaGIVING To support this ministry and help us continue to reach people all around the world click here: https://authenticchurch.com/give GET CONNECTED Ready to check out Authentic Church in person? We can't wait to meet you in person. Simply fill out the form below and we'll make sure to give you the VIP treatment upon your first visit. https://authenticchurch.com/plan-a-visit ABOUT AUTHENTIC CHURCH Authentic Church exists so that people will have an authentic encounter with God, be set free, and grow in Christ. Our mission is to help each person at Authentic believe in Jesus, belong to family, inspire true worship, walk in God's Spirit, and build the kingdom of God.

Hope for Right Now Podcast – Desert Bloom, A Lenten Journey: Jesus Thirsts for You Laura Phelps welcomes guest Caitlin Bean to the Hope for Right Now podcast for a seven-week series: Desert Bloom, A Lenten Journey. Lent is a time of sacrifice, preparation, and spiritual waiting—a time to prepare our hearts for Easter through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. For many of us, it has become about exterior performance, a “holy checklist” we begin on Ash Wednesday and struggle to sustain for 40 days. And preparation? Who has time for that? We are exhausted—after all, it was just Christmas! If this is how your heart feels at the start of Lent, this series is for you—offering practical encouragement, Scripture reflections, and simple ways to experience a more meaningful, peace-filled Lent. In today's episode, Laura and Caitlin walk us into a new phase, the rainfall, and vulnerably share the empty wells they have run to in order to find the love that only God can give. Open your Heart to our key Scripture. Hosea 6:3 Let us press on to know the Lord; his going forth is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth. Open your Bible to other Scriptures referenced in this episode. John 4:1–42: The Woman at the Well Exodus 2:15–21 Genesis 24:14–19 Genesis 19:1–9 Romans 8:26: Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself interceded for us with sighs too deep for words. Hosea 10:12: Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and rain salvation upon you. Matthew 13:7: Other seeds fell upon thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Jeremiah 4:3: For this is what the LORD says to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem: “Break up your uncultivated ground, and do not sow among thorns.” (NASB) Proverbs 28:13: He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. Invite Him in with this episode's questions for reflection. What empty wells do you continue to go to, looking to quench a thirst that only God can satisfy? Ask the Lord to plow your heart; give Him permission to remove the rocks and thorns and to reveal to you the unsurrendered areas of your heart. Challenge: go to confession! Show mentions. Flourish 2026: Spiritual Motherhood, The Transforming Power of the Feminine Genius, St. Louis, MO, April 17-19, 2026. Register here. Caitlin Bean and Laura Phelps, Desert Bloom: Discovering Unexpected Joy in the Wilderness Catechism of the Catholic Church 2560 Transform hearts with us this Lent! Your gift to Walking with Purpose fuels our mission to bring life-changing transformation to Catholic women and girls. Donate now. Joseph Langford, M.C., I Thirst: 40 days with Mother Teresa Brant Pitri, Catholic Productions Let's stay connected. Don't miss an episode. Subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform.  Want to keep the conversation going? Join our private Facebook community. Stay in the know. Connect with us today.  We are committed to creating content that is free and easily accessible to every woman—especially the one looking for answers but unsure of where to go. If you've enjoyed this podcast, prayerfully consider making a donation to support it and other WWP outreach programs that bring women closer to Christ. Learn more about WWP on our website. Our shop. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

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.

Deuteronomy 14-16

Deuteronomy 14-16

Send a textWhat if the most dangerous choice a man makes is the choice to say nothing? We take a hard look at Genesis 3:12 and discover how Adam's silence and blame set a pattern many of us still follow—at home, in church, and at work. This isn't finger-pointing; it's an honest call to trade passivity for Spirit-led leadership that serves, protects, and tells the truth even when it's costly.Reclaiming the Wild is back — April 24–26 at Abundant Blessings Farm (Stem, NC). This isn't just a retreat… it's a reset: brotherhood, faith, outdoors, bonfires, and real conversations. Theme: we have been commanded to unite. Bring your son (or any male kid 5+) and make memories that last. Register now — let's reclaim the wild. It's time to stop sitting on the sidelines.Step into the fight and become the man God called you to be. Join a brotherhood built on truth, strength, and action. Visit thelionwithin.us right now and start leading with boldness and purpose. Iron sharpens iron — let's go.

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.

Ephesians 4 (ESV)Andrew, Isack, and Edwin discuss the goal of unity within a congregation and the important steps to accomplish unity.Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here.    Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org.    Join the Facebook community and join the conversation by clicking here. We'd love to meet you. Be a guest among the Christians who meet on Livingston Avenue. Click here to find out more. Michael Eldridge sang all four parts of our theme song. Find more from him by clicking here.   Thanks for talking about the text with us today.________________________________________________If the hyperlinks do not work, copy the following addresses and paste them into the URL bar of your web browser: Daily Written Devo: https://readthebiblemakedisciples.wordpress.com/?p=24875The Christians Who Meet on Livingston Avenue: http://www.christiansmeethere.org/Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TalkAboutTheTextFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/texttalkMichael Eldridge: https://acapeldridge.com/ 

The Spirit of Infirmity by Rick Godwin

Pastor Seth Troutt continues our series, “The Glory of Salvation,” by unpacking the often-misunderstood doctrine of sanctification. Many Christians see “saints” as a special class of elite believers, but Scripture teaches that every follower of Jesus is set apart as holy.In this message, Pastor Seth explains the difference between being positionally sanctified (what God declares us to be in Christ) and progressively sanctified (learning to live more and more like who we already are).  Using clear biblical teaching and everyday illustrations, he shows how the Holy Spirit leads us to grow in holiness, not through self-righteous effort, but by living out our true identity as God's treasured people—a kingdom of priests and saints.00:00 - Introduction03:12 - Big Idea13:56 - Sanctification is both positional and progressive22:21 - Progressive Sanctification28:57 - Four ways to grow with the Spirit of holiness**HOW TO FIND US*** SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YouTube CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/@IronwoodChurchAZFACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/ironwoodchurchaz/ INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/ironwood.church/WEBSITE https://www.ironwoodchurch.org/

If this blessed you, don't just watch and leave. Get plugged in today so you can begin to experience God's Promise for Increase on new and exciting levels:

Most leaders can recognise a toxic culture when they walk into one — but far fewer realise how easily they may be unintentionally contributing to it themselves. In this episode, we explore five subtle, often well-intentioned leadership patterns that quietly reinforce unhealthy culture, especially for Christian women who want to lead with kindness, grace, and compassion. From avoiding conflict to softening communication and over-functioning for others, these habits don't come from bad leadership — they come from caring deeply. This episode isn't about blame or shame. It's about awareness, clarity, and learning how to lead culture with confidence instead of absorbing it. In this episode, you'll learn: Why toxic culture isn't always caused by toxic people How kindness without clarity can unintentionally create confusion and dysfunction The leadership patterns that quietly weaken trust, safety, and accountability What Christ-centred, Spirit-led leadership looks like when culture feels hard How to shift from people-pleasing to confident, healthy leadership Next Step If this episode stirred self-doubt or made you question whether you're “leading well enough,” you're not alone. The Imposter Syndrome Blueprint is a short, faith-filled private podcast designed to help Christian women lead with clarity, confidence, and Christ-anchored authority — especially when navigating culture, conflict, and difficult people.

Send a textIn this week, we continue our study of Pneumatology - the study of the Holy Spirit.  What does the "baptism of the Holy Spirit," mean? What does it mean to be filled with the Spirit? Does everyone get the same portion of the Holy Spirit indwelling in them? What does it mean that the Holy Spirit sanctifies, teaches, prays for, and seals believers? Join us as we delve into these questions and so much more!Thanks for tuning in! Be sure to check out everything Proverbs 9:10 on our website, www.proverbs910ministries.com! You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Rumble, YouTube, Twitter, Truth Social, and Gettr!

In this episode, co-hosts John Shimp and Pastor Karl Dyrli discuss the relationship between preparation and spontaneity in worship ministry. Are careful planning and Spirit-led spontaneity really at odds with one another?   Together, they explore the biblical foundations of how the Holy Spirit works in and through the process of preparing a worship service. Through Scripture, they reflect on who the Holy Spirit is, what he does, and how he guides both the planning and leading of worship.    The conversation also touches on cultural misunderstandings about the work of the Spirit, the importance of guarding against false teachings and spiritual mysticism, and how thoughtful preparation can still leave room for genuine responsiveness to God. They also share practical insights for worship ministry and consider how these principles shape our personal walk with Jesus Christ.

In this episode, we cover:The 14-Day Fast: An invitation for the entire community to join the "pioneers" in a collective season of fasting and prayer.The Power of the Tongue: How our words either "give grace to those who hear" or provide a legal foothold for the enemy to operate within the church.Grieving the Holy Spirit: Understanding that the Spirit doesn't just watch our "religious" lives, but is deeply affected by how we handle anger and conflict.Authority in Prayer: Observations from the Thursday morning 6:00 AM prayer calls and the rising authority in the voices of new intercessors.A Better Way: A preview of the upcoming focus on the spiritual practices of confession, forgiveness, and reconciliation.Binding the Spirit of Malice: A pastoral prayer to rid the house of bitterness, rage, and slander to make room for the fullness of God.Key Moments:[00:00] Kickoff: Initiating the collective 14 days of fasting and prayer.[10:15] Zoom Authority: Stories of God moving through screens during early morning intercession.[25:30] The Foothold: Why the devil probes our feelings and murmuring to find a way into our hearts.[42:10] Building One Another Up: Shifting the goal of conversation from venting to providing spiritual "vitamins" for the body.[55:00] Closing Benediction: A call to rise and commit to kindness and compassionate forgiveness.Key Scriptures:Ephesians 4:25-32: The blueprint for community life—putting off falsehood and speaking truth in love.Joshua 3:5: The recurring theme of consecration before the miracle.Psalm 141:3: "Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips."Connect with us:English Website: http://LeondeJuda.orgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/cljofficial/#Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/congregacionleondejudaYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LeondeJudaBoston

Num 22:21-23:30, Luke 1:57-80, Ps 58:1-11, Pr 11:12-13

Num 22:21-23:30, Luke 1:57-80, Ps 58:1-11, Pr 11:12-13

Bible Verses About Praying in the Spirit: www.curlynikki.comSupport the show: http://patreon.com/goodmornings

Michael Horton, Justin Holcomb, Walter Strickland, and Bob Hiller evaluate theological answers generated by ChatGPT and discuss how to engage people who are outsourcing life's biggest questions to AI. PARTNER WITH US - https://solamedia.org/partner/?sc=AS2502V When you become a partner today, you'll receive two remarkable books as our thanks: Rediscovering the Holy Spirit by Dr. Michael Horton and Praying with Jesus by Pastor Adriel Sanchez. We believe these books can guide you into a clearer understanding of the Spirit's work and a richer prayer life. FOLLOW US YouTube | Instagram | X/Twitter | Facebook | Newsletter WHO WE ARE Sola is home to White Horse Inn, Core Christianity, Modern Reformation, and Theo Global. Our mission is to serve today's global church by producing resources for reformation grounded in the historic Christian faith. Our vision is to see reformation in hearts, homes, and churches around the world. Learn more: https://solamedia.org/

Today we continue to work through the letter to the Galatians. We discuss a topic that is a major area of struggle to many, many believers and the solution to that struggle.Scriptures referenced:Psalm 119:18Galatians 2:1-3Galatians 2:6-10Galatians 2:16Galatians 2:20-21James 2:17-19John 14:15Galatians 3:1-6Galatians 1:6-7Romans 8:9John 14:16-17Ephesians 2:8-9John 3:16James 1:5-6Proverbs 12:15Proverbs 16:9Psalm 37:23-24Jude 24-25Romans 5:1-21 Peter 5:12Galatians 5:1-4Galatians 5:13James 4:6Hebrews 12:5-11Luke 14:11Matthew 23:12Feel free to email the podcast at ijustwanttotalkabout@gmail.com, and we will respond as soon as we are able!I WANT TO BE DISCIPLEDI am on staff with another ministry called Mentoring Men for the Master (M3). M3 is a discipleship ministry; so, if you are interested in being discipled and having someone come alongside you to invest in you and your walk with Jesus, or if you would like to do this in someone else's life, feel free to email us at info@mentoringmen.net. You can also check out M3's website by clicking "I want to be discipled". Also note that despite the ministry's name, M3 disciples both men and women; so, the offer is open to all!I WANT TO SIGN UP FOR THE NEWSLETTERIf you would like to sign up to receive newsletter updates, simply click "I want to sign up for the newsletter" and fill out the form. Also, feel free to check out our most recent newsletter.I WANT TO SUPPORT THE PODCASTIf you feel so led, you can support the podcast by clicking "I want to support the podcast". I Just Want to Talk about the Bible is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, which means that any donations made are tax-deductible. Thank you so much for giving as the Lord leads!...

Num 21:1-22:20, Luke 1:26-56, Ps 57:1-11, Pr 11:9-11

Community Prayer and Encouragement

Community Prayer and Encouragement

Num 21:1-22:20, Luke 1:26-56, Ps 57:1-11, Pr 11:9-11