Podcasts about tis so sweet

Ever wonder how beautiful hymns emerge from life's darkest moments? Today we unpack the extraordinary story behind "'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus," written in 1882 by missionary Louisa Stead after watching her husband drown while attempting to rescue a boy at Long Island beach.Louisa's journey takes us from her teenage calling to missionary work, through devastating personal tragedy, to faithful service in Africa. Has a hymn ever spoken directly to your circumstances? Share your story or favorite hymn in the comments—I'd love to hear how music has shaped your faith journey.Follow this link to hear a powerful rendition of 'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus, by Shane and Shane.     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srZ9IGsFy4o We would love to hear your comments. Send us a Text MessageSupport the show

Quote of The Day: "Although no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending. ~ Anonymous  Hosts: TOLA Omoniyi, Kanyinsola Omojola

Let's review Daniel and the Lion's Den with the songs: "Bubbles", "Whisper a Prayer", Tis So Sweet" and our memory verse Dan.6:22 "My God sent his angel and shut the lion's mouth."Recorded and produced by: Ashley B. LarsonDon't forget to check out the coloring pages that go along with each lesson! https://startingwithjesus.com/spb-cp/If you have enjoyed this program and would like to know more, go to our website: www.startingwithjesus.comThe Bible and nature story material used in today's devotional podcast has been used with permission from My Bible First. If you would like your own copy, please visit their website-or call 1-877-242-5317.If you would like to purchase your own Memory Verse CD or Songbook, go to Ouachita Hills Store (https://www.ouachitahillsacademy.org/store?page=1&store_category_id=0&sort_by=title&is_ascending=1&search=).Songs from: Little Voices Praise Him, SDA Hymnal, Sabbath Songs For Tiny Tots, New Sabbath Songs For Tiny Tots, Memory Verse Verse Songs for Cradle Roll, Children's Songs For Jesus, and Scripture Songs and Little LessonsAll Bible verses are from the NKJV.Singers for this Quarter: Tory, Caleb, and Enoch Hall, Hudson Reeves, Michael and Amy NelsonEditing assist: Dillon Austin and Josh LarsonMusic Recording and Editing: Rachel Nelson and Kristy HallColoring Pages: Rachel Lamming, Lily Canada, and Evie RodriguezTheme Music: Lindsey Mills- www.lindseymillsmusic.com God: who gives talents for us to use for Him

From the gathering on June 23, we were led in an Imaginative Entry of Mark 4, and we shared a soft medley of Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus and Build My Life.

Tonight on The Impact with Big Chuck!We are excited to welcome our special guest, Willie Wilson aka Willie Will, to the show. While we will be speaking with Willie Will tonight, we want to acknowledge his incredible brother, Jazz Digga. Together, they have made a significant impact on the urban Gospel music scene, but tonight, our focus is solely on Willie Will.Willie Will and his brother, Jazz Digga, have been creating music that is both soul-edifying and culturally relevant. From a very young age, Willie Will began expressing himself through thought-provoking rhymes and soul-stirring melodies. Growing up in a musical household, with their mother as a choir director and their father as a quartet singer, music came naturally to them. Performing alongside their family in the group Pop Heavenly and The Heavenly Boyz, Willie Will found an early avenue to express his creativity.Spending his formative years moving between Seattle and New Jersey, Willie Will's musical talents were influenced by hip hop and R&B artists such as Wu-Tang Clan, Nas, Stevie Wonder, and Boyz II Men. As he came to know Jesus for himself, his passion for spreading the Gospel became evident in his music. With over 15 solo albums, Willie Will has made a significant contribution to the urban Gospel music scene.Tonight, we will also listen to one of Willie Will's inspiring songs, "Tis So Sweet," off their album "Gospelz." The entire album features remixed gospel tracks that we all used to listen to growing up in church. You can check it out on YouTube and experience the powerful message and soulful harmonies he brings to the stage.Don't miss this inspiring episode tonight on The Impact with Big Chuck!

Guest Bios Show Transcript https://youtu.be/ok7qRXGZYroFor nearly two decades, one woman stood up to the Southern Baptist Convention, forcing it to face its sex abuse crisis. She was gaslit, maligned, and threatened with legal action. But she didn't back down. And on this edition of The Roys Report, you'll hear her story. Joining host Julie Roys is Christa Brown, an abuse survivor who overcame the odds in pursuit of justice. As a 16-year-old girl, Christa was repeatedly raped by the youth pastor at her Southern Baptist Church. And when she told the music minister at her church what had happened, he told her never to speak of it. For 35 years, Christa kept silent, accepting the shame that rightly belonged to her rapist. But in the early 2000s, Christa broke her silence—and confronted her childhood church with what had happened. She thought they would do the right thing. But instead, they attacked her. That began a nearly 20-year battle with the Southern Baptist Convention—and led to two major investigations, showing that hundreds of Baptist leaders and volunteers had sexually abused congregants. She recounts it all in detail in her just released memoir, Baptistland. Christa found her voice, rising above her past trauma to become a leading voice in the national and global abuse survivor community. She speaks with unrelenting honesty about the patterns of abuse in evangelical churches—and the necessary steps to bring reform. Guests Christa Brown Named as one of the "top 10 religion newsmakers" of 2022, Christa Brown has persisted for two decades in working to peel back the truth about clergy sex abuse and coverups in the nation's largest Protestant denomination, the Southern Baptist Convention. As one of the first to go public with substantiated child molestation allegations against a Baptist minister—and documentation that others knew—she has consistently demanded reforms to make other kids and congregants safer. She is the author of Baptistland and This Little Light: Beyond a Baptist Preacher Predator and His Gang. Christa, who is retired appellate attorney, a mom, and a grandma, lives with her husband in Colorado. Show Transcript SPEAKERSCHRISTA BROWN, Julie Roys Julie Roys  00:04For nearly two decades, one woman stood up to the Southern Baptist Convention, forcing it to face its sex abuse crisis. She was gaslit, maligned, and threatened with legal action. But she didn’t back down and on this podcast, you’ll hear her story. Welcome to The Roys Report, a podcast dedicated to reporting the truth and restoring the church. I’m Julie Roys. And joining me today is Christa Brown, someone who’s become a sort of legend in the abuse survivor community. As a 16- year-old girl, Christa was repeatedly raped by the youth pastor at her Southern Baptist Church. And when she told the music minister at her church what had happened, he told her to never speak of it. For 35 years, Christa kept silent, accepting the shame that rightly belongs to her rapist. But in the early 2000s, Christa broke her silence and confronted her childhood church with what had happened. She thought they would do the right thing, but instead, they attacked her. And that began a nearly 20-year battle with the Southern Baptist Convention and led to two major investigations, showing that hundreds of Baptist leaders and volunteers had sexually abused congregants. Joining me is Christa Brown, someone who for decades fought to expose sex abuse and cover up within the Southern Baptist Convention. She has been dubbed the mother of all abuse bloggers, and also is named by the Religion News Association as one of the top 10 religion newsmakers of 2022. She’s also a retired appellate attorney, a mom, and a grandma. So Christa, welcome. It is such a privilege to have you on this podcast.   CHRISTA BROWN  03:22 Thank you, Julie, I really appreciate it. I’m so glad to be with you.   Julie Roys  03:26 And you’re kind of like a legend. I don’t know if you recognize this, but you have been at this a very, very long time and the persistence that you have had to expose what’s been going on within the Southern Baptist Convention, it didn’t just happen to you, it happened to so so many women and men who have been victims. And so just as somebody who’s been in this space for a really long time, not nearly as long as you, I just really appreciate your work. So thank you.   CHRISTA BROWN  04:16 Thanks. And of course, this is something that is still continuing to happen too.   Julie Roys  04:21 That’s true. So I just finished your book, Baptistland, and really emotionally, still wrestling to come to terms  with everything I read. I think there were several things that really struck me from your book. Of course, the horror of the sex abuse that you had at the hands of your own youth pastor, somebody that you trusted, and the spiritual abuse involved in that was just absolutely horrific. But I think too, the abuse within your own family and the psychological and emotional abuse that was there and kind of how that conditioned you for the abuse and to kind of keep secrets. And so it kind of contributed to everything that happened. But I think lastly, was your resiliency, which is amazing in the face of what you encountered, your resiliency. And I don’t know how you did that. I mean, what do you attribute the resiliency that you’ve had to overcome so many hurdles in your life?   CHRISTA BROWN  05:26 I don’t know. In part, I think I’m a little stubborn by nature. I think that is there. In part, I think I had the enormous good fortune to encounter a wonderful husband and wonderful spouse, who has been nothing but supportive. And I think, when someone has that kind of support in their life, I mean, that came, of course, later as an adult, but that too, of course, has just been an enormous source of stability for me. So yeah, I’ve had those things. And in that sense, I’ve been very, very fortunate.   Julie Roys  06:10 If someone has just even one person in their life that’s advocating for them, that’s behind them, it makes a huge difference. And I know my spouse has been with me 100% in the work I’ve done as well. And I credit him for a lot of what I’ve been able to do as well. So I can relate to that.   CHRISTA BROWN  06:28 Yeah. I mean, he’s a behind-the-scenes kind of guy. No one knows my husband, but he is very much there for me.   Julie Roys  06:38  You divide your memoir into four different deaths, as you call them. And of course, there’s an element of resurrection and all of that, too. But your deaths start, the very first death that you write about is the abuse that you suffered by, again, your own youth pastor. But as I mentioned, there was some dysfunction in your own home, that kind of conditioned you to be able to have this abuse, and maybe to keep it quiet. Would you talk a little bit about that, the home situation that conditioned you to stay quiet about the abuse?   CHRISTA BROWN  07:19 Yeah. I mean, I grew up in the sort of home that it’s like, we all pretend we’re happy. What happened didn’t happen. And when someone blows up and throws plates across the wall, we clean it up, and we act like nothing ever happened. When my father explodes, we all just go on. My father had serious PTSD problems, but back then, we would not have even had that acronym PTSD, we didn’t know what to call it. We just all, as with many families across America, when war veterans come home, we all just do the best we can. But that very dynamic of never talking about it, and just always putting you in the background and moving on, conditioned me to keep quiet and to not talk about things in the family. We did not talk about the family with outsiders. That was for sure. And so all of that, I think is part of what conditioned me. Then when I was abused by the pastor, why would I talk about it? I had no experience in talking about anything troubling in my life, None. What was normal was never to talk about things. And I hope people will see that because of course, that’s one of the very common questions that people often ask, Well, why didn’t you tell someone sooner? Why didn’t you talk about it? I hope people will see in my book, the only rational question is, why would she have ever talked about it? And then, of course, the fact that I did try with a couple people and that only made things worse.   Julie Roys  09:08 Yeah. And there was also this element of spiritual abuse, which honestly, when I was reading your book, and I’ve heard a lot of spiritual abuse, but I would say this was almost just so wicked, because in your case, you were so trusting, you had such a childlike faith in God. And he just completely exploited that. Would you talk about the spiritual abuse and how that how that really gave him power over you?   CHRISTA BROWN  09:40 Oh, it gave him enormous power. And I hope people will see that the enormous power that earnest that a person’s faith can hold when it is weaponized against them, because that is what gave him power. I mean, I think there are many people who would wish to believe that this happens to kids who are in some way, oh, morally lacks or they want to blame the kid for some reason, that the reality is what made me vulnerable? What made me a target? What made me easy prey? was the very fact that I love God so much. My faith was earnest and pure and that is precisely what was weaponized against me literally. I was raised from toddlerhood to believe that you trust these men who carry the voice of God, that they are men and God. In the framework I held in my mind at that time., there was no other possibility other than to obey.   Julie Roys  11:00 You know, it’s interesting, because I just had a conversation with my daughter this morning. And I feel kind of bad sometimes because of the work that I’m in, that they’re exposed to the evil of it. But at the same time, I realized this morning, as we were talking about some things, she knows to be skeptical, that trust is earned. I don’t care what title someone holds. She knows that you still need to know that this person may not be trustworthy, you need to watch them over time. But I think especially in our generation growing up. I mean, I never would have dreamed that a pastor could be involved in any kind of wrongdoing. It just wasn’t in my worldview. So I totally get that. And the other thing is, and this is probably the most wicked is the way that he made you feel then that you are somehow evil because you had participated in this and even did like an exorcism on you or something, right?   CHRISTA BROWN  12:05 Yes. After this had gone on for months and months, seven, eight months. And it escalated, of course, and got worse. And then toward the end, he began to tell me that I had harbored Satan. And I was a temptress. And finally, then he called me into his office one day and made me kneel. While he, with one hand on my shoulder and one hand raised, stood over me as I was kneeling, praying on and on for God to cast Satan from me. But as a kid. I mean, that was just, that was terrifying. I mean, I didn’t know how I had let Satan in, and I didn’t know what I had done. If I didn’t know how I’d let Satan in I didn’t know how to make Satan leave me. And the very thought that I held Satan within me, made me think I was going to hell, which, as a kid, I was raised with a very literal version of hell, where you burn forever with no reprieve. This was absolutely terrifying. And of course, in hindsight, I think that’s exactly what he wanted was to put this enormous, just exponentially greater shame onto me, so that I would not talk about it. Because why would I want anyone to know that I harbored Satan?   Julie Roys  13:36 Unbelievable And yet when you did speak, like you referenced, nothing was done to help you. And you initially spoke with it was your music minister, right?   CHRISTA BROWN  13:49 Yes, that’s right. And he was also my piano teacher. I always had my piano lessons in the church sanctuary on the baby grand there. He was the music minister. And it was because I had just developed this enormous fear that I must surely be going to hell. And so one day at my piano lesson, I just, I mean, psychologically, I was at a point where I was just breaking then, and I just completely froze. I mean, my hands literally would not move on the keys. And I told the music minister that I was afraid I was going to hell, and I asked him, “Am I going to hell? Then I told him that I’ve had an affair. And that was my own word an affair with the pastor. And he basically just told me to never talk about it again, at all. And he said, I wouldn’t go to hell, but it wasn’t much comfort, really, at that time. He told me never to talk about it. He did nothing. And many, many years later, I learned that he had already known even at that point in time, because the youth pastor himself had talked about it with him.   Julie Roys  15:00 That level of complicity and silence, I just I don’t understand like, do you have any idea why he would do that? Why would a music minister say nothing about a pastor that he knows is sexually abusing a teenage girl?   CHRISTA BROWN  15:26 It’s very hard for me to explain. He was a father himself. He had a young daughter at that time. And so it’s hard for me to understand why he couldn’t think about his own daughter and imagine how he would feel if it were her. And it’s very, very hard for me to comprehend. I think that instinct among some religious leaders who kind of circle the wagons and protect themselves is very, very strong. Also the sense of protecting the institution, the sense of not doing anything that would bring, that would hurt the cause of Christ that would hurt the witness. I think all of that is a part of it. And yet, of course, none of that excuses it.   Julie Roys  16:21 No, and it’s not really biblical. I mean, Scripture tells us to confess our sins, not to bury our sins, and yet, that’s what the church has been doing for so long. Not all churches, but certainly within the Southern Baptist Convention this has been a widespread problem. So Tommy Gilmore, who was your youth pastor,, did eventually leave the church, was given what I understand sort of a hero’s send-off. Yes. And then, which I just can’t even imagine you as a kid, like, you have to go through an exorcism. Meanwhile, your abuser gets a hero send-off, and then you go home to live like, just go on, right? Like nothing’s happened, right?   CHRISTA BROWN  17:07 That’s right. He did indeed have a hero sendoff. He went to a bigger church; I was told that he would have a better salary. The senior pastor praised him for the pulpit and talk of how fortunate we all were, how blessed we were to have had such a man of God in our midst for so long, there was a big church reception where everyone brought their casseroles and stuff. And in hindsight, I don’t know how as a kid, I could have thought anything else. I mean, here was a great man of God, praised by everyone. I was the girl who harbored Satan.   Julie Roys  17:43 Just awful. And when you did go home, you did confess to one of your sisters what had happened. Her response was pretty horrific.   CHRISTA BROWN  17:53 Yes, she called me a slut.   Julie Roys  17:55 Unbelievable. And so the shame that you must have felt that you shouldn’t have felt but I’m sure you did, must have been just just awful. But you were given, I mean, sound like the pastor then arranged for you to have a job at the library. And your mother kind of encouraged you for this maybe? What was it he said that he thought you should be busy or something? Or I mean, kind of like he knew what had happened.   CHRISTA BROWN  18:23 Yeah exactly. None of this was really explained to me. But my mom said, Brother Hayden thinks you need to stay busy. And so they set me up with a job at the Farmers Branch Public Library, which I started immediately, which turned out to be even though I had never sought this job. But it turned out to be a very, very good thing. I loved working at the library.   Julie Roys  18:52 And you even said, I think later on your book, you credit some of your ability to come through all this to the books that you read, which opened your mind to a whole new world, which what a beautiful thing that in the midst of all of this awfulness, there was this oasis right?   CHRISTA BROWN  19:09 Oh, absolutely. The library was very much my safe place. Books were my safe place, always my refuge. A library has a certain kind of orderliness about it, and the neat rows and every book has its place. And that brought a level of comfort to me.   Julie Roys  19:28 Yeah. And one of the great things was that you were a very studious person, it sounds like, and that ended up being a route for you kind of out of some of your home life. But initially, you thought you would go off to college when you graduated from high school. It didn’t really turn out that way. Kind of like your mom sabotaged that. Is that a correct way of putting it?   CHRISTA BROWN  19:51 Yes, that is she did sabotage it. She wanted me at home for her own reasons, and I wound up staying home and commuting to college, and it was a very, very bad year, because she was struggling enormously. And both of my parents were struggling.   Julie Roys  20:13 The second death that you described is when your sister Rita was separated from her husband, Richard, and something happened. I’m gonna let you describe what happened, but also how that played out within your family and your family relationships.   CHRISTA BROWN  20:31 Well basically, I had gone over to babysit their young two-year-old daughter, and he made a move on me. Told me that he had married the wrong sister. That he should have married me. He picked the right family but picked the wrong sister. And I felt very trapped at the time. I did leave, of course. But I mean, this was someone I had grown up with. This was someone who was like a brother to me. This was my oldest sister. And so he had been a part of our family, since I was like 12 years old. So, in that sense, it just felt incredibly wrong and bizarre. But the one thing I knew with absolute certainty was that if I talked about it, I would be blamed for it. That even at that young age, I knew that for sure. And so ever after this was, again, another great secret that I had the key. It really kind of, I think, warped some of the relationships in our family. For every Thanksgiving, and all sorts of family gatherings thereafter, every single time, I would always try very, very hard to make sure I was never alone in the room with him. And yeah, that was the death of that kind of view of my family. I think.   Julie Roys  22:14 One of the things I’ve noticed just from my experience in ministry is that often a child that’s raised in a dysfunctional home, even though they recognize it’s a dysfunctional home, has trouble breaking those patterns, and often picks a spouse that is often very much like the dysfunctional parent or one of the dysfunctional parents. And yet you did the exact opposite. I mean, you turned down one proposal from someone who you didn’t love. And your mother pressured you quite a bit to marry because he had an engineering degree with some financial stability there. But instead you met a guy, Jim. What was it that really drew you to Jim, someone who was completely other than your family, and so healthy in so many ways? What really made you fall for Jim?   CHRISTA BROWN  23:13 Well. Initially, it was just that he had these gorgeous blue eyes.   Julie Roys  23:18 That helps, right?   CHRISTA BROWN  23:21 But it was just a connection there that I could not deny. You know, and with Jim, what you see is what you get. He is who he is, and there is never ever any kind of hidden agenda, any dagger behind that smile. That’s it. He is up for and in true. And that was always very clear to me. That mainly, it was just this connection that I felt with him. So much so that, I mean, it felt so powerful. And I felt fearful of it because I think I recognized immediately that this was something powerful, life-changing potentially. And so initially, what I did was to tell him that I could never be serious about someone who hadn’t read Anna Karenina.   Julie Roys  24:18 Well, of course! Who of us hasn’t said that, right?   CHRISTA BROWN  24:24 That was my effort in escaping because I was so afraid of this. But Jim proceeded to read Anna Karenina. So I had no excuse. And so we’ve been together ever since.   Julie Roys  24:37 That’s so funny. And then you went on to do something that nobody in your family thought possible. You went to law school, and even the application process and everything. I mean, to have the gumption to do that. Despite the fact your mother said you’re gonna fail. You’re not going to do well. Again, this incredible hurdle, what made you feel like you could go to law school?   CHRISTA BROWN  25:07 You know, I really only had, I came from a blue-collar family. And I really only had one friend at that point in time, who had been to law school. And I kind of thought, Well, I think I’m as smart as him. And he was a good deal more assertive than me by temperament. But I thought I could give it a chance. And initially, I really was very tentative about it. I kind of just kind of tip toed in and told myself, well, I’ll try it for one semester and see how it goes. But I did well, so then I continued. And with my family, I did not tell anyone I was even applying until I was already in, already accepted, already had my financial aid lined up. Because I was fearful of what the reaction would be. I was fearful of how negative it would be. And even intellectually, knowing that maybe that’s not right, your family’s words still carry power. And so I made sure I had things in place before I even told them.   Julie Roys  26:21 So true and so important. But yeah, I mean, even if  intellectually, that’s a lie. Or even if they’re saying this because of their own issues, right? It’s still hard to overcome that. And so the fact that you did, again, amazing resiliency. And then you had a daughter, which is just so beautiful. I have one daughter, I had two boys, and then my daughter. But daughters change us in remarkable ways. And you, even though you really didn’t have a model for healthy parenting, sounds like you did a really great job, and you broke some of those patterns of behavior that you saw in your family. What do you attribute that to?   CHRISTA BROWN  27:09 I attribute it to letting my daughter herself educate me, being observant of her, trying to attune myself to what’s going on with her. And recognizing that and trying to be sensitive to that. I do think that breaking long established patterns or familial dysfunction is very, very difficult. I mean, lots of people would like to make a decision and say, Oh, I won’t do things like my parents did. But the thing is, it’s not just a one-time decision. It’s something that has to be done in 1000s, of tiny, tiny little decisions, to choose to pause in the moment, to pay attention, to think about what’s happening. And that kind of attentiveness takes effort. And I think I attribute it to that. Also books I write,I don’t feel that I had a good roadmap to follow from my own upbringing. But  I was big on books.   Julie Roys  28:29 And that guided you. One book that you mentioned, you read your daughter was the Bible, but  chose not to raise her in the church, understandably because of your experience. But you decided to have her explore that herself with just reading her scripture and telling her Bible stories. As I was reading that, I just realized that my own experience within the church when I think of like your experience, my experience, things that for me, certain songs that for me are very comforting to you probably have a totally different connotation. Like for me, Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus is a beautiful song that reminds me of a wonderful, idyllic, really in comparison childhood that I had growing up in the church, where people were trustworthy, and people weren’t hypocrites. But yet for you were, how do you come to terms with that, and with what the church did? with God? with faith? How do you come to terms with that?   CHRISTA BROWN  29:53 For me, it’s very, very different. Because things like that. Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus. No, it was not sweet for me. Because trusting in Jesus, that was exactly what I did as a kid. That was my whole heart was to put every bit of trust in Jesus. And that led me down a very, very dark road. And that’s not the kind of thing that I can cognitively reason my way out of. Because the reality for me is that things like that, hymns like that, all sorts of Scripture like that, that for me now is kind of physiologically, neurologically networked with child rape. And that’s not something I can just say, Oh, no, I’m gonna think about this and not choose for it to be that way. No, that’s the way it is. And I accept that that is how it is. And I live with that. So yeah, for me, I mean, and that, I think, is what people need to realize is the enormous if you value your faith so much, then you need to be implementing serious accountability measures to make sure that these kinds of men do not church hop from church to church, because look at the damage that is done.   Julie Roys  31:20 Well. And that’s why I think spiritual abuse, and especially when it’s coupled with sexual abuse, has to be about the most profound harmful abuse there is, because you’re not just harming the body, but the soul in such a profound way. And it really is, I mean, that spiritual leaders or people who purport to be spiritual leaders, aren’t just horrified and wanting to root this out. I mean, says to me a lot about what they truly believe.   CHRISTA BROWN  31:55 Exactly. It is very, very hard. Certainly, for me, it is very hard to feel safe in faith, when faith itself has been used to eviscerate. And that doesn’t mean feeling safe in a church. That means feeling safe within myself in faith. It’s a very hard thing now,   Julie Roys  32:19 The shame that you felt as a kid, as I talk to you now, you seem to be very clear on the fact that you should have felt no shame, that you did nothing wrong. At what point did you get to that point where you realized this is not my fault? This is has been put on me by evil people. But it’s not my fault. I’m sure it was a process. But were there any points at which like, kind of a breakthrough where you’re like, this was not me?   CHRISTA BROWN  32:55 Yes. It was really my daughter who saved me, I think. Because when she was approaching the same age I had been at the time that the abuse, it was as though something exploded in my head. All these dark dusty boxes that were on the back shelf of my brain, that I had shoved back there and ignored for so long. All of a sudden, I kind of had to pull those boxes down and look at them and see what was in them. And that shifted thing. Suddenly, I saw things through the eyes of a mother in imagining what if someone did to my daughter what was done to me? And that was something I could not live with and could not accept. And really, that was  the singular kernel of truth from which everything else flowed. Because the one thing I knew for sure, and I didn’t know very much for sure. But I knew this, if someone did to my daughter what had been done to me, I would not blame her for one second, and I would be absolutely furious. And that shifted everything.   Julie Roys  34:20 Hmm. And so you did. You did at the age of 51, right? You publicly spoke out and really you talk about this as sort of the third death when you spoke about what had happened because of the response that you got. Although, before we talk about the response, just the fact that and I read in your book that the average age of someone coming forward is 52 which is insane to me, I would have guessed, like maybe late 20s early 30s you begin to sort of grapple with what had happened in your family or whatever. Why is it so late that people come forward about their childhood sexual abuse?   CHRISTA BROWN  35:13 I think the shame is so enormous. And as a kid, we absorbed that shame, and when we ossify into a few of what happened that blamed ourselves and we absorb that, as a kid, we solidify that view. It’s horrifying, we put that view, we put that into a box, put it up in their head, and put it on the back shelf. And we never want to look at it again, although, of course, it’s there. And it affects us in enormous ways. But I think it then just takes a very, very long time. And then there are these triggering events, like having kids of our own, to begin to understand, because we formed that view when we were young. And it impacted our whole identity.   Julie Roys  36:09 So when you did come forward, you spoke to your church, your childhood church. I’m not sure why you had optimism about that.   CHRISTA BROWN  36:19 I’m an optimistic person by nature.   Julie Roys  36:22 Yeah. I mean, you must. But I mean, when I read that I also thought,  when I first blew the whistle at Moody, I naively thought when I went to the trustees with the information I had, they would do the right thing. And that was not my experience. But I think we still hold on to this view that, man, these authority figures, they must not know. And so if I tell them, they will do something. Explain what happened when you did come forward to your church, and then I believe to, the Baptist Convention there in Texas as well.   CHRISTA BROWN  36:58 I was in my 50s,  early 50s. And I absolutely believe that they would do the right thing, that they want to help me. I was adamant about it. The same music minister who had known when I was a kid was still there at my same childhood church. I was absolutely convinced; I knew that he had raised a daughter by then. I thought he’s older now he will know better. He’ll wish he had done things differently. He will have learned some things; he will want to help me. And I have never been more wrong about anything in all my life then I was about that. Because the church’s first response was to threaten to seek legal recourse against me if I talked about it. And yeah, that was fairly intimidating. Even as someone who is a lawyer, I thought, whoa. And of course, you have to realize, I think, even as I’m doing this, at that point in time, I’m still trying to work through this process in my own mind, of unpacking everything that was done to me, of just dealing with it, of coming to terms with it. And that is a long emotional process because it was very traumatic. And at the same time then having the church threaten me, and try to bully me, that was just absolutely devastating. And then eventually, of course, yes, I also talked with people at the Baptist General Convention of Texas. Again, thinking these will know something. And I’ve contacted 18 Southern Baptist leaders in four different states, thinking surely there would be someone and there was no one. Absolutely no one who would do anything to help.   Julie Roys  38:59 One of the things that I thought back on when I was reading your book is about totalitarian states; that one of the things that a totalitarian state has to do is take over the press. And in Baptist land, they had their own press. Yes. And that was also weaponized against you, right?   CHRISTA BROWN  39:22 Yes, exactly. The Baptist Press published an article in which they said that I made false accusations, which, again, that was just absolutely devastating. But they’re in control of their own press, which gives them the ability to control the narrative, to present the picture that they want to present. That’s a very, very powerful tool.   Julie Roys  39:47 Although they don’t control all of it. And this is the thing that I have been so grateful for before the internet. Really, you had to go through all the gatekeepers, and I know, I couldn’t have done the reporting I’ve done had I had to go through the gatekeepers of the major Christian publications because they didn’t want to report half of this. Right. And I think the whole ME-TOO movement has taken off because of that. The Church TOO movement has taken off, because now, we have our own platforms, we have our own megaphones. And we can expose this stuff, and you did not stop. You just kept coming. And I’m guessing that that you’re one of so many, and so many people who have been suffering the same way as you have. But you went to the Southern Baptist Convention, you spoke out. Talk about your literally decades of advocacy, and what has kept you going through that.   CHRISTA BROWN  40:56 What has always kept me going has been the stories of other survivors, the very awareness that I wasn’t alone, and that there were so many others who did not have the ability, the resources, the educational background, the stamina, or maybe they just had toddlers under foot at home, they didn’t have the energy available for this. Back in 2006, I managed to publish an op-ed piece with the Dallas Morning News. And that was very early for me in this process. And it was after I did that, and I had my email address at the end of it, I was just flooded with emails. And that was when I really began to understand how pervasive this was. And most of those voices, most of those people are stories that no one ever hears about. And so that is always what has been a very powerful, made me feel a powerful sense of obligation. Because I’m very aware of those people. And I also want to say, the name of my book is Baptistland. And yes, I think there is this overarching kind of inculturation that this authoritarian type of Baptistland influences in our culture. But as you say, way back when, one of the earliest news media sources to begin reporting these stories was Associated Baptist Press, which is not affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, they’re Independent Baptist press. And they were some of the very first. We would not have some of the history we have and the documentation of this long problem if they had not been doing that work. And it continues today with Baptist News Global, which again, is not affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. I frequently write for them. So, yes, there have been other avenues, kind of on the fringes of Baptistland, that have been helpful in documenting this problem. And for that, I’ve been enormously grateful.   Julie Roys  43:14 So much has happened, especially in the past five years. The Houston Chronicle. That report showing literally hundreds of Southern Baptists leaders and volunteers engaged in credible abuse, effecting we know now over 700 victims. And again, that’s probably a fraction of it, because so many don’t speak, so many don’t come forward. We have Guidepost Solutions, who did their review, independent investigation of the executive committee the way that abuse survivors were treated. We know now that you were treated horribly, not just you, although you’re mentioned quite a bit in that report. But many survivors have been treated this way. SBC has initiated seemingly some reforms, the Caring Well Conference. But when it comes to substantive reform, have we seen substantive reform in the SBC?   CHRISTA BROWN  44:22 No, we have not. In my view, almost everything that they have done has been performative in nature. They still have no  names of credibly accused pastors on a database. They have talked and talked and talked. We’ve seen committee after committee, taskforce after task force. But no institutionally, they are not making progress. If they viewed this as a high priority, things would be very different. And you’re right. It is such a tragedy. It has been five years now since the Houston Chronicle Abuse of Faith series. It’s been two years since the Guidepost Report. That is enough time that we should see a great deal more change then we do. And yes, I’m named 70 times in that Guidepost Report, precisely because the executive committee treated me so terribly, and that’s now documented there. And that is just one report about one small entity of the Southern Baptist Convention, the executive committee. And what it reflects is pretty incredibly awful. And yet, the executive committee itself, it doesn’t make amends for its wrongdoing. It doesn’t impose consequences on those who treated me so terribly. No. And so what kind of example do they set for the rest of the Southern Baptist Convention? And they could take responsibility and accountability for their own wrong without anything to do with local church autonomy. They could do that themselves. No, they do not.   Julie Roys  46:15 And that was the big excuse for so many years was the SBC saying, listen, we’re a denomination that really honors local church autonomy. So we can’t really impose anything on these local churches. And you are asking for very common-sense reforms. I mean, a list for example, of all of the credibly accused or convicted pastors or leaders within the SBC. We just want a database, right? asking for this and them saying, oh, we can’t do that because of autonomy. And yet when this Guidepost Solutions report comes out, we find out they’re keeping their own list.   CHRISTA BROWN  46:52 Yes, they’ve been doing it all along, ever since 2007, while simultaneously claiming that they can’t keep a list. And of course, keeping records and sharing information on credibly accused clergy sex abusers, there’s nothing about that, that intrudes on the autonomy of local churches. To the contrary, that kind of information-sharing system could provide local churches with the resources that they need to exercise their autonomy more responsibly. That’s not on behalf of the local churches that their doing that. It’s on behalf of the larger denominational structures of the Southern Baptist Convention, that they’re protecting themselves.   Julie Roys  47:49 Wow. And we still don’t have it. We still don’t have a good database. This is not brain surgery, folks. This is really, really simple. But it shows the lack of will on the part of the Southern Baptist Convention. I think I just tweeted something out, not tweeted, posted on X. I can’t get used to that. But something recently; Southern Baptist minister saying, hey we’ve got the sex abuse crisis and everything else. But we need to get back to the really important things of winning people for Christ. That, to me is so infuriating that we don’t see, Jesus cared for the least of these, throughout Scripture talks about the least of these. How do we think what are we winning people to if our churches don’t reflect the heart of God? It’s so perverse and so frustrating. And I’m curious at this point, I mean, do you have hope for reform within the SBC? or do you feel like it’s a lost cause?   CHRISTA BROWN  48:56 I certainly don’t think that we will see meaningful reform in my lifetime. I really don’t. I just don’t think this institution is going that direction. They’ve given us no evidence on which to believe that they’re serious about this at all. And they have had multiple opportunities over the past 20 years to reckon with this, really serious opportunities, when they could have chosen to do so. And again, and again, they do not. So no, I do not hold hope for the institution. I do hold hope for individuals. I think there is value in putting the truth out there, regardless of what the Southern Baptist Convention may or may not ever do. Thank goodness, my hope does not rest on them.   Julie Roys  49:48 Amen. I mean, honestly, I think the truth has its own power and how it works itself out. That’s not in our hands. There’s nothing we can do about it. We’re not that powerful. But I know there’s a lot of different ways to look at this. I mean, some people come up to me and they’re like, Well, why is all of this being exposed now? What is going on? You know, it’s something awful in the church. And I’m like, Well, what we’re exposing most of what we’re exposing is decades old. Some of its recent, but a lot of it is decades old, that just hasn’t been exposed. And I do think God’s angry about it. I mean, that’s my personal belief on this. And that some of this is being exposed, that there is judgment coming. And there’s a reckoning coming. I do take heart in the fact that at least the truth is getting out there. But what people do with it, pretty tough. But I do think it will be a decade’s-long process, I thought at first it’d be a year or two few years. It’ll be a decade’s long process of this being exposed. But I do pray that something, some good structures grow out of it.   CHRISTA BROWN  51:13 I do believe that in years to come, and maybe decades to come, that ordinary human beings will look back on all this. Which is why I’m so glad things are being documented. We’ll look back on all this, and it will be so aberrant as to be almost inconceivable. And they will say, you? a multibillion-dollar tentacular institution? used this excuse of church autonomy to avoid protecting kids against clergy sex abuse? really? And it will seem so horrifying as to be almost inconceivable. I think that will happen. And this institution is on the wrong side of history.   Julie Roys  52:02 I agree with that.100%. And I’ll also say that when I talk to abuse survivors, it’s often not the abuser. I mean, the abuser obviously does horrific harm. But it’s the protectors, the allies, the bystanders that do nothing, or worse than that actually contribute to the crime by covering it up. That is what really, really causes the harm. And so I mean, to Southern Baptist leaders who probably won’t listen to this podcast, but if you do, shame on you! do something. I mean, this is unconscionable that you call yourselves Christians and you don’t do anything about abuse survivors. That is, to me, a test of the authenticity of your faith.   CHRISTA BROWN  52:52 You know you’re absolutely right Julie. This is perhaps the single most universal commonality that I find in survivor stories is almost invariably, as awful, and horrific as the sexual abuse itself is, what does even greater damage is how terribly survivors are treated by religious leaders, by churches, by people of faith. That is hard to reckon with and hard to come to terms with. It is one thing to come to terms with the evil that one man can do, but it is quite another thing to try to come to terms with, And everyone else acts as though it’s okay. And this kind of systemic institutional problem does not come about without the complicity of countless others who enable these things. And that is where the real problem lies.   Julie Roys  54:00 The fourth death that you talk about in your book is when your mother died, and your own sisters cut you out of an inheritance. And a lot of it though, based in the fact that your family didn’t want you talking about this. I can only imagine. I mean, I felt it as I read the book, but the pain that I’m sure you still carry from that. Why is it that your family wanted to silence you so much on this issue, so much that they would retaliate in this way?   CHRISTA BROWN  54:45 I think because they felt it brought shame onto the family. And because I grew up in a sort of family that says you pull yourself up by your bootstraps. You never talk about difficult things. You never talk about the family. My sister blamed me for what they said was making mom feel guilty because I had talked about this. Mom herself before she died, as I was speaking out numerous times would tell me that she thought I needed to own my part in it. Even though of course, I had been a kid. But she too had been, I think, misled, and manipulated by Brother Hayden, the senior pastor of our church at that time. And he’s now deceased. Because years later, many years later, I learned that he had told her that I would just forget about it. So that was a way of silencing my mom as well. And on some level, I think my mom must have felt guilty for that. As many mothers would feel guilt if something really terrible happens to a kid.  But I think she felt an enlarged level of guilt, which she could not really process. And it’s not as if people in my family went to counseling, right? And then because my mom felt guilty, my sister, I never put blame on her. I never ever put blame on her. But nevertheless, my sisters blamed me for making mom feel guilty. But, in some way if I think that’s all , scapegoating is something that human beings do. It’s something as old as time. And I think that’s what my sister did to me. Wrong. And in some ways, then they scapegoated me, and that was just kind of the rationalization for legitimizing what they did. And yes, to say it was painful, would be a real understatement. It was extremely painful.   Julie Roys  57:01 So sorry. You end your book with an afterword to childhood or clergy sex abuse survivors. And I know, our podcast, many survivors listen to this podcast. What message do you have for them?   CHRISTA BROWN  57:21 First and foremost, you are so worthy, you are a human being of infinite value. Whatever has been done to you within this faith community, it does not define who you are. Whoever you are at this point in your life right now, whether you are a person of faith or no faith, I don’t care. You are of infinite value and all of this other stuff that the faith community has communicated to you. Which abuse does this to people. It inculcates in you this notion that somehow you are not worthy. And that is a lie. That is a lie. So that would be the first thing I would say. And secondly, I would say, to all survivors and advocates, and really almost anyone out there, cultivate your skepticism. And sadly, when we see that faith itself is weaponized for power, that the accoutrements of faith are used to help propagandize and the perpetuation of status quo power structures, then it behooves us to apply our skepticism even to matters of faith. And I say, do not feel guilty for skepticism; not one bit. People need to earn trust. There’s nothing wrong with you for, for holding doubt.   Julie Roys  59:10 And I believe that if God is God, that he can handle our doubt, he can handle our hurt, he can handle our anger. And it’s justified in these cases. And it’s one of the greatest conundrums of the human experience. If God is great, and God is good, how do these horrible things happen to innocent people? It’s above my paygrade; it’s certainly one question that I’ve wrestled with an awful lot in my life and continue to, but I appreciate so much Christa, you’re honest, you’re honest  recounting your story and where you’re at, and you are a hero to the survivor community. And again, you have been in it so much longer than I have been. And I just look to folks like you who have really blazed a trail. And just so, so, so grateful for your work. So thank you.   CHRISTA BROWN  1:00:21 Thanks, Julie. Thanks for having me here. I really appreciate it.   Julie Roys  1:00:28 Thanks so much for listening to The Roys Report, a podcast dedicated to reporting the truth and restoring the church. I’m Julie Roys. And if you’d like a copy of Christa’s book called Baptistland, you can get one when you give $30 or more to The Roys report this month. As I’ve often said, we don’t have advertisers or many large donors, we simply have you, the people who care about exposing abuse and corruption in the church so she can be restored. So if you’d like to help us out and get a copy of Baptistland, just go to JULIEROYS.COM/DONATE. Also, just a quick reminder to subscribe to The Roys report on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube. That way, you won’t miss any of these episodes. And while you’re at it, I’d really appreciate it if you’d help us spread the word about the podcast by leaving a review. And then please share the podcast on social media so more people can hear about this great content. Again, thanks so much for joining me today. I hope you were blessed and encouraged. Read more

A father tries to save a life. A mother cries. A young girl looks on in terror...Today, we're talking about Louisa Stead and the tragic story behind her writing the song 'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus! Then we'll look at the truths built into the song. Tune in!Questions or Feedback: UnderstandingHymns@outlook.comSubscribe on Your Preferred PlatformSupport OpportunitiesMore Faith-Building ResourcesTimestamps[00:10] - Who is Louisa Stead?[00:44] - Why did she write the song?[01:32] - What are the lyrics, and how do they express Bible truth?[09:40] - What should I do about it?If this episode helps you, share it with someone else!Song LyricsVerse 1: 'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, Just to take Him at His Word; Just to rest upon His promise, Just to know, “Thus saith the Lord!”Verse 2: O how sweet to trust in Jesus, Just to trust His cleansing blood; And in simple faith to plunge me 'Neath the healing, cleansing flood!Verse 3: Yes, 'tis sweet to trust in Jesus, Just from sin and self to cease; Just from Jesus simply taking Life and rest, and joy and peace.Verse 4: I'm so glad I learned to trust Thee, Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend; And I know that Thou art with me, Wilt be with me to the end.Chorus: Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him! How I've proved Him o'er and o'er! Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! O for grace to trust Him more!Scripture ReferencesProverbs 3:5 - "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding."Mark 9:23 - "Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth."1 John 1:7 - "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."Matthew 11:28 - "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."Romans 5:1 - "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:"Philippians 4:7 - "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."Matthew 28:20 - "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen."Proverbs 3:5-6 - "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."Habakkuk 2:4 - "Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith."Romans 8:32 - "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"2 Timothy 1:12 - "For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day."Hebrews 11:1 - "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."Hebrews 12:2 - "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."Hebrews 4:16 - "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy,...

Songs of Yesteryear: Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus Proverbs 4:6 by Beersheba Church

Evangelist Phillip Brock - A sermon preached Sunday Evening, on September 17, 2023.

Have you struggled with feeling insignificant?  Be encouraged today as we talk about how God can use you in everyday life. We'll explore Matthew 5:14 in this devotion for women. Find your copy of Healing the Father Wound here. Carolyn Rice is an author and Bible teacher. She overcame her past by sitting at the feet of Jesus, and she's written several books on finding freedom in Christ. You can find out more about Carolyn and her books at CarolynsBooks.comMusic is "Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus" by Dan Brown Jr. Licensed and purchased at Premium Beat.

How do you delight in the law of the Lord, as it says in Psalm 1? Find out how on today's episode of Abide in Jesus.You can find   Loved by the Father here.  Find the Strong's Lexicon here. And Matthew Henry's commentary here. Find your copy of Healing the Father Wound here. Carolyn Rice is an author and Bible teacher. She overcame her past by sitting at the feet of Jesus, and she's written several books on finding freedom in Christ. You can find out more about Carolyn and her books at CarolynsBooks.comMusic is "Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus" by Dan Brown Jr. Licensed and purchased at Premium Beat.

Don't you hate it when you're going through something hard, and someone gives you a platitude? It's almost like they're just telling you to smile and get over it. But some things are really hard to get over. Some things leave you broken, the shattered pieces of your heart and life seem to be everywhere.  But there is a way to step out of despair and find your joy again. Find out how on today's episode of Abide in Jesus.Find your copy of Healing the Father Wound here. Carolyn Rice is an author and Bible teacher. She overcame her past by sitting at the feet of Jesus, and she's written several books on finding freedom in Christ. You can find out more about Carolyn and her books at CarolynsBooks.comMusic is "Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus" by Dan Brown Jr. Licensed and purchased at Premium Beat.

In this special episode I am inviting you to join the launch team for my newest Bible Study, Tools for Spiritual Freedom, an Ephesians Bible Study for women. If you are interested find out more here. Find your copy of Healing the Father Wound here. Carolyn Rice is an author and Bible teacher. She overcame her past by sitting at the feet of Jesus, and she's written several books on finding freedom in Christ. You can find out more about Carolyn and her books at CarolynsBooks.comMusic is "Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus" by Dan Brown Jr. Licensed and purchased at Premium Beat.

In today's Bible study with me, I'll share with you 4 powerful verses on God's love for you and show you how to get the Word from your head into your heart. Find faith and encouragement for today as you listen to freedom in Christ Devotional.Find Loved by the Father HereFind your copy of Healing the Father Wound here. Carolyn Rice is an author and Bible teacher. She overcame her past by sitting at the feet of Jesus, and she's written several books on finding freedom in Christ. You can find out more about Carolyn and her books at CarolynsBooks.comMusic is "Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus" by Dan Brown Jr. Licensed and purchased at Premium Beat.

In today's  Bible Study with me, we are looking at Ephesians 1:5 and at the fact that God chose you. If you have struggled with rejection, this episode will bless you. Find faith and encouragement for today as you listen to freedom in Christ Devotion.Find your copy of Healing the Father Wound here. Carolyn Rice is an author and Bible teacher. She overcame her past by sitting at the feet of Jesus, and she's written several books on finding freedom in Christ. You can find out more about Carolyn and her books at CarolynsBooks.comMusic is "Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus" by Dan Brown Jr. Licensed and purchased at Premium Beat.

Have you ever felt God's prompting to step out in faith on something, not knowing what was on the other side of that step? You may feel fearful, and others may not believe in you. Today, we're discussing what to do when what God has put on your heart looks impossible. Find your copy of Lord Heal My Heart Here Find your copy of Healing the Father Wound here. Carolyn Rice is an author and Bible teacher. She overcame her past by sitting at the feet of Jesus, and she's written several books on finding freedom in Christ. You can find out more about Carolyn and her books at CarolynsBooks.comMusic is "Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus" by Dan Brown Jr. Licensed and purchased at Premium Beat.

Have you ever heard yourself say,  I don't feel forgiven by God, and then you struggle with shame and condemnation?  Today on the podcast, I'll help you break free of not feeling forgiven.Find your copy of Healing the Father Wound here. Carolyn Rice is an author and Bible teacher. She overcame her past by sitting at the feet of Jesus, and she's written several books on finding freedom in Christ. You can find out more about Carolyn and her books at CarolynsBooks.comMusic is "Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus" by Dan Brown Jr. Licensed and purchased at Premium Beat.

Last week of the summer giving campaign! $1200 to go! Would you sow towards the ministry of Morning Prayer? It's Monday of Ordinary Time, Proper 10 in the Church Calendar. July 17, 2023. This week we are following the Daily Office lectionary with an episode Monday through Friday. Our general order and lectionary comes from the Book of Common Prayer Daily Office. We'll sing “'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus” by Louisa Stead and William Kirkpatrick including a prayer of confession. We'll read Psalm 25 followed by the Gloria Patri. Our Scripture lesson is Acts 11:19-30 . We'll say the Apostles' Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Collect of the Day. We'll then have a time of prompted prayer. If you have a prayer request please submit it here. Sign up here for the email list. Photo: Silvia Sagone, Berlino. Proper 10 - O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people who call upon you, and grant that they may know and understand what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to accomplish them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Last week of the summer giving campaign! $1200 to go! Would you sow towards the ministry of Morning Prayer? It's Monday of Ordinary Time, Proper 10 in the Church Calendar. July 17, 2023. This week we are following the Daily Office lectionary with an episode Monday through Friday. Our general order and lectionary comes from the Book of Common Prayer Daily Office. We'll sing “'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus” by Louisa Stead and William Kirkpatrick including a prayer of confession. We'll read Psalm 25 followed by the Gloria Patri. Our Scripture lesson is Acts 11:19-30 . We'll say the Apostles' Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Collect of the Day. We'll then have a time of prompted prayer. If you have a prayer request please submit it here. Sign up here for the email list. Photo: Silvia Sagone, Berlino. Proper 10 - O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people who call upon you, and grant that they may know and understand what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to accomplish them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/prayerandworship/message

You have heard so much about forgiving others, but what about forgiving yourself? What about letting go of shame and condemnation, the feeling that you deserve to be punished for mistakes and wrong decisions in your life? Today I'm going to show you how to forgive yourself. Find a printed copy of this prayer on my blog at Blog - The official website of Carolyn Rice, author (carolynsbooks.com)Find your copy of Healing the Father Wound here. Carolyn Rice is an author and Bible teacher. She overcame her past by sitting at the feet of Jesus, and she's written several books on finding freedom in Christ. You can find out more about Carolyn and her books at CarolynsBooks.comMusic is "Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus" by Dan Brown Jr. Licensed and purchased at Premium Beat.

Have you struggled with the idea of forgiveness? You want to forgive, but it feels like if you do, it means the offender got away with what they did. And to top it all off, how do you actually do it?Today, on abide in Jesus, I'll show you how to forgive. Find your copy of Healing the Father Wound here. Carolyn Rice is an author and Bible teacher. She overcame her past by sitting at the feet of Jesus, and she's written several books on finding freedom in Christ. You can find out more about Carolyn and her books at CarolynsBooks.comMusic is "Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus" by Dan Brown Jr. Licensed and purchased at Premium Beat.

Mini: Let's review Daniel and the Lion's Den with the songs: "Bubbles", "Whisper a Prayer", Tis So Sweet" and our memory verse Dan.6:22 "My God sent his angel and shut the lion's mouth."Recorded and produced by: Ashley B. LarsonDon't forget to check out the coloring pages that go along with each lesson! https://startingwithjesus.com/spb-cp/If you have enjoyed this program and would like to know more, go to our website: www.startingwithjesus.comThe Bible and nature story material used in today's devotional podcast has been used with permission from My Bible First. If you would like your own copy, please visit their website-or call 1-877-242-5317.If you would like to purchase your own Memory Verse CD or Songbook, go to Ouachita Hills Store (https://www.ouachitahillsacademy.org/store?page=1&store_category_id=0&sort_by=title&is_ascending=1&search=).If you would like to purchase the full Scripture Songs and Little Lessons CD, go to thehomeplace.org.Songs from: Little Voices Praise Him, SDA Hymnal, Sabbath Songs For Tiny Tots, New Sabbath Songs For Tiny Tots, Memory Verse Verse Songs for Cradle Roll, Children's Songs For Jesus, and Scripture Songs and Little LessonsAll Bible verses are from the NKJV.Singers for this Quarter: Tory, Caleb, and Enoch Hall, Hudson Reeves, Michael and Amy NelsonEditing assist: Dillon Austin and Josh LarsonMusic Recording and Editing: Rachel Nelson and Kristy HallColoring Pages: Rachel Lamming, Lily Canada, and Evie RodriguezTheme Music: Lindsey Mills- www.lindseymillsmusic.com God: who gives talents for us to use for Him

In today's Christian devotional for women, we talk about defeating fear and doubt.  How do you do it? You'll find practical steps and encouragement to strengthen yourself in the Lord, so that you can be strong and courageous, knowing that the Lord is with you.We take a look at how David strengthened himself in the Lord, and see how we ourselves can use his example to defeat doubt and fear in our own lives. Bible devotionals for women that encourage, inspire, uplift, and help us to apply God's Word together. Are you looking for a Bible Study for Christian Women? Carolyn has written several!Books by Carolyn Rice https://carolynsbooks.com/books-by-carolyn-rice/Healing the Father Wound: A Bible study for Women through the gospel of Mark https://amzn.to/3XVVlkqLoved by the Father: A Women's Bible Study through John and first John https://amzn.to/3DCuKRmGod Sees your Tears: 3o Prayers for Comfort and Healing https://amzn.to/3RrObSyLord, Heal My Heart: A Daily Devotional  https://amzn.to/3Hy8Bok Find me on Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/CarolynRiceAuthorFind me on Instagram: @carolynriceauthorFind your copy of Healing the Father Wound here. Carolyn Rice is an author and Bible teacher. She overcame her past by sitting at the feet of Jesus, and she's written several books on finding freedom in Christ. You can find out more about Carolyn and her books at CarolynsBooks.comMusic is "Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus" by Dan Brown Jr. Licensed and purchased at Premium Beat.

Have you wanted divine direction from the Lord, but you're not even sure how? Today I'll share with you a few ways you can put yourself in a position to hear from the Lord for divine direction and share how these things have worked in my own life. Find your copy of Healing the Father Wound here. Carolyn Rice is an author and Bible teacher. She overcame her past by sitting at the feet of Jesus, and she's written several books on finding freedom in Christ. You can find out more about Carolyn and her books at CarolynsBooks.comMusic is "Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus" by Dan Brown Jr. Licensed and purchased at Premium Beat.

Have you ever found yourself in circumstances that left your faith in pieces and your mind swirling with questions? "God, where are you?" might come from your mouth. Today, I'll share with you some encouragement and practical steps to take when you find yourself in that place. Find your copy of Healing the Father Wound here. Carolyn Rice is an author and Bible teacher. She overcame her past by sitting at the feet of Jesus, and she's written several books on finding freedom in Christ. You can find out more about Carolyn and her books at CarolynsBooks.comMusic is "Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus" by Dan Brown Jr. Licensed and purchased at Premium Beat.

Have you ever wondered what receiving the Kingdom of God like a little child actually means? Today, we'll discover what this actually means and you'll gain practical steps to Receive the Kingdom of God as a child.Strong's Lexicon Greek and Hebrew WordsMatthew Henry's commentaryFind your copy of Healing the Father Wound here. Carolyn Rice is an author and Bible teacher. She overcame her past by sitting at the feet of Jesus, and she's written several books on finding freedom in Christ. You can find out more about Carolyn and her books at CarolynsBooks.comMusic is "Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus" by Dan Brown Jr. Licensed and purchased at Premium Beat.

Ps. 9:9-10 Trust. It's fragile, yet it's also strong. It's hard to get, but it's even easier to lose.  Through tragedy, Louisa Stead was able to come to a place where she too learned to trust in God, and penned the words "Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus".Support the show

Have you struggled to believe God's love for you? After experiencing abuse and trauma in my life, I struggled too. Today I'm sharing 3 things that helped me overcome feeling unloved, so that you too, can become confident in God's love for you. Find your copy of Healing the Father Wound here. Carolyn Rice is an author and Bible teacher. She overcame her past by sitting at the feet of Jesus, and she's written several books on finding freedom in Christ. You can find out more about Carolyn and her books at CarolynsBooks.comMusic is "Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus" by Dan Brown Jr. Licensed and purchased at Premium Beat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n5tiq-BZY8 Pastor Ray walks us through some of the highlights of his pilgrimage over the last 30 years, with an eye toward learning to fully trust in Jesus. Although Jesus demands our full submission, it takes much longer for most of us (myself included) to fully trust Him. Listen to Pastor Ray's testimony and make the same decision that he did to yield to Jesus, to trust Jesus for provision, health and ministry (i.e. everything). Jesus wants to carry you as well, are you willing to fully trust Him and allow Him to shelter you under His blood? I kept thinking of the old hymn "Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus" during the broadcast today and I'll share the last verse below: I'm so glad I learned to trust Thee,Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;And I know that Thou art with me,Wilt be with me to the end.William Kirkpatrick

Do you struggle with the negative words people have spoken over you, even years ago?  Do you find that those words play over and over in your mind? Today, I'm going to give you six ways to replace those negative thoughts so that you can finally walk in peace.Find your copy of Healing the Father Wound here. Carolyn Rice is an author and Bible teacher. She overcame her past by sitting at the feet of Jesus, and she's written several books on finding freedom in Christ. You can find out more about Carolyn and her books at CarolynsBooks.comMusic is "Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus" by Dan Brown Jr. Licensed and purchased at Premium Beat.

Have you struggled to trust God with your doubts or fears, or wondered if he'd come through for you? Some days are heavy with questions, and discouragement beckons. Today I share a short devotional to help you overcome those places where you're struggling and ask God to become so real to you in those moments. Find your copy of Healing the Father Wound here. Carolyn Rice is an author and Bible teacher. She overcame her past by sitting at the feet of Jesus, and she's written several books on finding freedom in Christ. You can find out more about Carolyn and her books at CarolynsBooks.comMusic is "Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus" by Dan Brown Jr. Licensed and purchased at Premium Beat.

Have you found yourself in a waiting season? And during that season, have you struggled with doubt or fear?I myself have been there, and today, I'll share with you three things you can do when you find yourself waiting on God.  All scriptures not noted are in the NKJV. Find your copy of Healing the Father Wound here. Carolyn Rice is an author and Bible teacher. She overcame her past by sitting at the feet of Jesus, and she's written several books on finding freedom in Christ. You can find out more about Carolyn and her books at CarolynsBooks.comMusic is "Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus" by Dan Brown Jr. Licensed and purchased at Premium Beat.

Do you ever feel like you're just unworthy? Or that no matter what you do, you're just not enough? Today, I'm sharing 10 verses that will help you take back your self worth, and also, what to do with them when thoughts of unworthiness come. Blog posts on Memorizing ScriptureLink to Lord Heal my Heart Find your copy of Healing the Father Wound here. Carolyn Rice is an author and Bible teacher. She overcame her past by sitting at the feet of Jesus, and she's written several books on finding freedom in Christ. You can find out more about Carolyn and her books at CarolynsBooks.comMusic is "Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus" by Dan Brown Jr. Licensed and purchased at Premium Beat.

Proverbs 4:23 tells us to guard our heart. But how do we actually do that? Some of us don't know how, because we've grown up in dysfunction and were taught that our decisions and choices were not our own to make. Today, I'm going to share with you five things you can put into practice today to start you on that journey of guarding your heart. All Scripture not noted in this podcast was taken from the NKJV. Find your copy of Healing the Father Wound here. Carolyn Rice is an author and Bible teacher. She overcame her past by sitting at the feet of Jesus, and she's written several books on finding freedom in Christ. You can find out more about Carolyn and her books at CarolynsBooks.comMusic is "Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus" by Dan Brown Jr. Licensed and purchased at Premium Beat.

Performed by Sis. Brooke Schamel

When you find yourself in a storm, all manner of feelings may be your companions. People around you may be giving plattidudes that don't really help at all. Today, I'm going to share you with some things that have helped me get through the storms in my own life.  You'll find comfort, encouragement and practical tips to help you get through the storms in your life. Find your copy of Healing the Father Wound here. Carolyn Rice is an author and Bible teacher. She overcame her past by sitting at the feet of Jesus, and she's written several books on finding freedom in Christ. You can find out more about Carolyn and her books at CarolynsBooks.comMusic is "Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus" by Dan Brown Jr. Licensed and purchased at Premium Beat.

Have you tried to forgive, just let things go, yet a person in your life keeps on with their behavior? Today, we're talking about how to deal with offense as Christian, and I'll show you where the Bible says we are to confront and have boundaries, and also how to implement these truths into everyday life. Find the Boundaries book here (affiliate link)Find your copy of Healing the Father Wound here. Carolyn Rice is an author and Bible teacher. She overcame her past by sitting at the feet of Jesus, and she's written several books on finding freedom in Christ. You can find out more about Carolyn and her books at CarolynsBooks.comMusic is "Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus" by Dan Brown Jr. Licensed and purchased at Premium Beat.

How do you deal with Discouragement as a Christian? Today we're looking at Mark 5:21-43 and the story of Jairus, and what to do when you face discouragement as a Christian. Find your copy of Healing the Father Wound here. Carolyn Rice is an author and Bible teacher. She overcame her past by sitting at the feet of Jesus, and she's written several books on finding freedom in Christ. You can find out more about Carolyn and her books at CarolynsBooks.comMusic is "Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus" by Dan Brown Jr. Licensed and purchased at Premium Beat.

Have you found yourself stuck between God's promise and a past that invites you to stay there? Today,  find 4 practical ways to walk out the tombs of the past and into God's promise for you. Find your copy of Healing the Father Wound here. Carolyn Rice is an author and Bible teacher. She overcame her past by sitting at the feet of Jesus, and she's written several books on finding freedom in Christ. You can find out more about Carolyn and her books at CarolynsBooks.comMusic is "Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus" by Dan Brown Jr. Licensed and purchased at Premium Beat.

3 ways to protect your peace,Have you felt empty, like you're always giving and you just can't give anymore? Today, I will give you 3 ways to protect your peace that I have implemented in my own life. Find your copy of Healing the Father Wound here. Carolyn Rice is an author and Bible teacher. She overcame her past by sitting at the feet of Jesus, and she's written several books on finding freedom in Christ. You can find out more about Carolyn and her books at CarolynsBooks.comMusic is "Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus" by Dan Brown Jr. Licensed and purchased at Premium Beat.

In this podcast, I'm going to be sharing the parable of the Sower with you. This is one of the most famous and talked about bible stories, and I'm going to be explaining it in detail.If you're struggling with things going wrong in your life, or if you're just feeling down, then this video might be for you. I'll be discussing the 5 things that could be stealing your promise, and I'll give you some tips on how to get your promise back. This is a great biblical study that is inspired by Day 7 of my Bible Study, Healing the Father Wound.Find your copy of Healing the Father Wound here. Carolyn Rice is an author and Bible teacher. She overcame her past by sitting at the feet of Jesus, and she's written several books on finding freedom in Christ. You can find out more about Carolyn and her books at CarolynsBooks.comMusic is "Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus" by Dan Brown Jr. Licensed and purchased at Premium Beat.

Theme – 'Tis So Sweet To Trust In JesusScripture reference -JEREMIAH 17:7 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him."Intro and Outro Song - "We Give Thanks To Thee" by Marlene Jenkins CooperClosing Song - " "Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus "Scriptures mentioned in the podcast - Matthew 26:15 &21, Psalm 56:4 NIV, Psalm 28:7 NIV, Isaiah 26:3 NIV, Numbers 23:19 ESV