Podcasts about women world leaders

We say we believe God's Word, but when it conflicts with the culture around us, we don't always act like true believers. In the second podcast of Julie Harwicks's series on body image, we examine the lies we have believed and the struggle that can result from replacing them with God's truth.  *** Welcome to Women World Leaders podcast. I'm your host, Julie Harwick. Thank you for joining me today as we celebrate God's grace in our lives, in this ministry and around the world.  Whether we're scrolling through Facebook, YouTube or Instagram, we can always count on being offered a video, based on science of course, that will reveal the magic solution to lasting weight loss, a flat stomach, sag-free arms or a total facelift without surgery.  This person has struggled with the very same issues and it motivated him or her to pour everything into finding the answer. And now, they want nothing more than to share it with you and it's unlike anything you've seen before.  For the next 20-25 minutes, this innovator will describe in detail the problem and everything you've done in an attempt to fix it.  Sadly, none of it has worked.  You're almost shouting at the screen, “Yes! Yes!  That's exactly me!  This guy (or lady) really gets me!” There are charts and studies showing how this product or system has ingredients in a precise combination no one ever thought to try before.  Before you know it, you realize that at least 20 minutes have passed, but you still don't really know what the solution is.  By now, you've invested so much time, you'd hate to have it be for nothing, so you click on the link to learn more.  But rather than getting answers to your questions, you are offered a subscription plan that will save you a lot of money and have you looking and feeling your best in no time. I have wasted countless hours on this whole process.  And when I come to my senses, I always get a mental image of Wayne and Garth of SNL's Wayne's World making fish lips and mocking me with their “fished in” bit. I feel like a fool and yet it doesn't keep me from falling for it again and again.  I know there is no magic bullet and yet I so desperately want one. What is it that makes us so susceptible to these lies? I say “us,” because I know I'm not alone in this weakness.  Consumers spend approximately 70 billion dollars each year on diets, exercise programs and the associated products.  In fact, it's estimated that on average, each of us will spend more than $112,000 on it during our lifetimes.  What is euphemistically referred to as “health and fitness” is actually an industry…an industry based on an even more pervasive culture. Diet culture is the term used to describe the overall system of beliefs that equates thinness to health and moral virtue. It demonizes certain ways of eating and elevates others.  And I, along with millions just like me, have embraced it without question.  I don't know who originally coined this phrase, but it has been my mantra for years.  “Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels.” Let me say it again in case you missed it.  “Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels.”  That elusive “feeling” of thinness is a powerful motivator.  I've experienced it at times and I have to admit, it feels good.  Really good!  At least, my flesh tells me it does.  My head tells me it's another lie of Satan, but my heart still struggles to accept and internalize what I know God is saying. I have literally spent decades fully immersed in diet culture.  As I shared with you last time, I went on my first diet and exercise program at 13.  No one specifically told me to do it, but after looking through a teen magazine and noticing that I wasn't as slim as the girls I saw on the pages, I knew I had to do something.  For me, diet culture made sense and it made me feel like I was in control and could hold my head up high as long as I was doing the right things.  To be honest, the moral virtue part of that culture motivated me as much as the control aspect.  I was capable of denying myself…for my own good.  Of course it took self-control to limit my intake of the foods I really loved.  And sometimes I had to force myself to eat what I wasn't so crazy about because it was the better choice.  When I was out of breath and sweaty, I could push myself to do one more lap.  I was master of my body and it would submit to my will.  In my teens, twenties and thirties that's what it took to stay in control of my weight and I was proud of myself for the achievement.  When I attended my 20th high school reunion just four months after giving birth, I felt pretty good about how I looked. I secretly judged some of my former classmates who clearly hadn't practiced the same discipline.  In my mind, most of the people who didn't look as good as they had in high school, probably just didn't care enough to put in the effort and sacrifice.  I patted myself on the back and vowed to never “let myself go.”  My hubris caught up with me though as I entered my forties and basic self-discipline no longer gave me the results I was looking for.  But rather than acknowledging that maybe body shape wasn't a true measure of self-discipline and character - and that perhaps I had believed a lie, I just dug in harder.  Diet culture was full of experts advising women over 40 or 50 or 60 what special changes they had to make in order to stay young and thin. Getting older just meant you had to work a little harder and smarter. So I did what it took.  And it took a lot more than what I had been doing.  It took 5 days a week of serious workouts: weight training, step aerobics, kickboxing, spin classes that I hated, boot camps, high-intensity interval training, Pilates and barre. It required measuring or weighing my portions and tracking every calorie, carb, fat and protein that I consumed. No one said I was crazy for going to these extremes, they were impressed by my level of commitment and complimented my appearance.  Even though all the things I was doing to keep my body looking like I thought it should look took so much time and energy, I never considered that I was exhibiting all the hallmarks of obsession.  Based on what I saw in the women working out with me, my friends and acquaintances, everything I saw on TV or read on social media, this was completely normal. ...

As women we face tremendous pressure from society to look a certain way. Our culture compels us to go all in, pursuing youth, beauty and fitness with everything that we have.  But isn't that the kind of single-minded focus that should be reserved for God alone? Join host Julie Harwick as she explores this important topic. **** Welcome to Women World Leaders podcast. I'm your host, Julie Harwick. Thank you for joining me today as we celebrate God's grace in our lives, in this ministry and around the world. They say confession is good for the soul.  And the Bible tells us in the book of James that we should confess our sins one to another.  God has been convicting me heavily in recent weeks and months, so I'll come clean and make my confession.  I have been worshipping an idol, not of wood or stone, but an image, just the same…the image I see in the mirror. I have devoted innumerable hours to grooming and looking at that image, thinking about how I could make it look better, thinner, younger, reading anything that might help me in that pursuit, altering what I eat, when I eat, how I exercise and how I dress.  I've sacrificed financially to pay for diet plans, gym memberships and beauty products that claim to eliminate wrinkles or just make me look better. I tried to convince myself that these efforts were directed at caring for the temple that God gave me.  After all, He says in 1 Corinthians 6:19 “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you.”  But the truth is that such justification would be taking the verse out of context and ignoring the remainder of it, which says, “You are not your own. For you were bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body.” All the thoughts I was dwelling on, the actions I was taking, the money I was spending…it wasn't to glorify God.  It was to glorify me. I seriously doubt that there's a woman alive, and not a whole lot of men either, who can't identify at all with what I'm talking about.  But just in case you don't recognize anything like this in yourself, let me explain how I got here.  I had loving, supportive parents, no childhood traumas; and yet, I began thinking about how my appearance compared to other girls my age in elementary school.  I remember getting a pamphlet in gym class about health and nutrition and it showed how much a girl should weigh according to her height.  I dug it out and referred to it time and again over the years to see if I was where I should be.  I went through a “chubby stage” when I was about 10 and had the misfortune of having a naturally slender cousin exactly my age.  At family gatherings, people who hadn't seen us for a while noticed the differences.  One uncle actually gave us the nicknames of “Chubby” and “Slim.”  When puberty hit at age 11, the chubbiness disappeared without any effort on my part.  While I was thrilled with my thinner frame, I had a whole new set of concerns. Once again, I wasn't like the other girls my age.  I needed a bra and deodorant and when my friends found out, they teased me about it. I spent all of fifth grade desperately trying to hide my developing figure and hoping that it would begin to happen to the girls around me…and soon!    The summer before 8th grade, something made me think that I could stand to lose some weight. It's entirely possible that I came to that conclusion after thumbing through my older sister's teen magazine, “Seventeen “ which was full of articles and tips on diet and exercise.  As much as I hated running, I forced myself to run around our circular driveway 13 times each day – the equivalent of a mile.  When I got hungry between meals, I ate raw cucumbers, a whole cucumber at a time, right out of our garden.  I managed to maintain the appropriate weight, according to that pamphlet I got in elementary school, all through high school, but I was still self-conscious about having heavier legs.  When I was wearing shorts and sitting next to my boyfriend at age 16, I remember noticing that his legs were thinner than mine.  That began a lifelong quest to somehow make them smaller. Each new life change offered a new challenge to keep my body looking the way I wanted it to look.  When I went away to college, cafeteria food caused me to put on a few pounds, so I added more exercise and a diet.  When I got married, I unconsciously began eating just as much as my husband, who was twice my size, and once again the number on the scale went up.  I started counting calories and intensifying my workouts.  When I got pregnant with twins I didn't allow myself to eat for three and I walked for exercise every day without fail.  Because of my work situation, I didn't want my boss to know I was pregnant and I took great pride in being able to hide the pregnancy for the first five months.  But my pride balloon popped in my eighth month when I became so big, I couldn't even fit into my husband's  large-sized t-shirts.   I was so relieved when my girls were born and I dropped 30 lbs. in one day.  But those good feelings were dashed when on the very day I left the hospital someone asked when I was due. I was constantly comparing myself to other women and scrutinizing my image in the mirror. When my weight was up, I would sometimes try on three different outfits  before I could find one that I thought was acceptable.  When I was losing weight, I could spend an hour trying on clothes that had been too tight – just to see how well I was doing.  The smaller the size, the more of a high I experienced. My self-esteem was directly related to how my clothes fit. As I moved into my forties, the methods that had always enabled me to control my body size stopped working as well as they used to. I had to work harder at it.  I got a gym membership and started lifting heavier.  I tried diet after diet looking for the one that would finally get me to a weight that would make me pleased with what I saw in the mirror. With a medically supervised diet, I was able to make it a pound or two below my goal, and for a while, I was really happy with myself.  It was impossible to maintain though and over a period of years, I gradually put back all that I had lost. By this point in my story, you're either really identifying with what I've experienced or you're thinking I'm crazy.  I suspect most of you can relate though because according to some studies, approximately 91% of women are unhappy with their bodies and resort to dieting in an attempt to achieve their ideal body shape.  Studies also show that only 5% of women naturally possess the body shape that matches the ideal we see portrayed in the media.  It's interesting to note that even  within that lucky 5%, there are many who are struggling right along with the rest of us. Frontiers in Psychiatry released a study of international fashion models which revealed that body image disorder-like symptoms were expressed by 63% of them.  It seems even among the most sought-after body types, many have bought into the lie that you can never be too thin. And that study confirms a deeper truth that we need to come to terms with.  If you're looking at a number on the scale or measuring tape to make you feel at peace with your appearance, you'll never get there.  If you manage to reach the self-imposed finish line, you'll find that it's been extended…just beyond your reach. It's a moving target that many of us spend a lifetime trying to hit with no real success. External improvements never seem to truly satisfy. Just ask the myriads of cosmetic surgery veterans who are going back under the knife for “just a little more work.” Although I've been describing my efforts to lose weight or maintain the perfect weight, that was only one aspect of my idolatry. Being thin wasn't enough.  I also had to be put together at all times, with perfect hair, manicured nails and full makeup.  I wouldn't be seen in public any other way.  Even with three small children and a fourth on the way, I wouldn't be caught dead at the bus stop each morning without being fully dressed and looking my best. As the years progressed, a whole new concern began to demand my attention.  How was I going to maintain my youthful appearance?  I wasn't satisfied to look my current age  – I needed to look at least 10 years younger. How could I keep the wrinkles at bay?  Was my wardrobe current with the latest trends, or did it make me look frumpy and out of date?  Because I had children later in life, people often assumed I was younger because of my children's age.  I was happy to let them think that and rarely disclosed my true age. These concerns about my appearance have dominated my thoughts and actions for decades.  They've kept me from enjoying a lot of delicious food, from getting my hair wet at the beach or the pool, from just throwing on a t-shirt and jeans at the last minute so I can respond quickly to joining in what my family wants to do…from being vulnerable and real with my sisters in Christ who may be struggling with their own self-esteem.  In fact, my attitudes have propagated the notion that women are defined by their size and outward appearance and that we are all engaged in a life-long beauty pageant where winning means leaving your competitors feeling utterly defeated. And what's more, I have unwittingly set a very poor example for my three daughters.  I grew up in a time when we were becoming aware of eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia, so I was very careful to avoid criticizing my girls' weight or body shape or suggesting that they diet or exercise to lose weight.  But what I didn't realize was that they were learning about body image by watching me and listening to what I said about myself.  Though none of it was directed at them, they watched me try diet after diet, talk with my friends about needing to lose weight, and refuse to eat certain things because they were bad, or fattening.  They heard me talk about my fat legs and what would happen to me if I ate a whole bowl of pasta and that I needed to lose weight before we went on vacation so that I could enjoy myself.  There's a term for the kind of example I set.  It's called “the ripple effect,” because although each incident seems so small and insignificant, just like dropping a stone in a body of water, those comments or behaviors leave an impact that reaches so much farther – just like the ripples that result from the stone.  Studies have shown that girls as young as 5 understand what dieting is and can talk about it knowledgeably because of what they've heard from their mothers. They also confirm that girls who hear their moms talk negatively about their own bodies or label foods as good or bad, or observe them engaging in excessive exercise can develop body image issues themselves. That's not to say that if your daughter develops body image issues it's all your fault.  They get plenty of negative input from their peers, our culture in general and especially social media.  It's extremely difficult to protect them from the terrible messages about their value in society, but at least we have the opportunity to avoid contributing to it and could possibly demonstrate a more balanced approach. Even though the people around me may have been unaware of my extreme focus on my outward appearance, it has affected my family, my friends, the women I've interacted with and my own self-image.  But the most devastating impact has been on my relationship with God.  I have known and walked with Him personally through all of it, but I never saw it as the idol it was.  I would never have said that I valued my outward appearance above my walk with God, but my behavior and thought life indicated something else. Not only did I devote more time and energy to maintaining and improving my exterior than I did my interior, but I didn't act in accordance with what I claimed to believe about Him.  I said He was the most important thing in my life, but I spent a lot more time worrying about impressing the people around me, than I did about impressing Him.  I said I believed every word in the Bible was true and I would base my life on it, but when He said I was “wonderfully made,” I said I had fat thighs, cankles and was too short.   Even though Proverbs 31 says, “ Charm can be deceptive and beauty doesn't last, but a woman who reverences God shall be greatly praised,” my actions showed that I actually valued fading beauty over reverence for God.   I was familiar with 1 Peter 3 which warned, “Your adornment must not be merely external – braiding the hair and wearing gold jewelry or putting on dresses, but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.”  And yet, I continued to focus on all the externals more than developing my inner spirit – something that God would view as “precious.”  Like the Pharisees that Jesus spoke of so harshly, I worried about the outside of the cup, making sure it was clean and shiny, while the inside, which is what really matters, was hardly as well cared for. These realizations have taken some time and a lot of self-reflection. I've confessed my failures and asked His forgiveness, but making the necessary changes is a daunting prospect.  How do I change the way I've been thinking and talking about myself for decades?  How do I find the balance between being healthy and being obsessed?  How do I present myself to the world in a way that will bring glory to God instead of me?  It will take much more time to answer these questions and to learn new ways of thinking and acting.  Such deeply ingrained habits will not change overnight, but I'm committed to beginning the journey and allowing God to transform me in these areas as He sees fit. If you see yourself in any of this, I challenge you to consider beginning this journey too.  By simply googling Christian body image blogs or podcasts, you'll find a wealth of helpful information, spiritual guidance and support.  And I would like to continue to share what God is teaching me through this process in future podcasts. God made it clear when He gave the Law to Moses that we should place nothing above Him.  Most of us have no issues with being tempted to worship another god, but good and necessary things like taking care of ourselves, our children or loved ones or building a career can easily find their way to the thrones of our hearts where only He belongs. Thanks for listening to Women World Leaders podcast!  Join us each week as we explore together God's extravagant love and your courageous purpose.  Visit our website at www.womenworldleaders.com to submit a prayer request, register for an upcoming event, and support the ministry.  From His heart to yours, we are Women World Leaders .  All content is copyrighted by Women World Leaders and cannot be used without written consent.

The world sees the devil as a red cartoon character with horns and a pitchfork encouraging people to do the wrong, but very appealing thing. The Bible describes a being far more sinister and destructive. We must know the enemy of our souls if we are to resist his plan to steal, kill, and destroy. *** Welcome to Women World Leaders podcast. I'm your host, Julie Harwick. Thank you for joining me today as we celebrate God's grace in our lives, in this ministry and around the world. Last month, in the flurry of new Christmas movies, one in particular caught my attention.  “Dear Santa,” starring Jack Black, featured a clever premise of a dyslexic middle schooler intending to send a letter to Santa, but mixing up the letters and instead sending his Christmas wish list to Satan.  While I can see the humor in mixing up the letters in the names of two polar opposite characters, that's where the humor ends for me.   Leave it to the Prince of Darkness to use the celebration of Jesus' birth as an occasion to sell the deception that he's a harmless, fun-loving prankster who can ensure you have a great life here and now…if not in the hereafter.  I didn't watch the movie, but I read about it enough to learn that Jack Black's character is only masquerading as Satan, and is instead a failed demon, trying to regain Lucifer's favor by getting the 6th grader to sell his soul in exchange for three granted wishes.  According to plot descriptions, the movie portrays Satan himself in an unfavorable light, but apparently Jack Black's demon is compassionate, funny, and a good guy at heart.  It's not hard to see where the inspiration for this movie came from – the father of lies himself. A Gallup poll from 2023 revealed that of five spiritual entities: God, angels, heaven, hell, and the devil, the fewest believed in Satan. Only 58% of those polled said they believe he actually exists. It's likely that when they were questioned, their minds conjured up the red, pitchfork-wielding, horned character usually seen at Halloween parties and on cans of deviled ham.  I can understand why people don't believe in that, and Satan has worked hard to associate that image with his name.  Who's afraid, or even concerned about a fantastical being who's half human and half goat with a spear-like tail and villainous facial hair? In that old trope of an angel sitting on one shoulder and a devil on the other, the devil is always the most appealing of the two.  Using shame or fear, the angel reminds us of what we should do, while the cute little devil on the other shoulder encourages us to indulge and have a good time. The Bible has a lot to say about Satan and paints a far different picture from the images most people are familiar with.  So, who is Satan and where did he come from?  From passages in Ezekiel 28 and Isaiah 14 we learn that he was a being created by God to be a perfect reflection of His glory. His original name was Lucifer, meaning one who brings light. Ezekiel refers to him as a guardian cherub and says he was blameless from the day he was created until unrighteousness was found in him.  Verse 17 of Ezekiel 28 explains, “Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor.”  Isaiah gives even more insight in chapter 14, saying, “ How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth. You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will make myself like the Most High.” Here is where sin began.  And as it has always been and always will be, it is rooted in pride…the desire to be God.  I think this occasion was also the root of the saying, “misery loves company.”  Once Satan realized his plan to be equal with God had failed and consequences would follow, he sought to bring others down with him.  Revelation makes reference to this event adding that Satan managed to take a third of the angels in heaven with him, condemned to become fallen angels or demons who would share his mission to deceive as many souls as possible into believing that they too could be God. Not satisfied with only demonic companions, he disguised himself as a serpent and persuaded Eve to become the first human victim of his diabolical plot. So, now that we know Lucifer became Satan because he wanted to be God, how does he compare to God? While God is self-existent, that's what the name Jehovah means, with no beginning and no end, Satan clearly had a beginning and will also have an end. Another of God's characteristics is that He is omniscient, or all-knowing.  Many people have mistakenly believed that Satan also has that ability, but he does not.  He is, however, an excellent student of human behavior and he's had thousands of years to perfect his ability to recognize and capitalize on their weaknesses and vulnerabilities. He's so skilled at it, he can seem as if he's reading our minds, but he can't.  God also has the power to be everywhere all at once, or omnipresent.  That's a hard concept to wrap our human minds around, but I'm very glad He has that ability. Satan, on the other hand, does not.  Because of his well-organized demonic forces, it can seem like he's active everywhere all at once, but he himself, does not have that ability.  God has given Satan tremendous latitude to operate with his demons on planet earth. Jesus Himself referred to Satan as the ruler of this world and Paul called him “the god of this age and the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience.” He is a supernatural being with supernatural powers, but he is still subject to God's authority.  The first chapter of Job makes this clear.  God has taken the opportunity to point out what a great guy Job is while Satan is within earshot.  Also known as the accuser, Satan loses no time in suggesting that Job only lives to please God because he's been given everything a man could want.  He insists that some suffering and loss would take him down and make him as unconcerned with the things of God as any other man.  God demonstrates His confidence in Job by allowing Satan to do whatever he likes to Job apart from taking his life.  The devil could only do what God allowed and had to remain within the limits He set. The rest of the book details all of the horrible ways Satan tried to get Job to curse God, but instead, his faith remained firm, and he came to a much deeper knowledge of his creator.  Satan's plan backfired and in the end, Job was rewarded with even more than he had in the first place. As we consider all the things Satan can and cannot do, we would be wise to examine how Jesus dealt with him.  It's interesting to note that once Jesus had publicly been acknowledged as the Son of God and was about to begin His earthly ministry, He went into the wilderness for 40 days to be tempted by Satan.  Scripture tells us that there is no temptation we face that Jesus has not already faced and overcome.  The account of His temptation in the wilderness serves as a template we can use in dealing with our greatest enemy.  Satan has a limited bag of tricks to work with, but he's quite adept at recognizing and taking advantage of our individual weaknesses.  Since Jesus was fasting during His forty days in the desert, Satan first thought to appeal to His hunger and entice Him to meet His own physical needs by using His divine power to turn stones into bread. When that failed to move Him, the devil appealed to His emotional needs to know that God loved Him and have His divinity confirmed in a visible way.  He suggested that Jesus throw Himself from a great height to the ground and test the scriptural promise that God would send angels to prevent Him from being hurt. In a last-ditch effort, Satan offered to give up his authority over all earthly realms and make Jesus ruler of the world if only He would bow down and worship him.  In every temptation, Jesus didn't debate or negotiate with Satan, He simply quoted the scripture that addressed the root of the temptation.  Ironically, Satan used scripture as well. Naturally, it was out of context and somewhat twisted to serve his purpose.  Because Jesus knew the scriptures thoroughly, He was able to see through Satan's deception and have the perfect response to every temptation. The devil's entire identity is rooted in deception.  In John 8, Jesus described him as “a murderer from the beginning who does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him.  When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” In modern-day vernacular, you might say, “you'll know he's lying if his lips are moving.”  If deception is Satan's primary weapon, then truth is our best defense and the account of Jesus' temptation in the wilderness shows us that the truth that will defend us comes only from the Word of God. Ephesians 6 describes the spiritual armor God has provided for us as believers.  We have a helmet of salvation, a breastplate of righteousness, a belt of truth, feet shod with the gospel of peace and a shield of faith.  These are all meant to protect us from Satan's attacks, but we have only one offensive weapon to drive him away because it's all we need: the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  And like any good soldier, we must have our swords ready at all times so we're always prepared for a fight.  We can't wait until we're under attack to go looking for our sword.  That means we need to be constantly in God's word, studying and memorizing so that the truths we need to defeat the devil will be at our disposal when we need them most.   If you don't feel you know God's word very well, a good place to start would be to look up verses that are relevant to your particular areas of struggle.  Do you find yourself questioning your salvation and whether or not God could really love you?  Meditate on and memorize John 10:28 which says, “I give them eternal life and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hands.”  Are you plagued by anxiety and negative thinking?   Philippians 4: 4-8 will remind you of the steps to overcome anxiety and thoughts you should be dwelling on.   When fear threatens to overwhelm you or you're being asked to do something you feel is beyond your capability remember how God enabled David to face a giant no professional soldier was willing to fight, with just a sling and a stone.  Everything you need to resist temptation and send Satan packing is in God's word. 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil.  He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.”  Peter chose the lion metaphor for multiple reasons.  There are many big cats that prey on other wildlife, but no other is known for its' terrifying roar.  Lions rely on their roar to intimidate and panic their prey, making them more vulnerable. Satan also finds a way of making his voice loud and forceful in our minds, making us question every truth. Sometimes a lion's roar is only that.  Experts say running from a lion is the worst thing you can do.  Your chances are better to stand firm, face it and roar or shout back.  Lions also use the tactic of going after the weak, the young, those who are injured or have been separated from the safety of the herd.  Similarly, Satan delights in attacking immature believers, those who are going through painful trials and any who have separated themselves from the support and accountability of fellow believers.  A wounded lion is even more dangerous because his pain drives him to lash out and inflict as much or more pain on his victim.  Satan is a wounded lion who received a mortal injury when the stone was rolled away from the tomb that first Easter morning.  Jesus' triumph over death and sin sealed Satan's fate and marked the beginning of his end.  Colossians 2: 13-15 says, “When you were dead in your sins, God made you alive with Christ.  He forgave us all our sins, having canceled our legal indebtedness which condemned us. He has taken it away and nailed it to the cross.  Having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”  Imagine…the debt of sin that served as our death warrant has been pardoned and nailed to the cross for all to see.  Satan is a powerful adversary who should be taken seriously.  But the only real power he ever had over us was the power of sin which has been nullified by Christ's triumph over sin and death.  When we walk in that truth and brandish the sword of the Spirit which is God's word,  that roaring lion becomes nothing more than a frightened alley cat.   Thanks for listening to Women World Leaders podcast!  Join us each week as we explore together God's extravagant love and your courageous purpose.  Visit our website at www.womenworldleaders.com to submit a prayer request, register for an upcoming event, and support the ministry.  From His heart to yours, we are Women World Leaders .  All content is copyrighted by Women World Leaders and cannot be used without written consent.    

One of the things that is most evident about a toddler is that they don't know very much.  Being so new to the world, they still have a lot to learn.  But there's a lot we can learn from them as well. ***** Welcome to Women World Leaders podcast. I'm your host, Julie Harwick. Thank you for joining me today as we celebrate God's grace in our lives, in this ministry and around the world. My first, and only grandchild, Sam, is now 16 months old.  He lives 2 hours away from us, so I don't get to spend as much time with him as I'd like to, but we recently went on a cruise together, which gave me seven whole days.  There are those who might question the wisdom of taking a toddler on a cruise and there have been moments when his parents have questioned it too, but he's had a great time and I believe God is using his natural toddler behavior to teach me a thing or two. One of the first things you notice about a child this age is that they want what they want when they want it.  While the rest of us may be on the second course of a very nice dinner, he may not be hungry and just wants to get down and run around. He doesn't consider that enjoying nice meals is a big part of what makes the adults want to go on a cruise, or that the wait staff is busily moving around the dining room, doing their best to satisfy our every need, nor does he remember that the people around us are also anticipating a calm, relaxing environment where they can enjoy their meals. There's only one thought on his mind.  I'm bored and I want to check this place out on foot.  Obviously, he needs to be taught to consider the people around him and their needs.  He's going to have to learn to be patient.  He's only 16 months old.  So, what's my excuse?  I wonder if God doesn't look at our behavior and sigh, thinking, “they just want what they want, when they want it.”  How often do we fall into praying prayers that seem more like a list of demands.  When they aren't answered according to our timetable, we complain and sometimes question if He cares or is even listening.  We may even go so far as to take matters into our own hands.  A great biblical example of this is Sarah, Abraham's wife.  She lived at a time when people lived much longer  - well over 100 years.  When she was in her 80's, it was more like someone being around 50 today. As she was approaching that age, she had never had the privilege of becoming a mother.  In her culture, that was a woman's highest achievement.  Even though God had promised Abraham that he would have a biological heir, Sarah was convinced that she was running out of time.  She thought her best chance to be a mother was to use a surrogate, her maid, Hagar.  She convinced Abraham that this was how they could have the child they longed for, now.   The result was Ishmael, who became the father of the Arab nation.  Within a dozen years, God delivered on His promise, allowing Sarah to conceive Issac at the ripe old age of 90.  She had little interest in Abraham's son, Ishmael, now that she had given birth to her own son.  This set in motion a conflict between the brothers and their descendants that continues today.  Because she wanted a son on her timetable, Sarah went around God's plan, instituting her own and creating a disaster. In contrast, another woman in the bible faced a similar circumstance, but she was able to overcome the “toddler way” of thinking.  Hannah was one of two wives of Elimilech.  That's hard for us to wrap our heads around, but it was common in her culture.  Her sister wife had multiple children and delighted in rubbing Hannah's face in her lack of offspring.  Every year when the family went to the temple to make their annual pilgrimage, Hannah would beg God for a child.  Year after year passed with no answer, but she kept asking.  It wasn't easy to keep the faith as the years passed and she shed so many tears and experienced such pain as she prayed, that the priest accused her of being drunk in the temple.  When she explained her situation, he blessed her and prophesied that she would come to the temple with a child of her own the following year.  According to God's timetable, she did give birth to Samuel, whom my grandson is named for, within the year.  Because she waited for God's timing, he grew up to be a faithful priest and one of Israel's greatest leaders. Another thing little Sam has reminded me of is that there's a big difference between what we want, and what we need.  Sometimes we're no better at recognizing that than he is.  On a cruise, every type of food imaginable is widely available. It is theoretically possible to eat healthy on a cruise, but I've never really met anyone who was able to pull it off.  There are a wide variety of fruits, vegetables and lean meats, but that's not what I see people piling on their plates and it's not what Sam wants to eat.  He would happily subsist on nothing but French fries. He's willing to forgo the fries for various types of bread, especially with peanut butter, or, better yet, cookies or ice cream. Since we're on vacation, the rules have been relaxed, but his parents don't want him eating a steady diet of the things he prefers.  They know that he wouldn't be getting the nutrients he needs and the food he loves most could create long-term health problems if he ate too much of it.  In the same way, don't we seek out what we like whether it's good for us or not?  My favorite foods certainly fit into that category as well as how I entertain myself and how I often choose to spend my time.  On the other hand, God knows exactly what I need and there are times when that includes pain and suffering.  I avoid those things as much as I possibly can, but He knows that they will build my faith and make me more like Him.  Even though I recognize that He knows what's best for me and I desperately want that, it's easy to lose sight of it and focus on my wants instead. Scripture reminds us that when we recognize our own weaknesses, that' s when His strength is poured out in us.  I like the way the Message puts 2 Corinthians 12:10. “Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size – abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks.  I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.” The cruise ship has been a wonderland to Sam.  His vocabulary is limited right now, but one word we heard again and again was, “Wow.” The flashing lights and accompanying musical sounds of the casino seem like one giant baby toy to him.  There's a darkened corridor filled with rock-sized sculptures, mirrors and a star-studded ceiling. It makes you feel like you're walking through an asteroid field in space. He has loved every musical performance from acoustic guitar ballads to Motown.  The nightly production shows are his favorite though with flashy costumes, dancers, aerialists, exciting music and incredible special effects.  It's so much to take in for someone who's never seen anything like it, and he doesn't want to miss a minute of it. My husband and I tried to give our daughter and son-in-law a break from parenting in the evenings, so we would push Sam around in his stroller and take him to shows.  We walked the deck more times than I can count and even when he looks like he can barely keep his eyes open, he will fight to stay awake.  He doesn't want to miss a thing!  Many of the staff would recognize us and our efforts to get him to sleep and joke that he would probably outlast us.  He was often up until after 10:00 which is pretty late for a toddler, and the effects were quite visible the next day by late morning.  When toddlers are tired, they get very cranky and they are definitely not on their best behavior.  Adults can be that way too.  So many exciting things demand our attention.  Online shopping and social media can easily suck me in and cause me to stay up way too late.  Others have a hard time saying no to activities and projects that they don't really have time for.  Whether we feel like we're letting someone down or missing out on something we'd really enjoy, we struggle to recognize our limitations.  When we exceed healthy boundaries, we get short-tempered, stressed and sometimes even physically ill.  What we really need, just like Sam, is rest.  Obviously, God places tremendous importance on the value of rest because He set a whole day aside for it and led by example.  I can't imagine that any of us have ever tackled as large a project as creating the universe.  God went at it hard for six days and then He rested.  As a completely omnipotent, divine being, did He really need to, or was He demonstrating the importance of rest?  He felt so strongly about it, that He made it one of the commandments that He handed down to Moses on His holy mountain.  Once Sam is home again, a regular nap and bedtime will be part of his routine because his parents will enforce it.  There are times when our heavenly Father enforces rest on us through illness, job loss or a natural disaster.  But those are pretty extreme measures that most of us would prefer to avoid.  Sometimes a nap can make all the difference. Sam's only been walking for about a month now and he's doing really well, but occasionally he still looks a little like a drunken sailor.  Sometimes his momentum gets ahead of his legs and he does a face plant.  Rarely does he make a big deal out of it. He usually just gets up again and keeps going.  Sometimes, he can fall two or three times in a row, but he'll just keep his eyes facing forward, get up, and keep going.  He doesn't look around to see if anyone saw him fall or berate himself for being clumsy.  He has a destination in mind and that's all that matters.  I think there's a lesson in that. As we walk through this life, we often trip over hidden obstacles  or lose our balance.  We fall, or maybe more aptly, fail to reach our intended destination or become the person we really want to be.  But rather than just pick ourselves up and keep going, we look around to see who may have witnessed our failure and even if there's no one to mock or criticize what just happened, we take on that role ourselves.  We are our own worst critics, but it's something we can learn to overcome if we choose to.  I think this is exactly what the Apostle Paul was talking about in Phillipians 3 when he said, “Forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press onward toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”  Paul certainly had a past that could've kept him locked in self-recrimination and shame.  Everyone knew that he had been the chief persecutor of the followers of Jesus.  We know that he was responsible for Stephen's death, and likely there were many others.  After his miraculous conversion on the road to Damascus, he had to prove himself as a trustworthy and genuine believer.  There were probably some who couldn't forget the atrocities he had committed and never really trusted him.  But he didn't let that stop him.  He recognized that the moment he encountered Jesus, he had become a new man and his previous sins no longer defined him.  As he stated in  2 Corinthians 5:17 “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone.  New life has begun.”  Paul is all the evidence we need that we can overcome any failure.  It's not a question of if we fall, but when.  And when it happens, the best thing to do is just get up and keep moving toward that prize. Sam is learning new words and skills every day and it's exciting to see that.  There are some very special things that we're enjoying during his toddler-hood, but we don't want him to stay a toddler forever.  We realize that it will take many years for him to mature into a full adult, but that's our ultimate goal for him. As much as we love holding him when he's sleepy and laughing at his antics, we are eager to see him grow and learn even more. I think God feels the same way about us.  He understands that growth takes time and He loves us at every stage of our journey.  He delights at every new skill we master and every obstacle we overcome.  He loves us right where we are now, but He wants so much more for us. Colossians 1:28 sums up exactly what He calls His servants to do.  “He is the One we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.”   Thanks for listening to Women World Leaders podcast!  Join us each week as we explore together God's extravagant love and your courageous purpose.  Visit our website at www.womenworldleaders.com to submit a prayer request, register for an upcoming event, and support the ministry.  From His heart to yours, we are Women World Leaders .  All content is copyrighted by Women World Leaders and cannot be used without written consent.  

God's Word consistently reminds us that we are strangers and aliens to this world, but have we done such a good job of assimilating that no one can tell that we don't belong here?   ****   Welcome to Women World Leaders podcast. I'm your host, Julie Harwick. Thank you for joining me today as we celebrate God's grace in our lives, in this ministry and around the world. One of my favorite sitcoms from the 90's was Third Rock From the Sun.  The premise was that four aliens were given human bodies and instructed to observe life on earth and report back to their home planet everything they learned.  Of course, no one could know their true identity, but it was often difficult to hide.  They knew nothing of gender roles, relationships, how families worked or human emotions.  Trying to fit in and remain undetected was very challenging and always resulted in hilarious situations.  Near the end of the show's five-year run, they had learned much about human behavior, but they had become so entrenched in their lives on earth, some even falling in love for the first time, they couldn't bear the thought of returning to their home planet. In addition to providing great entertainment, the show also has a lot of parallels to the spiritual world. Hebrews chapter 11 gives us a list of people who came before us and pleased God because of their faith.  God asked many of them to do hard things that involved risk and blind obedience.  Certainly, that's what the aliens of 3rd Rock were asked to do.  They were instructed to go to a planet they had no knowledge of and carry out their orders without question.  It was much like Abraham, who was called by God to leave his family and his people and travel to an unknown land where God would give him a whole new life.  Verse nine says, “By faith, he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Issac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.  For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” Hebrews 11 goes on to mention other heroes of faith like Able, Enoch and Noah.  Verse 13 says, “All these people were still living by faith when they died.  They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.”  Verse 16 explains why they held such attitudes. “They were longing for a better country – a heavenly one.”  We have that same heavenly country to long for and what's more, we have a better idea of what it will be like than they did.  They had no written word of God to read and study – only the knowledge of God that had been passed from one generation to the next.  We have Old and New Testament prophecies as well as the words of Jesus that describe in some detail what is awaiting us in that “better country.”  And yet, we often live as if we've forgotten that it even exists. Our comfortable lifestyles make it particularly easy to forget about that “better country.”  I have to admit that I find life here pretty good.  I have plenty to eat, a home I love, a happy, healthy family, fulfilling work to do and plenty of leisure time as well. I'm most likely to start thinking about and longing for “that better country” when things here start to go wrong.  When I feel the pain of an unstable economy, or I witness injustice, government corruption and rising crime or if someone I love is facing a serious illness…those are the times I long for a kingdom that is not of this world and remember that it's where I truly belong. It's easy to fall into the trap of viewing heaven as an escape from the troubles of this world.  But I think we've got it backwards when we think that way.  God intended it to be the true home of every human being and our time on earth is designed to make that a reality for everyone who will receive the gift. Our time on earth is meant to be a time of preparation for ourselves and everyone we can possibly influence. Jesus recognized our proclivity to focus on all the wrong things – apparently it wasn't a problem unique to the time and place we live, because He addressed it with His followers.  Luke 12: 32-34 says, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Is Jesus saying we should all sell our homes, cars and   clothing?  He may call some of us to do that, but I believe what He's really getting at is what we value.  Are we looking to material possessions to make us feel secure and good about ourselves? If so, that's what we treasure.  And as He pointed out, those things can be stolen from us or destroyed because they only have earthly value.  If we understand that He is our Good Shepherd and that the Father has already given us the kingdom, we have all we need and it has eternal value.  Our security and our contentment should come from that knowledge. The Apostle Paul built on that idea in his letter to Timothy, saying, “Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.  In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”  What kind of life are we taking hold of?  The life that is of this world is about pleasure, building a name for ourselves, gaining more material comforts, being admired and respected.  According to Paul, and Jesus, that isn't even truly life, just a sad, worldly copy of the real thing. On the other hand, living the life that is truly life requires sacrifice, being focused on the needs of others and living in a way that may seem foreign to the people around us.  There will be times when, like the aliens of 3rd Rock, we don't fit in and there's no hiding it. God may call us to do hard things as He did with Abraham.  We may have to take risks and step into the unknown, but, as Abraham discovered, the blessings outweigh the cost. Sometimes we choose the world's version of life, not because we're unwilling or afraid to do the hard things God asks of us, but because we get distracted.  I remember hearing a Haitian pastor speak about what life was like in the community where he pastored. His people were desperately poor, having to subsist on what they could grow in their little gardens or found growing wild…maybe some eggs from a chicken or two.  They had no electricity and very simple homes that barely provided shelter from the sun and rain. Their children didn't go to college and build better lives with each successive generation.  They faced tremendous opposition from powerful witchdoctors who were used to controlling everything that happened in the village.  But these people loved Jesus, with a love that was pure and unwavering.  They knew that He alone was their provider and protector.  When they gathered for services they had no electricity for air conditioning, a worship team or slick video productions, but they sang together and worshipped with all their hearts.  Before they went to bed, they read scripture and prayed by candlelight, knowing that God would provide for them tomorrow just as He had today.  And they had witnessed miracles!  The witchdoctor had threatened to put a curse on the pastor if he didn't stop preaching the gospel, assuring him that he would be dead within three days.  In spite of having seen the witchdoctor accomplish things they couldn't explain, the church prayed for their pastor and stood firmly on God's word.  Three days later, the witchdoctor was dead, but their pastor was alive and well. As I listened to these stories, I found myself envying them.  They were so focused on the true life that Paul spoke of.  They lived in total dependence on God to provide food, shelter and protection.  Their faith was simple and genuine.  They didn't waste time on social media, shopping online or watching TV.  Those things weren't available to them and they were better off for it. Of course, I always have the option of eliminating those things from my life or even using them more wisely. Maybe I could love Jesus simply and whole-heartedly just as they do if I keep my focus where it belongs and live the life that is truly life. I recently learned something new about the Phillipians that Paul wrote to in the New Testament.  The city of Phillipi was unique in that its' residents were not only citizens of their home city, but of Rome as well.  At that time, Roman citizenship offered protections, rewards and responsibilities.  Rome didn't want the people of Phillipi to move to Rome.  They were expected to remain in Phillipi, representing the values and culture of Rome while furthering the interests of the Roman Empire.  It's no coincidence that Paul used the word ”citizenship” to describe how the Christians of Phillipi should live their lives of faith. Phillipians 3:20 says, “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” The Philippians would've understood that he meant they should participate in daily life where they were living, but be mindful of Who they represent and where they ultimately belong.  And we can do the same.  Rather than bemoaning the fact that God has placed us in this very imperfect world, we should make it our goal to represent Him and the life that is truly life.  And if that causes us to seem a little out of step with what everyone around us is doing, that's a sign that we're getting it right.  Thanks for listening to Women World Leaders podcast!  Join ,us each week as we explore together God's extravagant love and your courageous purpose.  Visit our website at www.womenworldleaders.com to submit a prayer request, register for an upcoming event, and support the ministry.  From His heart to yours, we are Women World Leaders .  All content is copyrighted by Women World Leaders and cannot be used without written consent.

Who were the first 10 non-royal women elected or appointed to be Head of State (President) or Head of Government (Prime Minister)? 1. Khertek Anchimaa-Toka, Chair of the Presidium of Little Khural of the Tuvan People's Republic 1940 2. Sirimavo Bandaranaike, Prime Minister of Ceylon 1960 3. Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister of India 1966 4. Golda Meir, Prime Minister of Israel 1969 5. Isabel Perón, President of Argentina 1974 6. Elisabeth Domitien, Prime Minister of the Central African Republic 1975 7. Margaret Thatcher, Prime Minister of the UK 1979 8. Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo, Prime Minister of Portugal 1979 9. Lidia Gueiler Tejada, President of Bolivia 1979 10. Eugenia Charles, Prime Minister of Dominica 1980 Plus: 2. 10 Longest Serving Women Leaders 3. Why it's taken so long 4. Nations with the most (and no) women leaders 5. Women Leaders and happiness 6. Historic trends in women's leadership Join me every Tuesday when I'm Spilling the Tea on History! Check out my Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/lindsayholiday Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091781568503 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyteatimelindsayholiday/ Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@historyteatime Please consider supporting me at https://www.patreon.com/LindsayHoliday and help me make more fascinating episodes! Intro Music: Baroque Coffee House by Doug Maxwell Music: Butterflies in Love by Sir Cubworth #HistoryTeaTime #LindsayHoliday Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on this podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

True holiness is a matter of the heart.  Although we can fool ourselves and others by presenting a squeaky clean image, God calls us to concern ourselves with what's going on inside, rather than what we look like on the outside.  Enjoy this important teaching from Julie Harwick.   **** Welcome to Women World Leaders podcast. I'm your host, Julie Harwick. Thank you for joining me today as we celebrate God's grace in our lives, in this ministry and around the world. They say you can't judge a book by its' cover. I always thought that it was a pretty valid statement, but the truth of that statement proved itself on a much deeper level when I observed the unmasking of someone I thought I knew very well.   My husband and I had recently re-connected with a friend we hadn't seen since our wedding.  He was about to get married himself, so we had the opportunity to get to know his new wife from the start of their marriage.  She seemed incredibly sweet and appeared to worship the ground he walked on.  She was open about the fact that her past had included drug addiction and a failed marriage to another addict, but she seemed as far removed from that life as anyone could be.  She brought three daughters to the marriage and though they were older than our kids, the youngest got along really well with our girls.  We vacationed together. They stayed with our kids when we went on a cruise for our 20th anniversary.  They joined our church, and she enthusiastically jumped in and began to develop a women's ministry.  She had her first child at a very young age and was already a grandmother.  I was so impressed to hear her talk about selecting the perfect bible study that she could do with her grandson when he was in her care.  She seemed like a spiritual giant who was constantly pouring herself into her family, friends and anyone in need.  After many years of such stellar behavior, there were some surprising developments.  She was abruptly asked to step down from her leadership role in women's ministry.  Initially, that action really disturbed me, but I was about to discover the reason why.  Her husband began to confide in mine that she was not so sweet and supportive of him when no one else was around. Anytime they experienced conflict, she became verbally abusive and unreasonable.  She accused him of being a narcissist, so he volunteered to go to marriage counseling.  The counselor sensed much deeper problems and advised them to both be evaluated for any mental illnesses.  He was given a clean bill of health, while she was diagnosed with multiple illnesses and prescribed numerous medications .  Things improved for a while, but she soon decided that she didn't need the medications and tried again to convince him that he was the problem.  She had always been generous with family and friends, buying them gifts and helping out with expenses, but soon she began spending unbelievable amounts of money on a daily basis. She ran up large credit card balances and every time he tried to close one out, she simply opened another.  She had no explanation for purchasing a hundred dollars' worth of Starbucks gift cards day after day. He wanted to fight for their marriage, but she seemed set on destroying him financially and became more and more adversarial toward him with each passing day.  They ended up in divorce court and she took as much as she possibly could from him, leaving him in deep debt.  Although she left the marriage with a settlement that would've taken care of her for decades, the money was all gone within two years.  Not long afterward, we discovered that she had been arrested for writing bad checks. As the story unfolded, each revelation of who she really was came like a punch to the gut.  I thought I knew this woman.  I trusted her with my children.  I looked up to her as someone I'd like to emulate.  I thought she was far better to her husband than I was to mine, but the reality was just the opposite.  I had never been so wrong in my evaluation of someone. She played the character she wished to portray better than any award-winning actress and I completely bought into the deception. 1 Samuel 16:7 says “The Lord doesn't look at the things people look at.  People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”  God was speaking to Samuel about who he was to anoint to replace King Saul. Once he arrived in Bethlehem and was directed to Jesse's family, Samuel was introduced to all but one of Jesse's sons.  When he laid eyes on Eliab, who was tall, well-built and exuded confidence, he thought, “Surely the Lord's anointed stands here before the Lord.” But God's response was clear and direct.  “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him.”  Jesse continued to bring his sons one by one before Samuel, but in each case, God rejected them.  After the Lord rejected seven of Jesse's impressive sons, Samuel asked if there were any more.  As an afterthought, Jesse said there was one more, his youngest, who was tending to the sheep. Much to the surprise and dismay of his seven brothers, when David stood before Samuel, God pronounced, “Rise and anoint him.  This is the one.”  While David was not a perfect king, he ruled Israel well for decades.  He had a close relationship with the Lord and earned the enviable title of “a man after God's own heart.” Although we don't always have the ability to know someone's heart, God certainly does and it is of tantamount importance to Him. His word is full of references to the heart; 725 to be exact.  When Jesus was asked, what is the greatest commandment, He answered without hesitation with Deuteronomy 6:5, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” When King Solomon, David's son, prayed for his nation, he acknowledged that God alone knew every human heart and he prayed that his people's hearts would be fully committed to the Lord. God explains why the condition of the heart is so critical. He inspired Jeremiah to warn, “ the heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.  Who can understand it?”   God revealed this much to Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, he wrote in Proverbs, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” So many of the Old Testament prophets were instructed to warn the people, not just about their behavior, but about the condition of their hearts, which was the source of their sin.  Joel cautioned, “Let your remorse tear at your heart and not your garments.  Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful.” Isaiah gave the Israelites an insightful, but convicting message from the Lord when he said, “ The Lord says, “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.”  Jesus quoted that very scripture to describe the condition of the Pharisees, who were considered among the holiest people of His day. These respected men were experts when it came to interpreting and applying the Law.  They were very careful to follow it to the letter, even going so far as to tithe the proper amounts of the herbs they grew in their gardens.  They took great pride in their devotion to fulfilling even the smallest requirements of the Law.  Jesus, however, was not impressed.  He called them out for fussing over minor details while they created exceptions in the Law that would allow them to abandon responsibility for their own parents in their old age.  He criticized them for turning His Father's House, the temple, into a den of thieves and accused them of being like whitewashed tombs – clean looking on the outside, but filled with dead men's bones and decaying flesh. No one but Jesus would have ever dared to speak that way about the Pharisees.  Aside from the High Priest, no one had more power or influence with Rome.  The Pharisees, along with the Sadducees and chief priests, comprised the Sanhedrin which was the ruling, elite class of Jesus' day.  The wealth, power and respect that came with the title led the Pharisees to believe that they were, “just a little bit superior” to everyone else.  Jesus pointed it out when He told the story of two men who went to the temple to pray.  The tax collector cried out for God's mercy because he recognized that he was a sinful man, but the Pharisee thanked God that he was not like the tax collector beside him or other sinful people, because he fasted twice a week and tithed a tenth of everything he had.  Jesus said only one of them went away forgiven, and it wasn't the Pharisee. That probably came as a surprise to His audience, because they were used to thinking of Pharisees as the holiest people around.  From their outward appearance, they looked pretty righteous, but no one could miss the disdain they showed for everyone else.  Jesus dared to point out their hypocrisy because He recognized exactly where their superiority complex came from – hearts that were far from God.  They studied the prophets ad nauseam but failed to recognize that Ezekiel's words in chapter 11 were meant for them when he said, “ I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.”  Jesus called them out again and again, in an effort to make them see their hearts' true condition.  In Matthew 13:15 He said, “For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears and they have closed their eyes.  Otherwise, they might see with eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.” Having an authentic relationship with Jesus is impossible without a heart that is wholly His.  Just like the Pharisees and my deceptive friend, we can follow all the rules and present a very convincingly righteous outward appearance, but if our hearts are full of ourselves instead of Jesus, we are frauds.  And though we may be able to fool the people around us and even ourselves,  God knows exactly who and what we are.  In Luke 16:15, Jesus said, “ You are the ones who justify yourselves in the sight of people, but God knows your hearts; because that which is highly esteemed among people is detestable in the sight of God.”  Ultimately, no one can fool the maker of the Universe and the only opinion that really matters is His.  And yet, we often devote so much of our effort toward doing things that will make us look good on the outside while we neglect to open our hearts to the Lord and ask Him to make them more like His.  Creating an impressive exterior only requires self-control and determination.  Developing a heart for God requires humility, sacrifice, introspection and time.  Is it any wonder that our natural inclination is to focus on the outward appearance?  But what comes naturally is always inferior to what comes supernaturally.  In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gave us a pretty good reason to pursue having a heart for Him.  “Blessed are the pure in heart,” He said, “ for they shall see God.”  The more we allow Him to purify our hearts, emptying them of ourselves and filling them with Himself, the more we will see, know and experience His glory. I'd like to close with this benediction, from 1 Thessalonians 3:13.  “May He strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all His holy ones.”  Thanks for listening to Women World Leaders podcast!  Join us each week as we explore together God's extravagant love and your courageous purpose.  Visit our website at www.womenworldleaders.com to submit a prayer request, register for an upcoming event, and support the ministry.  From His heart to yours, we are Women World Leaders .  All content is copyrighted by Women World Leaders and cannot be used without written consent.

It's hard to be patient when it doesn't seem like God is moving in the way I expect Him to.  Some part of me wants to step in and give Him a hand.  Helping is a good thing, right? In today's podcast, Julie Harwick shares from the Bible and her personal life how God has shown us that He is in complete control.   ****   Welcome to Women World Leaders podcast. I'm your host, Julie Harwick. Thank you for joining me today as we celebrate God's grace in our lives, in this ministry and around the world. The steady cadence of marching feet dragged Peter from the depths of a heavy sleep. “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”  There was an ominous tone in Jesus' voice that Peter had never heard before.  It immediately overcame his sleepiness and brought him to high alert.  He sensed danger, even though he was still unsure of what Jesus meant.  A sizeable number of Roman soldiers and temple guards approached, carrying torches and weapons as they followed a familiar figure.  Judas Iscariot grasped Jesus by the shoulders and quickly kissed Him on both cheeks while carefully averting his eyes from the Teacher's gaze. Peter's mind was flooded with memories of the previous hours, “one of you will betray Me… My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death… you will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered… even if all fall away, I will not.”  As the soldiers roughly grabbed Jesus' arm, Peter's heart pounded in his ears and adrenalin took over his body.  Without even realizing what he was doing, he grabbed the sword from a temple guard's scabbard and clumsily brought it down, slicing off the ear of the high priest's servant.  “Put your sword away,” Jesus commanded.  “Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”  He reached down and picked up the severed ear from the dusty ground returning it to its' rightful place.  If it weren't for the blood dripping off the servant's face onto his tunic, there would be no evidence that it had ever been sliced from his head. It was to be the Galilean teacher's final act of healing.  As the soldiers pushed Jesus ahead of them toward the city, Peter watched, powerless to move, struggling to make sense of what had just happened. If you're like me, it's easy to judge Peter for the way he conducted himself on that final night with Jesus.  Impulsive is the first descriptive word that comes to mind when I think of Peter. Slicing off an ear is certainly evidence of that trait.  But would we be any different?  I wanted to begin the podcast by trying to experience that night in the garden from Peter's perspective.  In trying to make sense of what was happening, I think his first thought was, “ This is not going well and Jesus isn't taking action.  I have to do something!” Unfortunately, his thought process is probably painfully familiar to many of us. As I think about Peter's situation, it brings back some memories I'd just as soon forget.   One of the most pivotal times in my life was a summer missions trip I took with Teen Missions International when I was 16. It took my relationship with God much deeper and brought me tremendous growth in many different areas. I hoped that someday, my children might have a similar experience. Teen Missions kept me on their mailing list and in February of every year, I received a brochure detailing all the mission trips available the following summer.  I always enjoyed looking through it to see where they were going and what they'd be doing.  The year my twin daughters were about to turn 10, I noticed that the organization was now operating pre-teen teams open to kids from 10-13, so I mentioned it to them.  That prompted a lot of questions about what it was like going on a missions trip.  I was encouraged by their interest and described what my experience had been like. I wasn't suggesting that they do it, but I probably painted a pretty attractive picture of what it could be like.  Could God be calling them to do this? I was excited at the prospect, but did my best to avoid steering them in any direction.  I suggested that they pray about it long and hard if they thought it was something God might want them to do.  My husband and I also prayed for God's direction in the matter, and asked that if it was something He wanted for them, that they wouldn't be able to let it go. If you've never had a 10-year-old, you should know that they are very impressionable, easily excited and in our particular case, very eager to please their parents.  They hadn't had much experience in praying for God's direction, but they were pretty sure that He was telling them to do this.  We talked about some of the difficulties they were likely to face, but somehow, those didn't seem as compelling as the excitement and fun that the experience promised .  As we began to help them raise support, a number of our friends and family seemed surprised that we were letting them go on a six-week missions trip at the tender age of 10. The team they selected would be staying in Merrit Island, Florida, approximately an hour's drive from our home, so we would have the opportunity to see them once a week.  They had stayed away from home with grandparents and at sleepovers and they would have each other, so it didn't really seem all that crazy to us.  Raising support was difficult.  We reasoned that it was because it was for two instead of one and some people might question the validity of a missions trip for 10-year-olds. We wound up having to make up what they couldn't raise in support ourselves and it was substantial.  In retrospect, that probably should've caused us to question if God was really calling them to do this. To make a six-week story short, it did not turn out at all as I'd hoped.  There was no phenomenal spiritual growth.  They cried many tears, counted the days until it was over and came home with one case of strep throat and two cases of head lice that persisted for weeks to come. They felt that their team's assigned work was pointless and didn't accomplish anything of real significance. Twenty years later, they still can't find anything positive to say about the experience and we've all come to the conclusion that it was a colossal mistake. At the time, I could come up with so many reasons to support the idea. They would be surrounded by other kids their age who were also eager to serve God.  They'd learn bible verses and how to have a quiet time and that when things are hard, they can rely on God. I fully expected them to have an experience just like mine.  But I was 16 and they were 10.  I was independent and eager to try my wings.  They were not very outgoing or confident around strangers.  The timing was not right, but because of my desire for them to make huge spiritual strides at the ripe old age of 10, I got ahead of God and tried to make something happen that was not part of His plan. His plan was more long-range than mine, and I wasn't seeing Him doing anything to move things along.  Maybe a little like Peter.  Maybe even more like Abraham. Romans 4 tells us that “Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness.”  He is listed in Hebrews 11 as an example of faith that we should emulate.  He certainly earned that recognition by uprooting himself from his homeland and obediently following God into a land completely foreign to him.  God blessed him for this obedience with vast amounts of land and wealth. But sadly, Abraham had no children to receive the inheritance and he was already more than 75-years-old. God spoke to Abraham and promised that he would have a son and that his descendants would number more than the stars in the desert sky.   Abraham believed God and eagerly waited to see the promise come to pass.  But years passed and nothing happened except that Abraham and Sarah got even older. Recognizing that she was already too old to conceive, Sarah reasoned that God must've intended to give her husband a child through some other means.  The elderly couple had grown tired of waiting for God to act, so they agreed that Sarah should give Abraham her maid, Hagar, as a concubine so that she could give him a son in Sarah's place. Thanks to Abraham and Sarah's intervention, Abraham had a son, Ishmael, by the time he was 86.  But God made it clear that Ishmael was not the child of His promise and predicted that strife and trouble would result from their presumption in solving the problem on their own. Another 15 years passed before Sarah became pregnant at the age of 90 and delivered God's promised child, Issac.  God had it under control from the moment He made the promise, but his timetable was quite different from their's and Abraham and Sarah found it impossible to wait. The two boys grew up as stepbrothers who didn't really get along. They passed that rivalry on to successive generations and it continues to be a source of conflict.  If you didn't already know, Issac became the father of Jacob, also known as Israel, from whom all Jews descend.  Ishmael became the father of the Arab nation which includes all the countries currently in conflict with Israel such as Gaza, Syria, parts of Lebanon and Iran. Abraham and Sarah believed they were doing their part to help God's plan along by having Ishmael, but God had never intended it. The result was thousands of years of conflict with no end in sight. I pray that my efforts at “helping God along with His plan,” will not produce the long-term, horrific ramifications that Abraham and Sarah created. Twenty years later, it appears that my girls escaped relatively unscathed.  Their relationships with God don't look just like mine, but that was never His intention for them anyway. They are both walking with Him as He leads them and I have learned that my job is simply to pray for them and leave the rest in His hands.  It seems the God of the universe really doesn't need my help. Thanks for listening to Women World Leaders podcast!  Join us each week as we explore together God's extravagant love and your courageous purpose.  Visit our website at www.womenworldleaders.com to submit a prayer request, register for an upcoming event, and support the ministry.  From His heart to yours, we are Women World Leaders .  All content is copyrighted by Women World Leaders and cannot be used without written consent.                  

Janet Harllee is a storyteller, broadcaster, speaker, and author, with a passion to share God's truth delivering to her audiences encouraging, inspirational and entertaining messages of faith in an ever-changing world. Sometimes these messages are through Janet's character, Mitsy Lou Puppernickel, a Southern Hairdresser. Her other experiences include theatre, radio, and television.Janet is currently host of her broadcast, “Faith in An Ever-Changing World- encouragement & hope”, where she interviews people who share their Faith Story including those in the faith-based film industry. Janet is also a member of Women World Leaders, a unified global women's ministry, empowering one another to follow Christ, to love in abundance; cultivating women warriors in purpose, in His promises and His power. She enjoys exercising, coffee breaks with friends, and making new friends, and using her God-given talents creating projects to glorify Him.You can connect Janet on these social medias: Faith In An Ever-Changing World-encouragement & hope | FacebookJanet Harllee - YouTube

You've done everything right. You heard God's command and followed it, but things haven't turned out the way you expected them to.  What's going on? Join host Julie Harwick for an incredible biblical teaching on Dealing With Disappointment. *** Welcome to Women World Leaders podcast. I'm your host, Julie Harwick. Thank you for joining me today as we celebrate God's grace in our lives, in this ministry and around the world.  Karen was about to make the biggest mistake of her life.  We'd gotten close in our high school youth group and she was a somewhat new, but very passionate believer.  We'd talked a lot within our group about seeking God and honoring Him in our romantic relationships.  But now that we were in college, Karen was in love and none of the principles we had committed ourselves to seemed to matter anymore. We were all home on Christmas break and Karen had invited us to her wedding which was to take place the following weekend.  She had met a Palestinian guy who was at the university on a student visa.  He didn't want to go to school anymore, but he wanted to stay in the U.S. so his best solution was to get married. At the ripe old age of 20, she was certain that God had brought this man into her life to be the husband that she had always dreamed of and that their only hope to be together was for her to marry him immediately.  One friend, who was especially close to her, had tried to convince her that marrying him now was a bad idea, but Karen simply refuted every argument. A larger group of us got together to discuss the situation and seek God's direction. Karen's fiance' was not a believer, and she was currently living with him, so those were two issues that we could confront with scripture. Matthew 18:15 also told us 5 “Now if your brother sins[k], go and [l]show him his fault [m]in private; if he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that on the [n]testimony of two or three witnesses every [o]matter may be confirmed, “ We all felt strongly that if we truly cared about Karen, God would have us talk to her about the poor decisions she had already made and the even larger one she was about to make. We looked up and discussed all the relevant scriptures so we'd have a biblical basis for our arguments, and we spent time praying that God would prepare her to really hear us and recognize that what we were saying was coming from love for her and not judgement.  We prayed that our own hearts would be right as we did it and that something  good might even come of it.  Unfortunately, that was not the case.  Her fiancé was there, which made it particularly awkward, and both of their defenses were up.  We suggested that they at least wait to get married since they had known each other for such a short time, hadn't met each other's families and had so many cultural differences.  We asked how they would support themselves since neither had a decent paying job and weren't even close to earning a degree.  They had answers, though not very good ones, for everything. We reminded her of what the bible said about living with someone you're not married to and marrying an unbeliever.  The whole conversation was civil, but tense.  When we had covered every issue and it was clear that she was not receptive to anything we had to say, she thanked us for our concern, and we wished them the best and made our exit. We all shared a very deep sense of discouragement as we left. The last thing I heard about Karen was that she had moved to Gaza with him.  I often wonder what her life has been like and what it might have been. So why did it have to turn out that way?  Were we not faithful to do everything God would have us do?  Going into it, we were confident that if we handled the situation according to scripture, God would work a miracle. Couldn't we look at it sort of like a formula?  God's power + our obedience= a good outcome. But in God's economy, there are no formulas.  Only faith. The prophet Elijah is a perfect example.  First Kings 17 and 18 contain an epic story of how God proved His superiority over any other god in an unmistakable way.  If you're familiar with any of the kings of Israel, one probably stands out because he's part of the worst power couple the nation ever knew.  Ahab and Jezebel were narcissistic, egotistical and just plain evil.  Not only did they lead the people to worship other gods, but they saw the prophet Elijah as the bane of their existence.  Ahab referred to him as, “the troubler of Israel” and Jezebel set out to kill all the true prophets in the country and nearly succeeded. First Kings 16:33 tells us that Ahab did more to provoke the Lord to anger than all the kings of Israel who came before him.  Elijah had the unenviable task of warning Ahab that the entire country would be punished with 3 ½ years of drought because of his sin. As the end of the drought approached God told Elijah to inform the king that he needed to assemble all of Israel on the top of Mt. Carmel, along with all 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Ashera.  Ahab complied and Elijah set the stage for the greatest showdown in Israel's history.   Verse 21 says, “Elijah challenged the people: How long are you going to sit on the fence?  If God is the real God, follow Him.  If it's Baal, follow him.  Make up your minds!”  He then instructed the prophets of Baal to set up an altar and prepare an ox for a sacrifice.  He would do the same, but neither he nor they could light a fire.  They would each pray to their god and the one who ignited and consumed the sacrifice would prove to be the true god.  The prophets of Baal prayed all morning long, but nothing happened.  By noon, Elijah began to mock them, suggesting that Baal didn't answer because he was sleeping or too busy, possibly on vacation or maybe even occupied using the toilet.  As more time passed, they became more desperate, finally resorting to cutting themselves as a sacrifice until they were covered with blood.  But still, there was absolutely no response from Baal. At this point, Elijah declared that their time was up, and he would prepare his sacrifice. The crowd was mystified when he dug a large trench all around the altar and commanded that four buckets of water be poured over the sacrifice and the wood until both were drenched and the trench was filled with water.  Rather than performing mystical rituals or cutting himself, Elijah simply prayed, “Oh God, God of Abraham, Issac and Israel, make it known right now that You are God in Israel, that I am Your servant and I'm doing what I'm doing under Your orders.  Answer me God and reveal to this people that You are God, the true God and that You are giving these people another chance at repentance.”  Verse 38 tells us that immediately the fire of God fell and completely consumed the offering – even licking up every drop of water in the trench!  The people fell on their faces in worship and declared, “God is the true God!”  He instructed the people to capture the prophets of Baal and execute them.  He suggested that King Ahab eat and drink in celebration because the Lord was about to send rain.  Everyone did exactly as they were instructed.  Elijah climbed to the peak of the mountain and began to pray for rain.  Seven times he sent his servant to look toward the sea for signs of rain. On the seventh try, the servant reported a very small cloud, no bigger than a human hand.  Elijah sent him to warn Ahab that he'd better head home quickly before the coming rain stopped him.  Immediately the sky grew dark, the winds picked up and 3 ½ years' worth of rain began to fall.  God supernaturally empowered Elijah to run like no one has ever run before or since.  The chapter closes with Elijah overtaking and running ahead of Ahab's chariot all the way to the palace. What a day for Elijah, right?  His prophecies all came true.  He was completely vindicated.  God showed up in a way no one could deny.  The people all acknowledged that He was the one true God and destroyed every false prophet with zeal. Desperately needed rain fell in abundance and Elijah outran a team of horses for miles and miles!  God's power + Elijah's obedience had completely turned things around!  Or had it? Ahab lost no time in bringing Jezebel up to speed on all that had transpired.  But her focus was not at all on the  miraculous events that had just occurred, but on her beloved 450 prophets of Baal who had just been eliminated. She immediately sent a messenger to Elijah informing him that by the next day, he'd be as dead as any of those prophets. Elijah had been on a spiritual high that we can only begin to imagine.  After years of misery, he had finally come out on top and more importantly, God had used him to bring Israel to repentance!  It was as if the day's events had steadily inflated a giant balloon of hope for Elijah, but this message from Jezebel was a pin that unexpectedly popped and completely deflated that balloon.  He and his servant immediately fled to neighboring Judah.  He left his servant and went a day's journey into the desert.  Taking shelter under a bush, he collapsed and begged God to let him die.  Physically and emotionally spent, he fell asleep.  As Elijah slept, God sent an angel to provide food and water for him at regular intervals. The only instructions given to him were to eat, drink and sleep because he had a long journey ahead of him.  When he had regained his strength, he traveled 40 days and nights to Mt. Horeb, the mountain of God, where he took up residence in a cave.  Hmmm. Mt. Horeb? Does that name ring a bell?  Or maybe its alternate name of Mt. Sinai?  If it doesn't, I'll give you a clue.  It's called the mountain of God because it's where God met with Moses and gave him the ten commandments. And when I think of Moses, I begin to see some parallels with Elijah's experience.  Moses was also used by God to do extraordinary things for the nation of Israel.  He also prophesied to a king, pharaoh actually, who hated him.  He called the people to follow God and worship Him only. After miracle upon miracle and seeing the burning mountain of God and experiencing His awe-inspiring presence from the foot of the mountain those people declared, “ All that the Lord has commanded, we will do.”  But when Moses spent too much time on the mountain with God, they feared he wasn't coming back and decided to forget the covenant they had made and create a golden calf to worship.  Both Moses and Elijah thought that the miracles they had taken part in had truly changed the people, but their behavior quickly revealed that it had not.  Neither man had asked God for the positions in which they found themselves.  They were reluctant, yet obedient servants.  I wonder if it seemed to them that God was simply toying with them for His own amusement. But that wasn't it at all. He was preparing them for an encounter with Himself that was unlike anything any other human ever experienced.  When God asked Elijah what he was doing on the mountain, he replied, “I have worked very hard for the Lord God of the heavens, but the people of Israel have broken their covenant with You and torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets and only I am left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”  God responded by telling Elijah to stand before Him on the mountain.  “And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain; it was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind.  After the wind, there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire, there was the sound of a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he covered his face.”  After this incredible encounter with the Almighty, God gave him further prophecies and the reassurance that there were actually more than 7000 people in Israel who served the true God.  Elijah left the mountain renewed, encouraged and with a completely new understanding of Who God was.  Moses had a similar experience after he had dealt with the people's sin of making a golden calf to worship.  Angry and discouraged by their behavior and overwhelmed at the prospect of leading such people, Moses asked God for a sign that He would actually be present with them for every step of the journey ahead. God warned him not to look at His face.  Moses was to step inside a cleft in the rock on the mountain facing away from God.  God would pass by and Moses could gaze on His glory from behind.  Not only did this experience give Moses the courage and determination to keep leading the people, but it transformed him physically.  When he came down from the mountain, his face was radiant with God's glory, so much so, that the people were afraid to look at him.  It wore off eventually, but there could be no doubt that he had been in the presence of God. I had been familiar with both of these stories for years, but somehow, I had missed the connection.  And it goes even further.  Do you remember who Peter, James and John saw talking with Jesus when He was transfigured?  It was Moses and Elijah. Perhaps Jesus wanted his disciples to think about the special place those two men held in God's heart.  The disciples had equally hard times awaiting them.  Was Jesus preparing them by reminding them of how His Father cared for and rewarded the faithful?  The Apostle Paul undoubtedly heard the story from Peter and it wasn't lost on him.  It may have inspired him to write Romans 5: 1-5 and those words are the perfect way to close. “Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in the hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character; hope, and hope does not disappoint.” Thanks for listening to Women World Leaders podcast!  Join us each week as we explore together God's extravagant love and your courageous purpose.  Visit our website at www.womenworldleaders.com to submit a prayer request, register for an upcoming event, and support the ministry.  From His heart to yours, we are Women World Leaders .  All content is copyrighted by Women World Leaders and cannot be used without written consent.

So many thoughts pass through our minds in a day, but for most of us, few of them have much to do with what God has suggested we think about. What might happen if we could change our perspective? May this podcast by host Julie Harwick bless you!  *** Welcome to Women World Leaders podcast. I'm your host, Julie Harwick. Thank you for joining me today as we celebrate God's grace in our lives, in this ministry and around the world. Sylvester Foster Porter was the pastor of the small Christian and Missionary Alliance church we attended during my junior high years. In his early 70's, he and his wife, Helen, were recently retired from being missionaries to the Philippines. They were old school. She played the organ and I never saw her wear anything but a dress, pantyhose and low-heeled pumps – never!  He preached through the bible, verse by verse, taking more than two years to get through Revelation. He had several mannerisms that always brought inappropriate giggling from my best friend and me.  Mostly bald, he had only a ring of white hair on the sides and back of his head, but it was full and thick.  He had a habit of saying, “Oh Beloved,” when he wanted to emphasize something while he clapped his hands to each side of his head, making the hair he had instantly disappear.  Seeing him go completely bald just like that always got us going.  Whenever he referred to his youth, he'd say, “when I was young and red-headed…”  Although I knew he was referring to the color of his hair, I always got a mental image of a small boy with not only red hair, but an entirely red head from the neck up.  We were probably 11 at the time, so we were very easily amused. Helen had a common phrase she was known for as well.  I can still see her shaking her curly white head and saying to other women of the church, “he's so heavenly minded, he's no earthly good!”  I didn't really understand what that meant, but the other ladies would nod and laugh, so I filed it away as something I'd figure out when I was older. As I've thought about her odd comment over the years, I think I know what she meant, but I don't believe it's actually possible. Pastor Porter clearly loved the Lord.  He loved to study God's Word, meditate on it and share it with others.  I suspect that when it was time for household chores or to listen to her plans for the day, he was often distracted by the many spiritual questions he was pondering. I'm sure she often found that annoying, but on the other hand, I know many women who would give anything to see their husbands occupied with thoughts of God and His truths. Is it possible to be so heavenly minded, that you're no earthly good?  Colossians 3:12 tells us, “Set your mind on things above, not on the things that are on earth.”  That seems like a pretty clear directive and confirmation that Pastor Porter's mind was exactly where it needed to be.  Although Helen Porter was the only person I ever heard use the phrase, “so heavenly minded, he's no earthly good,” it was a common notion – at least during the life of Christian author C. S. Lewis. In referencing this popular saying, he strongly disagreed. “On the contrary, most of us are so earthly minded that we are of no heavenly or earthly good. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this one.” We are so easily distracted by things that seem to demand our immediate attention.  We have jobs, household chores, families to manage, appointments to keep, friends who need us…the list goes on.  And add to that Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, our favorite tv shows, movies and sports teams.  With all of our obligations, we deserve a little me time, don't we?  There are so many demands on our time and energy, swirling around us like an ever-strengthening whirlpool, threatening to consume us. How could we possibly find time to focus on heaven and things we can barely begin to comprehend? And yet, these are the very things that scripture commands us to think on. We're given a list of them in Philippians 4:8.  “Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right and pure and lovely and admirable.  Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”  There aren't a lot of things on this earth that meet that criteria, so it sounds more like a description of someone who is heavenly minded. Jesus Himself was certainly heavenly minded. He talked about it 70 times in the book of Matthew alone.  54 of the 66 books in the bible refer to heaven.  It's interesting to note that the bible begins and ends with references to heaven. Genesis 1:1 opens with, “in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”  The final chapter of Revelation says, “He showed me the great city, descending out of heaven from God.”  Heaven was one of the last things Jesus talked about with His disciples the night he was arrested. In John chapter 14 we read, “In my Father's house there are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.”  Those words were intended to bring comfort to the disciples who were about to face the most devastating 24 hours of their lives.  They were also meant to bring comfort and curiosity to us. As children, most of us did have quite a lot of curiosity about heaven.  We asked a lot of questions and our parents did their best to answer.  A very common question upon the death of a beloved pet is always, “do animals go to heaven?” As a child, I always thought of heaven as having everything I loved and nothing I didn't, but as time went by, I thought of it less and less.  I heard all the jokes about people who arrived at the pearly gates to be questioned by St. Peter and I saw movies like “What Dreams May Come,” that portrayed heaven as an unknowable, ethereal place as well as cartoons of people sitting on clouds, playing harps for all eternity.  None of that made me eager to go there. I believe that one of Satan's most brilliant moves was to convince our popular culture that heaven is incredibly boring, filled with a bunch of “goody two-shoes, sitting on clouds in white robes, looking like angels.  Conversely, many people believe that hell is filled with people who liked to have fun on earth and are continuing the party in hell.  It's a little warm down there, but it doesn't spoil the fun.  Unfortunately, in the case of hell, nothing could be further from the truth.  And fortunately, that's also true of that diabolical view of heaven. My impressions of heaven changed dramatically when I discovered author Randy Alcorn. He's written numerous Christian fiction novels that have quite a bit of the story taking place in heaven.  I was surprised and delighted at the way he portrayed it. The people who had acknowledged their sinful nature and received God's gift of salvation through Jesus Christ did participate in awesome, extended worship services standing around the throne, but they did so many other things as well.  They spent one on one time with Jesus, having their eyes opened to the way He was working in their lives when they couldn't understand what was happening to them.  They had work to do.  Satisfying, fulfilling work that they enjoyed.  They had their own private spaces, that God had designed specifically for them that included everything they had loved on earth as well as things they had never imagined.  They were able to spend time with loved ones who had gone before them as well as ancestors they had never known and learn how they had been observed at times and prayed for through various trials.  The author makes it clear that he is using his imagination in conjunction with what scripture does tell us about heaven and about God's character.  He doesn't claim that his version of heaven is more accurate than anyone else's, but he encourages readers to spend time thinking and imagining with him.  He's also written a non-fiction book called, “Heaven,” which I highly recommend.  It's presented in a question and answer format and he does his best to give the logic as well as the faith behind his answers.  It's not the sort of book you read straight through, because it's deep and challenging, but it's a great reference source for specific questions and will encourage you to spend more time thinking and imagining what heaven will be. That's exactly what I believe Paul intended when he wrote, “Set your mind on things above, not on things of the earth.”  The days we spend on this earth are a miniscule fraction on the eternal timeline.  And yet, we often live as if this is all there is, consumed by the cares of this world and oblivious to the next, where we will spend eternity. And I know, even trying to comprehend the concept of eternity blows our minds.  We are such time-oriented beings, the absence of it is really beyond our comprehension.  But God created humans to consider things that are beyond their comprehension – that is how we learn and grow and advance.  And no doubt, that is why He challenges us to meditate on things that are above and even beyond our comprehension.  That will cause us to learn and grow in our knowledge and appreciation of Him and His creation.  It will cause us to advance in our spiritual walk with Him and prepare us for an eternity in His presence. Thanks for listening to Women World Leaders podcast!  Join us each week as we explore together God's extravagant love and your courageous purpose.  Visit our website at www.womenworldleaders.com to submit a prayer request, register for an upcoming event, and support the ministry.  From His heart to yours, we are Women World Leaders .  All content is copyrighted by Women World Leaders and cannot be used without written consent.

Life sure seems hard sometimes.  Wouldn't it be great if things came a little easier for us? They certainly did for Saul, Israel's first king, but it didn't work out as well as you might think. Join as host Julie Harwick takes you on a journey you won't want to miss! ****  Welcome to Women World Leaders podcast. I'm your host, Julie Harwick. Thank you for joining me today as we celebrate God's grace in our lives, in this ministry and around the world. My husband and I have had the opportunity to travel quite a bit in the last year – much more than usual.  I've enjoyed every bit of it, but it has brought an unwanted side effect – quite a few extra pounds.  As a petite woman of a certain age, I have to be pretty careful about how I eat if I don't want to have to purchase a whole new wardrobe.  But when I'm on vacation, I throw caution to the wind and take a vacation from my normal diet.  It makes the vacations more fun, but reality hits quickly  when I return to a much higher number on the scale and increasingly tight-fitting clothes. It's always so much easier and enjoyable to put it on than it is to take it off.  I was contemplating that reality recently and desperately wishing for a quick fix when I re-read the story of Saul, the first king of Israel. There's a lot we can learn from him, but what stands out most is the dangers of leading a charmed life where everything just seems to fall into place. Saul's story begins in the book of 1st Samuel. For the first 400 years of Israel's existence in the promised land, the people were governed by a series of judges.  You can read about it in the book of Judges.  During these four centuries Israel alternated between seeking to please God and walking away from Him depending on how things were going for them.  Their enemies would oppress them and they would cry out to God for help.  He'd send them a judge like Gideon or Deborah to lead them in victory over their enemies, and filled with gratitude, they would serve God… for a while.  As they drifted away from Him yet again, God would allow another enemy to oppress them until they turned back to Him in repentance.  The cycle repeated itself over and over with the recurring line repeated throughout the book, “in those days there was no king in Israel and every man did what was right in his own eyes.” The people of Israel recognized that the situation wasn't good and something needed to change.  But instead of considering that the problem could be that everyone doing what was right in their own eyes, rather than what was right in God's eyes, they decided that it was the lack of a king creating this annoying cycle.  They noticed that all of the countries surrounding them were ruled by kings and like immature children, they went to their spiritual father, God's anointed priest, Samuel, to demand a king.  Samuel was not impressed with the “everybody else is doing it” argument and pointed out the negatives associated with having a king.  He reminded them that a king would tax them heavily so that he could live in luxury.  He would conscript their sons into his armies and their daughters to make perfumes, cook and serve at the palace in other ways.  He would make unreasonable demands of them and they would have no choice but to comply. Like petulant children, they essentially responded with, “we don't care – we want a king anyway.”  God reassured Samuel that he should do as they asked.  “They're not rejecting your leadership, Samuel,” He explained.  “They are rejecting Mine.” Here's the first lesson we can learn from the story of King Saul.  Be careful what you wish for -  God may give you what you demand – even if it's not what's best for you.  All of the warnings Samuel had given came to pass for the Israelites. Anytime we look to a king, or a president, or a governor or any dynamic leader to solve all our problems, instead of making God's leadership supreme in our lives, we are at great risk.  God never forces His way in our lives, that's what free will is all about.  If we ignore His warnings and insist on having our own way, He'll allow it, but there may be a high price to pay for our stubbornness. God orchestrated a chance encounter between Samuel and Saul and immediately told Samuel that the young, good-looking man, who stood head and shoulders above everyone else was to be Israel's first king. In spite of his impressive appearance, Saul seemed to be quite humble at this point in his life. When Samuel hinted at what was about to happen, saying, “At this moment, Israel's future is in your hands,”  Saul replied, “I'm from the smallest of Israel's tribes, and from the most insignificant clan in the tribe at that. Why are you talking to me like this?”  Initially, he seemed a very reluctant king.  When he returned home to his uncle after Samuel had privately anointed him king, he never mentioned any of the incredible things he had just experienced. When Samuel officially introduced him as the newly appointed king, he was ultimately found hiding behind a pile of baggage.  Saul's story is another example of how power and fame can change a person. When Samuel privately informed Saul that God had selected him to be king, he anointed him with oil and told him three very specific things that were about to happen to him as confirmation. Samuel predicted that the final sign would be that Saul would encounter a group of prophets playing musical instruments and prophesying.  “What's more, “ Samuel said, “is that the Spirit of God will come on you and you'll prophesy too.  In fact, you'll be transformed into a completely new person!” When I read those words “transformed into a completely new person,” I immediately thought, “I want that!”  I thought of all those extra pounds and inches just disappearing instantaneously, but that felt kind of frivolous. So, what if God took all of the things I struggle with spiritually, emotionally, relationally and just instantly fixed them and made me a whole new person? Wouldn't that be the ultimate?  It was exciting to think about, but as I did, God reminded me of what I knew of the rest of Saul's story. The new person he became after his episode of prophesying started out pretty well.   Even after he was publicly named king, he returned to his uncle's fields and started plowing.  His humility caused some people question his credentials and refuse to acknowledge his status.  But when his neighbors in Jabesh Gilead were threatened, the Spirit of God came upon him again and he took charge, leading Israel's army to victory. Many of his new-found fans suggested that he round up those who had questioned his leadership and have them executed.  But Saul had no interest in revenge, saying, “This is the day God saved Israel!  No one will be executed today.” But it's funny how a little fame and power can change your perspective, especially when you're under pressure. Saul's reign had been going perfectly, but the Philistines started causing trouble again. King Saul summoned his army and they came, but quickly recognized that they were vastly outnumbered and in serious danger. It was unthinkable to venture into battle without the Lord's blessing, which would come after Samuel arrived to offer the necessary ritual sacrifices.   Samuel had communicated that he would arrive within seven days to perform his duties.  Seven days passed, but no Samuel. And his troops were getting really antsy.  They were already nervous about their odds and when there was no sign of Samuel, they began slipping away in large numbers.  Fearing that he would have no army left, King Saul decided to take matters into his own hands and make the requisite offerings himself, even though it was in direct violation of the Law of Moses.  While the animal sacrifices were still burning, Samuel arrived, demanding, “What in the world do you think you're doing?”  Saul responded with what he thought was some very solid reasoning. “ I saw that I was losing my army and that you hadn't come when you said you would,” in other words, “your fault, not mine.” And then to seal his argument with an extra spiritual rationale, he added, “the Philistines are about to come on me and I haven't yet come before God asking for His help. So I took things into my own hands and sacrificed the burnt offering.”  Samuel was not impressed. “That was a foolish thing to do, “ Samuel replied.  “If you had obeyed God by waiting for me to make the sacrifices, He would've set a firm and lasting foundation for your reign.  But instead, He is already looking for your replacement.” This was a pivotal moment in Saul's life and from here, things went from bad to worse. Israel was constantly at war with the Philistines during his reign and in one battle, he superstitiously made a ridiculous vow that nearly cost his son, Jonathan, his life.  When God told him to completely annihilate the Amalekites – all people and possessions, he allowed his men to keep the best of the Amalekites' belongings and neglected to eliminate their king. When Samuel confronted him about his disobedience to God, he once again tried to rationalize it by saying that they had kept the best of the Amalekite's livestock so they could sacrifice it to God.  Samuel, once again, was not impressed and reminded Saul that God valued obedience far more than sacrifice. Soon after this, God led Samuel to anoint an unimpressive young shepherd boy, named David, as the new king.  Few people even knew about it, but after his victory over the giant, Goliath, the name of David was on everyone's lips.  When Saul heard his female subjects singing, “Saul kills by the thousand and David by the ten thousand,” jealousy overcame the once humble Saul.  From that point on, the King was tormented by a spirit of fear, jealousy, rage and confusion. He alternated between loving David as a son and trying to kill him. He depended on David to lead his troops against the Philistines, calm his troubled soul with his skill on the harp and even made the younger man his son-in-law.  But he threw a spear at him from his throne on two occasions and pursued him all over Israel and the surrounding nations in an effort to get rid of him once and for all. He would most likely be diagnosed with bi-polar disorder and paranoia if he lived today because of his rapidly changing moods and behavior toward David.  In his final years, he never had a moment's peace and no longer heard anything from God. He was killed in battle against the Philistines along with his son, Jonathon. The man who had shown such promise and received incredible blessings from God did not finish well.  In spite of God's miraculous works in his life, transforming him into a completely different person, he began to transform himself from a humble, obedient servant into a proud, jealous ruler.    By contrast, the shepherd boy, David didn't have such an easy path to the throne.  As the youngest of many brothers, he was completely forgotten when Samuel asked to meet all of Jesse's sons.  His brothers mocked him when he expressed a desire to take on the challenge of defeating Goliath.  He endured years of hiding in caves and mountains trying to escape from King Saul who wanted desperately to kill him, even though David gave him nothing but absolute allegiance.  The difficult road from shepherd to king, built character in David and taught him to rely on God for deliverance and vindication.  God actually transformed him into a completely different person through the hardships he endured… transformed him into a man after God's own heart. When things come easily, we tend to not value them as much as we do the things we've had to struggle for. Although the idea of instant and painless transformation is appealing, it is not what's best for us. The bible is full of characters who endured ridicule, hardships and persecution and in every case, it's what drew them nearer to their maker and allowed them to accomplish His purposes. No doubt it's what prompted James, believed to be the brother of Jesus, to begin his letter to the Church by challenging his readers to, “consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.  And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” Thanks for listening to Women World Leaders podcast!  Join us each week as we explore together God's extravagant love and your courageous purpose.  Visit our website at www.womenworldleaders.com to submit a prayer request, register for an upcoming event, and support the ministry.  From His heart to yours, we are Women World Leaders .  All content is copyrighted by Women World Leaders and cannot be used without written consent.  

In Julie Harwick's last podcast for Women World Leaders (Episode 551 - A Warning from the Ancients), she talked about the dangers of succumbing to false teaching because of the way culture so easily infiltrates the Church. Join her today as she looks more closely at how the modern Church came to be and begins to ask some hard questions, finding further confirmation that it's very different from the Church described in the New Testament. **** Welcome to Women World Leaders podcast. I'm your host, Julie Harwick. Thank you for joining me today as we celebrate God's grace in our lives, in this ministry and around the world. In my very first podcast with Women World Leaders I shared how I came to faith. It's not very glamorous or exciting, but it is kind of different and I'll share some of it again because it's relevant to our topic.  I grew up in a very devout Catholic home. My dad had attended Catholic school and mass on every Sunday of his life.  My mom converted in order to marry him and they made sure I was baptized in the Church before I was even a week old. He was so devout that even on vacation, we would seek out the nearest Catholic parish and make sure we went to mass either Saturday night or Sunday morning.  And of course, that meant I had to go to catechism for five long years.  But in spite of his unwavering commitment to the Catholic faith, my dad was a seeker.  He read the bible and many other Christian books and listened voraciously to a variety of Christian radio programs. He encouraged me to go to an after-school bible club when I learned about it in the fall of first grade.  At my very first visit to the Good News Club, I heard a clear presentation of the gospel and responded without hesitation.   For the next six years, it was the highlight of my school week and I threw myself wholeheartedly into everything it had to offer:  bible stories, scripture memorization and songs.  So on Monday afternoons I got filled up on the bible and on Saturday mornings, I got filled up on Catholic teaching.  But the deeper I got into each one, the more discrepancies I discovered between them.   Full disclosure here: I wanted to go to Good News Club where I was rewarded for my efforts with lots of candy, interesting bible stories and a fun time with my friends.  I did not want to go to catechism which offered no candy and kept me from the finest tv viewing of the week – the one 4-hour block of programming designed just for me at a time when no one else in the household wanted to watch.  So, I may have been approaching catechism with a negative predisposition, but there was no denying the questions that began to pop up in my elementary school brain. Why do I have to memorize and repeat prayers?  I talk to God all the time about whatever pops into my head…in words that we both understand.  What in the world does “blessed is the fruit of thy womb” mean anyway? When I summoned the courage to ask a nun why I should pray to Mary, her answer mystified me.  “Mary will tell Jesus and Jesus will tell God,” she explained.  It immediately brought to mind the game of telephone that we often played when the class had to stay inside for recess.  Those messages always got completely messed up, so why wouldn't I just tell God directly?  When a nun asked me whether I believed that the fancy box with curtains all around it on the altar actually held the body of Jesus, I knew how I was supposed to answer, but I just couldn't.  First of all…gross.  Second of all, I knew there were Catholic churches in every city everywhere in the world, so how could there be enough of Jesus' body for all of them? In Good News Club I had learned the story of the Last Supper and even my 8-year-old mind could grasp that Jesus was saying that the bread was meant to represent His body.  I had many questions and I grew more and more skeptical of what I was learning on Saturday mornings.  I must've shared my questions with my parents.  I certainly let them know how much I hated going to catechism and frequently begged them to let me stop going.  At the same time, God was busy at work in my dad's life.  He brought a priest to our local parish who fully understood and preached what it meant to be saved by grace.  My father had heard that message for years from daily Christian radio broadcasts, but when he finally heard it confirmed by a Catholic priest, he was fully ready to receive it.  We continued to attend mass for about another year, but my catechism days were over. In retrospect, I'm kind of surprised at my younger self for not just taking everything I was told as gospel. I actually thought about everything I was taught and I believe that the Holy Spirit within me wouldn't allow me to accept anything that conflicted with what I knew of God's word. But somewhere along the way, I lost that questioning nature. I was confronted with that realization as I was doing research for my last podcast.  In trying to figure out how the church got so far away from its humble and simple beginnings, I read a book called “Pagan Christianity,” by Frank Viola and George Barna.  My husband had read it years ago and shared much of what he learned.  Although I was very intrigued by what he told me, I never bothered to read it for myself until now.  A part of me wishes I hadn't, because now I'm responsible for what I know and I'm really not sure what to do with my new-found knowledge. The book examines everything the New Testament tells us about the Church and how it functioned.  And that is very, very different from the Church we know today.  More than half of the book is footnotes detailing where the authors sourced the changing history of the Church as well as comments from modern Church leaders. I was immediately convicted that even though I frequently criticize the Church of Jesus Christ  which looks more and more like the world and less and less like Jesus, I have accepted the status quo for years with very little scrutinization. Even though I'm well aware that the building I drive to on a Sunday morning is not the Church, I have fallen into the habit of thinking that what takes place there, is.  The authors clearly point out that Church is not somewhere you go, it's something you are. The first followers of Christ understood this and were much more focused on being in fellowship with one another than having an order of business for their gatherings.  From what the New Testament tells us, they met together in individual homes where they could enjoy a meal together, learn from one another and encourage each other.  That's it. No church building, no professionally trained clergy, no piano, organ or band, no four-point sermon with an accompanying fill-in-the-blank program, no announcements about upcoming events…it was very simple and very personal. So how did we get from A to B?  The book lays out the origins of everything that's been added and most of it is rooted in paganism.  The culture of the first century was completely intertwined with paganism. Ruins that still remain from that time period are completely dominated by temples built for a large variety of gods and goddesses.  These magnificent buildings were filled with priests who served there, night and day.  They performed rituals, some seeming almost magical, while dressed in beautiful priestly robes. They received sacrifices and dispensed blessings, burned incense and led the people in chants or songs.  First and second century people were very accustomed to these practices and as the years went by, they slowly began to creep into the Church.  No one had a greater impact on this shift than the Emperor Constantine in the 300's. The first pagan emperor to embrace and even legalize Christianity felt that building large, ornate church buildings would be the best way to build acceptance among the population who had been used to all legitimate religions being propagated through temples. He also instituted the practice of having priests and bishops to lead and determine what activities should take place within the new church buildings. He encouraged them to develop special robes and garments that would set them apart from ordinary believers.  He began to view Jesus strictly as a conquering hero who had conquered death and would now enable him to conquer all of the empire's enemies. He then made the move from making Christianity legal to making it the official, required state religion.  Those who would not comply were seen as enemies of the cross.  Where following Christ had cost the early Christians everything, it was now, the path of least resistance. It makes you wonder if Satan didn't come to the realization that persecuting the Church only made it stronger and he would do much better to weaken it from within. Is it any wonder that the more mainstream and socially acceptable it became, the further it moved from Jesus' teaching.  Acts 3 describes the early Church this way.  “The congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them. And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus and abundant grace was upon them all.” By the mid 300's the Church was state-supported, used to control the masses and justify war against the empire's enemies.  We also saw this new blending of government and religion lead to the Crusades and later, the  battle between Catholicism and the Reformation. It's been a long time since Christianity has been weaponized in such a  way, but there are other lasting ramifications.  Have you ever asked yourself why churches need to own property and erect large buildings? Many of them are only used for a few hours on Sunday and only sporadically throughout the rest of the week.  How many financial resources are required to maintain them, and how many congregations have been destroyed or seriously damaged through building campaigns?  Do good things also happen there?  Of course. But so many large churches provide the kind of anonymity that allows people to check a box each week- fulfilling an obligation without really having to interact with anyone or be accountable in any way for what's been preached. The early Church pooled their financial resources and used them to meet their own needs, the needs of the apostles and those who were suffering from famine or poverty. By meeting in homes, they necessarily kept their numbers small enough to develop true intimacy and hold one another accountable for what they claimed to believe. The other change that Constantine instituted and has now become a requirement in most churches is a division between clergy and non-clergy.  In most modern churches that I know of, the pastor, or leadership team is made up of full-time, professionally-trained people who have been ordained to minister in the church as a profession. Most have some sort of degree from a seminary or bible college and it's up to them to determine the church's mission, practices, order of worship and overall direction. Elders may play a role in some of these areas, but on a typical Sunday morning service, the only people you're likely to hear from are the preaching and worship pastors.  It's quite a different environment from the one described by Paul in 1 Corinthians.  In Chapter 12, he lays out all of the spiritual gifts and the importance of each one being used appropriately to complete the Body of Christ. In Chapter 14 he specifically mentions that, “when you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue or an interpretation.” In Colossians 3:16 he encourages the Colossians to allow the word of Christ to dwell in them richly, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.”  Clearly, the members of the early Church were active participants in their meetings, not just spectators as we often are today.  Here's what most church services I've attended look like:  the worship team gets things started with an upbeat song.  The worship leader, who is likely to be a professional musician, welcomes everyone and may sporadically offer some bible verses, or commentary on what we're about to sing or a prayer before concluding the praise and worship part of the service and handing it over to the pastor.  Depending on the church's size, resources and the preferences of its' leaders, praise and worship can involve an organ and hymns or feel more like a rock concert  with special lighting, professional sound technicians and even fog machines.  The pastor is likely to speak from 20 to 50 minutes and in some cases, may invite a personal response with an invitation to come forward for prayer, or to raise a hand indicating a response or possibly to just silently repeat a prayer he leads. Ushers may pass a collection plate while more subtle churches may suggest that offerings be placed in an offering box on the way out. The worship team may return for a final song or the pastor may simply pronounce a benediction ending the approximately 1 hour and 15 minute service. If you so choose, it's entirely possible to get through the whole service without uttering a word or interacting with anyone. Most modern church services encourage us to be consumers – seeking out the best music and technology and the most engaging preachers.  As a result, most church attenders go home entertained, but unchanged. Church attendance and involvement has been an extremely high priority in my life…always.  The only times I haven't been very involved in a church is when we've moved from one to another and those periods haven't lasted long. I've been a choir director, worship leader, creative team member, small group leader, women's bible study leader, drama ministry director, children's church teacher and church spokesperson.  I only mention all that to let you know how invested my life has been in the modern church.  But for the first time, I'm asking myself why we do what we do. And if it's all really what God wants us to do. Honestly, I don't know how to feel about it or what God would have me do about it.  There's no question that it has morphed into something very different from what He described for us in the New Testament. There is a whole home church movement led by those who seek to return to something as close as possible to the early church.  Some function more like what many of us know as a small group, but others are successfully functioning just like the churches described by the Apostle Paul.  Many of you may be fully engaged in a church where you're growing and deepening your walk with Jesus and other members of your church.  I hope so.  I've come to realize from personal experience that the Church of Jesus Christ will never be perfect on this earth because it's filled with imperfect people…people like me.  But if we seek to make it better and more closely aligned with His purposes, should we just accept things as they are, or instead, boldly question everything? Change is difficult and frightening and uncomfortable.  Just ask the Pharisees how they felt about Jesus' teaching. If you'd like to learn more about how the Church has changed over the past two millenia and what possible alternatives there might be, I can personally recommend two books:  the one already mentioned, “Pagan Christianity” by Frank Viola and George Barna, and also “So You Don't Want to go to Church Anymore,” by Dave Coleman and Wayne Jacobsen. Thanks for listening to Women World Leaders podcast!  Join us each week as we explore together God's extravagant love and your courageous purpose.  Visit our website at www.womenworldleaders.com to submit a prayer request, register for an upcoming event, and support the ministry.  From His heart to yours, we are Women World Leaders .  All content is copyrighted by Women World Leaders and cannot be used without written consent.  

There's a reason the New Testament has so many warnings against false teaching. Join host Julie Harwick for a comparison between the church we see in Acts and the church we know today that shows how quickly we can get off base.  **** Welcome to Women World Leaders podcast. I'm your host, Julie Harwick. Thank you for joining me today as we celebrate God's grace in our lives, in this ministry and around the world. I recently had the opportunity to visit three of my bucket list places and God used it to teach me some valuable spiritual lessons in a way I hadn't anticipated.  History has always fascinated me and especially as it pertains to the bible, so when I found a good deal on an Eastern Mediterranean cruise, I jumped at the chance to visit Athens, Rome and Ephesus. Israel is at the very top of my bucket list and I had hoped to go back in 2021, but thanks to Covid that never came to be.  And since October 7th, the prospect of visiting any time soon doesn't seem very good either. But there are plenty of important biblical events that took place in the three ancient cities our cruise visited.  I was especially eager to see Ephesus since I had heard that it held some of the best-preserved ancient ruins in the world.  We were to see where the Apostle John was believed to be buried and where Mary, the mother of Jesus had lived under John's care.  We would see the temple of Artemis where the book Acts details a near riot that broke out because of Paul's preaching in Ephesus.  When John wrote the book of Revelation, he praised the church at Ephesus for standing firm in their faith despite false teachers and many hardships.  But he also admonished them for forsaking the love for Christ that they had once had. We walked for hours among the ruins of homes, government buildings, temples, baths, the second largest library of the ancient world and a massive amphitheater. I was awed to think that I was walking the very path that John and Mary had probably walked together a thousand times and I was seeing what they saw. But my spirit was uneasy when I entered the small stone house believed to be where Mary lived and I was encouraged to light a candle and pray to her.  After walking through her home we came to a spigot of water coming out of a stone wall which was believed to have healing properties because of its location near her home.  I have tremendous respect for the woman chosen by God to bear and raise His son. That honor sets her apart as an example for all women to emulate, but it doesn't make her divine or worthy of our worship. When we reached the tomb where the disciple Jesus loved was thought to be buried, it was surrounded by the remains of what had once been an extremely ornate, costly shrine.  Somehow, it didn't seem like the appropriate resting place for the simple fisherman who had stood at the foot of the cross when all the other disciples were in hiding and had given the next 70 years of his life to spreading the gospel to anyone who would listen. In Rome we visited the catacombs, a series of underground tombs where early Christians were buried and believed to have hidden during times of persecution. Our guide was well-educated but made it clear that he saw no difference between the faith of these early believers and the pagans that preceded them. To him, their beliefs seemed equally rooted in nothing but fantasy.  He theorized that the early Christians who suffered persecution under tyrants like Nero were the first to be buried in these tombs.  Because they were martyrs, they were considered to be particularly special to God and therefore would be among the first to be resurrected. Christians who came after them wanted to be buried near them to improve their chances of being among the first to be resurrected. I'm not sure if that's actually true, but if it is, it smacks of pagan superstition, not solid biblical teaching. At the Vatican, we were told about the holy doors. Every 25 years, the Vatican declares a Jubilee in which 4 holy doors located in four different basilicas in Rome are opened to symbolize that God is calling people to repentance and to a new life of grace.  They represent His mercy which is available to all.  So far, I like this idea, but here's where it goes off the rails. Pilgrims from all over the world come to walk through these doors because they will be granted a plenary indulgence – also known as a free pass to heaven. The Vatican still teaches that repentance and forgiveness will assure anyone a place in heaven, but walking through the holy doors will eliminate any time required in purgatory where the forgiven are theoretically still required to pay for their sins. Please don't interpret this as an attack on the Catholic Church.  I was born into a Catholic family, made my first communion and attended five years of catechism, but when I learned to read the bible for myself, I could find nothing in it supporting the ideas of purgatory or indulgences. The biblical account of the thief crucified next to Jesus who repented of his sins and acknowledged Jesus' divinity from his place on the cross proves otherwise.  Jesus responded to him saying, “today you will be with me in paradise.”  The thief freely admitted that he had led a sinful life and yet Jesus assured him that only paradise at His side awaited him immediately after death. So where did the Christian faith get some of these extrabiblical ideas?  Our trip to Athens shed some light on it. The Acropolis is the number one site to visit in Athens and it is impressive.  Set high on a hill, it contains the remains of multiple temples: the Parthenon, built to honor Athena, the city's namesake, another for Nike, now known as the goddess of running shoes, the Erechtheion which celebrates Athena's victory over Poseidon and the temple of Zeus. The Apostle Paul noticed the same thing when he visited the city noting that Athens was full of idols including an object of worship dedicated to the “unknown god.”  He used this fact in his conversation with the local philosophers and great thinkers to introduce them to their “unknown god” who was actually the one true God. So much of the New Testament deals with issues surrounding idol worship and points out the foolishness of worshipping something that had to be fashioned by human hands.  Because we don't really see people worshipping idols of wood or stone, my attitude has always been, “well duh – that seems pretty obvious.”  But when you consider how prevalent it was to worship multiple gods represented as marble, stone or wooden figures in Greek, Roman and other cultures of that time, you realize that they were as blind to it as we are to the worship of material possessions, personal luxuries, leisure time and status. It seems that no matter where or when you live, Satan works hard to influence the culture to embrace idols and eagerly adopt false teaching. The New Testament is full of examples showing how easily false teaching and pagan ideas could infiltrate the early church. When the Apostle John wrote 1st, 2nd and 3rd John, his purpose was to combat the false teaching of Greek philosophers that had made its way into the local church. Gnosticism was a widely practiced and accepted theology at the time. Its focus was on the root word, gnosis, or knowledge and the thinking was that knowledge was the key to everything.   Certain people could attain “special knowledge,” that others didn't have and attaining that knowledge was far more important than anything else.  They believed that the body and the spirit were two separate things, so what you did with your body had no impact on your spirit or your relationship with God.  Many in the church were buying into these ideas,  embracing every kind of sin and seeking a mystical, emotional experience. John addressed the heresy directly in 1 John chapter 3 saying, “ Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray.  The one who does what is right is righteous, just as He is righteous. The one who does what is sinful is of the devil.” His closing words in chapter 5 reminded the church what kind of knowledge was really important, and how it would impact their actions. “We know that we are the children of God and the whole world is under the control of the evil one. We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him Who is true. And we are in Him Who is true by being in His Son, Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.” Warnings about false teaching was a pervasive theme in Peter's second letter to the church. He reminded them that just as there were many false prophets among the prophets of the Old Testament, they could expect to experience the same thing, explaining, “They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Sovereign Lord who bought them – bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.”   Peter was in a unique position to understand the dangers of false teaching, having been accused of it himself. This is one of the things I love about the bible – it makes no effort to conceal or gloss over the failings or controversies of its' subjects. I'm referring to a dispute between Peter and Paul.  Paul's ministry was focused toward the Gentiles, but Peter worked among Jews who recognized Jesus as the Messiah.  They never stopped being Jews, they just believed that Jesus was the final Passover lamb meant to not just cover, but actually remove the stain of mankind's sin. As a Jew himself, Peter was accustomed to following the Law, but God gave him a vision showing him that he no longer needed to worry about keeping the Law in regard to what he ate or with whom he associated.  God made it clear that all who received Christ's payment for their sins were justified by that alone, not by keeping the Law. He immediately sent a Gentile, Cornelius, to invite Peter to his home to preach the gospel. Previously, Peter would not have been free to enter a Gentile's home, but now that he was, he did it frequently, eating with Gentiles and teaching them.  As time went by, many of the Jews who followed Jesus became uncomfortable with this new freedom and began adhering to traditional Jewish dietary restrictions and even preaching that Gentile converts needed to be circumcised.  Peter didn't speak against this teaching and began distancing himself from the Gentiles.  The Apostle Paul called him out on it and relates the story in Galatians chapter 2.  “When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him in public because he was clearly wrong. Before some men who had been sent by James arrived there, Peter had been eating with the Gentile believers. But after these men arrived, he drew back and would not eat with the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who were in favor of circumcising them. The other Jewish believers also started acting like cowards along with Peter.  When I saw that they were not walking a straight path in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, ‘You are a Jew and yet you have been living like a Gentile, not like a Jew. How then, can you force Gentiles to live like Jews? Indeed we are Jews by birth and not ‘Gentile sinners,' as they are called. Yet we know that a person is put right with God only through faith in Jesus Christ, never by doing what the Law requires.'” Ouch!  That had to be hard for Peter to hear.  Who could've imagined that Paul, the former persecutor of the church, would have to rebuke Peter, who had dropped his fishing nets, left his boat and followed Jesus without a moment's hesitation.  The one who'd had his name changed by Jesus to Peter, because his recognition of Who Jesus really was would serve as the foundation for the entire church. The only disciple brave enough to step out of the boat and actually walk on water with Jesus!  If Peter could fall victim to false teaching how much more susceptible are we? It's no wonder that the current Church of Jesus Christ bears so little resemblance to the Church described in the book of Acts.  And even those early believers who may have even had the privilege of walking with Jesus Himself, had to be educated and corrected time and time again. The New Testament is full of such examples and no doubt God inspired the Apostles to address false teaching so much, knowing how important it would be for  all believers, from the Church's beginnings to the day of His return. So many New Testament authors caution us to “beware.” But Timothy, who trained under Paul, gave us some of the best advice in 2 Timothy 2:15. “Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God as an approved workman, who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately handling the Word of Truth.”  We need to be in God's Word daily, not just reading words, but studying them, analyzing them, asking the Holy Spirit to enable us to accurately interpret and apply them. In addition to the spiritual armor God gave us that's described in Ephesians 6, He gave us a single offensive weapon: the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.  We live in a spiritually dangerous world, so let's make sure we're always ready to use the only weapon we'll ever need. Thanks for listening to Women World Leaders podcast!  Join us each week as we explore together God's extravagant love and your courageous purpose.  Visit our website at womenworldleaders.com to submit a prayer request, register for an upcoming event, and support the ministry.  From His heart to yours, we are Women World Leaders .  All content is copyrighted by Women World Leaders and cannot be used without written consent.        

Comparing is an exercise in futility and can actually be very harmful…and yet we all do it. Would we be so inclined to give in to this trap if we really understood God's perspective? Join host Julie Harwick as she explores this topic. *** Welcome to Women World Leaders podcast. I'm your host, Julie Harwick. Thank you for joining me today as we celebrate God's grace in our lives, in this ministry and around the world. In the summer of 1981 I, along with nearly every other female on the planet, was captivated at the prospect of a royal wedding. Charles and Diana fever was spreading with every print publication in the checkout line and every television or radio news broadcast. The elusive prince had finally selected his princess from all the fairest maidens in the land.  Lady Diana Spencer was part of the nobility, but she was a kindergarten teacher for heaven's sake; what could make her more relatable than that? As we watched her walking through the Scottish Highlands with her prince, showing the world her royal engagement ring and answering some of the hundreds of questions being shouted to her by the press, we imagined what it might be like to be her.  Nearly every little girl dreams of being a princess: wearing beautiful gowns and tiaras, dancing the night away at elegant balls, living in incredible luxury, being adored and admired by the people and especially by a charming prince!  Diana Spencer was about to have all  those dreams come true. When she walked down that long aisle of St. Paul's Cathedral with angelic flower girls monitoring her enormously long train, we couldn't help but envy her. Her face didn't show the excitement we felt, but we wrote it off to nerves and shyness. Years later, we discovered that her lack of enthusiasm on her wedding day was due to something much deeper than nerves or shyness. What had appeared to be a dream come true to her adoring public was becoming more and more of a nightmare to the young princess. We could see the distance that was growing between her and her prince, but we couldn't see the depression and sense of betrayal that led to bulimia and five separate suicide attempts. We had never considered what it might be like to have to put on a happy face and make unrelenting royal appearances while being hounded by paparazzi and reporters in the midst of an emotional crisis.  The life that had seemed so idyllic and desirable turned out to be anything but that. How many times have we looked at someone else's life with envy, thinking that, in comparison to the life we're living, they seem to have it all. Our human tendency to compare what we have with others goes way back. In fact, 20% of the 10 commandments God gave to Moses have to do with comparison and envy.  We are cautioned not to covet a neighbor's spouse or possessions. If we already have a spouse or possessions, what would make us want someone else's?  The only possible answer is that we've compared the two and theirs looks better. The ancient Israelites struggled with it and so do we…especially with the advent of social media. Author Srinivas Rao says, “ There's always someone who has more…more fans, followers, traffic, likes, etc.  Social media-fueled comparison is a game in which there is no endpoint. It causes us to lose sight of the fact that we are getting a deliberately,  highly- filtered, one-dimensional view of someone's life.”  A study published by security and research firm Kapersky Labs  surveyed  over 16,000 people and concluded that sites like Facebook, X and Instagram can often leave people feeling upset or “bitter” rather than happy and content.  Contentment is elusive - especially for those who spend a lot of time on social media. Google reports that in a study involving 1500 Facebook users, more than 60 percent felt inadequate or jealous after comparing themselves to others on Facebook. Social media can be a great way to maintain long distance relationships, share important milestones and events with people who want to know and to bring attention to causes or organizations that we want to support. But like anything else, it can easily be misused and wind up hurting us or the people who view our posts. The U.K.'s  “Nursing Times” reported that a mental health patient in an in-patient recovery group confessed, “I've just been admitted to this ward, and I feel awful.  But I go online, and my friends are getting married, one's had a baby, a couple are on holiday…They all look great, and they are all certainly having a better time than me.” It's pretty clear that social media is here to stay, so if it's a problem for us, we either have to avoid it or develop a new perspective.  Developing a new perspective doesn't come easily because comparison is so deeply rooted in created beings.  It goes all the way back to the first sin which was committed by a supernatural being.  In Isaiah 14 we are given the back story on Satan. He was known as the Morning Star, Son of the Dawn, the most beautiful creature in all of God's creation, designed to lead others in the worship of God.  But rather than recognizing the worthiness of God for such worship, he envied God's higher position and desired it for himself, saying, “I will make myself like the Most High.”  When God created humans, Satan took a similar approach to lead them into sin.  He convinced Eve that the reason that God had instructed them not to eat from the tree in the center of the garden was because He knew if they did, they would be like Him, knowing good from evil. That was the reason, but it wasn't because He wanted to hold onto His superiority over them, because He was God and nothing could change that.  But Satan appealed to Eve's desire to have everything God had. If we really think about it, we'd recognize that the root of all sin, pride, is at the heart of our need to compare ourselves to others and ideally come out on top. Just like Eve, we bristle at the thought of someone having something we don't have.  A NerdWallet survey revealed that 3 in 5 Americans, 57%, have felt envious of someone else's financial situation. We can't help but notice people who are able to dress better, drive nicer vehicles and live in better homes. When I lived in a neighborhood and took the dog for a walk, I found myself noticing my neighbors' beautiful landscaping and perfectly maintained homes.  It started me thinking of my own yard that was in desperate need of edging and trimming, the shrubs that were overgrown and the pollen and mildew stains on the windowsills. Their homes looked much better than mine and what had previously brought me great joy and gratitude became a problem and a source of discontent. When we first moved into the house, I recall having the thought, “I can't believe that this is our home!  As a child, I never would have imagined that I could own something like this.”  But when I started comparing what I had with what others had, the awe and thankfulness I had experienced then was replaced by a desire for something better. Our tendencies to compare aren't limited to material possessions either. As women, we notice the appearance of other women. Subconsciously we note if they have better figures, fewer wrinkles, nicer hairstyles.  When we look in a mirror we think of those women and see only our flaws staring back at us. Sometimes it's the gifts and talents of others that make us feel less than. We can't sing or speak or make friends as well as the people around us, so there must be something lacking in us.  We even compare our families, possibly having thoughts like, “ Look how her husband puts his arm around her and opens the car door for her! Sometimes I wonder if mine even realizes I'm here. And her children are so well behaved, and they excel at everything they do. My kids are constantly embarrassing me with their behavior and if there's something they're exceptional in, we haven't found it yet.”  If we're honest, we'd all have to admit to having at least some thoughts like these. Comparing ourselves to others nearly always leads to dissatisfaction and if, by chance, we come out ahead in our comparison, it leads to equally harmful pride.  It's a losing proposition either way, but we keep falling into it…at least I do. Jesus was quick to shut down any comparisons between His disciples. After He asked Peter three times if he loved Him and instructed him to “feed my sheep,” he gave Peter a vision of his future which included being bound and taken places he didn't want to go.  That future didn't sound very appealing to him and perhaps because misery loves company he wanted to know what would happen to John.  In John 21:22 Jesus basically told Peter, “you do you,” saying “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.”  It was an important reminder that in order to follow Jesus, Peter needed to keep his eyes fixed on Jesus, not the people around him. The Apostle Paul also had quite a bit to say about comparing. In Galatians 6:4 he writes, “ Let everyone be sure that he is doing his very best, for then he will have the personal satisfaction of work well done and won't need to compare himself with someone else. 5 Each of us must bear some faults and burdens of his own. For none of us is perfect!” Apparently the church at Corinth had been doing a lot of comparing in the area of spiritual gifts which prompted Paul in 1 Corinthians 12 to devote an entire chapter to explaining how no one gift was more important than another.  He compared spiritual gifts to the parts of a human body, noting that all perform different, but very necessary functions. He points out, “ if the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact, God has placed the parts of the body, every one of them, just as He wanted them to be.” “Just as He wanted them to be…” that's a phrase that should stick in our minds when we are tempted to compare ourselves with others.  Even as God gave us the spiritual gifts He desired us to have, has He not also given us our bodies, our minds, our families and everything we have, just as He desired? There is no doubt that God created us as unique and carefully planned individuals…just as He wanted us to be.  In Psalm 139 He reminds us that He knew us even before we were born and that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. “How precious to me are Your thoughts, O God,” the psalmist says, adding, “How vast is the sum of them!”  His thoughts about us are precious and beyond imagination. He created each of us to be exactly who we are, like no one else. So comparing ourselves to others is not only pointless, but it reveals our lack of understanding that God, in His infinite wisdom, created us to be exactly who we are. And what He thinks of us, and remember, those thoughts are precious, matters far more than what we or anyone else thinks. If we truly intend to follow Jesus as He has commanded us to, we need to take our eyes off of the people around us that may seem to have something we lack, and fix them on the One Who has everything we need.  Thanks for listening to Women World Leaders podcast!  Join us each week as we explore together God's extravagant love and your courageous purpose.  Visit our website at www.womenworldleaders.com to submit a prayer request, register for an upcoming event, and support the ministry.  From His heart to yours, we are Women World Leaders .  All content is copyrighted by Women World Leaders and cannot be used without written consent.  

It's easy to get discouraged by all the darkness we see closing in on us. There are so many things wrong in this world, but the darker the night, the brighter the light. Today, host Julie Harwick gives many examples of believers shining brightly in the midst of darkness and reminds us that we have been called to do the same.   **** Welcome to Women World Leaders podcast. I'm your host, Julie Harwick. Thank you for joining me today as we celebrate God's grace in our lives, in this ministry and around the world. I recently had the opportunity to attend the annual National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Nashville, Tennessee. It's been going on for 80 years, but this was my first experience attending. It was fascinating, exhausting, sometimes disheartening, but also inspiring and encouraging – kind of a microcosm of life on this planet. I was there to represent Barnabas Aid, a ministry to the Suffering Church. Very, very few people approached our little booth to learn more about the Persecuted Church. Most who did approach, were eager to promote their own ministries which wasn't a bad thing, because they were also willing to hear about mine. But in order to effectively represent Barnabas Aid, I had to  try to make eye contact with someone passing slowly enough to ask, “How familiar are you with the Persecuted Church?”  Some pretended not to hear me or mumbled, “I'm good.” But fortunately many were willing to listen and consider getting involved. There were people from all over the world there and it was interesting to note that nearly every foreigner I encountered was well-acquainted with the Persecuted Church. Americans were far more likely to know little to nothing, but that's probably because suffering for your faith is not a normal part of being a believer in this country. I was most encouraged by meeting people from Morocco, India and Pakistan who had actually worked with our organization in those countries. Hearing their stories made the work of Barnabas Aid more real to me and allowed me to put faces with the people we serve. The disheartening part came from some of the booths I encountered where televangelists were selling supplements guaranteed to give you energy and good health and others just seemed to be all about glitz and glamour. There may be nothing wrong with these ministries. It was just hard not to notice the contrast between them and less flashy ministries whose sole focus was bringing the gospel to people who hadn't heard or fighting for the lives of unborn babies. Overall, it was very encouraging to see the massive convention center filled with people who are devoting their lives to God-honoring businesses or ministries. Every form of media was represented: radio, television, film, podcasts, video games, books and social media. All appeared to be committed to using every method possible to grow the Kingdom of God. I was especially encouraged to see that the booths next to me and across from me were both engaged with reaching Muslims for Christ and supporting Muslim Background Believers who live under restrictive and even dangerous conditions. Islam is the world's second largest religion and it's estimated that there are nearly 2 billion Muslims worldwide. One organization, Cresent Project, has a vision to equip 100,000 believers, many of them from a Muslim background to reach 120 counties where Muslims have never heard the gospel. At Lighthouse Arab World, I talked with Johnny, a Lebanese man who was born into a Christian family but has a great love for Muslims all over the Arab world. He told me about the crushing inflation that his native country is suffering and how his ministry is helping to alleviate that suffering while pointing people to Jesus. He also told me a fascinating first-hand account he had heard about a Christian missionary who attempted to evangelize a remote tribe in Tunisia. These devoted Muslims were mostly hostile toward him and wanted nothing to do with the gospel he was so eager to share. One night the chief of the tribe had a dream in which Jesus appeared to him and told him to seek out the missionary who would tell him all he needed to know. When he awoke the next morning he still felt compelled to seek out the missionary, but his conviction grew when all the other members of his tribe reported having had the exact same dream! This experience couldn't be explained away and couldn't possibly be a coincidence, so the entire tribe gathered outside the missionary's home as Jesus had instructed them to in their dreams. When the missionary looked out his window and saw the entire tribe assembled there, he was certain their animosity had grown to the point where they had determined to kill him. He summoned his courage and went outside to face whatever awaited him. His fear turned to incredible joy as they begged him to tell them about Jesus. I frequently hear stories like this about Muslims who have never heard the gospel having dreams where they see Christ and are told where they can go to learn about Him. It reminds me of the passage in John, chapter one where we are told that Jesus, also known as the Word, was the life and the life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. He is the true light, that gives light to everyone. Light and darkness became a common theme while I was at the convention. So many people from countries around the world told me about the darkness and suffering that seems to reign in their home countries. But I was surrounded by so many, including many Americans, who were devoting their lives to bringing the light of Christ into that darkness. There was an awards dinner on the last night where many Christian broadcasters were honored for their work, some having served for 50 years or more. They had started radio stations or television shows in the early 1970's that had reached people who might've never heard the gospel otherwise. They had faithfully sacrificed and served with vision and determination to use all kinds of media for God's glory and to bring light into the darkness. It was inspiring to hear their stories and hard not to feel like I've accomplished very little in comparison to these spiritual giants.  The final speaker, Jack Graham, opened with words that tied it all together for me. “Instead of cursing the darkness, light a candle.” It's not a bible verse and he wasn't sure who had originally coined the phrase, but he remembered his mother saying it and believed that it was loaded with Godly wisdom. We all see so much darkness around us. Crime is growing at a rate we have never seen before, our country hasn't been this divided since the Civil War, we have a fentanyl crisis, human trafficking, corruption, pandemics, poverty, broken homes and mental illness is rampant. Every news broadcast and article you read confirms that this world is in serious trouble because it's under the dominion of the Price of Darkness himself. But as we read in John 1, the darkness could not overcome the light. It's interesting to note that when you try to darken a room because you want to sleep, even the faintest light coming through a crack under the door or through a window from the moon is enough to make the room seem not very dark at all. Once your eyes adjust to the light, you can see most everything. It's another example of how much more powerful light is than darkness. Just as the Light of the World is far more powerful than the Prince of Darkness. In John 8:12, Jesus declared, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” The Apostle Paul experienced this in an unbelievable way when he was struck with blindness on his way to persecute the followers of Christ. He was kept in total darkness until the man appointed by God to pray for him restored his sight. And it wasn't just his ocular vision that was restored, the light that had blinded him had also opened his eyes to the truth that he had been unable to see previously. He finally understood that he had also been spiritually blind. And the Light of the World, that is, Jesus, was also the way, the truth and the life. In Acts 26:18 Paul recalled the commission that God gave to him. “I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God.” Even though most of us have never had a “road to Damascus” experience like Paul, we have been given that same calling. In 1 Peter 2 :9 we're told how God views us and exactly what He has created us to do. “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.” It is a wonderful, and as some translations call it, a marvelous light. If the Light of the World resides in us, the darkness cannot overcome us and instead we can shine the light into the darkest places. In Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, He explained how He wanted us to live as bearers of the light that only He can give. The Message paraphrase puts it best and it's a perfect way to close. Matthew 5: 14 & 15 says, “Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a hilltop, on a light stand – shine!” Thanks for listening to Women World Leaders podcast! Join us each week as we explore together God's extravagant love and your courageous purpose. Visit our website at www.womenworldleaders.com to submit a prayer request, register for an upcoming event, and support the ministry. From His heart to yours, we are Women World Leaders . All content is copyrighted by Women World Leaders and cannot be used without written consent.

Honesty is a character quality we look for in others, but do we actually scrutinize ourselves for honesty in the same way?  How honest are we with ourselves, when it comes to being honest? Join Julie Harwick as she dives into this subject. **** Welcome to Women World Leaders podcast. I'm your host, Julie Harwick. Thank you for joining me today as we celebrate God's grace in our lives, in this ministry and around the world. A mom questions her 3-year-old who's mouth is ringed with blue dye.  “You're telling me you didn't have any candy today?”  “I haven't,” he answers sweetly shaking his head.  “You can have one more time to tell me the truth,” she warns. “Really, I haven't,” he responds as if he can't imagine why she would ask such a thing. “Then what is all over your face," she asks. With a growing realization he says, as he attempts to look truly puzzled, “Oh, blue?”…”Well…. I forgot that I ate that.”  It's hard not to chuckle at this type of lying because it's just further evidence that 3-year-olds are not as smart as they think they are. And they're still in the process of learning that telling lies is not the way to get out of a sticky situation. But 3-year-olds grow up and unfortunately, lying often continues to be a part of their lives.  We were all 3 once and our parents probably took lying very seriously and tried to teach us that it was wrong, but that doesn't mean we never do it. While we might not be guilty of telling such a blatant lie as the 3-year-old, we may very well be guilty of misrepresenting, misleading, saying what someone wants to hear whether we actually believe it or not or exaggerating. If you're not guilty of any of those yourself, you probably know someone who is.  It's not “technically” a lie, but it's likely to cause the hearer to arrive at a slightly different conclusion than what is the actual truth.  And generally, the motive for doing it is to manipulate a desired outcome. Sometimes, what is not said falls into this category. Many years ago, I had a co-worker who seemed to believe that she was in competition with me and needed to make our employer question my value. She was definitely within earshot when a supervisor asked me to leave the office to get some paperwork he needed. Later, when the owner asked her where I was, she answered, “She didn't tell me where she was going.” That was a true statement. I hadn't specifically told her where I was going, but there was no question that she knew.  The way she answered made him believe that I had left without letting anyone know and that she didn't know where I went. The information she gave him accomplished her intent of making me look irresponsible because he had a wrong impression of the situation. Have you ever confronted an older child about some item around the house being broken and gotten a vague response like, ”I haven't used it”?  In the back of your mind you're wondering if they're saying under their breath, “today.” The response might be technically true, but they certainly have more information that is relevant to the question, but it's not in their best interest to share that. As kids get older, they get a little craftier at getting out of things they don't want to do without actually telling a lie.  “I would do my chores now, but I have a test to study for.” They may very well have a test to study for, but they have no intention of spending all their remaining waking hours studying for it.  I once knew a boy who didn't like to take a shower.  He would turn on the shower, retrieve a book he had stashed in the bathroom cabinet and read for 15 minutes.  Then he'd wet the washcloth and wipe it across the top of his head so his hair was wet and use it to dampen a towel. If he was specifically questioned about taking a shower, he would say that he had, because days earlier, he actually had.  There are all kinds of get-arounds that can enable us to have our own way without drawing attention to what we're carefully hiding. Unfortunately, our problems with absolute honesty don't go away as we age. We just get better at hiding it from others…and even ourselves. Sometimes carelessness is involved but it doesn't really excuse our behavior.  How often have you ended a conversation with someone who's just shared a burden or concern with you and you threw out an, “I'll be praying for you.” But do you really mean that, or will you get distracted by a  million other concerns and never once remember to pray as you said you would?  We say it with good intentions – praying for someone is good, but if there's no follow through, why say it at all?  Do we say it because it's uncomfortable not to, because it just seems like the right thing to say?  Maybe we should take more care to never promise to pray for someone unless we are certain that we actually will. Saying things out of habit or just because we don't know what else to say can lead to dishonesty too.  Have you ever greeted the pastor on a Sunday morning after church with an “I really enjoyed your message,” when in fact, you can't even recall what it was about?  If you actually did enjoy or appreciate it, by all means, be sure to say so, but giving compliments by rote is meaningless and doesn't create the desired outcome.  This is a particular pet peeve of mine. I've known someone in leadership at church who is always brimming with superlatives, “That was the best worship ever! That was the best Christmas Eve production ever! You did such a great job with”…you get the picture. I know his intention is to be encouraging, but the lack of authenticity is actually demotivating to me. I can't really take any praise from him as legitimate because he tosses it around so casually. Another technique I've noticed and may have used a time or two myself is exaggeration. “I wish I could come to your baby shower, but unfortunately my son has lacrosse that day (nevermind that it will end hours before the shower) and I'm going out of town for a week and have so much to do to get ready for it. The more difficulties or concerns you can pile on the list, the better, or so it seems. The truth is that if you wanted to go, lacrosse and the trip wouldn't stop you.  But since you don't want to go, making them seem like a much bigger obstacle than they actually are is a convenient workaround. While it would be unkind to simply respond with an, “I don't want to because baby showers are boring.” I  could be more honest, but not unkind, by saying, “I won't be there, but I hope you have a really wonderful time!” Most people will accept that without requiring details, if you are pressed for a reason, you might say, “I have some other things that require my attention.” I understand that we're getting into some difficult territory here and I certainly have been guilty of exaggerating some facts to provide a way of escape from something I don't want to do.  So how do we walk the line between brutal, hurtful truths and respectful and kind honesty? Probably the first question we should ask ourselves is “what would Jesus do?” One of the first things that comes to mind when I think of Jesus and the truth is that He is truth.  “I am the way, the truth and the life,” He says in John 14:6. Earlier in John 8:32 He also emphasized the fact that He is truth when He said, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” Jesus and truth are inseparable, so if we want to know and serve Him, truth needs to be high on our list of priorities. Jesus made it pretty clear that He had real problems with deception.  We see it particularly in the way He viewed the Pharisees.  He referred to them as whitewashed sepulchers full of dead men's bones, or in other words, they looked great on the outside, but their insides were detestable. He made a point of saying that we should be what we present to those around us with no attempt to deceive.  He called out those same Pharisees for taking oaths and swearing by heaven or their own heads to convince others of their sincerity, when it was, in fact, lacking.  In Matthew 5:37 He said, “Let your “no” be no and your “yes,” be yes. Anything beyond this is evil.” A modern paraphrase might be, “say what you mean and mean what you say.”  That's a tall order in our culture.  We have become masters at “spinning” situations to appear as something other than what they are. A common text abbreviation is TBH – to be honest. I see it on social media all the time.  When I see it, it makes me question, ”does this mean that rather than your usual lies, you've opted to tell me the truth this time?” As humans, we have a long history of lying…to God, ourselves and each other.  It started with Satan, lying to Eve about God holding out on her.  When Satan asked Eve,  “did God really say not to eat from this tree?” she embellished the command and added her own, saying, “we can't even touch it!”  When God confronted Adam about eating from the tree, he tried to make it sound like Eve just gave it to him without telling him where she got it. That's probably why the bible has so much to say about honesty – because humans have a real problem with it. In Proverbs 6 God lists 7 things that are detestable to Him and 3 of the 7 are related to honesty. He hates a lying tongue, a heart that devises wicked schemes and a false witness who pours out lies.  In 2 Corinthians 4 the Apostle Paul says, “We do not use deception, nor do we distort the Word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God.” The Apostle Peter echoes the sentiment in 1 Peter 3:10 saying, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech.” Truthfulness in God's sight is a high bar and I'll be the first to admit that I don't always measure up. He knew we would struggle with this and addressed it in Ephesians 4.  He describes how He equips His people for service, so that the Body of Christ can be built up. He points out that it's all a part of growing into maturity and that as we do mature, we won't be controlled by false teaching and the craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming, but instead, we will speak the truth in love as we become the mature Body of Christ. Speaking the truth in love is an important caveat when we're talking about honesty. Truth and love also need to go hand in hand. We won't hide the truth from those we truly love, but we also won't wield it as a sword with no thought of the damage it can do. When a child presents you with a flower he's picked for you from a nearby weed, you could say, “that's just a weed.” That is the truth, but it wouldn't show much love. Instead, you could say, “that's beautiful, thank you.” It may only be a weed, but if you look at it through his eyes, it is beautiful. Speak the truth in love.  It sounds so simple, but we know it's not. James said in chapter 3 of his letter that anyone who was never at fault in what they said, was perfect, able to keep their whole body in check. While we know we'll never be perfect this side of heaven, with some extra attention on truthfulness and by the power of the Holy Spirit, we can become more like Jesus in everything we say. Thanks for listening to Women World Leaders podcast!  Join us each week as we explore together God's extravagant love and your courageous purpose.  Visit our website at www.womenworldleaders.com to submit a prayer request, register for an upcoming event, and support the ministry.  From His heart to yours, we are Women World Leaders .  All content is copyrighted by Women World Leaders and cannot be used without written consent.

God has a calling for you, and it is better than you can ask or imagine. Will you answer in joy, trusting His wisdom and provision? Join Julie Jenkins as we study together Jesus' response to the rich, young man as told in Matthew 19:16-30, Mark 10:17-31, and Luke 18:18-30.   ****   Thank you for joining for the Women World Leaders podcast! My name is Julie Jenkins, and I have the honor of walking through the Bible with you today as we study scripture and ask God to tell us what He wants us to know! If you are new to Women World Leaders, we are so glad you have joined us! We are a group of women on mission to share the gospel as we empower each other to walk in our God-given purpose. If you are a Christ-follower, you are called to be a leader for Christ! God has gifted YOU with amazing talents and gifts, and we want to help you discover and use those gifts. So if you enjoy writing, music, art, teaching, encouraging others, or organizing databases, we have a place for you to grow, serve, and thrive. And if you aren't sure HOW you want to serve, that's okay – we are excited to meet you where you are! Each month, we host a Leadership Connect Zoom call that is open to the public. On the third Monday of each month at 7 pm et, we have a great time getting to know each other, finding out what is happening in the ministry, and learning different ways to serve others and grow in our leadership skills from a guest speaker. We would LOVE you to join us! To get the Zoom link, simply visit womenworldleaders.com and fill out our connect form so we can email you all the details! If you have any questions about the ministry, feel free to email us at info@womenworldleaders.com, and if you have a prayer request, email us at prayer@womenworldleaders.com.   The scripture we are going to dive into today is the story of Jesus talking to the rich young man. Three of the gospel writers give us their take on what happened that day, so we will be studying Matthew 19:16-30, Mark 10:17-31, and Luke 18:18-30. Before we begin, let's pray… Dear Most Holy God…we are honored to come to you today and we ask you to guide us as we open your Word. Father, thank you for providing us with your written instructions and for sending your Holy Spirit to help us understand all you want us to know – may we never take you or your written Word for granted. Bless the listener as you speak directly to her heart, and bless my thoughts and words as I humbly present what it is you would have us know today. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.   Let's begin in Mark, chapter 10, verse 17 from the New Living Translation… As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”   Let's examine what we know about the man who came and knelt before Jesus. Mark tells us simply that he was a man who called Jesus a teacher. Luke tells us that he was a religious leader, which makes sense as he was obviously eager to do EVERYTHING right, which was the hallmark of the religious leaders of the day – they operated on the idea that they must follow every jot and tittle of God's Word to get into heaven. I can relate to this man, can't you? He wanted to know what HE should do to secure his future. I have a difficult time with control…I always think that if I can just figure out the right combination of food to eat and exercises to do, I will have complete control over my weight and my health. And…by working REALLY hard and being wise with my money, I will be able to ensure a FABULOUS retirement for myself when the time comes. This man – who we find out later is rich – was used to controlling his own destiny…or at least trying to. He followed all the rules, he did everything right, but he came to Jesus wanting just ONE MORE piece of insurance of his eternity – essentially asking…is there anything I am missing? I imagine that anyone who was in listening distance would have been all ears. This man seemingly had it all together. If HE needed to do something else to ensure his ultimate destination, I'm betting everyone else wanted the SAME information. Jesus' response turns the tables a bit…verse 18 18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good.  In essence, Jesus was saying…hmmm…think about what you are saying…you know that ONLY God is good. So unless you believe that I AM God, you are quite openly doing something against the religion you claim as you flatter me, calling ME “good” – an adjective that can only be attributed to God Himself. Jesus continues… 19 But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.'[a]” It's interesting that Jesus first speaks of those commandments that are relational – those that have to do with people, not God. 20 “Teacher,” the man replied, “I've obeyed all these commandments since I was young.” Isn't that a telling statement? The man was going through life on a surface level with his eyes half open. If he had taken even a moment to think more deeply, he would surely have remembered at least ONE time when he went against those commandments. Surely he had bloopers in his life…we all do! Can you imagine how quickly you and I would go down if someone were to play a video across the sky of our life's bloopers? The first clip of my life would show me stealing lipstick from my mom's purse – that was the first time I remember willfully doing something wrong. I believe that my mom and God both forgave me for that many years ago…but if we are following the “rules” of doing right versus doing wrong, we must be honest and recognize that we all have sin in our past. No one is blameless. And yet, in our culture of canceling each other, we often judge the actions of others while we explain, at least in our own minds, our own actions away. Thankfully, our God is forgiving and loving…I LOVE this next verse… 21 Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him.  Wow…Jesus LOVED this man who came to Him not knowing who He was and ONLY wanting to know the rules to secure eternal life. Jesus loved the man and met him where He was. Jesus did indeed guide him, on a very personal and specific level that was meant to teach the man and help him grow…Jesus said… “There is still one thing you haven't done,” … “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 At this the man's face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions. Matthew records it this way Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” Let's break this down…Jesus said first…Go Jesus calls us to action. How wonderful would it be to sit on the mountaintop with Jesus all day long? But we are here on earth for a reason…we each have a job to do…and Jesus tells us to Go! Second…Jesus told the many to sell his possessions and give to the poor. The belief at the time was that God blessed those He was pleased with by giving them earthly riches. God DID make a way for that man to have riches, but there was a reason behind those riches! Jesus gifted the young leader by telling him HOW to use what he had been blessed with. How amazing! How often have we gone to God and asked…what should I do? And then when we hear His reply…be still, trust me, or even, do the hard thing…we think…no, I'm going to take control of things and do what I think is best. All we have to do is obey and follow God's lead…AND like the man…from our actions, we will gain treasure in heaven. What?? The man should have JUMPED at the opportunity to use all he had been given! And then, Jesus offers the man the most amazing invitation of all…He says, after you have given all you own away…THEN…COME FOLLOW ME! The man, having sold his possessions and used them for amazing good, would then be unencumbered and able to follow Jesus! By all rights, the young leader should have walked away from his encounter with Jesus skipping joyfully. His question had been answered…Jesus had told EXACTLY what he needed to know to ensure eternity…he needed to follow Jesus. But instead…that man went away sad…focused on all he would have to give up rather than on all Jesus was offering him. I wonder what ever happened to him? Like the video of my lipstick-snatching days, all we see of this guy is his blunder as he sulked away. Reading this…we assume he was doomed…but remember…Jesus loved him. Surely his story was not over. Isn't there a lesson in that? God doesn't give up on us and God doesn't judge us by our past actions. The key to eternal glory for the man was never his works…it wasn't that he would sell all his possessions and give to the poor. The key for the man, and for us, is putting God above everything else. On this side of heaven, we will never be perfect, but to GET to heaven, we must FOLLOW Jesus with our hearts…always returning to Him…even when we mess up in our deeds. And when we follow Him, He will continually show and empower us to put God above everything else. Verse 23… 23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!” 24 This amazed them. But Jesus said again, “Dear children, it is very hard[b] to enter the Kingdom of God. 25 In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!” 26 The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked. 27 Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.” You and I don't hold the key to heaven…and we can't beat down the pearly gates with our good deeds. Without Jesus…it is IMPOSSIBLE to enter heaven. When we walk by his side, however, Jesus will walk us right into eternity… As if to underscore this point, Peter IMMEDIATELY showcases the sin of pride… Verse 28… 28 Then Peter began to speak up. “We've given up everything to follow you,” he said. But Jesus doesn't focus on Peter's sin of pride…instead Jesus assures Peter of the blessings that come from walking by God's side… 29 “Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, 30 will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life. 31 But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.[c]” Aren't we so blessed to serve a God who loves us THAT much? Sometimes, in the flesh, what He asks us to do is difficult…but all that He asks us is for our own good. Is God telling you to serve Him in some way? Does it seem too hard? I guarantee that if you listen and obey, YOU will be the one receiving the blessing! Five years ago, we at Women World Leaders encouraged Christ-followers to write their stories. Any of our authors will tell you that when God called them to write their story, there were bumps and scary places along the way. But the growth they experienced through the process and the lives they impacted with their words are blessings they never would have imagined. We publish Voice of Truth, a beautiful magazine full of God's Word, four times a year. We do it because God told us to. You'd better believe the process is difficult! But God always sees us through, and the reward is amazing! No matter what God is calling you to do…will  you let go of the reins of control and allow Him to work in your life as you respond obediently? Skip with joy into your future as you follow Jesus and all that He has for you! Let's pray… Dear Most Holy God…we say YES! Jesus….we know you are more than a good teacher, you are truly the Son of God. And we vow to follow you! Thank you for the gifts and the gifting you have given each one of us…tune our ears to your Words and give us strength and joy to honor you in all we do for your glory. In Jesus' name, we pray…Amen.

We live in a culture that is very protective of personal rights.  But as believers, how can we find the balance between standing up for ourselves and following Jesus' example of laying down His life? Join host Julie Harwick as she explores the topic Laying Down and Giving Up. *** Welcome to Women World Leaders podcast. I'm your host, Julie Harwick. Thank you for joining me today as we celebrate God's grace in our lives, in this ministry and around the world. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” If you are an American, these words should be familiar to you as the second paragraph of our nation's Declaration of Independence. No previous government had ever enumerated such rights and the fact that the United States of America did, set the stage for a government of the people, by the people and for the people. I am thankful for the rights our Constitution guarantees, although many of them seem to be under attack lately.  However, I think it has created in Americans in particular, a heightened focus on protecting our rights that doesn't always conform to scripture.  Our speech is peppered with phrases like, “I know my rights,  what gives you the right?  I have every right to…” People devote their lives to fighting for animal rights, women's rights, gay rights…the list goes on.  Our culture places a very high value on defending our rights. From a purely secular perspective, that seems like a good thing. But recently, God has been challenging my perspective about my rights and the lengths to which I'll go to defend them. ------------------------------------------------- I had the privilege of teaching about the Persecuted Church at last month's Leadership Connect and as I was researching, I watched a video produced on behalf of the underground church in Iran that really convicted me. A missionary who was part of the underground church in Iran was describing how he and the members of his church often discuss what they will do if or when the radical Islamists discover them and break into their hidden place of worship.  A young woman who had been part of a radical Muslim faction herself, pointed out what she had already given up for her faith. “I have given up my rights.  I have given up my position. I have given up everything for Jesus,” she said. These persecuted Christians are prepared to carry out the command of Romans 12:1 which says, “Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship.” In spite of beatings, prison, assault and murder, these people are willing to lay down their rights, rather than deny their Savior. ------------------------------------------------------ The Church in America has had it so good for so long, that it's hard for us to identify with believers like this woman. We don't like to think, much less talk, about suffering and being willing to lay down our rights.  For many of us the concept of suffering equates to putting up with a miserable job situation, marital difficulties or experiencing financial problems.  These are the very type of problems that many spiritual leaders have focused on as issues we can overcome, if only we learn the spiritual principles that lead to success and happiness.  After all, we're the King's kids and He owns the cattle on a thousand hills, so why wouldn't He want us to prosper, enjoy good health and the best of everything this world has to offer? That type of prosperity doctrine  has encouraged adherents  to focus on all the wrong things…in a nutshell,  their own selfish, fleshly desires – a far cry from being a living sacrifice. I heard a teaching on Romans 12:1 years ago that caused me to consider for the first time that the problem with being a living sacrifice is that you have the option of crawling off the altar at any time.  Throughout the Old Testament, the animal sacrifices required by God were always slaughtered before they were placed on the altar.  But there is one instance of a living sacrifice in the Old Testament.   In the story of Abraham sacrificing his only son, Issac, we usually focus on the aspect of God testing Abraham's faith. That's the point, after all,  even in the book of Hebrews, Abraham is listed as an example of faith we're meant to emulate because he was willing to obey God even if it cost him the most precious thing God had ever given him. But have you ever thought about this story from Issac's perspective? He was probably excited to get to go with his father on such an important mission at 13-years-old. But scripture tells us that he noticed the lack of an animal to sacrifice and even asked his father about it. Abraham simply explained that God Himself would provide the sacrifice and evidently that was good enough for Issac. The boy carried the wood for the sacrifice himself while Abraham handled the torch and a knife.  At what point did Issac begin to grasp that he was to be the sacrifice? Genesis 22 tells us that Abraham built an altar and placed the wood on it. Then he bound his son Issac and laid him on top of the wood.  I'm guessing this is when Issac came face to face with what would seem to be a terrifying realization.  But there is no mention of Issac struggling to break free or questioning Abraham.  At 13, he may not have had the strength to resist a grown man, but it's hard to imagine a 13-year-old boy being unable to outrun a 100-year-old man.  From the biblical account though, it appears that Issac was fully compliant. How?  How could anyone just lay there on an altar looking up at the knife that was about to end his life?  There can be only one answer.  He trusted his father. If you're not familiar with this story, you'll be relieved to know that God stopped Abraham before the knife came down and told him he had passed the test of obedience.  Out of nowhere a ram was suddenly caught in a nearby thicket and God instructed Abraham to release Issac and sacrifice the ram He had provided. In this instance, God only required Abraham and Issac's willingness to provide a living sacrifice, but there are times when He doesn't provide any alternatives.  The New Testament is full of stories of the sacrifices made by the original followers of Jesus.  Many were stoned, sawed in two and killed by the sword according to Hebrews 11. Ironically, the man responsible for many of those deaths would be called to lay down his life and write the words of Romans 12:1 encouraging others to do the same.  Originally known as Saul, this man had a life that would have seemed enviable by any standard of his day.  As a Roman citizen and a respected Pharisee, he had wealth, status and a very bright future. He was known throughout the region for leading the most devout Jews to put an end to the heretical followers of Jesus. Scripture tells us that he held the cloaks of those who eagerly sought to please him by carrying out his orders to stone the Christ followers.  No need for him to dirty his hands or exert himself – such activity was beneath him. But a very personal encounter with Jesus Himself on the road to Damascus set his life on an entirely different course. With a new God-given name and a new heart wholly dedicated to the One he had so vigorously persecuted, the Apostle Paul did more to advance the church of Jesus Christ than anyone else, but at great personal cost.  In Philippians 3 he reminds his readers of his impressive pedigree as a Hebrew of Hebrews – one who faultlessly kept the law. In verse seven he says, “Whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of knowing Christ.  What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.  I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.” In 2 Corinthians 11, Paul details some of the ways he was willing to offer himself as a living sacrifice, saying, “Five times I received from the Jews 40 lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea.  I have been constantly on the move.  I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles, in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea and in danger from false believers.  I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.”  This is quite a contrast with the life he had known as Saul and explains perfectly how he could say in Philippians 2 that his life was being poured out like a drink offering. While the Apostle Paul is an incredible example of laying down rights and offering everything as a living sacrifice, there could be no greater example than Jesus Himself. It's laid out for us in my favorite passage in all of scripture, Philippians Chapter 2, written by none other than the Apostle Paul.  It' says, “You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, He gave up His divine privileges; He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.  When He appeared in human form, He humbled Himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's death on a cross.” Think of that!  He was God and yet He didn't think equality with God was something to cling to. He willingly set aside His divine rights and privileges in exchange for the infinitely inferior mind and body of a human being. And it would've been more understandable if He had chosen to inhabit the body of a strong young man of wealth and power, but instead He came to this world as a helpless infant, born to the poorest of parents.   I love this passage so much because it really encapsulates what He sacrificed for us.  Not just in coming to earth and limiting Himself to a human form, but in taking upon Himself the sins of the world when He deserved no punishment at all! When I consider what Jesus was willing to do for my sake and the examples set by Paul, other apostles and even modern- day members of the Body of Christ, I am so convicted of my unwillingness to freely lay down my rights.  When I feel that they're being violated, even in the smallest of ways, my defenses go up and I'm ready for a fight. There may be instances when that's an appropriate response, but I think in many cases, God is bringing me to an Abraham and Issac moment.  But rather than climbing up on that altar, I'm running from it as far and as fast as possible. ----------------------------------------------------- I suspect I'm not the only one who may struggle with laying down my rights. No doubt it's one of the reasons Jesus warned that the gate He wants us to pass through is narrow and very few find it. But we do not struggle alone.  2 Corinthians 12 tells us that God's power is perfected in our weakness.  His grace is sufficient in any area of weakness. Undoubtedly that truth is what the young Iranian woman clings to when she imagines what the consequences of following Jesus may be. Like Issac, she knows her Father can be trusted, no matter what. --------------------------------------------------------- Thanks for listening to Women World Leaders podcast!  Join us each week as we explore together God's extravagant love and your courageous purpose.  Visit our website at www.womenworldleaders.com to submit a prayer request, register for an upcoming event, and support the ministry.  From His heart to yours, we are Women World Leaders .  All content is copyrighted by Women World Leaders and cannot be used without written consent.  

Would you consider yourself uncommon? God created you - you are unique and wonderfully made.   Today, Kimberly Hobbs interviews young and vibrant Coach Caitlyn Benedik who shares her story of how God created her to be different.  She stepped out of the "box" into a fun career and shares her 4 uncommon reasons to live by as Christ has led her.   **** Kimberly Hobbs   Welcome to Empowering Lives with Purpose. And I'm your host, Kimberly Hobbs. I'm the founder of Women World Leaders. It is our privilege to come to you today and ask you to join us as we welcome our guest today, which is Caitlyn Benedik. Welcome, Caitlin. Glad to have you. Caitlyn Benedik   I'm so excited to be here. Thanks for having me on. Kimberly Hobbs   Yes, and today we are talking to you ladies about uncommon and that's a word that is very special to Caitlyn. And as we talk a little bit about her story, you're gonna see why and hopefully that word will speak to you today. And it's our our hopes that in you listening today, ladies that this podcast will strengthen you and encourage you to walk in that beautiful purpose that God has just for you. We believe that all of us are created uniquely by our Creator, our Lord, our God. And every believer has received grace gifts, so use them to serve one another as the faithful stewards of the many colored tapestries of God's grace. That's First Peter 4:10. So as we go into our podcast today, I always love to share a little bit about our guests. So today I want to share a little bit about Caitlyn and who she is and where she came from, before we get into her story, so Caitlyn is a graduate of Pensacola Christian cap College where she was part of the Lady Eagles basketball team during her tenure there. And during her time at Pensacola, she discovered her passion for coaching men's basketball, which led her to Maryland. And that's where she's now an assistant coach for the Salisbury men's basketball program. She's also pursuing her master's degree in Health and Human Performance. And when she is in coaching, she loves to read, spend time outside and serve in her church. So today, as we go into this interview about being uncommon, it's something that really resonates with Caitlyn. And I usually ask some of the women who I have the privilege of interviewing what's a word that would describe you in your life and in what you want to share with the world. And in Caitlyn chose the word uncommon. And I said, Okay, that's really interesting. We've never talked about that before. So she's going to explain more on this as we get into today's podcast. But I wanted to start off with a scripture about being unique. And I just always, if any of you are following us, women, world leaders on these podcasts, scripture, scripture, scripture, it's so important because there's power in the Word of God. And I chose Psalm 139 14, which says, I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works, my soul knows it very well. And I love that because each of us are unique. We are fearfully and wonderfully made. That's what the Bible says about us. Caitlin, god, did you with a distinct purpose and a beautiful heart to walk out that purpose? So let's start here by sharing your story because you were sharing with me. As we were discussing, prior to this podcast, some of the struggles you had growing up and wanting to be an athlete. So can you talk about your growing up years? Caitlyn Benedik   Yep. So when I was a young kid, I was a gymnast. And that sport is very demanding, you have to be in the gym 24 hours a week, you know, and it's a year round sport. So there's never really any time off. And it's it was a perfectionist environment. So you're judged on how perfect you can do a skill or a routine and growing up also, my family was and they had their own struggles and my parents got divorced and they're both remarried and through that, like the environments weren't very, very loving for a while and I just never felt like I was valued or, or I was good enough. And to add that home situation to my gymnastics mentality and perfectionism. I struggled a lot with my worth and knowing who I was and who's I was and My value and I desire to be a college athlete. I you know, I did gymnastics for 12 years, and my Oh, was, I'm gonna do this in college, I'm gonna get a scholarship doing this. And then about my freshman year in high school, I started getting this feeling like, I'm not really sure if I want to do this anymore. And I didn't really vocalize that for a while it was about a year that I felt that way. And then I started getting scared to do skills I've been doing for a long time. And for all that I've seen gymnastics on TV or participate in the sport, you can't have fear in that sport. Because you're flipping around a bar or you're tumbling over a four inch beam, you have to be fearless. If you're if you have any type of scared feeling in you, then it's very dangerous. And so about my sophomore year in high school, early fall, so late July, early August, I decided for good, it was time for me to be done. And that was very challenging for me, because my whole life, I'd been a gymnast, all my friends knew it. Everybody that known me growing up knew it. That's kind of what they labeled me as was you are a gymnast, and you're really good at it. And so when I told people I was done, and I was gonna walk away from the sport, they, they couldn't believe it, and they couldn't comprehend it. But I knew that's what God was, was calling for me to do. It was time for me to let it go a time for me to move forward and, and experience something new. So I had these friends that lived down the street from me, we used to shoot hoops on the outside goal or walk over to to the park and play some games. And they convinced me to try out for the basketball team. They said have you try out and make it we'll come to every game. Well, they never showed up to one game, but I did make the team ever since then I fall in love with the sport. And so I had this crazy idea. Well, I'm not gonna be a college in this I might as well be a college basketball player. And so I just let somebody in my corner know that that was my goal and my dream and he necessarily didn't believe was going to happen, but he was willing to help me get there. And at least open the gym, provide the opportunity open the weight room, helped train me and helped me actually have not accomplished but work towards that goal and the Lord blessing with two opportunities to college programs and I ended up choosing to go to Pensacola Christian College. Kimberly Hobbs   Yay. Which brings us into our our next little bit about learning about you. Because this is just this young woman of God has truly captured my heart and talking to her outside of this podcast. And so just getting to know her I want you all to know her too, as as I was getting to know her and she went to college at a Christian College, which was Pensacola Christian College. So Caitlin, can you talk to us a little bit about that it was a strict college, you were saying? And you were not used to strict nor were you used to being surrounded by people of faith, such as that. So can you talk about what that meant being around strong believers? Caitlyn Benedik   Yeah, so PCC is a they call it independent fundamental Baptists. That's the conference that they're a part of. And so they're very conservative, extremely conservative, like I had to wear a skirt to class every day. And that was tough for me, because I'm a tomboy. So I never, you know, wear skirts or dress up and be super girly. And though my parents had had standards and rules that we were required to follow. This environment was extremely different from what I was used to growing up in. Like I grew up with three brothers and a sister. So I was used to being in the crowd of all men and at PCC there is very strict rules on when and where and how you can hang out with guys. So I was surrounded by a bunch of girls and I didn't really know how to, to navigate that as that wasn't really something that I had always been a part of. But through my time there it was the first time I'd been, you know, I grew up in church and I that was a big part of my life. And I always made sure that I was a youth on Wednesdays and church on Sundays and being mentored by some of the older women in my church. If I ever needed anything. I went to counseling there and stuff like that, but I never been surrounded by all Christian environment academically. So to go to a university where like, I have to take Bible class we have chapel attend every day. We have church on Sunday, Sunday school on Sunday evening church on Wednesday and Sunday night so like I'm constantly surrounded by the word. And not only that, I'm a part of a basketball program where all my teammates are Christian. All my teammates study that word. All my teammates profess to live my life on track change. Seeing God and so that was pretty cool because even though I felt very uncomfortable in that environment, the Lord used it to teach me discipline teach me how to respect authority that I didn't necessarily agree with, teach me how to the importance of having a good female community around me, like now that I moved to Maryland, My Dang, I really need some strong Christian women in my life, whether they're my age, whether they're a little bit older than me, because it's important to be able to have those you can relate to that are going through the same circumstances as you to be able to draw wisdom from there and be able to be turned back to the Lord. So that is, that is why I ended up going there. I didn't know the Lord's purpose. At first I just said, Okay, I'm, I'm gonna go there. That's where I feel weird because I went on to campus visits. I said, I feel peace and PGC. I don't know why. But that's how I know God is telling me that's where he needs me to be. So I just followed the peace and follow where he was leading me. And I can see now why he might. Kimberly Hobbs   Amen. Amen. And, boy, you know, some of the Navy, the moms listening in, that are at that have children that age, you know, trying to guide them into what colleges to look at. That was really, that was really inspiring to you, and a lot of fundamentals taught at that college for your faith life. So Christian colleges are very, very important. And we're just glad that that was a memorable time in your life. Caitlin, so you were on your way to focusing on playing basketball, but you had another struggle in your life. And this is where God had showed up in your life huge, because you had to have knee surgery. And unfortunately, for a whole year, you were kind of taken out. But while you were dealing with that, God called you to the inner city. And so if you can take this moment and describe to us that time, and how it actually, God had a plan and a purpose already set out and how that led you into what you are doing now as your profession, which is unbelievable. It's uncommon. Caitlyn Benedik   Yeah, so I had a feeling when I went to college that I was going to want to stay around athletics, and I thought I was going to be in a strength and conditioning standpoint, but then I fell in love with basketball. And so by my sophomore year in college, I had seen this AAU team play. And it was a traveling basketball team. And it was based out of Pensacola. And I'm like, Well, I'm going to school in Pensacola. So let me reach out and see if I can sit in some practices or, or learn from some people. And so I got connected with the community center in Pensacola, which is an inner city, and I volunteered my time for a year. And then by the time I had knee surgery, they offered me a job. So I was full time staff there. And because of my knee surgery, I was able to devote a lot of my time to the community center because I wasn't traveling for games. And then there are days like I wouldn't be able to practice so I could go to work instead. And so I really focus my time on that. And the inner city guy just cold call me there. Because like that's my heart is to help love people where they're broken. Because that's what God has done for me. Like no matter how broken I've always felt the Lord has always been right there to love me, right in my brokenness. And so that's kind of why I love the inner cities, I have ability to shine light in a dark place. And to the point of now I get to be transformational in lives of young men and women. And so I wanted to coach and because I grew up with three brothers, I was always around. I have one biological brother, and he's almost exactly your report. So I was grew up being in class with him. And I always watched him play football, he was a wrestler, he played baseball ran track. So I was always heavily involved in all of his sports. And because of that, you know, I was a part of the boys club. And that's kind of how I grew my passion for men's athletics, and then even more so working in the inner city. Those are very hard young men to reach. And a lot of people say there's not a good young man in the world anymore. Well, okay, if that's the problem, how can we present a solution and I want to be a solution. And he kind of gave me that heart for those that are tough to reach and even more so an ability to reach them. It's one thing like a passion but for God's we equip you with the tools you need. It was it's just been cool to see how it unfolded. And right in front of my eyes. Kimberly Hobbs   Absolutely honey, and here is where you're at uncommon part of why I've started I, it just seems like, you know what, what happened through that year of transition and your knee surgery and God giving you this heart and passion to do something out of the box that isn't the ordinary of what a young woman would be doing. And so he led you to your career right now, which is so beautiful. And the scripture says right here, but now Oh, Lord, You are our Father. We are the clay, and you are our Potter. We are all the work of your hands. That's Isaiah 64, eight. And that's exactly what he was doing. He was molding you. And he was making you the way he had purposed and planned for your life. And it was something along the desires of your heart already, which is so beautiful, Caitlin, so you belong, you started becoming molded in an uncommon way as a woman at a young age. So can you talk about the boundaries, because now all of a sudden, you're working in a man's world? You are coaching men's basketball at a college? So how did God set you up in that place? Each day, you had four uncommon points, you said that you want to share with the listeners today that were special to you. So can you talk about those uncommon points. Caitlyn Benedik   So for me, the reason why I chose the word uncommon is, you know, the scripture of like, we're supposed to be salt for the world, we're supposed to be set apart from the world and different. And so for me, like that, is summed up in the word uncommon. And, like, that means to me, I want to be uncommon in four areas in my life, and especially in my job in coaching. And the first one is leading people to accountability and coaching all the time, we have to tell kids, hey, you're not doing this right, need to get better at this. How are we working to grow here, and it's hard for them a lot of times to accept it, like they're always in a defensive standpoint. But if I build a relationship, and get them to paint for me a picture what they want it to look like, now I can lead them to accountability lead them to what they said they want it to be. And so it goes from a conflict driven state to now like an ownership driven state. And they're able to accept Oh, coach is telling me this because I said I wanted to be, let's say, an All American, but I'm not working hard enough to get there. And now she's just leading me to that to what I said I want it to be. So that's one way for me to be uncommon. The other one is loving others Well, for me, like loving my guys know that when I say I love you, it's not this romantic, crazy, awkward thing. It's like when I say I love you, they know I'm committed to your well being. So I love you, and I'll see you be successful, no matter what that looks like. And when I say love you, they know that, like I'm committed to their well being. And being able to walk that out through my actions, allows my words to hold a lot of weight in their life. And then I want to serve them like a waiter. We see a restaurant and and we have a waiter, but they don't expect anything in return. They're just here to get us the drink, get us our food, take our order, whatever else we might need for that meal to go well, and for us to have a great experience there. And so that's what I want my life to be like, That's what Jesus was he got down, he washed our feet, you never expect anything in return. And so I just want to serve like a waiter without expecting anything in return. And the last thing is gonna be an elite question asker in coaching, especially in sports, like our guys have to be able to make decisions, and then even raising kids like we want our children to be able to make decisions when they leave our care. But if we're always giving them the right answers, how are they going to ever be able to make their own decision? So I want to ask the questions, I want them the questions I asked to foster a learning environment, and an autonomy of learning. So now they can figure it out. I'm just sparking, thought I'm just sparking the wheels turning so they can come to the conclusion that they need to be successful. And when they do that, it gives them ownership of their learning. Instead of giving them the right directions, I'm asking them the right questions. So that's what I'm common means to me, it's leading them to accountability, serving like a waiter, loving them, well, then asking them only questions. Kimberly Hobbs   Wow, that is so beautiful, Coach Caitlin, that God has called you to be so unique in an environment that he set up just for you to serve in and it goes along with your personality. Its goes along with how God created you growing up all the experiences that you had experience. And again, all of us are uncommon in different ways, right? We're each created unique like the scripture I opened up, you know, we are fearfully and wonderfully made each and our own purpose. So the women that are listening in are thinking oh my goodness, you know, my daughter needs to listen to this and as we go into our are closing in this is where I kind of wanted to rest a little bit and you to take some time is that listener right now that is just kind of gleaning from what you've learned at a young age and how you've processed this. You value scripture, Caitlin and I asked you what is some of the scripture that God gave to you your favorite scriptures, and one you shared with me was proverbs three, five, and six, which a lot of us love and have claimed, which is trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding, in all your ways, acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. And then there was another scripture that is special to you. And that's in Jeremiah, where Jeremiah and the potter, there's a, there's a whole story there. So I just want you to take off and inspire these listeners about why this passage is an is so important and how it can help them in their life, too. Caitlyn Benedik   So one of the biggest struggles for me is just the value piece, like knowing my worth, and being confident in that I'm not looking for outside affirmation, finding it in the Lord. And so this summer, I really been kind of working on healing through that. And God gave me Jeremiah 18, which is, he has Jeremiah to go down to the potter's house, he said, I'll speak to you there. And so when Jeremiah got there, the Potter was working on a vessel. And when he was finished making it, the potter realized it was marred in his hand. So it wasn't made correctly. If he fired it, it probably would have broken so instead of throwing the clay away and getting new clay to make something different, he then crushed it down, remoulded it, reshaped it to where it was as good as him. And then God told Jeremiah like, this is what I can do for Israel, you know, and it really spoke to me because instead of tossing what he thought was broken, the what the potter thought was broken away, he then remoulded it, took it down, tore it down, built it back up, to make it something beautiful for him, and God does the same thing for us. He's really shown me through this scripture that our brokenness is not something to hide. The world wants us to put on this perfect mentality and like, we're fine. There's nothing wrong with us. Not to share our stories, because if we do and show where our imperfections lie, then we're not good enough. But that's not what this scripture is telling us. It's saying that even though we're broken, God will build us back up to where it is good in his eyes, you know, like were created beautifully and wonderfully in his eyes. And he also spoke to me and said, like, we're so busy comparing ourselves to others, that we're now going to be replicas of those people. Instead, why don't we allow the Lord to build us up to shape us to mold us and now we're going to be unique and marvelous, and a masterpiece for the Lord? Why would you want to be a replica when we can be a masterpiece, and we all need to be masterpieces. Because if I'm trying to be a rebel, I'm never going to be 100% When God needs me to be. And so this scripture is really been speaking to me and even more so to the fact that like, there's this ancient Japanese art, and they take broken pottery, and they piece it back together with gold, and it becomes more valuable, broken than it ever was whole. And that's kind of how we are, the more broken we are, the more the Lord can work in our lives, the more we can experience His grace and His strength. And it says in Scripture, where we are weak, then he is strong. So we have to find strength in our weakness, because even though we might be broken, even though we might feel down in the pit, like we have hope in the Lord, because he said that he's going to lift us up and bring us out of it. And even though we can't see the good right now, like eventually, we're going to understand that we needed to weather that storm. So now we can reach other people through that we have a newfound endurance in God. Kimberly Hobbs   Wow. Wow, I told you ladies like she is just what God has taught her at such a young age. And it's just valuable information and, and we are just so thankful, you know, that you would just come and share from your heart. And it just gives so many hope, you know, just hope of what God can do with a life When you surrender to Him. And you, coach Caitlin are uncommon for Jesus, and it's a beautiful thing. So the Bible tells us that as each of us have received a gift to us to serve one another, as stewards of God's varied grace. And again, that's first Peter 410 and a different version as I opened up with but ladies God has created you each unique and Different in Romans 12 Two says, Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind that by testing, you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. And as we learned, just hearing Katelyn share her story, she was tested. And she had to discern about what is the will of God for my life, she had it planned out, she had it mapped out of what she wanted to do. But God gently guided her to where he wanted and what he prepared, which was so unique to who she is and who he created her to be. It's the beauty of God, ladies, when we surrender our hearts and open it up to him and his will for our life. He's never gonna steer you wrong. And Caitlin, if I asked you right now, can I offer you $200,000 to come and dig dirt in my backyard? Because I really need somebody, would you leave what you're doing? No, I don't think so. Because God called you to this, because he knew that he created you with this amazing purpose to pour into these men that are at this college, you know, and that are learning from you. So we are grateful for what you do. And ladies, each of you can do anything that God is calling you to anything, you just need to trust Him and step out of the box and do those uncommon things. With his strength, not yours, just like Caitlin had to rely on God every step through this. And he was giving her all the signs and strengthening her to prepare her for what she's doing. And Philippians 413 says I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, which is amazing, because all is all and that's all like we we can do anything and everything. That's powerful. So it was God who set you apart, Caitlin, before you were born to do this uncommon thing. And ladies, another scripture you can read on your own is Galatians 115. And again, nothing is impossible with God. So one more 32nd. Caitlin, what is that shot in the arm that you want to leave for the women listening in that will just empower her today to just walk out there and be uncommon for Jesus? What can you tell her? Caitlyn Benedik   My life motto is don't discount your value. So just like you buy a shirt, depending on what logo has on it depends its value, or your logo is the Lord and you your value is immense. He loves you so much. And never discount your value because you're the one who gets to set it and everybody else has to follow. So whatever you set it as that is what it is. So find it in the Lord and trust that He will be with you every step of the way. Kimberly Hobbs   Amen. And you didn't even know I was gonna ask you that question. And that's just huge, just huge. So thank you. Thank you so much Dream Big ladies, because you are extraordinary. And we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength. So in closing, I just want to say thank you coach, Caitlin, for being with us today and just you are a breath of air as a young woman out of college coaching men's basketball at another college like yay, go coach Caitlin, and go team Salisbury, Salisbury, what are they called? What are their What's your seagulls, the seagulls, Salisbury seagulls? So go team and ladies, we are just glad you have made your way to women, world leaders to listen to these podcasts. And as we close out today, we want to invite you to be part of this amazing, amazing global ministry for women of all ages. And we believe with all our hearts, there is a place for you here if you want to serve Jesus. Come serve Him with us. There is so many opportunities for you to be part of this ministry. Just as when Caitlin and I were introduced. We didn't know what God had planned for us to meet. But this whole podcast unfolded as we got to know each other and her willing yes to God to say, I'll serve you however you want. Let us to be on this podcast together. So ladies, the same for you. Whatever God is stirring in your heart to serve Him. We have opportunity to do that. Here. You can write your story. We have voice of truth magazine, which is a quarter The publication it's beautiful. There's so many gifts and talents inside of that magazine that are used for Jesus Christ, you can be a part of that we have books that go out into the world with, oh my goodness, such amazing God stories. Maybe God gave you an incredible story that needs to be shared to give others hope, and inspiration, whatever it may be, ladies, we have a place for you. Please reach out to us. You can reach out to me personally at Kimberly at women world leaders.com Send me an email about how I can get in touch with you to see what you can possibly be a part of here in this ministry. And like I said, so many things. So please pray about it. Please join us please just be part of this amazing, amazing mission for God. Thank you, Caitlin Benedick for being our guest today. Thank you ladies for being here and empowering lives with purpose and from his heart to yours. We are women world leaders. Remember every Monday, Wednesday and Friday we bring to you these podcasts for your learning and inspiration and in growth in Jesus. All content is copyrighted by women world leaders and cannot be used without expressed written consent. God bless you all and have a beautiful day.

In today's podcast, host Tawana Lowery shares biblical insight about how to overcome being offended for the sake of the cross. She tells a personal story about how God delivered her from being offended so she could help others experience the love and saving grace of Jesus and shares why the ability to overcome being offended is crucial in preparing for the days ahead.    ***** Hello… and Welcome to Women World Leaders Podcast    I'm your Host… Tawana Lowery ·       Women's Empowerment Coach ·       And Executive Director of Miss Overcomer Global   And I'm VERY excited you joined today…   ·       As we explore what the Father wants us to know about himself and who we are as Powerful Ambassadors…   ·       So let's get started…   1.     This is the time of year when many of us set goals or resolve to make improvements in our lives.   2.       Today I want to share a few thoughts about a resolution you may not have considered… and that is … How to Overcome being offended.   3.     As we see tensions and conflict mounting on a High-Definition Global scale… each of us will be presented with an increased opportunity to be offended.   4.     In fact, Jesus instructed in Matthew 24:10 that opportunities to be offended would be on the rise in the last days.   a.     That because of the increase of wickedness… many people's hearts would grow cold.   b.     But…. as his ambassadors… we are called to rise above it and live with a pure heart.       Let me share a story from my own experience… 1.     Several years ago, I walked continually offended by the Pornography industry… 2.     And… yes… what this industry produces is evil…   ·        Nevertheless… my response to it was NOT the love of God.   3.     Finally, I just asked God why I allowed anything Porn related to produce such a visceral response.   4.     He told me the issue was my own unbelief.   ·        I somehow believed the pornography industry was more powerful than the all-sufficient Love of God to save and deliver.   ·        Also, I had a teenage son at the time… and I was fearful of the effects it could have on him if he encountered it.   ·        Again…. I was putting all my faith in the power of sin rather than the power of God to save.   5.     And so… my first step was to pray about the unbelief and ask God's forgiveness about the offense.     6.     Several weeks later…. I was praying about how to become more available to my community with prayer and counseling.   Share your personal story.   Conclusion 7.     We need to see the Provocations as an Invitation…   ·        For Transformation and Restoration…. 8.     Had I not prayed about my offense towards those enslaved by pornography… I would have missed a great miracle.   Lessons Learned… ·        When I'm offended, I am walking in disobedience because I am walking after the flesh. ·        When I'm focused on the offense, I am allowing the enemy to distract my focus Away from the cross. ·        When I turn my back on those who offend me, I am turning my back on the opportunity for transformation and restoration (for the other person and myself). ·        1 Corinthians 13 – LOVE is not easily Offended… ·        We are Chosen to be offended for the sake of the Cross! ·        We have the privilege of allowing the offense to drive us to the Cross so the resurrection power of Jesus might be made manifest.   During this new year, let's be intentional to go on Offense about being Offended rather than being defensive distant. Let's purpose in our hearts to see the Provocations as an Invitation for Restoration, Transformation and  Resurrection!     CLOSING REMARKS….   Well… It's been a pleasure spending time with you today.   Thanks for listening to Women World Leaders podcast!   ·        Join us each week as we explore together God's extravagant love and your courageous purpose.   ·        Visit our website at www.womenworldleaders.com to submit a prayer request, register for an upcoming event, and support the ministry.   ·        From His heart to yours, we are Women World Leaders.   All content is copyrighted by Tawana Lowery and Women World Leaders and cannot be used without express written consent.

Join host Julie Harwick on today's episode of the Women World Leaders' Podcast. As humans, we have a tendency to view our identity through the lens of what we do.  But God is far more concerned with who we are.  Could it be that we've been focusing on what is entirely the wrong thing? **** Welcome to Women World Leaders podcast. I'm your host, Julie Harwick. Thank you for joining me today as we celebrate God's grace in our lives, in this ministry and around the world. The beginning of another year always forces us to do some serious thinking.  We think about the year that has passed: what went wrong and what went well.  We evaluate our own performance so we can decide what we want to stick with and what might need to change.  For many, this comes in the form of New Years' resolutions. A 2022 poll by Yougov revealed that 37% of Americans had a goal or resolution they intended to pursue in 2023.  While everyone begins with the best of intentions, few follow through.  A Forbes Health survey showed that the average resolution lasts just over three months.  65% of the respondents had abandoned their goals after four months and only 1% stuck with it through the entire year. Those statistics aren't surprising and some sources even refer to January 17th as “Ditch New Year's Resolutions Day” and others have named the second Friday in January  “Quitters Day.” What these statistics really show is that many of us want to change…want to be better in some way, but we just can't seem to do it.  We talk a lot about willpower, determination and setting ourselves up for success and yet, we fail, again and again. I've never been a resolution-making person, but I do want very much to change and not stay the way I am. Of course I want to lose weight and be healthier and handle my money better, but what I really want is to be more like Jesus.  And if I could do that, I think everything else would probably fall into place. I know that's what God wants for me as well.  In Romans I read that He wants me to be “conformed to His image,” and the Apostle Paul instructed us to be imitators of him as he was of Christ.  So if I want this and God wants this, why doesn't it just happen?  God has been revealing some answers as I've been thinking about this lately, and particularly through some books I've been reading.  I've come to believe the problem has been that my focus is all wrong. Have you ever noticed how much we focus on what we do in determining our identity?  For instance, what do you talk about when you meet someone for the first time at a party, church or work? We give our names and somewhere in the first few exchanges, someone asks, “What do you do for a living?” When we sit down at the dinner table, whether it's with the family, friends or a significant other, the conversation often begins with, “so what did you do today?”  How many teachers have welcomed their class back after a weekend or a holiday or especially summer break with an invitation to share with the class, what they did over the time away from school?  And don't we feel maybe a little bit judged in answering these questions? As a stay-at-home mom for many years, I knew my work was very important, but a part of me would always wonder if the person I was talking with would see it that way. And many of us might feel the need to describe what we do for a living in a way that makes it seem better than it really is. I wasn't particularly eager to describe my summer break when the only activity I could remember was helping to clean out the basement.  It seems our actions rarely live up to expectations and yet, we're fixated on them. We've carried this kind of thinking into our spiritual lives as well.  If we venture into a spiritual conversation with a co-worker, we are likely to begin with, “where do you go to church?”  When we meet new people at church, we're apt to tell them where or how we serve in the local body and may even invite them to attend our small group or bible study.  All things we do.  It doesn't necessarily tell them anything about who we are, but we are eager for them to know what we do. In his book, “Emotionally Healthy Discipleship,” author Peter Scazzero points out that God created us to be “human beings,” not “human doings.”  “Being” is not something we give much thought to, but we do think often of “doing.”  Doing is easily understood and quantifiable.  It's easy for me to recall and describe all the things I've done.  But if you ask me to describe who I've been and who I am now…how do I answer that? In the last 30 or 40 years it's almost become cliché for celebrities to travel to some remote location to “find themselves.” What does that even mean?  It's clear to me that we prefer to focus on doing rather than being because it keeps us safely in a world we understand, can easily articulate and doesn't ask too much of us. But will doing help us become more like Jesus?  It could.  Certainly Jesus did things.  He traveled around, preaching and healing. He participated in worship at the synagogue, he visited friends, he ate and drank and attended a wedding. But how did He describe Himself?  He never made reference to being a carpenter or a teacher.  But He did say things like, “I am the way, the truth and the life,” and “I and the Father are One.”  In the gospel of John, Jesus made six other “I am” statements. “I am the bread of life.” “I am the light of the world.” “I am the door.” “I am the good shepherd.” “I am the true vine,” and “I am the resurrection and the life.” Jesus continually showed that He knew exactly Who He was and His terminology points back to the Old Testament statement given to Moses at the burning bush when God said, “I am Who I am.  Tell them the ‘I am' sent you.” In all of these “I am” statements, Jesus was making it clear that He was God. And throughout the Old Testament God often describes Himself that way too, saying things like, “I am the Lord and there is no other.” The book of Revelation describes a future when all of heaven will offer praise to Him Who was and is and is to come.” All of these scriptures point to a God Who is worthy of our worship because of Who He is, not what He has done.  Another book I recently read and recommend is “Audience of One,” by R.T. Kendall. I was convicted by what I read, that most of my worship of God is concentrated on what He has done for me, rather than Who He is. Being grateful and acknowledging His blessings is important and necessary, but if He never again lifted a finger on my behalf, He would still deserve my worship simply because He is God. That's not the way I've typically approached worship, because again, it's easier and more comfortable to just recount all that God has done for me.  Taking the time and intellectual effort to really contemplate Who He is doesn't come quite as naturally to me, but it's an effort I know I need to make. God keeps showing me that being vs. doing may go against my human nature, but it's His preferred method for change and growth. If you ever feel the same kind of resistance to it that I do, consider Jesus' conversation with Martha in Luke 10: 38-42.  Three siblings, Martha, Mary and Lazarus had a special relationship with Jesus.   John 11:12 tells us specifically that “Jesus loved Martha and her sister, Mary and Lazarus.” On one occasion,  Martha had invited Jesus into their home to enjoy a meal and teach all who were gathered there. Throughout the gospels, we see many people following Jesus everywhere He went so they could listen to His teaching.  We don't know how many were present at Martha's house, but even if it was just Jesus and His 12 disciples, that would be about 16 people. It wouldn't be surprising if Martha and her siblings invited other family members or friends to hear the teacher that everyone was talking about. Imagine the biggest party you've ever hosted and you might have an idea of what Martha was dealing with. Personally, I love hosting a party, but it can also be very stressful. Though I'm hardly a perfectionist, when I'm hosting a gathering, I want my house to be spotless, with everything in its place.  I want the food to be ready on time, looking and tasting delicious.  No matter how early I begin preparations, it always comes down to the wire.  I'm frantically rushing around trying to complete a million details no one else may ever care about or even notice, but they seem critical to me.  That's how I imagine it was for Martha. She couldn't help but be thrilled to have someone like Jesus as her guest of honor and I'm sure she wanted everything to be absolutely perfect. Scripture says Martha was distracted with all her preparations and she was getting rather perturbed that her sister, Mary, oblivious to her concerns, offered no help at all.  I can so relate.  There's nothing worse than rushing around in panic mode before a major event and seeing your loved ones who could be helping you doing something totally unnecessary or possibly nothing at all. From Martha's perspective, that's exactly what Mary was doing.  When she reached her limit of tolerance for this situation, she didn't call Mary over and tell her she needed help, instead, she decided to go straight to the top.  She walked right up to Jesus and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.” It almost seems like she might have been a little bit mad at Him too. She calls Him Lord, but there's an awful lot of attitude to go with it. But Jesus doesn't seem put off by her accusatory tone.  I'm not sure if He's chuckling at her ruffled feathers or if there's a sad compassion in His response, but He says her name twice, maybe to make sure she really hears Him.  “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about so many things, but only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen what is best, and it will not be taken away from her.” It was a gentle rebuke, but obviously, it was not what Martha expected. We're never told how she reacted in the moment, but I suspect His words replayed in her mind over and over. While it may have appeared that Martha was doing all the important work while Mary did nothing, Jesus saw the situation from a totally different perspective.  Martha was consumed with doing.  She was doing it for Jesus, as faithfully as she knew how, but it wasn't really needed and it was causing her to miss what He really wanted for her. Mary wasn't doing nothing.  She was doing the only thing that mattered – sitting at Jesus' feet, just being with Him, listening to His teaching and simply enjoying His presence. Martha was doing.  Mary was being. This had to be a major paradigm shift for Martha.  The way she took charge of the preparations and challenged Mary's inactivity indicates that her identity was probably all wrapped up in successfully completing tasks.  She was focused on serving others, which was a great quality, but it also brought her bitterness and irritability and kept her from something so much better. No doubt Martha meditated on what Jesus had said to her because when we meet her again in John 11, she expresses a new maturity in her faith despite a devastating loss. She had sent word to Jesus that her brother, Lazarus, was deathly ill, but He had delayed in coming and her brother had died. When she hears that Jesus has finally arrived, she runs to meet Him while Mary continues weeping in the house.  “Lord, if You had been here my brother would not have died,” she begins, sounding a little like the former, accusatory Martha. But she immediately adds, “ but even now I know God will do anything You ask.” Jesus answers, “Everyone who has faith in Me will live, even if they die. And everyone who lives because of faith in Me will never really die.  Do you believe this?” Her answer to His question demonstrates that she's no longer focused on just doing things for Jesus, she's come to a new revelation of exactly Who He is. “Yes Lord!  I believe You are the Christ, the Son of God. You are the One we hoped would come into the world.”  Martha's efforts to shift her focus from doing to being gave her a completely different perspective, grew her faith and led to the most incredible miracle she could've ever imagined.  Jesus raised her brother from the dead! What miracles might we experience?  What growth and freedom and joy could we find if we could also shift our focus from doing to being? If Jesus says sitting at His feet and just being in His presence is the best thing we can do, then that's what I want for 2024. It's a new year and I want a new beginning with my heart set on worshipping Him for Who He is and by His grace, finding my identity in who He created me to be. Thanks for listening to Women World Leaders podcast!  Join us each week as we explore together God's extravagant love and your courageous purpose.  Visit our website at www.womenworldleaders.com to submit a prayer request, register for an upcoming event, and support the ministry.  From His heart to yours, we are Women World Leaders .  All content is copyrighted by Women World Leaders and cannot be used without written consent.

The Christian life is one of being ready – standing prepared to meet our Lord and Savior – and doing what we are called to do to help others prepare, too. This new year, join Julie Jenkins for the study of Luke 12:35-48 and Matthew 24:42-51.   **** Welcome to Walking in the Word, the Wednesday edition of the Women World Leaders podcast, where we take a few minutes each week to study the Bible together systematically. We offer three very different podcasts each week – so I hope you have your phone set to download ALL of them regularly. We all lead very busy lives, and I LOVE having these podcasts ready to listen to when I have a few minutes alone driving the kids to school or even washing dishes. On Monday, Kimberly Hobbs hosts Empowering Lives with Purpose – a 30 minute interview with a different woman of faith each week, meant to inspire you and empower you in your God-given walk. Sometimes Kimberly interviews someone you might recognize, and other weeks you will meet someone new, but you can be sure that EACH week she pulls a gem from the stream – someone who is walking through life's challenges and relying on the strength of God. Then on Fridays we have the joy of Celebrating God's Grace with one of our beautiful leaders. So download yourself a free gift of encouragement – and get in the habit of sitting in God's lap as He grows you 3 times every week! On Wednesdays, today, we are currently walking through the gospels chronologically. If you are new to the podcast – don't worry – you can jump in right where we are, which, today, is Luke 12:35-48 and Matthew 24:42-51. Before we begin, let's pray… Dear Most Holy God – Thank you for who you are and for who you made us to be. God you formed each one listening in her mother's womb, and you KNEW that she would be listening to this today. You are sovereign, always in control, and your plans are perfect. Father, we give you this time, and ask you to open our hearts to hear exactly what you want us to know today. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen The Christian life is one of being ready – standing prepared to meet our Lord and Savior – and doing what we are called to do to help others prepare. That is the topic of today's teaching. Jesus has been busy speaking to the crowds. He taught His followers to be the light, to be on guard against false teachings, not to be slaves to money or possessions, and not to worry about their well-being, as God is in control. Now Jesus states quite clearly that being a Christ follower requires, well, following Christ – that is, obediently and intentionally being prepared for Christ's return by doing all that God calls us to do. Let's begin reading in Luke 12, verse 35 from the New Living Translation… 35 “Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks.  We see several word-pictures here that all have the same meaning: be prepared. First we read to “be dressed.” The literal interpretation of the original version means “let your waist be girded.” This referred to the long garments that were worn, which, you can imagine, could be cumbersome on a sudden journey. Imagine a line of runners waiting for the gun to go off, all dressed in long tunics. And then imagine the one runner who decides to hike his garment up around his waist and tuck it in so that his legs can move freely, unencumbered by the fabric. Not only would this runner win, but he would also be in the safest position to run without tripping over his own clothing. He would be READY! Like a runner dressed in the appropriate clothing, ready to win the race, we are to be prepared for Jesus' return. The second picture is one of a burning lamp. Darkness can be REALLY dark when there is no electricity or, in this case, burning lamps. To be ready, we must hold a light against the darkness. The third picture is of a servant waiting for his master to return from his wedding feast, which, in those days, lasted a week or more. It could be tempting, in that situation, to let your guard down, but the job of the servant was to welcome the master home in grand style. Jesus continues… 37 The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat! 38 He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn.[a] But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready. That is kind of a crazy thought…the servant must keep watch, prepared to honor the master when He arrives at any moment, only to have the master turn around and honor the servant. Matthew 4:42 states clearly who the master is….42 “So you, too, must keep watch! For you don't know what day your Lord is coming. Jesus had not been shy about saying that He was going away, and here He tells them that He is coming back, they won't know the day or the hour, so they must always be prepared. It is impossible for us to guess the day or the time of Jesus return…so we must be ready! Luke 12:38 continues… 39 “Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would not permit his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.” If you recall our recent teachings, sometimes Jesus spoke to the crowds, and sometimes he turned and addressed the disciples directly. He must not have been clear with His body language at this point, because Peter asks for clarification on WHO exactly should be prepared for the Lord's arrival, saying… “Lord, is that illustration just for us or for everyone?” Jesus didn't answer the question directly, instead He said… “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. 43 If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. 44 I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. 45 But what if the servant thinks, ‘My master won't be back for a while,' and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? 46 The master will return unannounced and unexpected, and he will cut the servant in pieces and banish him with the unfaithful. – Matthew reports Jesus' words as… The master will return unannounced and unexpected, 51 and he will cut the servant to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Luke continues… 47 “And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn't prepared and doesn't carry out those instructions, will be severely punished. 48 But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. Let's see if we can discern the answer to Peter's original question, which in essence was – Who must be prepared for the Lord to return? The first thing I notice is that Jesus doesn't say, only the leaders, only my followers, or even only my servants must be prepared. Instead, He answers by explaining what a faithful and sensible servant is – that is, a faithful servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants. As a teacher of God's Word, this phrase humbled me, and I hope it speaks to you regardless of your profession or calling. God has a calling for EACH and every one of us…and that calling is to reach someone else. No one in this world is on an island. No one was born into this world only to look out for him or herself. If you are walking and breathing, I can guarantee that God has a divine job for you – and though it may seem, at times, like no one is looking or noticing or even that no difference is being made through your efforts, I can guarantee that God did not give you busy-work. When you resolutely walk where God calls you and obediently do what He has called you to do, you can trust that He has a purpose in it. We ALL have the potential and the invitation to be His servants…how it all turns out is up to us and our response. In the parable, Jesus offers four different responses from those who are called to serve Him. First… If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. 44 I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. What has God called you to do? Perhaps it is as straightforward as caring for your family or even a loved one with special or ongoing needs. Now THAT is a job where you MUST keep your lamp lit and never give up. No matter what God has called you to, and that often shifts throughout our lives, we can trust that He will empower you to fill your role well, but it is up to US to walk faithfully in that role. So the servant who is doing a good job will be rewarded, but what about the one who decides NOT to fulfill their God-given purpose? Well this is difficult to hear, but it's in the Bible, so we can't shy away from it. The servant who knows what is expected of him or her but thinks, ‘My master won't be back for a while,' so he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk,  will, when the master returns unannounced be cut into pieces and banished to where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth – in other words, hell. Throughout the Bible, we are clearly taught that to spend eternity with Christ in heaven, we must simply accept the free gift of salvation offered by Jesus Christ and provided to all believers by His death. So…what does it mean that if I am not doing the will of God, I will be thrown into hell? Let me see if I can explain this. When we become followers of Jesus, when we say yes to Him and give Him our life, we receive His gift of salvation. But He gives us more than salvation. We are also gifted with the Holy Spirit, who comes to live in our hearts, guiding us and teaching us and giving us a desire to understand and follow Christ. Do we do that perfectly this side of heaven – unfortunately, the answer to that is no. We are all, quite simply, messes whom God loves and cherishes. BUT, we have ingrained in us the Holy Spirit – and as such, we are gifted with the longing to do His will, even if we don't do it perfectly. The servant Jesus is talking about in this parable is really not God's servant at all, but is someone who REFUSED to give his life to Christ. This is the person who, behind closed doors, has no personal relationship with Christ. As such, he has NOT be given the gift of the Holy Spirit, and has NO longing to follow Christ. And the hard truth is that anyone who does not have a personal relationship with Christ when the Lord returns, will go to hell for eternity. So…we have the servant who is doing the will of God and will be rewarded, and the so-called servant who has turned away from God's call and never was His servant at all, and will be banished to hell. But Jesus also tells of two other degrees…saying… The servant who knows what the master wants, but isn't prepared and doesn't carry out those instructions, will be severely punished….and the one who does not know and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. In those final days, we will either be God's children, granted access to Him for eternity by the blood of Jesus Christ, or we will be turned away at the banquet as God says, “I don't know you.” At the final day, all those who are granted eternal life with Christ will be clothed with His righteousness. So punishment and discipline at that time will be no more. So…I have to believe that the discipline that comes from not following God's will for our lives is administered to us in this lifetime. When we don't walk with God, when we screw up, and we ALL do, God nudges us back toward the path He has for our lives. He never gives up! So it follows that if we stray a far distance and belligerently refuse to return to His path, the discipline He uses to get us back on track is going to hurt more than when we just stray a little bit. That may sound daunting – but it is a GOOD thing. Your God loves you too much to let you move away from all the good that He has purposed for your life! And as we follow Him, not only does He heap more blessings on us, but He also entrusts us with more to do.  Luke 12:48… When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.   So who is Jesus talking to when He says to be dressed for the race, keep your lamp lit to keep out the dark, and be ready for your master to return from the wedding feast? He was speaking to EVERYONE – those who were following Him, and those who weren't. Jesus is GOING to come back – you can COUNT on it. And His coming will affect every single one of us – whether we are dutifully following His will for our lives or have given our lives to Him but are a bit off track. And for those who have never become His true servant, His true child, when Jesus returns, it will be too late. God doesn't want any of us to be caught off guard. So He calls and calls, He nudges and pushes, and He sends His followers to shine His light so that ALL will be saved. If you haven't yet accepted Christ, please do so today! You can reach out to us at prayer@womenworldleaders.com and we will walk with you! And if you have accepted Christ – please don't stop walking in your purpose – keep running the race and holding the lamp — SO MUCH depends on your obedience. Let's pray… Dear Most Holy God! We thank you for never giving up on us – for telling us like it is, for disciplining us when we are off course, and for giving us the opportunity to serve with and for you. Father, give us strength and wisdom today to persevere as we walk in this beautiful life you have crafted specifically for us. Help us be ready to run the race and shine the light – not for the glory or reward you promise, but so that we might lead many into your kingdom. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.  

During this podcast, host Tawana Lowery shares three important strategies that will help us overcome disappointment (regardless of the circumstances) AND … Keep our Joy!! And as the new year approaches, let these strategies arm you with a game plan to transcend the disappointment traps that might arise.       SCRIPT:   How to Overcome Disappointment and Keep Your Joy By Tawana Lowery (excerpts taken from her upcoming book)   1.     The Holiday Seasons is typically a time for celebrating with friends and loved ones.   2.     But it can also present the greatest opportunity to experience the pain of Disappointment…   ·        Though we might not want to readily admit it… ·        Disappointment is big part of life…   ·        Disappointment hurts and stings… ·        Especially when it involves relationships. ·        But most of all… disappointment steals our joy.     3.     During this Podcast, I want to review 3 Strategies that will help us Overcome Disappointment (regardless of the circumstances) AND … Keep our Joy!!   4.     And as the new year approaches, I believe these strategies will arm you with a game plan to Transcend the Disappointment Traps that might arise.       5.     Like you… I've had numerous disappointing experiences. ·        But one that stands out happened when I was only 8 years old. ·        And it happened during the holiday season.   6.     In those days we still called it a Christmas Party.   7.     Second only to the last day of school, it was the most anticipated day of the entire year.   8.     Each hallway and classroom was covered with beautiful decorations.   9.     And the tantalizing aroma of Christmas Cookies hung like a thick fog, consuming every corner of every room.   10. Weeks of anticipation followed by hours of celebration concluded with the most exciting part of the day.   ·        The Student Gift Exchange!   11. The ritual consisted of the teacher passing out each gift (in a very orderly fashion of course).   12. After what seemed a lifetime, she found the present with my name on it.   13. As she approached my desk, my exuberance quickly devolved into disappointment!     14.  Because my sweet teacher wasn't holding a beautifully wrapped gift with a shiny bow…. It was nothing of the sort!   ·        Instead, she was carrying what appeared to be a ball of aluminum foil….   15. With an awkward wince of embarrassment, she placed the horrifying blob on my desk.     16. Well…. my initial reaction was total confusion. Surely my name was not on THAT.   17.  It wasn't even a present…. Seriously… who in their right mind would give a ball of crumpled aluminum foil as a Christmas gift?   18. Fighting back the crocodile tears, I quickly snatched it off my desk and placed it in my lap… trying to remain expressionless.     19. As I clutched it tightly, in an effort to hide the evidence, I could feel that something was wrapped inside.   20. I thought… “Should I open it now or wait until I get home?”   21. The thoughts were racing back and forth. 22. But soon my 8 year old curiosity took control.   23. With eyes straight ahead and emotions at bay, I slowly pushed back the foil with my fingertips.   ·        That's when embarrassment gave way to complete bewilderment.   24. Inside the crumpled ball of foil was a small Plastic Donkey.   ·        It was the kind of humble little grey burrow you might see in a Nativity Scene. ·        It had very sad eyes and a bowed head.   25. A donkey! A plastic donkey! What on earth can you do with a plastic donkey? ·        Just to add insult to injury, it wasn't even new.   26. As I gazed at this unimaginable nightmare… My mind quickly recalled my shopping trip from the previous week.     27. I thought about the time I invested selecting the perfect gift for my classmate.   ·        It was wrapped with tender care, by yours truly. ·        Then finished to perfection with a lovely bow! ·        Yet despite my tireless efforts, this is what I get in return?   28. You know… that event happened more than 40 years ago, and yet the disappointment I experienced is branded in my memory.       So… here's the point of the story? 29. Sometimes we give our very best to people and circumstances only to receive a Plastic Donkey in return.   30. Sometimes situations over which we have no control cause embarrassment and heartache, leaving us with a stomach full of disappointment and let-down.     31. But… What if we could overcome those deflated emotions and bounce back with a fervent determination to Keep our Joy?   ·        That's what these 3 Principles will help you achieve. The first Principle is…. “Keep it in Perspective.” 1.     A few days after the Christmas party, my mother learned the details behind the gift I had received.   ·        My classmate, Teresa and her family were struggling.   ·        Her father had lost his job, and her mom was fighting a serious illness. ·        Teresa's family had no money and no insurance for medical expenses. ·        In fact, the community was providing money for food and other basic needs. ·        No doubt, they were facing a very bleak holiday season.        2.     My mom also explained how that little plastic donkey was part of their family Nativity Scene.   ·        And it just so happened, the little sad burrow was Teresa's favorite character piece.   ·        In actuality, Teresa gave me something very near and dear to her heart.   ·        She gave the best she had to offer. You might even say her gift was sacrificial… sort of like the offering of the Widows Mite in the Bible. 3.     Although my hurt from the disappointment was real, learning more about Teresa's situation shed new light on the entire event.   ·        It helped me view it from a higher perspective. ·        As a result, my disappointed heart was transformed into a heart of compassion. ·        Keeping it in perspective gave me the emotional strength to keep my joy.     The second Principle for Keeping our Joy is… “Keep Giving Your Best.”   1.     When we returned to school after the holidays…  I decided to give Teresa what she had given me.   ·        She gave me her best. How could I do any less?   2.     For the remainder of the school year, I poured into her life as much as possible.   ·        I helped her with homework so she could make better grades. ·        We sat together at lunch so she wouldn't be alone. ·        Because we were the same size, I gave her some of my clothes and shoes.   3.     Teresa and Tawana became best buds, and we both excelled because of it.   4.     She discovered there was a great student on the inside with the ability to learn and grow.   5.     I discovered leadership abilities that allowed me to inspire others to excel.    6.     Staying true to your core values in the midst of the pain, is vital for overcoming disappointment.   ·        That includes being intentional to give your best regardless of what other don't give you.       7.     Think about it like this… ·        If you want to keep your joy, then be sure to engage in activities that set you up to achieve it.   8.     After all, it's very difficult to give your best while experiencing sadness at the same time.     Let's wrap this up with the third Principle for Keeping our Joy which is to… “Keep Looking for the Good.”   1.     On one of the coldest days of the year, I got caught in a huge traffic jam on the way to have my car heater repaired.   2.     The temperature was 35 degrees outside and only slightly warmer inside.   ·        Not exactly the best day to be stuck in traffic with no heat.   3.     But while I was sitting in my very frigid car, staring at a endless line of traffic, it brought to light another important truth about overcoming disappointment… ·        There's a big difference between being cold and being left out in the cold.     ·        The first is simply an unpleasant circumstance of life. The second is a distressing place in life.     4.      In the same way, there's a big difference in being disappointed with a temporary situation of life and being disappointed with life in general.   ·        Most disappointments we encounter are nothing more than temporary unpleasant interludes between other normal events.   ·        But problems arise when we allow the occasional let downs of life to create a fatalistic attitude towards life.     5.     I've discovered the most effective way to avoid this pitfall is to maintain a posture of gratitude while you're in a disappointment.   6.     Shivering in the car that morning, my choices were very simple. Either complain and grumble or be thankful and humble.   ·        I chose to wrap my mind in a warm blanket of gratitude. ·        I decided to focus on the long list of things I was thankful for.     7.      Of course, I didn't relish sitting in a cold car during a two hour traffic jam. ·        But, I couldn't change it. ·        And, honestly, the situation could have been much worse.   8.     So I began to recite (out loud) all I was grateful for. ·        Things like warm clothes, warm socks and boots, ·        a full tank of gas, ·        a semi-hot cup of coffee, ·        good health, ·        money in the bank, ·        friends and family who loved me, ·        and so on and so on.    9.     As I focused more and more on the good, my stress began to dissipate. ·        I became less focused on what was trying to steal my joy and more centered on what would revive it.     10. I believe when we form the habit of looking for the good in the “not so good” we actually Teach our Minds to be Joyful.          Closing   1.    I'm not suggesting we should never admit or feel Disappointment.   2.    It's part of life because ….   a.      We live in a fallen world full of fallen people doing fallen things.   3.    But I am suggesting that we use the Plastic Donkey's of life as a reminder…   To Keep it in Perspective, To Keep Giving our Best and To Keep Looking for the Good.   4.    When we do so… we Keep our hearts and minds positioned to KEEP our JOY (during the holidays and throughout the year).       All content is copyrighted by Tawana Lowery and Women World Leaders and cannot be used without express written consent

This Christmas, run to Jesus! He has come amid the craziness of this world to bring you His peace and joy. He is calling you just like He called the shepherds on that night long ago. Peace be with you, and all glory to God in the highest. (Luke 2:8-20)   *******   Welcome to Walking in the Word, the Biblical teaching arm of the Women World Leaders podcast. I'm your host, Julie Jenkins. I hope you are enjoying our walk through the gospels as we focus on putting the four pictures from Matthew, Mark, Luke and John into one comprehensive view. As I record this, it is Christmas week – the time when we celebrate Jesus' birth on earth. Jesus, our Holy God, came to earth as a human so that He could die a sinner's death and give all of humanity the opportunity to step into an eternity with Him. But our most powerful and majestic God also came to earth so that we could individually connect with Him and experience peace in our everyday lives. Have you ever met someone you deem “important” or “famous”? I have – and no matter how prepared I am – when I meet someone “out of my league,” I often feel a bit tongue-tied, or intimidated. My head swims a bit. Do you know the feeling? Although God is, undoubtedly, in higher standing than anyone we will ever meet, He wants to relate to us on common ground. God never wants us to feel tongue-tied around Him. So Jesus came to earth as a man. He was born in a stable. And He lived a common life. He was the extraordinary amid the ordinary who went to extremes to be relatable. So on Christmas, not only do we celebrate the MAJESTY of God, but we also celebrate His HUMILITY as He descended to earth out of sheer love for us, ushering in peace and joy. Let's begin in prayer… Dear Heavenly Father – today we praise and glorify your name! We know we should do that every day, but today we intentionally remember the birth of Jesus as a helpless baby, praising the fact that you saw fit to come to earth so that you could save us from our sins AND connect with us in such a loving fashion. As we study your Word, God, I ask you to teach us what you want us to know. Guide us in wisdom and joy as we open our hearts to you. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. In today's scripture, we are going to take a few moments to peer into the lives of the shepherds. These men were perhaps the lowliest of the low. And yet, they were seen by God, who counted them as so important that they were visited by the angels and were the first to hear of Jesus' birth. Let's read Luke, chapter 2, verse 8-20 from the New Living Translation: 8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don't be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in highest heaven,     and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” 15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let's go to Bethlehem! Let's see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds' story were astonished, 19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.   One of my favorite Christmas hymns, Silent Night, gives us an idyllic vision of what was happening the night of Jesus' birth…but it seems from this text that there wasn't much “silent” about that night.   Let's start with the stable – the birthing room, as it was. I've had three children, and although each birth was beautiful, there simply wasn't anything silent about the process. I think my husband remembers that more clearly than I do! And let's not forget that the holy family was sharing their space with a stable full of animals. And I imagine the animals had their own chorus going on. But maybe it was a silent night in the fields where the shepherds were?...Let's imagine… I envision a clear night, with the stars brighter than most of us are used to. After all, there was very little light pollution in those days. But scripture says the shepherds were guarding their flocks…and sheep are very loud animals who only sleep about 4 hours a night. Guarding sheep was a purposeful, 24-hour a day job – so much so that the shepherds had to take turns sleeping and standing guard against thieves and animals. I can picture the shepherds straining to be alert even in the darkness, listening for sounds of intrusion over and above the sound of the sheep. The truth is that the job of the shepherds was far from glamorous – it was constant and messy, certainly not silent and peaceful. It makes me think of being a parent. I can remember sitting up those late hours with each of my newborns, just praying for a moment of PEACE. You probably know what I'm talking about. It can be hard to push through those nights, knowing in your heart that what you are doing is important, but at times, feeling alone in the struggle…like the whole rest of the world is silent, and somehow you alone are fighting to do your job in your loud and messy corner. Some theologians speculate that these shepherds were tending the sheep that were to be used as a sacrifice for the temple services – now that would have been a stressful job! The perfect lamb had to be carefully protected, raised without blemish. Then that perfect lamb would be sacrificed, allowing the high priest to enter the holy of holies to receive a word from God for the whole nation. No pressure. And, to top it off, the shepherds themselves were not permitted to attend the temple because, due to their work, they were considered ceremonially unclean. These were honest men working hard in the trenches whose job was SO important, but they were considered lower class in every aspect. They were humble servants. Sometimes the world seems upside down, doesn't it? Those who give the most sometimes receive the least recognition. Teachers spend their days shaping the future, pouring into our children, our most precious commodity…and yet their pay is often low and the honor that should be given them is dismissed. Healthcare workers serve long hours, handling messes and dealing with the emotions of patients and their loved ones. The list goes on – social workers, foster parents, firefighters, and police officers—all are humble servants who often work amid chaos, caring for others and putting themselves on the back burner. But in today's scripture, we see an example of God's love and acknowledgment for every person who puts themselves out there in service to another. The humble servants in Jesus' day — the shepherds — had no idea as they did their job, valiantly guarding their sheep, that they were about to receive a personal greeting that would blow their socks off. Across the noisy field, a baby was being born who would change the world. That baby, God made flesh, would open the door, tearing the curtain to the holy sanctuary, allowing God's presence to fill the earth. The God of all majesty and honor had sent His only begotten son Jesus to earth as a helpless baby to be born in a messy, smelly stable. And the shepherds, hard at work in the fields, would be the first to know. The angels were so excited to share this awesome news! In the book of Hebrews, the angels are called ministering spirits who are sent to care for God's people. The angels had front row seats to not only the glory of God, which we in our humanity still can not quite comprehend, but also to the fact that God, the divine, the holy, was born among humans, as a human – this was quite the turn of events! This was quite the message – surely sharing this message was one of the angels most important missions ever! And the shepherds, the hardworking yet lowly servants, were the first to be invited to the party. Imagine the shepherds on that dark, clear night. First, they saw one angel, and then a “vast host” of angels…some versions say a “multitude of angels” – the original word is plethos (PLAY – thahs) – sounds like the English word plethora.  – meaning a large or excessive amount of. … all praising God…the angels NEEDED the shepherds to understand the magnitude of what was happening, this was urgent and exciting information. Entire armies of angels filled the sky. That moment must have been thrilling beyond our imaginations. The glory of the Lord had returned to the earth, and the angels could not contain their joy. Verse 9 says that “the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounded them.” Of course, this site would have shocked the shepherds – it would shock you and me, that's for sure! The first angel said, “Don't be afraid!” and he explained himself… “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!   And that wasn't all…the angel clearly wanted the shepherds to go and see for themselves. He told them WHERE to go and how to find the newborn savior of the world. And then the singing started! The armies of heaven started praising God. With something so miraculous happening, how could they NOT praise God? They simply weren't about to miss the JOY and CELEBRATION of Christ's birth. The angels sang, GLORY TO GOD, and peace to those with whom God is pleased! Jesus came to bring us that sometimes seemingly elusive peace! WE, like the shepherds, are meant to experience the peace of God in our daily lives! When we please God, He gives us His peace. So what is it that pleases God? Walking with God and trusting HIS care and protection, even as we care for and protect others, brings us peace beyond all understanding. As children of God, we do not need to fear – because our God is a god of love and protection and wisdom and PEACE. He is holding His umbrella out, waiting for you to take a step under it. Our God is a fierce protector, who, once you take a step toward Him in submission, will never let you go.   The shepherds were initially afraid on that crazy night, but they listened to the good news that the angels brought, and then they ran to Jesus themselves and experienced His peace. Do you remember when you first heard about Jesus and you ran to Him? If you have, you know the peace, the excitement, the joy, that the shepherds knew on that “not so silent” night. If you don't know God's peace, if you haven't yet run to Him…consider this your message…and me your messenger! The Messiah has come! Your salvation is here! You never have to go it alone in this world again! God wants you to come to Him. Run to Him, just like the shepherds did. Jesus did the hard part. He humbled Himself, stepping down from His throne to become human. In His humanity, not only did Jesus make a way for our salvation, but by becoming one of us, He also opened a path for us to communicate with Him. You never need to be intimidated to go to Jesus. You never need to become tongue-tied around Him. You never need to be afraid. This Christmas, I pray you will run to Jesus, welcome Him into your every day, and experience His peace. Oh HOLY God! We praise you! Glory to YOU in the highest! We thank you for ushering in peace on earth! Father, I pray for each woman listening that she may experience your peace and joy today. I pray that she will RUN to your side, experience your forgiveness, rest under the umbrella of your love. Father, thank you for sending your son to us, to this very dirty, messy earthy…to save our very dirty, messy lives. We give our lives to you, O God, and ask you to lead us where you will…we will follow. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.

Sometimes God calls us to do difficult, even seemingly impossible things, but what could've been more overwhelming than an unmarried teenage girl being tasked with raising the Savior of the World?  Just as God's grace enabled her to receive, raise and release her first born son, His grace will carry us through life's most formidable challenges. **** Welcome to Celebrating God's Grace, a Women World Leaders podcast. I'm your host, Julie Harwick. Thank you for joining me today as we celebrate God's grace in our lives, in this ministry and around the world. I love every aspect of Christmas. But what I love most is to contemplate the mysterious, wonderous way God chose to send His Son into the world and the woman He chose to be His mother. The Messiah that God's people had been longing for over the centuries  finally arrived in a way no one would have ever predicted. There were only two witnesses to the moment when God set aside His divinity to put on human flesh as a completely helpless newborn baby. A frightened, inexperienced girl with her equally frightened and inexperienced new husband were the only humans aware that God had come to earth to rectify everything that had gone wrong. What probably seemed to Mary and Joseph, the worst possible timing was in fact, carefully planned. Had they not had to go to Bethlehem at exactly this time, Jesus would've been born in the ordinary way…in a bed, in a house with midwives and mothers reassuring Mary and taking charge.  There would have been no stable or manger, no shepherds hurrying to witness the miracle and no need for a star to light their way. It would've been just another birth in the city of Nazareth.  In her moments of fear and pain, Mary probably longed to have her mother, or any kind-hearted woman there to tell her what to do, reminding her of the joy that would soon be hers. But God very deliberately only allowed her two sources of comfort and direction, the very ones she would continue to depend on in the years to come…God Himself and her husband, Joseph. Luke 2 :18 tells us that Mary, “treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.  I have to believe that some of what she was pondering was how God orchestrated the time and place of His birth.  Mary seemed to have a better than average understanding of how highly God values humility. When her cousin, Elizabeth, blessed her for believing in the promise she was given, she immediately turned the praise to God. In what is known as “Mary's Song,” in Luke 1:47-52 she tells Elizabeth, “How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! For He took notice of His lowly servant girl, and from now on, all generations will call me blessed. For the Mighty One is holy, and He has done great things for me. He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear Him. His mighty arm has done tremendous things! He has scattered the proud and haughty ones. He has brought down princes from their thrones and exalted the humble.”  I wonder if those words came back to her as she surveyed her very humble surroundings while her labor pains intensified. No doubt she would have preferred a cleaner, less smelly, and more comfortable place to deliver the Son of God, but she seems like the sort of girl who would realize that the location was exactly what God intended. Mary's natural humility may have also caused her to ponder the question, “Why me?” While she was clearly honored to have been chosen and recognized the importance of the role she was about to play, she would never have sought it for herself.  After all, it hadn't been easy.  Joseph had found it impossible to believe her story about her encounter with the angel Gabriel – until he experienced a similar visit himself.  He had been prepared to divorce her quietly and send her away, believing that was the kindest and only option available to him. As a man of his day, he probably experienced the same snubs, whispers and social ostracization that Mary did. Both Mary and Joseph had already paid a costly price for their assignment when they prepared to deliver the King of Kings in a dusty, drafty stable.  Anyone who's given birth to a child can tell you that the realization of the journey you're about to begin is a cause for lots of pondering. What will this child be?  Do you have what it takes to give him everything he needs to become a well-adjusted human being?  Will she forgive the mistakes you make along the way? Would this child have been better off with someone stronger, smarter, more resourceful…better? Surely Mary had all of those thoughts as she held her newborn son, but there was a whole added dimension to consider.  How could it be that this baby, created in her and carried by her for the last nine months, had existed since before time began and had witnessed and carefully planned not only her creation, but every moment of her life? At the conclusion of the Christmas story in Luke 2, there's an account of Joseph and Mary taking baby Jesus to the temple for His dedication as the law of Moses required. Here they encountered an old man named Simeon who had spent his lifetime watching for the coming Messiah. In a rare instance of the Holy Spirit speaking to men before Christ's coming, he was assured that he would not see death before laying his eyes on the Promised One. When he encountered the new parents and their divine baby, he instantly knew that he had laid eyes on the Messiah and he began to prophesy. “Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, according to Your word,” he said.  Luke 2 doesn't say this, but I imagine after a lifetime of waiting, he had tears in his eyes and that his voice faltered as he said,” For my eyes have seen Your salvation, a light of revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of Your people Israel.” Verse 33 says that Joseph and Mary were amazed at the things being said about Jesus.  Simeon blessed them and spoke directly to Mary, saying, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed. And a sword will pierce even your own soul.” How much more did Mary have to ponder after their encounter with Simeon? “A sign to be opposed?”  What could that mean?  It certainly didn't sound good.  “And a sword would pierce her soul?”  Mary was told that her Son would save His people from their sins, but she wasn't told how. Was her woman's intuition filled with foreboding, knowing that somehow this child's future would cause her soul to be pierced? She must have struggled with dark thoughts about this throughout His 33 years.  When the angel Gabriel told her that she was to give birth to the Messiah, her response was, “I am the Lord's servant. May everything you have said about me come true.”  To say that when faced with the prospect of such an overwhelming assignment reveals a heart that trusts God…no matter what.  Undoubtedly, she had to remind herself that she could trust Him, again and again when the dark thoughts assaulted her. The only story of Jesus as a child in the bible occurs when He was 12-years-old. Scripture tells us that the entire family made the pilgrimage to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover.  Apparently they travelled as part of a large group, including other family members, friends and neighbors because Mary and Joseph had been on the road for a full day before they realized Jesus was nowhere to be found. They had assumed that He was walking with some of the other boys His age or a favorite relative or family friend. When they realized He was missing, they did the only thing they knew to do …return to where they had last seen Him… in Jerusalem.  If you've never experienced the unmatched panic of temporarily losing a child, I can tell you from personal experience, it is terrifying. We once lost our 4-year-old son on the very crowded lido deck of a cruise ship for about 3 minutes.  He was at the end of the line of our four children and then he was gone. I can't even describe the relief I felt when the cruise director announced that a little boy was looking for his family within minutes of us realizing he had disappeared. Poor Mary and Joseph had to go for days, rather than minutes, not knowing if they would ever find their son. With each step, I wonder if Mary questioned if God could still think so highly of her now that she'd lost the long-awaited Messiah He had entrusted to her care? Her desperate panic gave way to incredible relief when she spotted Him in the temple, listening to the teachers, asking questions and discussing the scriptures. Like any mother, her first words to Him could be expressed in modern language as, “how could you do this to me?”  She said, “Your father and I have been looking for You, and the literal translation is , “in pain.” His response gave her still more to ponder. “Why were you searching for me,” He asked in genuine curiosity. “Did you not know that I had to be in My Father's house?” The next verse repeats the phrase we saw earlier in Luke 2.  Once again, Mary ponders these things in her heart. Did she note that Jesus referred to his Father's house as the temple in Jerusalem, not their simple home in Nazareth? Was this an indication that her son knew exactly Who He was and what He must prepare to do? Perhaps when they had resumed living in Nazareth she had chosen to set aside thoughts of the future and simply enjoy the gift of a beloved son.  Did this newly evident maturity in her boy cause the dark thoughts to creep back into her mind? What did she think the day her 30-year-old son gave her a farewell embrace and headed away from Nazareth to begin His ministry? Did she wonder if she would ever see Him again? Did it cross her mind that His leaving could mean that the moment that would pierce her soul might be coming soon?  When she heard about His miracles and all the people who traveled so many miles to hear Him speak, she must've been filled with pride and wonder, but also questions of where it would lead.  She had a front row seat, the day He read from the Torah in their own temple, telling His former neighbors that the scripture predicting the coming Messiah had been fulfilled in their midst. The idea that the young man they'd known since He was a child could be their long-awaited Messiah, was incomprehensible to them and provoked what they considered holy outrage. Terror must have gripped her as they gathered around Him with stones in their hands, ready to carry out the sentence for blasphemy.  When He simply disappeared from view, no doubt she was simultaneously relieved and awe-struck. We can't begin to imagine what she felt three years later as she sat at the foot of the cross with the image of His bloodied, lifeless body blurred by more tears than she thought she could contain. At last, she knew the meaning of Simeon's prophecy that a sword would pierce her soul, even as it now pierced His side. Mary was called to do the impossible. She had to bear the shame of being considered an immoral woman, when in fact, it was evidence that she was favored by God. She bore the responsibility of protecting and preparing a child Who came to do the most extraordinary, necessary thing in the history of the world. And most impossible of all, she had to let go of her preconceived ideas of what the Messiah would do and trust her heavenly Father, Who was also her earthly Son, to bring about His intended purposes in spite of the utterly hopeless situation she saw before her. When she thought back to the many things she had heard Him say, was one of them, “With man, this is impossible.  But with God, all things are possible.” You may be facing your own impossible task right now. You, or a loved one may have just received a life-threatening diagnosis. You may be raising a child with special needs and you find that it takes far more energy than you have. Perhaps you're facing financial or marital difficulties…or both. Maybe God has called you to start a business or ministry and you have no idea where or how to begin. You may have a wayward child that is lost with no desire to be found or your children may be thriving as they take their places in the world, but it's left you feeling lost and without purpose. You may be questioning if you can survive this Christmas because it's the first one you've had to endure without a loved one who was an integral part of every celebration.  Whatever impossible situation you are facing, God's grace will sustain you, lead you, comfort you and enable you.  The most basic definition of grace is unmerited favor.  There's that word favor again, which takes us back to Mary. Why was she chosen?  Because she found favor with God. Her trust in Him brought His favor, or better understood, His grace upon her enabling her to carry out the impossible tasks He set before her.  As you think back on that first Christmas, let her story remind you of all God can accomplish through you by His grace. Thanks for listening to Women World Leaders podcast!  Join us each Monday, Wednesday and Friday as we explore together God's extravagant love and your courageous purpose.  Visit our website at www.womenworldleaders.com to submit a prayer request, register for an upcoming event, and support the ministry.  From His heart to yours, we are Women World Leaders .  All content is copyrighted by Women World Leaders and cannot be used without express written consent.  

As we celebrate Hanukkah this season, let's examine our hearts, in order to fully receive God's grace. Be blessed with the history of Hanukkah and its correlation with the book of Nehemiah. **** Welcome to Celebrating God's Grace, A Women World Leader's Podcast, I'm your host Robin Kirby-Gatto. Thank you for joining us today as we celebrate God's grace, in our lives, in our ministry, and around the world. Title: Hanukkah, the Feast of Dedication. 1 “The words or story of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah: Now in the month of Chislev in the twentieth year [of the Persian king], as I was in the castle of Shushan, 2 Hanani, one of my kinsmen, came with certain men from Judah, and I asked them about the surviving Jews who had escaped exile, and about Jerusalem.” Nehemiah 1:1-2 AMPC'' Hanukkah is known as “the Feast of Dedication.” It is a time in which the Jewish people celebrate the rededication of the Second Temple, cleansing it from the things of the pagan culture that had crept in with a part of the priesthood, given over to the Hellenistic ways. Although, Nehemiah preceded those at the time of Hanukkah, there's a correlation. God's people were grieved at the worldly things that had happened against Jerusalem, infecting God's Holy City. Hanukkah is on the 25th of the Jewish Month Chislev on the Hebrew Calendar, and commemorates the Maccabean Revolt in the 2nd Century B.C. The Maccabees revolted against the suppression of the practice of their faith, with a Syrian-Greek king. This revolt went on for 30 plus years, with the main phase being over a seven-year period, from 167-160 B.C. During that phase, in 164/165 B.C., the Maccabees captured Jerusalem, then the subsequent cleansing of the temple came on the 25th day of Chislev, where they found a small amount of pure oil, that was a day's worth of supply, to light the menorah. It would take at least another eight days to make the purified anointment to light the menorah again. The supernatural occurrence of the one-day supply of oil kept the lamp burning for eight days, which is where we get Hanukkah. What does that mean for us? As we celebrate the eight days of Hanukkah, we look at it as a time for examining our hearts, to see if the things of the world, have gotten into our inner man, so that we can cleanse ourselves of it, by God's grace. The Maccabean Revolt, not only dealt with the Jewish people being free to practice their faith, but it also dealt with cleansing God's temple of the priests who were influenced with the practices of the pagan culture, mixing it into Judaism within the temple. I love Nehemiah 1, and looking at the first two verses, when it comes to the time of Hanukkah. I've written extensively on Nehemiah 1, in my book God's Fire Wall Healing of the Soul, Session 1 The Light, showing how the soul fragments, where there's unclean things within our members, and it causes us in the smallest wat to disassociate. Having worked as an outpatient psychotherapist with adults, the elderly, and children in long term foster care, I've had patients who had Dissociative Identity Disorder, or those who disassociated on some level. I get into small disassociations in my book Mindfulness, the Mind of Christ, in what is labeled “a mood, temperament, and evolves into our personality.” I experienced this after my ninth month marriage at 19 years old back in 1999, to a demonically oppressed man, who starved and beat me, kept me imprisoned, as well as constantly threatened me with guns pointed at me, or knives put to my throat. It was my first internship supervisor, who pointed out my abuse, which I had shut down and through disassociation, acted as though it had never happened. This is all in my book Session 1 The Light, showing how the fragmented soul is made whole. You've might not have anything drastic like this, but on some level, the influence of the fallen world, might have taken a toll on your soul, bringing in a mixture, into your Christian life. The point of the kingdom of the world, is to get us confused about God's grace. I grew up loving the Lord, having had a supernatural encounter at the age of seven, and always attending church. It was in my last year of high school that I rebelled, because all the guys I ever dated, would break up with me, for keeping myself pure. I got angry with God, and rebelled, and then backslid. Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus, God heals our backsliding. (Hosea 14:4) Like the revolt of the Maccabees, the power of Holy Spirit upon my soul, revolted against the pollution of the world, that had worked its way in, where I tolerated the oppression of the enemy. Looking at Nehemiah 1, we're given a glimpse into this revolt with God's people, as Nehemiah is stirred with jealousy and grief, to see Jerusalem rebuilt, as he would look over the repair of the wall. Maccabee means “hammer” in Aramaic and has the connotation “Who is like unto thee among the gods, Oh Lord!” God's Word is a hammer within us, to show us HE IS GOD, HE IS GRACIOUS! “Is not My word like fire [that consumes all that cannot endure the test]? says the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks in pieces the rock [of most stubborn resistance]?” Jeremiah 23:29 AMPC God's Word pounds away the stubborn places of the heart that have been influenced by the world. In those places of our soul, He brings the Light of Truth, where His Name dwells. (Nehemiah 1:9) Nehemiah 1, verses 1 and 2, bring so much to illumination, as we see that Nehemiah has come to the Lord in the month of Chislev, which is the time of Hanukkah, the Feast of Dedication, preceding the event for nearly two-hundred years. However, we can see the reflection of what happened in Nehemiah's time, compared to what happened in the time of the Maccabean Revolt. God's people were oppressed, and the city profaned by the pagan culture, having its toll on Jerusalem and the temple. Nehemiah in Hebrew means “comforter,” indicating the foreshadowing of Holy Spirit. His father, Haciliah is mentioned in verse one, whose name means “Jah of Darkness,” where God will bring the Light to you, and enlighten you. Chislev means “thickening,” indicating the heavy rains. Moreover, the kinsmen mentioned in verse 2 is Hanani meaning, “gracious.” Names aren't happenstance in God's Word, and the 24 workbooks I've written on the book of Nehemiah, which three have been edited and revised into books, unpack EVERY SINGLE NAME in the book of Nehemiah. There are a lot of names in that book, to where you almost feel as though you're reading the Chronicles. When we look at the name meanings in verses one and two, it shows us that The Comforter, Holy Spirit, will come into our Darkness, bringing enlightenment to our soul of God's thick and weighty presence, revealing His grace. This is what happens to areas of our soul, in need of God's grace. We have the beautiful presence of His love, mercy, and truth, that visits us in our darkness, to lift us into the place of wholeness. This reflects the occurrence of the Maccabean Revolt. The people hungered for the presence of God, and in the darkness of the influence of the world, God brought the Light, the supernatural supply of oil that lasted until they could get the pure oil made. This signifies being a Bond Servant of God! Have you gotten busy with things in life, that you might have slipped and allowed the influence of the world? Is there an area of your soul that's influencing you with negative thoughts, and bad behaviors. As you're hearing this podcast on the last day of Hanukkah, December 15th, 2023, commit yourself afresh and anew to God. Breathe a deep breath and acknowledge the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life. Thanks for listening to Women World Leaders podcast! Join us each Monday, Wednesday and Friday as we explore together God's extravagant love and your courageous purpose. Visit our website at www.womenworldleaders.com to submit a prayer request, register for an upcoming event, and support the ministry. From His heart to yours, we are Women World Leaders. All content is copyrighted by Women World Leaders and cannot be used without express written consent.

What are we to do while we are waiting for the full dawning of the kingdom of God—for Jesus' return? We learn the answer to this question straight from the mouth of Jesus in Luke 18:1-17. *** Welcome to Walking in the Word…the biblical teaching arm of the Women World Leaders' podcast. I'm your host, Julie Jenkins, and I am so happy you have joined us. As we enter into December, if you are a regular donor to Women World Leaders, the newest edition of our Voice of Truth magazine should be arriving in your mailbox. If you are new to the ministry, Voice of Truth is our quarterly magazine presented by an amazing team of women from around the globe who are on mission to share the love and message of Jesus Christ. If you've not yet been introduced to the magazine, you can check it out at womenworldleaders.com, where we have this issue as well as all our back issues available for free digitally. We do print a few extra copies of each edition, so if you want a physical copy for yourself or to share with someone, simply make a donation to the ministry on our website, and we will send you one, as long as our supplies last. Of course, Women World Leaders is a 501c3 non-profit, so all donations ARE tax deductible. What better way is there to get a year-end tax deduction than to allow your money to be used to spread the Word of God and empower women to walk in their God-given purpose? You can be part of this spectacular cause that we have embarked on at Women World Leaders, and we hope you will. Let's get into our study, shall we? Today, as we open scripture, asking God what He wants us to know, we will be studying Luke 18:1-17. Before we begin, let's pray… Dear Most Holy God, We come to you in faith, trusting that you will teach us today what we need to know. Sometimes, when we look at your Word, God, we don't know where to start. But we do. We begin in faith, by opening to a study that you have, in fact, ordained for us. We have been walking through your gospels, and it never ceases to amaze me that you teach each of us bit by bit, filling us with what we need to know when we need to know it…and we praise you in advance that today is no exception. Be with us. Guide us. Teach us. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen. As we studied last week, we learned about the Kingdom of God – that, with Jesus' human birth, it had already arrived, but no one knows the date of its full completion. Yet Jesus assured the disciples, and us, that when it does arrive in full force, no one will miss it. Today as we study, Jesus launches into two parables that teach exactly what we are to do while we are waiting for His return. Allow me to begin reading in Luke 18, verse 1 from the New Living Translation… One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. 2 “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. 3 A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.'  The two characters in this story are as opposite as you can imagine. The judge had all the power in the world. He not only rendered judgment, but he also chose WHOSE case he would hear, which was often based on a bribe presented to his assistant. The widow, on the other hand, had been ill-treated and had NOTHING to offer the judge to hear her case. She had several things going against her. First of all, she was a woman. Secondly, she was widowed, so she had no male presence to represent her. And thirdly, she was poor. All the cards were stacked against her…all she had was her presence and her voice, which she used until she nearly drove the heartless judge crazy. Verse 4 continues… 4 The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don't fear God or care about people, 5 but this woman is driving me crazy. I'm going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!'” 6 Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. 7 Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don't you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! The judge certainly did not offer justice quickly or even willingly, but under duress. We are not to compare the judge to God, but rather see their differences…unlike the uncaring judge, our God loves us each so much, and He will always be there to answer our prayers. And yet…sometimes it CAN feel like God is not there…like we are waiting for forever for an answer to prayer…or, for Him to return again, ushering in the completion of His Kingdom. So what are we to do while we wait? According to Jesus' teachings, we are to tirelessly and persistently go to God in prayer. The woman was outside the tent…she wasn't even allowed in where the proceedings were happening. Waiting for Jesus to return can feel like that…we know God is there, we know He can hear us, but we just can't see Him clearly yet. God wants us to keep close to Him, to keep close to the tent, to keep crying out. Unlike with the judge in the parable, we don't need to “wear God down,” but when we stay close to Him in prayer, we will always win, because we will always be close to Him! Still, many WILL get tired and wander away…that is why Jesus asks in the next sentence… But when the Son of Man[a] returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?” Then Jesus shared another parable … again, about two people who were complete opposites…one man revered and praised God, the other man revered and praised himself – as a show to God. This parable was directly pointed at those listening who self-righteously putting themselves above others. Verse 9… 9 Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: 10 “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer[b]: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I'm certainly not like that tax collector! 12 I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.' Notice the I's? This man walked into God's house and proceeded to tell God how great he was, as if God should be privileged to be in this man's presence. Verse 13… 13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.' What a stark difference. The first man, the Pharisee, strutted into the Temple as if it were HIS home. I'm guessing we all know people like that. Those who walk into the church, on holy ground, as if they are the star of the show. The tricky thing about humility is that it is oh so easy to lose. The devil is sneaky. We can begin going to church for all the right reasons, but become so infatuated with what WE are doing that we allow our focus to shift from the humility of honoring God to pride regarding our accomplishments FOR God. And then, in our brazenness, we look down on others who seemingly aren't offering as much as we are. This is a slippery slope that none of us are immune to. Don't you hate it when Jesus' words sting? But when we allow Jesus' words to infiltrate our spirit and make us uncomfortable, it is then that the Holy Spirit is giving us the power to grow. Jesus lays it out in verse 14…  14 I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Jesus has taught us, through these two parables, that we are to be persistent and humble in prayer as we wait for Him to return. And then Luke's placement of this next teaching reminds us that God wants us to make a path for others to come to Him. Verse 13… 15 One day some parents brought their little children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But when the disciples saw this, they scolded the parents for bothering him. Wow…can you imagine ever scolding ANYONE for coming to Jesus? It seems like that is a no-brainer of a question, yet, it would be wise to consider when and where we unknowingly put up stumbling blocks for others, keeping them from seeing Jesus. If you and I carry Jesus within us and we are His representatives, perhaps we should think about when we shoo people away from us. Perhaps when they don't look like us? Or maybe when they don't act like us? How about when they knowingly go against what the Bible says, choosing to live a lifestyle against our beliefs, and so we, consciously or unconsciously, put ourselves above them, not caring to associate with them or listen to their story? What if, as you and I were growing – as we each still are — what if people turned us away from Jesus because of the wrong choices we made? I can tell you, if that were the case, I would be heading down a lonely path in completely the wrong direction. I thank and praise God that all throughout my life there have been so many individuals who have put their own selves aside and encouraged me to step forward towards Jesus. Jesus consistently calls us to Himself. He calls EVERYONE to come to Him. And we should do WHATEVER we can to welcome others to walk beside Jesus, too. Remember, the first shall be last, and the last shall be first. Take the back seat, let others move ahead of you, offer love, not judgment. Verse 16…   16 Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, “Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. 17 I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn't receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” The kingdom of God is here…in our hearts because we have the Holy Spirit indwelling us. But we are still waiting for Jesus' return and His full glory to be revealed. So what are we to do in the meantime? Persistently pray in humility, staying close to God and making a way for all others to get close to Him, too. Mark also tells the story of Jesus welcoming the children, but he ends it a bit differently, with a verse I love and hold close to my heart on those days when I am tired of being patient and fighting the good fight. Mark 10:16 states…Then Jesus took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them. May God take you in his arms, place his hands on your head, and bless you. Let's pray. Dear Heavenly Father…we are so not perfect…but you already knew that. We tend to go from humility and giving you the praise and honor to wanting to climb up on the pedestal ourselves. I don't know what it is that makes us think that it is okay to look down on others. Please forgive us. And thank you for reminding us that it is an honor to put others first. You are a big God, able to hold us all in your hands. And more than that, you are willing and yearning to hold us all. Thank you! We give you all the praise and honor and glory. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Jesus is always in our midst. If you feel as if you are waiting on Him, look around and realize that He is with you. Perhaps HE is waiting for YOU to recognize His presence. (Luke 17:20-37) **** Welcome to Walking in the Word, the biblical teaching arm of the Women World Leaders podcast. My name is Julie Jenkins, and I am so happy you have joined us as we spend some time in God's Word together. If you are new to the podcast, welcome! We have three weekly offerings for you. On Mondays, Kimberly Hobbs hosts Empowering Lives with Purpose – a 30-minute interview with a woman of faith whose story will encourage you to walk in your God-given purpose. On Fridays, we have a team of leaders who host Celebrating God's Grace. I love our Friday eclectic offerings – as each host shares from her own experience and in her own voice. And today, Wednesdays, we open the Bible together and ask God to show us what He wants us each to learn. And do you know what – He never disappoints us! We are currently walking through the gospels together, and our study today comes from the book of Luke, chapter 17, verses 20-37. Before we begin, let's pray… Dear Most Holy God, we offer you ourselves as we open your Word today. Our days are full as the world calls us in so many different directions, but we commit to pause for the next few minutes as we intentionally listen for your voice. Father, I ask you to keep out any distractions that may threaten our time with you. Please drown out the cares of the world with the magnificent sound of your voice. Immerse us in your presence. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen. As Jesus continues to make his way to Jerusalem, He continues to teach and guide both those who are traveling with Him as well as those He encounters. I'm so glad so many of these teachings were written down for us to study, aren't you? There is no doubt that as Luke recalled and wrote these words, He was following the call of the Holy Spirit. One of my favorite verses…and maybe yours, too… is Romans 8:28…And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. That verse has a kaleidoscope of meaning that is so deep and expansive. Regarding THIS topic, I am just amazed that Jesus taught the words we are about to study, Luke wrote them down through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and then they were preserved and protected and translated through God's power and provision until they ended up here, today, in our hands and in our minds to study in reference to SOMETHING that is happening in your life today…something I am NOT EVEN AWARE OF as I speak. God does indeed work ALL things together for the good of those who love Him. Is that not the most miraculous things ever?? God loves YOU THAT much! Well…if He went to ALL that trouble, you'd better believe we ought to give Him our focus as we read His Word! Let's begin in Luke 17:20 from the New Living Translation 20 One day the Pharisees asked Jesus, “When will the Kingdom of God come?” Jesus replied, “The Kingdom of God can't be detected by visible signs.[a] 21 You won't be able to say, ‘Here it is!' or ‘It's over there!' For the Kingdom of God is already among you.[b]” Notice that this topic is initiated by a question from the Pharisees. The Jewish people had been priming themselves for a huge, dramatic event that would change the world. As a people, they had served God for a long time, and they had seen and heard stories of fire brought down from heaven, seas splitting, walls falling, and even a cloud and a pillar of fire that went ahead of the Israelites leading them through the desert to the Promised Land. And following suit, they expected the Kingdom of God to be ushered in a spectacular display, freeing them from the tyranny of earthly government and the shackles of humanity. Jesus had preached about the kingdom of God, so the Pharisees, unashamedly and perhaps even backhandedly, asked…Ok…when is this all going to go down? And because they didn't believe that Jesus was who He said He was…the Son of the Living God…they likely scoffed at Jesus' answer…The Kingdom of God is already among you. How often do we ask for a sign FROM God when what we really need to do is stand in God's presence? This is something I have grown in, but am still guilty of. And while it's not wrong to ask God to reveal Himself to you… the fact of the matter is, God is all around you at all times. If you don't see Him, in the words of my pastor, that's a you-problem. Jesus had been born into the world, ushering in a new era – offering the most astounding change the world had ever seen and WILL ever see until we all witness His second coming. Jesus brought God's presence to earth to live continually. He was about to die for the sins of humanity, presenting a way for each of us to live with God for eternity. The Kingdom of God HAD arrived. And yet, because it didn't look as the Pharisees expected, they strummed their fingers and looked at Jesus and said…We're waiting… How often do you and I call out to God in distress, wondering why He isn't answering when, in fact, He IS answering, but His answer doesn't look like WE want it to? Faith is not just believing IN God, but it is believing God. It is believing that He is working for our good ALL – THE – TIME! It is responding to Him right where we are, doing exactly as the Holy Spirit instructs us, despite what we feel or the answers we think we want. The Pharisees had the answer to their own question standing right in front of them, but they refused to see it—to see HIM. So Jesus answered them shortly and succinctly, and then He turned and spoke to those who DID see Him and appreciated Him for who He was – His disciples. Jesus explained to them on a deeper level, saying that although He was there in their presence at that moment, things were about to change. They, by faith, accepted the basic elementary truth of Jesus' identity, and now, they were ready for the more profound teaching of what was to come. Verse 22… 22 Then he said to his disciples, “The time is coming when you will long to see the day when the Son of Man returns,[c] but you won't see it. 23 People will tell you, ‘Look, there is the Son of Man,' or ‘Here he is,' but don't go out and follow them. 24 For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other, so it will be on the day[d] when the Son of Man comes. Jesus doesn't ever hold back information that we NEED to know. If you are a Christ-follower, you can trust that when you listen to Him intently and follow His call, you WILL be prepared, with His strength, to face anything that comes at you. Jesus told His disciples they WOULD be waiting for His return one day. And He also told them, and us, that when He does come, we won't miss it. Nobody will miss it. You will NEVER have to take someone else's word that Jesus has returned – you WILL know. Jesus offers an interlude to prepare the disciples for the events in their near future…verse 25…  25 But first the Son of Man must suffer terribly[e] and be rejected by this generation. And then He resumes His teaching about His return… 26 “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah's day. 27 In those days, the people enjoyed banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 “And the world will be as it was in the days of Lot. People went about their daily business—eating and drinking, buying and selling, farming and building— 29 until the morning Lot left Sodom. Then fire and burning sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. 30 Yes, it will be ‘business as usual' right up to the day when the Son of Man is revealed. Each time I read Scripture, I ask God to show me with new eyes what He wants me to know, and as I read this today, I saw a broken-hearted Jesus. We hear the story of Noah and tend to think about those who were saved—Noah and his family and the animals – and that is glorious. But what about the thousands upon thousands who were destroyed by the deluge of rain that overtook their homes and their land? Water is so powerful and can be so scary – you know if you've ever spent time on or near the sea during a storm. I can't imagine the cries and screams and devastation of those who were NOT on the boat with Noah. I think we protect our minds from those thoughts because they are so gruesome. And think about the destruction of Sodom…with fire and sulphur flying out of the sky burning everything down to nothing. The stench must have been suffocating, the heat excruciating, the screams deafening, and the pain tortuous. These are NOT fun scenes to think of, yet they pale in comparison to what will happen in the end days. Alongside the glory of Jesus' return will be devastation, destruction, and death. These thoughts must have torn Jesus' heart in two even as He said these words. To bring urgency, Jesus stressed that at the moment of separation and destruction, it will be too late for anyone to turn to Him for mercy and salvation. It will be too late for anyone to recognize that He was in the midst all along. Jesus continues as recorded in Luke 17:31…  31 On that day a person out on the deck of a roof must not go down into the house to pack. A person out in the field must not return home. 32 Remember what happened to Lot's wife! 33 If you cling to your life, you will lose it, and if you let your life go, you will save it. 34 That night two people will be asleep in one bed; one will be taken, the other left. 35 Two women will be grinding flour together at the mill; one will be taken, the other left.[f]” The disciples, listening, wanted to be further prepared, and asked… 37 “Where will this happen, Lord?”… Jesus replied, “Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs indicate that the end is near.” In other words, we won't know until we know. But when it happens, we will undoubtedly know, just as we can be assured there is a dead carcass nearby when we see vultures circling. How gracious God is NOT to give us a date for the end times. Can you even begin to imagine the stress if we knew it was tomorrow? We would all have heart attacks and be completely incapacitated. We can ALWAYS trust that when we follow God, He will give us ALL the information we need, even as He protects us from what He knows would be too much for us. Our job is recognize that Jesus IS in our midst, every moment of every day. And our job is to respond to Him in faith—because He IS in full control. We NEVER have to wait on God; in fact, He is waiting patiently for so many of US to acknowledge who He is and respond in obedience to Him. When we do, we can be assured that He will tell us what we need to know, show us where we need to go, and work all things together for our good. Let's pray… Dear Most Holy God, we say yes to you. We acknowledge and appreciate your presence as we praise you. We trust everything you say. We wholeheartedly agree to act in response to your voice. Father, forgive us for the times we've looked for you and claimed we couldn't find you. Thank you for your mercy when we don't respond in obedience. Hold us accountable even as you hold us by your side. For all eternity. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.    

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What is the true spirit behind Thanksgiving? We see this clearly in Christ Jesus as the First Pioneer of the faith, to bring many sons and daughters to God. *** Welcome to Celebrating God's Grace, A Women World Leader's Podcast, I'm your host Robin Kirby-Gatto. Thank you for joining us today as we celebrate God's grace, in our lives, in our ministry, and around the world. Today's Title: Thanksgiving Eternal In seeking God on what to share today, He continually put on my heart to read the blog He had me write Thanksgiving Day of 2010. I pray this blesses you with the true spirit behind Thanksgiving. 9 “But we are able to see Jesus, Who was ranked lower than the angels for a little while, crowned with glory and honor because of His having suffered death, in order that by the grace (unmerited favor) of God [to us sinners] He might experience death for every individual person. 10For it was an act worthy [of God] and fitting [to the divine nature] that He, for Whose sake and by Whom all things have their existence, in bringing many sons into glory, should make the Pioneer of their salvation perfect [should bring to maturity the human experience necessary to be perfectly equipped for His office as High Priest] through suffering. 11For both He Who sanctifies [making men holy] and those who are sanctified all have one [Father]. For this reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren;” Hebrews 2:9-11 AMPC I woke up this morning, late of course, because we drove around 13-14 hours to get to my in-laws for Thanksgiving in Virginia.  Having stayed up late to fellowship and talk with my father and mother-in-law I went to bed exhausted and ready for a full rest.  I woke up this morning recouping from the long drive yesterday and the long day and night.  Grabbing a cup of coffee, greeting my husband and son with a Thanksgiving Day salutation, I then dove into The Word to eat my first Thanksgiving Meal!!! Jesus!!!! Holy Spirit led me to Hebrews, and I simply started with Chapter 1 of the book of Hebrews and continued to devour and sink into the rest of the book, compelled to throw myself at the feet of My Lover, the One who is altogether beautiful and worthy of my devotion, Jesus!! As I read Hebrews beginning with the establishment of the person of Jesus, and the sacrifice He came to make for man in order to bring forth God's new covenant of redemption and cleansing of sin once and for all I could not help but to consider Thanksgiving and what the meaning of this Holiday entails. Thanksgiving has been a season for me to fellowship with people I love and enjoy a time of gathering from long distances in order to bring about a sweet fellowship where we share joys, trials, overcoming victories, hopes, dreams and God's work in our lives.  It is a time to commune with our family and friends to edify and encourage each other, all the while thinking that it would be so nice if we had these meetings more often.  However, due to the great distance (13- 14 hours drive) between us, work, meetings, schedules and commitments coming together like that is not as frequent.  This year we have been blessed to visit my husband's family four times.  In digesting all of these elements during the Thanksgiving Holiday and during my bible study this morning I felt as if I was sitting inside of the book of Hebrews, if that were possible. While reading scripture after scripture and seeing the beautiful transition of God closing out the old covenant only to bring in His New and Better Covenant with man, all I could see was the first Pioneer, who went before us to a heavenly Kingdom, one that we reach as a result of Christ.  And I could identify with the Thanksgiving we celebrate here in America and the one that we continually celebrate daily in our hearts and spirits for our heavenly home, our glorious home, where eternity has been placed in our heart. While thinking upon this I realize that through Jesus' sacrifice each and every person has the opportunity to follow Him into the New Land, the Heavenly Kingdom, where Jesus and God are the Light, they are the Temple!   Seeing Jesus, being our High Priest, making intercession for us and entering the Most Holy place in heaven to offer His own blood as atonement for our sins I realize how that is truly Thanks Giving Eternal!!! Jesus only had to enter one time into the Most Holy place to atone for sins!!! Then He sat down at the right hand of the Father until His enemies are made His footstool.  I stand amazed and overwhelmed at the simplicity of God's Gospel, yet the depth to which it flows!!! It is Christ giving up everything!!! Giving up His throne even for a little while to be made even lower than the angels when He stepped upon this earth to carry out His duties, His oath to the Father!! It was God Himself, coming through Christ, to bring us forth into our land, our home, where we would be with God eternally!!! The simplicity of God's Love that rings throughout the obedience of Christ Jesus' sacrifice for mankind is easy to see.  It is LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! God's love that could not be without us, unconnected to His glorious jewels, His treasures that bring Him such satisfaction and pleasure! I'm reminded of the image the Holy Spirit gave me years ago regarding my own son, Matthew.  I have two sons, Christopher and Matthew Kirby.  During the time God gave me the image; Matthew was still young, only six years old.  He still depended a lot on me to help him with daily activities, such as preparing his meals, putting bandages on injuries, supplying much love and support, etc.   Then God asked me “how would you feel, if all of a sudden Matthew could not see you or hear you?”  Moreover, I would have to watch Matthew go through the torture of looking for me only to never find me and not ever being able to hold him and assure him of my love, a mother's love.  I thought about the idea and pictured such an occurrence. It was frightful and disconcerting if not even tormenting to see the reality of such a thing.  I responded to God, that I couldn't live like that because it would be utterly too painful to go through and watch.  God showed me how it was no different for Him.  God completely loves us and desires to be there to provide for us every step of the way.  He desires to wrap His loving arms around us and bring us to Himself!  Moreover, He longs for us to live with Him eternally! The image is such a picture of God's love, His divine devotion and longing to have His children right there with Him!  As I see this in the picture of Jesus, who shows us the Father's face, I see how the utter abandonment of His place in glory to come into earth as an infant, so dependent on care, completely helpless at a young age, having to be fed and clothed by Mary was a demonstration of the complete trust God has in His love in us, too! The Father could not be without us; neither could Jesus or Holy Spirit because from the beginning, man was made in the Image of God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit)!  He made us in His image and to be without us, He would be grieved, too.  Jesus, coming forth, in complete obedience to complete His Father's will brought us back into communion with the Father.  The obedience of Christ unto salvation brought us into our land, into our position, into our home!! Jesus was the first Pioneer!!!! JESUS WAS THE FIRST PIONEER!!! THE PIONEER OF OUR SALVATION!!!! BRINGING MANY SONS TO GLORY!!!!! FOR THAT I HAVE THANKSGIVING ETERNAL!!! GIVING THANKS CONTINUALLY TO CHRIST JESUS, THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH!!!!! Thanks for listening to Women World Leaders podcast! Join us each Monday, Wednesday and Friday as we explore together God's extravagant love and your courageous purpose. Visit our website at www.womenworldleaders.com to submit a prayer request, register for an upcoming event, and support the ministry. From His heart to yours, we are Women World Leaders. All content is copyrighted by Women World Leaders and cannot be used without express written consent.

This Thanksgiving, may we give God all the thanks and praise, even as we sit in His lap and let His goodness and mercy cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ***** Welcome to Walking in the Word, the biblical teaching arm of the Women World Leaders podcast. My name is Julie Jenkins, and I am so happy you have joined us for this, the Wednesday edition of the podcast, when we take a few minutes to open the Bible together and ask God what He wants us to know today. If you are new to Women World Leaders, I'd encourage you to visit our website, www.womenworldleaders.com, and check out our offerings. One thing I want to highlight for you today is the opportunity we offer to share your God-story with the world. Have you ever really looked at a diamond? I can get mesmerized by the cut of a diamond, examining the beauty from every angle. The vast intricacies of God go far beyond those of a well-cut diamond. The way He works in each of our lives is astounding and offers us countless views of His glory, grace, mercy, and love. THAT is what I love about the books published by Women World Leaders! When we hear how God has worked in another person's life, we can see yet another view of our miraculously intricate Father. Likewise, when we each reflect on what God has done for us, we begin to understand Him with a deeper appreciation. THAT is what our books are about! But it isn't just about reading other people's stories—although that is a blessing and can I just say, our books make great Christmas gifts—but God has a miracle to show you as you share YOUR story. Because what He has done in YOUR life is miraculous, and it can help someone else. If God is nudging you to share your story, please get in touch with us! You will hear in today's teaching that sometimes we have to respond in faith before we can even visualize the outcome. So take a chance, email us at info@womenworldleaders.com and we will share how we can help you write your story. No pressure, no strings, and no obligations. Well, let's get to the teaching, shall we? We are currently walking through the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. If you've been listening regularly, you know that we just finished up our study of the Sermon on the Mount. Today, we are going to fast forward to Luke, chapter 17, verses 11-19, where we will continue learning directly from Jesus' teaching. Before we begin, let's pray… Dear Most Holy and Precious God. We come to you today with our minds and hearts open, ready to hear your voice. We ask that you quiet us down. Release us from the cares of the day. Give us peace that the world can spin without us for a few moments while we sit and focus on you. God, hold our hands as we go through the section of scripture you have ordained for us to study today. We trust that you will show us what you want us to know. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen. As we catch up with Jesus in Luke chapter 17, we find him walking along the border between Galilee and Samaria. Allow me to begin with verse 11 from the New Living Translation… 11 As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, he reached the border between Galilee and Samaria. 12 As he entered a village there, ten men with leprosy stood at a distance, 13 crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” We don't know much about these ten men, except that they were together, and they were each infected with an illness – perhaps psoriasis, lupus, ringworm — we don't know their exact ailments, but we do know they each had a skin disease that required them to be ostracized from society. They were banned from being with others. On first meeting, we don't know even know where these ten men were banished from – whether Galilee or Samaria… remember, Jesus was on the border.  Allow me a sidebar…An amazing part of this story to me is that these men with, we find out, different backgrounds, had banded together. Although the Galileans and the Samaritans severely disliked each other, these men had formed a group. An alliance. Maybe even a friendship. Isn't it amazing how an open heart, in this case brought about by a horrible circumstance, can erase the differences between us? It is so easy for us as humans to ostracize and even judge others who are not like us. The Galileans had nothing on us. How often have we gone out of our way to avoid certain areas of town? What about the judgments we hold because someone is not a native of our country? World Publishing and Productions just published a beautiful book called Heartbeat of a Survivor by Nita Tin. When she and her husband fled her politically distraught country 50 years ago and ended up in the United States, despite the fact that her husband was a gifted doctor, he experienced severe discrimination within his own field simply because of his background. He had, after all, not grown up in nor been educated in the United States. Eventually, through his hard work, dedication, and the open heart of another professional, Dr. Pe Tin was accepted into the medical profession in the US and made amazing contributions. There is no end to the work God can do when we open our hearts to others. Okay…side bar over… Apparently, the ten ill men had, together, somehow found faith that this man walking down the roadside could do something to help them, to heal them. Someone must have told them that if they would cry out to Jesus, He could help them. Now that's a message I hope we are all comfortable sharing, for when we cry out to Jesus, He will never let us down…verse 14… 14 (Jesus) looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.”[a] And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy. I love the way this is written! Jesus told the men to go and show themselves to the priests, which they were only to do AFTER they were healed. I can't imagine it was good to bother the priests without cause, so before these men even witnessed their own healing, it is clear that they BELIEVED they would actually BE healed. And the verse says…AS THEY WENT, they were cleansed. How often do you and I hear a word from God and act in faith BEFORE we see the outcome? Where is God calling YOU to go, perhaps even before you feel equipped or ready? When God gives instructions, He honors our obedience to Him. Verse 15 continues… 15 One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!” 16 He fell to the ground at Jesus' feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan. Wow! Are you more astounded that the Samaritan, who was NOT one of God's chosen ones, returned in praise and thanksgiving? Or that only ONE of the ten came back to say thank you? What were the other nine thinking?? I guess I can imagine…they hadn't seen or touched their loved ones in a long time, maybe they were rushing to see them. Maybe they had work they had neglected and wanted to see if they could salvage their earnings? Or maybe they were just celebrating with a good meal or looking forward to sleeping under a solid roof? We don't know. But I take this as a cautionary tale – how many times has God gifted me with the unimaginable and I've turned away from Him as I appreciated the gift instead of the Giver? Jesus asked the Samaritan the same questions… 17 …“Didn't I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” 19 And Jesus said to the man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you.[b]” The Samaritan wanted to thank and know Jesus. He fell at Jesus' feet, praising God. He wanted a personal relationship with the man who had given him his life back. As I write this, it is Thanksgiving week here in the United States. And if I'm being honest, I started the week feeling a bit sorry for myself instead of focusing on giving thanks and praise to God for the many, many gifts and blessings He has given me. Sometimes, I tend to focus on what I have or don't have and miss the fact that I have EVERYTHING because I have Jesus. My earthly life, and your earthly life, is a blip on the timeline of eternity. And yet, when we have faith and call out to Jesus, we are promised more than we can possibly imagine far beyond that blip – forever into eternity, in fact. The ten men were healed. But, as healings go, I'm sure they each eventually encountered another sickness or problem or issue. What do you think happened to the nine who didn't return to Jesus? Who did they turn to and trust? Jesus had healed them, confirming that He was God. Yet they dissed Jesus, going their merry way. And the result is that they had to deal with eternity alone. But the one Samaritan who returned to Jesus? Who took his hardship and blessing and turned it into a RELATIONSHIP with Jesus? That man gained the Savior. He forever was guaranteed a true reason to praise and worship for eternity. I want to be like THAT man! As we close today, I want to read Psalm 103 from the Passion Translation. As I read…will you praise God with me, giving Him just a bit of the praise He deserves? With my whole heart, with my whole life, and with my innermost being, I bow in wonder and love before you, the holy God! Yahweh, you are my soul's celebration. How could I ever forget the miracles of kindness you've done for me? You kissed my heart with forgiveness, in spite of all I've done.  You've healed me inside and out from every disease. You've rescued me from hell and saved my life. You've crowned me with love and mercy. You satisfy my every desire with good things.  You've supercharged my life so that I soar again  like a flying eagle in the sky! You're a God who makes things right, giving justice to the defenseless. You unveiled to Moses your plans and showed Israel's sons what you could do. Lord, you're so kind and tenderhearted  and so patient with people who fail you! Your love is like a flooding river overflowing its banks with kindness.  You don't look at us only to find our faults,  just so that you can hold a grudge against us. You may discipline us for our many sins, but never as much as we really deserve. Nor do you get even with us for what we've done. Higher than the highest heavens— that's how high your tender mercy extends! Greater than the grandeur of heaven above is the greatness of your loyal love, towering over all who fear you and bow down before you! Farther than from a sunrise to a sunset— that's how far you've removed our guilt from us. The same way a loving father feels toward his children— that's but a sample of your tender feelings toward us,  your beloved children, who live in awe of you. You know all about us, inside and out.  You are mindful that we're made from dust. Our days are so few, and our momentary beauty  so swiftly fades away! Then all of a sudden we're gone, like grass clippings blown away in a gust of wind, taken away to our appointment with death, leaving nothing to show that we were here.   But Lord, your endless love stretches from one eternity to the other, unbroken and unrelenting toward those who fear you and those who bow facedown in awe before you. Your faithfulness to keep every gracious promise you've made passes from parents, to children, to grandchildren, and beyond. You are faithful to all those who follow your ways and keep your word. Yahweh has established his throne in heaven; his kingdom rules the entire universe. So bless the Lord, all his messengers of power, for you are his mighty heroes who listen intently to the voice of his word to do it. Bless and praise the Lord, you mighty warriors, ministers who serve him well and fulfill his desires. I will bless and praise the Lord with my whole heart! Let all his works throughout the earth, wherever his dominion stretches— let everything bless the Lord!    Heavenly Father – we love you, and we thank you for the best gift ever—the gift af salvation through Jesus Christ. Thank you for healing us, now and for eternity. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.  

In this podcast, Tawana Lowery shares another empowering excerpt from her upcoming book and provides insightful teaching on “How to Get out of the No Way.” She reveals what No Way thinking looks like and how to exchange it for a victorious Yes Way mind that God desires for his daughters.   *****  Hello… and Welcome to Women World Leaders Podcast   I'm your Host… Tawana Lowery ·        Women's Empowerment Coach ·        And Executive Director of Miss Overcomer Global   And I'm so excited you joined today… ·        As we explore what the Father wants us to know about himself ·        and who we are as Powerful Ambassadors… Let's get started.

Jesus implores you to seek a relationship with Him. He is our strong foundation and offers the best ending to our story! Enjoy our study of Matthew 7:21-29 and Luke 6:46-49 and 13:23-30 as you come to know Him and His heart for you in a more profound way. *** Welcome to Walking in the Word, the biblical teaching arm of the Women World Leaders podcast. My name is Julie Jenkins, and I'm honored to be your host. Our mission at Women World Leaders is to empower you to walk in your God-given purpose. We do that by encouraging and inspiring you with stories from women of faith who have triumphed through suffering and have courageously walked where God has called them by giving you an outlet to use your gifts from writing to fundraising and anywhere in between, all for God's glory alone. And, of course, by studying the Bible together, and receiving empowerment from the ultimate source of power, God Himself. On this, our Wednesday podcast, we take a moment to sit back and hear from God and soak in all that He wants us to learn. We are currently studying the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—hanging on every word and action of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as He walked on this earth. Before we begin, let me pray for us. Dear Heavenly Father, Holy Spirit and most precious Jesus, we come to you today in awe of who you are, and in thanksgiving, for all the teaching you continually share with us. We so want to know you, and we want to please you. Please guide this teaching may be pleasing to your ears, open our hearts that we may be willing to hear exactly what you want us to know. In Jesus name, I pray, amen. Well, today we are finishing up our study of the Sermon on the Mount. And while everything that Jesus says and does is important, today's teaching is the key to it all. It's all about knowing Jesus. Jesus wants to have a relationship with you. Relationships are difficult. No matter how you slice them. We have to learn how to give, how to accept that which someone else gives us, we have to listen, and we have to talk. Depending on your personality, one of those might be more difficult than the other. We have to offer grace and forgiveness and care and wisdom. But relationships can be fun, too. It's easy and tempting to put a guard around our hearts when we've been hurt to keep the pain out. But the problem is, when we work to keep the pain out. We often keep the joy out, too. The Israelites depended on God, but at times, they turned away from God in pain caused by their own sin. To ease that pain, they tried to control their relationship with God, putting up walls and making extenuating rules by which to guard their hearts and still be honoring to God, at least in their own eyes. In today's wrap-up of the Sermon on the Mount, however, we hear Jesus asking us to take those walls of protection down and to seek to truly know Him. He has so much more for us than rules and guardrails. He has the blessings and joy of an intimate relationship with Him that He is longing to shower on us. In his teaching so far, Jesus taught the Beatitudes that God blesses in a highly unexpected fashion, giving the most to those who hunger and thirst to know him. He taught that we as Christ followers are the light of the world and that He came not to abolish the law but to fulfill it. We've learned that, in God's eyes, the attitude of our hearts is just as important as our actions. And that God wants us to love our enemies and even pray for them. We've learned that we can be generous because God will will always provide for us. And we must not judge others. But instead, be discerning as we go to God in prayer seeking His wisdom. And now Jesus underscores it all by teaching that a relationship with Him is the key, the foundation of all that we have been taught, and who God made us to be. Today's scripture is from Matthew chapter seven, verses 21 through 29. And from Luke chapter six, verses 46 through 49, and chapter 13, verses 23 through 30. Let's read from the New Living Translation beginning in Matthew 21. Not everyone who calls out to me Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven, only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On Judgment Day Many will say to me, Lord, Lord, we prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name. But I will reply, I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God's laws. Jesus is prophesying here, telling his listeners what will be. Remember, God is sovereign and in control, so what he says will come to pass. Think of it as a movie trailer. We don't know or understand the whole story. But throughout the Bible, we get bits and pieces of that coming judgment day. The prophet Joel had already given some detail about what he calls the day of the Lord and Joel chapter two. Jesus listeners would have been very familiar with this picture that Joel painted of the earth and ruins as the Lord our God who is gracious and compassionate and abounding in love thunders at the head of his army. Despite the destruction, Joel wrote that on that day, everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. But if Joel's telling is like the short movie trailer that gets you hooked and leaves you with questions. Then Jesus' words add to the intrigue as he expands on Joel's movie trailer with his own revelations, saying that not everyone who calls out Lord Lord will enter the kingdom instead, some will hear Jesus reply, I never knew you. The plot thickens. Jesus' followers are learning for perhaps the first time that their eternal destination depends not on what they do, but on who they know. They must know Jesus, and Jesus must know them. They have to take those walls of protection that they have built up around their hearts and destroy them. Allowing Jesus in. Luke presents his version of the movie trailer as he writes, beginning in Luke 13:23. Someone asked him Lord will only a few be saved. He replied, work hard to enter the narrow door to God's kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail. When the master of the house has locked the door. It will be too late. You will stand outside knocking and pleading Lord opened the door for us. But he will reply, I don't know you are where you come from. Then you will say but we ate and drank with you and you taught in our streets. And he will reply, I tell you, I don't know you or where you come from? Get away from me, all you who do evil. The people must have been sitting on the edge of their seats by now as they listened to Jesus' words. Could it be possible that even when we think we know Jesus, He doesn't know us? And if those who don't know him can't get in the door, where does that leave them? Luke's movie trailer continues as the camera pans out backing away from the locked door, showing us what is on the outside. Luke 13:28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For you will see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God. But you will be thrown out and people will come from all over the world from east and west and north and south to take their places in the kingdom of God. And note this, some who seemed the least important now will be the greatest then and some who are the greatest now will be the least important. Imagine the chaos and confusion. Have you ever been left out of a gathering? It's painful. But this pain? We can't even imagine what it will feel like to be left behind weeping and gnashing our teeth. Knowing that we are too late And the scene cuts. The dark screen becomes filled with light as the beautiful music swells and the viewer's body relaxes. Luke transitions and chapter six verse 37. As Jesus says, I will show you what it's like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. Picking back up in Matthew 7:24. Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters raised and the wind beats against that house. It won't collapse because it is built on bedrock. Luke says it stands firm because it is well built. Despite the light and the beautiful black background music and the firm foundation for those who know Jesus, there will be wind and rain and floodwaters. But with Jesus as our bedrock, we will be able to withstand any storm that comes our way. Even the storms of destruction that may take away the people or the things we love. Even those deep floodwaters and the strong winds that come in those last days will not touch the children of God. But Matthew records, Anyone who hears my teaching, and doesn't obey it is foolish. Like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rain and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash. Luke says into a heap of ruins. Have you ever read one of those choose-your-own-ending books. Those were my favorite. When I was a kid, you get to the end of a page and be given a choice did she go through the red door or the blue door. If you choose the red door, you'd be instructed to turn to a certain page and if you choose the blue door, you'd be instructed to read a different page and the story would continue. Well, in the film of your life, you get to choose the ending. But there are only two options. You can choose to keep those walls up and go it alone. Or you can choose to have a relationship with Jesus. Choosing to keep those walls up around our heart, keeping Jesus out going it alone, and trying to earn our own salvation means that the path will get more and more difficult. Darkness and sin will envelop you until there is no light remaining. Fear and worry and pain will take over as the door is locked behind you, indicating the opportunity to turn back is no longer available. Or we can choose to follow Jesus to intentionally dismantle our walls and let Him into our hearts. Asking His forgiveness and doing our best to follow him in obedience with each and every step we take. This decision involves choosing a relationship with Jesus. And like any relationship on our end anyway, it will probably be messy. We will not be perfect. We will sin, and we will stray, we will hurt, and we will cause pain. But God is perfect. And he will always walk with us and guide us. Once we make that decision to go to Him and we have our full hearts open to him and to knowing Him, that same door will be shut behind us, and there will be no going back to where there is gnashing of teeth. The path will continue to get more and more beautiful as we walk away from sin until on that final day, there will be no more sun. God will bottle our tears, whisking them away from us. The music will swell, and joy will fill every cell of our bodies. Matthew finishes. When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at His teaching, for he taught with real authority, quite unlike the teachers of religious law. Jesus is unlike any teachers of religious law because Well, Jesus is unlike anything, or anyone else we've ever known or ever will know. There aren't enough superlatives in the English language to describe the wonder of Jesus. He's sovereign, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent. He's perfect love, joy and peace. And you can have all of that in your life or not. The movie is yours. You are the director. Choose well. Dear most holy God. If there's any person listening today who doesn't know you and wants to know you, I pray that you enter her heart today. At this moment, give her words to confess, confess her sin to you and give her guidance and an undeniable urge to walk in obedience to your call on her life. God, thank you for giving us the opportunity to share eternity with You. And to begin that eternity, that eternity now by having a relationship with you, that will never end as you lock the door behind us. Thank you for sending your son to make a way for us and to guide us into your loving arms. In Jesus name, I pray, amen. If you have any questions, we want to be there for you. And if you have just given your life to Christ, we would love to celebrate with you and walk with you on your journey. So please reach out to us at info@womenworldleaders.com. God bless you. See you next week. Thanks for listening to Women World Leaders podcast. Join us each Monday, Wednesday and Friday as we explore together God's extravagant love and your courageous purpose. Visit our website at WWW dot women world leaders.com To submit a prayer request, register for an upcoming event and support the ministry from his heart to yours. We are women world leaders. All content is copyrighted by women world leaders and cannot be used without express writt

Who among us hasn't dreamed of the perfect holiday with the perfect husband and perfect children? Sometimes, our unrealistic expectations can cause us to miss the joy we could have in experiences that are not perfect, but wonderful in spite of their imperfections. **** Welcome to Celebrating God's Grace, a Women World Leaders podcast. I'm your host, Julie Harwick. Thank you for joining me today as we celebrate God's grace in our lives, in this ministry and around the world. I recently finished watching all nine seasons of a sitcom called “The Middle.” Yes, I was late to the party.  It ran from 2009 to 2018, but it ranks high on my list of favorite shows because I found myself identifying with the mom constantly.  It tells the story of a very average, middle-class family of five living in the middle of the US in Indiana. There's a mouthy, sarcastic teenage son, a hopelessly optimistic daughter two years younger and another son who's brilliant but has a lot of social issues like repeating certain words or phrases in a stage whisper. Dad is the strong, silent type who loves his family, but is happiest sitting in front of the tv watching basketball. The mom, Frankie, desperately wants the best for her family, but she struggles with disorganization and a tendency to be a little lazy.  She also finds herself constantly comparing her own family to the Donahues who live across the street and seem just about perfect. I see myself in her especially in the Christmas episodes. Once the oldest son, Axl, goes away to college, Frankie pins a lot of importance on what the family will do when he comes home for Christmas break.  She envisions the whole family picking out the ideal Christmas tree, taking it home and decorating it together.  They'll bake cookies together and drink hot cocoa while they cuddle up on the couch to watch “White Christmas.” What actually happens is that Axl walks through the door, throws his dirty laundry on a chair and immediately heads out to hang out with friends. She winds up having to negotiate with him to get him to participate in at least a few of her plans. The Christmas tree they select makes the daughter, Sue, violently allergic and has to be  taken to the curb and replaced by a tall houseplant with a string of lights on it. When Frankie finally manages to force her family to gather and watch her movie, they discover that the discount dvd she purchased has been dubbed in German. On another Christmas, she's thrilled to have a solo in the choir's Christmas Eve production, but the family falls asleep on the couch before the service and doesn't make it to church until her final few notes. Even when she tries to be flexible, something always goes wrong. The year she tried to make sure the family got to church early enough to get good seats at the Christmas Eve service, she lost track of time and discovered it was two hours later than she thought. Rather than stress out over frantically trying to fight the crowds, she decides they can watch a service on TV. But during a commercial break, Sue downloads a photo to the family computer and discovers that somehow, every family photo taken in the last seven years has vanished. And it's not just Christmases. Frankie has high hopes for Thanksgiving and Mother's Day too, but she always ends up being disappointed whether it's by a fire at the restaurant where they're eating Thanksgiving dinner or by obviously last-minute Mother's Day gifts that no one would want. But this is not a depressing show, because Frankie generally comes to the realization that the things she thought were important really weren't and she finds herself appreciating what she does have. This is a lesson God has been teaching me and not just through a tv show, but through my own experiences. Holidays have become even more important to me since our nest has emptied. Thanksgiving, Christmas and birthdays are the only times we get to have the whole family together.  Since our son has been in the army, only Christmas has brought every one of them home.  Of course, I start dreaming about the best Christmas ever, months ahead of time. It requires lots of colorful lights, a Christmas tree of some sort in every room, a wide variety of home-made cookies and other traditional foods, beautifully wrapped gifts artfully arranged under the trees, the scent of pine and the sounds of Christmas music. Everyone is thrilled to see one another and equally excited to see their mother perform at the Christmas Eve service. When we're not eating or opening gifts, we'll enjoy reminiscencing while we watch hours of home videos taken when they were all very young and cute.  Here's what actually happens: All decorating is done exclusively by me, so it's limited to what I can produce with limited abilities and time. My daughter and I make too many cookies which are left here to tempt me well into January. My three cats pull the bows off those beautifully wrapped gifts and leave them all over the house. No one is particularly enthusiastic about the Christmas Eve service or my performance and they are even less interested, if that's possible, in watching old videos. Our daughters who are married have to split their time between us and the in-laws, the one with a boyfriend also wants to spend time with him and his family and last year our son had a new girlfriend with whom he spent the bulk of his two-week leave. One year we even rented an 8-passenger van so that all of us could go places in a single vehicle, but that didn't happen- not even once! Creating the perfect Christmas was stressful and time-consuming and it didn't turn out at all the way I had expected. As I expressed my feelings to God, I heard Him saying, “why don't you focus on what you do have, rather than what you think you're missing.” As I began to change my focus, those negative feelings began to transform into appreciation and gratitude. The fact that we have four children who even want to come home and make it a priority is a blessing many families don't have. They're all healthy and thriving in solid relationships. After 37 years, we're still happily married and don't have to deal with the complications of stepchildren and ex's. Both of my parents are able to be with us.  They're active and mentally sharp and rather than being critical of our parenting and the kids' choices, as many grandparents are, they offer nothing but love and praise. It may not look or sound like or include all the elements I had envisioned, but all in all, we had a pretty great Christmas. The holidays are ripe for the enemy to steal our joy through unrealistic expectations and comparing our experience to what we see on social media or the Hallmark channel.  But those issues aren't limited to the holiday season. I think we all enter into marriage with certain expectations. Most of them have to do with what we expect our spouse to do for us, not about what we should do for them. Of course when we marry, we realize the other person isn't perfect, but when we envision our future together it's more likely to include relaxing on a beach, cuddling in front of the tv or enjoying romantic dinners, not picking up dirty clothes lying on the floor, disciplining a whiny toddler or budgeting a limited household income.  Having children is the same way.  We anticipate sweet smelling, peacefully sleeping infants not a colicky baby with yet another loaded diaper and a piercing wail. We imagine being parents of the high school football captain or the valedictorian, not a socially awkward, pimple-faced teen who struggles to make friends. As humans, it seems we're hard-wired to want to avoid difficulties and live a life that rewards us with validation and pleasure. In His wisdom, God knows that such a life is not what's best for us. In chapter one of James, we're told that we should consider it a joy when we encounter various trials, because the testing of our faith produces endurance which will ultimately make us perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.  James goes on to say that the brother or sister of humble circumstances should glory in his or her high position, reminding us that earthly riches will pass away as quickly as the grass under a scorching sun. Our expectations rarely involve what we would consider “humble circumstances,” but we'd be better off if they did. The reality is that we have very little control over how things turn out or what other people do. That's why later in James, chapter four it says, “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.' Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow.  For you are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, ‘if the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.'”  I don't believe it's possible for us to eliminate expectations from our lives. But according to James, we need to evaluate them in light of God's will.  How different might our experiences be if we learned to hold our expectations with an open hand, trusting God to work out everything for our  good as He promised to in Romans 8:28. It's easy to forget these truths in the midst of our everyday, hectic lives.  I find myself waking up in the morning with a full day open before me. I think of all the things I could accomplish and see myself with a clean house, a greatly reduced to-do list and no deadlines looming over me. Usually, I'm lucky to get one of the things on my list knocked off.  Something unexpected invariably comes up and sometimes I even wind up adding to my list, rather than taking anything off of it. It's the same with the condition of my house.  It was built in the 80's and we've been updating and improving it over the past 18 months that we've lived here. When we complete one project, I start imagining how quickly things could fall into place and my dream home seems almost within reach. But then other more pressing issues arise and we make zero progress, or even negative progress when you consider the new maintenance issues that now require our attention. As long as I have expectations of myself, others and even God, I will continue to be disappointed. Experience has taught me that things rarely turn out as expected. Does that mean I should stop setting goals or dreaming of what could be? The answer goes back to what James said in Chapter 4. That passage indicates there's nothing wrong with making plans for the things we'd like to see happen, as long as we hold those plans in an open hand allowing God to determine what is best. The people of Israel had the opportunity to do that when Jesus walked the earth.  They had all grown up hearing the prophecies about the coming messiah.  His legendary figure loomed large in their minds.  He would be mighty, incredibly impressive and would deliver them from all their oppression.  Most of them expected a king, a man of great wealth, power and status.  What God sent instead was a helpless baby, made known only to his unremarkable parents of low status and a few shepherds considered among the lowest of Hebrew society. When Jesus began His ministry, he associated with fishermen, tax collectors and former prostitutes.  He had no social pedigree or religious standing, owned only the clothes on His back and refused to speak against Rome.  He was nothing like the messiah His people were expecting and because of that, most of them completely missed out on the abundant life He came to give them. For those who were able to let go of their preconceived ideas of what a messiah should be and simply listened to Him and watched Him, He was all they ever needed in a deliverer. He did nothing to free them from Rome's heavy hand, but He delivered them from the sin that brought death and separation from God and they recognized that nothing beyond that really mattered. As we enter another holiday season, we have an opportunity to practice letting go of our unrealistic expectations and preconceived ideas about what is best.  As God has been speaking to me about this, I've been trying, but I've got to warn you that it isn't easy. It's important that we make the most of these holidays and create special memories for our loved ones. But in doing that, we have to be ready to let go and rather than focusing on the things that don't turn out as expected, learn to appreciate other blessings He sends our way that might've gone unnoticed. As He extends His grace and we practice this new approach during the holidays, maybe we can extend it to the rest of the year. So, when the turkey isn't ready on time or buried family tensions suddenly surface at the dinner table, be ready to look for God's hand in every unexpected development. Our plans may fail, but His never do. Thanks for listening to Women World Leaders podcast!  Join us each Monday, Wednesday and Friday as we explore together God's extravagant love and your courageous purpose.  Visit our website at womenworldleaders.com to submit a prayer request, register for an upcoming event, and support the ministry.  From His heart to yours, we are Women World Leaders .  All content is copyrighted by Women World Leaders and cannot be used without express written consent.  

How do we know what steps to take? And who to trust? Join us for today's podcast with Julie Jenkins as we study Jesus' teachings on how to exercise discernment in our study of Matthew 7:7-20, Luke 6:43-45 and 11:9-13.     Welcome to Walking in the Word, the biblical teaching arm of the Women World Leaders podcast. My name is Julie Jenkins, and it is my honor and privilege to walk with you as we examine Scripture together weekly. I hope you are enjoying some cooler weather as we move through November. Here at Women World Leaders, November means that we are gearing up to print our last edition Voice of Truth for 2023, and its not too late to get on our mailing list and receive your own physical copy of this beautiful magazine. To ensure you don't miss out, visit our website – www.womenworldleaders.com, and become a monthly donor. And, in case you missed it, we have released three books this year: Joy Unspeakable, Miracle Mindset, and Navigating Your Storm. And they all went to Amazon #1 best-seller upon their release. As you begin to gear up for Christmas, I encourage you to check these out – they make great gifts. If you're a regular listener to Walking in the Word, you know that we are currently walking through the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John as we examine the footsteps and the words of Jesus and ask Him to reveal what He wants us to know today. Today as we continue, we will be studying from Matthew chapter seven verses seven through 20. And Luke chapter six verses 43 through 45 and chapter 11, verses nine through 13. Allow me to pray before we begin. Dear loving and gracious Father, we come to you today expectant, expectant to learn from you, to hear your voice. God, I thank you for who you are and for meeting us where we are. Guide our hearts and our minds as we study these passages together, guide my words so that all I say will be what you intend. And open our spirits that we might truly experience your presence. In Jesus name, I pray, amen. Well, if you listened last week, hopefully you remember the lesson that Jesus taught us that God is the judge and our job is to love. But despite that teaching, I'm sure you recognize that part of walking through life is exercising discernment, that is, separating good and evil into their respective categories so that we don't step into a mess that the devil has served up for us. In our lives, we constantly need to make decisions about what is good for us and what is bad for us, about who we should seek to learn from, and what instances we should turn away from. In today's scripture, Jesus highlights for us how we can discern the path that God has for us at any given step. Let's begin in Matthew 7:7 from the New Living Translation. Jesus instructs us … keep on asking and you will receive what you asked for. Keep on seeking and you will find keep on knocking and the door will be open to you. For everyone who asks receives everyone who seeks finds and everyone who knocks the door will be opened. This is Jesus answer to how do we discern How do we discern where we should walk what we should do, who we should listen to. I like the NLT, because it properly translates the verbs with keep on in front of them. Keep on asking, keep on seeking, keep on knocking. As Christians, we are called to be in constant pursuit of God. In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, we're taught to never stop praying. God wants to hear from us every minute of every day. He wants us to not just have conversations with Him, but to abide in Him. The more regularly we go to God, the more recognizable His voice will be to us, and the clearer we will hear what He has to say. It is possible to say constantly connected with God in prayer, because He is always with us. And if we keep going to Him, he will always guide us, showering us with His wisdom and discernment. Well, next, Jesus gives an illustration about God's response to us that has stood the test of time. verse nine, you parents, if your children asked for a loaf of bread? Do you give them a stone instead? Or if they asked for a fish? Do you give them a snake? Of course not. Luke says an 1112. Or reports that Jesus says. Or if they asked for an egg? Do you give them a scorpion? Yikes, Luke. So Luke went for the spiders. Back to Matthew verse 11. So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask Him? And Luke records and verse 13, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him? If you are a parent, you know that you would move heaven and earth for your children, if you could. Well, God's love is pure. So he loves us with even greater affection than we love our own children. And not only would God move heaven and earth for you, but he actually can move heaven and earth for you. We can certainly trust, therefore, that if we ask Him for wisdom and discernment, he will give it to us. But even though God will give us his discernment, showing us where and how to walk, Jesus reminds us that we still aren't the judge. Remember, our job is to love. Matthew 7:12. Do to others, whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the Law and the Prophets. Most of us are familiar with this golden rule. But the origin of it is interesting. The rule was passed down through many religions and civilizations, but the Jewish people would have known it in its negative form. They had heard, What you hate, do not do to anyone, or what is hateful to you do not do to your neighbor. Like most things, Jesus took this teaching up a notch, not only are we to not do what is hateful, but we are to actively love others. God is love, and actively loving is what he does. Yes, even though He is the judge is able to do both. Because we are made in God's image we are able to love with his strength and his power. Oh, how we mess this up. But thank goodness, we have a God who is merciful and sees our heart's strivings. And he allows us to take this teaching one step at a time, one moment at a time. So I encourage you to ask yourself at this time, and many times throughout the day. What can I do right now to actively love the person I am with? When we abide in Christ, He will teach us to love with a discerning love, which means our love will look different to different people and on different occasions. Sometimes, we are to hold our brothers and sisters accountable, empowering them to grow even closer to God, and to experience His loving correction, and to be the kind of example that God wants the world to see. Sometimes loving well won't include correction, but instead we may be asked to give comfort and understanding. Only God knows the need of each individual at each moment. Which is why the golden rule must go hand in hand with prayer for discernment and submission to the Holy Spirit. And here's the reason we must ask God to help us love well, because our mission is to bring others to God. Matthew 7:13, you can enter God's kingdom only through the narrow gate. The Highway to Hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow, and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. I grew up the youngest of seven kids. And one of our sayings was when trying to decide something was the majority rules, which meant that if I wanted what most of my siblings wanted, life was good. But if I wanted something different, I was out of luck. That is how the world often works. Fashion becomes fashionable when many people wear it. Programs become popular when many people watch them. Businesses become profitable when many people depend on their products. We tend to get swept up with the flow of the current. But Jesus' way, often goes against that current, the gate to Heaven is narrow, and the gate to hell is wide. When it comes to the spiritual, the popular way is not necessarily the way you want to go. It's more important that you discern the right way, God's way, and that you guide others in that same direction. In John 10, seven through nine, Jesus described himself as the gate, only one gate leads to God, the devil in the world tried to deceive us, teaching us that good deeds lead to heaven that if we tip the scale of good versus bad, having more good than we will have made it. Or some religions even teach that a suicide bombing is an ultimate sacrifice and it leads to eternal life. The Bible, however, teaches against those popular beliefs, the only way to heaven is through a relationship with Jesus. This seems odd, because it seems way too simple. And we want to be in control, it can feel good to earn something. But that just isn't the way God works. Because quite simply, we don't have what it takes to pay the high price for our sins. The payment for sin is death. If we pay it, we'd be dead. And then where would we be? But our sinless Jesus Christ paid that fee for us so that we don't have to experience spiritual death ever. All we have to do is enter into a relationship with Jesus and accept his payment for us. But the way is narrow and the road is difficult because our pride can be difficult to let go of. But to go through that narrow gate, we must release that pride and humble ourselves to accept this amazing gift. When I was growing up, I had a friend whose parents were quite wealthy, and they delighted in giving me gifts. For my graduation, they got me an expensive gift that there was no way I would be able to repay. They were being kind and generous and I was pridefully embarrassed. I'm sad to say that I allowed my pride to interfere and ruin that friendship. Friend, God will always outgive you. He is better, stronger and will love you more. Jesus gave His life that you might live that is a gift we can never repay. And He doesn't want us to. He only wants a relationship with you. He wants to be first in your life. He wants you to let go of the striving, the judging, and the condemnation of yourself and others. The Gateway is narrow and the road is difficult. But with God's discernment attained through prayer and humility, we will enter into his courts with praise. Although the road is narrow, God does not want us to walk alone. He made us for community. We long for fellowship and to share our lives with others. So, who do we walk with? Again, that's where discernment comes in. Jesus teaches in verse 15 Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep, but are really vicious wolves. Beware and be aware of those who say they're following the ways of Christ but simply are not. This is one of the devil's biggest tricks. The world is full of those who claim to teach the truth and promise to lead others into the truth. So we must pray for discernment that we can see who is under the mask. Remember those Scooby Doo episodes, when at the end, the villain is unmasked, and it is Dr. Jones, or another familiar and seemingly innocent character. It can be tempting to follow someone familiar or good-looking or popular or someone whose message is comfortable. But we must be discerning about who we are listening to, and learning from in order to hear the true message, the message of God Himself. Finally, Jesus tells us to discern who those vicious wolves are by examining their lives. Matthew 7:16 You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can't produce bad fruit, fruit and a bad tree can't produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. And then Luke 645 says… A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart. and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart. You can identify the imposters. Are you seeking a teacher for yourself or a husband or a leader? As you do, ask God to reveal any behavior that is inconsistent with his teaching. Is their teaching focused on God and His Word? Does he treat others with the grace and love of Jesus? Does she, in humility, live as she teaches? There is a plethora of imposters in the world. And I say this not to make you paranoid and distrustful of everyone you come into contact with. We all certainly mess up, and God wants us to show mercy and grace to others. But he also implores us to choose wisely when it comes to those with whom we will associate most closely. Be discerning how you spend your time and who you spend it with. Keep asking God for His discernment. Keep seeking his directions. Keep knocking on his door. You won't bother him. Your persistence will make him smile. Dear God, thank you for always being there for us for always pointing us in the direction of your calling for us. Give us the strength to swim upstream against the devil's schemes and the courage to grab ahold of the one beside us and bring her upstream with us to the narrow gate, to you. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.  

Are you troubled with the things of this world, being distracted from the purpose of God? Listen to hear the recipe Jesus gave to be set free from the things of this world. *** Welcome to Celebrating God's Grace, A Women World Leader's Podcast, I'm your host Robin Kirby- Gatto. Thank you for joining us today as we celebrate God's grace, in our lives, in our ministry, and around the world. Today's Title: God's grace in setting us free from the kingdom of the world. 19 “Do not gather and heap up and store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust and worm consume and destroy, and where thieves break through and steal. 20 But gather and heap up and store for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust nor worm consume and destroy, and where thieves do not break through and steal; 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 22 The eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is sound, your entire body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is unsound, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the very light in you [your conscience] is darkened, how dense is that darkness!” Matthew 6:19-23 AMPC Matthew 6 is a core chapter for the saint, a premise laid out by Christ Jesus in order for us to be cleansed of the things of this world, this is God's grace. Wherever our treasure is, there our heart will be, also. If our heart is full of the things of this world, through the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life, our conscience will be darkened. The parable of the eye being the lamp of the body, represents the conscience. Light in scripture is a metaphor for truth. This is seen in the core parable after the sower of seed, in Mark 4:21-25, where Jesus teaches that when you bring a candlelight into the room, you don't hide it under a peck measure or bed, but you put it on the lampstand to be seen. He then explains that things are hidden temporarily to be made known, and that whatever we give our attention to, will be added unto us. I get into detail at how our senses are the diet for the soul in my book Mindfulness, the Mind of Christ. It's in this book that I explain the G Protein-Coupled Receptor, otherwise known as the GPCR, in which memories are stored throughout the body on all our cells. Moreover, scientists have proven that the GPCR is responsible for your perception and behavior, thereby revealing your conscience. Imagine going into an ice cream store, where there are hundreds of flavors. That's the best way to look at the GPCR; half the flavors discovered thus far of the GPCR are up to 1,000 different flavors, with still more yet to be discovered. Like ice cream, it has the same type of receptor, which is folded seven-times, external to the cell, creating a domino effect, once triggered, to intracellular activity. Up to 480 plus flavors, of the 1,000 discovered to date, are for senses. You heard that right. You have senses inside of your body, all throughout your cells, and these senses even help regulate your organs. Even more incredible, the GPCR stores memories, and when a neuropeptide and/or frequency hits that receptor, memories start unpacking within our body, what you and I know of as emotion. I go into extensive detail in the book Mindfulness the Mind of Christ, how we are pruned as in John 15:2 at the receptor level of memories that are of the kingdom of the world. This is further evaluated and dissected in my upcoming book The Forbidden Fruit, the Spiritual Disease. I've experienced massive supernatural deliverances beginning in 2002 to 2005, and God had put it in me, to desire a hunger and thirst of His Word, to comprehend what went on inside of my body, while the mind was freaked out, clueless as to what was occurring, as the power of Holy Spirit drove oppressive spirits out. As a result, the culmination of a decade's worth of writing workbooks and books on scripture and the sciences, culminated into the knowledge from God, unfolding the LIGHT OF TRUTH in the Word. “And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.” John 8:32 AMPC The Greek word for truth is alḗtheia pronounced al-ay'-thi-a meaning, “truth, true, truly, and verity.” [i] This comes from the two Greek words alpha meaning “beginning,” and lanthánō pronounced lan-than'-o meaning, “to lie hid, be ignorant, and unawares.” The unique thing about this combination of alpha and lanthánō, is that alpha at the beginning, negates the meaning of the word that follows. Thus, what has been hidden is no longer hidden, but revealed. I love this because Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega. He is the Beginning and the End. Jesus always brings us truth to what's hidden in the heart. Therefore, the parable of bringing a light into the room, is a metaphor for the Light of Truth piercing the darkness, which is the Life of Jesus in John 1:4-5. In Him was life and that life is the light of men, and the light pierces the darkness, and the darkness cannot overtake it, put it out, and is unreceptive to the light. Therefore, JESUS the Light, is greater than the darkness of the world. When we come to Christ Jesus, we work out our salvation in fear and in trembling as in Philippians 2:12, being pruned of the influence of the kingdom of the world. This leads us back to the beginning of this podcast, to the scriptures from Matthew 6. Jesus is addressing the issue of the body, whether it is consecrated, by exposing that whatever it is you treasure in this life, is where your heart is, either making the conscience pure to reveal the Kingdom of God or darkening it with the kingdom of the world. This is where grace comes in. All the verses in Matthew 6:1-18, address Jesus' instruction of how we can ensure that we're free of this world. He starts out by telling us to give, where our left hand doesn't know what our right hand is doing. In other words, it is the work of God in us, willing us to give to ministries and others. Next, Jesus instructs us on praying, and that we're not to pray to get attention, but instead we're to be humble and pray simply, the Lord's prayer. Finally, Jesus instructs us to fast, whereby it frees us from the fleshly appetites of the world. I can tell you for certain with all my health and wellness clients that I coach, I can always tell who is fasting. Those that fast, have less problems, a deeper prayer life, understanding of the Word, and walk with the Lord. I also pick up quickly, with the Lord's prompting, as I listen to people and the problems they might be dealing with, as well as the areas in which their body needs to be pruned at the receptor level of the kingdom of the world, that the person is missing out on one of the three instructions set forth by Jesus. They might say I'm fasting and praying, and I then ask, “are you giving? Do you give tithes? Do you give offerings?” When asked, the reply is generally no. At this time, I then go back to Matthew 6, and remind them of what Jesus, the Son of God, instructed us to do, to be free of the world. Understand, that before even getting to this point, I've addressed the issue of hormonal imbalance and physical health, to rule out any issue within their own body that might be hindering their ability to follow through. Even more, I know whether they're doing the Bittersweet taste test as laid out in scripture that Jesus Christ and John the Baptist did, as well as God calling His people Israel to do, which I teach extensively in Chapters 6 and 9 of Mindfulness the Mind of Christ. It is that taste test that aids the body in being consecrated from the things of this world. God isn't just a spiritual God, because He knows how fearful and wonderfully made, we are; He created us. In creating us, He also planned out a natural supplementation through His creation, to aid the body in the process of Romans 12:1-2, being consecrated so the mind can be transformed. Many people try to get deliverance from the head down to the body, when scripture clearly reveals that the conscience is inside of the heart. The Bittersweet taste test that God reveals in scripture happens to hit the GPCR taste bud in the body. JUST WOW! Moreover, He shows that we have eyes in our heart through the opsin GPCR, which is what Ephesians 1:18 is referring to, that the eyes of our heart be flooded with Light! This is freedom, this is deliverance! Where is it you need freedom? Are you struggling with the issue of judging others, addictions, or behaviors of the world, causing your conscience to be darkened? If so, read Matthew 6, and Jesus' instructions on obtaining freedom, by giving, praying, and fasting. Thanks for listening to Women World Leaders podcast! Join us each Monday, Wednesday and Friday as we explore together God's extravagant love and your courageous purpose. Visit our website at www.womenworldleaders.com to submit a prayer request, register for an upcoming event, and support the ministry. From His heart to yours, we are Women World Leaders. All content is copyrighted by Women World Leaders and cannot be used without express written c [i] Strong's Concordance Greek word # 225 “truth”

Where is the line between discernment and judgment? How do we determine our own response in distressing situations? And how important is it to God that we treat others well? Join us as we explore Matthew 7:1-6, Mark 4:24-25, and Luke 6:37-42, focusing on the truth that God's job is to judge, and our job is to love. **** Welcome to Walking in the Word, the biblical teaching arm of the Women World Leaders podcast. My name is Julie Jenkins, and I'm honored to be walking through the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John with you as we ask God to teach us what He wants us to know today. Well, this has been a busy week at Women World Leaders. Before the pandemic hit, this ministry operated primarily in South Florida. We actually began meeting at our founder's home until we outgrew that, and then we met at a local church. When things changed across the world due to COVID, we sought God's heart for direction and, like many, moved to a more digital platform. What the devil meant for evil, God meant for good. Through the pandemic, God has put the world into Women World Leaders, we are now truly a global ministry reaching over 60 countries. When most of the world was slowing down, even taking a break, God had us moving at warp speed. This week alone, I have been on Zoom calls with authors, writers, prayer warriors, artists, photographers, actresses, speakers, educators, musicians, and financial and business experts from Florida to California to Virginia, to Australia to India. And it's only Wednesday. Although we are distant from each other, Women World Leaders is a personal ministry, and we want to personally invite you to join us. If God is calling you to share your gifts with a hungry world. Reach out to us at info@womenworldleaders.com. The more workers that come, the greater the harvest will be. Well let's jump into the Word of God, shall we? Women World Leaders are founded on the Word and prayer. We don't take that lightly. And we're so glad you've joined us today for our deep dive into Matthew 7:1-6. Mark 4:24-25, And Luke 6:37-42, as we study the Principles for Judgment. Let me pray before we begin. Dear Most Holy God. Thank you for giving us this time to come to you today. God, I don't know what each person listening is walking through today or what she needs to learn. But you do. Thank you for being with her and meeting her where she is. God, open our ears to hear your voice. Open our eyes to see your glory and open our hearts that we might be changed to look just a little more like you today. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen. Well, as I've studied this scripture, I had a difficult time titling it because the first verse we're looking at from Matthew seven says do not judge others. And yet that is not the end of the sentence nor the end of Jesus' teaching. We know or should know that God is the ultimate judge. But boy, do we often have judgy feelings? Am I wrong? I believe that being judgmental of others is probably one of my biggest sins. And one of my problems is that I often feel justified in being judgmental because the world is full of sin and I want to do my best to not step in that sin. Bear with me here on this analogy. I have two dogs, and as you can imagine, they use our backyard as a bathroom. When I walk through the backyard, I have to judge where I walk. So I don't end up with something I don't want on my shoe, or worse yet on my bare foot. In life, it's important for us to judge where we walk, what teaching we listen to, who we allow to speak into our lives, what activities we participate in. This requires us to make judgments for our own good, and yet we are to not be judgy of others. This can be a difficult line to draw because it seems like judging where we walk can lead to judging others. So as judgment and some form is necessary, I've titled this Principles for Judgment. And as we go through the text, we will see that Jesus teaches us three principles for judgment. We are to be conscientious, discerning, and full of grace. Walk with me as we begin reading from Matthew chapter seven, verse one in the New Living Translation, Do not judge others, and you will not be judged, for you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. Only God has a say in our final judgment. So Jesus is talking about our daily sizing up of each other and he says, Don't do it. Essentially, don't check tear each other down. We must instead be conscientious of our own thoughts and actions. We need to examine ourselves and try to do what is right. This is so difficult, it takes processing. Oh, we can be pretty darn good about processing someone else's actions. But how much time do we take to process our own thoughts and actions? Let's pop over to Luke 6, verse 37, where it is recorded that Jesus takes this a step further. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. We are not to judge others, and we are certainly not to condemn them. God's job is to judge. But this doesn't mean that we are to put our heads in the sand and naively trust everyone. We are not to judge or condemn others, but we are to be discerning. God calls us to be aware and to use discernment as we partner with others in any relationship, from marriage to ministry or to simply who you spend your time with. But this scripture reminds us while we must be responsible with whom we trust and walk with, it is not our place to condemn anyone. That job is only the Lord's. Only the Lord knows each person's heart and motives. So what if someone is letting you down repeatedly? Only God knows what she's going through. Our job is to discern what God wants our involvement to be. And to always show grace through love as God leads. We get to love. God will judge. Jesus takes us a step further, not only must we not condemn others, but we must forgive them. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven. This can be difficult, and how to forgive is a teaching unto itself. But for now, we must recognize that although we discern sin in another, even if God asks us to call that sin out in love, we must offer grace through forgiveness. We get to love. God will judge. Jesus goes on to say that this grace-filled love means we also get to share what we have with others. Our wisdom, gift,s time, and yes, grace and love. Luke 6:38 Give and you will receive your gift will return to you in full pressed down shaken together to make room for more running over and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back. This visual would have been powerful for Jesus' listeners who were used to purchasing grain that was measured out. Imagine purchasing green By the cup. Picture the merchant using a cup to scoop up the grain and pour it into another container. Some may fall out in the process, but it's still a legal cup. The generous merchant, however, would scoop the grain, put his hand over the top, and press it down. Then shake it a bit. So every space was filled. And then he would top it off so that it is actually running over. Is that how you and I give? Do we give the minimum out of duty? Or are we intentionally generous? When someone harms you, are you intentionally generous with grace and forgiveness? When you see a need, how do you conscientiously choose to fill the cup, just enough to call it legal or generously, pressed down, shaken together, and running over? Something to think about? Verse 39, Then Jesus gave the following illustration, can one blind person lead another? Won't they both fall into a ditch? Students are not greater than their teacher, but the student who is fully trained will become like the teacher.  We are all becoming, and who we become is often a reflection of who we follow. We must carefully discern who God is asking us to follow and learn from and who we are to stay away from. We get to love, God will judge; but God gives us wisdom to discern who we will personally follow. Mark records that Jesus expands on this teaching and Mark 4 verses 24 and 25. Then he added, pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given and you will receive more to those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given to those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. We must conscientiously choose to listen to God and follow His teaching. We are all growing, and we are all learning. I've heard it explained that the Christian life is like an onion, we learn one layer at a time. Each time we read scripture, do a Bible study, hear a devotion, go to church and listen to a message. God helps us go a little bit deeper into his teachings. He doesn't expect us to get it all right away, or even in this lifetime. But he does expect us to pay close attention. The closer we listen, the better we will understand. But if we choose to not listen, our understanding will regress. We must look inward and examine our growth conscientiously, giving ourselves love and grace along the way even as we mess up. Next, Jesus gives a parable you no doubt heard from Matthew seven, verse three. And why worry about a speck in your friend's eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye, when you can't see past the log in your own? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye then you will see well enough to deal with this back in your friends eye. this visual must have made the disciples giggle, picturing a man with a log in his eye. But here was Jesus' point. We must never be so worried about someone else's actions that we're not aware of our own. In other words, we must be conscientious not condemning. Our purpose on this earth is to help others back to the illustration. We cannot help others if we cannot see clearly. The eye is delicate. We would only trust a very careful surgeon to work on our eyes. I can remember getting LASIK surgery nearly 20 years ago. I can honestly say there aren't many times I've prayed as hard for someone as I prayed for that surgeon as I laid there awake with my eyes wide open as he was about to cut into my eye. I would not have begun to trust him if he had impaired vision himself, let alone a log in his eye. Flight Attendants tell us to, in case of an emergency, put on your own oxygen mask first, so that you will be clear-headed and able to help others. Likewise, we must conscientiously get the log out of our own eye before we, with grace, help someone else with a speck of dirt in theirs. Our job is to love God will judge. But we also must be discerning even as we help others. Verse six says Don't waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don't throw your pearls to pigs. They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you. We should witness to whoever God calls us to. But we must be discerning in how we spend our time. Our time is finite, we only have 24 hours in a day. And let's face it, there are people you can talk to until you are blue in the face and they still will not listen to what you have to say. Sometimes being discerning means we need to walk away from someone who has a hard heart. But we still love, which is our job. As we pray, and trust God, who knows far more than we do, how to handle the situation. He, after all, is the judge. God is the judge we are not. And as we go to him conscientiously seeking His wisdom for ourselves, he will give us discernment of where and how to walk. And just like he showers us with grace, He has given us permission to share grace as well. We don't have to judge. He's got it all under control. Dear heavenly Father, how amazingly gracious you are to us that you take the burden of judgment. God, I pray, especially right now, for anyone listening who is walking through a minefield God give her a discerning heart, that she might know where to stop and where not to stop, who to walk towards, and who to walk away from. Awake us each that we might conscientiously choose to follow your leading in every circumstance, as we stand for truth, showing grace and love to others by your power. In Jesus name, I pray, Amen.  

What is your most valuable treasure? What do you long to own or experience? Sometimes it can feel as if our dreams or desires are beyond us financially. Join Julie Jenkins as she uncovers truth from the Word that when we serve God with our whole hearts, we will begin to experience treasure beyond our wildest imagination.   ****   Welcome to Walking in the Word, the biblical teaching arm of the Women World Leaders podcast. It is October, 2023 as I record this, and we at Women World Leaders are as busy as ever as we follow the call God has put on our lives to empower YOU to walk in your God-given purpose. If you are new or newer to Women World Leaders, I don't want you to miss out on Voice of Truth, our quarterly magazine full of inspiration, encouragement, and beautiful artwork. We began publishing Voice of Truth in January of 2021. During the height of the pandemic, God orchestrated an amazing team of women writers, editors, artists, and formatters from around the world who were all seeking to produce something that would make a difference in the world. Nearly three years and 13 editions later, by God's grace, we are still going strong. The feedback we hear from our readers is beyond anything we could have ever hoped or imagined. I'd encourage you to check out our website, www.womenworldleaders.com, where you can view all our back issues digitally for free. And, as we are now preparing our last edition for 2023, which will go out in December, you can still get on the mailing list. Simply, become a monthly donor of any amount on our website, and we will, as a thank you, register you for a subscription to Voice of Truth. But let me encourage you to sign up today, as the subscription list will soon be in the hands of the printer. Women World Leaders is a 501c3 nonprofit, which means that all donations to the ministry are tax-deductible.   On this, our Wednesday edition of the Women World Leaders podcast, we are currently walking through the Gospels, gaining wisdom and knowledge with each and every step. We're currently studying the Sermon on the Mount. Today's teaching comes from Matthew chapter 6:19-34. And Luke 11:34-36. Luke 12:22-34 and Luke 16:13. Let's pray before we begin. Dear Most Gracious Father, thank You for this message that you are about to unfold before us today. God we just cherish this time that we set aside to spend with you on a weekly basis. And we want to never take for granted the fact that you allow us to hear from you through Your Word as we gather via technology. So we give you this time, and we ask you to speak clearly. And open our eyes and our hearts to hear you well. In Jesus' name, I pray, amen. Well, as we walk through the Gospels and take hold of Jesus' teaching to us, today's message probably won't be one you haven't heard before. Simply put, Jesus teaches us to not live our lives in service to money, but to live in service to God, trusting that the money and provision will follow. We know that we are to walk obediently to God and to trust Him for our provision. But let's be honest, that can be easier said than done. I grew up trusting in God's provision for me. So, this teaching really didn't come to life for me until after I became a parent. My husband and I both had great jobs, but then I quit mine to be a stay-at-home mom, cutting our income in half. We knew that we were doing what we were called to do, but financially, it just didn't look good on paper. I remember calling out to God, saying, "God, I am okay with eating cereal every night for dinner. But I want to provide well for my children." Wherever you are on your walk, new to Christianity or seasoned in the Word, and no matter what part of life you are in, building a career or retired. God wants to remind you today that He Himself, not money, is our true treasure. And He gives us sound reasons why If we should put our trust completely in Him, rather than in our own financial prosperity. Let's begin in Matthew chapter six verse 19. From the New Living Translation, Don't store up treasures here on Earth where moths eat them and rust destroys them and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. The first reason we should not put our trust in money or in our own ability to earn money is because we just can't count on material things. They mold, they wear out, they get whisked away, and hurricanes and floods and fires. And they simply don't bring any lasting value to our lives. On the contrary, when we set our focus on pleasing God and doing what He has asked us to do, we can be assured that He will take care of every need that we have. I love how Luke states this in chapter 12, verse 33, The purses of Heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe, no thief can steal it, and no moth can destroy it. So, the first reason Jesus teaches us we should not put our trust in money is because we can't count on money's lasting value. The second reason is that putting our trust in money makes us focus on things of the earth and takes our focus off God.  Matthew 6:21 says, Wherever your treasure is, there, the desires of your heart will also be. We live on this earth we have to eat and send our kids to school, and it's fun to have extra money to go on vacation. God doesn't want to deprive us of those things. But He does want us to trust His provision for them. When we work for the sole purpose of gaining the things of this earth, the things we gain will never be as valuable or enjoyable as when we work for God and trust His provision. I'm guessing you've heard the phrase, Don't put a square peg in a round hole. God has created a specific role for each of us to play in this world. When we listen to that calling, though our work may be difficult, the fit we feel will bring us peace and joy that no amount of money made in a way that God did not intend will ever satisfy. God made you on purpose for a purpose. The devil entices us to reach for the highest paycheck, which will never satisfy us. Let's face it, the more money we get, the more we want. Have you ever heard anyone say that they had enough money? Maybe you have, but that's a rare statement. God however, offers us the option to work where we are called to do what we are called to do. We are made to fit perfectly into our calling: a round peg in a round hole. And for our attention to His call, He promises treasures beyond what the world or the devil could ever supply. Matthew continues. Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is. The third reason why we should not put our trust in money is because when we do, we no longer clearly see what God wants for us and we no longer shine for him. Luke records it this way in chapter 11 verses 35 and 36. Make sure are that the light you think you have is not actually darkness. If you are filled with light with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant. As though a floodlight were filling you with light. The devil wants us to believe the lie that money is our God. Money will take care of us, get us out of trouble, and bless us with fancy clothes, trips, cars, and even activities and education for our children. That doesn't sound so far-fetched, does it? Money does seem to provide all those things. And yet, we can be assured that this is an illusion. For it is God that truly provides those things. Money is a tool in God's hands, nothing more. It's imperative that we strive to see this clearly. Meditate on it daily, if you must. God alone is our provider. When we look to money as our provider, we will sink into a pit of darkness. When we look to God as our provider, we will be filled with light, and our life will be radiant, and we will shine for truth. We must not serve money over God because money does not last. It makes us focus on the things of this earth, and it can plunge us into darkness. And Jesus continues. It is impossible to serve both money and God at the same time. Matthew 6:24… No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other. You will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. We must choose who our God will be. Who will you serve? When we serve God over money, Jesus teaches, all our worries will be washed away. Verse 25… That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life. Whether you have enough food or drink or enough clothes to wear. Isn't life more than food and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren't you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And why worry about your clothing. Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing. Yet Solomon, in all his glory, was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for the wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? Then Jesus gives us the bottom line. Verse 31. So don't worry about these things saying What will we eat and what will we drink and what will we wear? These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers. But your heavenly Father already knows your needs. Seek the kingdom of God above all else and live righteously and he will give you everything you need. So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today. Luke 12:32 records such a beautiful and simple verse, Jesus taught so don't be afraid, little flock, for it gives your father great happiness to give you the kingdom. After I became a parent, I cried out to God, “God, I can eat cereal for dinner but I want to provide well for my children.” God said to me, “Don't be afraid, little flock, for it gives your father great happiness to give you the kingdom.” You see, God has so much more for us than money has to offer. That can be so hard to recognize and understand. Trust me, I know, my husband and I left lucrative jobs and the business world to follow God's call on our lives into ministry. That was a very stark choice between God and money. Maybe your options don't seem so black and white. But don't be fooled. The devil often works in small ways to get us to turn away from the true blessings that God has to offer us. Let me be clear that money is not a bad thing. And wealth is not frowned upon by God. But as we go through life, we are to be on guard to never put the love of money above our love for and service to God. God is more worthy, and He will take care of us better than money ever could. Trust me. And if you don't trust me, trust God's Word. Money will not last, and it has the potential to take your mind off God and plunge you into a dark pit. On the contrary, we can trust that when we serve God as He calls each of us, He will provide for our needs and give us blessings in abundance that will last for eternity. And He will shine his light into our lives, allowing us to see him clearly. Let's pray. Dear God, I don't know what each listener is going through today. But simply due to the fact that money and its rewards are fleeting, it's easy to imagine that hardship and suffering is happening across the world on a physical level. Thank you for reminding us that your blessings are eternal. That we can trust you to always provide us with what we need and to care for us in an even more beautiful fashion than you care for the flowers of the field. How amazing it is to think that it brings you happiness to give us the kingdom. Father, forgive us for sometimes putting our faith in things other than you. And thank you for gently correcting us. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen. Thanks for listening to Women World Leaders podcast. Join us each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday as we explore together God's extravagant love and your courageous purpose. Visit our website at WWW dot a women world leaders.com To submit a prayer request, register for an upcoming event, and support the ministry from his heart to yours. We are women world leaders. All content is copyrighted by women world leaders and cannot be used without express written consent.  

Today on Celebrating God's Grace, host Julie Harwick teaches of God's picture of the change and growth in our lives that He has ordained through the changing seasons of the year. *** Welcome to Celebrating God's Grace, a Women World Leaders podcast. I'm your host, Julie Harwick. Thank you for joining me today as we celebrate God's grace in our lives, in this ministry and around the world. Fall is finally here! It's one of my favorite seasons of the year. Here in Florida, it means the temperatures drop down to the 80's and sometimes even the 70's! And believe it or not, we even have some leaves changing color and falling to the ground. It's nothing like what I experienced as a child in Ohio, but there's definitely a change in the air.   I've put out decorative pumpkins of every size and color: also my fall scented candles and quite a few other pieces of autumn décor. There's a sign on my kitchen counter that says, “Fall is a reminder that change can be beautiful.” That got me thinking. Of course, it's the changing fall leaves that immediately come to mind, but there's a much deeper message in that sentence. The wisest man who ever lived, King Solomon, wrote about that very subject in Ecclesiastes chapter 3. It was so profound that the Beatles even recorded a song about it. “There is a time for everything, “ he says, in verse one, “ and a season for every activity under the heavens.” The next seven verses give examples such as “a time to be born and a time to die, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh,  a time to speak and a time to be silent.”  In verse 11 he summarizes, “God has made everything beautiful in its' time.”  Maybe this scripture was the inspiration for my sign! It seems remarkable to me that an eternal being who is not limited by the constraints of time, recognizes its' importance in our lives. Even before the Creator breathed life in Adam and Eve, He created the sun, moon and stars – not just to give us light and warmth, but to set up the foundations of time:  day and night, and in most parts of the world, four distinct seasons. It's not hard to see the value of a period of darkness and a period of light. They coincide perfectly with our need for activity and rest. But the seasons…why did He feel the need for those? Could it be a reassuring pattern that also coincides with our lives? Spring brings to mind new baby lambs and chicks, colorful flowers pushing their way through the dirt and trees that previously looked dead exploding with vibrant blossoms and green leaves. It's a new beginning, a time of tremendous growth and promise. Not at all unlike the beginnings of human life. Like the newborn lambs, we have so much to learn and we're dependent on others to provide for us, care for us and help us become mature. It happens a lot faster for lambs, but in the spring of our lives we are full of potential, energy and wonder. As spring melds into summer, the seeds that were just beginning to emerge from the dirt grow tall and lush – this is a time for producing. Little seedlings have become what they were meant to be. It has become clearly visible that the seed is now a stalk of corn or wheat. The blossoms have turned into peaches or cherries that will continue to mature over the course of the summer. For us, adulthood is all about becoming what we were meant to be, finding our place and our purpose and beginning to produce – valuable work, greater skills, relationships and even children. Fall has long been associated with the harvest.  This is the time that the farmer reaps the rewards of the previous two seasons' planting and nurturing. For us, that means being more sure of ourselves in our work and our personal lives, having a bit more time to savor our achievements and seeing all that we've invested in our children begin to show a return. As winter approaches, farmers finish gathering the harvest and settle in for a slower pace – a well deserved rest. It's calmer and quieter and there's lots of time for reflection and preparing for the next phase. In the winter of our lives, we set aside our work and instead do the things we choose to do. We enjoy the benefits of the relationships and families we have built, share our wisdom and experience and find ourselves thinking more often about the future. I see the seasons of life within my own family. My youngest child is about to cross from spring to summer.  He's all grown up and has been serving in the army for the last three years, but when he's discharged next year, he'll begin college and figure out what he wants to do with his life. My other three daughters are in their summer: building careers, marriages and establishing themselves in the world. My oldest has recently given us our first grandchild – a sweet little boy who is, like the baby lamb, full of wonder and potential.  That puts me squarely in the midst of fall – harvesting the fruit of previous investments in all of their lives and focusing less on work and more on ministry. I am so fortunate to still have both of my parents.  They are in their 80's and 90's, the winter of their lives, and while I do see them slowing down, they are active and engaged with the world around them, daily fighting spiritual battles on their knees. They take great pleasure in seeing our family come full circle – knowing that none of it would exist without their investment and they look forward to eternity with all of us together in God's presence. The various seasons of the year, and of our lives, can be beautiful.  But they can also be difficult and sometimes seem as if they may last forever. I clearly remember our last winter in Ohio. It absolutely confirmed the wisdom of moving further south. Throughout March and into April, we had a major snowstorm every other Friday, like clockwork. We'd have a day or two when the sun would come out and temperatures might reach 70 degrees, making us think spring had arrived at last. But then our hopes were quickly dashed by yet another snowstorm. By May of that year, our daytime highs had barely broken into the 50's.  It was the winter that refused to end. Seasons are all about change  which can be beautiful, but it can also be extremely difficult. There are those who become easily bored and change their hairstyle with every appointment or rearrange the furniture every few months or move from city to city looking for the next big adventure. But I haven't known too many people like that. I think most of us struggle with change – especially when it's forced upon us. The bible is full of examples. Abraham was called by God to leave his home and relocate to a land no one knew anything about. Esther was pulled out of obscurity to become queen of the land so that she could risk her own life to save the lives of her people. Peter, Andrew, James and John were called from the only way of life they knew as fishermen to follow Jesus and become fishers of men. But when it comes to changes that lead to a very long and trying season of life, there is no one like Joseph. As the first and long-awaited son of the only woman his father ever really loved, Joseph was the favorite of all favorites. He was so favored that while his brothers were out tending the sheep, he was home being measured for a custom coat of many colors. Dad wanted everyone to know that Joseph was something special. Young Joseph was well aware of it and the dreams and visions God gave him only confirmed it. As a teenager, he was eager to share his dreams of his entire family bowing down to him with everyone who would listen, convincing his ten older brothers that his ego needed to be deflated. A very unwelcome change was about to come into Joseph's life. Some of his brothers hated him so passionately, they plotted to kill him and hide his body in a cistern. Reuben, knowing what his death would do to their father, suggested they simply drop him into a cistern, knowing that he could return to rescue him later. When Reuben was away, a caravan of traders came upon them, and the brothers decided they could rid themselves of Joseph and earn a little extra cash. They sold him as a slave and tore and bloodied his beautiful robe, telling their father he had been eaten by a wild animal.  Joseph went from being the favored son in a wealthy household to being an entry level slave in Egypt. The bible doesn't tell us how he felt about that, but it's hard to imagine that he welcomed this change. We do know, however, that in some way, Joseph accepted the change and made the best of his situation. It wasn't long before his master noticed his work ethic and put him in charge of the entire household. He was still a slave, but his position was now the best he could hope for. Unfortunately, his master wasn't the only one who took notice of him. The lady of the house found him far more attractive than her husband and tried every method she knew to seduce him. Joseph spurned her advances pointing out that it would be a sin, not just against his master, but against God. Her desire for him soon turned to rage and like his brothers, she looked for a way to take him down. She made one last attempt to seduce him and when he refused, she tore his garment off of him and accused him of rape. As a wealthy Egyptian of high social status, her word was enough to send him to prison. Yet another change that was not to his benefit. Once again, Joseph seemed to accept the change and make the best of his new position as a prisoner. And it wasn't long before the prison warden recognized what a great guy he was and put him in charge of running the prison. While he was there, two of his fellow prisoners who had served Pharoah had unusual dreams on the same night. Joseph told them that God could show them what the dreams meant. They told him their dreams, he gave them the interpretation that God revealed to him and both were soon released just as Joseph predicted. Joseph had asked them to remember him and do what they could to get him released, but one was soon executed, as Joseph predicted, and the other simply forgot him. Do you see a pattern here? Something terrible happens to Joseph. He accepts it and makes lemonade from the lemons.  Things start looking up for him and then something bad happens. And the cycle repeats.  It seems like Joseph is trapped in a never-ending season of winter destined to repeat the same awful Ground Hog Day over and over.  But he doesn't stay in that season forever. Eventually Pharoah has some disturbing dreams and he doesn't trust anyone to interpret them who can't tell him what the dreams were. When no one in Pharoah's court can do it, the ex-prisoner finally remembers his promise to Joseph. Joseph is not only able to tell Pharoah what he dreamed and what it meant, but he knows exactly what to do to prepare for the coming famine. Like Joseph's master and the prison warden, Pharoah recognizes Joseph's incredible potential and sets him up as ruler of Egypt, subject only to Pharoah himself. Finally!  A change for the better!  Joseph's seemingly never-ending winter had finally passed! In his new season of life, Joseph's story comes full circle. The famine he predicted is in full swing and his family back home is about to starve. Dad sends the brothers to Egypt to buy food. They don't recognize Joseph because he now looks like an Egyptian and they last saw him when he was 17.  He's 30 now. This could've been the ultimate “I told you so,” for Joseph.  The brothers are literally bowing down before him, just as they did in the dreams he had as a teenager. But instead of rubbing their faces in it, Joseph provides for them, invites the whole family to come live in Egypt with him and forgives them, telling them that what they had meant for evil, God had used for good. How many times does God take us through difficult seasons and allow things in our lives that seem evil? But as He did with Joseph, could He be using them for our ultimate good?  And maybe someone else's too? Change is hard and most of us are hard-wired to resist it. But if we could accept it and make the best of it like Joseph, would we find the truth of what Solomon said?  That He makes all things beautiful in His time. Let's allow the changing seasons of the year to serve as a reminder of this. And as difficult as change can be, it's reassuring to know that there is one thing that never changes. Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” Thanks for listening to Women World Leaders podcast!  Join us each Monday, Wednesday and Friday as we explore together God's extravagant love and your courageous purpose.  Visit our website at www.womenworldleaders.com to submit a prayer request, register for an upcoming event, and support the ministry.  From His heart to yours, we are Women World Leaders .  All content is copyrighted by Women World Leaders and cannot be used without express written consent.  

What does it mean to be righteous in our giving, praying, and fasting? Jesus teaches us in Matthew 6:1-18 and Luke 11:1-4. Join Julie Jenkins as we explore God's Word together. **** Welcome to Walking in the Word, the biblical teaching arm of the Women World Leaders podcast. I'm your host, Julie Jenkins. If you are new to our podcast, we have three different offerings for you each week. On Mondays, Kimberly Hobbs hosts Empowering Lives with Purpose, a 30-minute interview with a different woman each week who is walking out her God-given calling. If you need inspiration for your walk, this is the place to go. You know the Bible is full of stories of people just like you and me who had encounters with God. But sometimes, we forget that our God today is the same miracle-working God of the Bible. Listening to the stories of God's faithfulness as we share them with others reminds us how powerfully God is working in today's world. And on Friday's we have a team of amazing women who host Celebrating God's Grace, a short, inspirational podcast intended to launch you into your weekend. And today, our Wednesday podcast, we take some time to Walk in the Word together as we open our Bibles and ask God what He wants us to know today. We are currently walking through the Gospels chronologically. And even more precisely, we are walking through the Sermon on the Mount, which is primarily recorded in the book of Matthew. Today's teaching comes from Matthew chapter six verses one through 18. And from Luke chapter 11, verses one through four. Let's pray before we begin, Dear most holy and loving God, we thank you for who you are. And for meeting us today where we are. God when these words that we are studying today were penned so many years ago, you knew that we would be studying them today. That thought just blows my mind. Thank you for bringing us this passage today and for guiding us through it and for teaching us what it is that you want us to know. We give You all the praise and glory as we learn together from you. In Jesus name I pray, Amen. Today's passage is grouped into three parts which can all be centered on the theme, being righteous before God. Jesus teaches His disciples and us to be righteous and giving in prayer and in fasting. Now the simple definition of righteousness is being right with God. This can be difficult to do when we want to look good to others. With the popularity of social media, this teaching may be even more relevant today than it was in Jesus' day. We are pretty good at judging the Pharisees. They were rigid law-followers who operated based on show rather than on seeking the heart of God. But don't we fall into that trap as well? It's oh so tempting to want to look right to wear the right clothes at all costs. And even to have children who accelerate in sports, advanced classes or are even known in the church. It's tempting to want to showcase our power by the cars we drive, the neighborhoods we live in and yes, the posts we put up on social media for all the world to see. Jesus' teaching today is meant to remind us to put our relationship with God above our status with others. Jesus wants us to live righteously, not to live as hypocrites. Today, we learn that he wants us to share what we have, not just broadcast how much we donate.  He wants us to spend time with Him, not just belong to the most prestigious church. And He wants us to feel his presence, not put our own sacrifice on display for all to see. Well, let's begin by reading Matthew chapter six verses one through four from the New Living Translation. This is Jesus talking, he says, Watch out. Don't do your good deeds publicly to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. When you give to someone in need, don't do as the hypocrites do, blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity, I tell you the truth they have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you give to someone in need, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in private, and your Father who sees everything will reward you. Now, in this teaching, Jesus is not instructing us to give or not to give, He presupposes that the disciples understood that generosity is the key ingredient in the life of the Jew, and for us today, the Christian life. Instead, this teaching is meant to remind us that as we do those things we are called to do, we must be certain to be God-centered, and not self-centered. One theologian says that we shouldn't follow Jesus' teachings to make ourselves look good, but to make God look good. Have you ever been the answer to someone's prayer? I hope that I have been the answer to someone's prayer. But I can more easily recall when others were the answer to my prayers. Just recently, I was tired. We've been very busy here, Women World Leaders. And sometimes the week gets long and my energy gets drained. Although I don't question what I'm doing, because I know that God has called me I do get tired. And recently, I've had to rely on God a little more, to do all that He has called me to do. But as I pray for his strength and wisdom and power he continually delivers. Recently, in response to that prayer for strength and wisdom and power, God delivered flowers right to my house, to encourage me to keep going. I love flowers. And I cannot tell you how much of a God-wink that bouquet was. It sat on my desk as I worked at my computer. And each time I looked at it, I was reminded that God was pleased with my sacrifice to Him. Now, you and I both know that God did not call the florist and order those flowers. But He did ask someone else to, and she listened. And if we asked her, I bet she'd say that God provided her the funds. She was obedient. I got the blessing. And most importantly, God got the glory. When we are called to give, to share, to donate or to bless someone, it really isn't about us. It's about God. God knows what each person needs, and He will always provide and He often provides through us. Wow, what a privilege we have to give him God's name and to point the glory to Him. Jesus is teaching us that it isn't about what you give, leave that up to God and just respond in obedience. It's all His anyway. No, it isn't about what you give. It's about how you give. Be careful to never take God's glory. Jesus moves on to his teaching about prayer in verse five. When you pray, don't be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth. That is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father who sees everything will reward you. Prayer is about going to God and spending time with Him. Again, Jesus isn't teaching us to not pray in public, there are certainly times when that is warranted. But He is saying when you pray, your sole focus should be on God. Don't pray to teach someone, or to showcase that you are religious, or to make your problems known to the world. Don't pray as a form of gossip. Our sole purpose in prayer should be to connect with God. Jesus gives some practical tips on prayer beginning in verse seven. When you pray, Don't babble on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Don't be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need, even before you ask him. Wow, God doesn't care that we use specific words. He wants to hear our heart. I've heard it said that prayer changes the pray-er even more than the situation. Our prayers are about bringing us into God's presence and allowing him into our hearts to do what he will. Well then Jesus shared what many of us know as the Lord's Prayer. Luke records that the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray as John the Baptist taught his followers. That is a prayer in and of itself and one that I pray often, God I don't even know what to pray here, guide me. Do you know what? He always will? Jesus taught beginning in Matthew six, nine, Pray like this. Our Father in heaven, May your name be kept holy. May Your kingdom come soon, may or will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need and forgive us our sins as we have forgiven those who sinned against us. And don't let us yield to temptation but rescue us from the evil one. Jesus teaches that our prayer should first and foremost be filled with praise to God. Our God is personal. But He's majestic. So the prayer starts out Our father, Abba translated best as Daddy, our Father in heaven, he's reigning in heaven, He's holy. We should always put God first in our prayers praising him for who he is. Think of a love letter. You would never never start off saying, I need this from you, please now. No, you would tell your love what you appreciate about him, how he lights up the room when he walks in, and how much he has changed your life. Our God loves each of us more than any person ever will. And if we really understood that, our prayers would be saturated with our thanks and praise for him. Next, we meet God in agreement. May Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Above all, we want what you want, God. And yes, then we get to ask God for our personal needs as our provider, for his forgiveness as our Savior, and for his protection as our deliverer. Jesus continues the thought that God wants our hearts saying, beginning in verse 14, If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, Your Father will not forgive your sins. What He's saying is when we truly recognize the magnitude of forgiveness that God offers through his son Jesus, we will be empowered to grow in forgiveness toward others. Next, Jesus turns to fasting. Fasting was required by the Jews one day a year on the Day of Atonement. But fasting became a more frequent thing as individuals strive to hold on to God in the midst of dire circumstances, when they were taken from their home to a godless culture during the Babylonian exile. But in Jesus' day, the Pharisees had taken what was meant as a strong reminder of God's provision and protection and turned it into a show, hypocritically turning the spotlight on themselves and their own sacrifice, rather than on the goodness and provision of God, as they publicly fasted two days a week. Jesus points the disciples back to God's intended blessing of the fast-verse 16. And when you fast, don't make it obvious as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled, so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. But when you fast comb your hair and wash your face, that no one will notice you're fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything,  will reward you. Giving, praying and fasting are all blessings that God gives us for the purpose of bringing us closer to Him. God wants us to be so sold out to Him, that these three acts of Christianity are as essential to our souls as breathing is to our flesh. When we humbly submit in obedience to follow his call, our reward is great. We get to hang out with God, and we get the greatest job ever—shining the spotlight on Him. Let's pray. Dear most Gracious Father, it is such an honor to serve you and to know you. God led everything we do today be simply to honor you and shine the light on who you are. We thank you for guiding us into sacrificial giving, one on one prayer and fasting meant to bring us into greater communion with you. We give you this day and ask that you keep reminding each one of us of this teaching as we walk through today, that we may accomplish your will. In Your name I pray, Amen.  

Things that happen in life can cause us to be overwhelmed in our race of faith. Obtain freedom from the issues of your heart, receiving God's power to strengthen you to run your race of faith with grace!     Welcome to Celebrating God's Grace, A Women World Leader's Podcast, I'm your host Robin Kirby- Gatto. Thank you for joining us today as we celebrate God's grace, in our lives, in our ministry, and around the world. Today's Title: God's Grace for the Race! 1 “Therefore then, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us, 2 Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2 AMPC While working out at the gym this morning, I noticed my husband's company shirt, from the Breast Cancer Awareness walk we participated in spring of 2011. In front of the word “race,” was the breast cancer awareness pink ribbon, and I couldn't help but see the word GRACE. The Lord spoke to my heart that when we have God, which is big “G,” in our race, we have GRACE! Recently, the Holy Spirit has brought much to light during the Feast of Tabernacles, known as Sukkot, which ends October 6th. Presently, while writing my podcast it is October 3rd. On October 2nd, God went deep into my heart with His Word of Truth, operating on it as in Hebrews 4:12, dividing between soul and spirit, revealing my intentions and motives. “For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 AMPC Sometimes, we don't know what we don't know. Things are hidden deep within the subconscious, which I'm familiar with, having been a psychotherapist with the seriously mentally ill, and now doing health and wellness coaching for many years, which includes the psyche. It wasn't until the time of these fall feasts that things “came to a head,” where the Holy Spirit revealed things hidden in my heart. I had gotten cluttered with thoughts of others and what they were saying about me, as well as the stress of my hormonal changes and getting balance with Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), and in addition, a close loved one, who received a serious debilitating diagnosis earlier this year, that we've kept quiet. We are believing for full healing and are certain we've been given wisdom from God, for the path of my loved one's healing. All these issues in life became the issues of my heart, crammed to the rim of my soul. However, this is the thing; I had no clue that anything had been within my heart, causing me to be stifled, so to speak. My husband says I'm the most forgiving person he knows, in our 22 years of marriage. He's seen the personal hurts in my life, as well as known where I've been merciful and forgiving with him, especially in our early years of marriage. That's why he's so loyal to me. I would consider myself a seasoned saint, having ministered under the unction of the Holy Spirit as in Galatians 1:1, where I've not been sent by a church or a man, like the apostle Paul states, but I've been sent by God. I never wanted to be a minister and always saw myself as a high-powered attorney, with my Ann Taylor suits and shoes, going into court arguing my client's case. I have a bachelor's and master's in social work, and a Juris Doctorate. It was in the first year of law school on Resurrection Day 2002, where Holy Spirit delivered me from alcoholism, the residue of me medicating my soul, while being a single mother, that blended over into the first year of our marriage. Shortly after that, Holy Spirit delivered me from rage, which by the way, I never knew I had, but God did. In the midst of the supernatural encounters with God in 2002, and Him bringing freedom and deliverance by the Spirit of the Lord, I was called to train and prepare for ministry. Initially, I wanted it, but then like Moses, I learned that it wasn't till you didn't want to do a thing, that you get to do it. God had to sift “Robin,” out of the way, so that all that could be seen was Christ. He then put me on the Isaiah 35:8 Highway of Holiness, redeemed the time in my life, and had me studying the word four hours a day, and praying an hour a day. I knew it to be Mach 1 into the call of God. Now many years later, after being in full-time ministry since February 24, 2011, where God has superabundantly supplied for all of our needs, as I left an incredible job making double the amount of my husband at the time. Even now, God humbles me, revealing my weakness, allowing the sifting of the satan, who has been given permission as with the prophet Job, and Peter in Luke 22:31-33. The whole purpose of the sifting is to get us out of the way, where we've become accustomed to running our own race without God, unaware we've allowed little mole hill to build up into mountain and hinder us. The way God has built me in my Christian faith, is to remain humble and transparent. Therefore, this week He had me publicly repenting to my Facebook and YouTube followers, of how unknowingly I've allowed things to become the issues of my heart, between other people's discussions of me, my hormone imbalance, and my loved one's illness. It was then, as in James 5:16, where I confessed my sins, that what had been hindering me from the issues of Robin trying to run her race, I was SET FREE! I was able with grace to turn to the people that I need to, and have conversations that were necessary, for me to become a better saint, being set apart for God, as well as bringing things to light, for peace to dwell in our midst. I had to take a hard look at my behaviors and heart, seeing the sifting within, to know that the purpose would not only be for making me better, but to strengthen the brethren. God began to show me, areas in which I was seeing others through my own hurt and hadn't let go. Thank God; as much as we forgive others, is the degree that we're forgiven. (Matthew 6:14) This is the thing; I didn't know I had issues in my heart. I was so distracted and overcome with all that was going on in my life, that I didn't realize a little at a time over the span of 4 months, I had ended in a place where the intents and motives of my heart were areas of woundedness, that left me running my race of faith by myself. Once I repented, and all was laid bare before God, He breathed into my weary soul, and lifted me up to His throne of Grace, to obtain mercy for my need! (Hebrews 4:16) The interesting thing is that yesterday when all of this happened, I had to go to a doctor appointment and get my estrogen bumped up, and on the way, I saw a personalized tag PRAY4US. God always talks to me through personalized car tags, and it is timely. Later, on my way back home from picking Rich up from work, I then saw the personalized tag ADVOCAT for advocate. I couldn't help but think of How Jesus our Advocate and High Priest prays for us. “My little children, I write you these things so that you may not violate God's law and sin. But if anyone should sin, we have an Advocate (One Who will intercede for us) with the Father—[it is] Jesus Christ [the all] righteous [upright, just, Who conforms to the Father's will in every purpose, thought, and action].” 1 John 2:1 AMPC This blessed me so much, as the Father reminded me how Jesus has been praying for me and advocating for me, while I had been going through all the issues of life. He knew that I would be at this place in 2023, and His prayers effectively, got Robin out of her race and into God's race, conforming me to God's purpose in my thoughts and actions. He changed my stinking thinking and freed me of the issues of life that had weighed me down. We're never above the place of needing God's chastisement, on His beautiful Hebrews 4:12 surgical table where He does heart surgery. Our vulnerability proclaiming our infirmities, is the place where God is strong. Paul knew this well, as he proclaimed, if he were to boast about anything regarding himself, it would be his weaknesses. In our weakness, God is strong! (2 Corinthians 12:9) Paul knew that the secret to running the race of faith, was to cry out to God, where His grace would always be sufficient! Most people, when they think about Paul, consider him a super saint. However, in 1 Timothy 1:15, he proclaims himself, chief sinner. I love his monologue in 2 Corinthians 11, right before he cries out to God to remove the thorn, which was a messenger of satan, sent to buffet his flesh. He's telling the church of Corinth like it is, as they put up with all the super false apostles, whom they give offerings to willingly, while he must work in a trade, while he is preaching there and get support from Macedonia. Paul is real. He's sharing the issues of his own heart and displaying them in a vulnerable state publicly in front of the church. How many of you right now, would stand before the church and humble yourselves, if need be and confess your sin of unforgiveness or pride. We never want to think that is us. With the past revivals I have read about, one especially, the revival of Timor, in the book “Like a Mighty Wind,” by Mel Tari, people were real when the glory of God showed up. When the glory of God came upon the church in Timor like the book of Acts, they saw signs and wonders of the Kingdom of Heaven! Healings took place, souls were saved, and people were set free from all oppression, glory to God! And one of the leading trademarks, as with the revival in Shantung, China beginning in 1927, was that people confessed their sins publicly in church and got rid of all the issues of life that had hindered them. Where is it that you're running your own race, and you need to step back, confess what's on your heart, and get in God's race, where you experience His Holy Grace. Thanks for listening to Women World Leaders podcast! Join us each Monday, Wednesday and Friday as we explore together God's extravagant love and your courageous purpose. Visit our website at www.womenworldleaders.com to submit a prayer request, register for an upcoming event, and support the ministry. From His heart to yours, we are Women World Leaders. All content is copyrighted by Women World Leaders and cannot be used without express written consent.

God calls us to reflect His perfection. What does that mean and how can we possibly be perfect? Let's learn together as we walk through Matthew 5:33-48 and Luke 6:27-36 on today's episode of Walking in the Word. **** Welcome to Walking in the Word, the biblical teaching arm of the Women World Leader's podcast. I'm your host, Julie Jenkins. And I'm so glad you've joined us. We at Women World Leaders seek to empower you to walk in your God-given purpose. We do this by listening to and obediently following God's call to action. We are thrilled that you're listening to our podcasts and pray that they are helping you grow in Christ. If you are seeking more, I invite you to visit our website, womenworldleaders.com, and discover all the amazing things that God is doing. There you can access our quarterly magazine – Voice of Truth – which you can read digitally for free or receive your own physical copy by becoming a monthly donor to the ministry. We also offer opportunities to write your story in one of our books, to share the gospel to those around you by using our Love Cards, and gather with us for monthly Zoom leadership connects and prayer calls. You are also invited to join our Facebook group, where we post daily devotions and inspirational messages from women around the globe. On this our Wednesday edition of the women world leaders podcast we have the opportunity to delve into God's Word. We are currently walking through the Gospels chronologically and trusting that God will illuminate his words for us as He guides us. This week, we continue to enjoy Jesus' teaching to His disciples, known as the Sermon on the Mount, as primarily written about in the Gospel of Matthew. Our scripture, today is Matthew five, verses 33 through 48, and Luke chapter six, verses 27 through 36. And it includes Jesus teaching to us to reflect the perfection of God. Allow me to pray before we begin… Dear most holy God. Today, we are reminded of your perfection, which is so impossible for us to grasp with our feeble minds. And yet we read that you call us to be perfect. God, we confess to you that we don't even completely understand perfection. So we fall before you and ask you to teach us, guide us, and open our hearts to understand what you want us to know today. Thank you for meeting us where we are and loving us purely and completely. In Jesus' name, I pray, amen. Well, let's begin at the end of our Scripture teaching for today. Matthew five verse 48. From the New Living Translation, it quotes Jesus words, But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect. I begin here because this is the subject sentence, the climax of Jesus teaching to his disciples and to us. Everything Jesus says before, leads up to this one sentence. God our Father is perfect. He is holy, sinless, He does no wrong. Everything he does is praiseworthy, and as his children made in His image, we are to emulate and reflect that quality of perfection. We are made to be perfect as our Father is perfect. And that can only be accomplished by our ongoing willingness to submit to His will and to allow his power to work within us. To do this. We must put ourselves aside and trust God. And we must learn, continually learn, what it means to be perfect.   I'm assuming that you are listening today because you are seeking to follow God's will. If you are, here is his call to you. Be perfect. Simple, right? Simple, but not easy. Let's back up to Matthew 5:33, to begin to see what God's perfection looks like. Jesus teaches. You have also heard that our ancestors were told you must not break your vows. You must carry the vows you make to the Lord. This original law comes from Numbers 30 Verse 2 which says, A man who makes a vow to the Lord or makes a pledge under oath must never break it, he must do exactly what he said he would do. The word translated as a vow here is nadair, meaning a promise to God. The Bible tells us that when we vow to God, when we promise or commit to him, perfection requires that we fulfill that vow. But the Pharisees complicated this, they made loopholes in this biblical teaching. When making an oath that they were not serious about keeping, instead of sealing it with the Lord's name, they sealed it with something else, swearing by heaven, or Jerusalem, or even the Earth. None of those things were binding by God's teaching. But they sounded pretty good. They in essence, were making people read the fine print of their vow. I can remember as a kid on the playground learning that if I crossed my fingers behind my back, I could lie. And it wouldn't count as a lie. I have no idea where that came from. But I'm guessing the Pharisees might have approved of my playground law. Jesus, however, is pretty straightforward, and He is not at all about loopholes. So He continues in verse 34. But I say, do not make any vows do not say by heaven, because heaven is God's throne. And do not say by the Earth, because the Earth is his footstool. And do not say by Jerusalem for Jerusalem is the city of the great king. Do not even say by my head for you can't turn one hair white or black. Just say a simple yes, I will. or No I won't. Anything beyond this is from the evil one. Perfection is holding to your word. Your simple Yes. And your simple No. A deep study into God's Word reveals that God will always do what he says He will do. No ifs, ands, or buts. That is part of God's perfection. And as his followers, we are called to be perfect. We are called to keep our word. The practical side of this is that keeping our word builds trust within relationships and makes commitment possible. The reality is that keeping our word can be downright difficult. It can be tempting to go back on our commitments when the going gets tough to want to step away from the work of a situation and to not trust God's provision to help us finish well. Well, next Jesus teaches about the imperfection of revenge. Verse 38, you have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. This teaching comes from several places in the Old Testament, including Exodus 21:24, Leviticus 24:20 and Deuteronomy 19:21. Biblical scholars will tell you that this law was originally written in brutal times to protect the guilty. It kept people from forcing an offender to pay a price greater than the offense warranted from seeking Revenge. This was our merciful, perfect God, protecting even offenders from undue harm. This law was meant to be used by civil authorities and civil courts as a means of maintaining public order. And it was never intended for the rationalization of privately enforced judgment. Jesus speaks to the disciples in verse 39, He says, But I say do not resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also. This statement was less about being physically injured by someone and more about being insulted as slapping someone in the face was considered an insult to one's honor. Jesus is saying, don't put yourself on so high of a pedestal that you turn and walk away when someone insults you. No. We are called to be the light of the world to show the love of Jesus. And we can't show someone anything. If we turn and walk away. Verse 40, if you are sued in court, and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat too. Today, most of us have a closet of clothes. If someone takes my shirt, I might be mad. But truthfully, I can just go grab another one. That wasn't necessarily the case in Jesus day. In fact, if someone gave their coat to someone as a pledge, by law, it had to be returned by sunset, as a coat often doubled as a person's only blanket. Jesus says if someone takes your shirt, likely your only shirt, give them your coat as well. likely your only coat. Okay, so now you are naked. But as a Christian, that's okay. Because we can trust that God will provide and care for us. He is perfect. And we have His Word. Verse 41. If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles. This was a normal occurrence. These people lived in the heart of oppression that many of us can't even begin to understand. We balk at being asked to wear a mask. They on a dime could be forced to carry a soldier's gear, deliver official correspondence, build a road or a public building, or like Simon of Cyrene carry across for a man sentenced to death who was too weak to carry it himself. Jesus says to the oppressed, go the extra mile. We've all heard of the phrase that actions speak louder than words or even kill them with kindness. I think Jesus would have liked these sayings. This leads us to verse 42. Give to those who ask and don't turn away from those who want to borrow. Perfection and generosity go hand in hand. That's a concept that doesn't need a lot of explanation. Jesus continues in verse 43. You have heard the law that says Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. Okay, I note here, love your neighbor is a central teaching of the Old Testament, but nowhere does it say to hate your enemy. In fact, it says the opposite and Exodus 23 verses four and five, we read. If you come upon your enemy's ox or donkey that is straight away, take it back to its owner. If you see that the donkey of someone who hates you has collapsed under its load. Do not walk by instead, stop and help. Jesus here is giving us a perfect example of how man can warp God's teachings, reminding us that we must always go to Scripture ourselves to hear from God. The Bible is not a book intended only for preachers and teachers. It's intended for all of us. Well, Jesus sets the record straight. You have heard the law that says love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say, Love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you. In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. And Jesus reminds us that our perfect God does not play favorites and neither should we. He says, For he gives sunlight to both the evil and the good. And he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much? If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that? Luke records the same teachings in chapter six but writes it this way. Even sinners love those who love them. Even sinners do good to those who do good to them. And even sinners, lend to other centers for a full return. Luke records a succinct directive beginning in Luke chapter six, verse 35. Love your enemies, do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid, then your reward from heaven will be very great and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for He is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. Ah Yes, I for 1am thankful that God is kind to those who are on thankful and wicked. Because otherwise, how would I have ever been drawn to him? How would any of us? We are made in God's image and as his children, we are called to reflect His attributes. Luke records You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate, And Matthew records, But you are to be perfect. even as your Father in heaven is perfect. Perfection isn't easy. Holding to your word and your commitment isn't easy. Standing strong and showing the love of Christ as you are disrespected is not easy. Trusting God for complete provision when you are left naked, is not easy. Being kind and going the extra mile when you're oppressed is not easy. Being generous and praying for your enemies is not easy. No one ever said being a Christian and swimming upstream against an evil world would be easy. But as you strive to reflect the perfection of God, you can be assured that God Himself will empower you, protect you, and guide you, and that your reward in heaven will be very great. Let's pray. God we want to please you. We want to reflect your love, compassion and grace to a hurting world. God thank you for reminding us today that our reward is not here on this earth but is waiting for us in heaven and is far greater than we can ask or imagine. God I asked you right now that you infused each listener with a shot of holy adrenaline as only you can empowering her to walk powerfully in the path that you have put her on to walk in your perfection and grace. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.   Thanks for listening to Women World Leaders podcast. Join us each Monday, Wednesday and Friday. As we explore together God's extravagant love and your courageous purpose. Visit our website at WWW dot women world leaders.com To submit a prayer request, register for an upcoming event and support the ministry from his heart to yours. We are women world leaders. All content is copyrighted by women world leaders and cannot be used without express written consent.

In today's Podcast, Tawana shares another excerpt from her upcoming book and reveals three common Anxieties the enemy uses against us.  Tawana also gives us practical steps on how to identify the fears and overcome them so we can walk strong with Freedom in Jesus.     *** Content Taken from Tawana's upcoming book.  Not authorized for reprint without consent from Tawana Lowery or Women World Leaders.   Hello… and Welcome to Women World Leaders Podcast  I'm your Host… Tawana Lowery ·       Women's Empowerment Coach ·       And Global Ministry Leader   1.      And I'm VERY excited you joined today… ·         Because we're going to explore what the Father wants us to know about himself and who we are as Powerful Ambassadors of his Powerful Kingdom…  ·         So let's get started…  2.      If you've been a follower of Jesus for more than 10 minutes… then you've already discovered that the enemy does not want you to be an effective ambassador of the Fathers Kingdom!! 3.      That's why he works triple overtime to stop us!!  4.      And his method of choice is FEAR…  a.       Fear is his stomping ground. b.      And he's always inviting us to join in the drama!!! 5.      But what really fuels his fire (no pun intended) is when we are Clueless  about it!  6.      He loves to hide it in the form of something we might not recognize as Fear.  a.       That is especially true with regards to Anxiety.  b.      Many times, we don't recognize the fear issues associated with our Anxiety because we're so distracted by the Anxiety itself.  7.      Interestingly enough… the dictionary actually describes Anxiety as an abnormal or overwhelming sense of fear.  That can be triggered by a host of issues such as financial worry, relationship concerns, or just the perpetual uncertainty of life.  8.      But Rabbi Paul admonishes us in Philippians 4:6-7 to…  “NOT be anxious about anything! But instead, surrender the anxiety to the Father in prayer so we can receive his Shalom… His perfect peace!   9.      So… if you've been struggling lately with Anxiety in a particular area (or in a lot of areas) then get ready for breakthrough! Because in this Podcast I'm going to Expose 2 Common Anxieties that many of us deal with.    Plus, I'll also share the practical steps we can take to Overcome it and walk strong in Freedom.  So, the first is called “Abandonment Anxiety.”   1.      For those of us who've experienced the pain of being abandoned (whether by a spouse, a parent, or others), the mere thought of a repeat episode can trigger Severe Anxiety or even panic attacks.   2.      I can totally empathize with this…  a.       I battled with overwhelming Abandonment Anxiety for several years because of my experiences from childhood into my 40s.   3.      But I am happy to report, I discovered the way of escape that set me totally free…  ·         I accomplished it by casting the imprint of my experiences onto the cross of Yeshua my Savior.  ·         Although what others did was hurtful and wrong, I had to own how those experiences were impacting me and the lies they tempted me to believe.  ·         I had to Confess how my abandonment encounters had prejudiced my heart towards the living God.  ·         In other words…. I was fearful that my heavenly Father would treat me in the same manner.  ·         Jesus died to destroy the manifest works of the Devil… And my past experiences with people were manifesting as debilitating fear… even towards God.   4.      After I crucified the fear and the experiences on the cross, it opened my heart to receive the free gift of Faith from the one who promised to Never Ever leave me or Abandon me. 5.      Maybe you've had a similar experience that's created Abandonment Anxiety in your life.  6.      If so, you can experience the same freedom I did with these practical steps…  ·         First. ask God to expose the source of your Abandonment Anxiety. We serve the God who speaks and he will speak to you right now. ·         Then ask him to reveal how those experiences may have prejudiced your heart towards his promises and blocked you from the ability to rest in his unfailing love.  ·         Next, forgive those who abandoned you.  ·         Crucify the experiences and the fear on the cross of Jesus.  ·         And ask the Father to resurrect you as with a new heart and mind to receive Faith and assurance in his unfailing Love.   Okay… Let's wrap up with another Common Anxiety. And this one is probably the least detected… but can have the greatest adverse impact on our faith walk and spiritual maturity… It's called… “Assimilation Anxiety” 1.      As we know… God is continually calling us into new things that feel very unfamiliar… just as he did the saints before us.   2.      In order to keep in step with what God is calling us into… ·         We are frequently called to walk into the unknown and away from the familiar.  3.      As expected, it can produce a great deal of fear… ·         Many of us are afraid of the unknown.  4.      But maybe it's not Fear of the unknown that hinders our walk. ·         Maybe it's simply an idol for the familiar, for the comfortable and for the path of least resistance that creates the fear. ·         Maybe we're simply afraid to release the idol because we've believed it has the power of life and death.    5.      The dangerous component is that our idol for the familiar creates a a stronghold that makes us resistance to Assimilate into the new things Gods has in store.  6.      This is the reason we are admonished throughout the scriptures to forget what lies behind, and to be aware of the new things that are springing up. 7.       Although God never changes… he strongly desires to change us from glory to glory, from faith to faith… from abounding to more abounding.  ·         His desire is that we keep in step with the spirit… ·         That we follow the Grace… ·         And that we do what we see the Father do. ·         This is the example Jesus gave us.   8.      And that means breaking free from Assimilation Anxiety. ·         That means confessing our fear of not having control. ·         That means allowing God to have control of our thoughts and imagination about the future.   9.      Often times when considering something new… our minds begin to rehearse all the things that could go wrong. ·         We start imagining failure. ·         Not realizing we're aligning our imagination with the lies of the enemy!! ·         Then our emotions and decisions simply follow suit. ·         Next thing you know… we're stuck… and can't understand why.   10.  Sometimes it's hard for us to imagine that God has something better than what we can produce for ourselves.   11.  But the truth is… God always has something better than what we are afraid to release.   12.  I was out walking one evening during a season of massive uncertainty. And while I was praying I heard the Lord say…  “Tawana… you're Never going to have the life you dreamed of. But can you believe that I love you enough to give you something better?   13.  Wow… not exactly what you want to hear from God when you're asking for assurance. ·         But… he was assuring me of something… ·         I just wasn't something I had considered before.     14.  Although his statement was extremely unexpected… ·         He was trying to help me understand the importance of letting go of my idol for the Small Familiar so I could receive the Big New Future he had planned from the foundation of the world. ·         Truthfully…. I was unaware how the fear had developed into an idol until the spirit of truth spoke truth to my heart.   15.  Once the Fear was outta the bag… I had to repent of the idol for the familiar so I could receive the NEW THING that was about to spring up! ·         I had to release the Assimilation Anxiety that was stopping me.   16.  When you think about it… the Scriptures are overflowing with promise about the goodness of God that is always waiting for us. ·         Psalm 23 ·         Jeremiah 29:11 ·         And many, many more.     17.  However…. We can't receive his restful assurance until we release the fear… and the idol for the familiar.   18.  Only then can our hearts and minds Assimilate into the good things… the new things… and the better things that await.   19.  Maybe you're facing a call into the unknow and away from the familiar. Maybe your struggling with Assimilation Anxiety.   20.  If so… then we can use the same practical steps we reviewed with the other anxieties to break free and move forward.   ·          Step one… Confess or truth tell about the Idol and the fear. ·         Admit that you have it. ·         It's not going to surprise God. ·         In fact… he rejoices when we walk in truth. He LOVES it. ·         Next, let's ask the Lord to reveal how the idol was formed… ·         AND the lies it has tempted you to believe…. about him, about yourself, and about your future. ·          Now… we'll ask forgiveness for believing the lies and for putting our trust in an idol for the familiar instead of faith in Jesus. ·         Next, take the lies and the idol to the cross to be crucified. ·         Lastly… we will ask to be resurrected in Christ Jesus so we can receive a new heart, a new mind and a brand-new life.    AMEN!!!   Well… It's been an absolute pleasure spending time with you today. And I hope this simple message has helped shed light on common fear and anxieties that try to stop us…AND… how to overcome them by the Blood of the Lamb and the Power of the Cross.   Thanks for listening to Women World Leaders podcast! ·         Join us each Monday, Wednesday and Friday as we explore together God's extravagant love and your courageous purpose.  ·         Visit our website at www.womenworldleaders.com to submit a prayer request, register for an upcoming event, and support the ministry.  ·         From His heart to yours, we are Women World Leaders.  All content is copyrighted by Tawana Lowery and Women World Leaders and cannot be used without express written consent.  

As Jesus continues teaching the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:21-32, He gives us instructions on handling anger and dealing with relationship issues, calling us to look beyond the surface of the law to the heart of the law. **** Welcome to Walking in the Word, the biblical teaching arm of the Women World Leaders podcast. I'm your host, Julie Jenkins. Thank you for joining us today as we walk through the Gospels together. Whenever and wherever you are listening, if you turned on the news today, I'm sure you heard something that made you shake your head in disgust. And it wouldn't surprise me if you are, on some level, currently battling anger or frustration personally – because we all do at times. Due to the complexity of the issues we face, it can seem nearly impossible to look through all the muck and see how God is calling us to react. But God doesn't want us to look only at the surface of His direction for us, He wants us to walk with Him and understand His heart. So whatever your frame of mind, I'm glad you've taken few minutes to pause and listen to this podcast – where we spend a few minutes together focusing on God's Word and seeking to understand it fully. No matter what mountain we are climbing or beautiful hillside we are meandering through, Jesus is our best walking partner. As we walk with Him, we can trust that God, through His Word and Holy Spirit, will guide and lead us to what really matters. Before we open the Word together, let's grab our climbing partner by the hand and ask Him to walk with us. Dear most holy God, We come to you right now seeking your presence. Be with each listener where she is, and teach her today what you want her to know. God we know that nothing surprises you and with you all things are possible. We ask you to guide us as we open Your Word today and that we would hear the words of Jesus. Open our hearts and allow us to understand what it is you want us to know as we spend time with you. In Jesus name, I pray, amen. Today we will be studying Matthew chapter 5, verses 21 through 32 out of the New Living Translation. A couple of weeks ago, we began our walk through the Sermon on the Mount. And last week, the final verse we looked at was Matthew 5:20, which says, But I warn you unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. This may have left the disciples and other listeners wondering, how can I possibly be more righteous than the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who have dedicated their lives to knowing and following the law of Moses and the teaching of the scriptures? But as Jesus teaches, it becomes clear that while the Pharisees may be all about the letter of the law, Jesus is all about the heart of the law. Jesus begins by specifically referencing several of the teachings of the Pharisees, and as he does, he teaches a deeper truth to each, a truth that God intended us to know and learn from the beginning. Matthew 5:21 says, You have heard that our ancestors were told you must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment. But I say if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment. If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell. Matthew 5:21 begins You have heard that our ancestors are told… most translations say something like you have heard it said. Now in other places in the Bible, Jesus is recorded as saying it is written when he is quoting scripture. So the fact that he is now saying you have heard it said indicates that Jesus is addressing the laws as man taught them. And we know by now that the Pharisees and the teachers of the law often distorted those laws by adding their own man-made laws and rules that the people were to follow. Well, remember Jesus says earlier in this chapter that he came not to abolish the law but to fulfill the law, and that not a single stroke of the pen will disappear from the law until all is accomplished. So Jesus is not trying to change the meaning of the law as it is written, on the contrary, he is explaining to the disciples and to us the full meaning of the original law. That is, what God intended us to know, the heart of the law. Jesus wants us to understand the why. What was the purpose of the law in the first place? The law says in Exodus 20:13, you must not murder. Murder is an external act. And that external act in Jesus day was punishable by death in a human court of law. But God, our perfect judge does not judge us merely on external acts as humans. Instead, He judges us on the attitude of our hearts, in this case, anger. Why do you suppose that Jesus teaches that anger is as grievous as a sin as murder? Besides the fact that God is holy, and any sin causes unrighteousness, I would propose this teaching stems from the fact that sinful anger, ruins the relationships that God has gifted us. Anger hurts our human relationships, and it hurts our relationship with God. And God is all about relationship. In our anger, we are tempted to lash out at others, what do you think is the effect of calling someone an idiot or cursing them as Jesus references? Not good, right? It was even worse in Jesus day when a person's name was everything, a hallmark to who that person was. So to call someone, Rayana, which was the original word use, that means empty headed or translated here as idiot would have been an insult even greater than it is today. Anger such as that could in effect, murder, a God-ordained relationship. And Jesus goes on to teach that relationship is more important than any sacrifice, we could offer God saying in verse 23. So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the temple, and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar, go and be reconciled to that person, then come and offer your sacrifice to God. Jesus then continues with some more practical advice, when you're on your way to court with your adversary, settle your differences quickly. Otherwise, your accuser may hand you over to the judge, who will hand you over to an officer and you will be thrown into prison. And if that happens, you surely won't be free again until you have paid the last penny. Anger puts you in a prison cell. It holds you captive from being who God truly made you to be. And it keeps you from doing what God has called you to do. Jesus says settle your differences quickly. Don't allow the chains of anger to keep you from the relationships that God intended for you. Next, Jesus teaches on the seventh commandment Exodus 20:14. You must not commit adultery. Going back to Matthew 5, verse 27 says, You have heard the commandment that says you must not commit adultery. But I say anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Jesus is again teaching the wisdom behind the law. I think about my when my kids were young, they didn't understand the why behind our family rules. It just didn't make sense to them that I had to know their friend's parents before they could spend the night with them. Their undeveloped and naive minds simply couldn't make the connection that a fun play date could turn out bad under the wrong circumstances. They didn't know the why. The Pharisees taught the letter of the law and were harsh with their punishments but they didn't understand the why. Jesus taught the wisdom of the law, the why behind the law, and it all hinged on his care and concern for us, for you. Just like when he was talking about murder and anger, Jesus is teaching here that the root of sin the sin of adultery, lies in the attitude of our hearts. Honoring and loving your spouse means in part making him or her the object of your sexual desire. When your mind begins to stray, the poison of sin begins to grow in your heart, and it quickly infects your relationship. But not only does committing adultery infect the relationship, but lust for another does as well. And God is all about relationships. Jesus goes on to tell how serious he is about this teaching. So if your eye even your good eye causes you to lust, gouge it out, throw it away, it is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your hand even your stronger hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body then for your whole body to be thrown into hell. While these things are true, that it's better to go to heaven with part of a body these statements are not to be taken literally, but they are a case of Jesus speaking in hyperbole, intentional exaggeration to make a point very common in this time and a Jewish culture. What Jesus is saying is when you are tempted, run away, Look away, then stay away from those things that can pollute your mind. And don't delay. Don't leave sin unchecked in your heart, but clear it out right away. If you are a gardener, you know how quickly weeds can take root and take over the good soil, crowding out the flowers and leaving them with no room to grow and no nutrients to sustain them. Being a Christian is not easy. The devil is always prowling, trying to infiltrate your heart. It isn't just about what you do, but about what you let in to your heart. What you let in can help your relationships or it can destroy them. As Jesus continues, he touches on divorce beginning in verse 31. You have heard the law that says a man can divorce his wife by merely giving her a written notice of divorce. But I say that a man who divorces his wife unless she has been unfaithful causes her to commit adultery. And anyone who marries a divorced woman also commits adultery. Again we see the You have heard it said statement only this time this teaching does not come from God but from society. We will expand on this more in the coming weeks but right now I will just share with you that the Jews have a big problem with divorce. Deuteronomy gives instructions regarding the treatment of a wife whom a husband finds displeasing Deuteronomy 21 says suppose a man marries a woman but she does not please him. Having discovered something wrong with her he writes a document of divorce hands it to her and sends her away from his house. Like I said, we won't go into a full discussion on this right now. But the offshoot of this scripture was that the most well known Jewish rabbi teachers, Shamai and Hillel, both disagreed over what was deemed displeasing enough to warrant a notice of divorce. And as a result, divorce was allowed for basically anything. I guess that's where we get irreconcilable differences. So what does Jesus teach here? He teaches that divorce causes relationship problems. You might think, well, that's a no brainer, but it's deeper than the obvious. Divorce causes relationship problems going forward in each individual's life, and often in the lives of those around them. And God is all about relationships. Our God is all about relationships. I believe that God wants us to walk away from this teaching, realizing that he is all about relationships. There are trials in this world, some of us are facing devastating life changes as the effects of sin continue to ravage this world. And it's quite likely that things will get worse before they get better. But God is all about relationships. And when you honor your relationship with him, and walk close to him through any storm, he will be your strength, your protection, your wisdom and your joy. Yes, you can have joy even in trials. God gives us the law. But it's not about the letter of the law. It's about the why. God is the why. Every word of the Bible, every nugget of wisdom, we can glean from studying God's word is intended to point us to a perfect relationship with God, and to godly relationships with others. God will get us through the storms of life, he will walk us through the loss of loved ones devastation caused by natural disaster and heartache of all kinds. But we have to have a relationship with Him. And he asked that we keep our hearts connected to his and that we honor that relationship. That's what the law points to. That is the heart of the matter. Let's pray Dear most holy God, He loves us, and you are there for us. God, I thank you for reminding us today that you care about the relationships that we are building with each other, and most importantly, the relationship that we have with you. I thank you for reminding us that when things get difficult, and there are mountains in front of us to climb that you, Jesus, are our best climbing partner. That when we don't know where to turn God Your Word will always guide and lead us. And when we are in turmoil, you Holy Spirit, will comfort and sustain us and give us peace. God thank you for reminding us that you see our hearts and that you will always care for our hearts. We give them to you today. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.  

Today, Julie Harwick shares about how God opened her eyes to her own failings while giving her His grace. Our God is always there when we need Him the most. **** Welcome to Celebrating God's Grace, a Women World Leaders podcast. I'm your host, Julie Harwick. Thank you for joining me today as we celebrate God's grace in our lives, in this ministry and around the world. When my children were small and I was very engaged in teaching them the value of first-time obedience, God opened my eyes to my own failings in that area, but fortunately, His grace was there once again, when I needed it most. I dropped off my four-year-old twins at preschool, and set out to do a little shopping and run some errands while I enjoyed a little extra freedom.  I needed gas before I went too far, so I filled up at the nearby 7-11. The pay at the pump feature didn't work, so I had to go inside. As I approached the cash register, I met the gaze of an older man who appeared to be homeless, or at least down on his luck. I tried to break eye contact before he actually spoke to me because I was pretty sure I knew what he would say. I was half-way past him when I heard, “Excuse me, Miss, could you possibly buy me a hot dog?” Before the words were completely out of his mouth, I responded without even thinking with my usual, “Sorry, I can't.” I paid at the register and got back in my van as quickly as possible. I always got very nervous when someone approached me asking for money. It felt heartless to ignore them or say no, but I also knew that 99% of the time, that money would go for drugs or alcohol, so I almost always said no.  As I fastened my seatbelt, I replayed the exchange in my mind and it finally registered with me, “he didn't ask for money – he only asked me to buy him a hot dog.” My heart sank as I was confronted with how truly thoughtless I had been. Of course I could have and should have bought him a hot dog.  There was absolutely no reason not to.  A hot dog couldn't possibly feed a drug or alcohol addiction. This would've been the perfect opportunity to help someone without questioning if it was the right thing to do. But based on previous experiences and appearance, I dismissed him without really even listening to what he was asking. I felt a deep sense of conviction and immediately headed back inside hoping that I could rectify my wrong by buying him a hotdog and any other food or drink he might like.  When I entered the store, he was nowhere to be found. I asked the clerk if he had seen the homeless man who was here just a minute ago.  He said a number of homeless people often came in, so much so that he frequently called the police. After checking every aisle and looking all around outside, I got back into my van. It seemed strange that he completely disappeared so quickly.  I was reminded of Hebrews 13:2  which says “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” Could he have been an angel sent by God to test my willingness to show hospitality to a stranger? If so, I had failed miserably. I went on about my day, but the whole experience kept replaying in my mind and I couldn't shake the shame and disappointment I felt about the way I had handled it. When my girls were taking a nap that afternoon, I settled in for some time alone with God. I usually read scripture first and then spent some time in prayer. My bible fell open to Matthew 21:28-31.  It said, “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.' 'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.  Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, Sir,' but he did not go.  Which of the two did what his father wanted?” As with all of Jesus' parables, there was a lot of meaning packed into this short story, but in this moment, I believed God was speaking directly to me about my failure earlier in the day. I was the first son who initially said no, but after some thought, realized there was a command I needed to obey and set about doing it. While it would've been better if I had obeyed instantly, the fact that after initially saying, “no,” I actually followed through was all that really mattered. Jesus saw my repentant heart and used His own words to comfort and teach me. This became known as my “hot dog story,” as I shared it with those closest to me. The way this parable specifically addressed the very thing I was struggling with reassured me that God wants to communicate with us directly and personally. It also showed me that He is eager to extend His grace to us when we pour out our hearts in repentance. I wish I could say that this memorable experience got through to me in such a way that I never struggled with immediate obedience again. But of course, you know that's not the case. One area where I frequently feel the Holy Spirit's conviction and correction is when I'm driving.  I'm not an aggressive driver, but I tend to be very passionate about what is fair and correct on the road.  If traffic is barely moving because two lanes are merging into one, God help you if you attempt to illegally drive down the shoulder and force your way back in and get further ahead. I'm the vehicle attempting to straddle the right lane and the shoulder to keep you from doing it, while making sure of course to stay out of the way of emergency vehicles. Circumstances like that get me all cranked up and very focused on protecting my rights. While there's no question that cutting in front of others is wrong, and driving on the shoulder is illegal, being obsessed with making sure my rights are not violated in something as inconsequential as traffic is also wrong. If Jesus willingly laid down His divine rights to put on human flesh, He probably wouldn't make a big deal out of a car cutting Him off. Jesus probably wouldn't straddle two lanes to keep someone from getting ahead. He would probably make room for them fulling realizing that the anger of man does not accomplish the righteousness of God. For some reason, getting behind the wheel prompts me to look at other drivers more as adversaries than people loved by God. What does it cost me to slow down and let someone move into the lane ahead of me? But that's not the way I think. In the same way I programmed myself to say, “Sorry, I can't,” to the homeless man, I tend to go on autopilot behind the wheel – making sure no other drivers take advantage of me. For me, this is literally where the rubber meets the road. Do I drive the way Jesus would? Why not? If I'm honest, I have to admit it's because I'm selfish. Human nature and selfishness go hand in hand, but God calls us to die to self and follow His example. Ephesians 4: 22-24 says, “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires, to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Like so many scriptures, this makes complete sense and is simple, but in no way is it easy! God knows it isn't and in His grace, He works on me in small increments I can handle. So being made new in the attitude of my mind in areas like driving or dealing with homeless people asking for help may seem trivial compared to issues of much greater importance. But I have to believe that if I could put on the new self in such small everyday ways, I'd be more likely to get it right when a serious challenge comes along. I have no doubt that God is using these situations to convict me of my wrong attitudes and to refine me to become a little more like Jesus. He knows my weakness and reminds me that, “His grace is sufficient for me and that His power is perfected in my weakness.” That kind of grace is exactly what I need and the only hope I have of fulfilling His ultimate purpose of conforming me to His image. Thanks for listening to Women World Leaders podcast!  Join us each Monday, Wednesday and Friday as we explore together God's extravagant love and your courageous purpose.  Visit our website at www.womenworldleaders.com to submit a prayer request, register for an upcoming event, and support the ministry.  From His heart to yours, we are Women World Leaders .  All content is copyrighted by Women World Leaders and cannot be used without written consent.

The Law requires strict adherence to attain perfect righteousness. Thankfully, it isn't up to us to fulfill the law. Learn from Jesus' words as we study Matthew 5:17-20. **** Welcome to Walking in the Word, the biblical teaching arm of the Women World Leaders podcast. I'm your host, Julie Jenkins. And I'm so glad that you are joining us today. It is September as I record this, and the days of Summer 2023 are behind us. It's hard to believe that soon we will be looking at a new year – 2024. This has been an exciting year for Women World Leaders. We are about to reach episode 500 of our podcast, the publication of Voice of Truth magazine will complete its 3rd year in December, and we have a NEW book launch THIS week! Keep your eyes open on social media and your email to get more information. If you don't get our emails and would like to, please visit womenworldleaders.com and fill out our contact form so we can keep you up to date on all the happenings of the ministry. One of the happenings we are so excited about is that we are currently planning our fall event, Ignite Your Purpose—which will occur on October 14th in West Palm Beach, FL. This will be a morning of worship, prayer, biblical teaching, empowerment, and fellowship. We would love for you to join us – but be aware that tickets are going fast! So hop on the website, womenworldleaders.com, now to order yours. Each Wednesday on this podcast we have the privilege of walking through the Word together. We are currently walking through the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, and, in this season, we are revisiting Jesus' teaching on the Sermon on the Mount. Today, we will be examining what Jesus said about the law in Matthew chapter five verses 17 through 20. Before we begin let's pray. Dear Heavenly Father, we love you so much. We honor praise and thank you today for who you are. You are a good father. You are love, joy, peace, wisdom and strength. God, you never give up on us sometimes teaching us again and again. What it is you long for us to know. God, I ask that you open our minds today to your teaching help us understand on a deeper level. These words that Your Son Jesus spoke so many years ago. I thank you for recording those words in the Bible, and allowing us to come back to them today. Guide us as we study. In Jesus name, I pray, amen. As we begin, just a reminder of where we are, Jesus is primarily teaching his disciples. It's part of their personal training, if you will. Matthew 5:1 tells us that Jesus sat as he taught, which indicates that this was intended as an intimate teaching, as they gathered on the side of the mountain. But we can surmise that there were others listening in as well. Have you ever been asked to leave the room, maybe as a child, so your parents could discuss something among the grownups? Or maybe a boss has asked you to leave the room so other higher-ups could discuss your position. Or maybe you've entered a room, and the conversation just seemed to stop, indicating that you were not welcome. You are not welcome to know what the discussion had been. It's not a good feeling to be left out, isolated, and wondering what you are missing. I want to tell you clearly, Jesus will never leave you out. He welcomes you for every discussion, conversation, activity, and even blessing. I remember arriving at our church one Sunday to be told that I couldn't sit near the front. Because that Sunday, the front rows were reserved for someone important. In God's eyes, there is no one more important than you. When we all bow down and worship God together in heaven, you will be in the front row. Don't ask me how this can be. Our humanity tells us that only some privileged people get sit in the front. I don't understand it. But God looks at each one of us. God looks at you, and sees his most precious child of all. You are the apple of his eye. Whenever you want to hear Him, you can go to Him. Whenever you want to ask him a question, you can ask. God will always have time for every one of your questions, concerns, needs, and even desires. Jesus may have been teaching the disciples that day. But he was teaching anyone who wanted to listen. And that includes us right now, as Jesus spoke the words that I'm about to read from Matthew 5, verses 17 through 20. He had you on his mind. There is something here that he wanted you to know today. From the New Living Translation, Matthew 517 Records Jesus is saying, “Don't misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.” The Pharisees thought and taught that Jesus was attempting to destroy the teachings that had governed the Jewish people. The Law of Moses refers to the first five books of the Old Testament otherwise known as the Pentateuch. And the writings of the prophets includes the major and minor prophets as well as the historical books of the Old Testament. In other words, the Pharisees believed and wanted everyone to believe that Jesus was speaking, teaching and living against the Hebrew Scriptures, in a sense, tearing them down and rendering them irrelevant. Jesus knows this and in this scripture, he addresses this fallacy head on saying, I have not come to abolish the Hebrew scriptures, but to accomplish their purpose, or as some translations say, to fulfill them. Theologian Michael Wilkins describes the statement as “all of that the Old Testament intended to communicate about God's will and hopes for humanity, find their full meaning and accomplishment in Jesus teaching and ministry.” And Warren Wiersbe likens Jesus fulfillment of the Old Testament to an acorn. Jesus did not come to smash the acorn to smithereens, but he came to grow that acorn into a majestic oak tree that was meant that it was meant to become. Jesus purpose was to accomplish all that the Old Testament said would be. He was the Promised Messiah, whom the Law and the Prophets pointed to. Jesus continues in verse 18, “I tell you the truth until heaven and earth disappear. Not even the smallest detail of God's law will disappear until its purpose is achieved.” Each part of the law and every prophecy given by God's chosen prophets had a purpose. And in Jesus, that purpose was fulfilled. Jesus was born and raised in the Jewish tradition, tending to every Jewish ritual. He fulfilled the law completely as no one else could before or since, living a sinless life. In his teaching, he taught the true meaning of God's Word, as God intended, not as the tainted version that the Pharisees spun. And of course, though, unknown at the time of the speaking, Jesus fulfilled the law in his death, and resurrection. We still study the Old Testament, God's law and we should, but we should study it with the understanding that in Jesus, it is fulfilled. Scholars will tell you there are three categories of the Jewish law. The ceremonial law had to do specifically with how God instructed the Israelites to worship, through sacrifice and offering. Each part of the ceremonial law was specifically crafted by God, to point the worshipers to Jesus Himself. We are not held to this part of the law because, as Jesus stated, even the smallest detail has been fulfilled. Some versions call this detail the smallest stroke of the pen. The actual translation is the word tittle, ti t t le. A Jewish tittle is what you and I would call a serif, a small projection on the top or the bottom of a letter, which in Hebrew, differentiates one letter from another. You could spend hours every day for years of your life studying the Old Testament, and never fully comprehend the depth of prophecy that the Jewish law held, as it pointed to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In fact, many have set out to disprove that Jesus was the Son of God by studying the prophetic law, only to come away knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus was exactly who he said he was. The second category of Jewish law was the civil law and this applied to daily living, because our world and culture are so different now, these no longer apply to us. But again, each tittle prepared the people for what was to come. Finally, the third category of Jewish law is the moral law. These are the direct commands from God that teach us how to relate to God, and how to relate to each other. The Moral Law of God has not and will not change. This is the core of what God wants us to know, and how He yearns for us to respond to him and to other people. It's important to note that Jesus obey the law completely as prescribed by God in each of these three areas, even if the Pharisees didn't see it that way. And then Jesus drew the line between himself and the Pharisees, saying in verses 19 and 20. “So if you ignore the least commandment, and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. But anyone who obeys God's laws and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. But I warn you, unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of the religious law and of the Pharisees. You will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” The goal of the Pharisees was To be righteous, and hear Jesus calls them out, saying that the degree to which the Pharisees are righteous will never be enough to get them into the kingdom of heaven. This should speak to all of us. It should show us even today, that no amount of studying God's Word serving in God's Church giving to a ministry or even taking care of homeless orphans is good enough to receive our ticket to heaven. In fact, the righteousness that God demands of us before we can spend eternity with Him, is impossible for us to gain. We must be perfect. That lipstick you stole from your mom's purse when you were six. that disqualifies you. That piece of chocolate you ate in the closet and then told your kids you don't know what happened to it, disqualifies you. The anger you felt at the car in front of you in car line that wouldn't turn when it was his turn after you waited for 25 minutes in the same spot, disqualifies you. Okay, I should say those all disqualify me. Because those are my stories. But I'm sure you have your own. So how do we gain the right righteousness? How do we become right with God? Unblemished, pure and holy enough to stand beside God for eternity? There's only one way and his name is Jesus Christ. Jesus died on the cross for you. For me and my stolen lipstick, that we should have the opportunity to take on his righteousness. Our righteousness will never cut it. But Jesus' righteousness is a shoo-in. And he offers it to each of us, no matter what shape our lives are him. Remember that third category of the Jewish law, the moral law, the moral law concerns itself with relationship. And when you give yourself over to your relationship between you and God, when you willingly repent of your sins and ask God to show you which way to walk, by the way, his answer is always that he wants you to walk with Him—then you are cleansed, made pure, made righteous, and you are gifted the kingdom of heaven. Jesus did not come to abolish the law. He came to fulfill the law to pay our penalty for sin that we no longer have to fear death, but can look forward to eternity with Him. That is the gospel of Jesus Christ, which Jesus ushered in as he fulfilled the law. Let's pray. Dear, most holy God, thank you for making a way for us to spend eternity with you. Thank you for teaching us by way of the law and then for showing us that You alone are everything we need. Jesus, I pray for anyone listening who has tried to do it on her own and has not surrendered her life to you. Put your loving arms around her reveal yourself to her today. Give her courage and strength to humbly bow before you call her to your side forever. God would give You all the praise and glory and while we do our best to walk with you every day. We look forward to the day when we are walking with you and simplicity and joy. Thank you for making that possible for each of us. In Jesus name I pray. Amen. Thanks for listening to women world leaders podcast. Join us each Monday, Wednesday and Friday. As we explore together God's extravagant love and your courageous purpose. Visit our website at WWW dot women world leaders.com To submit a prayer request, register for an upcoming event and support the ministry from his heart to yours. We are women world leaders. All content is copyrighted by women world leaders and cannot be used without express written consent.

Know the power of God's grace in the Feast of the Lord, as you learn how to prepare for God's inspection. **** Welcome to Celebrating God's Grace, A Women World Leader's Podcast, I'm your host Robin Kirby- Gatto. Thank you for joining us today as we celebrate God's grace, in our lives, in our ministry, and around the world. Today's Title: Inspection Time 35 “And I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there will I enter into judgment with you and contend with you face to face. 36 As I entered into judgment and contended with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I enter into judgment and contend with you, says the Lord God. 37 And I will cause you to pass under the rod [as the shepherd does his sheep when he counts them, and I will count you as Mine and I will constrain you] and bring you into the covenant to which you are permanently bound. 38 And I will purge out and separate from among you the rebels and those who transgress against Me; I will bring them out of the country where they temporarily dwell, but they shall not enter the land of Israel. Then you shall know, understand, and realize that I am the Lord.” Ezekiel 20:35-38 AMPC We're in my favorite time of year, which is the time of the Fall Feasts for God's People. September 16th is the Feast of Trumpets, September 20th is the Day of Atonement, and September 30th is the beginning of the seven days of Feast of Tabernacles. The fall feasts are laid forth in Leviticus 23:24-37. The Jews celebrate the New Year, Rosh Hashana, which is the first month of the Civil Year, beginning with the month of Tishrei, falling on the same day with the Feast of Trumpets. It's at this time that the Jewish people believe there is the passing of Judgment for the New Year, which can be likened to the sheep passing under the shepherd's rod. The Feast of Trumpets is a foreshadowing of Jesus' second coming, where He will blow the trumpet as His people will be caught up with Him, and then tabernacle with Him eternally in heaven, as displayed in the Feast of Tabernacles. Prescribed in Revelation 19:7-8, we're making ourselves ready for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, permitted to dress in fine linen that's dazzling white. Like the preparation of a farmer gathering the harvest, there's a preparation for God's people to enter the fall feasts, which begins with one examining their own heart as they seek God, to see if there be any wicked way within them. (Psalm 139:23-24) This past Friday, after I did a video on the Spirit of the Fear of the Lord, I received an email from the apartment management company that there would be an inspection, on what I thought read “Monday.” I began cleaning the dining room on Friday, basically used for storing boxes of cookware that needed to be unpacked. Then, I determined that the rest of the house could be dealt with over the weekend, since my husband would be available to help. When the weekend came, we not only cleaned the bathroom, but knew that a bigger project lay ahead of us, my youngest son's room. Now, I don't know how many mothers out there can relate to having a son, which I have two. I've gone through years of dealing with them on dirty rooms while growing up. In fact, my youngest can go for days with soda or drink cans, boxes of crackers or the like, and be completely fine with it. In fact, I think he could go for weeks if not months like that, and it does not affect him. As a result, occasionally, in years past, I've cleaned my youngest son's room, as a birthday or holiday gift. However, things were different two years ago. I became too overwhelmed at the thought of even tackling his room. As I mentioned in my last podcast with my hormonal storm in August, where my estrogen tanked, I didn't realize how much the deficiency of it took a toll on regular activities. Because my estrogen was getting lower, I wasn't motivated to clean anything and was pretty much overwhelmed by everything. Thank goodness, that the three weeks on Hormone Replacement Therapy, had renewed my youth. I never knew prior to this, that estrogen was known as “the fountain of youth,” and now I understand why. Thus, I had amazing energy and motivation at cleaning my youngest son's room, as I felt like a foreman on a construction site, giving assignments to my husband, in us tackling what seemed like the aftermath of a tornado. To mine and my husband's amazement, we finished in an hour and half, and it looked PHENOMENAL! I won't go into detail, but I had at least three bags of trash that Rich hauled out. After our hard work, we were able to rest, feeling more relaxed, knowing that everything was prepared in advance for the inspection. Inspect means to examine something or someone closely. It comes from two Latin words “in” meaning “in” and “specere,” meaning, “look at.” As we look at the Fall Feasts, beginning with Feast of Trumpets and get closer to the Day of Atonement, these two specific feasts are a token of God's message for us to prepare for the inspection of the Lord, symbolically preparing for Christ's return. This can be seen in Ezekiel 20, with God preparing His sheep to pass under the shepherd's rod. Pass in Hebrew is ʻâbar pronounced aw-bar' meaning, “to cross over, to cover, carry over, escape, go beyond, go forth, sweet smelling, etc.” [i] The Hebrew letters that compose pass, reveal much, as we look at the Old Hebrew symbols and their meaning. Ayin, Bet, and Resh are the Hebrew letters for pass. Ayin is the ancient symbol of an eye meaning, “to see know and experience.” Bet is the ancient symbol of a tent meaning, “tent, house, household, and family.” Finally, Resh is the ancient symbol of a man's face meaning, “head, highest, and person.” Therefore, all three letters combined, create the word picture SEEING AND EXPERIENCING THE HOUSE OF THE MOST HIGH! Wow! This is us preparing for ETERNITY! The English letters that spell the Hebrew word for pass are A.B.A.R. When I look at the English spelling of this Hebrew word, I cannot help but see the two words A BAR! You've heard the saying “raise the bar.” The term “raise the bar” originated from athletic games referring to the pole vault and high jump. This can be likened to 2 Corinthians 3:18. “And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18 AMPC Our bar each year, as we approach the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement, is to go from glory to glory, being transformed into the image of Christ. Glory comes from the Greek word doxa pronounced dox'-ah meaning, “glory, dignity, honor, worship, and praise.” [ii] This comes from the Greek word dokéō pronounced dok-eh'-o meaning, “to think, seem good, pleasure, etc.” What I can relate to with this primary Greek word for glory is that it means “TO THINK!” Immediately my mind goes to Jeremiah 29:11, where God's thoughts towards us are to give us a hope and a future. Thus, as we go from glory to glory in the Word of Truth being transformed into the image of Christ's character, WE THINK GOD'S THOUGHTS! This is what the bar looks like in the individual Christian's life. We think more in align with God's heart, seeing through the eyes of Love, having mercy on others, without judgment, to believe and pray as the Father leads us. This is the power of love. This is what my husband and I did when we cleaned our son's room. We didn't point out all the grossness of the things we found, that made me want to put on a hazmat suit. We didn't think he was awful or horrible. Why? Because we love him! We see him through love's eyes. We saw his room already as being clean before we finished, because that's how we see him. What is absolutely wild, is that I waited for the inspection on Monday, and it never happened. So as the day went on, I decided to look at the email again. I know for certain I saw the word “Monday,” for the inspection, and thought they would come late. Low and behold, as I reread the email, it said the inspection would be THURSDAY! We cleaned up several days ahead, prepared and waited for the inspection. All I could do was give a sigh of relief, thanking God that I read it wrong. Otherwise, I would have done all the cleaning myself, not asking for help from my husband. With this relief, I just pondered on the Hebrews 4 rest of the Lord, the Seventh Day rest, represented in the seven-day celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles. Think of this, how we'll be blessed that we did what the Lord prescribed for us on earth, preparing for heaven. The sheep passing under the bar as in Ezekiel, for eternity are those who will tabernacle with God. And for us on earth are those who can cross over into the New Year, becoming more like Christ. I couldn't help but think how it would be if we treated everyday as though we were preparing for an inspection with God. We'd be a little kinder, more long suffering, forgiving others quickly, being slow to anger, and serving others with the love of Christ. As we continue in the Fall Feasts, let's celebrate the fact that we will be caught up one day with the Lord and tabernacle with Him eternally. In this celebration let's rejoice that we're all going to be together, treating each other with respect and honor, to enter the place of God's approval, being a faithful servant of the Lord, to hear “well done, my good and faithful servant, enter the joy of the Lord!” Thanks for listening to Women World Leaders podcast! Join us each Monday, Wednesday and Friday as we explore together God's extravagant love and your courageous purpose. Visit our website at www.womenworldleaders.com to submit a prayer request, register for an upcoming event, and support the ministry. From His heart to yours, we are Women World Leaders. All content is copyrighted by Women World Leaders and cannot be used without express written consent.             [i] Strong's Concordance Hebrew word # 5674 [ii] Strong's Concordance Greek word # 1391

Our guest is The Right Honourable Kim Campbell, former Prime Minister of Canada. Kim is a powerhouse whose life has been a life of firsts: from the age of 16 when she became the first female student body president at Prince of Wales Secondary School, to the first female president for her freshman class at University of British Columbia, to holding elected office at all three levels of Canadian government and then becoming Canada's first (and only) female Prime Minister in 1993. Clearly, Kim has spent much of her life breaking barriers for women. She was the first woman to serve as Canada's Minister of Justice and Minister of National Defence, as well as the first woman to serve as Minister of Defence of a NATO member country. Ms. Campbell served as the Canadian Consul General in Los Angeles, taught at the Harvard Kennedy School and is a member of the International Women's Forum, a global organization of women of significant and diverse achievement, and served as its global president (2003-2005). She was inducted into the IWF Hall of Fame in 2008.     Kim Campbell is also a founding member of the Club de Madrid, now the largest international forum of former heads of government and state who work to promote democratic values. After serving as Acting President (2002), Secretary General (2004-2006), Vice President and a member of the Board (2007- 2011), she returned to the Board in 2019.  Among her involvement in international organizations focused on democracy and security issues, Kim Campbell chaired the Steering Committee for the World Movement for Democracy in Washington, D.C. from 2008-2015, and is a Trustee of the International Center for the Study of Radicalisation and Political Violence (ICSR) at King's College, London. Ms. Campbell became an international leader of leaders as Chair of the Council of Women World Leaders (1999-2003) and is currently a member and Chair Emerita. The Council's membership is composed of women who hold, or have held, the office of President or Prime Minister.  Ms. Campbell's most notable achievement in recent years has been the design and launch of a ground-breaking leadership program for undergraduates at the University of Alberta: The Peter Lougheed Leadership College. She served as its Founding Principal from 2014-2018.  In 2016 Kim Campbell was appointed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to serve as Chairperson of the Independent Advisory Board for Supreme Court of Canada Judicial Appointments, a role she has reprised three times since, most recently in spring 2021. In 2021, Ms. Campbell joined the board of Toronto-based Glen Gould Foundation (glengould.ca) and the advisory board of The Vancouver Anti-Corruption Institute. VACI is a project of The International Centre for Criminal Law Reform and Criminal Justice Policy (ICCLR), which was created during Ms. Campbell's tenure as Minister of Justice. Also in 2021, Ms. Campbell accepted an invitation to become a fellow of the Royal Society for the encouragement of arts, manufactures and commerce (thersa.org), which was founded in 1754 in England. Additionally, Ms. Campbell received the Distinguished Leadership Award from the International Leadership Association (ILA), for her significant contributions to the understanding and practice of effective leadership which has had an exceptional impact internationally. Kim Campbell lives with her husband - pianist, actor, playwright, composer and producer Hershey Felder - in Florence, Italy. Join us as Kim Campbell speaks candidly on issues related to leadership, international politics, democratization, climate change, gender, Canadian/American relations and much more. By discovering how someone else has learned important life lessons from lived experiences, many times we can then apply these insights to our lives and unlock our own hidden potentials.  Be sure to follow us on Instagram and also subscribe to our YouTube version of the podcast so that you'll know about this episode as well as the many Crazy Amazing Humans featured in all of our episodes. We're always here to remind you that any gesture of kindness has the potential to create a Crazy Amazing Human experience, one person at a time. You have the power to create that every day because YOU ARE Crazy Amazing!

Meet the New Zealand Prime Minister Who Gave Birth in Office in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.