Are you the kind of person everyone looks at and assumes you are strong and you have it all together? You too, huh? Many of us look fine on the outside, but the human condition is often much different on the inside. Proverbs 31:25 says this of a godly woman: “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.” As believers, we can laugh in the midst of struggle because God did not make us to have a spirit of fear. He never planned for us to suffer from depression or anx...
Oct 28, 2024•3 min•Season 1Ep. 1676
Trust issues. Lots and lots of people have trust issues. Someone has hurt you in the past. Maybe it’s been multiple times. This world can be a painful place. But stop and think about how much your damaged trust affects your relationships now. Is there a way out of this long, dark tunnel? John 14:6 says, “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” People who hurt others tend to continue their hurtful ways. Bottom line: that person mig...
Oct 25, 2024•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1675
When the last artillery rounds were heard on the Western Front and World War I ended, good men of conscience tried to create a global body that would bring lasting peace to the earth. Their hearts were in the right place. History teaches us though that real peace is elusive and rare. John 14:27 says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” We see in Christ that there is no fixing the human...
Oct 24, 2024•1 min•Season 1Ep. 1674
There are several stories in the Bible that tell us when God’s people obey Him, they are in better physical and emotional shape. Remember, Daniel and his friends refuse to eat the rich food sent by the king. After several weeks of their own diet, they emerged healthier than other young men in the Babylonian kingdom. So, too, do we learn that an attitude of forgiveness leads to peace. In Matthew 18:21–22, we read, “‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to se...
Oct 23, 2024•3 min•Season 1Ep. 1673
Emily Dickinson, one of the greatest of American poets, attended seminary for a while, and then she went back home to Amherst. And for the rest of her life, she lived mostly in seclusion. That’s kind of weird, right? Maybe not. You see, God made each of us with a distinct personality. Sometimes it’s actually unhealthy to try and fit a square peg into a round hole. It hurts. We get more stressed out. Emily Dickinson lived a full life. Her relationships were in correspondence, a whole lot of lette...
Oct 22, 2024•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1672
Dr. James Dobson has decades of experience coaching people to overcome fear and doubt, and put their trust in Christ. He relates a fascinating experience he once had when he learned that sometimes our fear is all in our head. It seems that he was preparing to graduate from Southern Cal with a PhD in psychology, and as he got ready at home that day, anticipating the happy drive with his family, a cold fear just came over him. He says now that he felt a growing dread, seemingly out of nowhere, tha...
Oct 21, 2024•4 min•Season 1Ep. 1671
How many different colors can you name? There are seven colors in the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. As it turns out, the human eye is capable of discerning color to an incredible degree. According to laboratory tests, humans are capable of detecting a total of 10 million colors. That’s a pretty big box of crayons. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” I...
Oct 18, 2024•3 min•Season 1Ep. 1670
Identifying where our problems originate is one thing, but locating the Divine Healer is key in getting clear of obstacles in our lives. At each mile marker in our life journeys, God is standing alongside the road, smiling at us, and holding out His strong hand to guide us. And from the indispensable wisdom of scripture to stories of human triumphs over tragedies, He is always there reminding us we’re never truly alone. His grace and mercies begin to overshadow and overwhelm those forces that wa...
Oct 17, 2024•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1669
We know that a consistent heart of gratitude keeps us in harmony in our relationship with God, but in a practical sense, how do we maintain it, and how can we be intentional? A first clue is the example of Paul. Philippians 4:12–13 says, “I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I’ve learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Notice that the famous preacher trained his mind...
Oct 16, 2024•3 min
Sudden or even long-term setbacks in our lives can disorient us, impairing our decision-making. Circumstances beyond our control leave us where we can’t focus, and we can’t see what’s behind our difficulties. It’s then that we can’t make good decisions. If we don’t know if our problems are caused by emotional, mental, or physical challenges, we can’t see our way out of the forest. Identifying the source helps us settle into God’s perfect peace, and He’s given us the ability to make good choices ...
Oct 15, 2024•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1667
It’s been said that in the Fruit of the Spirit list, all of them collectively, practically define the nature of Christ. Even David the Shepherd knew his Messiah was coming. Remember what he said about following his loving God? He said, “Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life!” We instinctively know what goodness is. It’s a kind touch, a gentle word, a gift that was unexpected. Micah 6:8 says, “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you b...
Oct 14, 2024•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1666
What would you think is one of the biggest stumbling blocks for us as we try to live our lives with integrity? How about pride? The Bible tells us that the sin of pride can lead to a whole range of bad outcomes. Micah 6:8 says, “What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Walk humbly? Man…that can be the most difficult part of living out this verse. We have to constantly check our spirits to make sure our motives are pure, and are centere...
Oct 11, 2024•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1665
No one is truly alone. Some people have many relatives and friends, others, just a few. Occasionally, someone will have no real friends or family, but all of us interact with humans, and that over time has proven to be dicey. The health of our relationships is one of the biggest factors in how we function each day. Turmoil and chaos at home or work, or both, puts us in emotional quicksand. On the other hand, healthy relationships in our lives improve our overall health and make us more productiv...
Oct 10, 2024•3 min•Season 1Ep. 1664
1 Peter 5:6–7 says, “Humble yourselves, then, under God’s mighty hand, so that he will lift you up in his own good time. Leave all your worries with him, because he cares for you.” These two short verses tell us several things: One—if we submit to God’s power by acknowledging we can’t solve our problems, He is strong enough to intervene and bring about the outcome we really want. Second, He does this in His own time, on His own timetable. Third, we are to leave our problems at His feet. There is...
Oct 09, 2024•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1663
Micah had a tough job. The prophet that lived in the time of Isaiah warned the people in the land at the time that God was not pleased with their behavior. He was not exactly a popular guy! He told them that the rituals they performed did not bring them closer to God. Micah 6:8 says, “What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” In Micah’s time, foreign enemies did a lot of damage, but the message the prophet brought was that the Savior wa...
Oct 08, 2024•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1662
In the last century, a 4'10" woman from England answered the call of God to become a missionary in China. Her accomplishments there, especially in saving orphaned children during war and conflict, have made her sort of a legend. Near the end of her life, Gladys Aylward gave an interview in which she said the most amazing thing—something that could only have come from the heart of a truly humble servant: “I wasn’t God’s first choice for what I’ve done for China. There was somebody else…I don’t kn...
Oct 07, 2024•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1661
Have you ever had the pleasure of waking up in a cozy cabin…after you’ve let the fire go out from the night before? If you don’t get out of bed and put more wood in, the squirrels or raccoons aren’t going to do it for you! Much more serious is the tendency to get lazy about the fire inside us to share the love of Christ. After so many years of being a Christian—especially living in a free country—sharing the Gospel can be put on the back burner. Romans 12:11–12 says, “Never let the fire in your ...
Oct 04, 2024•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1660
Some of the greatest stories of believers down through time have involved those who really studied God’s Word. These people have gone before us to show us the way. From Charles Spurgeon to a missionary mother in China, daily study of the Word, and prayer, prepared them to mentor entire generations. Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” We also read in Romans 10 that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. We have to do it, so that others know...
Oct 03, 2024•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1659
Sweat was pouring off Peter as he moved to protect Jesus. As Roman soldiers held the one who had been labeled a heretic, Peter drew a sword and cut off a soldier’s ear. And he was stunned when Jesus told him to put the sword away. You see, Jesus knew infinitely more than Peter or anyone else. He knew the end from the beginning, and He knew He had an agenda to see through to the end. Peter couldn’t see that, and impulsively He moved to change the facts on the ground. And that’s so typical of us a...
Oct 02, 2024•3 min•Season 1Ep. 1658
It was once said that the sun never set on the British Empire. The island nation had expanded its reach around the world for hundreds of years, and the Union Jack flew over many countries. But as happens with earthly kingdoms, the sun did set. Today, the British are back to being basically just that island nation. The Bible talks about a kingdom that will have no end. What do we mean when we talk about that Kingdom? The Kingdom of God. The concept is found in the New Testament and refers to the ...
Oct 01, 2024•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1657
A trait most of us share is a tendency to do things our own way, and possibly ignore helpful suggestions that might enhance our efforts. In business, it’s easy to see how this could waste time and produce counterproductive results. In other areas of life, the impact of going our own way has much bigger implications. As people of faith, we believe nothing is more important than sharing the gospel. Too many times though, we obsess over the process and perfecting the marketing. Yet two New Testamen...
Sep 30, 2024•3 min•Season 1Ep. 1656
The Apostle Paul wrote that believers are in a spiritual battle all the time against forces that are wickedly strong. He also maintains that we have the power of God with us in these battles, and this New Testament promise is an echo from the days of Joshua, the fearless Israelite commander in ages past. This mindset is a model for all of us. Dick Winters was a 27-year-old first lieutenant when he jumped into Normandy, France in 1944 with other paratroopers during the invasion of Europe. Once th...
Sep 27, 2024•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1655
Have you ever been in such a dark place that you wondered if God cares about you, or if He even exists? Maybe it’s all some cosmic joke, right? We’ve all been there. Humans doubt. We doubt ourselves, we doubt product labels, we doubt our kids. We question everything. But the worst one is trying to figure out where God is in the middle of life’s great difficulties. Sometimes the world is just flat-out mean, and it seems like it’s an entity that’s trying to break you in half. And that‘s the very m...
Sep 26, 2024•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1654
When Hurricane Katrina destroyed the church and home where E.J. Scott had pastored for 20 years, he and his wife found themselves living a bit like refugees in Dallas, Texas. After years of being strong for his flock, Pastor Scott needed something to strengthen his own faith. He was devastated. Joshua 22:5 says, “Love the Lord your God, walk in all his ways, obey his commands, hold firmly to him, and serve him with all your heart and all your soul.” When we walk with God through a storm, we are ...
Sep 25, 2024•1 min•Season 1Ep. 1653
Have you ever wondered what it would have been like to be one of the original settlers in America? As a person leaving the safety of England to come to the New World and start over? Those people came here for religious freedom and risked it all. And when they landed in New England, they literally put down roots as they built and planted the beginnings of an amazing experiment that is still ongoing. Colossians 2:6–7 says, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your ...
Sep 24, 2024•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1652
In all the world, there are almost countless ways people try to find God. Some are drawn to the mystical, while others chase after the practical. Does it work? God knew we would all look to fill the void in our spirits—the one put there when man first sinned. He also already knew what our escape route would be, the path back to Him. Romans 10:9–10 says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with...
Sep 23, 2024•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1651
Beryl Markham could have given up on her aviation dreams after crash-landing in Nova Scotia. But she didn’t. Instead, this determined woman became the first person to fly from England to North America. She later said that in order to move forward, we can’t stay in the past. In fact, she said, “Leave it the fastest way you can!” This pioneer knew that staying stuck was not inevitable—that we must choose to keep our eyes on what it is we are yet to accomplish in life. Ephesians 4:31–32 says, “Let ...
Sep 20, 2024•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1650
There’s a wonderful scene in the classic film to kill a Mockingbird, when the attorney Atticus Finch is confronted by the father of a girl who has accused a black man of rape. The father, enraged, walks up to Finch—played perfectly by Gregory Peck. He spits in Finch’s face as the attorney’s children watch. You can see the anger in Finch’s face, but he slowly and calmly maintains his composure. He simply walks past the man, who now looks pretty small in everyone’s eyes. God has given us the power...
Sep 19, 2024•3 min•Season 1Ep. 1649
Paul was a stubborn man. He was completely committed to his job. The very definition of a zealot. More than anything, he hated religious people. In fact, he worked every day to make their lives miserable. You’re probably aware of who we’re talking about. Yes, this is the famous Apostle Paul, whose pen dominates much of the New Testament. Paul, or Saul as he was known when he was persecuting Christians, didn’t need anyone. He didn’t have friends. On his way out of town, Paul was knocked off his h...
Sep 18, 2024•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1648
Have you ever been hurt in a relationship? If you’ve been alive very long at all, the answer is probably, “Yes!” Reality has shown us that love can be the most wonderful feeling ever…or it can be ugly and brutal. It can feel like your heart has been run over by a truck. We’re talking about loving like Jesus, and as usual, His Word unlocks the secrets of our hearts, and it shows us the way to healing. 1 Corinthians 13:4–5 says, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, ...
Sep 17, 2024•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1647
