The prophet Isaiah lived during a difficult period for the ancient Israelites. Turning away from faith in God and under the control of corrupt kings, the nation entered a period of darkness. They needed hope more than anything. In our discussion this week, we will talk about this human condition. Today, we are really no different from people in ancient times: we all need a relationship with our Creator. Isaiah 40:31 says, “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on w...
Mar 03, 2025•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1766
Where are you headed, friend? Psalm 25:4 says, “Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths.” Whether you’ve lived in the same place your entire life, or you’ve been blessed to travel the world, each and every life is a journey. An opportunity to learn, grow, and impact others as we follow the path God has planned for us. Moses and the Israelites must have been expert travelers by the time they finally reached the Promised Land, and their journey was no pleasure trip. God sent 10 devastating pl...
Feb 28, 2025•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1765
It seems that a positive in our culture today is that we can admit our shortcomings. In the past, it was sort of taboo to tell the world you were not exactly all put together. Back in the day, a ‘hot mess’ usually referred to an overturned pot on the stove. But today, we know the phrase ‘hot mess’ has a whole new meaning—and our lives are often exactly that. Thank goodness the outcome is not dependent on us. Ephesians 2:8 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is n...
Feb 27, 2025•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1764
When someone asks how you’re doing, what is your typical response? Many of us give a quick, “I’m fine, thank you,” or, “Doing great!” Even if we’re actually struggling. It’s easier not to dive into a verbal rundown of our discontent if we aren’t really fine, and things aren’t so great, after all. As followers of Jesus, we are called to curate contentment in our lives. That doesn’t mean we have to pretend everything is awesome if life feels like it’s falling apart, but it does mean our trust in t...
Feb 26, 2025•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1763
Citizens of the United States of America have always acknowledged God. Sometimes though, our devotion to faith comes and goes. Sometimes we get too comfortable and forget who keeps us upright every day. Psalm 115:1 tells us, “Not to us, LORD, not to us, but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.” Whenever a person questions God’s goodness, or the path He has set for us, it’s good to go to the Bible. There, we find the answer to why we should honor our Lord. It’s becaus...
Feb 25, 2025•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1762
Science. It’s pretty cool. Did you know what we think of as a day—how long it takes the Earth to rotate—isn’t actually 24 hours? According to NASA, it’s 23 hours, 56 minutes, and 4.2 seconds. A day on the planet Mercury—it’s a whopping 58 Earth days, 15 hours and 30 minutes. Can you imagine a Monday that lasts over 1400 hours? Our Creator God, in His infinite wisdom, gave us the perfect amount of daytime for work and play, and nighttime for rest. He gave us seven days for productivity, and most ...
Feb 24, 2025•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1761
One of the things that mark a healthy society is the consistency between generations. In other words, adults who care about the future for their children will invest the time to make sure tomorrow is bright. God the Father is the ultimate parent, and we would do well to model His love for us. Luke 18:1 says, “One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.” Passing the torch, or training up the next generation, involves taking the time to do it pr...
Feb 21, 2025•1 min•Season 1Ep. 1760
Have you ever watched a war movie and realized that the actors didn’t know how the conflict would turn out? World War 2 movies are like that. When they filmed “Casablanca,” Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman weren’t sure whether the Germans would win or lose. Life can be like that. Matthew 28:20 says, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” In your own life, you might be facing some really serious stuff. And it’s not unusual to be staring at several problems at once. That’...
Feb 20, 2025•1 min•Season 1Ep. 1759
Living life as though your cup is brimming over isn’t a matter of circumstance. It’s a matter of choice. Psalm 23:5 says, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup overflows.” God promises bountiful blessings when we follow Him, but what about when times are tough? Nowhere does the Bible suggest we should wallow in misery when things don’t go our way. Instead, we should slow down enough to count and savor every blessing, even when goodness ...
Feb 19, 2025•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1758
Today, we’re talking about grit and determination, which go a long way in helping find success in life. And they’re contagious. Winston Churchill was almost 70 when his country needed him most, when he stared down Hitler’s war machine. The British Prime Minister’s signature line was, “We shall fight on the beaches,” but the essence of his message came with these words, “We shall go on to the end.” Luke 18:1 says, “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray ...
Feb 18, 2025•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1757
Games and sports aren’t real life, but they often give a pretty accurate picture of how we can choose to face life. Imagine that your profession is on a national stage. You have the ball with less than two minutes to go, and your team is behind. Standing behind center and looking out at the defense, how many of us could even think? Then, imagine throwing the ball with any kind of accuracy, knowing you have to win the game. Most of us would be scared to death! Psalm 23:4 tells us, “Yea, though I ...
Feb 17, 2025•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1756
We’ve all known kindness in our life. Think about someone who’s been kind to you; it might’ve been a Sunday school teacher, or maybe it was mom listening to our bad day. But how often do you actually think about the importance of kindness? Is it an active part of your day? If not, I think you’re missing the point. 1 Corinthians 13:4–5 says, “Love is patient. Love is kind. It does not envy. It does not boast. It is not proud. It does not dishonor others. It is not self-seeking, it is not easily a...
Feb 14, 2025•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1755
Forgiveness is mentioned dozens of times in the Bible. In Genesis 33, Esau forgives his brother’s treachery in stealing his birthright. And the most famous example is the forgiveness Jesus chooses on the cross as His accusers and executioners mock Him. Think about how hard that was! It gives some perspective on our own situations in life. When you think about it, the entire theme of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation is one of forgiveness. Man chose to bring sin into the world, and defy God’s ...
Feb 13, 2025•3 min•Season 1Ep. 1754
When we walk with God, we want to see that our relationships are healthy. It’s part of the command to love one another. And few things are more heartbreaking than damaged relationships. When those linger, the Body of Christ is weakened. Churches split because of it. Families suffer for it. 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.” Notice that we are to walk in all His ways. And wha...
Feb 12, 2025•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1753
Have you ever wondered why the Samaritan from the book of Luke was called “good?” In the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10, he stops and helps a man lying on the road who had been beaten and robbed. Jesus told his disciples this story to illustrate how they are to treat one another—how we are to treat one another. 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.” That’s it. Not difficult—and not even a very long list. Th...
Feb 11, 2025•1 min•Season 1Ep. 1752
The Bible is famous for speaking in parables and metaphor. One of the most famous is found in one of Paul’s letters, in which he tells us the benefits of a life in Christ. The “Fruit of the Spirit” is a list of nine attributes that a person filled with the Holy Spirit will model for the world. It’s probably no coincidence that Paul starts with…Love. Galatians 5:22–23 says, “By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and sel...
Feb 10, 2025•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1751
Carl loved working on his farm. He loved the solitude, and the sense of accomplishment. One day though, working alone, he was injured severely. In fact, if he didn’t get to the hospital, he would likely die. So, he got in his old pickup and took off. He pulled into the hospital parking lot and lost what little consciousness he had. Waking up 24 hours later after surgery, he realized he remembered nothing of his injury or even getting to the hospital. In effect, the God he loved and trusted had d...
Feb 07, 2025•1 min•Season 1Ep. 1750
Have you ever been fooled by someone? Doesn’t feel good, does it? But the absolute worst is when we fool ourselves. We try to manage some problem on our own, or analyze a situation gone awry. The Bible has a better way of thinking about it. Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” We have to do two things here: give total control to God, and de-emphasize our own judgment. Sometimes our gut is wrong. Following our heart often ends in heart...
Feb 06, 2025•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1749
Gwen closed her eyes and didn’t dare to even breathe. Japanese troops were right outside her house, looking for her and other missionaries. It was World War 2, and American forces in the Philippines were nearby. Just when Gwen and her friends thought someone would throw open the trapdoor to their basement hiding place, loud voices began to get dimmer. The enemy troops were distracted, and they left in a hurry! Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the natio...
Feb 05, 2025•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1748
Do you find it hard to trust some people? Do you find it hard to trust…anyone? Our society is full to the brim of people who have been hurt, wounded, and devastated. It puts up a wall and we live behind it in silence and fear. After the fall of Saddam Hussein in Iraq, the people of that captive country were free for the first time to tell their stories. One woman said that she had been driven nearly insane by the dictator’s torture chambers, but when he was gone, someone shared the love of Chris...
Feb 04, 2025•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1747
When trouble is on the horizon, it can be hard to trust in God’s promises, and to believe He has a plan for us. The book of Judges in the Old Testament gives us an awesome example of trusting God in the story of Gideon. God called Gideon to lead Israel into battle with the Midianites, who had a sizable army of 135,000 men. Gideon gathered an army of 32,000 men to battle with the Midianites, but despite odds in favor of the enemy, God told Gideon there were too many men in his army. Through a sel...
Feb 03, 2025•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1746
A common theme today is that people are just tired of chaos—both public and private. It’s exhausting sometimes dealing with bad relationships. Global problems are with us every day. And we wonder when it will end. There is good news for you, though. Literally, Good News. 1 John 5:4 says, “For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” This is a message to us that we don’t have to win the war ourselves. We don’t have to win a battle...
Jan 31, 2025•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1745
Rebecca knew just what Craig needed when he lost his job. She knew he felt ashamed that his job performance was a major contributing factor. In other words, he had failed in front of people. The hurried goodbyes and awkward pats on the back actually sort of made Craig feel worse. He threw the small box with his personal belongings in the backseat and drove as fast as he could away from the scene. Giving him some space for a day or so, Rebecca called to check on her friend; she had that wonderful...
Jan 30, 2025•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1744
One of the things that mark a healthy society is the consistency between generations. In other words, adults who care about the future of their children will invest the time to make sure tomorrow is bright. God the Father is the ultimate parent, and we would do well to model His love for us. Luke 18:1 says, “One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.” Passing the torch, or training up the next generation, involves taking the time to do it pro...
Jan 29, 2025•1 min•Season 1Ep. 1743
Today in America, two million men and women serve in our armed forces. More than 200,000 of them are deployed to various points around the world. Joshua 1:9 reminds us, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” The Lord has told us directly not to be afraid. We aren’t even to be discouraged! He’s told us through His promises that He’ll be with us every step of the way. If we stop and thin...
Jan 28, 2025•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1742
For most of us, being humble is easier in theory than it is in practice. Reaching out in Christian Love and kindness often means being a peacekeeper, and letting go of the need to be right or to win an argument. God wants us to walk with humility at work, on social media, and at home. When we’re frustrated with someone across the table or online, considering the words and deeds of others through the lens of Jesus’ sacrificial love for us can bring clarity. Our scripture for today is Ephesians 4:...
Jan 27, 2025•1 min•Season 1Ep. 1741
Since before the world was created, God has had a master plan to deliver people from evil. He cared for us so much that He was willing to endure pain to redeem us. In Acts 14:20, we read about Jesus and the disciples preaching in a city called Derbe. It says that Jesus then was busy, strengthening the souls of His disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations, we must enter the kingdom of God. God wants us to know that the journey we are on ends ...
Jan 24, 2025•3 min•Season 1Ep. 1740
Many times over the centuries, earnest Christians have run out into the world to aggressively and passionately share Jesus, and the world doesn’t always want to hear it. John 15:19 says, “If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own and as it is you don’t belong to the world. But I have chosen you out of the world, and that is why the world hates you.” And this is a hard truth. It’s discouraging to missionaries at home and in other countries who want nothing more than to see everyo...
Jan 23, 2025•3 min•Season 1Ep. 1739
Charles Templeton was surging ahead in ministry. Converted at 21—by 1946 the Canadian evangelist founded Youth for Christ. Billy Graham was hired as the organization’s first full-time evangelist, and he and Templeton toured Europe together. A decade later, after a turn at Princeton Theological Seminary and after wrestling with doubt, Templeton began to identify as agnostic, and his world would never be the same. Colossians 2:8 says, “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empt...
Jan 22, 2025•3 min•Season 1Ep. 1738
There are different schools of thought about just how Christians should share their worldview in a world often at odds with God’s best. Some feel it’s best to jump into the deep end of the pool and look just like the world. Others view it very much the other way. Second Corinthians 6:17 says, “‘Come out from them and be separate,’ says the Lord.” Whole denominations have used this verse to encourage believers to stay as much out of the world as possible. And this might include physically removin...
Jan 21, 2025•3 min•Season 1Ep. 1737
