A Few Minutes with God

As we approach All Saints Day, this episode of A Few Minutes with God invites listeners to see holiness not as a distant ideal reserved for history books, but as something already visible in the ordinary people God has placed in our lives. Drawing from Scripture, Felice Gerwitz encourages a deeper look at the quiet faithfulness of family, parish friends, and neighbors—the living cloud of witnesses who help us run the race set before us.

Holiness is not reserved for famous saints or distant monasteries. As All Saints Day approaches, this episode of A Few Minutes with God with Felice Gerwitz shows how God calls every believer to a deeper walk—and how that holiness already appears in the people we know: family members, parish friends, and ordinary neighbors.

God invites us to ask Him to use us for His Kingdom right where we are. Part of answering that call is practicing detachment from things and from relationships that continually rob our peace, so our hearts stay free for what lasts.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us.” — Hebrews 12:1

“To all God’s beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints.” — Romans 1:7

“He chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.” — Ephesians 1:4

“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also… But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.” — Matthew 6:21, 33

“Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 3:13–14

Ask the Lord to use you in ordinary places. Notice the quiet holiness already present in people around you. Choose one area of detachment—something that pulls your heart away—and offer it to God.

The post Preparing for All Saints Day: Holiness in the People We Already Know appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

What is a Christian harvest, and what part are we meant to play in it?

Fall is harvest time. After the hard work of planting, nurturing, and tending, the crops come in. Felice Gerwitz loves the season, even where she lives, where everything stays green all year. There are fall decorations, changing leaves, and pumpkin everything.

The spiritual harvest is the harvest of souls for Christ. As a young Christian, Felice wanted to share the good news and see the results. She soon learned that reaping the harvest was never her job. Only the Lord reaps. Our job is to plant the seeds and share the wonderful works of the Lord with a hurting world that is hungry for good news.

In this episode, Felice turns to Luke 10, where Jesus sends out the seventy-two, two by two. Most of us can’t leave everything behind and go door to door. But there are other ways to labor in the harvest, and the first one is prayer. Felice tells how repair people working in her home opened up about walking away from church or from faith altogether. Instead of offering solutions, she asked if she could pray with them. Some rededicated their lives to God. Others said, “not right now.” All she could do was plant the seed.

Felice also shares the story of an atheist who became a Christian. As a ten-year-old, she was pressured to “accept Jesus” by adults who used fear and threats. To her they seemed angry and judgmental, and that kept her away from faith for years. The lesson for us: invite with openness and love, never intimidation.

Felice closes with Malachi 3 and the refining of our hearts. When we truly encounter Jesus, His love overflows and is too hard to contain. We are called to love, to listen, and to be faithful and bold witnesses, especially now, when so many people are sad, afraid, and confused, and ready to turn their hearts back to God.

Your turn: Who in your life might need a seed planted this week?

Luke 10:1–5 (read on air) Jesus appoints seventy-two others and sends them ahead of Him, two by two.

“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” (Luke 10:2, NABRE)

Malachi 3:1–3 (read on air) The Lord comes as a refiner and purifier, refining His people like gold and silver.

“It was not my job to plant and reap. Only the Lord can reap the harvest.” — Felice Gerwitz

“In our hurting world, the people are hungry for good news.” — Felice Gerwitz

“All I can do is plant the seeds.” — Felice Gerwitz

“Being a good listener is a gift.” — Felice Gerwitz

“Now is a time for people to turn back to God.” — Felice Gerwitz

A Few Minutes with God is part of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network. Show notes: AFewMinutesWithGodPodcast.com Visit Felice: AFewMinutesWithGod.com

This episode is sponsored by Eden’s Table. [add link]

Join the A Few Minutes with God Facebook page to share your prayer requests and praise reports: https://www.facebook.com/AFewMinutesWithGod/

If this episode encouraged you, share it with a friend and leave a review so more listeners can find it.

What is a Christian harvest?

A Christian harvest is the harvest of souls for Christ. Believers plant seeds of faith by praying, sharing the good news, and loving others, and the Lord brings the harvest.

Are Christians called to share their faith?

Yes. As disciples, we are sent like the seventy-two in Luke 10. Today that often means praying for and with others, listening well, and inviting people to Christ with love rather than fear.

The post Christian Harvest: Planting Seeds of Faith in a Hurting World appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Sponsored by Eden’s Table;  A three-tier, faith-rooted curriculum for Christian families, from the biblical foundations of plant medicine through terrain-based clinical herbalism.

In a culture that so often dismisses, redefines, or even mocks the family, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph still stand as the model God Himself chose. The Son of God was not born to a king. He was entrusted to a humble carpenter and his young wife, and raised in an ordinary home. That choice still speaks.

In this episode, Felice Gerwitz begins with Isaiah’s prophecy of the shoot that sprouts from the stump of Jesse. While reading it with her family during evening devotions, one line stood out: “Justice shall be the band around his waist, and faithfulness a belt upon his hips.”

It sent her straight to Ephesians 6 and the armor of God, where we are told to fasten the belt of truth around our waist. The Messiah Isaiah foretold is the fulfillment of that promise and our strength in the spiritual battle we face every day.

From there, Felice looks honestly at what Mary and Joseph endured. Mary returned from visiting Elizabeth visibly pregnant before she lived with Joseph. She was scorned in her own town. Joseph had to decide what to do. Neither of them could have pictured what their yes to God would cost, and they gave it anyway.

Felice shares five lessons she has drawn from the life of the Holy Family: dying to self, perseverance, understanding truth, responsibility, and faith. She invites you to make your own list, even if it has only one thing on it.

She also speaks plainly about a culture that talks of “individual truths.” Truth is not subjective, she reminds us. It does not change. There is one truth: God came as a babe, in humility, for me, for you, and for all. Felice reflects on the Holy Innocents, on the meaning of the Magi’s gold, frankincense, and myrrh, and on how easily we look for our glory here instead of in the life to come.

She closes with a prayer for an increase of faith and for grace to overflowing, grace we can pour out to the people around us.

Your turn: What would you add to this list? What speaks to your heart as you contemplate this most holy family?

Isaiah 11:1–6 (NABRE)

But a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom. The spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him: a spirit of wisdom and of understanding, a spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the LORD, and his delight shall be the fear of the LORD. Not by appearance shall he judge, nor by hearsay shall he decide, but he shall judge the poor with justice, and decide fairly for the land’s afflicted. He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked. Justice shall be the band around his waist, and faithfulness a belt upon his hips. Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat; the calf and the young lion shall browse together, with a little child to guide them.

Ephesians 6:10–18 (NET)

Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. For this reason, take up the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand your ground on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand. Stand firm therefore, by fastening the belt of truth around your waist, by putting on the breastplate of righteousness, by fitting your feet with the preparation that comes from the good news of peace, and in all of this, by taking up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit (which is the word of God). With every prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and to this end be alert, with all perseverance and requests for all the saints.

“We don’t think of the Holy Family in terms of our lives, and we really should.” — Felice Gerwitz

“Truth is not subjective. It does not change. It always is.” — Felice Gerwitz

“There is only one truth, friends, the truth that God came as a babe in humility for me, for you, and for all.” — Felice Gerwitz

“He doesn’t lie. He doesn’t make unfulfilled promises. He came. He lived. He died. He rose.” — Felice Gerwitz

“God’s Word is everlasting. It is our rock.” — Felice Gerwitz

My God, there is so much to be thankful for even in times of hardship, but we have faith, the faith that You give us. Please, God, increase my faith. That is the gift I ask for more than anything else. Bless my life with the abundance of Your grace. Give me Your grace to overflowing so I can pour out this grace to others. All that is wonderful and righteous is in You, my God, and I thank You for the gift of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Amen.

A Few Minutes with God is part of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network. Show notes: AFewMinutesWithGodPodcast.com Visit Felice: AFewMinutesWithGod.com

This episode is sponsored by Eden’s Table.

Mentioned: One More Child by Felice Gerwitz, available on Amazon in print and Kindle

If this episode encouraged you, share it with a friend and leave a review so more listeners can find it.

The post Holy Family, Our Family: 5 Lessons from Jesus, Mary, and Joseph appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Does your soul hunger for God? Do you feel that something is missing in your life? Are you unsettled? In this episode of A Few Minutes with God Podcast, we discover what it means to hunger for God and how you can feel your soul!

Episode 44

Thanks to the sponsor, Eden’s Table.

The choices we make each day are something we don’t think much about, we just do them. We are creatures of habit, I wake up each morning and expect to drink a cup of coffee, and sit for a few minutes as I wake up. We do things out of habit more so than actually thinking about it — and habits are formed with routine.

We do the things that don’t affect our salvation either way — whether I drink a cup of coffee or not has nothing to do with how I feel about my relationship with God. But, if we take the time to think and contemplate life, often we feel that something is missing. That could be one of the reasons we keep our lives so busy–so we don’t have to think. Because if we do, we may find we are unsatisfied with an element of our lives.

Why?

Man was created to know, love, and serve God, but how do we love someone we do not know? Unless we spend time with God each day and allow Him to be the Lord of our lives, we will always feel unsettled… that there has to be more, and seek after pleasure in places that will leave us empty!

When we think about hunger for God we think of food and drink.

John 6:35

If we come to Him… it is an invitation, and we know it is more than food and drink that our Lord offers up but the offer of everlasting life… we will never thirst. It is a call of eternity with God!

John 7:37-38

“Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’”

Jesus is the living water, he came not only to feed the hungry as he did with the miracle of the loaves and fishes but to feed more than our bodies, to feed our souls. Our hunger for God goes beyond the physical which is why we seem unsettled when we are out of sorts with God.

Ask yourself these questions:

Our soul thirsts for God in the everyday matters in our life, in our decisions in our feelings of despair and dismay.

Psalm 42:2 “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God?”

Our soul thirsts for God whether we realize it or not, and we seek after something we can’t attain unless we understand this very fact — our love of God is sustained in prayer and when we feel out of sorts we should pray.

Psalm 63:1  “O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.”

This journey is similar to when people talk about a “desert” experience. Being in the desert paints a picture of being lost and without water and something that would be harsh, yet this is similar to the state of our souls when we yearn for God and find ourselves lost in the desert of our own making due to our free will – those choices may seem right at the time but they leave us feeling empty.

Self Reflection:

What are some things you can do differently each day to focus more on the end result – life everlasting with God than the here and now?

There are always life circumstances that are important, work, family getting food on the table, what appears to be the simple and mundane can be done with joy if you have God in your life. Each day, each breath we take we can praise and give thanks to the Lord we serve.

Hungering for God means filling our souls with every good thing, in the things we watch on TV, the internet, read, or listen to… are we putting things into our body that will help us grow toward love of God or things that will hinder our progress? When we seek after God all the things that previously seemed so important seem so little in comparison.

It’s like the lady who loved her hair, it was her best asset — yet, when she found out she had cancer and would lose her hair, she happily shaved it off in an effort to combat the horrible feeling of losing it in pieces. Her battle with cancer was successful and when her hair grew back, more beautiful than before she didn’t even care that much. Why? Because she realized the preciousness of life and what appeared so important before was now a minor.

If we change our priorities in life and put God first we can satiate the hunger! We will then grow closer to God and strive to live a life that is pleasing to Him.  The things that were a priority become a footnote – many things still need to be accomplished daily but with God at the head, it all seems to work out for the better.

Matthew 5:6 – Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

By hungering for God we also hunger for righteousness and happily, that is so much more satisfying!

Let’s pray!

I praise you and thank you Lord that any effort we place into seeking a deeper relationship with You is always rewarded so much more than we can imagine. I thank you for putting that hunger for God into my soul — for inviting me to seek you in a greater way! I ask you to help me make you a number one priority in my life, to help me to wake up early enough to pray each day, to help me to think of you last before I go to sleep at night, to help me to see all the ways you help me and are there for me each day. Help me to know you and love you more each day! Lord I ask you for the following intention in my life ….   I thank you ahead of time for answered prayer, and I pray this in Jesus Name. Amen.

The post Hunger For God: How To Feed Your Soul appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Have you wondered if the Shroud of Turin is real? And why “Turin”? What does this have to do with the burial cloth reported to have covered our beloved Savior? In this podcast, your host, Felice Gerwitz, shares a personal experience.

The Shroud of Turin continues to speak powerfully about Jesus. Recently I visited the National Shroud of Turin Exhibit at the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe in Orlando. What I experienced there—and what my grandchildren experienced—went far beyond any documentary or article I had seen before.

We entered a quiet room, watched a short video on the history and testing of the Shroud of Turin, and then stood before the displays. The atmosphere was hushed. People spoke in whispers. It felt as if we were standing before the crucified Christ Himself.

The size of the nails, the replica of the Roman flagrum, and especially the helmet-style crown of thorns left a lasting impression. The crown was not a simple circlet. It covered the top of the head and forehead. A life-sized replica of the Shroud of Turin image and its photographic negative revealed the face with startling clarity. There was even a metal panel on which the actual Shroud of Turin had rested—a second-class relic for those who accept its authenticity.

Ordinary means cannot explain the image itself, and that is the true mystery. It appears formed by energy from a body that was upright, hair hanging straight rather than spread out. Infrared studies show three-dimensional information. These details point beyond burial to the moment of the Resurrection.

The wounds visible on the Shroud of Turin match the Gospel accounts with precision: scourge marks, nail wounds through the wrists, the side wound, and the injuries from a full crown of thorns. (Turin, Italy, is where the Shroud resides.)

Isaiah 53:5 declares, “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed.”

John 19:40–42 and John 20:5–7 describe the burial in linen cloths and the discovery of the empty tomb. The Shroud of Turin invites us to hold the wounds, the burial, and the empty tomb together in humility and wonder.

The first Divine Mercy image, painted in 1934 by Eugeniusz Kazimirowski under the direction of St. Faustina, bears a striking resemblance to the face on the Shroud of Turin. Neither the artist nor Sister Faustina had detailed knowledge of the Shroud at that time. The parallel continues to draw the attention of many who see the same merciful Savior in both images. This was something I didn’t know!

The Shroud is an invitation to remember what the Savior of the world did for us! The Man of the Shroud of Turin, the Suffering Servant, the Risen Lord. Whether you come as a longtime believer or a seeker, the cloth still points to Him.

Spend a few minutes with God this week reflecting on the wounds that healed us and the empty tomb that gives us hope.

For More Study:

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The Kingdom of God can seem far away, and when we hear “The first shall be last,” this can be discouraging. In this episode of A Few Minutes with God, host Felice Gerwitz shares hopeful news: “The first shall be last” is a call to a joyful heart, not a threat hanging over those who already love the Lord.

A landowner hires workers at dawn for a denarius, the usual daily wage. He returns through the day, even at the eleventh hour — and hires more. When evening comes, every laborer receives the same pay. The first workers grumble. The landowner has not cheated them. He has kept his word, and he is free to be generous.

This teaching is already echoing in Matthew 19:16-30. A rich man had kept God’s laws from his youth. He came to Jesus wanting eternal life. When he was asked to sell everything for the Kingdom, he turned away sad. He had followed so much — and still could not let go.

Jesus said:

“Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” (Matthew 19:24, RSV-CE)

The disciples wondered who then could be saved. Jesus answered:

“With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26, RSV-CE)

And He closed that scene with the same refrain that frames the vineyard:

“But many that are first will be last, and the last first.” (Matthew 19:30, RSV-CE)

Do we need to worry? No.

The rich man trusted what he already had. The first laborers trusted what they had already done. In both places Jesus shows the same mercy: the Kingdom is God’s gift. What is impossible with men is possible with God.

This Gospel is about the Kingdom, not about keeping score.

The vineyard is the Lord’s field. The denarius is eternal life, not a paycheck we calculate by the hour. The first workers can stand for those called early who then resent latecomers — tax collectors, sinners, and those the first group never expected to see as equals. The hours of the day can also be the seasons of a life: childhood, youth, the years of strength, and even old age.

St. Gregory the Great taught that the landowner keeps going out because God never tires of calling. St. Augustine and others remind us that the wage is the same because the gift is the same: God Himself. The Good Thief received the same promise as those who followed for years.

The last workers were not lazy. No one had hired them. If they did not work, they did not eat. God has an abundance to give. He is just, and He is generous.

“Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity? So the last will be first, and the first last.” (Matthew 20:15-16, RSV-CE)

You do not need to fear that a lifetime of faith will be wasted because God is kind to someone who comes later. Heaven is a gift, not a contest. The years you have already spent with the Lord are themselves a blessing.

When a sinner finds Christ, heaven rejoices. We are invited to rejoice too.

You are a believer. You are headed toward the Lord, who waits with an open heart. Spend a few minutes with God today, and ask Him to fill you with His joy — joy over your own calling, and joy over every soul He welcomes home.

The post The First Shall Be Last appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

In this episode, Felice Gerwitz takes a phrase she’s heard in a hundred marketing seminars and author workshops and holds it up to Scripture.

Dreaming big in faith, she explains, isn’t chasing a bigger house or a million-dollar book deal. It’s giving God permission to work in your life beyond anything you could manufacture on your own.

When Felice invited her to start a podcast, she said yes on the spot — no overthinking, no talking herself out of it. That single yes became a living picture of what faith in action looks like.

This very episode sat written but unrecorded for over a month while the two that follow it got produced — a small, familiar example of how easily we stall on the thing God has put in front of us, and how often we mistake the enemy’s obstacles for our own good reasons.

From there, Felice walks through a simple, practical starting point: a comfortable chair, an open Bible, a journal, and ten to thirty uninterrupted minutes. She offers a short prayer to begin with and three honest questions to bring to the Lord: What have I been ignoring? Where have I settled for safe instead of faithful? What is one small, concrete step I could take this week?

Along the way she looks at the ordinary people Scripture is full of — Abraham, who left everything familiar; Joseph, who endured betrayal, slavery, and prison before God used him to save nations; and Mary, a young, poor girl who answered an angel with “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.” None of them started with a big plan. They started with trust.

Felice also names the lies that shrink our dreams — I’m too old, I’m too young, I don’t have the education, someone else is already doing it better, what if I fail and look foolish — and reminds listeners that Moses stuttered, Gideon hid, David was overlooked, and the disciples were fishermen and tax collectors. Their limitations were exactly what made God’s power unmistakable.

She closes with the joy she’s found in a project she once thought impossible: revamping more than twenty of her own curriculum books. The mountain hasn’t moved, but the work is getting done — and she describes a peace, vigor, and confirmation she can’t explain apart from the Lord.

If you’ve been waiting for a dramatic sign or a sudden burst of courage, consider this your gentle invitation to begin today. You don’t need to see the whole path. You only need to take the next faithful step with the light you have.

Pray first: Lord, help me to do what You want me to do. Help me to always be in Your will. Help me to hear Your gentle voice, and help me with the gift and blessing of discernment.

Then ask:

“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done to me according to your word.” — Luke 1:38

“Dreaming big gives the Lord permission in our life to allow Him to work in a way that is beyond our expectations and beyond anything we could do on our own.” — Felice Gerwitz

“Being real is useful… but it can also be a tool of the enemy. It can be a convenient disguise. And it can disguise fear.” — Felice Gerwitz

“Clarity usually comes after the first step of obedience, not before it. Waiting for perfect understanding can become a form of delayed obedience.” — Felice Gerwitz

“If I had known in my 30s that it would be 20 years down the road, I might have lost heart. But I know now that things happen in God’s perfect time.” — Felice Gerwitz

A Few Minutes with God is part of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network. Show notes: AFewMinutesWithGodPodcast.com Listen on your favorite podcast app — and if this episode encouraged you, share it with a friend and leave a review so more listeners can find it.

Mentioned: Choosing God Daily: Faith in Action 

The post Dream Bigger Than Your Excuses appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Is it time to overcome daily struggles? Does it seem that there is always a new daily struggle to overcome? Sometimes the pile gets overwhelming and then we fall under the strain. In this episode of A Few Minutes With God Podcast, we’ll discuss scripture verses that will help as well as the hope that is in store for those who believe.

When I think about ways to overcome daily struggles I remember a book I read years ago I read a book to the kids Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. It was published in 1972 and even won a series of literary prizes for children’s literature. The reason? It resounded with the old and young alike. We always have to deal with everyday life and some days are harder than others. Each day we struggle. Each day we fall, each day we do things we are not proud of doing. How do we stand up under the crushing weight that is on our shoulders? It is not easy.

I thought that this was the week that would do me in! There was no way I could overcome my daily struggles. This week has been one of the hardest weeks. Actually the last two weeks. I’ve had ups and downs in my life in dealing with situations out of my control. And I truly think those are the hardest. Those are the ones where we have to throw up our hands and ask the Lord to help us. Recently one of my children was waiting for room assignments in a college dorm and instead of the private room she requested she’ll be sharing one big room with two other girls. She also had a hard time signing up for classes as a transfer upperclassman. Things happen, they are stressful but we make do. My other son twisted his ankle while training, and he is playing a college sport on scholarship – so the stress is that he would heal in time to keep training. Then two days later another son fell off a ladder at work and had to be transported to the hospital by ambulance. One daily struggle then another, then another. We sometimes wonder when it will stop?

The enemy likes nothing better than to kick us when we are down. To remind us of all the bad things happening in our lives while glossing over all the good that comes out of our struggles. Realize that when we struggle we can suffer real pain. It can come first in the sense of worry, anxiety, stress, tears, anger and then translate into physical ailments such as a stomach ache, headaches, or restlessness and insomnia. Anxiety can lead to depression and yet there is hope.

Things will get better. One reason? Because we are promised this in scripture. We have to look no further than the book of Job.

Job 14: 14 “If a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my struggle I will wait Until my change comes.

A change will come. It can come in the form of others praying with us, understanding our needs and standing up for us in times when we need help. It can come in the form of relief — a change in the situation and a need that comes from the struggle. Sometimes we become so self-sufficient, we are our own worse enemies. We don’t want to ask for help because we don’t want anyone to know what we are going through. Just ask. Friends are there for you in so many different ways!

Trials and struggles can help us to grow stronger. We know that if the Lord denied the cross there would be no resurrection. James 1:2 states -Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials…

That is a hard verse to read if you are in the midst of struggling. Joy in the midst of trials? Only with God’s grace and only with the help of Almighty God.

What does Ephesians say about ways to overcome daily struggles?

Ephesians 6:12 “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

Our struggles and our daily walk is not done alone. Remember, you are not invincible and you don’t have to carry the burden yourself. If you are on social media on Facebook I have a page for prayers – you can post them here and I will get a notification to pray. You don’t have to be specific – just saying, “I need prayers,” is good enough. A community of believers can be helpful in times when your struggle.

Recently when my son had to go to the hospital after a fall at work I messaged and posted on several private groups asking people to pray. The prayers came pouring in. He was released from the hospital and all was fine – but of course, before we knew if everything was going to be alright it was filed under the classification of “Oh no!” and the stress level was high!

Psalm 34:18 states The Lord is close to the broken-hearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.”

Thank-you Lord for being close to us when we are broken-hearted. For making crooked lines straight. For helping us in knowing that You hear our prayers.

Psalm 23:4 — Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

No matter what you are going through, no matter how horrible or how sad, the “valley of the shadow of death” in our lives we are told to fear no evil because God is with us and He will comfort us. That my friends is the real key. Understanding that we don’t walk alone.

Jesus, we trust in you – we trust in your providence for us each and every day. We ask you to bless and keep us safe, for our loved ones to be surrounded by your love and your protection. We ask that you help us daily to know that you are there and that you hear our prayers. Please Lord hear us as we pray for these intentions… and thank you Lord ahead of time for hearing us! In Jesus Name, Amen.

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Replay sponsored by CTCMath.com

Humility is a profound gift—one I’ve come to cherish more deeply through the years and my prayer life. It’s amazing how often I’ll have an idea for a podcast, open my Bible, or flip through my church notebook, only to find the theme of humility staring back at me. Even this morning at Mass, the pastor spoke on it, as if God Himself were nudging me to talk about the topic. Human nature doesn’t naturally incline us toward humility. We’re drawn instead to confidence, pride, or self-assurance—qualities the world often celebrates. Yet, for a Christian, humility is a virtue to pursue, a calling rooted in the very heart of Scripture.

Why should we strive for humility? Because God has given us the ultimate example: Jesus Christ, the all-powerful Son of God, who humbled Himself to enter our world in poverty and simplicity. Philippians 2:5-8 captures this beautifully: read on air. Jesus didn’t come as a conquering king or a wealthy ruler. He came as a helpless infant, born to Mary and Joseph—ordinary people elevated by their humble “yes” to God’s plan. Their trust in Him mirrors the humility we are called to use as an example.

Humility is a powerful weapon against evil, though we often fail to recognize its strength. It dispels darkness because it reflects God’s loving plan—a plan that doesn’t force itself upon us but invites us to surrender. How do we explain this to those who don’t believe? Perhaps by living it out, showing that humility isn’t weakness but a grace that aligns us with God’s will. Friends, I’ve struggled with humility. God has given each of us gifts, and He has allowed us to excel or to be capable. We may think we have no need to be humble. Yet, through the years I’ve witnessed godly people who were blessed or graced in a way that I admired and yet they displayed true humility.

Proverbs 22:4 reminds us, “The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.” It’s not about humiliation—something we instinctively flee from, accompanied by anxiety or embarrassment—but about trusting God’s greater purpose, even when life humbles us.

I’ve seen this in the aging process. As people grow older, they often become dependent on those they once led or cared for. Leaders, parents, and providers find themselves at the mercy of the next generation. As a first-generation Italian, I was raised to honor and care for my elders. My husband and I shared this value, and we were blessed to care for my father in his later years. At first, he took care of us more than we did him, but as time passed, the roles reversed. It’s a humbling reminder that one day, that may be us—needing others, relying on the love we poured into them. In this, humility reveals itself as a gift, not a burden. James 4:6 echoes this truth: “But he gives more grace; therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” When we offer our humbled moments to the Lord, they become blessings in disguise.

Consider Jesus again and what He did for us. He could have descended as a mighty ruler, instantly claiming power. Instead, He entrusted Himself to two earthly parents with free will, who chose to follow God’s call. Luke 1:50-53 reflects this beautifully: (Read on air.) Mary and Joseph’s humility paved the way for the Savior, showing us that ordinary people, open to God, can do extraordinary things. This challenges the world’s message of greatness through wealth, status, or self-reliance. The world urges us to climb over others, to delay life’s joys—like marriage or children—until we’ve “made it.” But God’s plan often looks different. He knows our hearts and gently leads us, not by force, but by example.

So how do we live this out? Through prayer—spending time with God, talking to Him as if He’s right beside us, because He is. Through trust—opening ourselves to His will, even when it humbles us. 1 Peter 5:6-7 offers this encouragement (read on air.)

Did you hear that? Cast all your anxieties on Him for He cares about you! He does, friends, He really does. The Lord is waiting for us to offer our hearts to Him and one way we can begin is to spend time with Him in prayer.

Humility isn’t about destroying others to succeed; it’s about recognizing that true prosperity—spiritual richness—comes as a gift, not a conquest. When we embrace it, we find peace in God’s control, freedom in His plan, and grace in every humbled step. May God be praised now and forever.

The post Humility appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

A Few Minutes with God Podcast | Episode 375

Have you ever wondered, “Am I really living the purpose God has for me?”

We all want our lives to matter. We want to know that the ordinary things we do each day are part of something bigger—and that we are following God’s plan for our lives.

But busy schedules, responsibilities, disappointment, distraction, and seasons of weak faith can make it difficult to see that purpose.

In this episode of A Few Minutes with God, Felice Gerwitz shares how living with purpose often begins with something surprisingly simple: choosing God today.

God has already chosen you, created you, and prepared good works for you. Our response is to continually say, “Yes, Lord. I choose You today.”

Living on purpose doesn’t necessarily mean making a dramatic life change, starting a ministry, or accomplishing something the world considers impressive.

Often, it means faithfully following God in the life you are already living.

It is choosing Him while raising children, homeschooling, working, caring for your family, driving through traffic, doing laundry, running errands, or entering a new season of life.

As Felice shares in this episode, God opened doors for her to proclaim the Good News through podcasting later in life—not necessarily when she expected it.

God’s purpose works according to His timing, not ours.

One of the enemy’s most damaging lies is that you have no purpose or that your life doesn’t matter.

Scripture tells us otherwise.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” — Ephesians 2:10

You are God’s workmanship.

He has given you gifts and talents, and He has prepared opportunities for you to use them. Our job isn’t to measure our lives against someone else’s accomplishments. Instead, we can thank God for what He has given us and ask how He wants us to use it.

Felice shares something her husband often tells the engaged couples they work with at their church:

Every day, he makes a conscious decision to choose God and to choose his wife.

Faithfulness is a daily decision.

When we become trapped in irritation, anger, hurt, disappointment, or distraction, those emotions can consume our attention. Instead of remaining stuck in that cycle, we can turn our attention back to God.

Sometimes the prayer can be as simple as:

“Lord, help me. I choose You today.”

That small prayer of surrender can redirect an entire day.

Maybe you feel as though your opportunity has passed.

Perhaps your children are grown, your career has changed, you’re retired, or life simply doesn’t look the way you expected it to look.

God is not finished with your story.

Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us:

“For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

There is still purpose in today.

You don’t have to completely reorganize your life to begin living more intentionally for God. Start with small, faithful choices.

Then take it one step further: encourage someone else in their faith. Tell another person what God has done in your life.

Living God’s plan isn’t about getting everything right.

It’s about returning to Him again and again.

It is trusting His timing when yours looks different.

It is remaining faithful in ordinary moments.

And it is waking up each day willing to say:

“Yes, Lord. I choose You today.”

God has already chosen you.

Will you choose Him today?

Felice discusses:

What is one area of your life where God may be asking you to simply say “yes” today?

Take a few minutes to pray about it and ask Him to help you recognize His purpose—even in the ordinary moments.

Thank you for spending A Few Minutes with God. May His peace and purpose fill your days, today and always. Amen.

The post Living God’s Plan on Purpose: Saying Yes to God Every Day appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.