Can you outgive God? I challenge you to try it. In today’s episode of A Few Minutes with God, we explore this concept and ways we can be blessed, even as we give.

The idea of giving makes some people happy, and for others, it becomes stressful. How can you give the perfect present or, if not perfect, a present that someone even wants? Some people don’t like to buy or even give presents. Some people like to give presents but not receive them. Maybe you fall somewhere in the middle or like to give and receive!

The people who are extremely good at giving presents are those who take the time to figure out what makes a good gift and what the person they are buying or making a gift for is. The idea of gift-giving follows this idea:

It’s simple, really. Buy the gift that person likes. Easy, right? That is why gift cards are such a popular option nowadays—the task can be insurmountable or daunting at best!

There are so many symbolic elements to gift-giving that we don’t see in relation to our spiritual walk. The idea of a gift ultimately is the idea of giving of ourselves. We give of our time, our talents, and our money when we gift our family and friends. But what are we giving when we give to God? Do we give our talents? Do we give our time? What is the most valuable part of us that we give to Him who has given us so much?

Let’s look at the same three questions in light of giving to God.

But, with God, it is easy, right? Let’s ask the same three questions.

Outgive God – Try it.

Giving to God first necessitates having faith. Do we believe in God as the creator of all things? Do we believe in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit? If we know God is all goodness and light, then we know what is expected of us, our whole heart and soul.

Some things we “do” for God would be:

Yet when we do these things, study the scriptures; for example, who benefits from this? Or spending time in prayer or praise and worship? We are the ones who receive so much more in return. We find we are thankful and in awe of what God has done for us. The blessings that happen are a gift from God. We take every breath and every step because God wills it. Are we thankful for these things?

We can not outgive God. We can trust in Him in humility, that humble trust, that hope that within our failures, the Lord still finds us and loves us—not the sin, but He loves us. When we reflect on the goodness of Our Lord and Savior, we find the gift is totally selfless. God gave us the world in which we live—He gave us our very lives, our family, our friends. God gave us the most important thing, and that is salvation. God did not leave us orphans.

God is there for us in good times, yes — but more importantly, when we think we have been forsaken. Look at what He has done for us and try daily to outgive God. Will we succeed? No. But we will be blessed more than ever! I pray you have a wonderful week and that the Lord blesses you beyond anything you can expect or hope for!

This podcast sponsored by NOW Programs.

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Loneliness can happen at any time of the year, yet loneliness at Christmas seems especially painful. In this podcast we will discuss our role as Christians and how to bring to those in need the joy of the season of light.

Visit Media Angels.com for gifts for your family, especially the Character Planners that help you and your children focus on the importance of developing good habits.

Thank you to our sponsor, NOW Programs.

Here are some podcasts you may enjoy.

Loneliness

Connection With Others

Temptation is Real

As I think back on Christmas past, I remember how my father felt after my mother’s passing. Every time there was an event or holiday, he missed her, especially the first time. He was so used to spending time with her and sharing his life that when she was gone, it was as if a piece of him was missing. My neighbor died this summer unexpectedly, and I am certain his widow also feels the pains of firsts, the first Thanksgiving without him, the first Christmas, and more. We are only neighbors, and friends, but when someone has a special place in your life, you will definitely feel the loneliness at Christmas.

In Isaiah 41:10 we read: (Read on air.)

God gives us the strength we need, but we need to ask. How often do we forget to ask? I know I do. In living our lives we can feel lonely even in the midst of people. I think that is why we stay so busy, so we don’t feel loneliness and so that we don’t focus on what is bothering us.

Psalm 16:11 – (Read on air.)

When we are in a good place with our faith and our Lord, it seems to stem the loneliness. We don’t feel as alone or afraid. We find that joy that surpasses all understanding. Yet at times, we feel as if we are being tested.

In 1 Chronicles 29:17, we read on air.

There is no secret formula to combat loneliness at Christmas other than to give our hearts to the Lord. My friend would take her three boys and spend time at the soup kitchen or Church ministries. She did this at Thanksgiving as well as at Christmas. This took place after she was divorced, and she felt that her holiday was different, sad, and lonely. She decided that in giving, we receive, not for the sake of receiving. And she did! She said it was the best holiday and she wished she had done it sooner.

That is truly a gift.

Make me an instrument of your peace is a song as well as a prayer attributed to St. Francis…O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; it is in dying that we are born again to eternal life.

St. Francis gave up his life of wealth to serve the Lord and to serve the poor. We may not all have the opportunity to spend time with the poor this Christmas, but if you can, it is well worth it. Sometimes ministering to our own families and extended families is serving the poor in spirit. Other times they are blessing us with their joy and presence. It takes an effort to travel, especially during the holidays.

Loneliness can be a blessing; it is a pearl of great price. Think about how the Lord Jesus prayed at the garden of Gethsemane and the apostles could not stay awake with him for one hour. I pray in my mind that I am there with him. God, Jesus doesn’t need me, yet we can offer the simple tasks as an offering of our hearts even if it is just in our thoughts.

Matthew 13:44 states (read on air).

Our loneliness is a struggle, and it is something we may try to overcome, but each in our own way. Finding other like-minded people is helpful. I often see people at church who have lost a loved one join together for the holidays or even after church for coffee. I try to reach out to friends I know who may be struggling. I know they are being social even if they do not feel like it. It is easier to stay home, but putting out the effort is often rewarded.

We can all pray that the Lord uses us to minister to others, whether it is visiting someone without family in a nursing home, serving the needs of the poor, donating to a worthy cause, or buying gifts for those less fortunate. All of these things are small in the scope of our lives, but each one of these things brings us closer to the Lord.

This week the challenge is to pray for those who are struggling and lonely this Christmas as well as other times of the year and to ask the Lord to use us to bring joy to their hearts. Let God be praised now and forever.

The post Loneliness At Christmas (Replay) appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

How do we enjoy spiritual inspiration? We can look within. In our hearts, we crave the love of the Lord, joy, and enjoyment in our lives. Today, we unfold ways to bring inspiration and awe back into our lives.

The importance of forgiveness, joy, and faith in the spiritual life cannot be overstated. How do we do thi?

Daily practices for cultivating forgiveness must be actively implemented. These practices could include journaling about forgiveness, praying for those who have wronged us, or engaging in acts of kindness towards them.

How do we do this? We can find joy in everyday life, beginning with enjoying ordinary moments. This could be as simple as appreciating the beauty of nature, finding joy in our work, or spending quality time with loved ones. We can transform our routine tasks into worship. View every task as an opportunity for prayer; this mindset change is crucial. This can be helpful if you enjoy praise and worship.

The Holy Spirit’s role is not just powerful; it is transformative. Its potential to bring about profound changes in our lives is a source of hope and inspiration, leading us toward spiritual growth and a deeper connection with God.

2 Timothy 3:16 (Read on air.)

Psalm 46:1-4 (Read on air)

***

I prayed at a low point in my life and cried out to the Lord for friends who were not only the same denomination as me but also would encourage me. These two dear friends were that and so much more and are still my dearest friends today. We exchanged good Christian and faith-filled books to read, we prayed for each other’s families, and we knew that we were here for each other.

Only we can make the decision to forgive if that is needed in our lives—sometimes daily—and also to pray for ourselves because often we pray for everyone else and forget that we, too, need prayer.

Faith and trust in God can grow through prayer, spending time with God, and making it a routine. A few minutes with God, daily

Seeing the beauty of God’s creation, especially when we don’t expect it, means being open to the Holy Spirit’s infilling. How many sunsets have we seen yet never appreciated? How many times have we missed those amazing occurrences of God’s blessings and grace, even in the midst of tragedy? If we recognize the blessings in our lives, we can’t help but forgive others and ourselves as well —

The idea of forgiveness keeps cropping up when I wanted the focus to be on joy – on wonder and awe. Maybe someone needs to hear this; maybe that person is you or someone you know. But, truly the idea of forgiveness is not new, it is what the Lord did for us the greatest gift. It is what the Lord continues to do in our lives – the focus of the Lord’s Prayer is to be thankful for our daily bread, yes — and to forgive as God forgives us! What a challenge in our lives, but what an amazing way to help us to grow, transform, and overcome the discouragement that tends to creep into our lives … we must find strength in God.

As I record, Christmas is coming soon, and the holidays tend to be the most difficult for most people. This is a time when we see joy all around us or the facade of joy. There is so much hardship and challenge in all of our lives, yet with God, all things are possible.

Remember Philippians 4:13. I can do all this through him who strengthens me.

We can receive that strength from the Lord and ask Him to renew the awe and wonder we may be missing in our lives. Let’s look toward Him and only Him for our spiritual needs. Let’s pray for each other. Me for you, the dear podcast listeners. Some of you I know, and many of you I have never met. I pray the Lord blesses you this season of love and joy, that you can see Him in all things, that you have that joy that surpasses all understanding, and that you thank Him from where all blessings flow. Amen!

This episode is sponsored by NOW Programs.

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When you celebrate Christmas, does it include Advent? Advent is the time before Christmas. It is the 24-day countdown to the blessed event, the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Advent helps us to put the holiday in perspective. In this podcast, Felice discusses ways you can celebrate this joyous time, whether you are living alone or celebrating as a family.

Thank you to NOW Programs for sponsoring this podcast episode replay.

More podcasts on Celebrating Christmas here:

Countdown to Christmas

Christmas Blessings

Christmas is Real

Advent deals with the coming of Christ, yes, but also the openness of our heart to receive our Lord and Savior, as well as the more profound meaning of recognizing he came for a purpose: to open the gates of heaven and to set us free from sin.

In my church, Advent brings in the Christmas season or the start of what is called the liturgical year. This is the season of Christmas and ends in January with the feast of the Epiphany is celebrated—the coming of the wise men to visit Christ.

The liturgical year is also celebrated with special colors worn by the priests at church. They are as follows:

Suppose you had to pick a color which would you pick to celebrate Advent. You would think white, possibly, but it is purple. Advent is a time of waiting and morning. It is a time of joy because we know the end of the story, but it is a time of hope and sorrow for what had to be because of the sinfulness, the free will choice of man. When we celebrate Christmas, we can follow the Lenten practice of prayer and fasting. This is difficult to do unless you live alone. But, some families do make this their practice.

One idea is to fast from a particular bad habit or from overeating during the holiday when it seems that cakes, cookies, and parties are abundant. It does not have to follow the strictness of Lent, the 40 days before Easter. The importance is to recognize the Christmas season as a time of reflection.

What can you do to celebrate Christmas? Decorations, sure. But keeping the focus on the “reason for the Season,” the Christ child. In our decorations, be sure to add a Nativity scene or two, a picture of the Holy Family, or something that reminds you of the coming of our Savior.

Isaiah 7:14 (read on air).

Or we can read the geology of Jesus in Matthew 1 – again a reminder of the prophecy of God the Father to Abraham, Genesis 26:4 (Read on air).

While we love the Christmas season for so many reasons, it is also a time of hardship for many. It is difficult because of the loss of a loved one, financial hardships, or perhaps illness. Yet, the key to the season’s joy is not on the external but the internal, the focus on Christ.

Isaiah 9:6-7 (Read on air)

Who doesn’t want to celebrate the season with joy after hearing that? We can each celebrate in a way that makes sense for your individual family. For us, it begins with nightly prayer. This year, Advent begins on December 3. We will begin early because everyone will be home on Thanksgiving. So we will do the first week twice. Each evening, we light one candle and pray from my favorite book.

During the Advent season, we use a round advent wreath with four candles, three purple and one pink. The pink candle is lit on the third Sunday of Advent to remind us of the momentous occasion that is to come the following week. It is a time of prayer and scripture readings, and our family adds the prayer of thanksgiving. We share what we are the most thankful for each evening after our prayer time. It is wonderful and I celebrate this time with joy with my family.

I’ve given the children advent wreaths to take to college with them so they could celebrate on their own until we gather at Christmas time. It is called the Season of Light: Daily Prayer for the Lighting of the Advent Wreath. I have purchased other books but do not like them as well. The readings are not very long, but they are heartfelt. The suggestion is given to do this during or before a meal.

However you celebrate this Christmas, I pray you are surrounded by joy. Your challenge this week is to think about how you want to prepare in the coming weeks and, as always keep Christ in your heart.

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What are micro prayers? Is that even a thing? In this podcast, we will explore the concept of praying throughout the day in small pockets of time. It will change your life!

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Do you want to grow closer to God? Of course, we all do. At times it seems impossible due to our business and our schedules. To create that special bond, we need to spend meaningful time with God. I’ve often tried ambitious Bible studies or podcasts, such as the “Bible in a Year” with Fr. Mike Schmidt. These things are wonderful but tend to fail if we are inconsistent. For example, the Bible in a Year has taken me two years to complete. If I work hard, I’ll finally finish it this year. I like to take my time and savor the lessons, think bout them, and figure out what God is trying to say to me.  That is why I like the idea of practicing micro prayers.

The idea of micro prayers is praying throughout the entire day. It means doing things incrementally or in small doses but putting God first. In essence, it means giving my day to God and including Him.

Matthew 6:33 (Read On Air.)

With micro-prayers, I can begin small. We are doing as Matthew 6:33 states, seeking first the kingdom and his righteousness. There is no overwhelming schedule to adhere to. I can begin at my own pace and add to this as I can or as time permits. Once I get into a routine, it is easier to be consistent, which is the next point. Being consistent and adding micro prayers to your morning routine, such as a morning walk, can be a benefit. Or, you can pray before bed. In this way, I can focus on God when I wake up and before I go to bed.

What I like the most is the personalization of the prayers. I pray to the Lord using my own words, sharing my thoughts and hardships, and putting the Lord first. I can use a rote prayer or a scrupulous verse if I want, but it is totally up to me. It has a wonderful lifting effect and puts things into perspective, especially in a busy life.

Best of all, it is doable. There is no excuse; you can make time to do this for short periods of time.

We are seeking God, trusting in Him, and making an effort in those small steps we take each day. Proverbs 3:5-6 states: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways, acknowledge him,   and he will make straight your paths.

God makes our path straight when we look for ways to please Him, seek Him, and honor Him with our thoughts and our deeds. It is an unselfish way to place ourselves and our needs after that of prayer.

Proverbs 16:1-3 puts it in a nutshell: (Read On Air.)

How wonderful is that? Commit our work to the Lord, and our plans will be established – blessed, sanctified, and purified. In our own eyes, we think we are right or just, but in God’s eyes? He sees our hearts and knows why we do what we do, and it is not too late to change our hearts toward the Lord.

If you need motivation other than that, read Galatians 2:18-20 … I’m going to read verse 20 to you:

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Do we live for ourselves or for the Lord? Do we live to glorify ourselves and our needs, or do we live by faith in the Son of God? Do we give ourselves to Him and remember the love He had for us to die for us personally? We can answer these questions by seeking the Lord and His help because we can’t do it alone.

Our greatest weakness is the lack of time, yet today, right now, you can plan to add a micro prayer to the list of things to do, and you will be blessed in a mighty way.

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What do worship and thanksgiving mean to you? Your definition may be similar to many Christians, yet where is the challenge? The challenge is living lives that show that we worship the One True God and, in that way, our faith is permeated in all that we do. Listen to the challenge this week, by your host, Felice Gerwitz.

Thanks to our sponsor, Media Angels, and the wonderful books and products such as A Few Minutes with God and to NowProgams for sponsoring this episode.

As we discuss worship and thanksgiving today remember that the key to everything we do is to make it workable for us. What works for me may not work for you and that is important. I’ve read blogs over the years that list things that are so not doable in my life. This is why I try to simplify things for myself and for you! Which reminds me.

At times when I record podcasts, I feel a nudge from the Lord with the thought, “Are you living your life in the way you are challenging your listeners to live theirs’s?” Unfortunately, the answer is not always, “Yes!” Yet, podcasting on topics that point to the Lord also challenges me as well.

Giving ourselves time is the biggest obstacle in our life, so in this busy season, we need to cut ourselves some slack while placing a focus on the most important things. What have you learned from past mistakes and how are you leading a life that does not parallel the old? Think about this and consider ways you over-commit.

Worship is an important facet of giving praise to the Lord. If you have a smartphone it is worthwhile to set up a praise and worship album. At one time I had about five songs and my kids would tease me because I had so few, yet these songs spoke to me. They filled my heart with love for the Lord. Today I have a mix of faster-paced songs with some contemplative tunes. I have new favorites depending on what is going on in my life. I shared with you the song “The Motions,” by Matthew West in a previous podcast and for the longest time that was my song, it was an important one to me because I felt like I was becoming complacent, and I wanted to change. Then my song was, “Joy,” by For King and Country. I wanted to be sure I was choosing Joy, and that was my focus. My next favorite was “He Reigns,” by Newsboys. Of course, I love many other gospel hymns and I go to a traditional church where we often sing songs like “Amazing Grace.”  I believe you can tell your spiritual mood by looking at the songs you like to play frequently.

Music is a huge part of helping to set the mood which is why many churches begin with praise and worship. This opens our hearts to the Word of God spoken to teach us and challenge us. If you do not have a playlist make one, either on your phone or on a computer. It is not that difficult to do, and if you do not know how, ask someone to help.

I’m not sure who began the saying when we sing we pray twice. But I believe there is truth to those words. Singing allows us to rejoice and music lowers our inhibitions in a good way and the roadblocks we often put up keeping the Lord out. We can use music in a way that enhances our prayer time and allows the deeper meaning of the words to speak to us in a way that just saying or even reading the words can accomplish. God knew what he was doing when he created music!

I believe that worship music allows us to live our lives more fully. The scriptures are filled with references to music, we read in 1 Chronicles 6:31 “there are the men David put in charge of the music in the house of the Lord after the ark came to rest there.” And we know the Psalm is a sacred song or poem used in worship such as the book of Psalms.

In what ways do you like to worship? Think about this and then when you do, make a point to make this part of your life. Worship can be serious and there is a time for this, but it can also be lighthearted. I think laughter is great and I believe with all of my heart that the Lord has a sense of humor. If He is truly Lord of Lords and created all things he created humor (the good kind) as well. Remember anything good can be perverted by the evil one.

I think one of the reasons I like music that I play in the car is because it fits my lifestyle when I am on the go. It puts me in a good frame of mind when I get to my destination. We use the tools at our disposal to make things work for us! In this way, we can more easily add worship and thanksgiving into our lives, daily.

The challenge for you is to look for a way to implement worship and thanksgiving not only during the holiday season but daily in your own life.

The post Worship and Thanksgiving appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

We live in a divided world, where right is wrong and wrong is right, but the good news? God wins! This podcast focuses on the ultimate reality in our lives: God reigns now and forever.

I’ve been listening to teachings on the Bible, and the discussion has centered around the concept of wisdom. First, to desire wisdom means identifying that we need it. Once we realize we need it, our minds and hearts are open. The idea is that to love wisdom is to follow God’s laws. That gives us the blessed assurance that our lives will be with God forever.

We often forget that the Lord is victorious no matter what we feel in our hearts or how we deal with the hardships in our lives. We just completed another contentious election. People lie, and others believe. It is astounding to those of us who try to rationalize it, make sense of it, and understand things in a logical manner. I can talk civilly to anyone of all different views. I agree to disagree if it comes down to that, but this inability to converse is truly evil. The inability to disagree is also evil.

The issues that plagued our country were and are truly diabolical. Each one of us knows them and we are astounded that this is the world in which we live. Yet God knows. He has delivered us at this point of time, but we must always put our trust in Him and not in man! Somehow, we can see the evil where others are blinded. As one young adult told me recently, “No one believes the news on television.” That wisdom.

Yet, what does wisdom teach us? It teaches us the truth, and it teaches us God’s sovereignty. Our God is a God of order; He is not a God of chaos. There are things that are clear. There are other things that are not, yet God has given us the ability to make up our own mind and act upon it. Yet, are we willing to accept the consequences?

God is indeed control of our lives, but God gives us:

Therefore, not voting is becoming complacent in a way, and that is not my teaching; it actually comes from Fr. Rippenger, an exorcist priest. He says we must choose the less of two evils. Why am I discussing this after an election and not before? No matter when you hear this, you are responsible for your own choices, and how those choices affect you (and me) is often overlooked. The prayers and sacrifices of the Christian people I aligned within my own state of Florida managed to overturn very detrimental amendments to our constitution. I am still in total shock they did not pass, and I praise God for this blessing.

We must pray, we must fast, and we must hold those truths of faith in our hearts.  I’m going to read you a portion of Romans 8. I normally quote Romans 8:28 this is one of my favorite verses, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

That is you and me, yes, but while God works out things for good, we might not like the trial and tribulation (for our own good) that we must go through. It is echoed in Romans 8:31-32 …If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

For our salvation God sent His only begotten Son John 3:16: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

For our salvation, for our sake, for us. Do we cherish this? Do we praise God on a daily basis? Do we say, “Oh my gosh I can not praise and thank-you enough?” Do we truly understand the concept of God wins?

Romans 8:31-39 (read on air).

Amen and Amen! But, friends, what will you do with this information? How will you handle the truth? In what way will you go forth from today onward? We must look within our hearts and pray daily for a growth in our faith and for a true longing for wisdom that only God can bring.

The post Spoiler Alert! God Wins appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Where do we fit in when we consider God’s vastness? In this podcast, we discuss our insignificance in the grand scheme of things and the Lord’s amazing love for each of us.

I live in an area that has been hit hard in the last few years by hurricanes. The radar shows this vast storm out in the ocean that heads our way, and I am always in awe at how huge these things are and how deadly they are. They are powerful and dangerous, and they dwarf the state! Sometimes, we’ve had serious damage, like with Hurricane Ian, and sometimes, we’ve had a few trees down and rain but no real damage to our property, like Hurricane Milton. Each time, we feel helpless, and other than hurricane prep, which we are really good at now, all we can do is get out of harm’s way–if possible and pray!

The opposite is true for God. His vastness is good, holy, and awe-inspiring!

I was praying after hearing a teaching about the scriptures in Job, especially after Job 38, and I started thinking about my insignificance. I had a vision as if I was seeing the situation with new eyes. Wow, the God of the universe is Almighty, powerful, righteous, and, for some reason, our Creator loves and cares about us!

All these questions came to mind.

Think about those questions and add some of your own.

Afterward, I found myself reading a little book I picked up from the shelf, “Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young. It has short readings for each day, and the first sentence for the day reads: “I am the Creator of heaven and earth; Lord all that is and all that will ever be.” Although I am unimaginably vast, I choose to dwell within you, permeating you with My Presence.”

That is a coincidence, or truthfully, a God-incidence is more like it. This is the Lord’s way of saying that he hears our prayers and knows what is in our hearts. What a blessing, and you know what? I felt embraced; the Lord chooses to dwell within us and permeates us with His presence! 

Scripture Verses: Job 38:1, 12-21; Job 40:3-5

Just think about that–that one sentence sums it up. The God of the Universe is truly powerful. From the rising of the sun to its setting, He has a hand in our world. The verses go on…

Job 38:16-21 (Read on air.)  

Just ponder those verses.

How can we comprehend the breadth of the earth? We can’t, but Job bravely answers the Lord.

Jobs answer –> Behold; I am of little account; what can I answer you?

Job couldn’t answer, and neither could I, and this again makes me think of how insignificant we are compared to God. Do you see it? Do you have a tiny inkling of how great God is? How awesome and awe-inspiring!

We can consider God a vast entity in heaven or a personal God who wants a relationship with us. How do we repent for our transgressions? How do we make amends? Similar to Job, I want to put on sackcloth and sit in the ashes. In some ways, we can make reparation by asking our Lord for forgiveness, going to confession if we are Catholic, and identifying the root cause of sinful actions.

Typically, when we fail before the Lord and our expectations for ourselves, it is because we’ve taken our eyes off of the Lord and put them elsewhere. God is in charge, He is the Creator, evil will not prevail.

When we read these verses and others, we are brought to the realization that we are not alone. God hears our prayers, even the insignificant ones. God hears the questions in our hearts, spoken and unspoken. The realization I found through all of this is that I should give God all the praise and glory He deserves, and I can begin each day anew!

Each day begins with praising God and should end with praise and thanks. Are we grateful for the day we’ve lived, even if it was stressful? For each of us, our praises should be the knowledge that God is with us.

How do you speak to God? Here is an example”

Glory in your works, oh Lord –I accept the idea that You answer prayer, and I marvel at this, but we should not be surprised. You always show up, Lord, and I thank You and praise You, now and forever. Amen.

Talk to the Lord. He is there waiting for you. Like the new, improved Job, who suffered hardship and then was once again blessed, let us keep our eyes on the Lord, realize His powerful works, and glory in His Name, now and forever. Amen.

The post The Vastness of God appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Striving for excellence is a topic I love to discuss, but Christian excellence is even better. How do we do this? In this podcast, Felice Gerwitz discusses what Jesus tells us about excellence and the stunning truth behind His words!

We find the concept of Christian excellence in the fifth book of Matthew, the scripture we discussed in episode 319. Last week we discussed the importance of loving our enemies with the underlying reason that if we do, at least in our will, we “chose” to love, we will not be stressed, upset, or harbor unforgiveness in our hearts when we think of or remember those who have harmed us in some way. Yet today, we find the idea of excellence under the heading of an “eye for an eye.”

Matthew 5:38-42 states: (read on air)

What is the Lord asking of us? It’s impossible to be sure. However, when we consider this concept of giving more than we have to give, we will see the concept of excellence permeates the verse. How can we not resist an evil person? How can we turn the other cheek? Why would we even want to do this?

At the root of the idea of turning the other cheek involves not retaliating or in any way seeking revenge. Yet Jesus does not want a group of followers who are pushovers or pacifists. That in the face of evil will sit there doing nothing. The idea of a slap goes back to Roman times and the idea of class and distinction. A slap on the left cheek would mean the person asked the other to show they were equal. A right cheek slap signified you were in the class below. It would take guts and bravery to turn the other cheek, and basically, that meant, in a non-violent manner, you were challenging this status.

Similar to the idea of praying for a person who has hurt you instead of seeking harm or ill will toward them, we see the challenge for us goes deep; it goes to the heart of who we are as people. God is always right and just. Yet His ways at the core are humility and courage. Jesus showed humility yet true courage when He faced execution, not for crimes He committed but for the sins we commit daily. It is important to recall He died for us!

We further read in Luke 6:27-31 (Read on air.)

Again, go above and beyond and again in humility!

Does that mean we take physical abuse at the hands of a tormentor? Of course not. But, we can avoid the need to stir up trouble and cause dissent when it can be avoided. How often are we reminded of this within our own families? Several of my children are instigators; they knew how to get each other in trouble when they were younger. These sentences often began with “Mom (said in a whinny voice), so-and-so is doing XYZ.” As parents, we react to the squeaky wheel.

This is a chance for a parent to teach a child (or, in this case, remind ourselves) the importance of humility in dealing with others. However, it often reminds us to strive to be the best we can be and not settle for mediocrity.

The concept of excellence is not ingrained, although it should be, and it is something that we can learn and practice. A parenting class I attended long ago told us to be an example to our children, and one way we could do this was by returning the grocery cart to a holding rack. What a pain that can be, and yet it made sense. If we go above and beyond in returning a cart, how much more will we do in our personal lives and in other areas of our life?

In a world of bad service, careless people, and a narcissistic society, we find that those who strive for excellence do it for themselves. As a family, we go out to dinner after church services, and at one of our favorite restaurants, one server gives us excellent service. We are not an easy crowd since one of my sons can drink as many lemonades as she puts on the table. She started bringing him two. As we left one evening, I commented that she had spoiled us and made it difficult for us to go elsewhere. She told me she loves her job and decided to be the best.

My dad first owned a bakery and then a restaurant through college. I remember waitressing, and I send a virtual hug to all of you who do. It can be a thankless job. It never occurred to me once to do it with joy or self-giving. As much as I could, I worked in the back, preparing the meals. It was so much more rewarding for me. There, I could be appreciated for my talent. But that is not what the Lord asks us to do: work at a task only for the praise we will receive.

Can we say that in our lives? Being the best shows an example of God’s love for us. Being the best means we strive not only for excellence because we should but because this is what the Lord would want for us. How can you strive for Christian excellence?

Think and pray about this and see what the Lord calls to mind. Make time this week to strive for excellence beyond our job title or the title we hold in our homes and families.

Renounce any thoughts that you are not good enough or can’t do it — because you can, and I know this because anything is possible with God! Matthew 19:26  “Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Let’s focus on the thought that we can strive for excellence, go above and beyond what we expect for ourselves, and rely on the strength, power, and miracles of Almighty God. I pray you are blessed!

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What is a good Christian example? We can point to the saints, people like Mother Teresa and others. But, truly we can be an example to others by asking the Lord for His grace and His help.

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Sadly, we, as Christians as a whole, are not the best examples of how to live. The promises of the gospel message show others, especially those who are suffering, that there is faith, hope, love, and compassion from the Lord.

God gives us many examples through the scriptures of how he expects us, his people, to act, and we fall short. Sometimes we fall short by word, sometimes by deed, and most of the time, just because we’re too lazy to do what is right truthfully, sometimes we can be so hard on ourselves or as one of our pastors says we have Christian scrupulosity. We care more for the letter of the law rather than the law itself. When we read the scriptures, we see it plainly, and yet how many of us take it to heart I know I’m guilty of this myself.

In Luke 7:31-35 we read, (on air).

Now, if we read the gospel of Luke Chapter 7, we will see before this happened, Jesus had been very busy. He was curing many who had diseases and sicknesses and casting out evil spirits. He gave sight to the blind and cured those who had leprosy. Those who were lame walked, but yet Jesus was reprimanding the people because even though they saw these miracles, they were not ready to change their lives

As Christians, we know the end of the story. We know what it is we should do God had compassion on those, and on those who were suffering, he brought people back to life. This is an example to us today of the gift that God gives us as Christians. We have the opportunity for everlasting life with him, so how are we going to be an example as Christians? How are we going to live our lives in a way that is pleasing to the Lord?

I can give you a list, of five or ten things you can do. But, my list might not be the one that is right for you. And, in doing this good thing, being a Christian example, it can cause us to be boastful, or to congratulate ourselves that we are not like those sinners over there. Friends, we must be cautious.

I did a podcast sometime back that I titled Judgmental Christians, and I’ll put a show a link I’ll put a link in the show notes. (Tell the story on air)

To summarize the other podcast, I explained how I should live my life according to the gospels I should improve my life, and I needed to forgive those who hurt me and ask forgiveness for those I had hurt. Friends, we are all flawed! It is difficult to show an example of Christianity to others when we are hurting, and as my mother used to say we need to get our own house in order before we can try to fix the houses of others

In giving others an example of what it means to be a Christian, we are following the example Christ gave us. However, when we pray, when we give alms, we do this because we should out of obedience, it is a free-will decision

Being a Christian is a free-will decision, and acting like one means we show others humility, love, and compassion, especially if they are hurting and especially if they feel rejected by others. When Jesus walked the earth, he called his disciples, I love the phrase “Come follow me” This is an example of what it means to follow and to be called by God.

But we know we are all called by God, the Scriptures tell us, He has called us by name…(Isaiah 43:1). Knowing someone’s name held great importance in Biblical times and even today. Aren’t you happy when you remember someone’s name or they remember yours? The significance is import. Even more, God knows the “number of hairs on my head– And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” Matthew 10:30.

In Matthew 9:9-13 we read (on air).

Wow! God is calling us; he is calling all of us. Not the perfect, not the ones that have it all together, but us. The sinners.

As a Christian, our example may be flawed, but it is at least an attempt, not at perfect but of example. All of these things show us that there is a right and a wrong way to act, but one thing we know, we should not be judgemental like the Pharisees.

Think about everyday life, driving in traffic trying to find a parking spot or maybe returning something at a store when the clerk is very frustrating. We can use these everyday opportunities to say thank you or some other greeting that is welcoming. Or, “I appreciate the excellent job you have done or appreciate how hard you’re working if they haven’t done an excellent job.” You know what I mean.

Sometimes it only costs us a few minutes of our time, and sometimes it costs us much more. It is a sacrifice, and that is a small price to pay. If we can all show just a little bit of grace to others because God has given us grace, we should. Jesus asks us to follow him. It is not a call we should take lightly. It is those baby steps that take us closer to Christ.

Let’s all pray and ask the good Lord to give us the grace we need to be a Christian example because only by his gift of love and grace can we possibly show others just a tiny bit of the goodness of God. My friends rejoice and are glad because he is there for us not just today but every day, and I just pray that this week your challenge will be, can you guess it that’s right, to be a Christian example to either yourself or to others in your life and beyond take care and may the Lord bless you today and always.

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