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One of the temporary after effects of my wife's bout with hepatitis years ago was some memory loss. Now, I forget a lot of things and I don't have an excuse. Well, for a while, my wife had a great excuse for forgetting some things, because that memory loss had some real effects. Like the day she left the pot of water on the stove to boil. She promptly moved away from the kitchen and forgot all about it. She told me she even forgot about it after she smelled something burning. So, she went all through the house; checked the dryer, checked the furnace. "What in the world is that burning smell?" Well, when she finally decided to check the kitchen, you can probably guess what the scene was. Oh yeah, there was no more water left in that pot; it had boiled dry. The burner was red hot; the pan had become part of the burner. It was bonded to the burner. It literally had to be broken off. Yeah, she needed some heat to do her job, but not that much heat!

I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Not More Than You Can Bear."

By the way, lest you be too concerned, that was a temporary memory loss, and she got it all back. Let's look at our word for today from the Word of God. Because it's a promise for people who are in the oven, you might say, who are suffering in some intense heat right now. 1 Corinthians 10:13. Listen to these familiar words: "No temptation (or testing it could be translated) has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted (or tested) beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted (or tested), He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."

Don't you love the promise of those words, "Not beyond what you can bear"? Those are words with your name on them maybe today because of what you're having to bear today. God promises He will not take you beyond what you can handle.

I've always found potters to be intriguing. When we go to colonial villages I always enjoy watching them. I saw an interview with a potter, and she talked about how they take this formless lump of clay. And with their skilled hands on that wheel, they're able to make it into something beautiful and useful, and then the oven. They cook that piece of pottery that they've molded. They cook it at temperatures of up to 2,200 degrees to make sure that the shaping will last. It actually takes extreme heat to make the beauty and the usefulness permanent.

The interviewer said, "Well, is it possible to get the oven too hot for the pottery?" She said, "Oh, yeah. For example, if you get it up to say 3,000 degrees it will just melt down." But then she said, "The potter always knows the melting point." So does yours. God's bottom line in Romans 8:29 - "He has predestined that you would be conformed to the image of His Son, Jesus." He wants you to be like Jesus, so He uses the heat in your life to burn off the junk that might otherwise never come off. And God has been building in you lately a new love, a new patience, new purity, a new hunger for His word, new faith to trust Him, new character. But if it's never tested, it won't last. You have to take that new you into some intense heat for it to become tough and permanent. If the new you can get through this heat, you'll have a powerful new confidence in God's work in you.

Right now, maybe all you know is it's just really hot. Well, you have a guarantee from the Master Potter, "not beyond what you can bear." Oh, He might take you to the edge, but He'll never allow you to go over. God will let the heat make you stronger, but He'll never leave His masterpiece in the oven too long.

Read: Revelation 21:1-5, 9-11, 18-27

“I’d rather go to school than shovel the snow left behind from the blizzard,” Miguel grumbled.

“Oh, it’s not so bad.” Dad pitched a large scoop of snow into the yard before he stopped and looked at their surroundings. “I think a heavy blanket of snow like this is pretty.”

Miguel scanned the horizon. The snow twinkled in the sunlight like it was dusted with silver glitter. He squinted against the brightness and harrumphed. “All I see is work.” Miguel flexed his fingers in his cold, stiffened gloves, then he scraped the flat shovel blade across a patch of sidewalk hoping he could push the snow off the cement, rather than lift the heavy precipitation. “Scooping snow is worse than taking out stinky garbage.”

Dad laughed.

Miguel frowned. He wasn’t joking. He hefted another scoop and flung it into the yard. “I’d rather eat Brussel sprouts than shovel snow.” Now Dad would know he was serious because Miguel disliked Brussel sprouts. A lot.

Again, Dad laughed.

Miguel stopped. “I’m not joking.” His angry breaths came out in huffs of vapor.

Dad stuck his shovel in a deep snow drift. “Shoveling, like any chore, is something that must be done, so you might as well do it with joy. Besides, seeing the ground covered in sparkling snow makes me think God is giving us a little glimpse of heaven’s glory, a reminder to believers of what we will see someday.”

“Heaven is a beautiful place. The Bible says that when Jesus comes back to make everything new, the heavenly city where we’ll live will sparkle and shine with gold, crystal, and many jewels. Of course, it’s not the sun glistening on the ice crystals that makes heaven sparkle with beauty. It’s the glory of the Lord.”

“Oh.” Miguel had learned about heaven’s splendor and God’s promise to believers at church, but he never thought about seeing that beauty on earth. He shielded his eyes with a hand and looked at the yards blanketed in snow. This time he appreciated the beauty around him. He smiled at the thought that it was just a small glimpse of the magnificence he’d see one day when he was in heaven surrounded by God’s light.

–Rose Ross Zediker

How about you? Do you see little glimpses of God’s light on earth that point to His promise of heaven? A rainbow after a thunderstorm. A sun dog in the bitter cold of winter. The shimmer of morning dew on green grass. A mirrored reflection off a crystal-clear lake. These are small reminders of the beauty that awaits those who trust in Jesus when He creates a bright, beautiful home for us with Him in heaven.

Today's Key Verse: The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. Revelation 21:23 (NIV)

Today's Key Thought: God is heaven’s light

God is called by many names in the Bible, but one of the most comprehensive is the name "I Am." God has many titles that remind us of His attributes and can encourage us when we face difficult circumstances. Dr. Stanley uses the life of Paul to illustrate that God truly is the God of all comfort.

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The face was there all along, but no one knew. When Sir Joshua Reynolds painted The Death of Cardinal Beaufort in 1789, he put a demon’s face in the darkness behind the dying man. Reynolds was accurately depicting a scene from a Shakespearean play that mentions the presence of a “busy, meddling fiend,” but some didn’t like his literalism. After Reynolds’ death in 1792, the face was painted over and forgotten. Art conservation work recently revealed it under layers of paint and varnish.

The Bible tells of a spiritual reality around us that the eye can’t see, where God reigns supreme. When Elisha was surrounded by a “strong force” of enemy soldiers and chariots, his servant was frightened and asked, “What shall we do?” Elisha told him that “those who are with us are more than those who are with them,” and “prayed, ‘Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.’ ” Suddenly the servant “saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (2 Kings 6:14-17).

The horses and chariots of fire indicate angelic beings there for Elisha’s protection. This is one of many places where Scripture underscores the comforting truth that in a world where danger lurks and spiritual warfare rages, God still watches over us. No matter what we face, how good it is to know that nothing “will be able to separate us” from His love (Romans 8:39).

It’s Witness Wednesday!

Today we travel to Kennesaw State University where students are asked about issues like postmodernism, grace, and the biblical worldview. Students Matt and Joseph are challenged to truly consider Christ and His gospel.

Segment 1

• Matt identifies as a Christian but embraces postmodernism and radical subjectivity.

• Todd walks him through historical worldviews and exposes the flaw in relativism.

• Matt begins reconsidering postmodernism after realizing it can’t account for objective moral truth.

Segment 2

• Todd challenges Matt with five core questions: origin, purpose, morality, guilt, and destiny.

• Christianity uniquely answers all five through the person and work of Jesus Christ.

• Matt is struck by the clarity and coherence of the gospel message compared to other belief systems.

Segment 3

• Todd urges Matt to consider truth as that which aligns with objective reality, not just feeling.

• Christianity isn’t about blind faith—it’s about trusting God as He’s been revealed.

• Todd explains that real love means courageously sharing truth, even when it’s uncomfortable.

Segment 4

• Joseph professes belief in God but thinks salvation results from our good works.

• Todd gently corrects him, explaining Jesus paid our debt fully, and forgiveness cannot be earned.

• Joseph listens, affirms belief in Jesus, and seems impacted by the clarity of the gospel.

___

Thanks for listening!

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Welcome to episode #253! ️ Pure Victory Podcast: How To Find The Right Group For Healing!
New year, new habits—but what about the right community?
In this episode, we tackle one of the most common (and most important) questions in the healing journey: How do I find the right group? Not all groups lead to freedom—and some can actually keep you stuck. We unpack what makes a group healthy, Christ-centered, and truly transformative, and why God uses community as a primary tool for healing and lasting freedom.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why the wrong group can slow or sabotage your healing
• How surface-level accountability trains people to hide instead of heal
• What separates a behavior-focused group from a Christ-centered, healing-focused one
• The essential elements every healthy recovery group needs
• Why freedom is relational—and never meant to be pursued alone

Key Takeaways:

• Not all support is healthy support. Community can shape us for better or worse.
• A good group focuses on identity, healing, and formation, not just stopping behavior.
• Healthy groups prioritize safety, confidentiality, and honesty.
• Real accountability goes beyond “Did you look?” and asks, “How are you healing?”
• God designed healing to happen in authentic, committed, Christ-centered community.

Scriptural Highlight:

Healing doesn’t happen in isolation—and it doesn’t happen in unhealthy community.

Action Items:

• Evaluate your current group: Is it helping you heal—or just cope?
• Ask better questions: Are you growing in honesty, self-awareness, and intimacy with God?
• Look for leadership: Is the group led by someone who has walked the road of healing?
• Don’t settle: If you’re searching for a group, prioritize safety, Christ-centered teaching, and real transformation.
• Commit to community: Healing takes time, consistency, and intentional connection.

Thanks for listening! If this episode encouraged you, hit subscribe and share it with someone who needs clarity and hope today. Support the mission at PureVictoryPodcast.com—your generosity helps others find the freedom they’re longing for.

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Resources

FamilyLife Canada: Porn Recovery Resources

FamilyLife Canada: Resources and events to strengthen your marriage

Online marriage resources (FamilyLife Canada)

Covenant Eyes Accountability Software - use promo code FLCANADA for 30 days free
Pure Freedom Community

Listen to today's Laugh Again with Phil Callaway, "Of Lies and Liquorice." Enjoy!

Get ready for a strong episode of Practice Makes Parent. We're going to discuss theology and its importance in both religious education and practical life application. Our guests are Sam Luce and Hunter Williams authors of the book, 'How to Teach Kids Theology: Deep Truths for Growing Faith.' They discuss the lack of theological training resources for children's pastors, and techniques for teaching complex concepts like the Trinity to children. They also highlight the importance of catechisms and emphasize teaching theology through lived experience and scripture.

How To Teach Kids Theology

Learn More About The Family Reading of Scripture

Seven Ways Your Kids Can Connect With God

Here Are The Age & Stage Resources

Here Are Magazines For Your Kids!

Check Out The Built For Resilience Webinar!

Support the show!

If you enjoyed listening to Practice Makes Parent with Dr. Danny Huerta and Rebecca St. James, please give us your feedback.