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“Along about midnight, Paul and Silas were at prayer and singing a robust hymn to God…Then, without warning, a huge earthquake! The jailhouse tottered, every door flew open, all the prisoners were loose” (Acts 16:25-26 MSG).

Authorities beat Paul and Silas with rods. Soldiers then imprisoned them in the deepest part of the prison where it was damp, cold, and rat-infested. Their feet were put in stocks. There they lay all afternoon and into the night, with no local advocates, their backs open to infection, surrounded by darkness, and shivering from the cold. Oh, to have heard that midnight song!

Paul and Silas were not sure of their deliverance, but they were sure of their deliverer. You can be too. Rather than panic, you can choose to praise.

Read more Help Is Here

For more inspirational messages please visit Max Lucado.

Leaders see more than others see and they see before others see — but often, that comes with taking action before being understood. Want to be a standout leader? John Maxwell shares how you can in this week’s episode featuring 3 key values of going first! 

After his lesson, Mark Cole reflects on what John has taught and gives you practical ways to apply it to your life and leadership. 

Key takeaways: 

• You never know how far you can go until you go. 

• How do we win? By getting started. 

• The only way that you’ll ever get out of the people pile is to be unique. 

Our BONUS resource for this episode is the The Value of Going First Worksheet, which includes fill-in-the-blank notes from John’s teaching. You can download the worksheet by visiting MaxwellPodcast.com/GoingFirst and clicking “Download the Bonus Resource.” 

Take the next step in your growth journey and become a Maxwell Leadership Certified Team Member.

“Who can you call at midnight when everything has gone wrong?” This question shook me when I first heard it years ago. How many of my friendships were strong enough that I could impose on them in my hour of need? I wasn’t sure.

Scripture has much to say about friendship, describing a friend as someone who keeps confidences (Proverbs 16:28), shares advice (27:9), and respects boundaries (25:17). But perhaps no one defined friendship more powerfully than Jesus. While to advertisers we are markets and to employers we are staff, to him, the Master of all, we are “friends” (John 15:15). Jesus described his kind of friendship as being built on shared love of God and personal sacrifice (vv. 13, 15)—something He himself modeled and called us to pass on (v. 12).

A couple of years after hearing that question, my wife and I suffered a significant loss. Darren, one of the few who knew what happened, traveled two hours to see me, listen to my anger and pain, and pray for me. Darren is a busy man who had plenty of other things to do with his day. But he followed Jesus’ example of sacrificial friendship. I really did have someone in my hour of need.

The question now is whether others have a “friend at midnight” in me. For there are few better ways to make more friends than to be one.

Ray Johnston, senior pastor of Bayside Church in Sacramento, CA, reflects on decades of ministry and how to stay encouraged in ministry even when you feel done, why cynicism is incurable, how to...

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Our stress-laden society has developed many skills for dealing with anxiety. We have breathing exercises and mediation techniques. But the person in whom the Spirit dwells has the greatest of resources. The apostle Paul said, “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18-19 NIV).

The apostle contrasts two strategies for facing inner chaos: inebriation and celebration. Many people numb themselves, if not with liquor, with bouts of shopping or hours of playing. The better option: celebration. Constant worship clears the debris from our hearts. Praise is the cleansing element that flushes the trash of worry and anxiety.

Read more Help Is Here

For more inspirational messages please visit Max Lucado.

My family and I brought my dad home from the hospital. He had a degenerative disease, and we were now adjusting to the new 24-hour medical routines of his suddenly becoming bedridden and requiring a feeding tube. I was also planning for my mom’s gastric procedure and dealing with demanding clients at work. Feeling overwhelmed, I sought privacy in the bathroom one day and cried out to God: Help me, Father. Please give me strength to get through the days ahead.

David also felt overwhelmed by troubles (Psalm 55:2-5). Attacked by his son Absalom, betrayed by his close friend, and helpless over the ensuing violence in Jerusalem, David said, “Fear and trembling have beset me” (v. 5).

But David chose to trust God (v. 23). He believed “[God] will never let the righteous be shaken” (v. 22). Years of trusting the Almighty had taught David that although troubles may unsteady them, those who place their faith in God will never be irrevocably lost and hopeless. “They will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand” (Psalm 37:24). David knew God would support him with His strength and wisdom: “I call to God, and the Lord saves me” (Psalm 55:16).

Fourteen years later, we continue to care for my dad at home. The years have taught me that when we cast our cares on Him, He sustains us (v. 22). God bears our burdens, and He bears us up too.

In this special encore episode, two trusted voices from Best Christian Workplaces, Giselle Jenkins and Cary Humphries, reflect on standout moments from the podcast series focused on the FLOURISH Model. They revisit powerful stories and practical strategies that continue to equip leaders in building healthier, more effective workplace cultures.

Find full show notes here: https://workplaces.org/podcast/453-stories-of-culture-transformation-from-courage-to-flourishing

Share the love. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate it on Apple Podcasts and write a brief review. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-flourishing-culture-podcast/id1060724960?mt=2  
By doing so, you will help spread our podcast to more listeners, and thereby help more Christian workplaces learn to build flourishing cultures.

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AI is everywhere and it’s moving faster than most of us can keep up. For business owners and marketers, the challenge isn’t just understanding the tools. It’s figuring out how to use them without losing your voice, your brand, or your job. Should you be afraid of AI, or should you be doubling down? How do you stay relevant in a world where machines can write, code, and even strategize? The questions are big, but if you ignore them, you’ll get left behind.

In this episode, Don and Kyle sit down with entrepreneur Jay Owen to explore the opportunities and risks AI presents for business owners. Jay shares how he’s using AI in his agency, why it’s not replacing creativity but enhancing it, and what mindsets will help you thrive in this new landscape. From automation to personalization, they dig into the tools that work and the principles that last. Tune in to learn how to adapt, lead, and stay human in the age of AI.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Business Builders
• AI with Jay
• Wispr Flow AI

Click HERE to find a StoryBrand certified marketing coach to help you grow your business!

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Today we’ll hear about: 

·      How Montana Knife Company grew from a passion project in one man’s garage into a coveted American brand—and the lessons its founder, Josh Smith, learned along the way

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