We are excited to announce our newest Paint Me a Picture series, “Because She Believed: The Story of Mary.”

Jesus’ mother Mary was called many things. She was called a young virgin, a wife, and a mother. But ultimately, God defined her by her faith, as her cousin Elizabeth exclaimed in this passage of the Bible:

Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.”
- Luke 1:42-45 NLT

In the world’s eyes, Mary was hardly noticeable. She was an unmarried woman from a small village and most likely no more than 16 years old when she became pregnant with Jesus. But she became important because of one small decision: to believe God.

Because she believed, this ordinary young woman was able to travel bravely into the unseen and play perhaps one of the most significant roles imaginable in God’s plan. Because she believed, Jesus was able to live a life that brought light to the world. Because she believed, the world was changed for the better.

So if you’ve ever asked yourself...
Does God have a purpose for me?
Does he really notice what I’m doing?
Could my life really make a difference in the world?

...then Mary’s story is for you.

Join us as we begin Mary’s story with a Prologue: Mary, Mary, Quite Extraordinary and discover what can happen because you believe.

Writing by Alexis Colvin
Narration and editing by Amy Query
Additional narration by Darryl Howell
Production by Mike Query

References:

• Drug Overdose Deaths, Fueled by Fentanyl, Hit Record High in U.S.

Psalm 62:1-2 NRSV

For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. [2] He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall never be shaken.

When talking about building a relationship with God that is unshakeable, we can't expect perfection. Instead, it is a constant understanding of God and his presence. We don't pursue God; he pursues us in love and our choice is to respond to that love. When we quiet our hearts in our times with God and go to him for relief and safety, that is when we become unshakeable. Join Russ as he discusses with friend AT Arneson the importance of resting in God alone.

AT Arneson is a Midwest native. Studying Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communications at Loras College, and obtaining a Masters in Speech Communication and Rhetoric at Marquette University, then returning to get a Masters of Theological Studies from Harding University. AT has been the Congregational Evangelist of the Chicago Church of Christ since 2009, working to build the Chicago Church in such a way as to be a pillar congregation in the work of strengthening, planting, and growing churches in the Midwest and across the world.

"Now, in a way it is a pity that we have to use the word "faith" to describe the faculty by which the unseen dimension is grasped, drawn upon, and lived by." — J.B. Phillips

References:

• Psalm 62:1-2 NRSV
• Green Bay Packers
• 1 John 4:10
• The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence
• Psalm 1:2-3
• Psalm 62:5-6 NRSV
• New Testament Christianity by J.B. Phillips
• BRKN by Madison Ryann Ward

Visit DeepSpirituality.com for more podcasts, devotionals and videos to help you walk with God like never before.

If you want to send an email to the podcast drop us a line at [email protected]

So here we are, at the end of Jonah’s journey. And what a journey it’s been!

Jonah has tried to run away from God, been swept up in a storm, almost died, spent several days inside a fish, got spit out by that fish, then finally decided to do what God wanted by going to preach to the enemies of his people. Those people put a stop to their evil ways, and God saved them from destruction. But Jonah is upset because he didn’t get what he wanted.

[2] So he complained to the LORD about it: "Didn't I say before I left home that you would do this, LORD? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. [3] Just kill me now, LORD! I'd rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen." [4] The LORD replied, "Is it right for you to be angry about this?"
- Jonah 4:2-4 NLT

Like Jonah, God wants to help each of us shift our focus from ourselves and what makes us comfortable, to others and what they need. 

Join Jonah as we conclude his story, and can learn how to travel on our own unexpected journeys God has for each of us.

Based on the sermon series by Russ Ewell "Jonah: The Roadmap to Happiness" 

Writing by Alexis Colvin
Narration and editing by Amy Query
Production by Mike Query

Have you ever made a really bad mistake? One of those mistakes that you just dread having to deal with?

People are going to be mad at you, there might be some consequences, and you just want to crawl into a hole or move across the country. But you don’t. You own up to what you’ve done and put one foot in front of the other and start moving forward.

When we pick up the story of Jonah in Jonah chapter 3, our hero is just coming off of one of those mistakes. He’s finally owned that he ran away from God and from the spiritual needs of a whole city, caused a lot of pain for a whole ship full of people, finally had a change of heart after being in a fish for a few days, and got spit out onto a beach. Then, God gives him a second chance.

"Then the LORD spoke to Jonah a second time: 'Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh, and deliver the message I have given you.'"
- Jonah 3:1-2 NLT

Deja vu anyone? Though it’s taken a while to get him here, travel with Jonah as is finally on his way to speak to the very people he’s spent this whole series avoiding.

Based on the sermon series by Russ Ewell "Jonah: The Roadmap to Happiness" 

Writing by Alexis Colvin
Narration and editing by Amy Query
Production by Mike Query

In our second episode of Jonah’s Unexpected Journey, we find our protagonist stuck in a fishy situation. What does Jonah do after being stuck in the belly of a fish for 3 days? He prays:

Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from inside the fish. [2] He said, “I cried out to the LORD in my great trouble, and he answered me. I called to you from the land of the dead, and LORD, you heard me! [6] I sank down to the very roots of the mountains. I was imprisoned in the earth, whose gates lock shut forever. But you, O LORD my God, snatched me from the jaws of death!
- Jonah 2:1-2,6 NLT

Something changes in Jonah’s relationship with God inside the belly of that fish. He goes from avoiding God to being grateful to God. 

Have you ever felt like you were stuck in a dark and completely unfamiliar place? And there’s no way out, nowhere to go but deal with yourself? 

It’s in these “belly of the fish” moments that we can discover what truly matters, and see that God’s purpose is bigger than ourselves. 

Join us as we continue Jonah’s story and learn to find God’s purpose in some of our most difficult moments.

Based on the sermon series by Russ Ewell "Jonah: The Roadmap to Happiness" 

Writing by Alexis Colvin
Narration and editing by Amy Query
Production by Mike Query

In this first episode of Jonah’s Unexpected Journey, we meet our protagonist:

The LORD gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are.”
- Jonah 1:1-2 NLT

God called Jonah to do what he normally did - Jonah’s job was to talk to people about what God had to say. But this time, rather than talking to his fellow Israelites, God told Jonah to speak to the city of Nineveh, the most important city in Assyria and the home of the enemies of Jonah’s people. 

Have you ever felt the call to do something you really don’t want to do? It stays in the back of your mind, and all you want to do is avoid it and run away? Jonah can relate.

This is the first episode of our new type of podcast called "Paint Me a Picture." Each series will immerse you into the stories of the Bible, bringing them to life with storytelling, commentary, and lots of sound effects. As you listen, you can slow down and put yourself in the shoes of the people in the Bible and bring their experiences into your own walk with God. 

We've found that immersing ourselves in these stories makes the spiritual lessons stick better too.

Join us as we begin to unfold this story of rebellion, reflection, and redemption.

Based on the sermon series by Russ Ewell "Jonah: The Roadmap to Happiness" 

Writing by Alexis Colvin
Narration and editing by Amy Query
Production by Mike Query

The Bible is full of stories and heroes who are inspiring because they’re real.

They’re real people with real problems whose experiences can teach us how we can walk with God. With this in mind, we’re excited to launch our new narrative podcast series, “Paint Me a Picture.”

Each season will immerse you into a different story of Scripture, putting you in the shoes of the person in the story and bringing the Scriptures to life in ways you’ve never experienced before. We’ll also have commentary, reflective questions, nuggets of wisdom, and lots of sound effects. 

Our first season of this series will dive into the story of Jonah. 

Some of the best stories start when someone is being called to do something that seems impossible. When their life is turned upside down, and they’re forced to courageously take on something or someone. 

We all love sports movies or coming-of-age dramas because we get to watch our heroes hesitate, question themselves, want to run away, but break through anyway, coming out victorious and happy.

But let’s face it. In our daily life, it is hard to leave our comfort zone and enter into the unknown. We hide, run, freeze, or resist the call toward something greater. We often stick with what’s comfortable and less risky, even if it means we’re not that happy. 

The good thing is God takes us where we’re at, and we’re not alone. God spoke to Jonah at a time when he was settled and comfortable, not unlike many of us. 

Jonah can help us start answering questions like:

• How can I be happy when my life feels out of my control?
• Does God really have a good plan for my future?
• Why do I run from God and settle?

Join us on September 29, when we will begin to travel with Jonah on his unexpected journey.

If we’re going to be real enough who show people God, we have to take our masks off. 

The worst culture that can exist in our families and communities is when we feel the collective peer pressure to put a mask on and appear to be something we’re not. God wants us to be our real selves, and when we decide not to hide what’s really inside, we can see that sin is not who we are, but the obstacle we are meant to overcome. 

Those kinds of cultures make people attracted to church. Join Russ and Mike as they discuss how our relationship with God should make us real, and how to overcome the hypocrisy that gets in our way.

This is a reupload of a previous podcast. We are releasing it because in a world where relationships are strained by the Pandemic this one is perfectly timed and at tune with what we need, relationships. Visit DeepSpirituality.com to sign up for our newsletter if you want devotionals, podcast and more delivered straight to your inbox. 

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Our conversations are what change us. When we can understand the art of having a conversation we can then address one another's faith and deal with the fear inside that keeps us from growing. Russ Ewell sits down with Ray Kim and Nathan Schaffernoth to talk about the 5 steps to having spiritual conversations. 

Listening is having the curiosity to learn from every conversation. Set aside the Time, put in the time to have a relationship that has great conversations is important. Once you've heard, you want to Reflect, to know what you don't know and think deeply about what was said. Then you can ask Questions, but you want to Understand yourself enough to know what questions to ask. Finally, Respond to share your lifeand continue deepening your conversations. 

Episode References:

• FDR's Fireside Chats
• "Pistol" Pete Maravich

This is a reupload of a previous podcast. We are pairing this episode with the article, "Staying Calm | How To Have Faith That Stills Storms" for our Quiet Time Kick-Starter this week. Visit DeepSpirituality.com to sign up for our newsletter if you want devotionals, podcast and more delivered straight to your inbox. 

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In this scripture, Martha’s worry and stress makes her focused on the wrong things.

She is so fixated on getting everything done and checking on her to-do list that she loses sight of what really matters – our relationships, especially our relationship with God.

When we get caught up in the stress of life, we miss out on the peace and contentment God really wants to give us. We must decide to dig deep in our hearts to find the source of our anxiety and worry so that God can relieve and heal us.

Join Russ and Nick Straw as they discuss Nick’s article, “A Bible Study on Staying Focused (for the Chronically Anxious),” and how to get focused back on what really matters.

If you’d like to email the show, send us a message at [email protected]

References

• A Bible Study on Staying Focused (for the Chronically Anxious)
• Father Heart of God by Floyd McClung
• Healing for Damaged Emotions by David Seamands
• Forrest Gump
• Penny Hardaway
• Michael Jordan 
• Magic Johnson
• Jackie Chan
• The Karate Kid
• Steven Seagal
• Tom Brady
• Joe Montana
• Clint Eastwood
• The Outlaw Josey Wales
• Anxiety and Depression in the Classroom: A Teacher’s Guide to Fostering Self-Regulation in Young Students by Nadja Reilly
• Mindfulness for Teen Anxiety: A Workbook for Overcoming Anxiety at Home, at School, and Everywhere Else by Christopher Willard
• Parenting the New Teen in the Age of Anxiety: A Complete Guide to Your Childs Stressed, Depressed, Expanded, Amazing Adolescenceby John Duffy
• Under Pressure: Confronting the Epidemic of Stress and Anxiety in Girls by Lisa Damour