Faith, Doubt and God's Mysterious Timing: 10 Minute Insights with Laurie Polich Short

Welcome to my new podcast!

Happy New Year friends!

I am excited to tell you that the first episode of my new 10 minute podcast is up and running. You can find it wherever you listen to podcasts or on my website HERE. I'll be doing a new episode with an insight from my new book each week, and this week's insight is:

More is happening than you can see

My devotional reflection is in the book of Job, and I believe his story has so much to give us when we go through difficulty and don't understand what God is doing (or not doing). My prayer is that God will turn up the volume on the words you need to hear this week- and that you will glean some fresh insight into where God is in your suffering and confusion, as well as the bigger picture of the circumstances you are facing right now.

My book comes out January 31, and the study that accompanies it will be released on RightNow media that same day. Some of you are on my launch team, and you will be getting your boxes soon

So much to celebrate this month!

If you want to hear a teaser of the podcast, you can listen here.

I am so excited for all all that is coming in the new year with the new book launching. I believe this book will truly encourage people's souls. I am also so grateful for all the people who have said yes to helping get the word out.

If you want to help, it's not too late, please let me know... we would love as many people to help spread the word as possible.

In the meantime, I wish you love and Joy and many glimpses of God this Christmas season.

For more information contact us at [email protected]

 

Do you remember that little book called All I really need to know I learned in kindergarten?

I think there should be a Christian sequel called All I really need to know I learned in Romans 12.

If there was a chapter in the bible where we could find all the truth we need in one place it would be there. So it's fitting that my last podcast until the Fall would be on this chapter.  I wanted you to have all the scripture you need to hold you for the next two months.

Ten minutes is just the tip of the iceberg. My prayer is that it's just enough to lead you deeper in.

Here's the link: http://bit.ly/2Q6DFiI

Today's podcast is on listening- something we do multiple times a day. Unless you are a teenager and the person speaking to you is your mom or dad. But listening is something many of us right now- especially those of us who are white- are trying to do well.

James 1:19 has three suggestions for how to succeed at listening. One of them is being slow to speak- which is difficult when your opinion or response is already formed. Listening with openness allows a person to feel heard and valued- even if you don't agree with everything that comes out of their mouth.

Sometimes we need to be willing to listen to people who say things that make us feel uncomfortable or defensive. Our willingness to sit in our discomfort is an act of love. Can you absorb discomfort for the sake of letting someone speak their truth?

The verse doesn't say we all have to agree. But James is imploring us to listen. Because listening creates a bridge.

So tune in to today's podcast for more thoughts on listening. And be sure to take your ears with you when you are through. Here's the link: http://bit.ly/2Q6DFiI

This has been a week of convergences. We went from the oppression of a virus into a new oppression of shocking racism, and the awareness in this country that we could no longer turn away. it seems God planned 2020 to be the year we opened our eyes.

On a personal note, the week after this happened was the week I had planned to roll out my new Summer video series.

(Link here: https://bit.ly/3cNsBSB)

However God interrupted me with bigger things to think and pray about and debuting the videos last week didn't seem right. After spending some days listening and learning, when I introduced them this week, He had given me a new dream for how they could be used. Based on universal themes of waiting, fear and hope, these video studies are a ministry tool that diverse people could use to come together, grow spiritually and get to know each other's hearts.

I had also planned not to do a podcast this week. But it seems I better get used to the Holy Spirit interrupting me, because at noon today, I sat down (or was I shoved?) and recorded a podcast on Amos 5:24.  I was supposed to preach at a church in Oregon this summer (that I am now doing virtually), so this week the pastor gave me the text. He told me they've been going through the books of the bible, and they "happened to be" on the book of Amos my week. But do whatever you want to do, he added.

Pastor, after the events of last week, I'm not sure I can skip over the book of Amos. The Holy Spirit has made it pretty clear that a book about justice is probably His choice for me to preach. So apparently, I will be preaching on Amos for the first time this Summer. And after getting to Amos 5:24 in my reading, I could NOT sit out my podcast this week. Hope you won't either. Here's the link: http://bit.ly/2Q6DFiI

There are days when you don't have it in you to face what is in front of you. Between the ongoing stress of the Coronavirus, racism that makes us cry, and the every day challenges of living two months shut inside the same four walls, you may feel like you are at the end of your rope. When we get to that place, even the littlest things can push us over the edge:

Thankfully, according to the verse in this week's podcast, the end of our rope is not just for having meltdowns. The end of our rope is the best place to experience the Spirit of God. Here's the link: http://bit.ly/2Q6DFiI

This week’s podcast is on the new thing God has been doing.

We may feel like all that has been happening is too much food and out of control hair, but God has been preparing us for what’s ahead. After this time we’ll never go back to normal. Tune in for ten minutes and find out why.

Here’s the link: http://bit.ly/2Q6DFiI

Ok I'll admit it. The first part of this quarantine was a tiny bit fun. It felt like we were participating in something really big, and I think a lot of us thought to ourselves "we can do this." We hunkered down, learned Zoom, took selfies, and waved on Facetime. Nine weeks later, the fun has passed, financial crisis is the norm, and some have experienced irreplaceable loss. For the rest of us, this pretty much sums things up:

I think we could all use some encouragement about why perseverance is good for us. That's what you'll get on my ten minute podcast this week. Here's the link:http://bit.ly/2Q6DFiI

 

I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. You, on the other hand, do not.

And for most of us, this is what life has looked like since March:

But Jeremiah 29:11 has some insights about God's plan for us that are worth ruminating on. I hope this week's 10 minute podcast will encourage you as we begin to transition into a a little less of a lockdown but still plan-less life. Here's the link: http://bit.ly/2Q6DFiI

What is God teaching you at this time? During this season that you've been sequestered in your home, how is God is growing your faith?

Our experience of being with God in our homes is similar to what happened to the prophet Elijah when he was sent to a ravine. God had some things to show Elijah to strengthen his personal faith.

If we never have the experience of desperately needing God's provision, we will never see the miracles He can do. We'll be too busy meeting our own needs to depend on Him. God is showing us more of who he can be in our life to strengthen our witness to others. I believe He has a plan for all He's teaching us right now.

That's the subject of this week's 10 minute podcast. Hope you'll tune in. Here's the link: http://bit.ly/2Q6DFiI