In this second episode of the special series, Pastor Willie shares one of his signature messages on the Power of Agreement, first with God and then with your spouse, household members, and other believers. Drawing on biblical truths, he speaks about standing strong in faith despite the heartaches of a stage 4 cancer diagnosis, citing "God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?" (Numbers 23:19). As Pastor Willie declares the Word of God, your spirit will be stirred and strengthened.  

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Show Notes:

Music Composed and Performed by Aaron Geneus

Bible Scriptures to Comfort the Grieving: 

Matthew 5:4 

Blessed are those who mourn,
     for they will be comforted.

John 16:22

So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

Psalm 68:5 

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,
     is God in his holy dwelling.

Isaiah 66:13 

”As a mother comforts her child,
     so will I comfort you;
     and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.”

Psalm 34: 18 

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
     and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Revelation 21:4

 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Philippians 4:13

 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

"Do You Believe God?" is the first episode of a two-part special, featuring Pastor Willie Thomas, discussing living with a stage 4 cancer diagnosis and the importance of maintaining our faith when we receive grief-worthy news. Referring to Romans 8:28, "All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose," Pastor Willie powerfully asks, "Do you believe God?" His inspiring testimony leaves no doubt that there is no greater love than the love of our Heavenly Father.  

Support the show

Show Notes:

Music Composed and Performed by Aaron Geneus

Bible Scriptures to Comfort the Grieving: 

Matthew 5:4 

Blessed are those who mourn,
     for they will be comforted.

John 16:22

So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

Psalm 68:5 

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,
     is God in his holy dwelling.

Isaiah 66:13 

”As a mother comforts her child,
     so will I comfort you;
     and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.”

Psalm 34: 18 

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
     and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Revelation 21:4

 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Philippians 4:13

 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

In this testimonial, Dr. Geneus  offers behind the podcast information about the inaugural series Grieving Out Loud and shares reflections about the ways God creatively leads us beyond our expectations when we draw nearer to Him. 

Support the show

Show Notes:

Music Composed and Performed by Aaron Geneus

Bible Scriptures to Comfort the Grieving: 

Matthew 5:4 

Blessed are those who mourn,
     for they will be comforted.

John 16:22

So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

Psalm 68:5 

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,
     is God in his holy dwelling.

Isaiah 66:13 

”As a mother comforts her child,
     so will I comfort you;
     and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.”

Psalm 34: 18 

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
     and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Revelation 21:4

 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Philippians 4:13

 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

After her newborn daughter Jordan died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), Erica Banks experienced a fog of disbelief for years, unsure how she managed to go on living. Erica shares with Dr. Geneus the ways many might suffer in silence when they are confronted with questions, such as, “Did you have a child?”  With few memories to account for an infant’s life, Erica Banks explains why it can be difficult to find safe spaces to grieve and offers advice about ways to support grieving parents, even long after the death of their child. Erica’s faith helped her feel the loss of her daughter and find joy again. 

Support the show

Show Notes:

Music Composed and Performed by Aaron Geneus

Bible Scriptures to Comfort the Grieving: 

Matthew 5:4 

Blessed are those who mourn,
     for they will be comforted.

John 16:22

So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

Psalm 68:5 

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,
     is God in his holy dwelling.

Isaiah 66:13 

”As a mother comforts her child,
     so will I comfort you;
     and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.”

Psalm 34: 18 

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
     and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Revelation 21:4

 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Philippians 4:13

 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Dr. Erica (Butcher) Geneus’ grandfather Rev. Lewis Butcher’s obituary stated he died  “unexpectedly Sunday, while conducting Easter service” on April 18, 1965 at Haga Mission church in Stewart, OH.  In this special episode, Dr. Geneus and her brother, historian David Butcher, share their conversation with their uncle Rev. John Butcher and stories told by other family members. This testimony will inspire your faith about the ways we can experience and discern the voice of God.

Episode Notes:

Lyrics to the Hymn "Follow Me:" https://spiritualhymns.weebly.com/follow-me.html

Lyrics to the Hymn "Meet Me There:" https://spiritualhymns.weebly.com/meet-me-there.html

Support the show

Show Notes:

Music Composed and Performed by Aaron Geneus

Bible Scriptures to Comfort the Grieving: 

Matthew 5:4 

Blessed are those who mourn,
     for they will be comforted.

John 16:22

So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

Psalm 68:5 

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,
     is God in his holy dwelling.

Isaiah 66:13 

”As a mother comforts her child,
     so will I comfort you;
     and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.”

Psalm 34: 18 

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
     and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Revelation 21:4

 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Philippians 4:13

 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

“Not only did I lose a mate, but a part of me died.” Never imagining divorce, and trying to avoid public scrutiny, Erica Banks wrestled with feelings of shock, anger, and shame. Hoping her testimony will encourage others, Erica shares her process of moving from internalizing blame to finding the “blessing in goodbye.” Her conversation with Dr. Geneus sheds light on divorce experiences and offers hope to those grappling with feelings of disappointment and loss. 

Support the show

Show Notes:

Music Composed and Performed by Aaron Geneus

Bible Scriptures to Comfort the Grieving: 

Matthew 5:4 

Blessed are those who mourn,
     for they will be comforted.

John 16:22

So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

Psalm 68:5 

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,
     is God in his holy dwelling.

Isaiah 66:13 

”As a mother comforts her child,
     so will I comfort you;
     and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.”

Psalm 34: 18 

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
     and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Revelation 21:4

 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Philippians 4:13

 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

In this conversation, you will hear how Jesus appeared in a dream to 12-year-old Brandon Walker and showed him a vision of Heaven. This dream opened his eyes to a new perspective on life and ended his fear of death. Brandon also shares with Dr. Geneus how he was able to remain free from a death-anxiety grip after his first child died. Brandon’s stories will encourage your faith that there is more to life than what we see with our natural eyes.

Episode Notes:

 Joyner, R. (1996). The Final Quest. Whitaker House. 

Support the show

Show Notes:

Music Composed and Performed by Aaron Geneus

Bible Scriptures to Comfort the Grieving: 

Matthew 5:4 

Blessed are those who mourn,
     for they will be comforted.

John 16:22

So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

Psalm 68:5 

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,
     is God in his holy dwelling.

Isaiah 66:13 

”As a mother comforts her child,
     so will I comfort you;
     and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.”

Psalm 34: 18 

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
     and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Revelation 21:4

 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Philippians 4:13

 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

In this episode of the podcast, Bretton Williams shares his experiences grieving his estranged father, whom he hadn’t spoken with in 25 years. He recounts the difficult questions he faced when trying to grieve someone with whom he had a complicated and broken relationship. He offers candid suggestions about confronting unanswered questions while working towards a better emotional state when a loved one whose estranged dies. 

Episode Notes: 

NY Times article: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/05/well/family/grief-family-estrangement.html?smid=url-share

Amy Morin's (LCSW)  Book "Thirteen Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do:" https://amymorinlcsw.com/books-by-amy-morin/ 

Dr. Edith Eger’s books: www.dreditheger.com

Support the show

Show Notes:

Music Composed and Performed by Aaron Geneus

Bible Scriptures to Comfort the Grieving: 

Matthew 5:4 

Blessed are those who mourn,
     for they will be comforted.

John 16:22

So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

Psalm 68:5 

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,
     is God in his holy dwelling.

Isaiah 66:13 

”As a mother comforts her child,
     so will I comfort you;
     and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.”

Psalm 34: 18 

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
     and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Revelation 21:4

 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Philippians 4:13

 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Podcast Trailer 

Support the show

Show Notes:

Music Composed and Performed by Aaron Geneus

Bible Scriptures to Comfort the Grieving: 

Matthew 5:4 

Blessed are those who mourn,
     for they will be comforted.

John 16:22

So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

Psalm 68:5 

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,
     is God in his holy dwelling.

Isaiah 66:13 

”As a mother comforts her child,
     so will I comfort you;
     and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.”

Psalm 34: 18 

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
     and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Revelation 21:4

 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Philippians 4:13

 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Hear sound bites from the first five inaugural episodes!

Support the show

Show Notes:

Music Composed and Performed by Aaron Geneus

Bible Scriptures to Comfort the Grieving: 

Matthew 5:4 

Blessed are those who mourn,
     for they will be comforted.

John 16:22

So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

Psalm 68:5 

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,
     is God in his holy dwelling.

Isaiah 66:13 

”As a mother comforts her child,
     so will I comfort you;
     and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.”

Psalm 34: 18 

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
     and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Revelation 21:4

 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Philippians 4:13

 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.